ATN Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

• Fourth Quarter and Full Year Performance Demonstrates Resilience of ATN’s Telecom Services Businesses
• Alaska Communications’ Shareholders to Vote on ATN’s Acquisition on March 12
• Long Term Growth Strategy Focused on Developing Additional Partnership Opportunities to Leverage Operating Platform and Expertise

BEVERLY, Mass., Feb. 23, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ATN International, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATNI) today reported results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2020.

Business Review and Outlook

Commenting on results, Michael Prior, Chief Executive Officer said, “Our fourth quarter results represented a solid finish to a year of positive operating performance for ATN. In 2020, one of the more challenging business periods in recent history, our telecom operations reported a combined 19% increase in operating income and an 8% increase in EBITDA¹. We attribute these results to the resilience of these businesses and the tremendous efforts of our employees, whose adoption of strict health and safety protocols enabled us to remain operational throughout the pandemic.

“Our International Telecom operations continued their steady progress in the fourth quarter resulting in strong year-on-year operating performance. Demand for broadband remained robust throughout 2020, and we were pleased to see growth in our mobile subscriber base as well. Further, we made significant strides in improving operational efficiency, which included implementing new digital solutions and processes within our businesses, enhancements to our customer experience and the implementation of electronic bill paying and other services across our markets. Our international telecom operations generated significant cash flow during the year despite the pandemic, which will help support our growth initiatives moving into 2021. We are looking ahead to further improvements in our International Telecom results as our markets continue to open back up and tourism returns to more historic levels.

“As expected, the year-on-year operating performance of our US Telecom operations declined slightly in 2020 as our business model transitions from one driven by wholesales wireless revenues to a more diversified mix of revenue from carrier services, including more tower rental, backhaul and maintenance services and growing enterprise broadband and private network services. Operating income and EBITDA¹ for this segment trended lower as carrier service revenues that carry increased operating costs replaced higher margin wholesale wireless revenue. In addition, we incurred significant additional operating expenses related to the development of our early-stage private network business and the expansion of our fiber and broadband infrastructure and sales activities. The combination of these activities is likely to result in much higher US Telecom segment operating expenses in 2021 on flat aggregate annual revenue, excluding any contributions from the Alaska Communications acquisition. We believe these are critical investments in the future revenue potential in rural enterprise, wholesale and broadband, and in private networks, as we look to accelerate the transition of this business segment from a wholesale roaming operation to a broader communications infrastructure platform.

“We are enthusiastic about our pending acquisition of Alaska Communications. This transaction will provide us entry into a new domestic market and pair us with a leading communications technology infrastructure and services provider. We expect there will be significant opportunities to drive revenue synergies around fiber infrastructure expansion, as well as to offer the latest technologies to commercial customers, including next-generation managed services and private network solutions. With the expiration of the HSR antitrust waiting period without comment, we expect the transaction to close in the second half of this year, pending favorable shareholder approval at the meeting scheduled for March 12, 2021 and the receipt of additional regulatory approvals.

“ATN has a long track record of creating value as an owner and operator of communications infrastructure assets by consistently growing recurring cash flow and investing in our customer centric operating platform. We have made great progress improving and expanding that platform in recent years and our long-term growth strategy is centered on leveraging this best-in-class operating platform and working with financial partners to expand our network infrastructure under management. We will look to do this both with organic build outs of fiber, wireless and specialized networks and related services and with opportunistic strategic investments and acquisitions such as the Alaska Communications transaction,” Mr. Prior concluded.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

Fourth quarter 2020 consolidated revenues of $123.7 million were up 10% compared to the prior year quarter’s revenue of $112.1 million. The operating loss and EBITDA¹ for the quarter was $14.7 million and $7.5 million, respectively, and were largely impacted by a $21.5 million loss on the sale of a majority ownership position in the Company’s India-based solar business. This compares to an operating loss of $1.7 million for the prior year quarter and EBITDA¹ of $22.5 million. Adjusted EBITDA² for the quarter was $30.5 million, an increase of 7% compared to the prior year’s $28.5 million. Net loss attributable to ATN’s stockholders for the fourth quarter was $20.5 million, or $1.29 per share, compared with the prior year period’s net loss of $9.8 million, or $0.61 per share.

Consolidated revenues for the full year ended December 31, 2020 were $455.4 million and were up 4% compared the full year of 2019. Operating income for the full year ended December 31, 2020 was $9.2 million compared with $13.4 million in the prior year. EBITDA¹ and Adjusted EBITDA² for the full year was $97.5 million and $120.7 million, respectively, compared with the prior years $102.5 million and $108.9 million, respectively. Net loss attributable to ATN’s stockholders for full year 2020 was $14.1 million, or $0.89 per share, compared with the prior year period’s net loss of $10.8 million, or $0.68 per share.

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Operating Highlights

The Company has three reportable segments: (i) International Telecom; (ii) US Telecom; and (iii) Renewable Energy.

In 2020 the Company restructured its presentation of revenue in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and in the Selected Segment Financial Information tables. This change is intended to better align the reporting of financial performance with views of the Company’s management and industry competitors, and to facilitate discussions with investors and analysts. As a result of the sale of a majority ownership position in the Company’s India-based solar business, beginning in the second quarter of 2021, the Company will discontinue reporting current activity under a separate “Renewable Energy” operating segment.

International Telecom

International Telecom revenues are generated by delivery of a broad range of communications services, including data, voice and video services from the Company’s fixed and mobile network operations in Bermuda and the Caribbean. International Telecom revenues were $83.8 million for the quarter, a 1% increase year-on-year mainly due to increases in fixed broadband and mobility revenues in multiple markets partially offset by lower carrier services revenues related to lower roaming traffic due to continued travel restrictions. Compared to the prior year quarter, operating income increased 25% to $13.9 million and EBITDA¹ increased 6% to $28.1 million, respectively, primarily from lower operating costs in addition to the increased revenues in the quarter. During the fourth quarter of 2020 we increased the Company’s equity ownership in One Communications, the Company’s Bermuda and Cayman based subsidiary, through the purchase of an additional approximate 10% stake, increasing the Company’s total ownership to approximately 70%, which was accretive to overall Company earnings this quarter and is expected to continue to be accretive to earnings in 2021.

US Telecom

US Telecom revenues consist mainly of carrier services revenues and fixed and mobile retail revenues from the Company’s networks and operations in the western United States, as well as revenue from providing private networks for connectivity and automation to business and government customers nationwide. US Telecom segment revenues were $38.7 million in the quarter, an increase of 39% from the prior year period due mostly to $10.5 million of FirstNet construction revenues, along with increased government program-based fixed revenues partially offset by contractual reductions in carrier services revenues. Operating income and EBITDA¹ for this segment of $1.2 million and $7.2 million, respectively, each decreased by approximately $1.0 million from the prior year’s quarter as a result of the revenue impact of contractual reductions in carrier services revenues and increased operating expenses.

In the fourth quarter, the Company completed and activated approximately 15% of the total sites related to the network build portion of its FirstNet Agreement. Although pandemic-related restrictions delayed the overall timing of the build, the Company expects approximately 65% of the total build to be constructed and operational by the end 2021. As revenues from the build will be largely offset by construction costs, the Company does not expect a material impact on operating income or EBITDA¹ from this delay.

In 2020, the Company, in partnership with the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority (NTUA), was awarded approximately $18.0 million under the CARES Act to construct 85 sites to expand broadband coverage on the Navajo Nation. Most of the sites were completed late in the fourth quarter and as a result did not impact operating expenses in 2020. However, the Company expects operating costs in 2021 to outpace revenue increases as customers are added to the network. The Company expects increased annual operating costs of $10.0 - $12.0 million in 2021 to service the CARES sites and the completed FirstNet sites coming on line. As the FirstNet sites are completed, the increase in operating costs should be partially mitigated by lower network capital spending.

In addition to increased construction and network operating costs, the Company expects to incur higher costs to further fund the development of its private network business. In 2020, the Company spent approximately $6.0 million of net incremental operating expenses investing in its early-stage private network business and expects to increase annual net spending on this business to $12.0 million in 2021 as it seeks to bolster product development and bring in sales and marketing resources. The incremental network operating costs combined with the incremental private network business spend are expected to contribute to significantly lower EBITDA for this segment in 2021 as compared to 2020.

Also, in the fourth quarter, the Company participated in the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund auction and pending the FCC’s conclusion of the award process, expects to receive approximately $20.1 million over 10 years to provide broadband coverage to over 10,000 households.

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy segment revenues are principally the result of the generation and sale of electric power generated by our commercial solar projects in India under the “Vibrant Energy” name. As previously announced, the Company entered into an agreement during the fourth quarter to sell 67% of the outstanding equity interests of the Vibrant Energy business for consideration of approximately $21.0 million at closing and the potential for up to $6.3 million of additional “earn out” consideration. The Company consummated the transaction in January 2021 and retained a 33% ownership interest in Vibrant Energy. As a result of the transaction, all of the net assets and net liabilities of Vibrant Energy were classified as current held-for-sale assets and liabilities at December 31, 2020, and the Company recorded a corresponding $21.5 million loss on this sale during the fourth quarter of 2020. The consummation of the transaction resulted in the discontinuation of the Company’s Renewable Energy Segment and as a result, the Company will report future results of its continued ownership interest in Vibrant Energy through the equity method of accounting.

In the fourth quarter of 2020 revenue was $1.2 million, consistent with the prior year. The current quarter’s operating loss and EBITDA¹ of $22.6 million and $21.9 million, respectively, includes the loss on the sale of Vibrant Energy. Adjusted EBITDA² for this segment was approximately $0.2 million in both the current and prior year’s quarter.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at December 31, 2020 was $105.0 million. Net cash provided by operating activities was $86.3 million for the full year ended December 31, 2020, compared with $87.9 million for the prior year. The slight decline in operating cash flow compared with the prior year is the result of an increase in current year working capital investments made as part of the FirstNet construction project partially offset by lower current year tax payments and improved current year operating income when adjusting for the non-cash impact of the recorded loss on the sale of Vibrant Energy. For the year ended December 31, 2020, the Company used net cash of $143.6 million for investing and financing activities compared to $118.2 million for the prior year. In the current year, the net use of cash was primarily from $75.3 million in capital expenditures of which $15.6 million was or is expected to be reimbursed, $28.9 million of repurchases of minority equity interests in our subsidiaries, $20.4 million in purchases of FCC spectrum, $13.8 million of principal repayments of term loans, $10.9 million of dividends to Company stockholders, $10.4 million in minority partner distributions and $8.3 million of Company share repurchases. These uses of investing and financing cash were partially offset by $16.3 million of government grants received and $12.0 million received for a tax refund from a renewable energy tax equity investment. As anticipated, a portion of our 2020 capital spending projects were delayed in 2020 due to the pandemic and are now expected to take place in 2021. Accordingly, management expects full year 2021 capital expenditures in International Telecom to be approximately $45.0 to $55.0 million. In the US Telecom segment, the Company expects capital expenditures to be approximately $40.0 to $50.0 million, including $25.0 to $30.0 million on towers and backhaul.

Conference Call Information

ATN will host a conference call on Wednesday, February 24, 2021 at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its fourth quarter and full year results and business outlook. The call will be hosted by Michael Prior, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Justin Benincasa, Chief Financial Officer. The dial-in numbers are US/Canada: (877) 734-4582 and International: (678) 905-9376, conference ID 8883323. A replay of the call will be available at ir.atni.com beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, February 24, 2021.

About ATN

ATN International, Inc. (Nasdaq: ATNI), headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, invests in and operates communications, energy and technology businesses in the United States and internationally, including the Caribbean region, with a particular focus on markets with a need for significant infrastructure investments and improvements. Our operating subsidiaries today primarily provide: (i) advanced wireless and wireline connectivity to residential and business customers, including a range of high-speed internet services, mobile wireless solutions, video services and local exchange services, and (ii) wholesale communications infrastructure services such as terrestrial and submarine fiber optic transport, communications tower facilities, managed mobile networks, and in-building wireless systems. For more information, please visit www.atni.com.

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other matters, our future financial performance and results of operations, including the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on the economies of the markets we serve, our business and operations; expectations regarding future revenue, operating income, EBITDA and capital expenditures; the competitive environment in our key markets, demand for our services and industry trends; our expectations regarding construction progress under our FirstNet agreement and the effect such progress will have on our financial results; our expectations regarding the benefits and timing of our pending acquisition of Alaska Communications; our liquidity; 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 our operations, including operating margins, revenues, capital expenditures, and the future growth and retention of our major customers and subscriber base; (2) our ability to maintain favorable roaming arrangements, receive roaming traffic and satisfy the needs and demands of our major wireless customers; (3) our ability to efficiently and cost-effectively upgrade our networks and IT platforms to address rapid and significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry; (4) government regulation of our businesses, which may impact our FCC and other telecommunications licenses; (5) our reliance on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services relating to our network infrastructure; (6) economic, political and other risks and opportunities facing our operations, including those resulting from the pandemic; (7) the loss of or an inability to recruit skilled personnel in our various jurisdictions, including key members of management; (8) our ability to successfully complete our pending acquisition of Alaska Communications and recognize the expected benefits of such acquisition; (9) our ability to find investment or acquisition or disposition opportunities that fit the strategic goals of the Company; (10) the occurrence of weather events and natural catastrophes and our ability to secure the appropriate level of insurance coverage for these assets; (11) increased competition; (12) the adequacy and expansion capabilities of our network capacity and customer service system to support our customer growth; (13) our continued access to capital and credit markets; and (14) the risk of currency fluctuation for those markets in which we operate. 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, 2019, filed with the SEC on March 2, 2020, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 29, 2020, and the other reports we file 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.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

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 and Adjusted EBITDA in this release and in 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, impairment of goodwill and the gain (loss) on disposition of assets. The Company believes that the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures help 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.



¹ See Table 5 for reconciliation of Operating Income to EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure.
² See Table 5 for reconciliation of Operating Income to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure.