Altice USA Reports First Quarter 2018 Results

Delivers Another Quarter of Revenue and Cash Flow Growth

Suddenlink Residential Trends Strengthening in Q1

Altice One Reaches Over 100K Optimum Customers

Remains on Track for Anticipated Spin-Off from Altice N.V.

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Altice USA (NYSE:ATUS) today reported results for first quarter ended March 31, 2018¹

Dexter Goei, Altice USA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "In the first quarter of 2018 we continued to see growth of our customer base, revenue, margins and cash flow driven by our significant investments to improve the customer experience. The upgrade and expansion of our network is supporting both the Residential and Business Services segments as we continue to launch new products and services. We successfully introduced Altice One across the Optimum footprint, reaching a milestone of more than 100k customers. We have now begun the rollout of Altice One across the Suddenlink footprint but, even in advance of this launch, Suddenlink saw a significant improvement in customer trends in the quarter. Growth has also been supported by our investment in a4, our newly formed advanced advertising and data business, and we are excited to explore new opportunities with new partners in this space.”

Altice USA Key Financial Highlights

• Revenue growth of +1.2% YoY in Q1 2018 to $2.33 billion, driven by Residential revenue growth of 0.6%, Business Services revenue growth of 4.3% and advertising revenue growth of 5.1%
• Adjusted EBITDA grew +4.0% YoY in Q1 2018 to $981 million; Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 1.1 percentage points YoY to 42.1% (41.0% in Q1 2017)
• Operating Free Cash Flow² grew +5.4% YoY in Q1 2018 to $723 million with an OpFCF margin of 31.0% vs. 29.8% in Q1 2017 showing very strong cash flow conversion

Altice USA Operational Highlights

• Residential revenue growth of +0.6% YoY in Q1 2018, which was impacted by a dispute with Starz and multiple storms at Optimum, as well as reflecting the delay of a rate event
• Total unique Residential customer relationships grew with net additions of +8k in Q1 2018 (+20k in Q1 2017) with a strengthening in Suddenlink customer trends as expected, offsetting the Starz and storms impacts at Optimum
  • Pay TV RGU net losses of -30k in Q1 2018 were better than the prior year (-35k in Q1 2017) due to a significant improvement in Suddenlink’s performance (-7k losses in Q1 2018 vs. -20k in Q1 2017), driven by more focused marketing and improved content line-up with Viacom addition in Q4 2017
  • Residential broadband RGU net additions of +26k and telephony RGU net losses of -8k in Q1 2018 (vs. +40k and -8k in Q1 2017 respectively), also impacted by the Starz dispute and storms at Optimum because of lower video / data bundle customer additions
• Residential ARPU increased 0.5% YoY to $139.6 in Q1 2018
• Solid Business Services revenue growth of +4.3% YoY in Q1 2018 boosted by strength in Enterprise & Carrier segment of +4.8% YoY, partly offset by slower SMB growth of +4.0% YoY with delay in rate event in Q1
• Advertising revenue growth of 5.1% YoY in Q1 2018 supported by investment in multiscreen and national targeted audience capabilities
• Continued enhancement of data services with an increased demand for higher speed tiers; over 90% of Residential broadband gross additions taking download speeds of 100Mbps or higher at end of Q1
• Up to 400Mbps broadband speeds were available for 87% of Altice USA Residential/Business customers by the end of Q1 2018, including 97% of the Optimum footprint, with 72% of the Suddenlink footprint now able to receive up to 1 Gigabit speeds

Altice USA 2018 and Medium-Term Financial Outlook Reiterated

For the full year 2018 Altice USA expects:

• Revenue growth c.2.5-3.0% YoY
• To increase investment for the continued rollout of Altice One, fiber (FTTH) deployment, and new MVNO network investment keeping with annual capex ~$1.3bn

Altice USA also reiterates its plan to expand its Adjusted EBITDA and cash flow margins over the medium- to long-term.

Additional Q1 2018 Highlights

Product & Service Enhancements and Innovations

Altice USA recently reached the milestone of 100,000 Altice One installations. Altice One combines the latest video, internet and connectivity technologies into one immersive experience as we make it simpler for our customers to find video content they want to watch and access their on-demand subscriptions such as Netflix and YouTube in one place (Netflix used by >30% of the Altice One installed base).

There has already been high initial adoption of the Altice One voice control feature with c.40% of the Altice One customer base using the feature daily. Additionally, the company continued to make enhancements and add new features to Altice One, including the launch of new OTT apps such as Cheddar, TED, Newsy, Glamour, Epicurious, Conde Nast Traveler, CNET and Golf Digest, and availability of 4K content, with more upgrades in the pipeline in Q2 and Q3.

Altice One is available across the Optimum footprint in the New York tri-state area and has now started rolling out across the Suddenlink footprint. Where it is available in the Optimum footprint, over 80% of video customer gross additions are taking an Altice One service.

Network Investments to Enhance Broadband Speeds, Video Services and Reliability

Altice USA’s fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) deployment continues to progress well with construction to connect several hundred thousand homes in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut underway. The first commercialization of FTTH services is still expected later this year. Altice USA’s FTTH network will benefit customers by enabling for a more connected home, and by delivering faster speeds and a high-quality service experience with a native IP architecture.

Altice USA also continues to roll out enhanced data services to its customers on its existing hybrid fiber coax (DOCSIS) cable network, mostly following digitalization and plant / CMTS upgrades. As a result, an increasing number of consumers are selecting increased broadband speeds:

• Up to 400Mbps broadband speeds were available for 87% of Altice USA Residential/Business customers by the end of Q1 2018 including 97% of the Optimum footprint;
• Altice USA continues to see an increasing number of customers taking higher speed tiers with over 90% of Residential broadband gross additions taking download speed tiers of 100Mbps or higher at the end of Q1 2018 (70% of the Residential customer base now take speeds of 100Mbps or higher, increased from just 26% at the end of Q1 2017);
• Up to 1 Gigabit speeds were available for 29% of Altice USA’s customers by the end of Q1 2018, representing 72% of the Suddenlink footprint where the Company continues to expand the availability of this service. In addition, the pace of new home builds at Suddenlink has accelerated, extending the existing network plant and addressable market;
• These upgrades have allowed us to meet customer demand for higher broadband speeds with the average broadband speed taken by Altice USA’s customer base more than doubling to 149Mbps at the end of Q1 2018 (from 70Mbps at the end of Q1 2017) with average data usage per customer reaching over 220GB as of the end of Q1 2018, growing over 25% YoY as customers are using our broadband services more and more.
• Altice One is also improving customers’ broadband experience with an advanced WiFi router and WiFi mini repeaters, and a new Smart WiFi service is expected to launch by the end of 2018.

In addition, Altice USA has initiated video QAM to IP transition on its cable network to enhance its video service delivery. This upgrade will be optimal for unicast and multicast video and will be access network technology (fixed and wireless) agnostic in the way multi-screen services are offered to consumers. Continuous user interface improvements will be possible as well as reducing CPE cost and additional network cost efficiencies. In preparation for the video QAM to IP transition, Altice One has been enabled for both QAM and IP video.

Data & Advertising

Altice USA recently announced the launch of a4, the company’s advanced advertising and data business, which delivers audience-based, multiscreen advertising solutions to local, regional and national advertisers and MVPD partners. The establishment of a4 advances Altice USA’s position as a pioneer in the advertising business and is the culmination of several years of integration and investment.

a4 enables advertisers to reach approximately 100 million U.S. households on television through cable networks, on-demand and addressable inventory across the U.S., and approximately 50 million U.S. households through authenticated, privacy-compliant IP addressability supported by rich data sets and powerful analytics and attribution services in a simple, user-friendly way. a4 will service the complex needs of advertisers with an advanced, all-in-one advertising and data platform to drive clients' business results and bring tremendous efficiencies to brands looking to reach verifiable audiences across every screen, in- and out-of-home, as well as prove the impact of their spending.

Content

Altice USA recently announced the establishment of its Altice USA News division, a business unit designed to focus on the continued development and growth of the company’s news properties. The Altice USA News group includes the hyperlocal News 12 Networks, which serves local communities in the New York tri-state area, as well as i24NEWS, the international news and current affairs network, including its U.S. division. The establishment of a content-focused news organization will help to strengthen our news properties and focus on their continued growth and development as the Company looks to focus on expanding audience reach, enhancing digital products, and further capitalizing on advertising potential.

Mobile

In November 2017, Altice USA announced a multi-year strategic agreement with Sprint whereby Altice USA will utilize Sprint’s network to provide mobile voice and data services to its customers throughout the nation. In this agreement, Sprint will provide Altice USA with access to its full MVNO model, allowing Altice USA to connect its network to the Sprint Nationwide network and have control over the Altice USA mobile features, functionality, and customer experience. Altice USA has begun developing the core network to support this service including more investment in its WiFi network and connecting to Sprint microsites to support Sprint’s network densification, which will benefit Altice USA’s MVNO service. The commercial launch of a mobile service for Altice USA customers is still expected by 2019.

Altice USA Spin-Off

On January 8, 2018 Altice N.V. (“Altice NV”, Euronext: ATC, ATCB), the majority shareholder of Altice USA, announced that its Board of Directors had approved plans for the separation of Altice USA from Altice NV (which will be renamed “Altice Europe”). The separation will enable each business to focus more on the distinct opportunities for value creation in their respective markets and ensure greater transparency for investors. The proposed transaction is designed to create simplified, independent and more focused US and European operations to the benefit of their respective customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. The separation also further clarifies the prioritization of capital allocation between the US and European operations and ensures that US capital structure and capital allocation decisions are independent of any Europe-related considerations.

The separation is to be effected by a spin-off of Altice NV’s 67.2% interest in Altice USA through a distribution in kind to Altice NV shareholders⁴. Altice NV aims to complete the proposed transaction in June 2018 following regulatory approvals (US regulatory approvals obtained, awaiting AFM approval) and Altice NV shareholder approval (Altice NV AGM vote on May 18, 2018).

Simultaneously, the Board of Directors of Altice USA approved in principle the payment of a $1.5 billion cash dividend to all shareholders immediately prior to completion of the separation. Formal approval of the dividend and setting of a record date are expected to occur in May 2018. In addition, the Board of Directors of Altice USA authorized a share repurchase program of $2 billion, effective following completion of the separation.

Following the announcement of the spin-off of Altice USA, Altice NV’s ownership of Altice Technical Services US was transferred to Altice USA for a nominal consideration (Altice USA now owns 100% of ATS US)⁵. The transfer of Altice NV’s ownership of i24 US and i24 Europe was completed on April 23, 2018 for a minimal consideration as previously announced (Altice USA now owns 100% of i24 US, increased from 25% previously, and 100% of i24 Europe). i24NEWS is the only 24/7 international news and current affairs channel broadcasting from the heart of the Middle East. It is available in millions of households worldwide, and offers live news reports daily to viewers, providing a unique and connected international news organization in the marketplace.

Financial and Operational Review

For quarter ended March 31, 2018 compared to quarter ended March 31, 2017

• Reported revenue growth for Altice USA of +1.2% YoY in Q1 2018 to $2,330m:
  • Optimum revenue growth +0.6% YoY
  • Suddenlink revenue growth +3.4% YoY
• Adjusted EBITDA for Altice USA grew +4.0% YoY in Q1 2018 to $981m; Adjusted EBITDA margin increased 1.1 percentage points YoY to 42.1% (vs. 41.0% in Q1 2017):
  • Optimum Adjusted EBITDA growth of +7.4% YoY; Adjusted EBITDA margin increased +2.6 percentage points YoY to 40.9% due to realization of efficiency savings (vs. 38.3% in Q1 2017);
  • Suddenlink Adjusted EBITDA growth -2.9% YoY; Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased -2.9 percentage points YoY to 44.8% mainly due to higher content expense from adding back Viacom content in Q4 2017 and less capitalization of CPE ahead of the launch of Altice One (vs. 47.7% in Q1 2017).
• Cash capex for Altice USA was $258m in Q1 2018, representing 11.1% of revenue.
• OpFCF for Altice USA grew +5.4% YoY in Q1 2018 to $723m:
  • Optimum OpFCF growth +14.4% YoY;
  • Suddenlink OpFCF decline -11.1% YoY due to higher content expense from adding back Viacom and higher capex related to a step up in new home builds
• Altice USA saw total unique Residential customer relationship net additions of +8k in Q1 2018, including Residential broadband RGU net additions of +26k, pay TV RGU net losses of -30k, and telephony RGU net losses of -8k in Q1 2018 (vs. +40k, -35k, and -8k in Q1 2017 respectively). Altice USA Residential ARPU per unique customer increased 0.5% YoY in Q1 2018 to $139.6:
  • Optimum’s base of unique Residential customer relationships declined by -5k net losses in Q1 2018, a deterioration on last year due to the impact of the Starz dispute and multiple storms, including broadband RGU net additions of +3k, -23k pay TV RGU net losses and -12k telephony RGU net losses (compared to Q1 2017 with +8k unique customer net additions, +17k broadband RGUs net additions, -15k pay TV RGU net losses and -7k telephony RGU net losses). Altice USA continues to have a strong competitive position in the Optimum footprint, enhanced with the recent full commercial launch of Altice One. Optimum Residential ARPU per unique customer declined (-0.7% YoY) due to a delay in rate event in Q1, partly offset by increased demand for higher speed broadband tiers.
  • Suddenlink unique Residential customer relationship net additions of +14k in Q1 2018 were higher compared to +12k net additions in Q1 2017. Suddenlink trends have improved as expected, driven by more focused marketing (including more localized pricing) and improved content lineup with Viacom addition in Q4 2017. The expansion of Altice One across the Suddenlink footprint in Q2 and Q3 2018 should further support trends here. Broadband RGU growth accelerated compared to 2H 2017 with quarterly net additions of +23k in Q1 2018 (in line with broadband RGU net additions of 23k in Q1 2017). Pay TV RGU net losses of -7k were significantly better than the prior year (-20k in Q1 2017). Telephony RGU net additions of +4k were also better than the prior year (vs. -1k in Q1 2017). Increased demand for higher speed broadband tiers at Suddenlink continues to drive growth in Residential ARPU per unique customer (+3.4% YoY).
• Altice USA’s Business Services revenue increased 4.3% YoY in Q1 2018 boosted by strength in the Enterprise & Carrier segment +4.8% due to several large wins in the Education & Carrier verticals, partly offset by slower SMB growth with a delay in rate event in Q1. SMB revenue increased +4.0% YoY in Q1 supported by customer growth and increase in ARPU by sell-in of more services. Overall customer growth of 2.3% YoY due to improved value proposition with voice and data bundles and reduced churn.
• Altice USA’s Advertising revenue increased 5.1% YoY in Q1 2018 primarily due to an increase in digital advertising revenue and an increase in data and analytics revenue, partially offset by a decrease in auto and programming advertising. Altice USA has now integrated local advertising with its Audience Partners and PlaceMedia acquisitions into a4. Altice USA now has a targeted, multi-screen platform, integrating TV and digital advertising into a single buy. This includes audience targeting supported by rich, privacy-compliant household data sets with an automated self-serve model for advertisers. Campaign management is supported by robust analytics and attribution.
• Altice USA’s programming costs increased +2.5% YoY in Q1 2018 due primarily to an increase in contractual programming rates, partially offset by the decrease in video customers. Since the acquisitions of Suddenlink and Optimum, Altice USA has now successfully renewed programming contracts representing over 70% of its annual programming expense. We continue to expect programming costs per video customer to increase by high single digits going forward (+6.4% YoY in Q1 2018):
  • Optimum’s programming costs increased +0.9% YoY in Q1 2018 to $488m;
  • Suddenlink’s programming costs increased +7.7% YoY in Q1 2018 to $164m.
• Altice USA has seen significant and rapid deleveraging at both Optimum and Suddenlink since the completion of their respective acquisitions as a result of underlying growth and improved cash flow generation (consolidated LTM net leverage has fallen from 7.1x at Q2-16 to 5.1x pre-cash dividend). The leverage target for Altice USA remains 4.5-5.0x net debt to EBITDA.
• Net debt for Altice USA at the end of the first quarter was $20,568m, a reduction of $175m from the end of the fourth quarter of 2017⁶. This represents consolidated LTM net leverage for Altice USA of 5.1x on a reported basis at the end of March 2018. Net leverage for Optimum was 5.0x and for Suddenlink was 5.2x at the end of March 2018 on LTM basis.
• Pro forma for the financing to fund the special cash dividend that is expected to be paid prior to completion of the spin-off of Altice USA from Altice NV and other refinancing in January and March 2018, Altice USA’s blended weighted average cost of debt was 6.3% (6.6% for Optimum, 5.8% for Suddenlink) and the blended weighted average life was 6.4 years at the end of March 2018. There are no material maturities at Suddenlink until 2021, and near-term maturities at Optimum are covered by a $2.3bn revolving credit facility.

Reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA less Cash Capital Expenditures:

We define Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, as net income (loss) excluding income taxes, income (loss) from discontinued operations, other non-operating income or expenses, loss on extinguishment of debt and write-off of deferred financing costs, gain (loss) on interest rate swap contracts, gain (loss) on derivative contracts, gain (loss) on investments, interest expense (including cash interest expense), interest income, depreciation and amortization (including impairments), share-based compensation expense or benefit, restructuring expense or credits and transaction expenses.

We believe Adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure for evaluating the operating performance of the Company. Adjusted EBITDA and similar measures with similar titles are common performance measures used by investors, analysts and peers to compare performance in our industry. Internally, we use revenue and Adjusted EBITDA measures as important indicators of our business performance, and evaluate management's effectiveness with specific reference to these indicators. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides management and investors a useful measure for period-to-period comparisons of our core business and operating results by excluding items that are not comparable across reporting periods or that do not otherwise relate to the Company's ongoing operating results. Adjusted EBITDA should be viewed as a supplement to and not a substitute for operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of performance presented in accordance with GAAP. Since Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of performance calculated in accordance with GAAP, this measure may not be comparable to similar measures with similar titles used by other companies.

We also use Adjusted EBITDA less cash Capital Expenditures, or Operating Free Cash Flow, as an indicator of the Company's financial performance. We believe this measure is one of several benchmarks used by investors, analysts and peers for comparison of performance in the Company's industry, although it may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies.

The following table sets forth certain customer metrics by segment (unaudited):

1. Homes passed represents the estimated number of single residence homes, apartments and condominium units passed by the cable distribution network in areas serviceable without further extending the transmission lines. In addition, it includes commercial establishments that have connected to our cable distribution network. For Cequel, broadband services were not available to approximately 100 homes passed and telephony services were not available to approximately 500 homes passed.
2. Customers represent each customer account (set up and segregated by customer name and address), weighted equally and counted as one customer, regardless of size, revenue generated, or number of boxes, units, or outlets. In calculating the number of customers, we count all customers other than inactive/disconnected customers. Free accounts are included in the customer counts along with all active accounts, but they are limited to a prescribed group. Most of these accounts are also not entirely free, as they typically generate revenue through pay-per-view or other pay services and certain equipment fees. Free status is not granted to regular customers as a promotion. In counting bulk Residential customers, such as an apartment building, we count each subscribing family unit within the building as one customer, but do not count the master account for the entire building as a customer. We count a bulk commercial customer, such as a hotel, as one customer, and do not count individual room units at that hotel.
3. ARPU calculated by dividing the average monthly revenue for the respective quarter or annual periods derived from the sale of broadband, pay television and telephony services to Residential customers for the respective quarter by the average number of total Residential customers for the same period.
4. Historical ARPU figures have been adjusted to reflect the adoption of the accounting standard change ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Consolidated Net Debt as of March 31, 2018, breakdown by credit silo

Altice USA Pro Forma Net Leverage Reconciliation as of March 31, 2018

About Altice USA

Altice USA (NYSE: ATUS), the U.S. business of Altice N.V. (Euronext: ATC, ATCB), is one of the largest broadband communications and video services providers in the United States, delivering broadband, pay television, telephony services, proprietary content and advertising services to approximately 4.9 million Residential and Business customers across 21 states through its Optimum and Suddenlink brands.

Miscellaneous

Altice USA has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) relating to the distribution of shares of Altice USA by Altice N.V. to its shareholders, which is described in this press release. You should read the preliminary prospectus in that registration statement and other documents Altice USA has filed with the SEC for more complete information about Altice USA. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, you may also request a copy of the current preliminary prospectus, at no cost, by mail to Lisa Anselmo, Altice USA, Inc., 1 Court Square West, Long Island City, NY 11101 USA. To review a filed copy of the current registration statement and preliminary prospectus, click the following link on the SEC website at www.sec.gov as follows (or if such address has changed, by reviewing ATUS filings for the relevant date on the SEC website): https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1702780/000104746918000085/a2234168zs-1.htm

Altice USA will publish an EU prospectus in connection with such distribution. Upon approval by the Netherlands Authority for the Financial Markets (AFM) and, to the extent relevant, notification for passporting in relevant Member States of the European Economic Area in accordance with article 18 of the Directive 2003/71/EC, the EU prospectus will be made available on the website of Altice N.V. and, upon request, a hard copy will be available free of charge by Altice USA.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180509006351/en/

Altice USA
Head of Investor Relations
Nick Brown, +41 79 720 15 03
nick.brown@altice.net
or
Head of Communications Altice USA
Lisa Anselmo, +1 929 418 4362
lisa.anselmo@alticeusa.com

Source: Altice USA

Released May 9, 2018