UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  October 29, 2009

 


 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

001-12593

 

47-0728886

(State or other

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

jurisdiction of incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

10 Derby Square
Salem, Massachusetts 01970
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(978) 619-1300
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o     Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o     Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 2.02

 

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On October 29, 2009, Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing financial results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009.  A copy of the press release is furnished herewith as Exhibit 99.1.

 

Exhibit 99.1 is furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing made by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.

 

Item 9.01

 

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release of the Company, dated October 29, 2009.

 

2



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

Dated:  October 29, 2009

 

 

 

3



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description of Exhibit

 

 

 

99.1

 

Press Release of the Company, dated October 29, 2009.

 

4


Exhibit 99.1

 

GRAPHIC

NEWS RELEASE

 

 

 

 

CONTACT:

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

 

Michael T. Prior

 

 

 

Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

978-619-1300

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

 

978-619-1300

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results

 

Third Quarter Highlights:

 

·                  Total revenue up 18% to $65.9 million

·                  Wireless revenue increased 41% to $42.9 million

·                  Operating income up 13% to $23.1 million, or 35% of revenue

·                  Net income increased 18% to $11.9 million, or $0.78 per diluted share

·                  Acquisition of Alltel properties continues to progress towards anticipated close

 

Salem, MA (October 29, 2009) – Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ: ATNI) today reported results for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2009.

 

Third Quarter Financial Results

 

For the three months ended September 30, 2009, revenue was $65.9 million, 18% above the $55.9 million reported for the third quarter of 2008 and a 9% sequential increase over the second quarter of 2009’s revenue of $60.3 million.  Driving these revenue increases were 41% year-over-year and 18% sequential increases in the Company’s wireless revenue fueled by significant growth in the Company’s existing U.S. wireless business. The growth in wireless revenue more than offset the year-over-year and sequential decreases in international long distance revenue from the Company’s Guyana operations.

 

Despite incurring approximately $2.0 million in acquisition-related expenses associated with the Company’s pending acquisition of Alltel properties, third quarter 2009 operating income increased 13% over the third quarter of 2008 to $23.1 million from $20.4 million.

 

Net income attributable to ATN’s stockholders(1) was $11.9 million for the quarter compared to $10.1 million for the same period in 2008 and $9.6 million for the second quarter of 2009. On a per share basis, net income attributable to ATN’s stockholders increased 18% to $0.78 per diluted share from $0.66 per diluted share for last year’s third quarter and was up 24% from the $0.63 per diluted share earned in the second quarter of 2009.

 


(1) As a result of our adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 160, Non-Controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements- an Amendment of ARB No. 51, the financial statement line item that had been entitled “Net income” under the previous reporting method is now entitled “Net income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders.”

 



 

Commenting on the third quarter results, Michael T. Prior, Chief Executive Officer said, “This was another very strong quarter for ATN with double digit revenue, operating income and earnings growth as compared to last year.  Wireless revenue accounted for roughly two-thirds of our third quarter revenue, driven by a 60% increase in U.S. rural wireless revenue.  If you exclude expenses related to the pending Alltel acquisition, operating and net income would show even more robust gains as all of our operations remained tightly focused on controlling costs — allowing profit growth to keep pace with revenue growth. However, we expect the Alltel related expenses to continue to increase as we rapidly add headcount and other resources, and incur transactional expenses such as legal and accounting fees, through the anticipated close in the next two to three months.”

 

Update on Agreement to Acquire Alltel Properties

 

·                  On June 9, 2009 the Company announced a definitive agreement to acquire certain wireless assets from Verizon Wireless, which were part of Alltel Corporation prior to its acquisition by Verizon Wireless. Under the terms of the agreement, the Company will acquire wireless properties, including wireless spectrum licenses and network assets serving approximately 800,000 subscribers primarily in rural areas across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Ohio and Idaho for approximately $200 million in cash. Initial expectations are for this transaction to add approximately $450 million in annual revenue and be accretive to the Company’s earnings upon completion. The acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, including the receipt of required consents and approvals from the Department of Justice and the Federal Communications Commission.

 

·                  On September 30, 2009, the Company announced that Frank O’Mara, a former Executive Vice President of Alltel Communications has joined Atlantic Tele-Network as Chief Executive Officer of its newly-formed subsidiary, Atlantic Wireless Communications Corporation. O’Mara’s duties as CEO will include leading the transition and operation of the former Alltel Wireless properties, licenses and network assets that ATN contracted to acquire.

 

“As we have previously stated, this transaction will provide us with important revenue and geographic diversification,” Mr. Prior said. “Once completed, we expect to have well over one million retail subscribers in the U.S. and internationally and wireless revenue should account for more than 80% of our total revenues.  We recognize that we will face some significant challenges in undertaking this expansion, but as evidenced by our hire of Frank O’Mara to lead our U.S. retail wireless operations, we are confident that the people we are bringing on board will have the experience and insight to manage those risks.”

 

Third Quarter 2009 Operating Highlights

 

The following operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 are compared against the same period in 2008 unless otherwise indicated.

 

Wireless Revenue

 

Wireless revenue increased 41%, to $42.9 million from $30.4 million. Our U.S. rural wireless business increased revenue by 60%, to $31.8 million from $19.9 million, benefiting from our ongoing investment in new base stations and the growth in recurring voice and data traffic. We ended the third quarter with a total of 564 base stations in our U.S. network, up from 396 base stations at the end of last year’s third quarter and 537 base stations at the end of the 2009 second quarter. Wireless revenue in Guyana increased by $0.1 million as compared to the prior year.  At the end of the third quarter, we had approximately 277,000 subscribers in Guyana, up from the 273,000 we had at the end of last year’s third quarter, and up from 266,000 as of the end of the 2009 second quarter.

 

Local Telephone and Data Revenue

 

Local telephone and data revenue increased 9% to $13.9 million compared to $12.8 million in 2008.  Local telephone and data revenue generated by our Guyana operations increased 8% to $8.1 million compared to $7.5 million in 2008, while access lines increased 6% to 144,000 from 136,000. Sovernet’s local telephone and data revenue increased 17%, to $4.8 million from $4.1 million in 2008, largely as a result of its acquisition of ION in August 2008.  Data revenue at our Virgin Islands subsidiary remained fairly stable as compared to the prior year.

 

2



 

International Long Distance Revenue

 

International long distance revenue, all of which is generated by our GT&T subsidiary, declined 23% to $9.1 million from $11.8 million in 2008.  We believe this decrease is a result of continued and considerable illegal bypass activities in the quarter resulting in lost revenue opportunities, as well as an overall reduction in call volume into Guyana attributable to the current difficult global economic environment.

 

Year-To-Date 2009 Results

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, revenue was $182.2 million, up 20% from the $152.0 million reported for the same period in 2008. Operating income increased $3.9 million, or 7%, to $58.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009 from $54.1 million for the same period in 2008, in part due to the inclusion of $4.7 million of operating losses at two early stage businesses acquired during the third quarter of 2008, for which results were not included in the first half of 2008.  Net income attributable to ATN’s stockholders(1) was $30.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, as compared to $28.2 million for the same period in 2008, an increase of $2.2 million or 8%.  On a per share basis, net income attributable to ATN’s stockholders(1) increased by 7% to $1.98 per diluted share from $1.85 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2008.

 

Conference Call Information

 

Atlantic Tele-Network will host a conference call tomorrow, Friday, October 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time (ET) to discuss its third quarter results for 2009.  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: (888) 661-5174 and International: (913) 312-1493.  A replay of the call will be available from 1:00 p.m. (ET) October 30, 2009 until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on November 6, 2009. The replay dial-in numbers are US/Canada: (888) 203-1112 and International: (719) 457-0820, access code 2465739.   Additionally, a live simulcast (listen only) will be available during the call at http://ir.atni.com.  A replay will be available on our website shortly after the conclusion of the call.

 

About Atlantic Tele-Network

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (NASDAQ:ATNI) is a telecommunications company operating high quality digital wireless, wireline, and both terrestrial and submarine fiber optic networks in North America and the Caribbean. Its principal subsidiaries include: Commnet Wireless, LLC, which provides voice and data wireless roaming services for U.S. and international carriers in rural areas throughout the United States; Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company, Ltd., which is the national telephone service provider for all local, long-distance and international services in Guyana, as well as a wireless service provider; Bermuda Digital Communications, Ltd., which is the leading provider of wireless voice and data services in Bermuda operating as Cellular One, and also an early-stage wireless provider in Turks & Caicos through its IslandCom subsidiary; Sovernet, Inc., which provides wireline voice and data services to businesses and homes in New England and high capacity communications network transport services in New York State through its ION subsidiary; and Choice Communications, LLC, which provides wireless broadband services in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

3



 

Cautionary Language Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

 

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other matters, the future financial performance and results of operations of the Company; the proposed transaction with Verizon Wireless, including whether the transaction will be completed and, if so, the expected timetable for such completion and the expected benefits of the transaction; demand for our services and industry trends; the pace of our network expansion and improvement, including 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 ability of ATN to secure financing for the balance of the purchase price of the Alltel acquisition, which is dependent on market conditions; there can be no assurances that such financing will be available to ATN at all or on terms that are favorable to ATN; (2) the ability of ATN to operate a retail wireless business and integrate these operations into its existing operations; (3) the ability to receive the requisite regulatory consents and approvals to consummate the transaction; (4) the general performance of the acquired Alltel operations; (5) significant political and regulatory risk facing our exclusive license to provide local exchange and international voice and data services in Guyana; (6) any significant decline in the price or volume, including bypass activities, of international long distance calls to Guyana; (7) the regulation of rates that GT&T may charge for local wireline telephone service; (8) significant tax disputes between GT&T and the Guyanese tax authorities; (9) the derivation of a significant portion of our U.S. wireless revenue from a small number of customers and the extent to which our wholesale customers build or acquire overlapping networks; (10) our ability to maintain favorable roaming arrangements, including the rates Commnet charges its wholesale customers; (11) the current global economic recession, along with difficult and volatile conditions in the capital and credit markets; (12) increased competition; (13) economic, political and other risks facing our foreign operations; (14) regulatory changes affecting our businesses; (15) the loss of certain FCC licenses; (16) rapid and significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry; (17) our reliance on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services relating to our network infrastructure; (18) any loss of any key members of management; (19) the adequacy and expansion capabilities of our network capacity and customer service system to support our customer growth; (20) dependence of our wireless and wireline revenue on the reliability and performance of our network infrastructure; (21) the occurrence of severe weather and natural catastrophes; and (22) our ability to realize the value that we believe exists in businesses that we acquire. 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, 2008 and the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009, which are on file with the SEC. 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.

 

4



 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(in Thousands)

 

 

 

September 30,
2009

 

December 31,
2008

 

Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

$

95,442

 

$

79,665

 

Other Current Assets

 

45,563

 

51,656

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Current Assets

 

141,005

 

131,321

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fixed Assets, net

 

207,647

 

198,230

 

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, net

 

76,960

 

76,351

 

Other Assets

 

13,644

 

13,919

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

439,256

 

$

419,821

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities

 

$

49,459

 

$

47,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long Term Debt

 

72,811

 

73,311

 

Other Liabilities

 

35,188

 

36,938

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities

 

157,458

 

158,161

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stockholders’ Equity

 

281,798

 

261,660

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

$

439,256

 

$

419,821

 

 

5



 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(in Thousands, Except per Share Data)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

2009

 

2008

 

Revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

 

$

42,880

 

$

30,388

 

$

111,120

 

$

74,927

 

Local Telephone and Data

 

13,918

 

12,807

 

40,471

 

37,321

 

International Long Distance

 

9,133

 

11,794

 

29,412

 

36,736

 

Other Revenue

 

11

 

919

 

1,200

 

2,968

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Revenue

 

65,942

 

55,908

 

182,203

 

151,952

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination and Access Fees

 

11,250

 

9,612

 

32,583

 

25,544

 

Internet and Programming

 

422

 

869

 

1,609

 

2,631

 

Engineering and Operations

 

6,519

 

6,431

 

20,976

 

18,217

 

Sales, Marketing and Customer Services

 

4,073

 

3,123

 

11,473

 

8,741

 

General and Administrative

 

8,694

 

7,228

 

26,290

 

19,902

 

Acquisition-Related Charges

 

2,072

 

 

2,479

 

59

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

9,763

 

8,289

 

28,756

 

22,790

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total Operating Expenses

 

42,793

 

35,552

 

124,166

 

97,884

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating Income

 

23,149

 

20,356

 

58,037

 

54,068

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest Income (Expense), net

 

(874

)

(389

)

(2,519

)

(727

)

Other Income

 

13

 

(4

)

49

 

364

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other Income (Expense), net

 

(861

)

(393

)

(2,470

)

(363

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Income Taxes

 

22,288

 

19,963

 

55,567

 

53,705

 

Income Taxes

 

9,919

 

8,538

 

24,217

 

22,570

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income Before Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

 

12,369

 

11,425

 

31,350

 

31,135

 

Equity in Earnings of Unconsolidated Affiliates

 

 

 

 

735

 

Net Income

 

12,369

 

11,425

 

31,350

 

31,870

 

Less: Net Income Attributable to Non-Controlling Interests, net of tax

 

(433

)

(1,286

)

(976

)

(3,659

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders

 

$

11,936

 

$

10,139

 

$

30,374

 

$

28,211

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income Weighted Average Per Share Attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

$

0.78

 

$

0.67

 

$

1.99

 

$

1.85

 

Diluted

 

$

0.78

 

$

0.66

 

$

1.98

 

$

1.85

 

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

15,237

 

15,203

 

15,233

 

15,216

 

Diluted

 

15,398

 

15,266

 

15,304

 

15,281

 

 

6



 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

(in Thousands)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2009

 

2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Income

 

$

31,350

 

$

31,870

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

28,756

 

22,790

 

Change in Working Capital

 

7,588

 

(17,883

)

Other

 

3,107

 

2,845

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities

 

70,801

 

39,622

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

(40,273

)

(34,611

)

Acquisitions of Businesses, Net of Cash Acquired

 

(24

)

(23,052

)

Other

 

(647

)

4,669

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Used in Investing Activities

 

(40,944

)

(52,994

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Increase in Long-Term Debt, Net

 

 

24,812

 

Dividends Paid on Common Stock

 

(8,221

)

(7,293

)

Distributions to Non-Controlling Interests

 

(5,546

)

(2,159

)

Other

 

(313

)

(860

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Cash Used in Financing Activities

 

(14,080

)

14,500

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents

 

15,777

 

1,128

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Period

 

79,665

 

71,173

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Period

 

$

95,442

 

$

72,301

 

 

7