Switch Announces Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

LAS VEGAS, Nov. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Switch, Inc. (NYSE: SWCH) ("Switch") today announced financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

"Switch's revenue growth continued to accelerate in the third quarter, resulting from strong year-to-date bookings and favorable execution across the organization," said Rob Roy, CEO, chairman and founder of Switch. "Over the past year Switch has delivered on its commitment to build a world class enterprise sales organization to match its best in class technology infrastructure platform. With our senior sales leadership team now firmly in place, we believe Switch is uniquely positioned to entrench itself as a leading destination for mission critical enterprise colocation and secure hybrid cloud ecosystems."

Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

    --  Total revenue of $117.6 million, compared to $102.8 million for the same
        quarter in 2018, an increase of 14.4%.
    --  Income from operations of $18.1 million, compared to $12.5 million for
        the same quarter last year, an increase of 44.7%. Income from operations
        in the third quarter of 2019 also included $1.2 million in additional
        depreciation and amortization expense.
    --  Net income of $7.1 million, compared to $4.7 million for the same
        quarter in 2018. Net income in the third quarter of 2019 includes the
        impact of a $3.9 million loss on interest rate swaps, reducing net
        income by $0.02 per diluted share.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA of $56.7 million, compared to $50.9 million for the same
        quarter in 2018, an increase of 11.4%. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 48.2%,
        compared to 49.5% in the year ago period.
    --  Capital expenditures of $121.2 million, compared to $60.4 million for
        the same quarter in 2018, an increase of 101%. Capital expenditures in
        the third quarter of 2019 include $28.9 million for the purchase of land
        parcels in The Core Campus.
    --  Total signed contract value of $115 million, representing annualized
        revenue of $34 million at full deployment.

"Switch's strong third quarter financial results reflect a continuation of our organization's commitment to excellence, and a shared sense of ownership our employees have in the company's growth." said Thomas Morton, President of Switch. "We successfully negotiated several key customer contract renewals during Q3, signing multi-year extensions with six of our top 30 customers totaling more than $70 million in total contract value. This demonstrates the ongoing confidence that many of our largest and longest tenured clients have in the Switch value proposition."

"Customer activity levels in the third quarter remained robust; and we continue to be encouraged by the accelerated pace of revenue growth, particularly within our Citadel and Pyramid campus ecosystems," said Gabe Nacht, CFO of Switch. "Following another quarter of strong financial performance, we are once again increasing our outlook for 2019 revenue and adjusted EBITDA."

Balance Sheet and Liquidity

As of September 30, 2019, Switch's total debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, net of cash and cash equivalents was $619.7 million, resulting in a net debt to Q3 2019 annualized Adjusted EBITDA((1)) ratio of 2.7x. As of September 30, 2019, Switch had liquidity of $482.5 million, including cash and cash equivalents and availability under its revolver.



     _____________________________



     (1)            Annualized Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as third quarter 2019
                       Adjusted EBITDA multiplied by four.

Capital Expenditures and Development

Capital expenditures for the third quarter totaled $121.2 million, or $92.3 million excluding land purchases. Maintenance capital expenditures were $1.8 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $3.3 million in the same period last year. Excluding land acquisitions, growth capital expenditures were $90.5 million for the third quarter of 2019, compared to $57.1 million in the same period last year. During the third quarter of 2019, Switch invested (i) $33.3 million for data center construction and improvements in The Core Campus, primarily related to its LAS VEGAS 10 and LAS VEGAS 11 facilities; (ii) $24.2 million in The Citadel Campus for the ongoing construction of two new sectors and additional power and cooling infrastructure; (iii) $6.4 million in The Pyramid Campus to facilitate additional customer expansion; and (iv) $28.4 million in The Keep Campus as we prepare for the opening of ATLANTA 1, with customer occupancy expected to commence in the first half of 2020.

Dividend

Switch today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.0294 per share of Switch's Class A common stock. The dividend will be payable on November 29, 2019 to all stockholders of record as of the close of business on November 19, 2019. Prior to the payment of this dividend, Switch, Ltd. will make a cash distribution to all holders of record of common units of Switch, Ltd., including Switch, of $0.0294 per common unit.

Future declarations of dividends are subject to the determination and discretion of Switch's Board of Directors based on its consideration of many factors, including Switch's results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements, restrictions in Switch, Ltd.'s debt agreements and other factors that Switch's Board of Directors deems relevant.

Recent Business Highlights

    --  Signed a four-year extension with a leading global semiconductor
        manufacturer (a top five existing customer) representing $12 million of
        annualized revenue in The Core Campus. The customer also signed a
        three-year expansion order representing $2.5 million of incremental
        annualized revenue for colocation services in The Citadel Campus.
    --  Executed multi-year renewals with two multinational hospitality & gaming
        customers representing a combined total of more than $22 million in
        contract value.
    --  Following its initial deployment during Q1 2019, a major U.S. healthcare
        system operator has opted to accelerate its power ramp in The Citadel
        Campus, signing an expansion order that will generate $1.5 million of
        incremental annualized recurring revenue.

2019 Guidance

Switch is increasing its full year guidance as follows:

    --  Revenue in the range of $454 million to $456 million, representing 12%
        growth at the midpoint.
    --  Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $225 million to $229 million,
        representing 13% growth at the midpoint with a margin of 49.9%.
    --  Capital expenditures, excluding land acquisitions, in the range of $245
        million to $265 million.

Switch does not provide reconciliations for the non-GAAP financial measures included in the 2019 guidance above because we are unable to provide a meaningful or accurate calculation or estimation of reconciling items. This is due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including net income, depreciation and amortization expense, impairment charges, gains or losses on retirement of debt, gains or losses on interest rate swaps, and variations in effective tax rate, which are difficult to predict and estimate and are primarily dependent on future events, but which are excluded from Switch's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA.

Upcoming Conferences and Events

Switch management will participate in the following investor conferences:

    --  Wells Fargo TMT Summit on December 3-4, 2019 in Las Vegas, NV.
    --  Credit Suisse 23(rd) Annual Technology Conference on December 4-5, 2019
        in Scottsdale, AZ.
    --  Citi 2020 Global TMT West Conference on January 7-8, 2020 in Las Vegas,
        NV.

Conference Call Information

Switch will host a conference call and live webcast for analysts and investors at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on November 7, 2019. Parties in the United States can access the call by dialing 888-317-6016, parties in Canada can access the call by dialing 855-669-9657, and international parties can access the call by dialing 412-317-6014. Request to be joined to the Switch Inc. earnings call.

The webcast will be accessible on Switch's investor relations website at investors.switch.com for one year. A telephonic replay of the conference call will be available through Thursday, November 14, 2019. To access the replay, parties in the United States should dial 877-344-7529, parties in Canada should dial 855-669-9658, and international parties should dial 412-317-0088. The replay access code is 10135411.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement Switch's condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"), Switch uses Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, net debt and net debt to annualized Adjusted EBITDA, which are non-GAAP measures, in this press release. Switch defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income adjusted for interest expense, interest income, income taxes, depreciation and amortization of property and equipment and for specific and defined supplemental adjustments to exclude (i) non-cash equity-based compensation expense; (ii) equity in net losses of investments; and (iii) certain other items that Switch believes are not indicative of its core operating performance. Switch defines Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by revenue. Switch defines net debt as total debt outstanding, including capital lease obligations, net of cash and cash equivalents. Switch defines net debt to last quarter annualized Adjusted EBITDA as net debt divided by quarterly Adjusted EBITDA multiplied by four. Switch uses net debt and net debt to last quarter annualized Adjusted EBITDA as measures to evaluate its net debt and leverage position. Switch believes that investors also may find such measures to be helpful in assessing its ability to pursue business opportunities and investments.

The presentation of these financial measures is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Investors are cautioned that there are material limitations associated with the use of non-GAAP financial measures as an analytical tool. These measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies, limiting their usefulness for comparison purposes. In addition, the non-GAAP financial measures exclude certain recurring expenses that have been and will continue to be significant expenses of Switch's business.

Switch believes these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating its operating results, enhancing the overall understanding of its past performance and future prospects, and allowing for greater transparency with respect to key financial metrics used by its management in financial and operational-decision making. For more information on Switch's non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures, please see the "Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA" table in this press release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or Switch's future financial or operating performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements because they contain words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "could," "intends," "target," "projects," "contemplates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these words or other similar terms or expressions that concern the company's expectations, strategy, plans or intentions. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to Switch's expectations regarding its future growth outlook; Switch's expectations regarding building toward its long-term strategic goals, including to entrench itself as a leading destination for mission critical enterprise colocation and secure hybrid cloud ecosystems, Switch's anticipated operating results and capital expenditures for the year ending December 31, 2019, Switch's expectations regarding key transactions closed during the third quarter and its pipeline for the remainder of 2019, Switch's anticipated timing for the opening of The Keep Campus, expectations regarding future declarations of dividends and cash distributions, and expectations regarding anticipated capital investment in infrastructure across the four Prime campus locations. Switch's expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results in future periods are subject to inherent risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstance that are difficult or impossible to predict. The risks and uncertainties that could affect Switch's financial and operating results and cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements made in this press release include, without limitation (i) its ability to successfully implement its business strategies and effectively manage its growth and expansion plans; (ii) delays or unexpected costs in development and opening of data center facilities; (iii) any slowdown in demand for its existing data center resources; (iv) its ability to attract new customers, realize the anticipated benefits of its new contracts and achieve sufficient customer demand to realize future expected returns on its investments; (v) its ability to effectively compete in the data center market; (vi) its ability to license space in its existing data centers; (vii) the geographic concentration of its data centers in certain markets; (viii) local economic, credit and market conditions that impact its customers in these markets; (ix) the impact of delays or disruptions in third-party network connectivity; (x) developments in the technology and data center industries in general that negatively impact Switch, including development of new technologies, adoption of new industry standards, declines in the technology industry or slowdown in the growth of the Internet; (xi) its ability to adapt to evolving technologies and customer demands in a timely and cost-effective manner; (xii) its ability to obtain necessary capital to fund our capital requirements and our ability to continue to comply with covenants and terms in its credit instruments; (xiii) fluctuations in interest rates and increased operating costs, including power costs; (xiv) significant disruptions, security breaches, including cyber security breaches, or system failures at any of its data center facilities; (xv) loss of significant customers or key personnel; (xvi) the impact of future changes in legislation and regulations, including changes in real estate and zoning laws, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, environmental and other laws that impact its business and industry, in addition to those under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" and elsewhere in Switch's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and in Switch's other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Switch's SEC filings are available on the Investors section of Switch's website at investors.switch.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Switch as of the date hereof, and Switch disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Switch's views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.

ABOUT Switch

Switch (NYSE: SWCH), the technology infrastructure corporation headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada is built on the intelligent and sustainable growth of the Internet. Switch Founder and CEO Rob Roy has developed more than 500 issued and pending patent claims covering data center designs that have manifested into the company's world-renowned data centers and technology solutions.

The Switch PRIMES located in Las Vegas and Tahoe-Reno, Nevada; Grand Rapids, Michigan; and Atlanta, Georgia are the world's most powerful hyperscale data center campus ecosystems with low latency to major U.S. markets. Visit switch.com for more information.

Investor Contact:
Matthew Heinz, CFA
investorrelations@switch.com
(702) 479-3993


                                                 
            
            Switch, Inc.
                                    
              
            
            Consolidated Balance Sheets
                       
              
              
              
              (in thousands, except per share data)




                                                               September 30, 2019                        December 31, 2018

                                                                                                             ---

                                                               (unaudited)



     
                ASSETS



     CURRENT ASSETS:


      Cash and cash equivalents                            $
          52,478                                                         $
         81,560


      Accounts receivable, net of
       allowance of $296 and $426,
       respectively                              18,741                                                                 17,654



     Prepaid expenses                            6,962                                                                  6,781



     Other current assets                        2,428                                                                  2,332

                                                                                                                          ---


     Total current assets                       80,609                                                                108,327


      Property and equipment, net             1,444,993                                                              1,302,770



     Long-term deposit                           5,047                                                                  3,333


      Deferred income taxes                      90,115                                                                 28,550



     Other assets                               18,349                                                                 17,050

                                                                                                                          ---


     TOTAL ASSETS                                      $
          1,639,113                                                      $
         1,460,030

                                                                                                                                           ===



                   LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY



     CURRENT LIABILITIES:


      Long-term debt, current
       portion                                              $
          6,000                                                          $
         6,000



     Accounts payable                           17,476                                                                 20,501


      Accrued salaries and benefits              12,626                                                                  5,258



     Accrued expenses                           13,875                                                                  9,778


      Accrued construction payables              30,981                                                                 12,729


      Deferred revenue, current
       portion                                   13,713                                                                 10,800



     Customer deposits                          10,442                                                                  9,962

                                                                                                                          ---

      Total current liabilities                 105,113                                                                 75,028



     Long-term debt, net                       646,671                                                                580,566


      Capital lease obligations                  19,466                                                                 19,466



     Deferred revenue                           36,847                                                                 22,260


      Liabilities under tax
       receivable agreement                     132,516                                                                 52,535


      Other long-term liabilities                17,519                                                                  1,823

                                                                                                                          ---


     TOTAL LIABILITIES                         958,132                                                                751,678



     Commitments and contingencies



     STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:


      Preferred stock, $0.001 par
       value per share, 10,000 shares
       authorized, none issued and
       outstanding                                    -


      Class A common stock, $0.001
       par value per share, 750,000
       shares authorized, 84,357 and
       55,218 shares issued and
       outstanding, respectively                     84                                                                     55


      Class B common stock, $0.001
       par value per share, 300,000
       shares authorized, 117,782 and
       148,481 shares issued and
       outstanding, respectively                    118                                                                    149


      Class C common stock, $0.001
       par value per share, 75,000
       shares authorized, 42,945
       shares issued and outstanding                 43                                                                     43


      Additional paid in capital                210,349                                                                140,191


      (Accumulated deficit) retained
       earnings                                    (51)                                                                 2,693


      Accumulated other comprehensive
       income                                        79                                                                     79

                                                                                                                          ---

      Total Switch, Inc.
       stockholders' equity                     210,622                                                                143,210


      Noncontrolling interest                   470,359                                                                565,142


      TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                680,981                                                                708,352

                                                                                                                          ---

      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
       STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                             $
          1,639,113                                                      $
         1,460,030

                                                                                                                                           ===


                                                                                     
             
                Switch, Inc.

                                                                    
              
               Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

                                                                  
             
                
                 (in thousands, except per share data)

                                                                              
              
               
                  (unaudited)




                                                                       Three Months Ended                                                  Nine Months Ended

                                                       
            
             September 30,                              
              
                September 30,


                                                      2019                          2018                       2019                               2018




     Revenue                                              $
           117,558                                          $
              102,768                     $
          336,177  $
       302,646



     Cost of revenue                               62,112                                   59,150                                           177,301                 169,200




     Gross profit                                  55,446                                   43,618                                           158,876                 133,446


      Selling, general and administrative expense   37,314                                   31,086                                           104,612                  95,676




     Income from operations                        18,132                                   12,532                                            54,264                  37,770



     Other income (expense):


      Interest expense, including $409, $409,
       $1,227, and $1,227, respectively, in
       amortization of debt issuance costs         (6,743)                                 (7,409)                                         (21,212)               (19,826)


      Equity in net losses of investments                                                                                                                            (331)



     Loss on interest rate swaps                  (3,926)                                                                                 (17,692)



     Other                                            245                                      752                                             1,264                   2,603




     Total other expense                         (10,424)                                 (6,657)                                         (37,640)               (17,554)




     Income before income taxes                     7,708                                    5,875                                            16,624                  20,216



     Income tax expense                             (610)                                 (1,212)                                          (1,249)                (2,064)




     Net income                                     7,098                                    4,663                                            15,375                  18,152


      Less: net income attributable to
       noncontrolling interest                       5,024                                    4,657                                            11,423                  16,654


      Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.                $
           2,074                                                $
              6                       $
          3,952    $
       1,498






     Net income per share:



     Basic                                                   $
           0.02                           
              $                                             $
          0.05     $
       0.03



     Diluted                                                 $
           0.02                           
              $                                             $
          0.05     $
       0.03




      Weighted average shares used in computing
       net income per share:



     Basic                                         84,135                                   50,669                                            72,566                  43,063



     Diluted                                       86,261                                   50,710                                           247,193                  43,142





     Other comprehensive income:


      Foreign currency translation adjustment,
       net of tax of $0                                                                                                                                                331




     Comprehensive income                           7,098                                    4,663                                            15,375                  18,483


      Less: comprehensive income attributable to
       noncontrolling interest                       5,024                                    4,657                                            11,423                  16,937



      Comprehensive income attributable to
       Switch, Inc.                                          $
           2,074                                                $
              6                       $
          3,952    $
       1,546


                                                                     
              
                Switch, Inc.

                                                      
              
             Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

                                                               
           
                
                  (in thousands)

                                                                 
           
                
                  (unaudited)




                                            Three Months Ended                                        Nine Months Ended
                                 September 30,                                            September 30,


                            2019                            2018                   2019                              2018

                                                                                                                   ---

     Net income                   $
              7,098                                       $
              4,663                 $
        15,375   $
      18,152


     Interest expense      6,743                                    7,409                                         21,212           19,826


     Interest income        (94)                                   (575)                                         (659)         (2,001)


     Income tax expense      610                                    1,212                                          1,249            2,064


     Depreciation and
      amortization of
      property and
      equipment           30,236                                   28,989                                         88,597           79,310


     Loss on disposal of
      property and
      equipment               41                                      182                                            148              809


     Loss on interest
      rate swaps           3,926                                                                                 17,692


     Equity-based
      compensation         7,310                                    7,628                                         22,898           28,194


     Shareholder-related
      litigation expense     844                                    1,384                                          2,358            1,384


     Equity in net losses
      of investments           -                                                                                                   331


     Adjusted EBITDA             $
              56,714                                      $
              50,892                $
        168,870  $
      148,069

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SOURCE Switch, Inc.