Document


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM 8-K
 
 
CURRENT REPORT
 
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): November 7, 2018
 
 
Liberty Global plc
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
 
 
England and Wales
 
001-35961
 
98-1112770
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(IRS Employer
Identification #)
 
Griffin House, 161 Hammersmith Rd, London, United Kingdom
W6 8BS
(Address of Principal Executive Office)
 
+44.208.483.6449 or 303.220.6600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 
 

 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
o      Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
 
Emerging growth company o
 
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. o
 





Item 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION/Item 7.01. REGULATION FD DISCLOSURE

On November 7, 2018, Liberty Global plc (Liberty Global) issued a press release announcing its operating and financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2018. The full text of that release, attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, is incorporated herein by reference.

The press release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 is being furnished to the SEC under both Item 2.02 “Results of Operations and Financial Condition” and 7.01 “Regulation FD Disclosure” of Form 8-K. The information furnished pursuant to this Form 8-K (including the exhibit hereto) shall not be considered “filed” under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any of Liberty Global’s filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, unless Liberty Global expressly states in such filing that such information is to be considered “filed” or incorporated by reference therein.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)     Exhibits.

Exhibit No.     Exhibit Name

99.1         Press release dated November 7, 2018






SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
LIBERTY GLOBAL PLC
 
 
 
By:
/s/ RANDY L. LAZZELL
 
 
Randy L. Lazzell
 
 
Vice President
 
Date: November 7, 2018



Exhibit
Exhibit 99.1

Liberty Global Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results
                                https://cdn.kscope.io/d0b74775a5ec79c74474fd5919a59430-libertyglobalrlogosolidgrey.jpg
Record Q3 RGU additions at Virgin Media, driven by 104,000 net adds in the U.K.
Q3 continuing operations operating income of $209 million
Q3 continuing operations rebased OCF growth of 5.2% led by Belgium & U.K.
Reconfirming all full-year 2018 guidance
Denver, Colorado: November 7, 2018
Liberty Global plc today announced its three months ("Q3") and nine months ("YTD") 2018 financial results. Our operations in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic (collectively, the "Discontinued European Operations") and the former LiLAC Group have been accounted for as discontinued operations. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this release relates only to our continuing operations. As used in this release, the term "Full Company" includes our continuing operations and the Discontinued European Operations. For additional information, including the reasons that we present selected information on a Full Company basis, see note 1. In addition, on January 1, 2018, we adopted new revenue recognition rules on a prospective basis and a new presentation of certain components of our pension expense on a retrospective basis. All information in this release is presented on a comparable basis with respect to both of these accounting changes. For additional information concerning our discontinued operations and these accounting changes, see notes 2 and 3.
CEO Mike Fries stated, "The continued operating and financial momentum at Virgin Media helped fuel our Q3 results. With respect to our U.K. subscriber growth, we generated over 100,000 net additions, which represents a record third quarter performance. This achievement was supported by strong volume growth in both our Project Lightning and legacy footprints. From a product perspective, we continue to reap the benefits of our next-generation V6 set-top box and Hub 3 WiFi router deployments, as we saw meaningful year-over-year improvement in churn. We also announced a 4.5% average U.K. customer price rise, which should underpin our results in the coming quarters. In our other markets, we reported mixed results as Telenet delivered 8.4% rebased OCF growth in the quarter, driven by synergy realization, while we posted a 9% rebased OCF contraction in Switzerland.
 


 
Q3 Continuing Operations
 
Revenue & YoY Growth4
 
$3.0bn    +1.9%  
 
OCF & YoY Growth4
 
$1.3bn    +5.2%  
 
YTD Continuing Operations
 
Revenue & YoY Growth4
 
$9.1bn    +2.4%
 
OCF & YoY Growth4
 
$3.9bn    +3.6%
 
Full Company 1
 
Q3 OCF & YoY Growth4
 
$1.8bn    +5.3%
 
YTD OCF & YoY Growth4
 
$5.7bn    +4.6%
 
NASDAQ: LBTYA | LBTYB | LBTYK
2018 Guidance*
Rebased
OCF Growth
P&E
Additions
New Build
& Upgrade
Adjusted Free Cash Flow
Continuing Operations
~4%
$4.0 BN
$0.8 BN
Not provided
Full Company
~5%
$5.1 BN
$1.2 BN
$1.6 BN
*Absolute U.S. dollar guidance figures based on FX rates as of February 13, 2018; EUR/USD 1.23; GBP/USD 1.38. New build and upgrade spend excludes related CPE

1


                                                               "The Swiss market remains challenging but we have a number of initiatives that we believe will improve performance. Our turnaround plan is underpinned by revamped video products, a refreshed MySports programming line-up, the launch of 1 Gig broadband speeds and a new and improved MVNO offering. The cornerstone of our enhanced video offering is the introduction of Horizon 4, our cutting-edge, next-generation TV entertainment platform, which will revolutionize the video experience for our customers. Switzerland is the first market where we've launched this innovation and we look forward to expanding the platform across more markets in the coming years.

 
 
                                                               Our previously announced deal to sell our German and certain CEE operations to Vodafone remains on track. Last month, Vodafone officially filed the submission paperwork with the European Union and we still expect that the deal will close in mid-2019.
                                                                           Turning to our balance sheet, at the end of Q3 our continuing operations had an average debt tenor5 of more than seven years, a fully-swapped borrowing cost of 4.3% and a liquidity6 position in excess of $3 billion. During the quarter we bought back nearly $400 million of stock and continue to anticipate at least $2 billion of share repurchases in 2018."

Contacts
                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
Investor Relations

Matt Coates +44 20 8483 6333

John Rea +1 303 220 4238

Stefan Halters +1 303 784 4528



Corporate Communications

Bill Myers +1 303 220 6686

Matt Beake +44 20 8483 6428



Corporate Website

www.libertyglobal.com




 
About Liberty Global

Liberty Global (NASDAQ: LBTYA, LBTYB and LBTYK) is the world’s largest international TV and broadband company, with operations in 10 European countries under the consumer brands Virgin Media, Unitymedia, Telenet and UPC. We invest in the infrastructure and digital platforms that empower our customers to make the most of the video, internet and communications revolution. Our substantial scale and commitment to innovation enable us to develop market-leading products delivered through next-generation networks that connect 21 million customers subscribing to 45 million TV, broadband internet and telephony services. We also serve 6 million mobile subscribers and offer WiFi service through 12 million access points across our footprint.*
 
In addition, Liberty Global owns 50% of VodafoneZiggo, a joint venture in the Netherlands with 4 million customers subscribing to 10 million fixed-line and 5 million mobile services, as well as significant investments in ITV, All3Media, ITI Neovision, Casa Systems, LionsGate, the Formula E racing series and several regional sports networks.




* The figures included in this paragraph include both the continuing and discontinued operations that we owned on September 30, 2018

2


YTD and Q3 Highlights (on a continuing operations basis unless otherwise noted)
YTD and Q3 rebased revenue up 2.4% and 1.9%, respectively
Q3 residential cable revenue7 of $2.0 billion decreased 0.7% year-over-year
Q3 residential mobile revenue7 increased 2.4% year-over-year to $416.8 million
Q3 B2B8 revenue7 increased 6.1% year-over-year to $491.8 million
YTD operating income decreased 4.8% year-over-year to $592.9 million
Q3 operating income decreased 1.0% year-over-year to $208.6 million
YTD rebased OCF growth was 3.6% to $3.9 billion, including 5.2% growth in Q3
YTD results supported by strong performances in Belgium and Virgin Media
RGU additions of 28,000 in Q3
Built nearly 150,000 new premises in Q3
Virgin Media delivered 109,000 new premises in the U.K. & Ireland
Solid balance sheet with $3.4 billion of liquidity
Net leverage9 of 4.9x for the Full Company
Fully-swapped borrowing cost of 4.3%

Liberty Global (continuing operations unless otherwise noted)
 
Q3 2018

 
YoY Growth (Decline)(i)

 
YTD 2018

 
YoY Growth/(Decline)(i)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subscribers
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organic RGU Net Additions10
 
28,100

 
(51.0
%)
 
28,500

 
(87.3
%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial (in USD millions)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
 
$
2,958.1

 
1.9
%
 
$
9,097.7

 
2.4
%
OCF:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
 
$
1,294.1

 
5.2
%
 
$
3,875.7

 
3.6
%
Full Company(ii)
 
 
 
5.3
%
 
 
 
4.6
%
Operating income
 
$
208.6

 
(1.0
%)
 
$
592.9

 
(4.8
%)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted FCF:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
 
$
165.3

 
 
 
$
(962.6
)
 


Pro forma continuing operations(iii)
 
$
244.8

 
 
 
$
(746.9
)
 
 
Full Company
 
$
394.6

 
 
 
$
(15.7
)
 
 
Cash provided by operating activities
 
$
587.2

 
 
 
$
2,730.1

 
 
Cash provided by investing activities
 
$
1,687.1

 
 
 
$
790.8

 
 
Cash used by financing activities
 
$
(2,388.8
)
 
 
 
$
(5,426.3
)
 
 



(i)
Revenue and OCF YoY growth rates are on a rebased basis
(ii)
Full Company rebased OCF growth in the Q3 and YTD periods includes the net positive impacts of certain German channel carriage settlements of $13.7 million and $36.9 million, respectively
(iii)
Pro forma Adjusted FCF gives pro forma effect to certain increases in our recurring cash flows that we expect to realize following the disposition of the Discontinued European Operations. For additional details, see the information and reconciliation included within the Glossary

3

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Subscriber Growth
 
 
Three months ended
 
Nine months ended
 
 
September 30,
 
September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018*
 
2017
 
 
 
Organic RGU net additions (losses) by product
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Video
 
(36,700
)
 
(29,100
)
 
(120,100
)
 
(55,300
)
Data
 
24,000

 
62,700

 
73,600

 
203,700

Voice
 
40,800

 
23,800

 
75,000

 
76,300

Total
 
28,100

 
57,400

 
28,500

 
224,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organic RGU net additions (losses) by market
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K./Ireland
 
105,300

 
92,400

 
262,400

 
328,500

Belgium
 
(52,900
)
 
(14,600
)
 
(99,800
)
 
(41,900
)
Switzerland
 
(41,500
)
 
(15,500
)
 
(139,000
)
 
(18,300
)
Continuing CEE (Poland, Slovakia and DTH)
 
17,200

 
(4,900
)
 
4,900

 
(43,600
)
Total
 
28,100

 
57,400

 
28,500

 
224,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organic Mobile SIM additions (losses) by product
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
54,800

 
67,000

 
248,700

 
240,700

Prepaid
 
(37,100
)
 
(27,600
)
 
(122,900
)
 
(193,500
)
Total
 
17,700

 
39,400

 
125,800

 
47,200

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organic Mobile SIM additions (losses) by market
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K./Ireland
 
5,000

 
(16,200
)
 
50,900

 
(20,300
)
Belgium
 
4,500

 
43,400

 
52,600

 
43,800

Other
 
8,200

 
12,200

 
22,300

 
23,700

Total
 
17,700

 
39,400

 
125,800

 
47,200

* Amounts have been restated. See note (vi) to the subscriber table
Cable Product Performance: During Q3 we added 28,000 RGUs, a decline compared to the 57,000 RGUs added in the prior-year period, as an improved performance at Virgin Media was largely offset by weakness in Belgium and Switzerland. From a product perspective, data and video adds showed a year-over-year decrease, while telephony net adds increased year-over-year
U.K./Ireland: Record Q3 RGU additions of 105,000 were 14% higher than the prior year, with contributions both from our new build areas and our existing footprint. A shift in our sales and marketing focus to high value triple-play bundles has successfully driven growth in telephony, broadband and video product subscriptions
Belgium: RGU attrition of 53,000 in Q3 was primarily due to intensified competition and churn stemming from our July price increase
Switzerland: Lost 41,500 RGUs in Q3, compared to a loss of 15,500 in Q3 2017, primarily due to heightened competition
Continuing CEE (Poland, Slovakia and DTH): Gained 17,000 RGUs in Q3, as compared to a loss of 5,000 in the prior-year period, mainly driven by stronger video and voice adds in Poland

4

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Next-Generation Video Penetration (including Horizon TV, Horizon-Lite, TiVo, Virgin TV V6 and Yelo TV): Added 70,000 subscribers to our advanced platforms in Q3 and reached 6.7 million or 78% of our total cable video base (excluding DTH) by the end of the quarter
WiFi Connect Box: Deployments of our latest WiFi Connect box increased by 552,000 in Q3, ending the quarter with an installed base of nearly 5.6 million or 61% of broadband subscribers across our continuing operations
Mobile: Added 18,000 mobile subscribers in Q3, as 55,000 postpaid additions were partially offset by continued attrition in our low-ARPU prepaid base
Belgium added 4,500 mobile subscribers during Q3
U.K./Ireland added 5,000 mobile subscribers in Q3 as postpaid growth was partially offset by low-ARPU prepaid losses. The penetration of 4G at Virgin Media increased to 75% of our postpaid base at the end of Q3, and over 50% of our mobile base has now migrated to our full MVNO platform in the U.K. allowing us to offer more converged bundles
Switzerland added 8,000 mobile subscribers in Q3, driven by bundling success


5

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Revenue Highlights
The following table presents (i) revenue of each of our consolidated reportable segments for the comparative periods and (ii) the percentage change from period to period on both a reported and rebased basis:
 
 
Three months ended
 
Increase/(decrease)
 
Nine months ended
 
Increase/(decrease)
 
 
September 30,
 
 
September 30,
 
Revenue
 
2018
 
20173
 
%
 
Rebased %
 
2018
 
20173
 
%
 
Rebased %
 
 
in millions, except % amounts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K./Ireland
 
$
1,667.7

 
$
1,609.9

 
3.6

 
4.1

 
$
5,180.8

 
$
4,676.2

 
10.8

 
4.5

Belgium
 
746.8

 
758.7

 
(1.6
)
 
(1.5
)
 
2,260.3

 
2,103.5

 
7.5

 
(1.2
)
Switzerland
 
323.3

 
351.7

 
(8.1
)
 
(6.3
)
 
1,000.4

 
1,020.7

 
(2.0
)
 
(3.2
)
Continuing CEE
 
148.6

 
149.9

 
(0.9
)
 
1.0

 
462.0

 
426.2

 
8.4

 
0.8

Central and Corporate
 
71.9

 
53.0

 
35.7

 
31.7

 
197.4

 
137.8

 
43.3

 
31.7

Intersegment eliminations
 
(0.2
)
 
(3.0
)
 
N.M.

 
N.M.

 
(3.2
)
 
(8.3
)
 
N.M.

 
N.M.

Total continuing operations
 
$
2,958.1

 
$
2,920.2

 
1.3

 
1.9

 
$
9,097.7


$
8,356.1

 
8.9

 
2.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued European Operations(i):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany
 
$
714.4

 
$
685.5

 
4.2

 
5.1

 
$
2,226.1

 
$
1,943.7

 
14.5

 
6.6

Austria
 
35.2

 
103.2

 
(65.9
)
 
3.0

 
253.7

 
291.9

 
(13.1
)
 
3.4

Discontinued CEE
 
159.6

 
156.6

 
1.9

 
5.4

 
494.7

 
439.4

 
12.6

 
5.6

Intersegment eliminations
 
(1.0
)
 
(0.9
)
 
N.M.

 
N.M.

 
(4.4
)
 
(2.6
)
 
N.M.

 
N.M.

Total discontinued European operations
 
$
908.2

 
$
944.4

 
(3.8
)
 
5.3

 
$
2,970.1

 
$
2,672.4

 
11.1

 
6.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
N.M. - Not Meaningful
(i) For information concerning our discontinued operations, see note 2.
Reported revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, increased 1.3% and 8.9% year-over-year, respectively
The YTD results were primarily driven by the impact of (i) positive foreign exchange ("FX") movements, mainly related to the strengthening of the British Pound and Euro against the U.S. dollar, and (ii) organic revenue growth
Rebased revenue grew 1.9% and 2.4% in the Q3 and YTD 2018 periods, respectively. The result in the YTD period included:
A $6.4 million headwind from the release of unclaimed customer credits in Switzerland in H1 2017
A $5.6 million headwind from the expected recovery of VAT paid in prior periods with respect to copyright fees in Belgium, which benefited revenue in H1 2017
The unfavorable $3.9 million impact due to the reversal during the first quarter of 2018 of revenue in Switzerland that was recognized during prior-year periods

6

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The favorable impact of $3.8 million of mobile subscription revenue recognized in the U.K. during the third quarter of 2018 related to the expected recovery of certain prior-period VAT payments
Q3 2018 Rebased Revenue Growth - Segment Highlights
U.K./Ireland: Rebased revenue growth of 4.1% in Q3 reflects (i) 2.9% rebased growth in our residential cable business supported by subscriber growth and accelerating cable ARPU, (ii) 13.0% rebased growth in residential mobile revenue (including interconnect and mobile handset revenue), reflecting higher value mobile handset sales and the aforementioned benefit related to the expected recovery of certain prior-period VAT payments, and (iii) 2.8% rebased revenue growth in our B2B business, driven by continued growth in our SOHO base
Belgium: Rebased revenue decline of 1.5% in Q3 was mainly driven by the net effect of (i) lower mobile revenue growth, (ii) higher B2B growth and (iii) lower cable subscription revenue due to lower video subscribers
Switzerland: Rebased revenue declined 6.3% in Q3, primarily due to the net effect of lower residential cable subscription revenue, which was driven primarily by competitive pressures, and higher mobile revenue due to increases in the average number of mobile subscribers
Continuing CEE (Poland, Slovakia and DTH): Rebased revenue growth of 1.0% in Q3, due to the net effect of growth in our B2B business and a decrease in residential cable subscription revenue
Central and Corporate: Rebased revenue increased 31.7% in Q3 due largely to the low-margin sale of customer premises equipment to the VodafoneZiggo JV, which began in the second quarter of 2018
Operating Income
Operating income of $208.6 million and $210.7 million in Q3 2018 and Q3 2017, respectively, representing a decrease of 1.0% year-over-year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, our operating income of $592.9 million reflects a decrease of 4.8% as compared to $622.7 million in YTD 2017
The decrease in operating income in the QTD period resulted from the net effect of (i) higher OCF, as further described below, (ii) an increase in impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net, including higher provisions for litigation, (iii) an increase in share-based compensation expense and (iv) a decrease in depreciation and amortization expense
The decrease in operating income in the YTD period resulted from the net effect of (i) higher OCF, as further described below, (ii) an increase in depreciation and amortization expense, (iii) an increase in impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net, including the aforementioned increase in litigation provisions, and (iv) an increase in share-based compensation expense

7

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Operating Cash Flow Highlights
The following table presents (i) OCF of each of our consolidated reportable segments for the comparative periods, and (ii) the percentage change from period to period on both a reported and rebased basis:
 
 
Three months ended
 
Increase/(decrease)
 
Nine months ended
 
Increase/(decrease)
 
 
September 30,
 
 
September 30,
 
OCF
 
2018
 
20173
 
%
 
Rebased %
 
2018
 
20173
 
%
 
Rebased %
 
 
in millions, except % amounts
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K./Ireland
 
$
742.1

 
$
708.2

 
4.8

 
5.3

 
$
2,268.3

 
$
2,052.1

 
10.5

 
4.3

Belgium
 
383.4

 
356.4

 
7.6

 
8.4

 
1,124.7

 
969.6

 
16.0

 
6.7

Switzerland
 
191.0

 
214.1

 
(10.8
)
 
(9.0
)
 
566.5

 
630.2

 
(10.1
)
 
(11.2
)
Continuing CEE
 
69.6

 
70.6

 
(1.4
)
 
0.5

 
209.4

 
193.7

 
8.1

 
0.7

Central and Corporate
 
(88.7
)
 
(104.0
)
 
14.7

 
14.0

 
(283.3
)
 
(307.5
)
 
7.9

 
12.6

Intersegment eliminations
 
(3.3
)
 
(4.8
)
 
N.M.

 
N.M.

 
(9.9
)
 
(9.2
)
 
N.M.

 
N.M.

Total continuing operations
 
$
1,294.1

 
$
1,240.5

 
4.3

 
5.2

 
$
3,875.7

 
$
3,528.9

 
9.8

 
3.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OCF margin - continuing operations
 
43.7
%
 
42.5
%
 
 
 
 
 
42.6
%
 
42.2
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued European Operations(i):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany
 
$
463.4

 
$
440.5

 
5.2

 
6.2

 
$
1,418.9

 
$
1,231.8

 
15.2

 
7.4

Austria
 
19.6

 
57.2

 
(65.7
)
 
5.8

 
137.3

 
159.7

 
(14.0
)
 
3.2

Discontinued CEE
 
66.0

 
67.4

 
(2.1
)
 
0.7

 
201.8

 
178.1

 
13.3

 
6.1

Intersegment eliminations
 
6.2

 
10.5

 
N.M.

 
N.M.

 
24.8

 
28.2

 
N.M.

 
N.M.

Total discontinued European operations
 
$
555.2

 
$
575.6

 
(3.5
)
 
5.8

 
$
1,782.8

 
$
1,597.8

 
11.6

 
6.9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full Company
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5.3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4.6

N.M. - Not Meaningful
(i)
For information concerning our discontinued operations, see note 2.
Reported OCF for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, increased 4.3% and 9.8% year-over-year, respectively
The YTD result was primarily driven by (i) the aforementioned positive impact of FX movements and (ii) organic OCF growth
Rebased OCF growth of 5.2% in Q3 and 3.6% in YTD 2018 included:
The net unfavorable impact on our revenue of certain items, as discussed in the "Revenue Highlights" section above
Higher costs of $23.8 million in U.K./Ireland in the YTD period resulting from the net impact of credits recorded during the second quarter of 2017 ($28.8 million) and the second quarter of 2018 ($5.0 million) in connection with a telecommunications operator's agreement to compensate Virgin Media and other communications providers for certain prior-period contractual breaches related to network charges

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Unfavorable network tax increases of $4.7 million and $17.7 million, respectively, following an increase in the rateable value of our existing U.K. networks, which is being phased in over a six-year period ending in 2022
Favorable impacts of $9.3 million and $28.7 million, respectively, due to the expected settlement of a portion of our 2018 annual incentive compensation with Liberty Global ordinary shares through a shareholding incentive program that was implemented in 2018
The impacts of the reassessment of certain accruals in the U.K., including a $5.2 million aggregate decrease in costs in Q3 and a $6.4 million increase in costs during the second quarter of 2018.
As compared to the prior-year periods, our Q3 and YTD 2018 OCF margins were up 120 and up 40 basis points, respectively, to 43.7% and 42.6%
Q3 2018 Rebased Operating Cash Flow Growth - Segment Highlights
U.K./Ireland: Rebased OCF growth of 5.3% was attributable to strong revenue growth and lower marketing spend partially offset by higher mobile handset costs, increased programming expenses and an increase in network taxes
Belgium: Rebased OCF growth of 8.4%, largely driven by the net effect of lower direct costs as a result of the migration of subscribers to our own mobile network and the aforementioned revenue decrease
Switzerland: Rebased OCF decline of 9.0% in Q3, largely due to the aforementioned residential cable subscription revenue decline
Continuing CEE (Poland, Slovakia and DTH): Rebased OCF growth of 0.5%, driven by the net effect of the aforementioned revenue trend and an increase in interconnect costs
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to Liberty Global Shareholders
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Liberty Global shareholders was $974.1 million and ($804.5 million) for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $700.2 million and ($1,814.2 million) during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively
Leverage and Liquidity
Total capital leases and principal amount of third-party debt: $29.7 billion for continuing operations
Leverage ratios9: At September 30, 2018, our adjusted gross and net leverage ratios for the Full Company were 5.1x and 4.9x, respectively.
Average debt tenor: Over 7 years, with ~74% not due until 2024 or thereafter for continuing operations
Borrowing costs: Blended fully-swapped borrowing cost of our third-party debt was 4.3% for continuing operations

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Liquidity: $3.4 billion, including (i) $0.9 billion of cash at September 30, 2018 and (ii) aggregate unused borrowing capacity11 under our credit facilities of $2.5 billion, for our continuing operations

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Forward-Looking Statements and Disclaimer
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to our strategies, future growth prospects and opportunities; expectations with respect to our OCF growth, our Adjusted FCF, our new build and upgrade and our P&E additions, each on a continuing operations and full company basis; expectations with respect to the development, launch and benefits of our innovative and advanced products and services, including Horizon 4; expectations with respect to our capital intensity for 2019; the anticipated closing of the Vodafone transaction; expectations regarding our share buyback program; the expected settlement of a portion of our 2018 annual incentive compensation with Liberty Global ordinary shares; the strength of our balance sheet and tenor of our third-party debt; and other information and statements that are not historical fact. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these statements. These risks and uncertainties include events that are outside of our control, such as the continued use by subscribers and potential subscribers of our and our affiliates’ services and their willingness to upgrade to our more advanced offerings; our and our affiliates’ ability to meet challenges from competition, to manage rapid technological change or to maintain or increase rates to subscribers or to pass through increased costs to subscribers; the effects of changes in laws or regulation; general economic factors; our and our affiliates’ ability to obtain regulatory approval and satisfy regulatory conditions associated with acquisitions and dispositions; our and affiliates’ ability to successfully acquire and integrate new businesses and realize anticipated efficiencies from acquired businesses; the availability of attractive programming for our and our affiliates’ video services and the costs associated with such programming; our and our affiliates’ ability to achieve forecasted financial and operating targets; the outcome of any pending or threatened litigation; the ability of our operating companies and affiliates to access cash of their respective subsidiaries; the impact of our operating companies' and affiliates’ future financial performance, or market conditions generally, on the availability, terms and deployment of capital; fluctuations in currency exchange and interest rates; the ability of suppliers and vendors (including our third-party wireless network providers under our MVNO arrangements) to timely deliver quality products, equipment, software, services and access; our and our affiliates’ ability to adequately forecast and plan future network requirements including the costs and benefits associated with network expansions; and other factors detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recently filed Forms 10-K and 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.



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Balance Sheets, Statements of Operations and Statements of Cash Flows
The condensed consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and statements of cash flows of Liberty Global are in our 10-Q.

Rebase Information
For purposes of calculating rebased growth rates on a comparable basis for all businesses that we owned during 2018, we have adjusted our historical revenue and OCF for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 to (i) include the pre-acquisition revenue and OCF of entities acquired during 2018 and 2017 in our rebased amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 to the same extent that the revenue and OCF of these entities are included in our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, (ii) exclude the revenue and OCF of UPC Austria to the same extent that the revenue and OCF of UPC Austria is excluded from our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, and to exclude the revenue and OCF of entities disposed of during 2017, (iii) include revenue for the temporary elements of transition and other services provided to the VodafoneZiggo JV, Deutsche Telekom (the buyer of UPC Austria) and Liberty Latin America, to reflect amounts related to these services equal to those included in our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, (iv) reflect the January 1, 2018 adoption of the new revenue recognition standard (ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers) as if such adoption had occurred on January 1, 2017 and (v) reflect the translation of our rebased amounts for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 at the applicable average foreign currency exchange rates that were used to translate our results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. We have reflected the revenue and OCF of these acquired entities in our 2017 rebased amounts based on what we believe to be the most reliable information that is currently available to us (generally pre-acquisition financial statements), as adjusted for the estimated effects of (a) any significant differences between U.S. GAAP and local generally accepted accounting principles, (b) any significant effects of acquisition accounting adjustments, (c) any significant differences between our accounting policies and those of the acquired entities and (d) other items we deem appropriate. We do not adjust pre-acquisition periods to eliminate nonrecurring items or to give retroactive effect to any changes in estimates that might be implemented during post-acquisition periods. As we did not own or operate the acquired businesses during the pre-acquisition periods, no assurance can be given that we have identified all adjustments necessary to present the revenue and OCF of these entities on a basis that is comparable to the corresponding post-acquisition amounts that are included in our historical results or that the pre-acquisition financial statements we have relied upon do not contain undetected errors. The adjustments reflected in our rebased amounts have not been prepared with a view towards complying with Article 11 of Regulation S-X. In addition, the rebased growth percentages are not necessarily indicative of the revenue and OCF that would have occurred if these transactions had occurred on the dates assumed for purposes of calculating our rebased amounts or the revenue and OCF that will occur in the future. The rebased growth percentages have been presented as a basis for assessing growth rates on a comparable basis, and are not presented as a measure of our pro forma financial performance.


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The following table provides adjustments made to the 2017 amounts to derive our rebased growth rates:
 
 
Revenue
 
OCF
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2017
 
2017
 
2017
 
2017
 
 
in millions
Continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisitions
 
$
16.4

 
$
57.2

 
$
2.9

 
$
22.4

Revenue Recognition (ASU 2014-09)
 
(8.8
)
 
(17.6
)
 
(10.9
)
 
(24.3
)
Dispositions(i)
 
(5.7
)
 
(20.7
)
 
(2.1
)
 
(9.2
)
Foreign Currency
 
(26.6
)
 
487.6

 
(10.7
)
 
198.8

Total increase (decrease)
 
$
(24.7
)
 
$
506.5

 
$
(20.8
)
 
$
187.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued European Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Revenue Recognition (ASU 2014-09)
 
$
(5.2
)
 
$
(15.2
)
 
$
(4.7
)
 
$
(9.8
)
Dispositions
 
(68.0
)
 
(68.0
)
 
(37.6
)
 
(37.6
)
Foreign Currency
 
(13.6
)
 
192.1

 
(12.8
)
 
108.0

Total increase (decrease)
 
$
(86.8
)
 
$
108.9

 
$
(55.1
)
 
$
60.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Full Company:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisitions
 
$
16.4

 
$
57.2

 
$
2.9

 
$
22.4

Revenue Recognition (ASU 2014-09)
 
(14.0
)
 
(32.8
)
 
(15.6
)
 
(34.1
)
Dispositions(i)
 
(73.7
)
 
(88.7
)
 
(39.7
)
 
(46.8
)
Foreign Currency
 
(40.2
)
 
679.7

 
(23.5
)
 
306.8

Total increase (decrease)
 
$
(111.5
)
 
$
615.4

 
$
(75.9
)
 
$
248.3


(i)
Includes rebase adjustments related to agreements to provide transitional and other services to the VodafoneZiggo JV, Liberty Latin America and UPC Austria. These adjustments result in an equal amount of fees in both the 2018 and 2017 periods for those services that are deemed to be temporary in nature. The net amount of these adjustments resulted in an increase (decrease) in revenue and OCF of $1.2 million and ($0.7 million), respectively, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and decreases in revenue and OCF of $0.4 million and $2.2 million, respectively, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

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Summary of Debt, Capital Lease Obligations & Cash and Cash Equivalents
The following table(i) details the U.S. dollar equivalent balances of the outstanding principal amount of our continuing operations debt, capital lease obligations and cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2018:
 
 
 
 
Capital
 
Debt & Capital
 
Cash
 
 
 
 
Lease
 
Lease
 
and Cash
 
 
Debt(ii), (iii)
 
Obligations
 
Obligations
 
Equivalents
 
 
in millions
Liberty Global and unrestricted subsidiaries
 
$
1,583.7

 
$
49.4

 
$
1,633.1

 
$
795.7

Virgin Media(iv)
 
16,398.7

 
70.9

 
16,469.6

 
42.6

UPC Holding
 
5,951.0

 
78.0

 
6,029.0

 
14.7

Telenet
 
5,265.1

 
464.9

 
5,730.0

 
96.2

Total
 
$
29,198.5

 
$
663.2

 
$
29,861.7

 
$
949.2

______________________________

(i) 
Except as otherwise indicated, the amounts reported in the table include the named entity and its subsidiaries.
(ii) 
Debt amounts for UPC Holding and Telenet include notes issued by special purpose entities that are consolidated by the respective subsidiary.
(iii) 
Debt amounts for UPC Holding include those amounts that are not a direct obligation of the entities to be disposed within the UPC Holding borrowing group. Certain of these obligations have been or are expected to be repaid with portions of the proceeds from the disposition of UPC Austria and the Vodafone Disposal Group.
(iv) 
The Virgin Media borrowing group includes certain subsidiaries of Virgin Media, but excludes the parent entity, Virgin Media Inc. The cash and cash equivalents amount includes cash and cash equivalents held by the Virgin Media borrowing group, but excludes cash and cash equivalents held by Virgin Media Inc. This amount is included in the amount shown for Liberty Global and unrestricted subsidiaries.
Property and Equipment Additions and Capital Expenditures
The tables below highlight the categories of the property and equipment additions for the indicated periods and reconcile those additions to the capital expenditures that are presented in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows in our 10-Q.
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Continuing operations
 
Discontinued European Operations
 
Full Company
 
 
in millions, except % amounts
Customer premises equipment
 
$
202.7

 
$
227.9

 
$
60.9

 
$
75.0

 
$
263.6

 
$
302.9

New Build & Upgrade
 
153.2

 
244.1

 
69.9

 
79.6

 
223.1

 
323.7

Capacity
 
96.7

 
133.8

 
32.5

 
39.4

 
129.2

 
173.2

Baseline
 
264.5

 
235.3

 
40.5

 
56.4

 
305.0

 
291.7

Product & Enablers
 
174.2

 
185.2

 
25.7

 
11.5

 
199.9

 
196.7

Total P&E Additions
 
891.3

 
1,026.3

 
$
229.5

 
$
261.9

 
$
1,120.8

 
$
1,288.2

Reconciliation of P&E Additions to capital expenditures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets acquired under capital-related vendor financing arrangements(i)
 
(471.3
)
 
(576.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets acquired under capital leases
 
(21.6
)
 
(30.5
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in current liabilities related to capital expenditures
 
(53.3
)
 
(156.6
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital expenditures, net(ii)
 
$
345.1

 
$
262.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party payments
 
$
361.0

 
$
356.6

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds received for transfers to related parties(iii)
 
(15.9
)
 
(93.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital expenditures, net
 
$
345.1

 
$
262.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
P&E Additions as % of revenue3
 
30.1
%
 
35.1
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Nine months ended September 30,
 
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
 
 
Continuing operations
 
Discontinued European Operations
 
Full Company
 
 
in millions, except % amounts
Customer premises equipment
 
$
719.5

 
$
668.6

 
$
197.4

 
$
234.5

 
$
916.9

 
$
903.1

New Build & Upgrade
 
541.1

 
608.7

 
218.6

 
210.3

 
759.7

 
819.0

Capacity
 
312.4

 
362.6

 
92.6

 
90.2

 
405.0

 
452.8

Baseline
 
605.6

 
507.3

 
145.9

 
141.6

 
751.5

 
648.9

Product & Enablers
 
563.1

 
510.7

 
85.3

 
41.9

 
648.4

 
552.6

Total P&E Additions
 
2,741.7

 
2,657.9

 
$
739.8

 
$
718.5

 
$
3,481.5

 
$
3,376.4

Reconciliation of P&E Additions to capital expenditures:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets acquired under capital-related vendor financing arrangements(i)
 
(1,659.2
)
 
(1,740.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets acquired under capital leases
 
(68.1
)
 
(128.4
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Changes in current liabilities related to capital expenditures
 
128.5

 
61.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital expenditures, net(ii)
 
$
1,142.9

 
$
850.7

 


 


 


 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures, net:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Third-party payments
 
$
1,216.1

 
$
1,139.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Proceeds received for transfers to related parties(iii)
 
(73.2
)
 
(288.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total capital expenditures, net
 
$
1,142.9

 
$
850.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
P&E Additions as % of revenue3
 
30.1
%
 
31.8
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
______________________________

(i) 
Amounts exclude related VAT of $82 million and $101 million during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $268 million and $285 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, that were also financed by our vendors under these arrangements.
(ii) 
The capital expenditures that we report in our consolidated statements of cash flows do not include amounts that are financed under vendor financing or capital lease arrangements. Instead, these expenditures are reflected as non-cash additions to our property and equipment when the underlying assets are delivered, and as repayments of debt when the related principal is repaid.
(iii) 
Primarily relates to transfers of centrally-procured property and equipment to our discontinued operations and the VodafoneZiggo JV.

ARPU per Cable Customer Relationship
The following table provides ARPU per cable customer relationship for the indicated periods:
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
%
 
Rebased
 
 
2018
 
20173
 
Change
 
% Change
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Liberty Global
 
$
57.17

 
$
57.06

 
0.2
%
 
1.7
%
U.K. & Ireland (Virgin Media)
 
£
51.09

 
£
50.10

 
2.0
%
 
1.9
%
Belgium (Telenet)
 
56.49

 
55.07

 
2.6
%
 
2.6
%
UPC
 
31.27

 
32.20

 
(2.9
%)
 
(1.8
%)

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Mobile ARPU

The following tables provide ARPU per mobile subscriber for the indicated periods:
 
 
ARPU per Mobile Subscriber
 
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
%
 
Rebased
 
 
2018
 
20173
 
Change
 
% Change
Liberty Global:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Including interconnect revenue
 
$
19.39

 
$
20.09

 
(3.5
%)
 
(1.8
%)
Excluding interconnect revenue
 
$
15.56

 
$
15.59

 
(0.2
%)
 
(1.7
%)





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Consolidated Operating Data — September 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Video
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes
Passed
Two-way
Homes
Passed
Cable Customer
Relationships
Basic Video
Subscribers(i)
Enhanced Video
Subscribers
DTH
Subscribers
Total
Video
Internet
Subscribers(ii)
Telephony
Subscribers(iii)
Total
RGUs
 
 
Total Mobile
Subscribers(iv)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K.
 
14,324,600

14,312,800

5,499,900


3,901,400


3,901,400

5,202,900

4,540,700

13,645,000

 
 
3,031,200

Belgium
 
3,341,700

3,341,700

2,135,700

209,700

1,756,500


1,966,200

1,666,500

1,275,500

4,908,200

 
 
2,729,100

Switzerland(v)
 
2,327,600

2,327,600

1,147,800

457,800

656,700


1,114,500

712,400

524,600

2,351,500

 
 
137,800

Ireland
 
912,100

879,000

437,700

6,500

264,200


270,700

375,100

352,600

998,400

 
 
72,400

Poland
 
3,430,800

3,375,200

1,430,900

179,700

1,033,100


1,212,800

1,153,500

643,900

3,010,200

 
 
3,300

Slovakia
 
611,800

597,000

193,400

27,100

141,400


168,500

135,200

83,000

386,700

 
 

DTH
 


774,200



774,200

774,200

11,000

11,000

796,200

 
 

Total continuing operations
 
24,948,600

24,833,300

11,619,600

880,800

7,753,300

774,200

9,408,300

9,256,600

7,431,300

26,096,200

 
 
5,973,800

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
 


 
 
 
Discontinued European Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany
 
13,083,200

13,007,000

7,175,900

4,674,000

1,627,200


6,301,200

3,573,800

3,339,300

13,214,300

 
 
285,500

Romania
 
3,146,400

3,110,500

975,100

236,300

692,600


928,900

592,900

567,800

2,089,600

 
 

Hungary
 
1,816,600

1,799,100

858,600

72,800

616,800


689,600

688,100

665,500

2,043,200

 
 
103,300

Czech Republic
 
1,543,800

1,523,900

615,800

172,600

364,200


536,800

503,300

184,700

1,224,800

 
 

Total Discontinued European Operations
 
19,590,000

19,440,500

9,625,400

5,155,700

3,300,800


8,456,500

5,358,100

4,757,300

18,571,900



388,800




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Subscriber Variance Table - September 30, 2018 vs June 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Video
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes
Passed
Two-way Homes
Passed
 Cable Customer
Relationships
Basic Video
Subscribers(i)
Enhanced Video
Subscribers
DTH
Subscribers
Total
Video
Internet
Subscribers(ii)
Telephony
Subscribers(iii)
Total
RGUs
 
 
Total Mobile
Subscribers(iv)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K.
 
94,700

94,700

26,700


13,000


13,000

36,400

54,600

104,000

 
 
(3,200
)
Belgium
 
8,400

8,400

(23,500
)
(10,500
)
(26,500
)

(37,000
)
(12,900
)
(20,000
)
(69,900
)
 
 
4,500

Switzerland(v)
 
25,100

25,100

(20,700
)
(11,400
)
(8,600
)

(20,000
)
(12,700
)
(5,800
)
(38,500
)
 
 
8,400

Ireland
 
8,600

9,200

2,600

(4,200
)
4,100


(100
)
4,000

100

4,000

 
 
8,200

Poland
 
22,400

23,300

700

(900
)
3,800


2,900

5,700

7,100

15,700

 
 
(200
)
Slovakia
 
2,600

2,600

600

400

1,200


1,600

1,900

1,900

5,400

 
 

DTH
 


(4,100
)


(4,100
)
(4,100
)
100

100

(3,900
)
 
 

Total continuing operations
 
161,800

163,300

(17,700
)
(26,600
)
(13,000
)
(4,100
)
(43,700
)
22,500

38,000

16,800



17,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Discontinued European Operations:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Germany
 
45,300

47,500

11,300

8,600

(13,200
)

(4,600
)
32,800

27,900

56,100

 
 
(7,400
)
Romania
 
9,000

12,900

(3,300
)
(9,500
)
6,800


(2,700
)
3,100

10,500

10,900

 
 

Hungary
 
9,300

9,300

5,400

(4,600
)
6,500


1,900

7,800

12,800

22,500

 
 
4,300

Czech Republic
 
6,700

6,600


(1,400
)
3,800


2,400

1,900

5,900

10,200

 
 

Total Discontinued European Operations
 
70,300

76,300

13,400

(6,900
)
3,900


(3,000
)
45,600

57,100

99,700



(3,100
)
 
 
Subscriber Variance Table - September 30, 2018 vs June 30, 2018
 
 
 
 
 
Video
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Homes
Passed
Two-way Homes
Passed
Cable Customer
Relationships
Basic Video
Subscribers(i)
Enhanced Video
Subscribers
DTH
Subscribers
Total
Video
Internet
Subscribers(ii)
Telephony
Subscribers(iii)
Total
RGUs
 
 
Total Mobile
Subscribers(iv)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Organic Change Summary:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
U.K.
 
94,700

94,700

26,700


13,000


13,000

36,400

54,600

104,000

 
 
(3,200
)
Belgium
 
8,400

8,400

(22,100
)
(9,900
)
(16,300
)

(26,200
)
(9,800
)
(16,900
)
(52,900
)
 
 
4,500

Other Europe
 
43,200

44,700

(22,800
)
(19,100
)
(300
)
(4,100
)
(23,500
)
(2,600
)
3,100

(23,000
)
 
 
16,400

Total Organic Change
 
146,300

147,800

(18,200
)
(29,000
)
(3,600
)
(4,100
)
(36,700
)
24,000

40,800

28,100

 
 
17,700

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q3 2018 Adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Q3 2018 Acquisition - Ireland
 


1,900


800


800

1,600

300

2,700

 
 
 
Q3 2018 Acquisition - Switzerland
 
15,500

15,500


3,000



3,000



3,000

 
 

Q3 2018 Belgium Adjustment(vi)
 


(1,400
)
(600
)
(10,200
)

(10,800
)
(3,100
)
(3,100
)
(17,000
)
 
 
(300
)
Net Adds (Reductions)
 
161,800

163,300

(17,700
)
(26,600
)
(13,000
)
(4,100
)
(43,700
)
22,500

38,000

16,800


 
17,400


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Footnotes for Consolidated Operating Data and Subscriber Variance Tables


(i)
We have approximately 25,100 “lifeline” customers that are counted on a per connection basis, representing the least expensive regulated tier of video cable service, with only a few channels.
(ii)
In Switzerland, we offer a 2 Mbps internet service to our Basic and Enhanced Video Subscribers without an incremental recurring fee. Our Internet Subscribers in Switzerland include 77,700 subscribers who have requested and received this service.
(iii)
In Switzerland, we offer a basic phone service to our Basic and Enhanced Video Subscribers without an incremental recurring fee. Our Telephony Subscribers in Switzerland include 143,400 subscribers who have requested and received this service.
(iv)
In a number of countries, our mobile subscribers receive mobile services pursuant to prepaid contracts. As of September 30, 2018, our mobile subscriber count included 496,000 and 410,600 prepaid mobile subscribers in Belgium and the U.K., respectively.
(v)
Pursuant to service agreements, Switzerland offers enhanced video, broadband internet and telephony services over networks owned by third-party cable operators (“partner networks”). A partner network RGU is only recognized if there is a direct billing relationship with the customer. At September 30, 2018, Switzerland’s partner networks account for 127,500 Cable Customer Relationships, 299,200 RGUs, which include 107,500 Enhanced Video Subscribers, 109,300 Internet Subscribers, and 82,400 Telephony Subscribers. Subscribers to our enhanced video services provided over partner networks receive basic video services from the partner networks as opposed to our operations. Due to the fact that we do not own these partner networks, we do not report homes passed for Switzerland’s partner networks.
(vi)
Represents the aggregate effect of adjustments to correct the overstatement of our and Telenet's Q1 2018 and Q2 2018 net RGU additions. These corrections, which relate to an entity that was acquired by Telenet in June 2017, include reductions to Telenet's and our reported RGU net additions of 3,700 and 13,300 for Q1 2018 and Q2 2018, respectively. Our and Telenet's RGU additions for Q1 2018 and Q2 2018 as restated for the above adjustments are detailed below:
 
 
Three months ended
 
Three months ended
 
 
March 31, 2018
 
June 30, 2018
 
 
Telenet
 
Liberty Global*
 
Telenet
 
Liberty Global*
 
 
 
Organic RGU net additions (losses) by product
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Video
 
(22,600
)
 
(64,500
)
 
(16,300
)
 
(18,900
)
Data
 
2,100

 
30,700

 
100

 
18,900

Voice
 
(4,700
)
 
4,600

 
(5,500
)
 
29,600

Total
 
(25,200
)
 
(29,200
)
 
(21,700
)
 
29,600

* Represents the restated RGU statistics of Liberty Global's continuing operations.
Additional General Notes to Tables:

Most of our broadband communications subsidiaries provide telephony, broadband internet, data, video or other B2B services. Certain of our B2B revenue is derived from SOHO subscribers that pay a premium price to receive enhanced service levels along with video, internet or telephony services that are the same or similar to the mass marketed products offered to our residential subscribers. All mass marketed products provided to SOHOs, whether or not accompanied by enhanced service levels and/or premium prices, are included in the respective RGU and customer counts of our broadband communications operations, with only those services provided at premium prices considered to be “SOHO RGUs” or “SOHO customers.” To the extent our existing customers upgrade from a residential product offering to a SOHO product offering, the number of SOHO RGUs or SOHO customers will increase, but there is no impact to our total RGU or customer counts. With the exception of our B2B SOHO subscribers, we generally do not count customers of B2B services as customers or RGUs for external reporting purposes.

In Germany, homes passed reflect the footprint and two-way homes passed reflect the technological capability of our network up to the street cabinet, with drops from the street cabinet to the building generally added, and in-home wiring generally upgraded, on an as needed or success-based basis. In Belgium, Telenet leases a portion of its network under a long-term capital lease arrangement. These tables include operating statistics for Telenet's owned and leased networks.

While we take appropriate steps to ensure that subscriber statistics are presented on a consistent and accurate basis at any given balance sheet date, the variability from country to country in (i) the nature and pricing of products and services, (ii) the distribution platform, (iii) billing systems, (iv) bad debt collection experience and (v) other factors add complexity to the subscriber counting process. We periodically review our subscriber counting policies and underlying systems to improve the accuracy and consistency of the data reported on a prospective basis. Accordingly, we may from time to time make appropriate adjustments to our subscriber statistics based on those reviews.

Subscriber information for acquired entities is preliminary and subject to adjustment until we have completed our review of such information and determined that it is presented in accordance with our policies.

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Footnotes
1 
The term "Full Company" includes our continuing operations and our Discontinued European Operations, which is the basis (i) on which analyst consensus estimates for our key performance indicators are currently derived and on which we originally provided our 2018 guidance for OCF, Adjusted FCF and Property and Equipment Additions and (ii) that we use to calculate our respective leverage ratios for debt covenant compliance purposes. We present OCF, Adjusted FCF and Property and Equipment Additions on a Full Company basis in order to allow readers to track our performance against analyst consensus estimates and our original 2018 guidance, as applicable. We plan to provide Full Company information with respect to our original 2018 guidance in our fourth quarter 2018 earnings releases so that investors can continue to track our progress against this guidance.
2
On December 29, 2017, the former LiLAC Group was split-off into a separate public company, and on May 9, 2018, we agreed to sell our operations in Germany, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic. Previously we had agreed to sell our operations in Austria and this transaction was completed on July 31, 2018. As a result of the foregoing, the former LiLAC Group and our operations in Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania and the Czech Republic have all been accounted for as discontinued operations in our 10-Q. Unless otherwise indicated, the information in this release relates only to our continuing operations. For additional information regarding our discontinued operations, see note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in our 10-Q.
3 
Effective January 1, 2018, we adopted Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASU 2014-09”), on a prospective basis. All applicable 2017 amounts in this release are presented on a pro forma basis that gives effect to the adoption of ASU 2014-09 as if such adoption had occurred on January 1, 2017. In addition, on January 1, 2018, we adopted ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost (“ASU 2017-07”) on a retrospective basis. Accordingly, the operating income and OCF amounts for the 2017 periods in this release have been retrospectively revised to reflect the impact of ASU 2017-07. For additional information regarding these accounting changes, see note 2 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in our 10-Q.
4 
The indicated growth rates are rebased for acquisitions, dispositions, FX and other items that impact the comparability of our year-over-year results. Please see Rebase Information for information on rebased growth.
5 
For purposes of calculating our average tenor, total third-party debt excludes vendor financing.
6 
Liquidity refers to cash and cash equivalents plus the maximum undrawn commitments under subsidiary borrowing facilities, without regard to covenant compliance calculations.
7 
Includes subscription and non-subscription revenue. For additional information regarding how we define our revenue categories, see note 16 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in our 10-Q.
8 
Total B2B includes subscription (SOHO) and non-subscription revenue. B2B and SOHO growth rates include upsell from our residential businesses.

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9 
Consistent with how we calculate our leverage ratios under our debt agreements, we calculate our debt ratios on a Full Company basis, with the gross and net debt ratios defined as total debt and net debt, respectively, divided by annualized OCF of the latest quarter. Net debt is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents. For purposes of these calculations, debt is measured using swapped foreign currency rates, consistent with the covenant calculation requirements of our subsidiary debt agreements, and excludes the loans backed or secured by the shares we hold in ITV plc and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. We have not presented leverage ratios on a continuing operations basis as we believe that such a presentation would overstate our leverage and would not be representative of the actual leverage ratios that we will report once all dispositions are completed. This is due to the fact that our continuing operations exclude all of the OCF of the entities to be disposed but include a portion of the debt that we expect to repay with the proceeds from such dispositions. For additional information, see the details of our pro forma Adjusted FCF within the Glossary and note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in our 10-Q.

The following table details the calculation of our Full Company consolidated debt and net debt to annualized consolidated OCF ratios as of September 30, 2018:
 
September 30, 2018
 
in millions, except ratios
 
 
Consolidated Debt to Annualized Consolidated OCF:
 
Debt and capital lease obligations before deferred financing costs, discounts and premiums
$
39,741.1

Principal related projected derivative cash payments
(1,273.1
)
ITV Collar Loan
(1,411.6
)
Lionsgate Collar Loan
(82.9
)
Adjusted debt and capital lease obligations before deferred financing costs, discounts and premiums
$
36,973.5

 
 
Annualized quarterly OCF*
$
7,318.8

Consolidated debt to annualized consolidated OCF ratio
5.1

 
 
Consolidated Net Debt to Annualized Consolidated OCF:


Adjusted debt and capital lease obligations before deferred financing costs, discounts and premiums
$
36,973.5

Cash and cash equivalents
(957.9
)
Adjusted net debt and capital lease obligations before deferred financing costs, discounts and premiums
$
36,015.6

 
 
Annualized quarterly OCF*
$
7,318.8

Consolidated net debt to annualized consolidated OCF ratio
4.9

* Amount excludes the OCF of Austria as the related debt that was repaid with proceeds from the sale is not included in the debt balances shown.
10 
Organic figures exclude RGUs of acquired entities at the date of acquisition and other nonorganic adjustments, but include the impact of changes in RGUs from the date of acquisition. All subscriber/RGU additions or losses refer to net organic changes, unless otherwise noted.
11 
Our aggregate unused borrowing capacity of $2.5 billion represents the maximum undrawn commitments under the applicable facilities of our continuing operations without regard to covenant compliance calculations. Upon completion of the relevant September 30, 2018 compliance reporting requirements for our credit facilities, and assuming no further changes from quarter-end borrowing levels, we anticipate that the borrowing capacity of our continuing operations will continue to be $2.5 billion.













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Glossary

10-Q or 10-K: As used herein, the terms 10-Q and 10-K refer to our most recent quarterly or annual report as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Form 10-Q or Form 10-K, as applicable.

Adjusted Free Cash Flow (FCF): net cash provided by our operating activities, plus (i) cash payments for third-party costs directly associated with successful and unsuccessful acquisitions and dispositions and (ii) expenses financed by an intermediary, less (a) capital expenditures, as reported in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, (b) principal payments on amounts financed by vendors and intermediaries and (c) principal payments on capital leases (exclusive of the portions of the network lease in Belgium and the duct leases in Germany that we assumed in connection with certain acquisitions), with each item excluding any cash provided or used by our discontinued operations. We believe that our presentation of Adjusted Free Cash Flow provides useful information to our investors because this measure can be used to gauge our ability to service debt and fund new investment opportunities. Adjusted Free Cash Flow should not be understood to represent our ability to fund discretionary amounts, as we have various mandatory and contractual obligations, including debt repayments, which are not deducted to arrive at this amount. Investors should view Adjusted Free Cash Flow as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, U.S. GAAP measures of liquidity included in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows.

The following table provides a reconciliation of our net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations to Adjusted Free Cash Flow for the indicated periods. In addition, in order to provide information regarding the changes to our Adjusted Free Cash Flow that we expect will occur following the sale of the Discontinued European Operations, we also present Adjusted Free Cash Flow on a pro forma basis for three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 as if the sale of the Discontinued European Operations had been completed on January 1, 2018.
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017(i)
 
2018
 
2017(i)
 
2018
 
2017(i)
 
Continuing operations
 
Discontinued European Operations
 
Full Company
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities of our continuing operations
$
587.2

 
$
904.1

 
$
348.1

 
$
324.3

 
$
935.3

 
$
1,228.4

Cash payments for direct acquisition and disposition costs
9.2

 
0.9

 

 

 
9.2

 
0.9

Expenses financed by an intermediary(ii)
507.4

 
375.4

 
127.2

 
47.1

 
634.6

 
422.5

Capital expenditures, net
(345.1
)
 
(262.7
)
 
(103.3
)
 
(170.1
)
 
(448.4
)
 
(432.8
)
Principal payments on amounts financed by vendors and intermediaries
(570.3
)
 
(396.6
)
 
(141.3
)
 
(84.9
)
 
(711.6
)
 
(481.5
)
Principal payments on certain capital leases
(23.1
)
 
(22.0
)
 
(1.4
)
 
(1.0
)
 
(24.5
)
 
(23.0
)
Adjusted FCF
165.3

 
$
599.1

 
$
229.3

 
$
115.4

 
$
394.6

 
$
714.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma adjustments for sale of the Discontinued European Operations related to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and derivative payments(iii)
37.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transition services agreements(iv)
42.0

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma Adjusted FCF(v)
$
244.8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Nine months ended September 30,
 
2018
 
2017(i)
 
2018
 
2017(i)
 
2018
 
2017(i)
 
Continuing operations
 
Discontinued
European Operations
 
Full company
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities of our continuing operations
$
2,730.1

 
$
2,462.5

 
$
1,470.3

 
$
1,178.8

 
$
4,200.4

 
$
3,641.3

Cash payments for direct acquisition and disposition costs
14.0

 
6.9

 

 

 
14.0

 
6.9

Expenses financed by an intermediary(ii)
1,423.8

 
952.6

 
255.5

 
114.5

 
1,679.3

 
1,067.1

Capital expenditures, net
(1,142.9
)
 
(850.7
)
 
(384.5
)
 
(526.7
)
 
(1,527.4
)
 
(1,377.4
)
Principal payments on amounts financed by vendors and intermediaries
(3,923.6
)
 
(2,341.0
)
 
(390.2
)
 
(221.8
)
 
(4,313.8
)
 
(2,562.8
)
Principal payments on certain capital leases
(64.0
)
 
(63.8
)
 
(4.2
)
 
(2.9
)
 
(68.2
)
 
(66.7
)
Adjusted FCF
(962.6
)
 
$
166.5

 
$
946.9

 
$
541.9

 
$
(15.7
)
 
$
708.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma adjustments for sale of Discontinued European Operations related to:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Interest and derivative payments(iii)
71.2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Transition services agreements(iv)
144.5

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pro forma Adjusted FCF(v)
$
(746.9
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
_______________

(i)
Adjusted free cash flow for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 has been restated to reflect our January 1, 2018 adoption of ASU 2016-18, Restricted Cash.

(ii)
For purposes of our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, expenses financed by an intermediary are treated as hypothetical operating cash outflows and hypothetical financing cash inflows when the expenses are incurred. When we pay the financing intermediary, we record financing cash outflows in our condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. For purposes of our Adjusted Free Cash Flow definition, we add back the hypothetical operating cash outflow when these financed expenses are incurred and deduct the financing cash outflows when we pay the financing intermediary.

(iii)
No debt, interest expense or derivative instruments of the UPC Holding borrowing group, other than with respect to certain borrowings that are direct obligations of the entities to be disposed, has been allocated to discontinued operations in the condensed consolidated financial statements that are included in our 10-Q. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we expect to use proceeds from the disposition of the Vodafone Disposal Group and have used proceeds from the July 31, 2018 sale of UPC Austria to repay debt of the UPC Holding borrowing group to the extent necessary to maintain a leverage ratio that is approximately four to five times UPC Holding's Covenant EBITDA. As a result, this pro forma adjustment represents the estimated interest and related derivative payments that would not have been made by UPC Holding if the sale of the Discontinued European Operations had been completed on January 1, 2018. These estimated payments are calculated based on the Discontinued European Operation's pro rata share of UPC Holding's OCF and UPC Holding's aggregate interest and derivative payments during the applicable period. Although we believe that these estimated payments represent a reasonable estimate of the reduction in annual interest and related derivative payments that will occur as a result of the sale of the Discontinued European Operations, no assurance can be given that the actual debt repayments will result in reductions equivalent to the amounts presented. No pro forma adjustments are required with respect to Unitymedia's interest and derivative payments as substantially all of Unitymedia’s debt and related derivative instruments are direct obligations of entities within the Vodafone Disposal Group. As a result, the interest and related derivative payments associated with such debt and derivative instruments of Unitymedia are included in discontinued operations.

(iv)
Represents our preliminary estimate of the net cash flows that we would have received from transition services agreements if the sale of the Discontinued European Operations had occurred on January 1, 2018. The estimated net cash flows are based on the estimated revenue that we expect to recognize from our transition services agreements during the first 12 months following the completion of the sale of the Discontinued European Operations, less the estimated incremental costs that we expect to incur to provide such transition services.

(v)
Represents the Adjusted FCF that we estimate would have resulted if the sale of the Discontinued European Operations had been completed on January 1, 2018. Actual amounts may differ from the amounts assumed for purposes of this pro forma calculation.

ARPU: Average Revenue Per Unit is the average monthly subscription revenue per average cable customer relationship or mobile subscriber, as applicable. Following the adoption of ASU 2014-09, subscription revenue excludes interconnect fees, channel carriage fees, mobile handset sales and late fees, but includes the amortization of installation fees. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2014-09, installation fees were excluded from subscription revenue. ARPU per average cable customer relationship is calculated by dividing the average monthly subscription revenue from residential cable and SOHO services by the average number of cable customer relationships for the period. ARPU per average mobile subscriber is calculated by dividing residential mobile and SOHO revenue for the indicated period by the average number of mobile subscribers for the period. Unless otherwise indicated, ARPU per cable customer relationship or mobile subscriber is not adjusted for currency impacts. ARPU per RGU refers to average monthly revenue per average RGU, which is calculated by dividing the average monthly subscription revenue from residential and SOHO services for the indicated period, by the average

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number of the applicable RGUs for the period. Unless otherwise noted, ARPU in this release is considered to be ARPU per average cable customer relationship or mobile subscriber, as applicable. Cable customer relationships, mobile subscribers and RGUs of entities acquired during the period are normalized. In addition, for purposes of calculating the percentage change in ARPU on a rebased basis, we adjust the prior-year subscription revenue, cable customer relationships, mobile subscribers and RGUs, as applicable, to reflect acquisitions, dispositions, FX and the January 1, 2018 adoption of the new revenue recognition standard (ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers) on a comparable basis with the current year, consistent with how we calculate our rebased growth for revenue and OCF, as further described in the body of this release.

ARPU per Mobile Subscriber: Our ARPU per mobile subscriber calculation that excludes interconnect revenue refers to the average monthly mobile subscription revenue per average mobile subscriber and is calculated by dividing the average monthly mobile subscription revenue (excluding handset sales and late fees) for the indicated period, by the average of the opening and closing balances of mobile subscribers in service for the period. Our ARPU per mobile subscriber calculation that includes interconnect revenue increases the numerator in the above-described calculation by the amount of mobile interconnect revenue during the period.

Basic Video Subscriber: a home, residential multiple dwelling unit or commercial unit that receives our video service over our broadband network either via an analog video signal or via a digital video signal without subscribing to any recurring monthly service that requires the use of encryption-enabling technology. Encryption-enabling technology includes smart cards, or other integrated or virtual technologies that we use to provide our enhanced service offerings. We count RGUs on a unique premises basis. In other words, a subscriber with multiple outlets in one premises is counted as one RGU and a subscriber with two homes and a subscription to our video service at each home is counted as two RGUs.

Blended fully-swapped debt borrowing cost: the weighted average interest rate on our aggregate variable- and fixed-rate indebtedness (excluding capital leases and including vendor financing obligations), including the effects of derivative instruments, original issue premiums or discounts and commitment fees, but excluding the impact of financing costs.

B2B: Business-to-Business.

Cable Customer Relationships: the number of customers who receive at least one of our video, internet or telephony services that we count as RGUs, without regard to which or to how many services they subscribe. Cable Customer Relationships generally are counted on a unique premises basis. Accordingly, if an individual receives our services in two premises (e.g., a primary home and a vacation home), that individual generally will count as two Cable Customer Relationships. We exclude mobile-only customers from Cable Customer Relationships.

Customer Churn: the rate at which customers relinquish their subscriptions. The annual rolling average basis is calculated by dividing the number of disconnects during the preceding 12 months by the average number of customer relationships. For the purpose of computing churn, a disconnect is deemed to have occurred if the customer no longer receives any level of service from us and is required to return our equipment. A partial product downgrade, typically used to encourage customers to pay an outstanding bill and avoid complete service disconnection, is not considered to be disconnected for purposes of our churn calculations. Customers who move within our cable footprint and upgrades and downgrades between services are also excluded from the disconnect figures used in the churn calculation.

DTH Subscriber: a home, residential multiple dwelling unit or commercial unit that receives our video programming broadcast directly via a geosynchronous satellite.

Enhanced Video Subscriber: a home, residential multiple dwelling unit or commercial unit that receives our video service over our broadband network or through a partner network via a digital video signal while subscribing to any recurring monthly service that requires the use of encryption-enabling technology. Enhanced Video Subscribers are counted on a unique premises basis. For example, a subscriber with one or more set-top boxes that receives our video service in one premises is generally counted as just one subscriber. An Enhanced Video Subscriber is not counted as a Basic Video Subscriber. As we migrate customers from basic to enhanced video services, we report a decrease in our Basic Video Subscribers equal to the increase in our Enhanced Video Subscribers.

Homes Passed: homes, residential multiple dwelling units or commercial units that can be connected to our networks without materially extending the distribution plant, except for DTH homes. Certain of our Homes Passed counts are based on census data that can change based on either revisions to the data or from new census results. We do not count homes passed for DTH.

Internet Subscriber: a home, residential multiple dwelling unit or commercial unit that receives internet services over our networks, or that we service through a partner network. Our Internet Subscribers do not include customers that receive services from dial-up connections.

MDU: Multiple Dwelling Unit.

Mobile Subscriber Count: the number of active SIM cards in service rather than services provided. For example, if a mobile subscriber has both a data and voice plan on a smartphone this would equate to one mobile subscriber. Alternatively, a subscriber who has a voice and data plan for a mobile handset and a data plan for a laptop would be counted as two mobile subscribers. Customers who do not pay a recurring monthly fee are excluded from our mobile telephony subscriber counts after periods of inactivity ranging from 30 to 90 days, based on industry standards within the respective country. In a number of countries, our mobile subscribers receive mobile services pursuant to prepaid contracts.

MVNO: Mobile Virtual Network Operator.

NPS: Net Promoter Score.

OCF: As used herein, OCF has the same meaning as the term "Adjusted OIBDA" that is referenced in our 10-Q. OCF is the primary measure used by our chief operating decision maker to evaluate segment operating performance. OCF is also a key factor that is used by our internal decision makers to (i) determine how to allocate resources to segments and (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of our management for purposes of annual and other incentive compensation plans. As we use the term, OCF is defined as operating income before depreciation and amortization, share-based compensation, provisions and provision releases related to significant litigation and impairment, restructuring and other operating items. Other operating items include (a) gains

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and losses on the disposition of long-lived assets, (b) third-party costs directly associated with successful and unsuccessful acquisitions and dispositions, including legal, advisory and due diligence fees, as applicable, and (c) other acquisition-related items, such as gains and losses on the settlement of contingent consideration. Our internal decision makers believe OCF is a meaningful measure because it represents a transparent view of our recurring operating performance that is unaffected by our capital structure and allows management to (1) readily view operating trends, (2) perform analytical comparisons and benchmarking between segments and (3) identify strategies to improve operating performance in the different countries in which we operate. We believe our OCF measure is useful to investors because it is one of the bases for comparing our performance with the performance of other companies in the same or similar industries, although our measure may not be directly comparable to similar measures used by other public companies. OCF should be viewed as a measure of operating performance that is a supplement to, and not a substitute for, operating income, net earnings or loss, cash flow from operating activities and other U.S. GAAP measures of income or cash flows. 

A reconciliation of our operating income to total OCF is presented in the following table:
 
Three months ended September 30,
 
Nine months ended September 30,
 
2018
 
20173
 
2018
 
20173
 
Continuing operations
 
Full Company
 
Continuing operations
 
Full Company
 
Continuing operations
 
Full Company
 
Continuing operations
 
Full Company
 
in millions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income
$
208.6

 
$
757.0

 
$
210.7

 
$
517.7

 
$
592.9

 
$
1,995.7

 
$
622.7

 
$
1,404.7

Share-based compensation expense
42.8

 
47.1

 
21.5

 
23.2

 
131.0

 
141.6

 
101.8

 
110.0

Depreciation and amortization
935.3

 
935.3

 
953.7

 
1,216.5

 
2,952.8

 
3,308.8

 
2,743.4

 
3,523.3

Impairment, restructuring and other operating items, net
107.4

 
109.9

 
54.6

 
58.7

 
199.0

 
212.4

 
61.0

 
88.7

Total OCF
$
1,294.1

 
$
1,849.3

 
$
1,240.5

 
$
1,816.1

 
$
3,875.7

 
$
5,658.5

 
$
3,528.9

 
$
5,126.7


OCF margin: calculated by dividing OCF by total revenue for the applicable period.

Property and equipment additions (P&E Additions): includes capital expenditures on an accrual basis, amounts financed under vendor financing or capital lease arrangements and other non-cash additions.

RGU: A Revenue Generating Unit is separately a Basic Video Subscriber, Enhanced Video Subscriber, DTH Subscriber, Internet Subscriber or Telephony Subscriber. A home, residential multiple dwelling unit, or commercial unit may contain one or more RGUs. For example, if a residential customer in our U.K. market subscribed to our enhanced video service, fixed-line telephony service and broadband internet service, the customer would constitute three RGUs. Total RGUs is the sum of Basic Video, Enhanced Video, DTH, Internet and Telephony Subscribers. RGUs generally are counted on a unique premises basis such that a given premises does not count as more than one RGU for any given service. On the other hand, if an individual receives one of our services in two premises (e.g., a primary home and a vacation home), that individual will count as two RGUs for that service. Each bundled cable, internet or telephony service is counted as a separate RGU regardless of the nature of any bundling discount or promotion. Non-paying subscribers are counted as subscribers during their free promotional service period. Some of these subscribers may choose to disconnect after their free service period. Services offered without charge on a long-term basis (e.g., VIP subscribers or free service to employees) generally are not counted as RGUs. We do not include subscriptions to mobile services in our externally reported RGU counts. In this regard, our September 30, 2018 RGU counts exclude our separately reported postpaid and prepaid mobile subscribers.

SIM: Subscriber Identification Module.

SOHO: Small or Home Office Subscribers.

Telephony Subscriber: a home, residential multiple dwelling unit or commercial unit that receives voice services over our networks, or that we service through a partner network. Telephony Subscribers exclude mobile telephony subscribers.

Two-way Homes Passed: homes passed by those sections of our networks that are technologically capable of providing two-way services, including video, internet and telephony services.

U.S. GAAP: United States Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

YoY: Year-over-year.

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