UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the quarterly period ended | |
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 | |
For the transition period from to |
Commission File Number:
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of each class | Trading Symbol(s) | Name of each exchange on which registered |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
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The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock as of August 2, 2024 was
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
FOR THE PERIOD ENDED JUNE 30, 2024
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 18 | |
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30 |
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q is for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024. Any statement contained in a prior periodic report shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Quarterly Report to the extent that a statement contained herein modifies or supersedes such statement. The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to “incorporate by reference” information that we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information by referring you directly to those documents. Information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this Quarterly Report. References in this Quarterly Report to “WOW,” “we,” “us,” “our,” or “the Company” are to WideOpenWest, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries, unless the context specifies or requires otherwise.
i
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements contained in this Quarterly Report that are not historical facts contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements represent our goals, beliefs, plans and expectations about our prospects for the future and other future events. Such statements involve certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical fact and can be identified by terms such as “may,” “intend,” “might,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “predict,” “potential,” or the negative of these terms. Although these forward-looking statements reflect our good-faith belief and reasonable judgment based on current information, these statements are qualified by important factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:
● | the ability to retain and further attract customers due to increased competition, resource abilities of competitors, and shifts in the entertainment desires of customers; |
● | our ability to respond to rapid technological change, including our ability to develop and deploy new products and technologies; |
● | increases in programming and retransmission costs and/or programming exclusivity in favor of our competitors; |
● | the disruption or failure of our network information systems or technologies as a result of hacking, viruses, outages or natural disasters in one or more of our geographic markets; |
● | the effects of new regulations or regulatory changes on our business; |
● | our substantial level of indebtedness, sensitivity to increases in prevailing interest rates, and our ability to comply with all covenants in our debt agreements; |
● | our ability to procure necessary materials, equipment and services from our vendors in a timely manner in connection with our network expansion initiatives; |
● | changes in laws and government regulations that may impact the availability and cost of capital; |
● | effects of uncertain economic conditions (e.g., unemployment, decreased disposable income, etc.) which may negatively affect our customers’ demand or ability to pay for our current and future products and services; |
● | our ability to manage the risks involved in the foregoing; and |
other factors described from time to time in our reports filed or furnished with the SEC, and in particular those factors set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our annual report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC on March 13, 2024 and other reports subsequently filed with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this report are made as of the date hereof or the date specified herein, based on information available to us as of such date. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.
ii
PART I-FINANCIAL INFORMATION
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
| June 30, | December 31, | ||||
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| 2024 |
| 2023 | ||
| (in millions, except share data) | |||||
Assets |
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Current assets |
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Cash and cash equivalents | $ | | $ | | ||
Accounts receivable—trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $ |
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Accounts receivable—other, net |
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Prepaid expenses and other |
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Total current assets |
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Right-of-use lease assets—operating | | | ||||
Property, plant and equipment, net |
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Franchise operating rights |
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Goodwill |
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Intangible assets subject to amortization, net |
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Other non-current assets |
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Total assets | $ | | $ | | ||
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity |
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Current liabilities |
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Accounts payable—trade | $ | | $ | | ||
Accrued interest |
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Current portion of long-term lease liability—operating | | | ||||
Accrued liabilities and other |
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Current portion of long-term debt and finance lease obligations |
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Current portion of unearned service revenue |
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Total current liabilities |
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Long-term debt and finance lease obligations, net of debt issuance costs —less current portion | | | ||||
Long-term lease liability—operating | | | ||||
Deferred income taxes, net |
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Other non-current liabilities |
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Total liabilities |
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Commitments and contingencies (Note 14) |
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Stockholders' equity: | ||||||
Preferred stock, $ | ||||||
Common stock, $ |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) | ( | | ||||
Treasury stock at cost, |
| ( |
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Total stockholders’ equity |
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Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
1
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(unaudited)
| Three months ended | Six months ended | ||||||||||
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| June 30, |
| June 30, | ||||||||
2024 |
| 2023 | 2024 |
| 2023 | |||||||
(in millions, except per share and share data) | ||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Costs and expenses: |
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Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
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Selling, general and administrative |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Impairment losses on intangibles | — | | — | | ||||||||
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Income (loss) from operations |
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Other income (expense): |
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Interest expense |
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| ( |
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Other income, net |
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Loss before provision for income tax |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
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Income tax benefit |
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Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Basic and diluted loss per common share | ||||||||||||
Basic | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Weighted-average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||
Basic | | | | | ||||||||
Diluted | | | | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(unaudited)
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Retained | |||||||||||||||||
Common | Treasury | Additional | Earnings | Total | |||||||||||||
Common | Stock | Stock at | Paid-in | (Accumulated | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||
| Stock |
| Par Value |
| Cost |
| Capital |
| Deficit) |
| Equity | ||||||
| (in millions, except share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Balances at January 1, 2024 | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Stock-based compensation | — |
| — | — |
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| — |
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Issuance of restricted stock, net | | — | — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Purchase of shares | ( |
| — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||
Net loss | — |
| — | — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||
Balances at March 31, 2024(1) | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | | — | | |||||||||||
Issuance of restricted stock, net | | — | — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Purchase of shares | ( | — | ( |
| — |
| — |
| ( | ||||||||
Net loss | — | — | — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||
Balances at June 30, 2024(1) | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | ( | $ | |
(1) | Included in outstanding shares as of March 31, 2024 and June 30, 2024 are |
Common | Treasury | Additional | Total | ||||||||||||||
Common | Stock | Stock at | Paid-in | Retained | Stockholders' | ||||||||||||
| Stock |
| Par Value |
| Cost |
| Capital | Earnings |
| Equity | |||||||
| (in millions, except share data) | ||||||||||||||||
Balances at January 1, 2023 | |
| $ | | $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Stock-based compensation | — |
| — | — |
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| — |
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Issuance of restricted stock, net | | — | — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Purchase of shares | ( |
| — | ( | — | — | ( | ||||||||||
Net loss | — |
| — | — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( | |||||||
Balances at March 31, 2023(1) | |
| $ | |
| $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Stock-based compensation | — | — | — | | — |
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Issuance of restricted stock, net | ( | — | — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||||||
Purchase of shares | ( | — | ( |
| — |
| — | ( | |||||||||
Net income | — | — | — |
| — |
| ( |
| ( | ||||||||
Balances at June 30, 2023(1) | |
| $ | |
| $ | ( | $ | | $ | | $ | |
(1) | Included in outstanding shares as of March 31, 2023 and June 30, 2023 are |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(unaudited)
| Six Months Ended | |||||
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| June 30, | ||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
| (in millions) | |||||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities: |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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Deferred income taxes |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Provision for doubtful accounts |
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Gain on sale of operating assets, net | ( | ( | ||||
Amortization of debt issuance costs and discount |
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Change in fair value of derivative instruments | ( | — | ||||
Impairment losses on intangibles | — | | ||||
Non-cash compensation |
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Other non-cash items |
| ( |
| — | ||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
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Receivables and other operating assets |
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Payables and accruals |
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Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | | $ | | ||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
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Capital expenditures | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Other investing activities |
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Net cash used in investing activities | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
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Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | $ | | $ | | ||
Payments on long-term debt and finance lease obligations |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Reimbursement of finance lease payments | | — | ||||
Purchase of shares | ( | ( | ||||
Net cash provided by financing activities | $ | | $ | | ||
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents |
| ( |
| ( | ||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
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Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | | $ | | ||
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: |
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Cash paid during the periods for interest, net | $ | | $ | | ||
Cash paid during the periods for income taxes | $ | | $ | | ||
Cash received during the periods for refunds of income taxes | $ | — | $ | | ||
Non-cash operating activities: | ||||||
Operating lease additions | $ | | $ | | ||
Non-cash investing and financing activities: |
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Finance lease additions | $ | | $ | | ||
Excise tax payable | $ | | $ | — | ||
Capital expenditures within accounts payable and accruals | $ | | $ | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2024
(unaudited)
Note 1. General Information
WideOpenWest, Inc. (“WOW” or the “Company”) is one of the nation’s leading broadband providers offering an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed data (“HSD”), cable television (“Video”), and digital telephony (“Telephony”) services to residential and business customers. The Company serves customers in
The Company’s operations are managed and reported to its Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”), the Company’s chief operating decision maker, on a consolidated basis. The CEO assesses performance and allocates resources based on the consolidated results of operations. Under this organizational and reporting structure, the Company operates as
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X for interim financial information. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted pursuant to rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”); however, in the opinion of management, the disclosures made are adequate to ensure the information presented is not misleading. The year-end consolidated balance sheet was derived from audited financial statements.
In the opinion of management, all normally recurring adjustments considered necessary for the fair presentation of the financial statements have been included, and the financial statements present fairly the financial position and results of operations for the interim periods presented. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results expected for the full year or any future period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the 2023 Annual Report filed with the SEC on March 13, 2024.
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP requires management to make assumptions and estimates that affect the reported amounts and disclosures of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts and disclosures of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that it believes are reasonable under the circumstances. To the extent there are differences between those estimates and actual results, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements may be materially affected.
5
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
ASU 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280): Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures
In November 2023, Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), Improvement to Reportable Segment Disclosures. ASU 2023-07 will require public business entities (“PBEs”) to disclose, on an annual and interim basis, significant segment expenses provided to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) including a profit and loss; an amount for other segment items by reportable segment, including a description of composition; annual disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss; if a CODM uses more than one measure of a segment’s profit or loss the PBE may report one or more of those additional measures; and requires that a PBE disclose the title and position of the CODM. The updated disclosure requirements are to be adopted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company does not anticipate adoption will have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations, cash flows or disclosures.
ASU 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures
In October 2023, FASB issued Accounting Standard Update (“ASU”) 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740), Improvement to Income Tax Disclosures. ASU 2023-09 will require all entities to disclose more detailed information in their reconciliation of their statutory tax rate to their effective tax rate. This requires PBEs to include incremental detail in a numerical, tabular format, while all other entities will do so through enhanced qualitative disclosures. The ASU also requires entities to disclose more detailed information about income taxes paid, including by jurisdiction; pretax income (or loss) from continuing operations; and income tax expense (or benefit). The updated disclosure requirements are to be adopted for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2024. The Company expects the adoption of the standard to result in additional disaggregation in the income tax footnote disclosures.
Note 3. Revenue from Contracts with Customers
Revenue by Service Offering
The following table presents revenue by service offering:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 | 2023 | ||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Residential subscription | ||||||||||||
HSD | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Video |
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Telephony |
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Total residential subscription | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Business subscription | ||||||||||||
HSD | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Video | | | | | ||||||||
Telephony | | | | | ||||||||
Total business subscription | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Total subscription services revenue | | | | | ||||||||
Other business services revenue(1) | | | | | ||||||||
Other revenue | | | | | ||||||||
Total revenue | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
(1) | Includes wholesale and colocation lease revenue of $ |
6
Promotional Costs
The following table summarizes the activity of promotional costs:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Deferral |
| | |
| |
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Amortization |
| ( | ( |
| ( |
| ( | |||||
Balance at end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The following table presents the current and non-current portion of promotional costs for the periods presented:
June 30, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | ||||
(in millions) | ||||||
Current promotional costs | $ | | $ | | ||
Non-current promotional costs | | | ||||
Total promotional costs | $ | | $ | |
Costs of Obtaining Contracts with Customers
The following table summarizes the activity of costs of obtaining contracts with customers:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Deferral |
| |
| |
| |
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Amortization |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Balance at end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The following table presents the current and non-current portion of costs of obtaining contracts with customers as of the end of the corresponding periods:
June 30, 2024 |
| December 31, 2023 | ||||
(in millions) | ||||||
Current costs of obtaining contracts with customers | $ | | $ | | ||
Non-current costs of obtaining contracts with customers | | | ||||
Total costs of obtaining contracts with customers | $ | | $ | |
The current portion and the non-current portion of promotional costs and costs of obtaining contracts with customers are included in prepaid expenses and other and other non-current assets, respectively, in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets. Amortization of promotional costs and costs of obtaining contracts with customers is included in selling, general and administrative expense in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.
7
Contract Liabilities
The following table summarizes the activity of current and non-current contract liabilities:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Deferral |
| |
| |
| |
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Revenue recognized |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Balance at end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The following table presents the current and non-current portion of contract liabilities as of the end of the corresponding periods:
June 30, 2024 | December 31, 2023 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||
Current contract liabilities | $ | | $ | | ||
Non-current contract liabilities | | | ||||
Total contract liabilities | $ | | $ | |
The current portion and the non-current portion of contract liabilities are included in the current portion of unearned service revenue and other non-current liabilities, respectively, in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Unsatisfied Performance Obligations
Revenue from month-to-month residential subscription service contracts has historically represented a significant portion of the Company’s revenue and the Company expects that this will continue to be the case in future periods. All residential subscription service performance obligations will be satisfied within
A summary of expected business subscription and other business services revenue to be recognized in future periods related to performance obligations which have not been satisfied or are partially unsatisfied as of June 30, 2024 is set forth in the table below:
| 2024 |
| 2025 |
| 2026 |
| Thereafter |
| Total | ||||||
(in millions) | |||||||||||||||
Subscription services | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | |||||
Other business services |
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Total expected revenue | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Provision for Doubtful Accounts
The provision for doubtful accounts and the allowance for doubtful accounts are based on the aging of the individual receivables, historical trends and current and anticipated future economic conditions. The Company manages credit risk by disconnecting services to customers who are delinquent, generally after
8
The following table presents the change in the allowance for doubtful accounts for trade accounts receivable:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Accounts receivable - trade | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Allowance for doubtful accounts: | ||||||||||||
Balance at beginning of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Provision charged to expense |
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Accounts written off, net of recoveries |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Balance at end of period | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | | ||||
Accounts receivable - trade, net of allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | | $ | | $ | | $ | |
Note 4. Plant, Property and Equipment, Net
Plant, property and equipment consists of the following:
June 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in millions) | ||||||
Distribution facilities | $ | | $ | | ||
Head-end equipment |
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Customer premise equipment |
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Computer equipment and software |
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Telephony infrastructure |
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Buildings and leasehold improvements |
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Vehicles |
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Office and technical equipment |
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Land |
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Construction in progress (including material inventory and other) |
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Total property, plant and equipment |
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Less accumulated depreciation |
| ( |
| ( | ||
$ | | $ | |
Depreciation expense for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $
Depreciation expense for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 was $
9
Note 5. Franchising Operating Rights and Goodwill
Changes in the carrying amounts of the Company’s franchise operating rights and goodwill during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 are set forth below:
| January 1, | June 30, | |||||||
| 2024 |
| Impairment |
| 2024 | ||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||
Franchise operating rights | $ | | $ | $ | | ||||
Goodwill |
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$ | | $ | $ | |
| January 1, | June 30, | |||||||
| 2023 |
| Impairment |
| 2023 | ||||
| (in millions) | ||||||||
Franchise operating rights | $ | | $ | ( | $ | | |||
Goodwill |
| |
| — |
| | |||
$ | | $ | ( | $ | |
Due to the decline in the Company’s stock price, which represented a triggering event during the second quarter of 2023, the Company performed an interim impairment analysis of its franchise operating rights and goodwill. The Company did not identify a triggering event for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and accordingly did not perform an impairment analysis.
Franchise Operating Rights
Franchise operating rights are evaluated for impairment annually by comparing the carrying value of the intangible asset to its estimated fair value, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative methods, at the lowest level of identifiable cash flows, which generally represent the markets in which the Company operates. Qualitative analysis is performed for franchise assets in the event the previous analysis indicates that there is a significant margin between the estimated fair value of franchise operating rights and the carrying value of those rights, and that it is more likely than not that the estimated fair value equals or exceeds its carrying value.
For any interim impairment analysis, all franchise operating rights were evaluated using quantitative analysis. The Company calculates the estimated fair value of franchise operating rights using the multi-period excess earnings method, an income approach, which calculates the estimated fair value of an intangible asset by discounting its future cash flows. The estimated fair value is determined based on discrete discounted future cash flows attributable to each franchise operating right intangible asset using assumptions consistent with internal forecasts. Assumptions key in estimating fair value under this method include, but are not limited to, revenue and subscriber growth rates (less anticipated customer churn), operating expenditures, capital expenditures (including any build out), market share achieved or market multiples, contributory asset charge rates, tax rates and a discount rate. The discount rate used in the model represents a weighted average cost of capital and the perceived risk associated with an intangible asset such as the Company’s franchise operating rights. If the fair value of the franchise operating right asset is less than its carrying value, the Company recognizes an impairment charge for the difference between the fair value and the carrying value of the asset.
10
As a result of the interim impairment analysis performed during the three months ended June 30, 2023, the estimated fair value of certain franchise operating right assets was determined to be below the carrying value, which resulted in the recognition of non-cash impairment losses in the following markets:
Three and Six Months Ended | ||||||
June 30, | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||
Huntsville, AL | $ | — | $ | | ||
Augusta, GA | — | | ||||
Panama City, FL | — | | ||||
Montgomery, AL | — | | ||||
Newnan, GA | — | | ||||
Valley, AL | — | | ||||
Columbus, GA | — | | ||||
Total | $ | — | $ | |
The primary driver of the impairment charge was a decline in the estimated fair market value of indefinite-lived intangible assets in certain markets. The decline is primarily due to declining cash flows, which results in an increase in the discount rate used to estimate fair value, with the decline in the Company’s common stock price. The impairment charges do not have an impact on the Company’s intent and/or ability to renew or extend existing franchise operating rights.
Goodwill
For the interim impairment analysis, the Company quantitatively evaluated goodwill at the consolidated reporting unit level. The Company determined the estimated fair value utilizing a market approach that incorporated the approximate market capitalization as of the interim testing date, increased by the quoted market price of the Company’s debt and adjusted for a control premium.
Based on the interim analysis, the estimated fair value of goodwill exceeded the carrying value, as such,
11
Note 6. Accrued Liabilities and Other
Accrued liabilities and other consists of the following:
June 30, | December 31, | |||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
| (in millions) | |||||
Payroll and employee benefits | $ | | $ | | ||
Programming costs | | | ||||
Other accrued liabilities | | | ||||
Employee severance | | | ||||
Patent litigation settlement | | | ||||
Franchise and revenue sharing fees |
| |
| | ||
Property, income, sales and use taxes | | | ||||
Utility pole costs |
| |
| | ||
Professional fees |
| |
| | ||
$ | | $ | |
Note 7. Long-Term Debt and Finance Leases
The following table summarizes the Company’s long-term debt and finance leases:
| December 31, | |||||||||||
June 30, 2024 | 2023 | |||||||||||
|
| Available |
|
| ||||||||
borrowing | Effective | Outstanding | Outstanding | |||||||||
capacity | interest rate(1) |
| balance |
| balance | |||||||
| (in millions) | |||||||||||
Long-term debt: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ||||
Term B Loans, net(2) | $ | — |
| % | $ | | $ | | ||||
Revolving Credit Facility(3) |
| |
| % |
| |
| | ||||
Total long-term debt | $ | |
|
| |
| | |||||
Other Financing | | | ||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| |
| | |||||
Total long-term debt, finance lease obligations and other |
|
|
|
|
| |
| | ||||
Debt issuance costs, net(4) |
|
|
|
|
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Sub-total |
|
|
|
|
| |
| | ||||
Less current portion |
|
|
|
|
| ( |
| ( | ||||
Long-term portion |
|
|
| $ | | $ | |
(1) | Represents the effective interest rate in effect for all borrowings outstanding as of June 30, 2024 pursuant to each debt instrument including the applicable margin. |
(2) | At June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 includes $ |
(3) | Available borrowing capacity at June 30, 2024 represents $ |
(4) | At June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023 debt issuance costs include $ |
12
On December 20, 2021, the Company entered into a secured credit agreement with Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as administrative agent, collateral agent and issuing bank (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement consists of (i) a Senior Securied Term B Loan in an aggregate principal amount of $
As of June 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with all debt covenants.
Note 8. Stock-Based Compensation
The Company’s stock incentive plan, the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan, provides for grants of stock options, restricted stock and performance awards. The Company’s directors, officers and other employees and persons who engage in services for the Company are eligible for grants under the plan. The stock incentive plan has authorized
Restricted stock awards generally vest ratably over a
The Company recorded $
The following table presents the changes in restricted stock activity during the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023:
June 30, | June 30, | |||
2024 | 2023 | |||
(shares) | ||||
Outstanding, beginning of period | | | ||
Granted | | | ||
Vested | ( | ( | ||
Forfeited | ( | ( | ||
Outstanding, end of period(1) | | |
(1) | The total outstanding non-vested shares of restricted stock awards granted to employees and directors are included in total outstanding shares for the periods presented. |
Performance Shares
The Company began issuing performance shares to certain executives in 2020. Each performance share grant has a performance period of
13
The performance shares based on
Note 9. Equity
On October 4, 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $
The following table summarizes the Company’s purchases of WOW common stock during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. These shares are reflected as treasury stock in the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
| Three months ended | Six months ended | ||||||
| June 30, | June 30, | ||||||
2024 | 2023 | 2024 | 2023 | |||||
(shares) | ||||||||
Share buybacks | — | | — | | ||||
Income tax withholding(1) |
| | | | | |||
| | | |
(1) | Generally, the company withholds shares to cover the income tax withholdings of the employee upon vesting. These shares are not part of the Board of Directors approved Share Repurchase Program. |
Note 10. Earnings per Common Share
Basic earnings or loss per share attributable to the Company’s common stockholders is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings or loss per share attributable to common stockholders presents the dilutive effect, if any, on a per share basis of potential common shares (such as restricted stock units) as if they had been vested or converted during the periods presented. No such items were included in the computation of diluted loss or earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023 because the Company incurred a net loss and the effect of inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
| June 30, | June 30, | ||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||||
(in millions, except share data) | ||||||||||||
Net loss | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Basic weighted-average shares |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Effect of dilutive securities: |
|
|
|
| ||||||||
Restricted stock awards |
| — |
| — |
| — |
| — | ||||
Diluted weighted-average shares |
| |
| |
| |
| | ||||
Basic and diluted loss per common share | ||||||||||||
Basic | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | ||||
Diluted | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( | $ | ( |
14
Note 11. Fair Value Measurements
The fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and trade payables approximate their carrying values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. For assets and liabilities of a long-term nature, the Company determines fair value based on the exchange price that would be received for an asset or paid to transfer a liability (an exit price) in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Market or observable inputs are the preferred source of values, followed by unobservable inputs or assumptions based on hypothetical transactions in the absence of market inputs. The Company applies the following hierarchy in determining fair value:
● | Level 1, defined as observable inputs being quoted prices in active markets for identical assets; |
● | Level 2, defined as observable inputs other than quoted prices included in Level 1, including quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations in which significant inputs and significant value drivers are observable in active markets; and |
● | Level 3, defined as values determined using models that utilize significant unobservable inputs for which little or no market data exists, discounted cash flow methodologies or similar techniques, or other determinations requiring significant management judgment or estimation. |
During the first quarter of 2024, the Company entered into
Level 1 |
| Level 2 | Level 3 |
| Total | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Financial Assets | ||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (1) | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | | ||||
Total | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | | ||||
Financial Liabilities | ||||||||||||
Interest rate swaps (1) | $ | — |
| $ | |
| $ | — |
| $ | | |
Long-term debt, net (2) | — | | — | | ||||||||
Total | $ | — | $ | | $ | — | $ | |
(1) | Measured as the present value of all expected future cash flows based on the SOFR-based swap yield curves as of June 30, 2024. The present value calculation uses discount rates that have been adjusted to reflect the credit quality of the Company and its counterparties. |
(2) | Measured based on dealer quotes considering current market rates for the Company’s credit facility. The ratio of the Company’s aggregate debt balance has trended from quoted market prices in active markets to quoted prices in non-active markets. Debt fair value does not include debt issuance costs and discount. |
There were no transfers into or out of Level 1, 2 or 3 during the periods ended June 30, 2024 and December 31, 2023.
The Company’s nonfinancial assets such as franchise operating rights, property, plant, and equipment, and other intangible assets are not measured at fair value on a recurring basis; however, they are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances, such as when there is evidence that an impairment may exist. When such impairments are recorded, fair values are generally classified within Level 3 of the valuation hierarchy.
15
Note 12. Derivative Instruments
The Company is exposed to certain risks during the normal course of its business arising from adverse changes in interest rates. The Company selectively uses derivative financial instruments (“derivatives”), including interest rate swaps, to manage interest rate risk. The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for speculative purposes. Fluctuations in interest rates can be volatile, and the Company’s risk management activities do not totally eliminate these risks. Consequently, these fluctuations could have a significant effect on the Company’s financial results.
The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk results primarily from its variable rate borrowings. At various points during the first quarter of 2024, the Company entered into
As of June 30, 2024, the Company is the fixed rate payor on
The following table summarizes the notional amounts and fair values of the Company’s outstanding derivatives by risk category and instrument type within the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2024. The Company did not have any derivative instruments as of December 31, 2023.
Fair Value | Fair Value | ||||||||
Other | |||||||||
Notional | Expenses | Non-current | |||||||
Amount | and Other |
| |||||||
Derivatives Instruments | (in millions) | ||||||||
Interest rate swap contracts as of June 30, 2024 | $ | | $ | | $ | |
The Company recognized the change in fair value of ($
The Company recognized the change in fair value of ($
See additional disclosure information related to these derivative instruments in Note 11 – Fair Value Measurements.
Note 13. Income Taxes
The Company accounts for income taxes under the asset and liability method. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which the difference is expected to reverse. Additionally, the impact on deferred tax assets and liabilities of changes in tax rates is reflected in the financial statements in the period that includes the date of enactment.
The Company reported income tax benefit of $
16
Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies
On March 7, 2018, Sprint Communications Company LP (“Sprint”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware alleging that the Company infringed a set of patents directed to the provision of Voice over Internet Protocol services. This lawsuit was part of a larger, decade long patent enforcement campaign by Sprint aimed at numerous service providers in the broadband and telecommunications industry. In April 2023, prior to the commencement of the Company’s jury trial on April 24, 2023, the Company and Sprint entered into settlement discussions and also conducted a formal mediation. Those discussions culminated in a negotiated resolution of the pending litigation, for which the parties executed a binding term sheet on April 19, 2023, and a Confidential Settlement and License Agreement on April 28, 2023. The terms of the settlement are confidential, but the agreement does obligate the Company to make payments to Sprint over the course of
The Company intends to pursue funding contributions for that settlement from third parties implicated by Sprint’s claims and the Company’s defense, including indemnification claims against the Company’s various affected equipment providers. As a result of the settlement, the Company accrued $
The Company is also party to various legal proceedings (including individual, class and putative class actions) arising in the normal course of its business covering a wide range of matters and types of claims including, but not limited to, general contracts, billing disputes, rights of access, programming, taxes, fees and surcharges, consumer protection, trademark and patent infringement, employment, regulatory, tort, claims of competitors and disputes with other carriers.
In accordance with GAAP, the Company accrues an expense for pending litigation when it determines that an unfavorable outcome is probable and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal defense costs are expensed as incurred. None of the Company’s existing accruals for pending matters are material. The Company consistently monitors its pending litigation for the purpose of adjusting its accruals and revising its disclosures accordingly, in accordance with GAAP, when required. However, litigation is subject to uncertainty, and the outcome of any particular matter is not predictable. The Company will vigorously defend its interests in pending litigation, and the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of all such matters, after considering insurance coverage or other indemnities to which it is entitled, will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows.
17
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Overview
We are one of the nation’s leading broadband providers offering an expansive portfolio of advanced services, including high-speed data (“HSD”), cable television (“Video”), and digital telephony (“Telephony”) services to residential customers and offer a full range of products and services to business customers. Our services are delivered across 16 markets via our efficient, advanced hybrid fiber-coax (“HFC”) network. Our footprint covers certain suburban areas within the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, South Carolina and Tennessee. At June 30, 2024, our broadband networks passed 2.0 million homes and businesses and served 495,200 customers.
Our core strategy is to provide outstanding service at affordable prices. We execute this strategy by managing our operations to focus on the customer. We believe that the customer experience should be reliable, easy and pleasantly surprising, every time. To achieve this customer experience, we operate one of the most technically advanced and high-performing networks in the industry.
We operate under a broadband first strategy. Our advanced network offers HSD speeds up to 1.2 GIG (1200 Mbps) in approximately 99% of our footprint and HSD speeds up to 5 GIG (5000 Mbps) in our Greenfield expansion markets. Led by our robust HSD offering, our products are available either as an individual service or a bundle to residential and business service customers. Based on our per subscriber economics, we believe that HSD represents the greatest opportunity to enhance profitability across our residential and business markets.
We continue to experience strong demand for our HSD service. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the average percentage of HSD only new connections was approximately 93%, a 6% increase when compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. However, there was a decline in customers purchasing higher speeds with approximately 72% of HSD only new connections purchasing 500MB or higher speeds during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, representing an approximate 8% decrease when compared to the corresponding periods in 2023.
WOW is continuing to focus on its greenfield expansion strategy by building out its network in locations adjacent and nonadjacent to its existing network and bringing its state-of-the-art all IP fiber technology and award-winning customer service to those markets. As of June 30, 2024, WOW launched services in the communities of Altamonte Springs, Wekiwa Springs, Casselberry, Forest City, Longwood, Sanlando Springs, Lake Mary, Winter Springs, and Sanford, Florida as well as Headland, Alabama and Mauldin, South Carolina.
Key Transactions Impacting Operating Results and Financial Condition
Share Repurchase Program
On October 4, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized us to repurchase up to $50.0 million of our outstanding common stock. We completed our Share Repurchase Program in June 2023 with approximately 4.9 million shares purchased for $50.4 million (including commissions).
Critical Accounting Estimates
For a discussion of our critical accounting estimates and the means by which we develop estimates refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our 2023 Annual Report on Form 10-K. There have been no material changes from the critical estimates described in our Form 10-K.
18
Homes Passed and Subscribers
We report homes passed as the number of serviceable addresses, such as single residence homes, apartments and condominium units, and businesses passed by our broadband network and listed in our database. We report total subscribers as the number of subscribers who receive at least one of our HSD, Video or Telephony services, without regard to which or how many services they subscribe. We define each of the individual HSD subscribers, Video subscribers and Telephony subscribers as a revenue generating unit (“RGU”). The following table summarizes homes passed, total subscribers and total RGUs for our services as of each respective date and for comparability purposes, presents subscribers associated with the Company’s operations as of each specified date:
Jun. 30, | Sep. 30, | Dec. 31, | Mar. 31, | Jun. 30, | ||||||
| 2023 | 2023 | 2023 | 2024 | 2024 | |||||
Homes passed |
| 1,892,600 | 1,905,600 | 1,932,200 | 1,948,500 | 1,956,700 | ||||
Total subscribers |
| 522,400 | 517,400 | 504,100 | 500,700 | 495,200 | ||||
HSD RGUs |
| 507,800 | 503,400 | 490,100 | 489,700 | 485,000 | ||||
Video RGUs |
| 110,000 | 100,800 | 90,800 | 79,300 | 71,600 | ||||
Telephony RGUs |
| 85,300 | 82,700 | 79,500 | 77,700 | 75,700 | ||||
Total RGUs |
| 703,100 |
| 686,900 |
| 660,400 |
| 646,700 |
| 632,300 |
The following table displays the homes passed and subscribers related to the Company’s market expansion activities, which includes edge-outs and Greenfield expansion:
| Jun. 30, | Sep. 30, | Dec. 31, | Mar. 31, | Jun. 30, | |||||
| 2023 |
| 2023 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2024 | |
Homes passed |
| 92,800 | 106,700 | 129,600 | 147,700 | 156,600 | ||||
Total subscribers |
| 23,200 | 25,800 | 28,100 | 32,200 | 35,800 | ||||
HSD RGUs |
| 22,900 | 25,600 | 27,900 | 31,900 | 35,600 | ||||
Video RGUs |
| 7,000 | 7,000 | 7,100 | 7,200 | 7,300 | ||||
Telephony RGUs |
| 3,100 | 3,600 | 3,800 | 4,200 | 4,600 | ||||
Total RGUs |
| 33,000 | 36,200 | 38,800 | 43,300 | 47,500 |
While we take appropriate steps to ensure subscriber information is presented on a consistent and accurate basis at any given balance sheet date, we periodically review our policies in light of the variability we may encounter across our different markets due to the nature and pricing of products, services, and billing systems. Accordingly, we may from time to time make appropriate adjustments to our subscriber information based on such reviews.
Financial Statement Presentation
Revenue
Our operating revenue is primarily derived from monthly recurring charges for HSD, Video, Telephony and other business services to residential and business customers, in addition to other revenues.
● | HSD revenue consists primarily of fixed monthly fees for data service and rental of modems. |
● | Video revenue consists primarily of fixed monthly fees for basic, premium and digital cable television services and rental of video converter equipment, as well as charges from optional services, such as pay-per-view, video-on-demand and other events available to the customer. The Company is required to pay certain cable franchising authorities an amount based on the percentage of gross revenue derived from video services. The Company generally passes these fees on to the customer, which are included in video revenue. |
● | Telephony revenue consists primarily of fixed monthly fees for local service and enhanced services, such as call waiting, voice mail and measured and flat rate long-distance service. |
19
● | Other business service revenue consists primarily of monthly recurring charges for session initiated protocol, web hosting, metro Ethernet, wireless backhaul, broadband carrier services and cloud infrastructure services provided to business customers. |
● | Other revenue consists primarily of revenue from line assurance warranty services provided to residential and business customers and revenue from paper statement fees, late fees and advertising placement. |
Revenues attributable to monthly subscription fees charged to customers for our HSD, Video and Telephony services provided by our broadband networks were 92% and 93% of total revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The remaining percentage of total revenue represents non-subscription revenue primarily from other business services, paper statement fees, late fees, line assurance warranty services and advertising placement.
Costs and Expenses
Our expenses primarily consist of operating, selling, general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization expense, and interest expense.
Operating expenses primarily include programming costs, data costs, transport costs and network access fees related to our HSD, Video and Telephony services, hardware/software expenses, network operations and maintenance services, customer service and call center expenses, bad debt, billing and collection expenses and franchise and other regulatory fees.
Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily include salaries and benefits of corporate and field management, sales and marketing personnel, human resources and related administrative costs.
Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation of our network infrastructure, including associated equipment, hardware and software, buildings and leasehold improvements, and finance lease obligations. Amortization is recognized on other intangible assets with definite lives, primarily related to acquisitions. Depreciation and amortization expense is presented separately from operating and selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of operations.
We control our costs of operations by maintaining strict controls on expenditures. More specifically, we are focused on managing our cost structure by improving workforce productivity, increasing the effectiveness of our purchasing activities and maintaining discipline in customer acquisition. We expect programming expenses to continue to increase per Video subscriber due to a variety of factors, including increased demands by owners of some broadcast stations for carriage of other services or payments to those broadcasters for retransmission consent and annual increases imposed by programmers with additional selling power as a result of media consolidation. We have not been able to fully pass these increases on to our customers without the loss of customers, nor do we expect to be able to do so in the future.
20
Results of Operations
The following table summarizes our results of operations for the periods presented:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Revenue | $ | 158.8 | $ | 172.6 | $ | 320.3 | $ | 344.8 | ||||
Costs and expenses: |
| |||||||||||
Operating (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
| 64.6 |
| 75.6 | 132.1 |
| 153.7 | |||||
Selling, general and administrative |
| 37.8 |
| 43.6 | 74.2 |
| 129.1 | |||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 52.7 |
| 46.7 | 105.1 |
| 92.2 | |||||
Impairment losses on intangibles |
| — |
| 128.1 | — |
| 128.1 | |||||
| 155.1 |
| 294.0 | 311.4 |
| 503.1 | ||||||
Income (loss) from operations |
| 3.7 |
| (121.4) | 8.9 |
| (158.3) | |||||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
| |||||||||
Interest expense |
| (17.8) |
| (17.3) | (38.8) |
| (32.2) | |||||
Other income, net |
| 0.2 |
| 0.8 | 0.5 |
| 2.0 | |||||
Loss before provision for income tax |
| (13.9) |
| (137.9) | (29.4) |
| (188.5) | |||||
Income tax benefit |
| 3.1 |
| 36.2 | 3.6 |
| 48.8 | |||||
Net loss | $ | (10.8) | $ | (101.7) | $ | (25.8) | $ | (139.7) |
Revenue
Total revenue for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024 decreased $13.8 million and $24.5 million, or 8% and 7%, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2023 as follows:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Residential subscription | $ | 118.5 | $ | 132.2 | $ | 239.5 | $ | 263.8 | ||||
Business subscription |
| 28.0 |
| 28.2 | 56.0 |
| 56.0 | |||||
Total subscription |
| 146.5 |
| 160.4 | 295.5 |
| 319.8 | |||||
Other business services |
| 5.0 |
| 5.1 | 10.3 |
| 10.3 | |||||
Other |
| 7.3 |
| 7.1 | 14.5 |
| 14.7 | |||||
Total revenue | $ | 158.8 | $ | 172.6 | $ | 320.3 | $ | 344.8 |
Subscription Revenue
Total subscription revenue decreased $13.9 million, or 9%, and $24.3 million, or 8%, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. The decreases were primarily driven by a $13.5 million and $24.8 million shift in service offering mix, respectively, as we experience a reduction in Video and HSD RGUs, and a $6.1 million and $12.8 million decrease in volume across all services. These decreases were partially offset by a $5.7 million and $13.3 million increase in average revenue per unit (“ARPU”), respectively, due to rate increases issued in the third quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024. ARPU is calculated as subscription revenue for each of the HSD, Video and Telephony services divided by the average total RGUs for each service category for the respective period.
Other Business Services
Other business services revenue decreased $0.1 million, or 2%, and remained flat during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the decreases are primarily due to decreases in wholesale and data center revenue.
21
Other Revenue
Other revenue increased $0.2 million, or 3%, and decreased $0.2 million, or 1%, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, as compared to the corresponding period in 2023. For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the increase is primarily due to increases in paper statement fee and streaming partner revenue, partially offset by a decrease in shopping revenue and line assurance revenue. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the decrease is primarily due to a decrease in advertising revenue, shopping revenue, and line assurance revenue, partially offset by increases in paper statement fees.
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization)
Operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization) decreased $11.0 million, or 15%, and $21.6 million, or 14%, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, as compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, the decreases are primarily driven by reduction in direct operating expenses, specifically programming expenses of $9.2 million and of $18.0 million, respectively, which aligns with the reduction in Video RGUs between periods, as well as increases in capitalizable eligible expenses, decreases in bad debt expense and call center costs, partially offset by increases in charges for compensation related expenses, software and hardware related costs,and network expenses.
Incremental contribution
Incremental contribution is defined as subscription services revenue less costs directly incurred from third parties in connection with the provision of such services to our customers (service direct expense). Incremental contribution decreased $5.2 million, or 4%, during the three months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2023, and $7.5 million, or 3%, during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023. See non-GAAP discussion below.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $5.8 million, or 13%, and $54.9 million, or 43%, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. For the three months ended June 30, 2024, the decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in restructuring costs associated with employee severance charges, reductions in marketing expenses, stock compensation expenses, and transition service agreement expenses, partially offset by increases in legal and professional fees. For the six months ended June 30, 2024, the decrease is primarily attributable to a reduction in patent litigation settlement expense, stock compensation expenses, marketing expenses, compensation related expenses, and transition service agreement expenses. The transition service agreement ended in the second quarter 2023.
Depreciation and amortization expenses
Depreciation and amortization expenses increased $6.0 million, or 13%, and $12.9 million, or 14%, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. The increases are primarily due to increases of equipment placed into service as we continue to expand our network.
Impairment losses on intangibles
The Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge related to its franchise operating rights of $128.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023. The charge was primarily related to declining cash flows, which resulted in an increase in the discount rate, combined with a decline in the Company’s common stock price. The Company did not recognize such charges for the three or six months ended June 30, 2024. See Note 5 – Franchising Operating Rights and Goodwill for discussion of non-cash impairment charge.
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Interest expense
Interest expense increased $0.5 million, or 3%, and $6.6 million, or 20%, during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. The increases are primarily due to higher overall debt balances, combined with higher interest rates, and entrance into five interest rate derivative instruments during the first quarter of 2024. The change in the fair value of the derivative instruments is presented in interest expense each period.
Other income
Other income decreased $0.6 million and $1.5 million during the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2023. The decreases are primarily due to the decline in services provided as part of the transition services agreements under which the Company was providing post-transaction continuity of service to the two different buyers of our sold service areas during the transition periods. The agreements with both buyers ended in 2023.
Income tax expense
We reported income tax benefit of $3.1 million and $36.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and income tax benefit of $3.6 million and $48.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The change in income tax benefit is primarily related to the impairment charges on intangibles in fiscal year 2023.
Use of Incremental Contribution
Incremental contribution is included herein because we believe that it is a key metric used by our management to assess the financial performance of the business by showing how the relative relationship of the various components of subscription services contributes to our overall consolidated historical results. Our management further believes that it provides useful information to investors in evaluating our financial condition and results of operations because the additional detail illustrates how an incremental dollar of revenue generates cash, before any unallocated costs are considered, which we believe is a key component of our overall strategy and important for understanding what drives our cash flow position relative to our historical results. Incremental contribution is defined by us as the components of subscription revenue, less costs directly incurred from third parties in connection with the provision of such services to our customers.
Incremental contribution is not made in accordance with GAAP and our use of the term incremental contribution varies from others in our industry. Incremental contribution should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, consolidated net income (loss) and operating income (loss) or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or operating cash flows, or as measures of liquidity. Incremental contribution has important limitations as an analytical tool and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP as it does not identify or allocate any other operating costs and expenses that are components of our income from operations to specific subscription revenues as we do not measure or record such costs and expenses in a manner that would allow attribution to a specific component of subscription revenue. Accordingly, incremental contribution should not be considered as an alternative to operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP as measures of operating performance or operating cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity.
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The following tables provide a reconciliation of incremental contribution to income from operations, which is the most directly comparable GAAP measure, for the periods presented:
Three months ended | Six months ended | |||||||||||
June 30, | June 30, | |||||||||||
2024 | 2023 |
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||||||
Income (loss) from operations |
| $ | 3.7 |
| $ | (121.4) | $ | 8.9 |
| $ | (158.3) | |
Revenue (excluding subscription revenue) |
| (12.3) |
| (12.2) |
| (24.8) |
| (25.0) | ||||
Other non-allocated operating expense (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
| 37.2 | 39.5 |
| 74.6 |
| 79.4 | |||||
Selling, general and administrative |
| 37.8 |
| 43.6 |
| 74.2 |
| 129.1 | ||||
Depreciation and amortization |
| 52.7 |
| 46.7 |
| 105.1 |
| 92.2 | ||||
Impairment losses on intangibles |
| — |
| 128.1 |
| — |
| 128.1 | ||||
Incremental contribution | $ | 119.1 | $ | 124.3 | $ | 238.0 | $ | 245.5 |
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our primary funding requirements are for our ongoing operations, capital expenditures, outstanding debt obligations, including lease agreements, and strategic investments. At June 30, 2024, the principal amount of our outstanding consolidated debt aggregated to $974.5 million, of which $17.9 million is classified as current in our unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of such date. As of June 30, 2024, we had borrowing capacity of $0.4 million under our Revolving Credit Facility. We are strategically managing our cash by decreasing our spending on discretionary capital and expenses.
We are required to prepay principal amounts if we generate excess cash flow, as defined in the Credit Agreement. As of June 30, 2024, we had $20.7 million of cash and cash equivalents. We believe that our existing cash balances and operating cash flows will provide sufficient resources to fund our obligations and anticipated liquidity requirements over the next 12 months.
We expect to utilize cash flow from operations and cash on hand as funding sources, as well as potentially engage in future financing transactions to further extend the maturities of our debt obligations. The timing and terms of any financing transactions will be subject to market conditions among other considerations.
As potential acquisitions or dispositions arise, we actively review such transactions against our objectives including, among other considerations, improving our operational efficiency, geographic clustering of assets, product development or technology capabilities of our business and achieving appropriate strategic objectives, and we may participate in such transactions to the extent we believe these possibilities present attractive opportunities. However, there can be no assurance that we will actually complete any acquisitions or dispositions, or that any such transactions will be material to our operations or results.
Our ability to fund operations, make capital expenditures, repay debt obligations and make future acquisitions and strategic investments depends on future operating performance and cash flows, which are subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.
Historical Operating, Investing, and Financing Activities
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $86.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $41.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The increase is primarily due to the increase in operating income, combined with the timing differences of our receivables and payables, partially offset by the increase in interest paid.
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Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $123.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $123.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023.
We have ongoing capital expenditure requirements related to the maintenance, expansion and technological upgrades of our network. Capital expenditures are funded primarily through a combination of cash on hand and cash flow from operations. Our capital expenditures were $123.6 million and $123.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively.
The following table sets forth additional information regarding our capital expenditures for the periods presented:
Six months ended | ||||||
June 30, | ||||||
| 2024 |
| 2023 | |||
(in millions) | ||||||
Capital Expenditures | ||||||
Scalable infrastructure(1) | $ | 50.4 | $ | 29.6 | ||
Customer premise equipment(2) |
| 34.4 |
| 32.0 | ||
Support capital and other(3) | 19.5 |
| 23.5 | |||
Line extensions(4) |
| 19.3 |
| 38.7 | ||
Total | $ | 123.6 | $ | 123.8 | ||
Capital expenditures included in total related to: |
|
| ||||
Greenfields(5) | $ | 53.3 | $ | 43.2 | ||
Edge-outs(6) | $ | 4.4 | $ | 7.9 | ||
Business services(7) | $ | 6.9 | $ | 7.6 |
(1) | Scalable infrastructure includes costs, not directly related to customer acquisition activity, to support new customer growth and provide service enhancements (e.g., headend equipment). |
(2) | Customer premise equipment, or CPE, includes equipment and installation costs incurred to deliver services to residential and business services customers. CPE includes the costs of acquiring and installing our set-top boxes and modems, as well as the cost of customer connections to our network. |
(3) | Support capital and other includes costs to modify or replace existing HFC network, including enhancements, and all other costs to support day-to-day operations, including land, buildings, vehicles, office equipment, tools and test equipment. |
(4) | Line extensions include costs associated with new home development including edge-outs and greenfields (e.g., fiber / coaxial cable, amplifiers, electronic equipment, make-ready and design engineering). |
(5) | Greenfields represent costs associated with building our fiber technology network in locations non-adjacent to our existing network. |
(6) | Edge-outs represent costs to extend our network into new adjacent service areas, including the associated CPE. |
(7) | Business services represent costs associated with the build-out of our network to support business services customers, including the associated CPE. |
Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities was $34.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to $74.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023. The decrease is primarily due to a decrease in net borrowings of $86.3 million and a reduction in purchases of treasury stock during the six months ended June 30, 2024 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2023.
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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Our exposure to market risk is limited and primarily related to fluctuating interest rates associated with our variable rate indebtedness under our Senior Secured Credit Facility. As of June 30, 2024, borrowings under our Term B Loans and Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at SOFR plus 3.00% and SOFR plus 2.75%, respectively. We manage the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and operating cash flows by entering into derivative instruments to protect against increases in the interest rates on our variable rate debt. We use interest rate swaps, where we receive variable rate amounts in exchange for fixed rate payments. As of June 30, 2024, after considering our interest rate swaps, approximately 48% of our Senior Secured Credit Facility is still variable rate debt. A hypothetical 100 basis point (1%) change in SOFR interest rates (based on the interest rates in effect under our Senior Secured Credit Facility as of June 30, 2024) would result in an annual interest expense change of up to approximately $4.6 million on our Senior Secured Credit Facility.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (together, the “Certifying Officers”), as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Our management, with the participation of the Certifying Officers, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of June 30, 2024. Based on that evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2024, as the result of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting discussed below.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
Notwithstanding this material weakness, management has concluded that the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this quarterly report present fairly, in all material respects, our financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
Material Weakness in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
On August 6, 2024, management identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting that existed at December 31, 2023. The material weakness described below did not result in a misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements.
Specifically, management did not design and maintain effective information technology general controls over certain systems that support the revenue recognition process for subscription services. Additionally, management did not design and maintain effective review controls over the completeness and accuracy of information produced by those systems.
This material weakness continued to exist at June 30, 2024.
Remediation Plan
Management is committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment. In response to the material weakness identified above, management, with the oversight of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, is in the process of developing and implementing a remediation plan to address the material weakness described above.
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Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Other than the material weakness described above and related ongoing remediation efforts, there were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that occurred during the second quarter of 2024, that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Refer to Note 14 – Commitments and Contingencies for a discussion of the Company’s legal proceedings.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 includes “Risk Factors” under Item 1A of Part 1. There have been no material changes to the risk factors set forth therein.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer
The following table presents WOW’s purchases of equity securities completed during the second quarter of 2024:
Approximate Dollar Value of | ||||||||||
Total Number of Shares | Shares that May Yet be | |||||||||
Number of Shares | Average Price | Purchased as Part of Publicly | Purchased Under the Plans | |||||||
Period |
| Purchased (1) |
| Paid per Share |
| Announced Plans or Programs |
| or Programs (in millions) | ||
April 1 - 30, 2024 |
| 1,890 | $ | 3.57 |
| — | $ | — | ||
May 1 - 31, 2024 |
| 1,945 | $ | 5.03 |
| — | $ | — | ||
June 1 - 30, 2024 |
| 17,482 | $ | 5.41 |
| — | $ | — |
(1) | Represents shares withheld from employees for the payment of taxes upon the vesting of restricted stock awards for the months of April, May, and June 2024, respectively. |
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangements
During the
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
As noted in Item 4. Controls and Procedures above, the Company’s management identified a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting that existed as of December 31, 2023. The Company’s management determined that it did not design and maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures due to a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting because management did not design and maintain effective information technology general controls over certain systems that support the revenue recognition process for subscription services. Additionally, management did not design and maintain effective review controls over the completeness and accuracy of information produced by those systems.
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Based upon the foregoing, management and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors concluded on August 6, 2024, that this control deficiency constitutes a material weakness that existed as of December 31, 2023. As of the date of this filing, the Company has determined that this material weakness did not result in a misstatement to the Company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements.
As a result, Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting included in Item 9A. Controls and Procedures of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 and filed with the SEC on March 13, 2024, should no longer be relied upon. The Company expects to file an amendment to its Annual Report on Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K/A”) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023 to include disclosures concerning this material weakness. In addition, the Form 10-K/A will include amended reports of our independent registered public accounting firm to reflect an adverse opinion related to the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023. The Form 10-K/A will not contain any revision to the Company’s previously issued consolidated financial statements. Additionally, the statements within the Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures included in Item 4 of the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2024, filed with the SEC on May 7, 2024, related to our disclosure controls and procedures should no longer be relied upon.
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Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit |
| Exhibit Description |
3.1 | ||
3.2 | ||
31.1* | ||
31.2* | ||
32.1* | ||
101 | The following financial information from WideOpenWest, Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three and six months ended June 30, 2024, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 8, 2024, formatted in iXBRL (inline eXtensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets; (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations; (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity; (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows; and (v) the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. | |
104 | Cover Page, formatted in iXBRL and contained in Exhibit 101. |
* | Filed herewith. |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WIDEOPENWEST, INC. | ||
August 8, 2024 | By: | /s/ TERESA ELDER |
Teresa Elder | ||
Chief Executive Officer | ||
By: | /s/ JOHN REGO | |
John Rego | ||
Chief Financial Officer |
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