FairPoint reports net loss for second quarter, revenues down


 

Thu Aug 6 2009

FairPoint Communications, Inc. (NYSE: FRP, FRP.BC) announced Wednesday its financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2009. Net income for the quarter showed a $17.8 million loss, or 20 cents per diluted share. For the first six months, net income showed a loss of $26,595 or 30 cents per diluted share. Revenue totaled $299.6 million for the second quarter of 2009, a 3.9 percent decline compared with $311.6 million in the first quarter of 2009. 

Highlights 

  • Successfully completed an exchange offer for nearly 83 percent of outstanding senior notes enabling the Company to reduce cash interest expense for the second quarter of 2009 by approximately $14.4 million.
  • After giving effect to the conversion of a portion of the Company's cash interest expense to non-cash as a result of the exchange offer, the Company maintained compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Company's senior secured credit facility.
  • Access line equivalents declined by 3.0 percent during the second quarter of 2009 to 1,650,372 compared to 1,700,673 at March 31, 2009.
  • Revenue totaled $299.6 million for the second quarter of 2009, a 3.9 percent decline compared with $311.6 million in the first quarter of 2009.
  • Operating expenses, excluding depreciation, declined by $16.9 million, or 7.1 percent, to $220.7 million during the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of this year.
  • Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP financial measure as defined herein) totaled $99.9 million for the second quarter of 2009, compared with $123.2 million in the first quarter of 2009.  

"Operationally, we continued to make steady progress during the second quarter," stated David Hauser, Chairman and CEO of FairPoint. "The issues experienced with the systems cutover are continuing to improve and most of them are behind us. Going forward, we will be focusing on three primary areas: improving customer service, growing business and broadband revenue and reducing costs." 

"Financially, while we were pleased with the successful completion of the exchange offer with our bondholders in July, this represented only the first step in a more comprehensive debt restructuring. While the exchange offer provides us with additional time, we remain fully committed to permanently deleveraging our current capital structure. Once completed, we will be able to focus all of our attention toward profitably growing the business," concluded Hauser.

Second Quarter Results

Revenue for the second quarter of 2009 totaled $299.6 million, a decline of $12.0 million, or 3.9%, compared to the first quarter of 2009 reflecting the continued decrease in access line equivalents and the weak economic environment. Operating expenses, excluding depreciation, for the second quarter of 2009 totaled $220.7 million, a decline of $16.9 million, or 7.1%, compared to the first quarter of 2009. Cutover related costs totaled $8.7 million in the second quarter of 2009, a decline of $26.6 million from the first quarter which included costs under the transition services agreement with Verizon. Excluding cutover related costs, operating expenses increased by $9.7 million in the second quarter of 2009.

Adjusted EBITDA totaled $99.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2009, compared with $123.2 million for the first quarter of 2009. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA primarily reflects the reduced level of revenue and higher operating expenses incurred for services that were previously covered under the transition services agreement with Verizon, as well as higher bad debt expenses and costs related to the exchange offer.

Operating Metrics

Total access line equivalents were 1,650,372 at June 30, 2009, compared with 1,820,307 at June 30, 2008, a decline of 9.3%. During the second quarter, total access line equivalents declined by 3.0% compared with a decline of 1.6% during the first quarter of 2009 (normalizing for a previously reported one-time first quarter adjustment to access lines identified during the systems cutover).

HSD subscribers totaled 296,107 as of June 30, 2009, a decrease of 1.6% compared with 300,882 at March 31, 2009 and an increase of 0.6% compared with 294,412 at June 30, 2008. HSD subscribers increased by 3.4% in Legacy FairPoint during the second quarter, while declining by 3.3% in the northern New England operations. We believe the decline in northern New England reflects the absence of promotional activity during the first half of 2009 as a result of cutover related issues. Total HSD penetration was 21.9% as of June 30, 2009, compared with 21.5% at March 31, 2009 and 19.3% at June 30, 2008.

Long distance subscribers totaled 605,468 at June 30, 2009, down 2.9% from 623,497 as of March 31, 2009 and down 7.8% compared with a year ago. Long distance penetration was 44.7% at June 30, 2009, compared with 44.5% as of March 31, 2009 and 43.0% a year ago. 

Access Line Equivalents
                                                        % change % change

                                                       6/30/08 to 3/31/09 to
                         6/30/2009 3/31/2009 6/30/2008 6/30/09    6/30/09
                         --------- --------- --------- ---------- ---------
     Residential access
      lines
     ------------------
     Legacy FairPoint      160,065   162,059   176,891     (9.5%)    (1.2%)
     Northern New England 709,633   741,906   819,640    (13.4%)    (4.4%)
                         --------- --------- ---------
                           869,698   903,965   996,531    (12.7%)    (3.8%)
     Business access
      lines
     ------------------
     Legacy FairPoint       51,235    51,344    54,619     (6.2%)    (0.2%)
     Northern New England 331,169   339,074   358,014     (7.5%)    (2.3%)
                         --------- --------- ---------
                           382,404   390,418   412,633     (7.3%)    (2.1%)
 
     Wholesale access
      lines                102,163   105,408   116,731    (12.5%)    (3.1%)
 
       Total voice
        access lines     1,354,265 1,399,791 1,525,895    (11.2%)    (3.3%)
                         --------- --------- ---------
 
     HSD subscribers
     ---------------
     Legacy FairPoint       79,210    76,619    73,326      8.0%      3.4%
     Northern New
      England              216,897   224,263   221,086     (1.9%)    (3.3%)
                         --------- --------- ---------
     Total HSD
       subscribers         296,107   300,882   294,412       0.6%    (1.6%)
 
     Total access line
      equivalents        1,650,372 1,700,673 1,820,307     (9.3%)    (3.0%)
                         ========= ========== =========
 
     Long distance
      subscribers          605,468    623,497   656,599     (7.8%)    (2.9%)
                         ========= ========== =========
 

Cash Flow and Liquidity

For the six months ended June 30, 2009, operating cash flow totaled $28.1 million. Cash flow from operations for the first six months of 2009 was negatively impacted by $43.9 million of expenses related to the systems cutover activities and an increase in accounts receivable, before allowance for uncollectibles, of $29.1 million, largely resulting from cutover related issues. Excluding the impact of these cutover related items, cash flow from operations would have been $101.1 million. The Company also made cash interest payments totaling $107.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2009 which reduced cash flow from operations. Capital expenditures totaled $90.5 million for the first half of 2009.
 
During the second quarter, the Company repurchased $12.0 million aggregate principal amount of its senior notes for $4.2 million in cash.
 
The Company has a highly leveraged capital structure and has essentially fully drawn all borrowings available under its credit facility. In the future, the Company expects that the primary sources of liquidity will be cash flow from operations and cash on hand. Because of systems cutover issues that have prevented the Company from executing fully on its operating plan for 2009, revenue has continued to decline. In addition, cash collections have remained below pre-cutover levels and the Company has incurred significant incremental costs as a result of the cutover issues in its northern New England operations, causing further stress on the Company's liquidity position.
 
Cash and cash equivalents at June 30, 2009 totaled $81.0 million and $2.4 million remained available under the Company's revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2009, after giving effect to the conversion of a portion of the Company's cash interest expense to non-cash as a result of the exchange offer, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants contained in its credit facility.
The Company currently believes that the reduction in its cash interest expense resulting from the consummation of the exchange offer may not be sufficient to prevent a breach of the interest coverage ratio maintenance covenant for the measurement period ending September 30, 2009. In addition, the Company currently expects that it may exceed the leverage ratio maintenance covenant limit contained in its credit facility as early as the measurement period ending September 30, 2009. As a result, the Company has initiated discussions with its bondholders regarding a more comprehensive and permanent restructuring of its current capital structure to reduce its indebtedness and debt service obligations.
 
Conference Call and Webcast
 
As previously announced, FairPoint will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss its second quarter results at 8:30 a.m. (EDT) on August 6, 2009. Participants should call (888) 562-3356 (US/Canada) or (973) 582-2700 (international) at 8:20 a.m. (EDT) and request the FairPoint Communications Second Quarter 2009 Earnings Call or Conference ID# 22824129. A telephonic replay will be available for anyone unable to participate in the live call. To access the replay, call (800) 642-1687 (US/Canada) or (706) 645-9291 (international) and enter confirmation code 22824129. The recording will be available from Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 11:30 a.m. (EDT) through Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. (EDT).
 
A live broadcast of the earnings conference call will be available via the Internet at www.fairpoint.com under the Investors section. An online replay will be available beginning later in the morning on August 6, 2009 and will remain available for one year.
 
During the conference call, representatives of the Company may discuss and answer one or more questions concerning the Company's business and financial matters. The responses to these questions may contain information that has not been previously disclosed.
 
The information in this press release should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and footnotes contained in FairPoint's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). FairPoint's results for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 are subject to the completion and filing with the SEC of its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
 
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
 
Adjusted EBITDA (including Adjusted EBITDA as calculated under FairPoint's credit facility) is a non-GAAP financial measure (i.e., it is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles) and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for consolidated statements of operations and cash flow data prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures used by FairPoint may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. For a definition of and additional information regarding Adjusted EBITDA, and a reconciliation of such measure to the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, please see the attachments to this press release.
 
FairPoint believes Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used in the communications industry to analyze companies on the basis of operating performance, liquidity and leverage. FairPoint believes Adjusted EBITDA allows a standardized comparison between companies in the industry, while minimizing the differences from depreciation policies, financial leverage and tax strategies. In addition, certain covenants in FairPoint's credit facility and the indenture governing its senior notes as well as the regulatory orders issued in connection with the acquisition of the Northern New England business contain ratios based on Adjusted EBITDA. The restricted payment covenants in such agreements and orders regulating the payment of dividends on FairPoint's common stock are also based on Adjusted EBITDA. If FairPoint's Adjusted EBITDA were to decline below certain levels, covenants in FairPoint's credit facility that are based on Adjusted EBITDA may be violated and could cause, among other things, a default under such credit facility.
 
While FairPoint uses Adjusted EBITDA in managing and analyzing its business and financial condition and believes it is useful to its management and investors for the reasons described above, Adjusted EBITDA has certain shortcomings. In particular, Adjusted EBITDA does not represent the residual cash flows available for discretionary expenditures, since items such as debt repayment and interest payments are not deducted from such measure. FairPoint's management compensates for the shortcomings of Adjusted EBITDA by utilizing it in conjunction with its comparable GAAP financial measures.
 
About FairPoint
 
FairPoint Communications, Inc. is an industry leading provider of communications services to communities across the country. Today, FairPoint owns and operates local exchange companies in 18 states offering advanced communications with a personal touch, including local and long distance voice, data, Internet, television and broadband services. FairPoint is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols FRP and FRP.BC. Learn more at www.fairpoint.com

This press release may contain forward-looking statements by FairPoint that are not based on historical fact, including, without limitation, statements containing the words "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "believes," "seeks," "estimates" and similar expressions and statements. Because these forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, there are important factors that could cause actual results, events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Such factors include those risks described from time to time in FairPoint's filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, the risks described in FairPoint's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K on file with the SEC. These factors should be considered carefully and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. All information is current as of the date this press release is issued, and FairPoint undertakes no duty to update this information.

                FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                             June 30,   December 31,
                                               2009        2008
                                               ----        ----
 
                                            (Dollars in thousands)
              Assets
    Current assets:
      Cash                                   $80,964     $70,325
      Restricted cash                          1,981       8,144
      Accounts receivable, net               190,551     173,589
      Materials and supplies                  36,871      38,694
      Other                                   30,268      28,747
      Deferred income tax, net                29,241      31,418
                                              ------      ------
    Total current assets                     369,876     350,917
                                             -------     -------
    Property, plant and equipment, net     1,996,335   2,013,515
    Intangibles assets, net                  223,105     234,481
    Prepaid pension asset                      9,741       8,708
    Debt issue costs, net                     23,617      26,047
    Restricted cash                            1,378      60,359
    Other assets                              16,432      21,094
    Goodwill                                 595,120     619,372
                                             -------     -------
    Total assets                          $3,235,604 $3,334,493
                                          ========== ==========
 
         Liabilities and
       Stockholders' Equity
    Current liabilities:
      Current portion of long term debt      $45,000     $45,000
      Current portion of capital lease
       obligations                             2,046       2,231
      Accounts payable                       158,863     147,778
      Dividends payable                            -      23,008
      Accrued interest payable in cash         3,834      18,844
      Interest rate swaps                     43,438      41,274
      Other non-operating accrued liability        -      19,000
      Other accrued liabilities               68,234      70,887
                                              ------      ------
    Total current liabilities                321,415     368,022
                                             -------     -------
 
    Long term liabilities:
      Capital lease obligations                6,584       7,522
      Accrued pension obligation              49,507      46,801
      Employee benefit obligations           239,152     225,840
      Deferred income taxes                  117,184     154,757
      Unamortized investment tax credits       5,068       5,339
      Accrued interest payable in kind        14,423           -
      Other long term liabilities             18,006      35,492
      Long term debt, net of current
       portion                             2,443,647   2,425,253
      Interest rate swap agreements           19,386      41,681
                                              ------      ------
    Total long term liabilities            2,912,957   2,942,685
                                           ---------   ---------
    Stockholders' equity:
      Common stock                               895         890
      Additional paid-in capital             736,469     735,719
      Retained earnings (deficit)           (604,914)   (578,319)
      Accumulated other comprehensive loss (131,218)   (134,504)
                                            --------    --------
    Total stockholders' equity                 1,232      23,786
                                               -----      ------
    Total liabilities and stockholders'
     equity                               $3,235,604 $3,334,493
                                          ========== ========== 
            FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                      Unaudited Condensed Consolidated
                          Statements of Operations
                          Three months ended   Six months ended
                               June 30,            June 30,
                               --------            --------
                            2009      2008      2009 2008 (1)
                            ----      ----      ---- --------
                                   (Dollars in thousands)
 
    Revenues              $299,611 $344,690 $611,241 $627,104
    --------              -------- -------- -------- --------
    Operating expenses:
      Cost of services
       and sales,
       excluding
       depreciation and
       amortization        122,707   133,900   267,854   269,737
      Selling, general
       and administrative
       expense, excluding
       depreciation and
       amortization         97,986   102,290   190,398   165,406
      Depreciation and
       amortization         68,629    69,741   136,496   123,666
    ------------------      ------    ------   -------   -------
    Total operating
     expenses              289,322   305,931   594,748   558,809
    ---------------        -------   -------   -------   -------
    Income from
     operations             10,289    38,759    16,493    68,295
    -----------             ------    ------    ------    ------
    Other income (expense):
      Interest expense     (54,809) (45,123) (108,288) (59,645)
      Gain on derivative
       instruments           7,233    43,123    20,131    43,123
      Gain on early
       retirement of debt    7,494         -    12,357         -
      Other                    (58)      264    15,857     1,250
    -------                    ---       ---    ------     -----
    Total other expense    (40,140)   (1,736) (59,943) (15,272)
    -------------------    -------    ------   -------   -------
    Income (loss) before
     income taxes          (29,851)   37,023   (43,450)   53,023
    Income tax (expense)
     benefit                12,033   (13,909)   16,855   (20,366)
    --------------------    ------   -------    ------   -------
    Net income (loss)     $(17,818) $23,114 $(26,595) $32,657
    -----------------     --------   ------- --------   -------
 
    Weighted average shares
     outstanding:
      Basic                 89,364    88,725    89,168    62,077
      -----                 ------    ------    ------    ------
      Diluted               89,364    89,190    89,168    62,483
      -------               ------    ------    ------    ------
 
    Earnings per share:
      Basic                 $(0.20)    $0.26    $(0.30)    $0.53
      -----                 ------     -----    ------     -----
      Diluted                (0.20)     0.26     (0.30)     0.52
      -------                -----      ----     -----      ----
    (1) FairPoint completed its acquisition of Verizon
        Communication's wireline and related operations in Maine,
        New Hampshire and Vermont (the "Northern New England
        business") on March 31, 2008. As a result of that
        transaction, which was treated as a "reverse acquisition"
        for accounting purposes, the statement of operations for
        the six months ended June 30, 2008 reflects the operating
        results of the Northern New England business for the three
        month period ending March 31, 2008 and the combined operating
        results of Spinco and Legacy FairPoint for the three month period
        ended June 30, 2008.
             FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
       Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
 
                                                  Six months ended
                                                      June 30,
                                                      --------
                                                  2009       2008
                                                  ----       ----
                                                (Dollars in thousands)
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income (loss)                         $(26,595)    $32,657
                                                 --------     -------
    Adjustments to reconcile net income to
     net cash provided by operating activities
     excluding impact of acquisitions:
        Deferred income taxes                    (18,970)     24,489
        Provision for uncollectible revenue       14,314       7,543
        Depreciation and amortization            136,496     123,666
        Non-cash interest expense                 14,423           -
        SFAS 106 post-retirement accruals         15,908      29,103
        Gain on derivative instruments           (20,131)    (43,123)
        Gain on early retirement of debt, net of
         cash fees                               (12,477)          -
        Other non-cash items                       6,429     (26,406)
        Changes in assets and liabilities
         arising from operations:
          Accounts receivable                    (29,094)    (24,287)
          Prepaid and other assets                (3,350)    (40,750)
          Accounts payable and other
           accrued liabilities                   (31,286)    (38,965)
          Accrued interest payable               (15,011)     18,476
          Other assets and liabilities, net       (2,585)      4,113
        Other                                          -     (16,221)
                                                 -------     -------
            Total adjustments                     54,666      17,638
                                                  ------      ------
              Net cash provided by operating
               activities                         28,071      50,295
                                                  ------      ------
    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Acquired cash balance, net                       -      11,552
      Net capital additions                      (90,493)    (98,348)
      Net proceeds from sales of investments
       and other assets                            1,230         235
                                                   -----         ---
        Net cash used in investing activities    (89,263)    (86,561)
                                                 -------     -------
    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Loan origination costs                        (521)    (29,238)
      Proceeds from issuance of long term debt    50,000   1,676,000
      Repayments of long term debt               (18,673)   (687,491)
      Contributions from Verizon                       -     344,629
      Restricted cash                             65,143     (80,886)
      Repayment of capital lease obligations      (1,122)     (1,637)
      Dividends paid to stockholders             (22,996) (1,173,961)
                                                 ------- ----------
        Net cash provided by
         financing activities                     71,831      47,416
                                                  ------      ------
        Net increase in cash                      10,639      11,150
    Cash, beginning of period                     70,325           -
                                                  ------      ------
    Cash, end of period                          $80,964     $11,150
                                                 =======     =======
                FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                   Revenue and Operating Metrics (unaudited)
                             (Dollars in thousands) 
                                     Three Months Ended
                                     ------------------
 
                  June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,
                    2009      2009        2008          2008       2008
                  -------- --------- ------------ ------------- --------
    Revenues:
    ---------
    Local
     calling
     services     $126,017 $129,032     $135,610     $143,415 $149,591
    Network
     access (1) (2) 98,515    97,038       96,295       94,094   101,402
    Long
     distance
     services       34,754    45,375       46,312       50,161    49,090
    Data and
     Internet
     services       29,062    28,405       29,461       32,873    30,552
    Other
     services (2) 11,263    11,780       11,582        7,712    14,055
 
                  -------- --------     --------     -------- --------
    Total revenue $299,611 $311,630     $319,260     $328,255 $344,690
                  ======== ========     ========     ======== ========
    Operating
     Metrics:
    ---------
    Residential
     voice access
     lines         869,698   903,965      926,610      958,324   996,531
    Business
     voice access
     lines         382,404   390,418      392,496      403,939   412,633
    Wholesale
     Access lines 102,163   105,408      107,243      112,131   116,731
                   -------   -------      -------      -------   -------
       Total
        voice
        access
        lines    1,354,265 1,399,791    1,426,349    1,474,394 1,525,895
 
    HSD
     subscribers   296,107   300,882      295,360      294,134   294,412
                   -------   -------      -------      -------   -------
   Total
     access
     line
     equivalents 1,650,372 1,700,673    1,721,709    1,768,528 1,820,307
                 ========= =========    =========    ========= =========
 
    Long
     distance
     subscribers   605,468   623,497      631,458      643,844   656,599
                   =======   =======      =======      =======   =======
    (1) During the first quarter of 2009, the Company reclassified certain
         revenues from network access revenues to local calling services
         revenue. Prior period revenues were also reclassified for comparison
         purposes.
    (2) During the third and fourth quarters of 2008, the Company recorded
         certain revenue adjustments/reclassifications that related to prior
         periods. The table below shows the revenue for the affected category
         as if the adjustments were reflected in the appropriate period: 
                                    Three Months Ended
                                    ------------------
                        Normalized      Normalized       Normalized
                       December 31,    September 30,       June 30,
                           2008             2008             2008
                       ------------    -------------   --------------
         Revenues:
         Local calling
          services        $135,610         $143,415        $149,591
         Network
          access            96,295           96,094          99,402
         Long distance
          services          46,312           50,161          49,090
         Data and
          Internet
          services          30,814           31,520          30,552
         Other
          services          11,582           10,994          10,773
 
                          --------         --------        --------
         Total revenue    $320,613         $332,184        $339,408
                          ========         ========        ========
                FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
     Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income under GAAP to Adjusted EBITDA
                                  (Non-GAAP)
                            (Dollars in thousands)
                                      Three Months Ended
                                      ------------------
                       June 30, March 31, Dec. 31, Sept. 30,   June 30,
                        2009       2009       2008     2008       2008
                        ----       ----       ----     ----       ----
 
    Net Income      $(17,818)    $(8,777) $(76,072) $(25,109)   $23,114
    Depreciation
     and amortization 68,629      67,867    70,598    60,768     69,741
    Interest expense 54,809      53,479    52,730    49,665     45,123
    Income taxes     (12,033)     (4,822) (46,598) (17,176)    13,909
                      ------       -----     -----     -----      -----
                      93,587     107,747       658    68,148    151,887
                      ------       -----     -----     -----      -----
    Non-cash (gain)
     loss on
     derivatives      (7,233)    (12,898)   49,909     5,014    (43,123)
    Non-cash gain
     on repurchase
     of debt          (7,614)     (4,863)        -         -          -
    Transition
     services agreement    -      15,895    49,597    49,550     49,476
    Other merger and
     cutover related
     costs (1)             -       9,618    26,871    15,191     10,095
    Other non-cash
     items (2)        12,152       9,589     9,128     5,723      5,723
                      ------       -----     -----     -----      -----
 
    Adjusted EBITDA
     (Covenant) (3) $90,892    $125,088 $136,163 $143,626   $174,058
                       =====       =====     =====     =====      =====
    Other adjustments
     to EBITDA:
       Cutover costs
        in excess of
        cumulative
        cap (4)        8,653       9,743         -         -          -
       Restructuring
        and
        severance
        costs          1,330         451         -         -          -
       Non-cash
        accrual
        for
        compensated
        absences (5)    (989)      2,966         -         -          -
       Revenue and
        expense
        adjustments
        related to
        prior
        periods (6)        -           -     1,353     4,956     (6,309)
       Other income (7)    -     (15,000)        -         -          -
                      ------       -----     -----     -----      -----
    Adjusted EBITDA $99,886    $123,248 $137,516 $148,582  $167,749
                       =====       =====    =====      =====      =====
    (1) Other one-time items related to the merger and systems cutover
         primarily include training costs, recruiting and relocation costs,
         brand and promotional marketing costs, systems development costs and
         travel costs.
    (2) Includes non-cash pension, OPEB and stock based compensation
         expenses.
    (3) Adjusted EBITDA is defined in FairPoint's credit facility as net
         income (loss) before interest expense and provision (benefit) for
         income taxes and depreciation and amortization, excluding unusual or
         one-time non-recurring items (including costs related to the use of
         Verizon's systems and services under the transition services
         agreement as well as other costs related to the cutover to
         FairPoint's newly developed systems platform), non-cash items related
         to pension and OPEB, stock based compensation and other costs and
         adjustments related to the acquisition of the Northern New England
         business.
    (4) Represents one-time costs incurred in connection with the systems
         cutover which exceeded the cumulative cap of $61 million for allowed
         cutover related add-backs as provided in the Company's credit
         facility.
    (5) Reflects a non-cash accrual recorded in the first quarter of 2009 for
         vacation pay for the full year 2009 for employees of the northern New
         England operations which fully vested on January 1, 2009. The non-
         cash accrual will be relieved throughout 2009 as employees use their
         accrued vacation.
    (6) Includes certain revenue and expense adjustments related to prior
         quarters.
    (7) Other income for the three months ended March 31, 2009 represents a
         gain resulting from the one-time payment made by Verizon to the
         Company pursuant to the transition agreement entered into on January
         30, 2009.
                  FAIRPOINT COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
          Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statement of Operations (Non-GAAP)
                      For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
                       (in thousands, except per share data) 
                                                                    Pro Forma
                         Results of                                 Results
                         Operations Legacy   Merger                for
                         Under GAAP FairPoint Related   Pro Forma   Combined
                            (a)        (b)    Costs(c) Adjustments Businesses
                         ---------- --------- --------- ----------- ----------
 
    Revenues              $627,104    67,927     -       (923)(e)    $694,108
                          --------    ------   ---       ----        --------
    Operating
     expenses:
       Cost of
        services
        and sales,
        excluding
        depreciation
        and
        amortization       269,737    27,511     -    (10,131)(d)(e) 287,117
       Selling,
        general
        and
        administrative
        expense            165,406    59,010     -    (50,286)(e)(f) 174,130
       Depreciation
        and
        amortization       123,666    13,299     -      5,436(g)      142,401
       Gain on
        sale of
        operating
        assets                   -         -     -          -              -
                               ---       ---   ---        ---            ---
         Total
          operating
          expenses         558,809    99,820     -    (54,981)       603,648
                          --------    ------   ---    -------        -------
         Income from
          operations        68,295   (31,893)    -     54,058         90,460
                          --------    ------   ---     ------         ------
    Other
     income
     (expense):
       Interest
        expense           (59,645)   (11,083)    -    (21,510)(h)(i) (92,238)
       Interest
        and
        dividend
        income                  -        713     -          -            713
       Gain
        (loss)
        on
        derivative
        instruments        43,123    (22,259)    -          -         20,864
       Other
        nonoperating,
        net                 1,250    (32,419)    -     32,419(j)       1,250
                            -----    -------   ---     ------          -----
         Total
          other
          expense         (15,272)   (65,048)    -     10,909        (69,411)
                          -------    -------   ---     ------        -------
 
    Income
     before
     income
     taxes                 53,023    (96,941)    -     64,967         21,049
    Income
     tax
    (expense)
     benefit              (20,366)    31,567     -    (18,650)(k)     (7,449)
                          -------     ------   ---    -------         ------
         Net
          income          $32,657    (65,374)    -     46,317        $13,600
                          =======    =======   ===     ======        =======
    Basic
     weighted
     average
     shares
     outstanding         62,077.0                                   88,669.0
    Diluted
     weighted
     average
     shares
     outstanding         62,483.0                                   89,539.0
 
    Basic
     earnings
     per common
     share                  $0.53                                      $0.15
 
    Diluted
     earnings
     per common
     share                  $0.52                                      $0.15
    Note: The unaudited pro forma combined financial statements have been
    prepared using the purchase method of accounting as if the transaction
    with Verizon had been completed as of January 1, 2008. The unaudited pro
    forma combined financial statements give effect to (1) the contribution by
    Verizon of assets comprising its local exchange business in Maine, New
    Hampshire and Vermont to Spinco, a subsidiary of Verizon, (2) the spin-off
    of Spinco to Verizon stockholders and (3) the merger of Spinco with
    FairPoint accounted for as a reverse acquisition of FairPoint by
    Spinco, with Spinco considered the accounting acquirer.
    The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited pro forma
    combined condensed financial statements.
    (a) Reflects the GAAP results of FairPoint Communications, Inc. and
         subsidiaries for the six months ended June 30, 2008.
    (b) Reflects the standalone results for the Legacy FairPoint business for
         the quarter ended March 31, 2008.
    (c) Reflects nonrecurring transition and transaction costs incurred by
         FairPoint prior to the closing of the merger.
    (d) This adjustment reflects revenues and related expenses associated
         with VoIP and wireless directory assistance services which were not
         transferred to Spinco. For the three months ended March 31, 2008,
         the Northern New England business recorded approximately $923
         thousand in revenue and $847 thousand in expenses associated with
         VoIP and wireless directory assistance services. In addition, it
         reflects certain revenues and related expenses associated with
         customers of VSSI-CPE that were not transferred to Spinco.
    (e) This adjustment reflects the reduction in pension and OPEB expense of
         $11,905 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2008 for the
         Northern New England business, determined using an actuarial study of
         employees to eliminate the pension and OPEB expenses that were not
         transferred to Spinco. Of the $11,905 thousand adjustment, $9,284
         thousand was included in cost of services and sales and $2,621
         thousand was included in selling, general and administrative
         expenses.
    (f) This adjustment is to eliminate merger related costs of $47,665
         thousand incurred by Legacy FairPoint prior to the consummation of
         the merger during the three months ended March 31, 2008 which are
         directly related to the merger and related transactions.
 
    (g) This adjustment reflects the amortization of the finite-lived
         identifiable intangible assets recorded in this transaction. The
         weighted average estimated life of FairPoint's customer relationships
         is estimated to be 9.7 years and amortization expense is $5,436
         thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2008.
    (h) This adjustment reflects the removal of allocated interest expense of
         $14,522 thousand recorded by the Northern New England business during
         the three month period ended March 31, 2008 associated with affiliate
         notes payables and long term debts held by Verizon.
    (i) This adjusts reported interest expense to the pro forma interest
         expense to be recognized on the debt structure of the combined
         company following the spin-off and merger. The adjustment considers
         (1) the interest expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008
         recognized on the newly issued debt of the combined company, (2) the
         amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs associated with the
         newly issued debt, and (3) the elimination of interest expense and
         amortization of debt issuance costs related to the debt of Legacy
         FairPoint that was repaid upon consummation of the merger.
    (j) This adjustment consists of fees and charges incurred in connection
         with the closing of the spin-off and merger, principally including
         investment banking fees, write-off of debt issuance costs on Legacy
         FairPoint's old credit facility and other costs incurred at the
         closing of the merger.
    (k) This adjustment reflects the income tax impact on adjustments
         described above. 

 

Source: FairPoint Communicatioins.  CHARLOTTE, N.C., Aug. 5, 2009 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ --