alsk20180331_10q.htm
 

Table of Contents



 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

            QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018

 

OR

 

            TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from                         to                       .

 

Commission File Number: 000-28167

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

          Delaware   52-2126573
(State or other jurisdiction     (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)

 

600 Telephone Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99503-6091

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(907) 297-3000

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes                   No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes                   No

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer [ ]   Accelerated filer [X]  Non-accelerated filer [ ]  Smaller reporting company [ ]

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

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. [ ]

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes                        No

 

As of April 25, 2018, there were outstanding 53,110,320 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, of the registrant.

 



 

1

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

Number

 

PART I. Financial Information 3
     
Item 1. Financial Statements: 3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) As of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 3
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 4
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 5
     
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 6
     
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 7
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 24
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 42
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 42
     
PART II. Other Information 42
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 42
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 42
     
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds 43
     
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities 43
     
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures 43
     
Item 5. Other Information 43
     
Item 6. Exhibits 43
     
Signatures   44

 

Exhibit 31.1

Exhibit 31.2

Exhibit 32.1

Exhibit 32.2

Exhibit 101.INS

Exhibit 101.SCH

Exhibit 101.CAL

Exhibit 101.DEF

Exhibit 101.LAB

Exhibit 101.PRE

 

2

 

PART I.     FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

   

March 31,

   

December 31,

 

 

 

2018

   

2017

 
Assets            

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 5,226     $ 4,354  

Restricted cash

    11,814       11,814  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $2,842 and $2,729

    30,084       32,535  

Materials and supplies

    5,681       7,046  

Prepayments and other current assets

    13,286       6,115  

Total current assets

    66,091       61,864  
                 

Property, plant and equipment

    1,365,845       1,357,929  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

    (999,367 )     (991,816 )

Property, plant and equipment, net

    366,478       366,113  
                 

Deferred income taxes

    2,308       3,394  

Other assets

    11,675       11,415  

Total assets

  $     446,552     $ 442,786  
                 
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity                

Current liabilities:

               

Current portion of long-term obligations

  $ 16,882     $ 17,030  

Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities

    33,752       36,148  

Advance billings and customer deposits

    4,523       4,213  

Total current liabilities

    55,157       57,391  
                 

Long-term obligations, net of current portion

    167,656       168,959  

Deferred income taxes

    1,479       596  

Other long-term liabilities, net of current portion

    60,565       61,330  

Total liabilities

    284,857       288,276  

Commitments and contingencies

               

Alaska Communications stockholders' equity:

               

Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 authorized; 53,111 issued and outstanding at March 31, 2018; 52,526 issued and outstanding at December 31, 2017

    531       525  

Additional paid in capital

    158,795       158,969  

Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)

    3,460       (3,579 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (2,090 )     (2,396 )

Total Alaska Communications stockholders' equity

    160,696       153,519  

Noncontrolling interest

    999       991  

Total stockholders' equity

    161,695       154,510  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 446,552     $ 442,786  

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
                 

Operating revenues

  $ 55,972     $ 56,731  
                 

Operating expenses:

               

Cost of services and sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)

    25,833       25,142  

Selling, general and administrative

    16,012       17,939  

Depreciation and amortization

    8,787       8,903  

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net

    (3 )     19  

Total operating expenses

    50,629       52,003  
                 

Operating income

    5,343       4,728  
                 

Other income and (expense):

               

Interest expense

    (3,504 )     (3,845 )

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    -       (2,276 )

Interest income

    14       7  

Other income (expense), net

    104       (154 )

Total other income and (expense)

    (3,386 )     (6,268 )
                 

Income (loss) before income tax benefit

    1,957       (1,540 )
                 

Income tax benefit

    112       832  
                 

Net income (loss)

    2,069       (708 )
                 

Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

    (32 )     (32 )
                 

Net income (loss) attributable to Alaska Communications

    2,101       (676 )
                 

Other comprehensive income (loss):

               

Minimum pension liability adjustment

    57       29  

Income tax effect

    (16 )     (12 )

Amortization of defined benefit plan loss

    91       154  

Income tax effect

    (26 )     (63 )

Interest rate swap marked to fair value

    305       25  

Income tax effect

    (87 )     (11 )

Reclassification to interest expense

    (25 )     25  

Income tax effect

    7       (10 )

Total other comprehensive income

    306       137  

Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Alaska Communications

    2,407       (539 )
                 

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

    (32 )     (32 )

Total other comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interest

    -       -  

Total comprehensive loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

    (32 )     (32 )

Total comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 2,375     $ (571 )
                 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to Alaska Communications:

               

Basic

  $ 0.04     $ (0.01 )

Diluted

  $ 0.04     $ (0.01 )
                 

Weighted average shares outstanding:

               

Basic

    52,681       52,011  

Diluted

    53,857       52,011  

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

4

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018

(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

   

Alaska Communications Stockholders' Equity

                 
                           

(Accumulated

   

Accumulated

                 
                   

Additional

   

Deficit)

   

Other

                 
           

Common

   

Paid in

   

Retained

   

Comprehensive

   

Noncontrolling

   

Stockholders'

 
   

Shares

   

Stock

   

Capital

   

Earnings

   

Loss

   

Interest

   

Equity

 
                                                         
Balance at December 31, 2017     52,526     $ 525     $ 158,969     $ (3,579 )   $ (2,396 )   $ 991     $ 154,510  
                                                         

Cumulative effect of new accounting principles adopted

    -       -       -       4,938       -       -       4,938  
                                                         

Total comprehensive income (loss)

    -       -       -       2,101       306       (32 )     2,375  
                                                         

Stock compensation

    -       -       242       -       -       -       242  
                                                         

Surrender of shares to cover minimum withholding taxes on stock-based compensation

    -       -       (410 )     -       -       -       (410 )
                                                         
Issuance of common stock, pursuant to stock plans, $.01 par      585       6       (6 )     -       -       -       -  
                                                         
Contributions from noncontrolling interest     -       -       -       -       -       40       40  
                                                         

Balance at March 31, 2018

    53,111     $ 531     $ 158,795     $ 3,460     $ (2,090 )   $ 999     $ 161,695  

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

5

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited, In Thousands)

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:

               

Net income (loss)

  $ 2,069     $ (708 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

               

Depreciation and amortization

    8,787       8,903  

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net

    (3 )     19  

Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount

    356       1,025  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    -       2,276  

Amortization of deferred capacity revenue

    (947 )     (847 )

Stock-based compensation

    242       610  

Income tax benefit

    (112 )     (832 )

Charge for uncollectible accounts

    537       89  

Other non-cash expense, net

    90       145  

Income taxes payable

    -       574  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

    2,402       (5,956 )

Net cash provided by operating activities

    13,421       5,298  
                 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:

               

Capital expenditures

    (8,680 )     (5,148 )

Capitalized interest

    (420 )     (243 )

Change in unsettled capital expenditures

    (1,272 )     (1,225 )

Proceeds on sale of assets

    -       3  

Net cash used by investing activities

    (10,372 )     (6,613 )
                 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:

               

Repayments of long-term debt

    (8,807 )     (86,806 )

Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt

    7,000       180,000  

Debt issuance costs and discounts

    -       (5,217 )

Cash paid for debt extinguishment

    -       (1,313 )

Cash proceeds from noncontrolling interest

    40       -  

Payment of withholding taxes on stock-based compensation

    (410 )     (599 )

Net cash (used) provided by financing activities

    (2,177 )     86,065  
                 

Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

    872       84,750  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period

    16,168       23,145  
                 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period

  $ 17,040     $ 107,895  
                 

Supplemental Cash Flow Data:

               

Interest paid

  $ 3,441     $ 1,536  

Income taxes refunded, net

  $ -     $ (574 )

 

See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

6

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

1.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“we”, “our”, “us”, the “Company” and “Alaska Communications”), a Delaware corporation, through its operating subsidiaries, provides broadband telecommunication and managed information technology (“IT”) services to customers in the State of Alaska and beyond using its telecommunications network.

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements represent the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income and cash flows of Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. and the following wholly-owned subsidiaries:

 

Alaska Communications Systems

Crest Communications Corporation

 

Holdings, Inc. (“ACS Holdings”)

WCI Cable, Inc.

ACS of Alaska, LLC (“ACSAK”)

WCIC Hillsboro, LLC

ACS of the Northland, LLC (“ACSN”)

Alaska Northstar Communications, LLC

ACS of Fairbanks, LLC (“ACSF”)

WCI LightPoint, LLC

ACS of Anchorage, LLC (“ACSA”)

WorldNet Communications, Inc.

ACS Wireless, Inc. (“ACSW”)

Alaska Fiber Star, LLC

ACS Long Distance, LLC

TekMate, LLC

Alaska Communications Internet, LLC (“ACSI”)

   

ACS Messaging, Inc.

   

ACS Cable Systems, LLC (“ACSC”)

   

 

In addition to the wholly-owned subsidiaries, the Company has a fifty percent controlling interest in ACS-Quintillion JV, LLC (“AQ-JV”), a joint venture formed by its wholly-owned subsidiary ACSC and Quintillion Holdings, LLC (“QHL”) in connection with the North Slope fiber optic network. See Note 3 “Joint Venture” for additional information.

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations of the SEC. The Company believes the disclosures made are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.

 

See Note 2 “Revenue Recognition” for a summary of the Company’s revenue recognition policies and related disclosures.

 

The Company has consolidated the financial results of the AQ-JV based on its determination that, for accounting purposes, it holds a controlling financial interest in the joint venture and is the primary beneficiary of this variable interest entity. The Company has accounted for and reported QHL’s 50 percent ownership interest in the joint venture as a noncontrolling interest. See Note 3 “Joint Venture” for additional information.

 

In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all normal, recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial position, comprehensive income (loss) and cash flows for all periods presented. Comprehensive income (loss) for the three months ended March 31, 2018, is not necessarily indicative of comprehensive income (loss) which might be expected for the entire year or any other interim periods. The balance sheet at December 31, 2017 has been derived from the audited financial statements as of that date but does not include all information and notes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. Certain reclassifications have been made to the prior year financial statements to conform to the current year presentation.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Company’s consolidated financial statements and the accompanying notes, including estimates of operating revenues, probable losses and expenses. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

1.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

Out-of-Period Adjustment

 

The Company determined that income tax expense as reported in its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017 was overstated by $703. This error resulted in the net loss and net loss per share being understated by $703 and $0.01, respectively, for that period. The Company considered the effect of this overstatement on its current period and prior period financial statements. Based on this assessment it determined that the error did not have a material effect on its financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2017, and is not expected to have a material effect on its financial statements for the full year ended December 31, 2018. Accordingly, the Company has recorded the correction of this error as an out-of-period adjustment in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018. The income tax benefit of $112 and net income of $2,069 as reported in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 include the effect of the $703 correction.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”) on a modified retrospective basis. ASC 606 requires that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the Company’s recognition of revenue, operating expenses and cash flows. Adoption resulted in the establishment of a contract asset of $6,898, consisting of contract acquisition costs associated with sales commissions, and a resulting deferred income tax liability of $1,960. Accumulated deficit was reduced $4,938. See Note 2 “Revenue Recognition” for a summary of the Company’s revenue recognition policies and other disclosures required under ASC 606.

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-07, “Compensation – Retirement Benefits (Topic 715)” (“ASU 2017-07”). The amendments in ASU 2017-07 require that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees. The other components of net benefit costs are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. ASU 2017-07 also requires that only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization when applicable. Pension benefits for substantially all of the Company’s Alaska-based employees are provided through the Alaska Electrical Pension Fund, a multiemployer defined benefit plan. The Company pays a contractual hourly amount based on employee classification or base compensation. The components of net periodic pension costs are not specified in this amount. The Company’s sole single-employer defined benefit plan, which covers a limited number of employees previously employed by a predecessor to one of our subsidiaries, is frozen, and the cost of this plan does not include a service component. Accordingly, total net periodic pension expense of $91 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 has been reported as a component of “Other income (expense), net” in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss). ASU 2017-07 was adopted on a retrospective basis and net periodic pension expense of $154 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 was reclassified from “Selling, general and administrative” to “Other income (expense), net” in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Company utilized the practical expedient provided by ASU 2017-07 which permits the use of the amounts disclosed in the retirement plans note as the basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

1.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU No. 2017-09, “Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718) Scope of Modification Accounting” (“ASU 2017-09”). The amendments in ASU 2017-09 are intended to provide clarity, and reduce diversity in practice and the cost and complexity of applying the guidance in Topic 718. The primary provision of ASU 2017-09 is to provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. An entity should account for the effects of a change as a modification unless all the following conditions are met: (i) the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. If the modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation technique that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the modification; (ii) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and (iii) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The provisions of ASU 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after January 1, 2018. The effect of the adoption of ASU 2017-09 on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures will be dependent on the frequency and types of changes made to its share-based payment awards. There were no applicable changes made during the three-month period ended March 31, 2018.

 

Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not Yet Adopted

 

In February 2016, the Financial Account Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)” (“ASU 2016-02”). The primary change in GAAP addressed by ASU 2016-02 is the requirement for a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (“lease liability”) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02 also requires qualitative and quantitative disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years. Lessees must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, “Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities” (ASU 2017-12”). The amendments in ASU 2017-12 are intended to improve and simplify the accounting rules for hedge accounting, including providing a better portrayal of the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements and simplification of the application of hedge accounting guidance. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and, for qualifying hedges, requires the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period or fiscal year prior to the effective date. The accounting and disclosure requirements are to be adopted on a prospective basis and a cumulative-effect adjustment is to be recorded for cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2017-12 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

 

2.            REVENUE RECOGNITION

 

Revenue Recognition Policies

 

Revenue Accounted for in Accordance with ASC 606

 

The Company adopted the provisions of ASC 606 effective in the first quarter of 2018 on a modified retrospective basis. Refer to Note 1 “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” for a summary of the effect of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

The Company applied the provisions of ASC 606 to its contracts with customers that had not been completed as of January 1, 2018. Adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the Company’s recognition of revenue. Adoption resulted in a net increase in “Selling, general and administrative expenses” of $346 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 reflecting the amortization of deferred sales commissions incurred in prior years, offset by the deferral of sales commission incurred in 2018. Net income in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 was reduced by $243.

 

At contract inception, the Company assesses the goods and services promised to the customer and identifies the performance obligation for each promise to transfer a good or service that is distinct. The Company considers all obligations whether they are explicitly stated in the contract or are implied by customary business practices.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

2.          REVENUE RECOGNITION (Continued)

 

The Company’s broadband and voice revenue includes service, installation and equipment charges. The primary performance obligation in contracts for broadband and voice services is the provision of that service over time to the customer and revenue is recognized as that service is provided to the customer. The Company also charges certain of its broadband and voice service customers for equipment installed on the customers’ premise, physical possession, control and ownership of which pass to the customer upon installation. Revenue is recognized for these obligations at the point of installation. The contract price is allocated between the service, installation and equipment components based on their relative standalone selling prices. Installation and equipment revenue is not a significant component of broadband and voice revenue. Revenue associated the Company’s Lifeline customer base (included in the Consumer voice and other category) is less certain and is therefore recognized on a cash basis as payments are received.

 

Managed IT revenues include the sale, configuration and installation of equipment and the subsequent provision of ongoing IT services. Revenue is recognized on the sale, configuration and installation of equipment when physical possession, control and ownership of the equipment has been passed to the customer. The customer is typically billed for equipment separately from the subsequent IT services. Revenue associated with ongoing IT services is recognized as that service is provided. The contract price is allocated to each of these performance obligations based on their relative standalone selling prices. Revenue and cost of sales is recognized on the resale of equipment and other products only when the Company has control of the product, inventory risk and the discretion to establish pricing prior to transfer to the customer. For the resale of products where the Company does not meet these criteria, revenue is recognized at the net of the selling price to the customer and the Company’s cost.

 

The Company enters into contracts with its rural health care customers and is subject to various regulatory requirements associated with the provision of these services. Revenues associated with rural health care customers are recognized based on the amount the Company expects to collect as evidenced in its contract with the customer and the Company’s and customer’s agreement with the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) as the relevant service is provided. Payment for the services is made, in part, by the customer. The Company also receives funding support for these services through the FCC’s rural health care universal service support mechanism. Funding through the FCC represents the predominant portion of the total funding. The amount expected to be collected from the FCC is based on program funding levels and actual or recent historical approval levels of customer applications. In March 2018, the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”), which administers this program, announced that demand for rural health care support had exceeded the program’s $400 million annual cap in Funding Year 2017, which began on July 1, 2017 and ends on June 30, 2018, and that applicants that filed successful funding requests would receive 84.4% of the funding for which they were otherwise eligible. As of March 31, 2018, USAC had not issued approval notices to the Company’s rural health care customers (all of whom had timely applied for funding) for Funding Year 2017. In 2017 and prior years, the Company recognized revenue from its rural health care customers based on a selling price that was fixed or determinable and for which collectability was reasonably assured. Adoption of ASU 2014-09 did not have a material effect on the Company’s recognized rural health care revenue. Rural health care revenues are a component of business broadband revenue.

 

Regulatory access revenue includes (i) special access, which is primarily access to dedicated circuits sold to wholesale customers, substantially all of which is generated from interstate services; and (ii) cellular access, which is the transport of tariffed local network services between switches for cellular companies based on individually negotiated contracts. Regulatory access revenue is recognized as the service is provided to the customer.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

2.

REVENUE RECOGNITION (Continued)

 

Certain contracts with customers provide for customer payment in advance of or subsequent to the Company providing the associated goods or services. Such payments include customer funding of enhancements or additions to the Company’s network and other related assets. As provided for under ASC 606, a financing component has not been applied if the time between payment by the customer and provision of the goods or services by the Company is one year or less. The Company has also not applied a financing component to certain contracts which include an advance customer payment associated with service to be provided over a period extending beyond one year. The advance payments provided for in these contracts is not material individually or in the aggregate.

 

Substantially all recurring non-usage sensitive service revenues are billed one month in advance and are deferred until the service has been provided to the customer. Non-recurring and usage sensitive revenues are billed in arrears and are recognized when the relevant service is provided. Equipment sales and installation are billed following customer acceptance. Payment terms for the contracts discussed above are typically thirty days.

 

Revenue Accounted for in Accordance with Other Guidance

 

Deferred revenue capacity liabilities are established for indefeasible rights of use (“IRUs”) on the Company’s network provided to third parties and are typically accounted for as operating leases. A deferred revenue liability is established at fair value and amortized to revenue on a straight-line basis over the contractual life of the relevant contract. Exchanges of IRUs with other carriers are accounted for as operating leases if the arrangement has commercial substance.

 

The Company has also established deferred revenue liabilities for other agreements outside the scope of ASC 606, including business combinations and non-monetary transactions. Revenue associated with these agreements is recognized in accordance with the relevant accounting guidance.

 

Regulatory access revenue includes interstate and intrastate switched access, consisting of services based primarily on originating and terminating access minutes from other carriers. The Company assess its customers for surcharges, typically on a monthly basis, as required by various state and federal regulatory agencies, and remits these surcharges to these agencies. These pass-through surcharges include Federal Universal Access and State Universal Access. These surcharges vary from year to year, and are primarily recognized as revenue, and the subsequent remittance to the state or federal agency as a cost of sale and service. The charges are assessed on only a portion of the services provided. Other non-pass-through surcharges are collected from customers as authorized by the regulatory body. The amount charged is based on the type of line: single line business, multi-line business, consumer or lifeline. The rates are established based on federal or state orders. These charges are recorded as revenue and do not have a direct associated cost. Rather, they represent a revenue recovery mechanism established by the FCC or the Regulatory Commission of Alaska.

 

High-cost support revenue consists of interstate and intrastate universal support funds and similar revenue streams structured by federal and state regulatory agencies that allow the Company to recover its cost of providing universal service in Alaska. The FCC released the Connect America Fund (“CAF”) Phase II order specific to Alaska Communications which transitioned from CAF Phase I frozen support to CAF Phase II. Funding under the new program will generally require the Company to provide broadband service to unserved locations throughout the designated coverage area by the end of a specified build-out period, and meet interim milestone build-out obligations. In addition to federal high cost support, the Company is designated by the State of Alaska as a Carrier of Last Resort (“COLR”) in five of the six study areas. In addition to COLR, the Company receives Carrier Common Line (“CCL”) support. As a COLR the Company is required to provide services essential for retail and carrier-to-carrier telecommunication throughout the applicable coverage area. High-cost support revenue is recognized when cash is received.

 

The Company collects sales and other similar taxes from its customers on behalf of various governmental authorities, and remits these taxes to the appropriate authorities. The collection of such taxes is not recognized as revenue.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

2.            REVENUE RECOGNITION (Continued)

 

Disaggregation of Revenue

 

The following table provides the Company’s revenue disaggregated on the basis of its primary markets, customers, products and services for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018.

 

 

Revenue Accounted for Under ASC 606

       

Business and Wholesale Revenue

       

Business broadband

  $ 13,600  

Business voice and other

    6,851  

Managed IT services

    1,265  

Equipment sales and installations

    922  

Wholesale broadband

    8,056  

Wholesale voice and other

    1,488  
         

Total Business and Wholesale Revenue

    32,182  
         

Consumer Revenue

       

Broadband

    6,492  

Voice and other

    2,877  
         

Total Consumer Revenue

    9,369  
         

Regulatory Revenue

       

Access (1)

    6,207  
         

Total

    47,758  
         

Revenue Not Accounted for Under ASC 606

       

Business and Wholesale Revenue

       

Operating leases and other deferred revenue

    1,581  

Regulatory

       

Access (2)

    1,710  

High-cost support

    4,923  
         

Total

    8,214  
         

Total Revenue

  $ 55,972  

 

(1)     Includes customer ordered service and special access.

(2)     Includes carrier of last resort and carrier common line.

 

Business broadband revenue includes revenue associated with rural health care customers. Consumer voice and other revenue includes revenue associated with the FCC’s Lifeline program.

 

Timing of Revenue Recognition

 

Revenue accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 consisted of the following for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018:

 

Services transferred over time

  $ 40,629  

Goods transferred at a point in time

    922  

Regulatory access revenue

    6,207  

Total revenue

  $ 47,758  

 

Transaction Price Allocated to Remaining Performance Obligations

 

The aggregate amount of the transaction price allocated to the remaining performance obligations for contracts with customers that are unsatisfied, or partially unsatisfied, accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 was approximately $110,840 at March 31, 2018. Revenue will be recognized as the Company satisfies the associated performance obligations. For equipment delivery, installation and configuration, which comprise approximately $912 of the total, the performance obligation is currently expected to be satisfied during 2018. For business broadband, voice and managed IT services, which comprise approximately $109,928 of the total, the performance obligation will be satisfied as the service is provided over the terms of the contracts, which range from one to ten years. The Company’s agreements with its consumer customers are typically on a month-to-month basis. Therefore, the Company’s provision of future service to these customers is not reflected in the above discussion of future performance obligations.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

2.            REVENUE RECOGNITION (Continued)

 

Contract Assets and Liabilities

 

The Company incurs certain incremental costs to obtain contracts that it expects to recover. These costs consist primarily of sales commissions and other directly related incentive compensation payments (reported as contract additions in the table below) which are dependent upon, and paid upon, successfully entering into individual customer contracts. The resulting contract asset is amortized to expense over the relevant contract life consistent with recognition of the associated revenue. In the event a contract with a customer is cancelled or modified, the unamortized portion of the associated contract asset is written off or adjusted as required. The Company does not incur material contract fulfillment costs associated with is contracts with customers. The cost of the Company’s network and related equipment, and enhancements to the network required under customer contracts, is accounted for in accordance with ASC 360 Property, Plant and Equipment. As described above, customer premise equipment constitutes a separate performance obligation under the contract and is sold to the customer. Modems are sold to the customer upon installation and are accounted for in accordance with ASC 330, Inventory.

 

Certain contracts allow customers to modify their contract. When a contract is modified, the Company evaluates the change in scope or price of the contract to determine if the modification should be treated as a separate contract, if there is a termination of the existing contract and creation of a new contract, or if the modification should be considered a change associated with the existing contract. When a customer adds a distinct service to an existing contract for the standalone selling price of that service, the new service is treated as a separate contract.

 

The table below provides a reconciliation of the contract assets associated with contracts with customers accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018. Contract modifications and cancellations did not have a material effect on contract assets in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018. Contract assets are classified as “Prepayments and other current assets” on the consolidated balance sheet.

 

Balance at beginning of period

  $ 6,898  

Contract additions

    555  

Amortization

    (901 )

Balance at end of period

  $ 6,552  

 

The Company recorded a provision for uncollectible accounts receivable of $537 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 associated with its contracts with customers. See Note 5 “Accounts Receivable.”

 

The table below provides a reconciliation of the contract liabilities associated with contracts with customers accounted for in accordance with ASC 606 for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018. Contract liabilities consist of deferred revenue and are included in “Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities” and “Other long-term liabilities, net of current portion.”

 

Balance at beginning of period

  $ 1,150  

Contract additions

    209  

Revenue recognized

    (118 )

Balance at end of period

  $ 1,241  

 

 

3.     JOINT VENTURE

 

In 2015, the Company entered into a series of transactions including the acquisition of a fiber optic network on the North Slope arctic area of Alaska and the establishment of AQ-JV to own, operate and market part of that network. The network provides reliable fiber-optic connectivity where only high-cost microwave and high-latency satellite communications was previously available. Through AQ-JV, this network has been made available to other telecom carriers in the market.

 

On April 2, 2015, the Company, through its wholly-owned subsidiary ACS Cable Systems, LLC, entered into a joint venture agreement with QHL to form AQ-JV for the purpose of expanding the fiber optic network, and making the network available to other telecom carriers.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

3.     JOINT VENTURE (Continued)

 

The Company determined that the Joint Venture is a Variable Interest Entity as defined in ASC 810, “Consolidation.” The Company consolidates the financial results of AQ-JV based on its determination that, the 50 percent voting interest of each party notwithstanding, for accounting purposes it holds a controlling financial interest in, and is the primary beneficiary of, the joint venture. This determination was based on (i) the Company’s expected future utilization of certain assets of the joint venture in the operation of the Company’s business; (ii) the Company’ engineering, design, installation, service and maintenance expertise in the telecom industry and its existing relationships and presence in the Alaska telecom market are expected to be significant factors in the successful operation of the joint venture; and (iii) the Company’s role as joint venture manager and its right to a management fee equal to a percentage of the joint venture’s collected gross revenue. There was no gain or loss recognized by the Company on the initial consolidation of the joint venture. The Company has accounted for and reported QHL’s 50 percent ownership interest in AQ-JV as a noncontrolling interest.

 

The table below provides certain financial information about the joint venture included on the Company’s consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017. Cash may be utilized only to settle obligations of the joint venture. Because the joint venture is an LLC, and the Company has not guaranteed its operations, the joint venture’s creditors do not have recourse to the general credit of the Company.

 

    

2018

   

2017

 

Cash

  $ 230     $ 190  

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $235 and $211

  $ 1,906     $ 1,930  

 

The operating results and cash flows of the joint venture in the three-month periods of 2018 and 2017 were not material to the Company’s consolidated financial results.

 

 

4.     FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

The Company has developed valuation techniques based upon observable and unobservable inputs to calculate the fair value of non-current monetary assets and liabilities. Observable inputs reflect market data obtained from independent sources and unobservable inputs reflect internal market assumptions. These two types of inputs create the following fair value hierarchy:

 

 

Level 1 - Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets.

 

Level 2 - Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable.

  ● 

Level 3 - Significant inputs to the valuation model are unobservable.

    

Financial assets and liabilities are classified within the fair value hierarchy in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurements. The Company’s assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurements requires judgment and may affect the valuation of the assets and liabilities being measured, as well as their level within the fair value hierarchy.

 

The fair values of cash equivalents, restricted cash, other short-term monetary assets and liabilities and capital leases approximate carrying values due to their nature. The estimated fair value of the Company’s 6.25% Convertible Notes due 2018 (“6.25% Notes”) Notes of $10,044 at March 31, 2018, was estimated based on quoted market prices for identical instruments on dates different from the market trade date value (Level 2). The carrying value of the 6.25% Notes at March 31, 2018 was $10,044. The estimated fair value and carrying value of the Company’s 6.25% Notes was $10,026 at December 31, 2017. The 6.25% Notes were repurchased on May 1, 2018. See Note 16 “Subsequent Events.” The carrying values of the Company’s senior credit facilities and other long-term obligations of $177,191 and $178,836 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively, approximate fair value primarily as a result of the stated interest rates of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility approximating current market rates (Level 2).

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

4.     FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Continued)

 

The following table presents the Company’s financial liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, at each hierarchical level. There were no transfers into or out of Levels 1 and 2 during the first quarter of 2018:

 

   

March 31, 2018

   

December 31, 2017

 
   

Total

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

   

Total

   

Level 1

   

Level 2

   

Level 3

 

Other assets:

                                                               

Interest rate swaps

  $ 795     $ -     $ 795     $ -     $ 515     $ -     $ 515     $ -  

 

Derivative Financial Instruments

 

The Company currently uses interest rate swaps to manage variable interest rate risk. At low LIBOR rates, payments under the swaps increase the Company’s cash interest expense, and at high LIBOR rates, they have the opposite effect.

 

The outstanding amount of the swaps as of a period end are reported on the balance sheet at fair value, represented by the estimated amount the Company would receive or pay to terminate the swaps. They are valued using models based on readily observable market parameters for all substantial terms of the contracts and are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

Under the terms of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, the Company is required to enter into or obtain an interest rate hedge sufficient to effectively fix or limit the interest rate on borrowings under the agreement of a minimum of $90,000 with a weighted average life of at least two years. In 2017, the Company entered into a pay-fixed, receive-floating interest rate swap in the notional amount of $90,000, with an interest rate of 6.49425%, inclusive of a 5.0% LIBOR spread, and a maturity date of June 28, 2019. Changes in fair value of this interest rate swap are recorded to accumulated other comprehensive loss and reclassified to interest expense when the hedged transaction is recognized in earnings. See Note 7 “Long-Term Obligations” and Note 9 “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.

 

The following table presents the notional amount, fair value and balance sheet classification of the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as cash flow hedges as of March 31, 2018 and December, 31, 2017:

 

       

Notional

   

Fair

 
 

Balance Sheet Location

   

Amount

   

Value

 

At March 31, 2018:

                   

Interest rate swaps

Other assets

    $ 90,000     $ 795  
                     

At December 31, 2017:

                   

Interest rate swaps

Other assets

    $ 90,000     $ 515  

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

4.        FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS AND DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (Continued)

 

The following table presents gains and losses before income taxes on the Company’s interest rate swap designated as cash flow hedges for the three-month periods ending March 31, 2018 and 2017. There was no ineffectiveness associated with these hedges in the periods reported.

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Gain recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss

  $ 305     $ 25  

Gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss

    25       (25 )

 

 

 

 

 

5.         ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

Accounts receivable, net, consists of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

2018

   

2017

 

Retail customers

  $ 23,720     $ 22,227  

Wholesale carriers

    5,058       8,146  

Other

    4,148       4,891  
      32,926       35,264  

Less: allowance for doubtful accounts

    (2,842 )     (2,729 )

Accounts receivable, net

  $ 30,084     $ 32,535  

 

The following table summarizes the change in the allowance for doubtful accounts for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018, which is associated entirely with the Company’s contracts with customers:

 

 

Balance at January 1

  $ 2,729  

Provision for uncollectible accounts

    537  

Charged to other accounts

    (218 )

Deductions

    (206 )

Balance at March 31

  $ 2,842  

 

In March 2018, USAC announced that demand for rural health care support had exceeded the program’s $400 million annual cap in Funding Year 2017, which began on July 1, 2017 and ends on June 30, 2018, and that individual applicants that filed successful funding requests would receive approximately 84.4% of the funding for which they were otherwise eligible. As of March 31, 2018, USAC had not issued approval notices to the Company’s rural health care customers (all of whom had timely applied for funding on an individual basis) for Funding Year 2017. At March 31, 2018, the Company’s accounts receivable, net, associated with its rural health care customers totaled $11,793, and is based on announced funding and expected approval levels, and for which collectability is reasonably assured. In the event approved funding varies from the expected approval level, accounts receivable will be adjusted accordingly. Accounts receivable, net, associated with rural health care customers was $8,580 at December 31, 2017. Rural health care accounts are a component of the Retail Customers category in the above table. See Note 2 “Revenue Recognition” for additional information.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

6.           CURRENT LIABILITIES

 

Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities consist of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

2018

   

2017

 

Accounts payable - trade

  $ 13,880     $ 17,739  

Accrued payroll, benefits, and related liabilities

    10,083       9,286  

Deferred capacity and other revenue

    4,359       4,817  

Other

    5,430       4,306  

Total accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities

  $ 33,752     $ 36,148  

 

Advance billings and customer deposits consist of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

2018

   

2017

 

Advance billings

  $ 4,491     $ 4,181  

Customer deposits

    32       32  

Total advance billings and customer deposits

  $ 4,523     $ 4,213  

 

 

 

7.          LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS

 

Long-term obligations consist of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

2018

   

2017

 

2017 senior secured credit facility due 2023

  $ 176,700     $ 178,350  

Debt discount

    (2,507 )     (2,668 )

Debt issuance costs

    (2,697 )     (2,869 )

6.25% convertible notes due 2018

    10,044       10,044  

Debt discount

    -       (18 )

Debt issuance costs

    -       (4 )

Capital leases and other long-term obligations

    2,998       3,154  
      184,538       185,989  

Less current portion

    (16,882 )     (17,030 )

Long-term obligations, net of current portion

  $ 167,656     $ 168,959  

 

As of March 31, 2018, the aggregate maturities of long-term obligations were as follows:

 

2018 (April 1 - December 31)

  $ 15,224  

2019 (January 1 - December 31)

    6,639  

2020 (January 1 - December 31)

    8,902  

2021 (January 1 - December 31)

    16,267  

2022 (January 1 - December 31)

    86,483  

2023 (January 1 - December 31)

    53,801  

Thereafter

    2,426  

Total maturities of long-term obligations

  $ 189,742  

 

At March 31, 2018, the Company had no amounts outstanding under the revolving facility component of its 2017 Senior Credit Facility.

 

2017 Senior Credit Facility

 

The Company’s 2017 Senior Credit Facility includes a Term A-1 Facility, a Term A-2 Facility and a revolving facility of $15,000.

 

The Term A-1 Facility in the principal amount of $120,000 bears interest at LIBOR plus 5.0% per annum, with a LIBOR minimum of 1.0%. Quarterly principal payments are $1,500 in the fourth quarter of 2017 through the first quarter of 2020; $2,250 in the second quarter of 2020 through the first quarter of 2021; and $4,000 in the second quarter of 2021 through the fourth quarter of 2021. The remaining outstanding principal balance is due on March 13, 2022.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

7.          LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS (Continued)

 

The Term A-2 Facility in the principal amount of $60,000 bears interest at LIBOR plus 7.0% per annum, with a LIBOR minimum of 1.0%. Quarterly principal payments are $150 in the fourth quarter of 2017 through the first quarter of 2021; and $600 in the second quarter of 2021 through the fourth quarter of 2022. The remaining outstanding principal balance is due on March 13, 2023.

 

The revolving facility provides for borrowings in an aggregate amount outstanding at any one time not to exceed $15,000, including a letter of credit subfacility and swingline subfacility with commitment limitations based on amounts drawn under the revolving facility (collectively the “Revolving Facility”). The Revolving Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 5.0% per annum, with a LIBOR minimum of 1.0%.

 

As required under the terms of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, the Company has entered into interest rate hedges sufficient to effectively fix or limit the interest rate on borrowings under the agreement of a minimum of $90,000 with a weighted average life of at least two years. See Note 4 “Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments” for additional information.

 

6.25% Convertible Notes Due 2018

 

The Company’s 6.25% Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $10,044 were outstanding at March 31, 2018. The 6.25% Notes were repurchased on May 1, 2018. See Note 16 “Subsequent Events.”

 

 

8.     OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES

 

Other long-term liabilities consist of the following at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

   

2018

   

2017

 

Deferred GCI capacity revenue, net of current portion

  $ 32,673     $ 33,184  

Other deferred IRU capacity revenue, net of current portion

    18,956       19,366  

Other deferred revenue, net of current portion

    1,558       1,391  

Other

    7,378       7,389  

Total other long-term liabilities

  $ 60,565     $ 61,330  

 

 

9.     ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

The following table summarizes the activity in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018:

 

   

Defined

                 
   

Benefit

                 
   

Pension

   

Interest

         
   

Plan

   

Rate Swaps

   

Total

 

Balance at December 31, 2017

  $ (2,765 )   $ 369     $ (2,396 )

Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

    41       218       259  

Reclassifications from accumulated comprehensive (loss) income to net income

    65       (18 )     47  

Net other comprehensive income

    106       200       306  

Balance at March 31, 2018

  $ (2,659 )   $ 569     $ (2,090 )

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

9.     ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the reclassifications from accumulated other comprehensive loss to net income (loss) for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Amortization of defined benefit plan pension items:

               

Amortization of loss

  $ 91     $ 154  

Income tax effect

    (26 )     (63 )

After tax

    65       91  
                 

Amortization of loss on interest rate swap:

               

Reclassification to interest expense

    (25 )     25  

Income tax effect

    7       (10 )

After tax

    (18 )     15  

Total reclassifications, net of income tax

  $ 47     $ 106  

 

Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) from our defined benefit pension plan and interest rate swaps have been presented within “Other income (expense), net” and “Interest expense,” respectively, in the Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The estimated amount to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income as a reduction in interest expense within the next twelve months is $578. See Note 4 “Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Financial Instruments.”

 

 

10.     STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS

 

Under the Company’s stock incentive plan, stock options, restricted stock, stock-settled stock appreciation rights, performance share units and other awards may be granted to officers, employees, consultants, and non-employee directors. The Company grants Restricted Stock Units (“RSU’s”) and Performance Stock Units (“PSUs”) as the primary equity based incentive for executive and certain non union-represented employees. Long-term incentive awards (“LTIP”) were granted to executive management annually through 2010.

 

The following table summarizes the RSU, LTIP and non-employee director stock compensation activity for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018:

 

           

Weighted

 
           

Average

 
           

Grant Date

 
   

Number

   

Fair

 
   

of Units

   

Value

 

Nonvested at December 31, 2017

    1,223     $ 2.00  

Granted

    46       1.80  

Vested

    (677 )     1.92  

Canceled or expired

    (20 )     2.01  

Nonvested at March 31, 2018

    572     $ 2.07  

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

10.     STOCK INCENTIVE PLANS (Continued)

 

The following table summarizes the PSU activity for the three-month period ended March 31, 2018.

 

 

           

Weighted

 
           

Average

 
           

Grant Date

 
   

Number

   

Fair

 
   

of Units

   

Value

 

Nonvested at December 31, 2017

    1,331     $ 1.47  

Granted

    -       -  

Vested

    (126 )     1.77  

Canceled or expired

    (374 )     1.74  

Nonvested at March 31, 2018

    831     $ 1.31  

 

 

The following table provides selected information about the Company’s share-based compensation as of and for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Total compensation cost for share-based payments

  $ 242     $ 610  

Weighted average grant-date fair value of equity instruments granted (per share)

  $ 1.80     $ 1.85  

Total fair value of shares vested during the period

  $ 1,524     $ 2,146  
                 

At March 31:

               

Unamortized share-based payments

  $ 1,156     $ 1,220  

Weighted average period (in years) to be recognized as expense

    1.7       1.4  

 

 

11.     EARNINGS PER SHARE

 

Earnings per share are based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock and dilutive potential common share equivalents outstanding. Basic earnings per share assumes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income attributable to Alaska Communications by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflect the potential dilution of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company. Potential common share equivalents include restricted stock granted to employees and deferred shares granted to directors. The Company includes dilutive stock options based on the “treasury stock method.”

 

Effective in 2015, the Company discontinued use of the “if converted” method in calculating diluted earnings per share in connection with its contingently convertible debt. Accordingly, 977 and 9,143 shares related to the 6.25% Notes have been excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Due to the Company’s reported net loss for the three-month period ended March 31, 2017, 1,935 potential common share equivalents outstanding, consisting of restricted stock and deferred shares granted to directors, were antidilutive and excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share.

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

11.     EARNINGS PER SHARE (Continued)

 

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
                 

Net income (loss) attributable to Alaska Communications

  $ 2,101     $ (676 )
                 

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

               

Basic shares

    52,681       52,011  

Effect of stock-based compensation

    1,176       -  

Diluted shares

    53,857       52,011  
                 

Net income (loss) per share attributable to Alaska Communications:

               

Basic

  $ 0.04     $ (0.01 )

Diluted

  $ 0.04     $ (0.01 )

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

12.      RETIREMENT PLANS

 

Multi-employer Defined Benefit Plan

 

Pension benefits for substantially all of the Company’s Alaska-based employees are provided through the Alaska Electrical Pension Fund (“AEPF”). The Company pays a contractual hourly amount based on employee classification or base compensation to the AEPF. As a multi-employer defined benefit plan, the accumulated benefits and plan assets are not determined for, or allocated separately to, the individual employer. This plan was not in endangered or critical status during the plan year.

 

Defined Benefit Plan

 

The Company has a separate defined benefit plan that covers certain employees previously employed by Century Telephone Enterprise, Inc. (“CenturyTel Plan”). This plan was transferred to the Company in connection with the acquisition of CenturyTel, Inc.’s Alaska properties, whereby assets and liabilities of the CenturyTel Plan were transferred to the ACS Retirement Plan on September 1, 1999. As of March 31, 2018, this plan is not fully funded under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

The following table presents the net periodic pension expense for the ACS Retirement Plan for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Interest cost

  $ 141     $ 156  

Expected return on plan assets

    (198 )     (185 )

Amortization of loss

    148       183  

Net periodic pension expense

  $ 91     $ 154  

 

Net periodic pension expense is included in the line item “Other income (expense), net” in the Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss).

 

 

13. SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

 

Restricted cash of $11,814 at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 consisted of $10,044 to fund the purchase or settlement at maturity of the Company’s 6.25% Notes, certificates of deposit of $1,734 required under the terms of certain contracts to which the Company is a party and other restricted cash of $36. See Note 16 “Subsequent Events.”

 

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within the statement of financial position at March 31, 2018 and 2017 that sum to the total of these items reported in the statement of cash flows:

 

   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 5,226     $ 11,978  

Restricted cash

    11,814       95,917  

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

  $ 17,040     $ 107,895  

 

 

The following table presents supplemental non-cash transaction information for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

    2018     2017  

Supplemental Non-cash Transactions:

               

Capital expenditures incurred but not paid at March 31

  $ 3,820     $ 2,310  

Additions to ARO asset

  $ 4     $ 186  

 

 

ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)

 

 

14.     BUSINESS SEGMENTS

 

The Company operates its business under a single reportable segment. The Company’s chief operating decision maker assesses the financial performance of the business as follows: (i) revenues are managed on the basis of specific customers and customer groups; (ii) costs are managed and assessed by function and generally support the organization across all customer groups or revenue streams; (iii) profitability is assessed at the consolidated level; and (iv) investment decisions and the assessment of existing assets are based on the support they provide to all revenue streams.

 

 

15.      COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

The Company enters into purchase commitments with vendors in the ordinary course of business, including minimum purchase agreements. The Company also has long-term purchase contracts with vendors to support the on-going needs of its business. These purchase commitments and contracts have varying terms and in certain cases may require the Company to buy goods and services in the future at predetermined volumes and at fixed prices.

 

The Company is involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company establishes an accrual when a particular contingency is probable and estimable, and has recorded litigation accruals of $674 at March 31, 2018 against certain current claims and legal actions. The Company also faces contingencies that are reasonably possible to occur that cannot currently be estimated. The Company believes that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, comprehensive income or cash flows. It is the Company’s policy to expense costs associated with loss contingencies, including any related legal fees, as they are incurred.

 

 

16.     SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

On May 1, 2018, the Company repurchased the outstanding balance of its 6.25% Notes. The cash settlement totaled $10,358, including principal of $10,044 and accrued interest of $314. Settlement was funded utilizing restricted cash of $10,044 and cash on hand of $314. There was no gain or loss associated with the repurchase.

 

 

 

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND ANALYSTS’ REPORTS

 

This Form 10-Q and our future filings on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K and the documents incorporated therein by reference include forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”), as amended. We intend such forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are “forward-looking statements” for purposes of federal and state securities laws, including statements about anticipated future operating and financial performance, financial position and liquidity, growth opportunities and growth rates, pricing plans, acquisition and divestiture opportunities, business prospects, strategic alternatives, business strategies, regulatory and competitive outlook, investment and expenditure plans, financing needs and availability and other similar forecasts and statements of expectation and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. Words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “could”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “plans”, “projects”, “seeks”, “should” and variations of these words and similar expressions are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Forward-looking statements by us are based on estimates, projections, beliefs and assumptions of management and are not guarantees of future performance. Such forward-looking statements may be contained in this Form 10-Q under Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and elsewhere. Actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by us as a result of a number of important factors. Examples of these factors include (without limitation):

 

 

governmental and public policy changes and investigations, including on-going changes in our revenues, or obligations for current and prior periods related to these programs, resulting from regulatory actions affecting inter-carrier compensation, and on-going support for federal and state programs such as Carrier of Last Resort obligations and the rural health care universal service support mechanism, as well as our ability to comply with the regulatory requirements to receive those support payments, such as ascertainment of the “urban rate” and “rural rate” used to determine federal support payments for services we provide to the majority of our rural health care customers for current and prior periods

 

our size, because we are a smaller sized competitor in the markets we serve and we compete against large competitors with substantially greater resources

 

our business and operations could be negatively affected as a result of the actions of activist stockholders, which could cause us to incur significant expense, hinder execution of our business strategy and impact our stock price

 

the Alaskan economy, which has been impacted by continued low crude oil prices which are creating a significant impact on both the level of spending by the State of Alaska and the level of investment in resource development projects by natural resource exploration and development companies in Alaska. That reduced spending may impact the economy in the markets we serve and impact our future financial performance

 

our ability to meet the terms of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility and to draw down additional funds under the facility to meet our liquidity needs

 

the success of our joint venture with Quintillion Holdings, LLC to provide broadband solutions to the North Slope of Alaska

 

our ability to maintain our cost structure as a more focused broadband and managed information technology (“IT”) services company. Maintaining our cost structure is key to generating cash flow from operating activities. If we fail to maintain these reductions, our financial condition will be impacted

 

our ability to repurchase shares of our Common Stock under our repurchase program

 

the cost and availability of future financing, at the terms, and subject to the conditions necessary, to support our business and pursue growth opportunities; our debt could also have negative consequences for our business; for example, it could increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions, or limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the telecommunications industry; in addition, our ability to borrow funds in the future will depend in part on the satisfaction of the covenants in our credit facilities; if we are unable to satisfy the financial covenants contained in those agreements, or are unable to generate cash sufficient to make required debt payments, the lenders and other parties to those arrangements could accelerate the maturity of some or all of our outstanding indebtedness

 

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disruptions or failures in the physical infrastructure or operating systems that support our businesses and customers, or cyber-attacks or security breaches of the physical infrastructure, operating systems or devices that our customers use to access our products and services

 

our ability to keep pace with rapid technological developments and changing standards in the telecommunications industry, including on-going capital expenditures needed to upgrade our network to industry competitive speeds, particularly in light of expected 5G deployments by mobile wireless carriers

 

our ability to continue to develop attractive, integrated products and services to evolving industry standards, and meet the pressure from competition to offer these services at lower prices

 

unforeseen challenges when entering new markets

 

unanticipated damage to one or more of our undersea fiber optic cables resulting from construction or digging mishaps, fishing boats or other reasons

 

structural declines for voice and other legacy services within the telecommunications industry

 

a maintenance or other failure of our network or data centers

 

a failure of information technology systems

 

a third-party claim that the Company is infringing upon their intellectual property, resulting in litigation or licensing expenses, or the loss of our ability to sell or support certain products

 

unanticipated costs required to fund our post-retirement benefit plans, or contingent liabilities associated with our participation in a multi-employer pension plan

 

the success or failure of any future acquisitions or other major transactions

 

geologic or other natural disturbances relevant to the location of our operations

 

the ability to attract, recruit, retain and develop the workforce necessary for implementing our business plan

 

the success of the Company’s expansion into managed IT services, including the execution of those services for customers

 

our internal control over financial reporting may not be effective, which could cause our financial reporting to be unreliable

 

the matters described under Item 1A. Risk Factors in Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Additional risks that we may currently deem immaterial or that are not currently known to us could also cause the forward-looking events discussed in this Form 10-Q or our other reports not to occur as described. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities laws, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changed circumstances or any other reason after the date of this Form 10-Q.

 

Investors should also be aware that while we do, at various times, communicate with securities analysts, it is against our policy to disclose to them any material non-public information or other confidential information. Accordingly, investors should not assume that we agree with any statement or report issued by an analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. To the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not our responsibility.

 

OVERVIEW

 

We are a fiber broadband and managed IT services provider, offering technology and service enabled customer solutions to business and wholesale customers in and out of Alaska. We also provide telecommunication services to consumers in the most populated communities throughout the state. Our facilities based communications network extends through the economically significant portions of Alaska and connects to the contiguous states via our two diverse undersea fiber optic cable systems. Our network is among the most expansive in Alaska and forms the foundation of service to our customers.

 

Our Market. Management estimates the Alaska wireline telecom and IT services market to be approximately $1.6 billion. This market is comprised of the IT services market of approximately $840 million, the broadband market of approximately $680 million and the voice market of approximately $130 million. Management estimates that over 85% of this market opportunity is from the business and wholesale customer segment.

 

Competition. We operate in a largely two-player terrestrial wireline market and we estimate our market share to be less than 25% statewide. However, our revenue performance relative to our largest competitor suggests that we are gaining market share in the markets we are serving.

 

25

 

The sections that follow provide information about important aspects of our operations and investments and include discussions of our results of operations, financial condition and sources and uses of cash. In addition, we have highlighted key trends and uncertainties to the extent practicable. The content and organization of the financial and non-financial data presented in these sections are consistent with information we use in evaluating our own performance and allocating our resources.

 

The Alaska Economy

 

We operate in a geographically diverse state with unique characteristics. We monitor the state of the economy and, in doing so, we compare Alaska economic activity with broader economic conditions. In general, we believe that the Alaska telecommunications market, as well as general economic activity in Alaska, is affected by certain economic factors, which include:

 

 

investment activity in the oil and gas markets and the price of crude oil

 

tourism levels

 

governmental spending and activity of military personnel

 

the price and price trends of bandwidth

 

the growth in demand for bandwidth

 

decline in demand for voice and other legacy services

 

local customer preferences

 

unemployment levels

 

housing activity and development patterns

 

The population of Alaska, which declined marginally in 2017, is approximately 740,000 with Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau serving as the primary population and economic centers in the state.

 

We have observed variances in the factors affecting the Alaska economy as compared to the United States overall. Some factors, particularly the price of oil and gas, have a greater direct impact on the Alaska economy compared to other macro-economic trends impacting the U.S. economy as a whole.

 

It is estimated that one-third of Alaska’s economy is dependent on federal spending, one-third on natural resources, in particular the production of crude oil, and the remaining one-third on drivers such as tourism, mining, timber, seafood, international air cargo and miscellaneous support services.

 

Alaska’s economy is dependent on investment by oil companies, and state tax revenues correlate with the price of oil as the State assesses a tax based on the retail price of oil that transits the pipeline from the North Slope. The price of crude oil dropped substantially during 2014 through 2016, and began to rebound in 2017. Economists currently expect oil prices to increase in 2018 and trend up in the near term. The decline in the price of crude oil has impacted the state in two ways:

 

 

1.

Resource-based companies reduced their level of spending in the state, and in particular the North Slope, through the reduction of operating costs.

 

2.

The State of Alaska budget, which represents approximately 15% of the state’s total economy, is incurring deficits, but has budgetary reserves available through 2018. Proposals to address these deficits include spending reductions, utilization of earnings from the state’s permanent fund and additional revenues, including new fees and taxes. Reduced spending by the State has had a dampening effect on overall economic activity in the state.

 

Economists anticipate that slowly increasing oil prices and growing industry optimism bode well for continued new development and increased activity on the North Slope in 2018, supporting an increase in the volume of oil moving through the pipeline and the generation of revenue for the state government.

 

Economists believe the Alaskan economy entered a moderate recession beginning in the second half of 2015. They are currently projecting that this recession will continue into 2018 but that some positive trends are beginning to emerge. Employment levels in the state declined approximately 1.3% in 2017 (compared with a 2.3% decline in 2016) driven by declines in the oil and gas industry, construction, and Federal and state government, offset by increases in health care and local government. The negative effects of the recession have been mitigated by diversity in the Alaskan economy, including growth in the health care and tourism industries. However, economists believe that, without a long-term solution to the state budget deficit, a full economic recovery may remain elusive.

 

26

 

Our objective is to continue generating sector-leading revenue growth in the broadband market through investments in sales, service, marketing and product development while expanding our broadband network capabilities through higher efficiencies, automation, new technology and expanded service areas. We also intend to continue our growth in the managed IT services market by providing these services to our broadband customers, and leveraging our position as the premier Cloud Enabler for business in the state of Alaska. We also seek to continuously improve our customer service, and utilize the Net Promoter Score (“NPS”) framework to track the feedback of our customers for virtually all customer interactions. We believe that higher NPS scores will allow us to increasingly provide a differentiated service experience for our customers, which will support our growth. We are focused on expanding our margins, and we utilize the LEAN framework to eliminate waste and simplify how we do business.

 

Regulatory Update

 

The items reported under Part I, Item 1. Business – Regulation in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, are updated as follows. This section should be read in conjunction with the corresponding items previously disclosed in our Annual Report.

 

US Federal Regulatory Matters

 

Rural Health Care Support Program

 

As described in our most recent Form 10-K, USAC has determined that, for Funding Year 2017, which began July 1, 2017, demand for support from the Rural Health Care support mechanism has exceeded the $400 million cap for the second year in a row. As a result, successful non-consortium applicants will receive approximately 84.4% of the support for which they would otherwise be eligible. USAC has not yet acted on the vast majority of our rural healthcare customers’ funding requests. On March 22, 2018, we filed a Petition with the FCC asking the FCC to direct USAC to issue funding commitments to our customers based on rates we proposed in the Petition.

 

CAF Phase II 

 

As described in our most recent Form 10-K, in an October 31, 2016 Order, the FCC set our CAF Phase II support at approximately $19.7 million annually through December 31, 2025, and requires us to provide voice and broadband Internet access service to approximately 31,500 locations in unserved and partially served census blocks. On December 28, 2017, Alaska Communications filed a notice with the FCC proposing to serve 6,056 unserved customer locations in partially-served census blocks to partially fulfill this requirement. On March 27, 2018, General Communication, Inc. (GCI”), filed a challenge at the FCC, asserting that it serves 3,099 of these locations. We have filed a response, disputing that assertion. If the FCC determines that we are not able to satisfy our CAF Phase II deployment obligation by serving some or all of those 3,099 disputed locations, it may be more difficult and costly to meet our CAF Phase II deployment requirements at other locations.

 

On April 26, 2018, the FCC released an Order denying our request to modify the conditions on our use of CAF Phase II high cost support. The CAF locations may include up to 2,714 unserved locations in census blocks deemed “low-cost” by the FCC, so long as we certify that the capital expenditure to serve each such location was at least $5,000.00. The FCC denied our request to reduce that minimum capital expenditure requirement to $2,577.79. As a result of this denial, we may find it more difficult to identify eligible service locations to meet our CAF Phase II deployment requirement.

 

Satellite Services

 

On April 19, 2018, the Wireless Telecommunications, International, and Public Safety Bureaus of the FCC announced an immediate, temporary 90-day freeze on the filing of new or modification applications for fixed-satellite service earth station licenses, receive-only earth station registrations, and fixed microwave licenses in the 3.7 - 4.2 GHz band (“C-band”), in order to preserve the current landscape of authorized operations in that band while the Commission continues to examine opportunities to permit expanded terrestrial use of that band for mobile broadband and additional fixed services.  We recently began using C-band satellite earth stations to provide services via satellite to our customers, using the Eutelsat E115WB satellite, and intend to expand our use of C-band satellite services to serve customers in 2018. The FCC’s temporary freeze may make it more difficult or costly for us to do so.

 

State of Alaska Regulatory Matters

 

Alaska Universal Service Fund

 

The Alaska Universal Service Fund (“AUSF”) serves as a complement to the federal Universal Service Fund, but must meet federal statutory criteria. The Regulatory Commission of Alaska (“RCA”) has opened an “information docket” to evaluate and scope a comprehensive AUSF reform rulemaking that might include consideration of the Fund’s continued need. The RCA has also opened a rulemaking to review the regulations specific to AUSF shortfalls. A final decision in that matter was issued in late December, 2018. These rules were transmitted to the Lt. Governor for signature and became effective April, 2018. They eliminate the hierarchy of shortfall payments except for Lifeline and administrative operating expenses.

 

27

 

In January, 2018, the RCA opened a rulemaking to repeal the AUSF effective July 31, 2019, and sought comments and reply comments. The Alaska Telephone Association and its members filed a plan to cap the fund and distributions. AT&T, GCI, and Alaska Communications also filed comments and reply comments. A hearing was scheduled for April. A final decision is anticipated in order for either a repeal or changes to the distribution to be effective January 1, 2019.

 

Other State Regulatory Matters

 

The RCA opened three dockets on July 27, 2016 to investigate the continued need for COLR funding in competitive areas. Two of the dockets investigating the continued need for COLR funding affect the Fairbanks and Juneau markets. On May 24, 2017, the RCA issued an order approving the 2016 COLR filing for ACSF but denying the 2016 COLR filing for ACSAK and terminating its COLR status and related support. ACSAK petitioned for reconsideration which was denied, and on July 14, 2017 ACSAK filed a notice of appeal in the Anchorage Superior Court. The RCA denied ACSAK’s request for 2017 COLR filing and reinstatement of COLR status. The Company filed for 2017 COLR funding for ACSN and ACSF. The RCA suspended these filings on July 31, 2017. Adjudication of these matters was dismissed when the RCA opened the docket to repeal AUSF. AUSF COLR support for these two markets will continue subject to the RCA’s final decision in the docket to repeal AUSF. ACSAK filed a motion to stay in the appeal. The court ruled in ACSAK’s favor pending the outcome of the appeal.

 

Business Plan Core Principles

 

Our results of operations, financial position and sources and uses of cash in the current and future periods reflect our focus on being the most successful broadband solutions company in Alaska by delivering the best customer experience in the markets we choose to serve. To do this we will continue to:

 

 

Create a Workplace That Develops Our People and Celebrates Success We believe an engaged workforce is critical to our success. We are deeply committed to the development of our people and creating opportunities for them.

 

 

Create a Consistent Customer Experience Every Time We strive to deliver service as promised to our customers, and make it right if our customers are not satisfied with what we delivered. We track virtually every customer interaction and we utilize the Net Promoter Score framework for assessing the satisfaction of our customers.

 

 

Develop Our Network Focusing on Efficient Delivery and Management We are moving toward higher efficiencies and improved customer experience through automation, new technology and expanded geographic service areas. Our future network architecture is a simpler mix of fiber, WiFi, Satellite, and fixed wireless (“FiWi”), focused on efficient delivery and management.

 

 

Relentlessly Simplify How We Do Business We believe we must reduce waste, which is defined as any activity that does not add value to its intended customer. Doing so improves the experience we deliver to our customers. We make investments in technology and process improvement, utilize the LEAN framework, and expect these efforts to meaningfully impact our financial performance in the long-term.

 

 

Offer Broadband and Managed IT Solutions that Create Market Differentiation We are building on strength in designing and providing new products and solutions to our customers.

 

We believe we can create value for our shareholders by:

 

 

Driving revenue growth through increasing business broadband and managed IT service revenues,

 

Generating Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow growth through cost management, and

 

Careful allocation of capital, including selectively investing success based capital into opportunities that generate appropriate returns on investments.

 

28

 

2018 Operating Initiatives

 

 

Bring greater focus to our larger Enterprise and Carrier customer segment, which has been the primary driver of our Business and Wholesale revenue growth, including those utilizing the North Slope Fiber network, and expanded product offerings.

 

Build on our 2017 network initiatives in fiber fed wifi and fixed wireless to offer competitive broadband speeds for the so-called mass market base of customers consisting primarily of our residential and small business customers, including fulfilling our obligations under the CAF II program.

 

Bring greater attention to our cost structures in serving the residential and small business customers by investing in self service capabilities and changes in our product design and operating model to improve profitability.

 

Leverage the market opportunity and fragmented competitive environment to accelerate profitable MIT growth through product, sales, delivery, and support and by leveraging relationships with our business partners such as Microsoft, Dell, Cisco and Avaya, among others.

 

Effectively manage capital spending, focusing on customer opportunities, strategic initiatives, maintenance and utilization of funding received through CAF II support.

 

Continued emphasis on employee engagement and effective communication.

 

Evaluate strategic opportunities in and out of Alaska that address scale and geographic diversification and reduce the risk of investments made in our company.

 

Revenue Sources by Customer Group

 

We operate our business under a single reportable segment. We manage our revenues based on the sale of services and products to the three customer categories listed below. Revenue in the following management’s discussion and analysis is presented by customer and product category, combining revenue accounted for under ASC 606 and other guidance.

 

 

Business and Wholesale (broadband, voice and managed IT services)

 

 

Consumer (broadband and voice services)

 

 

Regulatory (access services, high cost support and carrier termination)

 

Business and Wholesale

 

Providing services to Business and Wholesale customers provides the majority of our revenues and is expected to continue being the primary driver of our growth over the next few years. Our business customers include large enterprises in the oil and gas, healthcare, education and financial industries, Federal, state and local governments, and small and medium business. We were the first Alaska-based carrier to be Carrier Ethernet 2.0 Certified and are currently the only Alaska-based carrier certified for multipoint-to-multipoint services. This certification means that we meet international standards for the quality of our broadband services. We also offer IP based voice including the largest SIP implementations in the state of Alaska, and are the first Microsoft Express Route provider in the state. We believe our network differentiates us in the markets we serve, because we prefer not to compete on price; but on the quality, reliability and the overall value of our solutions. Accordingly, we have significant capacity to “sell into” the network we operate and do so at what we believe are attractive incremental gross margins.

 

Business services have experienced significant growth and we believe the incremental economics of business services are attractive. Given the demand from our customers for more bandwidth and services, we expect revenue growth from these customers to continue for the foreseeable future. We provide services such as voice and broadband, managed IT services including remote network monitoring and support, managed IT security and IT professional services, and long distance services primarily over our own terrestrial network. We are continuing our efforts to position the Company as the premier Cloud Enabler for business in the state of Alaska.

 

Our wholesale customers are primarily national and international telecommunications carriers who rely on us to provide connectivity for broadband and other needs to access their customers over our Alaskan network. The wholesale market is characterized by larger transactions that can create variability in our operating performance. We have a dedicated sales team that sells into this customer segment, and we expect wholesale revenue to grow for the foreseeable future.

 

Consumer

 

We also provide broadband, voice and IT services to residential customers, including residential homes and multi-dwelling units. Given that our primary competitor has extensive quad play capabilities (video, voice, wireless and broadband) we target how and where we offer products and services to this customer group in order to maintain our returns. Our focus is to leverage the capabilities of our existing network and sell customers our highest available bandwidth. Our primary competitive advantage is that we offer reliable internet service without data caps, while our competitor, with certain exceptions, charges customers or throttles customers’ speeds for exceeding given levels of data usage. Overall revenues from these customers began to stabilize in the second half of 2016 and we experienced consistent growth in consumer broadband revenues in 2017. More recently, we have implemented fiber fed wifi solutions for providing broadband and are also field testing certain fixed wireless technologies, which we anticipate will provide a basis for continued growth in this market in 2018.

 

29

 

Regulatory

 

Regulatory revenue is generated from three primary sources: (i) Access charges, which include interstate and intrastate switched access and special access charges, and cellular access; (ii) Surcharges billed to the end user (pass-through and non-pass-through); and (iii) federal and state support. We provide voice and broadband origination and termination services to interstate and intrastate carriers. While we are compensated for these services, these revenue streams have been in decline and we expect them to continue to decline. In addition, as regulators have reformed traditional access charges, they have simultaneously implemented new end user surcharges that contribute to our revenue.

 

Access Charges

 

Interstate and intrastate switched access are services based primarily on originating and terminating access minutes from other carriers. Special access is primarily access to dedicated circuits sold to wholesale customers, substantially all of which is generated from interstate services. Cellular access is the transport of local network services between switches for cellular companies based on individually negotiated contracts. For the year ended December 31, 2017, access charges represented approximately 2.2% of our total wireline revenue.

 

Surcharges

 

We assess our customers for surcharges, typically on a monthly basis, as required by various state and federal regulatory agencies, and remit these surcharges to these agencies. These pass-through surcharges include Federal Universal Access and State Universal Access. These surcharges vary from year to year, and are primarily recognized as revenue, and the subsequent remittance to the state or federal agency as a cost of sale and service. The rates imposed by the regulators continue to increase. However, because the charges are only assessed on a portion of our services, and that portion continues to decline, we expect these revenue streams to decline over time as the revenue base declines. Other non-pass-through surcharges are collected from our customers as authorized by the regulatory body. The amount charged is based on the type of line: single line business, multi-line business, consumer or lifeline. The rates are established based on federal or state orders. These charges are recorded as revenue and do not have a direct associated cost. Rather, they represent a revenue recovery mechanism established by the FCC or the Regulatory Commission of Alaska. For the year ended December 31, 2017 pass-through surcharges represented approximately 33% of the total surcharge revenue billed to our end customers.

 

Federal and State Support

 

We receive interstate and intrastate universal support funds and similar revenue streams structured by federal and state regulatory agencies that allow us to recover our cost of providing universal service in Alaska. For the year ending December 31, 2017, the Company recognized $19.7 million in federal high cost universal service revenues to support our wireline operations in high cost areas. In 2016, the FCC released the CAF Phase II order specific to Alaska Communications which transitioned from CAF Phase I frozen support to CAF Phase II. Funding under the new program generally requires the Company to provide broadband service to unserved locations throughout the designated coverage area by the end of a specified build-out period, and meet interim milestone build-out obligations. In addition to federal high cost support, the Company is designated by the State of Alaska as a COLR in five of the six study areas. In addition to COLR, the Company receives CCL support. We do not receive COLR or CCL funding for the ACS of Anchorage study area. As a COLR we are required to provide services essential for retail and carrier-to-carrier telecommunication throughout the applicable coverage area. For the year ended December 31, 2017 total federal and state support represented approximately 12% of total wireline revenue.

 

Executive Summary

 

The following summary should be read in conjunction with “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included in this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

30

 

Operating Revenues

 

Total revenue of $56.0 million decreased $0.8 million, or 1.3%, in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the first quarter of 2017. Business and wholesale revenue decreased $0.8 million, or 2.2%, due primarily to a $2.6 million reduction in broadband revenue driven by year-over-year price compression and reduced funding levels in the rural health care program. This decline was partially offset by wholesale broadband growth of $1.3 million. Consumer and regulatory revenue were unchanged.

 

Operating Income

 

Operating income of $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2018 increased $0.6 million, or 13.0%, compared with the first quarter of 2017 as lower revenue was offset by reduced operating expenses, driven primarily by lower labor costs. These items are discussed in more detail below.

 

Adjusted EBITDA

 

Adjusted EBITDA of $14.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 increased $0.1 million, or 0.8%, from $14.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 due primarily to lower operating expenses largely offset by marginally lower revenue. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for the definition of Adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss). As discussed in “Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” the Company does not provide a reconciliation of guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income (Loss).

 

Operating Metrics

 

Business broadband average monthly revenue per user (“ARPU”) of $297.38 in the first quarter of 2018 decreased from $356.06 in the first quarter of 2017 due to price compression in the rural health care program. Business broadband connections of 15,306 at March 31, 2018, increased marginally from connections of 15,223 at March 31, 2017. We count connections on a unitary basis regardless of the size of the bandwidth. For example, a customer that has a 10MB connection is counted as one connection as is a customer with a 1MB connection. While we present metrics related to Business connections, we note that we manage Business and wholesale in terms of new Monthly Recurring Charges (“MRC”) sold. Achievement of sales performance in terms of MRC is the primary operating metric used by management to measure market performance. For competitive reasons, we do not disclose our sales or performance in MRC.

 

Consumer broadband connections of 33,675 declined marginally year over year and consumer broadband ARPU of $63.77 in the first quarter of 2018 increased from $61.22 in the first quarter of 2017.

 

The table below provides certain key operating metrics as of or for the periods indicated.

 

   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 
                 

Voice:

               

At quarter end:

               

Business access lines

    71,002       73,313  

Consumer access lines

    28,221       32,519  

Quarter:

               

ARPU - business

  $ 24.76     $ 23.21  

ARPU - consumer

  $ 31.57     $ 27.66  
                 

Broadband:

               

At quarter end:

               

Business connections

    15,306       15,223  

Consumer connections

    33,675       34,917  

Quarter:

               

ARPU - business

  $ 297.38     $ 356.06  

ARPU - consumer

  $ 63.77     $ 61.22  

 

Liquidity

 

We generated cash from operating activities of $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 compared with $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2017. This improvement reflects lower total accounts receivable and materials and supplies, partially offset by delayed collections from rural health care customers. There have been no significant payments received from the rural health care program since July 2017.

 

Net debt (defined as total debt excluding debt issuance costs, less cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash held for settlement of the 6.25% Notes) at March 31, 2018 was $174.5 million compared with $177.2 million at December 31, 2017. The decrease primarily reflects principal payments on the Company’s 2017 Senior Credit Facility. The 6.25% Notes were repurchased on May 1, 2018.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. Revenue and the associated analysis is presented by customer and product category, combining revenue accounted for under ASC 606 and other guidance.

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

 

   

Three Months ended March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

Change

   

% Change

 

Operating revenues:

                               

Business and wholesale revenue

                               

Business broadband

  $ 13,659     $ 16,281     $ (2,622 )     -16.1 %

Business voice and other

    6,851       6,631       220       3.3 %

Managed IT services

    1,265       907       358       39.5 %

Equipment sales and installations

    922       774       148       19.1 %

Wholesale broadband

    9,578       8,317       1,261       15.2 %

Wholesale voice and other

    1,488       1,629       (141 )     -8.7 %

Total business and wholesale revenue

    33,763       34,539       (776 )     -2.2 %
                                 

Consumer revenue

                               

Broadband

    6,492       6,418       74       1.2 %

Voice and other

    2,877       2,910       (33 )     -1.1 %

Total consumer revenue

    9,369       9,328       41       0.4 %
                                 

Total business, wholesale and consumer revenue

    43,132       43,867       (735 )     -1.7 %

Growth in broadband revenue

    -4.1 %                        
                                 

Regulatory revenue

                               

Access

    7,917       7,941       (24 )     -0.3 %

High cost support

    4,923       4,923       -       0.0 %

Total regulatory revenue

    12,840       12,864       (24 )     -0.2 %
                                 

Total operating revenues

  $ 55,972     $ 56,731     $ (759 )     -1.3 %
                                 

Operating expenses:

                               

Cost of services and sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)

    25,833       25,142       691       2.7 %

Selling, general and administrative

    16,012       17,939       (1,927 )     -10.7 %

Depreciation and amortization

    8,787       8,903       (116 )     -1.3 %

(Gain) loss on disposal of assets, net

    (3 )     19       (22 )     NM  

Total operating expenses

    50,629       52,003       (1,374 )     -2.6 %
                                 

Operating income

    5,343       4,728       615       13.0 %
                                 

Other income and (expense):

                               

Interest expense

    (3,504 )     (3,845 )     341       -8.9 %

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    -       (2,276 )     2,276       -100.0 %

Interest income

    14       7       7       100.0 %

Other income (expense), net

    104       (154 )     258       NM  

Total other income and (expense)

    (3,386 )     (6,268 )     2,882       -46.0 %
                                 

Income (loss) before income tax benefit

    1,957       (1,540 )     3,497       NM  
                                 

Income tax benefit

    112       832       (720 )     -86.5 %
                                 

Net income (loss)

    2,069       (708 )     2,777       NM  

Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

    (32 )     (32 )     -       0.0 %

Net income (loss) attributable to Alaska Communications

  $ 2,101     $ (676 )   $ 2,777       NM  

 

32

 

Operating Revenue

 

Business and Wholesale

 

Business and wholesale revenue of $33.8 million decreased $0.7 million, or 2.2%, in the first quarter of 2018 from $34.5 million in the first quarter of 2017. This decline was due primarily to a $2.6 million reduction in broadband revenue driven by year-over-year price compression and reduced funding levels in the rural health care program. The Company’s rural health care revenue was $3.5 million in 2018 compared with $6.3 million in 2017. Business broadband ARPU declined from $356.06 in the first quarter of 2017 to $297.38 in the first quarter of 2018. Business broadband connections increased marginally year over year. Wholesale broadband revenue increased $1.3 million. Managed IT services revenue increased $0.4 million and equipment sales and installations increased $0.1 million. Voice and other revenue increased $0.1 million. Business voice connections decreased 2,311, or 3.2%, year over year and ARPU of $24.76 was up marginally compared with $23.21 in 2017. While connections and ARPU serve as data points to support the analysis of period-over-period changes in revenue, they are not critical indicators utilized by the Company to manage the Business and Wholesale customer group.

 

Consumer

 

Consumer revenue of $9.4 million was unchanged year over year. Broadband revenue increased marginally due to an increase in ARPU to $63.77 from $61.22, offset by a decrease in connections. Voice and other revenue decreased marginally due to 4,298 fewer connections, partially offset by an increase in ARPU to $31.57 from $27.66 in the prior year.

 

Regulatory

 

Regulatory revenue of $12.8 million was unchanged year over year.

 

Operating Expenses

 

Cost of Services and Sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)

 

Cost of services and sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) of $25.8 million increased $0.7 million, or 2.7%, in the first quarter of 2018 from $25.1 million in the first quarter of 2017. This increase reflects increases in network support costs of $1.3 million and circuit installation costs of $0.3 million, partially offset by a $0.8 million decrease in labor costs.

 

Selling, General and Administrative

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses of $16.0 million decreased $1.9 million, or 10.7%, in the first quarter of 2018 from $17.9 million in the first quarter of 2017 due primarily to a $2.1 million reduction in labor costs.

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation and amortization expense of $8.8 million decreased $0.1 million, or 1.3%, in the first quarter of 2018 from $8.9 million in the first quarter of 2017. This decrease was due primarily to certain assets reaching the end of their depreciable life.

 

Other Income and Expense

 

Interest expense of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2018 declined from $3.8 million in the first quarter of 2017 due primarily to lower average borrowing levels. The $2.3 million loss on extinguishment of debt in the first quarter of 2017 was associated with the settlement of the 2015 Senior Credit Facilities and included the write-off of unamortized debt issuance costs and third-party fees.

 

Income Taxes

 

The income tax benefit in the first quarter of 2018 of $0.1 million reflects a $0.7 million benefit recorded to correct an overstatement of the income tax provision in 2017. Excluding this out-of-period adjustment, the income tax provision was $0.6 million and the effective tax rate was 30.2% in the first quarter of 2018. The income tax benefit and effective tax rate in the first quarter of 2017 of $0.8 million and 54.0%, respectively, reflect the impact of permanent book to tax differences on the relatively small loss before tax.

 

Net Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest

 

The net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest of the AQ-JV was $32 thousand in both the first quarter of 2018 and 2017.

 

Net Income Attributable to Alaska Communications

 

Net income attributable to Alaska Communications of $2.1 million in the first quarter of 2018 compares with a net loss $0.7 million in the same period of 2017. The year over year results reflect the revenue and expense items discussed above.

 

33

 

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Cash Flows

 

We satisfied our cash requirements for operations, capital expenditures and scheduled debt service under our 2017 Senior Credit Facility in the first quarter of 2018 through internally generated funds and cash on hand. At March 31, 2018, we had $5.2 million of cash and cash equivalents, $11.8 million of restricted cash, $10.0 million of which was designated for repurchase of the 6.25% Notes, and a $15.0 million undrawn revolving credit facility.

 

Our major sources and uses of funds in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 13,421     $ 5,298  

Capital expenditures

  $ (8,680 )   $ (5,148 )

Change in unsettled capital expenditures

  $ (1,272 )   $ (1,225 )

Repayments of long-term debt

  $ (8,807 )   $ (86,806 )

Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt

  $ 7,000     $ 180,000  

Debt issuance costs and discounts

  $ -     $ (5,217 )

Cash paid for debt extinguishment

  $ -     $ (1,313 )

Interest paid (1)

  $ (3,441 )   $ (1,536 )

Payment of withholding taxes on stock-based compensation

  $ (410 )   $ (599 )

Income taxes refunded, net (1)

  $ -     $ 574  

 

(1) Included in net cash provided by operating activities.

 

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

 

Cash provided by operating activities of $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 compares with $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2017. The year over year increase was primarily due to a reduction in accounts receivable in 2018 compared with an increase in 2017 and lower materials and supplies, partially offset by higher interest payments. Interest payments, net of cash interest income and including capitalized interest, were $3.4 million and $1.5 million in the first three months of 2018 and 2017, respectively.

 

Cash provided by operating activities of $13.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 reflects net income excluding non-cash items (defined as cash provided by operating activities excluding changes in operating assets and liabilities) of $11.0 million and a $3.0 million decrease in accounts receivable, materials and supplies, and other current assets, partially offset by a $1.1 million decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities. The decrease in accounts receivable, materials and supplies, and other current assets reflects cash receipts on accounts receivable and utilization of materials and supplies in capital projects, offset by increases in accounts receivable associated with rural health care customers. The decrease in accounts payable and other current liabilities includes the effect of cash interest payments totaling $3.4 million.

 

Cash provided by operating activities of $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2017 reflects net income excluding non-cash items of $11.3 million offset by a $5.9 million increase in accounts receivable, materials and supplies, and other current assets. This increase was largely due to the timing of receipts from certain rural health care customers.

 

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

 

Cash used by investing activities of $10.4 million in the first quarter of 2018 consisted of expenditures on capital totaling $10.0 million.

 

Cash used by investing activities of $6.6 million in the first quarter of 2017 consisted primarily of expenditures on capital totaling $6.4 million.

 

Our networks require the timely maintenance of plant and infrastructure. Future capital requirements may change due to impacts of regulatory decisions that affect our ability to recover our investments, changes in technology, the effects of competition, changes in our business strategy, and our decision to pursue specific acquisition and investment opportunities. Capital spending is typically higher during the second and third quarters. We intend to fund future capital expenditures with cash on hand and net cash generated from operations.

 

34

 

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

 

Cash used by financing activities were $2.2 million in the first quarter of 2018. Repayments of long-term debt of $8.8 million included scheduled principal payments on the term loan components of our 2017 Senior Credit Facility of $1.7 million and repayment of draws totaling $7.0 million on the revolving credit facility. Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt of $7.0 million consisted of draws on the revolving credit facility.

 

Cash provided by financing activities of $86.1 million in the first quarter of 2017 consisted of gross proceeds of $180.0 million from the issuance of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, repayment of the outstanding principal of the 2015 Senior Credit Facilities of $86.8 million, payment of debt issuance costs and discounts associated with the 2017 Senior Credit Facility of $5.2 million and payment of debt extinguishment costs of $1.3 million.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Consistent with our history, our current and long-term liquidity could be impacted by a number of challenges, including, but not limited to: (i) potential future reductions in our revenues resulting from governmental and public policy changes, including regulatory actions affecting inter-carrier compensation, changes in revenue from Universal Service Funds, and the significant delay in the Rural Health Care Program funding receipts; (ii) servicing our debt and funding principal payments; (iii) the funding of other obligations, including our pension plans and lease commitments; (iv) competitive pressures in the markets we serve; (v) the capital intensive nature of our industry; (vi) our ability to respond to and fund the rapid technological changes inherent to our industry, including new products; and (vii) our ability to obtain adequate financing to support our business and pursue growth opportunities.

 

We are responding to these challenges by (i) driving top line growth in broadband service revenues outside the rural health care market with a focus on business and wholesale customers; (ii) managing our cost structure to deliver consistent Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash flow performance; and (iii) holding capital spending to approximately $35 million annually.

 

The obligations under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility are secured by substantially all personal property and certain material real property owned by the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, with certain exceptions. The 2017 Senior Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants limiting the incurrence of debt, declaring dividends, making investments, dispositions, and entering into mergers and acquisitions. Repurchases of the Company’s common stock are subject to a $10 million limitation, satisfying a minimum liquidity and cash-flow requirement and other conditions as described in the agreement. Upon achieving certain Net Total Leverage Ratio targets, additional repurchases may be made. The 2017 Senior Credit Facility provides for events of default customary for credit facilities of this type, including non-payment under the agreement, breach of warranty, breach of covenants, defaults on other debt, incurrence of liens on collateral, change of control and insolvency, all as defined in the agreement. Consequences of an event of default are defined in the agreement.

 

The 2017 Senior Credit Facility requires the maintenance of certain financial ratios as defined in the agreement and summarized below. The Company was in compliance with all relevant financial ratios at March 31, 2018.

 

Net Total Leverage Ratio: The ratio of our (a) total debt, less unrestricted cash and cash equivalents held in pledged accounts, less cash held for repurchase or repayment of the 6.25% Notes to (b) Consolidated EBITDA (as defined more specifically below) for the consecutive four fiscal quarters ending as of the calculation date. The maximum allowable net total leverage ratio is provided in the table below.

 

Period

 

Ratio

 

July 1, 2017 through December 31, 2017

    3.50 to 1.00  

January 1, 2018 through June 30, 2018

    3.25 to 1.00  

July 1, 2018 through December 31, 2018

    3.00 to 1.00  

January 1, 2019 through September 30, 2019

    2.75 to 1.00  

October 1, 2019 and thereafter

    2.50 to 1.00  

 

The actual net total leverage ratio was 3.07 at March 31, 2018.

 

Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio: The ratio of our (a) Consolidated EBITDA for the consecutive four fiscal quarters ending as of the calculation date to (b) the sum of, for the same period, consolidated interest expense, capital expenditures (with certain exceptions), the current portion of long term debt including capital lease obligations, restricted payments, and cash payments for income taxes. The minimum fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.05 to 1.00 commencing June 30, 2017. The actual fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.14 at March 31, 2018.

 

35

 

Consolidated EBITDA, as defined in the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, means consolidated net income attributable to Alaska Communications, plus (to the extent deducted in calculating net income) the sum of:

 

 

cash and non-cash interest expense;

 

depreciation and amortization expense;

 

income taxes;

 

other non-cash charges and expenses, including equity-based compensation expense;

 

the write down or write off on any assets, other than accounts receivable;

 

subject to limitation, fees and out-of-pocket transaction costs incurred in connection with the 2017 refinancing transactions;

 

unusual, non-recurring losses, charges and expenses;

 

one-time costs associated with permitted acquisitions; and

 

cost savings from synergies in connection with permitted acquisitions or dispositions.

 

minus (to the extent included in calculating net income) the sum of:

 

 

unusual, non-recurring gains on permitted sales or dispositions of assets and casualty events;

 

cash and non-cash interest income;

 

other unusual nonrecurring items;

 

the write up of any asset;

 

patronage refunds or similar distributions from any lender; and

 

the Company’s share of earnings in its joint venture with Quintillion if such earnings exceed $0.5 million and at least 50% of the Company’s share in such earnings have not been received in cash by the Company.

 

Consolidated EBITDA as defined in the 2017 Senior Credit Facility is not a GAAP measure and is not consistent with Adjusted EBITDA presented elsewhere in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

 

The Term A-1 Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 5.0% per annum, with a LIBOR minimum of 1.0%. The Term A-2 Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 7.0% per annum, with a LIBOR minimum of 1.0%. The revolving facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 5.0% per annum, with a LIBOR minimum of 1.0%.

 

The weighted interest rate on the 2017 Senior Credit Facility was 7.25% at March 31, 2018.

 

As required under the terms of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility and as a component of its cash flow hedging strategy, the Company has entered into interest rate hedges sufficient to effectively fix or limit the interest rate on borrowings under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility of $90.0 million through June 28, 2019.

 

On March 15, 2018, USAC announced that demand for rural health care support had exceeded the programs’ annual cap in Funding Year 2017, which began July 1, 2017 and ends on June 30, 2018, and that successful applicants would receive 84.4% of the funding for which they would otherwise be eligible. The budget constraints have also prompted the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”), which administers the program, to engage in substantially more rigorous reviews of rural health care support, raising compliance costs and delaying issuance of support payments. In connection with that review, the Company has received certain inquiries and requests for information from USAC and from the FCC Enforcement Bureau. In the first quarter of 2018, the Company’s rural health care customers received notice from USAC regarding deficiencies in the rates stated in their applications. The rates have been revised and, upon approval of by the FCC and USAC, the Company’s rural health care customers will amend their applications for funding. As of March 31, 2018, USAC had not issued approval notices to our rural health care customers (all of whom had timely applied for funding) for Funding Year 2017.

 

We recorded revenue from the rural health care program of $3.5 million in the first quarter of 2018, which reflects the effect of the program funding cap described above and price compression.

 

36

 

Our accounts receivable balance for rural health care customers, net of amounts reserved, was $11.8 million at March 31, 2018 and $8.6 million at December 31, 2017. The Company has not received any significant cash payments associated with this program since July 2017. The timing of the approval of our customers’ applications and timing of cash payments from USAC could have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and liquidity. At this time, we cannot determine with a high level of confidence when and if the FCC will approve the revised rates, when our rural health care customers will receive approval of their applications and when the Company will receive payment from USAC.

 

Concurrently, we have significant advocacy efforts underway to increase the funding levels for this program considering that the annual cap on funding has not been revised for nearly 20 years since the program’s inception. As a business matter, we intend to factor this uncertainty into our future planning, while on a tactical basis we will continue to evaluate the potential impact of this funding on our revenues and accounts receivable.

 

In the second quarter of 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a program to repurchase up to $10 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases can be conducted in the open market or through private transactions, including through purchases made in accordance with Rule 10b plans. The timing and amount of repurchases will be determined by the Company based on its evaluation of market conditions, its financial position, the trading price of its stock and other factors. The Company intends to use cash on hand to fund share repurchases subject to, among other things, federal and state securities, corporate and other laws and regulations, and the Company’s financing arrangements. Shares repurchased under this program will be accounted for as treasury stock.

 

We believe that we will have sufficient cash on hand, cash provided by operations and availability under our 2017 Senior Credit Facility to service our debt and fund our operations, capital expenditures and other obligations over the next twelve months. However, our ability to make such an assessment is dependent upon our future financial performance, which is subject to future economic conditions and to financial, business, regulatory, competitive entry and many other factors, many of which are beyond our control and could impact us during the time period of this assessment. See Item 1A. Risk Factors in Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2017 for further information regarding these risks.

 

NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES

 

The Company provides certain non-GAAP financial information, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow and Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the effects of period to period changes in costs that are not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company’s business operations and is used by Management and the Company’s Board of Directors to evaluate current operating financial performance, analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions and better evaluate comparability between periods. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measure used by Management and the Board of Directors to assess the Company’s ability to generate cash and plan for future operating and capital actions. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are common measures utilized by our peers (other telecommunications companies) and we believe they provide useful information to investors and analysts about the Company’s operating results, financial condition and cash flows. Net Debt provides Management and the Board of Directors with a measure of the Company’s current leverage position.

 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest, loss on extinguishment of debt, depreciation and amortization, other income and (expense), gain or loss on asset purchases or disposals, income taxes, stock-based compensation, and net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.

 

Management considers Adjusted Free Cash Flow a non-GAAP liquidity measure and is defined as Adjusted EBITDA, less recurring operating cash requirements which include capital expenditures, less cash income taxes refunded or paid, cash interest paid, and amortization of GCI capacity revenue. Amortization of deferred revenue associated with our interconnection agreement with GCI is excluded from Adjusted Free Cash Flow because no cash was received by the Company in connection with this agreement. Amortization of all other deferred revenue, including that associated with other IRU capacity arrangements, is included in Adjusted Free Cash Flow because cash was received by the Company, typically at contract inception, and is being amortized to revenue over the term of the relevant agreement.

 

Amortization of deferred revenue included in our operating revenues for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, were as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

GCI capacity revenue

  $ 511     $ 511  

Other deferred capacity revenue

    436       336  

Total deferred capacity revenue

    947       847  

Other deferred revenue

    752       836  

Total

  $ 1,699     $ 1,683  

 

37

 

The Company does not provide reconciliations of guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The Company does not forecast certain items required to develop the comparable GAAP financial measures. These items are charges and benefits for uncollectible accounts, certain other non-cash expenses, unusual items typically excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, and changes in operating assets and liabilities (generally the most significant of these items, representing cash inflows of $2.4 million in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018).

 

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are not GAAP measures and should not be considered a substitute for Net Income, Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities, or Net Cash Provided or Used. Adjusted EBITDA as computed below is not consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA referenced in our 2017 Senior Credit Facility, and other companies may not calculate Non-GAAP measures in the same manner we do.

 

The following tables provide the computation of Adjusted EBITDA and reconciliation to Net Income (Loss), and the computation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow and reconciliation to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:

 

Adjusted EBITDA

               
   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 2,069     $ (708 )

Add (subtract):

               

Interest expense

    3,504       3,845  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    -       2,276  

Interest income

    (14 )     (7 )

Depreciation and amortization

    8,787       8,903  

Other (income) expense, net

    (104 )     154  

(Gain) loss on the disposal of assets, net

    (3 )     19  

Income tax benefit

    (112 )     (832 )

Stock-based compensation

    242       610  

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

    32       32  

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 14,401     $ 14,292  

 

38

 

Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted

 

Free Cash Flow and Computation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow

               
   

Three Months Ended

 
   

March 31,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

  $ 13,421     $ 5,298  

Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted free cash flow:

               

Capital expenditures

    (8,680 )     (5,148 )

Amortization of deferred capacity revenue

    947       847  

Amortization of GCI capacity revenue

    (511 )     (511 )

Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount

    (356 )     (1,025 )

Interest expense

    3,504       3,845  

Interest paid

    (3,441 )     (1,536 )

Interest income

    (14 )     (7 )

Income taxes payable

    -       (574 )

Income taxes refunded, net

    -       574  

Charge for uncollectible accounts

    (537 )     (89 )

Other (income) expense, net

    (104 )     154  

Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest

    32       32  

Other non-cash expense, net

    (90 )     (145 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

    (2,402 )     5,956  

Adjusted free cash flow

  $ 1,769     $ 7,671  
                 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 14,401     $ 14,292  

Less:

               

Capital expenditures

    (8,680 )     (5,148 )

Amortization of GCI capacity revenue

    (511 )     (511 )

Income taxes refunded, net

    -       574  

Interest paid

    (3,441 )     (1,536 )

Adjusted free cash flow

  $ 1,769     $ 7,671  

 

OUTLOOK

 

We expect to see continued strength in business and wholesale revenues, led by broadband revenue and managed IT services, focused on the larger enterprise and carrier customer segments. These revenue increases are driven by continued demand for broadband as businesses migrate their IT infrastructure to the cloud, deployment of small cell networks, expansion into managed IT services and continued gain in market share. We expect continued pressure within the health care segment driven by pressures from the rural health care program, while we expect to see solid performance from our carrier and federal customers as well as opportunities in markets enabled by the Quintillion networks. Driven by our network investments in fiber fed wifi and fixed wireless, we expect to become more competitive serving small business and residential customers, while we focus on improving profitability by enhancing our online and self-serve capabilities.

 

Additionally, we are focused on implementing the CAF II program and expect to meet our obligations for 2018 by providing broadband to 30% of our target locations, or about 9,200 locations by the end of the year, while also completing the detailed engineering design for the entire program by October 2018.

 

We also expect continued attention by our Board of Directors on the evaluation of value creating strategic opportunities that address our scale and geographic concentration issues.

 

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Our financial guidance for the full year 2018 is as follows:

 

 

Total revenue of $225 million to $230 million.

 

Adjusted EBITDA of $55 million to $58 million.

 

Capital spending of $33 million to $35 million.

 

Adjusted free cash flow of $5 million to $8 million.

 

As discussed in “Non-GAAP Financial Measures,” the Company does not provide reconciliations of guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities.

 

LEGAL

 

We are involved in various claims, legal actions, personnel matters and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business and as of March 31, 2018, we have recorded litigation accruals of $0.7 million against certain of those claims and legal actions. Estimates involved in developing these litigation accruals could change as these claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings progress. See also Part II, Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

 

EMPLOYEES

 

As of March 31, 2018, we employed 581 regular full-time employees, 5 regular part-time employees and 1 temporary employee, compared with 583, 5 and 1, respectively at December 31, 2017. Approximately 55% of our employees are represented by the IBEW. Our Master Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) with the IBEW, which is effective through December 31, 2023, governs the terms and conditions of employment for all IBEW represented employees working for us in the state of Alaska. Management considers employee relations to be generally good.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES

 

We have identified certain policies and estimates as critical to our business operations and the understanding of our past or present results of operations.

 

The Company’s revenue associated with its rural health care customers is subject to various regulatory requirements associated with the provision of these services. Funding through the FCC represents the predominant portion of the payments received by the Company for the services provided. The amount ultimately collected from the FCC is dependent on program funding levels and the FCC’s approval of customer’s applications for funding. Approval of these applications is subject, in part, to the FCC’s approval of the rates the Company charges its customers. Accordingly, the Company’s recorded revenue and associated accounts receivable is dependent on its estimate of the FCC’s (i) funding levels, if not yet approved; (ii) approval of the Company’s pricing; and (iii) approval of customer applications.

 

For additional discussion on the application of significant accounting policies, see “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” in Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. These policies and estimates are considered critical because they had a material impact, or have the potential to have a material impact, on our financial statements and because they require significant judgments, assumptions or estimates.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Among the significant estimates affecting the financial statements are those related to the realizable value of accounts receivable and long-lived assets, the value of derivative instruments, deferred capacity revenue, legal contingencies, stock-based compensation and income taxes. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results may differ significantly from those estimates. Changes in those estimates will be reflected in the financial statements of future periods.

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASC 606 on a modified retrospective basis. ASC 606 requires that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Adoption of ASC 606 did not have a material effect on the Company’s recognition of revenue, operating expenses and cash flows. Adoption resulted in the establishment of a contract asset of $6,898, consisting of contract acquisition costs associated with sales commissions, and a resulting deferred income tax liability of $1,960. Accumulated deficit was reduced $4,938. See Note 2 “Revenue Recognition” for a summary of the Company’s revenue recognition policies and other disclosures required under ASC 606.

 

40

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-07. The amendments in ASU 2017-07 require that an employer report the service cost component in the same line item or items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees. The other components of net benefit costs are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations, if one is presented. ASU 2017-07 also requires that only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization when applicable. Pension benefits for substantially all of the Company’s Alaska-based employees are provided through the Alaska Electrical Pension Fund, a multiemployer defined benefit plan. The Company pays a contractual hourly amount based on employee classification or base compensation. The components of net periodic pension costs are not specified in this amount. The Company’s sole single-employer defined benefit plan, which covers a limited number of employees previously employed by a predecessor to one of our subsidiaries, is frozen, and the cost of this plan does not include a service component. Accordingly, total net periodic pension expense of $91 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2018 has been reported as a component of “Other income (expense), net” in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss). ASU 2017-07 was adopted on a retrospective basis and net periodic pension expense of $154 in the three-month period ended March 31, 2017 was reclassified from “Selling, general and administrative” to “Other income (expense), net” in the Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss). The Company utilized the practical expedient provided by ASU 2017-07 which permits the use of the amounts disclosed in the retirement plans note as the basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements.

 

Effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted ASU 2017-09. The amendments in ASU 2017-09 are intended to provide clarity, and reduce diversity in practice and the cost and complexity of applying the guidance in Topic 718. The primary provision of ASU 2017-09 is to provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. An entity should account for the effects of a change as a modification unless all the following conditions are met: (i) the fair value of the modified award is the same as the fair value of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. If the modification does not affect any of the inputs to the valuation technique that the entity uses to value the award, the entity is not required to estimate the value immediately before and after the modification; (ii) the vesting conditions of the modified award are the same as the vesting conditions of the original award immediately before the original award is modified; and (iii) the classification of the modified award as an equity instrument or a liability instrument is the same as the classification of the original award immediately before the original award is modified. The provisions of ASU 2017-09 will be applied prospectively to awards modified on or after January 1, 2018. The effect of the adoption of ASU 2017-09 on the Company’s financial statements and related disclosures will be dependent on the frequency and types of changes made to its share-based payment awards. There were no applicable changes made during the three-month period ended March 31, 2018.

 

Accounting Pronouncements Issued Not Yet Adopted

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02. The primary change in GAAP addressed by ASU 2016-02 is the requirement for a lessee to recognize on the balance sheet a liability to make lease payments (“lease liability”) and a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term. The accounting applied by a lessor is largely unchanged from that applied under previous GAAP. ASU 2016-02 also requires qualitative and quantitative disclosures to enable users of the financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. ASU 2016-02 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those years. Lessees must apply a modified retrospective transition approach for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2016-02 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12. The amendments in ASU 2017-12 are intended to improve and simplify the accounting rules for hedge accounting, including providing a better portrayal of the economic results of an entity’s risk management activities in its financial statements and simplification of the application of hedge accounting guidance. The new guidance eliminates the requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness and, for qualifying hedges, requires the entire change in the fair value of the hedging instrument to be presented in the same income statement line as the hedged item. ASU 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period or fiscal year prior to the effective date. The accounting and disclosure requirements are to be adopted on a prospective basis and a cumulative-effect adjustment is to be recorded for cash flow and net investment hedges existing at the date of adoption. The Company is evaluating the effect that ASU 2017-12 will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

41

 

ITEM 3.      QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our primary exposure to market risk is associated with changes in interest rates. The interest rates and cash interest payments were substantially fixed on approximately $100.5 million, or 54%, of our total borrowings of $187.2 million as of March 31, 2018. Our 6.25% Notes had a fixed coupon rate. The $120.0 million Term A-1 Facility of our 2017 Senior Credit Facility bears interest of LIBOR plus 5.0% with a LIBOR floor of 1.0% and the $60.0 million Term A-2 Facility bears interest of LIBOR plus 7.0% with a LIBOR floor of 1.0% as of March 31, 2018.

 

We manage a portion of our exposure to fluctuations in LIBOR and the resulting impact on interest expense and cash interest payments on our 2017 Senior Credit Facility through the utilization of a pay-fixed, receive-floating interest rate swap designated as a cash flow hedge. As of March 31, 2018, interest expense on $90.0 million, or approximately 50%, of the amount outstanding under the 2017 Senior Senior Credit Facility was hedged. A hypothetical 100 basis point increase in LIBOR over the floor of 1.0% during the next twelve months would result in an approximately $0.8 million increase in interest expense and cash interest payments associated with the unhedged portion of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility. As required under the terms of the 2017 Senior Credit Facility, the Company entered into interest rate hedges sufficient to effectively fix or limit the interest rate on borrowings under the 2017 Senior Credit Facility of $90.0 million through June 28, 2019.

 

ITEM 4.      CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

As of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based on the evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Principal Financial Officer, we have evaluated any changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first quarter of 2018 and have concluded that there were no changes to our internal control over financial reporting that materially affect, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II.            OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1.        LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

We are involved in various claims, legal actions, personnel matters and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. As of March 31, 2018, we have recorded litigation accruals of $0.7 million against certain current claims and legal actions. Other than as described above and as disclosed previously in Item 3. Legal Proceedings in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, we believe that the disposition of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

ITEM 1A.     RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes to the Company's risk factors as previously disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

42

 

ITEM 2.       UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Working Capital Restrictions and Other Limitations on the Payment of Dividends

 

Our 2017 Senior Credit Facility contains a number of restrictive covenants and events of default, including covenants limiting capital expenditures, incurrence of debt and the payment of dividends. The 2017 Senior Credit Facility also requires that we maintain certain financial ratios.

 

ITEM 3.       DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

ITEM 4.       MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5.       OTHER INFORMATION

 

None. 

 

ITEM 6.       EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

Exhibit

 

Where Located

       
       

31.1

Certification of Anand Vadapalli, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Filed herewith

       

31.2

Certification of Laurie Butcher, Senior Vice President of Finance, pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Filed herewith

       

32.1

Certification of Anand Vadapalli, President and Chief Executive Officer, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Furnished herewith

       

32.2

Certification of Laurie Butcher, Senior Vice President of Finance, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

Furnished herewith

       

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

 

Filed herewith

       

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

Filed herewith

       

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

Filed herewith

       

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

Filed herewith

       

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

Filed herewith

       

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

Filed herewith

 

43

 

SIGNATURES

 

 

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 thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

  ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

 

 

 

Date: May 10, 2018  /s/ Anand Vadapalli
  Anand Vadapalli
  President and Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)
   
   
   
Date: May 10, 2018     /s/ Laurie Butcher
  Laurie Butcher
 

Senior Vice President of Finance 

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

44