Covad Reports Improvement

Covad is reporting that revenues are increasing and its loss is decreasing as the restructuring process continues. Subscribers grew from 319,000 at the end of the first quarter to 333,000 at the end of the second quarter.

by Thor Olavsrud of internetnews.com [August 22, 2001]

Struggling CLEC Covad Communications Group Inc., which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this month, Monday said it is making progress in streamlining operating costs, though it expects "little to no growth in revenue in the third quarter."

The company released its second quarter 2001 results Monday, reporting revenue of $87.1 million for the quarter, which ended on June 30. That represents a 22 percent increase over revenue of $71.2 million from the previous quarter and a 101 percent increase over the $43.2 million in revenue it reported in the same quarter a year ago.

Covad also reported a loss from operations of $141.8 million, or $1.01 per share, a 19 percent improvement from its first quarter loss of $174.7 million or $1.15 per share. The company said a restructuring charge of $2.9 million, and a charge of $2.2 million related to the write-down of goodwill associated with its BlueStar subsidiary, contributed to its loss.

"We continue to see improvement in our operating performance," said Chuck McMinn, chairman of Covad. "This is yet another step on the path to profitability and helps demonstrate that Covad's business model is delivering results."

McMinn added, "This is the second consecutive quarter of significant improvement in our bottom line."

Covad reported 333,000 subscriber lines in service at the end of the second quarter, an increase of four percent over the 319,000 lines in service at the end of the first quarter, when it reported 16 percent growth. The company attributed the decreased growth to continued migration of lines from "distressed" partners and its own BlueStar subsidiary, which it restructured in the second quarter in a move it expects to save itself as much as $75 million over the next 12 months.

As for the bankruptcy proceeding, McMinn said the company has reached an agreement with the majority of bond holders to restructure its bond debt. The plan will allow the company to eliminate its debt with a face amount of $1.4 billion.

McMinn said that once the debt is restructured, the company will need an additional $200 million in funding to take the company to cash flow positive territory, predicted to occur in the third quarter of 2003.

Covad has also signed a memorandum of understanding that would settle the class action lawsuit against the company, which is pending in federal court in California.

"We recently announced positive developments such as an agreement to eliminate our bond debt and the potential settlement of a class action lawsuit," said Charles E. Hoffman, Covad's president and chief executive officer. "Completing those transactions will greatly strengthen the company and improve our ability to obtain the additional $200 million that we need to become cash flow positive in the third quarter of 2003. Most importantly, they will help ensure that our customers will continue to receive high-speed, always-on broadband Internet connections on our network."

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