TDS reports second quarter 2023 results

In this article:

CHICAGO, Aug. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ --

As previously announced, TDS will hold a teleconference on August 4, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. CDT. Listen to the call live via the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (NYSE:TDS) reported total operating revenues of $1,267 million for the second quarter of 2023, versus $1,349 million for the same period one year ago. Net income (loss) attributable to TDS common shareholders and related diluted earnings (loss) per share were $(19) million and $(0.17), respectively, for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $18 million and $0.15, respectively, in the same period one year ago.

2Q 2023 Highlights*

UScellular

  • Focused on improving subscriber trajectory to reduce postpaid losses - made progress in reducing postpaid churn 

  • Executing on growth initiatives

  • Reduced debt balance by $150 million in 2Q'23

  • Launching 5G Mid-Band network - providing low latency and faster speeds

TDS Telecom

  • Delivered 66,000 fiber service addresses through June; remain on track to deliver 175,000 fiber addresses by end of 2023 

  • Broadband investments driving positive results

  • Increased full-year Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA guidance due to disciplined spending

  • Modestly reduced full-year capital expenditures guidance

* Comparisons are 2Q'22 to 2Q'23 unless otherwise noted

"The TDS Family of Companies continues to execute on its multi-year strategies, while focusing intensely on cost containment," said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., TDS President and CEO. "UScellular has begun deploying mid-band 5G spectrum, and TDS Telecom is making solid progress on its fiber program.

"At UScellular, postpaid handset subscriber trends improved slightly year-over-year driven by improvements in churn, however, subscriber results remained challenged overall as gross additions declined. Two of UScellular's growth areas, fixed wireless and the tower portfolio, produced year-over-year double-digit increases in gross additions and revenues, respectively. In July, UScellular surpassed 100,000 fixed wireless customers – a key milestone as momentum for the product continues.

"TDS Telecom grew its residential revenue per connection and increased total residential broadband connections for the quarter. TDS Telecom continues to execute its broadband growth strategy through its multi-year fiber expansion program."

Recent Development: On August 4, 2023, TDS and UScellular announced a process to explore a range of strategic alternatives for UScellular.

2023 Estimated Results

TDS' current estimates of full-year 2023 results for UScellular and TDS Telecom are shown below. Such estimates represent management's view as of August 4, 2023 and should not be assumed to be current as of any future date. TDS undertakes no duty to update such estimates, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that final results will not differ materially from estimated results.

The 2023 Estimated Results shown below do not reflect any anticipated costs, expenses or results of the strategic review referenced above.

2023 Estimated Results



UScellular

Previous

Current

(Dollars in millions)



Service revenues

$3,050-$3,150

$3,025-$3,075

Adjusted OIBDA1

$725-$875

$750-$850

Adjusted EBITDA1

$875-$1,025

$925-$1,025

Capital expenditures

$600-$700

Unchanged



TDS Telecom

Previous

Current

(Dollars in millions)



Total operating revenues

$1,030-$1,060

Unchanged

Adjusted OIBDA1

$260-$290

$270-$300

Adjusted EBITDA1

$260-$290

$270-$300

Capital expenditures

$500-$550

$475-$525

The following tables reconcile EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measures, Net income or Income before income taxes. In providing 2023 estimated results, TDS has not completed the below reconciliation to Net income because it does not provide guidance for income taxes. Although potentially significant, TDS believes that the impact of income taxes cannot be reasonably predicted; therefore, TDS is unable to provide such guidance.


2023 Estimated Results


UScellular


TDS Telecom

(Dollars in millions)




Net income (GAAP)

N/A


N/A

Add back:




Income tax expense

N/A


N/A

Income before income taxes (GAAP)

$50-$150


$40-$70

Add back:




Interest expense

200


Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense

655


230

EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1

$905-$1,005


$270-$300

Add back or deduct:




(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

20


Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1

$925-$1,025


$270-$300

Deduct:




Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

160


Interest and dividend income

15


Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1

$750-$850


$270-$300

 


Actual Results


Six Months Ended

June 30, 2023


Year Ended

December 31, 2022


UScellular


TDS

Telecom


UScellular


TDS

Telecom

(Dollars in millions)








Net income (GAAP)

$             20


$             15


$             35


$             53

Add back:








Income tax expense

29


5


37


23

Income before income taxes (GAAP)

$             49


$             21


$             72


$             76

Add back:








Interest expense

99


(4)


163


(7)

Depreciation, amortization and accretion expense

330


119


700


215

EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1

$           478


$           136


$           935


$           284

Add back or deduct:








Loss on impairment of licenses



3


(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

13


3


19


7

(Gain) loss on sale of business and other exit costs, net



(1)


Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP)1

$           491


$           139


$           956


$           291

Deduct:








Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

82



158


Interest and dividend income

5


2


8


2

Other, net


1



1

Adjusted OIBDA (Non-GAAP)1

$           404


$           136


$           790


$           288

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

1

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are defined as net income adjusted for the items set forth in the reconciliation above. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are not measures of financial performance under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States (GAAP) and should not be considered as alternatives to Net income or Cash flows from operating activities, as indicators of cash flows or as measures of liquidity. TDS does not intend to imply that any such items set forth in the reconciliation above are non-recurring, infrequent or unusual; such items may occur in the future. Management uses Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA as measurements of profitability, and therefore reconciliations to Net income are deemed appropriate. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA are useful measures of TDS' operating results before significant recurring non-cash charges, gains and losses, and other items as presented above as they provide additional relevant and useful information to investors and other users of TDS' financial data in evaluating the effectiveness of its operations and underlying business trends in a manner that is consistent with management's evaluation of business performance. Adjusted EBITDA shows adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and accretion, and gains and losses, while Adjusted OIBDA reduces this measure further to exclude Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities and Interest and dividend income in order to more effectively show the performance of operating activities excluding investment activities. The table above reconciles EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted OIBDA to the corresponding GAAP measure, Net income or Income before income taxes. Additional information and reconciliations related to Non-GAAP financial measures for June 30, 2023, can be found on TDS' website at investors.tdsinc.com.

Stock Repurchase
During the second quarter of 2023, TDS repurchased 255,090 of its Common Shares for $3 million.

Conference Call Information
TDS will hold a conference call on August 4, 2023 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time.

Before the call, certain financial and statistical information to be discussed during the call will be posted to investors.tdsinc.com. The call will be archived on the Events & Presentations page of investors.tdsinc.com.

About TDS
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS), a Fortune 1000® company, provides wireless; broadband, video and voice; and hosted and managed services to approximately 6 million connections nationwide through its businesses, UScellular, TDS Telecom, and OneNeck IT Solutions. Founded in 1969 and headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed approximately 9,100 associates as of June 30, 2023.

Visit investors.tdsinc.com for comprehensive financial information, including earnings releases, quarterly and annual filings, shareholder information and more.

Safe Harbor Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All information set forth in this news release, except historical and factual information, represents forward-looking statements. This includes all statements about the company's plans, beliefs, estimates, and expectations. These statements are based on current estimates, projections, and assumptions, which involve certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that may affect these forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: whether any strategic alternatives for UScellular will be successfully identified or completed; whether any such strategic alternative will result in additional value for TDS or its shareholders and whether the process will have an adverse impact on TDS' businesses; intense competition; the ability to obtain or maintain roaming arrangements with other carriers on acceptable terms and changes in roaming practices; the ability to obtain access to adequate radio spectrum to meet current or anticipated future needs, including participation in FCC auctions; the ability to attract people of outstanding talent throughout all levels of the organization; TDS' smaller scale relative to larger competitors; changes in demand, consumer preferences and perceptions, price competition, or churn rates; advances in technology; impacts of costs, integration problems or other factors associated with acquisitions, divestitures or exchanges of properties or wireless spectrum licenses and/or expansion of TDS' businesses; the ability of the company to successfully construct and manage its networks; difficulties involving third parties with which TDS does business; uncertainties in TDS' future cash flows and liquidity and access to the capital markets; the ability to make payments on TDS and UScellular indebtedness or comply with the terms of debt covenants; conditions in the U.S. telecommunications industry; the value of assets and investments; the state and federal regulatory environment; pending and future litigation; cyber-attacks or other breaches of network or information technology security; control by the TDS Voting Trust; disruption in credit or other financial markets; deterioration of U.S. or global economic conditions; and the impact, duration and severity of public health emergencies. Investors are encouraged to consider these and other risks and uncertainties that are more fully described under "Risk Factors" in the most recent filing of TDS' Form 10-K, as updated by any TDS Form 10-Q filed subsequent to such Form 10-K.

For more information about TDS and its subsidiaries, visit:
TDS: www.tdsinc.com
UScellular: www.uscellular.com
TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com
OneNeck IT Solutions: www.oneneck.com

 

United States Cellular Corporation

Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)

As of or for the Quarter Ended

6/30/2023


3/31/2023


12/31/2022


9/30/2022


6/30/2022

Retail Connections










Postpaid










Total at end of period

4,194,000


4,223,000


4,247,000


4,264,000


4,296,000

Gross additions

125,000


137,000


154,000


151,000


128,000

Handsets

83,000


93,000


105,000


107,000


94,000

Connected devices

42,000


44,000


49,000


44,000


34,000

Net additions (losses)

(28,000)


(24,000)


(17,000)


(31,000)


(40,000)

Handsets

(29,000)


(25,000)


(20,000)


(22,000)


(31,000)

Connected devices

1,000


1,000


3,000


(9,000)


(9,000)

ARPU1

$        50.64


$        50.66


$        50.60


$        50.21


$        50.07

ARPA2

$      130.19


$      130.77


$      130.97


$      130.27


$      130.43

Handset upgrade rate3

4.8 %


4.9 %


7.0 %


8.1 %


6.0 %

Churn rate4

1.21 %


1.27 %


1.35 %


1.42 %


1.30 %

Handsets

1.01 %


1.06 %


1.12 %


1.15 %


1.10 %

Connected devices

2.65 %


2.78 %


2.99 %


3.40 %


2.73 %

Prepaid










Total at end of period

462,000


470,000


493,000


493,000


490,000

Gross additions

50,000


43,000


61,000


62,000


56,000

Net additions (losses)

(8,000)


(23,000)



2,000


(4,000)

ARPU1

$        33.86


$        33.19


$        33.34


$        35.04


$        35.25

Churn rate4

4.18 %


4.63 %


4.11 %


4.07 %


4.07 %

Market penetration at end of period










Consolidated operating population

32,350,000


32,350,000


32,370,000


32,370,000


32,370,000

Consolidated operating penetration5

15 %


15 %


15 %


15 %


15 %

Capital expenditures (millions)

$           143


$           208


$           176


$           136


$           268

Total cell sites in service

6,952


6,950


6,945


6,933


6,916

Owned towers

4,341


4,338


4,336


4,329


4,323



1   

Average Revenue Per User (ARPU) - metric is calculated by dividing a revenue base by an average number of connections and by the number of months in the period. These revenue bases and connection populations are shown below:
•       Postpaid ARPU consists of total postpaid service revenues and postpaid connections.
•       Prepaid ARPU consists of total prepaid service revenues and prepaid connections.

Average Revenue Per Account (ARPA) - metric is calculated by dividing total postpaid service revenues by the average number of postpaid accounts and by the number of months in the period.

Handset upgrade rate calculated as total handset upgrade transactions divided by average postpaid handset connections.

Churn rate represents the percentage of the connections that disconnect service each month. These rates represent the average monthly churn rate for each respective period.

5  

Market penetration is calculated by dividing the number of wireless connections at the end of the period by the total estimated population of consolidated operating markets. 

 

TDS Telecom

Summary Operating Data (Unaudited)

As of or for the Quarter Ended

6/30/2023


3/31/2023


12/31/2022


9/30/2022


6/30/2022

Residential connections










Broadband










Wireline, Incumbent

249,200


247,900


249,100


252,600


252,700

Wireline, Expansion

70,200


62,800


56,100


49,400


44,100

Cable

204,200


204,700


204,800


204,500


204,000

Total Broadband

523,600


515,400


510,000


506,500


500,800

Video

132,300


132,600


135,300


136,600


137,400

Voice

288,200


289,200


291,600


295,500


298,300

Total Residential connections

944,100


937,200


936,900


938,600


936,500

Commercial connections

223,300


229,800


236,000


242,800


250,700

Total connections

1,167,400


1,167,000


1,173,000


1,181,400


1,187,200











Residential revenue per connection1

$           61.97


$           60.24


$           59.91


$           60.32


$           59.67











Capital expenditures (millions)

$              132


$              130


$              165


$              166


$              120


Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

1         

Total residential revenue per connection is calculated by dividing total residential revenue by the average number of residential connections and by the number of months in the period. 

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Operations Highlights

(Unaudited)


Three Months Ended

June 30,


Six Months Ended

June 30,


2023


2022


2023

vs. 2022


2023


2022


2023

vs. 2022

(Dollars and shares in millions, except per share amounts)












Operating revenues












UScellular

$      957


$ 1,027


(7) %


$   1,942


$ 2,037


(5) %

TDS Telecom

257


256


1 %


510


507


1 %

All Other1

53


66


(19) %


118


120


(2) %


1,267


1,349


(6) %


2,570


2,664


(4) %

Operating expenses












UScellular












Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

759


806


(6) %


1,538


1,573


(2) %

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

161


172


(7) %


330


342


(4) %

Loss on impairment of licenses


3


N/M



3


N/M

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

3


6


(44) %


13


8


73 %


923


987


(7) %


1,881


1,926


(2) %

TDS Telecom












Expenses excluding depreciation, amortization and accretion

189


180


5 %


374


349


7 %

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

60


52


15 %


119


106


12 %

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

2


1


N/M


3


1


N/M


251


233


8 %


496


456


9 %

All Other1












Expenses excluding depreciation and amortization

56


61


(7) %


124


116


6 %

Depreciation and amortization

4


5


3 %


7


8


(2) %


60


66


(7) %


131


124


6 %

Total operating expenses

1,234


1,286


(4) %


2,508


2,506


Operating income (loss)












UScellular

34


40


(13) %


61


111


(45) %

TDS Telecom

7


23


(71) %


15


51


(72) %

All Other1

(8)



N/M


(14)


(4)


N/M


33


63


(47) %


62


158


(61) %

Investment and other income (expense)












Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

38


38


1 %


82


83


(1) %

Interest and dividend income

6


5


10 %


11


7


61 %

Interest expense

(62)


(40)


(54) %


(116)


(72)


(59) %

Other, net



(34) %


1



26 %

Total investment and other income (expense)

(18)


3


N/M


(22)


18


N/M

Income before income taxes

15


66


(77) %


40


176


(77) %

Income tax expense

15


27


(43) %


28


65


(56) %

Net income


39


(100) %


12


111


(90) %

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax

2


4


(63) %


6


15


(67) %

Net income (loss) attributable to TDS shareholders

(2)


35


N/M


6


96


(93) %

TDS Preferred Share dividends

17


17



35


35


Net income (loss) attributable to TDS common shareholders

$      (19)


$      18


N/M


$      (29)


$      61


N/M













Basic weighted average shares outstanding

113


115


(2) %


113


115


(2) %

Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS common shareholders

$   (0.17)


$   0.15


N/M


$   (0.25)


$   0.53


N/M













Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

113


116


(3) %


113


116


(3) %

Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to TDS common shareholders

$   (0.17)


$   0.15


N/M


$   (0.25)


$   0.52


N/M


N/M - Percentage change not meaningful.

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

1      

Consists of TDS corporate, intercompany eliminations and all other business operations not included in the UScellular and TDS Telecom segments. 

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)


Six Months Ended

June 30,


2023


2022

(Dollars in millions)




Cash flows from operating activities




Net income

$                 12


$               111

Add (deduct) adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities




Depreciation, amortization and accretion

456


456

Bad debts expense

53


54

Stock-based compensation expense

14


23

Deferred income taxes, net

22


52

Equity in earnings of unconsolidated entities

(82)


(83)

Distributions from unconsolidated entities

78


80

Loss on impairment of licenses


3

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

16


9

Other operating activities

4


3

Changes in assets and liabilities from operations




Accounts receivable

19


(25)

Equipment installment plans receivable

7


(25)

Inventory

52


(35)

Accounts payable

(124)


(6)

Customer deposits and deferred revenues

(9)


7

Accrued taxes

56


131

Accrued interest

(1)


1

Other assets and liabilities

(59)


(22)

Net cash provided by operating activities

514


734





Cash flows from investing activities




Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment

(629)


(526)

Cash paid for intangible assets

(8)


(585)

Advance payments for license acquisitions


(1)

Other investing activities

8


(10)

Net cash used in investing activities

(629)


(1,122)





Cash flows from financing activities




Issuance of long-term debt

391


776

Repayment of long-term debt

(209)


(228)

Issuance of short-term debt


60

Repayment of short-term debt

(60)


TDS Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments

(3)


(4)

UScellular Common Shares reissued for benefit plans, net of tax payments

(6)


(5)

Repurchase of TDS Common Shares

(6)


(20)

Repurchase of UScellular Common Shares


(18)

Dividends paid to TDS shareholders

(76)


(76)

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

(2)


(2)

Cash paid for software license agreements

(20)


(3)

Other financing activities


(1)

Net cash provided by financing activities

9


479





Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash

(106)


91





Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash




Beginning of period

399


414

End of period

$               293


$               505

 

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights

(Unaudited)


ASSETS






June 30, 2023


December 31, 2022

(Dollars in millions)




Current assets




Cash and cash equivalents

$                                251


$                                360

Accounts receivable, net

1,107


1,181

Inventory, net

216


268

Prepaid expenses

104


102

Income taxes receivable

5


59

Other current assets

63


58

Total current assets

1,746


2,028





Assets held for sale

16


26





Licenses

4,704


4,699





Goodwill

547


547





Other intangible assets, net

193


204





Investments in unconsolidated entities

500


495





Property, plant and equipment, net

4,932


4,760





Operating lease right-of-use assets

988


995





Other assets and deferred charges

780


796





Total assets

$                          14,406


$                          14,550

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheet Highlights

(Unaudited)


LIABILITIES AND EQUITY






June 30, 2023


December 31, 2022

(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)




Current liabilities




Current portion of long-term debt

$                                  60


$                                  19

Accounts payable

364


506

Customer deposits and deferred revenues

278


285

Accrued interest

12


12

Accrued taxes

45


46

Accrued compensation

104


144

Short-term operating lease liabilities

147


146

Other current liabilities

268


356

Total current liabilities

1,278


1,514





Deferred liabilities and credits




Deferred income tax liability, net

987


969

Long-term operating lease liabilities

900


908

Other deferred liabilities and credits

820


813





Long-term debt, net

3,872


3,731





Noncontrolling interests with redemption features

12


12





Equity




TDS shareholders' equity




Series A Common and Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share

1


1

Capital in excess of par value

2,532


2,551

Preferred Shares, par value $0.01 per share

1,074


1,074

Treasury shares, at cost

(466)


(481)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

5


5

Retained earnings

2,606


2,699

Total TDS shareholders' equity

5,752


5,849





Noncontrolling interests

785


754





Total equity

6,537


6,603





Total liabilities and equity

$                          14,406


$                          14,550

 

Balance Sheet Highlights

(Unaudited)




June 30, 2023




TDS


TDS Corporate


Intercompany


TDS


UScellular


Telecom


& Other


Eliminations


Consolidated

(Dollars in millions)










Cash and cash equivalents

$                 186


$                   73


$                    69


$                  (77)


$                 251











Licenses, goodwill and other intangible assets

$              4,694


$                 744


$                      6


$                    —


$              5,444

Investment in unconsolidated entities

457


4


47


(8)


500


$              5,151


$                 748


$                    53


$                    (8)


$              5,944











Property, plant and equipment, net

$              2,640


$              2,203


$                    89


$                    —


$              4,932











Long-term debt, net:










Current portion

$                   54


$                    —


$                      6


$                    —


$                   60

Non-current portion

3,105


3


764



3,872


$              3,159


$                     3


$                  770


$                    —


$              3,932

 

TDS Telecom Highlights

(Unaudited)














Three Months Ended

June 30,


Six Months Ended

June 30,


2023


2022


2023

vs. 2022


2023


2022


2023

vs. 2022

(Dollars in millions)












Operating revenues












Residential












Wireline, Incumbent

$         89


$         88


1 %


$       175


$       173


1 %

Wireline, Expansion

18


12


48 %


33


22


46 %

Cable

68


68


1 %


136


135


1 %

Total residential

175


168


4 %


344


330


4 %

Commercial

39


44


(10) %


80


87


(8) %

Wholesale

43


45


(4) %


86


89


(4) %

Total service revenues

257


256


1 %


510


507


1 %

Equipment revenues



(5) %



1


(17) %

Total operating revenues

257


256


1 %


510


507


1 %













Cost of services

108


103


5 %


212


199


7 %

Cost of equipment and products



24 %




(10) %

Selling, general and administrative expenses

81


77


5 %


162


150


8 %

Depreciation, amortization and accretion

60


52


15 %


119


106


12 %

(Gain) loss on asset disposals, net

2


1


N/M


3


1


N/M

Total operating expenses

251


233


8 %


496


456


9 %













Operating income

$           7


$         23


(71) %


$         15


$         51


(72) %


N/M - Percentage change not meaningful.

Numbers may not foot due to rounding.

 

Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.

Financial Measures and Reconciliations

(Unaudited)

Free Cash Flow



Three Months Ended

June 30,


Six Months Ended

June 30,


2023


2022


2023


2022

(Dollars in millions)








Cash flows from operating activities (GAAP)

$                 469


$                 352


$                 514


$                 734

Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment

(298)


(256)


(629)


(526)

Cash paid for software license agreements

(12)



(20)


(3)

Free cash flow (Non-GAAP)1

$                 159


$                   96


$               (135)


$                 205



1         

Free cash flow is a non-GAAP financial measure which TDS believes may be useful to investors and other users of its financial information in evaluating liquidity, specifically, the amount of net cash generated by business operations after deducting Cash paid for additions to property, plant and equipment and Cash paid for software license agreements.

 

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View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tds-reports-second-quarter-2023-results-301893557.html

SOURCE Telephone and Data Systems

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