TMCnet News

Level 3 Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results
[August 02, 2017]

Level 3 Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results


BROOMFIELD, Colo., Aug. 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) today reported results for the quarter ended June 30, 2017.

"Level 3 continues to focus on delivering profitable growth and expanding margins," said Jeff Storey, president and CEO of Level 3. "With the CenturyLink team, we have gained good traction on integration planning. I am excited to become part of the combined company management team when the transaction closes, as I believe the combination with CenturyLink will enable us to deliver significant value to our stockholders, customers and employees."

Total revenue was $2.061 billion for the second quarter 2017, compared to $2.056 billion for the second quarter 2016. In the second quarter 2017, the company generated net income of $154 million and basic earnings per share of $0.42.

Financial Results



 

Metric

($ in millions)

Second
Quarter
2017

Second
Quarter
2016(1)

Core Network Services Revenue

$1,965

$1,956

Wholesale Voice Services Revenue

$96

$100

Total Revenue

$2,061

$2,056

Network Access Costs

$675

$676

Network Access Margin

67.2%

67.1%

Network Related Expenses (NRE)(2)

$331

$335

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses (SG&A)(2)

$333

$330

Non-cash Compensation Expense

$39

$31

Adjusted EBITDA(3)

$722

$715

Adjusted EBITDA, excluding acquisition-related expenses(3)(4)

$744

$715

Adjusted EBITDA Margin(3)

35.0%

34.8%

Adjusted EBITDA Margin, excluding acquisition-related expenses(3)(4)

36.1%

34.8%

Cash Flows from Operating Activities(3)(5)

$564

$631

Capital Expenditures

$328

$367

Capital Expenditures, excluding acquisition-related capital expenditures(6)

$322

$367

Unlevered Cash Flow(3)

$359

$396

Unlevered Cash Flow, excluding acquisition-related expenses(3)(5)

$362

$396

Free Cash Flow(3)

$233

$264

Free Cash Flow, excluding acquisition-related expenses(3)(5)

$236

$264

Net Income(7) 

$154

$156

Net Income per Common Share-Basic(7)

$0.42

$0.44

Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (in thousands)- Basic

362,385

357,924



(1)

The reported second quarter 2016 results have been adjusted to reflect changes made to customer assignments between the wholesale and enterprise channels as of the beginning of 2017.

(2)

Excludes non-cash compensation expense.

(3)

See schedule of non-GAAP metrics for definitions and reconciliation to GAAP measures.

(4)

In the second quarter 2017, acquisition-related expenses were $22 million.

(5)

In the second quarter 2017, cash paid for acquisition-related expenses was $3 million.

(6)

In the second quarter 2017, acquisition-related capital expenditures were $6 million.

(7)

Results for the second quarter 2016 have been adjusted to reflect the Company's adoption of Account Standards Update 2016-09, Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.

Second Quarter 2017 Revenue Results

 

 

Core Network
Services (CNS)
Revenue

($ in millions)

 

 

Second

Quarter
2017

Second

Quarter
2016(1)

2Q17/2Q16

Percent
Change

2Q17/2Q16

Percent
Change,
Constant
Currency
  

North America

$1,607

$1,605

-%

-%

Wholesale

$415

$443

(6%)

(6%)

Enterprise

$1,192

$1,162

3%

3%






EMEA

$176

$191

(8%)

(3%)

Wholesale

$55

$61

(10%)

(6%)

Enterprise

$107

$112

(4%)

-%

UK Government

$14

$18

(22%)

(9%)






Latin America

$182

$160

14%

11%

Wholesale

$36

$37

(3%)

(3%)

Enterprise

$146

$123

19%

16%






Total CNS Revenue

$1,965

$1,956

-%

1%

Wholesale

$506

$541

(6%)

(6%)

Enterprise

$1,459

$1,415

3%

3%



(1)

The reported second quarter 2016 results have been adjusted to reflect changes made to customer assignments between the wholesale and enterprise channels as of the beginning of 2017.

Liquidity

As of June 30, 2017, the company had cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities of $2.2 billion.

2017 Business Outlook

"We remain confident in and are reiterating our outlook for Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow," said Sunit Patel, executive vice president and CFO of Level 3. "For the full year 2017, we continue to expect Adjusted EBITDA of $2.94 to $3.00 billion and Free Cash Flow of $1.10 to $1.16 billion, excluding CenturyLink acquisition-related expenses. All other outlook measures also remain unchanged."

Metrics(1)

2017 Outlook

Adjusted EBITDA

$2.94 to $3.00 billion

Free Cash Flow

$1.10 to $1.16 billion

GAAP Interest Expense

$540 million

Cash Interest Expense

$520 million

Capital Expenditures

16% of Total Revenue

Depreciation and Amortization

$1.35 billion

Cash Income Tax

$40 million

Non-cash Compensation Expense

$170 million

Full Year Income Tax Rate

~38%


(1) All outlook measures exclude CenturyLink acquisition-related expenses.

Conference Call and Website Information

Level 3 will broadcast a live conference call on its Investor Relations website, http://investors.level3.com at 3:30 p.m. MT/5:30 p.m. ET. Additional information regarding the second quarter 2017 results, including the presentation management will review on the conference call, will be available on Level 3's Investor Relations website. If you are unable to join the call via the Web, the call can be accessed live at +1 877-283-5145 (U.S. Domestic) or +1 312-281-1200 (International).

The call will be archived and available as an audio replay on Level 3's Investor Relations website starting at 7 p.m. ET August 3 until 6 p.m. ET October 31, 2017. The replay can be accessed by dialing +1 800-633-8284 (U.S. Domestic) or +1 402-977-9140 (International), reservation code 21854939.

For additional information, please call +1 720-888-2518.

Contact Information



Media:                                   

Investors:

D. Nikki Wheeler                     

Mark Stoutenberg

+1 720-888-0560                      

+1 720-888-2518

[email protected]       

[email protected]

About Level 3 Communications

Level 3 Communications, Inc. (NYSE: LVLT) is a Fortune 500 company that provides local, national and global communications services to enterprise, government and carrier customers. Level 3's comprehensive portfolio of secure, managed solutions includes fiber and infrastructure solutions; IP-based voice and data communications; wide-area Ethernet services; video and content distribution; data center and cloud-based solutions. Level 3 serves customers in more than 500 markets in over 60 countries across a global services platform anchored by owned fiber networks on three continents and connected by extensive undersea facilities. For more information, please visit www.level3.com or get to know us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

© Level 3 Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Level 3, Level 3 Communications, Level (3) and the Level 3 Logo are either registered service marks or service marks of Level 3 Communications, LLC and/or one of its Affiliates in the United States and elsewhere. Any other service names, product names, company names or logos included herein are the trademarks or service marks of their respective owners. Level 3 services are provided by subsidiaries of Level 3 Communications, Inc.

Forward Looking Statements

Some statements made in this press release are forward-looking in nature and are based on management's current expectations or beliefs. These forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside Level 3's control, which could cause actual events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the statements. Important factors that could prevent Level 3 from achieving its stated goals include, but are not limited to, the company's ability to: increase revenue from its services to realize its targets for financial and operating performance; develop and maintain effective business support systems; manage system and network failures or disruptions; avert the breach of its network and computer system security measures; develop new services that meet customer demands and generate acceptable margins; manage the future expansion or adaptation of its network to remain competitive; defend intellectual property and proprietary rights; manage risks associated with continued uncertainty in the global economy; manage continued or accelerated decreases in market pricing for communications services; obtain capacity for its network from other providers and interconnect its network with other networks on favorable terms; successfully integrate future acquisitions; effectively manage political, legal, regulatory, foreign currency and other risks it is exposed to due to its substantial international operations; mitigate its exposure to contingent liabilities; and meet all of the terms and conditions of its debt obligations. Additional information concerning these and other important factors can be found within Level 3's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Statements in this press release should be evaluated in light of these important factors. Level 3 is under no obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Except for the historical and factual information contained herein, the matters set forth in this communication, including statements regarding the expected timing and benefits of the proposed transaction, such as efficiencies, cost savings, enhanced revenues, growth potential, market profile and financial strength, and the competitive ability and position of the combined company, and other statements identified by words such as "will," "estimates," "anticipates," "believes," "expects," "projects," "plans," "intends," "may," "should," "could," "seeks" and similar expressions, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond our control.  These forward-looking statements, and the assumptions upon which they are based, (i) are not guarantees of future results, (ii) are inherently speculative and (iii) are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual events and results may differ materially from those anticipated, estimated, projected or implied in those statements if one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect. Factors that could affect actual results include but are not limited to:  the ability of the parties to timely and successfully receive the required approvals for the combination from regulatory agencies free of conditions materially adverse to the parties and from their respective shareholders; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the proposed transaction cannot be fully realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the possibility that costs, difficulties or disruptions related to the integration of Level 3's operations with those of CenturyLink will be greater than expected; the ability of the combined company to retain and hire key personnel; the effects of competition from a wide variety of competitive providers, including lower demand for CenturyLink's legacy offerings; the effects of new, emerging or competing technologies, including those that could make the combined company's products less desirable or obsolete; the effects of ongoing changes in the regulation of the communications industry, including the outcome of regulatory or judicial proceedings relating to intercarrier compensation, interconnection obligations, access charges, universal service, broadband deployment, data protection and net neutrality; adverse changes in CenturyLink's or the combined company's access to credit markets on favorable terms, whether caused by changes in its financial position, lower debt credit ratings, unstable markets or otherwise; the combined company's ability to effectively adjust to changes in the communications industry, and changes in the composition of its markets and product mix; possible changes in the demand for, or pricing of, the combined company's products and services, including the combined company's ability to effectively respond to increased demand for high-speed broadband service; changes in the operating plans, capital allocation plans or corporate strategies of the combined company, whether based on changes in market conditions, changes in the cash flows or financial position of the combined company, or otherwise; the combined company's ability to successfully maintain the quality and profitability of its existing product and service offerings and to introduce new offerings on a timely and cost-effective basis; the adverse impact on the combined company's business and network from possible equipment failures, service outages, security breaches or similar events impacting its network; the combined company's ability to maintain favorable relations with key business partners, suppliers, vendors, landlords and financial institutions; the ability of the combined company to utilize net operating losses in amounts projected; changes in the future cash requirements of the combined company; and other risk factors and cautionary statements as detailed from time to time in each of CenturyLink's and Level 3's reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Due to these risks and uncertainties, there can be no assurance that the proposed combination or any other transaction described above will in fact be completed in the manner described or at all.  You should be aware that new factors may emerge from time to time and it is not possible for us to identify all such factors nor can we predict the impact of each such factor on the proposed combination or the combined company.  You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication.  Unless legally required, CenturyLink and Level 3 undertake no obligation and each expressly disclaim any such obligation, to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed events or otherwise.

Additional Information

In connection with the proposed combination, CenturyLink filed a registration statement on Form S-4 with the SEC (Registration Statement No. 333-215121), which was declared effective by the SEC on February 13, 2017. CenturyLink and Level 3 have filed a joint proxy statement/prospectus and will file other relevant documents concerning the proposed transaction with the SEC. CenturyLink and Level 3 began mailing the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus to their respective security holders on or about February 13, 2017. The definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus, dated as of February 13, 2017, contains important information about CenturyLink, Level 3, the proposed combination and related matters.  INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE PROPOSED COMBINATION OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS CAREFULLY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus and the filings that are incorporated by reference in the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus, as well as other filings containing information about CenturyLink and Level 3, free of charge, at the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.  Investors and security holders may also obtain these documents free of charge by directing a request to CenturyLink, 100 CenturyLink Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 71203, Attention: Corporate Secretary, or to Level 3, 1025 Eldorado Boulevard, Broomfield, Colorado 80021, Attention: Investor Relations.

Level 3 Communications:

Non-GAAP Metrics

Pursuant to Regulation G, the company is hereby providing definitions of non-GAAP financial metrics and reconciliations to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.

The following describes and reconciles those financial measures as reported under accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) with those financial measures as adjusted by the items detailed below and presented in the accompanying news release. These calculations are not prepared in accordance with GAAP and should not be viewed as alternatives to GAAP. In keeping with its historical financial reporting practices, the company believes that the supplemental presentation of these calculations provides meaningful non-GAAP financial measures to help investors understand and compare business trends among different reporting periods on a consistent basis.

In addition, measures referred to in the accompanying news release as being calculated "on a constant currency basis" or "in constant currency terms" are non-GAAP metrics intended to present the relevant information assuming a constant exchange rate between the two periods being compared. Such metrics are calculated by applying the currency exchange rates used in the preparation of the prior period financial results to the subsequent period results.

Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries





Quarterly Constant Currency







2Q16 FX

1Q17 FX




2Q16 FX


1Q17 FX

CNS Revenue ($ in millions)

2Q17

2Q17
Constant
Currency

2Q17
Constant
Currency

2Q16(2)

1Q17

2Q17/
2Q16
%Change

2Q17
Constant
Currency/
2Q16
%Change(3)

2Q17/1Q17
  %Change

2Q17
Constant
Currency/
1Q17
%Change(3)

North America

$

1,607


$

1,607


$

1,607


$

1,605


$

1,594


0.1

%

0.1

%

0.8

%

0.8

%

Wholesale

$

415


$

415


$

415


$

443


$

403


(6.3)

%

(6.3)

%

3.0

%

3.0

%

Enterprise

$

1,192


$

1,192


$

1,192


$

1,162


$

1,191


2.6

%

2.6

%

0.1

%

0.1

%











EMEA

$

176


$

186


$

172


$

191


$

175


(7.9)

%

(2.5)

%

0.6

%

(1.7)

%

Wholesale

$

55


$

58


$

54


$

61


$

55


(9.8)

%

(6.0)

%

%

(2.0)

%

Enterprise

$

107


$

112


$

105


$

112


$

106


(4.5)

%

0.4

%

0.9

%

(1.3)

%

UK Govt

$

14


$

16


$

13


$

18


$

14


(22.2)

%

(9.0)

%

%

(3.3)

%











Latin America

$

182


$

178


$

183


$

160


$

177


13.8

%

11.3

%

2.8

%

3.4

%

Wholesale

$

36


$

35


$

36


$

37


$

36


(2.7)

%

(3.0)

%

%

1.7

%

Enterprise

$

146


$

143


$

147


$

123


$

141


18.7

%

15.5

%

3.5

%

3.8

%











Total CNS Revenue

$

1,965


$

1,971


$

1,962


$

1,956


$

1,946


0.5

%

0.8

%

1.0

%

0.8

%

Wholesale

$

506


$

508


$

505


$

541


$

494


(6.5)

%

(6.0)

%

2.4

%

2.1

%

Enterprise(1)

$

1,459


$

1,463


$

1,457


$

1,415


$

1,452


3.1

%

3.4

%

0.5

%

0.3

%











Total CNS Revenue

$

1,965


$

1,971


$

1,962


$

1,956


$

1,946


0.5

%

0.8

%

1.0

%

0.8

%

Wholesale Voice Services

96


96


96


100


102


(4.0)

%

(3.7)

%

(5.9)

%

(5.1)

%

Total Revenue

$

2,061


$

2,067


$

2,058


$

2,056


$

2,048


0.2

%

0.6

%

0.6

%

0.5

%






(1)

Includes UK Government




(2)

The 2016 results have been adjusted to reflect changes made to customer assignments between the wholesale and enterprise channels as of the beginning of 2017.

(3)

Percentages are calculated using whole numbers. Minor differences may exist due to rounding.

Consolidated Revenue is defined as total revenue from the Consolidated Statements of Income.

Core Network Services Revenue includes revenue from colocation and datacenter services, transport and fiber, IP and data services, and voice services (local and enterprise).

Network Access Costs includes leased capacity, right-of-way costs, access charges, satellite transponder lease costs and other third party costs directly attributable to providing access to customer locations from the Level 3 network, but excludes Network Related Expenses, and depreciation and amortization. Network Access Costs do not include any employee expenses or impairment expenses; these expenses are allocated to Network Related Expenses or Selling, General and Administrative Expenses.

Network Related Expenses includes certain expenses associated with the delivery of services to customers and the operation and maintenance of the Level 3 network, such as facility rent, utilities, maintenance and other costs, each related to the operation of its communications network, as well as salaries, wages and related benefits (including non-cash stock-based compensation expenses) associated with personnel who are responsible for the delivery of services, operation and maintenance of its communications network, and accretion expense on asset retirement obligations, but excludes depreciation and amortization.

Network Access Margin ($) is defined as total Revenue less Network Access Costs from the Consolidated Statements of Income, and excludes Network Related Expenses.

Network Access Margin (%) is defined as Network Access Margin ($) divided by total Revenue. Management believes that network access margin is a relevant metric to provide to investors, as it is a metric that management uses to measure the margin available to the company after it pays third party network services costs; in essence, a measure of the efficiency of the company's network.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) from the Consolidated Statements of Income before income tax (expense) benefit, total other income (expense), non-cash impairment charges, depreciation and amortization and non-cash stock compensation expense.

Adjusted EBITDA Margin is defined as Adjusted EBITDA divided by total revenue.

Adjusted EBITDA Metric

($ in millions)

2Q17

2Q16

Net Income

$

154


$

156


Income Tax Expense

69


34


Total Other Expense

130


184


Depreciation and Amortization

330


310


Non-Cash Stock Compensation

39


31


Adjusted EBITDA

$

722


$

715


Add back: Acquisition-Related Expenses

22



Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Acquisition-Related Expenses

$

744


$

715





Total Revenue

$

2,061


$

2,056


Adjusted EBITDA Margin

35.0

%

34.8

%

Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Acquisition-Related Expenses Margin

36.1

%

34.8

%

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are relevant and useful metrics to provide to investors, as they are an important part of the company's internal reporting and are key measures used by Management to evaluate profitability and operating performance of the company and to make resource allocation decisions.  Management believes such measures are especially important in a capital-intensive industry such as telecommunications.  Management also uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin to compare the company's performance to that of its competitors and to eliminate certain non-cash and non-operating items in order to consistently measure from period to period its ability to fund capital expenditures, fund growth, service debt and determine bonuses.  Adjusted EBITDA excludes non-cash impairment charges and non-cash stock compensation expense because of the non-cash nature of these items. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes interest income, interest expense and income taxes because these items are associated with the company's capitalization and tax structures. Adjusted EBITDA also excludes depreciation and amortization expense because these non-cash expenses primarily reflect the impact of historical capital investments, as opposed to the cash impacts of capital expenditures made in recent periods, which may be evaluated through cash flow measures.  Adjusted EBITDA excludes the gain (or loss) on extinguishment and modification of debt and other, net because these items are not related to the primary operations of the company.

There are limitations to using Adjusted EBITDA as a financial measure, including the difficulty associated with comparing companies that use similar performance measures whose calculations may differ from the company's calculations. Additionally, this financial measure does not include certain significant items such as interest income, interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, non-cash impairment charges, non-cash stock compensation expense, the gain (or loss) on extinguishment and modification of debt and net other income (expense). Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin should not be considered a substitute for other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP.

Unlevered Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures, plus cash interest paid and less interest income all as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows or the Consolidated Statements of Income. Management believes that Unlevered Cash Flow is a relevant metric to provide to investors, as it is an indicator of the operational strength and performance of the company and, measured over time, provides management and investors with a sense of the underlying business' growth pattern and ability to generate cash.  Unlevered Cash Flow excludes cash used for acquisitions and debt service and the impact of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents balances.

There are material limitations to using Unlevered Cash Flow to measure the company's cash performance as it excludes certain material items such as payments on and repurchases of long-term debt, interest income, cash interest expense and cash used to fund acquisitions. Comparisons of Level 3's Unlevered Cash Flow to that of some of its competitors may be of limited usefulness since Level 3 does not currently pay a significant amount of income taxes due to net operating loss carryforwards, and therefore, generates higher cash flow than a comparable business that does pay income taxes. Additionally, this financial measure is subject to variability quarter over quarter as a result of the timing of payments related to accounts receivable and accounts payable and capital expenditures. Unlevered Cash Flow should not be used as a substitute for net change in cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Free Cash Flow is defined as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less capital expenditures as disclosed in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. Management believes that Free Cash Flow is a relevant metric to provide to investors, as it is an indicator of the company's ability to generate cash to service its debt. Free Cash Flow excludes cash used for acquisitions, principal repayments and the impact of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents balances.

There are material limitations to using Free Cash Flow to measure the company's performance as it excludes certain material items such as principal payments on and repurchases of long-term debt and cash used to fund acquisitions. Comparisons of Level 3's Free Cash Flow to that of some of its competitors may be of limited usefulness since Level 3 does not currently pay a significant amount of income taxes due to net operating loss carryforwards, and therefore, generates higher cash flow than a comparable business that does pay income taxes. Additionally, this financial measure is subject to variability quarter over quarter as a result of the timing of payments related to interest expense, accounts receivable and accounts payable and capital expenditures. Free Cash Flow should not be used as a substitute for net change in cash and cash equivalents on the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

Unlevered Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow


($ in millions)



2Q17 




2Q16



Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities


$

561



$

631



Capital Expenditures


(328)



(367)



Free Cash Flow


$

233



$

264



Cash Interest Paid


129



133



Interest Income


(3)



(1)



Unlevered Cash Flow


$

359



$

396





















Free Cash Flow


$

233



$

264



Add back: Cash Acquisition-Related Expenses


3





Free Cash Flow Excluding Cash Acquisition-Related Expenses


$

236



$

264









Unlevered Cash Flow


$

359



$

396



Add back: Cash Acquisition-Related Expenses


3





Unlevered Cash Flow Excluding Cash Acquisition-Related Expenses


$

362



$

396



Debt is defined as total gross debt, including capital leases from the Footnotes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

Net Debt to Last Twelve Months (LTM) Adjusted EBITDA Ratio is defined as Debt, reduced by cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities and divided by LTM Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Acquisition-Related Expenses.

Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries

LTM Adjusted EBITDA

($ in millions)

3Q16

4Q16

1Q17

2Q17

Total:
LTM

Total Revenue

$

2,033


$

2,032


$

2,048


$

2,061


$

8,174


Network Access Costs

(675)


(680)


(691)


(675)


(2,721)


Network Related Expenses

(337)


(332)


(336)


(337)


(1,342)


Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

(348)


(346)


(364)


(366)


(1,424)


Add back: Non-Cash Compensation Expenses

43


35


48


39


165


Adjusted EBITDA

$

716


$

709


$

705


$

722


$

2,852








Add back: Acquisition-Related Expenses


15


20


22


57


Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Acquisition-Related Expenses

$

716


$

724


$

725


$

744


$

2,909


 

Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries

Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA ratio as of June 30, 2017

($ in millions)

Debt

$

11,007


Cash and Cash Equivalents

(1,056)


Marketable Securities

(1,127)


Net Debt

$

8,824


LTM Adjusted EBITDA Excluding Acquisition-Related Expenses

$

2,909


Net Debt to LTM Adjusted EBITDA Ratio

3.0


Outlook
In order to provide our outlook with respect to non-GAAP metrics, we are required to indicate a range for GAAP measures that are components of the reconciliation of the non-GAAP metric. The provision of these ranges is in no way meant to indicate that the company is explicitly or implicitly providing an outlook on those GAAP components of the reconciliation. In order to reconcile the non-GAAP financial metric to GAAP, the company has to use ranges for the GAAP components that arithmetically add up to the non-GAAP financial metric. While the company feels reasonably comfortable about the outlook for its non-GAAP financial metrics, it fully expects that the ranges used for the GAAP components will vary from actual results. We will consider our outlook of non-GAAP financial metrics to be accurate if the specific non-GAAP metric is met or exceeded, even if the GAAP components of the reconciliation are different from those provided in an earlier reconciliation.

Level 3 Communications, Inc. and Consolidated Subsidiaries

Outlook




Adjusted EBITDA Outlook


Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2017



Range

($ in millions)


Low


High

Net Income


$

500



$

590


Income Tax Expense


330



360


Total Other Expense


570



550


Depreciation and Amortization Expense


1,360



1,340


Non-Cash Compensation Expense


180



160


Adjusted EBITDA


$

2,940



$

3,000

















Free Cash Flow Outlook


Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2017



Range

($ in millions)


Low


High

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities


$

2,420



$

2,520


Capital Expenditures


(1,320)



(1,360)


Free Cash Flow


$

1,100



$

1,160


 

Attachment #1

LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Income

(unaudited)










Three Months Ended

(dollars in millions, except per share data)

June 30, 2017

March 31, 2017

June 30, 2016





Revenue

$         2,061

$           2,048

$         2,056





Costs and Expenses




Network access costs

675

691

676

Network related expenses

337

336

339

Depreciation and amortization

330

320

310

Selling, general and administrative expenses

366

364

357

   Total Costs and Expenses

1,708

1,711

1,682





Operating Income

353

337

374





Other Income (Expense):




Interest income

3

2

1

Interest expense

(132)

(134)

(140)

Loss on modification and extinguishment of debt

(44)

(40)

Other, net

(1)

4

(5)

   Total Other Expense

(130)

(172)

(184)





Income Before Income Taxes

223

165

190





Income Tax Expense

(69)

(70)

(34)





Net Income

$            154

$                95

$            156





Basic Earnings per Common Share:




Net Income per Share

$           0.42

$             0.26

$           0.44

Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding (in thousands)

362,385

361,461

357,924





Diluted Earnings per Common Share:




Net Income per Share

$           0.42

$             0.26

$           0.43

Weighted-Average Shares Outstanding (in thousands)

365,002

364,121

361,250

 

Attachment #2

LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)






June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

(dollars in millions)

2017

2017

2016





Assets








Current Assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$  1,056

$   1,947

$  1,291

Marketable securities

1,127

Restricted cash and securities

5

7

8

Receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts

707

712

839

Other

141

141

140

Total Current Assets

3,036

2,807

2,278





Property, Plant and Equipment, net

10,392

10,285

10,073

Restricted Cash and Securities

29

31

31

Goodwill

7,737

7,731

7,739

Other Intangibles, net

809

861

1,020

Deferred Tax Assets

3,235

3,305

3,395

Other Assets

49

51

50

Total Assets

$25,287

$ 25,071

$24,586





Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity








Current Liabilities:




Accounts payable

$     693

$      750

$     762

Current portion of long-term debt

306

307

7

Accrued payroll and employee benefits

178

148

160

Accrued interest

97

101

131

Current portion of deferred revenue

262

275

268

Other

162

153

170

Total Current Liabilities

1,698

1,734

1,498





Long-Term Debt, less current portion

10,584

10,581

10,871

Deferred Revenue, less current portion

1,058

1,044

1,027

Other Liabilities

632

631

637

Total Liabilities

13,972

13,990

14,033





Stockholders' Equity

11,315

11,081

10,553

Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

$25,287

$ 25,071

$24,586

 

Attachment #3

LEVEL 3 COMMUNICATIONS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)






Three Months Ended


June 30,

March 31,

June 30,

(dollars in millions)

2017

2017

2016





Cash Flows from Operating Activities:




Net income

$   154

$       95

$   156

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:




   Depreciation and amortization

330

320

310

   Non-cash compensation expense attributable to stock awards

39

48

31

   Loss on modification and extinguishment of debt

44

40

   Accretion of debt discount and amortization of debt issuance costs

4

5

5

   Accrued interest on long-term debt, net

(4)

(28)

   Deferred income taxes

57

62

20

   Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets

(1)

   Other, net

(3)

(5)

6

   Changes in working capital items:




   Receivables

10

6

(25)

   Other current assets

(4)

(32)

(5)

   Payables

(59)

42

84

   Deferred revenue

50

(4)

   Other current liabilities

37

(68)

14

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

561

539

631





Cash Flows from Investing Activities:




Capital expenditures

(328)

(368)

(367)

Change in restricted cash and securities, net

4

839

Purchases of marketable securities

(1,127)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment and other assets

1

Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Investing Activities

(1,451)

(368)

473





Cash Flows from Financing Activities:




Long-term debt borrowings, net of issuance costs

4,569

(1)

Payments on and repurchases of long-term debt and capital leases

(2)

(4,613)

(815)

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

(2)

(44)

(816)





Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents

1

1

(1)





Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

(891)

128

287





Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period

1,947

1,819

1,004





Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period

$ 1,056

$   1,947

$ 1,291





Supplemental Disclosure of Cash Flow Information:




Cash interest paid

$   129

$      153

$   133

 

Level 3 Communications. (PRNewsFoto/Level 3 Communications)

 

View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/level-3-reports-second-quarter-2017-results-300498573.html

SOURCE Level 3 Communications, Inc.


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