Financial: Teligent Reports 1998 Financial Results, Sets Operating Benchmarks for 1999 - Company Financial Information

EDGE, On & About AT&T, March 8, 1999

Following a year of rapid expansion, Teligent, an integrated communications company, Monday released financial results for the fourth quarter and year-end of 1998.

The company also announced 1999 targets for revenue, buildings, customers, lines and other measures of performance.

"Teligent chalked up very impressive accomplishments in 1998," said Teligent Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Alex J. Mandl. "First and foremost, we transformed ourselves from an opportunity into an operating company.

"We launched our first 15 markets during the fourth quarter, we grew to nearly 1,500 employees, we built a sales team of 200 and we signed leases or options for nearly 2,400 customer buildings. We also secured regulatory authority to offer service in all of our licensed markets."

For the year ending December 31, 1998, Teligent reported a net loss of $281 million on revenue of approximately $1 million. Net loss for the fourth quarter was $105 million on revenue of $480,000. Teligent's net loss for 1998 was up from $138 million reported for 1997.

The fourth quarter and year-end losses reflect the company's continuing investment in its SmartWave local communications networks, which are in service or under construction in 37 markets throughout the country.

Teligent reported $183 million in capital expenditures in 1998, up from $10 million in 1997. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter were $72 million, up from $6 million in the fourth quarter of 1997. As of December 31, 1998, the company reported fixed assets of $197 million and cash of $416 million. Last July, Teligent closed an $800 million bank credit facility, which has not yet been utilized.

"We ended the year in an excellent financial position, with $1.2 billion available to fund growth through 2000," said Teligent Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Abraham L. Morris.

In addition to releasing 1998 financial results, Teligent also announced performance benchmarks for 1999. At the end of the year, Mandl said Teligent expects annual revenue of $35 million and negative EBITDA of $350 million. The company intends to spend $300 million on capital outlays as it works towards its goal of launching service in a total of 40 markets by the end of the year.

During 1999, Teligent plans to more than double the number of customer buildings covered by lease or option agreements, raising the total of leased or optioned buildings to 5,000. Mandl said the company plans to grow its customer base to 10,000 by the end of the year and install more than 75,000 lines.

"Teligent got off to a fast start in 1998," said Teligent President and Chief Operating Officer Kirby G. "Buddy" Pickle. "We inaugurated our first 15 markets - five more than we originally announced - during a two-month period at the end of the year, following a year of preparation. In 1999, we intend to continue an aggressive market roll out program, even as we penetrate deeper into existing markets to sell service to more customers in more buildings."

During 1998, Teligent launched service in: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas-Forth Worth, San Francisco-Oakland, Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Denver, Washington DC, San Jose, San Antonio, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Austin.

Since January 1, Teligent has launched service in nine additional markets: Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Milwaukee, Richmond, Wilmington, Del., West Palm Beach and New Orleans. Together, those 24 markets comprise more than 400 cities and towns with a combined population of nearly 75 million and 30 percent of the nation's 54 million business lines.

"The offer of broadband data and voice services, coupled with savings of up to 30 percent, has proven very appealing to customers. We've been very happy to find broad acceptance of our fixed wireless technology among both customers and building owners," Pickle said.

"During our first four months of commercial operations, we've proven our ability to seamlessly blend point-to-multipoint, point-to-point and broadband wireline technology in our integrated local communications networks. That is a major achievement," Pickle added.

Teligent offers small and medium-sized companies a flat monthly bill that represents savings of up to 30 percent off the rates they pay their current local telephone company, national long distance carrier and Internet provider.

To qualify for the maximum discount, customers switch their existing service - local, long distance or Internet - and sign up with Teligent for a minimum of one year. Teligent averages several representative bills from the customer's current carriers and deducts 30 percent. That figure becomes the customer's new flat monthly rate.

In most cases, it's that simple. Local and Internet service are unlimited. If customers wish to increase their long distance usage over current levels, they can purchase more service at attractive prices.

Teligent service also features eomagineSM, an interactive, Web-based business management tool that enables customers to access their billing and account information anytime they choose.