Leveraging “First-to-Fiber” and “Glass & Steel™” Strategic Investments to Deliver Growth in High-Speed Data Subscribers and Network Reach   

• Total high-speed broadband subscribers increased by 9%
• Broadband homes passed by high-speed data services expanded by 22%
• Capital expenditures were $61.8 million (net of $46.2 million reimbursements) for the first six months of 2024

International Telecom Segment Growth and Cost Management Benefit Q2 2024 Results

• Second quarter consolidated revenues decreased 2% to $183.3 million, in line with expectations
• International Telecom segment revenues rose 4% supported by growth in consumer and business fixed revenues, and business mobility revenue
• US Telecom segment revenues were down 7% due primarily to conclusion of Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) program
• Second quarter net income increased to $9.0 million, or $0.50 per diluted share inclusive of a $15.9 million gain on the sale of a non-core asset
• Operating income increased to $24.3 million
• Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased 6% to $48.7 million

Reaffirms 2024 Outlook
The Company reiterated expectations for full-year 2024 with:

• Revenue in the range of $730 million to $750 million, excluding construction revenue
• Adjusted EBITDA² in the range of $190 million to $200 million
• Capital Expenditures in the range of $100 million to $110 million, net of reimbursements
• Net Debt Ratio³ in the range of 2.25x to 2.50x exiting 2024

Earnings Conference Call

• Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. ET; webcast link:
  https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/x3cd8cb6

BEVERLY, Mass., July 24, 2024 (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 quarter ended June 30, 2024.

Remarks by Brad Martin, ATN Chief Executive Officer

“We are making progress in our efforts to leverage our investments to deliver top line growth while improving operating efficiency. Our second quarter performance is driving the business toward that goal as we increased consolidated Adjusted EBITDA by 6%, delivered International Telecom segment top-line and Adjusted EBITDA growth, and benefited from our cost management efforts. Our US Telecom segment’s performance was in line with our expectations, reflecting the impact of the expiration of the ECF program, as previously signaled.″

“We continue to enhance the performance and longevity of ATN’s network and improve the quality of our revenue streams through the execution of our First-to-Fiber and Glass & Steel™ strategies. In the second quarter, we grew homes passed by high-speed broadband and had a healthy conversion of subscribers to our high-value high-speed broadband networks. In mobility, we continue to convert our mobility subscriber base to higher margin pre-paid and post-paid plans, expand data usage, and increase business subscribers.”  

“Looking ahead, we are reiterating our fiscal year 2024 outlook based on our first half performance and the progress we are making executing to our plan. As we near the end of our three-year strategy, we are focusing on maximizing the investments in our upgraded network assets while supporting further expansion at more normalized capex levels supplemented by U.S. government funded infrastructure programs. We believe that our high-speed network expansion and ongoing focus on margin improvement provides a solid foundation for driving strong, sustainable recurring revenues, durable free cash flow, and enhanced shareholder value over the long-term.”

Second Quarter 2024 Financial Results

Consolidated revenues were $183.3 million, down 2% versus $186.4 million in the year-ago quarter. This decrease primarily reflects the impact of the end of the ECF program in the US Telecom segment, which offset the increase in fixed revenues in the International Telecom segment.

Operating income was $24.3 million in the second quarter versus $2.4 million in the year-ago quarter. The increase in operating income was primarily due to a $15.9 million gain on the disposition of a non-core asset, a $4.3 million reduction in year-over-year selling, general and administrative expenses, and a $1.9 million reduction in depreciation and amortization expense.

Net income attributable to ATN stockholders in the second quarter of 2024 was $9.0 million, or income of $0.50 per diluted share compared with a net income attributable to ATN stockholders of $0.8 million, or $(0.03) loss per share, in the year-ago quarter. The increase year-over-year was the result of an increase in operating income, which more than offset the increase in interest expense. In all periods, the income or loss per share calculation includes the impact of preferred dividends that are not included in the net income (loss) calculation.

Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased to $48.7 million in the second quarter of 2024 from $45.8 million in the year-ago quarter due to lower operating expenses, which more than offset the decrease in revenue.

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.
** See Table 5 for reconciliation of Operating Income to EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure
***Excludes government capital program amounts disbursed and amounts received.

ATN’s Strategic Plan and Key Performance Indicators

The Company is half-way through the final year of its three-year strategic plan initiated in 2021 to accelerate investments in its high-speed data footprint and grow high speed broadband subscribers. During this final year of the plan, the Company is reducing capital expenditures to approach more normalized spending levels and plans to augment further network expansion with previously announced and future grant funding.

Operating Metrics

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

Note: Data 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, 2024, was $73.3 million and total debt was $540.8 million, versus $67.2 million of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and $482.1 million of total debt at the end of the year-ago quarter.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $53.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2024, compared with net cash provided by operating activities of $60.3 million in the prior year period.   

Capital expenditures were $61.8 million net of $46.2 million of reimbursable capital expenditures for the six months ended June 30, 2024, versus $89.5 million, net of $7.0 million of reimbursable capital expenditures in the prior year period.

Quarterly Dividends and Stock Repurchases

Quarterly dividends of $0.24 per share were paid on July 10, 2024, on all common shares outstanding to stockholders of record as of June 30, 2024.

Share repurchases made by the Company during the second quarter of 2024 totaled $9.9 million. There is $15 million remaining under the share repurchase program authorized in December 2023.

Reaffirms Full-Year 2024 Guidance and Outlook

The Company is reaffirming its guidance and outlook for the full-year ended December 31, 2024, as follows:

Longer term, the Company continues to prioritize increasing cash flow and driving positive returns through realized efficiencies that leverage ATN’s high-quality network assets. In 2025, the Company expects internally funded capital investments to be in the range of 10% to 15% of revenues.

For the Company’s full-year 2024 outlook for Adjusted EBITDA 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 the description of the calculation of Net Debt Ratio.

Conference Call Information

Call Date: Thursday, July 25, 2024
Call Time: 10:00 a.m. ET
Webcast Link:  https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/x3cd8cb6

Live Call Participant Link: https://register.vevent.com/register/BIbb2582646cf142d1bebb5428692491b1

Webcast Link Instructions
You can listen to a live audio webcast of the conference call 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 locations beginning at approximately 1:00 pm ET on the same day. 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, non-cash stock-based compensation, and the gain (loss) on disposition of assets.

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 sum of the trailing four quarters 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 its strategic investment plan, its future revenues, operating income, operating margin, cash flows, network and operating costs, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Net Debt, Net Debt Ratio, cost management initiatives, and capital investments; demand for the Company’s services and industry trends; the timing of revenue, the Company’s liquidity; the expansion of the Company’s customer base and networks; receipt of certain government grants and management’s plans, expectations 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, the impact of cost savings initiatives, 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 mobility 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) management transitions, and 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 the impact of such events on the timing of project implementation and corresponding revenue, 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, 2023, filed with the SEC on March 15, 2024, 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.

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