Quarterly Report
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 2008

 

¨ 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 1-8519

CINCINNATI BELL INC.

 

Ohio   31-1056105
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

221 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

(513) 397-9900

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

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. Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer  x            Non-accelerated filer  ¨            Accelerated filer  ¨            Smaller reporting company  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes  ¨    No  x

At May 1, 2008, there were 242,956,757 common shares outstanding and 155,250 shares of 6 3/4% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock outstanding.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Description

PART I. Financial Information

 

          Page

Item 1.

   Financial Statements   
   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007    1
   Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007    2
   Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007    3
   Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)    4

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    20

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    26

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures    27
PART II. Other Information   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors    28

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    28

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities    28

Item 4.

   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    28

Item 5.

   Other Information    29

Item 6.

   Exhibits    29
   Signatures    30


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Revenue

    

Services

   $ 297.2     $ 282.0  

Products

     51.3       33.3  
                

Total revenue

     348.5       315.3  

Costs and expenses

    

Cost of services, excluding depreciation

     106.5       96.6  

Cost of products sold, excluding depreciation

     52.3       36.5  

Selling, general and administrative

     70.1       65.5  

Depreciation

     36.1       35.4  

Amortization

     1.2       0.9  

Restructuring charges

     24.0       2.5  

Asset impairment

     1.2       —    
                

Total operating costs and expenses

     291.4       237.4  
                

Operating income

     57.1       77.9  

Interest expense

     36.3       40.1  

Other income, net

     (1.2 )     (2.0 )
                

Income before income taxes

     22.0       39.8  

Income tax expense

     9.1       17.2  
                

Net income

     12.9       22.6  

Preferred stock dividends

     2.6       2.6  
                

Net income applicable to common shareowners

   $ 10.3     $ 20.0  
                

Basic and diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.04     $ 0.08  
                

Weighted average common shares outstanding (in millions)

    

Basic

     246.7       247.1  

Diluted

     252.8       255.0  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Dollars in millions, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

     March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 
Assets     

Current assets

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 19.3     $ 26.1  

Receivables, less allowances of $16.6 and $17.1

     171.5       176.5  

Inventory, materials and supplies

     26.0       31.2  

Deferred income tax benefits, net

     76.0       72.8  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     17.6       11.1  
                

Total current assets

     310.4       317.7  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     952.7       933.7  

Goodwill

     69.1       62.4  

Intangible assets, net

     128.0       121.2  

Deferred income tax benefits, net

     504.0       523.4  

Other noncurrent assets

     70.0       61.2  
                

Total assets

   $ 2,034.2     $ 2,019.6  
                
Liabilities and Shareowners’ Deficit     

Current liabilities

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 8.1     $ 7.8  

Accounts payable

     91.1       105.5  

Unearned revenue and customer deposits

     47.6       47.4  

Accrued taxes

     21.4       15.2  

Accrued interest

     26.9       49.4  

Accrued payroll and benefits

     39.6       44.8  

Other current liabilities

     43.6       47.5  
                

Total current liabilities

     278.3       317.6  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     2,019.0       2,001.9  

Accrued pension and postretirement benefits

     314.6       291.7  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     82.6       76.0  
                

Total liabilities

     2,694.5       2,687.2  
                

Shareowners’ deficit

    

Preferred stock, 2,357,299 shares authorized, 155,250 shares (3,105,000 depositary shares) of 6 3/4% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007; liquidation preference $1,000 per share ($50 per depositary share)

     129.4       129.4  

Common shares, $.01 par value; 480,000,000 shares authorized; 256,855,282 and 256,652,787 shares issued; 244,330,131 and 248,357,332 outstanding at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

     2.6       2.6  

Additional paid-in capital

     2,921.5       2,922.7  

Accumulated deficit

     (3,446.2 )     (3,459.1 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (103.2 )     (115.9 )

Common shares in treasury, at cost: 12,525,151 and 8,295,455 shares at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007

     (164.4 )     (147.3 )
                

Total shareowners’ deficit

     (660.3 )     (667.6 )
                

Total liabilities and shareowners’ deficit

   $ 2,034.2     $ 2,019.6  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Dollars in millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Cash flows from operating activities

    

Net income

   $ 12.9     $ 22.6  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities

    

Depreciation

     36.1       35.4  

Amortization

     1.2       0.9  

Provision for loss on receivables

     4.3       3.4  

Noncash interest expense

     1.2       1.3  

Deferred income tax expense, including valuation allowance change

     8.8       16.1  

Pension and other postretirement expense in excess of payments

     42.8       8.8  

Other, net

     1.4       0.1  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions

    

Decrease in receivables

     2.6       18.1  

Increase in inventory, materials, supplies, prepaids and other current assets

     (0.3 )     (8.9 )

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable

     (7.3 )     4.1  

Decrease in accrued and other current liabilities

     (25.6 )     (33.2 )

Decrease in other long-term assets

     3.0       0.4  

Increase (decrease) in other long-term liabilities

     6.9       (0.8 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     88.0       68.3  
                

Cash flows from investing activities

    

Capital expenditures

     (60.7 )     (42.3 )

Acquisitions of businesses

     (18.7 )     (4.6 )

Other, net

     (0.7 )     (0.5 )
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (80.1 )     (47.4 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities

    

Increase in corporate credit facility, net

     45.0       —    

Repayment of debt

     (40.0 )     (51.3 )

Preferred stock dividends

     (2.6 )     (2.6 )

Common stock repurchase

     (16.7 )     —    

Other, net

     (0.4 )     (0.5 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (14.7 )     (54.4 )
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (6.8 )     (33.5 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     26.1       79.4  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 19.3     $ 45.9  
                

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)

 

1. Description of Business and Accounting Policies

The following represents a summary of the business and accounting policies of Cincinnati Bell Inc. (the “Company”). A more detailed presentation can be found in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Description of Business — The Company provides diversified telecommunications services through businesses in three segments: Wireline, Wireless and Technology Solutions. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company realigned its reportable business segments to be consistent with changes to its management structure and reporting. Refer to Note 8 for further discussion concerning the Company’s segments.

Basis of Presentation — The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for each period presented.

The adjustments referred to above are of a normal and recurring nature. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current classifications with no effect on results of operations. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations.

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2007 was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Operating results for the three month period ended March 31, 2008 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected in subsequent quarters or for the year ending December 31, 2008.

Income Taxes — The Company and its subsidiaries file income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction, and various states and local jurisdictions. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal, state or local examinations for years before 2004. The IRS has completed its examination of the 2004 and 2005 tax years while 2006 is still under audit.

The Company has a $14.7 million liability at March 31, 2008 for unrecognized tax benefits and had a $14.8 million liability recorded at December 31, 2007 . The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate is $14.4 million. The Company does not currently anticipate that the amount of unrecognized tax benefits will change significantly over the next year.

The Company recognizes accrued penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in income tax expense. The Company recognizes accrued interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense. Accrued interest and penalties are insignificant at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

Regulatory Taxes — The Company incurs federal regulatory taxes on certain revenue producing transactions. The Company is permitted to recover certain of these taxes by billing the customer; however, collections cannot exceed the amount due to the federal regulatory agency. These federal regulatory taxes are presented in sales and cost of services on a gross basis because, while the Company is required to pay the tax, it is not required to collect the tax from customers. The amount recorded as revenue was $3.7 million for both the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007. The amount expensed for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $3.9 million and for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $4.2 million. The Company records all other taxes collected from customers on a net basis.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Stock-Based Compensation — The Company values all share-based payments to employees at fair value on the date of grant and expenses this value over the applicable vesting period. The Company’s policy for graded vesting awards is to recognize compensation expense on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. For all share-based payments, an assumption is made for an estimated forfeiture rate based on the historical behavior of employees. The Company’s practice has generally been to make its annual grant of stock options and time-based restricted awards in December and annual performance-based awards in the first quarter. In addition, the Company also has historically granted a smaller number of stock-based awards at various times during the year for new employees, promotions and performance achievements.

Stock options

The following table summarizes stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2008:

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   Shares     Weighted-
Average
Exercise Prices
Per Share
   Weighted-
Average
Contractual
Life in Years

Options outstanding at January 1, 2008

   20,625     $ 10.76    4.6

Granted

   712       3.81   

Exercised

   (58 )     3.86   

Forfeited

   —         —     

Expired

   (1,064 )     10.87   
             

Options outstanding at March 31, 2008

   20,215     $ 10.52    4.7
             

Options exercisable at March 31, 2008

   17,866     $ 11.31    4.1
             

During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company granted performance-based options, which vest over four years upon the achievement of certain performance-based objectives. The Company recognized compensation expense of $0.4 million related to stock options for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and $0.2 million of compensation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2008, there was $3.0 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested stock options. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years. At March 31, 2008, the aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and exercisable was approximately $3.0 million and $2.6 million, respectively.

The weighted average fair values at the date of grant were estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,
 
     2008     2007  

Expected volatility

     31.3 %     29.2 %

Risk-free interest rate

     2.8 %     4.6 %

Expected holding period - years

     5       5  

Expected dividends

     0.0 %     0.0 %

Weighted-average grant date fair value

   $ 1.24     $ 1.59  

The expected volatility assumption used in the Black-Scholes pricing model was based on historical volatility. The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of grant. The expected holding period was estimated using the historical exercise behavior of employees and adjusted for abnormal activity. Expected dividends are based on the Company’s history of paying dividends, as well as restrictions in place under the Company’s debt covenants.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Performance-based awards

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   Shares     Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share

Non-vested as of January 1, 2008

   2,932     $ 4.75

Granted*

   1,438       3.98

Vested

   (550 )     4.51

Forfeited

   (489 )     4.30
        

Non-vested at March 31, 2008

   3,331     $ 4.52
        

 

* Assumes the maximum number of awards that can be earned if the performance conditions are achieved.

Awards granted generally vest over three to four years and upon the achievement of certain performance-based objectives. The Company recognized expense for performance-based awards of $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, and $0.4 million of expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2008, there was $8.7 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to performance-based awards. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.

Time-based restricted awards

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   Shares     Weighted-
Average Grant
Date Fair Value
Per Share

Non-vested as of January 1, 2008

   375     $ 4.87

Granted

   —         —  

Vested

   (1 )     4.83

Forfeited

   (11 )     4.81
        

Non-vested at March 31, 2008

   363     $ 4.87
        

Awards granted generally vest in one-third increments over a period of three years. The Company recognized expense of $0.1 million related to time-based restricted awards for both the three months ended March 31, 2008 and March 31, 2007. As of March 31, 2008, there was $1.2 million of unrecognized compensation expense related to these shares. This expense is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of approximately two years.

 

6


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Recently Issued Accounting Standards — Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” was issued in September 2006. The objective of the Statement is to define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value and expand disclosures about fair value measurements. The Company has adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157 related to financial instruments as of January 1, 2008. Per FASB Staff Position 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” implementation of SFAS No. 157 to non-financial assets and liabilities has been deferred until interim and annual periods beginning after November 15, 2008.

SFAS No. 157 establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

Level 1 - defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets;

Level 2 - Inputs include quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active, inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability (i.e., interest rates, yield curves, etc.), and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means (market corroborated inputs); and

Level 3 - Unobservable inputs that reflect the Company’s determination of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. These inputs are developed based on the best information available, including the Company’s own data.

At March 31, 2008, the Company has financial instruments that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis as follows:

 

   

Money market funds presented as cash equivalents of $15.2 million – Level 1

 

   

Interest rate swap agreements of $16.1 million – Level 2

SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities,” was issued in February 2007. The Statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. The objective is to provide entities with the opportunity to mitigate volatility in reported earnings caused by measuring related assets and liabilities differently without having to apply complex hedge accounting provisions. The Company did not elect the fair value measurement option for any of its financial assets or liabilities.

SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51,” was issued in December 2007. SFAS No. 160 clarifies the classification of noncontrolling interests in consolidated statements of financial position and the accounting for and reporting of transactions between the reporting entity and holders of such noncontrolling interests. Under SFAS No. 160, noncontrolling interests are considered equity and should be reported as an element of consolidated equity, net income will encompass the total income of all consolidated subsidiaries, and there will be separate disclosure on the face of the income statement of the attribution of income between the controlling and noncontrolling interests, and increases and decreases in the noncontrolling ownership interest amount will be accounted for as equity transactions. SFAS No. 160 will be effective for the first fiscal year beginning on or after December 15, 2008, and earlier application is prohibited. SFAS No. 160 is required to be adopted prospectively, except for reclassifying noncontrolling interests to equity, separate from the parent’s shareholders’ equity, in the consolidated statement of financial position and recasting consolidated net income (loss) to include net income (loss) attributable to both the controlling and noncontrolling interests, both of which are required to be adopted retrospectively. The Company has not yet assessed the impact of this Statement on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations,” was issued in December 2007. SFAS No. 141(R) requires that upon initially obtaining control, an acquirer will recognize 100% of the fair values of acquired assets, including goodwill, and assumed liabilities, with only limited exceptions, even if the acquirer has not acquired 100% of its target. Additionally, contingent consideration arrangements will be presented at fair value at the acquisition date and included on that basis in the purchase price consideration, and transaction costs will be expensed as incurred. SFAS No. 141(R) also modifies the recognition for preacquisition contingencies, such as environmental or legal issues, restructuring plans and acquired research and development value in purchase accounting. SFAS No. 141(R) amends SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes,” to require the acquirer to recognize changes in the amount of its deferred tax benefits that are recognizable because of a business combination either in income from continuing operations in the period of the combination

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

or directly in contributed capital, depending on the circumstances. SFAS No. 141(R) is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company has not yet assessed the impact of this Statement on the Company’s financial statements.

SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” was issued in March 2008. SFAS No. 161 amends and expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of: (a) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments; (b) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133 and its related interpretations; and (c) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance and cash flows. SFAS No. 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about fair value amounts of and gains and losses on derivative instruments and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company has not yet assessed the impact of this Statement on the Company’s financial statements.

 

2. Acquisitions of Businesses

eGIX, Inc.

In February 2008, the Company purchased eGIX Inc. (“eGIX”), a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier provider of voice and long distance services to business customers in Indiana and Illinois, for an upfront purchase price of $17.9 million and contingent consideration up to $5.2 million. The Company funded the purchase with its Corporate credit facility. The purchase price was primarily allocated to customer relationship intangible assets for $7 million, goodwill for $6 million, and property, plant and equipment for $5 million. The Company anticipates both the goodwill and intangible assets to be fully deductible for tax purposes. The financial results have been included in the Wireline segment and were immaterial to the Company’s financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2008. The preliminary purchase price allocation for this transaction may be adjusted upon completion of the Company’s valuation of the related assets and liabilities of the business.

CenturyTel

In March 2008, the Company entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the Dayton, Ohio operations of CenturyTel for a purchase price of $1.5 million. The purchase includes access lines to small and medium-size customers and fiber network throughout the Dayton metro area. The Company expects to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2008.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

3. Earnings Per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share (“EPS”) is based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that would occur if common stock equivalents were exercised or converted to common stock but only to the extent that they are considered dilutive to the Company’s earnings. The following table is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS computations for the following periods:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,

(in millions, except per share amounts)

   2008    2007

Numerator:

     

Net income

   $ 12.9    $ 22.6

Preferred stock dividends

     2.6      2.6
             

Numerator for basic and diluted EPS

   $ 10.3    $ 20.0
             

Denominator:

     

Denominator for basic EPS - weighted average common shares outstanding

     246.7      247.1

Warrants

     4.6      6.3

Stock-based compensation arrangements

     1.5      1.6
             

Denominator for diluted EPS

     252.8      255.0
             

Basic and diluted earnings per common share

   $ 0.04    $ 0.08
             

Potentially issuable common shares excluded from denominator for diluted EPS due to anti-dilutive effect

     39.7      35.7
             

 

4. Comprehensive Income

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,

(dollars in millions)

   2008    2007

Net income

   $ 12.9    $ 22.6

Amortization of pension and postretirement costs, net of income taxes of $1.2 and $2.2, respectively

     2.1      3.7

Remeasurement of pension and postretirement liabilities, net of income taxes of $6.1

     10.6      —  
             

Comprehensive income

   $ 25.6    $ 26.3
             

 

9


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

5. Debt

The Company’s debt consists of the following:

 

(dollars in millions)

   March 31,
2008
   December 31,
2007

Current portion of long-term debt:

     

Credit facility, Tranche B Term Loan

   $ 4.0    $ 4.0

Capital lease obligations and other debt

     4.1      3.8
             

Current portion of long-term debt

     8.1      7.8
             

Long-term debt, less current portion:

     

Credit facility, revolver

     100.0      55.0

Credit facility, Tranche B Term Loan

     206.0      207.0

7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2013

     470.5      470.5

8  3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014*

     605.4      637.4

7% Senior Notes due 2015*

     256.0      250.6

7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2023

     50.0      50.0

Accounts Receivable Securitization Facility

     75.0      75.0

Various Cincinnati Bell Telephone notes

     230.0      230.0

Capital lease obligations and other debt

     25.5      25.8
             
     2,018.4      2,001.3

Net unamortized premiums

     0.6      0.6
             

Long-term debt, less current portion

     2,019.0      2,001.9
             

Total debt

   $ 2,027.1    $ 2,009.7
             

 

* The face amount of these notes has been adjusted for the fair value of interest rate swaps classified as fair value derivatives at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007.

In the first quarter of 2008, the Company purchased and extinguished $39.6 million of 8 3/8 % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 and recognized a gain on extinguishment of debt of $1.1 million, which is included in “Other income, net” on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

In March 2007, the Company and certain subsidiaries entered into an accounts receivable securitization facility. Under the receivables facility, certain subsidiaries sell their respective trade receivables on a continuous basis to Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC (“CBF”). Although CBF is a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of the Company, CBF is legally separate from the Company and each of the Company’s other subsidiaries. Upon and after the sale or contribution of the accounts receivable to CBF, such accounts receivable are legally assets of CBF, and as such are not available to creditors of other subsidiaries or the parent company.

 

10


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

6. Restructuring Charges

 

Restructuring reserve (dollars in millions):

   Balance
December 31,
2007
   Income     Expense    Utilizations     Balance
March 31,
2008

2007-2008 plan

   $ 22.9    $ (14.4 )   $ —      $ (0.2 )   $ 8.3

2001 plan

     6.2      —         0.1      (0.2 )     6.1

2007-2008 Restructuring

In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company announced a restructuring plan to reduce costs and increase operational efficiencies. As a result, the Company incurred fourth quarter 2007 restructuring charges totaling $37.5 million and first quarter 2008 restructuring charges totaling $23.9 million, composed of the following:

Special termination pension and postretirement benefits — The Company offered and, by December 31, 2007, 105 management employees accepted special termination benefits totaling $12 million. The Company determined that $8.2 million of these benefits had been earned through December 31, 2007 under SFAS No. 88, and this amount was therefore accrued as of December 31, 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company reached agreement with its union workforce on a new three-year labor agreement. As part of this agreement, the Company offered and, by March 31, 2008, 284 union employees accepted special termination benefits totaling $25 million. The Company determined that $22.1 million of these benefits had been earned through March 31, 2008 and this amount was therefore accrued as of March 31, 2008. Remaining special termination benefits for both union and management employees are subject to future service requirements as determined by the Company and will be amortized to expense over the future service period. The Company estimates these amounts to be approximately $5 million for 2008, which includes $0.7 million expensed in the first quarter of 2008 for management employees, and $2 million for 2009.

Employee separation benefits — In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company determined a need to reduce its headcount over the next five years to conform its Wireline operations to the decreased access lines being served by the Company. In the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company recorded severance liabilities of $22.9 million, based on the Company’s probable and estimable liabilities under its written severance plans, to reduce headcount to planned levels. The number of employees included in this severance liability considered, and was reduced for, management retirements to occur as a result of the special termination pension and postretirement benefits accepted as of December 31, 2007. However, the union retirements to occur as a result of the special termination pension and postretirement benefits agreed to in the first quarter 2008 were not considered in calculating the December 31, 2007 severance liability because this agreement did not occur until after December 31, 2007. As a result of 284 union employees accepting the special termination benefits in the first quarter 2008, expense for special termination benefits increased by $22.1 million in the first quarter of 2008 as noted above, but this caused an offsetting reduction to the number of employees to be terminated through severance, and reduced the Company’s severance liability by $14.4 million.

Pension and postretirement curtailment charges — Management terminations contemplated above represent 10% of plan service years for the management pension plan and 15% of plan service years for the management postretirement plan, resulting in a pension and postretirement plan curtailment charge of $6.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. Union terminations contemplated above represent approximately 11% of the plan service years for both the pension and postretirement plans, resulting in a curtailment charge of $15.5 million for the pension and postretirement plans in the first quarter of 2008. See Note 7 to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion relating to the curtailment charge.

The first quarter 2008 restructuring expense was associated with the Wireline segment for $23.2 million, Wireless for $0.4 million and Technology Solutions for $0.3 million. The restructuring reserve included in “Other current liabilities,” was $1.7 million and $4.5 million, respectively, at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, and $6.6 million and $18.4 million was included in “Other noncurrent liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. The special termination benefits and curtailment charges are included in “Accrued pension and postretirement benefits” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at March 31, 2008.

2001 Restructuring

In 2001, the Company adopted a restructuring plan which included initiatives to consolidate data centers, reduce the Company’s expense structure, exit the network construction business, eliminate other non-strategic operations, and merge the digital subscriber line and certain dial-up Internet operations into the Company’s other operations. The Company completed the plan as of December 31, 2002, except for certain lease obligations, which are expected to continue through June 2015.

 

11


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

At March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, $1.3 million of the reserve balance was included in “Other current liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The reserve included in “Other noncurrent liabilities” in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets was $4.8 million and $4.9 million at March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively.

 

7. Pensions and Postretirement Plans

The following information relates to all Company noncontributory defined benefit pension plans, postretirement health care, and life insurance benefit plans.

As a result of the acceptance of special termination benefits by certain retirement eligible union employees in the first quarter of 2008 (see Note 6), the Company determined a curtailment charge associated with its union pension and postretirement plans was required due to the significant decrease in the expected future service years. The curtailment charge for the pension and the postretirement plans in the first quarter of 2008 consisted of both an increase in the benefit obligation of $2.2 million and $12.5 million and the acceleration of unrecognized prior service cost of $0.9 million and $(0.1) million, respectively. The management pension and postretirement plans were unaffected in the first quarter of 2008.

As a result of the new union labor agreement (see Note 6) and curtailment in the first quarter of 2008, the Company remeasured its union pension and postretirement obligations using revised assumptions, including modified retiree benefit payment assumptions and a discount rate of 6.40%. As a result of the remeasurement, the Company’s pension and postretirement obligations were reduced by approximately $17 million, deferred tax assets were reduced for the related tax effect by $6 million, and equity was increased by $11 million.

Pension and postretirement benefit costs are as follows:

 

     Pension
Benefits
    Postretirement
and Other
Benefits
 
     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(dollars in millions)

   2008     2007     2008     2007  

Service cost

   $ 2.3     $ 2.1     $ 0.6     $ 0.9  

Interest cost on projected benefit obligation

     6.9       7.0       4.8       5.2  

Expected return on plan assets

     (8.8 )     (8.2 )     (0.5 )     (1.0 )

Amortization of:

        

Transition obligation

     —         —         0.9       1.1  

Prior service cost

     0.1       0.8       0.5       1.9  

Actuarial loss

     0.7       1.0       1.0       1.1  

Special termination benefit

     22.6       —         0.2       —    

Curtailment charge

     3.1       —         12.4       —    
                                
   $ 26.9     $ 2.7     $ 19.9     $ 9.2  
                                

 

12


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

8. Business Segment Information

Beginning in the second quarter of 2007, the Company realigned its reportable business segments to be consistent with changes to its management structure and reporting. The Company now operates in three segments: Wireline, Wireless and Technology Solutions. The Wireline segment combines the operations of Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC and Cincinnati Bell Extended Territories LLC, which were formerly included in the Local segment, and the operations of Cincinnati Bell Any Distance Inc., Cincinnati Bell Complete Protection Inc., the Company’s payphone business and Cincinnati Bell Entertainment Inc., which were formerly included in the Other segment. The Broadband segment, which does not have any substantive on-going operations, has been eliminated. The remaining liabilities associated with the former broadband operations are now included in Corporate activities. The Wireless and Technology Solutions segments were not impacted by the segment realignment. Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current segment reporting.

Certain corporate administrative expenses have been allocated to segments based upon the nature of the expense and the relative size of the segment.

The Company’s business segment information is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,
 

(dollars in millions)

   2008     2007  

Revenue

    

Wireline

   $ 202.6     $ 203.7  

Wireless

     78.5       68.5  

Technology Solutions

     74.7       48.5  

Intersegment

     (7.3 )     (5.4 )
                

Total revenue

   $ 348.5     $ 315.3  
                

Intersegment revenue

    

Wireline

   $ 5.9     $ 4.6  

Wireless

     0.8       0.6  

Technology Solutions

     0.6       0.2  
                

Total intersegment revenue

   $ 7.3     $ 5.4  
                

Operating income

    

Wireline

   $ 46.7     $ 72.1  

Wireless

     12.3       7.5  

Technology Solutions

     3.2       2.5  

Corporate

     (5.1 )     (4.2 )
                

Total operating income

   $ 57.1     $ 77.9  
                
     March 31,
2008
    December 31,
2007
 

Assets

    

Wireline

   $ 697.4     $ 684.5  

Wireless

     369.9       369.3  

Technology Solutions

     258.8       243.2  

Corporate and eliminations

     708.1       722.6  
                

Total assets

   $ 2,034.2     $ 2,019.6  
                

 

13


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

9. Supplemental Guarantor Information

Cincinnati Bell Telephone Notes

Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC (“CBT”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cincinnati Bell Inc. (the “Parent Company” or “CBI”), has $230 million in notes outstanding that are guaranteed by the Parent Company and no other subsidiaries of the Parent Company. The guarantee is full and unconditional. The Parent Company’s subsidiaries generate substantially all of its income and cash flow and generally distribute or advance the funds necessary to meet the Parent Company’s debt service obligations. Separately, in connection with a fifteen year contract for 25,000 square feet of data center space between Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions Inc. (“CBTS”), a non-guarantor subsidiary of CBI, and a data center customer, CBI has guaranteed the performance obligations of CBTS in relation to providing the data center space and managed services under that long-term contract.

The following information sets forth the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets of the Company as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 of (1) the Parent Company, as the guarantor (2) Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC, as the issuer, and (3) the non-guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis:

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008  

(dollars in millions)

   Parent
(Guarantor)
    CBT    Other
(Non -guarantors)
    Eliminations     Total  

Revenue

   $ —       $ 181.3    $ 179.2     $ (12.0 )   $ 348.5  

Operating costs and expenses

     4.9       141.1      157.4       (12.0 )     291.4  
                                       

Operating income (loss)

     (4.9 )     40.2      21.8       —         57.1  

Interest expense

     31.9       3.6      6.0       (5.2 )     36.3  

Other expense (income), net

     (6.8 )     2.1      (1.7 )     5.2       (1.2 )
                                       

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (30.0 )     34.5      17.5       —         22.0  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (9.0 )     12.8      5.3       —         9.1  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax

     33.9       —        —         (33.9 )     —    
                                       

Net income

     12.9       21.7      12.2       (33.9 )     12.9  

Preferred stock dividends

     2.6       —        —         —         2.6  
                                       

Net income applicable to common shareowners

   $ 10.3     $ 21.7    $ 12.2     $ (33.9 )   $ 10.3  
                                       
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007  
     Parent
(Guarantor)
    CBT    Other
(Non-guarantors)
    Eliminations     Total  

Revenue

   $ —       $ 187.3    $ 137.4     $ (9.4 )   $ 315.3  

Operating costs and expenses

     4.6       121.3      120.9       (9.4 )     237.4  
                                       

Operating income (loss)

     (4.6 )     66.0      16.5       —         77.9  

Interest expense

     36.5       4.1      7.0       (7.5 )     40.1  

Other expense (income), net

     (10.0 )     —        0.5       7.5       (2.0 )
                                       

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (31.1 )     61.9      9.0       —         39.8  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (8.3 )     22.0      3.5       —         17.2  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax

     45.4       —        —         (45.4 )     —    
                                       

Net income

     22.6       39.9      5.5       (45.4 )     22.6  

Preferred stock dividends

     2.6       —        —         —         2.6  
                                       

Net income applicable to common shareowners

   $ 20.0     $ 39.9    $ 5.5     $ (45.4 )   $ 20.0  
                                       

 

14


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

     As of March 31, 2008  

(dollars in millions)

   Parent
(Guarantor)
    CBT    Other
(Non-guarantors)
   Eliminations     Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15.8     $ 2.5    $ 1.0    $ —       $ 19.3  

Receivables, net

     0.8       —        170.7      —         171.5  

Other current assets

     23.1       30.2      93.1      (26.8 )     119.6  
                                      

Total current assets

     39.7       32.7      264.8      (26.8 )     310.4  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     0.3       582.8      369.6      —         952.7  

Goodwill and intangibles, net

     —         3.3      193.8      —         197.1  

Investments in and advances to subsidiaries

     1,053.8       —        —        (1,053.8 )     —    

Other noncurrent assets

     318.2       17.9      257.0      (19.1 )     574.0  
                                      

Total assets

   $ 1,412.0     $ 636.7    $ 1,085.2    $ (1,099.7 )   $ 2,034.2  
                                      

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 4.0     $ 0.6    $ 3.5    $ —       $ 8.1  

Accounts payable

     —         34.7      56.4      —         91.1  

Other current liabilities

     60.2       66.2      53.8      (1.1 )     179.1  
                                      

Total current liabilities

     64.2       101.5      113.7      (1.1 )     278.3  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     1,688.9       235.5      94.6      —         2,019.0  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     319.2       40.4      82.4      (44.8 )     397.2  

Intercompany payables

     —         28.6      464.1      (492.7 )     —    
                                      

Total liabilities

     2,072.3       406.0      754.8      (538.6 )     2,694.5  

Shareowners’ equity (deficit)

     (660.3 )     230.7      330.4      (561.1 )     (660.3 )
                                      

Total liabilities and shareowners’ equity (deficit)

   $ 1,412.0     $ 636.7    $ 1,085.2    $ (1,099.7 )   $ 2,034.2  
                                      
     As of December 31, 2007  
     Parent
(Guarantor)
    CBT    Other
(Non-guarantors)
   Eliminations     Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 23.6     $ 1.9    $ 0.6    $ —       $ 26.1  

Receivables, net

     0.1       —        176.4      —         176.5  

Other current assets

     14.9       28.5      90.0      (18.3 )     115.1  
                                      

Total current assets

     38.6       30.4      267.0      (18.3 )     317.7  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     0.3       590.1      343.3      —         933.7  

Goodwill and intangibles, net

     —         3.4      180.2      —         183.6  

Investments in and advances to subsidiaries

     1,036.4       —        —        (1,036.4 )     —    

Other noncurrent assets

     319.8       16.0      279.9      (31.1 )     584.6  
                                      

Total assets

   $ 1,395.1     $ 639.9    $ 1,070.4    $ (1,085.8 )   $ 2,019.6  
                                      

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 4.0     $ 0.6    $ 3.2    $ —       $ 7.8  

Accounts payable

     —         40.7      64.8      —         105.5  

Other current liabilities

     90.8       65.1      48.4      —         204.3  
                                      

Total current liabilities

     94.8       106.4      116.4      —         317.6  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     1,671.4       235.6      94.9      —         2,001.9  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     296.5       61.2      59.4      (49.4 )     367.7  

Intercompany payables

     —         14.2      472.0      (486.2 )     —    
                                      

Total liabilities

     2,062.7       417.4      742.7      (535.6 )     2,687.2  

Shareowners’ equity (deficit)

     (667.6 )     222.5      327.7      (550.2 )     (667.6 )
                                      

Total liabilities and shareowners’ equity (deficit)

   $ 1,395.1     $ 639.9    $ 1,070.4    $ (1,085.8 )   $ 2,019.6  
                                      

 

15


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008  

(dollars in millions)

   Parent
(Guarantor)
    CBT     Other
(Non-guarantors)
    Eliminations    Total  

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ (10.3 )   $ 21.1     $ 77.2     $ —      $ 88.0  
                                       

Capital expenditures

     (0.2 )     (20.3 )     (40.2 )     —        (60.7 )

Acquisitions of businesses

     —         (0.8 )     (17.9 )     —        (18.7 )

Other investing activities

     (0.3 )     0.1       (0.5 )     —        (0.7 )
                                       

Cash flows used in investing activities

     (0.5 )     (21.0 )     (58.6 )     —        (80.1 )
                                       

Funding between Parent and subsidiaries, net

     16.7       0.6       (17.3 )     —        —    

Increase in corporate credit facility, net

     45.0       —         —         —        45.0  

Repayment of debt

     (39.0 )     (0.1 )     (0.9 )     —        (40.0 )

Common stock repurchase

     (16.7 )     —         —         —        (16.7 )

Other financing activities

     (3.0 )     —         —         —        (3.0 )
                                       

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

     3.0       0.5       (18.2 )     —        (14.7 )
                                       

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (7.8 )     0.6       0.4       —        (6.8 )

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     23.6       1.9       0.6       —        26.1  
                                       

Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15.8     $ 2.5     $ 1.0     $ —      $ 19.3  
                                       
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007  
     Parent
(Guarantor)
    CBT     Other
(Non-guarantors)
    Eliminations    Total  

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ (46.9 )   $ 65.0     $ 50.2     $ —      $ 68.3  
                                       

Capital expenditures

     —         (23.1 )     (19.2 )     —        (42.3 )

Acquisition of business

     —         (4.6 )     —         —        (4.6 )

Other investing activities

     —         —         (0.5 )     —        (0.5 )
                                       

Cash flows used in investing activities

     —         (27.7 )     (19.7 )     —        (47.4 )
                                       

Funding between Parent and subsidiaries, net

     67.9       (36.9 )     (31.0 )     —        —    

Repayment of debt

     (51.0 )     (0.3 )     —         —        (51.3 )

Other financing activities

     (3.1 )     (0.1 )     0.1       —        (3.1 )
                                       

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

     13.8       (37.3 )     (30.9 )     —        (54.4 )
                                       

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (33.1 )     —         (0.4 )     —        (33.5 )

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     75.9       1.5       2.0       —        79.4  
                                       

Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 42.8     $ 1.5     $ 1.6     $ —      $ 45.9  
                                       

 

16


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

7 1/ 4% Senior Notes Due 2013, 7% Senior Notes Due 2015, and 8 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2014

The Company’s 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2013, 7% Senior Notes due 2015, and 8 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 are guaranteed by the following subsidiaries: Cincinnati Bell Entertainment Inc. (f/k/a ZoomTown.com Inc.), Cincinnati Bell Complete Protection Inc., Cincinnati Bell Any Distance Inc., Cincinnati Bell Telecommunication Services LLC, Cincinnati Bell Wireless Company, Cincinnati Bell Wireless LLC, GramTel USA, Inc. (f/k/a BCSIVA Inc.), BRCOM Inc., CBTS, and IXC Internet Services Inc. The Parent Company owns directly or indirectly 100% of each guarantor and each guarantee is full and unconditional and joint and several. The Parent Company’s subsidiaries generate substantially all of its income and cash flow and generally distribute or advance the funds necessary to meet the Parent Company’s debt service obligations. Separately, in connection with a fifteen year contract for 25,000 square feet of data center space between CBTS, a guarantor subsidiary of these CBI notes, and a data center customer, CBI has guaranteed the performance obligations of CBTS in relation to providing the data center space and managed services under that long-term contract.

The following information sets forth the Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations and Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 and the Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets of the Company as of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 of (1) the Parent Company, as the issuer (2) the guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis and (3) the non-guarantor subsidiaries on a combined basis.

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008  

(dollars in millions)

   Parent
(Issuer)
    Guarantors    Non-guarantors    Eliminations     Total  

Revenue

   $ —       $ 191.0    $ 169.5    $ (12.0 )   $ 348.5  

Operating costs and expenses

     4.9       178.3      120.2      (12.0 )     291.4  
                                      

Operating income (loss)

     (4.9 )     12.7      49.3      —         57.1  

Interest expense

     31.9       4.6      5.0      (5.2 )     36.3  

Other expense (income), net

     (6.8 )     0.4      —        5.2       (1.2 )
                                      

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (30.0 )     7.7      44.3      —         22.0  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (9.0 )     1.7      16.4      —         9.1  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax

     33.9       —        —        (33.9 )     —    
                                      

Net income

     12.9       6.0      27.9      (33.9 )     12.9  

Preferred stock dividends

     2.6       —        —        —         2.6  
                                      

Net income applicable to common shareowners

   $ 10.3     $ 6.0    $ 27.9    $ (33.9 )   $ 10.3  
                                      
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007  
     Parent
(Issuer)
    Guarantors    Non-guarantors    Eliminations     Total  

Revenue

   $ —       $ 152.5    $ 172.2    $ (9.4 )   $ 315.3  

Operating costs and expenses

     4.6       135.6      106.6      (9.4 )     237.4  
                                      

Operating income (loss)

     (4.6 )     16.9      65.6      —         77.9  

Interest expense

     36.5       7.0      4.1      (7.5 )     40.1  

Other expense (income), net

     (10.0 )     —        0.5      7.5       (2.0 )
                                      

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (31.1 )     9.9      61.0      —         39.8  

Income tax expense (benefit)

     (8.3 )     2.7      22.8      —         17.2  

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax

     45.4       —        —        (45.4 )     —    
                                      

Net income

     22.6       7.2      38.2      (45.4 )     22.6  

Preferred stock dividends

     2.6       —        —        —         2.6  
                                      

Net income applicable to common shareowners

   $ 20.0     $ 7.2    $ 38.2    $ (45.4 )   $ 20.0  
                                      

 

17


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

     As of March 31, 2008  

(dollars in millions)

   Parent
(Issuer)
    Guarantors    Non-guarantors    Eliminations     Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15.8     $ 1.2    $ 2.3    $ —       $ 19.3  

Receivables, net

     0.8       60.2      110.5      —         171.5  

Other current assets

     23.1       90.6      32.7      (26.8 )     119.6  
                                      

Total current assets

     39.7       152.0      145.5      (26.8 )     310.4  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     0.3       371.3      581.1      —         952.7  

Goodwill and intangibles, net

     —         193.8      3.3      —         197.1  

Investments in and advances to subsidiaries

     1,053.8       16.8      —        (1,070.6 )     —    

Other noncurrent assets

     318.2       258.1      16.8      (19.1 )     574.0  
                                      

Total assets

   $ 1,412.0     $ 992.0    $ 746.7    $ (1,116.5 )   $ 2,034.2  
                                      

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 4.0     $ 3.5    $ 0.6    $ —       $ 8.1  

Accounts payable

     —         86.7      4.4      —         91.1  

Other current liabilities

     60.2       56.2      63.8      (1.1 )     179.1  
                                      

Total current liabilities

     64.2       146.4      68.8      (1.1 )     278.3  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     1,688.9       19.6      310.5      —         2,019.0  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     319.2       89.4      33.4      (44.8 )     397.2  

Intercompany payables

     —         429.7      79.8      (509.5 )     —    
                                      

Total liabilities

     2,072.3       685.1      492.5      (555.4 )     2,694.5  

Shareowners’ equity (deficit)

     (660.3 )     306.9      254.2      (561.1 )     (660.3 )
                                      

Total liabilities and shareowners’ equity (deficit)

   $ 1,412.0     $ 992.0    $ 746.7    $ (1,116.5 )   $ 2,034.2  
                                      
     As of December 31, 2007  
     Parent
(Issuer)
    Guarantors    Non-guarantors    Eliminations     Total  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 23.6     $ 0.8    $ 1.7    $ —       $ 26.1  

Receivables, net

     0.1       61.3      115.1      —         176.5  

Other current assets

     14.9       87.1      31.4      (18.3 )     115.1  
                                      

Total current assets

     38.6       149.2      148.2      (18.3 )     317.7  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     0.3       345.2      588.2      —         933.7  

Goodwill and intangibles, net

     —         180.2      3.4      —         183.6  

Investments in and advances to subsidiaries

     1,036.4       26.8      —        (1,063.2 )     —    

Other noncurrent assets

     319.8       278.8      17.1      (31.1 )     584.6  
                                      

Total assets

   $ 1,395.1     $ 980.2    $ 756.9    $ (1,112.6 )   $ 2,019.6  
                                      

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 4.0     $ 3.2    $ 0.6    $ —       $ 7.8  

Accounts payable

     —         98.7      6.8      —         105.5  

Other current liabilities

     90.8       51.2      62.3      —         204.3  
                                      

Total current liabilities

     94.8       153.1      69.7      —         317.6  

Long-term debt, less current portion

     1,671.4       19.9      310.6      —         2,001.9  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     296.5       66.6      54.0      (49.4 )     367.7  

Intercompany payables

     —         430.2      82.8      (513.0 )     —    
                                      

Total liabilities

     2,062.7       669.8      517.1      (562.4 )     2,687.2  

Shareowners’ equity (deficit)

     (667.6 )     310.4      239.8      (550.2 )     (667.6 )
                                      

Total liabilities and shareowners’ equity (deficit)

   $ 1,395.1     $ 980.2    $ 756.9    $ (1,112.6 )   $ 2,019.6  
                                      

 

18


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

 

     Three Months Ended March 31, 2008  

(dollars in millions)

   Parent
(Issuer)
    Guarantors     Non-guarantors     Eliminations    Total  

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ (10.3 )   $ 60.1     $ 38.2     $ —      $ 88.0  
                                       

Capital expenditures

     (0.2 )     (40.5 )     (20.0 )     —        (60.7 )

Acquisitions of businesses

     —         (17.9 )     (0.8 )     —        (18.7 )

Other investing activities

     (0.3 )     (0.5 )     0.1       —        (0.7 )
                                       

Cash flows used in investing activities

     (0.5 )     (58.9 )     (20.7 )     —        (80.1 )
                                       

Funding between Parent and subsidiaries, net

     16.7       0.1       (16.8 )     —        —    

Increase in corporate credit facility, net

     45.0       —         —         —        45.0  

Repayment of debt

     (39.0 )     (0.9 )     (0.1 )     —        (40.0 )

Common stock repurchase

     (16.7 )     —         —         —        (16.7 )

Other financing activities

     (3.0 )     —         —         —        (3.0 )
                                       

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

     3.0       (0.8 )     (16.9 )     —        (14.7 )
                                       

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     (7.8 )     0.4       0.6       —        (6.8 )

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     23.6       0.8       1.7       —        26.1  
                                       

Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 15.8     $ 1.2     $ 2.3     $ —      $ 19.3  
                                       
     Three Months Ended March 31, 2007  
     Parent
(Issuer)
    Guarantors     Non-guarantors     Eliminations    Total  

Cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ (46.9 )   $ 59.8     $ 55.4     $ —      $ 68.3  
                                       

Capital expenditures

     —         (19.4 )     (22.9 )     —        (42.3 )

Acquisition of business

     —         —         (4.6 )     —        (4.6 )

Other investing activities

     —         (0.5 )     —         —        (0.5 )
                                       

Cash flows used in investing activities

     —         (19.9 )     (27.5 )     —        (47.4 )
                                       

Funding between Parent and subsidiaries, net

     67.9       (40.4 )     (27.5 )     —        —    

Repayment of debt

     (51.0 )     —         (0.3 )     —        (51.3 )

Other financing activities

     (3.1 )     0.1       (0.1 )     —        (3.1 )
                                       

Cash flows provided by (used in) financing activities

     13.8       (40.3 )     (27.9 )     —        (54.4 )
                                       

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (33.1 )     (0.4 )     —         —        (33.5 )

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

     75.9       2.0       1.5       —        79.4  
                                       

Ending cash and cash equivalents

   $ 42.8     $ 1.6     $ 1.5     $ —      $ 45.9  
                                       

 

19


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains certain forward-looking statements that involve potential risks and uncertainties. The Company’s future results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed herein and those discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date thereof.

The Company was initially incorporated under the laws of Ohio in 1983 and remains incorporated under the laws of Ohio. It has its principal executive offices at 221 East Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 (telephone number (513) 397-9900 and website address http://www.cincinnatibell.com). The Company makes available its reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K (as well as all amendments to these reports) on its website, free of charge, at the Investor Relations section as soon as practicable after they have been electronically filed.

The Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Exchange Act. These reports and other information filed by the Company may be read and copied at the Public Reference Room of the SEC, 100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Information may be obtained about the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy statements, and other information about issuers, like the Company, which file electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is http://www.sec.gov.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. In the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company identified critical accounting policies that affect its more significant estimates and assumptions used in preparing its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. These critical accounting policies include revenue recognition, accounting for allowances for uncollectible accounts receivable, reviewing the carrying values of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets, reviewing the carrying values of property, plant and equipment, accounting for business combinations, accounting for taxes, accounting for pension and postretirement expenses, and accounting for termination benefits.

Results of Operations

The financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 referred to in this discussion should be read in conjunction with the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Results for interim periods may not be indicative of the results for subsequent periods or the full year.

Beginning in the second quarter of 2007, the Company realigned its reportable business segments to be consistent with changes to its management structure and reporting. The Company now has three segments: Wireline, Wireless and Technology Solutions.

CONSOLIDATED OVERVIEW

Consolidated revenue totaled $348.5 million for the first quarter of 2008, an increase of $33.2 million compared to the first quarter of 2007. The increase was primarily due to the following:

 

   

$26.2 million higher revenues in the Technology Solutions segment due to higher telephony and IT equipment revenue and data center and managed services revenue; and

 

   

$10.0 million higher revenues in the Wireless segment primarily due to increased postpaid service revenue from additional subscribers and increased average revenue per user (“ARPU”).

Operating income for the first quarter of 2008 was $57.1 million, a decrease of $20.8 million compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease was primarily due to the following:

 

   

$25.4 million decrease in Wireline segment operating income primarily due to a $22.0 million increase for restructuring costs and an asset impairment charge; and

 

   

$4.8 million increase in Wireless segment operating income due primarily to additional subscribers and increased ARPU.

 

20


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Interest expense was $36.3 million for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to $40.1 million for the first quarter of 2007. The decrease compared to last year is primarily attributable to lower interest rates and debt balances.

Other income, net of $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 consisted primarily of a gain on the extinguishment of debt related to the purchase and extinguishment of $39.6 million of the 8 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014. Other income, net of $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 consisted primarily of a one-time dividend received from a cost investment.

Income tax expense of $9.1 million for the first quarter of 2008 was lower than the $17.2 million in the first quarter of 2007 primarily due to the tax effect on the 2008 restructuring charges.

The Company has certain non-deductible expenses, including interest on securities originally issued to acquire its broadband business (the “Broadband Securities”) or securities that the Company has subsequently issued to refinance the Broadband Securities. In periods without tax law changes, the Company expects its effective tax rate to exceed statutory rates primarily due to the non-deductible expenses associated with the Broadband Securities. The Company estimates that its effective income tax rate will be approximately 42% for the full year 2008. However, the Company expects to use federal and state net operating loss carryforwards to substantially defray payment of federal and state tax liabilities in 2008. The Company expects income tax payments for 2008 to be approximately $5 million.

Discussion of Operating Segment Results

WIRELINE

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(dollars in millions)

   2008     2007     $ Change     % Change  

Revenue:

        

Voice - local service

   $ 101.0     $ 112.7     $ (11.7 )   (10 )%

Data

     67.6       62.5       5.1     8 %

Long distance and VoIP

     24.3       18.7       5.6     30 %

Other

     9.7       9.8       (0.1 )   (1 )%
                          

Total revenue

     202.6       203.7       (1.1 )   (1 )%
                          

Operating costs and expenses:

        

Cost of services and products

     67.5       65.5       2.0     3 %

Selling, general and administrative

     38.9       37.9       1.0     3 %

Depreciation

     24.9       25.8       (0.9 )   (3 )%

Amortization

     0.2       —         0.2     n/m  

Restructuring charges

     23.2       2.4       20.8     n/m  

Asset impairment

     1.2       —         1.2     n/m  
                          

Total operating costs and expenses

     155.9       131.6       24.3     18 %
                          

Operating income

   $ 46.7     $ 72.1     $ (25.4 )   (35 )%
                          

Operating margin

     23.1 %     35.4 %     (12.3 ) pts

Capital expenditures

   $ 20.9     $ 23.4     $ (2.5 )   (11 )%

The Wireline segment consists of the operations of Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company LLC, which operates as an Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (“ILEC”) within the Company’s traditional territory, Cincinnati Bell Extended Territories LLC, which operates as a Competitive Local Exchange Carrier (“CLEC”) in Dayton, Ohio and communities adjacent to the ILEC’s northern borders, Cincinnati Bell Any Distance Inc., which provides long distance, audio conferencing and voice over internet protocol (“VoIP”) services, Cincinnati Bell Complete Protection Inc., which provides security monitoring services and related surveillance hardware, the Company’s payphone business and its entertainment operations, which currently offers cable television in Lebanon, Ohio and DirecTV on a commission basis to the remainder of its operating territory.

In February 2008, Cincinnati Bell Any Distance Inc. completed the acquisition of eGIX, a CLEC provider of advanced data and voice services to businesses in Indiana and Illinois for $17.9 million and contingent consideration of up to $5.2 million.

 

21


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

In March 2008, the Company entered into a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the Dayton, Ohio operations of CenturyTel for a purchase price of $1.5 million. The purchase includes access lines to small and medium-size customers and fiber network throughout the Dayton metro area, and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2008.

Revenue

Voice local service revenue includes local service, value added services, switched access and information services. Voice revenue decreased in the three months ended March 31, 2008 versus the same period in 2007 primarily as a result of a 6% decrease in access lines.

Access lines within the segment’s ILEC territory decreased by 67,000, or 8%, from 823,000 at March 31, 2007 to 756,000 at March 31, 2008. The Company believes the access line loss resulted from several factors including customers electing to use wireless communication in lieu of the traditional local service, Company-initiated disconnections of customers with credit problems, and customers electing to use service from other providers. The Company has partially offset its access line loss in its ILEC territory by continuing to target voice services to residential and business customers in its CLEC territory. The Company had approximately 64,000 CLEC access lines at March 31, 2008, which is a 21% increase from March 31, 2007.

Data revenue consists of data transport, high-speed Internet access (including DSL), dial-up Internet access, digital trunking, and Local Area Network (“LAN”) interconnection services. Data revenue increased $5.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the same period a year ago. The increase primarily resulted from higher DSL and data transport revenue. Data transport revenues increased by $3.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to same period a year ago primarily due to increased usage by CBW and third party users. An increase in DSL subscribers contributed an additional $1.9 million of revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the prior year period.

Long distance and VoIP revenue increased $5.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase in the period was primarily due to an increase in minutes of use for long distance, audio conferencing and VoIP, new broadband services and the acquisition of eGIX. The Company had approximately 541,000 subscribed long distance access lines as of March 31, 2008 in the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio operating areas compared to 554,000 as of March 31, 2007. The decrease in subscribers was due to a 7% decline in residential lines partially offset by a 10% increase in business subscribers.

The Company believes its rate of access line loss would have been greater and its increase in DSL subscribers would have been less without the success of its “Super Bundle,” Custom ConnectionsSM. The Company’s Super Bundle offers local, long distance, wireless, internet access and the Company’s value added services package, Home Phone Pak, at a price lower than the amount the customer would pay for the services individually. In its traditional operating area, Super Bundle subscribers increased 8,000 from 175,000 as of March 31, 2007 to 183,000 as of March 31, 2008 bringing penetration of in-territory primary residential access lines to 40%. This package has increased the demand for and increased subscriber retention of the Company’s ZoomTown DSL offering. The number of DSL subscribers increased by 6,000 subscribers during the three months ended March 31, 2008 to bring total subscribers to 228,000.

Costs and Expenses

Cost of services and products increased by $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 as compared to 2007 primarily due to a $1.8 million increase in network costs, a $1.8 million increase in costs to support the long distance revenue growth, and increased costs due to the acquisition of eGIX partially offset by a $2.5 million decrease in payroll benefits, primarily due to lower pension and postretirement expenses.

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008 versus the prior year comparable period due primarily to the purchase of eGIX in February 2008 and increased costs to support long distance growth partially offset by lower consulting expenses.

Restructuring expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2008 resulted from an early retirement option offered by the Company and accepted by certain eligible union employees during the first quarter of 2008. See Note 6 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information. Restructuring expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2007 were primarily due to severance costs associated with the outsourcing of certain accounting functions and the reduction in workforce of various other administrative functions.

 

22


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

WIRELESS

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(dollars in millions, except for operating metrics)

   2008     2007     $ Change     % Change  

Revenue:

        

Service

   $ 72.0     $ 62.2     $ 9.8     16 %

Equipment

     6.5       6.3       0.2     3 %
                          

Total revenue

     78.5       68.5       10.0     15 %
                          

Operating costs and expenses:

        

Cost of services and products

     40.0       34.7       5.3     15 %

Selling, general and administrative

     16.8       17.1       (0.3 )   (2 )%

Depreciation

     8.4       8.4       —       0 %

Amortization

     0.6       0.8       (0.2 )   (25 )%

Restructuring charges

     0.4       —         0.4     n/m  
                          

Total operating costs and expenses

     66.2       61.0       5.2     9 %
                          

Operating income

   $ 12.3     $ 7.5     $ 4.8     64 %
                          

Operating margin

     15.7 %     10.9 %     4.8  pts

Operating metrics

        

Postpaid ARPU*

   $ 47.47     $ 44.75     $ 2.72     6 %

Prepaid ARPU*

   $ 26.17     $ 22.42     $ 3.75     17 %

Capital expenditures

   $ 17.4     $ 6.2     $ 11.2     n/m  

 

* The Company has presented certain information regarding monthly average revenue per user (“ARPU”) because the Company believes ARPU provides a useful measure of the operational performance of its Wireless segment. ARPU is calculated by dividing service revenue by the average subscriber base for the period.

Revenue

Service revenue increased by $9.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to last year primarily due to the following:

 

   

Postpaid service revenue increased $7.5 million primarily due to an increase in both subscribers and ARPU, which was primarily driven by a 59% increase in data revenue. Postpaid subscribers increased 8% from 376,000 subscribers at March 31, 2007 to 405,000 at March 31, 2008. Net postpaid subscribers of 4,000 were added during the first quarter of 2008 compared to net additions of 10,000 subscribers in the first quarter of 2007. The Company continues to add subscribers due to its attractive rate plans and continuing network quality improvements. The average monthly churn increased to 1.56% for 2008 from 1.41% in the first quarter of 2007.

 

   

Prepaid service revenue increased $2.3 million compared to last year primarily due to the increase in ARPU of $3.75. The increase in ARPU was primarily driven by a 46% increase in data revenue. The number of prepaid subscribers at March 31, 2008 remained flat at 175,000 as compared to March 31, 2007.

Equipment revenue was relatively flat during the first quarter of 2008 compared to the first quarter of 2007.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Costs and Expenses

Cost of services and products consists largely of network operation costs, interconnection expenses with other telecommunications providers, roaming expense (which are incurred for subscribers to use their handsets in the territories of other wireless service providers), and cost of handsets and accessories sold. These expenses increased $5.3 million during the first quarter of 2008 versus the prior year period. The first quarter increase was primarily attributable to a $4.4 million increase in network costs due to a higher number of subscribers and increased usage per subscriber.

Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $0.3 million for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. The decrease in the first quarter was primarily due to lower advertising expense of $1.0 million partially offset by an increase in consulting fees of $0.4 million and higher bad debt expense of $0.2 million.

TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,  

(dollars in millions)

   2008     2007     $ Change    % Change  

Revenue:

         

Telecom and IT equipment distribution

   $ 49.7     $ 32.4     $ 17.3    53 %

Data center and managed services

     21.7       14.4       7.3    51 %

Professional services

     3.3       1.7       1.6    94 %
                         

Total revenue

     74.7       48.5       26.2    54 %
                         

Operating costs and expenses:

         

Cost of services and products

     57.9       37.9       20.0    53 %

Selling, general and administrative

     10.1       6.8       3.3    49 %

Depreciation

     2.8       1.2       1.6    n/m  

Amortization

     0.4       0.1       0.3    n/m  

Restructuring

     0.3       —         0.3    n/m  
                         

Total operating costs and expenses

     71.5       46.0       25.5    55 %
                         

Operating income

   $ 3.2     $ 2.5     $ 0.7    28 %
                         

Operating margin

     4.3 %     5.2 %      (0.9 ) pts

Capital expenditures

   $ 22.2     $ 12.7     $ 9.5    75 %

The Technology Solutions segment consists of the Company’s Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions Inc. (“CBTS”) and GramTel USA, Inc. (“GramTel”), which was purchased on December 31, 2007.

Revenue

Revenue from telecom and IT equipment distribution represents the sale, installation and maintenance of major, branded IT and telephony equipment. Revenue increased by $17.3 million in the first quarter of 2008 versus 2007 mainly due to an increase in telephony and IT equipment sales of $18.0 million offset by lower installation and maintenance services of $0.7 million.

Data center and managed services revenue consists of recurring collocation payments from customers residing in the Company’s data centers, managed VoIP Solutions and IT services that include network management, electronic data storage, disaster recovery, and data security management. Revenue increased $7.3 million for the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period a year ago primarily due to increased product penetration within managed services and increased billable data center space. Data center billed utilization was 85% on approximately 182,000 square feet of data center capacity at March 31, 2008, which includes 13,000 square feet of data center capacity obtained through the acquisition of GramTel, compared to billed utilization of 95% on approximately 91,000 square feet of data center capacity at March 31, 2007. The Company intends to continue to pursue additional customers and growth in its data center business, for which the Company is prepared to commit resources, including capital expenditures and working capital, to support this growth.

Professional services revenue consists of long-term and short-term IT outsourcing and consulting engagements. Revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2008 increased by $1.6 million compared to the same period in 2007. Early in 2007, the Company expanded its team of recruiting and hiring personnel in order to focus on selling these outsourcing and consulting engagements.

 

24


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Costs and Expenses

Cost of services and products increased by $20.0 million in the first quarter of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. The increase in the first quarter primarily resulted from a $15.5 million increase in cost of goods sold related to the increase in telephony and IT equipment sales, a $3.8 million increase for higher payroll and contracted services due to growth in both the data center and managed services and professional services revenue, and increased data center facilities costs.

The increase of $3.3 million in selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter period of 2008 was primarily due to an increase in labor and employee related costs of $2.3 million to support the growing operations and higher operating taxes.

The increase in depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2007 was primarily due to capital expenditures associated with expanding data center capacity.

The increase in amortization expense resulted from the allocation of a portion of the purchase price to the customer relationship intangible asset associated with the GramTel acquisition in December 2007.

Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources

As of March 31, 2008, the Company held $19.3 million in cash and cash equivalents. The Company’s primary sources of cash for the remainder of 2008 will be cash generated by operations and borrowings from the Corporate credit facility under which the Company had $122.9 million of availability at March 31, 2008. Cash flows from operations totaled $308.8 million in 2007. These 2007 cash flows from operations included payments totaling $56 million for operating taxes and early pension contributions that the Company does not expect will be required in 2008. Additionally, the Company expects that its payments for interest costs will be reduced by approximately $10 million as compared to 2007 due to lower interest rates and debt balances.

In 2008, the Company expects to spend approximately 16% of 2008 revenue on capital expenditures (revenue for 2008 is expected to be $1.4 billion). Other uses of cash for the remainder of 2008 will include repayments of debt and related interest, dividends on the 6 3/4% Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, and working capital. Additionally, in February 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of up to $150 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock over the period 2008 through 2009, of which $16.7 million was purchased in the first quarter of 2008.

The Company believes the cash generated by its operations and borrowings from its Corporate credit facility are sufficient to fund its primary uses of cash.

The Corporate credit facility financial covenants require that the Company maintain certain leverage ratios, interest coverage, and fixed charge ratios. The facility also contains certain covenants which, among other things, limit the Company’s ability to incur additional debt or liens, pay dividends, repurchase Company common stock, sell, transfer, lease, or dispose of assets, and make investments or merge with another company. If the Company were to violate any of its covenants and was unable to obtain a waiver, it would be considered a default. If the Company were in default under its credit facilities, no additional borrowings under the credit facilities would be available until the default was waived or cured. The Company is in compliance with its Corporate credit facility covenants.

The Company’s public debt, which include the 7 1/4% Senior Notes due 2013 (“7 1/4% Notes due 2013”), 8 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2014 (“8 3/8% Notes”), and the 7% Notes due 2015 (“7% Notes”), contain covenants that, among other things, limit the Company’s ability to incur additional debt or liens, pay dividends or make other restricted payments, sell, transfer, lease, or dispose of assets and make investments or merge with another company. Restricted payments include common stock dividends, repurchase of common stock, and certain other public debt repayments. The Company currently has sufficient ability under its public debt indentures to make its intended restricted payments in 2008. The Company is in compliance with its public debt indentures.

Cash Flows

For the three months ended March 31, 2008, cash provided by operating activities totaled $88.0 million, an increase of $19.7 million compared to the $68.3 million provided by operating activities during the same period in 2007. The increase was primarily due to a customer prepayment of $21.5 million for data center services.

Cash flow utilized for investing activities increased $32.7 million to $80.1 million during the three months of 2008 as compared to $47.4 million for the three months of 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company paid $18.7 million related to the acquisition of businesses, $17.9 million of which related to the purchase of eGIX. In 2007, the Company purchased a local telecommunication business and paid $4.6 million. Capital expenditures were $18.4 million higher for the three months ended March 31, 2008 versus last year due to an increase in data center expansion and the construction of the wireless 3G network.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Cash flow used in financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2008 was $14.7 million compared to $54.4 million during the same period in 2007. In the first quarter of 2008, the Company used cash flows from operations to purchase and extinguish $39.6 million of 8 3/8% Notes and to repurchase $16.7 million of the Company’s common stock as part of its two-year $150 million common stock repurchase plan. Borrowings under the Corporate credit facility increased by $45 million in the quarter to help fund the Company’s cash needed for investment activity. In the first quarter of 2007, $50 million of the Tranche B Term Loan was repaid and there was no increase in borrowings on the Corporate credit facility. Preferred stock dividends of $2.6 million were paid during both of the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007.

Contingencies

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to various regulatory and tax proceedings, lawsuits, claims and other matters. The Company believes adequate provision has been made for all such asserted and unasserted claims in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Such matters are subject to many uncertainties and outcomes that are not predictable with assurance.

Anthem Demutualization Claim

In November 2007, a class action complaint was filed against the Company and Wellpoint Inc., formerly known as Anthem, Inc. The complaint alleges that the Company improperly received stock as a result of the demutualization of Anthem and that a class of insured persons should have received the stock instead. In February 2008, the Company filed a response in which it denied all liability and raised a number of defenses. The Company believes that it has meritorious defenses and intends to vigorously defend this action. The Company does not believe this claim will have a material effect on its financial condition.

Other

Labor Contract

On January 31, 2008, the Company and the Communication Workers of America (“CWA”) reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract. The new agreement, which covers approximately 1,300 members of the CWA locals 4400 and 4401, was ratified by the local CWA membership on February 27, 2008 and includes the following:

 

   

Retains the current call center work as local Cincinnati jobs, restructures base pay for the call center employees and implements a sales commission plan for eligible call center employees;

 

   

Creates a new wage, benefit and working condition agreement for bargaining unit employees hired on or after February 1, 2008;

 

   

Provides a cumulative 4.5 percent wage increase over the three years of the contract;

 

   

Maintains current healthcare plan designs with modest premium increases over the life of the contract, reflective of healthcare inflation;

 

   

Improves dental coverage by increasing the amounts covered under the plan for restorative services;

 

   

Increases pay-related pension credits by 3%; and

 

   

Offers an early retirement option to eligible bargaining unit employees.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

The Company is exposed to the impact of interest rate fluctuations on its indebtedness. The Company attempts to maintain an optimal balance of fixed rate and variable rate indebtedness in order to attain low overall borrowing costs over time. The Company periodically uses derivative financial instruments to manage its balance of fixed rate and variable rate indebtedness. The Company has interest rate swaps (designated as fair value hedging instruments) with notional amounts totaling $450 million to change the fixed rate nature of a portion of the 7% Notes and the 8 3/8% Notes to floating rate debt. As of March 31, 2008 and 2007, the fair value of all interest rate swap contracts was an asset of $16.1 million and a liability of $11.0 million, respectively, for which the Company’s underlying hedged debt is adjusted by the same corresponding value in accordance with SFAS No. 133.

Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for further information.

 

26


Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part I

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.

The term “disclosure controls and procedures” (defined in SEC Rule 13a-15(e)) refers to the controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within required time periods. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by the report. Based on that evaluation, Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by the report, such controls and procedures were effective.

 

(b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting.

The term “internal control over financial reporting” (defined in SEC Rule 13a-15(f)) refers to the process of a company that is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, have evaluated any changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the first quarter of 2008, and they have concluded that there was no change to Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting in the first quarter of 2008 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, Cincinnati Bell Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part II

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the Company’s risk factors as listed in the Company’s 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 for further information.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

During the three month period ended March 31, 2008, the Company had no unregistered sales of equity securities.

The following table provides information regarding the Company’s purchases of its common stock for the quarter ended March 31, 2008:

 

     Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased*
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
(or Unit)
   Total Number of
Shares (or Units)
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs **
   Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Plans or
Programs
(in millions ) **

1/1/2008-1/31/2008

   3,296    $ 4.38    0    $ —  

2/1/2008-2/29/2008

   0      n /a    0      —  

3/1/2008-3/31/2008

   4,226,399    $ 4.03    4,107,299    $ 133.3

 

* The periods 1/1/2008-1/31/2008 and 3/1/2008-3/31/2008 include 3,296 and 119,100, respectively, for shares purchased at market value for certain deferred compensation plans.

 

** In February 2008, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of the Company’s outstanding common stock in an amount up to $150 million during 2008 and 2009.

 

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

None.

 

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Company’s annual meeting of shareholders was conducted on April 25, 2008. At that meeting, shareholders voted on the following:

 

  i. To elect three Class III directors to serve three-year terms ending in 2011 and to elect one Class I director to serve the remainder of a term ending in 2009;

 

  ii. To approve an amendment to the Company’s Restated Amended Articles of Incorporation to declassify the Board of Directors and to approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended Regulations to require the annual election of directors;

 

  iii. To approve an amendment to the Company’s Restated Amended Articles of Incorporation to require a majority vote for the election of a director and to approve an amendment to the Company’s Amended Regulations addressing “holdover” directors; and

 

  iv. To ratify the appointment of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the Company for the year 2008.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part II

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

The results of such votes were as follows:

 

  i. John F. Cassidy was elected as a director with 227,284,453 shares voting for election and 3,207,545 voting abstained. Robert W. Mahoney was elected as a director with 224,484,543 shares voting for election and 6,007,455 voting abstained. Daniel J. Meyer was elected as a director with 225,156,636 shares voting for election and 5,335,361 voting abstained. Bruce L. Byrnes was elected as a director with 226,909,915 shares voting for election and 3,582,082 voting abstained.

 

  ii. The proposal to amend the Company’s Restated Amended Articles of Incorporation to declassify the Board of Directors and amend the Company’s Amended Regulations to require the annual election of directors was approved with 226,419,003 shares voting for approval, 3,526,545 against and 546,448 abstained.

 

  iii. The proposal to amend the Company’s Restated Amended Articles of Incorporation to require a majority vote and amend the Company’s Amended Regulations addressing “holdover” directors was approved with 223,246,227 shares voting for approval, 6,454,251 against and 791,518 abstained.

 

  iv. Deloitte & Touche LLP was ratified as independent registered public accounting firm to audit the financial statements of the Company for the year 2008 with 225,141,158 shares voting for, 4,386,620 shares voting against and 964,218 voting abstained.

 

Item 5. Other Information

None.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

(a) Exhibits.

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

DESCRIPTION

(3.1)(a)   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Cincinnati Bell Inc. (Exhibit 3.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 30, 2008, File No. 1-8519).
(3.1)(b)   Amended and Restated Regulations of Cincinnati Bell Inc. (Exhibit 3.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed April 30, 2008, File No. 1-8519).
(10)(1)   First Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of March 18, 2008, to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2007, among Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC, as Seller, Cincinnati Bell Inc., as Servicer, the Purchasers and Purchaser Agents and PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrator for each Purchaser Group (Exhibit 99.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 26, 2008, file No. 1-8519).
(10)(2)   Second Amendment to Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of March 20, 2008, to the Receivables Purchase Agreement, dated as of March 23, 2007, among Cincinnati Bell Funding LLC, as Seller, Cincinnati Bell Inc., as Servicer, the Purchasers and Purchaser Agents and PNC Bank, National Association, as Administrator for each Purchaser Group (Exhibit 99.2 to Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 26, 2008, file No. 1-8519).
(31.1)+   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(31.2)+   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(32.1)+   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
(32.2)+   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

+ Filed herewith.

The Company’s reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K are available free of charge in the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website: http://www.cincinnatibell.com. The Company will furnish any other exhibit at cost.

 

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Table of Contents

Form 10-Q Part II

   Cincinnati Bell Inc.

 

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.

 

    Cincinnati Bell Inc.
Date: May 6, 2008     /s/ Brian A. Ross
    Brian A. Ross
    Chief Financial Officer
Date: May 6, 2008     /s/ Kurt Freyberger
    Kurt Freyberger
    Vice President and Controller

 

30