Reorganization and merger

On May 15, 2014, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization by and among Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (now Cogent Communications Group, LLC), a Delaware corporation (“Group”), Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Holdings”), and Cogent Communications Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, Group adopted a new holding company organizational structure whereby Group is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. Holdings is a “successor issuer” to Group pursuant to Rule 12g-3(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). References to the “Company” for events that occurred prior to May 15, 2014 refer to Cogent Communications Group, Inc. (now Cogent Communications Group, LLC) and its subsidiaries, and on and after May 15, 2014, the “Company” refers to Cogent Communications Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Cogent Communications, LLC (formerly Cogent Communications, Inc.) is wholly owned by Group, Cogent Fiber LLC (formerly Sprint Communications Company LP) is indirectly wholly owned by Holdings, and the vast majority of the Company’s assets are held by, contractual arrangements are executed by, and operations are conducted by, Cogent Fiber LLC and Cogent Communications, LLC.

Description of business

The Company is a facilities-based provider of low-cost, high-speed Internet access, private network services, optical wavelength and optical transport services and data center colocation space and power. The Company network is designed and optimized specifically to provide both IP services to transmit packet routed data as well as to provide optical wave and transport services. The Company delivers its services primarily to businesses, large and small, communications service providers and other bandwidth-intensive organizations in 58 countries across North America, Europe, Asia, South America, Oceania and Africa. The Company is a Delaware corporation and is headquartered in Washington, DC.

The Company offers on-net Internet access services exclusively through its own facilities, which run from its network to its customers’ premises. The Company offers its on-net services to customers located in buildings that are physically connected to its network. As a result, the Company is not dependent on local telephone companies or cable TV companies to serve its customers for its on-net Internet access and private network services. The Company’s on-net service consists of high-speed Internet access and private network services offered at speeds ranging from 100 megabits per second to 400 gigabits per second.

The Company provides its on-net Internet access and private network services to its corporate, net-centric and enterprise customers. The Company’s corporate customers are located in multi-tenant office buildings that typically include law firms, financial services firms, advertising and marketing firms, as well as health care providers, educational institutions and other professional services businesses. The Company’s net-centric customers include bandwidth-intensive users that leverage its network either to deliver content to end users or to provide access to residential or commercial Internet users. Content delivery customers include over the top media service providers, content delivery networks, web hosting companies, and commercial content and application software providers. The Company’s net-centric customers include access networks comprised of other Internet Service Providers, telephone companies, mobile phone operators and cable television companies that collectively provide internet access to a substantial number of broadband subscribers and mobile phone subscribers across the world. These net-centric customers generally receive the Company’s services in carrier neutral colocation facilities and in the Company’s own data centers. The Company operates data centers throughout North America and Europe that allow its customers to collocate their equipment and access the Company’s network.

In addition to providing on-net services, the Company provides Internet access and private network services to customers that are not located in buildings directly connected to its network. The Company provides these off-net services primarily to corporate customers using other carriers’ circuits to provide the “last mile” portion of the link from the customers’ premises to the Company’s network. The Company also provides certain non-core services that resulted from acquisitions, including the acquisition of Sprint Communications, now called Cogent Fiber LLC (as discussed below). The Company continues to support but does not actively sell these non-core services.

Following the Company’s acquisition of Cogent Fiber LLC and pursuant to intercompany arrangements between Cogent Fiber LLC and the Company for use of the acquired Cogent Fiber LLC network, the Company began to provide optical wavelength services and optical transport services. The Company is selling these wavelength services to its existing customers, customers of Cogent Fiber LLC and to new customers who require dedicated optical transport connectivity without the capital and ongoing expenses associated with owning and operating network infrastructure.

Additionally, the customers of the Cogent Fiber Business (as defined below) include a number of companies larger than the Company’s historical customer base. In connection with the acquisition of Cogent Fiber LLC, the Company expanded selling services to these larger “Enterprise” customers.

Accounting Standards Not Yet Adopted

In November 2024, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2024-03, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive Income - Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40) Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, (“ASU 2024-03”), which requires a public business entity to disclose additional information about specific expense categories in the notes to financial statements on an annual and interim basis. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2026, and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2027, with early adoption permitted. A public entity should apply the amendments either prospectively to financial statements issued for reporting periods after the effective date of the ASU or retrospectively to any or all prior periods presented in the financial statements. The Company will not early adopt ASU 2024-03 and is in the process of evaluating the impact on its consolidated financial statements from the adoption of ASU 2024-03.

Acquisition of Cogent Fiber Business

On September 6, 2022, Cogent Infrastructure, Inc. (now Cogent Infrastructure, LLC), a Delaware corporation and a direct wholly owned subsidiary of the Company (the “Buyer” or “Cogent Infrastructure”), entered into a Membership Interest Purchase Agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Sprint Communications LLC, a Kansas limited liability company (“Sprint Communications”) and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of T-Mobile US, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“T-Mobile”), and Sprint LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of T-Mobile (the “Seller”), pursuant to which the Company acquired the U.S. long-haul fiber network (including the non-U.S. extensions thereof) of Sprint Communications (now Cogent Fiber LLC) and its subsidiaries (the “Cogent Fiber Business”). Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, the Company purchased from the Seller all of the issued and outstanding membership interests (the “Purchased Interests”) of Wireline Network Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company that, following an internal restructuring and divisive merger, held Sprint Communications’ assets and liabilities relating to the Cogent Fiber Business (such transactions contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, collectively, the “Transaction”). The Purchase Agreement included customary representations, warranties, indemnities and covenants, including regarding the conduct of the Cogent Fiber Business prior to the closing of the Transaction (the “Closing”). In addition, the Closing was subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of certain required regulatory approvals and consents.

The Company believes it is in a unique position to monetize the Cogent Fiber Business and its network and management expects to continue to achieve significant cost reduction synergies and revenue synergies from the Transaction.

Purchase Price

The Transaction closed on May 1, 2023 (the “Closing Date”). On the Closing Date, the Buyer consummated the Transaction pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, providing a purchase price of $1 payable to the Seller for the Purchased Interests, subject to customary adjustments, including working capital (the “Working Capital Adjustment”), as set forth in the Purchase Agreement. As consideration for the Purchased Interests, the Working Capital Adjustment (primarily related to acquired cash and cash equivalents of an estimated $43.4 million at the Closing Date in order to fund the international operations of the Cogent Fiber Business) resulted in the Buyer making a payment to the Seller of $61.1 million on the Closing Date. During the third quarter of 2023, an additional Working Capital Adjustment of $5.0 million was accrued due to the Seller. The final determination of the Working Capital Adjustment (which included the Short-term Lease Payment below) was completed in April 2024, and the Company paid the Seller $5.0 million for the remaining Working Capital Adjustment.

Short-term lease payment

The Purchase Agreement also provides for a payment of $28.1 million ($19.8 million net of discount) from the Seller to the Buyer related to acquired short-term operating lease obligations (the “Short-term Lease Payment”). The Short-term Lease Payment will be paid from the Seller to the Company in four equal payments in months 55 to 58 after the Closing Date. The final determination of the Short-term Lease Payment was completed in April 2024. The Short-term Lease Payment was recorded at its present value resulting in a discount of $8.4 million. The interest rate used in determining the present value was derived considering rates on similar issued debt instruments with comparable durations, among other market factors. The determination of the discount rate required some judgment. During the third quarter of 2023, the Short-term Lease Payment was reduced by $4.8 million and in the first quarter of 2024, the Short-term Lease Payment was reduced by an additional $17.0 million, net of discount of $7.2 million. Including the cumulative impact of these adjustments, the amortization of the discount resulted in interest income of $0.5 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, and interest income of $0.9 million and $0.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.

IP Transit Services Agreement

On the Closing Date, Cogent Communications, Inc. (now Cogent Communications, LLC), and T-Mobile USA, Inc., a Delaware corporation and direct subsidiary of T-Mobile (“TMUSA”), entered into an agreement for IP transit services (“IP Transit Services Agreement”), pursuant to which TMUSA will pay an affiliate of the Company an aggregate of $700.0 million, consisting of (i) $350.0 million in equal monthly installments of $29.2 million per month during the first year after the Closing Date and (ii) $350.0 million in equal monthly installments of $8.3 million per month over the subsequent 42 months. Under the IP Transit Services Agreement, TMUSA paid the Company $33.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2026 and $58.3 million during the six months ended June 30, 2026. The $8.3 million payment scheduled for July 2026 was paid on June 30, 2026. Under the IP Transit Services Agreement, TMUSA paid the Company $25.0 million during the three months ended June 30, 2025 and $50.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2025.

The Company accounted for the Transaction as a business combination under ASC Topic 805 Business Combinations (“ASC 805”). The Company evaluated what elements are part of the business combination and the consideration exchanged to complete the acquisition. Under ASC 805, the Company has concluded that the $700.0 million of payments to be made represent consideration received from T - Mobile to complete the acquisition of a distressed business. The Company also evaluated whether the IP Transit Services Agreement was in the scope of ASU No. 2014 - 09 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”). The Company has concluded that T - Mobile did not represent a “customer” as defined by ASC 606, the stated contract price did not represent consideration for services to be delivered, and the transaction did not satisfy the definition of revenue, which excluded this arrangement from the scope of ASC 606. As a result, and considering statements made by T - Mobile, the IP Transit Services Agreement was recorded in connection with the Transaction at its discounted present value resulting in a discount of $79.6 million. The interest rate used in determining the present value was derived considering rates on similar issued debt instruments with comparable durations, among other market factors. The determination of the discount rate requires some judgment. The amortization of the discount resulted in interest income of $2.7 million and $4.3 million during the three months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively, and $5.8 million and $9.0 million during the six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025, respectively.

Acquired Property & Equipment

In connection with the Transaction, the Company acquired property and equipment of $965.7 million. This was primarily comprised of the legacy Sprint network and consisted of optical fiber, related equipment, and owned real estate that were valued using a combination of cost and market approaches. Management intends to operate the acquired business; however, management valued these assets using factors that represent an orderly liquidation value, to approximate the highest and best use of assets acquired in a distressed business.

The estimated fair value of the optical fiber on the Closing Date was $369.2 million. The valuation required the estimation of the total replacement cost per mile of fiber and a factor to reflect the orderly liquidation value. There is no active market data for these assumptions and these assumptions are inherently subjective. Market participants could have differing views on these assumptions, which could result in a materially different fair value of the optical fiber.

Acquired Leases

The Company acquired a portfolio of lease arrangements for the lease of dark fiber, rights-of-way and facilities. In accordance with ASC 805 and ASC Topic 842 Leases, the acquired leases are accounted for as if the leases were new at the acquisition date, however, the Company retains the lease classification from the Seller. The Company followed its historical policies with respect to evaluating the renewal periods of the acquired leases and estimating the incremental borrowing rate.

The Company also evaluated the leases for unfavorable terms and recorded an adjustment for unfavorable market terms of $157.2 million that was valued using the income approach. Unfavorable lease liabilities are presented net of the corresponding right-of-use assets.

Acquired Intangible Assets

Intangible assets acquired include $458.0 million of Internet Protocol version 4 (“IPv4”) addresses and $16.0 million of acquired customer relationships. The acquired customer relationships have an estimated useful life of nine years, and the estimated fair value was determined using a market-based income approach. Amortization expense was $0.4 million and $0.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively, and was $0.4 million and $0.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively. Future amortization expense of the customer relationships is $1.8 million per year for six years.

The fair value measurement of the IPv4 addresses was based on recent auction prices and a factor to incorporate the uncertainty for how the market for IPv4 addresses will function in the future. The Company believes that the IPv4 address asset has an indefinite useful life and is not being amortized. The Company evaluates the IPv4 address asset for impairment on the first day of the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. In performing the impairment assessment, the Company may first evaluate qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of the indefinite-lived intangible asset is less than its carrying amount. Upon consideration of relevant factors, the Company concluded that it was not more-likely-than-not that impairment was present, and therefore, a quantitative impairment assessment was not required. There was no impairment recorded during the period from May 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026.

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. In the opinion of management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments that the Company considers necessary for the fair presentation of its results of operations and cash flows for the interim periods covered, and of the financial position of the Company at the date of the interim condensed consolidated balance sheet. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in the annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for the entire year. While the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to not make the information misleading, these interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes included in its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include all wholly owned subsidiaries. All inter-company accounts and activity have been eliminated.

Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

Financial instruments

At June 30, 2026 and December 31, 2025, the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash, accounts receivable, prepaid and other current assets, accounts payable, and accrued expenses approximated fair value because of the short-term nature of these instruments. The Company measures its cash equivalents and restricted cash at amortized cost, which approximates fair value based upon quoted market prices (Level 1).

Based upon recent trading prices (Level 2—market approach) at June 30, 2026:

Restricted cash

Restricted cash includes amounts held in segregated bank accounts by the Company’s clearing broker as margin in support of the Company’s Swap Agreement, as discussed in Note 3, and was $4.1 million as of December 31, 2025. The Swap Agreement was settled in February 2026. Restricted cash related to the IPv4 Notes, as discussed in Note 3, was $38.4 million as of June 30, 2026 and $52.5 million as of December 31, 2025. Restricted cash related to the Company’s 2032 Notes was $147.6 million as of June 30, 2026, as discussed in Note 3. Additional cash may be further restricted under the provisions of the Company’s IPv4 Note Indenture (as defined below) and the Company’s 2032 Notes. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

Gross receipts taxes, universal service fund and other surcharges

Revenue recognition standards include guidance relating to taxes or surcharges assessed by a governmental authority that are directly imposed on a revenue-producing transaction between a seller and a customer and may include, but are not limited to, gross receipts taxes, excise taxes, Universal Service Fund fees and certain state regulatory fees. Such charges may be presented gross or net based upon the Company’s accounting policy election. The Company records certain excise taxes and surcharges on a gross basis and includes them in its revenue and network operations expense. Excise taxes and surcharges billed to customers and recorded on a gross basis (as service revenue and network operations expense) were $18.9 million and $38.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026, respectively and were $20.0 million and $40.2 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2025, respectively.

Basic and diluted net income (loss) per common share

Basic net income or net loss per share (“EPS”) excludes dilution for common stock equivalents and is computed by dividing net income or net loss available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is based on the weighted-average number of shares of common stock outstanding during each period, adjusted for the effect of dilutive common stock equivalents. Shares of restricted stock are included in the computation of basic EPS as they vest and are included in diluted EPS, to the extent they are dilutive, determined using the treasury stock method.

The following details the determination of diluted weighted-average shares:

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The following details unvested shares of restricted common stock as well as the anti-dilutive effects of stock options and restricted stock awards outstanding:

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Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity

The following details the changes in stockholders’ (deficit) equity for the three and six months ended June 30, 2026 and 2025 (in thousands except share data):

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Revenue recognition

The Company recognizes revenue under ASU No. 2014 - 09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”), which requires an entity to recognize the amount of revenue to which it expects to be entitled for the transfer of promised goods or services to customers. Fees billed in connection with customer installations are recorded as deferred revenue. Installation fees for contracts with terms longer than month-to-month are recognized over the contract term. The Company recognizes revenue over the estimated average customer life for installation fees associated with month-to-month contracts. To the extent a customer contract is terminated prior to its contractual end, the customer is subject to termination fees. The Company vigorously seeks payment of these termination fees. The Company recognizes revenue for termination fees as they are collected.

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Leases

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (“ASU 2016-02”). ASU 2016-02 replaced most existing lease accounting guidance. The operating lease liability under ASU 2016-02 is not considered a liability under the consolidated leverage ratio calculations in the indentures governing the Company’s senior unsecured and senior secured note obligations. The Company has made an accounting policy election to not apply the recognition requirements of ASU 2016-02 to its short-term leases, which are leases with a term of one year or less. The Company has also elected to apply certain practical expedients under ASU 2016-02 including not separating lease and non-lease components on its finance and operating leases.

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Operating leases and finance leases

The Company has entered into lease agreements with numerous providers of dark fiber under IRUs. These IRUs typically have initial terms of 15-20 years and include renewal options after the initial lease term. The majority of these leases are finance leases. The Company also leases office space, rights-of-way, dark fiber and certain data center facilities under operating leases. Right-of-use assets represent the Company’s right to use an underlying asset for the lease term and lease liabilities represent its obligation to make lease payments under the lease.

As of June 30, 2026, the Company had committed to additional IRU agreements totaling $96.7 million in future payments to be paid over periods of up to 20 years. These obligations begin when the related fiber is accepted, which is generally expected to occur in the next 12 months.

The future minimum payments under the Company’s operating lease and finance lease agreements are as follows (in thousands):

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Asset Retirement Obligations

In accordance with ASC 410, the Company has not recorded an asset retirement obligation related to restoration obligations for the removal of optical fiber because a settlement date for which to remove the fiber is indeterminable and therefore a reasonable estimation of fair value cannot be made.