Consolidated Highlights
-
Second Quarter Service Revenue Increases 65 percent to $58.6 million
-
Sprint Transaction and $3.2 billion Capital Infusion On Track to
Close in Q4 2008
-
Commencing Planned Upgrade of Existing Markets to Mobile WiMAX
Based on Strong Initial Technology Performance
-
Affirms 2008 Revenue Target; Lowers 2008 CapEx Target; Expects
Limited Subscriber Growth for Second Half 2008 Based on Planned
Accelerated Upgrade of Existing Markets to Mobile WiMAX
Market-Level Progress
-
U.S. Markets Collectively Turn Market EBITDA Positive
-
Initial Markets Post Record Market EBITDA Margin of 34 percent in
Second Quarter
-
Honolulu Market Turns Market EBITDA Positive
Clearwire Corporation (“Clearwire”)
(NASDAQ: CLWR), a leading provider of wireless high-speed Internet
service, today reported financial and operating results for its second
quarter ended June 30, 2008.
“Clearwire’s strong
second quarter results, which include an impressive 65 percent
year-over-year increase in revenue and a record Market EBITDA margin in
our Initial Markets of 34 percent, resulted from successful execution
across our business,” said Benjamin G. Wolff,
chief executive officer of Clearwire. “At the
end of last year, we stated that in 2008 we would focus more on driving
profitability and less on top line growth. In the second quarter, we
delivered on that commitment, with the strong lift in Market EBITDA
margin coupled with moderate subscriber additions being direct results
of those efforts. Based on the strong performance of the beta trial of
mobile WiMAX technology in our first WiMAX market located in Portland,
Oregon, we are now focusing on accelerating the upgrade of our existing
U.S. markets to mobile WiMAX technology.”
“We are pleased with the progress toward a
targeted fourth quarter closing for our pending combination of Clearwire
with Sprint’s 4G business to form a new,
independent communications company that will have significant spectrum
resources, a real time-to-market advantage, next-generation technology
that we are deploying today, key distribution partners and substantial
financing,” Wolff continued. “The
infusion of $3.2 billion in capital from our strategic investor group
upon completion of the transaction will fuel our nationwide mobile WiMAX
network deployment, which we believe will fundamentally transform the
wireless communications landscape and the way all of us use the Internet.”
2008 Second Quarter Consolidated Results
Consolidated Average Revenue Per User (or ARPU) for the 2008 second
quarter was $39.28, an increase of $1.35 above the $37.93 level from the
year-ago quarter, and a sequential quarter increase of $2.42. ARPU
growth was driven by increased sales of new services, including our
Voice over Internet Protocol (or VoIP), PC Card and other ancillary
services, as well as the transition of subscribers from promotional rate
plans to full rate plans. Consolidated Churn was 2.6 percent in the
second quarter of 2008 compared to 2.0 percent for the second quarter of
2007 and on a sequential quarter basis, compared to 2.2 percent in the
first quarter of 2008. The sequential increase in subscriber churn was
primarily driven by an increase in domestic churn to 2.3 percent for the
second quarter due to higher voluntary service cancellations consistent
with the seasonality in our business we have experienced in past years,
as well as increased bad debt-related churn, primarily in older
accounts. Beginning in the second half of 2007, Clearwire implemented
higher credit score requirements for new subscribers in response to a
more challenging macroeconomic environment.
Consolidated Service Revenue increased by 65 percent to $58.6 million in
the second quarter, versus $35.5 million for the same quarter of 2007.
The growth in Service Revenue was driven primarily by Clearwire’s
larger subscriber base, which has increased to 461,000 at the end of the
second quarter 2008, up from 299,000 at the end of the second quarter
2007. In anticipation of an accelerated planned upgrade of existing
markets to mobile WiMAX and consistent with its previously announced
focus on market level profitability, Clearwire continued to moderate new
subscriber growth by significantly reducing sales and marketing efforts,
resulting in approximately 18,400 net new subscribers during the second
quarter.
Gross Margin declined to 28 percent of Revenue in the second quarter
from 34 percent in the same period in 2007 primarily due to the
increased number of network towers that the Company is leasing in
advance of its planned mobile WiMAX market rollout. Clearwire ended the
second quarter with a total of 2,450 towers in service compared to 1,641
as of June 30, 2007. In addition, at June 30, 2008 another approximately
3,200 towers were through the acquisition, zoning and permitting phase
and awaiting installation of mobile WiMAX equipment as compared to
approximately 1,100 towers leased but not yet on air at the end of Q2
2007.
The second quarter of 2008 marks the third consecutive quarter for which
Clearwire reported a narrowing Adjusted EBITDA loss. Second quarter
Adjusted EBITDA reflected a loss of $75.3 million, versus an Adjusted
EBITDA loss of $70.2 million for the same period in 2007. The increased
loss compared to the year-ago quarter was due primarily to increased
network costs, customer care costs, and increased spectrum lease expense –
all in support of the significantly higher number of markets in
operation since the end of last year’s second
quarter. In addition, increased Selling, General and Administrative
expenses were largely attributable to a year-over-year increase in
headcount in support of Clearwire’s growth
and other corporate initiatives related to operations support systems,
billing support systems, mobile WiMAX deployment and portal services.
Clearwire reported a Net Loss of $199.1 million for the second quarter
ended June 30, 2008 compared to a Net Loss of $118.1 million for the
same period in 2007. The company recorded other-than-temporary
impairment losses on investments of $27.9 million in the second quarter
in recognition of a decline in value of certain investment securities.
Also recorded in the second quarter were transaction-related expenses of
$10.2 million related to Clearwire’s pending
WiMAX combination with Sprint.
Capital Expenditures (or CapEx) for the second quarter were $62.3
million, which was significantly below the $90.2 million CapEx level in
the same period last year. CapEx decreased primarily due to the prior
year’s second quarter launch of several new
markets. Clearwire did not add any new markets in the second quarter of
2008, as continued focus has been placed on improving operating
efficiency and profitability in its existing markets, and preparing to
offer service in its initial mobile WiMAX markets.
Consolidated Service Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008, was
$110.1 million, an increase of 70 percent from $64.8 million in the same
period last year. The rapid revenue growth was fueled by subscriber
growth of 54 percent and a $1.15 increase in ARPU for the six-month
period in 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. Consolidated
Gross Margin for the six-month period was $29.7 million or 27 percent,
compared to $24.7 million or 38 percent for the same period in 2007. The
decrease in Gross Margin percentage was primarily due to the increased
number of network towers that the Company is leasing in advance of its
planned mobile WiMAX market rollout. Adjusted EBITDA loss for the
six-month 2008 period was $156.5 million compared to $121.7 million for
the six months ended June 30, 2007, reflecting the increased number of
launched markets year-over-year as well as continued investments in
future growth.
Clearwire continues to have markets covering more than 36 million people
in various stages of design, development and construction, which
provides the Company with flexibility to modulate its pace of growth
based on the availability of required capital.
Updated 2008 Targets
Clearwire affirms its previously stated 2008 target for Revenue in the
range of $205 million to $215 million. The company now expects 2008
Capital Expenditures to be in the range of $220 million to $240 million,
which is reduced from the company’s original
2008 target range of $275 million to $290 million, although the actual
amount of Capital Expenditures remains subject to the timing of closing
the Sprint transaction as well as to the raising of any additional
capital. With the accelerated timing of an upgrade of existing markets
to mobile WiMAX, the company does not expect to add materially to its
total number of subscribers during the second half of 2008. The timing
of closing the Sprint transaction will influence the launch timing of
Clearwire’s first four mobile WiMAX markets.
Clearwire currently has Covered POPs of 16.8 million, and when the
company launches its first four WiMAX markets Clearwire expects to have
approximately 22 million Covered POPs.
The following table summarizes Clearwire’s
second quarter and six month ended June 30, 2008 consolidated results,
versus the 2007 second quarter and six month results.
|
Clearwire Corporation
|
|
Summary of Income Statement Data (unaudited)
|
|
In thousands, unless otherwise noted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30
|
|
REVENUE
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
|
|
Service
|
|
$
|
58,563
|
|
|
$
|
35,484
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
$
|
110,091
|
|
|
$
|
64,759
|
|
|
70
|
%
|
|
Total Revenue
|
|
|
58,563
|
|
|
|
35,484
|
|
|
65
|
%
|
|
|
110,091
|
|
|
|
64,759
|
|
|
70
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of Service
|
|
|
42,193
|
|
|
|
23,313
|
|
|
81
|
%
|
|
|
80,367
|
|
|
|
40,048
|
|
|
101
|
%
|
|
Gross Margin
|
|
|
16,370
|
|
|
|
12,171
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
29,724
|
|
|
|
24,711
|
|
|
20
|
%
|
|
Gross Margin %
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
|
|
38
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, General and Administrative
|
|
|
94,769
|
|
|
|
87,375
|
|
|
8
|
%
|
|
|
193,878
|
|
|
|
156,032
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
|
Transaction Related Expenses
|
|
|
10,224
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
N/M
|
|
|
|
10,224
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
N/M
|
|
|
Research and Development
|
|
|
593
|
|
|
|
578
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
|
|
1,030
|
|
|
|
1,023
|
|
|
1
|
%
|
|
Spectrum Lease Expense
|
|
|
28,522
|
|
|
|
14,823
|
|
|
92
|
%
|
|
|
64,207
|
|
|
|
28,265
|
|
|
127
|
%
|
|
EBITDA Loss
|
|
|
(117,738
|
)
|
|
|
(90,605
|
)
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
(239,615
|
)
|
|
|
(160,609
|
)
|
|
49
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjustment for Non-Cash Items and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Transaction Related Expenses
|
|
|
42,391
|
|
|
|
20,398
|
|
|
108
|
%
|
|
|
83,092
|
|
|
|
38,868
|
|
|
114
|
%
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA Loss
|
|
$
|
(75,347
|
)
|
|
$
|
(70,207
|
)
|
|
7
|
%
|
|
$
|
(156,523
|
)
|
|
$
|
(121,741
|
)
|
|
29
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY OPERATING METRICS (k for '000's, MM for '000,000's)
|
|
|
|
|
Net Subscriber Additions
|
|
18k
|
|
41k
|
|
|
|
67k
|
|
93k
|
|
|
|
|
Total Subscribers
|
|
461k
|
|
299k
|
|
|
|
461k
|
|
299k
|
|
|
|
|
ARPU
|
|
$
|
39.28
|
|
|
$
|
37.93
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
38.11
|
|
|
$
|
36.96
|
|
|
|
|
|
Churn
|
|
|
2.6
|
%
|
|
|
2.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
2.4
|
%
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
404
|
|
|
$
|
471
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
397
|
|
|
$
|
404
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
$
|
62.3MM
|
|
|
$
|
90.2MM
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
115.4MM
|
|
|
$
|
164.6MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Covered POPS
|
|
|
16.8MM
|
|
|
|
11.6MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
16.8MM
|
|
|
|
11.6MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments
|
|
$
|
593MM
|
|
|
$
|
1,056MM
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
593MM
|
|
|
$
|
1,056MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note: For a definition and reconciliation of non-GAAP financial
measures, including Adjusted EBITDA, ARPU, Churn, CPGA, EBITDA and
Market EBITDA, please refer to the section titled “Definition
of Terms and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures”
at the end of this release.
Market-Level Progress
2008 Second Quarter Results
Clearwire continues to focus on gaining operational efficiencies, which
is reflected in the significant improvement in profitability of the U.S.
markets.
Clearwire’s Initial Markets, all 25 of which
commenced operations prior to 2006, ended the second quarter of 2008
with approximately 227,000 subscribers. Service Revenue for the Initial
Markets increased by 25 percent to $26.5 million for the quarter, versus
$21.2 million in the second quarter of 2007. Service Revenue growth was
driven by year-over-year growth in subscribers, as well as increased
delivery of new products and services, particularly VoIP.
Gross Margin for the group of Initial Markets increased slightly to 77
percent for the 2008 second quarter, versus a Gross Margin of 76 percent
for second quarter of 2007. The Initial Markets posted record level
Market EBITDA of $9.1 million and a Market EBITDA margin of 34 percent
in the second quarter of 2008, a strong increase from the Market EBITDA
margin of 5 percent for the group in the second quarter 2007. The Market
EBITDA improvement resulted from Clearwire’s
consistent focus on driving economies of scale and emphasis on
containing selling, general and administrative expenses in the Initial
Markets.
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2008, Service Revenue in the
Initial Markets increased 31 percent to $51.4 million from $39.3 million
in the same six-month period in 2007. In addition, Gross Margin in the
Initial Markets for the six months was 77 percent compared to 74 percent
in the same period last year. The additional market scale and focus on
cost containment helped to significantly increase the Market EBITDA
margin for the Initial Markets to 28 percent for the period, compared to
one percent for the first six months of 2007.
“Benefiting from our consistent focus on
improving execution in each of our markets, in the second quarter our
U.S. markets collectively achieved positive Market EBITDA for the first
time in Clearwire history,” added Wolff. “A
number of our 25 Initial Markets are now exceeding 40 percent Market
EBITDA margins, and some are now approaching 50 percent. We believe our
continuing ramp of market-level profitability demonstrates a scalable,
replicable business model, particularly as we are achieving current
margins in advance of launching the significantly enhanced services,
which will be enabled by our mobile WiMAX network.”
The following table summarizes Clearwire’s
second quarter and six month ended June 30, 2008 Initial Market results,
versus the 2007 second quarter and six month results.
|
Initial Markets Performance
|
|
Summary of Income Statement Data (unaudited)
|
|
In thousands, unless otherwise noted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30
|
|
Six Months Ended June 30
|
|
CONDENSED INCOME STATEMENT
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
% Change
|
|
|
Total Revenue
|
|
$
|
26,532
|
|
|
$
|
21,235
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
|
$
|
51,429
|
|
|
$
|
39,311
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross Margin
|
|
$
|
20,448
|
|
|
$
|
16,048
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
|
$
|
39,540
|
|
|
$
|
29,143
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
Gross Margin %
|
|
|
77
|
%
|
|
|
76
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
77
|
%
|
|
|
74
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Market EBITDA
|
|
$
|
9,087
|
|
|
$
|
1,105
|
|
|
722
|
%
|
|
$
|
14,294
|
|
|
$
|
506
|
|
|
2,722
|
%
|
|
EBITDA %
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
KEY OPERATING METRICS (k for '000's, MM for '000,000's)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total Subscribers
|
|
227k
|
|
192k
|
|
|
|
227k
|
|
192k
|
|
|
|
ARPU
|
|
$
|
38.56
|
|
|
$
|
37.99
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
37.74
|
|
|
$
|
37.15
|
|
|
|
|
Churn
|
|
|
2.3
|
%
|
|
|
1.8
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
2.2
|
%
|
|
|
1.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
329
|
|
|
$
|
400
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
337
|
|
|
$
|
355
|
|
|
|
|
Covered POPS
|
|
|
4.4MM
|
|
|
|
4.2MM
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.4MM
|
|
|
|
4.2MM
|
|
|
|
|
Number of EBITDA positive markets
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
25
|
|
|
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Management Webcast
Clearwire’s senior leadership team will
discuss the company’s 2008 second quarter
performance during a conference call and simultaneous webcast at 4:30
p.m. Eastern Time (1:30 p.m. Pacific Time) today. The call is expected
to last approximately 45 minutes. To access today’s
conference call, please call 800-659-1942, or outside the United States
please call 617-614-2710. The conference call passcode is 22330098. The
simultaneous webcast can be accessed via the Internet at http://investors.clearwire.com.
The conference call will be archived and available for replay until
midnight Eastern Time (9 p.m. Pacific Time), on August 21. To access the
replay, please call 888-286-8010, or outside the United States dial
617-801-6888. The replay passcode is 73477079.
About Clearwire
Clearwire, founded in October 2003 by telecom pioneer Craig O. McCaw, is
a provider of simple, portable and reliable wireless high-speed Internet
service. Clearwire customers connect to the Internet using licensed
spectrum, thus eliminating the confines of traditional cable or phone
lines. Headquartered in Kirkland, Wash., the company launched its first
market in August 2004 and now offers service in 50 markets across the
U.S., as well as in Europe. For more information, visit www.clearwire.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release, and other written and oral statements made by Clearwire
from time to time, contains forward-looking statements which are based
on management’s current expectations and
beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events
made with information that is currently available. Forward-looking
statements may include, without limitation, management’s
expectations regarding: future financial and operating performance and
financial condition; proposed transactions; development and network
launch; strategic plans and objectives; industry conditions; the
strength of its balance sheet; and liquidity and financing needs. 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
of Clearwire's control, which could cause actual results to differ
materially and adversely from such statements. Some factors that
could cause actual results to differ are:
-
We are an early-stage company with a history of operating losses
and we expect to continue to realize significant net losses for the
foreseeable future.
-
Our recently announced transactions with Sprint and several
strategic investors are subject to several closing conditions that, if
not satisfied, could result in the transactions not being completed.
-
The transaction agreement with Sprint and the strategic investors
includes covenants that limit our ability to take certain actions
prior to the completion of the transactions and that may cause our
business and prospects to suffer if such transactions are not
completed.
-
The transactions with Sprint and the investors may present
significant challenges to our management that could divert management’s
attention from day-to-day operations and have a negative impact on our
business.
-
We may fail to realize all of the anticipated benefits of the
transactions with Sprint and the strategic investors.
-
Our business plan will require us to raise substantial additional
financing both in the near term and over the next five years or more.
-
We are committed to using commercially reasonable efforts to deploy
wireless broadband networks based solely on mobile WiMAX technology
once that technology meets certain specified performance criteria,
even if there are alternative technologies available in the future
that are technologically superior or more cost effective.
-
Our business plan contemplates migration of our pre-WiMAX network
to a mobile WiMAX network, which may not be developed to our
satisfaction.
-
We currently depend on our commercial partners to develop and
deliver the equipment for our pre-WiMAX and mobile WiMAX networks.
-
Many of our competitors are better established and have
significantly greater resources, and may subsidize their competitive
offerings with other products and services.
-
Our substantial indebtedness and restrictive debt covenants could
limit our financing options and liquidity position and may limit our
ability to grow our business.
-
Craig McCaw and Intel Capital collectively control a majority of
our combined voting power, and may have, or may develop in the future,
interests that may diverge from other stockholders.
-
Future sales of large blocks of our common stock may adversely
impact our stock price.
For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such
a difference, please refer to Clearwire’s
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the
information under the headings “Risk Factors”
and “Forward-Looking Statements”
in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on March 13, 2008 and our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on May 12, 2008. Clearwire
assumes no obligation to update or supplement such forward-looking
statements.
|
CLEARWIRE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
|
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Six Months Ended
|
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
REVENUES
|
|
$
|
58,563
|
|
|
$
|
35,484
|
|
|
$
|
110,091
|
|
|
$
|
64,759
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of goods and services (exclusive of a portion of depreciation
and amortization shown below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
42,193
|
|
|
|
23,313
|
|
|
|
80,367
|
|
|
|
40,048
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative expense
|
|
|
94,769
|
|
|
|
87,375
|
|
|
|
193,878
|
|
|
|
156,032
|
|
|
Transaction related expenses
|
|
|
10,224
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
10,224
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
Research and development
|
|
|
593
|
|
|
|
578
|
|
|
|
1,030
|
|
|
|
1,023
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
28,901
|
|
|
|
19,714
|
|
|
|
56,986
|
|
|
|
35,899
|
|
|
Spectrum lease expense
|
|
|
28,522
|
|
|
|
14,823
|
|
|
|
64,207
|
|
|
|
28,265
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
205,202
|
|
|
|
145,803
|
|
|
|
406,692
|
|
|
|
261,267
|
|
|
OPERATING LOSS
|
|
|
(146,639
|
)
|
|
|
(110,319
|
)
|
|
|
(296,601
|
)
|
|
|
(196,508
|
)
|
|
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
3,829
|
|
|
|
18,820
|
|
|
|
12,298
|
|
|
|
35,410
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(25,711
|
)
|
|
|
|