Cash distributions from the Company’s wireless partnerships totaled $5.5 million, compared to $11.1 million a year ago, primarily due to Verizon’s accelerated capital investments in the second quarter which impacted the Company’s third quarter distributions.
Loss from continuing operations was ($7.3 million) compared to ($13.1 million) in the prior year. Net loss per share from continuing operations was ($0.15) compared to ($0.14) in the prior year. Adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share excludes certain items as outlined in the table provided in this release. Adjusted diluted net income (loss) per share from continuing operations was ($0.13) compared to $0.09 a year ago.
Adjusted EBITDA was $97.2 million, compared to $127.4 million in the prior year.
Asset and Investment Sales
On Sept. 13, 2022, the Company completed the sale of its limited partnership interests in five wireless partnerships to Cellco Partnership, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, for aggregate gross proceeds of $490 million. The proceeds from the sale will be invested in the business and used to support the Company’s Fiber to the Premises (FttP) broadband growth plan. The sale is being treated as discontinued operations within the financial statements for all comparable periods. Upon closing the transaction, the Company recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $389.9 million.
On Mar. 3, 2022, Consolidated announced an agreement to sell substantially all of its Kansas City assets. The Company currently expects net cash proceeds of approximately $90 million for the sale, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, closing conditions and customary regulatory approvals. The transaction is expected to close by year-end 2022. Additionally, in the quarter the Company recognized an impairment loss of $5.2 million due to changes in net assets held for sale.
The Company continues to actively review its portfolio for further monetization opportunities in support of its growth plan. During the quarter Consolidated closed and recognized a pre-tax gain and proceeds from the sale of certain non-strategic communication towers and related equipment totaling $19.2 million.
Capital Structure
As of Sept. 30, 2022, total liquidity was approximately $686 million, including cash and short-term investments of approximately $462 million and $224 million of available borrowing capacity on the revolving credit facility. The net leverage ratio for the trailing 12 months ended Sept. 30, 2022, was 3.82x. The Company has no maturities until 2027.
2022 Outlook
Consolidated Communications reaffirmed its guidance for the full-year 2022.
| ● | Adjusted EBITDA is expected to be in a range of $400 million to $410 million. |
| ● | Capital expenditures are expected to be in a range of $565 million to $585 million. |
| ● | Cash interest expense is expected to be in a range of $125 million to $129 million. |
| ● | Cash income taxes are expected to be in a range of $12 million to $17 million. |
Conference Call Information
Consolidated’s third quarter earnings conference call will be webcast on Nov. 1 at 8:30 am ET. The webcast and materials will be available on Consolidated’s Investor Relations website at http://ir.consolidated.com. The live conference call dial-in number for analysts and investors is 888-440-5977, conference ID 8956400.
About Consolidated Communications
Consolidated Communications Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: CNSL) is dedicated to moving people, businesses and communities forward by delivering the most reliable fiber communications solutions. Consumers, businesses and wireless and wireline carriers depend on Consolidated for a wide range of high-speed internet, data, phone, security, cloud and wholesale carrier solutions. With a network spanning more than 57,500 fiber route miles, Consolidated is a top 10 U.S. fiber provider, turning technology into solutions that are backed by exceptional customer support. Learn more at consolidated.com.