Frontier Communications Seeking New CEO Ahead of Restructuring

(Bloomberg) -- Frontier Communications Corp. has started the search for new management to take over the company after it completes what could be the biggest telecom restructuring in nearly two decades, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Advisers for the rural wireline telephone provider have started looking for a possible replacement for Chief Executive Officer Dan McCarthy, who has led Frontier since 2015, the people said. They asked not to be identified discussing a confidential matter.

A representative for the Norwalk, Connecticut-based company said it doesn’t comment on rumors or speculation. McCarthy couldn’t be reached for comment.

Frontier’s bonds fell across the curve, with its 11% bonds due September 2025 dropping to a record low of 44.75 cents on the dollar to yield nearly 33%, according to Trace data.

Frontier is in talks with advisers about solutions to its $17.5 billion debt load, which has swelled in recent years as people stop using land lines. Creditors have been pushing Frontier for a plan, which could include bankruptcy.

Due Diligence

Telecom consulting firm Altman Vilandrie & Co. has been hired by creditors to conduct due diligence on Frontier, including the development of a post-reorganization business plan, the people said. The company could file for bankruptcy in the first quarter of 2020, ahead of more than $300 million of interest due in March, the people said.

Robert Citrone’s hedge fund, Discovery Capital Management LLC, which is believed by market participants to have bought derivatives protecting against default, has argued that investors will fare better if it files for Chapter 11 sooner rather than later.

A group of creditors including Elliott Management Corp. and Franklin Resources Inc. holds nearly 50% of the company’s bonds and is organized with law firm Akin Gump and investment bank Ducera Partners LLC, Bloomberg previously reported. Some members of that group are believed by market participants to have sold derivatives insuring against a Frontier default that expire in December. That would skew their interests against a Chapter 11 filing before that date.

A separate group of creditors including GoldenTree Asset Management LP is organized with Houlihan Lokey Inc. and Milbank LLP, Bloomberg previously reported. Frontier is getting advice from Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Evercore Inc.

Representatives for Kirkland, Akin Gump, Ducera, Houlihan Lokey, Franklin, GoldenTree, Altman and Milbank didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment or couldn’t immediately comment. Representatives for Elliott and Evercore declined to comment.

Court Protection

Frontier has warned that it may have to file for court protection from its creditors. A restructuring of Frontier’s debt load in bankruptcy would rank among the biggest telecom reorganizations since Worldcom Inc. in 2002, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Frontier isn’t the only wireline telecommunications firm to run into trouble. Windstream Holdings Inc. sought creditor protection earlier this year after losing a default trial against Aurelius Capital Management LP.

The company filed a revised severance agreement with its second-quarter earnings results for McCarthy, listed as 54 years old in this year’s proxy materials. If terminated without cause, McCarthy would be entitled to severance payments, full vesting of 2017 and 2018 restricted stock, full vesting of 2017 and 2018 long-term incentive awards. His 2019 retention and performance awards will be forgiven and no repayment required.

McCarthy has worked for Frontier for more than 25 years, joining the board in May 2014, according to the proxy statement. He served as president and chief operating officer before taking over as CEO in April 2015.

--With assistance from Boris Korby.

To contact the reporters on this story: Allison McNeely in New York at amcneely@bloomberg.net;Sridhar Natarajan in New York at snatarajan15@bloomberg.net;Katherine Doherty in New York at kdoherty23@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Rick Green at rgreen18@bloomberg.net, Shannon D. Harrington

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