Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2011 Results17:15 EST Thursday, March 01, 2012 BEVERLY, Mass. (Business Wire) -- Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI), today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. “This was our first full quarter without the burden of overlapping transition expenses associated with the Alltel asset acquisition, and we are pleased to have posted a significant year-over-year increase in Adjusted EBITDA,” said Michael Prior, Chief Executive Officer. “Additionally, we saw improvement in certain of our subscriber metrics, including increased gross additions and ARPU, and reduced churn. We are encouraged by the positive customer response to the new value plans we launched during the fourth quarter, but there is still room for improvement in this business. Among the priorities for 2012, we need to increase gross customer additions and maintain or improve churn, while at the same time reducing retail operating expenses. “Fourth quarter results also benefited from an 88% year-over-year increase in our Island Wireless segment revenues, primarily reflecting the increased strength of our Bermuda operations following the merger we completed there in the second quarter of 2011,” Mr. Prior said. Total revenues for the fourth quarter were $182.9 million, a 6% decline from the $194.7 million reported for the fourth quarter of 2010, reflecting net subscriber attrition that the Company experienced since the Alltel acquisition as the Company transitioned distribution channels, subscriber contracts and credit policies, systems and networks. Adjusted EBITDA1 for the 2011 fourth quarter was $40.7 million, an increase of 30% over the $31.3 million reported in last year's fourth quarter, and reflected improved performance in all four of ATN's reportable segments. Total operating income was $10.9 million, an increase of 18% from the $9.3 million reported in last year's fourth quarter. Fourth quarter 2011 operating income was negatively impacted by a $3.1 million increase in depreciation and amortization expenses over the prior year's fourth quarter, as well as a $2.4 million intangible asset impairment charge related to the Company's Island Wireless segment. Fourth quarter 2010 operating income also included a net benefit of $2.1 million in acquisition-related charges due to a final settlement of estimated Alltel acquisition costs. Net income attributable to ATN's stockholders was $4.1 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, inclusive of $2.4 million or $0.16 per diluted share in a non-cash impairment charge noted above. Fourth quarter 2011 net income attributable to ATN's stockholders increased 26% from the $3.3 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, earned in the fourth quarter of 2010. Excluding the effect of the non-cash impairment charge, net income attributable to ATN's stockholders would have doubled as compared to the fourth quarter of 2010. Commenting on full year 2011 results, Mr. Prior said, “This was a year of significant achievement for ATN. We completed the transition of the customer base and retail operations we acquired in the Alltel asset transaction to our own networks and operating platforms, and we considerably expanded our international wireless business. Despite the negative impact of certain transition initiatives and related overlapping expenses, we were able to report year-over-year increases in Adjusted EBITDA and operating cash flow of 24% and 31%, respectively. In 2012, we will focus both on improving operating efficiencies across our organization and pursuing additional opportunities to build value.” Fourth Quarter 2011 Operating HighlightsU.S. Wireless Service Revenues U.S. wireless service revenues include voice and data service revenues from the Company's prepaid and postpaid retail operations as well as its wholesale roaming operations. Total service revenues from the U.S. wireless businesses amounted to $134.4 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $150.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2010. U.S. retail wireless service revenues were $86.0 million for the fourth quarter of 2011, a decrease of 16% from the $102.8 million reported in the 2010 fourth quarter. Retail service revenue declined as a result of the net subscriber attrition that the Company experienced during the year. At the end of the fourth quarter of 2011, the Company had approximately 582,000 U.S. retail subscribers, of which approximately 458,000 were postpaid subscribers and approximately 124,000 were prepaid subscribers. Additional operating data on our U.S. retail wireless business can be found in Table 4 of this release. U.S. wholesale wireless revenues were $48.4 million, an increase of 2% over the $47.4 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2010. Data revenues accounted for 46% of wholesale wireless revenues for the quarter, compared to 34% a year earlier. Data volume growth has largely offset the impact of the previously-reported revenue losses in certain areas of the Company's legacy “roam only” markets and rate reductions for voice and data. International Wireless Revenues International wireless revenues include retail and wholesale voice and data wireless revenues from international operations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands. Total revenues from international wireless were $19.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of $6.0 million, or 44%, over the $13.5 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2010. This increase was primarily due to the Company's merger of its Bermuda operations with one of its competitors on May 2, 2011 and growth in the number of wireless subscribers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Wireline Revenues Wireline revenues are generated by the Company's wireline operations in Guyana, including international telephone calls into and out of that country, its integrated voice and data operations in New England and its wholesale transport operations in New York State. Total revenues from wireline amounted to $21.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, an increase of 9% from $19.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2010. The increase resulted primarily from data revenue and local wireline service growth in Guyana, as well as growth in fiber optic capacity revenues in New York State. Reportable Operating Segments The Company has four reportable segments: i) U.S. Wireless, ii) International Integrated Telephony, which operates in Guyana, iii) Island Wireless, which generates its revenues and has its assets located in Bermuda and the Caribbean (including the U.S. Virgin Islands) and iv) U.S. Wireline. Financial data on our reportable operating segments for the three months ended December 31, 2011 are as follows:           U.S. WirelessInternationalIntegratedTelephonyIsland WirelessU.S.WirelineReconcilingItems 1Total               Total Revenue $ 139,538 $ 24,039 $ 14,511 $ 4,855 $ - $ 182,943 Adjusted EBITDA 31,806 11,526 2,814 1,163 (6,595 ) 40,714 Operating Income (Loss)   12,888     7,078     (2,440 )     355     (6,942 )     10,939   (1) Reconciling items are comprised of corporate general and administrative costs and acquisition-related charges. Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights Cash and cash equivalents at December 31, 2011 were $48.7 million. Long-term debt was $257.1 million. For the fourth quarter, net cash provided by operating activities was $47.9 million and was $132.6 million for the full year 2011. Fourth quarter capital expenditures were $35.5 million, and $101.4 million for the full year 2011. The Company expects full year 2012 capital expenditures to approximate $90 to $110 million, of which $50 to $65 million is expected to be allocated to the U.S. Wireless segment. Conference Call Information Atlantic Tele-Network will host a conference call tomorrow, Friday, March 2, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its fourth quarter results for 2011. The call will be hosted by Michael Prior, President 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 53061698. A replay of the call will be available at ir.atni.com beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. (ET) on Friday, March 2, 2012. About Atlantic Tele-Network Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI), headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts, provides telecommunications services to rural, niche and other under-served markets and geographies in the United States, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Through our operating subsidiaries, we provide both wireless and wireline connectivity to residential and business customers, including a range of mobile wireless solutions, local exchange services and broadband internet services and are the owner and operator of terrestrial and submarine fiber optic transport 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; the competitive environment in our key markets, demand for our services and industry trends; the outcome of regulatory matters; our continued access to the credit and capital markets; the pace of our network expansion and improvement, including our level of estimated future capital expenditures and our realization of the benefits of these investments; 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, and the future retention and turnover of our subscriber base; (2) our ability to maintain favorable roaming arrangements; (3) increased competition; (4) economic, political and other risks facing our foreign operations; (5) the loss of certain FCC and other licenses, USF funds or other regulatory changes affecting our businesses; (6) rapid and significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry; (7) any loss of any key members of management; (8) our reliance on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services relating to our network infrastructure and retail wireless business; (9) the adequacy and expansion capabilities of our network capacity and customer service system to support our customer growth; (10) the occurrence of severe weather and natural catastrophes; (11) our continued access to capital and credit markets; and (12) our ability to realize the value that we believe exists in our businesses. 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, 2010, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2011. The Company undertakes no obligation 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. Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), this news release also contains non-GAAP financial measures. Specifically, ATN has presented Adjusted EBITDA and ARPU measures. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income attributable to ATN, Inc. stockholders before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, acquisition related charges, impairment of intangible assets, gain on disposition of long-lived assets, other income, bargain purchase gain, net income attributable to non-controlling interests, and equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. ARPU, or monthly average revenue per subscriber/unit, is computed by dividing total retail service revenues per period by the weighted average number of subscribers with service during that period, and then dividing that result by the number of months in the period. The Company believes that the inclusion of these non-GAAP financial measures helps investors to gain a meaningful understanding of the Company's core operating results and enhance comparing such performance with prior periods, without the distortion of the recent increased expenses associated with the Alltel transaction. ATN's management uses these non-GAAP measures, in addition to GAAP financial measures, as the basis for measuring our core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this news release are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this news release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures are set forth in the text of, and the accompanying tables to, this press release. 1 See Table 5 for reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA.   Table 1ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in Thousands)   December 31, December 31, 20112010 Assets: Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 48,735 $ 37,330 Other Current Assets 135,165 116,959         Total Current Assets 183,900 154,289   Property, Plant and Equipment, net 483,203 463,891 Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net 186,871 187,762 Other Assets 19,757 22,254         Total Assets $ 873,731 $ 828,196   Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity: Current Portion of Long Term Debt $ 25,068 $ 12,194 Other Current Liabilities 120,710 126,108         Total Current Liabilities 145,778 138,302   Long Term Debt, Net of Current Portion 257,146 272,049 Other Liabilities 118,277 88,809         Total Liabilities 521,201 499,160   Total Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.'s Stockholders' Equity 294,266 283,768 Non-Controlling Interests 58,264 45,268         Total Equity 352,530 329,036         Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 873,731 $ 828,196   Table 2ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations(in Thousands, Except per Share Data)         Three Months Ended Year Ended December 31, December 31, 20112010 (a)20112010 (a) Revenues: U.S. Wireless: Retail $ 85,997 $ 102,795 $ 370,218 $ 293,126 Wholesale 48,378 47,370 201,993 159,807 International Wireless 19,495 13,522 73,003 50,615 Wireline 21,653 19,913 84,957 84,488 Equipment and Other   7,420     11,065     29,025     31,109     Total Revenue 182,943 194,665 759,196 619,145   Operating Expenses: Termination and Access Fees 49,790 51,711 205,526 160,554 Engineering and Operations 21,266 24,347 85,234 71,032 Sales, Marketing and Customer Service 34,089 31,839 136,013 94,661 Equipment Expense 19,396 28,421 73,185 75,335 General and Administrative 17,689 27,055 99,087 88,783 Acquisition-Related Charges 107 (2,121 ) 772 13,760 Depreciation and Amortization 27,242 24,152 104,100 76,736 Impairment of Intangible Assets 2,425 - 2,425 - Gain on Dispostion of Long-Lived Assets   -     -     (2,397 )   -     Total Operating Expenses   172,004     185,404     703,945     580,861     Operating Income 10,939 9,261 55,251 38,284   Other Income (Expense): Interest Income (Expense), net (4,880 ) (2,878 ) (16,943 ) (9,405 ) Other Income 273 109 1,129 543 Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates 1,545 287 3,029 743 Bargain Purchase Gain, net of taxes of $18,016   -     -     -     27,024     Other Income (Expense), net (3,062 ) (2,482 ) (12,785 ) 18,905   Income Before Income Taxes 7,877 6,779 42,466 57,189 Income Taxes   4,494     4,160     20,569     19,607     Net Income 3,383 2,619 21,897 37,582 Net Loss (Income) Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests, net of tax   763     660     (103 )   872     Net Income Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders $ 4,146   $ 3,279   $ 21,794   $ 38,454     Net Income Per Weighted Average Share Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders: Basic $ 0.27 $ 0.21 $ 1.42 $ 2.51 Diluted $ 0.27 $ 0.21 $ 1.41 $ 2.48 Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding: Basic 15,427 15,382 15,396 15,323 Diluted 15,530 15,505 15,495 15,484     a) Certain reclassifications have been made to prior period amounts to conform to the current presentation   Table 3ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (in Thousands)   Year Ended December 31, 20112010   Net Income $ 21,897 $ 37,582 Gain on Bargain Purchase, Net of Tax - (27,024 ) Impairment of Intangible Assets 2,425 - Depreciation and Amortization 104,100 76,736 Change in Working Capital (37,960 ) (4,875 ) Other   42,141     20,383     Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 132,603 102,802   Capital Expenditures (101,401 ) (135,688 ) Acquisitions of Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired - (225,498 ) Cash Acquired in Business Combinations 4,087 (57 ) Other   1,667     4,782     Net Cash Used by Investing Activities (95,647 ) (356,461 )   Borrowings Under Credit Facility 137,069 264,000 Principal Repayments of Long Term Debt (146,362 ) (49,568 ) Payment of Debt Issuance Costs (1,037 ) (4,322 ) Dividends Paid on Common Stock (13,703 ) (12,569 ) Distributions to Non-Controlling Interests (2,814 ) (1,870 ) Other   1,296     5,072     Net Cash Used by Financing Activities (25,551 ) 200,743   Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents 11,405 (52,916 )   Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period   37,330     90,246     Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period $ 48,735   $ 37,330     Table 4ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.Operating Data for U.S. Retail Wireless Operations                       Three Months Ended:   DEC 2010   MAR 2011   JUN 2011   SEP 2011   DEC 2011   766,556   717,745   674,080   638,839   592,620Beginning SubscribersPrepay216,854194,795169,673145,854123,157Postpay549,702522,950504,407492,985469,463   Gross Additions51,88246,68038,85930,01846,757Prepay27,13619,92213,9519,78422,639Postpay24,74626,75824,90820,23424,118   Net Additions(48,811)(43,665)(35,241)(46,219)(10,246)Prepay(22,059)(25,122)(23,819)(22,697)1,189Postpay(26,752)(18,543)(11,422)(23,522)(11,435)   Ending Subscribers717,745674,080638,839592,620582,374Prepay194,795169,673145,854123,157124,346Postpay522,950504,407492,985469,463458,028     ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.U.S. Retail Wireless Operations Key Performance Indicators                       Three Months Ended:   DEC 2010   MAR 2011   JUN 2011   SEP 2011   DEC 2011               Average Subscribers (weighted monthly) 741,228 695,399 655,292 618,862 584,652   Monthly Average Revenues per Subscriber/Unit (ARPU)   ● Subscriber ARPU $45.88 $47.23 $47.90 $47.51 $48.46   ● Postpaid Subscriber ARPU $53.71 $53.78 $54.47 $52.68 $54.43   Monthly Postpay Subscriber Churn 3.18% 2.93% 2.42% 2.97% 2.55%   Monthly Blended Subscriber Churn 4.48% 4.29% 3.73% 4.05% 3.25%   Table 5ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures(In Thousands)                                                         Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA for the Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 and 2011       Three Months Ended December 31, 2010 U.S WirelessInternationalIntegrated TelephonyU.S. WirelineIsland WirelessReconciling ItemsTotal                   Net Income Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders $ 3,279 Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests, net of tax (660 ) Income Taxes 4,160 Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates (287 ) Other Income (109 ) Interest Expense, net   2,878   Operating Income (Loss) $ 9,280 $ 5,600 $ (178 ) $ (2,700 ) $ (2,741 ) $ 9,261 Depreciation and Amortization 17,052 4,378 764 1,808 150 24,152 Acquisition-Related Charges   -     -     -       -       (2,121 )     (2,121 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 26,332 $ 9,978 $ 586 $ (892 ) $ (4,712 ) $ 31,292                                                     Three Months Ended December 31, 2011 U.S WirelessInternationalIntegrated TelephonyU.S. WirelineIsland WirelessReconciling ItemsTotal                   Net Income Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders $ 4,146 Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests, net of tax (763 ) Income Taxes 4,494 Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates (1,545 ) Other Income (273 ) Interest Expense, net   4,880   Operating Income (Loss) $ 12,888 $ 7,078 $ 355 $ (2,440 ) $ (6,942 ) $ 10,939 Depreciation and Amortization 18,918 4,448 808 2,829 239 27,242 Impairment of Intangible Assets - - 2,425 - 2,425 Acquisition-Related Charges   -     -     -       -       108       108   Adjusted EBITDA $ 31,806 $ 11,526 $ 1,163 $ 2,814 $ (6,595 ) $ 40,714                                                                                                 Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA for the Years Ended December 31, 2010 and 2011       Year Ended December 31, 2010 U.S WirelessInternationalIntegrated TelephonyU.S. WirelineIsland WirelessReconciling ItemsTotal                   Net Income Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders $ 38,454 Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests, net of tax (872 ) Income Taxes 19,607 Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates (743 ) Other Income (543 ) Bargain Purchase Gain, net of taxes of $18,016 (27,024 ) Interest Expense, net   9,405   Operating Income (Loss) $ 48,261 $ 27,371 $ (288 ) $ (6,410 ) $ (30,650 ) $ 38,284 Depreciation and Amortization 50,662 17,480 2,936 5,271 387 76,736 Acquisition-Related Charges   -     -     -       -       13,760       13,760   Adjusted EBITDA $ 98,923 $ 44,851 $ 2,648 $ (1,139 ) $ (16,503 ) $ 128,780                                                     Year Ended December 31, 2011 U.S WirelessInternationalIntegrated TelephonyU.S. WirelineIsland WirelessReconciling ItemsTotal                 Net Income Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders $ 21,794 Net Loss Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests, net of tax 103 Income Taxes 20,569 Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates (3,029 ) Other Income (1,129 ) Interest Expense, net   16,943   Operating Income (Loss) $ 56,664 $ 26,734 $ 255 $ (10,153 ) $ (18,249 ) $ 55,251 Depreciation and Amortization 72,106 18,058 3,182 9,855 899 104,100 Impairment of Intangible Assets - - 2,425 - 2,425 Gain on Dispostion of Long-Lived Assets (2,397 ) (2,397 ) Acquisition-Related Charges   -     -     -       -       772       772   Adjusted EBITDA $ 126,373 $ 44,792 $ 3,437 $ 2,127 $ (16,578 ) $ 160,151 Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.Michael T. Prior, 978-619-1300Chief Executive OfficerorJustin D. Benincasa, 978-619-1300Chief Financial Officer