UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

Form 8-K
_____________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): May 9, 2019  

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

Virginia0-988154-1162807
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

500 Shentel Way
P.O. Box 459, Edinburg, Virginia 22824
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(540) 984-4141
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

_______________________________

 

Common Stock (No Par Value)SHENNASDAQ Global Select Market
(Title of Class)(Trading Symbol)(Name of Exchange on which Registered)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 [   ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 [   ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 [   ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 [   ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 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. [   ]

 
 

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 9, 2019, Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing its financial position as of March 31, 2019, results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019, and other related information. The Company also posted supplemental earnings presentation materials on the investor section of the Company’s website at www.Shentel.com. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

These materials may contain forward-looking statements about Shenandoah Telecommunications Company regarding, among other things, our business strategy, our prospects and our financial position. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” or “anticipates” or the negative or other variation of these or similar words, or by discussions of strategy or risks and uncertainties. Shenandoah Telecommunications Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

          (d) Exhibits

The following exhibit is furnished with this Current Report on Form 8-K.

          99.1* First Quarter 2019 Earnings Press Release

          * Furnished herewith


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 Shenandoah Telecommunications Company
   
  
Date: May 9, 2019By: /s/ James F. Woodward        
  James F. Woodward
  Senior Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer
  

EdgarFiling

EXHIBIT 99.1

Shenandoah Telecommunications Company Reports First Quarter 2019 Results

Quarterly Operating Income Increased 47.9% to $24.8 million
Highest first quarter organic net growth in Wireless subscribers in Company history

EDINBURG, Va., May 09, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (“Shentel”) (Nasdaq: SHEN) announced strong first quarter results, reflecting continued revenue growth and significantly improved profitability. Wireless service revenue demonstrated solid growth driven by the net addition of 5,776 postpaid wireless customers and 8,516 prepaid wireless subscribers, including record gross activations for the Boost brand. Postpaid gross and net activations reached an all-time high as compared to any historical first quarter. Growth in the Cable Segment was bolstered primarily by continued increases in broadband subscribers.

First Quarter 2019 Highlights

Please refer to our First Quarter 2019 Earnings Presentation Supplement available at https://investor.shentel.com/ for additional information, including matters that will be referenced during the Company’s conference call. Included in this release are certain non-GAAP financial measures that are not determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Please refer to page 7 for additional information for non-GAAP measures.

Results

Consolidated First Quarter 2019 Results

Wireless

Cable

Wireline

“Shentel delivered solid first quarter results, building on the success we achieved in 2018. We achieved consolidated revenue growth, dramatically increased operating income, significantly improved profitability, and continued OIBDA growth in the first quarter,” said President and CEO Chris E. French, “We saw customer growth in all of our operating segments, highlighted by record customer additions in both our Wireless and Cable businesses.

“The investments we’ve made to improve the reliability and coverage of our network and to expand our base of stores have elevated brand recognition in the markets we serve, enabling us to attract new customers and drive growth in both our postpaid and prepaid customer base.  Our Cable segment continued to see increased RGUs and revenue as customers upgraded their service plans to accommodate a growing need for higher bandwidth. We were pleased to add the assets of Big Sandy Broadband, which expands our service area in Kentucky.  Shentel is well-positioned to continue to provide our customers with the best service in our expanding footprint and we look forward to driving continued growth as we move through 2019.”

Other Information

Conference Call and Webcast

Teleconference Information:

Date: May 9, 2019   
Time: 10:00 A.M. (ET)
Dial in number: 1-888-695-7639

Password: 4992749
 
Audio webcast: http://investor.shentel.com/

An audio replay of the call will be available approximately two hours after the call is complete, through June 2, 2019 by calling (855) 859-2056.

About Shenandoah Telecommunications
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (Shentel) provides a broad range of diversified communications services through its high speed, state-of-the-art network to customers in the Mid-Atlantic United States.  The Company’s services include: wireless voice and data; cable video, internet and digital voice; fiber network and services; and regulated local and long distance telephone. Shentel is the exclusive personal communications service (“PCS”) Affiliate of Sprint in a multi-state area covering large portions of central and western Virginia, south-central Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and portions of Maryland, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio.  For more information, please visit www.shentel.com.

This release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of unforeseen factors. A discussion of factors that may cause actual results to differ from management's projections, forecasts, estimates and expectations is available in the Company’s filings with the SEC. Those factors may include changes in general economic conditions, increases in costs, changes in regulation and other competitive factors.

CONTACTS:
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company
James F. Woodward
Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer
540-984-5990
Jim.Woodward@emp.shentel.com

Or


John Nesbett/Jennifer Belodeau
IMS Investor Relations
203-972-9200
jnesbett@institutionalms.com


SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2019 2018
Operating revenue:   
Service revenue and other$143,231  $136,559 
Equipment revenue15,612  17,579 
Total operating revenue158,843  154,138 
Operating expenses:   
Cost of services49,518  49,342 
Cost of goods sold14,637  15,805 
Selling, general and administrative28,722  28,750 
Depreciation and amortization41,179  43,487 
Total operating expenses134,056  137,384 
Operating income (loss)24,787  16,754 
Other income (expense):   
Interest expense(7,954) (9,332)
Gain (loss) on investments, net250  (32)
Non-operating income (loss), net1,037  1,021 
Income (loss) before income taxes18,120  8,411 
Income tax expense (benefit)4,210  1,828 
Net income (loss)$13,910  $6,583 
    
Net income (loss) per share, basic and diluted:   
Basic net income (loss) per share$0.28  $0.13 
Diluted net income (loss) per share$0.28  $0.13 
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic49,775  49,474 
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted50,115  50,024 
    

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)

 March 31,
 2019
 December 31,
 2018
    
Cash and cash equivalents$69,859  $85,086 
Other current assets117,926  125,116 
Total current assets187,785  210,202 
    
Investments11,274  10,788 
Property, plant and equipment, net701,980  701,359 
Intangible assets, net339,714  366,029 
Goodwill149,070  146,497 
Operating lease assets361,564   
Deferred charges and other assets48,325  49,891 
Total assets$1,799,712  $1,484,766 
    
Total current liabilities119,121  88,539 
Long-term debt, less current maturities726,970  749,624 
Other liabilities501,007  204,356 
Total shareholders’ equity452,614  442,247 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity$1,799,712  $1,484,766 

SHENANDOAH TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

 Three Months Ended
March 31,
 2019 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:   
Net income (loss)$13,910  $6,583 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:   
Depreciation35,520  36,634 
Amortization5,659  6,853 
Bad debt expense367  369 
Stock based compensation expense, net of amount capitalized1,714  2,037 
Waived management fee9,628  9,048 
Deferred income taxes(3,378) (3,684)
Other adjustments(23) 705 
Changes in assets and liabilities(1,734) 2,315 
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities$61,663  $60,860 
    
Cash flows from investing activities:   
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment$(44,420) $(24,382)
Cash disbursed for acquisition, net of cash acquired(10,000) (52,000)
Proceeds from sale of assets53  263 
Cash distributions (contributions) from investments and other(8) 1 
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities$(54,375) $(76,118)
    
Cash flows from financing activities:   
Principal payments on long-term debt$(19,889) $(12,125)
Proceeds from revolving credit facility borrowings  15,000 
Principal payments on revolving credit facility  (15,000)
Proceeds from exercises of stock option72   
Taxes paid for equity award issuances(2,698) (1,754)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities$(22,515) $(13,879)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents$(15,227) $(29,137)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period85,086  78,585 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period$69,859  $49,448 
    

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In managing our business and assessing our financial performance, management supplements the information provided by the financial statement measures prepared in accordance with GAAP with Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA, which are considered “non-GAAP financial measures” under SEC rules.

Adjusted OIBDA is defined as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of: certain non-recurring transactions; impairment of assets; gains and losses on asset sales; actuarial gains and losses on pension and other post-retirement benefit plans; and share-based compensation expense, amortization of deferred contract costs, and adjusted to include the benefit received from the waived management fee by Sprint. Continuing OIBDA is defined as Adjusted OIBDA, less the benefit received from the waived management fee by Sprint. Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income as determined in accordance with GAAP as a measure of operating performance.

In a capital-intensive industry such as telecommunications, management believes that Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA and the associated percentage margin calculations are meaningful measures of our operating performance. We use Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as supplemental performance measures because management believes these measures facilitate comparisons of our operating performance from period to period and comparisons of our operating performance to that of our peers and other companies by excluding potential differences caused by the age and book depreciation of fixed assets (affecting relative depreciation expenses) as well as the other items described above for which additional adjustments were made. In the future, management expects that the Company may again report Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA excluding these items and may incur expenses similar to these excluded items. Accordingly, the exclusion of these and other similar items from our non-GAAP presentation should not be interpreted as implying these items are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual.

While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily represent the current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods, and accordingly may obscure underlying operating trends for some purposes. By isolating the effects of these expenses and other items that vary from period to period without any correlation to our underlying performance, or that vary widely among similar companies, management believes Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA facilitates internal comparisons of our historical operating performance, which are used by management for business planning purposes, and also facilitates comparisons of our performance relative to that of our competitors. In addition, we believe that Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA and similar measures are widely used by investors and financial analysts as measures of our financial performance over time, and to compare our financial performance with that of other companies in our industry.

Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA have limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. These limitations include, but are not limited to, the following:

In light of these limitations, management considers Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA as a financial performance measure that supplements but does not replace the information reflected in our GAAP results.

The following tables reconcile Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA to operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, for the first quarter 2019 and 2018:

Adjusted OIBDA and Continuing OIBDA

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019          
(in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Consolidated
 Operating income$25,337  $5,703  $4,346  $(10,599$24,787 
Non-cash amortization of deferred contract costs (4,211) (237) (64) (2) (4,514)
Depreciation and amortization 31,050  6,458  3,533  138  41,179 
Share-based compensation expense       1,714  1,714 
Benefit received from the waived management fee (1) 9,628        9,628 
Actuarial (gains) losses on pension plans       (38) (38)
Other 19  136    65  220 
Adjusted OIBDA 61,823  12,060  7,815  (8,722) 72,976 
Waived management fee (9,628)       (9,628)
Continuing OIBDA 52,195  12,060 $
 7,815  (8,722) 63,348 


Three Months Ended March 31, 2018          
(in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Consolidated
 Operating income$17,267  $5,527  $4,772  $(10,812)$16,754
Non-cash amortization of deferred contract costs (2,760) 141  (35)   (2,654)
Depreciation and amortization 33,925  6,024  3,394  144  43,487 
Share-based compensation expense       2,037  2,037 
Benefit received from the waived management fee (1) 9,048        9,048 
Actuarial (gains) losses on pension plans       (82) (82)
Other 81        81 
Adjusted OIBDA 57,561  11,692  8,131  (8,713) 68,671 
Waived management fee (9,048)       (9,048)
Continuing OIBDA$ 48,513 $ 11,692 $ 8,131 $ (8,713)$ 59,623 

_______________________________________________________

  1. Under our amended affiliate agreement, Sprint agreed to waive the Management Fees charged on both postpaid and prepaid revenue, up to $4.2 million per month, until the total amount waived reaches approximately $255.6 million, which is expected to occur in 2022.

Segment Results

Three Months Ended March 31, 2019          
(in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated
External revenue
            
Service revenue $97,075  $29,705  $5,485  $  $  $132,265 
Equipment revenue 15,291  270  51      15,612 
Other 2,018  2,265  6,683      10,966 
Total external revenue 114,384  32,240  12,219      158,843 
Internal revenue 1,270  1,469  6,690    (9,429)  
Total operating revenue 115,654  33,709  18,909    (9,429) 158,843 
Operating expenses            
Cost of services 33,478  15,647  9,151    (8,758) 49,518 
Cost of goods sold 14,427  175  36    (1) 14,637 
Selling, general and administrative 11,362  5,726  1,843  10,461  (670) 28,722 
Depreciation and amortization 31,050  6,458  3,533  138    41,179 
Total operating expenses 90,317  28,006  14,563  10,599  (9,429) 134,056 
Operating income (loss) $25,337  $5,703  $4,346  $(10,599) $  $24,787 


Three Months Ended March 31, 2018          
(in thousands) Wireless Cable Wireline Other Eliminations Consolidated
External revenue
            
Service revenue $92,165  $28,471  $5,308  $  $  $125,944 
Equipment revenue 17,374  159  46      17,579 
Other 2,026  2,050  6,539      10,615 
Total external revenue 111,565  30,680  11,893      154,138 
Internal revenue 1,239  1,031  7,814    (10,084)  
Total operating revenue 112,804  31,711  19,707    (10,084) 154,138 
Operating expenses            
Cost of services 33,750  15,156  9,802    (9,366) 49,342 
Cost of goods sold 15,727  56  22      15,805 
Selling, general and administrative 12,135  4,948  1,717  10,668  (718) 28,750 
Depreciation and amortization 33,925  6,024  3,394  144    43,487 
Total operating expenses 95,537  26,184  14,935  10,812  (10,084) 137,384 
Operating income (loss) $17,267  $5,527  $4,772  $(10,812) $  $16,754 

Supplemental Information

Subscriber Statistics

The following table indicates selected operating statistics of Wireless, including Sprint subscribers:

 March 31,
 2019 (2)
 March 31,
 2018 (2)
Postpaid:   
Retail PCS subscribers - postpaid800,952  774,861 
Gross PCS subscriber additions - postpaid50,847  43,077 
Net PCS subscriber additions (losses) - postpaid (3)5,776  38,264 
PCS average monthly retail churn % - postpaid1.89% 1.89%
Prepaid:   
Retail PCS subscribers - prepaid267,220  250,191 
Gross PCS subscriber additions - prepaid40,979  40,111 
Net PCS subscriber additions (losses) - prepaid (4)8,516  24,369 
PCS average monthly retail churn % - prepaid4.14% 4.42%
    
PCS market POPS (000) (1)7,023  7,023 
PCS covered POPS (000) (1)6,261  5,889 
CDMA base stations (sites)1,874  1,742 
Towers owned211  193 
Non-affiliate cell site leases195  192 

_______________________________________________________

  1. "POPS" refers to the estimated population of a given geographic area. Market POPS are those within a market area which we are authorized to serve under our Sprint PCS affiliate agreement, and Covered POPS are those covered by our network. The data source for POPS is U.S. census data.
  2. Beginning February 1, 2018 includes Richmond Expansion Area except for gross PCS subscriber additions.
  3. March 31, 2018 Net PCS subscriber additions - postpaid were a loss of 79, excluding the acquisition of the expansion area on February 1, 2018.
  4. March 31, 2018 Net PCS subscriber additions - prepaid were 8,678, excluding the acquisition of the expansion area on February 1, 2018.

The subscriber stats above, excluding gross additions, include the Richmond Expansion Area as follows:

 February 1,
 2018
 Expansion Area
PCS subscribers - postpaid38,343 
PCS subscribers - prepaid15,691 
Acquired PCS market POPS (000)1,082 
Acquired PCS covered POPS (000)602 
Acquired CDMA base stations (sites)105 

The following table indicates selected operating statistics of Cable:

 March 31,
 2019 (8)
 March 31,
2018
Homes passed (1)189,613  184,975 
Customer relationships (2)   
Video users42,752  43,264 
Non-video customers41,107  35,133 
Total customer relationships83,859  78,397 
Video   
Customers (3)44,119  45,555 
Penetration (4)23.3% 24.6%
Digital video penetration (5)85.7% 75.8%
Broadband   
Users (3)71,549  65,141 
Penetration (4)37.7% 35.2%
Voice   
Users (3)23,836  22,743 
Penetration (4)12.6% 12.3%
Total revenue generating units (6)139,504  133,439 
Fiber route miles3,629  3,371 
Total fiber miles (7)141,230  124,701 
Average revenue generating units136,911  132,865 

_______________________________________________________

  1. Homes and businesses are considered passed (“homes passed”) if we can connect them to our distribution system without further extending the transmission lines. Homes passed is an estimate based upon the best available information. Homes passed have access to video, broadband and voice services.
  2. Customer relationships represent the number of billed customers who receive at least one of our services.
  3. Generally, a dwelling or commercial unit with one or more television sets connected to our distribution system counts as one video customer. Where services are provided on a bulk basis, such as to hotels and some multi-dwelling units, the revenue charged to the customer is divided by the rate for comparable service in the local market to determine the number of customer equivalents included in the customer counts shown above.
  4. Penetration is calculated by dividing the number of users by the number of homes passed or available homes, as appropriate.
  5. Digital video penetration is calculated by dividing the number of digital video users by total video users. Digital video users are video customers who receive any level of video service via digital transmission. A dwelling with one or more digital set-top boxes or digital adapters counts as one digital video user.
  6. Revenue generating units are the sum of video, voice and broadband users.
  7. 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.
  8. Beginning February 28, 2019, includes approximately 4,800 subscribers from the Big Sandy acquisition.
     
     

The following table includes selected operating statistics of the Wireline operations:

  March 31,
 2019
 March 31,
 2018
Long distance subscribers 9,623  8,980 
Video customers (1) 4,656  4,912 
Broadband customers 14,588  14,695 
Fiber route miles 2,170  2,078 
Total fiber miles (2) 162,281  155,188 

_______________________________________________________

  1. Wireline’s video service passes approximately 16,500 homes.
  2. 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.