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ADT Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Results

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Announces 2018 results that exceed full year 2018 financial guidance

Year-over-year improvement in customer additions, customer retention, and payback periods

Closed Red Hawk acquisition and continued double-digit revenue growth in commercial market

Launched next generation security and home automation product, Command and Control

Acquired LifeShield to expand ADT's reach in separate DIY market

Approved dividend reinvestment plan and share buyback program

FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2018 HIGHLIGHTS COMPARED TO PRIOR YEAR

  • Fourth quarter total revenue of $1,185 million, up 7%; full year revenue of 4,582 million, up 6%
  • Fourth quarter net loss of $149 million, compared to net income of $638 million; full year net loss of $609 million, compared to net income of $343 million
  • Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $614 million, up 3%; full year Adjusted EBITDA of $2,453 million, up 4%
  • Fourth quarter Adjusted Net Income of $101 million, up 33%; full year Adjusted Net Income of $657 million, up 27%
  • Full year net cash provided by operating activities of $1,788 million, compared to $1,592 million
  • Full year net cash used in investing activities of $1,738 million, compared to $1,413 million
  • Full year net cash provided by financing activities of $193 million, compared to net cash used of $143 million
  • Full year Free Cash Flow before special items of $538 million, compared to $403 million
  • Trailing twelve-month revenue payback improved to 2.4 years from 2.5 years
  • Trailing twelve-month gross customer revenue attrition of 13.3%, an improvement of 40 bps

BOCA RATON, Fla., March 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ADT Inc. (NYSE: ADT), a leading provider of security and automation solutions for homes and businesses, today reported the results for its fourth quarter and full year 2018. The Company also provided guidance for 2019 and announced a quarterly dividend, dividend reinvestment plan ("DRIP"), and share buyback.

"Completing a successful year for ADT, we delivered a strong fourth quarter and exceeded our financial outlook", stated Jim DeVries, ADT's President and CEO. "We continue to demonstrate improvement across key operating metrics and strengthened our leadership in leading-edge home automation through the launch of ADT Command and Control. Moreover, following the December acquisition of Red Hawk, which accelerated our expansion into the attractive commercial market, we recently added a new growth platform for our business through the acquisition of LifeShield. LifeShield is a leader in the DIY home security space and will enable us to leverage our brand, scale and unrivaled reputation to compete in the growing DIY market. As we move forward, we will continue to invest in our business and the extraordinary opportunities ahead, capitalizing on the preeminent ADT brand and dedicated team who make us better positioned than ever to build long-term shareholder value."

FOURTH QUARTER 2018 RESULTS

Total revenue was $1,185 million, up 7%, or $80 million year-over-year, and includes incremental revenue associated with acquisitions. Monitoring and related services revenue ("M&S revenue"), which comprised $1,040 million of total revenue, was up 3% over the same period last year. The growth in M&S revenue was attributable to an increase in monthly recurring revenue, which resulted from the addition of new customers and improvements in average pricing, partially offset by customer attrition. In addition to M&S revenue, installation and other revenue was up by an additional $52 million from last year, primarily driven by commercial revenues as a result of the successful execution of our commercial growth strategy.

Recurring monthly revenue (RMR), a primary driver of M&S revenue, grew by 2%, or 4% including Red Hawk, in the quarter over the same period last year. Net growth in our core U.S. residential and commercial operations was offset by a decline in RMR attributable to our Canadian business.

The Company reported a net loss of $149 million, compared to prior year's net income of $638 million.  The increase in net loss was primarily due to the prior year's income tax benefit of $725 million related to Tax Reform and a goodwill impairment loss of $88 million in 2018 due to underperformance of our Canadian business. Diluted earnings per share was $(0.20) versus $0.99 in the prior year. Diluted earnings per share before special items was $(0.04) versus $(0.06) in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA was $614 million, up 3%, or $15 million year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA growth was a result of higher M&S revenue combined with higher revenue from transactions in which security equipment is sold outright to customers, partially offset by the associated costs and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses, excluding items outside of our definition of Adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted Net Income was $101 million versus $76 million in the same period last year, an increase of $25 million. The increase in Adjusted Net Income was largely driven by year-over-year growth in Adjusted EBITDA and decrease in cash interest.

Trailing twelve-month gross customer revenue attrition improved 40 basis points year-over-year, ending at 13.3%.  The improvement was due to lower voluntary disconnects and lower disconnects due to non-paying customers.

Trailing twelve-month customer revenue payback improved to 2.4 years from 2.5 years in the fourth quarter of 2017.  The improvement was a result of year-over-year growth in RMR additions combined with more efficient subscriber acquisition spend.

FULL YEAR 2018 RESULTS

On a full year basis, the Company reported total revenue of $4,582 million, up 6%, or $266 million year-over-year, which includes incremental revenue associated with acquisitions. M&S revenue was $4,110 million, and installation and other revenue was $472 million, up 2% and 65%, or $81 million and $186 million, respectively.

Net loss was $609 million, compared to prior year's net income of $343 million. Diluted earnings per share was $(0.81) versus $0.53 in the prior year.  Diluted earnings per share before special items was $(0.16) versus $(0.35) in the prior year.

Adjusted EBITDA increased by $101 million, or 4%, to $2,453 million. Adjusted Net Income was $657 million versus $519 million in the prior year, an increase of $139 million.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $1,788 million, up from $1,592 million in the prior year. The increase was attributable to higher M&S revenue, increase in revenue from transactions in which security equipment is sold outright to customers, and a decrease in cash paid for fees associated with dividend payments in February and April 2017. These increases were partially offset by a net increase in cash interest paid due to the redemption of the Koch Preferred Securities and higher interest rates on variable-rate debt, partially offset by a decrease in cash interest paid due to the partial redemption of the 9.250% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2023.

Net cash used in investing activities was $1,738 million, compared to $1,413 million in the prior year. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in cash used for Red Hawk and other business acquisitions, net of cash acquired, and an increase in the volume of accounts purchased through the ADT Authorized Dealer Program.

Net cash provided by financing activities was $193 million and consisted of net proceeds from the initial public offering and additional long-term borrowings, offset by payments related to the redemption of the Koch Preferred Securities, the partial redemption of the 9.250% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2023, and dividend payments on common stock. In the prior year, net cash used in financing activities was $143 million and consisted of dividend payments on common stock, partially offset by the net proceeds from long-term borrowings.

Free Cash Flow before special items was $538 million, up from $403 million in the prior year. The year-over-year improvement was primarily a result of an increase in Adjusted EBITDA, a decrease in cash paid associated with the dividend obligation on the Koch Preferred Securities, excluding amounts associated with the redemption of the Koch Preferred Securities, and lower interest expense on Prime Notes, partially offset by an increase in the volume of accounts purchased through the ADT Authorized Dealer Program.

HIGHLIGHTS

Acceleration of Commercial Growth - In December 2018, the Company closed its previously announced acquisition of Boca Raton, Florida based Red Hawk Fire & Security, a leader in commercial fire, life safety, and security services. This acquisition will help accelerate ADT's growth in the commercial security market and expand the Company's product portfolio with the introduction of commercial fire safety related solutions. In January 2019, ADT continued its commercial expansion with the acquisition of Advanced Cabling Systems, one of the leading technology integration companies in the mid-south.

LifeShield: Expansion in the Company's Growth Market with a DIY Home Security Platform - In February 2019, the Company closed the acquisition of LifeShield, LLC, a pioneer in advanced wireless home security systems. The addition of LifeShield's innovative technology to ADT's leading security and automation solutions and expertise increases ADT's ability to address the approximately 80% of U.S. households who do not have professionally installed and monitored home security. Founded in 2004, LifeShield was the first to bring a wireless DIY home security offering to the residential market.

ADT Command & Control: Newly Redesigned Smart Home Security System - The Company unveiled its newly redesigned smart home security system - ADT Command & Control at the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) in Las Vegas in January. ADT Command is a dynamic and innovative wireless panel with numerous smart home capabilities, including seamless set up and control with the ADT Control application, which allows customers to protect and automate their homes from anywhere at any time. ADT Command & Control is ADT's next generation smart home and security platform, and successor to the industry leading Pulse platform. The Company began roll-out of the platform in the first quarter of 2019.

Debt Redemption - The Company redeemed $300 million of its 9.250% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes due 2023 on February 1, 2019 for a total price of $319 million. Following the redemption, the Company had $2,246 million aggregate outstanding principal amount of the notes.

Quarterly Dividend - Effective March 11, 2019, the Company's board of directors declared a cash dividend of $0.035 per share to common stockholders of record as of April 2, 2019. This dividend will be paid on April 12, 2019.

DRIP and Share Buyback - On February 27, 2019, the Company also approved a DRIP which will allow stockholders to designate all or a portion of the cash dividends on their shares of common stock for reinvestment in additional shares of the Company's common stock.  The Company anticipates that certain investment funds directly or indirectly managed by Apollo Global Management, LLC, its subsidiaries, and its affiliates, collectively the Company's controlling shareholder, will elect to participate in the DRIP for all the cash dividends it receives on its shares of the Company's common stock. The Company will provide additional information regarding the DRIP pursuant to a separate announcement.  In addition, on February 27, 2019 the Company approved a share repurchase program which will permit the Company to repurchase up to $150 million of the Company's shares of common stock through February 27, 2021.  The Company may effect these repurchases pursuant to one or more trading plans to be adopted in accordance with Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b5‐1, in privately negotiated transactions, in open market transactions or pursuant to an accelerated share repurchase program.  The Company intends to conduct the share repurchase program in accordance with Securities Exchange Act Rule 10b-18.  The Company is not obligated to repurchase any of its shares of common stock and the timing and amount of any repurchases will depend on legal requirements, market conditions, stock price, alternative uses of capital, and other factors.

Refinancing Opportunities - Consistent with our strategy, we also continue to evaluate our options to reduce interest expense and extend maturities, especially associated with our 9.250% Second-Priority Senior Secured Notes. We intend to seek an amendment in the near term to our credit agreement to provide flexibility in connection with refinancing alternatives.

Find the complete report here.

2019 FINANCIAL OUTLOOK

The Company is providing the following financial guidance for 2019:

(in millions, except attrition data)

Total Revenue:

$4,900 - $5,100

Adjusted EBITDA: $2,460 - $2,500

Free Cash Flow before special items: $570 - $610

Gross Customer Revenue Attrition: 13.2% - 12.8%

The Company is not providing a quantitative reconciliation of our financial outlook for Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow before special items to net income (loss) and net cash provided by operating activities, which are their respective corresponding GAAP measures because these GAAP measures that we exclude from our non-GAAP financial outlook are difficult to reliably predict or estimate without unreasonable effort due to their dependence on future uncertainties, such as special items discussed below under the heading — Non-GAAP Measures "Adjusted EBITDA" and "Free Cash Flow before special items." Additionally, information that is currently not available to the Company could have a potentially unpredictable and potentially significant impact on its future GAAP financial results.

Conference Call

Management will discuss the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2018 results during a conference call and webcast today beginning at 5:00 pm (ET).  The conference call can be accessed as follows:

  • By dialing 1-877-407-3982 (domestic) or 1-201-493-6780 (international) and requesting the ADT Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2018 Earnings Conference Call
  • Live webcast accessed through ADT's website at investor.adt.com

An audio replay of the conference call will be available from approximately 8:00 pm ET on March 11, 2019 until 11:59 pm ET on March 25, 2019, and can be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (domestic) or 1-412-317-6671 (international), and providing the passcode 13687565, or by accessing ADT's website at investor.adt.com. A slide presentation highlighting the Company's results will also be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company's website.

From time to time, the Company may use its website as a channel of distribution of material Company information.  Financial and other material information regarding our Company is routinely posted on and accessible at investor.adt.com.

About ADT Inc.

ADT is a leading provider of monitored security and interactive home and business automation solutions in the United States and Canada. Making security more accessible than ever before, and backed by 24/7 customer support, ADT is committed to providing superior customer service with a focus on speed and quality of responsiveness, helping customers feel safer and empowered. ADT is headquartered in Boca Raton, Florida and employs approximately 19,000 people throughout North America.

NON-GAAP MEASURES

To provide investors with additional information in connection with our results as determined by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("GAAP"), we disclose Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, Free Cash Flow, Free Cash Flow before special items, Adjusted Net Income, Net Income (Loss) before special items, and Diluted Earnings Per Share ("EPS") before special items as non-GAAP measures.  These measures are not financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows, or any other measure calculated in accordance with GAAP, and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

Adjusted EBITDA

We believe that the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about certain non-cash items and about unusual items that we do not expect to continue at the same level in the future, as well as other items.  Further, we believe Adjusted EBITDA provides a meaningful measure of operating profitability because we use it for evaluating our business performance, making budgeting decisions, and comparing our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income or loss adjusted for (i) interest, (ii) taxes, (iii) depreciation and amortization, including depreciation of subscriber system assets and other fixed assets and amortization of dealer and other intangible assets, (iv) amortization of deferred costs and deferred revenue associated with subscriber acquisitions, (v) share-based compensation expense, (vi) purchase accounting adjustments under GAAP, (vii) merger, restructuring, integration, and other, (viii) goodwill impairment losses (ix) financing and consent fees, (x) foreign currency gains/losses, (xi) losses on extinguishment of debt, (xii) radio conversion costs, (xiii) management fees and other charges, and (xiv) other non-cash items.

There are material limitations to using Adjusted EBITDA.  Adjusted EBITDA does not take into account certain significant items, including depreciation and amortization, interest, taxes, and other adjustments which directly affect our net income or loss.  These limitations are best addressed by considering the economic effects of the excluded items independently, and by considering Adjusted EBITDA in conjunction with net income or loss as calculated in accordance with GAAP.  The Adjusted EBITDA discussion above is also applicable to its margin measure, which is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of monitoring and related services revenue.

Free Cash Flow

We believe that the presentation of Free Cash Flow is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about our ability to repay debt, make other investments, and pay dividends.

We define Free Cash Flow as cash from operating activities less cash outlays related to capital expenditures. We define capital expenditures to include purchases of property, plant, and equipment; subscriber system asset additions and deferred subscriber installation costs; and accounts purchased through our network of authorized dealers or third parties outside of our authorized dealer network.  These items are subtracted from cash flows from operating activities because they represent long-term investments that are required for normal business activities.

Free Cash Flow adjusts for cash items that are ultimately within management's discretion to direct, and therefore, may imply that there is less or more cash that is available than the most comparable GAAP measure.  Free Cash Flow is not intended to represent residual cash flow for discretionary expenditures since debt repayment requirements and other non-discretionary expenditures are not deducted.  These limitations are best addressed by using Free Cash Flow in combination with the GAAP cash flow numbers.

Free Cash Flow before special items

We define Free Cash Flow before special items as Free Cash Flow adjusted for payments related to (i) financing and consent fees, (ii) restructuring and integration, (iii) integration related capital expenditures, (iv) management fees and other, (v) the redemption of the Koch Preferred Securities, (vi) radio conversion costs, and (vii) other payments or receipts that may mask the operating results or business trends of the Company.  As a result, subject to the limitations described below, Free Cash Flow before special items is a useful measure of our cash available to repay debt, make other investments, and pay dividends.

Free Cash Flow before special items adjusts for cash items that are ultimately within management's discretion to direct, and therefore, may imply that there is less or more cash that is available than the most comparable GAAP measure.  Free Cash Flow before special items is not intended to represent residual cash flow for discretionary expenditures since debt repayment requirements and other non-discretionary expenditures are not deducted.  These limitations are best addressed by using Free Cash Flow before special items in combination with the GAAP cash flow numbers.

Adjusted Net Income

Adjusted Net Income is a non-GAAP measure that we present to provide additional information to investors about our operating performance.  We define Adjusted Net Income as Adjusted EBITDA less (i) capitalized subscriber acquisition costs, (ii) cash taxes, and (iii) cash interest, including interest on our preferred securities and excluding outflows in connection with the redemption of the Koch Preferred Securities.  Given our capital intensive business model, high debt levels, and the fact we are a low cash income tax paying Company due to our significant net operating loss, the Company uses this measure to reflect the cash portion of such adjusted items mentioned above to further evaluate our operational performance.  There are material limitations to using Adjusted Net Income. Adjusted Net Income does not fully take into account certain significant items, including depreciation and amortization, interest, taxes, and other adjustments which directly affect our net income or loss.  These limitations are best addressed by considering the economic effects of the excluded items independently, and by considering Adjusted Net Income in conjunction with net income or loss as calculated in accordance with GAAP.

Net Income (Loss) and Diluted EPS before special items

Net Income (Loss) before special items is defined as net income (loss) adjusted for (i) merger, restructuring, integration, and other, (ii) financing and consent fees, (iii) foreign currency gains/losses, (iv) losses on extinguishment of debt, (v) radio conversion costs, (vi) share-based compensation expense, (vii) goodwill impairment losses, (viii) other non-cash items, and (ix) the impact these adjusted items have on taxes.  Diluted EPS before special items is diluted EPS adjusted for the items above.  The difference between Net Income (Loss) before special items and Diluted EPS before special items, and net income (loss) and diluted EPS (the most comparable GAAP measures) consists of the impact of the special items noted above on the applicable GAAP measure.  The Company believes that Net Income (Loss) and Diluted EPS both before special items are benchmarks used by analysts and investors who follow the industry for comparison of its performance with other companies in the industry, although our measures may not be directly comparable to similar measures reported by other companies.  The limitation of these measures is that they exclude the impact (which may be material) of items that increase or decrease our reported operating income, operating margin, net income or loss, and EPS.  This limitation is best addressed by using the non-GAAP measures in combination with the most comparable GAAP measures in order to better understand the amounts, character, and impact of any increase or decrease on reported results.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

ADT has made statements in this press release and other reports, filings, and other public written and verbal announcements that are forward-looking and therefore subject to risks and uncertainties, including under the heading 2019 Financial Outlook. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included in this document are, or could be, "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are made in reliance on the safe harbor protections provided thereunder.  These forward-looking statements relate to anticipated financial performance, management's plans and objectives for future operations, business prospects, outcome of regulatory proceedings, market conditions and other matters.  Any forward-looking statement made in this press release speaks only as of the date on which it is made.  ADT undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by various words such as "expects," "intends," "will," "anticipates," "believes," "confident," "continue," "propose," "seeks," "could," "may," "should," "estimates," "forecasts," "might," "goals," "objectives," "targets," "planned," "projects," and similar expressions.  These forward-looking statements are based on management's current beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to management.  ADT cautions that these statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of ADT's control, and could cause future events or results to be materially different from those stated or implied in this document, including among others, risk factors that are described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" contained therein.

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Source: ADT Inc.