ALSK Alaska Communications Systems Group Inc

Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ALSK) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2018.

“Our 2018 results are robust with total revenue growth of 2.5% for full year 2018 and annual adjusted EBITDA growth of 4.9%. Free cash flow performance was strong at $7.2 million while our capital expenditures position us for continued growth in future years.

“These results reflect our continued performance in Business and Wholesale, driven by our growth engine of the larger Enterprise and Carrier customers. Our technology differentiation was further strengthened by investments in Fixed Wireless, satellite, and Software Defined Networking, along with continued investments in our fiber network particularly in support of 5G wireless backhaul.

“Attention to prudent cost management has been and will continue to be a focus reflecting our commitment to adjusted EBITDA and adjusted free cash flow improvements.

“With clear line of sight to continued growth in our Enterprise and Carrier customer segment, combined with the recent balance sheet refinancing work, we have conviction about high quality future operating results, while we continue to explore all strategic opportunities for shareholder value creation,” said Anand Vadapalli, president and CEO of Alaska Communications.

Revenue Highlights

• Total revenue:
  • Revenue grew to $58.7 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $54.9 in the fourth quarter of 2017. Annual revenue grew to $232.5 million for 2018, from $226.9 million in 2017.
  • Total broadband revenue was $31.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $28.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, and was $125.4 million for 2018, compared to $123.1 million for 2017.
• Business and wholesale:
  • Business and wholesale revenue was $37.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $33.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 revenue was $144.6 million, comprising 62.2 percent of total revenue, compared to $139.1 million for 2017, comprising 61.3 percent of total revenue.
  • Business and wholesale broadband revenue was $25.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2018 compared to $22.1 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, and was $99.3 million for 2018, compared to $97.6 million for 2017.
• Consumer:
  • Consumer revenue was $9.2 million for the fourth quarters of 2018 and 2017. 2018 revenue was $37.3 million, comprising 16.0 percent of total revenue, compared to $37.1 million for 2017, comprising 16.4 percent of total revenue.
  • Consumer broadband revenue was $6.4 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $6.2 million for the fourth quarter of 2017, and was $26.1 million for 2018, compared to $25.4 million for 2017.
• Regulatory:
  • Regulatory revenue was $12.5 million for the fourth quarter of 2018, compared to $12.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 revenue was $50.6 million, comprising 21.8 percent of total revenue, compared to $50.7 million for 2017, comprising 22.3 percent of total revenue.

Financial Metrics

• Net income for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $1.7 million, compared to net loss of $2.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 net income was $9.1 million, compared to net loss of $6.1 million for 2017.

• Net cash provided by operating activities for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $9.3 million, compared to $4.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 cash provided by operating activities was $56.2 million, compared to $30.4 million for 2017.
• Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2018 were $12.5 million, compared to $8.9 million fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 capital expenditures were $38.0 million, compared to $32.9 million in 2017.

Non-GAAP Metrics:

• Adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $14.1 million, compared to $15.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 Adjusted EBITDA was $60.2 million, compared to $57.3 million for 2017.
• Adjusted free cash outflow for the fourth quarter of 2018 was $3.0 million, compared to free cash inflow of $2.3 million for the fourth quarter of 2017. 2018 Adjusted free cash flow was $7.2 million, compared to $8.8 million for 2017.

Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures can be found in tables at the end of this release.

Balance Sheet Metrics

• Cash was $15.0 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $16.2 million at December 31, 2017.
• Net debt was $161.2 million at December 31, 2018, compared to $177.2 million at December 31, 2017.

Laurie Butcher, Alaska Communications senior vice-president of finance, said, “We are pleased to report that we met or exceeded our guidance in all areas for 2018. Additionally, on January 15, 2019 we closed a transaction securing favorable terms for a new senior credit facility in a volatile market, while increasing access to capital. As we enter 2019, we are well positioned to perform to our business plan which is expected to generate attractive adjusted free cash flow for the year.”

2019 Guidance

The company sets guidance as follows:

• Total Revenue to be between $230 million and $235 million
• Adjusted EBITDA to be between $60 million and $62 million
• Capital Expenditures to be between $40 million and $42 million
• Adjusted Free Cash Flow to be between $10 million and $12 million

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call and live webcast on Thursday, March 7, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. Parties in the United States and Canada can access the call at 1-888-205-6786 and enter pass code 366695. All other parties can access the call at 1-856-344-9315 and use the same code. There will be a live question and answer session after the prepared remarks.

The live webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the "Events Calendar" section of the Company's website (www.alsk.com). The webcast will be archived for a period of 90 days. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available two hours after the call and will run until April 6, 2019 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. To hear the replay, parties in the U.S. and Canada can call 1-888-203-1112 and enter pass code 8903679. All other parties can call 1-719-457-0820 and enter pass code 8903679.

About Alaska Communications

Alaska Communications (NASDAQ: ALSK) is the leading provider of advanced broadband and managed IT services for businesses and consumers in Alaska. The company operates a highly reliable, advanced statewide data network with the latest technology and the most diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the contiguous U.S. For more information, visit www.alaskacommunications.com or www.alsk.com.

Non-GAAP Measures

In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding our financial results, we have provided certain non-GAAP financial information, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow and Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the effects of period to period changes in costs that are not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company’s business operations and is used by Management and the Company’s Board of Directors to evaluate current operating financial performance, analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions and better evaluate comparability between periods. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measured used by Management and the Company’s Board of Directors to assess the Company’s ability to generate cash and plan for future operating and capital actions. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are common measures utilized by our peers (other telecommunications companies) and we believe they provide useful information to investors and analysts about the Company’s operating results, financial condition and cash flows. Net Debt provides Management and the Company’s Board of Directors with a measure of the Company’s current leverage position. The definition and computation of these non-GAAP measures are provided on Schedules 4, 6 and 9 to this press release. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow should not be considered a substitute for Net Income, Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities and other measures of financial performance recorded in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of our non-GAAP measures to our nearest GAAP measures can be found in the tables in this release. Other companies may not calculate non-GAAP measures in the same manner as Alaska Communications. The Company does not provide reconciliations of guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Net Cash from Operating Activities, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The Company does not forecast certain items required to develop the comparable GAAP financial measures. These items are charges and benefits for uncollectible accounts, certain other non-cash expenses, unusual items typically excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, and changes in operating assets and liabilities (generally the most significant of these items, representing cash inflows of $9.9 million in the twelve-month period of 2018).

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made using information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the Company’s control. Such factors include, without limitation, Federal and Alaska Universal Service Fund changes, funding through the rural health care universal service support mechanism and our ability to comply with the regulatory requirements to receive those support payments, adverse economic conditions, the effects of competition in our markets, our relatively small size compared with our competitors, the Company’s ability to compete, manage, integrate, market, maintain, and attract sufficient customers for its products and services, adverse changes in labor matters, including workforce levels, our ability to service our debt and refinance as required, labor negotiations, employee benefit costs, our ability to control other operating costs, disruption of our supplier’s provisioning of critical products or services, the actions of activist shareholders, the impact of natural or man-made disasters, changes in Company's relationships with large customers, unforeseen changes in public policies, regulatory changes, changes in technology and standards, our internal control over financial reporting, and changes in accounting standards or policies, which could affect reported financial results. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with the Company’s business, please refer to the Company's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of the Company's SEC filings may be obtained by contacting its investor relations department at (907) 564-7556 or by visiting its investor relations website at www.alsk.com.

Schedule 1         ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED SCHEDULE OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)   Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017     Operating revenues $ 58,689 $ 54,935 $ 232,468 $ 226,905   Operating expenses: Cost of services and sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) 27,914 26,318 107,509 104,604 Selling, general & administrative 17,249 14,281 66,647 66,612 Depreciation and amortization 8,572 9,193 33,908 36,317 Loss (gain) on disposal of assets, net   69     (23 )   125     50     Total operating expenses   53,804     49,769     208,189     207,583     Operating income 4,885 5,166 24,279 19,322   Other income and (expense): Interest expense (3,238 ) (3,525 ) (13,429 ) (14,860 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt - - - (7,527 ) Interest income 82 7 156 34 Other (expense) income, net   (56 )   (154 )   23     (615 ) Total other income and (expense)   (3,212 )   (3,672 )   (13,250 )   (22,968 )   Income (loss) before income tax benefit (expense) 1,673 1,494 11,029 (3,646 )   Income tax benefit (expense)   39     (4,470 )   (2,041 )   (2,584 )   Net income (loss) 1,712 (2,976 ) 8,988 (6,230 )   Less net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   (8 )   (29 )   (92 )   (129 )   Net income (loss) attributable to Alaska Communications $ 1,720   $ (2,947 ) $ 9,080   $ (6,101 )   Net income (loss) per share attributable to Alaska Communications: Net income (loss) applicable to common shares $ 1,720   $ (2,947 ) $ 9,080   $ (6,101 )   Basic and Diluted $ 0.03   $ (0.06 ) $ 0.17   $ (0.12 )   Weighted average shares outstanding: Basic   53,185     52,448     53,042     52,232   Diluted   54,277     52,448     53,840     52,232     Schedule 2   ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)     December 31, December 31, Assets 2018 2017   Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 13,351 $ 4,354 Restricted cash 1,634 11,814 Short-term investments 134 - Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,936 and $2,729 31,472 32,535 Materials and supplies 6,737 7,046 Prepayments and other current assets   12,169     6,115   Total current assets 65,497 61,864   Property, plant and equipment 1,390,622 1,357,929 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization   (1,017,442 )   (991,816 ) Property, plant and equipment, net 373,180 366,113   Deferred income taxes 498 3,394 Other assets   16,010     11,415   Total assets $ 455,185   $ 442,786     Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term obligations $ 2,289 $ 17,030 Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities 40,957 36,148 Advance billings and customer deposits   4,024     4,213   Total current liabilities 47,270 57,391   Long-term obligations, net of current portion 168,023 168,959 Deferred income taxes 2,315 596 Other long-term liabilities, net of current portion   67,827     61,330   Total liabilities   285,435     288,276   Commitments and contingencies Alaska Communications stockholders' equity: Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 authorized 533 525 Additional paid in capital 160,514 158,969 Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 10,439 (3,579 ) Accumulated other comprehensive loss   (2,675 )   (2,396 ) Total Alaska Communications stockholders' equity 168,811 153,519 Noncontrolling interest   939     991   Total stockholders' equity   169,750     154,510     Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 455,185   $ 442,786     Schedule 3         ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited, In Thousands)   Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net income (loss) $ 1,712 $ (2,976 ) $ 8,988 $ (6,230 )

Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization 8,572 9,193 33,908 36,317 Loss (gain) on the disposal of assets, net 69 (23 ) 125 50 Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount 331 412 1,353 2,363 Loss on extinguishment of debt - - - 7,527 Amortization of deferred capacity revenue (1,101 ) (911 ) (4,098 ) (3,512 ) Stock-based compensation 548 667 1,757 1,509 Income tax (benefit) expense (39 ) 4,470 2,041 2,584 Charge for uncollectible accounts 374 1,015 2,745 3,577 Other non-cash expense, net 57 145 225 575 Income taxes receivable (692 ) (8,629 ) (729 ) (8,052 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities   (515 )   1,355     9,880     (6,302 ) Net cash provided by operating activities   9,316     4,718     56,195     30,406     Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Capital expenditures (12,525 ) (8,891 ) (37,957 ) (32,945 ) Capitalized interest (545 ) (368 ) (2,001 ) (1,140 ) Change in unsettled capital expenditures 1,584 (507 ) (227 ) 1,500 Proceeds on sale of assets   -     34     1     40   Net cash used by investing activities   (11,486 )   (9,732 )   (40,184 )   (32,545 )   Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Repayments of long-term debt (1,866 ) (2,088 ) (31,030 ) (176,466 ) Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt - - 14,000 183,000 Debt issuance costs and discounts - - - (5,559 ) Cash paid for debt extinguishment - - - (5,522 ) Cash proceeds from noncontrolling interest - - 40 75 Payment of withholding taxes on stock-based compensation (5 ) (4 ) (415 ) (605 ) Proceeds from issuance of common stock   100     123     211     239   Net cash used by financing activities   (1,771 )   (1,969 )   (17,194 )   (4,838 )   Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (3,941 ) (6,983 ) (1,183 ) (6,977 )   Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period   18,926     23,151     16,168     23,145     Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $ 14,985   $ 16,168   $ 14,985   $ 16,168     Supplemental Cash Flow Data: Interest paid $ 3,531 $ 3,630 $ 14,254 $ 14,504 Income taxes (refunded) paid, net $ (1 ) $ (322 ) $ 3 $ (946 )   Schedule 4 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. ADJUSTED EBITDA (Unaudited, In Thousands)         Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017   Net income (loss) $ 1,712 $ (2,976 ) $ 8,988 $ (6,230 ) Add (subtract): Interest expense 3,238 3,525 13,429 14,860 Loss on extinguishment of debt - - - 7,527 Interest income (82 ) (7 ) (156 ) (34 ) Depreciation and amortization 8,572 9,193 33,908 36,317 Other expense (income), net 56 154 (23 ) 615 Loss (gain) on the disposal of assets, net 69 (23 ) 125 50 Income tax (benefit) expense (39 ) 4,470 2,041 2,584 Stock-based compensation 548 667 1,757 1,509 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest   8     29     92     129     Adjusted EBITDA $ 14,082   $ 15,032   $ 60,161   $ 57,327    

NonGAAP Measures:

The Company provides certain non-GAAP financial information, including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Free Cash Flow and Net Debt. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the effects of period to period changes in costs that are not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the Company’s business operations and is used by Management and the Company’s Board of Directors to evaluate current operating financial performance, analyze and evaluate strategic and operational decisions and better evaluate comparability between periods. Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measure used by Management to assess the Company’s ability to generate cash and plan for future operating and capital actions. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are common measures utilized by our peers (other telecommunications companies) and we believe they provide useful information to investors and analysts about the Company’s operating results, financial condition and cash flows. Net Debt provides Management and the Board of Directors with a measure of the Company’s current leverage position.

The Company does not provide reconciliations of guidance for Adjusted EBITDA to Net Income, and Adjusted Free Cash Flow to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities, in reliance on the unreasonable efforts exception provided under Item 10(e)(1)(i)(B) of Regulation S-K. The Company does not forecast certain items required to develop the comparable GAAP financial measures. These items are charges and benefits for uncollectible accounts, certain other non-cash expenses, unusual items typically excluded from Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow, and changes in operating assets and liabilities (generally the most significant of these items, representing cash inflows of $9.9 million in the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2018).

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Free Cash Flow are not GAAP measures and should not be considered a substitute for net income, net cash provided by operating activities, or net cash provided or used. Adjusted EBITDA as computed above is not consistent with the definition of Consolidated EBITDA referenced in our 2017 Senior Credit Facility and 2019 Senior Credit Facility, and other companies may not calculate Non-GAAP measures in the same manner we do.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss) before interest expense and income, loss on extinguishment of debt, depreciation and amortization, other income and expense, gain or loss on asset purchases or disposals, provision for income taxes, stock-based compensation, and net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest.

Schedule 5 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES TO ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW

(Unaudited, In Thousands)           Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017   Net cash provided by operating activities $ 9,316 $ 4,718 $ 56,195 $ 30,406

Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities to adjusted free cash flow:

Capital expenditures (12,525 ) (8,891 ) (37,957 ) (32,945 ) Milestone payments received for special projects - - 1,850 - Deferred cost of sales for special projects (500 ) - (500 ) - Amortization of deferred capacity revenue 1,101 911 4,098 3,512 Amortization of GCI capacity revenue (522 ) (523 ) (2,071 ) (2,072 ) Amortization of debt issuance costs and debt discount (331 ) (412 ) (1,353 ) (2,363 ) Interest expense 3,238 3,525 13,429 14,860 Interest paid (3,531 ) (3,630 ) (14,254 ) (14,504 ) Interest income (82 ) (7 ) (156 ) (34 ) Income taxes receivable 692 8,629 729 8,052 Income taxes refunded (paid), net 1 322 (3 ) 946 Charge for uncollectible accounts (374 ) (1,015 ) (2,745 ) (3,577 ) Other expense (income), net 56 154 (23 ) 615 Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interest 8 29 92 129 Other non-cash expense, net (57 ) (145 ) (225 ) (575 ) Changes in operating assets and liabilities   515     (1,355 )   (9,880 )   6,302   Adjusted free cash flow $ (2,995 ) $ 2,310   $ 7,226   $ 8,752     Schedule 6 ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. ADJUSTED FREE CASH FLOW (Unaudited, In Thousands)         Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017   Adjusted EBITDA $ 14,082 $ 15,032 $ 60,161 $ 57,327   Less: Capital expenditures (12,525 ) (8,891 ) (37,957 ) (32,945 ) Amortization of GCI capacity revenue (522 ) (523 ) (2,071 ) (2,072 ) Income taxes refunded (paid), net 1 322 (3 ) 946 Interest paid   (3,531 )   (3,630 )   (14,254 )   (14,504 )   (2,495 )   2,310     5,876     8,752   Impact of special projects: Milestone payments received for special projects - - 1,850 - Deferred cost of sales for special projects   (500 )   -     (500 )   -     (500 )   -     1,350     -   Adjusted free cash flow* $ (2,995 ) $ 2,310   $ 7,226   $ 8,752     * Quarterly Adjusted Free Cash Flow fluctuates and should not be viewed as an indicator of annual performance. Onetime events, seasonality of capital spend and the timing of interest payments may result in negative Adjusted Free Cash Flow in one or more quarters.  

NonGAAP Measures:

Adjusted Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP liquidity measure and is defined as Adjusted EBITDA, less recurring operating cash requirements which include capital expenditures, less cash income taxes refunded or paid, cash interest paid, amortization of GCI capacity revenue and cash receipts and payments, deferred costs and amortized revenue and expense associated with certain prefunded special projects as defined in the 2019 Senior Credit Facility. Amortization of deferred revenue associated with our interconnection agreement with GCI is excluded from Adjusted Free Cash Flow because no cash was received by the Company in connection with this agreement. Amortization of all other deferred revenue, including that associated with other IRU capacity arrangements, is included in Adjusted Free Cash Flow because cash was received by the Company, typically at contract inception, and is being recognized as revenue over the term of the relevant agreement. Items associated with certain prefunded special projects as defined in the 2019 Senior Credit Facility are excluded from Adjusted Free Cash Flow primarily due to the magnitude and timing of the cash receipts relative to the subsequent recognition of revenue and expense.

See Schedule 3 for Net cash provided by operating activities, Net cash used by investing activities, and Net cash used by financing activities.

See Schedule 5 for the reconciliation of net cash provided by operating activities to Adjusted Free Cash Flow.

Schedule 7         ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. REVENUE BY CUSTOMER GROUP (Unaudited, In Thousands)   Three Months Ended Twelve Months Ended December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2018 2017 Business and wholesale revenue Business broadband $ 14,898 $ 12,298 $ 60,934 $ 61,559 Business voice and other 7,341 6,590 28,429 26,508 Managed IT services 1,806 1,215 5,742 4,293 Equipment sales and installations 1,257 1,695 5,127 4,412 Wholesale broadband 10,141 9,829 38,362 36,081 Wholesale voice and other   1,545     1,464   6,000     6,267   Total business and wholesale revenue   36,988     33,091   144,594     139,120 Growth in business and wholesale 11.8 % 3.9 % Consumer revenue Broadband 6,418 6,241 26,144 25,441 Voice and other   2,803     2,978   11,158     11,676   Total consumer revenue   9,221     9,219   37,302     37,117   Total business, wholesale, and consumer revenue   46,209     42,310   181,896     176,237 Growth in business, wholesale and consumer revenue 9.2 % 3.2 % Growth in broadband revenue 10.9 % 1.9 %   Regulatory revenue Access 7,557 7,701 30,878 30,974 High cost support   4,923     4,924   19,694     19,694   Total regulatory revenue   12,480     12,625   50,572     50,668   Total revenue $ 58,689   $ 54,935 $ 232,468   $ 226,905 Growth in total revenue 6.8 % 2.5 %         Schedule 8   ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. KEY OPERATING STATISTICS (Unaudited)   Three Months Ended December 31, September 30, December 31, 2018 2018 2017   Voice: Business access lines 69,382 70,110 71,699 Consumer access lines 25,784 26,497 29,262   Voice ARPU business $ 25.64 $ 25.35 $ 23.29 Voice ARPU consumer $ 34.04 $ 32.05 $ 31.65   Broadband: Business connections 15,234 15,372 15,293 Consumer connections 32,793 32,741 33,904   Broadband ARPU business $ 324.37 $ 332.33 $ 267.44 Broadband ARPU consumer $ 65.00 $ 65.61 $ 60.72   Monthly Average Churn: Business voice 1.0 % 0.8 % 0.9 % Consumer broadband 2.3 % 2.8 % 2.7 % Consumer voice 1.2 % 1.4 % 1.6 %   Schedule 9     ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. LONG TERM DEBT AND NET DEBT (Unaudited, In Thousands)   December 31, December 31, 2018 2017 2017 senior secured credit facility due 2023 $ 171,750 $ 178,350 Debt discount - 2017 senior secured credit facilities due 2023 (2,024 ) (2,668 ) Debt issuance costs - 2017 senior secured credit facilities due 2023 (2,182 ) (2,869 ) 6.25% convertible notes due 2018 - 10,044 Debt discount - 6.25% convertible notes due 2018 - (18 ) Debt issuance costs - 6.25% convertible notes due 2018 - (4 ) Capital leases and other long-term obligations   2,768     3,154   Total debt 170,312 185,989 Less current portion   (2,289 )   (17,030 ) Long-term obligations, net of current portion $ 168,023   $ 168,959     Total debt $ 170,312 $ 185,989 Plus debt discounts and debt issuance costs   4,206     5,559   Gross debt 174,518 191,548 Cash and cash equivalents (13,351 ) (4,354 ) Restricted cash held for 6.25% convertible notes due 2018   -     (10,044 ) Net debt $ 161,167   $ 177,150  

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20190306005759/en/

Media ContactHeather Cavanaugh, 907-564-7722Director, External Affairs and Corporate Communications

Investor ContactTiffany Smith, 907-564-7556Manager, Board and Investor Relationsinvestors@acsalaska.com