FTRCQ Frontier Communications Corporation Class B

FRONTIER COMMUNICATIONS PLAINTIFF DEADLINE ALERT: Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Encourages Investors Who Suffered Losses Exceeding $500,000 In Frontier Communications Corporation To Contact The Firm

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, reminds investors in Frontier Communications Corporation (“Frontier Communications” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ:FTR) of the November 27, 2017 deadline to seek the role of lead plaintiff in a federal securities class action that has been filed against the Company.

If you invested in Frontier Communications stock or options between February 6, 2015, and May 2, 2017, and would like to discuss your legal rights, click here: www.faruqilaw.com/FTR. There is no cost or obligation to you.

You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to [email protected].

The lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut on behalf of all those who purchased Frontier Communications securities between February 6, 2015, and May 2, 2017 (the “Class Period”). The case, Morrow v. Frontier Communications Corporation et al, No. 3:17-cv-01759 was filed on October 19, 2017, and has been assigned to Judge Michael Peter Shea.

The lawsuit focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by making false and/or misleading statements and/or failing to disclose that: (1) the Company acquired a substantial number of non-paying accounts as part of its acquisition of the wireline operations of Verizon Communications, Inc.; (2) as a result, the Company would be required to increase its reserves and write-off amounts from accounts receivable associated with the nonpaying accounts; and (3) as a result of the foregoing, the Company’s public statements were materially false and misleading.

Specifically, on February 27, 2017, the Company announced a net loss of $80 million for the fourth quarter of 2016, and stated that its results were impacted by the “resolution of nonpaying acquired CTF accounts,” referring to accounts acquired in the Verizon Acquisition. CEO Daniel McCarthy elaborated, stating, “Results for the fourth quarter were impacted by our intensified efforts to resolve acquired accounts in California, Texas and Florida that we have determined to be non-paying.”

After the announcement, Frontier Communication’s share price fell from $3.29 per share on February 27, 2017 to a closing price of $2.93 on February 28, 2017—a $0.36 or a 10.94% drop.

Then, on May 2, 2017, the Company reported a first quarter 2017 net loss of $75 million and a year-over-year first quarter revenue decline of $53 million. CFO Ralph McBride stated that approximately $16 million of the sequential revenue decline was a result of cleanup of CTF non-paying accounts and the automation of legacy non-pay disconnects. He added that “[t]he CTF account cleanup reduced Q1 revenue by $11 million, and the one-time impact related to automating the non-pay disconnect process for the legacy properties, reduced Q1 revenue by $5 million.”

On this news, Frontier Communication’s share price fell from $1.93 per share on May 2, 2017 to a closing price of $1.62 on May 3, 2017—a $0.32 or a 19.88% drop.

The court-appointed lead plaintiff is the investor with the largest financial interest in the relief sought by the class who is adequate and typical of class members who directs and oversees the litigation on behalf of the putative class. Any member of the putative class may move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff through counsel of their choice, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision to serve as a lead plaintiff or not.

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Frontier Communication’s conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential manner.

EN
20/11/2017

Underlying

Reports on Frontier Communications Corporation Class B

Vikash Harlalka
  • Vikash Harlalka

FYBR Quick Hit: ABS debt priced

Frontier announced pricing for its latest ABS debt this afternoon, raising $750MM. The offering consists of $530MM Class A-2 notes at 6.2%, $73MM Class B notes at 7.0%, and $147MM Class C notes at 11.2%. The average cost of debt is 7.4%, which is in-line with our expectation, and ~140bps lower than their last ABS debt issuance. These new tranches of debt have an anticipated repayment period of 7 years (vs. 5 years on the last issuance).

Jonathan Chaplin
  • Jonathan Chaplin

FYBR: Cash flow in steady state

Frontier management has set targets for EBITDA of $4BN and operating FCF of $3BN on a footprint with 10MM fiber locations, in steady state. We built a simple model to vet this outcome. Our model arrives at slightly lower EBITDA and UFCF; however, modest cost cuts get us to the target, and cost cuts are likely. In addition to vetting steady-state targets, the model illuminates how value is created in the fiber business. We built it so that you can easily change assumptions and see the impact on v...

Jonathan Chaplin
  • Jonathan Chaplin

ACP Part V: FCC releases survey results

The FCC released a survey that included more than 5,000 ACP households today. The FCC repeated the mistake of prior surveys by asking whether households were new to broadband with ACP as opposed to subscribers that are new to broadband with one of the subsidy programs that followed the pandemic (stimulus checks; EBB; ACP). They also asked the important question, which is “what will you do when ACP ends”. Our quick analysis here focuses mostly on the social costs of ACP going away. We will ...

Jonathan Chaplin
  • Jonathan Chaplin

FYBR: updating capex and funding through 2026

The Company’s new Capex disclosure provides a clear map for cash capex for the fiber project for the remainder of the 10MM location plan, which will take them into 2026. Stronger confidence in the capex trajectory for the next three years lends confidence to the FCF trajectory and funding requirements (we have eliminated a variable). This should make it easier for investors on the sidelines to underwrite the investment case.

Jonathan Chaplin
  • Jonathan Chaplin

Frontier Model Update

This note focuses on changes to the model following 4Q23 results. Earlier today, we published a review of results and additional thoughts following the earnings call. Our net adds, revenue and EBITDA are slightly higher. Capex and FCF burn are also higher. Our long-term thesis remains unchanged. Price target is $54.

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