Intelsat Announces Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Results
Intelsat S.A. (OTC: INTEQ) reported Q4 2020 revenue of $482.8 million and a net loss of $271.6 million. For the full year, revenue totaled $1,913.1 million with a net loss of $911.7 million. EBITDA for Q4 was $39.5 million, with Adjusted EBITDA at $307.6 million, or 64% of revenue. The drop in revenue is linked to COVID-19 impacts, particularly in mobility and media segments. Despite a 3% decline in government revenue, there was a 4% annual increase in government services. Intelsat anticipates growth from C-band relocation and the integration of its aviation business.
- Adjusted EBITDA of $307.6 million for Q4, or 64% of revenue.
- Government revenue increased by 4% for the year.
- Acquisition of Gogo's aviation business contributed an increase of $15.6 million to inflight services.
- Net loss for Q4 2020 was $271.6 million, up from $115.0 million in Q4 2019.
- Total revenue decreased by 7% year-over-year for Q4.
- Network services revenue down 9% for Q4 and 12% for the full year.
Intelsat S.A. (OTC: INTEQ), operator of the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure, today announced financial results for the three months and full-year ended December 31, 2020.
Intelsat reported total revenue of
Intelsat reported EBITDA1, or earnings before net interest, gain on early extinguishment of debt, taxes and depreciation and amortization, of
For the year ended December 31, 2020, Intelsat reported EBITDA of
Intelsat’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Spengler, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic made 2020 a challenging year; however, we are proud of our ability to maintain a high standard of operations and delivery of mission critical services to our customers. The strategic value of our global network and the services it provides to our customers was reaffirmed during the year. Our mobility customers were significantly impacted by the reduction in travel in both the maritime and aeronautical sectors, yet they renewed contracts and committed to new business with Intelsat. In addition to ongoing business trends, the media services business was also affected by weakening market currencies and a reduction in occasional use revenue, attributable in large part to COVID-19. Satellite network services and the uptake of our FlexGround land mobility managed service drove positive momentum for the government services business.”
Spengler added, “As we look to 2021 and beyond, our team is focused on the delivery of high-value services to our customers, and also on the catalysts that will drive the transformation of our business. These include executing on the C-band relocation to secure the accelerated payments, successfully integrating and expanding the Intelsat commercial aviation business and emerging from restructuring as a healthy and flexible company. We are investing in our next-generation software defined network, which will be critical to this transformation and enable us to deliver on our strategy to be an industry leader in end-to-end managed services.”
Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2020 Business Highlights
Intelsat provides critical communications infrastructure to customers in the network services, media and government sectors. Our customers use our services for broadband connectivity to deliver fixed and mobile telecommunications, enterprise, video distribution, and fixed and mobile government applications.
Network Services
Network services revenue was
Network services revenue was
The decline in network services revenue from the prior full year was primarily attributed to COVID-19 related contract renegotiations and capacity reductions with mobility customers, a one time recognition of accelerated revenue in the prior year period with no comparable amount in the current period, and reduced demand impacting renewals and renewals at lower pricing. These decreases were partially offset by new business from network operators and the expansion of FlexMaritime mobility managed services. Inflight services had an aggregate increase of
Media
Media revenue was
Media revenue was
The decline in media revenue from the prior year reflects the impact of non-renewals due to compression and sector trends, termination of a ground services contract, and the reduction in occasional use services for sporting events and concerts related to COVID-19.
Government
Government revenue was
Government revenue was
Government revenue was driven by new business, including our FlexGround land mobility managed services and satellite network services, offset primarily by the impact of non-renewals when compared to the prior year.
Average Fill Rate
Intelsat’s average fill rate at December 31, 2020 on approximately 1,675 36 MHz station-kept wide-beam transponders was 73 percent, as compared to an average fill rate at September 30, 2020 of 75 percent on approximately 1,675 transponders. In addition, at December 31, 2020 our fleet included approximately 1,225 36 MHz units of high-throughput Intelsat Epic capacity, reflecting no change from the prior quarter.
Satellite Activity
Galaxy 30 (G-30) successfully entered into service on February 3, 2021. G-30 is the first satellite in Intelsat's comprehensive Galaxy fleet refresh plan that will provide Intelsat's media customers in North America with high-performance broadcast distribution capabilities. With additional Ku- and Ka-band steerable beams and an L-band payload for a specific customer, G-30 will also serve some of Intelsat's North American government, mobility and enterprise customers.
Subsequent to year end, Northrop Grumman’s in-space servicing vehicle, Mission Extension Vehicle 2, or MEV-2, is heading to a rendezvous and docking with Intelsat 1002, anticipated to occur in early Q2 2021. MEV-2 is designed to extend the life of the Intelsat 1002 satellite by approximately five years, improving Intelsat's capital investment efficiency.
Contracted Backlog
At December 31, 2020, Intelsat’s contracted backlog, representing expected future revenue under existing contracts with customers, was
C-band Proceeding at the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
On December 8, 2020, the FCC commenced its bidding process for the C-band spectrum auction. Subsequent to year-end on January 15, 2021, the FCC announced that bidding for the C-band spectrum auction was complete, generating approximately
Financial Results for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2020
Total revenue for the three months ended December 31, 2020 decreased by
Total On-Network Revenues decreased by
-
Transponder services reported an aggregate decrease of
$13.5 million , primarily due to a$10.2 million decrease from network services customers, and a$6.2 million decrease in revenue from media customers, partially offset by a$2.8 million increase in revenue from government customers. The decrease in revenue from network services customers was primarily driven by reduced demand resulting in non-renewals and lower pricing, partially offset by an increase in revenue resulting from new network operator and mobility customer business. The decline in revenue from media customers was primarily driven by non-renewals due to compression and sector trends and renewals at lower pricing, partially offset by increased revenues from new business. The increase in revenue from government customers was primarily due to services shifted from off-network to on-network capacity.
-
Managed services reported an aggregate decrease of
$24.5 million , primarily due to a$21.7 million decrease from network services customers and a$3.9 million decrease from media customers, partially offset by a$1.1 million increase from government customers. The decrease in revenue from network services customers was driven by COVID-19 related contract renegotiations and credits with mobility customers, partially offset by increases in revenue due to increased uptake of new Flex managed services. The decrease in revenue from media customers was mainly related to a decline in occasional use video services, as well as non-renewals and an early termination of a contract. The increase in revenue from government customers was primarily attributable to new FlexGround land mobility managed services.
Total Off-Network and Other Revenues decreased by
-
Transponder, Mobile Satellite Services (MSS) and other Off-Network services revenues decreased by an aggregate of
$8.3 million to$40.6 million , primarily due to lower government revenues of$6.4 million as a result of a decline in pricing upon service renewal, services moved to on-network capacity, as well as a decrease in sales of customer premises equipment.
-
Satellite-related services reported a decrease of
$3.2 million to$10.3 million , largely related to revenues from professional fees in connection with Mission Extension Vehicle 1 (MEV-1) and transfer orbit services occurring during the fourth quarter of 2019 with no comparable amounts in the current period.
Direct costs of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) increased by
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by
Depreciation and amortization expense increased by
Impairment of non-amortizable intangible and other assets represents impairment charges of
Other operating expense - C-band consists of reimbursable and non-reimbursable costs associated with our C-band spectrum relocation efforts. For the three months ended December 31, 2020, we incurred
Interest expense, net decreased by
Other income, net was
Reorganization items reflect direct costs incurred in connection with our Chapter 11 cases. Reorganization items of
Provision for income taxes was
Cash received for income taxes, net of refunds, totaled
Net Income, Net Income per Diluted Common Share attributable to Intelsat S.A., EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA
Net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. was
Net loss per diluted common share attributable to Intelsat S.A. was
EBITDA was
Adjusted EBITDA was
Free Cash Flow From (Used In) Operations1
Net cash provided by operating activities was
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1In this release, financial measures are presented both in accordance with U.S. GAAP and also on a non-U.S. GAAP basis. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA (or AEBITDA), free cash flow from (used in) operations and related margins included in this release are non-U.S. GAAP financial measures. Please see the consolidated financial information below for information reconciling non-U.S. GAAP financial measures to comparable U.S. GAAP financial measures.
About Intelsat
As the foundational architects of satellite technology, Intelsat operates the world’s largest and most advanced satellite fleet and connectivity infrastructure. We apply our unparalleled expertise and global scale to connect people, businesses and communities, no matter how difficult the challenge. Intelsat is uniquely positioned to help our customers turn possibilities into reality – transformation happens when businesses, governments, and communities use Intelsat’s next-generation global network and managed services to build their connected future. Imagine here, with us, at www.intelsat.com.
Intelsat Safe Harbor Statement:
Some of the information and statements contained in this earnings release and certain oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Intelsat constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that do not directly or exclusively relate to historical facts. When used in this earnings release, the words “may,” “will,” “might,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “project,” “believe,” “estimate,” “predict,” “intend,” “potential,” “outlook,” and “continue,” and the negative of these terms, and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements and information. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding: the effects of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries’ voluntary commencement of cases under Chapter 11 (the “Chapter 11 Cases”) of the United States Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (the “Bankruptcy Court”) on our liquidity or results of operations or business prospects; our belief as to the likelihood of the cause of the failure of Intelsat 29e in 2019 occurring on our other satellites; our guidance regarding our expectation that the launches of our satellites in the future will position us for growth; our plans for satellite launches in the near to mid-term; our intention to maximize the value of our spectrum rights; our expectations as to our ability to comply with the final U.S. Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) order regarding clearing C-band spectrum in North America, including the availability of adequate resources and funds required to comply and the receipt of accelerated clearing payments set forth in the FCC order; our belief that the scale of our fleet can reduce the financial impact of any satellite anomalies or launch failures and protect against service interruptions; our belief that the diversity of our revenue allows us to benefit from changing market conditions and lowers our risk from revenue fluctuations in our service applications and geographic regions; our belief that developing differentiated managed services and investing in related software- and standards-based technology will allow us to unlock opportunities that are essential to providing global broadband connectivity; and our assessments regarding how long satellites that have experienced anomalies in the past should be able to provide service on their transponders.
The forward-looking statements reflect Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, anticipations, projections, estimations, predictions, outlook, assumptions and beliefs about future events and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Intelsat's control. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements include known and unknown risks. Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ from historical results or those anticipated or predicted by these forward-looking statements include: risks associated with operating our in-orbit satellites; satellite launch failures, satellite launch and construction delays and in-orbit failures or reduced satellite performance; potential changes in the number of companies offering commercial satellite launch services and the number of commercial satellite launch opportunities available in any given time period that could impact our ability to timely schedule future launches and the prices we pay for such launches; our ability to obtain new satellite insurance policies with financially viable insurance carriers on commercially reasonable terms or at all, as well as the ability of our insurance carriers to fulfill their obligations; possible future losses on satellites that are not adequately covered by insurance; U.S. and other government regulation; changes in our contracted backlog or expected contracted backlog for future services; pricing pressure and overcapacity in the markets in which we compete; our ability to access capital markets for debt or equity; the competitive environment in which we operate; customer defaults on their obligations to us; the impact of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19") pandemic on our business, the economic environment and our expected financial results; our expectations as to the benefits and impact on our future financial performance associated with the Company’s recent purchase of the equity of Gogo Inc.’s (“Gogo”) commercial aviation business; our ability to successfully integrate Gogo’s commercial aviation business; our international operations and other uncertainties associated with doing business internationally; litigation; risks, uncertainties, and increased administrative and legal costs related to the Chapter 11 Cases; our ability to improve our liquidity and long-term capital structure and address our debt service obligations through our restructuring; our ability to obtain timely approval by the Bankruptcy Court with respect to the motions that we have filed or will file in the Chapter 11 Cases; objections to the Company’s restructuring process or other pleadings filed that could protract the Chapter 11 Cases or interfere with the Company’s ability to consummate our restructuring; our ability to retain the exclusive right to propose a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization and our ability to achieve confirmation of such plan; our ability to develop, obtain support for, confirm and consummate a Chapter 11 plan of reorganization, including the proposed plan of reorganization the Company filed in the Bankruptcy Court on February 12, 2021, as may be modified or amended; the length of time that the Company will operate under Chapter 11 protection and the continued availability of operating capital during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases; our substantial level of indebtedness and related debt service obligations and restrictions, including those expected to be imposed by covenants in any exit financing, that may limit our operational and financial flexibility; the conditions to which our debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing is subject and the risk that these conditions may not be satisfied for various reasons, including for reasons outside of our control; our ability to develop and execute our business plan during the pendency of the Chapter 11 Cases; potential delays in the Chapter 11 process due to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic; and our ability to continue as a going concern and maintain relationships with regulators, suppliers, customers, employees and other third parties as a result of such going concern during our restructuring. Known risks include, among others, the risks described in Intelsat’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and its other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; the political, economic, regulatory and legal conditions in the markets we are targeting for communications services or in which we operate; and other risks and uncertainties inherent in the telecommunications business in general and the satellite communications business in particular. Because actual results could differ materially from Intelsat's intentions, plans, expectations, anticipations, projections, estimations, predictions, outlook, assumptions and beliefs about the future, you are urged to view all forward-looking statements with caution. Intelsat does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
INTELSAT S.A. (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
|
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Three Months Ended
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|
Three Months Ended
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Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||
|
(unaudited) |
|
(unaudited) |
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Revenue |
$ |
516,951 |
|
|
$ |
482,777 |
|
|
$ |
2,061,465 |
|
|
$ |
1,913,080 |
|
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Direct costs of revenue (excluding depreciation and amortization) |
100,558 |
|
|
119,052 |
|
|
406,153 |
|
|
450,823 |
|
||||
Selling, general and administrative |
58,655 |
|
|
99,643 |
|
|
226,918 |
|
|
314,229 |
|
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
161,795 |
|
|
165,212 |
|
|
658,233 |
|
|
653,447 |
|
||||
Satellite impairment loss |
— |
|
|
— |
|
|
381,565 |
|
|
— |
|
||||
Impairment of non-amortizable intangible and other assets |
— |
|
|
145,700 |
|
|
— |
|
|
191,943 |
|
||||
Other operating expense - C band |
— |
|
|
33,642 |
|
|
— |
|
|
33,642 |
|
||||
Total operating expenses |
321,008 |
|
|
563,249 |
|
|
1,672,869 |
|
|
1,644,084 |
|
||||
Income from operations |
195,943 |
|
|
(80,472 |
) |
|
388,596 |
|
|
268,996 |
|
||||
Interest expense, net |
319,866 |
|
|
134,666 |
|
|
1,273,112 |
|
|
813,603 |
|
||||
Other income (expense), net |
(1,704 |
) |
|
5,578 |
|
|
(34,078 |
) |
|
14,142 |
|
||||
Reorganization items |
— |
|
|
(50,802 |
) |
|
— |
|
|
(385,861 |
) |
||||
Loss before income taxes |
(125,627 |
) |
|
(260,362 |
) |
|
(918,594 |
) |
|
(916,326 |
) |
||||
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes |
(11,268 |
) |
|
10,636 |
|
|
(7,384 |
) |
|
(7,055 |
) |
||||
Net loss |
(114,359 |
) |
|
(270,998 |
) |
|
(911,210 |
) |
|
(909,271 |
) |
||||
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest |
(600 |
) |
|
(609 |
) |
|
(2,385 |
) |
|
(2,393 |
) |
||||
Net loss attributable to Intelsat S.A. |
$ |
(114,959 |
) |
|
$ |
(271,607 |
) |
|
$ |
(913,595 |
) |
|
$ |
(911,664 |
) |
Net loss per common share attributable to Intelsat S.A.: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic |
$ |
(0.81 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.91 |
) |
|
$ |
(6.51 |
) |
|
$ |
(6.42 |
) |
Diluted |
$ |
(0.81 |
) |
|
$ |
(1.91 |
) |
|
$ |
(6.51 |
) |
|
$ |
(6.42 |
) |
INTELSAT S.A. (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
|
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||||||||
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||
Net loss |
$ |
(114,359 |
) |
|
$ |
(270,998 |
) |
|
$ |
(911,210 |
) |
|
$ |
(909,271 |
) |
Add: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense, net |
319,866 |
|
|
134,666 |
|
|
1,273,112 |
|
|
813,603 |
|
||||
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes |
(11,268 |
) |
|
10,636 |
|
|
(7,384 |
) |
|
(7,055 |
) |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
161,795 |
|
|
165,212 |
|
|
658,233 |
|
|
653,447 |
|
||||
EBITDA |
$ |
356,034 |
|
|
$ |
39,516 |
|
|
$ |
1,012,751 |
|
|
$ |
550,724 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
EBITDA Margin |
69 |
% |
|
8 |
% |
|
49 |
% |
|
29 |
% |
Note:
Intelsat calculates a measure called EBITDA to assess the operating performance of Intelsat S.A. EBITDA consists of earnings before net interest, loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt, taxes and depreciation and amortization. Given our high level of leverage, refinancing activities are a frequent part of our efforts to manage our costs of borrowing. Accordingly, we consider loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt an element of interest expense. EBITDA is a measure commonly used in the Fixed Satellite Services (“FSS”) sector, and we present EBITDA to enhance the understanding of our operating performance. We use EBITDA as one criterion for evaluating our performance relative to that of our peers. We believe that EBITDA is an operating performance measure, and not a liquidity measure, that provides investors and financial analysts with a measure of operating results unaffected by differences in capital structures, capital investment cycles and ages of related assets among otherwise comparable companies.
EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under U.S. GAAP, and our EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to operating income (loss) or net income (loss), determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of our operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities, determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, as an indicator of cash flows, or as a measure of liquidity.
INTELSAT S.A. (DEBTOR-IN-POSSESSION)
|
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
||||||||
Net loss |
$ |
(114,359 |
) |
|
$ |
(270,998 |
) |
|
$ |
(911,210 |
) |
|
$ |
(909,271 |
) |
Add (Subtract): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense, net |
319,866 |
|
|
134,666 |
|
|
1,273,112 |
|
|
813,603 |
|
||||
Provision for (benefit from) income taxes |
(11,268 |
) |
|
10,636 |
|
|
(7,384 |
) |
|
(7,055 |
) |
||||
Depreciation and amortization |
161,795 |
|
|
165,212 < |
FAQ
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