Earnings Labs

ATN International, Inc. (ATNI)

Q2 2013 Earnings Call· Wed, Jul 31, 2013

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to the Atlantic Tele-Network Q2 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] I would now like to introduce your host for today's conference, Justin Benincasa, CFO. Sir, you may begin.

Justin D. Benincasa

Analyst

Thank you, operator. Good morning, everyone. And thank you for joining us on our call to review our second quarter 2013 results. As usual, with me here is Michael Prior, ATN's President and Chief Executive Officer. During the call, I'll be covering the relevant financial information and certain operational data, and Michael will be providing update on the business. Before I turn the call over to Michael for his comments, I'd like to point out that this call and our press release contain forward-looking statements concerning our current expectations, objectives and underlying assumptions regarding our future operating results and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Also in an effort to provide useful information to investors, our comments today include non-GAAP financial measures. For details on these measures and reconciliations to comparable GAAP measures and for further information regarding the factors that may affect our future operating results, please refer to our earnings release on our website at atni.com or to the 8-K filing provided to the SEC. And with that, I'll turn the call over to Michael for his comments.

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Thank you, Justin. Good morning, everyone. Before I get into the details, just first, the pre-summary of the quarter. Second quarter results showed trends that are consistent with what we've experienced over the last several quarters, with our non-Alltel businesses performing well overall and in many cases, better than expected. We had very solid performance in ATN wholesale wireless outside the Alltel markets despite the effects of the Midwest asset sale late last year. Island Wireless is doing well across our entire portfolio, thanks to cost control and some nice subscriber gains. And we continue to evaluate potential investments in new and existing businesses. Our capital investments in existing businesses increased this quarter, mainly because of the expansion and upgrades to our U.S. wholesale wireless business. As always, we were prepared to act quickly for the right strategic -- we all are prepared to act quickly for the right strategic opportunity. And as to Alltel, we've been able to continue to maintain our U.S. wireless and retail subscriber base. So I've been impressed by the continued focus of our U.S. retail wireless team. Despite distraction of the pending transaction, the team has not lost sight of its priorities, running a customer-centric business in a very competitive marketplace. So when I -- turning now to the specifics and view of the pending sale. I'm going to start with the wholesale side of U.S. wireless, the larger part of which involve networks we operate outside of the Alltel markets. So as reported, U.S. wholesale roaming revenues were down 18% year-on-year. As we noted in the release, this decline was driven by decreases in the Alltel markets as a major roaming partner has moved significant traffic off of our network. On the other hand, we were pleased to see stable year-on-year revenue in…

Justin D. Benincasa

Analyst

Great, thank you, Michael. As noted in our release, the drivers of the second quarter performance were similar to those in the first quarter. As Michael spoke about, revenues for the quarter were $175 million, 5% below the same quarter in 2012, and adjusted EBITDA was $45.9 million, down 8% over the same period last year, resulting in an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 26%. However, the trends are more positive. Non-Alltel revenue adjusted for the Midwest sales totaled $71.6 million in the second quarter and up -- and are up over last year by approximately 8%. Adjusted EBITDA for these businesses were also up over last year at $28.1 million, which is a 39% margin in 1 of our seasonally strong quarters. As Michael noted, revenue growth in our legacy wholesale market was primarily driven by increased data traffic, and our comparison to last year in our Island Wireless operations have been benefiting from positive operating leverage as we continue to grow our subscriber base in those markets. Moving down the income statements. The quarter's total operating expenses of $154.9 million included noncash stock-based compensation expense of $1.2 million. Interest expense in the quarter is down 30% from a year ago as we continue to deleverage the business and lower our borrowing costs. Earnings for the quarter were $8.9 million, or $0.56 per share, compared to $10.5 million, or $0.67 per share, reported in the second quarter of last year. Our effective tax rate for the quarter was 37%, compared to 40% a year ago, which reflects stronger pretax earnings in our lower tax jurisdictions, particularly in our Bermuda operations. We do anticipate that this rate will move back into the low 40%s post the Alltel sale. Turning to the balance sheet. As of June 30, we had --…

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our first question comes from the line of Barry McCarver from Stephens Inc.

Barry McCarver - Stephens Inc., Research Division

Analyst

A couple of questions on your Commnet business, can you give us a little more color on what happened in that segment during the quarter just in terms of anything unusual that drove that higher data revenue? I think you mentioned you may be making some investments there, looking at some investments in that business. And then, just lastly, the third quarter is usually the strongest quarter of the year for the wholesale business, given that you had a strong 2Q, and obviously, the sale that went on last year, any change in that outlook for 3Q?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Sure, we'll take the last part first. The Q2 and Q3 are the 2 strongest quarters in that business typically from a seasonal perspective and typically, Q3 is stronger than Q2. And we certainly expect to see that again this year. We haven't not seen it in -- for many years, so it's reasonable to expect. On the data side, there's nothing unusual in the data revenues. It's really what's going on overall. And we are adding both capacity and data capabilities. So some really remote sites have been 2G for quite a long time. Many of those sites were adding 3G capabilities to those places. And we've always said, we will continue to do really what our customers need in those places, and it's really driven by clear demand. And then, we are also adding coverage, although there was very little coverage added in the first half of this year. That will start to creep up in the second half of the year, and that will explain some of the CapEx numbers in this quarter, which relate to adding both coverage and capacity and data capabilities in the second half. And then, the only other thing to note as we talked, I think, in the release about, there are some shorter-term revenues, some switching revenues and the like, that make -- should continue a little bit into the third quarter, but are not really long-term and probably will not be there in the fourth quarter, for example. And that's very effective -- but to preempt that question, it's about $1.5 million, we would say, as this sort of not long reoccurring revenue.

Barry McCarver - Stephens Inc., Research Division

Analyst

Okay. And could you share with us in the quarter what the CapEx was at Commnet?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

The majority -- I mean, the U.S. Wireless was -- it was about $25 million, I believe. What was it? $31 million for the U.S.?

Justin D. Benincasa

Analyst

Yes.

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

The majority of that was Commnet, about $6 million of it was the Alltel market.

Barry McCarver - Stephens Inc., Research Division

Analyst

Okay, and just last question on GT&T, Michael you mentioned in your prepared remarks the potential for regulatory change and how that could affect your local and long distance business. I think that's probably been the situation for several quarters. Has there been any change there in 2Q? Or do you expect any big movement from -- on that issue this year?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

This has become impossible to predict. I mean, we keep working on that. We work with both -- with the government, the President and the rest of the government, and we're working with legislative leaders. We are believing that it makes sense to move on with certain changes to the telecommunications regulatory environment there and we're willing participants on that, we just -- but it's really not in our hands, ultimately, the timing of that. And then, of course, we have a contract that needs to be amended to take into account for that. So we're active participants in trying to make it happen. And we keep thinking it is close, but it's not fully in our control. Barry, to -- just to go back on the CapEx, just want to run those numbers, the total U.S. was like $26 million. Of that, $19 million was the Commnet stuff.

Operator

Operator

Our next question comes from the line of Rick Prentiss with Raymond James. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: Question -- I got a couple of questions, and I apologize if you've answered them. In the prepared -- or in the press release last night, you talked about how Commnet had done, obviously, very well from what we were looking for, but you also mentioned something about short-term service revenue at Commnet. Can you add a little color on what is that?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Yes, we just answered that from the previous call. It's about -- there was about $1.5 million of revenue in the quarter. It comes from switching and related fees that we see from time to time in that business, and they tend to come and go. And we think it will last into the third quarter, but not for the year. So it's a fairly short-term phenomenon. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: And the $1.5 million in the 2Q should be a similar level in third quarter maybe?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Could be -- could be a little less, it's just -- it's hard to predict entirely. So you provide infrastructure help to various customers, and then, it's up to them when they move off. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: Okay. And then, it seemed like the corporate/transaction line was a little heavier this time. Have you provided how much was -- I assume there were some transaction costs that are hitting you?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Yes, I mean, there are -- the most of that is the -- I think is the noncash, the stock comp, which was $1.2 million in this quarter, which was up from our typical run rate on that is. And then, we did have some kind of one-time legal cost that flow through there as well. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: And then, the stock comp should go back down more toward normal levels?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

No, that actually probably will stay at about that level, I think, as we go. And some of that is the -- I think, we've moved more restricted units from off of the options. And that way they get the price and expense. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: And did you talk about the reduction in the CapEx kind of where it was coming from?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Yes, I did. And that is almost all coming out of Guyana rec, and it's more probably a timing issue, that stuff going to get pushed into '14. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: And what were you -- what's the plan to spend in Guyana? Is it for broadband? Is it any more with the international side?

Justin D. Benincasa

Analyst

The main part is in broadband data network, upgrade network. It's mainly related to wireline, and it can be lumpy, right? So we're on a -- periodically, we build a larger upgrade to the wireline plan, and that's part of what's involved and what was anticipated.

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

There's also some -- we've been in the process of upgrading billing systems down there from some really old legacy systems, and the new stuff that's flowing through there as well. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: That makes sense. And then, kind of give us -- I know you probably can't tell us a whole lot about what you want to do with the money when it closes. But, obviously, a flurry of M&A in the U.S., actually kind of frantic. What are your thoughts as far as what valuations are looking like? And are there any attractive areas around the world that you look at or attractive sectors that might catch your eyes as opposed what you're seeing in the U.S.?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

Yes, I think in the U.S., quickly, I mean, a lot of that is clearly spectrum need for the big, but Tier 1 carriers, and some shuffling around, obviously, with that. And so I -- it looks to me like the elements of that will continue and it's not -- there's not really a seat in the table for us because we don't have any real synergy with that. And looking around the world, I would say some sectors are more heated, but others are not, right? So if you look outside the U.S., there's -- there are -- a lot of the bigger carriers have balance sheet issues and therefore, there looked to be some potential opportunities outside the U.S. And then, in the U.S., we're investing a lot organically, obviously, both from the fiber side and on the wholesale wireless side, and we'll continue to look for nooks and crannies like that, that makes sense from a return perspective. Richard H. Prentiss - Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Research Division: Or did you look around the world, probably still stick to kind of the reasons you've been in before or is it actually something that you would go further afield for?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst

I think it would have to be quite big. And we'd have that -- the right partners to go outside of our historical regions, the Caribbean, Bermuda and the U.S. rural areas.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] Our next question comes from the line of Hamed Khorsand with BWS Financial.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial Inc.

Analyst · BWS Financial.

First question is, what's been going on in International Wireless segment for you? It seems that for the last couple of quarters now, the subscriber numbers have been flat.

Michael T. Prior

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Well, it's actually tale of 2 things. So International Wireline has been a good story for us. We've been improving revenues and profitability kind of across the board there, and there's a couple of components to that. There's increasing sub in a lot of the wireless -- Island Markets. There was the Bermuda integration and cost improvement, and there is -- as Justin mentioned, I think, in his remarks, there's a little bit of kind of in some of these markets, we're kind of tipping the scale now where we're starting to get operating leverage. So we're starting to see the cost, the revenue flow at higher margins, down to the bottom line to start to improve it. And we've got our ways to go there. I don't -- I wouldn't say it's fully rosy. We've got our ways to go on a lot of those markets to be were where we want to be, but we're -- it's been nice growth. And then, on the other side, in Guyana, the sub number, which is a larger sub number overall, has been down a little bit -- not a lot -- it's been down a little bit, but that hasn't really impacted margins because it's really been weeding out some unprofitable subscribers and practices, and so, again, the cost discipline has worked in our favor there. So I would say we're fairly pleased with international wireless. There's -- we always would like to see better and hope to do better, but it's been a decent story.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial Inc.

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Okay. And then, what percentage of the CapEx in legacy wholesale is now generating revenue for you?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Well, the CapEx in the second quarter is not really -- very little of that will be generating revenue.

Justin D. Benincasa

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Yes, probably very little.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial Inc.

Analyst · BWS Financial.

So there weren't any like new base stations or anything like that put into place?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Not many.

Justin D. Benincasa

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Yes. We have small uptick in base stations. And the large uptick in CapEx, most of that is work in progress, if you will.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial Inc.

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Okay. And then, when are you going to be adding any more base stations to that segment?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Yes, we expect add base stations by year end, maybe into 2014.

Hamed Khorsand - BWS Financial Inc.

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Okay. So it's more like a 2014 revenue?

Michael T. Prior

Analyst · BWS Financial.

Yes, it might start the benefit a little bit before that, but, yes.

Operator

Operator

I'm not showing any further questions, thank you. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for participating in today's conference. This does conclude today's program. You may all disconnect, and everyone, have a great day.