Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. (“ACS”) (NASDAQ: ALSK) today reported financial results for its third quarter ended September 30, 2008. In addition, the company today separately announced that it had completed its acquisition of Crest Communications Corporation.
Liane Pelletier, ACS president, chief executive officer and chairman, said, “In these turbulent times our investors should be reassured by the comparative strength of our market. Alaska has one of the nation’s healthiest housing markets, it has entered its 21st consecutive year of job growth, and it has recently distributed to residents dividends from the Alaska Permanent fund and a state-funded energy rebate, together valued at $2 billion. Alaska is the nation’s second largest oil producing state and has the nation’s largest commercial construction project in the form of a gas pipeline under consideration. These factors should help contribute to a comparatively strong economy as the nation pursues a strategy of energy independence.”
“Against this economic backdrop, we continue to invest in the future of telecommunications. Our focus on Enterprise and high-end wireless customers drives our financial results. Those two segments accounted for nearly half of our revenue in the quarter. Enterprise revenues grew 37 percent from a year ago and 13 percent over the last quarter; and we exited the quarter substantially covering the incremental operating and financing cash costs of our AKORN build and our Crest buy. Our AKORN cable build remains on track for commercial launch in the first quarter of 2009 and we have just closed our acquisition of Crest. Wireless growth among unlimited calling plan users and among data cards users was again strong, with those sales driving about 30 percent of gross adds, for the second consecutive quarter. Data ARPU is up 65 percent from last year and is poised to grow with ACS’ recent introduction of BlackBerry smartphones in mid-September,” concluded Pelletier.
Financial Highlights: Third Quarter 2008 Compared to Third Quarter 2007
| -- | Revenues of $101.3 million were up 0.8 percent from $100.6 million in the prior year. | |
-- Enterprise revenues increased $2.6 million, or 37 percent. | ||
| -- Wireless revenues increased $2.1 million, or 6 percent. | ||
-- Retail wireline revenues declined by $1.2 million, driven in large part by declines in non-recurring CPE sales. | ||
| -- Wholesale and network access revenues declined by $2.7 million with the current quarter benefiting from $1.4 million in out-of-period network access compared to $3.3 million in 2007. | ||
| -- | EBITDA of $35.3 million, exclusive of $1.4 million in start-up costs for our long haul fiber investments, was down from prior year EBITDA of $37.3 million. The decline is equal to lower out-of-period network access revenue. | |
| -- | Operating income of $12.1 million compared to $17.9 million in the prior year. | |
| -- | Net cash provided by operating activities of $28.4 million compared to $31.3 million in the prior year. | |
| -- | Net income of $2.0 million, or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to $10.3 million, or $0.23 per diluted share in the prior year. Comparative EPS performance was impacted by the start-up costs of our long haul fiber investments; higher non-cash depreciation and stock-based compensation expense; interest expense on our new $125 million convertible debt offering; and book tax expense this year but not last. | |
“We exited the third quarter with total cash deposits of $83.6 million and with full access to our $45 million revolver facility providing more than enough liquidity to complete our AKORN build and close our acquisition of Crest,” said David Wilson, chief financial officer. “We are also well shielded from the current turmoil in the credit markets with no significant debt maturities due until February 2012; interest rate swaps to fixed rates in place for 100 percent of our bank term loan; over a full turn of EBITDA headroom with our tightest debt covenant; and bank counterparty risk limited to large and tenured commercial banks.”
Metric Highlights: Third Quarter 2008 Compared to Second Quarter 2008
| -- | Wireless subscribers increased by approximately 1.2 percent, or 1,850, to 150,500. | |
| -- | Average retail wireless monthly churn of 1.9 percent was up from 1.6 percent in the second quarter, with almost half the sequential increase attributable to military deployments out of the state. | |
| -- | Retail wireless ARPU increased to $60.79 from $60.51 with data ARPU increasing 9.4 percent from $4.59 to $5.02. | |
| -- | While DSL lines declined by 300 to approximately 47,600, ISP ARPU increased to $32.09 from $31.14. The decline in DSL subscribers was largely attributable to military deployments out of the state. | |
| -- | Retail local access lines declined by 1.8 percent to 177,300. | |
| -- | Total local access lines decreased by approximately 3.2 percent to 207,400. | |
Nine Month Financial Review
For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, revenues were $292.5 million, up 2.0 percent from $286.7 million in the same period last year. Net income, inclusive of book income tax expense of $6.6 million, was $8.7 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, compared to net income of $23.8 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, in the same period in 2007. Net cash provided by operating activities for the first nine months of 2008 was $68.2 million, as compared to $78.3 million in the same period in 2007. Excluding $2.2 million in start-up costs for our long haul fiber investments, EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 was $101.5 million, compared to $104.2 million in the same period last year.
2008 Business Outlook
For the full-year 2008, ACS is reaffirming its revenue, EBITDA net cash interest and maintenance capex guidance, with revenues expected to be in the range of $380 million to $390 million; EBITDA to be in the range of $128 million to $132 million, excluding start-up costs for its long haul fiber investments of approximately $4 million; net cash interest expense of $33 million; and maintenance capex of $42 million. For growth capex, $10 million for final installment of our AKORN build that was originally forecast to be invoiced in 2009 is now expected to be invoiced in 2008, increasing our guidance for the year from $82 million to $92 million (with payment in 2009, there is no impact to 2008 cash flow). We also expect our purchase of $2.6 million in wireless spectrum that will support a future migration to LTE to close in 2008 rather than 2009; and we expect to invest $2 million in capex to secure a geographically diverse fiber route to Fairbanks.
Conference Call
The company will host a conference call and live webcast today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. Parties in the United States and Canada can call 800-257-6607 to access the conference call. Parties outside the United States and Canada can access the call at 303-228-2961. The live webcast of the conference call will be accessible from the “Events Calendar” section of the company’s website (www.alsk.com). The webcast will be archived for a period of 90 days. A telephonic replay of the conference call will also be available 2 hours after the call and will run until Monday, November 3, 2008 at midnight ET. To hear the replay, parties in the United States and Canada can call 800-405-2236 and enter pass code 11121311. Parties outside the United States and Canada can call 303-590-3000 and enter pass code 11121311.
About Alaska Communications Systems
Headquartered in Anchorage, ACS is Alaska’s leading provider of broadband and other wireline and wireless solutions to Enterprise and mass market customers. The ACS wireline operations include the state’s most advanced data networks and, to be launched in early 2009, the only diverse undersea fiber optic system connecting Alaska to the contiguous United States. The ACS wireless operations include the only statewide 3G CDMA network, reaching across Alaska from the North Slope to Ketchikan, with coverage extended via best-in-class CDMA carriers in the Lower 49 and Canada. By investing in the fastest-growing market segments and attracting the highest-quality customers, ACS seeks to drive top- and bottom-line growth, while continually improving customer experience and cost structure through process improvement. More information can be found on the company’s website at www.acsalaska.com or at its investor site at www.alsk.com.
Forward-Looking EBITDA Guidance
This press release includes information related to management's estimate of EBITDA for the year ending December 31, 2008. EBITDA, as defined by the company, may not be similar to EBITDA measures used by other companies and is not a measurement under generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Management believes that EBITDA provides useful information to investors about the company's performance because it eliminates the effects of period-to-period changes in costs associated with capital investments, interest and stock-based compensation expense that are not directly attributable to the underlying performance of the company's business operations. Management believes the most directly comparable GAAP measure would be "Net cash provided by operating activities." Due to the difficulty in forecasting and quantifying the amounts that would be required to be included in this comparable GAAP measure, the company is not providing an estimate of year-end net cash provided by operating activities at this time.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements," as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are based on management's beliefs and projections as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future financial results, rates of return, dividend payments, and other future events made using information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside ACS' control. Such factors are, without limitation, the company's ability to complete, manage, integrate, market, maintain, and attract sufficient customers to the products and services it may derive from the construction of its AKORN fiber facility and its purchase of Crest; changes in capital expenditures, or other factors affecting the company's ability to generate sufficient earnings and cash flows to continue to make payments on its substantial debt and dividend payments to its stockholders; the continued availability of financing to support future operations or expansion; increased competition, including from national wireless and local wireline facilities-based competitors; regulatory limitations on pricing or bundling of its communications services; the company's ability to keep pace with rapid technological developments in the telecommunications industry; fluctuations in wireless revenue, including roaming revenue; changes in company's relationships with its roaming partners; changes in revenue from the Universal Service Fund or other public policy changes; changes in accounting policies or practices; changes in interest rates or other general national, regional or local economic conditions, including changes in tourism in Alaska. For further information regarding risks and uncertainties associated with ACS' business, please refer to the company's SEC filings, including, but not limited to, the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. Copies of the company's SEC filings may be obtained by contacting its investor relations department at (907) 564-7556 or by visiting its investor relations website at www.alsk.com.
| Schedule 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | ||||||||||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in Thousands, Except per Share Amounts) | ||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating revenues: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wireline | $ | 62,100 | $ | 63,395 | $ | 184,277 | $ | 184,237 | ||||||||||
| Wireless | 39,222 | 37,159 | 108,177 | 102,441 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating revenues | 101,322 | 100,554 | 292,454 | 286,678 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Wireline (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | 47,629 | 45,300 | 134,871 | 133,986 | ||||||||||||||
| Wireless (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | 22,778 | 19,763 | 63,701 | 53,578 | ||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 18,790 | 17,492 | 54,391 | 53,583 | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets, net | 4 | 113 | 763 | 137 | ||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | 89,201 | 82,668 | 253,726 | 241,284 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating income | 12,121 | 17,886 | 38,728 | 45,394 | ||||||||||||||
| Other income and expense: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (8,548 | ) | (7,474 | ) | (24,453 | ) | (22,439 | ) | ||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | - | (355 | ) | - | (355 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Interest income | 532 | 485 | 1,541 | 1,520 | ||||||||||||||
| Other | (331 | ) | (72 | ) | (482 | ) | (64 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total other income and expense | (8,347 | ) | (7,416 | ) | (23,394 | ) | (21,338 | ) | ||||||||||
| Income before income tax expense | 3,774 | 10,470 | 15,334 | 24,056 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | (1,730 | ) | (170 | ) | (6,606 | ) | (275 | ) | ||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 2,044 | $ | 10,300 | $ | 8,728 | $ | 23,781 | ||||||||||
| Net income per share: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.56 | ||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.20 | $ | 0.54 | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 43,603 | 42,812 | 43,302 | 42,649 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 44,428 | 44,159 | 44,306 | 44,185 | ||||||||||||||
| Schedule 2 | ||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | ||||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS | ||||||||||
(Unaudited, In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts) | ||||||||||
| September 30, | December 31, | |||||||||
| Assets | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 26,203 | $ | 35,208 | ||||||
| Restricted cash | 57,424 | 2,589 | ||||||||
| Short-term investments | - | 790 | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable-trade, net of allowance of $5,645 and $8,768 | 37,452 | 39,150 | ||||||||
| Materials and supplies | 10,722 | 10,467 | ||||||||
| Prepayments and other current assets | 6,122 | 5,155 | ||||||||
| Deferred taxes | 11,385 | 21,347 | ||||||||
| Total current assets | 149,308 | 114,706 | ||||||||
| Property, plant and equipment | 1,311,793 | 1,209,257 | ||||||||
| Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization | (873,512 | ) | (825,663 | ) | ||||||
| Property, plant and equipment, net | 438,281 | 383,594 | ||||||||
| Long-term investments | 1,095 | - | ||||||||
| Goodwill | 38,403 | 38,403 | ||||||||
| Intangible Assets | 21,604 | 21,604 | ||||||||
| Debt issuance costs | 9,935 | 7,461 | ||||||||
| Deferred taxes | 100,489 | 96,095 | ||||||||
| Deferred charges and other assets | 3,962 | 1,340 | ||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 763,077 | $ | 663,203 | ||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity (Deficit) | ||||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||||
| Current portion of long-term obligations | $ | 649 | $ | 780 | ||||||
| Accounts payable, accrued and other current liabilities | 67,197 | 64,070 | ||||||||
| Advance billings and customer deposits | 10,146 | 10,051 | ||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 77,992 | 74,901 | ||||||||
| Long-term obligations, net of current portion | 556,030 | 432,216 | ||||||||
| Other deferred credits and long-term liabilities | 82,354 | 82,075 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | 716,376 | 589,192 | ||||||||
| Commitments and contingencies | ||||||||||
| Stockholders' equity (deficit): | ||||||||||
| Common stock, $.01 par value; 145,000 authorized | 436 | 429 | ||||||||
| Additional paid in capital | 222,353 | 257,982 | ||||||||
| Accumulated deficit | (168,585 | ) | (177,313 | ) | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (7,503 | ) | (7,087 | ) | ||||||
| Total stockholders' equity (deficit) | 46,701 | 74,011 | ||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit) | $ | 763,077 | $ | 663,203 | ||||||
| Schedule 3 | |||||||||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | |||||||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS | |||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows from Operating Activities: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 2,044 | $ | 10,300 | $ | 8,728 | $ | 23,781 | |||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 18,790 | 17,492 | 54,391 | 53,583 | |||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets, net | 4 | 113 | 763 | 137 | |||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of long-term investment | - | - | - | (152 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Loss on impairment of long-term investment | 255 | - | 255 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount | 698 | 634 | 1,835 | 1,586 | |||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation | 3,103 | 1,839 | 5,828 | 5,269 | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred taxes | 1,786 | - | 6,662 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Other non-cash expenses | 32 | 131 | 97 | 394 | |||||||||||||||
| Changes in components of assets and liabilities: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable and other current assets | 420 | 467 | 731 | (510 | ) | ||||||||||||||
| Materials and supplies | 117 | 238 | (255 | ) | (1,858 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and other current liabilities | 1,708 | (1,199 | ) | (6,107 | ) | (6,589 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Deferred charges and other assets | (747 | ) | (319 | ) | (2,455 | ) | (208 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other deferred credits | 204 | 1,648 | (2,274 | ) | 2,911 | ||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 28,414 | 31,344 | 68,199 | 78,344 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash Flows from Investing Activities: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Investment in construction and capital expenditures | (36,718 | ) | (16,203 | ) | (106,900 | ) | (40,127 | ) | |||||||||||
| Change in unsettled construction and capital expenditures | 8,093 | 1,716 | 7,933 | 908 | |||||||||||||||
| Purchase of short-term investments | - | (19,575 | ) | (9,400 | ) | (56,938 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of short-term investments | 375 | 20,898 | 10,190 | 56,938 | |||||||||||||||
| Purchase of long-term investments | - | - | (3,625 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||
| Proceeds from sale of long-term investments | - | - | 2,275 | 162 | |||||||||||||||
| Placement of funds in restricted account | (266 | ) | - | (71,726 | ) | (2,979 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Release of funds from escrow account | 16,502 | - | 16,891 | 2,120 | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash used by investing activities | (12,014 | ) | (13,164 | ) | (154,362 | ) | (39,916 | ) | |||||||||||
| Cash Flows from Financing Activities: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Payments of long-term debt | (155 | ) | (4,261 | ) | (2,676 | ) | (4,893 | ) | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt | - | - | 125,000 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Purchase of call options | - | - | (20,431 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||
| Sale of common stock warrants | - | - | 9,852 | - | |||||||||||||||
| Debt issuance costs | (56 | ) | - | (4,309 | ) | - | |||||||||||||
| Payment of cash dividend on common stock | (9,370 | ) | (9,204 | ) | (27,901 | ) | (27,487 | ) | |||||||||||
| Payment of withholding taxes on stock-based compensation | (7 | ) | (12 | ) | (3,321 | ) | (2,323 | ) | |||||||||||
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock | 358 | 110 | 944 | 1,180 | |||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided (used) by financing activities | (9,230 | ) | (13,367 | ) | 77,158 | (33,523 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Change in cash and cash equivalents | 7,170 | 4,813 | (9,005 | ) | 4,905 | ||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 19,033 | 36,952 | 35,208 | 36,860 | |||||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 26,203 | $ | 41,765 | $ | 26,203 | $ | 41,765 | |||||||||||
| Supplemental Cash Flow Data: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest paid | $ | 9,894 | $ | 7,279 | $ | 23,897 | $ | 21,564 | |||||||||||
| Income taxes paid | $ | - | $ | 155 | $ | 417 | $ | 508 | |||||||||||
| Supplemental Noncash Transactions: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Property acquired under capital leases | $ | 1,301 | $ | - | $ | 1,359 | $ | 51 | |||||||||||
| Dividend declared, but not paid | $ | 16 | $ | 5 | $ | 9,386 | $ | 9,215 | |||||||||||
| Schedule 4 | |||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | |||||||||||||
| SCHEDULE OF WIRELINE REVENUES | |||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in Thousands) | |||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||
| Retail | $ | 23,617 | $ | 24,835 | $ | 71,163 | $ | 73,908 | |||||
| Wholesale | 5,244 | 5,994 | 15,660 | 17,999 | |||||||||
| Access | 23,676 | 25,578 | 71,581 | 74,331 | |||||||||
| Enterprise | 9,563 | 6,988 | 25,873 | 17,999 | |||||||||
| $ | 62,100 | $ | 63,395 | $ | 184,277 | $ | 184,237 | ||||||
| Schedule 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| SCHEDULE OF EBITDA CALCULATION | ||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 28,414 | $ | 31,344 | $ | 68,199 | $ | 78,344 | ||||||||||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash (provided) used by operating activities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | (18,790 | ) | (17,492 | ) | (54,391 | ) | (53,583 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets, net | (4 | ) | (113 | ) | (763 | ) | (137 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of long-term investment | - | - | - | 152 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss on impairment of long-term investment | (255 | ) | - | (255 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||
| Amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount | (698 | ) | (634 | ) | (1,835 | ) | (1,586 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation (a) | (3,103 | ) | (1,839 | ) | (5,828 | ) | (5,269 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Deferred taxes | (1,786 | ) | - | (6,662 | ) | - | ||||||||||||||
| Other non-cash expenses | (32 | ) | (131 | ) | (97 | ) | (394 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Changes in components of assets and liabilities: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Accounts receivable and other current assets | (420 | ) | (467 | ) | (731 | ) | 510 | |||||||||||||
| Materials and supplies | (117 | ) | (238 | ) | 255 | 1,858 | ||||||||||||||
| Accounts payable and other current liabilities | (1,708 | ) | 1,199 | 6,107 | 6,589 | |||||||||||||||
| Deferred charges and other assets | 747 | 319 | 2,455 | 208 | ||||||||||||||||
| Other deferred credits | (204 | ) | (1,648 | ) | 2,274 | (2,911 | ) | |||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 2,044 | $ | 10,300 | $ | 8,728 | $ | 23,781 | ||||||||||||
| Add (subtract): | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense | 8,548 | 7,474 | 24,453 | 22,439 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | - | 355 | - | 355 | ||||||||||||||||
| Interest income | (532 | ) | (485 | ) | (1,541 | ) | (1,520 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 18,790 | 17,492 | 54,391 | 53,583 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets, net | 4 | 113 | 763 | 137 | ||||||||||||||||
| Loss on impairment of long-term investment | 255 | - | 255 | - | ||||||||||||||||
| Gain on sale of long-term investments | - | - | - | (152 | ) | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1,730 | 170 | 6,606 | 275 | ||||||||||||||||
| Stock-based compensation (a) | 3,103 | 1,839 | 5,618 | 5,269 | ||||||||||||||||
| EBITDA | $ | 33,942 | $ | 37,258 | $ | 99,273 | $ | 104,167 | ||||||||||||
| Note: | In an effort to provide investors with additional information regarding the Company's results as determined by generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company also discloses certain non-GAAP information which management utilizes to assess performance and believes provides useful information to investors. The Company has disclosed its net income before interest, provisions for taxes, depreciation expense, gain or loss on asset purchases or disposals, amortization of intangibles and stock based compensation expense (EBITDA) because the Company believes it is an important indicator as it provides information about our ability to service debt, pay dividends and fund capital expenditures. EBITDA is not a GAAP measure and should not be considered a substitute for net cash provided by operating activities and other measures of financial performance recorded in accordance with GAAP. | |||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Adjusted stock-based compensation in June 2008 for EBITDA purposes to omit deferred board of director stock expensed in prior years. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule 6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| ALLOCATION OF STOCK BASED COMPENSATION | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in Thousands) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2008 | September 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As reported on | Stock-Based | As reported on | Stock-Based | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule 1 | Compensation | Adjusted | Schedule 1 | Compensation | Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireline (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | $ | 47,629 | $ | (2,753 | ) | $ | 44,876 | $ | 45,300 | $ | (1,632 | ) | $ | 43,668 | |||||||||
| Wireless (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | 22,778 | (350 | ) | 22,428 | 19,763 | (207 | ) | 19,556 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 18,790 | - | 18,790 | 17,492 | - | 17,492 | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets, net | 4 | - | 4 | 113 | - | 113 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 89,201 | $ | (3,103 | ) | $ | 86,098 | 82,668 | (1,839 | ) | 80,829 | ||||||||||||
| Nine Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 30, 2008 | September 30, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| As reported on | Stock-Based | As reported on | Stock-Based | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule 1 | Compensation | Adjusted | Schedule 1 | Compensation | Adjusted | ||||||||||||||||||
| Operating expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wireline (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | $ | 134,871 | $ | (4,985 | ) | $ | 129,886 | $ | 133,986 | $ | (4,718 | ) | $ | 129,268 | |||||||||
| Wireless (exclusive of depreciation and amortization) | 63,701 | (633 | ) | 63,068 | 53,578 | (551 | ) | 53,027 | |||||||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 54,391 | - | 54,391 | 53,583 | - | 53,583 | |||||||||||||||||
| Loss on disposal of assets, net | 763 | - | 763 | 137 | - | 137 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total operating expenses | $ | 253,726 | $ | (5,618 | ) | $ | 248,108 | $ | 241,284 | $ | (5,269 | ) | $ | 236,015 | |||||||||
| Note: | The balances reported on Schedule 1 - Consolidated Statements of Operations, include the company's adoption of SFAS 123(R) Share-Based Payment. This schedule shows the company's operating performance prior to that expense being recorded to allow analysis of the operating segments without these non-cash charges. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schedule 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | ||||||||||||||||
| INVESTMENT IN CONSTRUCTION AND CAPITAL | ||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited, in Thousands) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | |||||||||||||
| September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | September 30, | |||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||
| Investment in construction and capital | $ | 36,718 | $ | 16,203 | $ | 106,900 | $ | 40,127 | ||||||||
| Capitalized interest | (1,090 | ) | (299 | ) | (2,079 | ) | (748 | ) | ||||||||
| Investment in construction and capital, net of capitalized interest | $ | 35,628 | $ | 15,904 | $ | 104,821 | $ | 39,379 | ||||||||
| Growth | 23,952 | 6,228 | 73,170 | 11,582 | ||||||||||||
| Maintenance and other | 11,676 | 9,676 | 31,651 | 27,797 | ||||||||||||
| Investment in construction and capital, net of capitalized interest | $ | 35,628 | $ | 15,904 | $ | 104,821 | $ | 39,379 | ||||||||
| Schedule 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| ALASKA COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS GROUP, INC. | ||||||||||||||||
| KEY OPERATING STATISTICS | ||||||||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| September 30, | June 30, | September 30, | ||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||
| Wireline: | ||||||||||||||||
| Retail | ||||||||||||||||
| Local | 177,279 | 180,541 | 188,549 | |||||||||||||
| Quarterly growth rate in retail local telephone access lines | -1.8 | % | -1.0 | % | -1.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Average monthly revenue per subscriber for the quarter | $ | 19.82 | $ | 19.68 | $ | 19.80 | ||||||||||
| Long Distance | ||||||||||||||||
| Long distance subscribers | 64,692 | 65,011 | 64,511 | |||||||||||||
| Average monthly retail revenue per subscriber for the quarter | $ | 20.65 | $ | 21.17 | $ | 21.84 | ||||||||||
| Internet | ||||||||||||||||
| DSL subscribers | 47,639 | 47,939 | 46,239 | |||||||||||||
| Dial-up subscribers | 7,394 | 7,934 | 10,059 | |||||||||||||
| 55,033 | 55,873 | 56,298 | ||||||||||||||
| Average monthly DSL & dial-up revenue per subscriber for the quarter | $ | 32.09 | $ | 31.14 | $ | 29.83 | ||||||||||
| Wholesale | ||||||||||||||||
| Resale access lines | 8,577 | 9,182 | 9,976 | |||||||||||||
| UNE lines | 21,543 | 24,508 | 33,111 | |||||||||||||
| 30,120 | 33,690 | 43,087 | ||||||||||||||
| Quarterly growth rate in wholesale local access lines | -10.6 | % | -10.2 | % | -8.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Average monthly revenue per subscriber for the quarter | $ | 28.37 | $ | 27.86 | $ | 26.28 | ||||||||||
| Wireless: | ||||||||||||||||
| Retail wireless subscribers | 150,176 | 148,318 | 141,501 | |||||||||||||
| Average monthly churn for the quarter (a) | 1.9 | % | 1.6 | % | 1.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Average monthly revenue per subscriber for the quarter (b) | $ | 60.79 | $ | 60.51 | $ | 64.43 | ||||||||||
| Resale wireless subscribers | 357 | 361 | 2,307 | |||||||||||||
| Total wireless subscribers | 150,533 | 148,679 | 143,808 | |||||||||||||
| Average monthly churn for the quarter (a) | 1.9 | % | 1.6 | % | 1.7 | % | ||||||||||
| Average monthly revenue per subscriber for the quarter (b) | $ | 61.07 | $ | 60.80 | $ | 64.11 | ||||||||||
| (a) | Excludes disconnects that occur within 30 days of activation and require the return of customer equipment to ACS. | |||||||||||||||
| (b) | CETC added $10.33 to retail and total wireless ARPU in the third quarter of 2008. It also added $10.39 to retail and total wireless ARPU in the second quarter of 2008 and added $10.89 to retail and total wireless ARPU in the third quarter of 2007. | |||||||||||||||
Contacts:
Media:
Director,
Corporate Communications
Paula Dobbyn, 907-297-3000
pdobbyn@acsalaska.com
or
Investors:
Director,
Investor Relations
Melissa Fouts, 907-564-7556
investors@acsalaska.com
