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8-K - 8-K - EarthLink Holdings, LLCa11-8581_38k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

Investors

Louis Alterman

404-748-7650

678-472-3252

altermanlo@corp.earthlink.net

 

Media

Michele Sadwick

404-748-7255

404-769-8421

sadwick@corp.earthlink.net

 

EARTHLINK ANNOUNCES FIRST QUARTER 2011 RESULTS

 

ATLANTA — April 28, 2011 — EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK) today announced financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2011. EarthLink’s first quarter results do not include any operating results from the acquisition of One Communications which closed on April 1, 2011.

 

Highlights for the first quarter include:

 

·                  Record low consumer churn

·                  Net income of $16.4 million or $0.15 per share

·                  Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure) of $69.7 million

·                  Free cash flow (a non-GAAP measure) of $52.0 million

·                  Repurchased 2.1 million shares of stock

·                  Dividend payments of $6.2 million

·                  Ending cash and marketable securities balance of $551.6 million

·                  Revised full year 2011 Adjusted EBITDA guidance to $305 to $315 million to include One Communications

 

“Our results reflect the evolution of EarthLink to a leading IP solutions provider with well over half of our revenue in the quarter generated from our EarthLink Business segment. That proportion will increase next quarter as we layer in the One Communications revenue stream,” stated EarthLink Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rolla P. Huff. “At the same time, our EarthLink Consumer business remains strong and continues to generate significant cash flow. We are pleased that we have been able to add scale to our business while maintaining healthy Adjusted EBITDA results and are on track to achieve the synergy targets outlined with

 

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each acquisition. Strategically, we continue to look for ways to leverage our newly-acquired fiber assets and customer bases by expanding our product and service capabilities, allowing us to further improve the growth profile of our business.”

 

Financial and Operating Results

 

For the first quarter of 2011, EarthLink reported revenue of $243.0 million, an increase of 55 percent from the first quarter of 2010 due to the acquisitions of ITC^Deltacom and STS Telecom.  As a result of these acquisitions and organic growth at the company’s legacy New Edge subsidiary, business services comprised 59% of EarthLink’s total revenue in the first quarter of 2011, up from 21% in the year-ago quarter. Within the consumer segment, 64% of EarthLink’s consumer access revenue was generated from broadband services in the first quarter of 2011, up from 61% in the year-ago quarter.

 

For the company’s consumer segment, net subscriber losses were 79,000 in the first quarter, slightly better than the seasonally low fourth quarter of 2010 and an improvement from 114,000 in the year-ago quarter. This demonstrates the continued attenuation in EarthLink’s consumer business driven by the increasing tenure of the customer base and the company’s second consecutive quarter of record performance in customer churn. Consumer subscriber churn for the first quarter of 2011 was 2.7%, down from 2.8% in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 3.1% in the first quarter of 2010.

 

Total sales and marketing, operations, customer support, and general and administrative expenses were $73.2 million for the first quarter of 2011, representing 30% of revenue. These expenses were 31% of revenue in the fourth quarter of 2010 and 28% of revenue in the first quarter 2010. Total sales and marketing, operations, customer support, and general and administrative expenses for the first quarter of 2011 included $35.7 million attributable to ITC^DeltaCom.

 

Profitability and Other Financial Measures

 

Net income in the first quarter of 2011 was $16.4 million, or $0.15 per share, as compared to net income of $5.3 million, or $0.05 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2010, and $26.7 million, or $0.25 per share, in the first quarter of 2010.

 

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The inclusion of ITC^Deltacom’s results for the first quarter of 2011, EarthLink’s ability to layer on revenue streams while aggressively managing costs and synergy opportunities, and historically high customer retention resulted in the company generating Adjusted EBITDA (a non-GAAP measure, see definition in “Non-GAAP Measures” below) of $69.7 million in the first quarter of 2011, as compared to $54.2 million in the fourth quarter 2010 and $57.3 million in the first quarter of 2010.

 

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

 

During the first quarter of 2011, EarthLink generated free cash flow (a non-GAAP measure, see definition in “Non-GAAP Measures” below) of $52.0 million as compared to $38.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $54.2 million in the year-ago quarter.

 

The company ended the first quarter of 2011 with $551.6 million in cash and marketable securities, a decrease of $11.4 million from the prior quarter ended December 31, 2010. Capital expenditures were $17.7 million for the first quarter of 2011. Also during the quarter, EarthLink used approximately $30.0 million of cash for its acquisition of STS Telecom, repurchased 2.1 million shares of common stock at an average price of $7.99 per share and made $6.2 million of dividend payments to shareholders. Subsequent to quarter-end, EarthLink used approximately $337.0 million of cash in connection with the closing of its acquisition of One Communications on April 1, 2011.

 

Business Outlook

 

The following statements are forward-looking, and actual results may differ materially.  See comments under “Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” below.  EarthLink undertakes no obligation to update these statements.

 

Today EarthLink announced updated guidance for the full year 2011 inclusive of the acquisition of One Communications which closed on April 1, 2011. Management now expects 2011 Adjusted EBITDA of $305 million to $315 million; free cash flow of $175 million to $200 million; capital expenditures of $115 million to $130 million; and net income of $13 million to $20 million for the full year 2011.

 

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Non-GAAP Measures

 

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense and other, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense, gain (loss) on investments, net, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and restructuring and acquisition-related costs.  Free cash flow is defined as net income before interest expense and other, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation expense,  gain (loss) on investments, net, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and restructuring and acquisition-related costs, less cash used for purchases of property and equipment and purchases of subscriber bases.

 

Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP financial performance measures.  They should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to measures determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.  Please refer to the Consolidated Financial Highlights for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial performance measures to the most comparable measures reported in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and Footnote 3 of the Consolidated Financial Highlights for a discussion of the presentation, comparability and use of such financial performance measures.

 

Conference Call for Analysts and Investors

 

Conference Call Details

 

Thursday, April 28, 2011, at 8:30 a.m. ET  hosted by EarthLink’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Rolla P. Huff, President and Chief Operating Officer Joseph M. Wetzel, and Chief Financial Officer, Bradley A. Ferguson.

U.S. and Canada Dial-in Number       800-706-0730

International Dial-in Number              706-634-5173

Participants reference the EarthLink call and dial in 10 minutes prior to scheduled start time.

 

Webcast

 

A live Webcast of the conference call will be available at:  http://ir.earthlink.net/index.cfm

 

Replay

 

Replay available from 11:30 a.m. ET on April 28 through midnight on May 5.

Dial 800-642-1687 from US and Canada, International callers dial 706-645-9291.

The replay confirmation code is 59102682.

The Webcast will be archived on the company’s website at: http://ir.earthlink.net/events.cfm

 

About EarthLink

 

EarthLink, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELNK) is a leading provider of Internet Protocol (IP) infrastructure and services to medium-sized and large businesses, enterprise organizations and over 1.5 million consumers across the United States.  The company has been providing Internet access and communications services for decades and has earned an award-winning reputation for both outstanding customer service and product innovation.  For consumers, EarthLink is a leading Internet Service Provider connecting people to the power and possibilities of the Internet.  EarthLink Business™ provides voice, data, mobile and equipment services over a 28,000 mile fiber network and MPLS-based services nationwide.  For more information, visit EarthLink’s website www.earthlink.net.

 

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Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This press release includes “forward-looking” statements (rather than historical facts) that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Although we believe that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot promise that our expectations will turn out to be correct. Our actual results could be materially different from and worse than our expectations. With respect to such forward-looking statements, we seek the protections afforded by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These risks include (1) that we may not be able to execute our business strategy to transition to a leading IP infrastructure and managed services provider, which could adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows; (2) that we may be unsuccessful in making and integrating acquisitions into our business, which could result in operating difficulties, losses and other adverse consequences; (3) that the continuing effects of adverse economic conditions could harm our business; (4) that if we do not continue to innovate and provide products and services that are useful to individual subscribers and business customers, we may not remain competitive, and our revenues and operating results could suffer; (5) that our failure to implement cost reduction initiatives will adversely affect our results of operations; (6) that we will require a significant amount of cash, which may not be available to us, to service our debt and fund our other liquidity needs; (7) that we face significant competition in the Internet industry that could reduce our profitability; (8) that our consumer business is dependent on the availability of third-party network service providers; (9) that the continued decline of our consumer access subscribers, combined with the change in mix of our consumer access base from narrowband to broadband, will adversely affect our results of operations; (10) that our commercial and alliance arrangements may not be renewed or may not generate expected benefits, which could adversely affect our results of operations; (11) that privacy concerns relating to our business could damage our reputation and deter current and potential users from using our services; (12) that changes in technology in the Internet access industry could cause a decline in our business; (13) that we face significant competition in the communications industry that could reduce our profitability; (14) that decisions by the Federal Communications Commission relieving ILECs  of certain regulatory requirements, and possible further deregulation in the future, may restrict our ability to provide services and may increase the costs we incur to provide these services; (15) that our wholesale services, including our broadband transport services, will be adversely affected by pricing pressure, network overcapacity, service cancellations and other factors; (16) that our operating performance will suffer if we are not offered competitive rates for the access services we need to provide our long distance services; (17) that we may experience reductions in switched access and reciprocal compensation revenue; (18) that our inability to maintain our network infrastructure, portions of which we do not own, could adversely affect our operating results; (19) that if we are unable to interconnect with AT&T, Verizon and other incumbent carriers on acceptable terms, our ability to offer competitively priced local telephone services will be adversely affected; (20) that we may not be able to compete effectively if we are unable to install additional network equipment or convert our network to more advanced technology; (21) that failure to obtain and maintain necessary permits and rights-of-way could interfere with our network infrastructure and operations; (22) that we may be unable to retain sufficient qualified personnel, and the loss of any of our key executive officers could adversely affect us; (23) that interruption or failure of our network and information systems and other technologies could impair our ability to provide our services, which could damage our reputation and harm our operating results; (24) that our business depends on effective business support systems and processes; (25) that government regulations could adversely affect our business or force us to change our business practices; (26) that our business may suffer if third parties used for customer service and technical support and

 

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certain billing services are unable to provide these services or terminate their relationships with us; (27) that we may not be able to protect our intellectual property; (28) that we may be accused of infringing upon the intellectual property rights of third parties, which is costly to defend and could limit our ability to use certain technologies in the future; (29) that if we, or other industry participants, are unable to successfully defend against legal actions, we could face substantial liabilities or suffer harm to our financial and operational prospects; (30) that we may be required to recognize additional impairment charges on our goodwill and intangible assets, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial position; (31) that we may have to undertake further restructuring plans that would require additional charges, including incurring facility exit and restructuring charges; (32) that we may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities and the use of our net operating losses and certain other tax attributes could be limited in the future; (33) that we may reduce, or cease payment of, quarterly cash dividends; (34) that our stock price may be volatile; (35) that our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and limit our ability to react to changes in our industry; and (36) that provisions of our second restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and other elements of our capital structure could limit our share price and delay a change of management.  These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from management’s expectations, are not intended to represent a complete list of all risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, and should be read in conjunction with the more detailed cautionary statements and risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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EARTHLINK, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations (1)

(in thousands, except per share data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

157,258

 

$

243,018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating costs and expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of revenues (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

58,880

 

103,723

 

Selling, general and administrative (depreciation and amortization shown separately below)

 

43,782

 

73,164

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,748

 

21,676

 

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs (2)

 

1,435

 

4,505

 

Total operating costs and expenses

 

108,845

 

203,068

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

48,413

 

39,950

 

Gain on investments, net

 

418

 

 

Interest expense and other, net

 

(5,292

)

(12,960

)

Income before income taxes

 

43,539

 

26,990

 

Income tax provision

 

(16,792

)

(10,627

)

Net income

 

$

26,747

 

$

16,363

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.15

 

Diluted

 

$

0.25

 

$

0.15

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

107,623

 

108,403

 

Diluted

 

108,478

 

109,626

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per share

 

$

0.14

 

$

0.05

 

 



 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA (3)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

26,747

 

$

5,308

 

$

16,363

 

Interest expense and other, net

 

5,292

 

7,740

 

12,960

 

Income tax provision

 

16,792

 

7,691

 

10,627

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,748

 

9,738

 

21,676

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

2,667

 

2,882

 

3,571

 

Gain on investments, net

 

(418

)

 

 

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

 

 

1,711

 

 

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs (2)

 

1,435

 

19,101

 

4,505

 

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

 

$

57,263

 

$

54,171

 

$

69,702

 

 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Reconciliation of Net Income to Free Cash Flow (3)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

26,747

 

$

5,308

 

$

16,363

 

Interest expense and other, net

 

5,292

 

7,740

 

12,960

 

Income tax provision

 

16,792

 

7,691

 

10,627

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,748

 

9,738

 

21,676

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

2,667

 

2,882

 

3,571

 

Gain on investments, net

 

(418

)

 

 

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

 

 

1,711

 

 

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs (2)

 

1,435

 

19,101

 

4,505

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(3,072

)

(15,277

)

(17,746

)

Free cash flow (3)

 

$

54,191

 

$

38,894

 

$

51,956

 

 



 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Reconciliation of Guidance Provided in Non-GAAP Measures (3)

(in millions)

 

 

 

Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$13 - $20

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and other, net

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision

 

9 - 12

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

190

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs (2)

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA (3)

 

$305 - $315

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Year

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ending

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$13 - $20

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense and other, net

 

51

 

 

 

 

 

Income tax provision

 

9 - 12

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

190

 

 

 

 

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs (2)

 

26

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property and equipment

 

(130) - (115)

 

 

 

 

 

Free cash flow (3)

 

$175 - $200

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Supplemental Financial Data

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

(in thousands)

 

Balance Sheet Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and marketable securities

 

$

707,777

 

$

563,070

 

$

551,629

 

Debt (4)

 

255,791

 

580,791

 

580,591

 

Stockholders’ equity

 

745,241

 

757,868

 

752,539

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Employee Data

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number of employees at end of period (5)

 

600

 

1,870

 

1,857

 

 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Business Services Operating Metrics

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Legacy EarthLink Business Metrics (6)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrowband access subscribers

 

8,000

 

7,000

 

7,000

 

Broadband access subscribers

 

52,000

 

53,000

 

52,000

 

Web hosting accounts

 

73,000

 

66,000

 

64,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ITC^DeltaCom Business Metrics (7)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total fiber optic route miles (8)

 

 

16,504

 

16,504

 

Colocations

 

 

294

 

294

 

Voice and data switches

 

 

20

 

20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Retail voice lines

 

 

414,000

 

417,000

 

Wholesale voice lines

 

 

6,000

 

7,000

 

Total business voice lines

 

 

420,000

 

424,000

 

 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Consumer Services Operating Metrics

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2010

 

2011

 

Consumer Subscriber Detail

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Narrowband access subscribers

 

1,134,000

 

932,000

 

877,000

 

Broadband access subscribers

 

781,000

 

704,000

 

680,000

 

Total consumer subscribers

 

1,915,000

 

1,636,000

 

1,557,000

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2010

 

2011

 

 

 

Consumer Subscriber Activity

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Subscribers at beginning of period

 

2,029,000

 

1,636,000

 

 

 

Gross organic subscriber additions

 

73,000

 

49,000

 

 

 

Churn

 

(187,000

)

(128,000

)

 

 

Subscribers at end of period

 

1,915,000

 

1,557,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Metrics

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Average subscribers (9)

 

1,970,000

 

1,596,000

 

 

 

ARPU (10)

 

$

20.91

 

$

21.03

 

 

 

Churn rate (11)

 

3.1

%

2.7

%

 

 

 



 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Supplemental Schedule of Segment Information (12)

(in thousands)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2011

 

Business Services

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

33,694

 

$

142,373

 

Cost of revenues

 

19,409

 

72,457

 

Gross margin

 

14,285

 

69,916

 

Segment operating expenses

 

9,716

 

44,744

 

Segment income from operations

 

$

4,569

 

$

25,172

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consumer Services

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

123,564

 

$

100,645

 

Cost of revenues

 

39,471

 

31,266

 

Gross margin

 

84,093

 

69,379

 

Segment operating expenses

 

22,876

 

19,314

 

Segment income from operations

 

$

61,217

 

$

50,065

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated

 

 

 

 

 

Revenues

 

$

157,258

 

$

243,018

 

Cost of revenues

 

58,880

 

103,723

 

Gross margin

 

98,378

 

139,295

 

Direct segment operating expenses

 

32,592

 

64,058

 

Segment income from operations

 

65,786

 

75,237

 

Stock-based compensation expense

 

2,667

 

3,571

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

4,748

 

21,676

 

Restructuring and acquisition-related costs (2)

 

1,435

 

4,505

 

Other operating expenses

 

8,523

 

5,535

 

Income from operations

 

$

48,413

 

$

39,950

 

 



 

EARTHLINK, INC.

Footnotes to Consolidated Financial Highlights

 


(1)     On December 8, 2010, EarthLink completed its acquisition of ITC^DeltaCom, a provider of integrated communications services to customers in the southeastern U.S. EarthLink acquired 100% of ITC^DeltaCom in a merger transaction with ITC^DeltaCom surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of EarthLink. The results of operations of ITC^DeltaCom have been included in EarthLink’s consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date.

 

(2)     Restructuring and acquisition-related costs consisted of the following for the periods presented (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2011

 

Transaction-related costs

 

$

 

$

1,564

 

Severance and retention

 

 

1,869

 

Integration-related costs

 

 

62

 

Acquisition-related costs

 

 

3,495

 

Facility exit and restructuring costs

 

1,435

 

1,010

 

Total restructuring and acquisition-related

 

$

1,435

 

$

4,505

 

 

Acquisition-related costs consist of external costs directly related to EarthLink’s acquisitions, such as advisory, legal, accounting, valuation and other professional fees; employee severance and retention costs; and integration-related costs, such as system conversion and rebranding costs. EarthLink expects to incur approximately $15.0 million of acquisition-related costs in the second quarter of 2011.

 

Facility exit and restructuring costs consist of costs incurred for EarthLink’s restructuring plans. In August 2007, EarthLink adopted a restructuring plan (the “2007 Plan”) to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of the Company’s operations. The 2007 Plan was the result of a comprehensive review of operations within and across the Company’s functions and businesses. Under the 2007 Plan, the Company reduced its workforce by approximately 900 employees, closed office facilities in Orlando, Florida; Knoxville, Tennessee; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; and San Francisco, California and consolidated its office facilities in Atlanta, Georgia and Pasadena, California. The 2007 Plan was primarily implemented during 2007 and 2008. However, there have been and may continue to be changes in estimates to amounts previously recorded.

 

(3)     Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before interest expense and other, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, gain (loss) on investments, net, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and restructuring and acquisition-related costs. Free cash flow is defined as net income before interest expense and other, net, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, stock-based compensation, gain (loss) on investments, net, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets, and restructuring and acquisition-related costs, less purchases cash used for of property and equipment and purchases of subscriber bases.

 

Adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures and are not determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These financial performance measures are not indicative of cash provided or used by operating activities and may differ from comparable information provided by other companies, and they should not be considered in isolation, as an alternative to, or more meaningful than measures of financial performance determined in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. These financial performance measures are commonly used in the industry and are presented because EarthLink believes they provide relevant and useful information to investors. EarthLink utilizes these financial performance measures to assess its ability to meet future capital expenditures and working capital requirements. EarthLink also uses these financial performance measures to evaluate the performance of its business, for budget planning purposes and as factors in its employee compensation programs. Management believes that excluding the effects of the items noted above enables investors to better understand and analyze the current period’s results and provides a better measure of comparability.

 

(4)     Debt represents the principal amount of EarthLink’s Convertible Senior Notes and ITC^DeltaCom’s Senior Secured Notes. Below is a summary of the carrying amount of EarthLink’s Convertible Senior Notes and ITC^DeltaCom’s Senior Secured Notes (in thousands):

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

March 31,

 

 

 

2010

 

2010

 

2011

 

EarthLink’s Convertible Senior Notes - Principal

 

255,791

 

255,791

 

255,791

 

EarthLink’s Convertible Senior Notes - Discount

 

(22,948

)

(12,722

)

(9,149

)

ITC^DeltaCom’s Senior Secured Notes - Principal

 

 

325,000

 

324,800

 

ITC^DeltaCom’s Senior Secured Notes - Premium

 

 

26,251

 

25,232

 

Carrying amount of debt

 

232,843

 

594,320

 

596,674

 

 

(5)     Represents full-time equivalents.

 

(6)     Legacy EarthLink business metrics consist of metrics related to services in EarthLink’s Business Services segment prior to the acquisition of ITC^DeltaCom.

 

(7)     ITC^DeltaCom business metrics consist of metrics related to the acquired ITC^DeltaCom business, which is included in the Business Services segment.

 

(8)     Includes 12,559 route miles owned or obtained through indefeasible rights to use (IRU) and 3,935 marketed and managed route miles.

 

(9)     Average subscribers for the three month periods is calculated by averaging the ending monthly subscribers or accounts for the four months preceding and including the end of the quarterly period.

 

(10)   ARPU represents the average monthly revenue per user (subscriber). ARPU is computed by dividing average monthly revenue for the period by the average number of subscribers for the period. Average monthly revenue used to calculate ARPU includes recurring service revenue as well as nonrecurring revenues associated with equipment and other one-time charges associated with initiating or discontinuing services.

 

(11)   Churn rate is used to measure the rate at which subscribers discontinue service on a voluntary or involuntary basis.  Churn rate is computed by dividing the average monthly number of subscribers that discontinued service during the period by the average subscribers for the period.

 

(12)   The Company reports segment information along the same lines that its chief executive officer reviews its operating results in assessing performance and allocating resources. The Company operates two reportable segments, Consumer Services and Business Services. The Company’s Consumer Services segment provides Internet access services and related value-added services to individual customers. These services include dial-up and high-speed Internet access and voice-over-Internet protocol services, among others. The Company’s Business Services segment provides integrated communications services and related value-added services to businesses and communications carriers. These services include data services, including managed IP-based network services and broadband Internet access services; voice services, including local exchange, long-distance and conference calling; mobile data and voice services; and web hosting.

 

EarthLink evaluates performance of its operating segments based on segment income from operations. Segment income from operations includes revenues from external customers, related cost of revenues and operating expenses directly attributable to the segment, which include expenses over which segment managers have direct discretionary control, such as advertising and marketing programs, customer support expenses, site operations expenses, product development expenses, certain technology and facilities expenses, billing operation and provisions for doubtful accounts. Segment income from operations excludes other income and expense items and certain expenses that segment managers do not have discretionary control over. Costs excluded from segment income from operations include various corporate expenses (consisting of certain costs such as corporate management, human resources, finance and legal), depreciation and amortization, stock- based compensation expense, impairment of goodwill and intangible assets and restructuring and acquisition-related costs, as they are not evaluated in the measurement of segment performance.