ATN International, Inc. - Quarter Report: 2009 March (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 10-Q

 

x		QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2009
OR
o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from            to           

 

Commission File Number 001-12593

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware		47-0728886
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

10 Derby Square

Salem, MA 01970

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(978) 619-1300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes o No o

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer o		Accelerated filer x
Non-accelerated filer o		Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes o No x

 

As of May 8, 2009, the registrant had outstanding 15,228,551 shares of its common stock ($.01 par value).

 

 

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q
Quarter Ended March 31, 2009

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION		4
Item 1	Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	4
	Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009	4
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009	5
	Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009	6
	Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements	7
Item 2	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	15
Item 3	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk	25
Item 4	Controls and Procedures	25
PART II—OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	26
Item1A	Risk Factors	26
Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 6.	Exhibits	26
SIGNATURES		28
CERTIFICATIONS

 

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (or the “Report”) contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other matters, the future financial performance and results of operations of the Company; 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) significant political and regulatory risk facing our exclusive license to provide local exchange and international voice and data services in Guyana; (2) any significant decline in the price or volume, including bypass activities, of international long distance calls to Guyana; (3) the regulation of rates that GT&T may charge for local wireline telephone service; (4) significant tax disputes between GT&T and the Guyanese tax authorities; (5) 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; (6) our ability to maintain favorable roaming arrangements, including the rates Commnet charges its wholesale customers; (7) the current global economic recession, along with difficult and volatile conditions in the capital and credit markets; (8) increased competition; (9) economic, political and other risks facing our foreign operations; (10) regulatory changes affecting our businesses; (11) the loss of certain FCC licenses; (12) rapid and significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry; (13) our reliance on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services relating to our network infrastructure; (14) any loss of any key members of management; (15) the adequacy and expansion capabilities of our network capacity and customer service system to support our customer growth; (16) dependence of our wireless and wireline revenues on the reliability and performance of our network infrastructure; (17) the occurrence of severe weather and natural catastrophes; and (18) our ability to realize the value that we believe exists in businesses that we acquire.

 

These and other 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 (the “2008 Form 10-K”), which is 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.

 

In this Report the words “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. ClearChoice™ is a service mark of one of our subsidiaries. This Report also contains other trademarks, service marks and trade names that are the property of others.

 

References to dollars ($) refer to U.S. dollars unless otherwise specifically indicated.

 

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PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

		December 31,			March 31,
		2008			2009
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	79,665		$	81,821
Short term investments		2,956			2,956
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $2.5 million and $3.0 million, respectively		26,779			29,599
Materials and supplies		5,669			5,546
Prepaid income taxes		10,708			7,679
Deferred income taxes		1,443			1,443
Prepayments and other current assets		4,101			3,771
Total current assets		131,321			132,815
Fixed Assets:
Property, plant, and equipment		342,059			346,298
Less accumulated depreciation		(143,829		)	(148,370		)
Net fixed assets		198,230			197,928
Licenses		33,658			34,024
Goodwill		40,237			40,361
Other intangibles, net		2,456			2,285
Deferred income taxes		8,570			8,096
Other assets		5,349			5,340
Total assets		$	419,821		$	420,849
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current portion of long-term debt		$	750		$	750
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities		28,707			24,254
Dividends payable		2,777			2,778
Accrued taxes		8,631			8,244
Advance payments and deposits		3,652			3,741
Other current liabilities		3,395			4,697
Total current liabilities		47,912			44,464
Deferred income taxes		28,736			28,736
Other liabilities		8,202			7,512
Long-term debt, excluding current portion		73,311			73,144
Total liabilities		158,161			153,856
Commitments and contingencies  (Note 11)
Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.’s Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding		—			—
Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 15,725,057 shares issued; 15,228,610 and 15,228,551 shares outstanding at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009,  respectively		157			157
Treasury stock, at cost; 496,447 and 496,506 shares at December 31, 2008 and March 31, 2009, respectively		(4,560		)	(4,575		)
Additional paid-in capital		107,312			107,591
Retained earnings		132,866			138,926
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(6,902		)	(6,487		)
Total Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.’s stockholders’ equity		228,873			235,612
Non-controlling interests		32,787			31,381
Total stockholders’ equity		261,660			266,993
Total liabilities and equity		$	419,821		$	420,849

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2008			2009
REVENUE:
Wireless		$	19,753		$	31,725
Local telephone and data		12,246			13,053
International long distance		12,556			10,401
Other		1,075			787
Total revenues		45,630			55,966
OPERATING EXPENSES (excluding depreciation and amortization unless otherwise indicated):
Termination and access fees		7,588			10,446
Internet and programming		899			789
Engineering and operations		5,856			6,947
Sales and marketing		2,674			3,592
General and administrative		5,882			8,215
Depreciation and amortization		7,077			9,200
Total operating expenses		29,976			39,189
Income from operations		15,654			16,777
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense		(653		)	(1,157		)
Interest income		569			340
Other, net		225			26
Other income (expense), net		141			(791		)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		15,795			15,986
Income taxes		7,390			6,956
INCOME BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS IN UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES		8,405			9,030
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		463			—
NET INCOME		8,868			9,030
Less: Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax of $1.0 million and $0.7 million, respectively		(1,001		)	(228		)
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO  ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS		$	7,867		$	8,802
NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS:
Basic		$	0.52		$	0.58
Diluted		$	0.51		$	0.58
WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:
Basic		15,228			15,229
Diluted		15,303			15,250
DIVIDENDS PER SHARE APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK		$	0.16		$	0.18

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2008 AND 2009
(Unaudited)
(Dollars in thousands)

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2008			2009
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income		$	8,868		$	9,030
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		7,077			9,200
Provision for doubtful accounts		463			408
Amortization of debt discount and debt issuance costs		30			133
Stock-based compensation		273			300
Deferred income taxes		200			199
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		(463		)	—
Dividends received from Bermuda Digital Communications, Ltd.		553			—
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:
Accounts receivable		177			(3,228		)
Materials and supplies, prepayments, and other current assets		(1,711		)	3,482
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, advance payments and deposits and other current liabilities		4,705			(2,348		)
Accrued taxes		(1,034		)	(387		)
Other		34			(43		)
Net cash provided by operating activities		19,172			16,746
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital expenditures		(11,647		)	(9,980		)
Acquisitions of businesses		(40		)	(24		)
Increase in deposits for acquisition of spectrum		(2,951		)	—
Purchase of short term investments		(66		)	—
Decrease in restricted cash		1,524			—
Net cash used in investing activities		(13,180		)	(10,004		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Dividends paid on common stock		(2,435		)	(2,741		)
Distributions to non-controlling interests		(326		)	(1,634		)
Repayments of long-term debt		—			(188		)
Purchase of common stock		—			(23		)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options		157			—
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,604		)	(4,586		)
NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		3,388			2,156
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of the period		71,173			79,665
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of the period		$	74,561		$	81,821

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.  ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (“ATN” or “Company”) provides wireless and wireline telecommunication services in the Caribbean and North America through the following operating subsidiaries:

 

·                  Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company, Ltd. (“GT&T”), the national and international telephone company in the Republic of Guyana and the largest wireless service provider in that country. The Company has owned 80% of the stock of GT&T since January 1991. GT&T generated approximately 55% and 41% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The reduction in these percentages is principally due to the acquisitions noted below and the growth in those acquired operations.

 

·                  Commnet Wireless, LLC (“Commnet”), an owner and operator of wholesale wireless networks in rural areas of the United States. Commnet provides wireless voice and data communications roaming services principally to national, regional and local wireless carriers. Commnet generated approximately 32% and 39% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively.

 

·                  Bermuda Digital Communications, Ltd. (“BDC”), the largest wireless voice and data communications service provider in Bermuda, doing business under the name “Cellular One”. The Company acquired an equity interest in, and signed a management contract with, BDC in 1998. On May 15, 2008, BDC completed a share repurchase of its common stock. ATN did not tender any shares for repurchase, and, as a result of the transaction, increased its holdings from approximately 43% to approximately 58% of BDC’s outstanding common stock. Prior to this increase in holdings, the Company accounted for its investment in BDC under the equity method and earnings from BDC did not appear in its income from operations, but were instead reflected in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Effective with the completion of that share repurchase, the Company began consolidating BDC’s balance sheet and results of operations. In September 2008, BDC began providing wireless services in Turks and Caicos through Islandcom Telecommunications, Ltd.

 

·                  Sovernet, Inc. (“Sovernet”), a facilities-based integrated voice, broadband data communications and dial-up service provider in New England and New York State. Sovernet’s retail telecommunications service is delivered to business and residential customers in Vermont and New Hampshire. Through an acquisition made in 2008, Sovernet also delivers wholesale transport services in New York State through its subsidiary, ION. The Company has owned 96% of Sovernet since its acquisition in February 2006.

 

·                  Choice Communications, LLC (“Choice”), is a leading provider of fixed wireless broadband data and dial-up internet services to retail and business customers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Choice is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.  In March 2009, the Company notified its television customers that it was going to discontinue wireless television service on May 31, 2009 and focus solely on providing wireless broadband data and dialup internet services.

 

ATN provides management, technical, financial, regulatory, and marketing services for its subsidiaries and receives a management fee equal to approximately 3% to 6% of their respective revenues. Management fees from consolidated subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation. Management fees from unconsolidated affiliates are included in “Other Income” in the accompanying statements of operations.

 

2.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, the Company believes such information and the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for such periods. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Results of interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

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Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and certain entities, which are consolidated in accordance with the provisions of Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation on Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51”, as revised in December 2003 (“FIN No. 46R”) since it is determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities. Revenue from these entities constitutes less than 1% of total Company revenue.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

Effective January 1, 2009, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations — a replacement of FASB Statement No. 141 (“SFAS 141(R)”), which replaces SFAS No. 141, Business Combinations (“SFAS 141”).  Although SFAS 141(R) retains the underlying concept of SFAS 141 in that all business combinations are still required to be accounted for at fair value in accordance with the acquisition method, going forward, SFAS 141(R) will require the Company to revise its application of the acquisition method in a number of significant aspects such as requiring the Company to expense transaction costs and  to recognize 100% of the acquiree’s assets and liabilities rather than a proportional share for acquisitions of less than 100% of a business.  In addition, SFAS 141(R) eliminates the step acquisition model and provides that all business combinations, whether full, partial, or step acquisitions, will result in all assets and liabilities of an acquired business being recorded at their fair values at the acquisition date.

 

In April 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position FAS 141(R)-1, Accounting for Assets and Liabilities Assumed in a Business Combination That Arise from Contingencies (“FSP FAS 141(R)-1”), which amends the initial and subsequent measurement guidance and disclosure requirements in SFAS 141(R) for assets and liabilities arising from contingencies in a business combination. FSP FAS 141(R)-1 is effective on a prospective basis for all business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after January 1, 2009.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157 Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS 157”) which defines fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements but rather eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. SFAS 157 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. However, on February 6, 2008, the FASB issued FSP FAS 157-2 which defers the effective date of SFAS 157 for one year for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities except for those items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis at least annually. For 2008, the Company did adopt SFAS 157 except as it applies to those nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities as noted in FSP FAS 157-2. The partial adoption of SFAS 157 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The adoption of FSB FAS 157-2 in 2009 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51 (“SFAS No. 160”).  SFAS No. 160 requires (i) that non-controlling (minority) interests be reported as a component of stockholders’ equity, (ii) that net income attributable to the parent and the non-controlling interest be separately identified in the consolidated statements of operations, (iii) that changes in a parent’s ownership interest while the parent retains the controlling interest be accounted for as equity transactions, (iv) that any retained non-controlling equity investment upon the deconsolidation of a subsidiary be initially measured at fair value, and (v) that sufficient disclosures are provided that clearly identify and distinguish between the interests of the parent and the interests of the non-controlling owners.  The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 160 in the first quarter of 2009.  As a result of the adoption, the Company has reported non-controlling interests as a component of equity in the condensed consolidated balance sheets and the net income attributable to non-controlling interests has been separately identified in the condensed consolidated statement of operations.  The prior period presented have also been reclassified to conform to the current classification required by SFAS No. 160.

 

In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities—an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”). Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 161, Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 133 (“SFAS 161”), amends and expands the disclosure requirements of FASB Statement No. 133  (“SFAS 133”) with the intent to provide users of financial statements with an enhanced understanding of (i) how and why an entity uses derivative instruments, (ii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS 133 and its related interpretations, and (iii) how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect an entity’s financial position, financial performance, and cash flows. SFAS 161 requires qualitative disclosures about objectives and strategies for using derivatives, quantitative disclosures about the fair value of and gains and losses on derivative instruments, and disclosures about credit-risk-related contingent features in derivative instruments. SFAS 161 is effective for the Company beginning January 1, 2009. The Company has provided the required disclosures regarding our interest rate swap derivative instrument in Note 6.

 

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In September 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. EITF 03-6-1, Determining Whether Instruments Granted in Share-Based Payment Transactions Are Participating Securities (“FSP No. EITF 03-6-1”). Under the provisions of this standard, unvested awards of share-based payments with non-forfeitable rights to receive dividends or dividend equivalents are considered participating securities for purposes of calculating earnings per share. FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2008. We adopted FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 in 2009. The adoption of FSP No. EITF 03-6-1 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. 142-3, Determination of the Useful Life of Intangible Assets (“FSP No. 142-3”). FSP No. 142-3 amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” (“FAS No. 142”). The intent of FSP FAS No. 142-3 is to improve the consistency between the useful life of a recognized intangible asset under FAS No. 142 and the period of expected cash flows used to measure the fair value of the asset under FAS No. 141R and other U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. FSP FAS No. 142-3 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of FSP FAS No. 142-3 did not have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In December 2008, the FASB issued an FSP on SFAS No. 132(R)-1, Employers’ Disclosures about Postretirement Benefit Plan Assets (“FSP SFAS 132(R)-1”). FSP SFAS 132(R)-1 provides additional guidance on an employer’s disclosures about plan assets of a defined benefit pension or other postretirement plan. The adoption of this interpretation will increase the disclosures in the financial statements related to the assets of an employers’ defined benefit pension plan. FSP SFAS 132(R)-1 is effective in 2010. The Company does not anticipate that FSP SFAS 132(R)-1 will have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

 

In January 2009, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position No. FSP FAS 107-1 and Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) 28-1, Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments (“FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1”). FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 amends SFAS No. 107, Disclosures about Fair Values of Financial Instruments, to require disclosures about fair value of financial instruments in interim financial statements as well as in annual financial statements. Additionally, FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 also amends APB Opinion No. 28, Interim Financial Reporting, to require those disclosures in all interim financial statements. FSP FAS 107-1 and APB 28-1 are effective for interim periods ending after June 15, 2009, but early adoption is permitted for interim periods ending after March 15, 2009. The Company will amend our disclosures accordingly beginning with our 2009 second fiscal quarter Form 10-Q.

 

3.  USE OF ESTIMATES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates relate to allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of the Company’s fixed and finite-lived intangible assets, allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase business combinations, fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, goodwill and income taxes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

4.  FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

The Company’s financial instruments at March 31, 2009 included cash and cash equivalents, short term investments, accounts receivable, accounts payable, debt and an interest rate swap agreement. As of March 31, 2009, the estimated fair values of all of the Company’s financial instruments approximate their carrying values.

 

SFAS No. 157 provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires expanded disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants on the measurement date. SFAS No. 157 also establishes a fair value hierarchy that requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The following summarizes the three levels of inputs required by SFAS No. 157, as well as the assets and liabilities that we value using those levels of inputs.

 

The following tables present information (in thousands) about our monetary assets and liabilities that are measured and recorded at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2009, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation and recorded

 

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techniques we utilized to determine such fair value. In general, fair values determined by Level 1 inputs utilize quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Fair values determined by Level 2 inputs utilize data points that utilize observable such as quoted prices, interest rates and yield curves. Fair values determined by Level 3 inputs are unobservable data points for the asset or liability, and includes situations where there is little, if any, market activity for the asset or liability. As of March 31, 2009, the Company did not have any Level 3 assets or liabilities.

 

Description		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)			Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)			Total
Money market funds		$	23,198		$	—		$	—		$	23,198
Certificates of deposit		—			5,468			—			5,468
Total assets measured at fair value		$	23,198		$	5,468		$	—		$	28,666
Interest rate swap (Note 6)		$	—		$	7,329		$	—		$	7,329
Total liabilities measured at fair value		$	—		$	7,329		$	—		$	7,329

 

5.  LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt comprises the following (in thousands):

 

 

2008 Loan Facility

 

        On September 10, 2008, the Company, as borrower, entered into a credit agreement with CoBank, ACB and other lenders as referenced within the credit agreement (the “2008 CoBank Credit Agreement”). The 2008 CoBank Credit Agreement replaced the 2005 Credit Agreement and provides a $75 million term loan (the “2008 Term Loan”) as well as a $75 million revolving credit facility (the “2008 Revolver Facility”, together with the 2008 Term Loan, the “2008 Credit Facility”).

 

        The 2008 Term Loan matures on September 10, 2015 and requires quarterly repayments of principal of $0.2 million through June 30, 2013 and quarterly repayments of principal of $1.4 million from September 30, 2013 to June 30, 2015. The remaining outstanding principal balance is to be repaid on September 10, 2015 when the 2008 Term Loan matures.

 

        The 2008 Revolver Facility matures on September 10, 2014 and includes a $5 million letter of credit facility. At March 31, 2009, no amounts have been drawn under the 2008 Revolver Facility.

 

        All borrowings under the 2008 Credit Facility bear interest at a rate, selected by the Company from one of the options set forth in the agreement, plus a margin. Such interest rate options include i) a base rate, defined as the greater of the prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 0.5%, or ii) a LIBOR rate. Margins for base rate borrowings range from 0% to 0.5%, depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio, while margins for LIBOR borrowings range from 1.25% to 2% also depending upon the Company’s leverage ratio. Borrowings as of March 31, 2009, including the interest rate swap agreement discussed in Note 6, were bearing a weighted average interest rate of 5.35%.

 

        The 2008 Credit Facility is guaranteed by the Company’s Commnet, Sovernet and Choice subsidiaries, along with certain of the Company’s other domestic subsidiaries, and is collateralized by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company and

 

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the guarantor subsidiaries, including Commnet, Sovernet and Choice, and a pledge of the stock of certain of the Company’s direct and indirect, domestic and foreign, subsidiaries, including its principal operating subsidiaries, and stock owned by the Company.

 

        The 2008 CoBank Credit Agreement contains certain affirmative and negative covenants of the Company and its subsidiaries. Among other things, these covenants restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional debt in the future or to incur liens on its property. The 2008 Credit Agreement also requires the Company to maintain certain financial ratios including a net leverage ratio of less than or equal to 3.0 to 1, an interest coverage ratio of greater than or equal to 3.5 to 1 and an equity to assets ratio of greater than or equal to 0.4 to 1. As of March 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the 2008 CoBank Credit Agreement.

 

        See Note 6 for a discussion regarding the Company’s interest rate swap that corresponds to a portion of our variable rate debt in order to effectively hedge interest rate risk.

 

6. DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

 

 As required by SFAS 133, the Company records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value.  The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative, whether the Company has elected to designate a derivative in a hedging relationship and apply hedge accounting and whether the hedging relationship has satisfied the criteria necessary to apply hedge accounting. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives designated and qualifying as a hedge of the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered cash flow hedges. Derivatives may also be designated as hedges of the foreign currency exposure of a net investment in a foreign operation. Hedge accounting generally provides for the matching of the timing of gain or loss recognition on the hedging instrument with the recognition of the changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk in a fair value hedge or the earnings effect of the hedged forecasted transactions in a cash flow hedge.  The Company may enter into derivative contracts that are intended to economically hedge certain of its risk, even though hedge accounting does not apply or the Company elects not to apply hedge accounting under SFAS 133.

 

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

 

The Company is exposed to certain risk arising from both its business operations and economic conditions.  The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities. The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments.  Specifically, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates.  The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company’s investments and borrowings.

 

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

 

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish this objective, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges involve the receipt of variable-rate amounts from a counterparty in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amount.

 

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. During the three months ended March 31, 2009, a derivative was used to hedge the variable cash flows associated with existing variable-rate debt.  The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings. No hedge ineffectiveness on cash flow hedges was recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2009.

 

Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt. During the twelve months ending December 31, 2009, the Company estimates that an additional $2.3 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.

 

As of March 31, 2009, the Company had one interest rate swap with a notional amount of $68 million that was designated as a cash flow hedge of interest rate risk.

 

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The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as well as their classification on the consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2009 (in thousands).

 

 

The tables below present the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 (in thousands):

 

 

Credit-risk-related Contingent Features

 

The Company has agreements with each of its derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if the Company defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then the Company could also be declared in default on its derivative obligations.

 

As of March 31, 2009, the fair value of the interest rate swap liability position, which includes accrued interest, related to these agreements was $7.3 million.  As of March 31, 2009, the Company has not posted any collateral related to this agreement. If the Company had breached any of these provisions at March 31, 2009, it would have been required to settle its obligation under the agreement at its termination value of $8.8 million.

 

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7.  RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL EQUITY

 

Total equity was as follows:

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2008									2009
		Atlantic Tele- Network, Inc.			Non-Controlling Interests			Total Equity			Atlantic Tele- Network, Inc.			Non-Controlling Interests			Total Equity
Equity, beginning of period		$	208,971		$	27,236		$	236,207		$	228,873		$	32,787		$	261,660
Stock based compensation		273			—			273			300			—			300
Comprehensive income:
Net income		7,867			1,001			8,868			8,802			228			9,030
Other comprehensive income- Gain on interest rate swap (net of tax)		—			—			—			401			—			401
Total comprehensive income		217,111			28,237			245,348			238,376			33,015			271,391
Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options		158			—			158
Dividends on common stock		(2,437		)	(326		)	(2,763		)	(2,741		)	(1,634		)	(4,375		)
Purchase of common shares		—			—			—			(23		)	—			(23		)
Non-controlling interest in entity acquired		—			195			195			—			—			—
Equity, end of period		214,832			28,106			242,938			235,612			31,381			266,993

 

8.  STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

 

During each of the three month periods ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, the Company recognized $0.3 million of non-cash compensation expense relating to grants under the 1998 Stock Option Plan, the 2005 Restricted Stock and Incentive Plan and the 2008 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Share Based Plans”).

 

In March 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the grant, to certain employees, of options to acquire 34,500 shares of the Company’s common stock at an exercise price equal to the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. In connection with the grant of the options, the Company will recognize $0.2 million of stock-based compensation which will be amortized over the vesting period of four years.

 

9.  NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, the common shares issuable under the Share Based Plans were the only potentially dilutive securities.

 

The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

The above calculation for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009 does not include 383,000 and 334,000 shares, respectively, related to stock options because the effects of such were anti-dilutive.

 

10.  SEGMENT REPORTING

 

The Company has five reportable segments for separate disclosure under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information. Those five segments are: i) Integrated Telephony-International, which generates all of its revenues in Guyana and has all of its assets located in Guyana, ii) Rural Wireless, which generates all of its revenues in the United States and has all of its assets located in the United States, iii) Island Wireless, which generates its revenues in and has its assets in Bermuda and Turks and Caicos, iv) Integrated Telephony-Domestic, which generates all of its revenues and has all of its assets located in the United States and v) Wireless Data, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in the U.S Virgin Islands. The operating segments are managed separately because each offers different services and serves different markets.

 

Island Wireless became a reportable segment upon completion of BDC’s share repurchase and resulting increase in the Company’s equity interest in BDC, effective May 15, 2008.  As described above, effective May 31, 2009, the Company will discontinue providing wireless televisions services, and therefore has changed the name of its segment from “Wireless Television and Data” to “Wireless Data”.

 

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The following tables, which for 2008 have been conformed to the 2009 presentation, provide information for each operating segment (in thousands):

 

		For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
		Integrated Telephony- International			Rural Wireless			Island Wireless			Integrated Telephony- Domestic			Wireless Data			Reconciling Items			Consolidated
Revenues		$	25,203		$	14,543		$	—		$	3,700		$	2,184	(1)	$	—		$	45,630
Depreciation and amortization		4,183			1,992			—			428			398			76			7,077
Non-cash stock-based compensation		—			—			—			32			—			241			273
Operating income (loss)		10,889			6,748			—			580			(421		)	(2,142		)	15,654

 

		For the Three Months Ended March 31, 2009
		Integrated Telephony- International			Rural Wireless			Island Wireless			Integrated Telephony- Domestic			Wireless Data			Reconciling Items			Consolidated
Revenues		$	22,734		$	21,639		$	5,167		$	4,610		$	1,816	(1)	$	—		$	55,966
Depreciation and amortization		4,183			3,235			711			719			278			74			9,200
Non-cash stock-based compensation		—			—			—			32			—			268			300
Operating income (loss)		9,318			10,252			210			(494		)	(564		)	(1,945		)	16,777

 

(1)          Includes $1.1 million and $0.8 million of wireless television services for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively.  This service is scheduled to be discontinued on May 31, 2009.

 

		Segment Assets
December 31, 2008		Integrated Telephony- International			Rural Wireless			Island Wireless			Integrated Telephony- Domestic			Wireless Data			Reconciling Items			Consolidated
Net fixed assets		$	111,417		$	58,782		$	13,224		$	9,820		$	4,546		$	441		$	198,230
Goodwill		—			32,148			618			7,471			—			—			40,237
Total assets		166,168			123,793			41,687			25,952			5,796			56,425			419,821

 

		Segment Assets
March 31, 2009		Integrated Telephony- International			Rural Wireless			Island Wireless			Integrated Telephony- Domestic			Wireless Data			Reconciling Items			Consolidated
Net fixed assets		$	109,691		$	61,086		$	13,043		$	9,484		$	4,256		$	368		$	197,928
Goodwill		—			32,148			722			7,491			—			—			40,361
Total assets		166,863			132,346			39,395			25,157			5,681			51,407			420,849

 

		Capital Expenditures
Three Months Ended March 31,		Integrated Telephony- International			Rural Wireless			Island Wireless			Integrated Telephony- Domestic			Wireless Data			Reconciling Items			Consolidated
2008		$	3,530		$	7,792		$	—		$	205		$	118		$	2		$	11,647
2009		3,490			5,720			530			240			—			—			9,980

 

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11.  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Regulatory and Litigation Matters

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain regulatory and legal proceedings and other claims arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve claims for damages and taxes that are substantial in amount. The Company believes that, except for the items discussed below and in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for which the Company is currently unable to predict the final outcome, the disposition of proceedings currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

 

As previously disclosed in our prior public reports, the Government of Guyana has stated its intention to introduce additional competition into Guyana’s telecommunications sector and has held formal discussions with us, most recently in early 2008, regarding potential modifications of GT&T’s exclusivity rights.  In October 2008, GT&T was informally notified that the Government had retained the services of a U.S. based law firm and a consultant to develop the legislative and regulatory reforms necessary to introduce telecommunication competition in Guyana.  Based on informal discussions with these parties, we expect draft legislation to be available as early as the second half of 2009.  Our exclusive license has a stated expiration in December 2010 and is, according to its terms, renewable for an additional 20-year term at our option.

 

At this time, ATN and GT&T do not know whether or how any draft legislation will address GT&T’s exclusive license, and if so, whether it would be pursuant to an agreement between GT&T and the Government.  Other than entering into such an agreement on terms acceptable to us, we would seek to enforce GT&T’s rights by law and contract to be the exclusive provider of international voice and data services in Guyana.  Although we believe that we would be entitled to damages for any involuntary termination of that license, we cannot guarantee that we would prevail in any court or arbitration proceeding.  See “Business—Regulation—Regulation of Our GT&T Subsidiary—Regulatory Developments” and “Risk Factors—Our exclusive license to provide local exchange and international voice and data services in Guyana is subject to significant political and regulatory risk” in our Annual Report on 2008 Form 10-K.

 

In a letter dated September 8, 2006, the National Frequency Management Unit (“NFMU”) agreed that GT&T’s total spectrum fees should not increase for the years 2006 and 2007. However, that letter implied that spectrum fees in 2008 and onward may be increased beyond the amount agreed between GT&T and the Government. GT&T restated its position in a September 14, 2006 letter to the Government that, by agreement with the Government, spectrum fees should be capped until the NFMU develops a fee methodology, acceptable to all GSM Spectrum licensees. In correspondence to GT&T in June 2007, the NFMU stated, without indicating whether a fee methodology would be developed, that the cap on GSM spectrum fees would be removed in December 2007. In a letter dated July 3, 2007 to the NFMU, GT&T objected to the NFMU’s proposed action and reiterated its position that an increase in fees prior to development of an acceptable methodology would violate the Government’s prior agreement. In a letter dated March 24, 2009, the NFMU requested information from GT&T for use in calculating spectrum fees for 2008.  GT&T is in the process of preparing its response to the NFMU’s request.

 

On May 8, 2009, Digicel issued a press release stating that it had filed a lawsuit in Guyana challenging the legality of GT&T’s exclusive license under Guyana’s constitution.  Digicel has filed this lawsuit against the Attorney General of Guyana in the High Court and neither ATN nor GT&T are named as a party in the lawsuit at this time.  Without having the opportunity to review the court filings prior to the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we cannot comment further on Digicel’s public statement other than the following: we believe that any legal challenge to GT&T’s exclusive license granted in 1990 is without merit and we will vigorously defend against such a legal challenge.

 

GT&T’s exclusive license has previously been the subject of legal challenge on constitutional grounds. In July 2002, an individual sued the Attorney General of Guyana in the High Court asking, among other things, for a declaration that the section of our 1990 agreement with the Government of Guyana granting to GT&T an exclusive right to provide domestic fixed and international voice and data services in Guyana violated Guyana law and was null and void. In September 2002, GT&T joined the suit to oppose the plaintiff's claims. Although the suit remains pending, there have been no further developments since November 2002.  See “Legal Proceedings” in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Except as set forth above, there have been no material developments in regulatory or litigation matters in the period covered by these interim Financial Statements. For further information concerning pending regulatory and litigation matters, see “Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 13, Commitments and Contingencies — Regulatory and Litigation Matters” in the Company’s 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

12.  SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

Recent Developments in Guyana

 

On May 7, 2009, in connection with the Annual General Meeting of GT&T, the representative of the Government of Guyana on the Board of Directors of GT&T indicated to representatives of ATN in attendance at the meeting, that the Government of Guyana is interested in selling its 20% interest in GT&T.  Specifically, this representative stated that the Government of Guyana is offering to sell its 20% interest in GT&T to ATN, which currently owns 80% of GT&T, and may offer to sell such interest to other potential purchasers.  This representative did not indicate any proposed purchase price or any other terms of such a proposed sale, nor a timeframe in which the Government of Guyana would seek to complete any proposed sale. 

 

The principal terms of our investment in GT&T are set forth in the Agreement between The Government of The Co-Operative Republic of Guyana and ATN, dated June 18, 1990 (the “Guyana Agreement”), which is included as Exhibit 10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2006.  The Guyana Agreement does not provide for any right of first refusal or any specific procedures in connection with the potential sale by the Government of Guyana of its 20% interest in GT&T.

 

The Company will give due consideration to any formal offer it might receive with respect to this matter.

 

Other

 

                On May 8, 2009, Digicel issued a press release stating that it had filed a lawsuit in Guyana challenging the legality of GT&T’s exclusive license under Guyana’s constitution.  See Note 11 for further discussion.

 

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

This discussion should be read in conjunction with Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our 2008 Form 10-K. Some of the statements in the discussion are forward-looking statements, which are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risk factors include those discussed under Item 1A, “Risk Factors” in our 2008 Form 10-K and those set forth in this Report under “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

 

OVERVIEW

 

We provide wireless and wireline telecommunications services in the Caribbean and North America through the following principal operating subsidiaries:

 

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·  Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company, Ltd. (“GT&T”), the national and international telephone company in the Republic of Guyana and the largest wireless service provider in that country. The Company has owned 80% of the stock of GT&T since January 1991. GT&T generated approximately 55% and 41% of the Company’s consolidated revenues during the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively. The reduction in these percentages is principally due to the acquisitions noted below and the growth in those acquired operations.

 

·  Commnet Wireless, LLC (“Commnet”), an owner and operator of wholesale wireless networks in rural areas of the United States. Commnet provides wireless voice and data communications roaming services primarily to national, regional and local wireless carriers. Commnet generated approximately 32% and 39% of the Company’s consolidated revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2009, respectively

 

·  Bermuda Digital Communications, Ltd. (“BDC”), the largest wireless voice and data communications service provider in Bermuda, doing business under the name “Cellular One”. The Company acquired an equity interest in, and signed a management contract with, BDC in 1998. On May 15, 2008, BDC completed a share repurchase of its common stock. ATN did not tender any shares for repurchase, and, as a result of the transaction, increased its holdings from approximately 43% to approximately 58% of BDC’s outstanding common stock. Prior to this increase in holdings, the Company accounted for its investment in BDC under the equity method and earnings from BDC did not appear in its income from operations, but were instead reflected in equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates. Effective with the completion of that share repurchase, the Company began consolidating BDC’s balance sheet and results of operations. In September 2008, BDC began providing wireless services in Turks and Caicos through Islandcom Telecommunications, Ltd.

 

·  Sovernet, Inc. (“Sovernet”), a facilities-based integrated voice, broadband data communications and dial-up service provider in New England and New York State. Sovernet’s retail telecommunications service is delivered to business and residential customers in Vermont and New Hampshire. The Company has owned 96% of Sovernet since its acquisition in February 2006. In August 2008, Sovernet began providing wholesale transport services in New York State through its subsidiary, ION Holdco LLC.

 

·  Choice Communications, LLC (“Choice”), is a leading provider of fixed wireless broadband data, and dial-up internet services to retail and business customers in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Choice is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. In March 2009, the Company notified its television customers that it was going to discontinue wireless television service by the end of May 2009 and focus solely on providing wireless broadband data and dialup internet services.

 

As a holding company, we provide management, technical, financial, regulatory, and marketing services to, and typically receive a management fee equal to approximately 3% to 6% of revenues from, each operating subsidiary. Management fees from consolidated subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation. Management fees from unconsolidated affiliates are included in “Other Income” in the accompanying statements of operations.

 

The following chart summarizes the operating activities of our principal subsidiaries and the markets they serve as of March 31, 2009:

 

Services		Segment		Operating Subsidiary		Markets
Wireless		Rural Wireless		Commnet		United States (rural markets)
		Integrated Telephony—		GT&T		Guyana
		International		BDC, Islandcom		Bermuda, Turks and Caicos
		Island Wireless
Local Telephone and		Integrated Telephony—		GT&T		Guyana
Data		International
		Integrated Telephony—		Sovernet, ION		United States (New England
		Domestic				and New York State)
		Wireless Data		Choice (internet access)		U.S. Virgin Islands

 

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International Long		Integrated Telephony—		GT&T		Guyana
Distance		International
Other (1)		Wireless Data		Choice (digital television)		U.S. Virgin Islands

 

(1) As described above, effective May 31, 2009, the Company will discontinue providing wireless televisions services, and therefore has changed the name of its segment from “Wireless Television and Data” to “Wireless Data”.

 

For information about our business segments and geographical information about our operating revenues and long-lived assets, see Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report.

 

Over the last several years, we have significantly diversified our business and reduced our historical dependence on GT&T’s operations for our financial results. This reduction of GT&T’s contribution is mainly through the acquisition and growth of Commnet as well as the expansion of our Sovernet business and the recent increase in our ownership interest in BDC and related acquisitions, as described under the captions “Business—Local Telephone and Data Services—U.S. Operations” and “—Wireless Services—Island Operations” in our 2008 Form 10-K. We expect to continue this trend of diversification and are actively evaluating additional investment and acquisition opportunities that meet our return-on-investment and other acquisition criteria.

 

We are dependent on GT&T and Commnet for a substantial majority of our revenues and profits. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, approximately 79% of our consolidated revenue and all of our consolidated operating income were generated by these two operating subsidiaries.

 

Commnet’s revenues and profits are primarily driven by the number of sites and base stations we operate, the amount voice and data traffic that each of these sites generates, and the rate we get paid from our carrier customers on that traffic. During the first quarter of 2009, Commnet’s contribution to our consolidated revenues and operating income was approximately 39% and 61%, respectively, as compared to 32% and 43% for the first quarter of 2008. Commnet competes, however, with wireless service providers that operate networks in its markets and offer wholesale roaming services. In addition, Commnet’s carrier customers may also elect to build or acquire their own infrastructure (including networks that Commnet built out pursuant to its roaming agreements) in a market in which they operate, reducing or eliminating their need for Commnet’s services in that market.  For more information, see Note 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report.

 

The largest single component of GT&T’s revenues and profits has been from its international long distance business, which accounted for approximately 19% of our consolidated revenue during the three months ended March 31, 2009. While the majority of this international long distance revenue is generated by calls originated by, or terminating with, wireline and wireless customers, we are currently the exclusive provider of international voice and data and therefore generate revenue and profit from calls and data originating on our competitor’s wireless network.

 

The primary drivers of the long distance business are the population of Guyanese living abroad who initiate calls to Guyana and the rate foreign carriers pay GT&T for handling the incoming international calls. However, in recent years, we believe various methods of illegal bypass and alternative and cheaper media for communication, such as e-mail and text messaging, may have had a negative impact on both voice traffic and on international long distance revenues. In 2008, we believe there was a substantial increase in illegal bypass activities. We have taken a number of measures to counter illegal bypass, including taking action against unlicensed operators in Guyana, introducing special outbound call center rates and we are examining automated technical solutions as well. More recently, we also believe the current economic recession has impacted the volume of calls into and out of Guyana and negatively impacted our revenues.

 

In addition to our 2009 planned capital expenditures to improve our GT&T network, we will be investing over the next 18-24 months a total of additional $20 million to $25 million in a new submarine fiber optic cable in Guyana. The construction of this new international cable connecting Guyana to Trinidad will provide for continued growth in the provision of high speed data and internet services into Guyana, as well as giving us a cost effective method of increased redundancy. We believe this is particularly important in the current operating environment of a worldwide shift from voice-driven applications to data-driven applications and the growth in broadband demand.

 

As previously disclosed in our prior public reports, the Government of Guyana has stated its intention to introduce additional competition into Guyana’s telecommunications sector and has held formal discussions with us, most recently in early 2008, regarding

 

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potential modifications of GT&T’s exclusivity rights. In October 2008, GT&T was informally notified that the Government had retained the services of a U.S. based law firm and a consultant to develop the legislative and regulatory reforms necessary to introduce telecommunication competition in Guyana. Based on informal discussions with these parties, we expect draft legislation to be available as early as the second half of 2009. Our exclusive license has a stated initial term that ends in December 2010 and is, according to its terms, renewable for an additional 20-year term at our option.

 

At this time, ATN and GT&T do not know whether or how any draft legislation will address GT&T’s exclusive license, and if so, whether it would be pursuant to an agreement between GT&T and the Government. Other than entering into such an agreement on terms acceptable to us, we would seek to enforce GT&T’s rights by law and contract to be the exclusive provider of international voice and data services in Guyana. Although we believe that we would be entitled to damages for any involuntary termination of that license, we cannot guarantee that we would prevail in any court or arbitration proceeding. See “Business—Regulation—Regulation of Our GT&T Subsidiary—Regulatory Developments” and “Risk Factors—Our exclusive license to provide local exchange and international voice and data services in Guyana is subject to significant political and regulatory risk” in our 2008 Form 10-K.

 

Recent Developments in Guyana

 

On May 7, 2009, in connection with the Annual General Meeting of GT&T, the representative of the Government of Guyana on the Board of Directors of GT&T indicated to representatives of ATN in attendance at the meeting, that the Government of Guyana is interested in selling its 20% interest in GT&T.  Specifically, this representative stated that the Government of Guyana is offering to sell its 20% interest in GT&T to ATN, which currently owns 80% of GT&T, and may offer to sell such interest to other potential purchasers.  This representative did not indicate any proposed purchase price or any other terms of such a proposed sale, nor a timeframe in which the Government of Guyana would seek to complete any proposed sale.

 

The principal terms of our investment in GT&T are set forth in the Agreement between The Government of The Co-Operative Republic of Guyana and ATN, dated June 18, 1990 (the “Guyana Agreement”), which is included as Exhibit 10 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2006, as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2006.  The Guyana Agreement does not provide for any right of first refusal or any specific procedures in connection with the potential sale by the Government of Guyana of its 20% interest in GT&T.

 

The Company will give due consideration to any formal offer it might receive with respect to this matter.

 

On May 8, 2009, Digicel issued a press release stating that it had filed a lawsuit in Guyana challenging the legality of GT&T’s exclusive license under Guyana’s constitution.  Digicel has filed this lawsuit against the Attorney General of Guyana in the High Court and neither ATN nor GT&T are named as a party in the lawsuit at this time.  Without having the opportunity to review the court filings prior to the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we cannot comment further on Digicel’s public statement other than the following: we believe that any legal challenge to GT&T’s exclusive license granted in 1990 is without merit and we will vigorously defend against such a legal challenge.

 

GT&T’s exclusive license has previously been the subject of legal challenge on constitutional grounds. In July 2002, an individual sued the Attorney General of Guyana in the High Court asking, among other things, for a declaration that the section of our 1990 agreement with the Government of Guyana granting to GT&T an exclusive right to provide domestic fixed and international voice and data services in Guyana violated Guyana law and was null and void. In September 2002, GT&T joined the suit to oppose the plaintiff’s claims. Although the suit remains pending, there have been no further developments since November 2002.  See “Legal Proceedings” in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Recent U.S. Developments

 

Verizon Wireless’s January 2009 acquisition of Alltel will cause some loss of wireless revenue for us because the network assets they acquired overlap our network in certain areas. We expect that such loss, however, will have an immaterial effect on overall wireless revenue as a result of our ongoing network expansion. However, in connection with the Alltel acquisition, Verizon Wireless is required to divest itself of certain assets that overlap more significant areas of Commnet’s network.  On May 8, 2009, AT&T announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Verizon Wireless to acquire the majority of the wireless assets required to be divested.  As compared to Verizon’s acquisition of Alltel’s assets, this transaction, if approved, by federal and state regulatory authorities, will result in a more substantial overlap of our wireless network coverage areas by AT&T and a more substantial loss in revenue when and if AT&T completes a GSM network build in those areas.  AT&T has publicly stated its expectation that it will complete such an overlay within a year from closing the purchase, or before the end of 2010.  If any such revenue loss is not replaced by revenue gains in other areas of our US rural wireless business or from other sources, it could have a materially adverse impact on our revenues and operating income.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2009

 

		Three Months Ended March 31,						Amount of Increase			Percent Increase
		2008			2009			(Decrease)			(Decrease)
		(In thousands)
REVENUE:
Wireless		$	19,753		$	31,725		$	11,972		60.6	%
Local telephone and data		12,246			13,053			807			6.6
International long distance		12,556			10,401			(2,155		)	(17.2	)
Other		1,075			787			(288		)	(26.8	)
Total revenue		45,630			55,966			10,336			22.7
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Termination and access fees		7,588			10,446			2,858			37.7
Internet and programming		899			789			(110		)	(12.2	)
Engineering and operations		5,856			6,947			1,091			18.6
Sales and marketing		2,674			3,592			918			34.3
General and administrative		5,882			8,215			2,333			39.7
Depreciation and amortization		7,077			9,200			2,123			30.0
Total operating expenses		29,976			39,189			9,213			30.7
Income from operations		15,654			16,777			1,123			7.2
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):
Interest expense		(653		)	(1,157		)	(504		)	(77.2	)
Interest income		569			340			(229		)	(40.2	)
Other income (expense), net		225			26			(199		)	(88.4	)
Other income (expense), net		141			(791		)	(932		)	(661.0	)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES		15,795			15,986			191			1.2
Income taxes		7,390			6,956			(434		)	(5.9	)
INCOME BEFORE EQUITY IN EARNINGS OF UNCONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES		8,405			9,030			625			7.4
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated affiliates		463			—			(463		)	(100.0	)
NET INCOME		8,868			9,030			162			1.8
Net income attributable to non-controlling interests		(1,001		)	(228		)	773			77.2
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS		$	7,867		$	8,802		935			11.9	%

 

Wireless revenue. For 2008, wireless revenue includes wholesale voice and data roaming revenue from our rural U.S. operations and retail wireless revenues generated in Guyana.  For 2009, wireless revenue also includes retail wireless revenues generated by our Island Wireless segment.

 

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