Le Lézard
Classified in: Science and technology, Business
Subjects: ERN, CCA, ERP

Sprint Reports Fiscal Year 2019 Third Quarter Results


OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Jan. 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --

Sprint Corp. Logo (PRNewsfoto/Sprint Corp.)

Sprint Corporation (NYSE: S) today reported results for the fiscal year 2019 third quarter, including stability in postpaid wireless service revenue and continued growth in postpaid net additions. The company also reported a net loss of $120 million, operating income of $66 million, and adjusted EBITDA* of $2.5 billion.     

"I continue to be impressed by the commitment of Sprint employees to deliver results during this period of uncertainty," said Sprint CEO Michel Combes. "As we await a decision in the state attorneys general lawsuit, I continue to believe the merger with T-Mobile is the best way to deliver the benefits of competition to American consumers."    

Stable Wireless Service Revenue and Cost Optimization
Postpaid wireless service revenue of $4.2 billion remained stable sequentially and year-over-year as Sprint continued to focus on promoting its feature-rich Unlimited Plus and Unlimited Premium rate plans, selling additional data devices, and being more selective in its acquisition of postpaid phone customers. Postpaid net additions of 494,000 and average postpaid accounts of 11.3 million improved sequentially and year-over-year, while postpaid ARPA of $124.80 remained stable.

Total wireless service revenue of $5.2 billion was negatively impacted by the continued amortization of prepaid contract balances as a result of adopting the new revenue standard last year, while the year-ago period included Lifeline revenue related to federal and state government subsidies claimed as a result of an inadvertent coding error. Adjusting for these impacts, total wireless service revenue was stable year-over-year and sequentially.

The company continued its focus on cost optimization during the quarter by driving year-over-year gross reductions in cost of services and selling, general and administrative expenses, with most of the reductions coming from network optimization. These reductions have been offset by incremental costs associated with network coverage and capacity improvements, along with other customer experience initiatives.

Digital Capabilities Driving Higher Sales, Better Customer Experience, and Cost Efficiencies
Sprint continued to enhance its digital capabilities and transform the way it engages with customers. 

These digital initiatives have contributed to more efficient acquisition of new customers, along with lower customer care costs.

Network Improves and True Mobile 5G Coverage Expands to 20 Million People
Sprint made continued progress on executing its focused Next-Gen Network plan.

These deployments have driven performance improvements and increased capacity in Sprint's network, as seen in Ookla Speedtest Intelligence data which shows Sprint having the second fastest network[1] and being the most improved operator in calendar 2019 with a 45 percent year-over-year increase in its national average download speeds.[2] Additionally, the company is focused on improving the end-to-end network quality for its customers.

Sprint expanded its True Mobile 5G network coverage to approximately 20 million people within nine metropolitan areas ? Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York City, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. In these areas, customers with 5G devices are experiencing dramatically faster speeds with Sprint's average 5G download speed of 215 Mbps more than 5X faster than Sprint LTE.[3]

Additional Information

1 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data average download speeds from Q4 2019 for All Mobile Results. Ookla® trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
2 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data average download speeds from December 2018 to December 2019 for All Mobile Results. Ookla® trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.
3 Based on analysis by Ookla® of Speedtest Intelligence® data average download speeds for December 2019 of 4G (LTE) and 5G Beta (NR) results. Ookla® trademarks used under license and reprinted with permission.

Wireless Operating Statistics (Unaudited)








 

 Quarter To Date 


 Year To Date 


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18

Net additions (losses) (in thousands)







Postpaid(a)

494

273

309


901

541

Postpaid phone

(115)

(91)

(26)


(334)

27

Prepaid(a)

(174)

(207)

(173)


(550)

(184)

Wholesale and affiliate

(71)

(462)

(88)


(673)

(272)

Total wireless net additions (losses)

249

(396)

48


(322)

85








End of period connections (in thousands)







Postpaid(a) (b)(c)(d)

33,842

33,348

32,605


33,842

32,605

Postpaid phone(b) (c)

26,264

26,379

26,787


26,264

26,787

Prepaid(a) (b) (c)

8,266

8,440

8,846


8,266

8,846

Wholesale and affiliate (c) (d) (e)

12,057

12,128

13,044


12,057

13,044

Total end of period connections

54,165

53,916

54,495


54,165

54,495








Churn







Postpaid

1.98%

1.87%

1.85%


1.87%

1.75%

Postpaid phone

2.06%

1.91%

1.84%


1.91%

1.71%

Prepaid

4.92%

4.94%

4.83%


4.70%

4.58%








Supplemental data - connected devices







End of period connections (in thousands)







Retail postpaid

4,050

3,718

2,821


4,050

2,821

Wholesale and affiliate

9,419

9,585

10,563


9,419

10,563

Total

13,469

13,303

13,384


13,469

13,384








ARPU(f)







Postpaid

$           42.02

$           42.30

$           43.64


$           42.29

$           43.73

Postpaid phone

$           50.37

$           50.10

$           50.01


$           50.11

$           49.91

Prepaid

$           29.63

$           30.97

$           34.53


$           30.93

$           35.40








ARPA(g)







Average postpaid accounts (in thousands)

11,295

11,265

11,196


11,256

11,193

Postpaid ARPA

$         124.80

$         124.81

$         126.14


$         124.83

$         125.87








(a)During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2019, net subscriber additions under the non-Sprint branded postpaid plan offering were 108,000 and 331,000, respectively, and are included in total retail postpaid subscribers above. As of December 31, 2019, end of period subscribers under the non-Sprint branded postpaid plan offering were 885,000 and are included in total retail postpaid subscribers above.

(b)During the three-month period ended June 30, 2018, we ceased selling devices in our installment billing program under one of our brands and as a result, 45,000 subscribers were migrated back to prepaid from postpaid.

(c)  As a result of our affiliate agreement with Shentel, certain subscribers have been transferred from postpaid and prepaid to affiliates. During the three-month period ended June 30, 2018, 10,000 and 4,000 subscribers were transferred from postpaid and prepaid, respectively, to affiliates.

(d)  During the three-month period ended June 30, 2019,  one of our postpaid customers purchased a wholesale MVNO and as a result, 167,000 subscribers were transferred from the wholesale to postpaid subscriber base.

(e)  On April 1, 2018, approximately 115,000 wholesale subscribers were removed from the subscriber base with no impact to revenue.During the three-month period ended December 31, 2018, an additional 100,000 wholesale subscribers were removed from the subscriber base with no impact to revenue.

(f)  ARPU is calculated by dividing service revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of connections in the applicable service category. Changes in average monthly service revenue reflect connections for either the postpaid or prepaid service category who change rate plans, the level of voice and data usage, the amount of service credits which are offered to connections, plus the net effect of average monthly revenue generated by new connections and deactivating connections.  Postpaid phone ARPU represents revenues related to our postpaid phone connections.

(g)  ARPA is calculated by dividing postpaid service revenue by the sum of the monthly average number of retail postpaid accounts.

 

Wireless Device Financing Summary (Unaudited)







(Millions, except sales, connections, and leased devices in property, plant and equipment)








 Quarter To Date 


 Year To Date 


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18








Postpaid activations (in thousands)

4,773

3,983

4,462


12,231

11,707

Postpaid activations financed

80%

78%

81%


79%

82%

Postpaid activations - operating leases

61%

59%

63%


60%

64%








Installment plans







Installment sales financed

$              541

$             433

$             357


$           1,391

$             825

Installment billings

$              230

$             214

$             251


$              653

$             868

Installment receivables, net

$           1,250

$           1,110

$             894


$           1,250

$             894








Equipment rentals and depreciation - equipment rentals







Equipment rentals   

$           1,292

$           1,330

$           1,313


$           3,981

$           3,778

Depreciation - equipment rentals

$           1,011

$           1,056

$           1,137


$           3,096

$           3,454








Leased device additions







Cash paid for capital expenditures - leased devices

$           2,147

$           1,786

$           2,215


$           5,449

$           5,739








Leased devices  







Leased devices in property, plant and equipment, net

$           6,748

$           6,378

$           6,683


$           6,748

$           6,683








Leased device units







Leased devices in property, plant and equipment (units in thousands)

15,714

15,566

15,897


15,714

15,897








Leased device and receivables financings net proceeds







Proceeds

$           1,350

$           2,080

$           2,200


$           4,550

$           5,083

Repayments

(747)

(2,210)

(1,900)


(3,847)

(4,170)

Net proceeds (repayments) of financings related to devices and receivables

$             603

$            (130)

$              300


$              703

$              913

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)







(Millions, except per share data)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18

Net operating revenues







Service revenue

$           5,416

$           5,273

$           5,699


$         16,252

$         17,201

Equipment sales

1,372

1,192

1,589


3,784

4,180

Equipment rentals

1,292

1,330

1,313


3,981

3,778

Total net operating revenues

8,080

7,795

8,601


24,017

25,159

Net operating expenses







Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)

1,718

1,775

1,648


5,203

5,019

Cost of equipment sales

1,646

1,359

1,734


4,346

4,521

Cost of equipment rentals (exclusive of depreciation below)

201

240

182


666

457

Selling, general and administrative

2,045

1,936

2,003


5,888

5,731

Depreciation - network and other

1,071

1,065

1,088


3,256

3,132

Depreciation - equipment rentals

1,011

1,056

1,137


3,096

3,454

Amortization

474

106

145


698

475

Other, net

(152)

21

185


106

298

Total net operating expenses

8,014

7,558

8,122


23,259

23,087

Operating income

66

237

479


758

2,072

Interest expense

(589)

(594)

(664)


(1,802)

(1,934)

Other (expense) income, net

(6)

14

32


36

153

(Loss) income before income taxes

(529)

(343)

(153)


(1,008)

291

Income tax benefit (expense)

408

64

8


494

(56)

Net (loss) income

(121)

(279)

(145)


(514)

235

Less: Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests

1

5

4


9

(4)

Net (loss) income attributable to Sprint Corporation

$            (120)

$            (274)

$            (141)


$            (505)

$             231








Basic net (loss) income per common share attributable to Sprint Corporation

$           (0.03)

$           (0.07)

$           (0.03)


$           (0.12)

$            0.06

Diluted net (loss) income per common share attributable to Sprint Corporation

$           (0.03)

$           (0.07)

$           (0.03)


$           (0.12)

$            0.06

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding

4,109

4,098

4,078


4,098

4,050

Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding

4,109

4,098

4,078


4,098

4,110








Effective tax rate

77.1%

18.7%

5.2%


49.0%

19.2%















NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - NET (LOSS) INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDA* (Unaudited)






(Millions)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18








Net (loss) income

$            (121)

$            (279)

$            (145)


$            (514)

$             235

Income tax (benefit) expense

(408)

(64)

(8)


(494)

56

(Loss) income before income taxes

(529)

(343)

(153)


(1,008)

291

Other expense (income), net

6

(14)

(32)


(36)

(153)

Interest expense

589

594

664


1,802

1,934

Operating income

66

237

479


758

2,072

Depreciation - network and other

1,071

1,065

1,088


3,256

3,132

Depreciation - equipment rentals

1,011

1,056

1,137


3,096

3,454

Amortization

474

106

145


698

475

EBITDA*(1)

2,622

2,464

2,849


7,808

9,133

Asset impairments (2)

19

2

-


231

-

Loss from asset dispositions, exchanges, and other, net(3)

22

-

105


22

173

Severance and exit costs (4)

20

19

30


66

63

Contract terminations costs (5)

-

-

-


-

34

Merger costs (6)

78

69

67


230

216

Litigation expenses and other contingencies(7)

(270)

-

50


(270)

50

Partial pension settlement (8)

57

-

-


57

-

Hurricanes (9)

-

-

-


-

(32)

Adjusted EBITDA*(1)

$           2,548

$           2,554

$           3,101


$           8,144

$           9,637








Adjusted EBITDA margin*

47.0%

48.4%

54.4%


50.1%

56.0%















Selected items:







Cash paid for capital expenditures - network and other

$           1,062

$           1,109

$           1,416


$           3,360

$           3,814

Cash paid for capital expenditures - leased devices

$           2,147

$           1,786

$           2,215


$           5,449

$           5,739

 

 

WIRELESS STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)







(Millions)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18

Net operating revenues







Service revenue







Postpaid

$           4,229

$           4,218

$           4,236


$         12,646

$         12,679

Prepaid

740

792

924


2,375

2,860

Wholesale, affiliate and other

226

35

289


541

868

Total service revenue

5,195

5,045

5,449


15,562

16,407








Equipment sales

1,372

1,192

1,589


3,784

4,180

Equipment rentals

1,292

1,330

1,313


3,981

3,778

Total net operating revenues

7,859

7,567

8,351


23,327

24,365








Net operating expenses







Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)

1,554

1,591

1,439


4,664

4,334

Cost of equipment sales

1,646

1,359

1,734


4,346

4,521

Cost of equipment rentals (exclusive of depreciation below)

201

240

182


666

457

Selling, general and administrative

1,923

1,815

1,885


5,517

5,338

Depreciation - network and other

1,023

1,023

1,035


3,116

2,975

Depreciation - equipment rentals

1,011

1,056

1,137


3,096

3,454

Amortization

474

106

145


698

475

Other, net

110

20

185


360

280

Total net operating expenses

7,942

7,210

7,742


22,463

21,834

Operating (loss) income

$              (83)

$             357

$             609


$             864

$           2,531





























WIRELESS NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (Unaudited)







(Millions)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18








Operating (loss) income

$              (83)

$             357

$             609


$             864

$           2,531

Asset impairments (2)

19

1

-


223

-

Loss from asset dispositions, exchanges, and other, net(3)

22

-

105


22

173

Severance and exit costs (4)

22

19

30


68

45

Contract terminations costs (5)

-

-

-


-

34

Litigation expenses and other contingencies (7)

5

-

50


5

50

Partial pension settlement (8)

42

-

-


42

-

Hurricanes (9)

-

-

-


-

(32)

Depreciation - network and other

1,023

1,023

1,035


3,116

2,975

Depreciation - equipment rentals

1,011

1,056

1,137


3,096

3,454

Amortization

474

106

145


698

475

Adjusted EBITDA*(1)

$           2,535

$           2,562

$           3,111


$           8,134

$           9,705








Adjusted EBITDA margin*

48.8%

50.8%

57.1%


52.3%

59.2%















Selected items:







Cash paid for capital expenditures - network and other

$              921

$              963

$           1,242


$           2,911

$           3,362

Cash paid for capital expenditures - leased devices

$           2,147

$           1,786

$           2,215


$           5,449

$           5,739

 

WIRELINE STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)







(Millions)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18








Net operating revenues

$             296

$             300

$             316


$             903

$             982








Net operating expenses







Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization below)

238

256

280


756

886

Selling, general and administrative

46

49

52


140

174

Depreciation and amortization

48

42

51


137

151

Other, net

(262)

1

-


(254)

18

Total net operating expenses

70

348

383


779

1,229

Operating income (loss)

$             226

$              (48)

$              (67)


$             124

$            (247)















WIRELINE NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION (Unaudited)







(Millions)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18








Operating income (loss)

$             226

$              (48)

$              (67)


$             124

$            (247)

Asset impairments (2)

-

1

-


8

-

Severance and exit costs (4)

(2)

-

-


(2)

18

Litigation expenses and other contingencies (7)

(275)

-

-


(275)

-

Partial pension settlement (8)

15

-

-


15

-

Depreciation and amortization

48

42

51


137

151

Adjusted EBITDA*

$               12

$                (5)

$              (16)


$                 7

$              (78)








Adjusted EBITDA margin*

4.1%

-1.7%

-5.1%


0.8%

-7.9%















Selected items:







Cash paid for capital expenditures - network and other

$               34

$               30

$               64


$               92

$             170

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Unaudited)



(Millions)









Year To Date






12/31/19

12/31/18

Operating activities







Net (loss) income





$            (514)

$             235

Asset impairments (2)





231

-

Depreciation and amortization





7,050

7,061

Provision for losses on accounts receivable





435

278

Share-based and long-term incentive compensation expense 





90

101

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense





(532)

25

Amortization of long-term debt premiums, net





(47)

(94)

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment





692

642

Deferred purchase price from sale of receivables





-

(223)

Other changes in assets and liabilities:







Accounts and notes receivable





(754)

65

Inventories and other current assets 





650

248

Operating lease right-of-use assets





1,280

-

Accounts payable and other current liabilities 





(436)

(530)

Current and long-term operating lease liabilities





(1,433)

-

Non-current assets and liabilities, net 





(172)

(601)

Other, net 





225

375

Net cash provided by operating activities





6,765

7,582








Investing activities







Capital expenditures - network and other





(3,360)

(3,814)

Capital expenditures - leased devices





(5,449)

(5,739)

Expenditures relating to FCC licenses





(24)

(145)

Change in short-term investments, net





5

1,467

Proceeds from sales of assets and FCC licenses





819

416

Proceeds from deferred purchase price from sale of receivables





-

223

Proceeds from corporate owned life insurance policies





5

110

Other, net





(27)

52

Net cash used in investing activities 





(8,031)

(7,430)








Financing activities







Proceeds from debt and financings





4,731

6,416

Repayments of debt, financing and finance lease obligations





(7,188)

(6,937)

Debt financing costs





(12)

(286)

Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net





(29)

281

Acquisition of noncontrolling interest





(33)

-

Other, net





1

-

Net cash used in financing activities 





(2,530)

(526)








Net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash





(3,796)

(374)








Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period





7,063

6,659

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period





$           3,267

$           6,285















RECONCILIATION TO CONSOLIDATED FREE CASH FLOW* (NON-GAAP) (Unaudited)




(Millions)








Quarter To Date


Year To Date


12/31/19

9/30/19

12/31/18


12/31/19

12/31/18








Net cash provided by operating activities

$           1,955

$           2,566

$           2,225


$           6,765

$           7,582








Capital expenditures - network and other

(1,062)

(1,109)

(1,416)


(3,360)

(3,814)

Capital expenditures - leased devices

(2,147)

(1,786)

(2,215)


(5,449)

(5,739)

Expenditures relating to FCC licenses, net

(8)

(7)

(75)


(24)

(145)

Proceeds from sales of assets and FCC licenses

220

417

144


819

416

Proceeds from deferred purchase price from sale of receivables

-

-

-


-

223

Other investing activities, net

6

4

129


10

189

Free cash flow*

$          (1,036)

$               85

$          (1,208)


$          (1,239)

$          (1,288)








Net proceeds (repayments) of financings related to devices and receivables

603

(130)

300


703

913

Adjusted free cash flow*

$            (433)

$              (45)

$            (908)


$            (536)

$            (375)

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)




(Millions)






12/31/19

3/31/19

ASSETS




Current assets




Cash and cash equivalents


$           3,179

$           6,982

Short-term investments


62

67

Accounts and notes receivable, net


3,873

3,554

Device and accessory inventory


1,117

999

Prepaid expenses and other current assets


1,224

1,289

Total current assets


9,455

12,891





Property, plant and equipment, net


20,827

21,201

Costs to acquire a customer contract


1,808

1,559

Operating lease right-of-use assets


6,713

-

Goodwill


4,598

4,598

FCC licenses and other


41,492

41,465

Definite-lived intangible assets, net


918

1,769

Other assets


1,091

1,118

Total assets


$         86,902

$         84,601





LIABILITIES AND EQUITY




Current liabilities




Accounts payable


$           3,396

$           3,961

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities


3,335

3,597

Current operating lease liabilities


1,860

-

Current portion of long-term debt, financing and finance lease obligations


3,880

4,557

Total current liabilities


12,471

12,115





Long-term debt, financing and finance lease obligations


33,507

35,366

Long-term operating lease liabilities


5,423

-

Deferred tax liabilities


7,038

7,556

Other liabilities


2,708

3,437

Total liabilities 


61,147

58,474





Stockholders' equity




Common stock


41

41

Treasury shares, at cost


(9)

-

Paid-in capital


28,402

28,306

Accumulated deficit


(2,226)

(1,883)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss


(453)

(392)

Total stockholders' equity


25,755

26,072

Noncontrolling interests


-

55

Total equity


25,755

26,127

Total liabilities and equity


$         86,902

$         84,601









NET DEBT* (NON-GAAP) (Unaudited)




(Millions)






12/31/19

3/31/19

Total debt


$         37,387

$         39,923

Less: Cash and cash equivalents


(3,179)

(6,982)

Less: Short-term investments


(62)

(67)

Net debt*


$         34,146

$         32,874

 

SCHEDULE OF DEBT (Unaudited)






(Millions)











12/31/19

ISSUER




 MATURITY 

 PRINCIPAL 

Sprint Corporation






7.25% Senior notes due 2021




09/15/2021

$              2,250

7.875% Senior notes due 2023




09/15/2023

4,250

7.125% Senior notes due 2024




06/15/2024

2,500

7.625% Senior notes due 2025




02/15/2025

1,500

7.625% Senior notes due 2026




03/01/2026

1,500

Sprint Corporation





12,000







Sprint Spectrum Co LLC, Sprint Spectrum Co II LLC, and Sprint Spectrum Co III LLC






3.36% Senior secured notes due 2021




09/20/2021

1,531

4.738% Senior secured notes due 2025




03/20/2025

2,100

5.152% Senior secured notes due 2028




03/20/2028

1,838

Sprint Spectrum Co LLC, Sprint Spectrum Co II LLC, and Sprint Spectrum Co III LLC





5,469







Sprint Communications, Inc.






7% Guaranteed notes due 2020




03/01/2020

1,000

7% Senior notes due 2020




08/15/2020

1,500

11.5% Senior notes due 2021




11/15/2021

1,000

6% Senior notes due 2022




11/15/2022

2,280

Sprint Communications, Inc.





5,780







Sprint Capital Corporation






6.875% Senior notes due 2028




11/15/2028

2,475

8.75% Senior notes due 2032




03/15/2032

2,000

Sprint Capital Corporation





4,475







Credit facilities






Secured equipment credit facilities




2021 - 2022

505

Secured term loans due 2024




02/03/2024

5,870

Credit facilities





6,375







Accounts receivable facility




2021

3,310







Financing obligations, finance lease and other obligations




2020 - 2026

349

Total principal





37,758







Net premiums and debt financing costs





(371)

Total debt





$            37,387

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)



(1)

For customers that elect to lease a device rather than purchasing one under our subsidized program, there is a positive impact to EBITDA* and Adjusted EBITDA* from direct channel sales primarily due to the fact the cost of the device is not recorded as cost of equipment sales but rather is depreciated over the customer lease term. Under our device leasing program for the direct channel, devices are transferred from inventory to property and equipment and the cost of the leased device is recognized as depreciation expense over the customer lease term to an estimated residual value. The customer payments are recognized as revenue over the term of the lease. Under our subsidy model, we recognize revenue from the sale of devices as equipment sales at the point of sale and the cost of the device is recognized as cost of equipment sales. During the three and nine month periods ended December 31, 2019, we leased devices through our Sprint direct channels totaling approximately $1,686 million and $4,015 million, respectively, which would have increased cost of equipment sales and reduced EBITDA* if they had been purchased under our subsidized program.

The impact to EBITDA* and Adjusted EBITDA* resulting from the sale of devices under our installment billing program is generally neutral except for the impact in our indirect channels from the time value of money element related to the imputed interest on the installment receivable.



(2)

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, we recognized $19 million of impairment charges primarily related to an inbound roaming arrangement with a third party in Puerto Rico. During the second and first quarters of fiscal year 2019, the company recognized asset impairment expense primarily related to the sale and leaseback of our Overland Park, Kansas campus.



(3)

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, the company recorded losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment primarily related to network costs that are no longer recoverable as a result of changes in the company's network plans. During the third and second quarters of fiscal year 2018, the company recorded losses on disposals of property, plant and equipment primarily related to cell site construction costs and other network costs that are no longer recoverable as a result of changes in the company's network plans.



(4)

During the third, second and first quarters of fiscal year 2019 and third, second and first quarters of fiscal year 2018, severance and exit costs consist primarily of exit costs related to access termination charges and severance costs associated with reductions in work force.



(5)

During the first quarter of fiscal year 2018, we recognized contract termination costs associated with the purchase of certain leased spectrum assets, which upon termination of the spectrum leases resulted in the accelerated recognition of the unamortized favorable lease balances. 



(6)

During the third, second and first quarters of fiscal year 2019 and third, second and first quarters of fiscal year 2018, we recorded merger costs of $78 million, $69 million, $83 million, $67 million, $56 million and $93 million, respectively, due to the proposed Business Combination Agreement with T-Mobile.



(7)

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, we had favorable developments in litigation and other contingencies of $270 million primarily associated with legal recoveries for patent infringement lawsuits. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, litigation expenses and other contingencies consist of tax matters settled with the State of New York.



(8)

During the third quarter of fiscal year 2019, the partial pension settlement is the result of a plan amendment to the Sprint Retirement Pension Plan to offer certain terminated participants who had not begun receiving Plan benefits the opportunity to voluntarily elect to receive their benefits as an immediate lump sum distribution.



(9)

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 we recognized hurricane-related reimbursements of $32 million.

*FINANCIAL MEASURES

Sprint provides financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP and adjusted GAAP (non-GAAP). The non-GAAP financial measures reflect industry conventions, or standard measures of liquidity, profitability or performance commonly used by the investment community for comparability purposes. These measurements should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have defined below each of the non-GAAP measures we use, but these measures may not be synonymous to similar measurement terms used by other companies.

Sprint provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures in its financial reporting. Because Sprint does not predict special items that might occur in the future, and our forecasts are developed at a level of detail different than that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures, Sprint does not provide reconciliations to GAAP of its forward-looking financial measures.

The measures used in this release include the following:

EBITDA is operating income/(loss) before depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is EBITDA excluding severance, exit costs, and other special items. Adjusted EBITDA Margin represents Adjusted EBITDA divided by non-equipment net operating revenues for Wireless and Adjusted EBITDA divided by net operating revenues for Wireline. We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin provide useful information to investors because they are an indicator of the strength and performance of our ongoing business operations. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, these expenses primarily represent non-cash current period costs associated with the use of long-lived tangible and definite-lived intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are calculations commonly used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating performance and value of companies within the telecommunications industry.

Free Cash Flow is the cash provided by operating activities less the cash used in investing activities other than short-term investments and equity method investments. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is Free Cash Flow plus the proceeds from device financings and sales of receivables, net of repayments. We believe that Free Cash Flow and Adjusted Free Cash Flow provide useful information to investors, analysts and our management about the cash generated by our core operations and net proceeds obtained to fund certain leased devices, respectively, after interest and dividends, if any, and our ability to fund scheduled debt maturities and other financing activities, including discretionary refinancing and retirement of debt and purchase or sale of investments.

Net Debt is consolidated debt, including current maturities, less cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments. We believe that Net Debt provides useful information to investors, analysts and credit rating agencies about the capacity of the company to reduce the debt load and improve its capital structure.

SAFE HARBOR
This release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws. The words "may," "could," "should," "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "target," "plan", "outlook," "providing guidance," and similar expressions are intended to identify information that is not historical in nature. All statements that address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future ? including statements relating to our network, subscriber growth, and liquidity; and statements expressing general views about future operating results ? are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management's judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, the development and deployment of new technologies and services such as 5G; efficiencies and cost savings of new technologies and services; customer and network usage; subscriber additions and churn rates; service, speed, capacity, coverage and quality; availability of devices; availability of various financings; and the timing of various events and the economic environment. Sprint believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date when made. Sprint undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. In addition, forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our company's historical experience and our present expectations or projections. Factors that might cause such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in Sprint Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2019 and, when filed, our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2019.  You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

About Sprint:
Sprint (NYSE: S) is a communications services company that creates more and better ways to connect its customers to the things they care about most. Sprint served 54.2 million connections as of December 31, 2019 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; leading no-contract brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Today, Sprint's legacy of innovation and service continues with an increased investment to dramatically improve coverage, reliability, and speed across its nationwide network and commitment to launching a 5G mobile network in the U.S. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.

 

SOURCE Sprint


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