“First-to-Fiber” and “Glass & Steel^TM” Strategies Drive Year Over Year Growth

• Grew revenue 4% to $186.4 million
• Increased total high-speed subscribers by 22%
• Expanded broadband homes passed by high-speed data services by 66%
• Capital expenditures were $38.9 million (net of $4.9 million of reimbursements)

Operating Income and Adjusted EBITDA Improvements Follow Subscriber and Revenue Growth

• Increased net income to $0.8 million, or a $(0.03) loss per share; operating income increased to $2.4 million
• Increased Adjusted EBITDA¹ by 10% to $45.8 million

Reiterates 2023 Outlook³

• Adjusted EBITDA expected to be in the range of $183 million to $193 million
• Capital expenditures expected to be in the range of $160 million to $170 million

Earnings Conference Call

• Thursday, July 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET; web participant link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/hweveeqj
  
  

BEVERLY, Mass., July 26, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATN International, Inc. (“ATN” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: ATNI), a leading provider of digital infrastructure and communications services, today reported financial results for the three and six months ended June 30, 2023.

Remarks by Michael Prior, ATN CEO

“The growth in revenues and our customer base contributed to margin improvement and Adjusted EBITDA expansion, tracking to our three-year plan. Over the past year, we have increased the number of homes passed by fiber and other high-speed networks by 66%. This has led to 22% growth in our high-speed data subscribers as we have upgraded legacy broadband users and brought on new subscribers. This early success improves the durability of our revenue further validating our Glass & Steel^TM and First-to-Fiber strategies. Also, we were pleased with the 14% growth in international mobile subscribers.

“As expected, we closed a major, long-term contract with a national mobile carrier during the quarter to provide network, infrastructure, and technical services. This long-term contract leverages our operating capabilities and a mobile network covering more than 50,000 square miles of the western United States.

“Our long-term track record of strong operational and financial performance provided the foundation to refinance our main credit facility on attractive terms despite the current market environment. The new facilities have five- and six-year maturities, adding to our financial strength and flexibility. As we enter the latter stages of our three-year fiber-driven expansion, our focus is shifting toward increasing free cash flow and reducing our leverage ratio, as we anticipate network spending to moderate while growing our subscriber base and recurring revenue on this expanded and upgraded network footprint.”

Second Quarter 2023 Financial Results

Consolidated revenues were $186.4 million, up 4% versus $179.5 million in the year-ago quarter. This increase primarily reflects higher mobility and fixed revenues, including those from a recent acquisition, partially offset by lower legacy roaming and construction revenues.

Operating income rose to $2.4 million, from $1.7 million in the year-ago quarter. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to higher revenues, partially offset by an increase in operating and depreciation expenses from a recent acquisition.

Net income attributable to ATN stockholders increased to $0.8 million, and a net loss of $(0.03) per share, compared with a net loss attributable to ATN stockholders of $(0.5) million, or $(0.11) loss per share, in the year-ago quarter. The improvement in net income was due primarily to an increase in operating income, an income tax benefit and income from non-controlling investments, partially offset by a $6.1 million increase in interest expense. In both periods, the loss per share calculation includes the impact of preferred dividends that are not included in the net income (loss) calculation.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased to $45.8 million, from $41.7 million in the year-ago quarter.

Segment Operating Results (in Thousands)

The Company recorded financial results in three categories: (i) International Telecom; (ii) US Telecom; and (iii) Corporate and Other.

* Corporate and Other refer to corporate overhead expenses and consolidating adjustments.
**Excludes government capital programs amounts disbursed and amounts received.

ATN’s Strategic Plan and Key Performance Indicators

Investments to drive long-term growth and durable cash flow To address the growing need for more bandwidth and reliable connectivity across all markets in which we operate, the Company continues to deploy capital in fiber and fiber-fed high-speed data solutions to increase the Company’s fiber footprint and grow broadband subscribers.

Operating Metrics

*HSD is defined as download speeds 100 Mbps or greater and HSD Broadband Customers as subscribers connected to our high-speed networks regardless of the speed of plan selected.

Note: Data presented may differ from prior periods to reflect more accurate data and/or changes in calculation methodology and process.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash as of June 30, 2023, was $67.2 million and total debt was $482.1 million, versus $72.2 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and $356.1 million of total debt at the end of the year-ago quarter.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $60.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2023, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $50.7 million in the prior year period.   

Capital expenditures were $89.5 million net of $7.0 million of reimbursable capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2023, versus $71.2 million, net of $3.9 million of reimbursable capital expenditures a year ago.

Quarterly Dividends and Stock Repurchases

Quarterly dividends ATN paid a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share on July 7, 2023, on all common shares outstanding to stockholders of record as of June 30, 2023.

Stock repurchases of the Company’s common stock totaled $6.8 million in the first six months of 2023.

Guidance and Outlook

The Company is continuing investments in its “Glass & Steel™” and “First-to-Fiber” market strategies. At the start of 2022, the Company set business targets to be achieved exiting 2024 following a three-year period of above-normal network investments. In 2023, the Company believes it remains well-positioned to achieve the growth rate targets, capital expenditure levels projected, and projected leverage ratios.

Reiterates outlook for full year ending December 31, 2023:

Reiterates outlook for the three-year period ending December 31, 2024:

Note: Revenue and Adjusted EBITDA CAGRS assume full year 2021 Alaska results and exclude construction revenue.

For the Company’s three-year outlook for Adjusted EBITDA, CAGR, Net Debt and Net Debt Ratio, the Company is not able to provide without unreasonable effort the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, or reconciliations to such GAAP financial measures, on a forward-looking basis. Please see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a full description of items excluded from the Company’s expected Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt.

Conference Call Information

Call Date: Thursday, July 27, 2023
Call Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Webcast Link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/hweveeqj
Live Call Participant Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI91d57dad09fe477f9509fd230131cc7b

Webcast Link Instructions – A live audio webcast of the conference call is available by visiting the “Webcast Link” above or the “Events & Presentations” section of the Company’s Investor Relations website at https://ir.atni.com/events-and-presentations. A replay of the conference call will be available at the same location approximately one hour after the live call concludes. The Company also will provide an investor presentation as a supplement to the call on the “Events & Presentations” section of its Investor Relations website.

About ATN

ATN International, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATNI), headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, is a leading provider of digital infrastructure and communications services for all. The Company operates in the United States and internationally, including the Caribbean region, with a focus on rural and remote markets with a growing demand for infrastructure investments. The Company’s operating subsidiaries today primarily provide: (i) advanced wireless and wireline connectivity to residential, business, and government customers, including a range of high-speed Internet and data services, fixed and mobile wireless solutions, and video and voice services; and (ii) carrier and enterprise communications services, such as terrestrial and submarine fiber optic transport, and communications tower facilities. For more information, please visit www.atni.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures and Definition of Terms

In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this press release also contains non-GAAP financial measures. Specifically, the Company has included EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt, and Net Debt Ratio in this release and the tables included herein.

EBITDA is defined as Operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expense.

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization expense, transaction-related charges, restructuring expenses, one-time impairment or special charges, and the gain (loss) on disposition of assets. To more closely align with similar calculations presented by companies in its industry, beginning in this first quarter of 2023, the Company excluded non-cash stock-based compensation in its adjustment to derive Adjusted EBITDA. Prior periods have been restated to conform to this definition change.

Net Debt is defined as total debt less cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash.

Net Debt Ratio is defined as Net Debt divided by the trailing four quarters’ ended total Adjusted EBITDA at the measurement date.

The Company believes that the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures helps investors gain a meaningful understanding of the Company's core operating results and enhances the usefulness of comparing such performance with prior periods. Management uses these non-GAAP measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring the Company’s core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the text of, and the accompanying tables to, this press release. While non-GAAP financial measures are an important tool for financial and operational decision-making and for evaluating the Company’s own operating results over different periods of time, the Company urges investors to review the reconciliation of these financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures included below, and not to rely on any single financial measure to evaluate its business.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other matters, the Company’s future financial performance, business goals and objectives, and results of operations, expectations regarding the transition of its US Telecom business, its future revenues, operating income, cash flows, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt, Net Debt Ratio, and capital investments; demand for the Company’s services and industry trends; the Company’s liquidity; our expansion into growing markets; the expansion of the Company’s customer base; and management’s plans and strategy for the future. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions and are not guarantees of future events or results. Actual future events and results could differ materially from the events and results indicated in these statements as a result of many factors, including, among others, (1) the general performance of the Company’s operations, including operating margins, revenues, capital expenditures, and the retention of and future growth of the Company’s subscriber base and ARPU; (2) the Company’s reliance on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services relating to the Company’s network infrastructure; (3) the Company’s ability to satisfy the needs and demands of the Company’s major carrier customers; (4) the Company’s ability to realize expansion plans for its fiber markets; (5) the adequacy and expansion capabilities of the Company’s network capacity and customer service system to support the Company’s customer growth; (6) the Company’s ability to efficiently and cost-effectively upgrade the Company’s networks and information technology platforms to address rapid and significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry; (7) the Company’s continued access to capital and credit markets on terms it deems favorable; (8) government subsidy program availability and regulation of the Company’s businesses, which may impact the Company’s telecommunications licenses, the Company’s revenue and the Company’s operating costs; (9) the Company’s ability to successfully transition its US Telecom business away from wholesale wireless to other carrier and consumer-based services; (10) ongoing risk of an economic downturn, political, geopolitical and other risks and opportunities facing the Company’s operations, including those resulting from the continued inflation and other macroeconomic headwinds including increased costs and supply chain disruptions; (11) the loss of, or an inability to recruit skilled personnel in the Company’s various jurisdictions, including key members of management; (12) the Company’s ability to find investment or acquisition or disposition opportunities that fit the strategic goals of the Company; (13) the occurrence of weather events and natural catastrophes and the Company’s ability to secure the appropriate level of insurance coverage for these assets; and (14) increased competition. These and other additional factors that may cause actual future events and results to differ materially from the events and results indicated in the forward-looking statements above are set forth more fully under Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2023, and the other reports the Company files from time to time with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation and has no intention to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions, or changes in other factors that may affect such forward-looking statements, except as required by law.

¹ See Table 5 for reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure.

² See Table 5 for reconciliation of Operating Income to EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure.

³ For the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA Guidance, the Company is not able to provide without unreasonable effort the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, or reconciliations to such GAAP financial measures, on a forward-looking basis. Please see “Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below for a full description of items excluded from the Company’s expected Adjusted EBITDA and Net Debt.