e424b3
This filing is made pursuant
to Rule 424(b)(3) under
the Securities Act of
1933 in connection with
Registration No. 333-149937
PROSPECTUS
Cricket Communications,
Inc.
Offer to exchange its
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014, which have been registered
under the
Securities Act of 1933, for any
and all of its outstanding 9.375% Senior Notes due
2014
The exchange offer and
withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on
June 17, 2008, unless extended.
We are offering to exchange up to $350,000,000 aggregate
principal amount of our new 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014,
which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933,
referred to in this prospectus as the new notes, for
any and all of our outstanding unregistered 9.375% Senior
Notes due 2014, referred to in this prospectus as the old
notes. We issued the old notes on June 6, 2007 in a
transaction not requiring registration under the Securities Act.
We are offering you new notes, with terms substantially
identical to those of the old notes, in exchange for old notes
in order to satisfy our registration obligations from that
previous transaction. The new notes will be treated as a single
class with the $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 already outstanding, which we
refer to as the existing notes. The old notes, the
new notes and the existing notes are collectively referred to in
this prospectus as the notes.
See Risk Factors starting on page 16 of this
prospectus for a discussion of risks associated with the
exchange of old notes for the new notes offered hereby.
We will exchange new notes for all old notes that are validly
tendered and not withdrawn before expiration of the exchange
offer. You may withdraw tenders of old notes at any time prior
to the expiration of the exchange offer. The exchange procedure
is more fully described in The Exchange Offer
Procedures for Tendering. If you fail to tender your old
notes, you will continue to hold unregistered notes that you
will not be able to transfer freely.
The terms of the new notes are identical to the existing notes
and are identical in all material respects to those of the old
notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration
rights applicable to the old notes do not apply to the new
notes. See Description of New Notes for more details
on the terms of the new notes. We will not receive any proceeds
from the exchange offer.
There is no established trading market for the new notes or the
old notes. However, the new notes are expected to be eligible
for trading in the
PORTALsm
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
The exchange of old notes for new notes should not be a taxable
event for United States federal income tax purposes. See
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations. All
broker-dealers must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act. See Plan of
Distribution.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes
or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. We are not
asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a
proxy.
The date of this prospectus is May 19, 2008
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will
deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new
notes. The letter of transmittal delivered with this prospectus
states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus,
a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. This prospectus, as
it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes
received in exchange for outstanding old notes where such
outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
We have agreed that, starting on the expiration date of the
exchange offer and ending on the close of business one year
after such expiration date, we will make this prospectus
available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any
such resale. See Plan of Distribution.
We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person
to give any information or to make any representation other than
those contained in this prospectus. You must not rely upon any
information or representation not contained in this prospectus
as if we had authorized it. This prospectus does not constitute
an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any
securities other than the registered securities to which it
relates, nor does this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or
a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction
to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or
solicitation in such jurisdiction.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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F-1
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ii
About
this Prospectus
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC.
We may add, update or change in a prospectus supplement any
information contained in this prospectus. You should read this
prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well
as any post-effective amendments to the registration statement
of which this prospectus is a part, together with the additional
information described under Where You Can Find More
Information before you make any investment decision.
You should rely only on the information contained in this
prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
information different from that contained in this prospectus. We
are offering to exchange old notes for new notes only in
jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted. The
information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of
the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery
of this prospectus or any actual exchange of old notes for new
notes.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-4
under the Securities Act with respect to the new notes offered
hereby. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration
statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in
the registration statement, as amended, or the exhibits and
schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect
to us and the new notes offered hereby, please see the
registration statement, as amended, and the exhibits and
schedules filed with the registration statement. Statements
contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any
contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to
the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and
each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to
the full text of such contract or other document filed as an
exhibit to the registration statement. A copy of the
registration statement, as amended, and the exhibits and
schedules filed with the registration statement may be inspected
without charge at the public reference room maintained by the
SEC, located at 100 F Street, NE,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part of
the registration statement may be obtained from such offices
upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. Please call
the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330
for further information about the public reference room. The SEC
also maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy
and information statements and other information regarding
registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address
of the website is www.sec.gov.
We are subject to the information and periodic reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
or the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we file
annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and
other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements
and other information are available for inspection and copying
at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to
above. We maintain a website at www.leapwireless.com. You
may access our annual reports on
Form 10-K,
quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q,
current reports on
Form 8-K,
and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the
SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable
after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished
to, the SEC. The reference to our web address does not
constitute incorporation by reference of the information
contained at such site.
This prospectus incorporates important business and financial
information about the company that is not included in or
delivered with the document. You may request a copy of this
information and the filings we mention above, at no cost, by
writing or telephoning us at Leap Wireless International, Inc.,
10307 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, California 92121,
telephone:
(858) 882-6368,
Attention: Secretary. You may also obtain copies of these
filings, at no cost, by accessing our website at
www.leapwireless.com; however, the information found on
our website is not considered part of this prospectus. To
obtain timely delivery of any copies of filings requested,
please write or telephone no later than June 12, 2008, five
days prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
This exchange offer is not being made to, nor will we accept
surrenders for exchange from, holders of outstanding old notes
in any jurisdiction in which this exchange offer or the
acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.
iii
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for the historical information contained herein, this
prospectus contains forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. Such statements reflect managements current
forecast of certain aspects of our future. You can identify most
forward-looking statements by forward-looking words such as
believe, think, may,
could, will, estimate,
continue, anticipate,
intend, seek, plan,
expect, should, would and
similar expressions in this prospectus. Such statements are
based on currently available operating, financial and
competitive information and are subject to various risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by our
forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and
assumptions include, among other things:
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our ability to attract and retain customers in an extremely
competitive marketplace;
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changes in economic conditions including interest rates,
consumer credit conditions, unemployment and other
macro-economic factors that could adversely affect the demand
for the services we provide;
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the impact of competitors initiatives;
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our ability to successfully implement product offerings and
execute effectively on our planned coverage expansion, launches
of markets we acquired in the Federal Communications
Commissions, or FCCs, auction for Advanced Wireless
Services, or Auction #66, expansion of our mobile broadband
product offering and other strategic activities;
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our ability to obtain roaming services from other carriers at
cost-effective rates;
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our ability to maintain effective internal control over
financial reporting;
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delays in our market expansion plans, including delays resulting
from any difficulties in funding such expansion through our
existing cash, cash generated from operations or additional
capital, or delays by existing U.S. government and other
private sector wireless operations in clearing the Advanced
Wireless Services, or AWS, spectrum, some of which users are
permitted to continue using the spectrum for several years;
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our ability to attract, motivate and retain an experienced
workforce;
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our ability to comply with the covenants in our senior secured
credit facilities, indenture and any future credit agreement,
indenture or similar instrument;
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failure of our network or information technology systems to
perform according to expectations; and
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other factors detailed in the section entitled Risk
Factors commencing on page 16 of this prospectus.
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All future written and oral forward-looking statements
attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are
expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary
statements contained in this section or elsewhere in this
prospectus. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time,
and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they
may affect us. Except as required by law, we undertake no
obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the
forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this
prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ
materially from those anticipated or implied in the
forward-looking statements. Accordingly, users of this
prospectus are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the
forward-looking statements.
iv
PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information included
elsewhere in this prospectus and does not contain all the
information that you should consider before exchanging your old
notes for new notes. You should read the entire prospectus
carefully, including the Risk Factors section and
the financial statements and related notes, before deciding to
exchange your old notes for new notes. As used in this
prospectus, the terms we, our,
ours and us refer to Leap Wireless
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its wholly
owned subsidiaries, including Cricket Communications, Inc., a
Delaware corporation and the issuer of the notes, or Cricket,
unless the context suggests otherwise. Unless otherwise
specified, information relating to population, or POPs, is based
on 2008 population estimates provided by Claritas Inc.
Overview
of Our Business
We are a wireless communications carrier that offers digital
wireless service in the U.S. under the
Cricket®
brand. Our Cricket service offers customers unlimited wireless
service for a flat monthly rate without requiring a fixed-term
contract or a credit check. Cricket service is offered by
Cricket, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap, and is also offered
in Oregon by LCW Wireless Operations, LLC, or LCW Operations, a
designated entity under FCC regulations. Cricket owns an
indirect 73.3% non-controlling interest in LCW Operations
through a 73.3% non-controlling interest in LCW Wireless, LLC,
or LCW Wireless. Cricket also owns an 82.5% non-controlling
interest in Denali Spectrum, LLC, or Denali, which purchased a
wireless license in Auction #66 covering the upper
mid-west
portion of the U.S. as a designated entity through its wholly
owned subsidiary, Denali Spectrum License, LLC, or Denali
License. We consolidate our interests in LCW Wireless and Denali
in accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board
Interpretation No., or FIN, 46(R), Consolidation of
Variable Interest Entities, because these entities are
variable interest entities and we will absorb a majority of
their expected losses.
At March 31, 2008, Cricket service was offered in
23 states and had approximately 3.1 million customers.
As of March 31, 2008, we, LCW Wireless License, LLC, or LCW
License (a wholly owned subsidiary of LCW Operations), and
Denali License owned wireless licenses covering an aggregate of
approximately 186 million POPs (adjusted to eliminate
duplication from overlapping licenses). The combined network
footprint in our operating markets covered approximately
53 million POPs as of March 31, 2008, which includes
incremental POPs attributed to ongoing footprint expansion in
existing markets. The licenses we and Denali License
purchased in Auction #66, together with the existing
licenses we own, provide 20 MHz of coverage and the
opportunity to offer enhanced data services in almost all
markets in which we currently operate or are building out,
assuming Denali License were to make available to us certain of
its spectrum.
In addition to the approximately 53 million POPs we covered
as of March 31, 2008 with our combined network footprint,
we estimate that we and Denali License hold licenses in markets
that include up to approximately 85 million additional POPs
that are suitable for Cricket service. We recently launched our
first Auction #66 markets in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas and
southern Texas, and we and Denali License are currently building
out additional Auction #66 markets that we intend to launch
this year and in 2009. We also plan to continue to expand our
network coverage and capacity in many of our existing markets,
allowing us to offer our customers a larger local calling area.
As part of our overall coverage expansion plans, we expect to
increase our network coverage by approximately eight million
additional POPs between January and June 2008. Looking ahead, we
and Denali License expect to cover up to approximately
36 million additional POPs by the middle of 2009 and up to
approximately 50 million additional POPs by the end of 2010
(in each case measured on a cumulative basis beginning January
2008). We and Denali License may also develop some of the
licenses covering our additional POPs through partnerships with
others.
Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in
Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. federal
government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. Several federal government
agencies have cleared or developed plans to clear spectrum
covered by licenses we and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66 or have indicated that we and Denali License
can operate on the spectrum without interfering with the
agencies current uses. As a result, we do not expect
spectrum clearing issues to impact our near-term market
launches. In other markets, we continue to work with one federal
agency to ensure that the agency either relocates its spectrum
use to alternative frequencies or confirms that we can operate
on the spectrum without interfering with its current uses. If
1
our efforts with this agency are not successful, the
agencys continued use of the spectrum could delay the
launch of certain markets.
We continue to seek additional opportunities to enhance our
current market clusters and expand into new geographic markets
by participating in FCC spectrum auctions, by acquiring spectrum
and related assets from third parties,
and/or by
participating in new partnerships or joint ventures. We also
expect to continue to look for opportunities to optimize the
value of our spectrum portfolio. Because some of the licenses
that we and Denali License hold include large regional areas
covering both rural and metropolitan communities, we and Denali
License may sell some of this spectrum and pursue the deployment
of alternative products or services in portions of this spectrum.
Corporate
Information
Leap was formed as a Delaware corporation in June 1998.
Leaps shares began trading publicly in September 1998, and
we launched our innovative Cricket service in March 1999. In
April 2003, we filed voluntary petitions for relief under
Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court. On August 16,
2004, our plan of reorganization became effective and we emerged
from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On that date, a new board of
directors of Leap was appointed, Leaps previously existing
stock, options and warrants were cancelled, and Leap issued
60 million shares of new Leap common stock to two classes
of creditors. On June 29, 2005, Leap became listed for
trading on the Nasdaq National Market (now known as the Nasdaq
Global Market) under the symbol LEAP, and our common
stock currently trades on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, also
under the symbol LEAP.
Our principal executive offices are located at 10307 Pacific
Center Court, San Diego, California 92121 and our telephone
number at that address is
(858) 882-6000.
Our principal websites are located at www.leapwireless.com,
www.mycricket.com and www.jumpmobile.com. The
information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our
websites is not part of this prospectus.
Leap is a U.S. registered trademark of Leap, and a
trademark application for the Leap logo is pending. Cricket,
Jump, the Cricket K and Flex Bucket are
U.S. registered trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the
following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: BridgePay,
Cricket By Week, Cricket Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation
and Cricket Wireless Internet Service.
2
Organizational
Structure
The following chart represents our current corporate
organizational structure. None of LCW Wireless, Denali or their
respective subsidiaries is a guarantor of the notes, or will be
in the Restricted Group or is a
Subsidiary under the indenture governing the notes.
This chart excludes inactive subsidiaries of Leap that are not
material for purposes of the exchange offer or otherwise.
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(a) |
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Guarantor of the notes. |
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(b) |
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Of the remaining 26.7% interest, a 2.0% controlling interest is
owned by WLPCS Management, LLC and a 24.7% interest is owned by
CSM Wireless, LLC. Neither LCW Wireless nor any of its direct
and indirect subsidiaries is in the Restricted Group
or is a Subsidiary under the indenture governing the
notes. |
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(c) |
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The remaining 17.5% controlling interest is owned by Denali
Spectrum Manager, LLC. Neither Denali nor any of its direct and
indirect subsidiaries is in the Restricted Group or
is a Subsidiary under the indenture governing the
notes. |
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(d) |
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Leap and all of the wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of Leap
and Cricket are currently guarantors of, and are subject to the
restrictive covenants under, Crickets senior secured
credit facility. Leap and all of its subsidiaries that guarantee
any indebtedness for money borrowed by Leap, Cricket or any
subsidiary guarantor will be guarantors of the new notes and
subject to the restrictive covenants under the indenture
governing the new notes. None of LCW Wireless and its
subsidiaries, or Denali and its subsidiaries, will be subject to
the covenants under the indenture governing the new notes. See
Description of Notes. |
3
The
Exchange Offer
On June 6, 2007, we completed the private offering of
$350 million aggregate principal amount of
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014. As part of that offering, we
entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial
purchasers of the old notes in which we agreed, among other
things, to deliver this prospectus to you and to complete an
exchange offer for the old notes. Below is a summary of the
exchange offer.
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Old Notes |
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9.375% Senior Notes due 2014. |
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New Notes |
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Notes of the same series, the issuance of which has been
registered under the Securities Act. The terms of the new notes
are identical in all material respects to those of the old
notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration
rights provisions relating to the old notes do not apply to the
new notes. After payment of the unpaid additional interest that
has accrued on the old notes, the additional interest provisions
relating to the old notes will not apply to the new notes. The
new notes will be treated as a single class with the
$750 million aggregate principal amount of
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 already outstanding, which we
refer to as the existing notes. The terms of the new notes are
identical to the terms of the existing notes. Because of the
need to identify the new notes which may be entitled to receive
accrued and unpaid additional interest after the completion of
the exchange offer, the new notes will have a temporary CUSIP
number different from that of the existing notes. Following the
first interest payment date after the consummation of the
exchange offer, after payment of the interest on the new notes
(including any accrued and unpaid additional interest), the new
notes will be reassigned the same CUSIP number as that of the
existing notes without any further action on the part of the
holders. |
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Terms of the Offer |
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We are offering to exchange a like amount of new notes for our
old notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of
$1,000 in excess thereof. In order to be exchanged, an old note
must be properly tendered and accepted. All old notes that are
validly tendered and not withdrawn will be exchanged. As of the
date of this prospectus, there are $350 million aggregate
principal amount of old notes outstanding and $750 million
aggregate principal amount of existing notes outstanding. We
will issue new notes promptly after the expiration of the
exchange offer. |
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Expiration Time |
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The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on June 17, 2008, unless extended. |
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Procedures for Tendering |
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To tender old notes, you must complete and sign a letter of
transmittal in accordance with the instructions contained in the
letter and forward it by mail, facsimile or hand delivery,
together with any other documents required by the letter of
transmittal, to the exchange agent, either with the old notes to
be tendered or in compliance with the specified procedures for
guaranteed delivery of old notes. Certain brokers, dealers,
commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees may also
effect tenders by book-entry transfer. Holders of old notes
registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank,
trust company or other nominee are urged to contact such person
promptly if they wish to tender old notes pursuant to the
exchange offer. See The Exchange Offer
Procedures for Tendering. |
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Letters of transmittal and certificates representing old notes
should not be sent to us. Such documents should only be sent to
the exchange agent. Questions regarding how to tender old notes
and requests for information should be directed to the exchange
agent. See The Exchange Offer Exchange
Agent. |
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Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Issuance of New Notes |
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Subject to the conditions stated in The Exchange
Offer Conditions to the Exchange Offer, we
will accept for exchange any and all old notes which are
properly tendered in the exchange offer before the expiration
time. The new notes will be delivered promptly after the
expiration time. |
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Interest Payments on the New Notes |
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The new notes will bear interest from the most recent date
through which interest has been paid on the old notes. If your
old notes are accepted for exchange, then you will receive
interest on the new notes (including any accrued but unpaid
additional interest on the old notes) and not on the old notes. |
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Withdrawal Rights |
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You may withdraw your tender of old notes at any time before the
expiration time. |
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Conditions to the Exchange Offer |
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The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions. We may
assert or waive these conditions in our sole discretion. If we
materially change the terms of the exchange offer, we will
resolicit tenders of the old notes. See The Exchange
Offer Conditions to the Exchange Offer for
more information. |
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Resales of New Notes |
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Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC, as detailed in
a series of no-action letters issued by the SEC to third
parties, we believe that the new notes issued in the exchange
offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred
by you without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act as long as: |
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you are acquiring the new notes in the ordinary
course of your business;
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you are not participating, do not intend to
participate and have no arrangement or understanding with any
person to participate in a distribution of the new notes;
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you are not an affiliate of ours; and
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you are not a broker-dealer that acquired any of its
old notes directly from us.
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If you fail to satisfy any of the foregoing conditions, you will
not be permitted to tender your old notes in the exchange offer
and you must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any sale or other transfer of your old notes unless such sale is
made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements. |
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Each broker or dealer that receives new notes for its own
account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result
of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge
that it will comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities |
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Act in connection with any offer to resell, resale or other
transfer of the new notes issued in the exchange offer,
including the delivery of a prospectus that contains information
with respect to any selling holder required by the Securities
Act in connection with any resale of the new notes. See
The Exchange Offer Resales of New Notes. |
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Exchange Agent |
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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is serving as the exchange agent in
connection with the exchange offer. The address and telephone
and facsimile numbers of the exchange agent are listed under the
heading The Exchange Offer Exchange
Agent. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of new notes
in the exchange offer. We will pay all expenses incident to the
exchange offer. See Use of Proceeds and The
Exchange Offer Fees and Expenses. |
Certain
Federal Income Tax Considerations
We believe that the exchange of your old notes for new notes to
be issued in connection with the exchange offer should not
result in any gain or loss to you for United States federal
income tax purposes. See Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations on page 180.
Risk
Factors
You should carefully consider the matters set forth under
Risk Factors before you decide to tender your old
notes pursuant to the exchange offer.
6
The New
Notes
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Issuer |
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Cricket Communications, Inc. |
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Securities |
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$350 million aggregate principal amount of
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014. The terms of the new notes
are identical in all material respects to those of the old
notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration
rights provisions relating to the old notes do not apply to the
new notes. After payment of the unpaid additional interest that
has accrued on the old notes, the additional interest provisions
relating to the old notes will not apply to the new notes. The
new notes will be treated as a single class with the
$750 million aggregate principal amount of
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 already outstanding, which we
refer to as the existing notes. The terms of the new notes are
identical to the terms of the existing notes. Because of the
need to identify the new notes which may be entitled to receive
accrued and unpaid additional interest after the completion of
the exchange offer, the new notes will have a temporary CUSIP
number different from that of the existing notes. Following the
first interest payment date after the consummation of the
exchange offer, after payment of the interest on the new notes
(including any accrued and unpaid additional interest), the new
notes will be reassigned the same CUSIP number as that of the
existing notes without any further action on the part of the
holders. |
|
Maturity |
|
November 1, 2014. |
|
Interest |
|
Annual rate: 9.375%. The new notes will pay interest
semi-annually in cash in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each
year. |
|
Guarantees |
|
The new notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by
our parent, Leap Wireless International, Inc., and by each of
our existing and future domestic subsidiaries that guarantees
indebtedness for money borrowed of Leap, Cricket or any
subsidiary guarantor. |
|
Ranking |
|
The new notes and the guarantees: |
|
|
|
will be our and the guarantors general senior
unsecured obligations;
|
|
|
|
will rank equally in right of payment with all of
our and the guarantors existing and future unsubordinated
indebtedness, including the $750 million aggregate
principal amount of existing notes already outstanding;
|
|
|
|
will be effectively junior to our and the
guarantors existing and future secured obligations,
including under our senior secured credit facility, to the
extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations;
|
|
|
|
will be effectively junior to future liabilities of
our subsidiaries that are not guarantors and of the designated
entities; and
|
|
|
|
will be senior in right of payment to any of our and
the guarantors future subordinated indebtedness.
|
|
|
|
As of March 31, 2008, we had $2,043.5 million of
indebtedness outstanding (including the notes),
$884.3 million of which was secured indebtedness under our
senior secured credit facility, and no borrowings under our
$200 million revolving credit facility. |
7
|
|
|
Optional Redemption |
|
The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on
or after November 1, 2010, at the redemption prices
described in this prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
See Description of New Notes Optional
Redemption. Prior to November 1, 2010, we may redeem
the new notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal
to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the applicable
premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest as described in
Description of New Notes Optional
Redemption. |
|
|
|
Prior to November 1, 2009, we may redeem up to 35% of the
aggregate principal amount of the new notes with the net cash
proceeds from specified equity offerings at a redemption price
set forth in Description of New Notes Optional
Redemption. We may, however, only make these redemptions
if at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the new
notes issued under the indenture remains outstanding after the
redemptions. |
|
Change of Control |
|
If a change of control occurs, each holder of new notes may
require us to repurchase all of the holders notes at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the new
notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. See Description
of New Notes Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Change of Control. |
|
Certain Covenants |
|
The indenture governing the new notes, among other things,
limits our ability to: |
|
|
|
incur additional indebtedness;
|
|
|
|
create liens or other encumbrances;
|
|
|
|
place limitations on distributions from restricted
subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
pay dividends, make investments, prepay subordinated
indebtedness or make other restricted payments;
|
|
|
|
issue or sell capital stock of restricted
subsidiaries;
|
|
|
|
issue guarantees;
|
|
|
|
sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially
all of our assets;
|
|
|
|
enter into transactions with our affiliates; and
|
|
|
|
make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with
another entity.
|
|
|
|
The covenants are subject to a number of important
qualifications and exceptions that are described in the section
Description of New Notes Certain
Covenants. |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
We will not receive proceeds from the issuance of the new notes
offered hereby. In consideration for issuing the new notes in
exchange for old notes as described in this prospectus, we will
receive old notes of like principal amount. The old notes
surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and
canceled. |
8
SUMMARY
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA AND OTHER DATA
The following tables summarize the financial data for our
business, which are derived from our consolidated financial
statements. For a more detailed explanation of our financial
condition and operating results, you should read Selected
Consolidated Financial Data, Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations and our consolidated financial statements and
related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. References
in these tables to Predecessor Company refer to Leap
and its subsidiaries on or prior to July 31, 2004.
References to Successor Company refer to Leap and
its subsidiaries after July 31, 2004, after giving effect
to the implementation of fresh-start reporting. The financial
statements of the Successor Company are not comparable in many
respects to the financial statements of the Predecessor Company
because of the effects of the consummation of the plan of
reorganization as well as the adjustments for fresh-start
reporting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven
|
|
|
Five
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands except per share data)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
645,207
|
|
|
$
|
405,850
|
|
|
$
|
289,355
|
|
|
$
|
768,916
|
|
|
$
|
956,365
|
|
|
$
|
1,395,667
|
|
|
$
|
321,691
|
|
|
$
|
398,929
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
107,730
|
|
|
|
86,906
|
|
|
|
61,492
|
|
|
|
188,855
|
|
|
|
210,822
|
|
|
|
235,136
|
|
|
|
71,734
|
|
|
|
69,455
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
752,937
|
|
|
|
492,756
|
|
|
|
350,847
|
|
|
|
957,771
|
|
|
|
1,167,187
|
|
|
|
1,630,803
|
|
|
|
393,425
|
|
|
|
468,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
(199,987
|
)
|
|
|
(114,628
|
)
|
|
|
(80,286
|
)
|
|
|
(203,548
|
)
|
|
|
(264,162
|
)
|
|
|
(384,128
|
)
|
|
|
(90,440
|
)
|
|
|
(111,170
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
(172,235
|
)
|
|
|
(101,441
|
)
|
|
|
(85,460
|
)
|
|
|
(230,520
|
)
|
|
|
(310,834
|
)
|
|
|
(405,997
|
)
|
|
|
(122,665
|
)
|
|
|
(114,221
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(86,223
|
)
|
|
|
(51,997
|
)
|
|
|
(39,938
|
)
|
|
|
(100,042
|
)
|
|
|
(159,257
|
)
|
|
|
(206,213
|
)
|
|
|
(48,769
|
)
|
|
|
(58,100
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(162,378
|
)
|
|
|
(81,514
|
)
|
|
|
(57,110
|
)
|
|
|
(159,741
|
)
|
|
|
(196,604
|
)
|
|
|
(271,536
|
)
|
|
|
(65,234
|
)
|
|
|
(75,907
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(302,424
|
)
|
|
|
(178,120
|
)
|
|
|
(75,324
|
)
|
|
|
(195,462
|
)
|
|
|
(226,747
|
)
|
|
|
(302,201
|
)
|
|
|
(68,800
|
)
|
|
|
(82,639
|
)
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
(171,140
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,043
|
)
|
|
|
(7,912
|
)
|
|
|
(1,368
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss on disposal of property and equipment
|
|
|
(24,054
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(1,118,441
|
)
|
|
|
(527,700
|
)
|
|
|
(338,118
|
)
|
|
|
(901,356
|
)
|
|
|
(1,165,516
|
)
|
|
|
(1,571,443
|
)
|
|
|
(395,908
|
)
|
|
|
(442,037
|
)
|
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
4,589
|
|
|
|
532
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,587
|
|
|
|
22,054
|
|
|
|
902
|
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
(291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(360,915
|
)
|
|
|
(34,412
|
)
|
|
|
12,729
|
|
|
|
71,002
|
|
|
|
23,725
|
|
|
|
60,262
|
|
|
|
(1,543
|
)
|
|
|
26,056
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
1,493
|
|
|
|
1,817
|
|
|
|
1,579
|
|
|
|
(823
|
)
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
Interest income
|
|
|
780
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,812
|
|
|
|
9,957
|
|
|
|
23,063
|
|
|
|
28,939
|
|
|
|
5,285
|
|
|
|
4,781
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(83,371
|
)
|
|
|
(4,195
|
)
|
|
|
(16,594
|
)
|
|
|
(30,051
|
)
|
|
|
(61,334
|
)
|
|
|
(121,231
|
)
|
|
|
(26,496
|
)
|
|
|
(33,357
|
)
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
(176
|
)
|
|
|
(293
|
)
|
|
|
(117
|
)
|
|
|
1,423
|
|
|
|
(2,650
|
)
|
|
|
(6,039
|
)
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
(4,036
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before reorganization items, income taxes and
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(443,682
|
)
|
|
|
(38,900
|
)
|
|
|
(2,170
|
)
|
|
|
52,300
|
|
|
|
(15,703
|
)
|
|
|
(38,561
|
)
|
|
|
(21,812
|
)
|
|
|
(8,441
|
)
|
Reorganization items, net
|
|
|
(146,242
|
)
|
|
|
962,444
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(589,924
|
)
|
|
|
923,544
|
|
|
|
(2,170
|
)
|
|
|
52,300
|
|
|
|
(15,703
|
)
|
|
|
(38,561
|
)
|
|
|
(21,812
|
)
|
|
|
(8,441
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(8,052
|
)
|
|
|
(4,166
|
)
|
|
|
(3,930
|
)
|
|
|
(21,615
|
)
|
|
|
(9,277
|
)
|
|
|
(37,366
|
)
|
|
|
(2,412
|
)
|
|
|
(9,703
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
|
(597,976
|
)
|
|
|
919,378
|
|
|
|
(6,100
|
)
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
|
|
(24,980
|
)
|
|
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
|
(18,144
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(597,976
|
)
|
|
$
|
919,378
|
|
|
$
|
(6,100
|
)
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
|
$
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
$
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven
|
|
|
Five
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands except per share data)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in per share calculations(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
60,135
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
66,870
|
|
|
|
67,529
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
61,003
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
66,870
|
|
|
|
67,529
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
As of March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
84,070
|
|
|
$
|
141,141
|
|
|
$
|
293,073
|
|
|
$
|
372,812
|
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
|
$
|
437,184
|
|
Working capital (deficit)(2)
|
|
|
(2,255,349
|
)
|
|
|
150,868
|
|
|
|
245,366
|
|
|
|
185,191
|
|
|
|
380,384
|
|
|
|
312,397
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments(3)
|
|
|
55,954
|
|
|
|
31,427
|
|
|
|
13,759
|
|
|
|
13,581
|
|
|
|
15,550
|
|
|
|
9,997
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
1,756,843
|
|
|
|
2,213,312
|
|
|
|
2,499,946
|
|
|
|
4,084,947
|
|
|
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
4,474,344
|
|
Capital lease obligations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,538
|
|
|
|
56,744
|
|
Long-term debt(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
371,355
|
|
|
|
588,333
|
|
|
|
1,676,500
|
|
|
|
2,033,902
|
|
|
|
2,030,150
|
|
Total stockholders equity (deficit)
|
|
|
(893,895
|
)
|
|
|
1,472,347
|
|
|
|
1,517,601
|
|
|
|
1,771,793
|
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
1,711,893
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of subscribers at end of period(4)
|
|
|
1,778,704
|
|
|
|
1,836,390
|
|
|
|
1,967,369
|
|
|
|
2,229,826
|
|
|
|
2,548,172
|
|
|
|
2,674,963
|
|
|
|
2,711,447
|
|
|
|
2,863,519
|
|
|
|
3,093,581
|
|
Net customer additions(5)
|
|
|
110,409
|
|
|
|
57,683
|
|
|
|
161,688
|
|
|
|
262,457
|
|
|
|
318,346
|
|
|
|
126,791
|
|
|
|
36,484
|
|
|
|
152,072
|
|
|
|
230,062
|
|
ARPU(6)
|
|
$
|
42.31
|
|
|
$
|
42.30
|
|
|
$
|
42.87
|
|
|
$
|
43.63
|
|
|
$
|
44.81
|
|
|
$
|
44.75
|
|
|
$
|
44.51
|
|
|
$
|
45.57
|
|
|
$
|
44.98
|
|
CPGA(7)
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
195
|
|
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
|
$
|
166
|
|
|
$
|
182
|
|
|
$
|
199
|
|
|
$
|
178
|
|
|
$
|
159
|
|
CCU(8)
|
|
$
|
19.86
|
|
|
$
|
19.50
|
|
|
$
|
21.05
|
|
|
$
|
20.32
|
|
|
$
|
21.27
|
|
|
$
|
19.87
|
|
|
$
|
21.24
|
|
|
$
|
21.00
|
|
|
$
|
21.73
|
|
Churn(9)
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
5.2
|
%
|
|
|
4.2
|
%
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven
|
|
|
Five
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except for ratios and percentages)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA(10)
|
|
$
|
108,303
|
|
|
$
|
142,339
|
|
|
$
|
88,053
|
|
|
$
|
276,399
|
|
|
$
|
256,055
|
|
|
$
|
392,268
|
|
|
$
|
75,060
|
|
|
$
|
118,688
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA margin(11)
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
37,488
|
|
|
$
|
34,456
|
|
|
$
|
49,043
|
|
|
$
|
208,808
|
|
|
$
|
591,295
|
|
|
$
|
504,770
|
|
|
$
|
133,295
|
|
|
$
|
157,237
|
|
Statement of Cash Flow data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
44,433
|
|
|
$
|
120,623
|
|
|
$
|
69,752
|
|
|
$
|
308,280
|
|
|
$
|
289,871
|
|
|
$
|
316,181
|
|
|
$
|
5,122
|
|
|
$
|
135,680
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
$
|
(56,531
|
)
|
|
$
|
(50,299
|
)
|
|
$
|
(46,278
|
)
|
|
$
|
(332,112
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,550,624
|
)
|
|
$
|
(622,728
|
)
|
|
$
|
(78,847
|
)
|
|
$
|
(127,402
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
$
|
(4,692
|
)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(36,727
|
)
|
|
$
|
175,764
|
|
|
$
|
1,340,492
|
|
|
$
|
367,072
|
|
|
$
|
1,234
|
|
|
$
|
(4,431
|
)
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(12)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63.6
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Refer to Notes 2 and 5 to our annual consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for an
explanation of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings
(loss) per share. |
|
(2) |
|
We have presented the principal and interest balances related to
our outstanding debt obligations as current liabilities in the
consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 as a
result of the then existing defaults under the underlying
agreements. |
|
(3) |
|
Restricted cash consists of cash held in reserve by Leap and
funds set aside or pledged by Cricket to satisfy payments and
administrative and priority claims against us following our
emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2004, and
cash restricted for other purposes. |
|
(4) |
|
Includes subscribers and net customer additions for the Cricket
and
Jump®
Mobile services offered by Cricket and, commencing in the three
months ended March 31, 2006, by Alaska Native Broadband 1
License, LLC (which entity was merged into Cricket on
December 31, 2007), and, commencing in the three months
ended September 30, 2006, by LCW Operations. |
|
(5) |
|
Net customer additions for the three months ended
September 30, 2005 exclude the effect of the transfer of
approximately 19,000 customers as a result of the closing of the
sale of our operating markets in Michigan in August 2005. Net
customer additions for the three months ended September 30,
2006 exclude the effect of the transfer of approximately 31,000
customers as a result of the closing of the sale of our
operating markets in Sandusky and Toledo, Ohio in July 2006. |
|
(6) |
|
ARPU is service revenue divided by the weighted-average number
of customers, divided by the number of months during the period
being measured. Management uses ARPU to identify average revenue
per customer, to track changes in average customer revenues over
time, to help evaluate how changes in our business, including
changes in our service offerings and fees, affect average
revenue per customer, and to forecast future service revenue. In
addition, ARPU provides management with a useful measure to
compare our subscriber revenue to that of other wireless
communications providers. We do not recognize service revenue
until payment has been received and services have been provided
to the customer. In addition, customers are generally
disconnected from service approximately 30 days after
failing to pay a monthly bill. Therefore, because our
calculation of weighted-average number of customers includes
customers who have not paid their last bill and have yet to
disconnect service, ARPU may appear lower during periods in
which we have significant disconnect activity. We believe
investors use ARPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our
average revenue per customer and to compare our per customer
service revenues to those of other wireless communications
providers. Other companies may calculate this measure
differently. |
|
(7) |
|
CPGA is selling and marketing costs (excluding applicable
share-based compensation expense included in selling and
marketing expense), and equipment subsidy (generally defined as
cost of equipment less equipment revenue), less the net loss on
equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer
acquisition, divided by the total number of gross new customer
additions during the period being measured. The net loss on |
11
|
|
|
|
|
equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition
includes the revenues and costs associated with the sale of
handsets to existing customers as well as costs associated with
handset replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs
which are the responsibility of the handset manufacturers). We
deduct customers who do not pay their first monthly bill from
our gross customer additions, which tends to increase CPGA
because we incur the costs associated with this customer without
receiving the benefit of a gross customer addition. Management
uses CPGA to measure the efficiency of our customer acquisition
efforts, to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new
subscribers over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our
sales and distribution strategies affect the cost-efficiency of
our customer acquisition efforts. In addition, CPGA provides
management with a useful measure to compare our per customer
acquisition costs with those of other wireless communications
providers. We believe investors use CPGA primarily as a tool to
track changes in our average cost of acquiring new customers and
to compare our per customer acquisition costs to those of other
wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate
this measure differently. See Reconciliation of
Non-GAAP Financial Measures below. |
|
(8) |
|
CCU is cost of service and general and administrative costs
(excluding applicable share-based compensation expense included
in cost of service and general and administrative expense) plus
net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer
acquisition (which includes the gain or loss on the sale of
handsets to existing customers and costs associated with handset
replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs which are
the responsibility of the handset manufacturers)), divided by
the weighted-average number of customers, divided by the number
of months during the period being measured. CCU does not include
any depreciation and amortization expense. Management uses CCU
as a tool to evaluate the non-selling cash expenses associated
with ongoing business operations on a per customer basis, to
track changes in these non-selling cash costs over time, and to
help evaluate how changes in our business operations affect
non-selling cash costs per customer. In addition, CCU provides
management with a useful measure to compare our non-selling cash
costs per customer with those of other wireless communications
providers. We believe investors use CCU primarily as a tool to
track changes in our non-selling cash costs over time and to
compare our non-selling cash costs to those of other wireless
communications providers. Other companies may calculate this
measure differently. See Reconciliation of
Non-GAAP Financial Measures below. |
|
(9) |
|
Churn, which measures customer turnover, is calculated as the
net number of customers that disconnect from our service divided
by the weighted-average number of customers divided by the
number of months during the period being measured. Customers who
do not pay their first monthly bill are deducted from our gross
customer additions in the month that they are disconnected; as a
result, these customers are not included in churn. In addition,
customers are generally disconnected from service approximately
30 days after failing to pay a monthly bill. Beginning
during the quarter ended June 30, 2007,
pay-in-advance
customers who ask to terminate their service are disconnected
when their paid service period ends, whereas previously these
customers were generally disconnected on the date of their
request to terminate service. Management uses churn to measure
our retention of customers, to measure changes in customer
retention over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our
business affect customer retention. In addition, churn provides
management with a useful measure to compare our customer
turnover activity to that of other wireless communications
providers. We believe investors use churn primarily as a tool to
track changes in our customer retention over time and to compare
our customer retention to that of other wireless communications
providers. Other companies may calculate this measure
differently. |
|
(10) |
|
Adjusted OIBDA is defined as operating income (loss) before
depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects
of: gain/loss on sale/disposal of assets; impairment of assets;
and share-based compensation expense (benefit). Adjusted OIBDA
is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted OIBDA should not be
construed as an alternative to operating income or net income as
determined in accordance with GAAP, as an alternative to cash
flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with
GAAP or as a measure of liquidity. |
|
|
|
In a capital-intensive industry such as wireless
telecommunications, management believes that adjusted OIBDA, as
well as the associated percentage margin calculation, is a
meaningful measure of our operating performance. We use adjusted
OIBDA as a supplemental performance measure because management
believes it facilitates comparisons of our operating performance
from period to period and comparisons of our operating
performance to that of other companies by backing out potential
differences caused by the age and |
12
|
|
|
|
|
book depreciation of fixed assets (affecting relative
depreciation expenses) as well as the items described above for
which additional adjustments were made. While depreciation and
amortization are considered operating costs under generally
accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily
represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs
associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in
prior periods. Because adjusted OIBDA facilitates internal
comparisons of our historical operating performance, management
also uses this metric for business planning purposes and to
measure our performance relative to that of our competitors. In
addition, we believe that adjusted OIBDA and similar measures
are widely used by investors, financial analysts and credit
rating agencies as measures of our financial performance over
time and to compare our financial performance with that of other
companies in our industry. |
|
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should
not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis
of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations
include: |
|
|
|
it does not reflect capital expenditures;
|
|
|
|
although it does not include depreciation and
amortization, the assets being depreciated and amortized will
often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted OIBDA does
not reflect cash requirements for such replacements;
|
|
|
|
it does not reflect costs associated with
share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
|
|
|
|
it does not reflect the interest expense necessary
to service interest or principal payments on current or future
indebtedness;
|
|
|
|
it does not reflect expenses incurred for the
payment of income taxes and other taxes; and
|
|
|
|
other companies, including companies in our
industry, may calculate this measure differently than we do,
limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
|
|
|
|
Management understands these limitations and considers adjusted
OIBDA as a financial performance measure that supplements but
does not replace the information provided to management by our
GAAP results. See Reconciliation of
Non-GAAP Financial Measures below. |
|
(11) |
|
Adjusted OIBDA margin is calculated by dividing adjusted OIBDA
by service revenues. See Reconciliation of
Non-GAAP Financial Measures below. |
|
(12) |
|
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes,
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, minority
interests in consolidated subsidiaries and equity in net loss of
investee plus fixed charges and capitalized interest, net.
Fixed charges consist of interest expense, whether
expensed or capitalized, and the interest portion of rental
expense inherent in our operating leases. The portion of total
rental expense that represents the interest factor is estimated
to be 33%. Our earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 by
$18,923 and $33,472, respectively, for the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006 by $80,880 and $33,057,
respectively, for the five months ended December 31, 2004
by $2,170 and for the year ended December 31, 2003 by
$587,233. |
Reconciliation
of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We utilize certain financial measures, as described above, that
are not calculated based on GAAP. Certain of these financial
measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures
within the meaning of Item 10 of
Regulation S-K
promulgated by the SEC.
13
CPGA The following table reconciles total costs used
in the calculation of CPGA to selling and marketing expense,
which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure to CPGA (in thousands, except gross customer
additions and CPGA):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Selling and marketing expense
|
|
$
|
29,102
|
|
|
$
|
35,942
|
|
|
$
|
42,948
|
|
|
$
|
51,265
|
|
|
$
|
48,769
|
|
|
$
|
47,011
|
|
|
$
|
54,265
|
|
|
$
|
56,168
|
|
|
$
|
58,100
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in selling and
marketing expense
|
|
|
(327
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
(533
|
)
|
|
|
(1,001
|
)
|
|
|
(560
|
)
|
|
|
(843
|
)
|
|
|
(926
|
)
|
|
|
(1,356
|
)
|
Plus cost of equipment
|
|
|
71,977
|
|
|
|
65,396
|
|
|
|
83,457
|
|
|
|
90,004
|
|
|
|
122,665
|
|
|
|
90,818
|
|
|
|
97,218
|
|
|
|
95,296
|
|
|
|
114,221
|
|
Less equipment revenue
|
|
|
(63,765
|
)
|
|
|
(50,299
|
)
|
|
|
(52,712
|
)
|
|
|
(44,046
|
)
|
|
|
(71,734
|
)
|
|
|
(50,661
|
)
|
|
|
(55,161
|
)
|
|
|
(57,580
|
)
|
|
|
(69,455
|
)
|
Less net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
(1,247
|
)
|
|
|
(1,139
|
)
|
|
|
(1,822
|
)
|
|
|
(3,988
|
)
|
|
|
(4,762
|
)
|
|
|
(2,591
|
)
|
|
|
(5,747
|
)
|
|
|
(4,766
|
)
|
|
|
(14,020
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CPGA
|
|
$
|
35,740
|
|
|
$
|
49,427
|
|
|
$
|
71,234
|
|
|
$
|
92,702
|
|
|
$
|
93,937
|
|
|
$
|
84,017
|
|
|
$
|
89,732
|
|
|
$
|
88,192
|
|
|
$
|
87,490
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
278,370
|
|
|
|
253,033
|
|
|
|
405,178
|
|
|
|
519,229
|
|
|
|
565,055
|
|
|
|
462,434
|
|
|
|
450,954
|
|
|
|
496,061
|
|
|
|
550,520
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
195
|
|
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
|
$
|
166
|
|
|
$
|
182
|
|
|
$
|
199
|
|
|
$
|
178
|
|
|
$
|
159
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU The following table reconciles total costs used
in the calculation of CCU to cost of service, which we consider
to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CCU
(in thousands, except weighted-average number of customers and
CCU):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
56,210
|
|
|
$
|
61,255
|
|
|
$
|
71,575
|
|
|
$
|
75,122
|
|
|
$
|
90,440
|
|
|
$
|
90,559
|
|
|
$
|
100,907
|
|
|
$
|
102,222
|
|
|
$
|
111,170
|
|
Plus general and administrative expense
|
|
|
49,090
|
|
|
|
46,576
|
|
|
|
49,116
|
|
|
|
51,822
|
|
|
|
65,234
|
|
|
|
66,407
|
|
|
|
68,686
|
|
|
|
71,209
|
|
|
|
75,907
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in cost of
service and general and administrative expense
|
|
|
(4,165
|
)
|
|
|
(4,215
|
)
|
|
|
(4,426
|
)
|
|
|
(4,949
|
)
|
|
|
(7,742
|
)
|
|
|
(5,335
|
)
|
|
|
(6,231
|
)
|
|
|
(6,701
|
)
|
|
|
(8,346
|
)
|
Plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
1,247
|
|
|
|
1,139
|
|
|
|
1,822
|
|
|
|
3,988
|
|
|
|
4,762
|
|
|
|
2,591
|
|
|
|
5,747
|
|
|
|
4,766
|
|
|
|
14,020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CCU
|
|
$
|
102,382
|
|
|
$
|
104,755
|
|
|
$
|
118,087
|
|
|
$
|
125,983
|
|
|
$
|
152,694
|
|
|
$
|
154,222
|
|
|
$
|
169,109
|
|
|
$
|
171,496
|
|
|
$
|
192,751
|
|
Weighted-average number of customers
|
|
|
1,718,349
|
|
|
|
1,790,232
|
|
|
|
1,870,204
|
|
|
|
2,067,122
|
|
|
|
2,393,161
|
|
|
|
2,586,900
|
|
|
|
2,654,555
|
|
|
|
2,722,631
|
|
|
|
2,956,477
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
19.86
|
|
|
$
|
19.50
|
|
|
$
|
21.05
|
|
|
$
|
20.32
|
|
|
$
|
21.27
|
|
|
$
|
19.87
|
|
|
$
|
21.24
|
|
|
$
|
21.00
|
|
|
$
|
21.73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14
Adjusted OIBDA The following table reconciles
adjusted OIBDA to operating income (loss), which we consider to
be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to
adjusted OIBDA (unaudited; in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven
|
|
|
Five
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(360,915
|
)
|
|
$
|
(34,412
|
)
|
|
$
|
12,729
|
|
|
$
|
71,002
|
|
|
$
|
23,725
|
|
|
$
|
60,262
|
|
|
$
|
(1,543
|
)
|
|
$
|
26,056
|
|
Plus depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
302,424
|
|
|
|
178,120
|
|
|
|
75,324
|
|
|
|
195,462
|
|
|
|
226,747
|
|
|
|
302,201
|
|
|
|
68,800
|
|
|
|
82,639
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OIBDA
|
|
$
|
(58,491
|
)
|
|
$
|
143,708
|
|
|
$
|
88,053
|
|
|
$
|
266,464
|
|
|
$
|
250,472
|
|
|
$
|
362,463
|
|
|
$
|
67,257
|
|
|
$
|
108,695
|
|
Less (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
(4,589
|
)
|
|
|
(532
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14,587
|
)
|
|
|
(22,054
|
)
|
|
|
(902
|
)
|
|
|
(940
|
)
|
|
|
291
|
|
Plus impairment of assets
|
|
|
171,140
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,043
|
|
|
|
7,912
|
|
|
|
1,368
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Plus share-based compensation expense (benefit)
|
|
|
243
|
|
|
|
(837
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,479
|
|
|
|
19,725
|
|
|
|
29,339
|
|
|
|
8,743
|
|
|
|
9,702
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA
|
|
$
|
108,303
|
|
|
$
|
142,339
|
|
|
$
|
88,053
|
|
|
$
|
276,399
|
|
|
$
|
256,055
|
|
|
$
|
392,268
|
|
|
$
|
75,060
|
|
|
$
|
118,688
|
|
Divided by service revenues
|
|
$
|
645,207
|
|
|
$
|
405,850
|
|
|
$
|
289,355
|
|
|
$
|
768,916
|
|
|
$
|
956,365
|
|
|
$
|
1,395,667
|
|
|
$
|
321,691
|
|
|
$
|
398,929
|
|
Adjusted OIBDA margin
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
23
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15
RISK
FACTORS
You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below,
as well as the other information contained in this prospectus,
before exchanging your old notes for new notes pursuant to this
prospectus. The risks described below are not the only risks
facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently
known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also
materially and adversely affect our business operations. Any of
the following risks could materially adversely affect our
business, financial condition or results of operations. In such
case, you may lose all or part of your original investment.
Risks
Related to Our Business and Industry
We
Have Experienced Net Losses, and We May Not Be Profitable in the
Future.
We experienced net losses of $18.1 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008, $75.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2007, $24.4 million for the
year ended December 31, 2006, $6.1 million and
$43.1 million (excluding reorganization items, net) for the
five months ended December 31, 2004 and the seven months
ended July 31, 2004, respectively, $597.4 million for
the year ended December 31, 2003 and $664.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2002. Although we had net
income of $30.7 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005, we may not generate profits in the
future on a consistent basis, or at all. Our strategic
objectives depend, in part, on our ability to build out and
launch networks associated with newly acquired FCC licenses,
including the licenses that we and Denali License acquired in
Auction #66, and we will experience higher operating
expenses as we build out and after we launch our service in
these new markets. If we fail to achieve consistent
profitability, that failure could have a negative effect on our
financial condition.
We May
Not Be Successful in Increasing Our Customer Base Which Would
Negatively Affect Our Business Plans and Financial
Outlook.
Our growth on a
quarter-by-quarter
basis has varied substantially in the past. We believe that this
uneven growth generally reflects seasonal trends in customer
activity, promotional activity, competition in the wireless
telecommunications market, our pace of new market launches, and
varying national economic conditions. Our current business plans
assume that we will increase our customer base over time,
providing us with increased economies of scale. If we are unable
to attract and retain a growing customer base, our current
business plans and financial outlook may be harmed.
Our
Business Could Be Adversely Affected By General Economic
Conditions; If We Experience Low Rates of Customer Acquisition
or High Rates of Customer Turnover, Our Ability to Become
Profitable Will Decrease.
Our business could be adversely affected in a number of ways by
general economic conditions, including interest rates, consumer
credit conditions, unemployment and other macro-economic
factors. Because we do not require customers to sign fixed-term
contracts or pass a credit check, our service is available to a
broader customer base than that served by many other wireless
providers. As a result, during economic downturns or during
periods of high gasoline prices, we may have greater difficulty
in gaining new customers within this base for our services and
some of our existing customers may be more likely to terminate
service due to an inability to pay than the average industry
customer. Recent disruptions in the sub-prime mortgage market
may also affect our ability to gain new customers or the ability
of our existing customers to pay for their service. In addition,
our rate of customer acquisition and customer turnover may be
affected by other factors, including the size of our calling
areas, network performance and reliability issues, our handset
or service offerings (including the ability of customers to
cost-effectively roam onto other wireless networks), customer
care concerns, phone number portability, higher deactivation
rates among less-tenured customers we gained as a result of our
new market launches, and other competitive factors. We have also
experienced an increasing trend of current customers upgrading
their handset by buying a new phone, activating a new line of
service, and letting their existing service lapse, which trend
has resulted in a higher churn rate as these customers are
counted as having disconnected service but have actually been
retained. Our strategies to acquire new customers and address
customer turnover may not be successful. A high rate of customer
turnover or low rate of new customer acquisition would reduce
revenues and increase the total
16
marketing expenditures required to attract the minimum number of
customers required to sustain our business plan which, in turn,
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
We
Have Made Significant Investment, and Will Continue to Invest,
in Joint Ventures That We Do Not Control.
In July 2006, we acquired a 72% non-controlling interest in LCW
Wireless, which was awarded a wireless license for the Portland,
Oregon market in Auction #58 and to which we contributed,
among other things, two wireless licenses in Eugene and Salem,
Oregon and related operating assets. In December 2006, we
completed the replacement of certain network equipment of a
subsidiary of LCW Wireless and, as a result, we now own a 73.3%
non-controlling membership interest in LCW Wireless. In July
2006, we acquired an 82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali,
an entity which participated in Auction #66. LCW Wireless
and Denali acquired their wireless licenses as very small
business designated entities under FCC regulations. Our
participation in these joint ventures is structured as a
non-controlling interest in order to comply with FCC rules and
regulations. We have agreements with our joint venture partners
in LCW Wireless and Denali, and we plan to have similar
agreements in connection with any future designated entity joint
venture arrangements we may enter into, which are intended to
allow us to actively participate to a limited extent in the
development of the business through the joint venture. However,
these agreements do not provide us with control over the
business strategy, financial goals, build-out plans or other
operational aspects of any such joint venture. The FCCs
rules restrict our ability to acquire controlling interests in
such entities during the period that such entities must maintain
their eligibility as a designated entity, as defined by the FCC.
The entities or persons that control the joint ventures may have
interests and goals that are inconsistent or different from ours
which could result in the joint venture taking actions that
negatively impact our business or financial condition. In
addition, if any of the other members of a joint venture files
for bankruptcy or otherwise fails to perform its obligations or
does not manage the joint venture effectively, we may lose our
equity investment in, and any present or future opportunity to
acquire the assets (including wireless licenses) of, such entity.
The FCC has implemented further rule changes aimed at addressing
alleged abuses of its designated entity program. While we do not
believe that these rule changes materially affect our current
joint ventures with LCW Wireless and Denali, the scope and
applicability of these rule changes to such current designated
entity structures remain in flux, and the changes remain subject
to administrative and judicial review. In addition, we cannot
predict how further rule changes or increased regulatory
scrutiny by the FCC with respect to designated entity rules or
structures will affect our current or future business ventures
with designated entities or our participation with such entities
in future FCC spectrum auctions.
We
Face Increasing Competition Which Could Have a Material Adverse
Effect on Demand for the Cricket Service.
The telecommunications industry is very competitive. In general,
we compete with national facilities-based wireless providers and
their prepaid affiliates or brands, local and regional carriers,
non-facilities-based mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs,
voice-over-internet-protocol, or VoIP, service providers and
traditional landline service providers, including telephone and
cable companies.
Many of these competitors often have greater name and brand
recognition, access to greater amounts of capital and
established relationships with a larger base of current and
potential customers. Because of their size and bargaining power,
our larger competitors may be able to purchase equipment,
supplies and services at lower prices than we can. For example,
prior to the launch of a large market in 2006, disruptions by a
competitor interfered with our indirect dealer relationships,
reducing the number of dealers offering Cricket service during
the initial weeks of launch. In addition, some of our
competitors are able to offer their customers roaming services
at lower rates. As consolidation in the industry creates even
larger competitors, any purchasing advantages our competitors
have, as well as their bargaining power as wholesale providers
of roaming services, may increase. For example, in connection
with the offering of our nationwide roaming service, we have
encountered problems with certain large wireless carriers in
negotiating terms for roaming arrangements that we believe are
reasonable, and we believe that consolidation has contributed
significantly to such carriers control over the terms and
conditions of wholesale roaming services.
17
These competitors may also offer potential customers more
features and options in their service plans than those currently
provided by Cricket, as well as new technologies
and/or
alternative delivery plans.
Some of our competitors offer rate plans substantially similar
to Crickets service plans or products that customers may
perceive to be similar to Crickets service plans in
markets in which we offer wireless service. For example,
AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have
each begun to offer flat-rate unlimited service offerings. In
addition, Sprint Nextel offers a flat-rate unlimited service
offering under its Boost Unlimited brand, which is very similar
to the Cricket service. Sprint Nextel has expanded and may
further expand its Boost Unlimited service offering into certain
markets in which we provide service and could further expand
service into other markets in which we provide service or in
which we plan to expand, and this service offering may present
additional strong competition in markets in which our offerings
overlap. The competitive pressures of the wireless
telecommunications market have also caused other carriers to
offer service plans with unlimited service offerings or large
bundles of minutes of use at low prices, which are competing
with the predictable and unlimited Cricket calling plans. Some
competitors also offer prepaid wireless plans that are being
advertised heavily to demographic segments in our current
markets and in markets in which we may expand that are strongly
represented in Crickets customer base. For example,
T-Mobile has
introduced a FlexPay plan which permits customers to pay in
advance for its
post-pay
plans and avoid overage charges, and an internet-based service
upgrade which permits wireless customers to make unlimited local
and long-distance calls from their home phone in place of a
traditional landline phone service. These competitive offerings
could adversely affect our ability to maintain our pricing and
increase or maintain our market penetration and may have a
material adverse effect on our financial results.
We may also face additional competition from new entrants in the
wireless marketplace, many of whom may have significantly more
resources than we do. The FCC is pursuing policies designed to
increase the number of wireless licenses and spectrum available
for the provision of wireless voice and data services in each of
our markets. For example, the FCC has adopted rules that allow
the partitioning, disaggregation or leasing of PCS and other
wireless licenses, and continues to allocate and auction
additional spectrum that can be used for wireless services,
which may increase the number of our competitors. The FCC has
also in recent years allowed satellite operators to use portions
of their spectrum for ancillary terrestrial use, and also
permitted the offering of broadband services over power lines.
In addition, the auction and licensing of new spectrum,
including the 700 MHz band licenses recently auctioned by
the FCC, may result in new competitors
and/or allow
existing competitors to acquire additional spectrum, which could
allow them to offer services that we may not technologically or
cost effectively be able to offer with the licenses we hold or
to which we have access.
Our ability to remain competitive will depend, in part, on our
ability to anticipate and respond to various competitive factors
and to keep our costs low.
Recent
Disruptions in the Financial Markets Could Affect Our Ability to
Obtain Debt or Equity
Financing On Reasonable Terms (or At All), and Have Other
Adverse Effects On Us.
We may wish to raise significant capital to finance business
expansion activities and our ability to raise debt or equity
capital in the public or private markets could be impaired by
various factors. For example, U.S. credit markets have recently
experienced significant dislocations and liquidity disruptions
which have caused the spreads on prospective debt financings to
widen considerably. These circumstances have materially impacted
liquidity in the debt markets, making financing terms for
borrowers less attractive, and in certain cases have resulted in
the unavailability of certain types of debt financing. Continued
uncertainty in the credit markets may negatively impact our
ability to access additional debt financing or to refinance
existing indebtedness on favorable terms (or at all). These
events in the credit markets have also had an adverse effect on
other financial markets in the U.S., which may make it more
difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance
of common stock, preferred stock or other equity securities. If
we require additional capital to fund or accelerate the pace of
any of our business expansion efforts or other strategic
activities and were unable to obtain such capital on terms that
we found acceptable or at all, we would likely reduce our
investments in expansion activities or slow the pace of
expansion activities as necessary to match our capital
requirements to our available liquidity. Any of these risks
could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our
ability to expand our business, which could have a material
adverse effect on our financial results. In addition, we
maintain investments in commercial paper and other short-term
investments. Volatility and
18
uncertainty in the financial markets has resulted in losses from
a decline in the value of those investments, and may result in
additional losses and difficulty in monetizing those investments
in the future.
We May
Be Unable to Obtain the Roaming Services We Need From Other
Carriers to Remain Competitive.
We believe that our customers prefer that we offer roaming
services that allow them to make calls automatically when they
are outside of their Cricket service area. Many of our
competitors have regional or national networks which enable them
to offer automatic roaming services to their subscribers at a
lower cost than we can offer. We do not have a national network,
and we must pay fees to other carriers who provide roaming
services to us. We currently have roaming agreements with
several other carriers which allow our customers to roam on
those carriers networks. However, these roaming agreements
generally cover voice but not data services and some of these
agreements may be terminated on relatively short notice. In
addition, we believe that the rates charged to us by some of
these carriers are higher than the rates they charge to certain
other roaming partners.
The FCC has adopted a report and order clarifying that
commercial mobile radio service providers are required to
provide automatic roaming for voice and SMS text-messaging
services on just, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The
FCC order, however, does not address roaming for data services
nor does it provide or mandate any specific mechanism for
determining the reasonableness of roaming rates for voice
services, and so our ability to obtain roaming services from
other carriers at attractive rates remains uncertain. In
addition, the FCC order indicates that a host carrier is not
required to provide roaming services to another carrier in areas
in which that other carrier holds wireless licenses or usage
rights that could be used to provide wireless services. Because
we and Denali License hold a significant number of spectrum
licenses for markets in which service has not yet been launched,
we believe that this in-market roaming restriction
could significantly and adversely affect our ability to receive
roaming services in areas where we hold licenses. We and other
wireless carriers have filed petitions with the FCC, asking that
the agency reconsider this in-market exception to its roaming
order. However, we can provide no assurances as to whether the
FCC will reconsider this exception or the timeframe in which it
might do so.
In light of the current FCC order, we cannot provide assurances
that we will be able to continue to provide roaming services for
our customers across the nation or that we will be able to
provide such services on a cost-effective basis. We may be
unable to enter into or maintain roaming arrangements for voice
services at reasonable rates, including in areas in which we
hold wireless licenses or have usage rights but have not yet
constructed wireless facilities, and we may be unable to secure
roaming arrangements for our data services. Our inability to
obtain these roaming services on a cost-effective basis may
limit our ability to compete effectively for wireless customers,
which may increase our churn and decrease our revenues, which
could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
We
Have Restated Our Prior Consolidated Financial Statements, Which
Has Led to Additional Risks and Uncertainties, Including
Shareholder Litigation.
As discussed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial
statements included in Part II Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of our Annual
Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended
December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC on December 26,
2007, we have restated our consolidated financial statements as
of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005
(including interim periods therein), for the period from
August 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004, and for the
period from January 1, 2004 to July 31, 2004. In
addition, we have restated our condensed consolidated financial
statements as of and for the quarterly periods ended
June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007. The determination to
restate these consolidated financial statements and quarterly
condensed consolidated financial statements was made by
Leaps Audit Committee upon managements
recommendation following the identification of errors related to
(i) the timing of recognition of certain service revenues
prior to or subsequent to the period in which they were earned,
(ii) the recognition of service revenues for certain
customers that voluntarily disconnected service, (iii) the
classification of certain components of service revenues,
equipment revenues and operating expenses and (iv) the
determination of a tax valuation allowance during the second
quarter of 2007.
19
As a result of these events, we have become subject to a number
of additional risks and uncertainties, including substantial
unanticipated costs for accounting and legal fees in connection
with or related to the restatement. In particular, three
shareholder derivative actions have been filed, and we have also
recently been named in a number of alleged securities class
action lawsuits. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits may make
additional claims, expand existing claims
and/or
expand the time periods covered by the complaints. Other
plaintiffs may bring additional actions with other claims, based
on the restatement. We may incur substantial defense costs with
respect to these claims, regardless of their outcome. Likewise,
these claims might cause a diversion of our managements
time and attention. If we do not prevail in any such actions, we
could be required to pay substantial damages or settlement
costs, which could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
Our
Business and Stock Price May Be Adversely Affected If Our
Internal Controls Are Not Effective.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires
companies to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their
internal control over financial reporting. To comply with this
statute, we are required to document and test our internal
control over financial reporting; our management is required to
assess and issue a report concerning our internal control over
financial reporting; and our independent registered public
accounting firm is required to report on the effectiveness of
our internal control over financial reporting.
As described in Managements Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Controls and Procedures of this prospectus, our chief
executive officer, or CEO, and chief financial officer, or CFO,
concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not
effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31,
2008. Currently, our CEO, S. Douglas Hutcheson, is also
serving as acting CFO. The material weakness we have identified
in our internal control over financial reporting related to the
design of controls over the preparation and review of the
account reconciliations and analysis of revenues, cost of
revenue and deferred revenues, and ineffective testing of
changes made to our revenue and billing systems in connection
with the introduction or modification of service offerings.
We have taken and are taking actions to remediate this material
weakness. In addition, management has developed and presented to
the Audit Committee a plan and timetable for the implementation
of remediation measures (to the extent not already implemented),
and the committee intends to monitor such implementation. We
believe that these actions will remediate the control
deficiencies we have identified and strengthen our internal
control over financial reporting.
We previously reported that certain material weaknesses in our
internal control over financial reporting existed at various
times during the period from September 30, 2004 through
December 31, 2007. These material weaknesses included
excessive turnover and inadequate staffing levels in our
accounting, financial reporting and tax departments, weaknesses
in the preparation of our income tax provision, and weaknesses
in our application of lease-related accounting principles,
fresh-start reporting oversight, and account reconciliation
procedures.
Although we believe we are taking appropriate actions to
remediate the control deficiencies we have identified and to
strengthen our internal control over financial reporting, we
cannot assure you that we will not discover other material
weaknesses in the future. The existence of one or more material
weaknesses could result in errors in our financial statements,
and substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify
these or other internal control deficiencies. If we cannot
produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose
confidence in our reported financial information, the market
price of Leaps common stock could decline significantly,
we may be unable to obtain additional financing to operate and
expand our business, and our business and financial condition
could be harmed.
Our
Primary Business Strategy May Not Succeed in the Long
Term.
A major element of our business strategy is to offer consumers
service plans that allow unlimited calls from within a Cricket
calling area for a flat monthly rate without entering into a
fixed-term contract or passing a credit check. However, unlike
national wireless carriers, we do not currently provide
ubiquitous coverage across the U.S. or all major
metropolitan centers, and instead have a smaller network
footprint covering only the principal population centers of our
various markets. This strategy may not prove to be successful in
the long term. Some companies that have offered this type of
service in the past have been unsuccessful. From time to time,
we also
20
evaluate our service offerings and the demands of our target
customers and may modify, change, adjust or discontinue our
service offerings or offer new services. We cannot assure you
that these service offerings will be successful or prove to be
profitable.
We
Expect to Incur Substantial Costs in Connection With the
Build-Out of Our New Markets, and Any Delays or Cost Increases
in the Build-Out of Our New Markets Could Adversely Affect Our
Business.
Our ability to achieve our strategic objectives will depend in
part on the successful, timely and cost-effective build-out of
the networks associated with newly acquired FCC licenses,
including the licenses that we and Denali License acquired in
Auction #66 and any licenses that we may acquire from third
parties. Large-scale construction projects for the build-out of
our new markets will require significant capital expenditures
and may suffer cost overruns. In addition, we expect to incur
higher operating expenses as our existing business grows and as
we build out and after we launch service in new markets. Any
such significant capital expenditures or increased operating
expenses, including in connection with the build-out and launch
of markets for the licenses that we and Denali License acquired
in Auction #66, would decrease earnings, operating income
before depreciation and amortization, or OIBDA, and free cash
flow for the periods in which we incur such costs. If we are
unable to fund the build-out of these new markets with our
existing cash and our cash generated from operations, we may be
required to raise additional equity capital or incur further
indebtedness, which we cannot guarantee would be available to us
on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the build-out of
the networks may be delayed or adversely affected by a variety
of factors, uncertainties and contingencies, such as natural
disasters, difficulties in obtaining zoning permits or other
regulatory approvals, our relationships with our joint venture
partners, and the timely performance by third parties of their
contractual obligations to construct portions of the networks.
Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in
Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. federal
government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. We and Denali License considered the
estimated cost and time-frame required to clear the spectrum
that we and Denali License purchased in Auction #66 while
placing bids in the auction. However, the actual cost of
clearing the spectrum may exceed our estimated costs.
Furthermore, delays in the provision of federal funds to
relocate government users, or difficulties in negotiating with
incumbent government and commercial licensees, may extend the
date by which the auctioned spectrum can be cleared of existing
operations, and thus may also delay the date on which we can
launch commercial services using such licensed spectrum. In
addition, certain existing government operations have been using
the spectrum for classified purposes. As a result, although the
government has agreed to clear that spectrum to allow AWS
licensees to utilize their spectrum in the affected areas, the
government has only provided limited information to licensees
about these classified uses, which has created additional
uncertainty about the time at which such spectrum would be
available for commercial use.
With respect to our Auction #66 markets, several federal
government agencies have cleared or developed plans to clear
spectrum covered by licenses we and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66 or have indicated that we and Denali License
can operate on the spectrum without interfering with the
agencies current uses. While we do not expect spectrum
clearing issues to impact our near-term market launches, we
continue to work with one federal agency in other markets to
ensure that it either relocates its spectrum use to alternative
frequencies or confirms that we can operate on the spectrum
without interfering with its current uses. If our efforts with
this agency are not successful, the agencys continued use
of the spectrum could delay our launch of certain markets. In
addition, to the extent that we or Denali License are operating
on AWS spectrum and a federal government agency believes that
our planned or ongoing operations interfere with its current
uses, we may be required to immediately cease using the spectrum
in that particular market for a period of time until the
interference is resolved. Any temporary or extended shutdown of
one of our or Denali Licenses wireless networks in a
launched market could materially and adversely affect our
competitive position and results of operations.
Any failure to complete the build-out of our new markets on
budget or on time could delay the implementation of our
clustering and strategic expansion strategies, and could have a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition.
21
If We
Are Unable to Manage Our Planned Growth, Our Operations Could Be
Adversely Impacted.
We have experienced substantial growth in a relatively short
period of time, and we expect to continue to experience growth
in the future in our existing and new markets. The management of
such growth will require, among other things, continued
development of our financial and management controls and
management information systems, stringent control of costs and
handset inventories, diligent management of our network
infrastructure and its growth, increased spending associated
with marketing activities and acquisition of new customers, the
ability to attract and retain qualified management personnel and
the training of new personnel. In addition, continued growth
will eventually require the expansion of our billing, customer
care and sales systems and platforms, which will require
additional capital expenditures and may divert the time and
attention of management personnel who oversee any such
expansion. Furthermore, the implementation of any such systems
or platforms, including the transition to such systems or
platforms from our existing infrastructure, could result in
unpredictable technological or other difficulties. Failure to
successfully manage our expected growth and development, to
enhance our processes and management systems or to timely and
adequately resolve any such difficulties could have a material
adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results
of operations.
The
Wireless Industry is Experiencing Rapid Technological Change,
and We May Lose Customers If We Fail to Keep Up With These
Changes.
The wireless communications industry is experiencing significant
technological change, as evidenced by the ongoing improvements
in the capacity and quality of digital technology, the
development and commercial acceptance of wireless data services,
shorter development cycles for new products and enhancements and
changes in end-user requirements and preferences. In the future,
competitors may seek to provide competing wireless
telecommunications service through the use of developing
technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMax, and VoIP. The cost of
implementing or competing against future technological
innovations may be prohibitive to us, and we may lose customers
if we fail to keep up with these changes.
For example, we have expended a substantial amount of capital to
upgrade our network with
CDMA2000®
1xEV-DO, or EvDO, technology to offer advanced data services.
However, if such upgrades, technologies or services do not
become commercially acceptable, our revenues and competitive
position could be materially and adversely affected. We cannot
assure you that there will be widespread demand for advanced
data services or that this demand will develop at a level that
will allow us to earn a reasonable return on our investment.
In addition, CDMA2000 infrastructure networks could become less
popular in the future, which could raise the cost to us of
equipment and handsets that use that technology relative to the
cost of handsets and equipment that utilize other technologies.
The
Loss of Key Personnel and Difficulty Attracting and Retaining
Qualified Personnel Could Harm Our Business.
We believe our success depends heavily on the contributions of
our employees and on attracting, motivating and retaining our
officers and other management and technical personnel. We do
not, however, generally provide employment contracts to our
employees. If we are unable to attract and retain the qualified
employees that we need, our business may be harmed.
We have experienced higher than normal employee turnover in the
past, in part because of our bankruptcy, including turnover of
individuals at the most senior management levels. In addition,
our business is managed by a small number of key executive
officers, including our CEO, S. Douglas Hutcheson. During
September 2007, Amin Khalifa resigned as our executive vice
president and CFO, and the board of directors appointed
Mr. Hutcheson to serve as acting CFO until we find a
successor to Mr. Khalifa. During February 2008, Grant
Burton, who had served as chief accounting officer and
controller since June 2005, assumed a new role as vice
president, financial systems and processes, and the board of
directors appointed Steven R. Martin, a consultant to the
company, to serve as acting chief accounting officer. In
addition, Jeffrey Nachbor joined us as our senior vice
president, financial operations in April 2008. We may have
difficulty attracting and retaining key personnel in future
periods, particularly if we were to experience poor operating or
financial performance. The loss of key individuals in the future
may have a material adverse impact on our ability to effectively
manage and operate our business.
22
Risks
Associated With Wireless Handsets Could Pose Product Liability,
Health and Safety Risks That Could Adversely Affect Our
Business.
We do not manufacture handsets or other equipment sold by us and
generally rely on our suppliers to provide us with safe
equipment. Our suppliers are required by applicable law to
manufacture their handsets to meet certain governmentally
imposed safety criteria. However, even if the handsets we sell
meet the regulatory safety criteria, we could be held liable
with the equipment manufacturers and suppliers for any harm
caused by products we sell if such products are later found to
have design or manufacturing defects. We generally have
indemnification agreements with the manufacturers who supply us
with handsets to protect us from direct losses associated with
product liability, but we cannot guarantee that we will be fully
protected against all losses associated with a product that is
found to be defective.
Media reports have suggested that the use of wireless handsets
may be linked to various health concerns, including cancer, and
may interfere with various electronic medical devices, including
hearing aids and pacemakers. Certain class action lawsuits have
been filed in the industry claiming damages for alleged health
problems arising from the use of wireless handsets. In addition,
interest groups have requested that the FCC investigate claims
that wireless technologies pose health concerns and cause
interference with airbags, hearing aids and other medical
devices. The media has also reported incidents of handset
battery malfunction, including reports of batteries that have
overheated. Malfunctions have caused at least one major handset
manufacturer to recall certain batteries used in its handsets,
including batteries in a handset sold by Cricket and other
wireless providers. Concerns over radio frequency emissions and
defective products may discourage the use of wireless handsets,
which could decrease demand for our services.
Concerns over possible safety risks could decrease the demand
for our services. For example, in the beginning of 2008, a
technical defect was discovered in one of our
manufacturers handsets which appeared to prevent a portion
of 911 calls from being heard by the operator. After learning of
the defect, we instructed our retail locations to temporarily
cease selling the handsets, notified our customers of the matter
and directed them to bring their handsets into our retail
locations to receive correcting software. If one or more Cricket
customers were harmed by a defective product provided to us by a
manufacturer and subsequently sold in connection with our
services, our ability to add and maintain customers for Cricket
service could be materially adversely affected by negative
public reactions.
There also are some safety risks associated with the use of
wireless handsets while driving. Concerns over these safety
risks and the effect of any legislation that has been and may be
adopted in response to these risks could limit our ability to
sell our wireless service.
We
Rely Heavily on Third Parties to Provide Specialized Services; a
Failure by Such Parties to Provide the Agreed Upon Services
Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Business, Results of
Operations and Financial Condition.
We depend heavily on suppliers and contractors with specialized
expertise in order for us to efficiently operate our business.
In the past, our suppliers, contractors and third-party
retailers have not always performed at the levels we expect or
at the levels required by their contracts. If key suppliers,
contractors or third-party retailers fail to comply with their
contracts, fail to meet our performance expectations or refuse
or are unable to supply us in the future, our business could be
severely disrupted. Generally, there are multiple sources for
the types of products we purchase. However, some suppliers,
including software suppliers, are the exclusive sources of their
specific products. Because of the costs and time lags that can
be associated with transitioning from one supplier to another,
our business could be substantially disrupted if we were
required to replace the products or services of one or more
major suppliers with products or services from another source,
especially if the replacement became necessary on short notice.
Any such disruption could have a material adverse affect on our
business, results of operations and financial condition.
System
Failures Could Result in Higher Churn, Reduced Revenue and
Increased Costs, and Could Harm Our Reputation.
Our technical infrastructure (including our network
infrastructure and ancillary functions supporting our network
such as service activation, billing and customer care) is
vulnerable to damage or interruption from
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technology failures, power loss, floods, windstorms, fires,
human error, terrorism, intentional wrongdoing, or similar
events. Unanticipated problems at our facilities, system
failures, hardware or software failures, computer viruses or
hacker attacks could affect the quality of our services and
cause network service interruptions. In addition, we are in the
process of upgrading some of our internal network systems, and
we cannot assure you that we will not experience delays or
interruptions while we transition our data and existing systems
onto our new systems. Any failure in or interruption of systems
that we or third parties maintain to support ancillary
functions, such as billing, customer care and financial
reporting, could materially impact our ability to timely and
accurately record, process and report information important to
our business. If any of the above events were to occur, we could
experience higher churn, reduced revenues and increased costs,
any of which could harm our reputation and have a material
adverse effect on our business.
To accommodate expected growth in our business, management has
been considering replacing our customer billing and activation
system, which we license from a third party. The vendor who
licenses the software to us and provides certain billing
services to us has a contract with us through 2010. The vendor
has developed a new billing product and has introduced that
product in a limited number of markets operated by another
wireless carrier. The vendor was working to adapt the new
billing product for our use, but we are now unlikely to use this
product because the vendor has announced that it intends to exit
the billing business. The vendor is currently exploring
alternative exit strategies, including selling its business to a
third party. If the vendor or its successor does not provide us
with an improved billing system in the future, we might choose
to terminate our contract for convenience and purchase billing
services from a different vendor if we believed it was necessary
to do so to meet the requirements of our business. In such an
event, we may owe substantial termination fees.
We May
Not Be Successful in Protecting and Enforcing Our Intellectual
Property Rights.
We rely on a combination of patent, service mark, trademark, and
trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to establish and
protect our proprietary rights, all of which only offer limited
protection. We endeavor to enter into agreements with our
employees and contractors and agreements with parties with whom
we do business in order to limit access to and disclosure of our
proprietary information. Despite our efforts, the steps we have
taken to protect our intellectual property may not prevent the
misappropriation of our proprietary rights. Moreover, others may
independently develop processes and technologies that are
competitive to ours. The enforcement of our intellectual
property rights may depend on any legal actions that we
undertake against such infringers being successful, but we
cannot be sure that any such actions will be successful, even
when our rights have been infringed.
We cannot assure you that our pending, or any future, patent
applications will be granted, that any existing or future
patents will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented,
that any existing or future patents will be enforceable, or that
the rights granted under any patent that may issue will provide
competitive advantages to us. For example, see
Business Legal Proceedings Patent
Litigation for a description of our patent litigation with
MetroPCS Communications, Inc., or MetroPCS, and other affiliated
entities. We intend to vigorously defend against the matters
brought by the MetroPCS entities. Due to the complex nature of
the legal and factual issues involved, however, the outcome of
these matters is not presently determinable. If the MetroPCS
entities were to prevail in any of these matters, it could have
a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition
and results of operations.
In addition to these outstanding matters, we cannot assure you
that any trademark or service mark registrations will be issued
with respect to pending or future applications or that any
registered trademarks or service marks will be enforceable or
provide adequate protection of our brands. Our inability to
secure trademark or service mark protection with respect to our
brands could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
We and
Our Suppliers May Be Subject to Claims of Infringement Regarding
Telecommunications Technologies That Are Protected By Patents
and Other Intellectual Property Rights.
Telecommunications technologies are protected by a wide array of
patents and other intellectual property rights. As a result,
third parties may assert infringement claims against us or our
suppliers from time to time based on our or their general
business operations, the equipment, software or services that we
or they use or provide, or the
24
specific operation of our wireless networks. For example, see
Business Legal Proceedings Patent
Litigation for a description of certain patent
infringement lawsuits that have been brought against us.
We generally have indemnification agreements with the
manufacturers, licensors and suppliers who provide us with the
equipment, software and technology that we use in our business
to protect us against possible infringement claims, but we
cannot guarantee that we will be fully protected against all
losses associated with infringement claims. Our suppliers may be
subject to infringement claims that could prevent or make it
more expensive for them to supply us with the products and
services we require to run our business. For example, we
purchase certain CDMA handsets that incorporate EvDO chipsets
manufactured by Qualcomm Incorporated, or Qualcomm, which are
the subject of patent infringement actions brought by Broadcom
Corporation in separate proceedings before the United States
International Trade Commission, or ITC, and the United States
District Court for the Central District of California. Both the
ITC and District Court have issued orders in their proceedings
that prevent or limit Qualcomms ability, subject to
various conditions and timelines, to sell, import or support the
infringing chips, and restrict third parties from importing the
handsets that incorporate the chips. Although these orders are
currently on appeal and the ITC order is stayed as to certain
third parties (including most of our handset suppliers), these
patent infringement actions could have the effect of slowing or
limiting our ability to introduce and offer EvDO handsets and
devices to our customers. Moreover, we may be subject to claims
that products, software and services provided by different
vendors which we combine to offer our services may infringe the
rights of third parties, and we may not have any indemnification
from our vendors for these claims. Whether or not an
infringement claim against us or a supplier was valid or
successful, it could adversely affect our business by diverting
management attention, involving us in costly and time-consuming
litigation, requiring us to enter into royalty or licensing
agreements (which may not be available on acceptable terms, or
at all) or requiring us to redesign our business operations or
systems to avoid claims of infringement. In addition,
infringement claims against our suppliers could also require us
to purchase products and services at higher prices or from
different suppliers and could adversely affect our business by
delaying our ability to offer certain products and services to
our customers.
Regulation
by Government Agencies May Increase Our Costs of Providing
Service or Require Us to Change Our Services.
The FCC regulates the licensing, construction, modification,
operation, ownership, sale and interconnection of wireless
communications systems, as do some state and local regulatory
agencies. We cannot assure you that the FCC or any state or
local agencies having jurisdiction over our business will not
adopt regulations or take other enforcement or other actions
that would adversely affect our business, impose new costs or
require changes in current or planned operations. For example,
in 2007 the FCC released an order implementing certain
recommendations of an independent panel reviewing the impact of
Hurricane Katrina on communications networks, which requires
that wireless carriers provide emergency
back-up
power sources for their equipment and facilities, including up
to 24 hours of emergency power for mobile switch offices
and up to eight hours for cell site locations. In order for us
to comply with the new requirements should they become
effective, we may need to purchase additional equipment, obtain
additional state and local permits, authorizations and approvals
or incur additional operating expenses, and such costs could be
material. In addition, state regulatory agencies are
increasingly focused on the quality of service and support that
wireless carriers provide to their customers and several
agencies have proposed or enacted new and potentially burdensome
regulations in this area.
In addition, we cannot assure you that the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, or the Communications Act, from which the FCC
obtains its authority, will not be further amended in a manner
that could be adverse to us. The FCC recently implemented rule
changes and sought comment on further rule changes focused on
addressing alleged abuses of its designated entity program,
which gives certain categories of small businesses preferential
treatment in FCC spectrum auctions based on size. In that
proceeding, the FCC has re-affirmed its goals of ensuring that
only legitimate small businesses benefit from the program, and
that such small businesses are not controlled or manipulated by
larger wireless carriers or other investors that do not meet the
small business qualification tests. We cannot predict the degree
to which rule changes or increased regulatory scrutiny that may
follow from this proceeding will affect our current or future
business ventures or our participation in future FCC spectrum
auctions.
Under existing law, no more than 20% of an FCC licensees
capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, or voted by
non-U.S. citizens or their representatives, by a foreign
government or its representatives or by a foreign
25
corporation. If an FCC licensee is controlled by another entity
(as is the case with Leaps ownership and control of
subsidiaries that hold FCC licenses), up to 25% of that
entitys capital stock may be owned or voted by non-U.S.
citizens or their representatives, by a foreign government or
its representatives or by a foreign corporation. Foreign
ownership above the 25% holding company level may be allowed if
the FCC finds such higher levels consistent with the public
interest. The FCC has ruled that higher levels of foreign
ownership, even up to 100%, are presumptively consistent with
the public interest with respect to investors from certain
nations. If our foreign ownership were to exceed the permitted
level, the FCC could revoke our wireless licenses, which would
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations. Although we could seek a
declaratory ruling from the FCC allowing the foreign ownership
or could take other actions to reduce our foreign ownership
percentage in order to avoid the loss of our licenses, we cannot
assure you that we would be able to obtain such a ruling or that
any other actions we may take would be successful.
Our operations are subject to various other regulations,
including those regulations promulgated by the Federal Trade
Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration and state and local regulatory agencies
and legislative bodies. Adverse decisions or regulations of
these regulatory bodies could negatively impact our operations
and costs of doing business. Because of our smaller size,
governmental regulations and orders can significantly increase
our costs and affect our competitive position compared to other
larger telecommunications providers. We are unable to predict
the scope, pace or financial impact of regulations and other
policy changes that could be adopted by the various governmental
entities that oversee portions of our business.
If
Call Volume Under Our Cricket Service Exceeds Our Expectations,
Our Costs of Providing Service Could Increase, Which Could Have
a Material Adverse Effect on Our Competitive
Position.
Cricket customers generally use their handsets for an average of
approximately 1,500 minutes per month, and some markets
experience substantially higher call volumes. Our Cricket
service plans bundle certain features, long distance and
unlimited service in Cricket calling areas for a fixed monthly
fee to more effectively compete with other telecommunications
providers. If customers exceed expected usage, we could face
capacity problems and our costs of providing the services could
increase. Although we own less spectrum in many of our markets
than our competitors, we seek to design our network to
accommodate our expected high call volume, and we consistently
assess and try to implement technological improvements to
increase the efficiency of our wireless spectrum. However, if
future wireless use by Cricket customers exceeds the capacity of
our network, service quality may suffer. We may be forced to
raise the price of Cricket service to reduce volume or otherwise
limit the number of new customers, or incur substantial capital
expenditures to improve network capacity or quality.
We May
Be Unable to Acquire Additional Spectrum in the Future at a
Reasonable Cost or on a Timely Basis.
Because we offer unlimited calling services for a fixed fee, our
customers average minutes of use per month is
substantially above the U.S. wireless customer average. We
intend to meet this demand by utilizing spectrally efficient
technologies. Despite our recent spectrum purchases, there may
come a point where we need to acquire additional spectrum in
order to maintain an acceptable grade of service or provide new
services to meet increasing customer demands. We also intend to
acquire additional spectrum in order to enter new strategic
markets. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to
acquire additional spectrum at auction or in the after-market at
a reasonable cost or that additional spectrum would be made
available by the FCC on a timely basis. If such additional
spectrum is not available to us when required or at a reasonable
cost, our results of operations could be adversely affected.
Our
Wireless Licenses are Subject to Renewal and May Be Revoked in
the Event that We Violate Applicable Laws.
Our existing wireless licenses are subject to renewal upon the
expiration of the
10-year or
15-year
period for which they are granted, which renewal period
commenced for some of our PCS wireless licenses in 2006. The FCC
will award a renewal expectancy to a wireless licensee that
timely files a renewal application, has provided substantial
service during its past license term and has substantially
complied with applicable FCC rules and
26
policies and the Communications Act. The FCC has routinely
renewed wireless licenses in the past. However, the
Communications Act provides that licenses may be revoked for
cause and license renewal applications denied if the FCC
determines that a renewal would not serve the public interest.
FCC rules provide that applications competing with a license
renewal application may be considered in comparative hearings,
and establish the qualifications for competing applications and
the standards to be applied in hearings. We cannot assure you
that the FCC will renew our wireless licenses upon their
expiration.
Future
Declines in the Fair Value of Our Wireless Licenses Could Result
in Future Impairment Charges.
As of March 31, 2008, the carrying value of our wireless
licenses and those of Denali License and LCW License was
approximately $1.9 billion. During the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recorded impairment
charges of $1.0 million, $7.9 million and
$12.0 million, respectively.
The market values of wireless licenses have varied dramatically
over the last several years, and may vary significantly in the
future. In particular, valuation swings could occur if:
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consolidation in the wireless industry allows or requires
carriers to sell significant portions of their wireless spectrum
holdings;
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a sudden large sale of spectrum by one or more wireless
providers occurs; or
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market prices decline as a result of the sale prices in FCC
auctions.
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In addition, the price of wireless licenses could decline as a
result of the FCCs pursuit of policies designed to
increase the number of wireless licenses available in each of
our markets. For example, the FCC has recently auctioned
additional spectrum in the 1700 MHz to 2100 MHz band
in Auction #66 and the 700 MHz band in
Auction #73, and has announced that it intends to auction
additional spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. If the market
value of wireless licenses were to decline significantly, the
value of our wireless licenses could be subject to non-cash
impairment charges.
We assess potential impairments to our indefinite-lived
intangible assets, including wireless licenses, annually and
when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances
indicate that an impairment condition may exist. We conduct our
annual tests for impairment of our wireless licenses during the
third quarter of each year. Estimates of the fair value of our
wireless licenses are based primarily on available market
prices, including successful bid prices in FCC auctions and
selling prices observed in wireless license transactions,
pricing trends among historical wireless license transactions,
our spectrum holdings within a given market relative to other
carriers holdings and qualitative demographic and economic
information concerning the areas that comprise our markets. A
significant impairment loss could have a material adverse effect
on our operating income and on the carrying value of our
wireless licenses on our balance sheet.
Declines
in Our Operating Performance Could Ultimately Result in an
Impairment of Our Indefinite-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill,
or Our Long-Lived Assets, Including Property and
Equipment.
We assess potential impairments to our long-lived assets,
including property and equipment and certain intangible assets,
when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We
assess potential impairments to indefinite-lived intangible
assets, including goodwill and wireless licenses, annually and
when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances
indicate that an impairment condition may exist. If we do not
achieve our planned operating results, this may ultimately
result in a non-cash impairment charge related to our long-lived
and/or our
indefinite-lived intangible assets. A significant impairment
loss could have a material adverse effect on our operating
results and on the carrying value of our goodwill or wireless
licenses
and/or our
long-lived assets on our balance sheet.
We May
Incur Higher Than Anticipated Intercarrier Compensation
Costs.
When our customers use our service to call customers of other
carriers, we are required under the current intercarrier
compensation scheme to pay the carrier that serves the called
party. Similarly, when a customer of another carrier calls one
of our customers, that carrier is required to pay us. While in
most cases we have been
27
successful in negotiating agreements with other carriers that
impose reasonable reciprocal compensation arrangements, some
carriers have claimed a right to unilaterally impose what we
believe to be unreasonably high charges on us. The FCC is
actively considering possible regulatory approaches to address
this situation but we cannot assure you that the FCC rulings
will be beneficial to us. An adverse ruling or FCC inaction
could result in carriers successfully collecting higher
intercarrier fees from us, which could adversely affect our
business.
The FCC also is considering making various significant changes
to the intercarrier compensation scheme to which we are subject.
We cannot predict with any certainty the likely outcome of this
FCC proceeding. Some of the alternatives that are under active
consideration by the FCC could severely increase the
interconnection costs we pay. If we are unable to
cost-effectively provide our products and services to customers,
our competitive position and business prospects could be
materially adversely affected.
If We
Experience High Rates of Credit Card, Subscription or Dealer
Fraud, Our Ability to Generate Cash Flow Will
Decrease.
Our operating costs can increase substantially as a result of
customer credit card, subscription or dealer fraud. We have
implemented a number of strategies and processes to detect and
prevent efforts to defraud us, and we believe that our efforts
have substantially reduced the types of fraud we have
identified. However, if our strategies are not successful in
detecting and controlling fraud in the future, the resulting
loss of revenue or increased expenses could have a material
adverse impact on our financial condition and results of
operations.
Our
Directors and Affiliated Entities Have Substantial Influence
over Our Affairs, and Our Ownership Is Highly
Concentrated.
Our directors and entities affiliated with them beneficially
owned in the aggregate approximately 23.0% of Leap common stock
as of May 2, 2008. Moreover, our four largest stockholders
and entities affiliated with them beneficially owned in the
aggregate approximately 59.5% of Leap common stock as of
May 2, 2008. These stockholders have the ability to exert
substantial influence over all matters requiring approval by our
stockholders. These stockholders will be able to influence the
election and removal of directors and any merger, consolidation
or sale of all or substantially all of Leaps assets and
other matters. This concentration of ownership could have the
effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control
or impeding a merger or consolidation, takeover or other
business combination.
Risks
Relating to the Exchange Offer
You
May Have Difficulty Selling the Old Notes You Do Not
Exchange.
If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes in the
exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the
restrictions on transfer of your old notes as described in the
legend on the global notes representing the old notes. There are
restrictions on transfer of your old notes because we issued the
old notes under an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
and applicable state securities laws. In general, you may only
offer or sell the old notes if they are registered under the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or offered
and sold under an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, these requirements. We do not intend to register any
old notes not tendered in the exchange offer and, upon
consummation of the exchange offer, you will not be entitled to
any rights to have your untendered old notes registered under
the Securities Act. In addition, the trading market, if any, for
the remaining old notes will be adversely affected depending on
the extent to which old notes are tendered and accepted in the
exchange offer.
Broker-Dealers
May Need To Comply With the Registration and Prospectus Delivery
Requirements of the Securities Act.
Any broker-dealer that (1) exchanges its old notes in the
exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a
distribution of the new notes or (2) resells new notes that
were received by it for its own account in the exchange offer
may be deemed to have received restricted securities and will be
required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
transaction by that broker-
28
dealer. Any profit on the resale of the new notes and any
commission or concessions received by a broker-dealer may be
deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
You
May Not Receive New Notes in the Exchange Offer if the Exchange
Offer Procedure Is Not Followed.
We will issue the new notes in exchange for your old notes only
if you tender the old notes and deliver a properly completed and
duly executed letter of transmittal and other required documents
before expiration of the exchange offer. You should allow
sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the necessary
documents. Neither the exchange agent nor we are under any duty
to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect
to the tenders of old notes for exchange. If you are the
beneficial holder of old notes that are registered in the name
of your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other
nominee, and you wish to tender old notes in the exchange offer,
you should promptly contact the person in whose name your old
notes are registered and instruct that person to tender your old
notes on your behalf.
Risks
Related to the New Notes
Our
Significant Indebtedness Could Adversely Affect Our Financial
Health and Prevent Us From Fulfilling Our
Obligations.
We have now and will continue to have a significant amount of
indebtedness. As of March 31, 2008 our total outstanding
indebtedness under our senior secured credit agreement, or
Credit Agreement, was $884.3 million, and we also had a
$200 million undrawn revolving credit facility (which forms
part of our senior secured credit facility). Indebtedness under
our senior secured credit facility bears interest at a variable
rate, but we have entered into interest rate swap agreements
with respect to $355 million of our indebtedness. We have
also issued $1,100 million in unsecured senior notes due
2014, $350 million of which are the old notes we are
seeking to exchange. In addition, looking forward we may raise
significant capital to finance business expansion activities,
which could consist of debt financing from the public
and/or
private capital markets.
Our significant indebtedness could have material consequences.
For example, it could:
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make it more difficult for us to satisfy our debt obligations;
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increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and
industry conditions;
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impair our ability to obtain additional financing in the future
for working capital needs, capital expenditures, building out
our network, acquisitions and general corporate purposes;
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require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows
from operations to the payment of principal and interest on our
indebtedness, thereby reducing the availability of our cash
flows to fund working capital needs, capital expenditures,
acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;
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limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes
in our business and the industry in which we operate;
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place us at a disadvantage compared to our competitors that have
less indebtedness; and
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expose us to higher interest expense in the event of increases
in interest rates because indebtedness under our senior secured
credit facility bears interest at a variable rate.
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Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our
operations or limit our ability to expand our business, which
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Despite
Current Indebtedness Levels, We May Incur Substantially More
Indebtedness. This Could Further Increase the Risks Associated
With Our Leverage.
We may incur significant additional indebtedness in the future
over time, as market conditions permit, to enable us to take
advantage of business expansion activities. The terms of the
indenture governing the notes permit
29
us, subject to specified limitations, to incur additional
indebtedness, including secured indebtedness. In addition, our
Credit Agreement permits us to incur additional indebtedness
under various financial ratio tests.
If new indebtedness is added to our current levels of
indebtedness, the related risks that we now face could
intensify. Furthermore, the subsequent build-out of the networks
covered by the licenses we acquired in Auction #66 may
significantly reduce our free cash flow, increasing the risk
that we may not be able to service our indebtedness.
We May
Make Significant Investments in Designated Entities, Which Are
Not Guarantors of the Notes and Are Not Restricted by the
Covenants in the Indenture Governing the Notes.
The terms of the indenture governing the notes permit us,
subject to specified limitations and conditions, to make
significant investments in designated entities, including
additional investments in LCW Wireless and Denali and their
respective subsidiaries, which are not guarantors of the notes
and are not restricted by the covenants in such indenture. Any
such investments may affect our ability to satisfy our
obligations with respect to the notes.
To
Service Our Indebtedness and Fund Our Working Capital and
Capital Expenditures, We Will Require a Significant Amount of
Cash. Our Ability to Generate Cash Depends on Many Factors
Beyond Our Control.
Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness will depend
upon our future operating performance and on our ability to
generate cash flow in the future, which are subject to general
economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and
other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you
that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from
operations, or that future borrowings, including borrowings
under our revolving credit facility, will be available to us in
an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to
fund our other liquidity needs, or at all. If the cash flow from
our operating activities is insufficient, we may take actions,
such as delaying or reducing capital expenditures (including
expenditures to build out our newly acquired wireless licenses),
attempting to restructure or refinance our indebtedness prior to
maturity, selling assets or operations or seeking additional
equity capital. Any or all of these actions may be insufficient
to allow us to service our debt obligations. Further, we may be
unable to take any of these actions on commercially reasonable
terms, or at all.
We May
Be Unable to Refinance Our Indebtedness.
We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness
before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to
refinance any of our indebtedness, including under our senior
unsecured indenture or our Credit Agreement, on commercially
reasonable terms, or at all. There can be no assurance that we
will be able to obtain sufficient funds to enable us to repay or
refinance our debt obligations on commercially reasonable terms,
or at all.
Covenants
in Our Indenture and Credit Agreement and Other Credit
Agreements or Indentures That We May Enter Into in the Future
May Limit Our Ability To Operate Our Business.
Our senior unsecured indenture and Credit Agreement contain
covenants that restrict the ability of Leap, Cricket and the
subsidiary guarantors to make distributions or other payments to
our investors or creditors until we satisfy certain financial
tests or other criteria. In addition, the indenture and our
Credit Agreement include covenants restricting, among other
things, the ability of Leap, Cricket and their restricted
subsidiaries to:
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incur additional indebtedness;
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create liens or other encumbrances;
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place limitations on distributions from restricted subsidiaries;
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pay dividends, make investments, prepay subordinated
indebtedness or make other restricted payments;
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issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries;
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issue guarantees;
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sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our
assets;
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enter into transactions with affiliates; and
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make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with another entity.
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Under our Credit Agreement, we must also comply with, among
other things, financial covenants with respect to a maximum
consolidated senior secured leverage ratio and, if a revolving
credit loan or uncollateralized letter of credit is outstanding
or requested, with respect to a minimum consolidated interest
coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a
minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. The Credit
Agreement includes a $200 million revolving credit
facility, which was undrawn as of March 31, 2008. The
business expansion efforts we are pursuing in 2008 and 2009 will
decrease our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and could
prevent us from borrowing under the revolving credit facility
for several quarters, depending on the scope and pace of our
expansion efforts. We do not intend, however, to pursue business
expansion activities that would prevent us from borrowing under
the revolving credit facility unless we believe we have
sufficient liquidity to support the operating and capital
requirements for our business and any such expansion activities
without drawing on the revolving credit facility.
The restrictions in our Credit Agreement could also limit our
ability to make borrowings, obtain debt financing, repurchase
stock, refinance or pay principal or interest on our outstanding
indebtedness, complete acquisitions for cash or debt or react to
changes in our operating environment. Any credit agreement or
indenture that we may enter into in the future may have similar
restrictions.
Our Credit Agreement also prohibits the occurrence of a change
of control, which includes the acquisition of beneficial
ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity securities, a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board and the occurrence
of a change of control under any of our other credit
instruments. Under our indenture, if a change of
control occurs (which includes the acquisition of
beneficial ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity
securities, a sale of all or substantially all of the assets of
Leap and its restricted subsidiaries and a change in a majority
of the members of Leaps board of directors that is not
approved by the board), each holder of the notes may require
Cricket to repurchase all of such holders notes at a
purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the
notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
If we default under our indenture or our Credit Agreement
because of a covenant breach or otherwise, all outstanding
amounts thereunder could become immediately due and payable. Our
failure to timely file our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2007 constituted
a default under our Credit Agreement and indenture, and the
restatement of certain of our historical consolidated financial
information (as described in Note 2 to the consolidated
financial statements included in Part II
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year
ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC on
December 26, 2007) may have constituted a default under our
Credit Agreement. Although we were able to obtain limited
waivers under our Credit Agreement with respect to these events,
we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain a waiver in
the future should a default occur. We cannot assure you that we
would have sufficient funds to repay all of the outstanding
amounts under our indenture or our Credit Agreement, and any
acceleration of amounts outstanding would have a material
adverse effect on our liquidity and financial condition.
Rises
in Interest Rates Could Adversely Affect Our Financial
Condition.
An increase in prevailing interest rates would have an immediate
effect on the interest rates charged on our variable rate debt,
which rise and fall upon changes in interest rates. As of
March 31, 2008, approximately 28% of our debt was variable
rate debt, after considering the effect of our interest rate
swap agreements. If prevailing interest rates or other factors
result in higher interest rates on our variable rate debt, the
increased interest expense would adversely affect our cash flow
and our ability to service our debt.
A
Majority of Our Assets Consists of Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets.
As of March 31, 2008, 51.9% of our assets consisted of
goodwill and other intangibles, including wireless licenses. The
value of our assets, and in particular, our intangible assets,
will depend on market conditions, the availability of buyers and
similar factors. By their nature, our intangible assets may not
have a readily ascertainable market value or may not be saleable
or, if saleable, there may be substantial delays in their
liquidation. For example, prior FCC approval is required in
order for us to sell, or for any remedies to be exercised by our
lenders with respect
31
to, our wireless licenses, and obtaining such approval could
result in significant delays and reduce the proceeds obtained
from the sale or other disposition of our wireless licenses.
Your
Right to Receive Payments on the Notes and the Guarantees are
Effectively Subordinated to Our and the Guarantors Secured
Indebtedness and to the Indebtedness of Our Non-Guarantor
Subsidiaries.
The notes and the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to
the existing and future secured indebtedness of Cricket, Leap
and the subsidiary guarantors to the extent of the value of the
assets securing such indebtedness. In particular, the notes and
the guarantees will be effectively subordinated to the
indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility, which is
secured by first priority liens on substantially all of the
assets of Cricket, Leap and the subsidiary guarantors. In
addition, creditors of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee
the notes, and of our joint ventures, will have claims with
respect to the assets of those subsidiaries or such entities
that rank effectively senior to the notes. As of March 31,
2008 we had total outstanding indebtedness of approximately
$2,043.5 million (of which $884.3 million consisted of
indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility).
Leaps sole source of operating income and cash flow is
currently derived from Cricket and its only material asset is
Cricket capital stock. As a result, Leaps guarantee
provides little, if any, additional credit support for the notes.
If Cricket, Leap or a subsidiary guarantor becomes insolvent or
is liquidated, the lenders under Cricket, Leap or the subsidiary
guarantors secured indebtedness will have claims on the
assets securing their indebtedness and will have priority over
any claim for payment under the notes or the guarantees to the
extent of such security. Accordingly, in the event of a
bankruptcy or insolvency, it is possible that there would be no
assets remaining after satisfaction of the claims of such
secured creditors from which claims of the holders of the notes
could be satisfied or, if any assets remained, they might be
insufficient to satisfy such claims fully. Also, as described
below, there are federal and state laws that could invalidate
the guarantees of our subsidiaries that guarantee the notes. If
that were to occur, the claims of creditors of those
subsidiaries would also rank effectively senior to the notes, to
the extent of the assets of those subsidiaries.
None of LCW Wireless or Denali, or any of their respective
subsidiaries, has any obligation to pay any amounts due on the
notes or to provide us with funds for our payment obligations,
whether by dividends, distributions, loans or other payments. In
the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization of any
of our non-guarantor subsidiaries, holders of their liabilities,
including trade creditors, will generally be entitled to payment
of their claims from the assets of those non-guarantor
subsidiaries before any assets are made available for
distribution to us.
We May
Not Have the Ability to Raise the Funds Necessary to Finance the
Change of Control Offer Required by the Indenture.
If we experience certain specific kinds of change of control
events (which events include the acquisition of beneficial
ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity securities, a
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of Leap and its
restricted subsidiaries, and a change in a majority of the
members of Leaps board of directors that is not approved
by the board), we will be required to offer to repurchase all
outstanding notes at 101% of the principal amount of the notes
plus accrued and unpaid interest and additional interest, if
any, thereon, to the date of repurchase. Certain change of
control events would also constitute an event of default under
our Credit Agreement (which events include the acquisition of
beneficial ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity
securities, a change in a majority of the members of Leaps
board of directors that is not approved by the board, and the
occurrence of a change of control under any of our
other credit instruments (including the indenture governing the
notes)). Therefore, upon the occurrence of a change of control,
the lenders under our Credit Agreement may have the right, among
other things, to terminate their lending commitments or to cause
all outstanding debt obligations under our secured credit
facility to become due and payable and proceed against the
assets securing such debt, any of which occurrences would
materially adversely affect our liquidity and would prevent us
from borrowing under the secured credit facility to help finance
a repurchase of the notes. We cannot assure you that we will
have available funds sufficient to repurchase the notes and
satisfy other payment obligations that could be triggered upon a
change of control. If we do not have sufficient financial
resources to effect a change of control offer, we would be
required to seek additional financing from outside sources to
repurchase the notes. We cannot assure you that financing would
be available to us on satisfactory terms, or at all. In
addition, certain important corporate events, such as leveraged
recapitalizations that would increase the level of our
indebtedness, would not constitute a Change of
Control under the indenture governing the notes. See
Description of Notes Repurchase at the Option
of Holders Change of Control.
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Federal
and State Statutes Allow Courts, Under Specific Circumstances,
to Void Guarantees and Require Noteholders to Return Payments
Received From Us or the Guarantors.
Crickets creditors or the creditors of the guarantors of
the notes could challenge the guarantees as fraudulent
conveyances or on other grounds. Under federal bankruptcy law
and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, the
delivery of the guarantees could be found to be a fraudulent
transfer and declared void if a court determined that the
guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by
its guarantee (1) delivered the guarantee with the intent
to hinder, delay or defraud its existing or future creditors; or
(2) received less than reasonably equivalent value or did
not receive fair consideration for the delivery of the guarantee
and any of the following three conditions apply:
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the guarantor was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason at
the time it delivered the guarantee;
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the guarantor was engaged in a business or transaction for which
the guarantors remaining assets constituted unreasonably
small capital; or
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the guarantor intended to incur, or believed that it would
incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts at maturity.
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In addition, any payment by that guarantor pursuant to its
guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the
guarantor, or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the
guarantor. In any such case, your right to receive payments in
respect of the notes from any such guarantor would be
effectively subordinated to all indebtedness and other
liabilities of that guarantor.
If a court declares the guarantees to be void, or if the
guarantees must be limited or voided in accordance with their
terms, any claim you may make against us for amounts payable on
the notes would, with respect to amounts claimed against the
guarantors, be subordinated to the indebtedness of our
guarantors, including trade payables. The measures of insolvency
for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary
depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine
whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, however,
a guarantor would be considered insolvent if:
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the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was
greater than the fair saleable value of all of its assets;
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if the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than
the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability
on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they
become absolute and mature; or
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it could not pay its debts as they become due.
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On the basis of historical financial information, recent
operating history and other factors, we believe that each
guarantor, after giving effect to its guarantee of the notes,
will not be insolvent, will not have unreasonably small capital
for the business in which it is engaged and will not have
incurred debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they
mature. We cannot assure you, however, as to what standard a
court would apply in making these determinations or that a court
would agree with our conclusions in this regard.
If an
Active Trading Market for the New Notes Does Not Develop, the
Liquidity and Value of the New Notes Could Be
Decreased.
Prior to the exchange offer, there was no public market for the
new notes, and although the new notes are expected to be
eligible for trading in the
PORTALsm
Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
we cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop
for the new notes. If an active trading market does not develop,
you may not be able to resell your new notes at their fair
market value or at all. Future trading prices of the new notes
will depend on many factors, including, among other things,
prevailing interest rates, our operating results and the market
for similar securities. We do not intend to apply for listing
the new notes on any securities exchange.
33
THE
EXCHANGE OFFER
Purpose
and Effect of the Exchange Offer
In connection with the sale of the old notes, we entered into a
registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the
old notes, pursuant to which we agreed to file and to use our
reasonable best efforts to cause to be declared effective by the
SEC a registration statement with respect to the exchange of the
old notes for the new notes. We are making the exchange offer to
fulfill our contractual obligations under that agreement. A copy
of the registration rights agreement has been filed as an
exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus
is a part.
Pursuant to the exchange offer, we will issue the new notes in
exchange for old notes. The terms of the new notes are identical
in all material respects to those of the old notes, except that
the new notes (1) have been registered under the Securities
Act and therefore will not be subject to certain restrictions on
transfer applicable to the old notes and (2) will not have
registration rights or provide for any increase in the interest
rate related to the obligation to register. See
Description of New Notes and Description of
Old Notes for more information on the terms of the
respective notes and the differences between them.
We are not making the exchange offer to, and will not accept
tenders for exchange from, holders of old notes in any
jurisdiction in which an exchange offer or the acceptance
thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue
sky laws of such jurisdiction. Unless the context requires
otherwise, the term holder means any person in whose
name the old notes are registered on our books or any other
person who has obtained a properly completed bond power from the
registered holder, or any person whose old notes are held of
record by the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, who desires
to deliver such old notes by book-entry transfer at DTC.
We make no recommendation to the holders of old notes as to
whether to tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion
of their old notes pursuant to the exchange offer. In addition,
no one has been authorized to make any such recommendation.
Holders of old notes must make their own decision whether to
tender pursuant to the exchange offer and, if so, the aggregate
amount of old notes to tender after reading this prospectus and
the letter of transmittal and consulting with their advisers, if
any, based on their own financial position and requirements.
Terms of
the Exchange
Upon the terms and conditions described in this prospectus and
in the accompanying letter of transmittal, which together
constitute the exchange offer, we will accept for exchange old
notes which are properly tendered at or before the expiration
time and not withdrawn as permitted below. As of the date of
this prospectus, $350 million aggregate principal amount of
old notes are outstanding. This prospectus, together with the
letter of transmittal, is first being sent on or about the date
on the cover page of the prospectus to all holders of old notes
known to us. Old notes tendered in the exchange offer must be in
denominations of principal amount of $2,000 and any integral
multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Our acceptance of the tender of old notes by a tendering holder
will form a binding agreement between the tendering holder and
us upon the terms and subject to the conditions provided in this
prospectus and in the accompanying letter of transmittal.
Expiration,
Extension and Amendment
The expiration time of the exchange offer is
5:00 p.m. New York City time on June 17, 2008.
However, we may, in our sole discretion, extend the period of
time for which the exchange offer is open and set a later
expiration date. The term expiration time as used
herein means the latest time and date to which we extend the
exchange offer. If we decide to extend the exchange offer
period, we will then delay acceptance of any old notes by giving
oral or written notice of an extension to the holders of old
notes as described below. During any extension period, all old
notes previously tendered will remain subject to the exchange
offer and may be accepted for exchange by us. Any old notes not
accepted for exchange will be returned to the tendering holder
after the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.
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Our obligation to accept old notes for exchange in the exchange
offer is subject to the conditions described below under
Conditions to the Exchange Offer. We may
decide to waive any of the conditions in our discretion.
Furthermore, we reserve the right to amend or terminate the
exchange offer, and not to accept for exchange any old notes not
previously accepted for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of
the conditions of the exchange offer specified below under the
same heading. We will give oral or written notice of any
extension, amendment, non-acceptance or termination to the
holders of the old notes as promptly as practicable. If we
materially change the terms of the exchange offer, we will
resolicit tenders of the old notes, file a post-effective
amendment to the prospectus and provide notice to you. If the
change is made less than five business days before the
expiration of the exchange offer, we will extend the offer so
that the holders have at least five business days to tender or
withdraw. We will notify you of any extension by means of a
press release or other public announcement no later than
June 18, 2008, the first business day after the previously
scheduled expiration time.
Procedures
for Tendering
Valid
Tender
Except as described below, a tendering holder must, prior to the
expiration time, transmit to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., the
exchange agent, at the address listed under the heading
Exchange Agent:
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a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal,
including all other documents required by the letter of
transmittal; or
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if old notes are tendered in accordance with the book-entry
procedures listed below, an agents message. In addition, a
tendering holder must:
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deliver certificates, if any, for the old notes to the exchange
agent at or before the expiration time; or
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deliver a timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of the old
notes into the exchange agents account at DTC, the
book-entry transfer facility, along with the letter of
transmittal or an agents message; or
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comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
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The term agents message means a message,
transmitted by DTC to and received by the exchange agent and
forming a part of a book-entry confirmation, that states that
DTC has received an express acknowledgment that the tendering
holder agrees to be bound by the letter of transmittal and that
we may enforce the letter of transmittal against this holder.
If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person other than
the registered holder of old notes, the letter of transmittal
must be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer or
exchange in satisfactory form duly executed by the registered
holder with the signature guaranteed by an eligible institution.
The old notes must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate
powers of attorney. In either case, the old notes must be signed
exactly as the name of any registered holder appears on the old
notes.
If the letter of transmittal or any old notes or powers of
attorney are signed by trustees, executors, administrators,
guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others
acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, these persons
should so indicate when signing. Unless waived by us, proper
evidence satisfactory to us of their authority to so act must be
submitted.
By tendering old notes pursuant to the exchange offer, each
holder will represent to us that, among other things, the new
notes are being acquired in the ordinary course of business of
the person receiving the new notes, whether or not that person
is the holder, and neither the holder nor the other person has
any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate
in the distribution of the new notes. In the case of a holder
that is not a broker-dealer, that holder, by tendering old notes
pursuant to the exchange offer, will also represent to us that
the holder is not engaged in and does not intend to engage in a
distribution of the new notes.
The method of delivery of old notes, letters of transmittal and
all other required documents is at your election and risk. If
the delivery is by mail, we recommend that you use registered
mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested. In all
cases, you should allow sufficient time to assure timely
delivery. You should not send letters of transmittal or old
notes to us.
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If you are a beneficial owner whose old notes are registered in
the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or
other nominee, and wish to tender, you should promptly instruct
the registered holder to tender on your behalf. Any registered
holder that is a participant in DTCs book-entry transfer
facility system may make book-entry delivery of the old notes by
causing DTC to transfer the old notes into the exchange
agents account.
Signature
Guarantees
Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal
must be guaranteed, unless the old notes surrendered for
exchange are tendered:
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by a registered holder of the old notes who has not completed
the box entitled Special Issuance Instructions or
Special Delivery Instructions on the letter of
transmittal, or
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for the account of an eligible institution.
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If signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of
withdrawal are required to be guaranteed, the guarantees must be
by an eligible institution. An eligible
institution is an eligible guarantor
institution meeting the requirements of the registrar for
the notes, which requirements include membership or
participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program,
or STAMP, or such other signature guarantee program
as may be determined by the registrar for the notes in addition
to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the
Exchange Act.
Book-Entry
Transfer
The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account
for the old notes at DTC for purposes of the exchange offer
within two business days after the date of this prospectus. Any
financial institution that is a participant in DTCs
systems must make book-entry delivery of old notes by causing
DTC to transfer those old notes into the exchange agents
account at DTC in accordance with DTCs procedure for
transfer. The participant should transmit its acceptance to DTC
at or prior to the expiration time or comply with the guaranteed
delivery procedures described below. DTC will verify this
acceptance, execute a book-entry transfer of the tendered old
notes into the exchange agents account at DTC and then
send to the exchange agent confirmation of this book-entry
transfer. The confirmation of this book-entry transfer will
include an agents message confirming that DTC has received
an express acknowledgment from this participant that this
participant has received and agrees to be bound by the letter of
transmittal and that we may enforce the letter of transmittal
against this participant.
Delivery of new notes issued in the exchange offer may be
effected through book-entry transfer at DTC. However, the letter
of transmittal or facsimile of it or an agents message,
with any required signature guarantees and any other required
documents, must:
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be transmitted to and received by the exchange agent at the
address listed under Exchange Agent at
or prior to the expiration time; or
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comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
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Delivery of documents to DTC in accordance with DTCs
procedures does not constitute delivery to the exchange agent.
Guaranteed
Delivery
If a registered holder of old notes desires to tender the old
notes, and the old notes are not immediately available, or time
will not permit the holders old notes or other required
documents to reach the exchange agent before the expiration
time, or the procedure for book-entry transfer described above
cannot be completed on a timely basis, a tender may nonetheless
be made if:
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the tender is made through an eligible institution;
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prior to the expiration time, the exchange agent received from
an eligible institution a properly completed and duly executed
notice of guaranteed delivery, substantially in the form
provided by us, by facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery:
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1. stating the name and address of the holder of old notes
and the amount of old notes tendered;
2. stating that the tender is being made; and
3. guaranteeing that within three New York Stock Exchange
trading days after the expiration time, the certificates for all
physically tendered old notes, in proper form for transfer, or a
book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, and a properly
completed and duly executed letter of transmittal, or an
agents message, and any other documents required by the
letter of transmittal will be deposited by the eligible
institution with the exchange agent; and
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the certificates for all physically tendered old notes, in
proper form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation, as the
case may be, and a properly completed and duly executed letter
of transmittal, or an agents message, and all other
documents required by the letter of transmittal, are received by
the exchange agent within three New York Stock Exchange trading
days after the expiration time.
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Determination
of Validity
We will determine in our sole discretion all questions as to the
validity, form and eligibility of old notes tendered for
exchange. This discretion extends to the determination of all
questions concerning the timing of receipts and acceptance of
tenders. These determinations will be final and binding. We
reserve the right to reject any particular old note not properly
tendered or of which our acceptance might, in our judgment or
our counsels judgment, be unlawful. We also reserve the
right to waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of
the exchange offer as to any particular old note either before
or after the expiration time, including the right to waive the
ineligibility of any tendering holder. Our interpretation of the
terms and conditions of the exchange offer as to any particular
old note either before or after the expiration time, including
the letter of transmittal and the instructions to the letter of
transmittal, shall be final and binding on all parties. Unless
waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with tenders
of old notes must be cured within a reasonable period of time.
Neither we, the exchange agent nor any other person will be
under any duty to give notification of any defect or
irregularity in any tender of old notes. Moreover, neither we,
the exchange agent nor any other person will incur any liability
for failing to give notification of any defect or irregularity.
Acceptance
of Old Notes for Exchange; Issuance of New Notes
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the exchange
offer, we will accept, promptly after the expiration time, all
old notes properly tendered. We will issue the new notes
promptly after acceptance of the old notes. For purposes of the
exchange offer, we will be deemed to have accepted properly
tendered old notes for exchange when, as and if we have given
oral or written notice to the exchange agent, with prompt
written confirmation of any oral notice.
In all cases, issuance of new notes for old notes will be made
only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of:
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certificates for the old notes, or a timely book-entry
confirmation of the old notes, into the exchange agents
account at the book-entry transfer facility;
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a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal or
an agents message; and
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all other required documents.
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Unaccepted or non-exchanged old notes will be returned without
expense to the tendering holder of the old notes. In the case of
old notes tendered by book-entry transfer in accordance with the
book-entry procedures described above, the non-exchanged old
notes will be credited to an account maintained with DTC as
promptly as practicable after the expiration or termination of
the exchange offer. For each old note accepted for exchange, the
holder of the old note will receive a new note having a
principal amount equal to that of the surrendered old note.
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Interest
Payments on the New Notes
The new notes will bear interest from the most recent date
through which interest has been paid on the old notes for which
they were exchanged. Accordingly, registered holders of new
notes on the relevant record date for the first interest payment
date following the completion of the exchange offer will receive
interest accruing from the most recent date through which
interest has been paid, including unpaid additional interest
that has accrued on the old notes. Old notes accepted for
exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date
of completion of the exchange offer. Holders of old notes whose
old notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment
for accrued interest on the old notes otherwise payable on any
interest payment date the record date for which occurs on or
after completion of the exchange offer and will be deemed to
have waived their rights to receive the accrued interest on the
old notes.
Withdrawal
Rights
Tenders of old notes may be withdrawn at any time before the
expiration time.
For a withdrawal to be effective, the exchange agent must
receive a written notice of withdrawal at the address or, in the
case of eligible institutions, at the facsimile number,
indicated under Exchange Agent before
the expiration time. Any notice of withdrawal must:
|
|
|
|
|
specify the name of the person, referred to as the depositor,
having tendered the old notes to be withdrawn;
|
|
|
|
identify the old notes to be withdrawn, including the
certificate number or numbers and principal amount of the old
notes;
|
|
|
|
contain a statement that the holder is withdrawing its election
to have the old notes exchanged;
|
|
|
|
be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original
signature on the letter of transmittal by which the old notes
were tendered, including any required signature guarantees, or
be accompanied by documents of transfer to have the trustee with
respect to the old notes register the transfer of the old notes
in the name of the person withdrawing the tender; and
|
|
|
|
specify the name in which the old notes are registered, if
different from that of the depositor.
|
If certificates for old notes have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the release of
these certificates the withdrawing holder must also submit the
serial numbers of the particular certificates to be withdrawn
and signed notice of withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an
eligible institution, unless this holder is an eligible
institution. If old notes have been tendered in accordance with
the procedure for book-entry transfer described above, any
notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the
account at the book-entry transfer facility to be credited with
the withdrawn old notes.
Any old notes properly withdrawn will be deemed not to have been
validly tendered for exchange. New notes will not be issued in
exchange unless the old notes so withdrawn are validly
re-tendered. Properly withdrawn old notes may be re-tendered by
following the procedures described under
Procedures for Tendering above at any
time at or before the expiration time.
We will determine all questions as to the validity, form and
eligibility, including time of receipt, of notices of withdrawal.
Conditions
to the Exchange Offer
Notwithstanding any other provisions of the exchange offer, or
any extension of the exchange offer, we will not be required to
accept for exchange, or to exchange, any old notes for any new
notes, and, as described below, may terminate the exchange
offer, whether or not any old notes have been accepted for
exchange, or may waive any conditions to or amend the exchange
offer, if any of the following conditions has occurred or exists:
|
|
|
|
|
there shall occur a change in the current interpretation by the
staff of the SEC, which now permits the new notes issued
pursuant to the exchange offer in exchange for old notes to be
offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by the
holders (other than broker-dealers and any holder which is an
affiliate) without
|
38
|
|
|
|
|
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such new notes
are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders
business and such holders have no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in the distribution of the new
notes;
|
|
|
|
|
|
any action or proceeding shall have been instituted or
threatened in any court or by or before any governmental agency
or body with respect to the exchange offer which, in our
judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to
proceed with the exchange offer;
|
|
|
|
any law, statute, rule or regulation shall have been adopted or
enacted which, in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to
impair our ability to proceed with the exchange offer;
|
|
|
|
a banking moratorium shall have been declared by United States
federal or New York State authorities which, in our judgment,
would reasonably be expected to impair our ability to proceed
with the exchange offer;
|
|
|
|
trading on the New York Stock Exchange or generally in the
United States over-the-counter market shall have been suspended
by order of the SEC or any other governmental authority which,
in our judgment, would reasonably be expected to impair our
ability to proceed with the exchange offer;
|
|
|
|
an attack on the United States, an outbreak or escalation of
hostilities or acts of terrorism involving the United States, or
any declaration by the United States of a national emergency or
war shall have occurred;
|
|
|
|
a stop order shall have been issued by the SEC or any state
securities authority suspending the effectiveness of the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or
proceedings shall have been initiated or, to our knowledge,
threatened for that purpose or any governmental approval has not
been obtained, which approval we shall, in our sole discretion,
deem necessary for the consummation of the exchange
offer; or
|
|
|
|
any change, or any development involving a prospective change,
in our business or financial affairs or any of our subsidiaries
has occurred which is or may be adverse to us or we shall have
become aware of facts that have or may have an adverse impact on
the value of the old notes or the new notes, which in our sole
judgment in any case makes it inadvisable to proceed with the
exchange offer
and/or with
the acceptance for exchange or with the exchange.
|
If we determine in our sole discretion that any of the foregoing
events or conditions has occurred or exists, we may, subject to
applicable law, terminate the exchange offer, whether or not any
old notes have been accepted for exchange, or may waive any such
condition or otherwise amend the terms of the exchange offer in
any respect. See Expiration, Extension and
Amendment above.
Resales
of New Notes
Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC, as described
in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that
new notes issued in the exchange offer in exchange for old notes
may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by
holders of the old notes without compliance with the
registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act, if:
|
|
|
|
|
the new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the
holders business;
|
|
|
|
the holders have no arrangement or understanding with any person
to participate in the distribution of the new notes; and
|
|
|
|
the holders are not affiliates of ours within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
|
However, the SEC has not considered the exchange offer described
in this prospectus in the context of a no-action letter. We
cannot assure you that the staff of the SEC would make a similar
determination with respect to the exchange offer as in the other
circumstances. Each holder who wishes to exchange old notes for
new notes will be required to represent that it meets the above
three requirements.
39
Any holder who is an affiliate of ours or who intends to
participate in the exchange offer for the purpose of
distributing new notes or any broker-dealer who purchased old
notes directly from us to resell pursuant to Rule 144A or
any other available exemption under the Securities Act:
|
|
|
|
|
may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of
the SEC mentioned above;
|
|
|
|
will not be permitted or entitled to tender the old notes in the
exchange offer; and
|
|
|
|
must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
transaction.
|
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
in exchange for old notes, where such securities were acquired
by such broker-dealer as a result of market making activities or
other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver
a prospectus that meets the requirements of the Securities Act
in connection with any resale of the new notes. The letter of
transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a
prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act. See Plan of Distribution.
In addition, to comply with state securities laws, the new notes
may not be offered or sold in any state unless they have been
registered or qualified for sale in such state or an exemption
from registration or qualification, with which there has been
compliance, is available. The offer and sale of the new notes to
qualified institutional buyers, as defined under
Rule 144A of the Securities Act, is generally exempt from
registration or qualification under the state securities laws.
We currently do not intend to register or qualify the sale of
new notes in any state where an exemption from registration or
qualification is required and not available.
Exchange
Agent
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. has been appointed as the exchange agent
for the exchange offer. All executed letters of transmittal and
any other required documents should be directed to the exchange
agent at the address or facsimile number set forth below.
Questions and requests for assistance, requests for additional
copies of this prospectus or of the letter of transmittal and
requests for notices of guaranteed delivery should be directed
to the exchange agent addressed as follows:
WELLS
FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
AS EXCHANGE AGENT
|
|
|
|
|
By registered mail or certified mail:
|
|
By regular mail or overnight courier:
|
|
By Hand:
|
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
|
|
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
|
MAC-N9303-121
|
|
MAC-N9303-121
|
|
Northstar East Building-12th floor
|
Corporate Trust Operations
|
|
Corporate Trust Operations
|
|
Corporate Trust Services
|
P.O. Box 1517
|
|
Sixth Street & Marquette Avenue
|
|
608 Second Avenue South
|
Minneapolis, MN
55480-1517
|
|
Minneapolis, MN 55479
|
|
Minneapolis, MN 55402
|
Facsimile
(eligible institutions only):
(612) 667-4927
Telephone Inquiries:
(800) 344-5128
Delivery of this instrument to an address other than as set
forth above, or transmission of instructions other than as set
forth above, will not constitute a valid delivery.
Regulatory
Approval
Other than the federal securities laws, there are no federal or
state regulatory requirements that we must comply with and there
are no approvals that we must obtain in connection with the
exchange offer.
40
Fees and
Expenses
We have agreed to pay the exchange agent reasonable and
customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the
exchange offer. We will also pay brokerage houses and other
custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding copies of
this prospectus and related documents to the beneficial owners
of old notes, and in handling or tendering for their customers.
We will not make any payment to brokers, dealers or others
soliciting acceptances of the exchange offer.
Holders who tender their old notes for exchange will not be
obligated to pay any transfer taxes on the exchange. If,
however, new notes are to be delivered to, or are to be issued
in the name of, any person other than the registered holder of
the old notes tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any
reason other than the exchange of old notes in connection with
the exchange offer, then the amount of any such transfer taxes
(whether imposed on the registered holder or any other persons)
will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory
evidence of payment of such taxes or exemption therefrom is not
submitted with the letter of transmittal, the amount of such
transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
Accounting
Treatment
We will record the new notes at the same carrying value as the
old notes, as reflected in our accounting records on the date of
the exchange. Accordingly, we will not recognize any gain or
loss for accounting purposes. The expenses of the exchange offer
will be amortized over the term of the new notes.
41
USE OF
PROCEEDS
We will not receive proceeds from the issuance of the new notes
offered hereby. In consideration for issuing the new notes in
exchange for old notes as described in this prospectus, we will
receive old notes of like principal amount. The old notes
surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and
canceled.
42
SELECTED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following selected consolidated financial data were derived
from our consolidated financial statements. For a more detailed
explanation of our financial condition and operating results,
you should read Managements Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and our
consolidated financial statements and related notes included
elsewhere in this prospectus. References in these tables to
Predecessor Company refer to Leap and its
subsidiaries on or prior to July 31, 2004. References to
Successor Company refer to Leap and its subsidiaries
after July 31, 2004, after giving effect to the
implementation of fresh-start reporting. The financial
statements of the Successor Company are not comparable in many
respects to the financial statements of the Predecessor Company
because of the effects of the consummation of the plan of
reorganization as well as the adjustments for fresh-start
reporting. For a description of fresh-start reporting, see
Note 3 to the consolidated financial statements included in
Part II Item 8. Financial Statements
and Supplementary Data of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31,
2006 filed with the SEC on December 26, 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven Months
|
|
|
Five Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
752,937
|
|
|
$
|
492,756
|
|
|
$
|
350,847
|
|
|
$
|
957,771
|
|
|
$
|
1,167,187
|
|
|
$
|
1,630,803
|
|
|
$
|
393,425
|
|
|
$
|
468,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(360,915
|
)
|
|
|
(34,412
|
)
|
|
|
12,729
|
|
|
|
71,002
|
|
|
|
23,725
|
|
|
|
60,262
|
|
|
|
(1,543
|
)
|
|
|
26,056
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before reorganization items, income taxes and
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(443,682
|
)
|
|
|
(38,900
|
)
|
|
|
(2,170
|
)
|
|
|
52,300
|
|
|
|
(15,703
|
)
|
|
|
(38,561
|
)
|
|
|
(21,812
|
)
|
|
|
(8,441
|
)
|
Reorganization items, net
|
|
|
(146,242
|
)
|
|
|
962,444
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(8,052
|
)
|
|
|
(4,166
|
)
|
|
|
(3,930
|
)
|
|
|
(21,615
|
)
|
|
|
(9,277
|
)
|
|
|
(37,366
|
)
|
|
|
(2,412
|
)
|
|
|
(9,703
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
|
(597,976
|
)
|
|
|
919,378
|
|
|
|
(6,100
|
)
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
|
|
(24,980
|
)
|
|
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
|
(18,144
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(597,976
|
)
|
|
$
|
919,378
|
|
|
$
|
(6,100
|
)
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
|
$
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
$
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share(1)
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(10.20
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.68
|
|
|
$
|
(0.10
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in per share calculations(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
60,135
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
66,870
|
|
|
|
67,529
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
61,003
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
66,870
|
|
|
|
67,529
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63.6
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
As of March 31,
|
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
84,070
|
|
|
$
|
141,141
|
|
|
$
|
293,073
|
|
|
$
|
372,812
|
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
|
$
|
437,184
|
|
Working capital (deficit)(3)
|
|
|
(2,255,349
|
)
|
|
|
150,868
|
|
|
|
245,366
|
|
|
|
185,191
|
|
|
|
380,384
|
|
|
|
312,397
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments(4)
|
|
|
55,954
|
|
|
|
31,427
|
|
|
|
13,759
|
|
|
|
13,581
|
|
|
|
15,550
|
|
|
|
9,997
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
1,756,843
|
|
|
|
2,213,312
|
|
|
|
2,499,946
|
|
|
|
4,084,947
|
|
|
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
4,474,344
|
|
Capital leases obligations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
61,538
|
|
|
|
56,744
|
|
Long-term debt(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
371,355
|
|
|
|
588,333
|
|
|
|
1,676,500
|
|
|
|
2,033,902
|
|
|
|
2,030,150
|
|
Total stockholders equity (deficit)
|
|
|
(893,895
|
)
|
|
|
1,472,347
|
|
|
|
1,517,601
|
|
|
|
1,771,793
|
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
1,711,893
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Refer to Notes 2 and 5 to our annual consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for an
explanation of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings
(loss) per common share. |
|
(2) |
|
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes,
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, minority
interests in consolidated subsidiaries and equity in net loss of
investee plus fixed charges and capitalized interest, net.
Fixed charges consist of interest expense, whether
expensed or capitalized, and the interest portion of rental
expense inherent in our operating leases. The portion of total
rental expense that represents the interest factor is estimated
to be 33%. Our earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 by $18,923
and $33,472, respectively, for the years ended December 31,
2007 and 2006 by $80,880 and $33,057, respectively, for the five
months ended December 31, 2004 by $2,170 and for the year
ended December 31, 2003 by $587,233. |
|
(3) |
|
We have presented the principal and interest balances related to
our outstanding debt obligations as current liabilities in the
consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 as a
result of the then existing defaults under the underlying
agreements. |
|
(4) |
|
Restricted cash consists of cash held in reserve by Leap and
funds set aside or pledged by Cricket to satisfy payments and
administrative and priority claims against us following our
emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2004, and
cash restricted for other purposes. |
44
MANAGEMENTS
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
You should read the following discussion of our financial
condition and results of operations in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and related notes included
elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
As a result of many factors, such as those set forth under the
section entitled Risk Factors and elsewhere in this
prospectus, our actual results may differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements.
Overview
We are a wireless communications carrier that offers digital
wireless service in the U.S. under the Cricket
brand. Our Cricket service offers customers unlimited wireless
service for a flat monthly rate without requiring a fixed-term
contract or a credit check. Cricket service is offered by
Cricket, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap, and is also offered
in Oregon by LCW Operations, a designated entity under FCC
regulations. Cricket owns an indirect 73.3% non-controlling
interest in LCW Operations through a 73.3% non-controlling
interest in LCW Wireless. Cricket also owns an 82.5%
non-controlling interest in Denali, which purchased a wireless
license in Auction #66 covering the upper mid-west portion
of the U.S. as a designated entity through its wholly owned
subsidiary, Denali License. We consolidate our interests in LCW
Wireless and Denali in accordance with FIN 46(R),
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, because
these entities are variable interest entities and we will absorb
a majority of their expected losses.
At March 31, 2008, Cricket service was offered in
23 states and had approximately 3.1 million customers.
As of March 31, 2008, we, LCW License (a wholly owned
subsidiary of LCW Operations), and Denali License owned wireless
licenses covering an aggregate of approximately 186 million
POPs (adjusted to eliminate duplication from overlapping
licenses). The combined network footprint in our operating
markets covered approximately 53 million POPs as of
March 31, 2008, which includes incremental POPs attributed
to ongoing footprint expansion in existing markets. The licenses
we and Denali License purchased in Auction #66, together
with the existing licenses we own, provide 20 MHz of
coverage and the opportunity to offer enhanced data services in
almost all markets in which we currently operate or are building
out, assuming Denali License were to make available to us
certain of its spectrum.
In addition to the approximately 53 million POPs we covered
as of March 31, 2008 with our combined network footprint,
we estimate that we and Denali License hold licenses in markets
that include up to approximately 85 million additional POPs
that are suitable for Cricket service. We recently launched our
first Auction #66 markets in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas and
southern Texas, and we and Denali License are currently building
out additional Auction #66 markets that we intend to launch
this year and in 2009. We also plan to continue to expand our
network coverage and capacity in many of our existing markets,
allowing us to offer our customers a larger local calling area.
As part of our overall coverage expansion plans, we expect to
increase our network coverage by approximately eight million
additional POPs between January and June 2008. Looking ahead, we
and Denali License expect to cover up to approximately
36 million additional POPs by the middle of 2009 and up to
approximately 50 million additional POPs by the end of 2010
(in each case measured on a cumulative basis beginning January
2008). We and Denali License may also develop some of the
licenses covering our additional POPs through partnerships with
others.
Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in
Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. federal
government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. Several federal government
agencies have cleared or developed plans to clear spectrum
covered by licenses we and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66 or have indicated that we and Denali License
can operate on the spectrum without interfering with the
agencies current uses. As a result, we do not expect
spectrum clearing issues to impact our near-term market
launches. In other markets, we continue to work with one federal
agency to ensure that the agency either relocates its spectrum
use to alternative frequencies or confirms that we can operate
on the spectrum without interfering with its current uses. If
our efforts with this agency are not successful, the
agencys continued use of the spectrum could delay the
launch of certain markets.
Our Cricket rate plans are based on providing unlimited wireless
services to customers, and the value of unlimited wireless
services is the foundation of our business. Our premium rate
plans offer unlimited local and U.S. long distance service
from any Cricket service area and unlimited use of multiple
calling features, messaging
45
services and mobile web access, bundled with specified roaming
minutes in the continental U.S. and directory assistance. Our
most popular plan combines unlimited local and U.S. long
distance service from any Cricket service area with unlimited
use of multiple calling features and messaging services. In
addition, we offer basic service plans that allow customers to
make unlimited calls within their Cricket service area and
receive unlimited calls from any area, combined with an
unlimited U.S. long distance service option. We have also
launched a new weekly rate plan, Cricket By Week, and a flexible
payment option, BridgePay, which give our customers greater
flexibility in the use and payment of wireless service and which
we believe will help us to improve customer retention. In
September 2007, we introduced our first unlimited mobile
broadband offering, Cricket Wireless Internet Service, into
select markets, allowing customers to access the internet
through their laptops for one low, flat rate with no long-term
commitments or credit checks. We intend to expand this product
offering into additional markets in 2008. Our per-minute prepaid
service, Jump Mobile, brings Crickets attractive value
proposition to customers who prefer to actively control their
wireless usage and to allow us to better target the urban youth
market. We expect to continue to broaden our voice and data
product and service offerings in 2008 and beyond.
We believe that our business model is scalable and can be
expanded successfully into adjacent and new markets because we
offer a differentiated service and an attractive value
proposition to our customers at costs significantly lower than
most of our competitors. We continue to seek additional
opportunities to enhance our current market clusters and expand
into new geographic markets by participating in FCC spectrum
auctions, acquiring spectrum and related assets from third
parties,
and/or
participating in new partnerships or joint ventures. We also
expect to continue to look for opportunities to optimize the
value of our spectrum portfolio. Because some of the licenses
that we and Denali License hold include large regional areas
covering both rural and metropolitan communities, we and Denali
License may sell some of this spectrum and pursue the deployment
of alternative products or services in portions of this spectrum.
Our principal sources of liquidity are our existing unrestricted
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and cash
generated from operations. From time to time, we may also
generate additional liquidity through capital markets
transactions or by selling assets that are not material to or
are not required for our ongoing business operations. See
Liquidity and Capital Resources
below.
Among the most significant factors affecting our financial
condition and performance from period to period are our new
market expansions and growth in customers, the impacts of which
are reflected in our revenues and operating expenses. Throughout
2006, 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, we and our joint
ventures continued expanding existing market footprints and
expanded into 20 new markets, increasing the number of potential
customers covered by our networks from approximately
48 million covered POPs as of December 31, 2006 to
approximately 53 million covered POPs as of
December 31, 2007 and March 31, 2008. This network
expansion, together with organic customer growth in our existing
markets, has resulted in substantial additions of new customers,
as our total end-of-period customers increased from
2.23 million customers as of December 31, 2006 to
2.86 million customers as of December 31, 2007 and to
3.09 million customers as of March 31, 2008. In
addition, our total revenues have increased from
$1.17 billion for fiscal 2006 to $1.63 billion for
fiscal 2007, and from $393.4 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2007 to $468.4 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008. During the past two years, we
also introduced several higher-priced, higher-value service
plans which have helped increase average revenue per user per
month over time, as customer acceptance of the higher-priced
plans has been favorable.
As our business activities have expanded, our operating expenses
have also grown, including increases in cost of service
reflecting: the increase in customers and the broader variety of
products and services provided to such customers; increased
depreciation expense related to our expanded networks; and
increased selling and marketing expenses and general and
administrative expenses generally attributable to expansion into
new markets, selling and marketing to a broader potential
customer base, and expenses required to support the
administration of our growing business. In particular, total
operating expenses increased from $1.17 billion for fiscal
2006, to $1.57 billion for fiscal 2007, and from
$395.9 million for the three months ended March 31,
2007 to $442.0 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2008. We also incurred substantial additional
indebtedness to finance the costs of our business expansion and
acquisitions of additional wireless licenses in 2006 and 2007.
As a result, our interest expense has increased from
$61.3 million for fiscal 2006 to $121.2 million for
fiscal 2007, and from $26.5 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 to $33.4 million for the
three months ended March 31, 2008. Also, in
46
September 2007, we changed our tax accounting method for
amortizing wireless licenses, contributing substantially to our
income tax expense of $37.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007, compared to $9.3 million for the
year ended December 31, 2006, and to our income tax
expense of $9.7 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 compared to $2.4 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2007.
Primarily as a result of the factors described above, our net
net loss of $24.4 million for fiscal 2006 increased to
$75.9 million for the year ended December 31,
2007, and our net loss of $24.2 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2007 decreased to $18.1 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2008. We believe, however,
that the significant initial costs associated with building out
and launching new markets and further expanding our business
will provide substantial future benefits as the new markets we
have launched continue to develop, our existing markets mature
and we continue to add subscribers.
We expect that we will continue to build out and launch new
markets and pursue other strategic expansion activities for the
next several years. We intend to be disciplined as we pursue
these expansion efforts and to remain focused on our position as
a low-cost leader in wireless telecommunications. We expect to
achieve increased revenues and incur higher operating expenses
as our existing business grows and as we build out and after we
launch service in new markets. Large-scale construction projects
for the build-out of our new markets will require significant
capital expenditures and may suffer cost overruns. Any such
significant capital expenditures or increased operating expenses
would decrease earnings, OIBDA, and free cash flow for the
periods in which we incur such costs. However, we are willing to
incur such expenditures because we expect our expansion
activities will be beneficial to our business and create
additional value for our stockholders.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our discussion and analysis of our results of operations and
liquidity and capital resources are based on our consolidated
financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America, or GAAP. These principles require us to make estimates
and judgments that affect our reported amounts of assets and
liabilities, our disclosure of contingent assets and
liabilities, and our reported amounts of revenues and expenses.
On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and judgments,
including those related to revenue recognition and the valuation
of deferred tax assets, long-lived assets and indefinite-lived
intangible assets. We base our estimates on historical and
anticipated results and trends and on various other assumptions
that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances,
including assumptions as to future events. These estimates form
the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. By their nature, estimates are subject to an inherent
degree of uncertainty. Actual results may differ from our
estimates.
We believe that the following critical accounting policies and
estimates involve a higher degree of judgment or complexity than
others used in the preparation of our consolidated financial
statements.
Principles
of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
Leap and its wholly owned subsidiaries as well as the accounts
of LCW Wireless and Denali and their wholly owned subsidiaries.
We consolidate our interests in LCW Wireless and Denali in
accordance with FIN 46(R), Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities, because these entities are variable
interest entities and we will absorb a majority of their
expected losses. Prior to March 2007, we consolidated our
interests in Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC, or ANB 1, and
its wholly owned subsidiary Alaska Native Broadband 1 License,
LLC, or ANB 1 License, in accordance with FIN 46(R).
We acquired the remaining interests in ANB 1 in March 2007
and merged ANB 1 and ANB 1 License into Cricket in
December 2007. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial
statements.
Revenues
Crickets business revenues principally arise from the sale
of wireless services, handsets and accessories. Wireless
services are generally provided on a month-to-month basis. New
and reactivating customers are required to pay for their service
in advance, and generally, customers who activated their service
prior to May 2006 pay in
47
arrears. We do not require any of our customers to sign
fixed-term service commitments or submit to a credit check.
These terms generally appeal to less affluent customers who are
considered more likely to terminate service for inability to pay
than wireless customers in general. Consequently, we have
concluded that collectibility of our revenues is not reasonably
assured until payment has been received. Accordingly, service
revenues are recognized only after services have been rendered
and payment has been received.
When we activate a new customer, we frequently sell that
customer a handset and the first month of service in a bundled
transaction. Under the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force,
or EITF, Issue
No. 00-21,
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables, the
sale of a handset along with a month of wireless service
constitutes a multiple element arrangement. Under EITF Issue
No. 00-21,
once a company has determined the fair value of the elements in
the sales transaction, the total consideration received from the
customer must be allocated among those elements on a relative
fair value basis. Applying EITF Issue
No. 00-21
to these transactions results in our recognition of the total
consideration received, less one month of wireless service
revenue (at the customers stated rate plan), as equipment
revenue.
Equipment revenues and related costs from the sale of handsets
are recognized when service is activated by customers. Revenues
and related costs from the sale of accessories are recognized at
the point of sale. The costs of handsets and accessories sold
are recorded in cost of equipment. In addition to handsets that
we sell directly to our customers at Cricket-owned stores, we
also sell handsets to third-party dealers. These dealers then
sell the handsets to the ultimate Cricket customer, and that
customer also receives the first month of service in a bundled
transaction (identical to the sale made at a Cricket-owned
store). Sales of handsets to third-party dealers are recognized
as equipment revenues only when service is activated by
customers, since the level of price reductions ultimately
available to such dealers is not reliably estimable until the
handsets are sold by such dealers to customers. Thus, handsets
sold to third-party dealers are recorded as consigned inventory
and deferred equipment revenue until they are sold to, and
service is activated by, customers.
Through a third-party provider, our customers may elect to
participate in an extended handset warranty/insurance program.
We recognize revenue on replacement handsets sold to our
customers under the program when the customer purchases a
replacement handset.
Sales incentives offered without charge to customers and
volume-based incentives paid to our third-party dealers are
recognized as a reduction of revenue and as a liability when the
related service or equipment revenue is recognized. Customers
have limited rights to return handsets and accessories based on
time and/or
usage; as a result, customer returns of handsets and accessories
have historically been negligible.
Amounts billed by us in advance of customers wireless
service periods are not reflected in accounts receivable or
deferred revenue as collectibility of such amounts is not
reasonably assured. Deferred revenue consists primarily of cash
received from customers in advance of their service period and
deferred equipment revenue related to handsets and accessories
sold to third-party dealers.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation of property and equipment is applied using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of our
assets once the assets are placed in service. The following
table summarizes the depreciable lives (in years):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciable
|
|
|
|
Life
|
|
|
Network equipment:
|
|
|
|
|
Switches
|
|
|
10
|
|
Switch power equipment
|
|
|
15
|
|
Cell site equipment, and site acquisitions and improvements
|
|
|
7
|
|
Towers
|
|
|
15
|
|
Antennae
|
|
|
5
|
|
Computer hardware and software
|
|
|
3-5
|
|
Furniture, fixtures, retail and office equipment
|
|
|
3-7
|
|
48
Amortization of intangible assets is applied using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of four
years for customer relationships and fourteen years for
trademarks.
Short-Term
Investments
Short-term investments generally consist of highly liquid,
fixed-income investments with an original maturity at the time
of purchase of greater than three months. Such investments
consist of commercial paper, asset-backed commercial paper,
auction rate securities, obligations of the
U.S. government, and investment grade fixed-income
securities guaranteed by U.S. government agencies.
Investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at
fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on
available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of
comprehensive income (loss). The specific identification method
is used to compute the realized gains and losses on investments.
Investments are periodically reviewed for impairment. If the
carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the
decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an
impairment loss is recognized for the difference.
Wireless
Licenses
We and LCW Wireless operate broadband PCS networks under
wireless licenses granted by the FCC that are specific to a
particular geographic area on spectrum that has been allocated
by the FCC for such services. In addition, through our and
Denali Licenses participation in Auction #66 in
December 2006, we and Denali License acquired a number of AWS
licenses that can be used to provide services comparable to the
PCS services we currently provide, in addition to other advanced
wireless services. We launched services in our first AWS market
in April 2008. Wireless licenses are initially recorded at
cost and are not amortized. Although FCC licenses are issued
with a stated term, ten years in the case of PCS licenses and
fifteen years in the case of AWS licenses, wireless licenses are
considered to be indefinite-lived intangible assets because we
and LCW Wireless expect to continue to provide wireless service
using the relevant licenses for the foreseeable future, PCS and
AWS licenses are routinely renewed for a nominal fee, and
management has determined that no legal, regulatory,
contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors currently
exist that limit the useful life of our and our consolidated
joint ventures PCS and AWS licenses. On a quarterly basis,
we evaluate the remaining useful life of our indefinite lived
wireless licenses to determine whether events and circumstances,
such as any legal, regulatory, contractual, competitive,
economic or other factors, continue to support an indefinite
useful life. If a wireless license is subsequently determined to
have a finite useful life, we test the wireless license for
impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards, or SFAS, No. 142, Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets, or SFAS 142. The wireless license
would then be amortized prospectively over its estimated
remaining useful life. In addition to our quarterly evaluation
of the indefinite useful lives of our wireless licenses, we also
test our wireless licenses for impairment in accordance with
SFAS 142 on an annual basis. Wireless licenses to be
disposed of by sale are carried at the lower of carrying value
or fair value less costs to sell. The spectrum that we and
Denali License purchased in Auction #66 currently is used
by U.S. federal government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. The spectrum clearing costs we and Denali
License incur are capitalized to wireless licenses.
Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of reorganization value over the
fair value of identified tangible and intangible assets recorded
in connection with fresh-start reporting as of July 31,
2004. Other intangible assets were recorded upon adoption of
fresh-start reporting and consist of customer relationships and
trademarks which are being amortized on a straight-line basis
over their estimated useful lives of four and fourteen years,
respectively.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
We assess potential impairments to our long-lived assets,
including property and equipment and certain intangible assets,
when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. An
impairment loss may be required to be recognized when the
undiscounted cash flows
49
expected to be generated by a long-lived asset (or group of such
assets) is less than its carrying value. Any required impairment
loss would be measured as the amount by which the assets
carrying value exceeds its fair value and would be recorded as a
reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged
to results of operations.
Impairment
of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
We assess potential impairments to our indefinite-lived
intangible assets, including wireless licenses and goodwill, on
an annual basis or when there is evidence that events or changes
in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may
exist. The annual impairment test is conducted during the third
quarter of each year.
The wireless licenses in our operating markets are combined into
a single unit of accounting for purposes of testing impairment
because management believes that utilizing these wireless
licenses as a group represents the highest and best use of the
assets, and the value of the wireless licenses would not be
significantly impacted by a sale of one or a portion of the
wireless licenses, among other factors. Our non-operating
licenses are tested for impairment on an individual basis. An
impairment loss is recognized when the fair value of a wireless
license is less than its carrying value and is measured as the
amount by which the licenses carrying value exceeds its
fair value. Estimates of the fair value of our wireless licenses
are based primarily on available market prices, including
successful bid prices in FCC auctions and selling prices
observed in wireless license transactions, pricing trends among
historical wireless license transactions and qualitative
demographic and economic information concerning the areas that
comprise our markets. Any required impairment losses are
recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the wireless
license and charged to results of operations.
The goodwill impairment test involves a two-step process. First,
the book value of our net assets, which are combined into a
single reporting unit for purposes of the impairment test of
goodwill, is compared to the fair value of our net assets. If
the fair value was determined to be less than book value, a
second step would be performed to measure the amount of the
impairment, if any.
The accounting estimates for our wireless licenses and goodwill
require management to make significant assumptions about fair
value. Managements assumptions regarding fair value
require significant judgment about economic factors, industry
factors and technology considerations, as well as its views
regarding our business prospects. Changes in these judgments may
have a significant effect on the estimated fair values.
Share-Based
Compensation
We account for share-based awards exchanged for employee
services in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R),
Share-Based Payment, or SFAS 123(R). Under
SFAS 123(R), share-based compensation expense is measured
at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the
award, and is recognized as expense over the employees
requisite service period. Prior to adopting SFAS 123(R), we
recognized compensation expense for employee share-based awards
based on their intrinsic value on the grant date pursuant to
Accounting Principles Board Opinion, or APB, No. 25
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and
provided the required pro forma disclosures of
SFAS No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based
Compensation, or SFAS 123.
We adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective
approach under SFAS 123(R) and, as a result, have not
retroactively adjusted results from prior periods. The valuation
provisions of SFAS 123(R) apply to awards that have been
granted on or subsequent to January 1, 2006 or that were
outstanding on that date and subsequently modified or cancelled.
Compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, for awards
outstanding at the effective date is recognized over the
remaining service period using the compensation cost calculated
for pro forma disclosure purposes in prior periods.
Compensation expense is amortized on a straight-line basis over
the requisite service period for the entire award, which is
generally the maximum vesting period of the award. No
share-based compensation was capitalized as part of inventory or
fixed assets prior to or during 2007.
The determination of the fair value of stock options using an
option valuation model is affected by our stock price, as well
as assumptions regarding a number of complex and subjective
variables. The methods used to determine these variables are
generally similar to the methods used prior to fiscal 2006 for
purposes of our pro forma information under SFAS 123. The
volatility assumption is based on a combination of the
historical volatility of our
50
common stock and the volatilities of similar companies over a
period of time equal to the expected term of the stock options.
The volatilities of similar companies are used in conjunction
with our historical volatility because of the lack of sufficient
relevant history for our common stock equal to the expected
term. The expected term of employee stock options represents the
weighted-average period the stock options are expected to remain
outstanding. The expected term assumption is estimated based
primarily on the options vesting terms and remaining
contractual life and employees expected exercise and
post-vesting employment termination behavior. The risk-free
interest rate assumption is based upon observed interest rates
during the period appropriate for the expected term of the
employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based
on the expectation of no future dividend payouts by us.
As share-based compensation expense under SFAS 123(R) is
based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced for
estimated forfeitures. SFAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to
be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in
subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those
estimates.
At December 31, 2007, total unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested stock options was $45.5 million, which
is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of
2.7 years. At December 31, 2007, total unrecognized
compensation cost related to unvested restricted stock awards
was $33.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over
a weighted-average period of 2.3 years.
Income
Taxes
We calculate income taxes in each of the jurisdictions in which
we operate. This process involves calculating the actual current
tax expense and any deferred income tax expense resulting from
temporary differences arising from differing treatments of items
for tax and accounting purposes. These temporary differences
result in deferred tax assets and liabilities. Deferred tax
assets are also established for the expected future tax benefits
to be derived from net operating loss carryforwards, capital
loss carryforwards, and income tax credits.
We must then periodically assess the likelihood that our
deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable
income, which assessment requires significant judgment. To the
extent we believe it is more likely than not that our deferred
tax assets will not be recovered, we must establish a valuation
allowance. As part of this periodic assessment for the year
ended December 31, 2007 and the three months ended
March 31, 2008, we weighed the positive and negative
factors with respect to this determination and, at this time,
except with respect to the realization of a $2.5 million
Texas Margins Tax, or TMT, credit, do not believe there is
sufficient positive evidence and sustained operating earnings to
support a conclusion that it is more likely than not that all or
a portion of our deferred tax assets will be realized. We will
continue to closely monitor the positive and negative factors to
determine whether our valuation allowance should be released.
Deferred tax liabilities associated with wireless licenses, tax
goodwill and investments in certain joint ventures cannot be
considered a source of taxable income to support the realization
of deferred tax assets because these deferred tax liabilities
will not reverse until some indefinite future period. At such
time as we determine that it is more likely than not that all or
a portion of the deferred tax assets are realizable, the
valuation allowance will be reduced. Pursuant to American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants Statement of
Position
No. 90-7,
Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under
the Bankruptcy Code, or
SOP 90-7,
up to $218.5 million in future decreases in the valuation
allowance established in fresh-start reporting will be accounted
for as a reduction of goodwill rather than as a reduction of
income tax expense if the valuation allowance decrease occurs
prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 141 (revised
2007), Business Combinations, or SFAS 141(R).
Effective January 1, 2009, SFAS 141(R) provides that
any reduction to the valuation allowance established in
fresh-start reporting be accounted for as a reduction to income
tax expense.
Subscriber
Recognition and Disconnect Policies
We recognize a new customer as a gross addition in the month
that he or she activates service. The customer must pay his or
her monthly service amount by the payment due date or his or her
service will be suspended after a grace period of up to three
days. When service is suspended, the customer will not be able
to make or receive calls. Any call attempted by a suspended
customer is routed directly to our customer service center in
order to arrange payment. In order to re-establish service, a
customer must make all past-due payments and pay a $15
reactivation
51
charge, in addition to the amount past due, to re-establish
service. If a new customer does not pay all amounts due on his
or her first bill within 30 days of the due date, the
account is disconnected and deducted from gross customer
additions during the month in which the customers service
was discontinued. If a customer has made payment on his or her
first bill and in a subsequent month does not pay all amounts
due within 30 days of the due date, the account is
disconnected and counted as churn.
Customer turnover, frequently referred to as churn, is an
important business metric in the telecommunications industry
because it can have significant financial effects. Because we do
not require customers to sign fixed-term contracts or pass a
credit check, our service is available to a broader customer
base than many other wireless providers and, as a result, some
of our customers may be more likely to have their service
terminated due to an inability to pay than the average industry
customer.
Results
of Operations
Operating
Items
The following tables summarize operating data for our
consolidated operations (in thousands, except percentages):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
% of 2008
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
% of 2007
|
|
|
Change from
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
Prior Year
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2008
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
March 31, 2007
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
398,929
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
321,691
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
77,238
|
|
|
|
24.0
|
%
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
69,455
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,734
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,279
|
)
|
|
|
(3.2
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
468,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
393,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
74,959
|
|
|
|
19.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
|
111,170
|
|
|
|
27.9
|
%
|
|
|
90,440
|
|
|
|
28.1
|
%
|
|
|
20,730
|
|
|
|
22.9
|
%
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
114,221
|
|
|
|
28.6
|
%
|
|
|
122,665
|
|
|
|
38.1
|
%
|
|
|
(8,444
|
)
|
|
|
(6.9
|
)%
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
58,100
|
|
|
|
14.6
|
%
|
|
|
48,769
|
|
|
|
15.2
|
%
|
|
|
9,331
|
|
|
|
19.1
|
%
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
75,907
|
|
|
|
19.0
|
%
|
|
|
65,234
|
|
|
|
20.3
|
%
|
|
|
10,673
|
|
|
|
16.4
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
82,639
|
|
|
|
20.7
|
%
|
|
|
68,800
|
|
|
|
21.4
|
%
|
|
|
13,839
|
|
|
|
20.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
442,037
|
|
|
|
110.8
|
%
|
|
|
395,908
|
|
|
|
123.1
|
%
|
|
|
46,129
|
|
|
|
11.7
|
%
|
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
(291
|
)
|
|
|
(0.1
|
)%
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
0.3
|
%
|
|
|
(1,231
|
)
|
|
|
(131.0
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
$
|
26,056
|
|
|
|
6.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
(1,543
|
)
|
|
|
(0.5
|
)%
|
|
$
|
27,599
|
|
|
|
1,788.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
% of 2007
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
% of 2006
|
|
|
Change from
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
Prior Year
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
1,395,667
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
956,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
439,302
|
|
|
|
45.9
|
%
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
235,136
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
210,822
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24,314
|
|
|
|
11.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
1,630,803
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,167,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
463,616
|
|
|
|
39.7
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
384,128
|
|
|
|
27.5
|
%
|
|
|
264,162
|
|
|
|
27.6
|
%
|
|
|
119,966
|
|
|
|
45.4
|
%
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
405,997
|
|
|
|
29.1
|
%
|
|
|
310,834
|
|
|
|
32.5
|
%
|
|
|
95,163
|
|
|
|
30.6
|
%
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
206,213
|
|
|
|
14.8
|
%
|
|
|
159,257
|
|
|
|
16.7
|
%
|
|
|
46,956
|
|
|
|
29.5
|
%
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
271,536
|
|
|
|
19.5
|
%
|
|
|
196,604
|
|
|
|
20.6
|
%
|
|
|
74,932
|
|
|
|
38.1
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
302,201
|
|
|
|
21.7
|
%
|
|
|
226,747
|
|
|
|
23.7
|
%
|
|
|
75,454
|
|
|
|
33.3
|
%
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
1,368
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
7,912
|
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
|
|
(6,544
|
)
|
|
|
(82.7
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
1,571,443
|
|
|
|
112.6
|
%
|
|
|
1,165,516
|
|
|
|
121.9
|
%
|
|
|
405,927
|
|
|
|
34.8
|
%
|
Gain on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
902
|
|
|
|
0.1
|
%
|
|
|
22,054
|
|
|
|
2.3
|
%
|
|
|
(21,152
|
)
|
|
|
(95.9
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
$
|
60,262
|
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
$
|
23,725
|
|
|
|
2.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
36,537
|
|
|
|
154.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
% of 2006
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
% of 2005
|
|
|
Change from
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
Service
|
|
|
Prior Year
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
Dollars
|
|
|
Percent
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
956,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
768,916
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
187,449
|
|
|
|
24.4
|
%
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
210,822
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
188,855
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,967
|
|
|
|
11.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
1,167,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
957,771
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
209,416
|
|
|
|
21.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
264,162
|
|
|
|
27.6
|
%
|
|
|
203,548
|
|
|
|
26.5
|
%
|
|
|
60,614
|
|
|
|
29.8
|
%
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
310,834
|
|
|
|
32.5
|
%
|
|
|
230,520
|
|
|
|
30.0
|
%
|
|
|
80,314
|
|
|
|
34.8
|
%
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
159,257
|
|
|
|
16.7
|
%
|
|
|
100,042
|
|
|
|
13.0
|
%
|
|
|
59,215
|
|
|
|
59.2
|
%
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
196,604
|
|
|
|
20.6
|
%
|
|
|
159,741
|
|
|
|
20.8
|
%
|
|
|
36,863
|
|
|
|
23.1
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
226,747
|
|
|
|
23.7
|
%
|
|
|
195,462
|
|
|
|
25.4
|
%
|
|
|
31,285
|
|
|
|
16.0
|
%
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
7,912
|
|
|
|
0.8
|
%
|
|
|
12,043
|
|
|
|
1.6
|
%
|
|
|
(4,131
|
)
|
|
|
(34.3
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
1,165,516
|
|
|
|
121.9
|
%
|
|
|
901,356
|
|
|
|
117.2
|
%
|
|
|
264,160
|
|
|
|
29.3
|
%
|
Gains on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
22,054
|
|
|
|
2.3
|
%
|
|
|
14,587
|
|
|
|
1.9
|
%
|
|
|
7,467
|
|
|
|
51.2
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
$
|
23,725
|
|
|
|
2.5
|
%
|
|
$
|
71,002
|
|
|
|
9.2
|
%
|
|
$
|
(47,277
|
)
|
|
|
(66.6
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes customer activity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2008
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
550,520
|
|
|
|
1,974,504
|
|
|
|
1,455,810
|
|
|
|
872,271
|
|
Net customer additions
|
|
|
230,062
|
|
|
|
633,693
|
|
|
|
592,237
|
|
|
|
117,376
|
|
Weighted-average number of customers
|
|
|
2,956,477
|
|
|
|
2,589,312
|
|
|
|
1,861,477
|
|
|
|
1,610,170
|
|
Total customers, end of period
|
|
|
3,093,581
|
|
|
|
2,863,519
|
|
|
|
2,229,826
|
|
|
|
1,668,293
|
|
53
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007
Service
Revenues
Service revenues increased $77.2 million, or 24.0%, for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. This increase resulted
from a 23.5% increase in average total customers due to new
market launches and existing market customer growth and a 0.4%
increase in average monthly revenues per customer. The increase
in average monthly revenues per customer was due primarily to
the continued increase in customer usage of our value-added
services.
Equipment
Revenues
Equipment revenues decreased $2.3 million, or 3.2%, for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. An increase of 1.8% in
handset sales volume was offset by a reduction in the average
revenue per handset sold primarily due to the volume of sales of
our new low-cost handset that was launched beginning in February
2008.
Cost of
Service
Cost of service increased $20.7 million, or 22.9%, for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. As a percentage of
service revenues, cost of service decreased to 27.9% from 28.1%
in the prior year period. Network infrastructure costs declined
by 0.4% of service revenues primarily due to benefits of scale.
This decrease was offset by a 0.1% increase in variable product
costs as a percentage of service revenues due to increased
customer usage of our value-added services.
Cost of
Equipment
Cost of equipment decreased $8.4 million, or 6.9%, for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. An increase of 1.8% in
handset sales volume was offset by a reduction in the average
cost per handset sold primarily due to the volume of sales of
our new low-cost handset that was launched beginning in February
2008.
Selling
and Marketing Expenses
Selling and marketing expenses increased $9.3 million, or
19.1%, for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared
to the corresponding period of the prior year. As a percentage
of service revenues, such expenses decreased to 14.6% from 15.2%
in the prior year period. This percentage decrease was largely
attributed to a 0.5% decrease in media and advertising costs as
a percentage of service revenues reflecting a greater number of
new market launches in the prior year period and the advertising
costs associated with those launches. In addition, there was a
0.2% net decrease in store and staffing costs as a percentage of
service revenues due to the increase in service revenues and
consequent benefits of scale.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased
$10.7 million, or 16.4%, for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period of the
prior year. As a percentage of service revenues, such expenses
decreased to 19.0% from 20.3% in the prior year period due to
the increase in service revenues and consequent benefits of
scale.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased
$13.8 million, or 20.1%, for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period of the
prior year. The increase in the dollar amount of depreciation
and amortization expense was due primarily to the build-out and
launch of our new markets throughout 2007 and the improvement
and expansion of our existing markets. Such expenses decreased
slightly as a percentage of service revenues compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year.
54
Year
Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended
December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended December 31,
2005
Service
Revenues
Service revenues increased $439.3 million, or 45.9%, for
the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. This increase resulted
from a 39.1% increase in average total customers due to new
market launches and existing market customer growth and a 4.9%
increase in average monthly revenues per customer. The increase
in average monthly revenues per customer was due primarily to
the continued increase in customer adoption of our higher-end
service plans and value added services.
Service revenues increased $187.4 million, or 24.4%, for
the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. This increase resulted
from the 15.6% increase in average total customers and a 7.6%
increase in average revenues per customer. The increase in
average revenues per customer was due primarily to the continued
increase in customer adoption of our higher-end service plans
and value-added services.
Equipment
Revenues
Equipment revenues increased $24.3 million, or 11.5%, for
the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. An increase of 36.4% in
handset sales volume was largely offset by increases in
promotional incentives for customers and an increased shift in
handset sales to our exclusive indirect distribution channel, to
which handsets are sold at lower prices.
Equipment revenues increased $22.0 million, or 11.6%, for
the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. An increase of 58.5% in
handset sales volume was largely offset by lower net revenues
per handset sold as a result of bundling the first month of
service with the initial handset price, eliminating activation
fees for new customers purchasing equipment and a larger
proportion of total handset sales being activated through our
indirect channel partners.
Cost of
Service
Cost of service increased $120.0 million, or 45.4%, for the
year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the corresponding
period of the prior year. As a percentage of service revenues,
cost of service decreased to 27.5% from 27.6% in the prior year
period. Variable product costs increased by 1.9% as a percentage
of service revenues due to increased customer usage of our
value-added services. This increase was offset by a 0.9%
decrease in network infrastructure costs as a percentage of
service revenues and a 1.0% decrease in labor and related costs
as a percentage of service revenues due to the increase in
service revenues and consequent benefits of scale.
Cost of service increased $60.6 million, or 29.8%, for the
year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the corresponding
period of the prior year. As a percentage of service revenues,
cost of service increased to 27.6% from 26.5% in the prior year
period. Variable product costs increased by 0.6% of service
revenues due to increased customer usage of our value-added
services. In addition, labor and related costs increased by 0.4%
of service revenues due to new market launches during 2006. The
increased fixed network infrastructure costs associated with the
new market launches offset the benefits of scale we would
generally expect to experience with increasing customers and
service revenues.
Cost of
Equipment
Cost of equipment increased $95.2 million, or 30.6%, for
the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. This increase was
primarily attributable to a 36.4% increase in handset sales
volume.
Cost of equipment increased $80.3 million, or 34.8%, for
the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. This increase was
primarily attributable to the 58.5% increase in handset sales
volume, partially offset by reductions in costs to support our
handset replacement programs for existing customers.
55
Selling
and Marketing Expenses
Selling and marketing expenses increased $47.0 million, or
29.5%, for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. As a percentage of
service revenues, such expenses decreased to 14.8% from 16.7% in
the prior year period. This decrease was primarily attributable
to a 0.7% decrease in store and staffing and related costs as a
percentage of services revenues due to the increase in service
revenues and consequent benefits of scale and a 1.2% decrease in
media and advertising costs as a percentage of service revenues
reflecting large new market launches in the prior year and
consequent benefits of scale.
Selling and marketing expenses increased $59.2 million, or
59.2%, for the year ended December 31, 2006 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. As a percentage of
service revenues, such expenses increased to 16.7% from 13.0% in
the prior year period. This increase was primarily due to
increased media and advertising costs and labor and related
costs of 2.4% and 0.9% of service revenues, respectively, which
were primarily attributable to our new market launches.
General
and Administrative Expenses
General and administrative expenses increased
$74.9 million, or 38.1%, for the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. As a percentage of service revenues, such
expenses decreased to 19.5% from 20.6% in the prior year period.
Customer care expenses decreased by 0.5% as a percentage of
service revenues and employee related costs decreased by 0.8% as
a percentage of service revenues both due to the increase in
service revenues and consequent benefits of scale. These
decreases were partially offset by a 0.4% increase in
professional services fees and other expenses as a percentage of
service revenues due to costs incurred in connection with the
unsolicited merger proposal received from MetroPCS during 2007
and other strategic merger and acquisition activities. During
the three months ended December 31, 2007, we amended the
contract for our primary customer billing and activation system.
The amended contract has been accounted for as a capital lease
and, accordingly, amounts related to the leased elements were
classified as amortization expense and interest expense, rather
than as a general and administrative expense under the previous
contract. These amounts approximated $4 million during the
fourth quarter of 2007 and will approximate $14 million per
year from 2008 to 2010.
General and administrative expenses increased
$36.9 million, or 23.1%, for the year ended
December 31, 2006 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. As a percentage of service revenues, such
expenses decreased to 20.6% from 20.8% in the prior year period.
Customer care expenses decreased by 1.7% as a percentage of
service revenues due to decreases in call center and other
customer care-related program costs. Professional services fees
and other expenses decreased by 0.5% as a percentage of service
revenues in the aggregate due to the increase in service
revenues and consequent benefits in scale. Partially offsetting
these decreases were increases in labor and related costs of
1.6% as a percentage of service revenues due primarily to new
employee additions necessary to support our growth and the
increase in share-based compensation expense of 0.4% as a
percentage of service revenues due partially to our adoption of
SFAS 123(R) in 2006.
Depreciation
and Amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense increased
$75.5 million, or 33.3%, for the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. The increase in the dollar amount of
depreciation and amortization expense was due primarily to the
build-out and launch of our new markets and the improvement and
expansion of our existing markets. Such expenses decreased as a
percentage of service revenues compared to the corresponding
period of the prior year.
Depreciation and amortization expense increased
$31.3 million, or 16.0%, for the year ended
December 31, 2006 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. The increase in depreciation and amortization
expense was due primarily to the build-out of our new markets
and the upgrade of network assets in our other markets. Such
expenses decreased as a percentage of service revenues compared
to the corresponding period of the prior year.
56
Impairment
Charges
As a result of our annual impairment tests of wireless licenses,
we recorded impairment charges of $1.0 million,
$4.7 million and $0.7 million during the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, to reduce
the carrying values of certain non-operating wireless licenses
to their estimated fair values. In addition, we recorded an
impairment charge of $3.2 million during the year ended
December 31, 2006 in connection with an agreement to sell
certain non-operating wireless licenses. We adjusted the
carrying values of those licenses to their estimated fair
values, which were based on the agreed upon sales prices.
Gains on
Sale or Disposal of Assets
During the year ended December 31, 2007, we completed the
sale of three wireless licenses that we were not using to offer
commercial service for an aggregate purchase price of
$9.5 million, resulting in a net gain of $1.3 million.
During the year ended December 31, 2006, we completed the
sale of our wireless licenses and operating assets in the Toledo
and Sandusky, Ohio markets to Cleveland Unlimited, Inc., or CUI,
in exchange for $28.0 million and CUIs equity
interest in LCW Wireless, resulting in a gain of
$21.6 million.
Non-Operating
Items
The following tables summarize non-operating data for our
consolidated operations (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
$
|
(823
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,579
|
|
|
$
|
(2,402
|
)
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
Interest income
|
|
|
4,781
|
|
|
|
5,285
|
|
|
|
(504
|
)
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(33,357
|
)
|
|
|
(26,496
|
)
|
|
|
(6,861
|
)
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(4,036
|
)
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
(3,399
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(9,703
|
)
|
|
|
(2,412
|
)
|
|
|
(7,291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
Change
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
$
|
1,817
|
|
|
$
|
1,493
|
|
|
$
|
324
|
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
Interest income
|
|
|
28,939
|
|
|
|
23,063
|
|
|
|
5,876
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(121,231
|
)
|
|
|
(61,334
|
)
|
|
|
(59,897
|
)
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(6,039
|
)
|
|
|
(2,650
|
)
|
|
|
(3,389
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(37,366
|
)
|
|
|
(9,277
|
)
|
|
|
(28,089
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Change
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
$
|
1,493
|
|
|
$
|
(31
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,524
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
23,063
|
|
|
|
9,957
|
|
|
|
13,106
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(61,334
|
)
|
|
|
(30,051
|
)
|
|
|
(31,283
|
)
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
(2,650
|
)
|
|
|
1,423
|
|
|
|
(4,073
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(9,277
|
)
|
|
|
(21,615
|
)
|
|
|
12,338
|
|
57
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2008 Compared to Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007
Minority
Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries primarily
reflects the share of net earnings or losses allocated to the
other members of certain consolidated entities, as well as
accretion expense associated with certain members put
options.
Equity in
Net Loss of Investee
Equity in net loss of investee reflects our share of losses in a
regional wireless service provider, in which we previously made
investments.
Interest
Income
Interest income decreased $0.5 million for the three months
ended March 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding period
of the prior year. This decrease was primarily attributed to a
change in our investment policy, and therefore a change in the
mix of our investment portfolio, and a decline in interest rates
compared to the corresponding period of the prior year.
Currently, a large percentage of our portfolio consists of
lower-yielding fixed income securities that are guaranteed by
U.S. government agencies whereas a large percentage of our
portfolio previously consisted of higher-yielding corporate
securities.
Interest
Expense
Interest expense increased $6.9 million for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the corresponding
period of the prior year. The increase in interest expense
resulted primarily from our issuance of $350 million of
unsecured senior notes in June 2007. We capitalized
$13.0 million of interest during the three months ended
March 31, 2008 compared to $10.7 million during the
corresponding period of the prior year. We capitalize interest
costs associated with our wireless licenses and property and
equipment during the build-out of new markets. The amount of
such capitalized interest depends on the carrying values of the
licenses and property and equipment involved in those markets
and the duration of the build-out. We expect capitalized
interest to continue to be significant during the build-out of
our planned new markets during the remainder of 2008 and beyond.
See Liquidity and Capital Resources
below.
Other
Expense, Net
Other expense, net of other income, increased $3.4 million
for the three months ended March 31, 2008 compared to the
corresponding period of the prior year. During the first quarter
of 2008, we recorded a $4.3 million impairment charge to
reduce the carrying value of certain investments in asset-backed
commercial paper.
Income
Tax Expense
The annual effective tax rate computation includes a forecast of
our estimated ordinary income (loss), which is our
annual income (loss) from continuing operations before tax,
excluding unusual or infrequently occurring (or discrete) items.
Significant management judgment is required in projecting our
ordinary income (loss) and our current projection for 2008 is
close to break-even. Our projected ordinary income tax expense
for the full year 2008, which excludes the effect of unusual or
infrequently occurring (or discrete) items, consists primarily
of the deferred tax effect of the amortization of wireless
licenses and tax goodwill for income tax purposes. Because our
projected 2008 income tax expense is a relatively fixed amount,
a small change in the ordinary income (loss) projection can
produce a significant variance in the effective tax rate and
therefore it is difficult to make a reliable estimate of the
annual effective tax rate. As a result, and in accordance with
paragraph 82 of FIN 18, Accounting for Income
Taxes in Interim Periods an interpretation of APB
Opinion No. 28, we have calculated our provision for
income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and
2007 based on the actual effective tax rate by applying the
actual effective tax rate to the year-to-date income.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we recorded
income tax expense of $9.7 million compared to income tax
expense of $2.4 million for the three months ended
March 31, 2007. The increase in income tax expense
58
related primarily to our change in August 2007 in our tax
accounting method for amortizing wireless licenses. The new
method generally allows us to accelerate our tax amortization of
wireless licenses. At the same time, the new method increases
our income tax expense as a result of the deferred tax effect of
accelerating wireless license amortization.
We expect that we will recognize income tax expense for the full
year 2008 despite the fact that we have recorded a full
valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets. This is because
of the deferred tax effect of the amortization of wireless
licenses and tax basis goodwill for income tax purposes. We do
not expect to release any fresh-start related valuation
allowance from 2008 ordinary income.
We record deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from
differing treatments of items for tax and accounting purposes.
Deferred tax assets are also established for the expected future
tax benefits to be derived from net operating loss
carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards and income tax
credits. We then periodically assess the likelihood that our
deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable
income. This assessment requires significant judgment. To the
extent we believe it is more likely than not that our deferred
tax assets will not be recovered, we must establish a valuation
allowance. As part of this periodic assessment, we have weighed
the positive and negative factors with respect to this
determination and, at this time, except with respect to the
realization of a $2.5 million Texas Margins Tax credit, we
do not believe there is sufficient positive evidence and
sustained operating earnings to support a conclusion that it is
more likely than not that all or a portion of our deferred tax
assets will be realized. We will continue to closely monitor the
positive and negative factors to determine whether our valuation
allowance should be released.
Pursuant to American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants Statement of Position
No. 90-7,
Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under
the Bankruptcy Code, the tax benefits of deferred tax
assets recorded in fresh-start reporting will be recorded as a
reduction of goodwill if the benefit is recognized in the
financial statements prior to January 1, 2009. These tax
benefits will not reduce income tax expense for GAAP purposes,
although such assets, when recognized as a deduction for tax
return purposes, may reduce U.S. federal and certain state
taxable income, if any, and may therefore reduce income taxes
payable. Effective for years beginning after December 15,
2008, Statement of Financial Accounting Standards, or SFAS,
No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations,
or SFAS 141(R), provides that any tax benefit related to
deferred tax assets recorded in fresh-start reporting be
accounted for as a reduction to income tax expense. During the
year ended December 31, 2005, approximately
$25.1 million of fresh-start related net deferred tax
assets were utilized and, therefore, we recorded a corresponding
reduction to goodwill. No such net deferred tax assets were
utilized during 2006 and 2007. As of March 31, 2008, the
balance of fresh-start related net deferred tax assets was
$218.5 million, which was subject to a full valuation
allowance.
Year
Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended
December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended December 31,
2005
Minority
Interests in Consolidated Subsidiaries
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries for the years
ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 reflected the shares of
net losses allocated to the other members of certain
consolidated entities, partially offset by accretion expense
associated with certain members put options. Minority
interests in consolidated subsidiaries for the year ended
December 31, 2005 reflected accretion expense only.
Equity in
Net Loss of Investee
Equity in net loss of investee reflects our share of losses in a
regional wireless service provider in which we previously made
investments.
Interest
Income
Interest income increased $5.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year and $13.1 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006 compared to the corresponding
59
period of the prior year. These increases were primarily due to
the increases in the average cash and cash equivalents and
investment balances.
Interest
Expense
Interest expense increased $59.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. The increase in interest expense resulted from
our issuance of $750 million and $350 million of
9.375% unsecured senior notes due 2014 during October 2006 and
June 2007, respectively. See Liquidity and
Capital Resources below. These increases were partially
offset by the capitalization of $45.6 million of interest
during the year ended December 31, 2007. We capitalize
interest costs associated with our wireless licenses and
property and equipment during the build-out of new markets. The
amount of such capitalized interest depends on the carrying
values of the licenses and property and equipment involved in
those markets and the duration of the build-out. We expect
capitalized interest to continue to be significant during the
build-out of our planned new markets in 2008. At
December 31, 2007, the effective interest rate on our
$895.5 million term loan was 7.9%, including the effect of
interest rate swaps, and the effective interest rate on LCW
Operations term loans was 9.1%. We expect that interest
expense will increase further in 2008 due to the additional
$350 million of 9.375% unsecured senior notes due 2014 that
we issued in June 2007 and the increase in the interest rate
applicable to our $895.5 million term loan effective
November 20, 2007. See Liquidity and
Capital Resources below.
Interest expense increased $31.3 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. The increase in interest expense resulted from
the increase in the amount of the term loan under our amended
and restated senior secured credit agreement, our issuance of
$750 million of 9.375% unsecured senior notes and the
issuance of $40 million of term loans under LCW
Operations senior secured credit agreement. These
increases were partially offset by the capitalization of
$16.7 million of interest during the year ended
December 31, 2006. We capitalize interest costs associated
with our wireless licenses and property and equipment during the
build-out of new markets. The amount of such capitalized
interest depends on the carrying values of the licenses and
property and equipment involved in those markets and the
duration of the build-out. At December 31, 2006, the
effective interest rate on our $900 million term loan was
7.7%, including the effect of interest rate swaps, and the
effective interest rate on LCW Operations term loans was
9.6%.
Other
Income (Expense), Net
Other expense, net of other income, increased by
$3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2007
compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. During
2007, we recorded a $5.4 million impairment charge to
reduce the carrying value of certain investments in asset-backed
commercial paper. During January 2008, these investments
declined by an additional $0.9 million.
Other income, net of other expenses, decreased by
$4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
compared to the corresponding period of the prior year. The
decrease was primarily attributed to a write off of unamortized
deferred debt issuance costs related to our previous financing
arrangements, partially offset by a sales tax refund and the
resolution of a tax contingency.
Income
Tax Expense
During the year ended December 31, 2007, we recorded income
tax expense of $37.4 million compared to income tax expense
of $9.3 million during the year ended December 31,
2006. Income tax expense for the year ended December 31,
2007 consisted primarily of the tax effect of changes in
deferred tax liabilities associated with wireless licenses, tax
goodwill and investments in certain joint ventures.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, we changed our tax
accounting method for amortizing wireless licenses. Under the
prior method, we began amortizing wireless licenses for tax
purposes on the date a license was placed into service. Under
the new tax accounting method, we generally begin amortizing
wireless licenses for tax purposes on the date the wireless
license is acquired. The new tax accounting method generally
allows us to amortize wireless licenses for tax purposes at an
earlier date and allows us to accelerate our tax deductions. At
the same time, the new method increases our income tax expense
due to the deferred tax effect of accelerating amortization on
wireless licenses. We have applied the new method as if it had
been in effect for all prior tax periods, and the resulting
60
cumulative increase to income tax expense of $28.9 million
was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2007. This
tax accounting method change also affects the characterization
of certain income tax gains and losses on the sale of
non-operating wireless licenses. Under the prior method, gains
or losses on the sale of non-operating licenses were
characterized as capital gains or losses; however, under the new
method, gains or losses on the sale of non-operating licenses
for which we had commenced tax amortization prior to the sale
are characterized as ordinary gains or losses. As a result of
this change, $64.7 million of net income tax losses
previously reported as capital loss carryforwards have been
recharacterized as net operating loss carryforwards. These net
operating loss carryforwards can be used to offset future
taxable income and reduce the amount of cash required to settle
future tax liabilities.
We recorded a $4.7 million income tax benefit during the
year ended December 31, 2007 related to a net reduction in
our effective state income tax rate. We carry a net deferred tax
liability that results from the valuation allowance recorded
against a majority of our deferred tax assets. A reduction to
our effective state income tax rate during the year ended
December 31, 2007 resulted in a reduction to our net
deferred tax liability and a corresponding decrease to our
income tax expense. This decrease in our effective state income
tax rate was primarily attributable to expansion of our
operating footprint into lower taxing states and state tax
planning. We recorded an additional $2.5 million income tax
benefit during the year ended December 31, 2007 due to a
TMT credit, which has been recorded as a deferred tax asset. We
estimate that our future TMT liability will be based on our
gross revenues in Texas, rather than our apportioned taxable
income. Therefore, we believe that it is more likely than not
that our TMT credit will be recovered and, accordingly, we have
not established a valuation allowance against this asset.
We record deferred tax assets and liabilities arising from
differing treatments of items for tax and accounting purposes.
Deferred tax assets are also established for the expected future
tax benefits to be derived from net operating loss
carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards and income tax
credits. We then periodically assess the likelihood that our
deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable
income. This assessment requires significant judgment. To the
extent we believe it is more likely than not that our deferred
tax assets will not be recovered, we must establish a valuation
allowance. As part of this periodic assessment for the year
ended December 31, 2007, we weighed the positive and
negative factors with respect to this determination and, at this
time, except with respect to the realization of the TMT credit
discussed above, do not believe there is sufficient positive
evidence and sustained operating earnings to support a
conclusion that it is more likely than not that all or a portion
of our deferred tax assets will be realized. We will continue to
closely monitor the positive and negative factors to determine
whether its valuation allowance should be released. Deferred tax
liabilities associated with wireless licenses, tax goodwill and
investments in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a
source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred
tax assets because these deferred tax liabilities will not
reverse until some indefinite future period.
At such time as we determine that it is more likely than not
that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets are realizable,
the valuation allowance will be reduced. Pursuant to
SOP 90-7,
up to $218.5 million in future decreases in the valuation
allowance established in fresh-start reporting will be accounted
for as a reduction of goodwill rather than as a reduction of
income tax expense if the valuation allowance decrease occurs
prior to the effective date of SFAS 141(R). Effective
January 1, 2009, SFAS 141(R) provides that any
reduction in the valuation allowance established in fresh-start
reporting be accounted for as a reduction to income tax expense.
On January 1, 2007, we adopted the provisions of
FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109, or FIN 48. At the date of adoption and
during the year ended December 31, 2007, our unrecognized
income tax benefits and uncertain tax positions were not
material. Interest and penalties related to uncertain tax
positions are recognized by us as a component of income tax
expense but were immaterial on the date of adoption and for the
year ended December 31, 2007. All of our tax years from
1998 to 2006 remain open to examination by federal and state
taxing authorities.
During the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005, we
recorded income tax expense of $9.3 million and
$21.6 million, respectively. Income tax expense for the
year ended December 31, 2006 consisted primarily of the tax
effect of changes in deferred tax liabilities associated with
wireless licenses, tax goodwill and investments in certain joint
ventures. During the year ended December 31, 2005, we
recorded income tax expense at an effective tax rate of 41.3%.
Despite the fact that we recorded a full valuation allowance on
our deferred tax assets, we recognized income tax expense for
2005 because the release of valuation allowance associated with
the reversal of deferred tax
61
assets recorded in fresh-start reporting was recorded as a
reduction of goodwill rather than as a reduction of income tax
expense. The effective tax rate for 2005 was higher than the
statutory tax rate due primarily to permanent items not
deductible for tax purposes. We incurred tax losses for the year
due to, among other things, tax deductions associated with the
repayment of our 13% senior secured
pay-in-kind
notes and tax losses and reversals of deferred tax assets
associated with the sale of wireless licenses and operating
assets. We paid only minimal cash income taxes for 2006, and we
expect to pay $1.3 million in cash income taxes for the
year ended December 31, 2007.
Quarterly
Financial Data (Unaudited)
The following tables present summarized data for each interim
period for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. The
following financial information reflects all normal recurring
adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary
for a fair statement of our results of operations for the
interim periods presented (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
September 30,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
2007(1)
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2007(2)
|
|
2008(3)
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
393,425
|
|
|
$
|
397,914
|
|
|
$
|
409,656
|
|
|
$
|
429,808
|
|
|
$
|
468,384
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(1,543
|
)
|
|
|
30,704
|
|
|
|
9,393
|
|
|
|
21,708
|
|
|
|
26,056
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
|
9,638
|
|
|
|
(43,289
|
)
|
|
|
(18,052
|
)
|
|
|
(18,144
|
)
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share
|
|
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
|
0.14
|
|
|
|
(0.64
|
)
|
|
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
(0.27
|
)
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
|
|
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
|
0.14
|
|
|
|
(0.64
|
)
|
|
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006(4)
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
$
|
281,850
|
|
|
$
|
277,459
|
|
|
$
|
293,266
|
|
|
$
|
314,612
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
21,435
|
|
|
|
11,742
|
|
|
|
7,050
|
|
|
|
(16,502
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
|
18,658
|
|
|
|
2,800
|
|
|
|
(801
|
)
|
|
|
(45,637
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
19,281
|
|
|
$
|
2,800
|
|
|
$
|
(801
|
)
|
|
$
|
(45,637
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.69
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.69
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
0.30
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.69
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
0.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.05
|
|
|
$
|
(0.01
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.69
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
During the quarter ended March 31, 2007, we recognized a
net gain of $1.3 million from our sale of wireless licenses
in our Peoria, Illinois, Macon-Warner Robins, Georgia and
Johnstown, Pennsylvania markets. |
|
(2) |
|
For the three months ended December 31, 2007, we recorded
adjustments related to service revenues and interest income
previously reported in our 2006 annual and 2007 interim periods.
These adjustments resulted from an overstatement of service
revenues of $0.4 million in 2006, and $0.7 million and
$0.5 million for the quarterly periods ended March 31 and
June 30, 2007, respectively, and an overstatement of
interest income of |
62
|
|
|
|
|
$1.0 million and $0.3 million for the quarterly
periods ended June 30 and September 30, 2007, respectively.
These adjustments resulted in a $2.9 million increase
($0.04 per share) to our net loss for the three months
ended December 31, 2007. We assessed the quantitative and
qualitative effects of these adjustments on each of our
previously reported periods and concluded that the adjustments
were not material to any period. |
|
(3) |
|
For the three months ended March 31, 2008, we recorded an
adjustment to cost of equipment previously reported in our
consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2007. This adjustment resulted in a
$2.5 million increase ($0.04 per share) to our net loss for
the three months ended March 31, 2008. We assessed the
quantitative and qualitative effects of the adjustment on each
of our previously reported periods and concluded that the
adjustment was not material to any period and is not expected to
be material to our consolidated financial statements for the
year ended December 31, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
During the quarter ended September 30, 2006, we recognized
a gain of $21.6 million from our sale of wireless licenses
and operating assets in our Toledo and Sandusky, Ohio markets. |
Quarterly
Results of Operations Data (Unaudited)
The following table presents our unaudited condensed
consolidated quarterly statement of operations data for 2007 (in
thousands) which has been derived from our unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007(1)
|
|
|
2008(2)
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
321,691
|
|
|
$
|
347,253
|
|
|
$
|
354,495
|
|
|
$
|
372,228
|
|
|
$
|
398,929
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
71,734
|
|
|
|
50,661
|
|
|
|
55,161
|
|
|
|
57,580
|
|
|
|
69,455
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
393,425
|
|
|
|
397,914
|
|
|
|
409,656
|
|
|
|
429,808
|
|
|
|
468,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
(90,440
|
)
|
|
|
(90,559
|
)
|
|
|
(100,907
|
)
|
|
|
(102,222
|
)
|
|
|
(111,170
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
(122,665
|
)
|
|
|
(90,818
|
)
|
|
|
(97,218
|
)
|
|
|
(95,296
|
)
|
|
|
(114,221
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(48,769
|
)
|
|
|
(47,011
|
)
|
|
|
(54,265
|
)
|
|
|
(56,168
|
)
|
|
|
(58,100
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(65,234
|
)
|
|
|
(66,407
|
)
|
|
|
(68,686
|
)
|
|
|
(71,209
|
)
|
|
|
(75,907
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(68,800
|
)
|
|
|
(72,415
|
)
|
|
|
(77,781
|
)
|
|
|
(83,205
|
)
|
|
|
(82,639
|
)
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,368
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(395,908
|
)
|
|
|
(367,210
|
)
|
|
|
(400,225
|
)
|
|
|
(408,100
|
)
|
|
|
(442,037
|
)
|
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(38
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(1,543
|
)
|
|
|
30,704
|
|
|
|
9,393
|
|
|
|
21,708
|
|
|
|
26,056
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
1,579
|
|
|
|
673
|
|
|
|
182
|
|
|
|
(617
|
)
|
|
|
(823
|
)
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(807
|
)
|
|
|
(1,502
|
)
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
Interest income
|
|
|
5,285
|
|
|
|
7,134
|
|
|
|
10,148
|
|
|
|
6,372
|
|
|
|
4,781
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(26,496
|
)
|
|
|
(27,090
|
)
|
|
|
(33,336
|
)
|
|
|
(34,309
|
)
|
|
|
(33,357
|
)
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,207
|
)
|
|
|
(1,195
|
)
|
|
|
(4,036
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
|
|
(21,812
|
)
|
|
|
11,421
|
|
|
|
(18,627
|
)
|
|
|
(9,543
|
)
|
|
|
(8,441
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(2,412
|
)
|
|
|
(1,783
|
)
|
|
|
(24,662
|
)
|
|
|
(8,509
|
)
|
|
|
(9,703
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
$
|
9,638
|
|
|
$
|
(43,289
|
)
|
|
$
|
(18,052
|
)
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
See footnote 2 to the Quarterly Financial Data
(Unaudited) table above. |
|
(2) |
|
See footnote 3 to the Quarterly Financial Data
(Unaudited) table above. |
63
Performance
Measures
In managing our business and assessing our financial
performance, management supplements the information provided by
financial statement measures with several customer-focused
performance metrics that are widely used in the
telecommunications industry. These metrics include average
revenue per user per month, or ARPU, which measures service
revenue per customer; cost per gross customer addition, or CPGA,
which measures the average cost of acquiring a new customer;
cash costs per user per month, or CCU, which measures the
non-selling cash cost of operating our business on a per
customer basis; and churn, which measures turnover in our
customer base. CPGA and CCU are non-GAAP financial measures. A
non-GAAP financial measure, within the meaning of Item 10
of
Regulation S-K
promulgated by the SEC, is a numerical measure of a
companys financial performance or cash flows that
(a) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that
have the effect of excluding amounts, which are included in the
most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of
operations or consolidated statements of cash flows; or
(b) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that
have the effect of including amounts, which are excluded from
the most directly comparable measure so calculated and
presented. See Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial
Measures below for a reconciliation of CPGA and CCU to the
most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.
ARPU is service revenue divided by the weighted-average number
of customers, divided by the number of months during the period
being measured. Management uses ARPU to identify average revenue
per customer, to track changes in average customer revenues over
time, to help evaluate how changes in our business, including
changes in our service offerings and fees, affect average
revenue per customer, and to forecast future service revenue. In
addition, ARPU provides management with a useful measure to
compare our subscriber revenue to that of other wireless
communications providers. We do not recognize service revenue
until payment has been received and services have been provided
to the customer. In addition, customers are generally
disconnected from service approximately 30 days after
failing to pay a monthly bill. Therefore, because our
calculation of weighted-average number of customers includes
customers who have not paid their last bill and have yet to
disconnect service, ARPU may appear lower during periods in
which we have significant disconnect activity. We believe
investors use ARPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our
average revenue per customer and to compare our per customer
service revenues to those of other wireless communications
providers. Other companies may calculate this measure
differently.
CPGA is selling and marketing costs (excluding applicable
share-based compensation expense included in selling and
marketing expense), and equipment subsidy (generally defined as
cost of equipment less equipment revenue), less the net loss on
equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer
acquisition, divided by the total number of gross new customer
additions during the period being measured. The net loss on
equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition
includes the revenues and costs associated with the sale of
handsets to existing customers as well as costs associated with
handset replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs
which are the responsibility of the handset manufacturers). We
deduct customers who do not pay their first monthly bill from
our gross customer additions, which tends to increase CPGA
because we incur the costs associated with this customer without
receiving the benefit of a gross customer addition. Management
uses CPGA to measure the efficiency of our customer acquisition
efforts, to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new
subscribers over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our
sales and distribution strategies affect the cost-efficiency of
our customer acquisition efforts. In addition, CPGA provides
management with a useful measure to compare our per customer
acquisition costs with those of other wireless communications
providers. We believe investors use CPGA primarily as a tool to
track changes in our average cost of acquiring new customers and
to compare our per customer acquisition costs to those of other
wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate
this measure differently.
CCU is cost of service and general and administrative costs
(excluding applicable share-based compensation expense included
in cost of service and general and administrative expense) plus
net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer
acquisition (which includes the gain or loss on the sale of
handsets to existing customers and costs associated with handset
replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs which are
the responsibility of the handset manufacturers)), divided by
the weighted-average number of customers, divided by the number
of months during the period being measured. CCU does not include
any depreciation and amortization
64
expense. Management uses CCU as a tool to evaluate the
non-selling cash expenses associated with ongoing business
operations on a per customer basis, to track changes in these
non-selling cash costs over time, and to help evaluate how
changes in our business operations affect non-selling cash costs
per customer. In addition, CCU provides management with a useful
measure to compare our non-selling cash costs per customer with
those of other wireless communications providers. We believe
investors use CCU primarily as a tool to track changes in our
non-selling cash costs over time and to compare our non-selling
cash costs to those of other wireless communications providers.
Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
Churn, which measures customer turnover, is calculated as the
net number of customers that disconnect from our service divided
by the weighted-average number of customers divided by the
number of months during the period being measured. Customers who
do not pay their first monthly bill are deducted from our gross
customer additions in the month that they are disconnected; as a
result, these customers are not included in churn. In addition,
customers are generally disconnected from service approximately
30 days after failing to pay a monthly bill. Beginning
during the quarter ended June 30, 2007,
pay-in-advance
customers who ask to terminate their service are disconnected
when their paid service period ends, whereas previously these
customers were generally disconnected on the date of their
request to terminate service. Management uses churn to measure
our retention of customers, to measure changes in customer
retention over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our
business affect customer retention. In addition, churn provides
management with a useful measure to compare our customer
turnover activity to that of other wireless communications
providers. We believe investors use churn primarily as a tool to
track changes in our customer retention over time and to compare
our customer retention to that of other wireless communications
providers. Other companies may calculate this measure
differently.
The following tables show metric information for each of the
quarterly periods for the three months ended March 31,
2008, and the years ended 2007, 2006 and 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
September 30,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2007
|
|
2008
|
|
ARPU
|
|
$
|
44.81
|
|
|
$
|
44.75
|
|
|
$
|
44.51
|
|
|
$
|
45.57
|
|
|
$
|
44.92
|
|
|
$
|
44.98
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
166
|
|
|
$
|
182
|
|
|
$
|
199
|
|
|
$
|
178
|
|
|
$
|
180
|
|
|
$
|
159
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
21.27
|
|
|
$
|
19.87
|
|
|
$
|
21.24
|
|
|
$
|
21.00
|
|
|
$
|
20.84
|
|
|
$
|
21.73
|
|
Churn
|
|
|
3.4
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
5.2
|
%
|
|
|
4.2
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
September 30,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2006
|
|
2006
|
|
2006
|
|
2006
|
|
2006
|
|
ARPU
|
|
$
|
42.31
|
|
|
$
|
42.30
|
|
|
$
|
42.87
|
|
|
$
|
43.63
|
|
|
$
|
42.81
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
195
|
|
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
|
$
|
171
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
19.86
|
|
|
$
|
19.50
|
|
|
$
|
21.05
|
|
|
$
|
20.32
|
|
|
$
|
20.20
|
|
Churn
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
June 30,
|
|
September 30,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2005
|
|
2005
|
|
2005
|
|
2005
|
|
2005
|
|
ARPU
|
|
$
|
39.17
|
|
|
$
|
39.67
|
|
|
$
|
40.43
|
|
|
$
|
40.03
|
|
|
$
|
39.79
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
126
|
|
|
$
|
134
|
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
|
$
|
156
|
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
19.17
|
|
|
$
|
18.72
|
|
|
$
|
19.83
|
|
|
$
|
19.03
|
|
|
$
|
19.17
|
|
Churn
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
|
|
4.4
|
%
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
Reconciliation
of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
We utilize certain financial measures, as described above, that
are widely used in the industry but that are not calculated
based on GAAP. Certain of these financial measures are
considered non-GAAP financial measures within the
meaning of Item 10 of
Regulation S-K
promulgated by the SEC.
65
CPGA The following tables reconcile total costs used
in the calculation of CPGA to selling and marketing expense,
which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure to CPGA (in thousands, except gross customer
additions and CPGA):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Selling and marketing expense
|
|
$
|
48,769
|
|
|
$
|
47,011
|
|
|
$
|
54,265
|
|
|
$
|
56,168
|
|
|
$
|
206,213
|
|
|
$
|
58,100
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in selling and
marketing expense
|
|
|
(1,001
|
)
|
|
|
(560
|
)
|
|
|
(843
|
)
|
|
|
(926
|
)
|
|
|
(3,330
|
)
|
|
|
(1,356
|
)
|
Plus cost of equipment
|
|
|
122,665
|
|
|
|
90,818
|
|
|
|
97,218
|
|
|
|
95,296
|
|
|
|
405,997
|
|
|
|
114,221
|
|
Less equipment revenue
|
|
|
(71,734
|
)
|
|
|
(50,661
|
)
|
|
|
(55,161
|
)
|
|
|
(57,580
|
)
|
|
|
(235,136
|
)
|
|
|
(69,455
|
)
|
Less net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
(4,762
|
)
|
|
|
(2,591
|
)
|
|
|
(5,747
|
)
|
|
|
(4,766
|
)
|
|
|
(17,866
|
)
|
|
|
(14,020
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CPGA
|
|
$
|
93,937
|
|
|
$
|
84,017
|
|
|
$
|
89,732
|
|
|
$
|
88,192
|
|
|
$
|
355,878
|
|
|
$
|
87,490
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
565,055
|
|
|
|
462,434
|
|
|
|
450,954
|
|
|
|
496,061
|
|
|
|
1,974,504
|
|
|
|
550,520
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
166
|
|
|
$
|
182
|
|
|
$
|
199
|
|
|
$
|
178
|
|
|
$
|
180
|
|
|
$
|
159
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Selling and marketing expense
|
|
$
|
29,102
|
|
|
$
|
35,942
|
|
|
$
|
42,948
|
|
|
$
|
51,265
|
|
|
$
|
159,257
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in selling and
marketing expense
|
|
|
(327
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
(533
|
)
|
|
|
(1,970
|
)
|
Plus cost of equipment
|
|
|
71,977
|
|
|
|
65,396
|
|
|
|
83,457
|
|
|
|
90,004
|
|
|
|
310,834
|
|
Less equipment revenue
|
|
|
(63,765
|
)
|
|
|
(50,299
|
)
|
|
|
(52,712
|
)
|
|
|
(44,046
|
)
|
|
|
(210,822
|
)
|
Less net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
(1,247
|
)
|
|
|
(1,139
|
)
|
|
|
(1,822
|
)
|
|
|
(3,988
|
)
|
|
|
(8,196
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CPGA
|
|
$
|
35,740
|
|
|
$
|
49,427
|
|
|
$
|
71,234
|
|
|
$
|
92,702
|
|
|
$
|
249,103
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
278,370
|
|
|
|
253,033
|
|
|
|
405,178
|
|
|
|
519,229
|
|
|
|
1,455,810
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
195
|
|
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
|
$
|
171
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Selling and marketing expense
|
|
$
|
22,995
|
|
|
$
|
24,810
|
|
|
$
|
25,535
|
|
|
$
|
26,702
|
|
|
$
|
100,042
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in selling and
marketing expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(693
|
)
|
|
|
(203
|
)
|
|
|
(125
|
)
|
|
|
(1,021
|
)
|
Plus cost of equipment
|
|
|
55,804
|
|
|
|
53,698
|
|
|
|
61,164
|
|
|
|
59,854
|
|
|
|
230,520
|
|
Less equipment revenue
|
|
|
(48,967
|
)
|
|
|
(47,914
|
)
|
|
|
(48,287
|
)
|
|
|
(43,687
|
)
|
|
|
(188,855
|
)
|
Less net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
(4,466
|
)
|
|
|
(4,174
|
)
|
|
|
(5,555
|
)
|
|
|
(4,376
|
)
|
|
|
(18,571
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CPGA
|
|
$
|
25,366
|
|
|
$
|
25,727
|
|
|
$
|
32,654
|
|
|
$
|
38,368
|
|
|
$
|
122,115
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
201,467
|
|
|
|
191,288
|
|
|
|
233,699
|
|
|
|
245,817
|
|
|
|
872,271
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
126
|
|
|
$
|
134
|
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
|
$
|
156
|
|
|
$
|
140
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU The following tables reconcile total costs used
in the calculation of CCU to cost of service, which we consider
to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CCU
(in thousands, except weighted-average number of customers and
CCU):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
90,440
|
|
|
$
|
90,559
|
|
|
$
|
100,907
|
|
|
$
|
102,222
|
|
|
$
|
384,128
|
|
|
$
|
111,170
|
|
Plus general and administrative expense
|
|
|
65,234
|
|
|
|
66,407
|
|
|
|
68,686
|
|
|
|
71,209
|
|
|
|
271,536
|
|
|
|
75,907
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in cost of
service and general and administrative expense
|
|
|
(7,742
|
)
|
|
|
(5,335
|
)
|
|
|
(6,231
|
)
|
|
|
(6,701
|
)
|
|
|
(26,009
|
)
|
|
|
(8,346
|
)
|
Plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
4,762
|
|
|
|
2,591
|
|
|
|
5,747
|
|
|
|
4,766
|
|
|
|
17,866
|
|
|
|
14,020
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CCU
|
|
$
|
152,694
|
|
|
$
|
154,222
|
|
|
$
|
169,109
|
|
|
$
|
171,496
|
|
|
$
|
647,521
|
|
|
$
|
192,751
|
|
Weighted-average number of customers
|
|
|
2,393,161
|
|
|
|
2,586,900
|
|
|
|
2,654,555
|
|
|
|
2,722,631
|
|
|
|
2,589,312
|
|
|
|
2,956,477
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
21.27
|
|
|
$
|
19.87
|
|
|
$
|
21.24
|
|
|
$
|
21.00
|
|
|
$
|
20.84
|
|
|
$
|
21.73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
67
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
56,210
|
|
|
$
|
61,255
|
|
|
$
|
71,575
|
|
|
$
|
75,122
|
|
|
$
|
264,162
|
|
Plus general and administrative expense
|
|
|
49,090
|
|
|
|
46,576
|
|
|
|
49,116
|
|
|
|
51,822
|
|
|
|
196,604
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in cost of
service and general and administrative expense
|
|
|
(4,165
|
)
|
|
|
(4,215
|
)
|
|
|
(4,426
|
)
|
|
|
(4,949
|
)
|
|
|
(17,755
|
)
|
Plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
1,247
|
|
|
|
1,139
|
|
|
|
1,822
|
|
|
|
3,988
|
|
|
|
8,196
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CCU
|
|
$
|
102,382
|
|
|
$
|
104,755
|
|
|
$
|
118,087
|
|
|
$
|
125,983
|
|
|
$
|
451,207
|
|
Weighted-average number of customers
|
|
|
1,718,349
|
|
|
|
1,790,232
|
|
|
|
1,870,204
|
|
|
|
2,067,122
|
|
|
|
1,861,477
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
19.86
|
|
|
$
|
19.50
|
|
|
$
|
21.05
|
|
|
$
|
20.32
|
|
|
$
|
20.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
50,857
|
|
|
$
|
50,338
|
|
|
$
|
51,139
|
|
|
$
|
51,214
|
|
|
$
|
203,548
|
|
Plus general and administrative expense
|
|
|
36,035
|
|
|
|
42,423
|
|
|
|
41,306
|
|
|
|
39,977
|
|
|
|
159,741
|
|
Less share-based compensation expense included in cost of
service and general and administrative expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,436
|
)
|
|
|
(2,518
|
)
|
|
|
(2,504
|
)
|
|
|
(11,458
|
)
|
Plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial
customer acquisition
|
|
|
4,466
|
|
|
|
4,174
|
|
|
|
5,555
|
|
|
|
4,376
|
|
|
|
18,571
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation of CCU
|
|
$
|
91,358
|
|
|
$
|
90,499
|
|
|
$
|
95,482
|
|
|
$
|
93,063
|
|
|
$
|
370,402
|
|
Weighted-average number of customers
|
|
|
1,588,372
|
|
|
|
1,611,524
|
|
|
|
1,605,222
|
|
|
|
1,630,011
|
|
|
|
1,610,170
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
19.17
|
|
|
$
|
18.72
|
|
|
$
|
19.83
|
|
|
$
|
19.03
|
|
|
$
|
19.17
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liquidity
and Capital Resources
Overview
Our principal sources of liquidity are our existing unrestricted
cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and cash
generated from operations. We had a total of $508.7 million
in unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments as of March 31, 2008. In addition,
$70.0 million in deposits that were held by the FCC as of
March 31, 2008 were returned to us in April 2008. We
generated $135.7 million of net cash from operating
activities during the three months ended March 31, 2008,
and we expect that cash from operations will continue to be a
significant and increasing source of liquidity as our markets
mature and our business continues to grow. We may also generate
liquidity through capital markets transactions or by selling
assets that are not material to or are not required for our
ongoing business operations. We believe that our existing
unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments,
together with cash generated from operations, are sufficient to
meet the
68
operating and capital requirements for our current business
operations and for the expansion of our business as described
below.
Our business expansion efforts include our plans to launch
additional markets with spectrum licenses that we and Denali
License acquired in Auction #66, which will require the
expenditure of significant funds to complete the associated
construction and fund the initial operating costs. Aggregate
capital expenditures for build-out of new markets through their
first full year of operation after commercial launch are
currently anticipated to be approximately $26.00 per
covered POP, excluding capitalized interest. We recently
launched our first Auction #66 markets in Oklahoma City,
Las Vegas and southern Texas, and we and Denali License are
currently building out additional Auction #66 markets that
we intend to launch this year and in 2009. We also plan to
continue to expand our network coverage and capacity in many of
our existing markets, allowing us to offer our customers a
larger local calling area. As part of this expansion, we
deployed approximately 400 new cell sites in our existing
markets between January 2007 and March 2008 and expect to deploy
approximately 200 additional cell sites in our existing
markets in 2008. As part of our overall coverage expansion
plans, we expect to increase our network coverage by
approximately eight million additional POPs between January and
June 2008. Looking ahead, we and Denali License expect to cover
up to approximately 36 million additional POPs by the
middle of 2009 and up to approximately 50 million
additional POPs by the end of 2010 (in each case measured on a
cumulative basis beginning January 2008). If U.S. federal
government incumbent licensees do not relocate their spectrum
use to alternative frequencies or confirm that we can operate on
the spectrum without interfering with their current uses, their
continued use of the spectrum covered by licenses we and Denali
License purchased in Auction #66 could delay the launch of
certain markets.
In addition to expanding network coverage, our current business
expansion efforts also include our plans to expand our mobile
broadband product offering, which we introduced into select
markets in September 2007. We expect to further expand the
availability of this product offering in 2008, which was
available to approximately 7.5 million covered POPs as of
March 31, 2008 and which we expect will be available to
approximately 13.5 million covered POPs by the end of the
second quarter of 2008.
Under our current business expansion plans, if we determine to
cover significantly more than 20 million additional POPs by
the middle of 2009 or significantly more than 30 million
additional POPs by the end of 2010 (or to accelerate the launch
of those 20 million or 30 million additional POPs), we
will need to raise additional debt, convertible debt
and/or
equity capital to help finance this expansion. The amount and
timing of any capital requirements will depend upon the pace of
our planned market expansion.
We may also pursue other strategic activities to build our
business, which could include (without limitation) further
expansion of our existing market footprint, the acquisition of
additional spectrum through FCC auctions or private
transactions, or entering into partnerships with others to help
launch additional markets. If we were to pursue any of these
activities at a significant level in addition to our current
plans, we may need to raise additional funding or
re-direct
capital otherwise available for our current business expansion
efforts or other strategic activities.
Any additional capital that we raise to finance business
expansion activities may be significant and could consist of
debt, convertible debt
and/or
equity financing from the public
and/or
private capital markets. The amount, nature and timing of any
financing will depend on our operating performance and other
circumstances, our then-current commitments and obligations, the
amount, nature and timing of our capital requirements and
overall market conditions. If we require additional capital to
fund or accelerate the pace of any of our business expansion
efforts or other strategic activities, and we were unable to
obtain such capital on terms that we found acceptable or at all,
we would likely reduce our investments in such business
expansion or strategic activities or slow the pace of such
business expansion or strategic activities as necessary to match
our capital requirements to our available liquidity.
Our total outstanding indebtedness under our Credit Agreement
was $884.3 million as of March 31, 2008. Outstanding
term loan borrowings under our Credit Agreement must be repaid
in 22 quarterly payments of $2.25 million each (which
commenced on March 31, 2007) followed by four
quarterly payments of $211.5 million (which commence on
September 30, 2012). The term loan under our Credit
Agreement bears interest at LIBOR plus 3.0% or the bank base
rate plus 2.0%, as selected by us. In addition to our Credit
Agreement, we also had $1,100 million in unsecured senior
notes due 2014 outstanding as of March 31, 2008. Our
$1,100 million in unsecured senior notes have no principal
amortization and mature in October 2014. Of the
$1,100 million of unsecured senior notes, $750 million
principal
69
amount of senior notes bears interest at 9.375% per annum
and $350 million principal amount of senior notes (which
were issued at a 106% premium) bears interest at an effective
rate of 8.8% per annum.
The Credit Agreement and the indenture governing our
$1,100 million in unsecured senior notes contain covenants
that restrict the ability of Leap, Cricket and the subsidiary
guarantors to take certain actions, including incurring
additional indebtedness beyond specified thresholds. In
addition, under certain circumstances we are required to use
some or all of the proceeds we receive from incurring
indebtedness beyond defined levels to pay down outstanding
borrowings under our Credit Agreement. Our Credit Agreement also
contains financial covenants with respect to a maximum
consolidated senior secured leverage ratio and, if a revolving
credit loan or uncollateralized letter of credit is outstanding
or requested, with respect to a minimum consolidated interest
coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a
minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. The Credit
Agreement includes a $200 million revolving credit
facility, which was undrawn as of March 31, 2008. The
business expansion efforts we are pursuing in 2008 and 2009 will
decrease our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and could
prevent us from borrowing under the revolving credit facility
for several quarters, depending on the scope and pace of our
expansion efforts. We do not intend, however, to pursue business
expansion activities that would prevent us from borrowing under
the revolving credit facility unless we believe we have
sufficient liquidity to support the operating and capital
requirements for our business and any such expansion activities
without drawing on the revolving credit facility. If we
determine to raise significant additional indebtedness, we may
seek to amend the Credit Agreement to remove the requirement
that we use some or all of the proceeds from such indebtedness
to pay down outstanding borrowings as well as to decrease the
minimum consolidated fixed charge ratio. We cannot assure you,
however, that we will be successful in any efforts to amend the
Credit Agreement.
Although our significant outstanding indebtedness results in
certain risks to our business that could materially affect our
financial condition and performance, we believe that these risks
are manageable and that we are taking appropriate actions to
monitor and address them. For example, in connection with our
financial planning process and capital raising activities, we
seek to maintain an appropriate balance between our debt and
equity capitalization and we review our business plans and
forecasts to monitor our ability to service our debt and to
comply with the financial covenants and debt incurrence and
other covenants in our Credit Agreement and unsecured senior
notes indenture. In addition, as the new markets that we have
launched over the past few years continue to develop and our
existing markets mature, we expect that increased cash flows
from such new and existing markets will result in improvements
in our leverage ratio and other ratios underlying our financial
covenants, although capital expenditures in existing markets may
adversely affect our fixed charge coverage ratio. Our
$1,100 million of unsecured senior notes bear interest at a
fixed rate and we have entered into interest rate swap
agreements covering $355 million of outstanding debt under
our term loan, which help to mitigate our exposure to interest
rate fluctuations. Due to the fixed rate on our
$1,100 million in unsecured senior notes and our interest
rate swaps, approximately 72% of our total indebtedness accrues
interest at a fixed rate. In light of the actions described
above, our expected cash flows from operations, and our ability
to reduce our investments in expansion activities or slow the
pace of our expansion activities as necessary to match our
capital requirements to our available liquidity, management
believes that it has the ability to effectively manage our
levels of indebtedness and address the risks to our business and
financial condition related to our indebtedness.
70
Cash
Flows
The following table shows cash flow information for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007, and the three years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
135,680
|
|
|
$
|
5,122
|
|
|
$
|
316,181
|
|
|
$
|
289,871
|
|
|
$
|
308,280
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(127,402
|
)
|
|
|
(78,847
|
)
|
|
|
(622,728
|
)
|
|
|
(1,550,624
|
)
|
|
|
(332,112
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
(4,431
|
)
|
|
|
1,234
|
|
|
|
367,072
|
|
|
|
1,340,492
|
|
|
|
175,764
|
|
Operating
Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was
$135.7 million during the three months ended March 31,
2008 compared to $5.1 million during the three months ended
March 31, 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to
the decrease in our net loss and to higher depreciation expense.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by
$26.3 million, or 9.1%, for the year ended
December 31, 2007 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. This increase was primarily attributable to
higher depreciation, which more than offset the increase in our
pretax loss.
Net cash provided by operating activities decreased by
$18.4 million, or 6.0%, for the year ended
December 31, 2006 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. This decrease was primarily attributable to the
decrease in our net income offset by higher depreciation and
amortization expense.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased by
$117.9 million, or 61.9%, for the year ended
December 31, 2005 compared to the corresponding period of
the prior year. The increase was primarily attributable to
higher net income (net of income from reorganization items,
depreciation and amortization expense and non-cash share-based
compensation expense) and the timing of payments on accounts
payable for the year ended December 31, 2005, partially
offset by interest payments on our 13% senior secured
pay-in-kind
notes and FCC debt.
Investing
Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $127.4 million
during the three months ended March 31, 2008, which
included the effects of the following transactions:
|
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we made
investment purchases of $19.7 million, offset by sales or
maturities of investments of $124.3 million.
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we and our
consolidated joint ventures purchased $157.2 million of
property and equipment for the build-out of our new markets and
the expansion and improvement of our existing markets.
|
|
|
|
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we deposited
$70.0 million with the FCC in connection with our
participation in Auction #73, all of which was returned to
us in April 2008.
|
Net cash used in investing activities was $622.7 million
for the year ended December 31, 2007, which included the
effects of the following transactions:
|
|
|
|
|
During January 2007, we completed the sale of three wireless
licenses that we were not using to offer commercial service for
an aggregate sales price of $9.5 million.
|
|
|
|
During March 2007, Cricket acquired the remaining 25% of the
membership interests in ANB 1 for $4.7 million,
following ANBs exercise of its option to sell its entire
25% controlling interest in ANB 1 to Cricket.
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended December 31, 2007, we purchased
approximately 20% of the outstanding membership units of a
regional wireless service provider for an aggregate purchase
price of $19.0 million.
|
|
|
|
During the year ended December 31, 2007, we made investment
purchases of $642.5 million from proceeds received from the
issuances of our unsecured senior notes due 2014, offset by
sales or maturities of investments of $531.0 million.
|
|
|
|
During the year ended December 31, 2007, we and our
consolidated joint ventures purchased $504.8 million of
property and equipment for the build-out of our new markets and
the expansion and improvement of our existing markets.
|
Net cash used in investing activities was $1,550.6 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006, which included the
effects of the following transactions:
|
|
|
|
|
During July and October 2006, we paid to the FCC
$710.2 million for the purchase of 99 licenses acquired in
Auction #66, and Denali License paid $274.1 million as
a deposit for a license it subsequently purchased in
Auction #66.
|
|
|
|
During November 2006, we purchased 13 wireless licenses in North
Carolina and South Carolina for an aggregate purchase price of
$31.8 million.
|
|
|
|
During the year ended December 31, 2006, we, ANB 1
License and LCW Operations made over $590 million in
purchases of property and equipment for the build-out of new
markets.
|
Net cash used in investing activities was $332.1 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005, which included the
effects of the following transactions:
|
|
|
|
|
During the year ended December 31, 2005, we paid
$208.8 million for the purchase of property and equipment.
|
|
|
|
During the year ended December 31, 2005, subsidiaries of
Cricket and ANB 1 paid $244.0 million for the purchase
of wireless licenses, partially offset by proceeds received of
$108.8 million from the sale of wireless licenses and
operating assets.
|
Financing
Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $4.4 million
during the three months ended March 31, 2008, which
included the effects of the following transactions:
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During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we made
payments of $2.3 million on our $895.5 million senior
secured term loan and payments of $4.8 million on our
capital lease obligations.
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During the three months ended March 31, 2008, we issued
common stock upon the exercise of stock options held by our
employees, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of
$3.0 million.
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Net cash provided by financing activities was
$367.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2007,
which included the effects of the following transactions:
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During the year ended December 31, 2007, we made payments
of $5.2 million on our capital lease obligations relating
to software licenses.
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During the year ended December 31, 2007, we issued an
additional $350 million of unsecured senior notes due 2014
at an issue price of 106% of the principal amount, which
resulted in gross proceeds of $371 million, offset by
payments of $9.0 million on our $895.5 million senior
secured term loan.
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During the year ended December 31, 2007, we issued common
stock upon the exercise of stock options held by our employees
and upon employee purchases of common stock under our Employee
Stock Purchase Plan, resulting in aggregate net proceeds of
$9.7 million.
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72
Net cash provided by financing activities was
$1,340.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006,
which included the effects of the following transactions:
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In June 2006, we replaced our previous $710 million senior
secured credit facility with a new amended and restated senior
secured credit facility consisting of a $900 million term
loan and a $200 million revolving credit facility. The
replacement term loan generated net proceeds of approximately
$307 million, after repayment of the principal balances of
the old term loan and prior to the payment of fees and expenses.
See Senior Secured Credit
Facilities Cricket Communications below.
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In October 2006, we physically settled 6,440,000 shares of
Leap common stock pursuant to our forward sale agreements and
received aggregate cash proceeds of $260 million (before
expenses) from such physical settlements. See
Forward Sale Agreements below.
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In October 2006, we borrowed $570 million under our
$850 million unsecured bridge loan facility to finance a
portion of the remaining amounts owed by us and Denali License
to the FCC for Auction #66 licenses.
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In October 2006, we issued $750 million of
9.375% senior notes due 2014, and we used a portion of the
approximately $739 million of cash proceeds (after
commissions and before expenses) from the sale to repay our
outstanding obligations, including accrued interest, under our
bridge loan facility. Upon repayment of our outstanding
indebtedness, the bridge loan facility was terminated. See
Senior Notes below.
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In October 2006, LCW Operations entered into a senior secured
credit agreement consisting of two term loans for
$40 million in the aggregate. The loans bear interest at
LIBOR plus the applicable margin ranging from 2.70% to 6.33% and
must be repaid in varying quarterly installments beginning in
2008, with the final payment due in 2011. The loans are
non-recourse to Leap, Cricket and their other subsidiaries. See
Senior Secured Credit Facilities
LCW Operations below.
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Net cash provided by financing activities for the year ended
December 31, 2005 was $175.8 million, which consisted
primarily of borrowings under our term loan of
$600 million, less repayments of our FCC debt of
$40 million and
pay-in-kind
notes of $372.7 million.
Senior
Secured Credit Facilities
Cricket
Communications
The senior secured credit facility under our Credit Agreement
consists of a six year $895.5 million term loan and a
$200 million revolving credit facility. As of
March 31, 2008, the outstanding indebtedness under our term
loan was $884.3 million. Outstanding borrowings under the
term loan must be repaid in 22 quarterly payments of
$2.25 million each (which commenced on March 31,
2007) followed by four quarterly payments of
$211.5 million (which commence on September 30, 2012).
As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate on the term loan
was the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 3.00% or the
bank base rate plus 2.00%, as selected by Cricket.
At March 31, 2008, the effective interest rate on our term
loan under the Credit Agreement was 6.6%, including the effect
of interest rate swaps. The terms of the Credit Agreement
require us to enter into interest rate swap agreements in a
sufficient amount so that at least 50% of our outstanding
indebtedness for borrowed money bears interest at a fixed rate.
We have entered into interest rate swap agreements with respect
to $355 million of our debt. These swap agreements
effectively fix the LIBOR interest rate on $150 million of
our indebtedness at 8.3% and $105 million of our
indebtedness at 7.3% through June 2009 and $100 million of
indebtedness at 8.0% through September 2010. The fair value of
the swap agreements as of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007 were aggregate liabilities of
$14.1 million and $7.2 million, respectively, which
were recorded in other liabilities in the condensed consolidated
balance sheets.
Outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to
the extent that there are any borrowings, are due in June 2011.
As of March 31, 2008, the revolving credit facility was
undrawn. The commitment of the lenders under the revolving
credit facility may be reduced in the event mandatory
prepayments are required under our Credit Agreement. As of
March 31, 2008, borrowings under the revolving credit
facility would have accrued interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% or the
bank base rate plus 2.00%, as selected by Cricket.
73
The facilities under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by us
and all of our direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (other
than Cricket, which is the primary obligor, and LCW Wireless and
Denali and their respective subsidiaries) and are secured by
substantially all of the present and future personal property
and real property owned by us, Cricket and such direct and
indirect domestic subsidiaries. Under the Credit Agreement, we
are subject to certain limitations, including limitations on our
ability to: incur additional debt or sell assets, with
restrictions on the use of proceeds; make certain investments
and acquisitions; grant liens; pay dividends; and make certain
other restricted payments. In addition, we will be required to
pay down the facilities under certain circumstances if we issue
debt, sell assets or property, receive certain extraordinary
receipts or generate excess cash flow (as defined in the Credit
Agreement). We are also subject to a financial covenant with
respect to a maximum consolidated senior secured leverage ratio
and, if a revolving credit loan or uncollateralized letter of
credit is outstanding or requested, with respect to a minimum
consolidated interest coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated
leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage
ratio. In addition to investments in the Denali joint venture,
the Credit Agreement allows us to invest up to $85 million
in LCW Wireless and its subsidiaries and up to $150 million
plus an amount equal to an available cash flow basket in other
joint ventures, and allows us to provide limited guarantees for
the benefit of Denali, LCW Wireless and other joint ventures. We
were in compliance with the covenants as of March 31, 2008
The business expansion efforts we are pursuing in 2008 and 2009
will decrease our consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio and
could prevent us from borrowing under the revolving credit
facility for several quarters, depending on the scope and pace
of our expansion efforts. We do not intend, however, to pursue
business expansion activities that would prevent us from
borrowing under the revolving credit facility unless we believe
we have sufficient liquidity to support the operating and
capital requirements for our business and any such expansion
activities without drawing on the revolving credit facility.
The Credit Agreement also prohibits the occurrence of a change
of control, which includes the acquisition of beneficial
ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity securities, a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board and the occurrence
of a change of control under any of our other credit
instruments.
Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (an affiliate of
James D. Dondero, a former director of Leap)
participated in the syndication of the term loan in an amount
equal to $222.9 million. Additionally, Highland Capital
Management continues to hold a $40 million commitment under
the $200 million revolving credit facility.
LCW
Operations
LCW Operations has a senior secured credit agreement consisting
of two term loans for $40 million in the aggregate. The
loans bear interest at LIBOR plus the applicable margin ranging
from 2.7% to 6.3%. At March 31, 2008, the effective
interest rate on the term loans was 6.9%, and the outstanding
indebtedness was $40 million. LCW Operations entered into
an interest rate cap agreement which effectively caps the three
month LIBOR interest rate at 7.0% with respect to
$20 million of its outstanding borrowings. The obligations
under the loans are guaranteed by LCW Wireless and LCW Wireless
License, LLC (and are non-recourse to Leap, Cricket and their
other subsidiaries). Outstanding borrowings under the term loans
must be repaid in varying quarterly installments starting in
June 2008, with an aggregate final payment of $24.5 million
due in June 2011. Under the senior secured credit agreement, LCW
Operations and the guarantors are subject to certain
limitations, including limitations on their ability to: incur
additional debt or sell assets, with restrictions on the use of
proceeds; make certain investments and acquisitions; grant
liens; pay dividends; and make certain other restricted
payments. In addition, LCW Operations will be required to pay
down the facilities under certain circumstances if it or the
guarantors issue debt, sell assets or generate excess cash flow.
The senior
74
secured credit agreement requires that LCW Operations and the
guarantors comply with financial covenants related to earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or
EBITDA, gross additions of subscribers, minimum cash and cash
equivalents and maximum capital expenditures, among other
things. LCW Operations was in compliance with the covenants as
of March 31, 2008.
Forward
Sale Agreements
In August 2006, in connection with a public offering of Leap
common stock, Leap entered into forward sale agreements for the
sale of an aggregate of 6,440,000 shares of its common
stock, including an amount equal to the underwriters
over-allotment option in the public offering (which was fully
exercised). The initial forward sale price was $40.11 per share,
which was equivalent to the public offering price less the
underwriting discount, and was subject to daily adjustment based
on a floating interest factor equal to the federal funds rate,
less a spread of 1.0%. In October 2006, Leap issued
6,440,000 shares of its common stock to physically settle
its forward sale agreements and received aggregate cash proceeds
of $260 million (before expenses) from such physical
settlements. Upon such full settlement, the forward sale
agreements were fully performed.
Senior
Notes
In 2006, Cricket issued $750 million of 9.375% unsecured
senior notes due 2014 in a private placement to institutional
buyers and, in 2007, we exchanged the notes for identical notes
that had been registered with the SEC. In June 2007, Cricket
issued an additional $350 million of unsecured senior notes
due 2014 in a private placement to institutional buyers at an
issue price of 106% of the principal amount. These notes are an
additional issuance of the 9.375% unsecured senior notes due
2014 discussed above and are treated as a single class with
these notes. The terms of these additional notes are identical
to the existing notes, except for certain applicable transfer
restrictions. The $21 million premium we received in
connection with the issuance of the notes has been recorded in
long-term debt in the consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this prospectus and is being amortized as a
reduction to interest expense over the term of the notes. At
March 31, 2008, the effective interest rate on the
$350 million of unsecured senior notes was 8.8%, which
includes the effect of the premium amortization and excludes the
effect of the additional interest that has been accrued in
connection with our obligation to offer to exchange the notes
for identical notes that have been registered with the SEC, as
more fully described below.
The notes bear interest at the rate of 9.375% per year, payable
semi-annually in cash in arrears, which interest payments
commenced in May 2007. The notes are guaranteed on an unsecured
senior basis by Leap and each of its existing and future
domestic subsidiaries (other than Cricket, which is the issuer
of the notes, and LCW Wireless and Denali and their respective
subsidiaries) that guarantee indebtedness for money borrowed of
Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor. The notes and the
guarantees are Leaps, Crickets and the
guarantors general senior unsecured obligations and rank
equally in right of payment with all of Leaps,
Crickets and the guarantors existing and future
unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness. The notes and the
guarantees are effectively junior to Leaps, Crickets
and the guarantors existing and future secured
obligations, including those under the Credit Agreement, to the
extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations, as
well as to future liabilities of Leaps and Crickets
subsidiaries that are not guarantors, and of LCW Wireless and
Denali and their respective subsidiaries. In addition, the notes
and the guarantees are senior in right of payment to any of
Leaps, Crickets and the guarantors future
subordinated indebtedness.
Prior to November 1, 2009, Cricket may redeem up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption
price of 109.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon to
the redemption date, from the net cash proceeds of specified
equity offerings. Prior to November 1, 2010, Cricket may
redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the
applicable premium and any accrued and unpaid interest. The
applicable premium is calculated as the greater of (i) 1.0%
of the principal amount of such notes and (ii) the excess
of (a) the present value at such date of redemption of
(1) the redemption price of such notes at November 1,
2010 plus (2) all remaining required interest payments due
on such notes through November 1, 2010 (excluding accrued
but unpaid interest to the date of redemption), computed using a
discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis
points, over (b) the principal amount of such notes. The
notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after November 1, 2010, at a redemption price of 104.688%
and 102.344% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed
75
during the twelve months ending October 31, 2011 and 2012,
respectively, or at 100% of the principal amount if redeemed
during the twelve months ending October 31, 2013 or
thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
If a change of control occurs (which includes the
acquisition of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of
Leaps equity securities, a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of Leap and its restricted subsidiaries, and a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board), each holder of the
notes may require Cricket to repurchase all of such
holders notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the
principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The indenture governing the notes limits, among other things,
our ability to: incur additional debt; create liens or other
encumbrances; place limitations on distributions from restricted
subsidiaries; pay dividends; make investments; prepay
subordinated indebtedness or make other restricted payments;
issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; issue
guarantees; sell assets; enter into transactions with our
affiliates; and make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with
another entity.
In connection with the private placement of the
$350 million of additional senior notes, we entered into a
registration rights agreement with the purchasers in which we
agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC to permit
the holders to exchange or resell the notes. We must use
reasonable best efforts to file such registration statement
within 150 days after the issuance of the notes, have the
registration statement declared effective within 270 days
after the issuance of the notes and then consummate any exchange
offer within 30 business days after the effective date of the
registration statement. In the event that the registration
statement is not filed or declared effective or the exchange
offer is not consummated within these deadlines, the agreement
provides that additional interest will accrue on the principal
amount of the notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum during the
90-day
period immediately following the first to occur of these events
and will increase by 0.50% per annum at the end of each
subsequent
90-day
period until all such defaults are cured, but in no event will
the penalty rate exceed 1.50% per annum. There are no other
alternative settlement methods and, other than the 1.50% per
annum maximum penalty rate, the agreement contains no limit on
the maximum potential amount of penalty interest that could be
paid in the event the Company does not meet the registration
statement filing requirements. Due to the restatement of our
historical consolidated financial results during the fourth
quarter of 2007, we were unable to file the registration
statement within 150 days after issuance of the notes. We
filed the registration statement on March 28, 2008;
however, the registration statement had not yet been declared
effective as of May 12, 2008. Due to the delay in filing
the registration statement and having it declared effective, we
have accrued additional interest expense of approximately
$1.6 million as of March 31, 2008.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
As more fully described in Notes 2 and 5 to our condensed
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
prospectus, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157,
Fair Value Measurements, or SFAS 157, during
the three months ended March 31, 2008 with respect to our
financial assets and liabilities. SFAS 157 defines fair
value as an exit price, which is the price that would be
received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an
orderly transaction between market participants at the
measurement date. The degree of judgment utilized in measuring
the fair value of assets and liabilities generally correlates to
the level of pricing observability. Financial assets and
liabilities with readily available active quoted prices or for
which fair value can be measured from actively quoted prices in
active markets generally have more pricing observability and
less judgment utilized in measuring fair value. Conversely,
financial assets and liabilities rarely traded or not quoted
have less pricing observability and are generally measured at
fair value using valuation models that require more judgment.
These valuation techniques involve some level of management
estimation and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the
price transparency or market for the asset or liability and the
complexity of the asset or liability.
We have categorized our financial assets and liabilities
measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in
accordance with SFAS 157. Fair value measurements of
financial assets and liabilities that use quoted prices in
active markets for identical assets or liabilities are generally
categorized as Level 1, fair value measurements of
financial assets and liabilities that use observable
market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated
by market data for similar assets or liabilities are generally
categorized as Level 2 and fair value measurements of
financial assets and liabilities that use unobservable inputs
that cannot be corroborated by market data are generally
76
categorized as Level 3. Such assets and liabilities have
values determined using pricing models for which the
determination of fair value requires judgement and estimation.
As of March 31, 2008, $11.9 million of our financial
assets required fair value to be measured using Level 3
inputs.
Generally, our results of operations are not significantly
impacted by our assets and liabilities accounted for at fair
value due to the nature of each asset and liability. However, as
of March 31, 2008, through our non-controlled consolidated
subsidiary Denali, we held investments in asset-backed
commercial paper, which were purchased as highly rated
investment grade securities, with a par value of
$21.6 million. These securities, which are collateralized,
in part, by residential mortgages, have declined in value and,
as a result, we have recognized a cumulative
other-than-temporary impairment loss of approximately
$9.7 million related to these investments to bring the net
carrying value of such investments to $11.9 million as of
March 31, 2008. In April 2008, we received a
$2.1 million distribution related to these investments. As
a result, the remaining par value of these investments was
reduced to $19.5 million as of April 30, 2008. In
addition, during April 2008, the value of these investments
increased by $2.1 million and, after consideration of the
distribution received, these investments had a net carrying
value of $11.9 million as of April 30, 2008. Future
volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets could result
in additional losses and difficulty in monetizing these
investments. In addition, our results of operations are
generally not impacted by the valuation of our interest rate
swaps because such interest rate swaps qualify for hedge
accounting treatment and fluctuations in their market values are
reported through other comprehensive income in the condensed
consolidated balance sheets. We continue to report our long-term
debt obligations at amortized cost and disclose the fair value
of such obligations. There was no transition adjustment as a
result of our adoption of SFAS 157 given our historical
practice of measuring and reporting our short-term investments
and interest rate swaps at fair value.
System
Equipment Purchase Agreements
In June 2007, we entered into certain system equipment purchase
agreements. The agreements generally have a term of three years
pursuant to which we agreed to purchase
and/or
license wireless communications systems, products and services
designed to be AWS functional at a current estimated cost to us
of approximately $266 million, which commitments are
subject, in part, to the necessary clearance of spectrum in the
markets to be built. Under the terms of the agreements, we are
entitled to certain pricing discounts, credits and incentives,
which discounts, credits and incentives are subject to our
achievement of our purchase commitments, and to certain
technical training for our personnel. If the purchase commitment
levels per the agreements are not achieved, we may be required
to refund previous credits and incentives we applied to
historical purchases.
Capital
Expenditures and Other Asset Acquisitions and
Dispositions
Capital
Expenditures
As part of our overall coverage expansion plans, we expect to
increase our network coverage by approximately eight million
additional POPs between January and June 2008. Looking ahead, we
and Denali License expect to cover up to approximately
36 million additional POPs by the middle of 2009 and up to
approximately 50 million additional POPs by the end of 2010
(see below, under Auction #66 Properties
and Build-Out Plans). Aggregate capital expenditures for
build-out of new markets through their first full year of
operation after commercial launch are currently anticipated to
be approximately $26.00 per covered POP, excluding capitalized
interest. The amount and timing of any capital requirements will
depend upon the pace of our planned market expansion. Ongoing
capital expenditures to support the growth and development of
our markets after their first year of commercial operation are
expected to be in the mid-teens as a percentage of service
revenue, excluding costs of any significant expansion in our
existing markets.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008 and the year
ended December 31, 2007, we and our consolidated joint
ventures made approximately $157.2 million and
$504.8 million, respectively, in capital expenditures.
These capital expenditures were primarily for: (i) the
build-out of new markets, including related capitalized
interest, (ii) expansion and improvement of our and their
existing wireless networks, and (iii) expenditures for EvDO
technology.
77
During the year ended December 31, 2006, we, ANB 1
License and LCW Operations made $591.3 million in capital
expenditures. These capital expenditures were primarily for:
(i) expansion and improvement of our existing wireless
network, (ii) the build-out and launch of our new markets,
(iii) costs incurred by ANB 1 License and LCW
Operations in connection with the build-out of their new
markets, and (iv) expenditures for EvDO technology.
During the year ended December 31, 2005, we and ANB 1
License made $208.8 million in capital expenditures. These
capital expenditures were primarily for: (i) expansion and
improvement of our existing wireless network, (ii) the
build-out and launch of the Fresno, California market and the
related expansion and network change-out of our existing Visalia
and Modesto/Merced markets, (iii) costs associated with the
build-out of our new markets, (iv) costs incurred by
ANB 1 License in connection with the build out of its new
markets and (v) initial expenditures for EvDO technology.
Auction
#66 Properties and Build-Out Plans
In December 2006, we completed the purchase of 99 wireless
licenses in Auction #66 covering 124.9 million POPs
(adjusted to eliminate duplication among certain overlapping
Auction #66 licenses) for an aggregate purchase price of
$710.2 million. In April 2007, Denali License completed the
purchase of one wireless license in Auction #66 covering
59.9 million POPs (which includes markets covering
5.8 million POPs which overlap with certain licenses we
purchased in Auction #66) for a net purchase price of
$274.1 million. We recently launched our first
Auction #66 markets in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas and
southern Texas, and we and Denali License are currently building
out additional Auction #66 markets that we intend to launch
this year and in 2009. As part of our overall coverage expansion
plans, we expect to increase our network coverage by
approximately eight million additional POPs between January and
June 2008. Looking ahead, we and Denali License expect to cover
up to approximately 36 million additional POPs by the
middle of 2009 and up to approximately 50 million
additional POPs by the end of 2010 (in each case measured on a
cumulative basis beginning January 2008). If U.S. federal
government incumbent licensees do not relocate their spectrum
use to alternative frequencies or confirm that we can operate on
the spectrum without interfering with their current uses, their
continued use of the spectrum covered by licenses we and Denali
License purchased in Auction #66 could delay the launch of
certain markets. The licenses we and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66, together with the licenses we currently own,
provide 20 MHz coverage and the opportunity to offer
enhanced data services in almost all markets that we currently
operate or are building out, assuming Denali License were to
make available to us certain of its spectrum.
Other
Acquisitions and Dispositions
In January 2007, we completed the sale of three wireless
licenses that we were not using to offer commercial service for
an aggregate sales price of $9.5 million, resulting in a
net gain of $1.3 million.
In June and August 2007, we purchased approximately 20% of the
outstanding membership units of a regional wireless service
provider for an aggregate purchase price of $18.0 million.
In October 2007, we contributed an additional $1.0 million.
We use the equity method to account for our investment. Our
equity in net earnings or losses are recorded two months in
arrears to facilitate the timely inclusion of such equity in net
earnings or losses in our consolidated financial statements.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, our share of net
losses of the entity was $2.3 million.
On April 1, 2008, we completed the purchase of Hargray
Communications Groups wireless subsidiary, Hargray
Wireless, LLC, or Hargray Wireless, for approximately
$30 million. Hargray Wireless owns a 15 MHz wireless
license covering approximately 0.8 million POPs and
operates a wireless business in Georgia and South Carolina,
which complements our existing market in Charleston, South
Carolina. The transaction will be recorded as a purchase and the
results of operations of Hargray Wireless will be included in
our condensed consolidated statement of operations beginning on
April 1, 2008. On April 3, 2008, Hargray Wireless became a
guarantor under the Credit Agreement and the indenture governing
the notes. In connection with this acquisition, we entered into
a wholesale agreement with Hargray Communications Group, under
which it is permitted to resell our Cricket Service with its
wireline services as part of a bundled offering.
In January 2008, we agreed to exchange certain disaggregated
spectrum with Sprint Nextel. An aggregate of 20 MHz of
disaggregated spectrum under certain of our existing PCS
licenses in Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas
78
will be exchanged for an aggregate of 30 MHz of
disaggregated and partitioned spectrum in New Jersey and
Mississippi owned by Sprint Nextel. The fair value of the assets
exchanged is expected to be approximately $8.1 million. The
FCC issued its approval of the transaction in March 2008;
however, completion of this transaction remains subject to
customary closing conditions. The carrying values of the
disaggregated portions of the Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas
licenses have been classified in assets held for sale in the
condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31, 2008.
Contractual
Obligations
The following table sets forth our best estimates as to the
amounts and timing of minimum contractual payments for some of
our contractual obligations as of December 31, 2007 for the
next five years and thereafter (in thousands). Future events,
including refinancing of our long-term debt, could cause actual
payments to differ significantly from these amounts.
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2009-2010
|
|
|
2011-2012
|
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Long-term debt(1)
|
|
$
|
12,748
|
|
|
$
|
35,093
|
|
|
$
|
469,008
|
|
|
$
|
1,529,451
|
|
|
$
|
2,046,300
|
|
Capital leases(2)
|
|
|
16,716
|
|
|
|
33,432
|
|
|
|
4,932
|
|
|
|
6,458
|
|
|
|
61,538
|
|
Operating leases
|
|
|
121,712
|
|
|
|
242,658
|
|
|
|
230,206
|
|
|
|
461,518
|
|
|
|
1,056,094
|
|
Purchase obligations(3)
|
|
|
291,032
|
|
|
|
128,034
|
|
|
|
16,197
|
|
|
|
1,877
|
|
|
|
437,140
|
|
Contractual interest(4)
|
|
|
174,852
|
|
|
|
346,610
|
|
|
|
334,546
|
|
|
|
206,742
|
|
|
|
1,062,750
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
617,060
|
|
|
$
|
785,827
|
|
|
$
|
1,054,889
|
|
|
$
|
2,206,046
|
|
|
$
|
4,663,822
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Amounts shown for Crickets long-term debt include
principal only. Interest on the debt, calculated at the current
interest rate, is stated separately. |
|
(2) |
|
Amounts shown for our capital leases include principal and
interest. |
|
(3) |
|
Purchase obligations are defined as agreements to purchase goods
or services that are enforceable and legally binding on us and
that specify all significant terms including (a) fixed or
minimum quantities to be purchased, (b) fixed, minimum or
variable price provisions, and (c) the approximate timing
of the transaction. |
|
(4) |
|
Contractual interest is based on the current interest rates in
effect at December 31, 2007, after giving effect to our
interest rate swaps, for debt outstanding as of that date. |
The table above also does not include the following contractual
obligations relating to LCW Wireless: (1) Crickets
obligation to pay up to $3.0 million to WLPCS if WLPCS
exercises its right to sell its membership interest in LCW
Wireless to Cricket, and (2) Crickets obligation to
pay to CSM an amount equal to CSMs pro rata share of the
fair value of the outstanding membership interests in LCW
Wireless, determined either through an appraisal or based on a
multiple equal to Leaps enterprise value divided by its
adjusted EBITDA and applied to LCW Wireless adjusted
EBITDA to impute an enterprise value and equity value for LCW
Wireless, if CSM exercises its right to sell its membership
interest in LCW Wireless to Cricket.
The table above does not include the following contractual
obligations relating to Denali: (1) Crickets
obligation to loan to Denali License an amount equal to $0.75
times the aggregate number of POPs covered by the wireless
license acquired by Denali License in Auction #66,
approximately $38.5 million of which was unused as of
December 31, 2007, and (2) Crickets payment of
an amount equal to DSMs equity contributions in cash to
Denali plus a specified return to DSM, if DSM offers to sell its
membership interest in Denali to Cricket on or following the
fifth anniversary of the initial grant to Denali License of any
wireless licenses it acquires in Auction #66 and if Cricket
accepts such offer.
The table above also does not include Crickets contingent
obligation to fund an additional $4.2 million of the
operations of a regional wireless service provider of which it
owned approximately 20% of the outstanding membership units as
of December 31, 2007.
Off-Balance
Sheet Arrangements
We do not have and have not had any material off-balance sheet
arrangements.
79
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141
(revised 2007), Business Combinations, or
SFAS 141(R), which expands the definition of a business and
a business combination, requires the fair value of the purchase
price of an acquisition including the issuance of equity
securities to be determined on the acquisition date, requires
that all assets, liabilities, contingent consideration,
contingencies and in-process research and development costs of
an acquired business be recorded at fair value at the
acquisition date, requires that acquisition costs generally be
expensed as incurred, requires that restructuring costs
generally be expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition
date, and requires changes in accounting for deferred tax asset
valuation allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after
the measurement period to impact income tax expense. We will be
required to adopt SFAS 141(R) on January 1, 2009. We
are currently evaluating what impact SFAS 141(R) will have
on our consolidated financial statements; however, since we have
significant deferred tax assets recorded through fresh-start
reporting for which full valuation allowances were recorded at
the date of our emergence from bankruptcy, this standard could
materially affect our results of operations if changes in the
valuation allowances occur once we adopt the standard.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51, or
SFAS 160, which changes the accounting and reporting for
minority interests such that minority interests will be
recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and will be required
to be reported as a component of equity, and requires that
purchases or sales of equity interests that do not result in a
change in control be accounted for as equity transactions and,
upon a loss of control, requires the interest sold, as well as
any interest retained, to be recorded at fair value with any
gain or loss recognized in earnings. We will be required to
adopt SFAS 160 on January 1, 2009. We are currently
evaluating what impact SFAS 160 will have on our
consolidated financial statements.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities, or SFAS 161, which is intended to help
investors better understand how derivative instruments and
hedging activities affect an entitys financial position,
financial performance and cash flows through enhanced disclosure
requirements. The enhanced disclosures include, for example, a
tabular summary of the fair values of derivative instruments and
their gains and losses, disclosure of derivative features that
are
credit-risk-related
to provide more information regarding an entitys liquidity
and
cross-referencing
within footnotes to make it easier for financial statement users
to locate important information about derivative instruments. We
will be required to adopt SFAS 161 on January 1, 2009.
We are currently evaluating what impact SFAS 161 will have
on our consolidated financial statements.
Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Interest Rate Risk. The terms of our Credit
Agreement require us to enter into interest rate swap agreements
in a sufficient amount so that at least 50% of our total
outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money bears interest at a
fixed rate. As of March 31, 2008, approximately 72% of our
indebtedness for borrowed money accrued interest at a fixed
rate. The fixed rate debt consisted of $1,100 million of
unsecured senior notes which bear interest at a fixed rate of
9.375% per year. In addition, $355 million of the
$884.3 million in outstanding floating rate debt under our
Credit Agreement as of March 31, 2008 was covered by
interest rate swap agreements. As of March 31, 2008, we had
interest rate swap agreements with respect to $355 million
of our debt which effectively fixed the LIBOR interest rate on
$150 million of indebtedness at 8.3% and $105 million
of indebtedness at 7.3% through June 2009 and which effectively
fixed the LIBOR interest rate on $100 million of additional
indebtedness at 8.0% through September 2010. In addition to the
outstanding floating rate debt under our Credit Agreement, LCW
Operations had $40 million in outstanding floating rate
debt as of March 31, 2008, consisting of two term loans. In
2007, LCW Operations has entered into an interest rate cap
agreement which effectively caps the three month LIBOR interest
rate at 7.0% on $20 million of its outstanding borrowings.
As of March 31, 2008, net of the effect of these interest
rate swap agreements, our outstanding floating rate indebtedness
totaled approximately $569.3 million. The primary base
interest rate is three month LIBOR plus an applicable margin.
Assuming the outstanding balance on our floating rate
indebtedness remains constant over a
80
year, a 100 basis point increase in the interest rate would
decrease pre-tax income, or increase pre-tax loss, and cash
flow, net of the effect of the interest rate swap agreements, by
approximately $5.7 million.
Hedging Policy. Our policy is to maintain
interest rate hedges to the extent that we believe them to be
fiscally prudent, and as required by our credit agreements. We
do not engage in any hedging activities for speculative purposes.
Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and
Financial Disclosure
None.
Controls
and Procedures
Evaluation
of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed
to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our
Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and
reported within the time periods specified by the SEC and that
such information is accumulated and communicated to management,
including our CEO and CFO as appropriate, to allow for timely
decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and
evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management
recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well
designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of
achieving the desired control objectives, and management is
required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit
relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Management, with participation by our CEO and CFO, has designed
our disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable
assurance of achieving desired objectives. Currently, our CEO,
S. Douglas Hutcheson, is also serving as acting CFO. As
required by SEC
Rule 13a-15(b),
in connection with filing our Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the three months ended March 31, 2008, management
conducted an evaluation, with the participation of our CEO and
our CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our
disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined
under
Rule 13a-15(e)
promulgated under the Exchange Act, as of March 31, 2008,
the end of the period covered by that report. Based upon that
evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that the material
weakness, as discussed below, that existed in our internal
control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007
existed as of March 31, 2008. As a result of this material
weakness, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls
and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance
level as of March 31, 2008.
In light of the material weakness referred to above, we
performed additional analyses and procedures in order to
conclude that our consolidated financial statements for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (including interim periods
therein) are fairly presented, in all material respects, in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America.
Managements
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining
adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term
is defined in Exchange Act
Rule 13a-15(f).
Our internal control over financial reporting is a process
designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. Our internal control
over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures
that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in
reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions
and dispositions of our assets, (ii) provide reasonable
assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and
that our receipts and expenditures are being made only in
accordance with authorizations of our management and directors,
and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention
or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or
disposition of our assets that could have a material effect on
our financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that
81
controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions,
or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures
may deteriorate.
Under the supervision and with the participation of our
management, including our CEO and CFO, we conducted an
evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal control over
financial reporting as of December 31, 2007 based on the
criteria established in Internal Control
Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring
Organizations of the Treadway Commission, or COSO.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material
misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will
not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In connection
with managements assessment of internal control over
financial reporting, management identified the following
material weakness as of December 31, 2007:
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|
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|
|
There were deficiencies in our internal controls over the
existence, completeness and accuracy of revenues, cost of
revenues and deferred revenues. Specifically, the design of
controls over the preparation and review of the account
reconciliations and analysis of revenues, cost of revenues and
deferred revenues did not detect the errors in revenues, cost of
revenues and deferred revenues. A contributing factor was the
ineffective operation of our user acceptance testing (i.e.,
ineffective testing) of changes made to our revenue and billing
systems in connection with the introduction or modification of
service offerings. This material weakness resulted in the
accounting errors which caused us to restate our consolidated
financial statements as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005 (including interim periods
therein), for the period from August 1, 2004 to
December 31, 2004 and for the period from January 1,
2004 to July 31, 2004, and our condensed consolidated
financial statements as of and for the quarterly periods ended
June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007. In addition, this
material weakness resulted in an adjustment recorded in the
three months ended December 31, 2007, which we determined
was not material to our previously reported 2006 annual or 2007
interim periods. The material weakness described above could
result in a misstatement of revenues, cost of revenues and
deferred revenues that would result in a material misstatement
to our interim or annual consolidated financial statements that
would not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
|
In light of the material weakness described above, and based on
the criteria set forth in Internal Control
Integrated Framework issued by the COSO, our management
concluded our internal control over financial reporting was not
effective as of December 31, 2007.
The effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2007 has been audited by
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included
herein.
Managements
Remediation Initiatives
We are in the process of actively addressing and remediating the
material weakness in internal control over financial reporting
described above. Elements of our remediation plan can only be
accomplished over time. We have taken and are taking the
following actions to remediate the material weakness described
above:
|
|
|
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|
During the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2007, we
performed a detailed review of our billing and revenue systems,
and processes for recording revenue. We also began and continue
to implement stronger account reconciliations and analyses
surrounding our revenue recording processes which are designed
to detect any material errors in the completeness and accuracy
of the underlying data.
|
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|
We are designing and intend to implement automated enhancements
to our billing and revenue systems to reduce the need for manual
processes and estimates and thereby streamline the processes for
ensuring revenue is recorded only when payment is received and
services are provided.
|
|
|
|
We intend to further improve our user acceptance testing related
to system changes by ensuring the user acceptance testing
encompasses a complete population of scenarios of possible
customer activity.
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82
|
|
|
|
|
We have hired and intend to hire additional personnel with the
appropriate skills, training and experience in the areas of
revenue accounting and assurance. We have conducted and will
conduct further training of our accounting and finance personnel
with respect to our significant accounting policies and
procedures.
|
Management has developed and presented to the Audit Committee a
plan and timetable for the implementation of the remediation
measures described above (to the extent not already
implemented), and the Committee intends to monitor such
implementation. We believe that the actions described above will
remediate the material weakness we have identified and
strengthen our internal control over financial reporting. As we
improve our internal control over financial reporting and
implement remediation measures, we may determine to supplement
or modify the remediation measures described above.
83
BUSINESS
We are a wireless communications carrier that offers digital
wireless service in the U.S. under the Cricket
brand. Our Cricket service offers customers unlimited wireless
service for a flat monthly rate without requiring a fixed-term
contract or credit check.
Cricket service is offered by Cricket, a wholly owned subsidiary
of Leap, and is also offered in Oregon by LCW Operations, a
designated entity under FCC regulations. Cricket owns an
indirect 73.3% non-controlling interest in LCW Operations
through a 73.3% non-controlling interest in LCW Wireless.
Cricket also owns an 82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali,
which purchased a wireless license in Auction #66 covering
the upper mid-west portion of the U.S. as a designated entity
through its wholly owned subsidiary, Denali License. We
consolidate our interests in LCW Wireless and Denali in
accordance with
FIN No. 46(R),
Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, because
these entities are variable interest entities and we will absorb
a majority of their expected losses.
Leap was formed as a Delaware corporation in 1998. Leaps
shares began trading publicly in September 1998 and we launched
our innovative Cricket service in March 1999. On April 13,
2003, we filed voluntary petitions for relief under
Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court. On August 16,
2004, our plan of reorganization became effective and we emerged
from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On that date, a new board of
directors of Leap was appointed, Leaps previously existing
stock, options and warrants were cancelled, and Leap issued
60 million shares of new Leap common stock for distribution
to two classes of creditors. See
Chapter 11 Proceedings Under the
Bankruptcy Code. On June 29, 2005, Leaps common
stock became listed for trading on the Nasdaq National Market
(now known as the Nasdaq Global Market) under the symbol
LEAP. Effective July 1, 2006, Leaps
common stock became listed for trading on the Nasdaq Global
Select Market, also under the symbol LEAP. Leap
conducts operations through its subsidiaries and has no
independent operations or sources of operating revenue other
than through dividends, if any, from its subsidiaries.
Cricket
Business Overview
Cricket
Service
At March 31, 2008, Cricket service was offered in
23 states and had approximately 3.1 million customers.
As of March 31, 2008, we, LCW License (a wholly owned
subsidiary of LCW Wireless) and Denali License owned wireless
licenses covering an aggregate of approximately 186 million
POPs (adjusted to eliminate duplication from overlapping
licenses). The combined network footprint in our operating
markets covered approximately 53 million POPs at
March 31, 2008, which includes incremental POPs attributed
to ongoing footprint expansion. The licenses we and Denali
License purchased in Auction #66, together with the
existing licenses we own, provide 20 MHz of coverage and
the opportunity to offer enhanced data services in almost all
markets in which we currently operate or are building out,
assuming Denali License were to make available to us certain of
its spectrum.
In addition to the approximately 53 million POPs we covered
at March 31, 2008, with our combined network footprint, we
estimate that we and Denali License hold licenses in markets
that cover up to approximately 85 million additional POPs
that are suitable for Cricket service. We recently launched our
first Auction #66 markets in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas and
southern Texas, and we and Denali License are currently building
out additional Auction #66 markets that we intend to launch
this year and in 2009. We also plan to continue to expand our
network coverage and capacity in many of our existing markets,
allowing us to offer our customers a larger local calling area.
As part of our overall coverage expansion plans, we expect to
increase our network coverage by approximately eight million
additional POPs between January and June 2008. Looking ahead, we
and Denali License expect to cover up to approximately
36 million additional POPs by the middle of 2009 and up to
approximately 50 million additional POPs by the end of 2010
(in each case measured on a cumulative basis beginning January
2008). We and Denali License may also develop some of the
licenses covering our additional POPs through partnerships with
others.
Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in
Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. federal
government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. Several federal government
agencies have cleared or developed plans to clear spectrum
covered by licenses we and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66 or have indicated that we and Denali License
can operate on the spectrum without interfering with the
agencies current uses. As a result, we do not expect
spectrum clearing issues to impact our near-term market
launches. In other
84
markets, we continue to work with one federal agency to ensure
that the agency either relocates its spectrum use to alternative
frequencies or confirms that we can operate on the spectrum
without interfering with its current uses. If our efforts with
this agency are not successful, the agencys continued use
of the spectrum could delay the launch of certain markets.
We continue to seek additional opportunities to enhance our
current market clusters and expand into new geographic markets
by participating in FCC spectrum auctions, by acquiring spectrum
and related assets from third parties,
and/or by
participating in new partnerships or joint ventures. We also
expect to continue to look for opportunities to optimize the
value of our spectrum portfolio. Because some of the licenses
that we and Denali License hold include large regional areas
covering both rural and metropolitan communities, we and Denali
License may sell some of this spectrum and pursue the deployment
of alternative products or services in portions of this spectrum.
We expect that we will continue to build out and launch new
markets and pursue other strategic expansion activities for the
next several years. We intend to be disciplined as we pursue
these expansion efforts and to remain focused on our position as
a low-cost leader in wireless telecommunications. We expect to
achieve increased revenues and incur higher operating expenses
as our existing business grows and as we build out and after we
launch service in new markets. Large-scale construction projects
for the build-out of our new markets will require significant
capital expenditures and may suffer cost overruns. Any such
significant capital expenditures or increased operating expenses
would decrease OIBDA and free cash flow for the periods in which
we incur such costs. However, we are willing to incur such
expenditures because we expect our expansion activities will be
beneficial to our business and create additional value for our
stockholders.
We believe that our business model is different from most other
wireless companies. Our services primarily target market
segments underserved by traditional communications companies:
our customers tend to be younger, have lower incomes and include
a greater percentage of ethnic minorities. We have designed the
Cricket service to appeal to customers who value unlimited
mobile calling with a predictable monthly bill and who make the
majority of their calls from within Cricket service areas. Our
internal customer surveys indicate that approximately 65% of our
customers use our service as their sole phone service and
approximately 90% as their primary phone service. For the three
months ended March 31, 2008, our customers used our Cricket
service for an average of approximately 1,500 minutes per month,
which we believe was substantially above the U.S. wireless
national carrier customer average.
The majority of wireless customers in the U.S. subscribe to
post-pay services that may require credit approval and a
contractual commitment from the subscriber for a period of at
least one year, and include overage charges for call volumes in
excess of a specified maximum. According to International Data
Corporation, U.S. wireless penetration was approximately
80% at December 31, 2007. We believe that a large portion
of the remaining growth potential in the U.S. wireless
market consists of customers who are price-sensitive, who have
lower credit scores or who prefer not to enter into fixed-term
contracts. We believe our services appeal strongly to these
customer segments. We believe that we are able to serve these
customers and generate significant OIBDA because of our
high-quality network and low customer acquisition and operating
costs.
We believe that our business model is scalable and can be
expanded successfully into adjacent and new markets because we
offer a differentiated service and an attractive value
proposition to our customers at costs significantly lower than
most of our competitors. As part of this expansion strategy, for
example:
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We increased our combined network footprint by approximately six
million POPs during 2007. We expect to increase our network
coverage by approximately eight million POPs between January and
June 2008. Looking ahead, we and Denali License expect to cover
up to approximately 36 million additional POPs by the
middle of 2009 and up to approximately 50 million
additional POPs by the end of 2010.
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In January 2008, we agreed to exchange an aggregate of 20 MHz of
disaggregated spectrum under certain of our existing PSC
licenses in Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas for an aggregate of
30 MHz of disaggregated and partitioned spectrum in New Jersey
and Mississippi under certain of Sprint Nextels existing
wireless licenses. The FCC issued its approval of the
transaction in March 2008, but the transaction remains subject
to customary closing conditions.
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In April 2007, Denali License was awarded a wireless license
covering 59.9 million POPs (which includes markets covering
5.8 million POPs which overlap with certain licenses we
purchased in Auction #66).
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85
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In December 2006, we purchased 99 wireless licenses in
Auction #66 covering 124.9 million POPs (adjusted to
eliminate duplication among certain overlapping Auction #66
licenses).
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In November 2006, we completed the purchase of 13 wireless
licenses in the Carolinas for an aggregate purchase price of
$31.8 million. During 2007, we launched Cricket service in
select new markets in North and South Carolina, adding
approximately 1.9 million POPs to our network footprint.
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In August 2006, we exchanged our wireless license in Grand
Rapids, Michigan for a wireless license in Rochester, New York
to form a new market cluster with our existing Buffalo and
Syracuse markets in upstate New York. In June 2007, we launched
Cricket service in Rochester, New York, resulting in an expanded
regional network footprint covering 2.4 million POPs.
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In July 2006, we acquired a non-controlling membership interest
in LCW Wireless, which held a license for the Portland, Oregon
market and to which we contributed, among other things, our
existing Eugene and Salem, Oregon markets. LCW Wireless launched
Cricket service in the Portland, Oregon market in December 2006,
creating a new expanded network footprint in Oregon covering
2.6 million POPs.
|
Cricket
Business Strategy
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Target Underserved Customer Segments. Our
services are targeted primarily toward market segments
underserved by traditional communications companies. On average,
our customers tend to be younger and have lower incomes than the
customers of other wireless carriers. Moreover, our customer
base also reflects a greater percentage of ethnic minorities
than those of the national carriers. We believe these
underserved market segments are among the fastest growing
population segments in the U.S.
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Continue to Develop and Evolve Products and
Services. We continue to develop and evolve our
product and service offerings to better meet the needs of our
target customer segments. For example, during the last two
years, we introduced our mobile broadband product offering,
added unlimited mobile web access to our product portfolio, and
introduced new higher-priced, higher-value rate plans that allow
unlimited calling from any Cricket calling area. With the
completion of our deployment of EvDO technology across all of
our existing and new markets, we are able to offer an expanded
array of services to our customers, including high demand
wireless data services such as mobile content and high quality
music downloads at speeds of up to 2.4 Megabits per second. We
believe these and other enhanced data offerings will be
attractive to many of our existing customers and will enhance
our appeal to new data-centric customers. We expect to continue
to develop our voice and data product and service offerings in
the future.
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Build Our Brand and Strengthen Our
Distribution. We are focused on building our
brand awareness in our markets and improving the productivity of
our distribution system. Since our target customer base is
diversified geographically, ethnically and demographically, we
have decentralized our marketing programs to support local
customization and better target our advertising expenses. We
have redesigned and remerchandized our stores and introduced a
new sales process aimed at improving both the customer
experience and our revenue per user. We have also established
our premier dealer program, and we are in the process of
enabling our premier dealers and other indirect dealers to
provide greater customer support services. We expect these
changes will enhance the customer experience and improve
customer satisfaction.
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Maintain Industry Leading Cost Structure. Our
networks and business model are designed to provide service to
our customers at a significantly lower cost than many of our
competitors. As we continue to build out new markets, we expect
to continue to spread our fixed costs over a growing customer
base. We seek to maintain low customer acquisition costs through
focused sales and marketing initiatives and cost-effective
distribution strategies.
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Enhance Existing Markets. We continue to
expand our network coverage and capacity in many of our existing
markets by deploying additional cell sites, allowing us to offer
our customers a larger local calling area. As part of this
expansion, we deployed approximately 400 new cell sites in our
existing markets between January 2007 and March 2008 and expect
to deploy approximately 200 additional cell sites in our
existing markets in 2008. For example, in Arizona we
significantly expanded our network footprint in our
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86
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Phoenix and Tucson markets and are joining these two markets
into a single, contiguous local calling area for the first time.
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Develop Market Clusters and Expand Into Attractive Strategic
Markets. We continue to seek additional
opportunities to develop and enhance our market clusters and
expand into new geographic markets by participating in FCC
spectrum auctions, by acquiring spectrum and related assets from
third parties, or by participating in new partnerships or joint
ventures. An example of our market cluster strategy is the
Rochester, New York market we launched in 2007 to create a new
market cluster in upstate New York by connecting our existing
Buffalo and Syracuse markets. Examples of our strategic market
expansion include the central Texas market cluster (including
Houston, Austin and San Antonio) and the San Diego,
California market that we acquired and launched in 2006. All of
these markets meet our internally developed criteria concerning
customer demographics and population density which we believe
enable us to offer Cricket service on a cost-competitive basis
in these markets. We also anticipate that the licenses we and
Denali License purchased in Auction #66 will provide the
opportunity to substantially enhance our coverage area and allow
us and Denali License to launch Cricket service in numerous new
markets over time, with our first Auction #66 markets recently
launched in Oklahoma City, Las Vegas and southern Texas.
|
Cricket
Business Operations
Products
and Services
Cricket Service Plans. Our service plans are
designed to attract customers by offering simple, predictable
and affordable wireless services that are a competitive
alternative to traditional wireless and wireline services.
Unlike traditional wireless services, we offer service on a
flat-rate, unlimited usage basis, without requiring fixed-term
contracts, early termination fees or credit checks. Our service
plans allow our customers to place unlimited calls within
Cricket service areas and receive unlimited calls from anywhere
in the world.
In May 2008, we launched a new suite of Cricket rate plans,
which all include unlimited wireless services, the foundation of
our business. Our new premium plans offer unlimited local and
U.S. long distance service from any Cricket service area
and unlimited use of multiple calling features, messaging
services and mobile web access, bundled with specified roaming
minutes in the continental U.S. and directory assistance. Our
most popular plan combines unlimited local and U.S. long
distance service from any Cricket service area with unlimited
use of multiple calling features and messaging services. In
addition, we offer basic service plans that allow customers to
make unlimited calls within their Cricket service area and
receive unlimited calls from any area, combined with an
unlimited U.S. long distance service option. We have also
launched a new weekly rate plan, Cricket By Week, and a flexible
payment option, BridgePay, which give our customers greater
flexibility in the use and payment of wireless service and which
we believe will help us to improve customer retention.
With the completion of our deployment of EvDO technology across
all of our existing and new markets, we are able to offer an
expanded array of services to our customers, including
high-demand wireless data services such as mobile content and
high quality music downloads at speeds of up to
2.4 Megabits per second. We expect to continue to develop
our product and service offerings in 2008 and beyond to better
meet our customers needs.
Cricket Plan Upgrades. We continue to evaluate
new product and service offerings in order to enhance customer
satisfaction and attract new customers. Examples of services
that customers can add to their plans include: packages of
international calling minutes to Canada
and/or
Mexico; roaming service packages, which allow our customers to
use their Cricket phones outside of their Cricket service areas
on a prepaid basis; and Cricket Flex
Bucket®
service, which allows our customers to pre-purchase services
(including additional directory assistance calls, roaming
services, domestic and international long distance, ring tones,
premium short message service (SMS) and text messaging to
wireless users) and applications (including customized ring
tones, wallpapers, photos, greeting cards, games and news and
entertainment message deliveries) on a prepaid basis.
Handsets. Our handsets range from high-end to
budget low-cost models, and include models that provide mobile
web browsers, picture-enabled caller ID, color screens,
high-resolution cameras with digital zoom and flash, integrated
FM radio and MP3 stereo, USB, infrared and Bluetooth
connectivity, over 20MB of on-board memory, and other features
to facilitate digital data transmission. Currently, all of the
handsets that we offer use CDMA2000
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1xRTT, or CDMA 1xRTT, technology. In addition, we occasionally
offer selective handset upgrade incentives for customers who
meet certain criteria.
Handset Replacement and Returns. We facilitate
warranty exchanges between our customers and the handset
manufacturers for handset issues that occur during the
applicable warranty period, and we work with a third party who
provides our customers with an extended handset
warranty/insurance program. Customers have limited rights to
return handsets and accessories based on the time elapsed since
purchase and usage. Returns of handsets and accessories have
historically been negligible.
Cricket Wireless Internet Service. In
September 2007, we introduced our first unlimited mobile
broadband product offering into select markets. Like our Cricket
unlimited service plans, this service allows customers to access
the internet through their laptops for one low, flat rate with
no long-term commitments or credit checks, and brings low-cost
broadband data capability to the unlimited wireless segment. We
intend to expand the availability of this product offering into
additional markets in 2008.
Jump Mobile. Our per-minute prepaid service,
Jump Mobile, brings Crickets attractive value proposition
to customers who prefer active control over their wireless usage
and to allow us to better target the urban youth market. Our
Jump Mobile plan allows our customers to receive unlimited calls
from anywhere in the world at any time, and to place calls to
any place in the U.S. (excluding Alaska) at a flat rate of
$0.10 per minute, provided they have sufficient funds in their
account. In addition, our Jump Mobile customers receive free
unlimited inbound and outbound text messaging, provided they
have a credit balance in their account, as well as access to
roaming service (for $0.69 per minute), international long
distance services, and other services and applications.
Customer
Care and Billing
Customer Care. We outsource our call center
operations to multiple call center vendors and strive to take
advantage of call centers in the U.S. and abroad to
continuously improve the quality of our customer care and reduce
the cost of providing care to our customers. One of our
international call centers is located in Central America, which
facilitates the efficient provision of customer support to our
large and growing Spanish-speaking customer segment.
Billing and Support Systems. We outsource our
billing, provisioning, and payment systems with external vendors
and also contract out our bill presentment, distribution and
fulfillment services to external vendors.
Sales
and Distribution
Our sales and distribution strategy is to continue to increase
our market penetration, while minimizing expenses associated
with sales, distribution and marketing, by focusing on improving
the sales process for customers and by offering easy to
understand service plans and attractive handset pricing and
promotions. We believe our sales costs are lower than
traditional wireless providers in part because of this
streamlined sales approach.
We sell our Cricket handsets and service primarily through two
channels: Crickets own retail locations and kiosks (the
direct channel); and authorized dealers and distributors,
including premier dealers, local market authorized dealers,
national retail chains and other indirect distributors (the
indirect channel). Premier dealers are independent dealers that
sell Cricket products, usually exclusively, in stores that look
and function similar to our company-owned stores, enhancing the
in-store experience and the level of customer service for
customers and expanding our brand presence within a market. As
of December 31, 2007, we and LCW Operations had 152 direct
locations and 2,690 indirect distributors, including
approximately 790 premier dealers. Our direct sales locations
were responsible for approximately 22% of our gross customer
additions in 2007. Premier dealers tend to generate
significantly more business than other indirect dealers. We
strategically place our direct and indirect retail locations to
focus on our target customer demographic and provide the most
efficient market coverage while minimizing cost. As a result of
our product design and cost efficient distribution system, we
have been able to achieve a CPGA, which measures the average
cost of acquiring a new customer, that is significantly lower
than most of our competitors.
We are focused on building and maintaining brand awareness in
our markets and improving the productivity of our distribution
system. We combine mass and local marketing strategies to build
brand awareness of the Cricket
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service within the communities we serve. In order to reach our
target segments, we advertise primarily on radio stations and,
to a lesser extent, on television and in local publications. We
also maintain the Cricket website (www.mycricket.com) for
informational,
e-commerce,
and customer service purposes. Some third party internet
retailers sell the Cricket service over the internet and,
working with a third party, we have also developed and launched
internet sales on our Cricket website. We also have redesigned
and re-merchandized our stores and introduced a new sales
process aimed at improving both the customer experience and our
revenue per user.
As a result of these marketing strategies and our unlimited
calling value proposition, we believe our expenditures on
advertising are generally at much lower levels than those of
traditional wireless carriers. We believe that our CPGA is one
of the lowest in the industry. See Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations Performance Measures, contained
elsewhere in this prospectus.
Network
and Operations
We have deployed in each of our markets a high quality CDMA
1xRTT network that delivers high capacity and outstanding
quality at a low cost that can be easily upgraded to support
enhanced capacity. During 2007, we completed the upgrade to EvDO
technology in all existing and new markets, providing us the
technical ability to support next generation high-speed data
services. Our network has regularly been ranked by third party
surveys commissioned by us as one of the top networks within the
advertised coverage area in the markets Cricket serves.
Our service is based on providing customers with levels of usage
equivalent to landline service at prices substantially lower
than those offered by most of our wireless competitors for
similar usage and at prices that are competitive with unlimited
wireline plans. We believe our success depends on operating our
CDMA 1xRTT network to provide high quality, concentrated
coverage and capacity rather than the broad, geographically
dispersed coverage provided by traditional wireless carriers.
CDMA 1xRTT technology provides us substantially higher capacity
than other technologies, such as global system for mobile
communications (GSM).
As of December 31, 2007, our wireless network consisted of
approximately 5,100 cell sites (most of which are co-located on
leased facilities), a Network Operations Center, or NOC, and 31
switches in 33 switching centers. A switching center serves
several purposes, including routing calls, supervising call
originations and terminations at cell sites, managing call
handoffs and access to and from the public switched telephone
network, or PSTN, and other value-added services. These
locations also house platforms that enable services including
text messaging, picture messaging, voice mail, and data
services. Our NOC provides dedicated, 24 hours per day
monitoring capabilities every day of the year for all network
nodes to ensure highly reliable service to our customers.
Our switches connect to the PSTN through fiber rings leased from
third party providers which facilitate the first leg of
origination and termination of traffic between our equipment and
both local exchange and long distance carriers. We have
negotiated interconnection agreements with relevant exchange
carriers in each of our markets. We use third party providers
for long distance services and for backhaul services carrying
traffic to and from our cell sites and switching centers.
We monitor network quality metrics, including dropped call rates
and blocked call rates. We also engage an independent third
party to test the network call quality offered by us and our
competitors in the markets where we offer service. According to
the most recent results, we rank first or second in network
quality within most of our core market footprints.
We generally build out our Cricket network in local population
centers of metropolitan communities serving the areas where our
customers live, work and play. We continue to expand our network
coverage and capacity in many of our existing markets by
deploying additional cell sites, allowing us to offer our
customers a larger calling area. As part of this expansion, we
deployed approximately 400 new cell sites in our existing
markets between January 2007 and March 2008 and expect to deploy
approximately 200 additional cell sites in our existing markets
in 2008. For example, in Arizona we significantly expanded our
network footprint in our Phoenix and Tucson markets and are
joining these two markets into a single, contiguous local
calling area for the first time.
Some of the Auction #66 licenses we and Denali License
purchased include large regional areas covering both rural and
metropolitan communities. Based on our preliminary analysis of
the potential new markets covered by these Auction #66
licenses, we believe that a significant portion of the POPs
included within such new licenses may
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not be well suited for Cricket service. Therefore, among other
things, we
and/or
Denali License may seek to partner with others, sell spectrum or
pursue alternative products or services to utilize or benefit
from the spectrum not otherwise used for Cricket service.
Arrangements
with LCW Wireless
In July 2006, we acquired a 72% non-controlling membership
interest in LCW Wireless. In December 2006, we completed the
replacement of certain network equipment of LCW Operations,
entitling us to receive additional membership interests in LCW
Wireless. The membership interests in LCW Wireless are now held
as follows: Cricket holds a 73.3% non-controlling membership
interest; CSM holds a 24.7% non-controlling membership interest;
and WLPCS holds a 2% controlling membership interest. WLPCS
contributed $1.3 million in cash to LCW Wireless in
exchange for its controlling membership interest. LCW Wireless
is a very small business designated entity under FCC
regulations, which owned a wireless license for Portland, Oregon
and to which we contributed two wireless licenses in Salem and
Eugene, Oregon, related operating assets and approximately
$21 million in cash.
LCW Wireless, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, is a
wireless communications carrier that offers digital wireless
service in the Oregon market cluster through its subsidiary, LCW
Operations, under the Cricket and Jump Mobile brands. LCW
Operations launched service in Portland, Oregon in December
2006, creating a market cluster with its existing Salem and
Eugene markets covering approximately 2.6 million POPs.
We anticipate that LCW Wireless working capital needs will
be funded through Crickets initial equity contribution and
through third party debt financing. In October 2006, LCW
Operations entered into a senior secured credit agreement
consisting of two term loans for $40 million in the
aggregate. The loans bear interest at LIBOR plus the applicable
margin ranging from 2.70% to 6.33%. The obligations under the
loans are guaranteed by LCW Wireless and LCW License.
Outstanding borrowings under the term loans must be repaid in
varying quarterly installments starting in June 2008, with an
aggregate final payment of $24.5 million due in June 2011.
Under the senior secured credit agreement, LCW Operations and
the guarantors are subject to certain limitations, including
limitations on their ability to: incur additional debt or sell
assets with restrictions on the use of proceeds, make certain
investments and acquisitions; grant liens; pay dividends; and
make certain other restricted payments. In addition, LCW
Operations will be required to pay down the facilities under
certain circumstances if it or the guarantors issue debt, sell
assets or generate excess cash flow. The senior secured credit
agreement requires that LCW Operations and the guarantors comply
with financial covenants related to adjusted earnings before
interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, gross
additions of subscribers, minimum cash and cash equivalents and
maximum capital expenditures, among other things.
Limited Liability Company Agreement. In July
2006, Cricket entered into the LLC Agreement of LCW Wireless,
LLC, or LCW LLC Agreement, with CSM and WLPCS. Under the LCW LLC
Agreement, a board of managers has the right and power to
manage, operate and control LCW Wireless and its business and
affairs, subject to certain protective provisions for the
benefit of Cricket and CSM. The board of managers is currently
comprised of five members, with three members designated by
WLPCS (who have agreed to vote together as a block), one member
designated by CSM and one member designated by Cricket. In the
event that LCW Wireless fails to qualify as an
entrepreneur and a very small business
under FCC rules, then in certain circumstances, subject to FCC
approval, WLPCS is required to sell its entire equity interest
to LCW Wireless or a third party designated by the
non-controlling members.
Under the LCW LLC Agreement, during the first five years
following the date of the agreement, members generally may not
transfer their membership interest, other than to specified
permitted transferees or through the exercise of put rights set
forth in the LCW LLC Agreement. Following such period, if a
member desires to transfer its interests in LCW Wireless to a
third party, the non-controlling members have a right of first
refusal to purchase such interests on a pro rata basis.
Under the LCW LLC Agreement, WLPCS has the option to put its
entire equity interest in LCW Wireless to Cricket for a purchase
price not to exceed $3.0 million during a
30-day
period commencing on the earlier to occur of August 9, 2010
and the date of a sale of all or substantially all of the
assets, or the liquidation, of LCW Wireless. If the put option
is exercised, the consummation of this sale will be subject to
FCC approval. Alternatively, WLPCS is
90
entitled to receive a liquidation preference equal to its
capital contributions plus a specified rate of return, together
with any outstanding mandatory distributions owed to WLPCS.
Under the LCW LLC Agreement, CSM also has the option, during
specified periods, to put its entire equity interest in LCW
Wireless to Cricket in exchange for either cash, Leap common
stock, or a combination thereof, as determined by Cricket at its
discretion, for a purchase price calculated on a pro rata basis
using either the appraised value of LCW Wireless or a multiple
of Leaps enterprise value divided by its EBITDA and
applied to LCW Wireless adjusted EBITDA to impute an
enterprise value and equity value for LCW Wireless. If Cricket
elects to satisfy its put obligations to CSM with Leap common
stock, the obligations of the parties are conditioned upon the
block of Leap common stock issuable to CSM not constituting more
than five percent of Leaps outstanding common stock at the
time of issuance.
Management Agreement. In July 2006, Cricket
and LCW Wireless entered into a management services agreement,
pursuant to which LCW Wireless has the right to obtain
management services from Cricket in exchange for a monthly
management fee based on Crickets costs of providing such
services plus a
mark-up for
administrative overhead.
Arrangements
with Denali
In May 2006, Cricket and Denali Spectrum Manager, LLC, or DSM,
formed Denali as a joint venture to participate (through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Denali License) in Auction #66 as
a very small business designated entity under FCC
regulations. Cricket owns an 82.5% non-controlling membership
interest and DSM owns a 17.5% controlling membership interest in
Denali. DSM, as the sole manager of Denali, has the exclusive
right and power to manage, operate and control Denali and its
business and affairs, subject to certain protective provisions
for the benefit of Cricket. On April 30, 2007, Denali
purchased a wireless license in Auction #66 covering the
upper mid-west portion of the U.S. as a designated entity
through its wholly owned subsidiary Denali License.
Crickets principal agreements with the Denali entities are
summarized below.
Limited Liability Company Agreement. In July
2006, Cricket and DSM entered into an amended and restated
limited liability company agreement, or the Denali LLC
Agreement, under which Cricket and DSM made equity investments
in Denali of approximately $7.6 million and
$1.6 million, respectively. In October 2006, Cricket and
DSM made further equity investments in Denali of
$34.2 million and $7.3 million, respectively. In
September and October 2007, Cricket and Denali made further
equity investments in Denali of $41.8 million and
$8.9 million, respectively.
Under the Denali LLC Agreement, DSM, as the sole manager of
Denali, has the exclusive right and power to manage, operate and
control Denali and its business and affairs, subject to certain
protective provisions for the benefit of Cricket including,
among other things, Crickets consent to the acquisition of
wireless licenses or the sale of its wireless license or the
sale of any additional membership interests. DSM can be removed
as the manager of Denali in certain circumstances, including
DSMs fraud, gross negligence or willful misconduct,
DSMs insolvency or bankruptcy, or DSMs failure to
qualify as an entrepreneur and a very small
business under FCC regulations, or other limited
circumstances.
During the first ten years following the initial grant of
wireless licenses to Denali License, members of Denali generally
may not transfer their membership interests to non-affiliates
without Crickets prior written consent. Following such
period, if a member desires to transfer its interests in Denali
to a third party, Cricket has a right of first refusal to
purchase such interests or, in lieu of exercising this right,
Cricket has a tag-along right to participate in the sale. DSM
may offer to sell its entire membership interest in Denali to
Cricket on the fifth anniversary of the initial grant of
wireless licenses to Denali License and on each subsequent
anniversary thereof for a purchase price equal to DSMs
equity contributions in cash to Denali, plus a specified return,
payable in cash. If exercised, the consummation of the sale will
be subject to FCC approval.
Senior Secured Credit Agreement. In July 2006,
Cricket entered into a senior secured credit agreement with
Denali License and Denali. Pursuant to this agreement, as
amended, Cricket loaned to Denali License approximately
$223.4 million to fund the payment of its net winning bid
in Auction #66. Under the agreement, Cricket also
91
agreed to loan to Denali License an amount equal to $0.75 times
the aggregate number of POPs covered by the license for which it
was the winning bidder (approximately $44.5 million) to
fund a portion of the costs of the construction and operation of
the wireless network using such license, which build-out loan
sub-facility may be increased from time to time with
Crickets approval. As of December 31, 2007, Cricket
had loaned to Denali License approximately $6.0 million
under this build-out loan sub-facility. Loans under the credit
agreement accrue interest at the rate of 14% per annum and such
interest is added to principal quarterly. All outstanding
principal and accrued interest is due on the fourteenth
anniversary of the grant date of the wireless license awarded to
Denali License in Auction #66. Outstanding principal and
accrued interest is amortized in quarterly installments
commencing on the tenth anniversary of the license grant date.
However, if DSM makes an offer to sell its membership interest
in Denali to Cricket under the Denali LLC Agreement and Cricket
accepts such offer, then the amortization commencement date
under the credit agreement will be extended to the first
business day following the date on which Cricket has paid DSM
the offer price for its membership interest in Denali. Denali
License may prepay loans under the credit agreement at any time
without premium or penalty. In February 2008, Cricket entered
into a letter of credit and reimbursement agreement, under which
Cricket agreed to use reasonable efforts to procure stand-by
letters of credit from financial institutions in favor of
certain vendors and lessors of Denali in connection with its
build-out activities, the aggregate stated amount of which may
not exceed $7.5 million. Denali is required to reimburse
Cricket with respect to any drawing under a letter of credit,
and to pay interest with respect to any unreimbursed drawing.
The obligations of Denali License and Denali under these
agreements are secured by all of the personal property, fixtures
and owned real property of Denali License and Denali, subject to
certain permitted liens.
Management Agreement. In July 2006, Cricket
and Denali License entered into a management services agreement,
pursuant to which Cricket is to provide management services to
Denali License and its subsidiaries in exchange for a monthly
management fee based on Crickets costs of providing such
services plus overhead. Under the management services agreement,
Denali License retains full control and authority over its
business strategy, finances, wireless licenses, network
equipment, facilities and operations, including its product
offerings, terms of service and pricing. The initial term of the
management services agreement is ten years. The management
services agreement may be terminated by Denali License or
Cricket if the other party materially breaches its obligations
under the agreement.
Alaska
Native Broadband
In November 2004, we acquired a 75% non-controlling membership
interest in ANB 1, whose wholly owned subsidiary ANB 1
License participated in the FCCs Auction #58. ANB
owned a 25% controlling membership interest in and was the sole
manager of ANB 1, and ANB 1 was the sole member and
manager of ANB 1 License. ANB 1 License was eligible
to bid on certain restricted licenses offered by the FCC in
Auction #58 as a designated entity. In January 2007, ANB
exercised its option to sell its entire 25% controlling interest
in ANB 1 to Cricket. The FCC approved the application to
transfer control of ANB 1 License to Cricket, we closed the
sale transaction on March 5, 2007, and ANB and ANB 1
License became guarantors under our Credit Agreement and the
indenture governing the notes. On December 31, 2007,
ANB 1 License transferred its wireless licenses to a
Cricket subsidiary and ANB 1 and ANB 1 License were
merged into Cricket, with Cricket as the surviving entity.
Competition
The telecommunications industry is very competitive. We believe
that our primary competition in the U.S. wireless market is
with national and regional wireless service providers including
Alltel, AT&T, Sprint Nextel (and Sprint Nextel affiliates),
T-Mobile,
U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless. AT&T, Sprint
Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have each begun to offer
flat-rate unlimited service offerings. In addition, Sprint
Nextel, offers a flat-rate unlimited service offering under its
Boost Unlimited brand, which is very similar to the Cricket
service. Sprint Nextel has expanded and may further expand its
Boost Unlimited service offering into certain markets in which
we provide service or in which we plan to expand, and this
service offering may present additional strong competition to
Cricket service in markets in which our service offerings
overlap. The competitive pressures of the wireless
telecommunications market have also caused other carriers to
offer service plans with unlimited service offerings or large
bundles of minutes of use at low prices which are competing with
the predictable and
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unlimited Cricket calling plans. Some competitors also offer
prepaid wireless plans that are being advertised heavily to
demographic segments in our current markets and in markets in
which we may expand that are strongly represented in
Crickets customer base. For example,
T-Mobile has
introduced a FlexPay plan which permits customers to pay in
advance for its post-pay plans and avoid overage charges. These
competitive offerings could adversely affect our ability to
maintain our pricing and increase or maintain our market
penetration and may have a material adverse effect on our
financial results.
We also face competition from resellers or MVNOs, such as Virgin
Mobile USA, TracFone Wireless, and others, which provide
wireless services to customers but do not hold FCC licenses or
own network facilities. These resellers purchase bulk wireless
telephone services and capacity from wireless providers and
resell to the public under their own brand name generally
through mass market retail outlets. Wireless providers are also
increasingly competing in the provision of both voice and
non-voice services. Non-voice services, including data
transmission, text messaging,
e-mail and
internet access, are now available from personal communications
service providers and enhanced specialized mobile radio
carriers. In many cases, non-voice services are offered in
conjunction with or as adjuncts to voice services.
In the future, we may also face competition from entities
providing similar services using different technologies,
including Wi-Fi, WiMax, and VoIP. Additionally, some of the
major internet search engines and service providers have entered
the mobile service market, or announced plans or intentions to
enter the mobile service market, by providing free internet and
voice access through a fixed mobile network in partnership with
some major municipalities in the U.S. As wireless service
is becoming a viable alternative to traditional landline phone
service, we are also increasingly competing directly with
traditional landline telephone companies for customers.
Competition is also increasing from local and long distance
wireline carriers who have begun to aggressively advertise in
the face of increasing competition from wireless carriers, cable
operators and other competitors. Cable operators are providing
telecommunications services to the home, and some of these
carriers are providing local and long distance voice services
using VoIP. In particular circumstances, these carriers may be
able to avoid payment of access charges to local exchange
carriers for the use of their networks on long distance calls.
Cost savings for these carriers could result in lower prices to
customers and increased competition for wireless services. Some
of our competitors offer these other services together with
their wireless communications service, which may make their
services more attractive to customers. In the future, we may
also face competition from mobile satellite service, or MSS,
providers, as well as from resellers of these services. The FCC
has granted, or may grant, MSS providers the flexibility to
deploy an ancillary terrestrial component to their satellite
services. This added flexibility may enhance MSS providers
ability to offer more competitive mobile services.
There has also been an increasing trend towards consolidation of
wireless service providers through joint ventures,
reorganizations and acquisitions. These consolidated carriers
may have substantially larger service areas, more capacity and
greater financial resources and bargaining power than we do. As
consolidation creates even larger competitors, the advantages
our competitors have may increase. For example, in connection
with the offering of our roaming service, we have encountered
problems with certain large wireless carriers in negotiating
reasonable terms for roaming arrangements, and believe that
consolidation has contributed significantly to such
carriers control over the terms and conditions of
wholesale roaming services. Additionally, these agreements can
be terminated by the carriers.
The telecommunications industry is experiencing significant
technological changes, as evidenced by the increasing pace of
improvements in the capacity and quality of digital technology,
shorter cycles for new products and enhancements and changes in
consumer preferences and expectations. Accordingly, we expect
competition in the wireless telecommunications industry to be
dynamic and intense as a result of competitors and the
development of new technologies, products and services. We
compete for customers based on numerous factors, including
wireless system coverage and quality, service value proposition
(minutes and features relative to price), local market presence,
digital voice and features, customer service, distribution
strength, and brand name recognition. Some competitors also
market other services, such as landline local exchange and
internet access services, with their wireless service offerings.
For example, T-Mobile has introduced an internet-based service
upgrade which permits wireless customers to make unlimited local
and long-distance calls from their home phone in place of a
traditional landline phone service. Competition has caused, and
we anticipate it will continue to cause, market prices for
two-way wireless products and services to decline. Our ability
to compete successfully will depend, in part, on our
93
ability to distinguish our Cricket service from competitors
through marketing and through our ability to anticipate and
respond to other competitive factors affecting the industry,
including new services that may be introduced, changes in
consumer preferences, demographic trends, economic conditions,
and competitors discount pricing and bundling strategies,
all of which could adversely affect our operating margins,
market penetration and customer retention. Because many of the
wireless operators in our markets have substantially greater
financial resources than we do, they may be able to offer
prospective customers discounts or equipment subsidies that are
substantially greater than those we could offer. In addition, to
the extent that products or services that we offer, such as
roaming capability, may depend upon negotiations with other
wireless operators, discriminatory behavior by such operators or
their refusal to negotiate with us could adversely affect our
business. While we believe that our cost structure, combined
with the differentiated value proposition that our Cricket
service represents in the wireless marketplace, provides us with
the means to react effectively to price competition, we cannot
predict the effect that the market forces or the conduct of
other operators in the industry will have on our business.
The FCC is currently pursuing policies designed to increase the
number of wireless licenses available and new wireless provider
competition. For example, the FCC has adopted rules that allow
PCS and other wireless licenses to be partitioned, disaggregated
and leased. The FCC also continues to allocate and auction
additional spectrum that can be used for wireless services. In
February 2005, the FCC completed Auction #58, in which
additional PCS spectrum was auctioned in numerous markets,
including many markets where we currently provide service. In
addition, the FCC in 2006 auctioned an additional 90 MHz of
nationwide spectrum in the 1700 MHz to 2100 MHz band
for AWS in Auction #66, and in 2008 auctioned an additional
62 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band in
Auction #73. New companies, such as cable television
operators or satellite operators, have purchased or may purchase
licenses and begin offering wireless services. In addition,
because the FCC has recently permitted the offering of broadband
services over power lines, it is possible that utility companies
will begin competing against us.
We believe that we are strategically positioned to compete with
other communications technologies that now exist. Continuing
technological advances in telecommunications and FCC policies
that encourage the development of new spectrum-based
technologies make it difficult, however, to predict the extent
of future competition.
Chapter 11
Proceedings Under the Bankruptcy Code
On April 13, 2003, Leap, Cricket and substantially all of
their subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for relief under
Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court. On August 16,
2004, our plan of reorganization became effective and we emerged
from bankruptcy. On that date a new board of directors of Leap
was appointed, Leaps previously existing stock, options
and warrants were cancelled, and Leap issued 60 million
shares of new Leap common stock for distribution to two classes
of creditors. Leap also issued warrants to purchase
600,000 shares of new Leap common stock pursuant to a
settlement agreement. A creditor trust, referred to as the Leap
Creditor Trust, was formed for the benefit of Leaps
general unsecured creditors. The Leap Creditor Trust received
shares of new Leap common stock for distribution to Leaps
general unsecured creditors, and certain other assets, as
specified in our plan of reorganization, for liquidation by the
Leap Creditor Trust with the proceeds to be distributed to
holders of allowed Leap unsecured claims. Any cash held in
reserve by Leap immediately prior to the effective date of the
plan of reorganization that remains following satisfaction of
all allowed administrative claims and allowed priority claims
against Leap will be distributed to the Leap Creditor Trust.
Our plan of reorganization implemented a comprehensive financial
reorganization that significantly reduced our outstanding
indebtedness. On the effective date of the plan of
reorganization, our long-term indebtedness was reduced from a
book value of more than $2.4 billion to indebtedness with
an estimated fair value of $412.8 million, consisting of
new Cricket 13% senior secured
pay-in-kind
notes due in 2011 with a face value of $350 million and an
estimated fair value of $372.8 million, issued on the
effective date of the plan of reorganization, and approximately
$40 million of remaining indebtedness to the FCC (net of
the repayment of $45 million of principal and accrued
interest to the FCC on the effective date of the plan of
reorganization). We entered into new syndicated senior secured
credit facilities in January 2005, and we used a portion of the
proceeds from the $500 million term loan included as a part
of such facilities to redeem Crickets 13% senior
secured
pay-in-kind
notes, to repay our remaining approximately $41 million of
outstanding indebtedness and accrued interest to the FCC and to
pay transaction fees and expenses of $6.4 million.
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Government
Regulation
The licensing, construction, modification, operation, sale,
ownership and interconnection of wireless communications
networks are regulated to varying degrees by the FCC, Congress,
state regulatory agencies, the courts and other governmental
bodies. Decisions by these bodies could have a significant
impact on the competitive market structure among wireless
providers and on the relationships between wireless providers
and other carriers. These mandates may impose significant
financial obligations on us and other wireless providers. We are
unable to predict the scope, pace or financial impact of legal
or policy changes that could be adopted in these proceedings.
Licensing
of our Wireless Service Systems
Cricket and LCW License hold PCS licenses, and Cricket and
Denali License hold Advanced Wireless Service, or AWS, licenses.
The licensing rules that apply to these two services are
summarized below.
PCS Licenses. A broadband PCS system operates
under a license granted by the FCC for a particular market on
one of six frequency blocks allocated for broadband PCS.
Broadband PCS systems generally are used for two-way voice
applications. Narrowband PCS systems, in contrast, generally are
used for non-voice applications such as paging and data service
and are separately licensed. The FCC has segmented the
U.S. PCS markets into 51 large regions called major trading
areas, or MTAs, which in turn are comprised of 493 smaller
regions called basic trading areas, or BTAs. The FCC awards two
broadband PCS licenses for each MTA and four licenses for each
BTA. Thus, generally, six licensees are authorized to compete in
each area. The two MTA licenses authorize the use of 30 MHz
of spectrum. One of the BTA licenses is for 30 MHz of
spectrum, and the other three BTA licenses are for 10 MHz
each. The FCC permits licensees to split their licenses and
assign a portion to a third party on either a geographic or
frequency basis or both. Over time, the FCC has also further
split licenses in connection with re-auctions of PCS spectrum,
creating additional 15 MHz and 10 MHz licenses.
All PCS licensees must satisfy minimum geographic coverage
requirements within five and, in some cases, ten years after the
license grant date. These initial requirements are met for most
10 MHz licenses when a signal level sufficient to provide
adequate service is offered to at least one-quarter of the
population of the licensed area within five years, or in the
alternative, a showing of substantial service is made for the
licensed area within five years of being licensed. For
30 MHz licenses, a signal level must be provided that is
sufficient to offer adequate service to at least one-third of
the population within five years and two-thirds of the
population within ten years after the license grant date. In the
alternative, 30 MHz licensees may provide substantial
service to their licensed area within the appropriate five- and
ten-year benchmarks. Substantial service is defined
by the FCC as service which is sound, favorable, and
substantially above a level of mediocre service which just might
minimally warrant renewal. In general, a failure to comply
with FCC coverage requirements could cause the revocation of the
relevant wireless license, with no eligibility to regain it, or
the imposition of fines
and/or other
sanctions.
All PCS licenses have a
10-year
term, at the end of which they must be renewed. Our PCS licenses
began expiring in 2006 and will continue to expire through 2015.
The FCCs rules provide a formal presumption that a PCS
license will be renewed, called a renewal
expectancy, if the PCS licensee (1) has provided
substantial service during its past license term,
and (2) has substantially complied with applicable FCC
rules and policies and the Communications Act. If a licensee
does not receive a renewal expectancy, then the FCC will accept
competing applications for the license renewal period and,
subject to a comparative hearing, may award the license to
another party. If the FCC does not grant a renewal expectancy
with respect to one or more of our licenses, or renew one or
more of our licenses, our business may be materially harmed.
AWS Licenses. Recognizing the increasing
consumer demand for wireless mobile services, the FCC has
allocated additional spectrum that can be used for two-way
mobile wireless voice and broadband services, including AWS
spectrum. The FCC has licensed six frequency blocks consisting
of one 20 MHz license in each of 734 cellular market areas,
or CMAs; one 20 MHz license and one 10 MHz license in
each of 176 economic areas, or EAs; and two 10 MHz licenses
and one 20 MHz license in each of 12 regional economic area
groupings, or REAGs. The FCC auctioned these licenses in
Auction #66. In that auction, we purchased 99 wireless
licenses for an aggregate purchase price of $710.2 million.
Denali License also acquired one wireless license on
April 30, 2007 for a net purchase price of
$274.1 million.
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AWS licenses generally have a
15-year
term, at the end of which they must be renewed. With respect to
construction requirements, an AWS licensee must offer
substantial service to the public at the end of the
license term. As noted above, a failure to comply with FCC
coverage requirements could cause the revocation of the relevant
wireless license, with no eligibility to regain it, or the
imposition of fines
and/or other
sanctions.
Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in
Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. federal
government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. We and Denali License considered the
estimated cost and time frame required to clear the spectrum
which we and Denali License purchased in Auction #66 while
placing bids in the auction. However, the actual cost of
clearing the spectrum may exceed our estimated costs.
Furthermore, delays in the provision of federal funds to
relocate government users, or difficulties in negotiating with
incumbent commercial licensees, may extend the date by which the
auctioned spectrum can be cleared of existing operations, and
thus may also delay the date on which we can launch commercial
services using such licensed spectrum. In addition, certain
existing government operations have been using the spectrum for
classified purposes. As a result, although the government has
agreed to clear that spectrum to allow AWS licensees to utilize
their spectrum in the affected areas, the government has only
provided limited information to licensees about these classified
uses, which has created additional uncertainty about the time at
which such spectrum would be available for commercial use.
With respect to our Action #66 markets, several federal
government agencies have cleared or developed plans to clear
spectrum covered by licenses we and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66 or have indicated that we and Denali License
can operate on the spectrum without interfering with the
agencies current uses. While we do not expect spectrum
clearing issues to impact our near-term market launches, we
continue to work with one federal agency in other markets to
ensure that it either relocates its spectrum use to alternative
frequencies or confirms that we can operate on the spectrum
without interfering with its current uses. If our efforts with
this agency are not successful, the agencys continued use
of the spectrum could delay the launch of certain markets.
Designated Entities. Since the early
1990s the FCC has pursued a policy in wireless licensing
of attempting to assist various types of designated entities.
The FCC generally has determined that designated entities who
qualify as small businesses or very small businesses, as defined
by a complex set of FCC rules, can receive additional benefits.
These benefits can include eligibility to bid for certain
licenses set aside only for designated entities. For example,
the FCCs spectrum allocation for PCS generally includes
two licenses, a 30 MHz C-Block license and a 10 MHz
F-Block license, which are designated as
Entrepreneurs Blocks. The FCC generally
requires holders of these licenses to meet certain maximum
financial size qualifications. In addition, designated entities
are eligible for bidding credits in most spectrum auctions and
re-auctions (which has been the case in all PCS auctions to
date, and was the case in Auction #66), and, in some cases,
an installment loan from the federal government for a
significant portion of the dollar amount of the winning bids
(which was the case in the FCCs initial auctions of
C-Block and F-Block PCS licenses). A failure by an entity to
maintain its qualifications to own licenses won through the
designated entity program could cause a number of adverse
consequences, including the ineligibility to hold licenses for
which the FCCs minimum coverage requirements have not been
met, and the triggering of FCC unjust enrichment rules, which
could require the recapture of bidding credits and the
acceleration of any installment payments owed to the
U.S. Treasury.
The FCC has implemented rule changes aimed at addressing the
alleged abuses of its designated entity program, including
changes aimed at curtailing certain types of spectrum leasing
and wholesale capacity arrangements between wireless carriers
and designated entities that it felt called into question the
designated entitys overall control of the venture. The FCC
has also changed its unjust enrichment rules, designed to
trigger the repayment of auction bidding credits, as follows:
For the first five years of its license term, if a designated
entity loses its eligibility or seeks to transfer its license or
to enter into a de facto lease with an entity that does
not qualify for bidding credits, 100 percent of the bidding
credit amount, plus interest, would be owed to the FCC. For
years six and seven of the license term, 75 percent of the
bidding credit, plus interest, would be owed. For years eight
and nine, 50 percent of the bidding credit, plus interest,
would be owed, and for year ten, 25 percent of the bidding
credit, plus interest, would be owed. In addition, if a
designated entity seeks to transfer a license with a bidding
credit to an entity that does not qualify for bidding credits in
advance of filing the construction notification for the license,
then 100 percent of the bidding credit amount, plus
interest, would be owed to the FCC. Designated entity structures
are
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also now subject to a new rule that requires them to seek
approval for any event that might affect ongoing eligibility
(e.g. changes in agreements that the FCC has not previously
reviewed), as well as new annual reporting requirements, and a
commitment by the FCC to audit each designated entity at least
once during the license term.
Such rule changes remain subject to administrative and judicial
review. We cannot predict the degree to which the FCCs
present or future rule changes or increased regulatory scrutiny
will affect our current or future business ventures, including
our arrangements with respect to LCW Wireless and Denali, or our
participation in future FCC spectrum auctions.
Foreign Ownership. Under existing law, no more
than 20% of an FCC licensees capital stock may be owned,
directly or indirectly, or voted by
non-U.S. citizens
or their representatives, by a foreign government or its
representatives or by a foreign corporation. If an FCC licensee
is controlled by another entity (as is the case with Leaps
ownership and control of subsidiaries that hold FCC licenses),
up to 25% of that entitys capital stock may be owned or
voted by
non-U.S. citizens
or their representatives, by a foreign government or its
representatives or by a foreign corporation. Foreign ownership
above the 25% holding company level may be allowed if the FCC
finds such higher levels consistent with the public interest.
The FCC has ruled that higher levels of foreign ownership, even
up to 100%, are presumptively consistent with the public
interest with respect to investors from certain nations. If our
foreign ownership were to exceed the permitted level, the FCC
could revoke our wireless licenses, although we could seek a
declaratory ruling from the FCC allowing the foreign ownership
or could take other actions to reduce our foreign ownership
percentage in order to avoid the loss of our licenses. We have
no knowledge of any present foreign ownership in violation of
these restrictions. Our wireless licenses are in good standing
with the FCC.
Transfer and Assignment. The Communications
Act and FCC rules require the FCCs prior approval of the
assignment or transfer of control of a commercial wireless
license, with limited exceptions. The FCC may prohibit or impose
conditions on assignments and transfers of control of licenses.
Non-controlling interests in an entity that holds a wireless
license generally may be bought or sold without FCC approval.
Although we cannot assure you that the FCC will approve or act
in a timely fashion upon any pending or future requests for
approval of assignment or transfer of control applications that
we file, in general we believe the FCC will approve or grant
such requests or applications in due course. Because an FCC
license is necessary to lawfully provide wireless service, if
the FCC were to disapprove any such filing, our business plans
would be adversely affected.
Pursuant to an order released in December 2001, as of
January 1, 2003, the FCC no longer limits the amount of PCS
and other commercial mobile radio spectrum that an entity may
hold in a particular geographic market. The FCC now engages in a
case-by-case
review of transactions that involve the consolidation of
spectrum licenses or leases.
A C-Block or F-Block PCS license may be transferred to
non-designated entities once the licensee has met its five-year
coverage requirement. Such transfers will remain subject to
certain costs and reimbursements to the government of any
bidding credits or outstanding principal and interest payments
owed to the FCC. AWS licenses acquired by designated entities in
Auction #66 may be transferred to non-designated entities
at any time, subject to certain costs and reimbursements to the
government of any bidding credit amounts owed.
FCC
Regulation Generally
The FCC has a number of other complex requirements and
proceedings that affect our operations and that could increase
our costs or diminish our revenues. For example, the FCC
requires wireless carriers to make available emergency 911, or
E911, services, including enhanced E911 services that provide
the callers telephone number and detailed location
information to emergency responders, as well as a requirement
that E911 services be made available to users with speech or
hearing disabilities. Our obligations to implement these
services occur on a
market-by-market
basis as emergency service providers request the implementation
of enhanced E911 services in their locales. Absent a waiver, a
failure to comply with these requirements could subject us to
significant penalties. Furthermore, the FCC has initiated a
comprehensive re-examination of E911 location accuracy and
reliability requirements. The FCC recently issued an order
requiring wireless carriers to satisfy E911 location and
reliability standards at a geographical level defined by the
coverage area of a Public Safety Answering Point (or PSAP) and
has indicated that further action may be taken in future
proceedings to establish more stringent, uniform location
accuracy requirements across technologies, and to promote
continuing development of technologies that might
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enable carriers to provide public safety with better information
for locating persons in the event of an emergency. We cannot
predict whether or how such actions will affect our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
FCC rules also require that local exchange carriers and most
commercial mobile radio service providers, including providers
like Cricket, allow customers to change service providers
without changing telephone numbers. For wireless service
providers, this mandate is referred to as wireless local number
portability. The FCC also has adopted rules governing the
porting of wireline telephone numbers to wireless carriers.
The FCC has the authority to order interconnection between
commercial mobile radio service operators and incumbent local
exchange carriers, and FCC rules provide that all local exchange
carriers must enter into compensation arrangements with
commercial mobile radio service carriers for the exchange of
local traffic, whereby each carrier compensates the other for
terminating local traffic originating on the other
carriers network. As a commercial mobile radio services
provider, we are required to pay compensation to a wireline
local exchange carrier that transports and terminates a local
call that originated on our network. Similarly, we are entitled
to receive compensation when we transport and terminate a local
call that originated on a wireline local exchange network. We
negotiate interconnection arrangements for our network with
major incumbent local exchange carriers and other independent
telephone companies. If an agreement cannot be reached, under
certain circumstances, parties to interconnection negotiations
can submit outstanding disputes to state authorities for
arbitration. Negotiated interconnection agreements are subject
to state approval. The FCCs interconnection rules and
rulings, as well as state arbitration proceedings, will directly
impact the nature and costs of facilities necessary for the
interconnection of our network with other telecommunications
networks. They will also determine the amount we receive for
terminating calls originating on the networks of local exchange
carriers and other telecommunications carriers. The FCC is
currently considering changes to the local exchange-commercial
mobile radio service interconnection and other intercarrier
compensation arrangements, and the outcome of such proceedings
may affect the manner in which we are charged or compensated for
the exchange of traffic.
The FCC has adopted a report and order clarifying that
commercial mobile radio service providers are required to
provide automatic roaming for voice and SMS text-messaging
services on just, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The
FCC order, however, does not address roaming for data services
nor does it provide any regulatory framework or scheme for
determining roaming rates for voice services and so our ability
to obtain roaming services from other carriers at attractive
rates remains uncertain. In addition, the FCC order indicates
that a host carrier is not required to provide roaming services
to another carrier in areas in which that other carrier holds
wireless licenses or usage rights that could be used to provide
wireless services. Because we and Denali License hold a
significant number of spectrum licenses for markets in which
service has not yet been launched, we believe that this
in-market roaming restriction could significantly
and adversely affect our ability to receive roaming services in
areas where we hold licenses. We and other wireless carriers
have filed petitions with the FCC, asking that it reconsider
this in-market exception to its roaming order. However, we can
provide no assurances as to whether the FCC will reconsider this
exception or the timeframe in which it might do so. Our
inability to obtain roaming services on a cost-effective basis
may limit our ability to compete effectively for wireless
customers, which may increase our churn and decrease our
revenues, which could materially adversely affect our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
In 2007, the FCC released an order purporting to implement
certain recommendations of an independent panel reviewing the
impact of Hurricane Katrina on communications networks, which
requires wireless carriers to provide emergency
back-up
power sources for their equipment and facilities, including up
to 24 hours of emergency power for mobile switch offices
and up to eight hours for cell site locations. The order was
expected to become effective sometime in 2008. However, on
February 28, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit stayed the effective date of
the order pending resolution of a petition for review of the
FCCs rules. In order for us to comply with the
requirements of the order, we would likely need to purchase
additional equipment, obtain additional state and local permits,
authorizations and approvals and incur additional operating
expenses. We are currently evaluating our compliance with this
order should it become effective and the potential costs that
may be incurred to achieve compliance could be material.
We also are subject, or potentially subject, to universal
service obligations; number pooling rules; rules governing
billing, subscriber privacy and customer proprietary network
information; rules governing wireless
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resale and roaming obligations; rules that require wireless
service providers to configure their networks to facilitate
electronic surveillance by law enforcement officials; rate
averaging and integration requirements; rules governing spam,
telemarketing and
truth-in-billing,
and rules requiring us to offer equipment and services that are
accessible to and usable by persons with disabilities, among
others. Some of these requirements pose technical and
operational challenges to which we, and the industry as a whole,
have not yet developed clear solutions. These requirements are
all the subject of pending FCC or judicial proceedings, and we
are unable to predict how they may affect our business,
financial condition or results of operations.
State,
Local and Other Regulation
Congress has given the FCC the authority to preempt states from
regulating rates or entry into commercial mobile radio service.
The FCC, to date, has denied all state petitions to regulate the
rates charged by commercial mobile radio service providers.
State and local governments are permitted to manage public
rights of way and can require fair and reasonable compensation
from telecommunications providers, on a competitively neutral
and nondiscriminatory basis, for the use of such rights of way
by telecommunications carriers, including commercial mobile
radio service providers, so long as the compensation required is
publicly disclosed by the state or local government. States may
also impose competitively neutral requirements that are
necessary for universal service, to protect the public safety
and welfare, to ensure continued service quality and to
safeguard the rights of consumers. While a state may not impose
requirements that effectively function as barriers to entry or
create a competitive disadvantage, the scope of state authority
to maintain existing requirements or to adopt new requirements
is unclear. State legislators, public utility commissions and
other state agencies are becoming increasingly active in efforts
to regulate wireless carriers and the service they provide,
including efforts to conserve numbering resources and efforts
aimed at regulating service quality, advertising, warranties and
returns, rebates, and other consumer protection measures.
The location and construction of our wireless antennas and base
stations and the towers we lease on which such antennas are
located are subject to FCC and Federal Aviation Administration
regulations, federal, state and local environmental and historic
preservation regulations, and state and local zoning, land use
or other requirements.
We cannot assure you that any federal, state or local regulatory
requirements currently applicable to our systems will not be
changed in the future or that regulatory requirements will not
be adopted in those states and localities that currently have
none. Such changes could impose new obligations on us that could
adversely affect our operating results.
Privacy
We are obligated to comply with a variety of federal and state
privacy and consumer protection requirements. The Communications
Act and FCC rules, for example, impose various rules on us
intended to protect against the disclosure of customer
proprietary network information. Other FCC and Federal Trade
Commission rules regulate the disclosure and sharing of
subscriber information. We have developed and comply with a
policy designed to protect the privacy of our customers and
their personal information. State legislatures and regulators
are considering imposing additional requirements on companies to
further protect the privacy of wireless customers. Our need to
comply with these rules, and to address complaints by
subscribers invoking them, could adversely affect our operating
results.
Intellectual
Property
We have pursued registration of our primary trademarks and
service marks in the United States. Leap is a
U.S. registered trademark of Leap, and a trademark
application for the Leap logo is pending. Cricket, Jump, the
Cricket K and Flex Bucket are U.S. registered
trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the following are trademarks
or service marks of Cricket: BridgePay, Cricket By Week, Cricket
Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation and Cricket Wireless
Internet Service.
As of December 31, 2007, we had two issued patents relating
to our local, unlimited wireless services offerings, and
numerous other issued patents relating to various technologies
we previously acquired. We also have several patent applications
pending in the United States relating to our wireless services
offerings, including an
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application to amend one of our issued patents. We cannot assure
you that our pending, or any future, patent applications will be
granted, that any existing or future patents will not be
challenged, invalidated or circumvented, that any existing or
future patents will be enforceable, or that the rights granted
under any patent that may be issued will provide competitive
advantages to us. See Legal
Proceedings Patent Litigation below.
Our business is not substantially dependent upon any of our
patents, patent applications, service marks or trademarks. We
believe that our technical expertise, operational efficiency,
industry-leading cost structure and ability to introduce new
products in a timely manner are more critical to maintaining our
competitive position in the future.
Properties
As of December 31, 2007, Cricket leased space, totaling
approximately 130,000 square feet, in three office
buildings in San Diego, California for our corporate
headquarters. We use these offices for engineering and
administrative purposes. Cricket also leases approximately
30,000 square feet of space in Denver, Colorado which is
used for sales and marketing, product development, information
technology and regional administrative purposes. In addition,
Cricket leased approximately 30,000 square feet of offices
in Nashville, Tennessee. We use these offices for engineering
and administrative purposes.
As of December 31, 2007, Cricket had approximately 60
additional office leases in its individual markets that range
from approximately 2,500 square feet to approximately
14,000 square feet. Cricket also leased approximately 160
retail locations in its markets, including stores ranging in
size from approximately 1,000 square feet to
5,600 square feet, as well as six kiosks and retail spaces
within another store. In addition, as of December 31, 2007,
Cricket leased approximately 5,800 cell sites, 33 switching
centers and two warehouse facilities (which range in size from
approximately 3,000 square feet to 20,000 square
feet). We do not own any real property.
As of December 31, 2007, LCW Operations leased five retail
locations in its markets, consisting of stores ranging in size
from approximately 1,900 square feet to 3,400 square
feet. In addition, as of December 31, 2007, LCW Operations
leased approximately 285 cell site locations and one office and
switch location. LCW Operations does not own any real property.
As of December 31, 2007, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Denali leased approximately 105 cell sites, one office and two
switch locations. Denali and its subsidiaries do not own any
real property.
As we and Denali continue to develop existing Cricket markets,
and as additional markets are built out, we and Denali will
lease additional or substitute office facilities, retail stores,
cell sites, switch sites and warehouse facilities.
Financial
Information Concerning Segments and Geographical
Information
Financial information concerning our operating segment and the
geographic area in which we operate is set forth in Note 12
to the consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in
this prospectus.
Employees
As of December 31, 2007, Cricket employed
2,425 full-time employees, and Leap had no employees.
Seasonality
Our customer activity is influenced by seasonal effects related
to traditional retail selling periods and other factors that
arise from our target customer base. Based on historical
results, we generally expect new sales activity to be highest in
the first and fourth quarters, and customer turnover, or churn,
to be highest in the third quarter and lowest in the first
quarter. However, sales activity and churn can be strongly
affected by the launch of new markets, promotional activity and
competitive actions, which have the ability to reduce or
outweigh certain seasonal effects.
Inflation
We believe that inflation has not had a material effect on our
results of operations.
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Legal
Proceedings
Patent
Litigation
On June 14, 2006, we sued MetroPCS in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall
Division, for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 6,813,497 Method for Providing Wireless
Communication Services and Network and System for Delivering
Same, issued to us. Our complaint seeks damages and an
injunction against continued infringement. On August 3,
2006, MetroPCS (i) answered the complaint, (ii) raised
a number of affirmative defenses, and (iii) together with
certain related entities (referred to, collectively with
MetroPCS, as the MetroPCS entities), counterclaimed
against Leap, Cricket, numerous Cricket subsidiaries, Denali
License, and current and former employees of Leap and Cricket,
including our CEO, S. Douglas Hutcheson. MetroPCS has since
amended its complaint and Denali License has been dismissed,
without prejudice, as a counterclaim defendant. The countersuit
now alleges claims for breach of contract, misappropriation,
conversion and disclosure of trade secrets, fraud,
misappropriation of confidential information and breach of
confidential relationship, relating to information provided by
MetroPCS to such employees, including prior to their employment
by Leap, and asks the court to award attorneys fees and damages,
including punitive damages, impose an injunction enjoining us
from participating in any auctions or sales of wireless
spectrum, impose a constructive trust on our business and assets
for the benefit of the MetroPCS entities, transfer our business
and assets to MetroPCS, and declare that the MetroPCS entities
have not infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,813,497 and that
such patent is invalid. MetroPCSs claims allege that we
and the other counterclaim defendants improperly obtained, used
and disclosed trade secrets and confidential information of the
MetroPCS entities and breached confidentiality agreements with
the MetroPCS entities. On October 31, 2007, pursuant to a
stipulation between the parties, the court administratively
closed the case for a period not to exceed six months. The
parties stipulated that neither will move the court to reopen
the case until at least 90 days following the
administrative closure. On November 1, 2007, MetroPCS
formally withdrew its September 4, 2007 unsolicited merger
proposal, which our board of directors had previously rejected
on September 16, 2007. On February 14, 2008, in
response to our motion, the court re-opened the case. On
September 22, 2006, Royal Street Communications, LLC, or
Royal Street, an entity affiliated with MetroPCS, filed an
action in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida, Tampa Division, seeking a declaratory
judgment that our U.S. Patent No. 6,813,497 (the same
patent that is the subject of our infringement action against
MetroPCS) is invalid and is not being infringed by Royal Street
or its PCS systems. Upon our request, the court has transferred
the Royal Street case to the United States District Court for
the Eastern District of Texas due to the affiliation between
MetroPCS and Royal Street. On February 25, 2008, we filed
an answer to the Royal Street complaint, together with
counterclaims for patent infringement, and the Royal Street
matter has since been consolidated with the MetroPCS case. We
intend to vigorously defend against the counterclaims filed by
the MetroPCS entities and the action brought by Royal Street.
Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues
involved, however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to prevail in these
matters, it could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and results of operations.
On August 17, 2006, we were served with a complaint filed
by certain MetroPCS entities, along with another affiliate,
MetroPCS California, LLC, in the Superior Court of the State of
California, which names Leap, Cricket, certain of its
subsidiaries, and certain current and former employees of Leap
and Cricket, including Mr. Hutcheson, as defendants. In
response to demurrers by us and by the court, two of the
plaintiffs amended their complaint twice, dropped the other
plaintiffs and have filed a third amended complaint. In the
current complaint, the plaintiffs allege statutory unfair
competition, statutory misappropriation of trade secrets, breach
of contract, intentional interference with contract, and
intentional interference with prospective economic advantage,
seek preliminary and permanent injunction, and ask the court to
award damages, including punitive damages, attorneys fees, and
restitution. We have filed a demurrer to the third amended
complaint. On October 25, 2007, pursuant to a stipulation
between the parties, the court entered a stay of the litigation
for a period of 90 days. On January 28, 2008, the
court ordered that the stay remain in effect for a further
120 days, or until May 27, 2008. If and when the case
proceeds, we intend to vigorously defend against these claims.
Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues
involved, however, the outcome of this matter is not presently
determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to prevail in this
action, it could have a material adverse effect on our business,
financial condition and results of operations.
On June 6, 2007, we were sued by Minerva Industries, Inc.,
or Minerva, in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement of
U.S. Patent No. 6,681,120 entitled Mobile
Entertainment and Communication Device. Minerva alleges
that certain handsets sold by us infringe a patent
101
relating to mobile entertainment features, and the complaint
seeks damages (including enhanced damages), an injunction and
attorneys fees. We filed an answer to the complaint and
counterclaims of invalidity on January 7, 2008. On
January 21, 2008 Minerva filed another suit against us in
the United States District Court for the Eastern District of
Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement of its newly issued
U.S. Patent No. 7,321,738 entitled Mobile
Entertainment and Communication Device. On April 15,
2008, at Minervas request the cases were dismissed without
prejudice.
On June 7, 2007, we were sued by Barry W. Thomas, or
Thomas, in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement of
U.S. Patent No. 4,777,354 entitled System for
Controlling the Supply of Utility Services to Consumers.
Thomas alleges that certain handsets sold by us infringe a
patent relating to actuator cards for controlling the supply of
a utility service, and the complaint seeks damages (including
enhanced damages) and attorneys fees. We and other
co-defendants filed a motion to stay the litigation pending the
determination of similar litigation in the United States
District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. On
February 28, 2008, the District Court issued its claim
construction ruling, adopting all of the interpretations offered
by the defendants in that action. Based upon this ruling, Thomas
has agreed in principle to dismiss his complaint with prejudice
and to provide a release, in exchange for the agreement of he
defendants to dismiss their counterclaims, including claims for
costs and fees. In the event that this case is not resolved we
intend to vigorously defend against this matter.
On October 15, 2007, Leap was sued by Visual Interactive
Phone Concepts, Inc., or Visual Interactive, in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of California
for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,724,092 entitled
Videophone Mailbox Interactive Facility System and Method
of Processing Information and U.S. Patent
No. 5,606,361 entitled Videophone Mailbox Interactive
Facility System and Method of Processing Information.
Visual Interactive alleged that Leap infringed these patents
relating to interactive videophone systems, and the complaint
sought an accounting for damages under 35 U.S.C.
§ 284, an injunction and attorneys fees. We
filed our answer to the complaint on December 13, 2007, and
on the same day, Cricket filed a complaint against Visual
Interactive in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of California seeking a declaration by the court that
the patents alleged against us are neither valid nor infringed
by us. Visual Interactive agreed to dismiss its complaint
against Leap and filed an amended complaint against Cricket, and
Cricket filed its answer to this amended complaint on
January 23, 2008. We intend to vigorously defend against
this matter. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual
issues involved, however, the outcome of this matter is not
presently determinable.
On December 10, 2007, we were sued by Freedom Wireless,
Inc., or Freedom Wireless, in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division for
infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,722,067 entitled
Security Cellular Telecommunications System,
U.S. Patent No. 6,157,823 entitled Security
Cellular Telecommunications System, and U.S. Patent
No. 6,236,851 entitled Prepaid Security Cellular
Telecommunications System. Freedom Wireless alleges that
its patents claim a novel cellular system that enables prepaid
services subscribers to both place and receive cellular calls
without dialing access codes or using modified telephones. The
complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages, increased damages
under 35 U.S.C. § 284 together with interest,
costs and attorneys fees, and an injunction. On
February 15, 2008, we filed a motion to sever and stay the
proceedings against Cricket or, alternatively, to transfer the
case to the United States District Court for the Northern
District of California. We intend to vigorously defend against
this matter. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual
issues involved, however, the outcome of this matter is not
presently determinable.
On February 4, 2008, we and certain other wireless carriers
were sued by Electronic Data Systems Corporation, or EDS, in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas,
Marshall Division, for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 7,156,300 entitled System and Method for
Dispensing of a Receipt Reflecting Prepaid Phone Services
and U.S. Patent No. 7,255,268 entitled System
for Purchase of Prepaid Telephone Services. EDS alleges
that the sale and marketing by us of prepaid wireless cellular
telephone services infringes these patents, and the complaint
seeks an injunction against further infringement, damages
(including enhanced damages) and attorneys fees. We intend
to vigorously defend against this lawsuit. Due to the complex
nature of the legal and factual issues involved, however, the
outcome of this lawsuit is not presently determinable.
102
American
Wireless Group
On December 31, 2002, several members of American Wireless
Group, LLC, or AWG, filed a lawsuit against various officers and
directors of Leap in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial
District of Hinds County, Mississippi, referred to herein as the
Whittington Lawsuit. Leap purchased certain FCC wireless
licenses from AWG and paid for those licenses with shares of
Leap stock. The complaint alleges that Leap failed to disclose
to AWG material facts regarding a dispute between Leap and a
third party relating to that partys claim that it was
entitled to an increase in the purchase price for certain
wireless licenses it sold to Leap. In their complaint,
plaintiffs seek rescission
and/or
damages according to proof at trial of not less than the
aggregate amount paid for the Leap stock (alleged in the
complaint to have a value of approximately $57.8 million in
June 2001 at the closing of the license sale transaction), plus
interest, punitive or exemplary damages in the amount of not
less than three times compensatory damages, and costs and
expenses. Plaintiffs contend that the named defendants are the
controlling group that was responsible for Leaps alleged
failure to disclose the material facts regarding the third party
dispute and the risk that the shares held by the plaintiffs
might be diluted if the third party was successful with respect
to its claim. The defendants in the Whittington Lawsuit filed a
motion to compel arbitration or, in the alternative, to dismiss
the Whittington Lawsuit. The motion noted that plaintiffs, as
members of AWG, agreed to arbitrate disputes pursuant to the
license purchase agreement, that they failed to plead facts that
show that they are entitled to relief, that Leap made adequate
disclosure of the relevant facts regarding the third party
dispute and that any failure to disclose such information did
not cause any damage to the plaintiffs. The court denied
defendants motion and the defendants appealed the denial
of the motion to the Mississippi Supreme Court. On
November 15, 2007, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued an
opinion denying the appeal and remanded the action to the trial
court. The defendants applied to the United States Supreme Court
for a writ of certiorari, which was denied on April 14,
2008 and subsequently filed an answer to the complaint on
May 2, 2008.
In a related action to the action described above, in June 2003,
AWG filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial
District of Hinds County, Mississippi, referred to herein as the
AWG Lawsuit, against the same individual defendants named in the
Whittington Lawsuit. The complaint generally sets forth the same
claims made by the plaintiffs in the Whittington Lawsuit. In its
complaint, plaintiff seeks rescission
and/or
damages according to proof at trial of not less than the
aggregate amount paid for the Leap stock (alleged in the
complaint to have a value of approximately $57.8 million in
June 2001 at the closing of the license sale transaction), plus
interest, punitive or exemplary damages in the amount of not
less than three times compensatory damages, and costs and
expenses. Defendants filed a motion to compel arbitration or, in
the alternative, to dismiss the AWG Lawsuit, making arguments
similar to those made in their motion to dismiss the Whittington
Lawsuit. AWG has since agreed to arbitrate this lawsuit. The
arbitration is proceeding and a briefing schedule for motions
for summary judgment has been set.
Although Leap is not a defendant in either the Whittington or
AWG Lawsuits, several of the defendants have indemnification
agreements with us. Management believes that the
defendants liability, if any, from the AWG and Whittington
Lawsuits and any further indemnity claims of the defendants
against Leap is not presently determinable.
Securities
Litigation
Two shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the California
Superior Court for the County of San Diego in November 2007
and January 2008, purporting to assert claims on behalf of Leap
against certain of our current and former directors and
executive officers, and naming Leap as a nominal defendant. In
February 2008, the plaintiff in one of these lawsuits
voluntarily dismissed his action and filed a derivative
complaint in the United States District Court for the Southern
District of California. On April 21, 2008, the plaintiff in
the remaining state derivative lawsuit filed an amended
complaint. The complaints in the federal and state derivative
actions assert various claims, including alleged breaches of
fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, waste of corporate assets,
unjust enrichment and violation of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 (the Exchange Act) based on Leaps
November 9, 2007 announcement that it would restate certain
of its financial statements, as well as claims based on the
September 2007 unsolicited merger proposal from MetroPCS, and
sales of Leap common stock by certain of the defendants between
December 2004 and June 2007. The derivative complaints seek
judicial determination that the claims may be asserted
derivatively on behalf of Leap as well as unspecified damages,
equitable
and/or
injunctive relief, imposition of a constructive trust,
disgorgement, and attorneys fees and costs. Due to the
complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved,
however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable.
103
We and certain of our current and former officers and directors
have been named as defendants in several securities class action
lawsuits filed in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of California between November 2007 and
February 2008 purportedly on behalf of investors who purchased
Leap common stock between May 16, 2004 and November 9,
2007. Our independent registered public accounting firm,
PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, has been named in one of these
lawsuits. The class action lawsuits allege that all defendants
violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and
Rule 10b-5,
and further allege that the individual defendants violated
Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, by allegedly making
false and misleading statements about our business and financial
results. The claims are based primarily on Leaps
November 9, 2007 announcement that it would restate certain
of its financial statements and, in some cases, on Leaps
August 7, 2007 second quarter 2007 earnings release. The
class action lawsuits seek, among other relief, determinations
that the alleged claims may be asserted on a
class-wide
basis, and unspecified damages and attorneys fees and
costs. Plaintiffs filed motions to consolidate the class action
lawsuits and for appointment of a lead plaintiff and lead
plaintiffs counsel to lead the consolidated action.
Several of the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their lawsuits.
On March 28, 2008, the District Court took the
consolidation and lead plaintiff motions in the remaining
lawsuits under submission, and it has not yet issued a ruling.
We intend to vigorously defend against these lawsuits. Due to
the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved,
however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable.
If the plaintiffs were to prevail in these matters, we could be
required to pay substantial damages or settlement costs, which
could materially adversely affect our business, financial
condition and results of operations.
Other
In addition to the matters described above, we are often
involved in certain other claims, including disputes alleging
intellectual property infringement, which arise in the ordinary
course of business and seek monetary damages and other relief.
Based upon information currently available to us, none of these
other claims is expected to have a material adverse effect on
our business, financial condition or results of operations.
104
MANAGEMENT
Directors
Biographical information for the directors of Leap is set forth
below. Our directors are elected at our annual
stockholders meeting each year, generally serving one year
terms or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
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Name
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Age
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Position
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Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
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49
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Non-Executive Chairman of the Board
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John D. Harkey, Jr.
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47
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Director
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S. Douglas Hutcheson
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52
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Chief Executive Officer, President, Acting Chief Financial
Officer and Director
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Robert V. LaPenta
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62
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Director
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Michael B. Targoff
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63
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Director
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Mark H. Rachesky, M.D. has served as a member and
chairman of our board since August 2004. Dr. Rachesky is
the co-founder and president of MHR Fund Management LLC,
which is an investment manager of various private investment
funds that invest in inefficient market sectors, including
special situation equities and distressed investments. From 1990
through June 1996, Dr. Rachesky served in various positions
at Icahn Holding Corporation, including as a senior investment
officer and for the last three years as sole managing director
and acting chief investment advisor. Dr. Rachesky serves as
a member and chairman of the board of directors of Loral
Space & Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL), and as a
member of the boards of directors of Emisphere Technologies,
Inc. (NASDAQ: EMIS), Neose Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: NTEC) and
NationsHealth, Inc. (NASDAQ: NHRX). Dr. Rachesky holds a
B.S. in molecular aspects of cancer from the University of
Pennsylvania, an M.D. from the Stanford University School of
Medicine, and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University School of
Business.
John D. Harkey, Jr. has served as a member of our
board since March 2005. Since 1998, Mr. Harkey has served
as chief executive officer and chairman of Consolidated
Restaurant Companies, Inc., and as chief executive officer and
vice chairman of Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc.
Mr. Harkey also has been manager of the investment firm
Cracken, Harkey & Street, L.L.C. since 1997. From 1992
to 1998, Mr. Harkey was a partner with the law firm
Cracken & Harkey, LLP. Mr. Harkey was founder and
managing director of Capstone Capital Corporation and Capstone
Partners, Inc. from 1989 until 1992. He currently serves on the
boards of directors and audit committees of Loral
Space & Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:LORL), Energy
Transfer Partners, L.P. (NYSE:ETP), Energy Transfer Equity, L.P.
(NYSE:ETE) and Emisphere Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ:EMIS). He
also serves on the Presidents Development Council of
Howard Payne University, and on the executive board of Circle
Ten Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Mr. Harkey
obtained a B.B.A. with honors and a J.D. from the University of
Texas at Austin and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University
School of Business.
S. Douglas Hutcheson was appointed as our chief
executive officer and president in February 2005, and has served
as a member of our board since then, and has also served as our
acting chief financial officer since September 2007, having
previously served as our president and chief financial officer
from January 2005 to February 2005, as our executive vice
president and chief financial officer from January 2004 to
January 2005, as our senior vice president and chief financial
officer from August 2002 to January 2004, as our senior vice
president and chief strategy officer from March 2002 to August
2002, as our senior vice president, product development and
strategic planning from July 2000 to March 2002, as our senior
vice president, business development from March 1999 to July
2000 and as our vice president, business development from
September 1998 to March 1999. From February 1995 to September
1998, Mr. Hutcheson served as vice president, marketing in
the Wireless Infrastructure Division at Qualcomm Incorporated.
Mr. Hutcheson is on the board of directors of the
Childrens Museum of San Diego and of
San Diegos Regional Economic Development Corporation.
Mr. Hutcheson holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from
California Polytechnic University and an M.B.A. from the
University of California, Irvine.
Robert V. LaPenta has served as a member of our board
since March 2005. Mr. LaPenta is the chairman, president
and chief executive officer of L-1 Identity Solutions, Inc.
(NYSE:ID), a provider of technology solutions
105
for protecting and securing personal identities and assets. From
April 2005 to August 2006, Mr. LaPenta served as the
chairman and chief executive officer of L-1 Investment Partners,
LLC, an investment firm seeking investments in the biometrics
area. Mr. LaPenta served as president, chief financial
officer and director of L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc., a
company he co-founded, from April 1997 until his retirement from
those positions effective April 1, 2005. From April 1996,
when Loral Corporation was acquired by Lockheed Martin
Corporation, until April 1997, Mr. LaPenta was a vice
president of Lockheed Martin and was vice president and chief
financial officer of Lockheed Martins C3I and Systems
Integration Sector. Prior to the April 1996 acquisition of
Loral, Mr. LaPenta was Lorals senior vice president
and controller, a position he held since 1981. Mr. LaPenta
previously served in a number of other executive positions with
Loral since he joined that company in 1972. Mr. LaPenta is
on the board of trustees of Iona College and is the chairman of
the board of directors of Core Software Technology.
Mr. LaPenta received a B.B.A. in accounting and an honorary
degree in 2000 from Iona College in New York.
Michael B. Targoff has served as a member of our board
since September 1998. He is founder of Michael B. Targoff and
Co., a company that seeks active or controlling investments in
telecommunications and related industry early stage companies.
In February 2006, Mr. Targoff was appointed chief executive
officer and vice-chairman of the board of directors of Loral
Space & Communications Inc. (NASDAQ: LORL). From its
formation in January 1996 through January 1998, Mr. Targoff
was president and chief operating officer of Loral
Space & Communications Ltd. Mr. Targoff was
senior vice president of Loral Corporation until January 1996.
Previously, Mr. Targoff was the president of Globalstar
Telecommunications Limited, the public owner of Globalstar,
Lorals global mobile satellite system. Mr. Targoff
also serves as a member of the board of directors of ViaSat,
Inc. (NASDAQ: VSAT) and CPI International, Inc. (NASDAQ: CPII),
in addition to serving as chairman of the boards of directors of
three small private telecommunications companies. Before joining
Loral Corporation in 1981, Mr. Targoff was a partner in the
New York law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP.
Mr. Targoff holds a B.A. from Brown University and a J.D.
from the Columbia University School of Law.
Executive
Officers
Biographical information for the executive officers of Leap who
are not directors, as of the date of this prospectus, is set
forth below. There are no family relationships between any
director or executive officer and any other director or
executive officer. Executive officers serve at the discretion of
our board and until their successors have been duly elected and
qualified, unless sooner removed by the board.
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Age
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Position
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Albin F. Moschner
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55
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Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
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Glenn T. Umetsu
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Executive Vice President and Chief Technical Officer
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William D. Ingram
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Senior Vice President, Strategy
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Robert J. Irving, Jr.
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Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
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Steven R. Martin
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Acting Chief Accounting Officer
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Leonard C. Stephens
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Senior Vice President, Human Resources
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Albin F. Moschner has served as our executive vice
president and chief marketing officer since January 2005, having
previously served as senior vice president, marketing from
September 2004 to January 2005. Prior to this, Mr. Moschner
was president of Verizon Card Services from December 2000 to
November 2003. Prior to joining Verizon, Mr. Moschner was
president and chief executive officer of OnePoint Services,
Inc., a telecommunications company that he founded and that was
acquired by Verizon in December 2000. Mr. Moschner also was
a principal and the vice chairman of Diba, Inc., a development
stage internet software company, and served as senior vice
president of operations, a member of the board of directors and
ultimately president and chief executive officer of Zenith
Electronics from October 1991 to July 1996. Mr. Moschner
holds a masters degree in electrical engineering from
Syracuse University and a B.E. in electrical engineering from
the City College of New York.
Glenn T. Umetsu has served as our executive vice
president and chief technical officer since January 2005, having
previously served as our executive vice president and chief
operating officer from January 2004 to January
106
2005, as our senior vice president, engineering operations and
launch deployment from June 2002 to January 2004, and as vice
president, engineering operations and launch development from
April 2000 to June 2002. From September 1996 to April 2000,
Mr. Umetsu served as vice president, engineering and
technical operations for Cellular One in the San Francisco
Bay Area. Before Cellular One, Mr. Umetsu served in various
telecommunications operations roles for 24 years with
AT&T Wireless, McCaw Communications, RAM Mobile Data,
Honolulu Cellular, PacTel Cellular, AT&T Advanced Mobile
Phone Service, Northwestern Bell and the United States Air
Force. Mr. Umetsu holds a B.A. in mathematics and economics
from Brown University.
William D. Ingram has served as our senior vice
president, strategy since April 2008, having previously served
as our senior vice president, financial operations and strategy
from February 2008 to April 2008 and as a consultant to us
beginning August 2007. Prior to joining us, Mr. Ingram
served as vice president and general manager of AudioCodes,
Inc., a telecommunications equipment company from, July 2006 to
March 2007. Prior to that, Mr. Ingram served as the
president and chief executive officer of Nuera Communications,
Inc., a provider of VoIP infrastructure solutions, from
September 1996 until it was acquired by AudioCodes, Inc. in July
2006. Prior to joining Nuera Communications in 1996,
Mr. Ingram served as the chief operating officer of the
clarity products division of Pacific Communication Sciences,
Inc., a provider of wireless data communications products, as
president of Ivie Industries, Inc., a computer security and
hardware manufacturer, and as president of KevTon, Inc., an
electronics manufacturing company. Mr. Ingram holds an A.B.
in economics from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from Harvard
Business School.
Robert J. Irving, Jr. has served as our senior vice
president, general counsel and secretary since May 2003, having
previously served as our vice president, legal from August 2002
to May 2003, and as our senior legal counsel from September 1998
to August 2002. Previously, Mr. Irving served as
administrative counsel for Rohr, Inc., a corporation that
designed and manufactured aerospace products from 1991 to 1998,
and prior to that served as vice president, general counsel and
secretary for IRT Corporation, a corporation that designed and
manufactured x-ray inspection equipment. Before joining IRT
Corporation, Mr. Irving was an attorney at Gibson,
Dunn & Crutcher LLP. Mr. Irving was admitted to
the California Bar Association in 1982. Mr. Irving holds a
B.A. from Stanford University, an M.P.P. from The John F.
Kennedy School of Government of Harvard University and a J.D.
from Harvard Law School, where he graduated cum laude.
Steven R. Martin has served as our acting chief
accounting officer since February 2008, having previously served
as an accounting consultant to us and our Audit Committee since
October 2007. From July 2005 to September 2007, Mr. Martin
served as vice president and chief financial officer of
Stratagene Corporation, a publicly traded life sciences company,
and served as director of finance of Stratagene Corporation from
May 2004 to July 2005. From March 2001 to May 2003,
Mr. Martin served as controller of Gen-Probe Incorporated,
a publicly traded life sciences company. Prior to Gen-Probe,
Mr. Martin held various senior finance positions at two
other international manufacturing companies and was a senior
audit manager at the public accounting firm of
Deloitte & Touche LLP. Mr. Martin is a certified
public accountant and holds a B.S. in accounting from
San Diego State University.
Leonard C. Stephens has served as our senior vice
president, human resources since our formation in June 1998.
From December 1995 to September 1998, Mr. Stephens was vice
president, human resources operations for Qualcomm Incorporated.
Before joining Qualcomm Incorporated, Mr. Stephens was
employed by Pfizer Inc., where he served in a number of human
resources positions over a
14-year
career. Mr. Stephens holds a B.A. from Howard University.
Director
Independence
Our board has determined that, except for Mr. Hutcheson,
all of its members are independent directors as defined in the
Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards. Mr. Hutcheson is not
considered independent because he is employed by us as our
president, chief executive officer and acting chief financial
officer. Our board has an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.
Each member of each committee is an independent director, as
defined in the Nasdaq Stock Market listing standards.
107
COMPENSATION
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Compensation
Philosophy and Objectives
Our compensation and benefits programs are designed to attract
and retain key employees necessary to support our business plans
and to create and sustain a competitive advantage for us in the
market segment in which we compete. For all of our executive
officers, a substantial portion of total compensation is
performance-based. We believe that compensation paid to
executive officers should be closely aligned with our
performance on both a short-term and long-term basis, linked to
specific, measurable results intended to create value for
stockholders.
In particular, our fundamental compensation philosophies and
objectives for executive officers include the following:
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Using total compensation to recognize each individual
officers scope of responsibility within the organization,
experience, performance and overall contributions to our company.
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Providing incentives to achieve key strategic, financial and
individual performance measures by linking incentive award
opportunities to the achievement of performance goals in these
areas.
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Using external compensation data from similarly sized wireless
companies and other high-tech companies as part of
our due diligence in determining base salary, target bonus
amounts and equity awards for individual officers at Leap.
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Using long-term equity-based compensation (generally restricted
stock and stock options) to align employee and stockholder
interests, as well as to attract, motivate and retain employees
and enable them to share in our long-term success.
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Our compensation program includes cash compensation, which we
view as a short-term incentive, and equity compensation, which
we believe provides incentives over a longer term. Our equity
compensation awards are designed to reward executives for the
financial and operating performance of the company as a whole,
as well as the executives individual contributions to our
overall success. We do not have any requirements that executive
officers hold a specific amount of our common stock or stock
options; however, we periodically review executive officer
equity-based incentives to ensure that our executives maintain
sufficient unvested awards to promote their continued retention.
In general, we seek to provide executives who have the greatest
influence on our financial and operating success with
compensation packages in which their equity awards could provide
a significant portion of their total potential compensation.
This focus on equity awards is intended to provide meaningful
compensation opportunities to executives with the greatest
potential influence on our financial and operating performance.
Thus, we make the most substantial equity awards to our senior
executive management team, comprised of our CEO, executive vice
presidents and senior vice presidents. In addition, we seek to
provide vice presidents and other employees who have significant
influence over our operating and financial success with equity
incentives that provide high retention value and alignment of
these managers interests with those of our stockholders.
We have not adopted any other formal or informal policies or
guidelines for allocating compensation between long-term and
short-term incentives, between cash and non-cash compensation,
or among different forms of non-cash compensation.
Procedures
for Determining Compensation Awards
The
Compensation Committee
The Compensation Committee of our board of directors has primary
authority to determine and recommend the compensation payable to
our executive officers. In fulfilling this oversight
responsibility, the Compensation Committee annually reviews the
performance of our senior executive management team in light of
our compensation philosophies and objectives described above. To
aid the Compensation Committee in making its compensation
determinations, each year our CEO, assisted by our senior vice
president, human resources, provides recommendations to the
Compensation Committee regarding the compensation of the other
executive officers. In addition, the Compensation Committee has
retained Mercer (US), Inc., or Mercer, a consulting firm
specializing in executive compensation matters, to assist the
committee in evaluating our compensation programs, policies and
objectives. Mercer began providing these services to the
Compensation Committee in January 2006.
108
Comparison
of Compensation to Market Data
The Compensation Committee strives to provide compensation
opportunities for our executive officers that are competitive
with the market in which Leap competes for executive talent. To
aid the Compensation Committee in its review of our executive
compensation programs, management and/or Mercer periodically
prepares a comparison of executive compensation levels at
similarly-sized wireless telecommunications companies and other
high-tech companies. This comparison typically
includes statistical summaries of compensation information
derived from a number of large, third-party studies and surveys,
which, for purposes of considering 2007 compensation for our
executive officers, included the Mercer Benchmark Database, the
Watson Wyatt Services Report, the Radford Executive Survey and
the Mellon High-Technology Survey. These summaries and databases
contain executive compensation information for
telecommunications, wireless and other companies, although the
surveys do not provide the particular names of those companies
whose pay practices are surveyed with respect to any particular
position being reviewed. In addition to this third-party survey
information, Mercer may also present comparative compensation
information for a select number of other telecommunications and
high-tech companies with annual revenues generally
comparable to ours and against which we compete for executive
talent. As part of its review of compensation for 2007, the
Compensation Committee reviewed comparative data prepared by
Mercer with respect to the following companies: Alamosa
Holdings, American Tower, Centennial Communications, Crown
Castle International, Dobson Communications, Nextel Partners,
NII Holdings, USA Mobility and Valor. This comparative
information, together with the statistical summaries described
above, was presented to help the Compensation Committee
generally assess comparative compensation levels for positions
held by our executive officers. This approach is designed to
help us provide executive compensation opportunities that will
allow us to remain competitive.
Our Compensation Committee has historically attempted to provide
base salaries, target bonus amounts and long-term equity awards
for our executive officers that are generally targeted around
the 75th percentile of compensation awarded to executives
with similar positions and experience. Under this objective, we
generally seek to target less than the 75th percentile of
total compensation when performance expectations are not met,
total compensation at or around the 75th percentile when
performance expectations are met, and total compensation at or
above the 75th percentile when performance expectations are
exceeded. Comparative compensation levels, however, are only one
of several factors that our Compensation Committee considers in
determining compensation levels for our executive officers. As a
result, the individual elements of an executive officers
overall compensation opportunity may deviate from the
75th percentile based on other considerations, including
the executive officers experience and tenure in his or her
respective position, as well as his or her individual
performance, leadership and other skills. In addition, because
Leap has experienced, and expects to continue to experience,
rapid growth in our business and revenues, the companies against
which we measure our compensation will continue to evolve. As a
result, although we intend to continue to strive to provide
compensation opportunities that are competitive, the
Compensation Committee may determine not to fully adjust the
compensation levels of our executive officers to keep pace with
the 75th percentile of the larger peer companies against
which we may be measured.
The extent to which actual compensation to be received by an
executive may materially deviate from the targeted compensation
opportunity will also depend upon Leaps corporate and
operational performance, the individual performance of the
relevant officer as measured against his or her pre-determined
individual performance goals for the year, as well as a more
subjective assessment of the individuals contributions.
This approach is intended to ensure that there is a direct
relationship between Leaps overall performance in the
achievement of its financial and operational goals and each
individual named executive officers total compensation.
With respect to targeted cash compensation for 2007, the
Compensation Committee set base salary and target bonus amounts
that substantially comported with the 75th percentile of
compensation provided to executives with comparable positions as
determined by reference to the survey data and peer group
information described above. As described further below,
however, actual cash and total compensation amounts earned by
our executive officers in 2007 were below the targeted
75th percentile of compensation of executives at comparable
companies due to the below-target bonus awards earned during the
year as a result of 2007 company performance. In addition,
because the compensation levels of our named executive officers
reflect, in part, the compensation levels associated with the
varying roles and responsibilities of corporate executives in
the marketplace, there were significant differentials between
the 2007 compensation awarded to our CEO and to our other named
executive officers. The difference in
109
Mr. Hutchesons compensation relative to the other
executive officers, however, is not the result of any internal
compensation equity standard but rather reflects our
Compensation Committees review of the compensation of
chief executive officers of other comparable companies, as well
as its review of Mr. Hutchesons performance.
Performance
Goals
As indicated above, an important objective of our compensation
program is to provide incentives to our executives to achieve
key strategic, financial and individual performance measures.
Corporate and individual performance goals are generally
established at the beginning of each year. Annual corporate
goals are generally formulated by our executive management team
and are submitted to the board of directors for review.
Management then typically recommends a subset of these goals to
the Compensation Committee as the corporate performance goals
underlying the annual cash bonus plan for our named executive
officers. The corporate performance goals established by our
Compensation Committee for our named executive officers
generally focus on two key performance metrics: (i) a
financial measure we call adjusted OIBDA, which we currently
define as operating income (loss) less depreciation and
amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of: gain/loss on
sale/disposal
of assets; impairment of assets; and share-based compensation
expense (benefit); and (ii) our number of net customer
additions. We believe that the achievement of these performance
goals is dependent in many respects upon the efforts and
contributions of our named executive officers and the attainment
of their individual performance goals. When determining whether
Leap has achieved its corporate performance goals, the
Compensation Committee has the ability to make objective
adjustments to the performance goals to account for any
significant investments or special projects undertaken during
the year which were not contemplated when the goals were
originally determined. In addition, our Compensation Committee
retains the authority to authorize bonus payments to our
executive officers that are different from the bonus payments
that would otherwise be awarded based on our achievement of the
performance goals established for the bonus plans.
At the beginning of each year, our executive officers work with
our CEO to establish their individual performance goals for the
year, based on their respective roles within the company. For
example, individual performance goals established for 2007
included, among others, the retention and expansion of our
customer base, maintaining and improving the quality of our
wireless network, continued recruitment and development of our
employees and continued control and reduction of our operating
expenses. These individual performance goals are generally
qualitative in nature.
Elements
of Executive Compensation
Leaps executive officer compensation program is comprised
of three primary components: base salary; annual short-term
incentive compensation in the form of cash bonuses; and
long-term incentive compensation in the form of stock options
and restricted stock. We also provide certain additional
employee benefits and retirement programs to our executive
officers.
Base
Salary
The base salary for each executive officer is generally
established through negotiation at the time the executive is
hired, taking into account the executives qualifications,
experience, prior salary and competitive salary information. As
discussed above, in determining base salaries for our executive
officers, the Compensation Committee considers compensation paid
to comparable officers at comparable companies. In addition,
each year the Compensation Committee determines whether to
approve merit increases to our executive officers base
salaries based upon their individual performance and the
recommendations of our CEO. From time to time, an executive
officers base salary may also be increased to reflect
changes in competitive salaries for such executives
position based on the compensation data for comparable companies
prepared for our Compensation Committee. Our CEO does not
participate in deliberations regarding his own compensation.
In early 2007, as part of its annual salary review, the
Compensation Committee increased our CEOs base salary by
7%. In addition, the Compensation Committee approved merit base
salary increases between 0% and 10.6% for our other named
executive officers. These annual merit salary increases
reflected the Compensation Committees review of the
compensation levels of each of our named executive officers as
compared to those of
110
officers with similar positions at comparable companies, as well
as the Committees assessment of each individual named
executive officers performance during the prior year. Our
named executive officers base salaries for 2007 are set
forth in the Summary Compensation Table below.
Annual
Performance Bonus
We provide an annual cash performance bonus to our executive
officers. The purpose of these bonus awards is to provide an
incentive to our executive officers to assist us in achieving
our principal financial and operating performance goals. In
determining the potential bonus opportunity for an executive
officer for a given year, the Compensation Committee generally
intends that approximately 75% of the targeted amount of the
annual performance bonus be based upon Leaps corporate
performance and that approximately 25% be based upon the
officers individual performance.
Prior to 2007, the entire amount of an officers annual
performance bonus was payable under the Cricket Non-Sales Bonus
Plan for the relevant year. The Cricket Non-Sales Bonus Plan is
a bonus plan established each year for eligible employees of
Cricket and provides for the payment of cash bonuses to
employees working a specified minimum number of hours per week
(other than employees who are eligible to participate in
Crickets separate sales bonus plan). Payment of bonuses to
our executive officers under the Cricket Non-Sales Bonus Plan is
administered by the Compensation Committee. Historically, 75% of
the target amount payable to an officer under the Cricket
Non-Sales Bonus Plan for the relevant year was based upon
Leaps achievement of corporate performance goals and 25%
was based on an evaluation of the individual officers
performance throughout the year.
In 2007, our board of directors adopted and our stockholders
approved the Leap Wireless International, Inc. Executive
Incentive Bonus Plan, or the Executive Bonus Plan. The Executive
Bonus Plan is a bonus plan for our executive officers and other
eligible members of management which provides for the payment of
cash bonuses based on Leaps achievement of certain
predetermined corporate performance goals, with the intention
that such bonuses be deductible as performance-based
compensation within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. The
Executive Bonus Plan is further described below under the
heading The Leap Wireless International, Inc.
Executive Incentive Bonus Plan and is administered by the
Executive Bonus Plan Committee, or the Plan Committee,
consisting of Compensation Committee members Mark Rachesky and
Michael Targoff. Beginning in 2007, the 75% portion of the
annual performance bonus attributable to corporate performance
goals became payable to our executive officers under the
Executive Bonus Plan and the 25% portion attributable to their
individual performance was payable under the Cricket Non-Sales
Bonus Plan for 2007, or the 2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan.
Determination
of Targets and Performance Goals
Target and maximum bonus amounts payable to our executive
officers are established early in the year, generally as a
percentage of each individual executive officers base
salary. For 2007 compensation, overall target bonuses were set
at 100% of base salary for our CEO, 80% of base salary for our
executive vice presidents and 65% of base salary for the other
individuals serving as named executive officers. The actual
bonus award payable to the executive officers is generally 0% to
200% of the target bonus amount, based on the relative
attainment of the corporate and individual performance
objectives, subject to the Committees discretion to reduce
the amount payable. These target and maximum bonus amounts are
based, in part, on the Compensation Committees review of
cash bonus payments made to similarly situated executives of
other comparable and surveyed companies, as described above.
As more fully described above, the corporate and individual
performance goals used to determine the actual amount of the
annual performance bonus are generally established at the
beginning of the year. With respect to the 75% portion of the
target bonus attributable to corporate performance, the
performance goals generally relate to financial and operational
goals for adjusted OIBDA and our number of net customer
additions, each of which goals is weighted evenly in determining
the amount of the bonus. With respect to 2007 performance, this
portion of the bonus was payable semi-annually, with up to 50%
of the target amount payable after completion of our second
fiscal quarter and any remaining amount payable after completion
of our fiscal year. Beginning in 2008, the entire amount of any
corporate performance bonus will be payable following completion
of the fiscal year.
111
With respect to the 25% portion of the target bonus attributable
to individual performance, performance goals are determined for
our CEO and other executive officers based on their respective
role within the company. Following the completion of our fiscal
year, each of the executive officers is evaluated in light of
the performance goals he or she established for the year. The
Compensation Committee determines the portion of our CEOs
bonus attributable to individual performance based upon his
achievement of performance goals, as well as its subjective and
more qualitative assessment of his performance. For our other
named executive officers, the Compensation Committee determines
the portion of the annual bonus attributable to individual
performance based, in part, upon a rating assigned to each
individual each quarter by our CEO based upon his assessment of
such individuals achievement of performance goals, as well
as the Compensation Committees subjective and more
qualitative assessment of such individuals overall
performance.
2007
Performance Bonus Awards
Corporate performance goals for the Executive Bonus Plan were
approved in early 2007. The performance targets to permit each
of our named executive officers to receive 100% of their 2007
target bonus for corporate performance were:
(i) approximately $450 million of adjusted OIBDA; and
(ii) approximately 850,000 net customer additions. The
threshold levels, below which no performance bonus would be
paid, were: (i) approximately 90% of the adjusted OIBDA
target; and (ii) approximately 80% of the net customer
additions target. Individual performance goals established among
our named executive officers for fiscal 2007 included, among
others, the retention and expansion of our customer base,
maintaining and improving the quality of our wireless network,
continued recruitment and development of our employees and
continued control and reduction of our operating expenses.
Following the completion of our second fiscal quarter of 2007,
the Plan Committee approved the payment of bonuses in July 2007
to our named executive officers based on Leaps results for
adjusted OIBDA and net customer additions for the first six
months of the year as measured against the corporate performance
goals described above. The amounts paid to the named executive
officers under the Executive Bonus Plan for the first six months
of 2007 were as follows: Mr. Hutcheson: $224,274;
Mr. Umetsu, $106,262; Mr. Moschner, $106,008; and
Mr. Stephens, $68,619. Mr. Khalifa ceased serving as
our executive vice president and CFO as of September 6,
2007 and did not receive a corporate performance bonus in 2007.
As contemplated by the Executive Bonus Plan, any remaining
amounts payable to our named executive officers under the
Executive Bonus Plan were payable after the fourth quarter of
2007 upon finalization of our 2007 fiscal year results. Based
upon our 2007 results for net customer additions and adjusted
OIBDA, no additional amounts were payable to our named executive
officers under the Executive Bonus Plan. The adjusted OIBDA and
net customer additions performance targets for 2008 have been
set in a manner consistent with prior years, will be challenging
to achieve and are intended to reward significant company
performance.
With respect to the portion of the bonus based upon individual
performance, the Compensation Committee determined the amount of
the bonus based, in part, upon a rating assigned to each
individual each quarter by our CEO based upon his assessment of
such individuals achievement of performance goals, as well
as the Compensation Committees more subjective and
qualitative assessment of such individuals overall
performance. As part of this assessment, the Compensation
Committee determined to double the amount of the potential bonus
opportunity attributable to the executive officers
performance in the fourth quarter of 2007 under the 2007
Non-Sales Bonus Plan. This potential fourth quarter bonus
opportunity was made available to all participants under the
2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan, including our named executive
officers, to recognize the significant efforts of senior
management and other employees during the year. Following its
consideration of the named executive officers performance
for the year in light of the goals set forth above, the
Compensation Committee approved the payment of the following
individual performance bonuses to our named executive officers
under the 2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan: Mr. Hutcheson:
$248,374; Mr. Umetsu, $127,280; Mr. Moschner,
$136,352; and Mr. Stephens, $64,260.
Aggregate cash bonuses paid to our named executive officers
under the Executive Bonus Plan and the 2007 Non-Sales Bonus
Plan, expressed as an approximate percentage of their aggregate
target bonus, were as follows: Mr. Hutcheson, 77%;
Mr. Umetsu, 80%; Mr. Moschner, 84%; and
Mr. Stephens, 70%.
112
Long-Term
Incentive Compensation
Leap provides long-term incentive compensation to its executive
officers and other selected employees through the 2004 Stock
Option, Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Unit Plan, or the
2004 Stock Plan. The 2004 Stock Plan was approved and adopted by
the Compensation Committee in 2004 pursuant to authority
delegated to it by the board of directors and is generally
administered by the Compensation Committee. See
2004 Stock Option, Restricted Stock and
Deferred Stock Unit Plan for additional information
regarding the 2004 Stock Plan.
Under the 2004 Stock Plan, we grant our executive officers and
other selected employees non-qualified stock options at an
exercise price equal to (or greater than) the fair market value
of Leap common stock (as determined under the 2004 Stock Plan)
on the date of grant and restricted stock at a purchase price
equal to the par value per share. Since our adoption of the 2004
Stock Plan, the practice of the Compensation Committee has
generally been to grant initial awards to executive officers and
other eligible employees that join us which vest in full in
three to five years after the date of grant (with no partial
time-based vesting for the awards in the interim) but that are
subject to accelerated performance-based vesting prior to that
time if Leap meets certain performance targets.
Beginning in late 2006, the Compensation Committee also began to
make annual refresher grants of options and restricted stock to
our executive officers and other eligible employees. We believe
that the awards under the 2004 Stock Plan help us to reduce
officer and employee turnover and to retain the knowledge and
skills of our key employees. The size and timing of equity
awards is based on a variety of factors, including Leaps
overall performance, the recipients individual performance
and competitive compensation information, including the value of
such awards granted to comparable executive officers as set
forth in the statistical summaries of compensation data for
comparable companies prepared for the Compensation Committee.
In January 2005, we made initial grants of stock options and
restricted stock under the 2004 Stock Plan to our then-acting
executive officers, which awards were to vest in full
approximately three years after the date of grant with no
partial time-based vesting for the awards. These awards were,
however, subject to accelerated performance-based vesting in
increments ranging from 10% to 30% of the applicable award per
year if Leap met certain annual performance targets in 2005 or
2006 relating to the following: (i) our adjusted earnings
before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or
EBITDA; and (ii) our number of net customer additions.
Following the grant of these awards, there was no accelerated
vesting in 2006 based upon our 2005 financial results. The
following year, vesting for a portion of these awards was
accelerated in 2007 based on our achievement of 2006 annual
results. As a result, 19.3% of the shares underlying each award
granted to our named executive officers vested on an accelerated
basis, other than the awards held by Mr. Hutcheson, whose
agreements provided for 20% performance-based vesting. For 2006,
the performance targets to entitle 20% of the shares underlying
the awards to vest on an accelerated basis were:
(i) approximately $264 million of adjusted EBITDA; and
(ii) approximately 650,000 net customer additions; and
the threshold levels, below which no accelerated
performance-based vesting would occur, were:
(i) approximately 90% of the adjusted EBITDA target; and
(ii) approximately 70% of the net customer additions target.
Initial grants of stock options and restricted stock to
executive officers who joined us or were promoted after May 2005
vest in full five years after the date of grant with no partial
time-based vesting for the awards, but are subject to
accelerated performance-based vesting in increments ranging from
10% to 30% of the applicable award per year if Leap meets
certain adjusted EBITDA and net customer addition performance
targets, measured for fiscal years 2006 to 2008 for grants
occurring prior to February 2006, and measured for fiscal years
2007 to 2009 for awards granted after that date. As more fully
described above, vesting of a portion of these awards was
accelerated in February 2007 based on the levels of 2006
adjusted EBITDA and net customer additions achieved by Leap.
Based upon our 2007 results for net customer additions and
adjusted EBITDA, there was no additional accelerated vesting for
any portions of our stock options and restricted stock in 2008.
For 2007, the performance targets to entitle 20% of the shares
underlying the awards to vest on an accelerated basis were:
(i) approximately $450 million of adjusted EBITDA; and
(ii) 870,000 net customer additions; and the threshold
levels, below which no accelerated performance-based vesting
would occur, were: (i) approximately 90% of the adjusted
EBITDA target; and (ii) approximately 80% of the net
customer additions target. The 2004 Stock Plan permits the
Compensation Committee to update previously-determined
performance targets for adjusted EBITDA and net customer
additions to reflect changes in our scope of operations (for
example, to reflect our commencement of operations in a new
market not
113
originally contemplated by the prior performance targets). As a
result, we are in the process of updating our 2008 adjusted
EBITDA and net customer additions performance targets to reflect
our current plans for 2008 and expect that such updated targets
will be challenging to achieve and will result in accelerated
vesting in the event of significant company performance.
In connection with a review of our executive compensation
policies in October 2006, we noted that a significant portion of
the equity grants previously awarded to several of our named
executive officers were to vest in early 2008. Therefore, in
order to achieve our executive compensation objectives noted
above, including the long-term retention of members of our
senior management team, in December 2006, the Compensation
Committee recommended, and the board granted, an aggregate of
190,000 non-qualified stock options and 27,500 restricted stock
awards to Messrs. Hutcheson, Umetsu, Moschner and Stephens.
These additional grants of stock options and restricted stock
awards vest in four years, with the options vesting in equal 25%
annual increments and the shares of restricted stock vesting in
full on the fourth anniversary of the date of grant. The amount,
nature and timing of these grants were based, in part, on the
equity holdings (and the related vesting of such holdings) of
similarly situated executives as set forth in the statistical
summaries of compensation data for comparable companies.
Consistent with this practice, on February 20, 2008, the
Compensation Committee approved the additional grant of 18,000
non-qualified stock options to Mr. Moschner and an
aggregate of 75,000 shares of restricted stock to
Messrs. Umetsu, Moschner and Stephens, with such grants
effective on February 29, 2008, following the release of our
2007 financial results. The Compensation Committee approved the
grant of 100,000 non-qualified stock options and
50,000 shares of restricted stock to Mr. Hutcheson on
March 25, 2008. These additional grants of stock options
and restricted stock to Messrs. Moschner and Hutcheson generally
vest in four years, with the options vesting in equal 25% annual
increments and the shares of restricted stock vesting in 25%
equal increments on the second and third anniversaries of the
date of grant and 50% on the fourth anniversary of the date of
grant. With respect to the restricted stock awards to
Messrs. Umetsu and Stephens, one-third of the shares vest
on March 1, 2009 and the remaining two-thirds of the shares
vest on March 1, 2010.
401(k)
Plan
Leap maintains a 401(k) plan for all employees, and provides a
50% match on employees contributions, with Leaps
matching funds limited to 6% of an employees base salary.
Leaps 401(k) plan allows eligible employees to contribute
up to 30% of their salary, subject to annual limits. We match a
portion of the employee contributions and may, at our
discretion, make additional contributions based upon earnings.
Our contributions for the year ended December 31, 2007 were
approximately $1,571,000.
Other
Benefits
Our executive officers are eligible to participate in all of our
employee benefit plans, such as medical, dental, vision, group
life and disability insurance, in each case on the same basis as
other employees, subject to applicable law. We also provide
vacation and other paid holidays to all employees, including our
executive officers. In addition, Leap provides our executive
officers with supplemental health coverage with a maximum
benefit of $50,000 per year per family unit, the ability to
apply for supplemental, company-paid executive disability
insurance that provides a benefit of up to $5,000 per month up
to age 65, $750,000 of supplemental, company-paid executive
life insurance, and $750,000 of executive accidental death and
disability insurance. Leap also provides a tax planning
reimbursement benefit with the amount of the annual
reimbursement capped at $15,000. We believe that these
additional benefits are reasonable in scope and amount and are
typically offered by other companies against which we compete
for executive talent. We do not maintain any pension plans or
plans that provide for the deferral of compensation on a basis
that is not tax-qualified.
Policy on
Deductibility of Executive Officer Compensation
Section 162(m) of the Code generally disallows a tax
deduction to a publicly-held company for compensation in excess
of $1 million paid to its chief executive officer and its
four most highly compensated executive officers.
Performance-based compensation tied to the attainment of
specific goals is excluded from the limitation. In late 2006,
the Compensation Committee evaluated whether Leap should take
action with respect to the tax deductibility of Leaps
executive compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code,
and generally concluded that it would be
114
advisable for Leap to undertake the necessary steps to cause
Leaps performance-based cash bonus payments and future
grants of stock options to executive officers to qualify as
potential performance-based compensation plans under
Section 162(m) of the Code. Stockholders approved the
Executive Bonus Plan and the 2004 Stock Plan at our 2007 Annual
Meeting of Stockholders, and the board intends to generally
administer the plans in the manner required to make future
payments under the Executive Bonus Plan and to grant options
under the 2004 Stock Plan that constitute qualified
performance-based compensation under Section 162(m). With
respect to 2008 compensation, specific performance goals were
still being reviewed and finalized after the date necessary to
make any corporate performance bonuses payable under the
Executive Bonus Plan fully deductible under Section 162(m).
The board also retains the discretion to pay discretionary
bonuses or other types of compensation outside of the plans
which may or may not be tax deductible.
Summary
Compensation
The following table sets forth certain information with respect
to compensation for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2007 and 2006 earned by or paid to our CEO and acting CFO, our
three next most highly compensated executive officers as of the
end of the last fiscal year, and our former CFO. We refer to
these officers collectively as our named executive officers for
2007.
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Non-Equity
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Incentive Plan
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Stock
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Option
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All Other
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Name and Principal Position
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Year
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Salary
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Bonus
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Compensation(1)
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Awards(2)
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Awards(3)
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Compensation(4)
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Total
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|
S. Douglas Hutcheson
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|
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2007
|
|
|
$
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610,385
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
472,648
|
|
|
$
|
1,204,349
|
|
|
$
|
1,759,639
|
|
|
$
|
27,164
|
|
|
$
|
4,074,185
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|
CEO, President, Acting CFO and Director
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|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
541,346
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|
|
$
|
100,000
|
|
|
$
|
700,000
|
|
|
$
|
926,452
|
|
|
$
|
942,522
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|
|
$
|
20,801
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|
|
$
|
3,231,121
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|
Glenn T. Umetsu
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|
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2007
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|
|
$
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361,654
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|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
233,542
|
|
|
$
|
890,086
|
|
|
$
|
760,115
|
|
|
$
|
32,716
|
|
|
$
|
2,278,113
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
334,154
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
342,725
|
|
|
$
|
801,957
|
|
|
$
|
548,791
|
|
|
$
|
30,989
|
|
|
$
|
2,058,616
|
|
Albin F. Moschner
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
360,962
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
242,360
|
|
|
$
|
402,703
|
|
|
$
|
1,206,153
|
|
|
$
|
31,057
|
|
|
$
|
2,243,235
|
|
Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
327,692
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
336,684
|
|
|
$
|
314,574
|
|
|
$
|
994,830
|
|
|
$
|
55,050
|
|
|
$
|
2,028,830
|
|
Leonard C. Stephens
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
286,923
|
|
|
$
|
5,000
|
|
|
$
|
132,879
|
|
|
$
|
303,802
|
|
|
$
|
250,793
|
|
|
$
|
21,880
|
|
|
$
|
1,001,277
|
|
Senior Vice President, Human Resources
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
282,500
|
|
|
$
|
10,000
|
|
|
$
|
217,229
|
|
|
$
|
508,257
|
|
|
$
|
152,175
|
|
|
$
|
16,031
|
|
|
$
|
1,186,192
|
|
Amin I. Khalifa(5)
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
274,039
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
315,596
|
|
|
$
|
840,107
|
|
|
$
|
658,657
|
|
|
$
|
2,088,399
|
|
Former Executive Vice President and CFO
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
115,385
|
|
|
$
|
50,000
|
|
|
$
|
123,168
|
|
|
$
|
108,081
|
|
|
$
|
287,708
|
|
|
$
|
13,246
|
|
|
$
|
697,588
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
For 2007, the amounts represent aggregate cash bonuses earned
during 2007 under the Executive Bonus Plan and the 2007
Non-Sales Bonus Plan. For 2006, the amounts represent cash
bonuses earned during 2006 under the 2006 Non-Sales Bonus Plan. |
|
(2) |
|
Represents annual compensation cost for 2007 or 2006 of
restricted stock awards granted to our named executive officers
in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, or
SFAS 123(R). For information regarding assumptions made in
connection with this valuation, please see Note 9 to our
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
prospectus. Restricted stock awards to named executive officers
issued under the 2004 Stock Plan grant such executives the right
to purchase, subject to vesting, shares of common stock at a
purchase price of $0.0001 per share. |
|
(3) |
|
Represents annual compensation cost for 2007 or 2006 of options
to purchase Leap common stock granted to our named executive
officers in accordance with SFAS 123(R). For information
regarding assumptions made in connection with this valuation,
please see Note 9 to our consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this prospectus. |
115
|
|
|
(4) |
|
Includes the other compensation set forth in the table below: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Matching
|
|
Executive
|
|
Financial
|
|
Housing and
|
|
Sick
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
401(k)
|
|
Benefits
|
|
Planning
|
|
Other Living
|
|
Leave/Vacation
|
|
Severance
|
|
Total Other
|
Name
|
|
Year
|
|
Contributions
|
|
Payments
|
|
Services
|
|
Expenses
|
|
Payout
|
|
Payment
|
|
Compensation
|
|
S. Douglas Hutcheson
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
6,750
|
|
|
$
|
7,898
|
|
|
$
|
1,458
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
11,058
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
27,164
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
6,600
|
|
|
$
|
4,357
|
|
|
$
|
3,113
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,731
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
20,801
|
|
Glenn T. Umetsu
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
6,750
|
|
|
$
|
4,343
|
|
|
$
|
15,161
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,462
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
32,716
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
6,600
|
|
|
$
|
2,671
|
|
|
$
|
15,564
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
6,154
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
30,989
|
|
Albin F. Moschner
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
6,750
|
|
|
$
|
4,457
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
13,504
|
|
|
$
|
6,346
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
31,057
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
6,600
|
|
|
$
|
2,929
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
40,156
|
|
|
$
|
5,365
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
55,050
|
|
Leonard C. Stephens
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
6,750
|
|
|
$
|
8,450
|
|
|
$
|
1,247
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,433
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
21,880
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
6,600
|
|
|
$
|
3,217
|
|
|
$
|
1,868
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
4,346
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
16,031
|
|
Amin I. Khalifa
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
$
|
5,038
|
|
|
$
|
22,511
|
|
|
$
|
19,922
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
20,561
|
|
|
$
|
590,625
|
|
|
$
|
658,657
|
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
$
|
1,731
|
|
|
$
|
4,167
|
|
|
$
|
7,348
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
13,246
|
|
|
|
|
(5) |
|
Our board appointed Mr. Khalifa as our executive vice
president and CFO, effective as of August 28, 2006.
Mr. Khalifa ceased serving as our executive vice president
and CFO as of September 6, 2007. |
2007
Grants of Plan-Based Awards
The following table sets forth certain information with respect
to the grants of non-equity incentive plan awards made for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 to the named executive
officers under the Executive Bonus Plan and the 2007 Non-Sales
Bonus Plan. No grants of restricted stock or options to purchase
Leap common stock were made to our named executive officers
during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 under our
2004 Stock Plan.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Estimated Possible Payouts Under
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Incentive Plan Awards(1)
|
|
Name
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
Threshold
|
|
|
Target
|
|
|
Maximum
|
|
|
S. Douglas Hutcheson
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
114,778
|
|
|
$
|
459,113
|
|
|
$
|
918,226
|
|
2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
114,778
|
|
|
$
|
153,038
|
|
|
$
|
383,582
|
|
Glenn T. Umetsu
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
54,440
|
|
|
$
|
217,761
|
|
|
$
|
435,521
|
|
2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
54,440
|
|
|
$
|
72,586
|
|
|
$
|
181,974
|
|
Albin F. Moschner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
54,376
|
|
|
$
|
217,504
|
|
|
$
|
435,008
|
|
2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
54,376
|
|
|
$
|
72,501
|
|
|
$
|
181,803
|
|
Leonard C. Stephens
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
34,996
|
|
|
$
|
139,983
|
|
|
$
|
279,965
|
|
2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
34,996
|
|
|
$
|
46,661
|
|
|
$
|
116,873
|
|
Amin I. Khalifa
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
56,250
|
|
|
$
|
225,000
|
|
|
$
|
450,000
|
|
2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan
|
|
|
3/28/07
|
|
|
$
|
56,250
|
|
|
$
|
75,000
|
|
|
$
|
187,808
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Represents estimated potential payouts of non-equity incentive
plan awards for 2007 under the Executive Bonus Plan and under
the 2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan. The material terms of the plans
are described in Elements of Executive
Compensation Annual Performance Bonus above.
Actual amounts paid to the named executive officers pursuant to
the Executive Bonus Plan and 2007 Non-Sales Bonus Plan are
disclosed in the Summary Compensation Table above under the
heading Non-Equity Incentive Plan Compensation. |
Discussion
of Summary Compensation and Grants of Plan-Based Awards
Tables
Our executive compensation policies and practices, pursuant to
which the compensation set forth in the Summary Compensation
Table and the Grants of Plan-Based Awards table was paid or
awarded, are described above under Compensation Discussion
and Analysis. A summary of certain material terms of our
compensation plans and arrangements is set forth below.
116
Amended
and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with S. Douglas
Hutcheson
Effective as of February 25, 2005, Cricket and Leap entered
into an Amended and Restated Executive Employment Agreement with
S. Douglas Hutcheson in connection with
Mr. Hutchesons appointment as our CEO. The Amended
and Restated Executive Employment Agreement amends, restates and
supersedes the Executive Employment Agreement dated
January 10, 2005, as amended, among Mr. Hutcheson,
Cricket and Leap. The Amended and Restated Executive Employment
Agreement was amended as of June 17, 2005 and
February 17, 2006. As amended, the agreement is referred to
in this prospectus as the Executive Employment Agreement.
Mr. Hutchesons term of employment under the Executive
Employment Agreement expires on December 31, 2008, unless
extended by mutual agreement. On September 6, 2007,
Mr. Hutcheson was named as Leaps Acting Chief
Financial Officer.
Under the Executive Employment Agreement, Mr. Hutcheson
received an annual base salary of $350,000 through
January 27, 2006, and an annual base salary of $550,000
beginning on January 28, 2006, subject to adjustment
pursuant to periodic reviews by our board, and an opportunity to
earn an annual performance bonus. On May 18, 2006, our
board authorized an increase in Mr. Hutchesons annual
base salary from $550,000 per year to $575,000 per year.
Mr. Hutchesons base salary was subsequently increased
from $575,000 to $615,000 in January 2007 and from $615,000 to
$650,000 effective January 2008. Mr. Hutchesons
annual target performance bonus also was increased to 100% of
his base salary. The amount of any annual performance bonus is
to be determined in accordance with Crickets prevailing
annual performance bonus practices that are generally used to
determine annual performance bonuses for Crickets senior
executives. In the event Mr. Hutcheson is employed by
Cricket on December 31, 2008, then Mr. Hutcheson will
receive the final installment of his 2008 annual performance
bonus without regard to whether he is employed by Cricket on the
date such final installments are paid to senior executives of
Cricket. In addition, the Executive Employment Agreement
specifies that Mr. Hutcheson is entitled to participate in
all insurance and benefit plans generally available to
Crickets executive officers.
If, during the term of the Executive Employment Agreement, all
or substantially all of Crickets assets, or shares of
stock of Cricket or Leap having 50% or more of the voting rights
of the total outstanding stock of Cricket or Leap, as the case
may be, are sold with the approval of or pursuant to the active
solicitation of the boards of directors of Cricket or Leap, as
applicable, to a strategic investor, and if Mr. Hutcheson
continues his employment with Cricket or its successor for two
months following the closing of such sale, Cricket will pay to
Mr. Hutcheson a stay bonus in a lump sum payment equal to
one and one half times the sum of his then current annual base
salary and target performance bonus.
Under the terms of the Executive Employment Agreement (as in
effect prior to the amendments described below), if
Mr. Hutchesons employment is terminated as a result
of his discharge by Cricket other than for cause or if he
resigns with good reason, he will be entitled to receive:
(1) any unpaid portion of his salary and accrued benefits
earned up to the date of termination; (2) a lump sum
payment equal to one and one-half times the sum of his then
current annual base salary plus his target performance bonus
(although this payment would not be due to Mr. Hutcheson if
he receives the stay bonus described above); and (3) if he
elects continuation health coverage under COBRA, the premiums
for such continuation health coverage paid by Cricket for a
period of 18 months (or, if earlier, until he is eligible
for comparable coverage with a subsequent employer).
Mr. Hutcheson will be required to execute a general release
as a condition to his receipt of any of these severance benefits.
The Executive Employment Agreement also provides that if
Mr. Hutchesons employment is terminated by reason of
his discharge other than for cause or his resignation with good
reason, in each case within one year of a change in control of
Leap, and he is subject to excise tax pursuant to
Section 4999 of the Code as a result of any payments to
him, then Cricket will pay him a
gross-up
payment equal to the sum of the excise tax and all
federal, state and local income and employment taxes payable by
him with respect to the
gross-up
payment. This
gross-up
payment will not exceed $1 million and, if
Mr. Hutchesons employment was terminated by reason of
his resignation for good reason, such payment is conditioned on
Mr. Hutchesons agreement to provide consulting
services to Cricket or Leap for up to three days per month for
up to a one-year period for a fee of $1,500 per day.
If Mr. Hutchesons employment is terminated as a
result of his discharge by Cricket for cause or if he resigns
without good reason, he will be entitled only to his accrued
base salary through the date of termination. If
Mr. Hutchesons employment is terminated as a result
of his death or disability, he will be entitled only to his
117
accrued base salary through the date of death or termination, as
applicable, and his pro rata share of his target performance
bonus for the year in which his death or termination occurs.
For purposes of Mr. Hutchesons Executive Employment
Agreement (as in effect prior to the amendments described
below), cause is generally defined to include:
(i) his willful failure substantially to perform his duties
with Cricket or Leap; (ii) his willful failure
substantially to follow and comply with the specific and lawful
directives of the board of Cricket or Leap which are consistent
with his duties; (iii) his commission of an act of fraud or
dishonesty materially impacting or involving Leap or Cricket; or
(iv) his willful engagement in illegal conduct or gross
misconduct. For purposes of Mr. Hutchesons
employment, good reason is generally defined to
include the occurrence of any of the following circumstances,
unless cured prior to the date of Mr. Hutchesons
termination of employment: (i) the continuous assignment to
him of any duties materially inconsistent with his position, a
significant adverse alteration in the nature or status of his
responsibilities or the conditions of his employment with Leap
or Cricket, or any other action that results in a material
diminution in his position, authority, title, duties or
responsibilities; (ii) reduction of his annual base salary;
(iii) the relocation of the offices at which he is
principally employed to a location more than 60 miles from
such location, but only after he has commuted for a period of
one year to the new location (with Cricket bearing the
reasonable cost of such commuting); (iv) Crickets
failure to pay any portion of his current compensation or to
continue to provide certain benefits; (v) the continuation
or repetition of harassing or denigrating treatment of him by
Cricket inconsistent with his position; or (vi) the failure
of a successor to Cricket to retain his services for at least
one year on substantially the same terms as set forth in his
employment agreement.
In February 2008, our Compensation Committee approved amendments
to Mr. Hutchesons Executive Employment Agreement to
increase the severance compensation and benefits he would
receive if his employment is terminated as a result of his
discharge by Cricket other than for cause or if he resigns for
good reason, and to conform the definitions of cause
and good reason to the definitions in the amended
Severance Benefits Agreement for our executive vice presidents
and senior vice presidents, which are described below. This
amendment would increase the severance benefits to which
Mr. Hutcheson is entitled to receive in the event of such a
termination to a lump-sum payment equal to two times the sum of
his then current annual base salary plus his target performance
bonus and continued health coverage for a period of
24 months. See Severance and Change in
Control Arrangements Executive Vice Presidents and
Senior Vice Presidents below.
Effective January 5, 2005, Leaps Compensation
Committee granted Mr. Hutcheson non-qualified stock options
to purchase 85,106 shares of Leap common stock at $26.55
per share under the 2004 Stock Plan. Also on January 5,
2005, the Compensation Committee agreed to grant
Mr. Hutcheson restricted stock awards to purchase
90,000 shares of Leap common stock at $.0001 per share and
deferred stock unit awards to purchase 30,000 shares of
Leap common stock at $.0001 per share, if and when Leap filed a
Registration Statement on
Form S-8
with respect to the 2004 Stock Plan. Under the Executive
Employment Agreement, on February 24, 2005,
Mr. Hutcheson was granted additional non-qualified stock
options to purchase 75,901 shares of Leap common stock at
$26.35 per share. The Compensation Committee also agreed to
grant Mr. Hutcheson restricted stock awards to purchase
9,487 shares of Leap common stock at $.0001 per share, if
and when a Registration Statement on
Form S-8
was filed. Leap filed a Registration Statement on
Form S-8
with respect to the 2004 Stock Plan on June 17, 2005, and
the restricted stock awards and deferred stock unit awards that
had been made contingent upon that filing were then issued to
Mr. Hutcheson.
In the case of the 85,106 stock options granted to
Mr. Hutcheson, 17,021 shares subject to the options
became exercisable in February 2007 as a result of Leaps
achievement of adjusted EBITDA and net customer addition targets
for 2006 (as described above), and the remaining shares subject
to the options became exercisable on January 5, 2008. In
the case of the restricted stock award to acquire
90,000 shares, 18,000 shares became vested in February
2007 as a result of Leaps achievement of adjusted EBITDA
and net customer addition targets for 2006, and the remaining
shares vested on February 28, 2008. In the case of the
75,901 shares subject to stock options and
9,487 shares subject to restricted stock awards,
15,180 shares subject to stock options and
1,897 shares of restricted stock vested and became
exercisable in February 2007 as a result of Leaps
achievement of adjusted EBITDA and net customer addition targets
for 2006. Based upon our 2007 results for net customer additions
and adjusted EBTIDA, there was no additional accelerated vesting
for any portions of our stock options and restricted stock in
118
2008, and the remaining shares will vest and become exercisable
on December 31, 2008. In each case, Mr. Hutcheson must
be an employee, director or consultant of Cricket or Leap on
such date.
For a discussion of the additional equity awards granted to
Mr. Hutcheson in 2006 and 2008, please see
Elements of Executive Compensation
Long-Term Incentive Compensation above.
The stock options and restricted stock awards granted to
Mr. Hutcheson will also become exercisable
and/or
vested on an accelerated basis in connection with certain
changes in control or if Cricket terminates
Mr. Hutchesons employment other than for cause or if
he resigns with good reason within 90 days prior to or
within 12 months following a change in control, in each
case on the same basis as our other executive officers and as
more fully described below under the heading
Severance and Change in Control
Arrangements. In addition, if Mr. Hutchesons
employment is terminated by reason of discharge by Cricket other
than for cause or if he resigns for good reason, regardless of
whether such termination is in connection with a change in
control, any remaining shares subject to his stock options and
restricted stock awards will become exercisable
and/or
vested on the regularly scheduled vesting date in 2008.
Mr. Hutcheson will be required to execute a general release
as a condition to his receipt of the foregoing accelerated
vesting. For purposes of the accelerated vesting provisions of
Mr. Hutchesons equity awards, the terms
cause and good reason have the same
meanings as in his employment agreement, which are described
above. The term change in control has the same
meaning given to such term under the 2004 Stock Plan, which
definition is described below under Severance
and Change in Control Arrangements Change in Control
Vesting of Stock Options and Restricted Stock for Other Named
Executive Officers.
2004
Stock Option, Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Unit
Plan
Under the 2004 Stock Plan, Leap grants executive officers and
other selected employees non-qualified stock options at an
exercise price equal to the fair market value of Leap common
stock (as determined under the 2004 Stock Plan) on the date of
grant and restricted stock at a purchase price equal to par
value. The 2004 Stock Plan was adopted by the Compensation
Committee of our board, acting pursuant to a delegation of
authority, following our emergence from bankruptcy, as
contemplated by Section 5.07 of our plan of reorganization.
The 2004 Stock Plan allows Leap to grant options under the 2004
Stock Plan that constitute qualified performance-based
compensation exempt from the limits on deductibility under
Section 162(m) of the Code and also allows Leap to grant
incentive stock options within the meaning of Section 422
of the Code. The 2004 Stock Plan will be in effect until
December 2014, unless our board terminates the 2004 Stock Plan
at an earlier date.
The aggregate number of shares of common stock subject to awards
under the 2004 Stock Plan is currently 8,300,000. That number
may be adjusted for changes in Leaps capitalization and
certain corporate transactions, as described below. To the
extent that an award expires, terminates or is cancelled without
having been exercised in full, any unexercised shares subject to
the award will be available for future grant or sale under the
2004 Stock Plan. Shares of restricted stock which are forfeited
or repurchased by us pursuant to the 2004 Stock Plan may again
be optioned, granted or awarded under the 2004 Stock Plan. In
addition, shares of common stock which are delivered by the
holder or withheld by us upon the exercise of any award under
the 2004 Stock Plan in payment of the exercise or purchase price
of such award or tax withholding thereon may again be optioned,
granted or awarded under the 2004 Stock Plan. The maximum number
of shares that may be subject to awards granted under the 2004
Stock Plan to any individual in any calendar year may not exceed
1,500,000.
The 2004 Stock Plan is generally administered by the
Compensation Committee of our board of directors. However, the
board determines the terms and conditions of, and interprets and
administers, the 2004 Stock Plan for awards granted to our
non-employee directors. As appropriate, administration of the
2004 Stock Plan may be revested in our board. In addition, for
administrative convenience, the board may determine to grant to
one or more members of the board or to one or more officers the
authority to make grants to individuals who are not directors or
executive officers.
The 2004 Stock Plan authorizes discretionary grants to our
employees, consultants and non-employee directors, and to the
employees and consultants of our subsidiaries, of stock options,
restricted stock and deferred stock units. As of
December 31, 2007, outstanding equity awards are held by
approximately 200 of our approximately 2,400 employees and
our four non-employee directors.
119
In the event of certain changes in the capitalization of our
company or certain corporate transactions involving our company
and certain other events (including a change in control, as
defined in the 2004 Stock Plan), the board or Compensation
Committee will make appropriate adjustments to awards under the
2004 Stock Plan and is authorized to provide for the
acceleration, cash-out, termination, assumption, substitution or
conversion of such awards. We will give award holders
20 days prior written notice of certain changes in
control or other corporate transactions or events (or such
lesser notice as is determined appropriate or administratively
practicable under the circumstances) and of any actions the
board or Compensation Committee intends to take with respect to
outstanding awards in connection with such change in control,
transaction or event. Award holders will also have an
opportunity to exercise any vested awards prior to the
consummation of such changes in control or other corporate
transactions or events (and such exercise may be conditioned on
the closing of such transactions or events).
The
Leap Wireless International, Inc. Executive Incentive Bonus
Plan
The Executive Bonus Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee
or such other committee as may be appointed by the board to
establish periodic bonus programs based on specified performance
objectives. The purpose of the Executive Bonus Plan is to
motivate its participants to achieve specified performance
objectives and to reward them when those objectives are met with
bonuses that are intended to be deductible to the maximum extent
possible as performance-based compensation within
the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. Leap may, from
time to time, also pay discretionary bonuses, or other types of
compensation, outside the Executive Bonus Plan which may or may
not be tax deductible.
The Executive Bonus Plan is administered by the Compensation
Committee, or such other committee as may be appointed by the
board consisting solely of two or more directors, each of whom
is intended to qualify as an outside director within
the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code. On
March 28, 2007, the board established the Plan Committee,
consisting of Dr. Rachesky and Mr. Targoff, to conduct
the general administration of the Executive Bonus Plan. The
Executive Bonus Plan was approved by Leaps stockholders in
May 2007 at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Under the Executive Bonus Plan, an eligible participant will be
eligible to receive awards based upon Leaps performance
against the targeted performance objectives established by the
Plan Committee. If and to the extent the performance objectives
are met, an eligible participant will be eligible to receive a
bonus award to be determined by the Plan Committee, which bonus
amount may be a specific dollar amount or a specified percentage
of such participants base compensation for the performance
period. Participation in the Executive Bonus Plan is limited to
those senior vice presidents or more senior officers of Leap or
any subsidiary who are selected by the Plan Committee to receive
a bonus award under the Executive Bonus Plan.
For each performance period with regard to which one or more
eligible participants in the Executive Bonus Plan is selected by
the Plan Committee to receive a bonus award, the Plan Committee
establishes in writing one or more objectively determinable
performance objectives for such bonus award, based upon one or
more of the business criteria set forth in the plan, any of
which may be measured in absolute terms, as compared to any
incremental increase or as compared to the results of a peer
group. The performance objectives (including any adjustments)
must be established in writing by the Plan Committee no later
than the earlier of (i) the ninetieth day following the
commencement of the period of service to which the performance
goals relate or (ii) the date preceding the date on which
25% of the period of service (as scheduled in good faith at the
time the performance objectives are established) has lapsed;
provided that the achievement of such goals must be
substantially uncertain at the time such goals are established
in writing. Performance periods under the Executive Bonus Plan
will be specified by the Plan Committee and may be a fiscal year
of Leap or one or more fiscal quarters during a fiscal year.
The Plan Committee, in its discretion, may specify different
performance objectives for each bonus award granted under the
Executive Bonus Plan. Following the end of the performance
period in which the performance objectives are to be achieved,
the Plan Committee will, within the time prescribed by
Section 162(m) of the Code, determine whether, and to what
extent, the specified performance objectives have been achieved
for the applicable performance period.
The maximum aggregate amount of all bonus awards granted to any
eligible participant under the Executive Bonus Plan for any
fiscal year is $1,500,000. The Executive Bonus Plan, however, is
not the exclusive means for the
120
Compensation Committee to award incentive compensation to those
persons who are eligible for bonus awards under the Executive
Bonus Plan and does not limit the Compensation Committee from
making additional discretionary incentive awards. The Plan
Committee, in its discretion, may reduce or eliminate the bonus
amount otherwise payable to an eligible participant under the
Executive Bonus Plan.
If an eligible participants employment with Leap or a
subsidiary is terminated, including by reason of such
participants death or disability, prior to payment of any
bonus award, all of such participants rights under the
Executive Bonus Plan will terminate and such participant will
not have any right to receive any further payments from any
bonus award granted under the Executive Bonus Plan. The Plan
Committee may, in its discretion, determine what portion, if
any, of the eligible participants bonus award under the
Executive Bonus Plan should be paid if the termination results
from such participants death or disability.
The Plan Committee or the board may terminate the Executive
Bonus Plan or partially amend or otherwise modify or suspend the
Executive Bonus Plan at any time or from time to time, subject
to any stockholder approval requirements under
Section 162(m) of the Code or other requirements.
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
In September 2005, Leap commenced an Employee Stock Purchase
Plan, or the ESP Plan, which allows eligible employees to
purchase shares of Leap common stock during a specified offering
period. A total of 800,000 shares of common stock were
initially reserved for issuance under the ESP Plan. The
aggregate number of shares that may be sold pursuant to options
granted under the ESP Plan is subject to adjustment for changes
in Leaps capitalization and certain corporate
transactions. The ESP Plan is a compensatory plan under
SFAS 123(R) and is administered by the Compensation
Committee of the board. The ESP Plan will be in effect until
May 25, 2015, unless the board terminates the ESP Plan at
an earlier date.
Our employees and the employees of our designated subsidiary
corporations that customarily work more than 20 hours per
week and more than five months per calendar year are eligible to
participate in the ESP Plan as of the first day of the first
offering period after they become eligible to participate in the
ESP Plan. However, no employee is eligible to participate in the
ESP Plan if, immediately after becoming eligible to participate,
such employee would own or be treated as owning stock (including
stock such employee may purchase under options granted under the
ESP Plan) representing 5% or more of the total combined voting
power or value of all classes of Leaps stock or the stock
of any of its subsidiary corporations.
Under the ESP Plan, shares of Leap common stock are offered
during six month offering periods commencing on each January 1st
and July 1st. On the first day of an offering period, an
eligible employee is granted a nontransferable option to
purchase shares of Leap common stock on the last day of the
offering period.
An eligible employee can participate in the ESP Plan through
payroll deductions. An employee may elect payroll deductions in
any whole percentage (up to 15%) of base compensation, and may
decrease or suspend his or her payroll deductions during the
offering period. The employees cumulative payroll
deductions (without interest) can be used to purchase shares of
Leap common stock on the last day of the offering period, unless
the employee elects to withdraw his or her payroll deductions
prior to the end of the period. An employees cumulative
payroll deductions for an offering period may not exceed $5,000.
The per share purchase price of shares of Leap common stock
purchased on the last day of an offering period is 85% of the
lower of the fair market value of such stock on the first or
last day of the offering period. An employee may purchase no
more than 250 shares of Leap common stock during any
offering period. Also, an employee may not purchase shares of
Leap common stock during a calendar year with a total fair
market value of more than $25,000.
In the event of certain changes in Leaps capitalization or
certain corporate transactions involving Leap, Leaps
Compensation Committee will make appropriate adjustments to the
number of shares that may be sold pursuant to options granted
under the ESP Plan and options outstanding under the ESP Plan.
Leaps Compensation Committee is authorized to provide for
the termination, cash-out, assumption, substitution or
accelerated exercise of such options.
121
2007
Equity Awards At Fiscal Year-End
The following table sets forth certain information with respect
to outstanding equity awards at December 31, 2007 with
respect to the named executive officers.
|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Option Awards
|
|
|
Stock Awards
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Number of
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Market Value
|
|
|
|
Number of Securities
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares or Units
|
|
|
of Shares or
|
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|
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Underlying
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|
|
Option
|
|
|
Option
|
|
|
of Stock That
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|
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Units of Stock
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|
|
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Unexercised Options
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Exercise
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|
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Expiration
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Have Not
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That Have
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Name
|
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Exercisable
|
|
|
Unexercisable
|
|
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Price
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|
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Date
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|
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Vested
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|
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Not Vested(1)
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|
|
S. Douglas Hutcheson
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|
|
|
|
|
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68,085
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(6)
|
|
$
|
26.55
|
|
|
|
01/05/2015
|
|
|
|
72,000
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
3,358,073
|
|
|
|
|
15,180
|
|
|
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60,721
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(2)
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$
|
26.35
|
|
|
|
02/24/2015
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|
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7,590
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(2)
|
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$
|
353,997
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|
|
|
|
29,000
|
|
|
|
87,000
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(4)
|
|
$
|
60.62
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|
|
|
12/20/2016
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|
|
|
12,500
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(4)
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|
$
|
582,999
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|
Glenn T. Umetsu
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|
|
|
|
|
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68,681
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(6)
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$
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26.55
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|
|
|
01/05/2015
|
|
|
|
61,784
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(3)
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|
$
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2,881,600
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|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
|
22,500
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(4)
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|
$
|
60.62
|
|
|
|
12/20/2016
|
|
|
|
6,000
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(4)
|
|
$
|
279,839
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|
Albin F. Moschner
|
|
|
24,638
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|
|
|
103,022
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(6)
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|
$
|
26.55
|
|
|
|
01/31/2015
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|
|
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16,140
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(3)
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|
$
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752,768
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|
|
|
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7,720
|
|
|
|
32,280
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(5)
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|
$
|
34.37
|
|
|
|
10/26/2015
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|
|
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13,070
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(5)
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|
$
|
609,583
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|
|
|
|
7,500
|
|
|
|
22,500
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(4)
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|
$
|
60.62
|
|
|
|
12/20/2016
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|
|
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6,000
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(4)
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$
|
279,839
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Leonard C. Stephens
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|
|
|
|
|
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18,887
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(6)
|
|
$
|
26.55
|
|
|
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01/05/2015
|
|
|
|
19,973
|
(3)
|
|
$
|
931,539
|
|
|
|
|
3,500
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
60.62
|
|
|
|
12/20/2016
|
|
|
|
3,000
|
(4)
|
|
$
|
139,920
|
|
Amin I. Khalifa(7)
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|
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|
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(1) |
|
Computed by multiplying the closing market price of Leap common
stock ($46.64) on December 31, 2007 by the number of shares
subject to such stock award. |
|
(2) |
|
The award vests on December 31, 2008. The award is subject
to certain accelerated vesting upon a change in control, or a
termination of Mr. Hutchesons employment by us
without cause or by him for good reason, as described above
under Discussion of Summary Compensation and
Grants of Plan-Based Awards Tables Amended and
Restated Executive Employment Agreement with S. Douglas
Hutcheson. |
|
(3) |
|
The award vested on February 28, 2008. |
|
(4) |
|
Represents our 2006 form of stock option or restricted stock
award for additional grants to individuals with existing equity
awards. Each stock option vests in four equal annual
installments on each of the first four anniversaries of the date
of grant. Each restricted stock award vests on the fourth
anniversary of the date of grant. Each award is also subject to
certain accelerated vesting upon a change in control, or a
termination of the named executive officers employment by
us without cause or by the executive for good reason within
90 days prior to or 12 months following a change in
control, as described under Severance and
Change in Control Arrangements Change in Control
Vesting of Stock Options and Restricted Stock for Other Named
Executive Officers below. |
|
(5) |
|
Represents our standard form of stock option or restricted stock
award for new equity grants to new hires since October 26,
2005. The award vests on the fifth anniversary of the date of
grant, subject to performance-based accelerated vesting. Such
performance-based accelerated vesting is described in
Elements of Executive Compensation
Long-Term Incentive Compensation above. The award is also
subject to certain accelerated vesting upon a change in control,
or a termination of the named executive officers
employment by us without cause or by the executive for good
reason within 90 days prior to or 12 months following
a change in control, as described under
Severance and Change in Control
Arrangements Change in Control Vesting of Stock
Options and Restricted Stock for Other Named Executive
Officers below. |
|
(6) |
|
The award vests on the third anniversary of the date of grant,
which vesting occurred in January 2008. |
|
(7) |
|
Our board appointed Mr. Khalifa as our executive vice
president and CFO, effective as of August 28, 2006.
Mr. Khalifa ceased serving as our executive vice president
and CFO as of September 6, 2007. |
122
2007
Option Exercises and Stock Vested
The following table provides information on option exercises and
restricted stock award vesting for each of the named executive
officers in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.
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|
|
Option Awards
|
|
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Stock Awards
|
|
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Number of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
|
Value Realized on
|
|
|
Acquired on
|
|
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Value Realized on
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|
Name
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Exercise(1)
|
|
|
Vesting
|
|
|
Vesting(2)
|
|
|
S. Douglas Hutcheson
|
|
|
17,021
|
|
|
$
|
1,005,253
|
|
|
|
19,897
|
|
|
$
|
1,233,214
|
|
Glenn T. Umetsu
|
|
|
16,425
|
|
|
$
|
794,023
|
|
|
|
14,776
|
|
|
$
|
915,815
|
|
Albin F. Moschner
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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5,790
|
|
|
$
|
358,864
|
|
Leonard C. Stephens
|
|
|
4,517
|
|
|
$
|
263,068
|
|
|
|
4,777
|
|
|
$
|
296,078
|
|
Amin I. Khalifa(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
(1) |
|
The value realized upon exercise of an option is calculated
based on the number of shares issued upon exercise of such
option multiplied by the difference between the fair market
value per share on the date of exercise less the exercise price
per share of such option. |
|
(2) |
|
The value realized upon vesting of a restricted stock award is
calculated based on the number of shares vesting multiplied by
the difference between the fair market value per share of our
common stock on the vesting date less the purchase price per
share. |
|
(3) |
|
Our board appointed Mr. Khalifa as our executive vice
president and CFO, effective as of August 28, 2006.
Mr. Khalifa ceased serving as our executive vice president
and CFO as of September 6, 2007. |
Severance
and Change in Control Arrangements
Leap provides for certain severance benefits in the event that
an executives employment is involuntarily or
constructively terminated. Such severance benefits are designed
to alleviate the financial impact of an involuntary termination
through salary, bonus and health benefit continuation and with
the intent of providing for a stable work environment. We
believe that reasonable severance benefits for our executive
officers are important because it may be difficult for our
executive officers to find comparable employment within a short
period of time following certain qualifying terminations. In
addition to normal severance, Leap provides enhanced benefits in
the event of a change in control as a means of reinforcing and
encouraging the continued attention and dedication of key
executives of Leap to their duties of employment without
personal distraction or conflict of interest in circumstances
which could arise from the occurrence of a change in control. We
believe that the interests of stockholders are best served if
they are aligned with the interests of senior management and
providing change in control benefits should eliminate, or at
least reduce, the reluctance of senior management to pursue
potential change in control transactions that may be in the best
interests of stockholders.
Leap extends severance, continuity and
change-in-control
benefits because they are essential to help Leap fulfill its
objectives of attracting and retaining key managerial talent.
These agreements are intended to be competitive within our
industry and company size and to attract highly qualified
individuals and encourage them to be retained by Leap. While
these arrangements form an integral part of the total
compensation provided to these individuals and are considered by
the Compensation Committee when determining executive officer
compensation, the decision to offer these benefits did not
influence the Compensation Committees determinations
concerning other direct compensation or benefit levels. The
Compensation Committee has determined that such arrangements
offer protection that is competitive within our industry and
company size and attract highly qualified individuals and
encourage them to be retained by Leap.
Chief
Executive Officer
See Discussion of Summary Compensation and Grants of
Plan-Based Awards Tables Amended and Restated
Executive Employment Agreement with S. Douglas Hutcheson
above for a description of our severance and change in control
arrangements with Mr. Hutcheson, including provisions
regarding accelerated vesting of his stock options and
restricted stock awards.
123
Executive
Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents
In February 2008, Cricket and Leap entered into Amended and
Restated Severance Benefits Agreements with our executive vice
presidents and senior vice presidents, including
Messrs. Umetsu, Moschner and Stephens. The Amended and
Restated Severance Agreements amend, restate and supersede the
Severance Benefits Agreements entered into in 2005 with each
such officer. As amended, these agreements are referred to in
this prospectus as the Severance Agreements.
Pursuant to the amendments to the Severance Agreements, the term
of each such agreement was extended through December 31,
2009, with an automatic extension for each subsequent year
unless notice of termination is provided to the executive no
later than January 1st of the preceding year. Prior to
the amendments, the agreements provided that officers who were
terminated other than for cause or who resigned with good reason
were entitled to receive severance benefits consisting of:
(1) any unpaid portion of his or her salary and accrued
benefits earned up to the date of termination; (2) an
amount equal to one year of base salary and target bonus, in a
lump sum payment; and (3) the cost of continuation health
coverage (COBRA) for one year or, if shorter, until the time
when the officer is eligible for comparable coverage with a
subsequent employer. Pursuant to the amended Severance
Agreements, officers who are terminated other than for cause or
who resign with good reason will be entitled to receive
severance benefits consisting of: (1) any unpaid portion of
his or her salary and accrued benefits earned up to the date of
termination; (2) a lump sum payment equal to his or her
then current annual base salary and target bonus, multiplied by
1.0 for senior vice presidents who are not executive officers
and by 1.5 for executive vice presidents and senior vice
presidents who are executive officers; and (3) the cost of
continuation health coverage (COBRA) for a period of
12 months for senior vice presidents who are not executive
officers and 18 months for executive vice presidents and
senior vice presidents who are executive officers (or, if
shorter, until the time when the respective officer is eligible
for comparable coverage with a subsequent employer). In
consideration for these benefits, the officers agreed to provide
a general release to Leap and its operating subsidiary, Cricket,
prior to receiving severance benefits, and have agreed not to
solicit any of our employees and to maintain the confidentiality
of our information for three years following the date of his or
her termination.
For purposes of the amended Severance Agreements,
cause is generally defined to include: (i) the
officers willful neglect of or willful failure
substantially to perform his or her duties with Cricket (or its
parent or subsidiaries), after written notice and the
officers failure to cure; (ii) the officers
willful neglect of or willful failure substantially to perform
the lawful and reasonable directions of the board of directors
of Cricket (or of any parent or subsidiary of Cricket which
employs the officer or for which the officer serves as an
officer) or of the individual to whom the officer reports, after
written notice and the officers failure to cure;
(iii) the officers commission of an act of fraud,
embezzlement or dishonesty upon Cricket (or its parent or
subsidiaries); (iv) the officers material breach of
his or her confidentiality and inventions assignment agreement
or any other agreement between the officer and Cricket (or its
parent or subsidiaries), after written notice and the
executives failure to cure; (v) the officers
conviction of, or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to, the
commission of a felony or other illegal conduct that is likely
to inflict or has inflicted material injury on the business of
Cricket (or its parent or subsidiaries); or (vi) the
officers gross misconduct affecting or material violation
of any duty of loyalty to Cricket (or its parent or
subsidiaries). For purposes of the amended Severance Agreements,
good reason is generally defined to include the
occurrence of any of the following circumstances, unless cured
within thirty days after Crickets receipt of written
notice of such circumstance from the officer: (i) a
material diminution in the officers authority, duties or
responsibilities with Cricket (or its parent or subsidiaries),
including the continuous assignment to the officer of any duties
materially inconsistent with his or her position, a material
negative change in the nature or status of his or her
responsibilities or the conditions of his or her employment with
Cricket (or its parent or subsidiaries); (ii) a material
diminution in the officers annualized cash and benefits
compensation opportunity, including base compensation, annual
target bonus opportunity and aggregate employee benefits;
(iii) a material change in the geographic location at which
the officer must perform his or her duties, including any
involuntary relocation of Crickets offices (or its
parents or subsidiaries offices) at which the
officer is principally employed to a location that is more than
60 miles from such location; or (iv) any other action
or inaction that constitutes a material breach by Cricket (or
its parent or subsidiaries) of its obligations to the officer
under his or her Severance Agreement.
124
Change in
Control Vesting of Stock Options and Restricted Stock for Other
Named Executive Officers
Provisions regarding acceleration of Mr. Hutchesons
stock options and restricted stock awards are described
elsewhere in this prospectus. The stock options and restricted
stock awards granted to the other named executive officers will
become exercisable
and/or
vested on an accelerated basis in connection with certain
changes in control. The period over which the award vests or
becomes exercisable after a change in control varies depending
upon the date that the award was granted and the date of the
change in control.
For example, under our standard form of stock option and
restricted stock award agreements for new equity grants to new
hires since October 26, 2005, which generally provide for
five-year cliff vesting with possible accelerated vesting based
on achievement of adjusted EBITDA and net customer addition
performance objectives, in the event of a change in control,
one-third of the unvested portion of such award will vest
and/or
become exercisable on the date of the change in control. In the
event the named executive officer is providing services to us as
an employee, director or consultant on the first anniversary of
the change in control, an additional one-third of the unvested
portion of such award (measured as of immediately prior to the
change in control) will vest
and/or
become exercisable on such date. In the event the named
executive officer is providing services to us as an employee,
director or consultant on the second anniversary of the change
in control, the entire remaining unvested portion of such award
will vest
and/or
become exercisable on such date.
Under our 2006 form of stock option and restricted stock award
agreements for additional grants to award holders (i.e., grants
to individuals with existing equity awards), which generally
provide for four-year time based vesting, in the event of a
change in control during the period ending 30 months after
such an award is granted, if the individual is an employee,
director or consultant 90 days after the change in control,
25% of the total number of shares subject to the award will
become exercisable
and/or
vested. If the change in control occurs more than 30 months
after the option is granted and if the individual is an
employee, director or consultant 90 days after the change
in control, 50% of the total number of shares subject to the
award will become exercisable
and/or
vested.
In contrast, under certain of our stock option and restricted
stock awards granted prior to October 26, 2005, in the
event of a change in control, 85% of the unvested portion of
such awards would vest
and/or
become exercisable in the event of a change in control. In the
event the named executive officer is providing services to us as
an employee, director or consultant on the first anniversary of
the change in control, the entire remaining unvested portion of
such award will vest
and/or
become exercisable on such date. Some of our other stock option
and restricted stock awards provide for a period over which the
award vests or becomes exercisable after a change in control
different from those described above depending upon the date
that the award was granted and the date of the change in control.
In the case of all of our outstanding stock option and
restricted stock award agreements, in the event a named
executive officers employment is terminated by us other
than for cause, or if the named executive officer resigns with
good reason, during the period commencing 90 days prior to
a change in control and ending 12 months after such change
in control, each stock option and restricted stock award will
automatically accelerate and become exercisable
and/or
vested as to any remaining unvested shares subject to such stock
option or restricted stock award on the later of (i) the
date of termination of employment or (ii) the date of the
change in control.
The terms cause and good reason are
defined in the applicable award agreements and are substantially
similar to the definitions of such terms found in the Severance
Agreements, as described above.
For purposes of the foregoing equity awards, a change in
control generally means the occurrence of any of the
following events:
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the occurrence of both (1) the acquisition by any person or
group of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of Leaps
outstanding voting securities, and (2) the individuals who
represent the incumbent members of the board cease for any
reason to constitute at least a majority of the board (and any
member of the board whose appointment or election was approved
by a vote of at least a majority of the incumbent members of the
board shall also be considered an incumbent member (other than
any individual whose initial assumption of office as a director
occurs as a result of an election contest with respect to the
election or removal of directors or other solicitation of
proxies or consents by or on behalf of a person other than the
board). Clause (2) will not
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125
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apply and the occurrence of clause (1) alone will
constitute a change in control if the acquisition in
clause (1) is by any buyer of or investor in voting
securities of Leap whose primary business is not financial
investing;
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the consummation by Leap of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization, or business combination or a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of our assets, other
than a transaction (1) which results in Leaps voting
securities outstanding immediately before the transaction
continuing to represent more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the successor entity immediately after the transaction,
and (2) after which more than 50% of the members of the
board of directors of the successor entity were incumbent
members of the board at the time of its approval of the
transaction, and (3) after which no person or group
beneficially owns voting securities representing 35% or more of
the successor entity (and no person or group will be treated as
beneficially owning 35% or more of the combined voting power of
the successor entity solely as a result of the voting power held
in Leap prior to the consummation of the transaction);
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a liquidation or dissolution of Leap;
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the acquisition by any person or group of beneficial ownership
of 50% or more of Crickets outstanding voting securities,
other than (1) an acquisition of Crickets voting
securities by Leap or any person controlled by Leap or
(2) an acquisition of Crickets voting securities
pursuant to a transaction described in the following clause that
would not be a change in control under such clause; or
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the consummation by Cricket of a merger, consolidation,
reorganization, or business combination or a sale or other
disposition of all or substantially all of Crickets
assets, other than a transaction which results in Crickets
voting securities outstanding immediately before the transaction
continuing to represent more than 50% of the combined voting
power of the successor entity immediately after the transaction.
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Except as otherwise described above, a named executive officer
will be entitled to accelerated vesting
and/or
exercisability in the event of a change in control only if he is
an employee, director or consultant on the effective date of
such accelerated vesting
and/or
exercisability. Under our grants with performance-based
acceleration of vesting, following the date of a change in
control, there will be no further additional performance-based
exercisability
and/or
vesting applicable to stock options and restricted stock awards
based on our adjusted EBITDA and net customer addition
performance.
The following table summarizes potential change in control and
severance payments to each named executive officer. The four
right-hand columns describe the payments that would apply in
four different potential scenarios: (1) a termination of
employment as a result of the named executive officers
voluntary resignation without good reason or his termination by
us for cause; (2) a change in control without a termination
of employment; (3) a termination of employment as a result
of the named executive officers resignation for good
reason or termination of employment by us other than for cause,
in each case within 90 days before or within a year after a
change in control; and (4) a termination of employment as a
result of the named executive officers resignation for
good reason or termination of employment by us other than for
cause, in each case not within 90 days before and not
within 12 months after a change in control. The table
assumes that the termination or change in control occurred on
December 31, 2007 and reflects benefits that were payable
under Mr. Hutchesons employment agreement and our
named executive officers Severance Agreements as in effect
on such date, prior to the amendments approved in February 2008.
126
Potential
Change in Control and Severance Payments
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Payment in the
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Case of a
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Payment in the
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Resignation for
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Case of a
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Good Reason or
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Resignation for
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Termination
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Good Reason or
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Other than
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Payment in the
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Termination Other
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for Cause,
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Case of a
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Payment in the
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than for Cause, if
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Not Within 90 Days
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Resignation
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Case of a
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Within 90 Days
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Prior to and
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Without Good
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Change
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Prior to or
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Not Within 12
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Reason or
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in Control
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Within 12 Months
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Months
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Termination for
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Without
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Following a
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Following a
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Name
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Benefit Type
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Cause
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Termination
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Change in Control
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Change in Control
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S. Douglas Hutcheson
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Accrued Salary(1)
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$
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23,654
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$
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23,654
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$
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23,654
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Accrued PTO(2)
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$
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187,986
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$
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187,986
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$
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187,986
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Cash Severance or Stay
Bonus
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$
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1,845,000
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(3)
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$
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1,845,000
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(3)
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COBRA Payments(4)
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$
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34,181
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$
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34,181
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Value of Equity Award
Acceleration
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$
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5,510,887
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(5)
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$
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6,894,926
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(6)
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(7)
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Excise Tax Gross-Up
Payment
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$
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1,000,000
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(8)
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$
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1,000,000
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(8)
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Total Value:
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$
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211,640
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$
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6,510,887
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$
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9,985,747
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$
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2,090,821
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Glenn T. Umetsu
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Accrued Salary(1)
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$
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14,038
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$
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14,038
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$
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14,038
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Accrued PTO(2)
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$
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25,146
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$
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25,146
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$
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25,146
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Cash Severance(9)
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$
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657,000
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$
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657,000
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COBRA Payments(4)
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$
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22,787
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$
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22,787
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Value of Equity Award Acceleration
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$
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3,692,156
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(5)
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$
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4,541,247
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(6)
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Total Value:
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$
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39,184
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$
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3,692,156
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$
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5,260,218
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$
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718,971
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Albin F. Moschner
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Accrued Salary(1)
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$
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14,038
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$
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14,038
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$
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14,038
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Accrued PTO(2)
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$
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32,608
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$
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32,608
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$
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32,608
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Cash Severance(9)
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$
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657,000
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$
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657,000
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COBRA Payments(4)
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$
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22,787
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$
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22,787
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Value of Equity Award Acceleration
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$
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2,804,174
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(5)
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$
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4,107,735
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(6)
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Total Value:
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$
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46,646
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$
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2,804,174
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$
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4,834,168
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$
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726,433
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Leonard C. Stephens
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Accrued Salary(1)
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$
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11,058
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$
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11,058
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$
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11,058
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Accrued PTO(2)
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$
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60,926
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$
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60,926
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$
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60,926
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Cash Severance(9)
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$
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474,375
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$
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474,375
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COBRA Payments(4)
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$
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17,979
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$
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17,979
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Value of Equity Award Acceleration
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$
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1,149,313
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(5)
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$
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1,450,901
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(6)
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Total Value:
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$
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71,984
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$
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1,149,313
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$
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2,015,239
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$
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564,338
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(1) |
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Represents earned but unpaid salary as of December 31, 2007
and does not include any amounts payable to our executive
officers under the Executive Bonus Plan or the 2007 Non-Sales
Bonus Plan. |
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(2) |
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Represents accrual for paid time off and sick leave that had not
been taken as of December 31, 2007. |
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(3) |
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Mr. Hutcheson is eligible to receive either a stay bonus or
a cash severance payment, but not both. The stay bonus would
apply if Mr. Hutcheson continues his employment with
Cricket or its successor for two months following the closing of
such change in control. The amount of either the stay bonus or
the cash severance payment would have been one and one-half
times Mr. Hutchesons $615,000 base salary plus one
and one-half times Mr. Hutchesons $615,000 target
performance bonus, or $1,845,000 as of December 31, 2007.
This amount excludes potential payments of $1,500 a day that
Mr. Hutcheson could receive for providing consulting
services at Leaps request after a resignation for good
reason. |
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(4) |
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Amounts shown represent an aggregate of 18 months of COBRA
payments for Mr. Hutcheson and 12 months of COBRA
payments for the other named executive officers. The payments
for COBRA would cover both the premium for our employee health
insurance and the premium for our Exec-U-Care Plan, which covers
up to $50,000 per family per year of medical costs that our
employee health insurance does not cover. |
127
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(5) |
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Represents the value of those awards that would vest as a result
of a change in control occurring on December 31, 2007,
without any termination of employment. The value of such awards
was calculated assuming a price per share of our common stock of
$46.64 which represents the closing market price of our common
stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on
December 31, 2007. |
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(6) |
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Represents the value of those awards that would vest as a result
of the executives termination of employment by us other
than for cause or by the named executive officer for good reason
within 90 days prior to or within 12 months following
a change in control. This value assumes that the change in
control and the date of termination occur on December 31,
2007, and therefore the vesting of such award was not previously
accelerated as a result of a change in control. |
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(7) |
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In the event of a termination of Mr. Hutchesons
employment by us other than for cause or by him for good reason,
in either case not within 90 days prior to and not within
12 months following a change in control,
Mr. Hutchesons unvested shares subject to his equity
awards granted in 2005 will vest on the regularly scheduled
vesting date in 2008. |
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(8) |
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Represents the maximum excise tax
gross-up
payment to which Mr. Hutcheson may be entitled pursuant to
the Executive Employment Agreement. The actual amount of any
such excise tax
gross-up
payment may be less. The excise tax
gross-up
payment takes into account the severance payments and benefits
that would be payable to Mr. Hutcheson upon his termination
of employment by Cricket without cause or his resignation with
good reason and assumes that such payments would constitute
excess parachute payments under Section 280G of the Code,
resulting in excise tax liability. See Severance and
Change of Control Arrangements above. It assumes that
Mr. Hutcheson continues to provide consulting services to
the company for three days per month for a one-year period after
his resignation with good reason, for a fee of $1,500 per day.
Such potential consulting fees are not reflected in the amounts
shown in the table above. |
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(9) |
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Represents one hundred percent of the executives annual
base salary plus his target annual bonus, using his greatest
annual base salary and target bonus in effect between
December 31, 2006 and December 31, 2007. |
Resignation
Agreement with Amin Khalifa
On September 6, 2007, we entered into a Resignation
Agreement with Amin Khalifa, under which Mr. Khalifa
resigned as the executive vice president and CFO of Leap,
Cricket and their domestic subsidiaries, effective as of
September 6, 2007. This Resignation Agreement supersedes
the offer letter entered into by Cricket and Mr. Khalifa as
of July 19, 2006, and the Severance Benefits Agreement
entered into by Cricket, Leap and Mr. Khalifa as of
September 15, 2006. Under the Resignation Agreement,
Mr. Khalifa received a severance payment of $590,625.
Mr. Khalifa also relinquished all rights to any stock
options, restricted stock and deferred stock unit awards from
Leap. Mr. Khalifa executed a general release as a condition
to his receipt of the severance payment.
2007 Director
Compensation
Effective February 22, 2006, our board approved an annual
compensation package for non-employee directors consisting of a
cash component and an equity component. The cash component is
paid, and the equity component is awarded, each year following
Leaps annual meeting of stockholders.
Each non-employee director receives annual cash compensation of
$40,000. The chairman of the board receives additional cash
compensation of $20,000; the chairman of the Audit Committee
receives additional cash compensation of $15,000; and the
chairmen of the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and
Corporate Governance Committee each receive additional cash
compensation of $5,000.
Non-employee directors also receive annual awards of $100,000 in
Leap restricted common stock pursuant to the 2004 Stock Plan.
The purchase price for each share of Leap restricted common
stock is $.0001, and each such share is valued at fair market
value (as defined in the 2004 Stock Plan) on the date of grant.
Each award of restricted common stock vests in equal
installments on each of the first, second and third
anniversaries of the date of grant. All unvested shares of
restricted common stock under each award will vest upon a change
in control (as defined in the 2004 Stock Plan).
128
Leap also reimburses directors for reasonable and necessary
expenses, including their travel expenses incurred in connection
with attendance at board and committee meetings.
The following table sets forth certain compensation information
with respect to each of the members of our board for the fiscal
year ended December 31, 2007, other than Mr. Hutcheson
whose compensation relates to his service as CEO, president and
acting CFO and who does not receive additional compensation in
his capacity as a director.
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Name
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Fees Earned or Paid in Cash
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Stock Awards(1)
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Option Awards(2)
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Total
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John D. Harkey, Jr.
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$
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40,000
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$
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53,005
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$
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49,549
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$
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142,554
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Robert V. LaPenta
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$
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40,000
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$
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53,005
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$
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49,587
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$
|
142,592
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Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
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$
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65,000
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$
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53,005
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$
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121,465
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$
|
239,470
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Michael B. Targoff
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$
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55,000
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$
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53,005
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$
|
63,538
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$
|
171,543
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James D. Dondero
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$
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45,000
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$
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53,005
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(3)
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$
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58,043
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(3)
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$
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45,000
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(1) |
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Represents annual compensation cost for 2007 of restricted stock
awards granted to our non-employee directors in accordance with
SFAS 123(R). For information regarding assumptions made in
connection with this valuation, please see Note 9 to our
audited annual consolidated financial statements included
elsewhere in this prospectus. On May 29, 2007, we granted
to each of our non-employee directors 1,210 shares of
restricted stock. Each award of restricted stock will vest in
equal installments on each of the first, second and third
anniversaries of the date of grant. All unvested shares of
restricted stock under each award will vest upon a change in
control (as defined in the 2004 Stock Plan). The aggregate
number of stock awards outstanding at the end of 2007 for each
director were as follows: John D. Harkey, Jr., 2,719; Robert V.
LaPenta, 2,719; Mark H. Rachesky, M.D., 2,719; Michael B.
Targoff, 2,719; and James D. Dondero, 0. |
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|
|
The full grant date fair value of each individual stock award
(on a
grant-by-grant
basis) as computed under SFAS 123(R) is as follows: |
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|
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|
|
|
|
Name
|
|
Date of Grant
|
|
Number of Shares
|
|
Grant Date Fair Value
|
|
John D. Harkey, Jr.
|
|
|
05/29/2007
|
|
|
|
1,210
|
|
|
$
|
99,970
|
|
Robert V. LaPenta
|
|
|
05/29/2007
|
|
|
|
1,210
|
|
|
$
|
99,970
|
|
Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.
|
|
|
05/29/2007
|
|
|
|
1,210
|
|
|
$
|
99,970
|
|
Michael B. Targoff
|
|
|
05/29/2007
|
|
|
|
1,210
|
|
|
$
|
99,970
|
|
James D. Dondero
|
|
|
05/29/2007
|
|
|
|
1,210
|
|
|
$
|
99,970
|
|
|
|
|
(2) |
|
Represents annual compensation cost for 2007 of options to
purchase Leap common stock granted to our non-employee directors
in accordance with SFAS 123(R). For information regarding
assumptions made in connection with this valuation, please see
Note 9 to our audited annual consolidated financial
statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The aggregate
number of stock option awards outstanding at the end of 2007 for
each director were as follows: John D. Harkey, Jr., 2,500;
Robert V. LaPenta, 12,500; Mark H. Rachesky, M.D., 40,200;
Michael B. Targoff, 4,500; and James D. Dondero, 0. There were
no option grants to our non-employee directors in 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
Mr. Dondero resigned as a member of our board of directors
in September of 2007, after which his unexercised outstanding
stock option awards expired and his outstanding restricted stock
was repurchased. |
Indemnification
of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation on
Liability
As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, we have adopted provisions in our Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated
Bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of our
directors for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a
director. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting
on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed
business judgment based on all material information reasonably
available to them. Consequently, a director will not be
personally liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages
or breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability
for:
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|
any breach of the directors duty of loyalty to us or our
stockholders;
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129
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|
any act or omission not in good faith or that involves
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
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any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or
other distributions or payment of dividends; or
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any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit.
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These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of
equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Our
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation also
authorizes us to indemnify our officers, directors and other
agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.
As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law, our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that:
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we may indemnify our directors, officers, and employees to the
fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, subject to limited exceptions;
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we may advance expenses to our directors, officers and employees
in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent
permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to
limited exceptions; and
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the rights provided in our bylaws are not exclusive.
|
Leaps Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
and Amended and Restated Bylaws provide for the indemnification
provisions described above. In addition, we have entered into
separate indemnification agreements with our directors and
officers which may be broader than the specific indemnification
provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law.
These indemnification agreements may require us, among other
things, to indemnify our officers and directors against
liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service
as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from
willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also may
require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or
officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which
they could be indemnified. In addition, we have purchased
policies of directors and officers liability
insurance that insure our directors and officers against the
cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some
circumstances. These indemnification provisions and the
indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit
indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities,
including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the
Securities Act.
Certain of our current and former officers and directors have
been named as defendants in multiple lawsuits, and several of
these defendants have indemnification agreements with us. We are
also a defendant in some of these lawsuits. See
Business Legal Proceedings above.
130
COMPENSATION
COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The current members of Leaps Compensation Committee are
Dr. Rachesky and Mr. Targoff. Neither of these
directors has at any time been an officer or employee of Leap or
any of its subsidiaries. Mr. James Dondero served as a
member of the Compensation Committee until his resignation from
our board of directors on September 10, 2007.
In August 2004, we entered into a registration rights agreement
with certain holders of Leaps common stock, including MHR
Institutional Partners II LP, MHR Institutional Partners
IIA LP (which entities are affiliated with Mark H.
Rachesky, M.D., the chairman of the board) and Highland
Capital Management, L.P. (an entity affiliated with James D.
Dondero, a former director of Leap), whereby we granted them
registration rights with respect to the shares of common stock
issued to them on the effective date of our plan of
reorganization. This agreement remains in effect with respect to
MHR Institutional Partners II LP and MHR Institutional
Partners IIA LP.
Pursuant to this registration rights agreement, we are required
to register for sale shares of common stock held by these
holders upon demand of a holder of a minimum of 15% of Leap
common stock on the effective date of the plan of reorganization
or when we register for sale to the public shares of Leap common
stock. We have filed and are required to maintain a resale shelf
registration statement, pursuant to which these holders may sell
certain of their shares of common stock on a delayed or
continuous basis. We are obligated to pay all the expenses of
registration, other than underwriting fees, discounts and
commissions. The registration rights agreement contains
cross-indemnification provisions, pursuant to which we are
obligated to indemnify the selling stockholders in the event of
material misstatements or omissions in a registration statement
that are attributable to us, and they are obligated to indemnify
us for material misstatements or omissions attributable to them.
On January 10, 2005, Leap and Cricket entered into a senior
secured credit agreement for a six-year $500 million term
loan and a $110 million revolving credit facility with a
syndicate of lenders and Bank of America, N.A. (as
administrative agent and letter of credit issuer). This credit
agreement was amended on July 22, 2005 to, among other
things, increase the amount of the term loan by
$100 million, which was fully drawn on that date.
Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (a beneficial
stockholder of Leap and an affiliate of James D. Dondero, a
former director of Leap) participated in the syndication of this
credit agreement, as amended, in the following initial amounts:
$100 million of the initial $500 million term loan;
$30 million of the $110 million revolving credit
facility; and $9 million of the additional
$100 million term loan.
The highest aggregate principal amount of indebtedness owed by
Cricket to Highlands affiliates under the term loan during
the period from January 10, 2005 to June 16, 2006 was
$109 million, and Cricket made repayments of principal to
Highlands affiliates under the term loan during that same
period of $93.0 million in the aggregate. Under this credit
agreement, the term loan bore interest at the London Interbank
Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 2.5 percent, with interest
periods of one, two, three or six months, or at the bank base
rate plus 1.5 percent, with the rate subject to adjustment
based on Leaps consolidated leverage ratio, as selected by
Cricket. Cricket made interest payments of $8.2 million in
the aggregate to Highlands affiliates under the term loan
during the period from January 10, 2005 to June 16,
2006. During the period from January 10, 2005 to
June 16, 2006, there were no borrowings or payments of
interest by Cricket under the $110 million revolving credit
facility.
On June 16, 2006, Leap and Cricket entered into an amended
and restated senior secured Credit Agreement for a seven-year
$900 million term loan and a five-year $200 million
revolving credit facility with a syndicate of lenders and Bank
of America, N.A. (as administrative agent and letter of credit
issuer). Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (a
beneficial shareholder of Leap and an affiliate of
Mr. Dondero, a former director of Leap) participated in the
syndication of our Credit Agreement in initial amounts equal to
$225 million of the term loan and $40 million of the
revolving credit facility, and Highland Capital Management
received a syndication fee of $300,000 in connection with its
participation. Under our Credit Agreement, the highest aggregate
principal amount of indebtedness owed by Cricket to
Highlands affiliates under the term loan during the period
from June 16, 2006 to March 15, 2007 was
$230.9 million, and Cricket made repayments of principal to
Highlands affiliates under the term loan during that same
period of $1.1 million in the aggregate. Under our Credit
Agreement, during the period from June 16, 2006 to
March 15, 2007, the term loan bore interest at LIBOR plus
2.75 percent, with interest periods of one, two, three or
six months, or at the bank base rate plus 1.75 percent, as
selected by Cricket, with the rate subject to adjustment based
on Leaps corporate family debt rating. Cricket made
interest payments of $9.4 million in the aggregate to
Highlands affiliates under the term loan during the period
from June 16, 2006 to March 15, 2007.
131
During the period from June 16, 2006 to March 15,
2007, there were no borrowings or payments of interest by
Cricket under the $200 million revolving credit facility.
On March 15, 2007, Leap and Cricket entered into an
amendment to our Credit Agreement to refinance and replace the
outstanding term loan under our Credit Agreement with a six year
$895.5 million term loan. Affiliates of Highland Capital
Management, L.P. (a beneficial shareholder of Leap and an
affiliate of Mr. Dondero, a former director of Leap)
participated in the syndication of the new term loan in an
amount equal to $222.9 million of the $895.5 million
term loan. The amendment did not modify the terms of the
revolving credit facility. Highland Capital Management, L.P.
continues to hold $40 million of the $200 million
revolving credit facility, which was undrawn at
December 31, 2007. The highest aggregate principal amount
of indebtedness owed by Cricket to Highlands affiliates
under the new term loan during the period from March 15,
2007 to April 30, 2008 was $222.9 million, and Cricket
made repayments of principal to Highlands affiliates under
the term loan during that same period of $2.3 million in
the aggregate. During the period from March 15, 2007 to
May 31, 2007, the term loan bore interest at LIBOR plus
2.25%, with interest periods of one, two, three or six months,
or at the bank base rate plus 1.25%, as selected by Cricket,
with the rate subject to adjustment based on Leaps
corporate family debt rating. Effective June 1, 2007, these
interest rates were reduced by 25 basis points due to an
improvement in Leaps corporate family debt rating. On
September 4, 2007, Leaps debt rating outlook changed
to developing from stable and as a
result the interest rate on the term loan was increased by
25 basis points. On November 20, 2007, in connection
with an amendment to the Credit Agreement, the interest rate on
the term loan was increased to LIBOR plus 3.0%, with interest
periods of one, two, three or six months, or the bank base rate
plus 2.0%, as selected by Cricket, which represents an increase
of 75 basis points to the interest rate previously
applicable to the term loan borrowings. On November 20,
2007, the interest rates applicable to any borrowings under the
revolving credit facility were also increased by 75 basis
points. Cricket made interest payments of $20.8 million in
the aggregate to Highlands affiliates under the term loan
during the period from March 15, 2007 to April 30,
2008. During the period from March 15, 2007 to
April 30, 2008, there were no borrowings or payments of
interest by Cricket under the $200 million revolving credit
facility. The commitment fee on the revolving credit facility is
payable quarterly at a rate of between 0.25% and 0.50% per
annum, depending on our consolidated senior secured leverage
ratio, and the rate is currently 0.25%.
On October 23, 2006, we completed the closing of the sale
of $750 million aggregate principal amount of unsecured
9.375% Senior Notes of Cricket due 2014, or the 2006 Notes.
The 2006 Notes were issued by Cricket in a private placement to
qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A and
Regulation S under the Securities Act, pursuant to an
Indenture, dated as of October 23, 2006, by and among
Cricket, the Guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank,
N.A., as trustee, which governs the terms of the 2006 Notes.
Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (a beneficial
shareholder of Leap and an affiliate of Mr. Dondero, a
former director of Leap), purchased an aggregate of
$25 million of 2006 Notes in the offering, which was the
highest aggregate principal amount of indebtedness owed by
Cricket to Highlands affiliates under the 2006 Notes
during the period from October 23, 2006 to March 12,
2007, the date when Highlands affiliates sold their 2006
Notes to a third party. The 2006 Notes bear interest at the rate
of 9.375% per year, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears
beginning in May 2007. During the second quarter of 2007, we
offered to exchange the 2006 Notes for substantially identical
notes that had been registered with the SEC, and all 2006 Notes
were tendered for exchange.
132
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
The following table contains information about the beneficial
ownership of our common stock as of May 2, 2008 for:
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each stockholder known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of
our common stock;
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|
each of our directors;
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each of our named executive officers; and
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|
|
all directors and executive officers as a group.
|
The percentage of ownership indicated in the following table is
based on 68,986,506 shares of common stock outstanding on
May 2, 2008.
Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been
furnished by each director and officer, and with respect to
beneficial owners of more than 5% of our common stock, by
Schedules 13D and 13G, filed with the SEC by them. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC.
Except as indicated by footnote and subject to community
property laws where applicable, to our knowledge, the persons
named in the table below have sole voting and investment power
with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially
owned by them. In computing the number of shares beneficially
owned by a person and the percentage ownership of that person,
shares of common stock subject to options or warrants held by
that person that are currently exercisable or will become
exercisable within 60 days after May 2, 2008 are
deemed outstanding, while such shares are not deemed outstanding
for purposes of computing percentage ownership of any other
person.
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Number of
|
|
|
Percent of
|
|
5% Stockholders, Directors and Officers(1)
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|
Shares
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Entities affiliated with Harbinger Capital Partners Master
Fund I, Ltd.(2)
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|
|
10,225,000
|
|
|
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14.8
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Entities affiliated with MHR Fund Management LLC(3)
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|
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15,537,869
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22.5
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Entities affiliated with Owl Creek Asset Management, L.P.(4)
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|
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6,224,347
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9.0
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T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.(5)
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9,010,650
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13.1
|
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Mark H. Rachesky, M.D.(6)(7)
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|
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15,581,543
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|
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22.6
|
|
John D. Harkey, Jr.(7)
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|
|
15,974
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Robert V. LaPenta(7)(8)
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|
|
30,974
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Michael B. Targoff(7)
|
|
|
7,974
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
S. Douglas Hutcheson(9)
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|
256,311
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Amin I. Khalifa(10)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Glenn T. Umetsu(11)
|
|
|
80,772
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Albin F. Moschner(12)
|
|
|
210,009
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
Leonard C. Stephens(13)
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|
|
65,475
|
|
|
|
*
|
|
All directors and executive officers as a group (11 persons)
|
|
|
16,358,307
|
|
|
|
23.7
|
|
|
|
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* |
|
Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1.0% of the
outstanding shares of common stock. |
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Unless otherwise indicated, the address for each person or
entity named below is
c/o Leap
Wireless International, Inc., 10307 Pacific Center Court,
San Diego, California 92121. |
|
(2) |
|
Consists of (a) 6,800,000 shares of common stock
beneficially owned by Harbinger Capital Partners Master
Fund I, Ltd., Harbinger Capital Partners Offshore Manager,
L.L.C. and HMC Investors, L.L.C.; (b) 3,425,000 shares
of common stock beneficially owned by Harbinger Capital Partners
Special Situations Fund, L.P., Harbinger Capital Partners
Special Situations GP, LLC and HMC New York, Inc.;
and (c) 10,225,000 shares of common stock beneficially
owned by Harbert Management Corporation, Philip Falcone, Raymond
J. Harbert and Michael D. Luce. The address for Harbinger
Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd is
c/o International
Fund Services (Ireland) Limited, Third Floor, Bishops
Square, Redmonds Hill, Dublin 2, Ireland. The address for
Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P.,
Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations GP, LLC,
HMC New York, Inc. and Philip Falcone is 555 Madison
Avenue,
16th |
133
|
|
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|
Floor, New York, New York 10022 United States of America. The
address for Harbinger Capital Partners Offshore Manager, L.L.C.,
HMC Investors, L.L.C., Harbert Management Corporation, Raymond
J. Harbert and Michael D. Luce is One Riverchase Parkway South,
Birmingham, Alabama 35244. |
|
(3) |
|
Consists of (a) 353,420 shares of common stock held
for the account of MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP, a
limited partnership organized in Anguilla, British West Indies
(Master Account), (b) 42,514 shares of
common stock held for the account of MHR Capital Partners
(100) LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Capital
Partners (100)) (c) 3,340,378 shares of common
stock held for the account of MHR Institutional Partners II
LP, a Delaware limited partnership (Institutional Partners
II), (d) 8,415,428 shares of common stock held
for the account of MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (Institutional Partners IIA) and
(e) 3,386,129 shares of common stock held for the
account of MHR Institutional Partners III LP, a Delaware
limited partnership (Institutional Partners III).
MHR Advisors LLC (Advisors) is the general partner
of each Master Account and Capital Partners (100), and in such
capacity, may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares
of common stock held by Master Account and Capital Partners
(100). MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC
(Institutional Advisors II) is the general partner
of Institutional Partners II and Institutional Partners
IIA, and in such capacity, may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of the shares of common stock held by Institutional
Partners II and Institutional Partners IIA. MHR
Institutional Advisors III LLC (Institutional
Advisors III) is the general partner of Institutional
Advisors III, and in such capacity, may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of the shares of common stock held by
Institutional Partners III. MHR Fund Management LLC
(Fund Management) has entered into an
investment management agreement with Master Account, Capital
Partners (100), Institutional Partners II, Institutional
Partners IIA and Institutional Partners III and thus may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of all of the shares of common
stock held by all of these entities. The address for each of
these entities is 40 West 57th Street, 24th Floor, New
York, New York 10019. |
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(4) |
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Consists of (a) 173,500 shares of common stock
beneficially owned by Owl Creek I, L.P.;
(b) 1,355,200 shares of common stock beneficially
owned by Owl Creek II, L.P., (c) 4,546,747 shares of
common stock beneficially owned by Owl Creek Overseas Fund, Ltd.
and (d) 148,900 shares of common stock beneficially
owned by Owl Creek Socially Responsible Investment Fund, Ltd.
Owl Creek Advisors, LLC is the general partner of Owl
Creek I, L.P. and Owl Creek II, L.P. Owl Creek Asset
Management, L.P. is the investment manager of Owl Creek Overseas
Fund, Ltd. and Owl Creek Socially Responsible Investment Fund,
Ltd. Jeffrey Altman is the managing member of Owl Creek
Advisors, LLC and managing member of the general partner of Owl
Creek Asset Management, L.P. The address for all of the entities
is 640 Fifth Avenue,
20th
Floor, New York, NY 10019. |
|
(5) |
|
These securities are owned by various individuals and
institutional investors, for which T. Rowe Price Associates,
Inc. (Price Associates) serves as investment adviser with power
to direct investments and/or sole power to vote the securities.
For purposes of the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act,
Price Associates is deemed to be a beneficial owner of such
securities; however, Price Associates expressly disclaims that
it is, in fact, the beneficial owner of such securities. |
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(6) |
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Consists of (a) all of the shares of common stock otherwise
described in footnote 3 by virtue of Dr. Racheskys
position as the managing member of each of Fund Management,
Advisors, Institutional Advisors II and Institutional
Advisors III, (b) 40,200 shares of common stock
issuable upon exercise of options and 2,719 shares of
restricted stock, as further described in footnote 7 and
(c) 755 shares of common stock which were previously
granted as shares of restricted stock and which vested pursuant
to its terms. The address for Dr. Rachesky is 40 West
57th
Street, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10019. |
|
(7) |
|
Includes vested shares issuable upon exercise of options, as
follows: Dr. Rachesky, 40,200 shares; Mr. Harkey,
2,500 shares; Mr. Targoff, 4,500 shares; and
Mr. LaPenta, 12,500 shares; restricted stock awards
which vest in three equal installments on May 18, 2007,
2008 and 2009, as follows: Dr. Rachesky, 2,264 shares;
Mr. Harkey, 2,264 shares; Mr. Targoff,
2,264 shares; and Mr. LaPenta, 2,264 shares; and
restricted stock awards which vest in three equal installments
on May 29, 2008, 2009 and 2010, as follows:
Dr. Rachesky, 1,210 shares; Mr. Harkey,
1,210 shares; Mr. Targoff, 1,210 shares; and
Mr. LaPenta, 1,210 shares. |
|
(8) |
|
Includes 5,000 shares held by a corporation which is wholly
owned by Mr. LaPenta. Mr. LaPenta has the power to
vote and dispose of such shares by virtue of his serving as an
officer and director thereof. |
|
(9) |
|
Includes (a) restricted stock awards for 7,590 shares which
vest on December 31, 2008, in each case subject to certain
conditions and accelerated vesting, (b) restricted stock awards
for 50,000 shares, of which 12,500 shares |
134
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|
|
will vest on March 25, 2010, 12,500 shares will vest
on March 25, 2011, and 25,000 shares will vest on
March 25, 2012, and (c) restricted stock awards for
12,500 shares which vest on December 20, 2010, as
described under Compensation Discussion and
Analysis 2007 Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
and Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Severance and Change in Control Arrangements. Also
includes 112,265 shares issuable upon exercise of vested
stock options. |
|
(10) |
|
Mr. Khalifa ceased serving as our executive vice president
and CFO as of September 6, 2007. |
|
(11) |
|
Includes (a) restricted stock awards for
30,000 shares, of which 10,000 shares will vest on
March 1, 2009 and 20,000 shares will vest on
March 1, 2010, and (b) restricted stock awards for
6,000 shares which vest on December 20, 2010, as
described under Compensation Discussion and
Analysis 2007 Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
and Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Severance and Change in Control Arrangements. Also
includes 21,236 shares issuable upon exercise of vested
stock options. |
|
(12) |
|
Includes (a) restricted stock awards for
30,000 shares, of which 7,500 shares will vest on
February 28, 2010, 7,500 shares will vest on
February 28, 2011, and 15,000 shares will vest on
February 29, 2012, (b) restricted stock awards for
13,070 shares which vest on October 26, 2010, subject
to certain conditions and accelerated vesting, and (c)
restricted stock awards for 6,000 shares which vest on
December 20, 2010, as described under Compensation
Discussion and Analysis 2007 Equity Awards at Fiscal
Year-End and Compensation Discussion and
Analysis Severance and Change in Control
Arrangements. Also includes 142,880 shares issuable
upon exercise of vested stock options. |
|
(13) |
|
Includes (a) restricted stock awards for
15,000 shares, of which 5,000 shares will vest on
March 1, 2009 and 10,000 shares will vest on
March 1, 2010, and (b) restricted stock awards for
3,000 shares which vest on December 20, 2010, as
described under Compensation Discussion and
Analysis 2007 Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End
and Compensation Discussion and Analysis
Severance and Change in Control Arrangements. Also
includes 22,387 shares issuable upon exercise of vested
stock options. |
135
CERTAIN
RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Historically, we have reviewed potential related party
transactions on a
case-by-case
basis. On March 8, 2007 the board approved a Related
Party Transaction Policy and Procedures. Under the policy
and procedures, the Audit Committee of the board, or
alternatively, those members of the board who are disinterested,
reviews the material facts of specified transactions for
approval or disapproval, taking into account, among other
factors that they deem appropriate, the extent of the related
persons interest in the transaction and whether the
transaction is fair to Leap and is in, or is not inconsistent
with, the best interests of Leap and its stockholders.
Transactions to be reviewed under the policy and procedures
include transactions, arrangements or relationships (including
any indebtedness or guarantee of indebtedness) in which
(1) the aggregate amount involved will or may be expected
to exceed $120,000 in any calendar year, (2) Leap or any of
its subsidiaries is a participant, and (3) any
(a) executive officer, director or nominee for election as
a director, (b) greater than 5 percent beneficial
owner of our common stock, or (c) immediate family member,
of the persons referred to in clauses (a) and (b), has or
will have a direct or indirect material interest (other than
solely as a result of being a director or a less than
10 percent beneficial owner of another entity). Terms of
director and officer compensation that are disclosed in proxy
statements or that are approved by the board or Compensation
Committee and are not required to be disclosed in our proxy
statement, and transactions where all holders of our common
stock receive the same benefit on a pro rata basis, are not
subject to review under the policy and procedures.
For a description of various transactions between Leap and
certain affiliates of Dr. Mark H. Rachesky, our chairman of
the board, and Mr. James Dondero, a former director of Leap
who resigned on September 10, 2007, see Compensation
Committee Interlocks And Insider Participation set forth
above in this prospectus.
136
DESCRIPTION
OF NEW NOTES
We issued the old notes and the existing notes, and will issue
the new notes, pursuant to an existing Indenture, dated as of
October 23, 2006, by and among the Company, the Initial
Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as
trustee (as supplemented, the Indenture). The terms
of the notes include those stated in the Indenture and those
made part of the Indenture by reference to the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
Trust Indenture Act). The notes are subject to
all such terms, and you should refer to the Indenture and the
Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof.
We issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of
9.375% senior notes on October 23, 2006 under the
Indenture pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S
promulgated under the Securities Act, which we refer to as the
original notes, all of which were exchanged on May 17, 2007
for a like principal amount of the existing notes registered
under the Securities Act. As a result, the terms Issue
Date and date of the Indenture refer to
October 23, 2006, the date of issue of the original notes.
As used in this Description of Notes, except as
otherwise specified, the term notes means the new
notes, the existing notes and any additional notes that may be
issued under the Indenture. All such notes will vote together as
a single class for all purposes of the Indenture.
The following description is a summary of the material
provisions of the Indenture. It does not restate the Indenture
in its entirety. We urge you to read the Indenture because it,
and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the
notes. Anyone who receives this prospectus may obtain a copy of
the Indenture, without charge, by writing to Leap Wireless
International, Inc., 10307 Pacific Center Court, San Diego,
California 92121, Attention: Secretary.
You can find the definitions of certain terms used in this
description below under the caption Certain
Definitions. Certain defined terms used in this
description but not defined below under the caption
Certain Definitions have the meanings
assigned to them in the Indenture. In this description, the word
Company refers only to Cricket Communications, Inc.
and not to any of its subsidiaries, and the word
Parent refers only to Leap Wireless International,
Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
The registered holder of a note will be treated as the owner of
it for all purposes. Only registered holders of notes will have
rights under the Indenture.
Brief
Description of the Notes
The notes:
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are general unsecured obligations of the Company;
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are equal in right of payment with all existing and any future
unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company;
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are senior in right of payment to any future subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company;
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are effectively subordinated to all existing and any future
secured Indebtedness of the Company, including the Indebtedness
of the Company under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of the
assets securing such Indebtedness, to all existing and any
future liabilities (including trade payables) of the
Parents Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors, to the
extent of the assets of such Subsidiaries, and to all existing
and any future liabilities (including trade payables) of the
Parents Designated Entities, to the extent of the assets
of such Designated Entities; and
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are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the
Guarantors as described under Note
Guarantees.
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As of March 31, 2008, the Company had $2,043.5 million
of consolidated indebtedness outstanding, $884.3 million of
which was secured indebtedness, and the Parents
Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors had no indebtedness or
other liabilities. LCW Operations, which is not a
Subsidiary under the Indenture and is not a
Guarantor of the notes, had $40 million of outstanding
indebtedness as of December 31, 2007, which we consolidate
for financial reporting purposes. In addition, the Company had
no borrowings under its $200 million revolving credit
facility.
137
Although the Indenture limits the Incurrence of Indebtedness by
the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, such limitations are
subject to a number of significant exceptions. The Parent and
its Restricted Subsidiaries may be able to Incur substantial
amounts of Indebtedness, including secured Indebtedness, in the
future.
As of the date of the Indenture, all of Parents
Subsidiaries, including the Company, were Restricted
Subsidiaries. However, under the circumstances described
below under the caption Certain
Covenants Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, we are permitted to designate certain of our
subsidiaries as Unrestricted Subsidiaries. Any
Unrestricted Subsidiaries and any Designated Entities will not
be subject to any of the restrictive covenants in the Indenture
and will not guarantee the notes.
Principal,
Maturity and Interest
The Indenture, which provided for the issuance of the old notes
(of which $350 million aggregate principal amount are
currently outstanding) and the existing notes (of which
$750 million aggregate principal amount are currently
outstanding), provides for the issuance by the Company of notes
with an unlimited principal amount, of which $350 million
aggregate principal amount may be issued in connection with this
exchange offer. The Company issued $750 million aggregate
principal amount of the original notes on October 23, 2006
under the Indenture pursuant to Rule 144A and
Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act, all of
which were exchanged on May 17, 2007 for a like principal
amount of the existing notes registered under the Securities
Act. Because of the need to identify the new notes which may be
entitled to receive accrued and unpaid additional interest after
the completion of the exchange offer, the new notes will have a
temporary CUSIP number different from that of the existing
notes. Following the first interest payment date after the
consummation of the exchange offer, after payment of interest on
the new notes (including any accrued and unpaid Additional
Interest), the new notes will be reassigned the same CUSIP
number as that of the existing notes without any further action
on the part of the holders. The Company may issue additional
notes (the additional notes) from time to time. Any
offering of additional notes is subject to the covenant
described below under the caption Certain
Covenants Incurrence of Indebtedness. The new
notes, the existing notes and any additional notes subsequently
issued under the Indenture will be treated as a single class for
all purposes under the Indenture, including, without limitation,
waivers, amendments, redemptions and offers to purchase. The
Company will issue new notes in denominations of $2,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The notes will
mature on November 1, 2014.
Interest on the new notes will accrue at the rate of 9.375% per
annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and
November 1. The Company will make each interest payment to
the Holders of record on the immediately preceding April 15 and
October 15.
Interest on the new notes will accrue from May 1, 2008, the
date interest on the notes was most recently paid. Interest will
be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
comprised of twelve
30-day
months.
Methods
of Receiving Payments on the Notes
If a Holder has given wire transfer instructions to the Company,
the Company will pay or cause the Paying Agent to pay all
principal, interest and premium and Additional Interest, if any,
on that Holders notes in accordance with those
instructions. All other payments on notes will be made at the
office or agency of the Paying Agent and Registrar unless the
Company elects to make interest payments by check mailed to the
Holders at their addresses set forth in the register of Holders.
Paying
Agent and Registrar for the Notes
The Trustee will initially act as Paying Agent and Registrar.
The location of the corporate trust office of the Trustee is
Wells Fargo, N.A., Corporate Trust Service, MAC-N9303-120,
608 2nd Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55479. The Company
may change the Paying Agent or Registrar without prior notice to
the Holders, and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act
as Paying Agent or Registrar.
138
Transfer
and Exchange
A Holder may transfer or exchange notes in accordance with the
Indenture. The Registrar and the Trustee may require a Holder,
among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and
transfer documents and the Company may require a Holder to pay
any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the
Indenture. The Company is not required to transfer or exchange
any note selected for redemption. Also, the Company is not
required to transfer or exchange any note for a period of
15 days before a selection of notes to be redeemed.
Note
Guarantees
The notes will be guaranteed, jointly and severally, by Parent
and each of its Restricted Subsidiaries that guarantees any
Indebtedness for borrowed money of the Parent, the Company or
any Subsidiary Guarantor.
Each Note Guarantee:
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will be a general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;
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will be equal in right of payment with all existing and any
future unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor;
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will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated
Indebtedness of the Guarantor; and
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will be effectively subordinated to all existing and any future
secured Indebtedness of such Guarantor, including the Guarantee
by such Guarantor under the Credit Agreement, to the extent of
the assets securing such Indebtedness, and the Note Guarantee of
Parent will be effectively subordinated to all existing and any
future liabilities of Parents Subsidiaries other than the
Company and any Subsidiary Guarantor to the extent of the assets
of such Subsidiaries and to all existing and any future
liabilities of Parents Designated Entities to the extent
of the assets of such Designated Entities.
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The obligations of each Guarantor under its Note Guarantee will
be limited as necessary to prevent that Note Guarantee from
constituting a fraudulent conveyance under applicable law. See
Risk Factors Federal and State Statutes Allow
Courts, Under Specific Circumstances, to Void Guarantees and
Require Noteholders to Return Payments Received From Us or the
Guarantors. As of March 31, 2008, the Company had
$2,043.5 million of consolidated indebtedness outstanding,
$884.3 million of which was secured indebtedness, and the
Parents Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors had no
indebtedness or other liabilities. LCW Operations, which is not
a Subsidiary under the Indenture and is not a
Guarantor of the notes, had $40 million of outstanding
indebtedness as of March 31, 2008, which we consolidate for
financial reporting purposes. In addition, the Company had no
borrowings under its $200 million revolving credit facility.
Note Guarantees of the Subsidiary Guarantors may be released in
certain circumstances. See Certain
Covenants Guarantees.
Optional
Redemption
At any time prior to November 1, 2009, the Company may (on
any one or more occasions) redeem up to 35% of the aggregate
principal amount of notes issued under the Indenture (including
any additional notes) at a redemption price of 109.375% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, if any, thereon to the redemption date,
with the net cash proceeds of one or more Equity Offerings;
provided that:
(1) at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of notes
issued under the Indenture (including any additional notes)
remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of such
redemption (excluding notes held by the Company and its
Affiliates); and
(2) the redemption must occur within 90 days of the
date of the closing of such Equity Offering.
At any time prior to November 1, 2010, the Company may
redeem all or part of the notes upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days prior notice at a redemption price equal
to the sum of (i) 100% of the principal amount thereof,
plus (ii) the Applicable Premium as of the date of
redemption, plus (iii) accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, if any, to the date of redemption.
139
Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the notes will not
be redeemable at the Companys option prior to
November 1, 2010.
On or after November 1, 2010, the Company may redeem all or
a part of the notes upon not less than 30 nor more than
60 days notice, at the redemption prices (expressed
as percentages of principal amount) set forth below plus accrued
and unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, thereon, to
the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the
twelve-month period beginning on November 1 of the years
indicated below:
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Year
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Percentage
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2010
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104.688
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2011
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102.344
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2012 and thereafter
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100.000
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If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed at any time,
the Trustee will select notes for redemption as follows:
(1) if the notes are listed on any national securities
exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such principal
national securities exchange; or
(2) if the notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis.
No notes of $2,000 or less will be redeemed in part. Notices of
redemption will be mailed by first class mail at least 30 but
not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each
Holder of notes to be redeemed at its registered address.
Notices of redemption may not be conditional.
If any note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of
redemption that relates to that note will state the portion of
the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A note in principal
amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original note will
be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of
the original note. Notes called for redemption become due on the
date fixed for redemption. On and after the redemption date,
interest ceases to accrue on notes or portions of them called
for redemption.
Mandatory
Redemption
The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or
sinking fund payments with respect to the notes.
Repurchase
at the Option of Holders
Change
of Control
If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of notes will have
the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part
(equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess
thereof) of that Holders notes pursuant to an offer (a
Change of Control Offer) on the terms set forth in
the Indenture. In the Change of Control Offer, the Company will
offer payment (a Change of Control Payment) in cash
equal to not less than 101% of the aggregate principal amount of
notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest and
Additional Interest, if any, thereon, to the date of repurchase
(the Change of Control Payment Date, which date will
be no earlier than the date of such Change of Control);
provided, however, that notwithstanding the occurrence of
a Change of Control, the Company shall not be obligated to
purchase the notes pursuant to this section in the event that
the Company has exercised its right to redeem all the notes
under the terms of the caption Optional Redemption.
No later than 30 days following any Change of Control, the
Company will mail a notice to each Holder describing the
transaction or transactions that constitute the Change of
Control and offering to repurchase notes on the Change of
Control Payment Date specified in such notice, which date will
be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days
from the date such notice is mailed, pursuant to the procedures
required by the Indenture and described in such notice. The
Company will comply with the requirements of
Rule 14e-1
under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations
are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as
a result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the Change of Control provisions of the Indenture, the Company
will comply with the applicable
140
securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have
breached its obligations under the Change of Control provisions
of the Indenture by virtue of such compliance.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the
extent lawful:
(1) accept for payment all notes or portions thereof
properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;
(2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the
Change of Control Payment in respect of all notes or portions
thereof so tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the
notes so accepted together with an Officers Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of notes or portions
thereof being purchased by the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly mail or wire transfer to each
Holder of notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment for
such notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate and mail
(or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each Holder a note
equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of the
notes surrendered, if any; provided that each such note
will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple
of $1,000 in excess thereof. The Company will publicly announce
the results of the Change of Control Offer on or as soon as
practicable after the Change of Control Payment Date.
The Credit Agreement provides that certain change of control
events with respect to the Parent and the Company would
constitute a default under the Credit Agreement, including a
Change of Control as defined in the notes. Future credit
agreements or other similar agreements to which the Parent or
the Company becomes a party may contain restrictions on the
Companys ability to purchase the notes. In the event a
Change of Control occurs at a time when the Company is
prohibited from purchasing notes, the Company could seek the
consent of its lenders to the purchase of notes or could attempt
to refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If
the Company does not obtain such a consent or repay such
borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited from purchasing
notes. In such case, the Companys failure to purchase
tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default under the
Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default under such
other agreements.
The provisions described above that require the Company to make
a Change of Control Offer following a Change of Control will be
applicable regardless of whether any other provisions of the
Indenture are applicable. Except as described above with respect
to a Change of Control, the Indenture does not contain
provisions that permit the Holders of the notes to require that
the Company repurchase or redeem the notes in the event of a
takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control
Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change
of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in
compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture
applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and
purchases all notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under
such Change of Control Offer.
A Change of Control Offer may be made in advance of a Change of
Control, and conditioned upon such Change of Control, if a
definitive agreement is in place for the Change of Control at
the time of making of the Change of Control Offer. Notes
repurchased by the Company pursuant to a Change of Control Offer
will have the status of notes issued but not outstanding or will
be retired and canceled, at the option of the Company. Notes
purchased by a third party pursuant to the preceding paragraph
will have the status of notes issued and outstanding.
The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating
to the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of the Parent and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body
of case law interpreting the phrase substantially
all, there is no precise established definition of the
phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a
Holder of notes to require the Company to repurchase such notes
as a result of a sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition
of less than all of the assets of the Parent and its Restricted
Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be
uncertain.
141
Asset
Sales
The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, consummate an Asset Sale unless:
(1) the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary receives
consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to
the Fair Market Value of the assets or Equity Interests issued
or sold or otherwise disposed of; and
(2) at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by
the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash,
Cash Equivalents or Replacement Assets or a combination thereof.
For purposes of this provision, each of the following will be
deemed to be cash:
(a) any liabilities, as shown on the Parents or such
Restricted Subsidiarys most recent balance sheet, of the
Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than contingent
liabilities, Indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to
the notes or any Note Guarantee and liabilities to the extent
owed to the Parent or any Affiliate of the Parent) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets or Equity Interests
pursuant to a written novation agreement that releases the
Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary from further liability
therefor; and
(b) any securities, notes or other obligations received by
the Parent or any such Restricted Subsidiary from such
transferee that are (within 60 days of receipt and subject
to ordinary settlement periods) converted by the Parent or such
Restricted Subsidiary into cash (to the extent of the cash
received in that conversion).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the 75% limitation referred to in
the prior paragraph shall be deemed satisfied with respect to
any Asset Sale in which the cash, Cash Equivalents or
Replacement Assets portion of the consideration received
therefrom, determined in accordance with the foregoing provision
on an after tax basis, is equal to or greater than what the
after-tax proceeds would have been had such Asset Sale complied
with the aforementioned 75% limitation.
Within 365 days after the receipt of any Net Proceeds from
an Asset Sale, the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries may
apply such Net Proceeds at its option:
(1) to repay, prepay, defease, redeem, purchase or
otherwise retire Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement (and to
permanently reduce commitments with respect thereto in the case
of revolving borrowings) or the Bridge Agreement, if any; or
(2) to purchase Replacement Assets (or enter into a binding
agreement to purchase such Replacement Assets; provided
that (x) such purchase is consummated within
180 days after the date that is 365 days after the
receipt of such Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale and
(y) if such purchase is not consummated within the period
set forth in subclause (x), the Net Proceeds not so applied will
be deemed to be Excess Proceeds (as defined below)).
Pending the final application of any such Net Proceeds, the
Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries may temporarily
reduce revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net
Proceeds in any manner that is not prohibited by the Indenture.
On the
366th day
after an Asset Sale (or, in the event that a binding agreement
has been entered into as set forth in clause (2) of the
preceding paragraph, the later date of expiration of the
180-day
period set forth in such clause (2)) or such earlier date, if
any, as the Parent determines not to apply the Net Proceeds
relating to such Asset Sale as set forth in the preceding
paragraph (each such date being referred as an Excess
Proceeds Trigger Date), such aggregate amount of Net
Proceeds that has not been applied on or before the Excess
Proceeds Trigger Date as permitted in the preceding paragraph
(Excess Proceeds) will be applied by the Company to
make an offer (an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders
of notes and all holders of other Indebtedness that is pari
passu with the notes or any Note Guarantee containing
provisions similar to those set forth in the Indenture with
respect to offers to purchase with the proceeds of sales of
assets, to purchase the maximum principal amount of notes and
such other pari passu Indebtedness that may be purchased
out of the Excess Proceeds. The offer price in any Asset Sale
Offer will be equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes
and such other pari passu Indebtedness plus accrued and
unpaid interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of
purchase, and will be payable in cash.
142
The Company may defer the Asset Sale Offer until the aggregate
unutilized Excess Proceeds accrued in the preceding twelve
calendar months equals or exceeds $15 million, at which
time the entire unutilized amount of Excess Proceeds (not only
the amount in excess of $15 million) will be applied as
provided in the preceding paragraph. If any Excess Proceeds
remain after consummation of an Asset Sale Offer, the Parent and
its Restricted Subsidiaries may use such Excess Proceeds for any
purpose not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture. If the
aggregate principal amount of notes and such other pari
passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the notes and such other
pari passu Indebtedness will be purchased on a pro rata
basis based on the principal amount of notes and such other
pari passu Indebtedness tendered. Upon completion of each
Asset Sale Offer, the Excess Proceeds subject to such Asset Sale
will no longer be deemed to be Excess Proceeds.
The Company will comply with the requirements of
Rule 14e-1
under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and
regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and regulations
are applicable in connection with each repurchase of notes
pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the
provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with
the Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture, the Company will
comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and
will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the
Asset Sale provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such
compliance.
The Credit Agreement provides that certain asset sale events
would constitute a default thereunder. Future credit agreements
or other similar agreements to which the Parent or the Company
becomes a party may contain restrictions on the Companys
ability to purchase notes. In the event an Asset Sale occurs at
a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing notes, the
Company could seek the consent of its lenders to the purchase of
notes or could attempt to refinance the borrowings that contain
such prohibition. If the Company does not obtain such a consent
or repay such borrowings, the Company will remain prohibited
from purchasing notes. In such case, the Companys failure
to purchase tendered notes would constitute an Event of Default
under the Indenture which would, in turn, constitute a default
under such other agreements.
Certain
Covenants
Restricted
Payments
(A) The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:
(1) declare or pay (without duplication) any dividend or
make any other payment or distribution on account of the
Parents or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Equity
Interests (including, without limitation, any payment in
connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Parent
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries) or to the direct or
indirect holders of the Parents or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries Equity Interests in their capacity as such
(other than dividends, payments or distributions
(x) payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Parent or (y) to the Parent or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent);
(2) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for
value (including, without limitation, in connection with any
merger or consolidation involving the Parent or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries) any Equity Interests of the Parent or
any Restricted Subsidiary thereof held by Persons other than the
Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) make any payment on or with respect to, or purchase,
redeem, defease or otherwise acquire or retire for value any
Indebtedness that is subordinated to the notes or any Note
Guarantees, except (x) a payment of interest or principal
at the Stated Maturity thereof or (y) the purchase,
repurchase or other acquisition of any such Indebtedness in
anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal
installment or final maturity, in each case due within one year
of the date of such purchase, repurchase or other
acquisition; or
(4) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and
other actions set forth in clauses (1) through
(4) above being collectively referred to as
Restricted Payments),
143
unless, at the time of and after giving effect to such
Restricted Payment:
(1) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and
be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
(2) the Parent would, at the time of such Restricted
Payment and after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such
Restricted Payment had been made at the beginning of the
applicable Four Quarter Period, have been permitted to Incur at
least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the first
paragraph of the covenant described below under the caption
Incurrence of Indebtedness; and
(3) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate
amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Parent and
its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (excluding
Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (2), (3), (4), (5),
(6), (7), (8) and (9) of the next succeeding paragraph
(B)), is less than the sum, without duplication, of:
(a) 100% of the Consolidated Cash Flow of the Parent for
the period (taken as one accounting period) from October 1,
2006 to the end of the Parents most recently ended fiscal
quarter for which internal financial statements are available at
the time of such Restricted Payment, minus 1.5 times the Fixed
Charges of the Parent for the same period, plus
(b) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds (including Cash
Equivalents) received by the Parent since the Issue Date as a
contribution to its common equity capital or from the issue or
sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the
Parent (other than proceeds received by the Parent from the
Forward Sale Agreements) or from the Incurrence of Indebtedness
of the Parent or the Company that has been converted into or
exchanged for such Equity Interests (other than Equity Interests
sold to, or Indebtedness held by, a Subsidiary of the Parent),
plus
(c) with respect to Restricted Investments made by the
Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date, an
amount equal to the net reduction in such Restricted Investments
in any Person resulting from repayments of loans or advances, or
other transfers of assets, in each case to the Parent or any
Restricted Subsidiary or from the net cash proceeds from the
sale of any such Restricted Investment (except, in each case, to
the extent any such payment or proceeds are included in the
calculation of Consolidated Cash Flow), from the release of any
Guarantee (except to the extent any amounts are paid under such
Guarantee) or from redesignations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries
as Restricted Subsidiaries, not to exceed, in each case, the
amount of Restricted Investments previously made by the Parent
or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Person or Unrestricted
Subsidiary after the Issue Date.
(B) The preceding provisions will not prohibit, so long as,
in the case of clauses (4), (7) and (10) below, no
Default has occurred and is continuing or would be caused
thereby:
(1) the payment of any dividend within 60 days after
the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of declaration
such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
Indenture;
(2) the payment of any dividend by a Restricted Subsidiary
of the Parent to the holders of its Common Stock on a pro rata
basis;
(3) the redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or
other acquisition of any subordinated Indebtedness of the
Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor or of any Equity
Interests of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary in exchange
for, or out of the net cash proceeds of a contribution to the
common equity of the Parent or a substantially concurrent sale
(other than to a Subsidiary of the Parent) of, Equity Interests
(other than Disqualified Stock) of the Parent; provided that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any
such redemption, repurchase, retirement, defeasance or other
acquisition will be excluded from clause (3) (b) of the
preceding paragraph (A);
(4) the defeasance, redemption, repurchase or other
acquisition of Indebtedness subordinated to the notes or the
Note Guarantees with the net cash proceeds from an Incurrence of
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
(5) Investments acquired as a capital contribution to, or
in exchange for, or out of the net cash proceeds of a
substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the
Parent) of, Equity Interests (other than
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Disqualified Stock) of, the Parent; provided that the amount of
any such net cash proceeds that are utilized for any such
acquisition or exchange will be excluded from clause (3)
(b) of the preceding paragraph (A);
(6) the repurchase of Equity Interests deemed to occur upon
the exercise of options or warrants to the extent that such
Equity Interests represents all or a portion of the exercise
price thereof;
(7) the repurchase, redemption or other acquisition or
retirement for value of any Equity Interests of the Parent held
by any current or former employee, consultant or director of
Parent, or any Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent pursuant to
the terms of any equity subscription agreement, stock option
agreement or similar agreement entered into in the ordinary
course of business; provided that the aggregate of all amounts
paid by the Parent in any calendar year will not exceed
$2.5 million (with unused amounts in any calendar year
being carried over to the next succeeding calendar year, subject
to maximum payment of $5.0 million in any calendar year);
provided, further, that such amount in any calendar year may be
increased by an amount equal to (a) the net cash proceeds
from the sale of Equity Interests of the Parent to current or
former members of management, directors, consultants or
employees that occurs after the Issue Date (provided that the
amount of any such net cash proceeds will be excluded from
clause (3) (b) of the preceding paragraph (A)) plus
(b) the net cash proceeds of key man life insurance
policies received by the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries
after the Issue Date;
(8) the purchase, redemption, acquisition, cancellation or
other retirement for value of shares of Capital Stock of the
Parent, to the extent necessary, in the good faith judgment of
the Parents Board of Directors, to prevent the loss or
secure the renewal or reinstatement of any license held by the
Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries from any
governmental agency;
(9) the purchase by the Parent or the Company from WLPCS
Management, LLC or CSM Wireless, LLC (or their respective
successors or assigns) of their respective membership interests
in LCW Wireless, LLC upon exercise of their respective
put rights to sell their entire membership interests
in LCW Wireless, LLC to the Company; provided that exercise of
such put rights shall be on terms, in the good faith
judgment of the Parents Board of Directors, at least as
favorable to the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries as WLPCS
Management, LLCs or CSM Wireless LLCs
put rights in existence on the Issue Date; and
(10) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not
to exceed $75 million.
The amount of all Restricted Payments (other than cash) will be
the Fair Market Value on the date of the Restricted Payment of
the asset(s) or securities proposed to be transferred or issued
to or by the Parent or such Subsidiary, as the case may be,
pursuant to the Restricted Payment; provided that if the
Fair Market Value exceeds $10 million, such Fair Market
Value shall be determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors of the Parent evidenced by a Board Resolution. Not
later than the date of making any Restricted Payment under
clause (A) (3) or B(10) above, the Parent will deliver to
the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such
Restricted Payment is permitted and setting forth the basis upon
which the calculations required by this Restricted
Payments covenant were computed, together with a copy of
any opinion or appraisal required by the Indenture.
Incurrence
of Indebtedness
The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness;
provided, however, that the Parent, the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor may Incur Indebtedness, if, after giving
effect to the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and the receipt
and application of the proceeds therefrom, the Consolidated
Leverage Ratio would be less than 7.0 to 1, for an Incurrence of
Indebtedness on or prior to June 30, 2008, and 6.25 to 1
thereafter.
The first paragraph of this covenant will not prohibit the
Incurrence of any of the following items of Indebtedness
(collectively, Permitted Debt):
(1) the Incurrence by the Parent, the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness under Credit Facilities in
an aggregate amount at any one time outstanding pursuant to this
clause (1) not to exceed $1,500 million, less the
aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by
the Parent or any
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Restricted Subsidiary thereof to permanently repay any such
Indebtedness pursuant to the covenant described above under the
caption Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales;
(2) the Incurrence of Existing Indebtedness;
(3) the Incurrence by the Parent, the Company and the
Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the notes
and the related Note Guarantees to be issued on the Issue Date
and the exchange notes and the related Guarantees to be issued
pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement in exchange
therefor;
(4) the Incurrence by the Parent, the Company or any
Subsidiary Guarantor of Indebtedness represented by Capital
Lease Obligations, mortgage financings, Attributable Debt,
purchase money obligations or other obligations, in each case,
Incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the
purchase price or cost of construction or improvement of
property, plant or equipment (including acquisition of Capital
Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary to the
extent of the Fair Market Value of the property, plant or
equipment of such Person) used in the business of the Parent,
the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, in an aggregate
amount, including all Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
Incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness
Incurred pursuant to this clause (4), not to exceed
$150 million at any time outstanding;
(5) the Incurrence by the Parent or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent of Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
in exchange for, or the net proceeds of which are used to
refund, refinance, replace, defease or discharge Indebtedness
(other than intercompany Indebtedness) that was permitted by the
Indenture to be Incurred under the first paragraph of this
covenant or clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (12), or (14) of
this paragraph;
(6) the Incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of intercompany Indebtedness owing to or held by
the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided,
however, that:
(a) if the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor
is the obligor on such Indebtedness, such Indebtedness must be
unsecured and expressly subordinated to the prior payment in
full in cash of all Obligations with respect to the notes, in
the case of the Company, or the Note Guarantee, in the case of
the Parent or a Subsidiary Guarantor; and
(b) (i) any subsequent issuance or transfer of Equity
Interests that results in any such Indebtedness being held by a
Person other than the Parent, the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent and (ii) any sale or other
transfer of any such Indebtedness to a Person that is not the
Parent, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent,
will be deemed, in each case, to constitute an Incurrence of
such Indebtedness by the Parent, the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be, that was not permitted by this
clause (6);
(7) the Guarantee by the Parent, the Company or any of the
Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent that was permitted to be
Incurred by another provision of this covenant; provided that if
the Indebtedness being Guaranteed is subordinated to or pari
passu with the notes or any Note Guarantee, than the Guarantee
shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to the same
extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;
(8) the Incurrence by the Parent, the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries of Hedging Obligations that are Incurred
for the purpose of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate,
commodity price or foreign currency exchange rate risk (or to
reverse or amend any such agreements previously made for such
purposes), and not for speculative purposes, and that do not
increase the Indebtedness of the obligor outstanding at any time
other than as a result of fluctuations in interest rates,
commodity prices or foreign currency exchange rates or by reason
of fees, indemnities and compensation payable thereunder;
(9) the Incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from agreements providing
for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar
obligations, or Guarantees or letters of credit, surety bonds or
performance bonds securing any obligations of the Parent or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries pursuant to such agreements, in
any case Incurred in connection with the disposition of any
business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary (other than Guarantees
of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any
portion of such business, assets or Restricted Subsidiary for
the purpose of financing such
146
acquisition), so long as the amount does not exceed the gross
proceeds actually received by the Parent or any Restricted
Subsidiary thereof in connection with such disposition;
(10) the Incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness arising from the honoring by a bank
or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar
instrument drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary
course of business, provided, however, that such Indebtedness is
extinguished promptly after its Incurrence;
(11) the Incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of Indebtedness constituting reimbursement
obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the
ordinary course of business; provided that, upon the drawing of
such letters of credit or the Incurrence of such Indebtedness,
such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following
such drawing or Incurrence;
(12) the Incurrence by the Parent, the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary of Acquired Indebtedness in an aggregate
principal amount not to exceed $200 million;
(13) the Incurrence by the Parent or the Company of
Indebtedness to the extent that the net proceeds thereof are
promptly deposited to defease or to satisfy and discharge the
notes; or
(14) the Incurrence by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate amount
at any time outstanding, including all Permitted Refinancing
Indebtedness Incurred to refund, refinance or replace any
Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (14), not to
exceed $100 million.
For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in
the event that any proposed Indebtedness (including Acquired
Indebtedness) meets the criteria of more than one of the
categories of Permitted Debt described in clauses (1)
through (14) above, or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant
to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Parent will be
permitted to divide and classify such item of Indebtedness at
the time of its Incurrence in any manner that complies with this
covenant and may later redivide
and/or
reclassify all or a portion of such item of Indebtedness in any
manner that complies with this covenant. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement outstanding
on the Issue Date will be deemed to have been Incurred on such
date in reliance on the exception provided by clause (1) of
the definition of Permitted Debt.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this covenant, the
maximum amount of Indebtedness that may be Incurred pursuant to
this covenant will not be deemed to be exceeded with respect to
any outstanding Indebtedness due solely to the result of
fluctuations in the exchange rates of currencies.
The Company will not Incur any Indebtedness that is subordinate
in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the Company
unless it is subordinate in right of payment to the notes to the
same extent. The Parent will not, and will not permit any
Subsidiary Guarantor, to Incur any Indebtedness that is
subordinate in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the
Parent or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as the case may be, unless
it is subordinate in right of payment to the relevant Note
Guarantee to the same extent. For purposes of the foregoing, no
Indebtedness will be deemed to be subordinated in right of
payment to any other Indebtedness of the Parent, the Company or
any Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, solely by reason of any
Liens or Guarantees arising or created in respect thereof or by
virtue of the fact that the holders of any secured Indebtedness
have entered into intercreditor agreements giving one or more of
such holders priority over the other holders in the collateral
held by them.
Liens
The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, create, incur, assume or otherwise cause or
suffer to exist or become effective any Lien of any kind (other
than Permitted Liens) upon any of their property or assets, now
owned or hereafter acquired, unless all payments due under the
Indenture and the notes or Note Guarantees, as applicable, are
secured on an equal and ratable basis with the obligations so
secured (or, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated to the
notes or the related Note Guarantees, prior or senior thereto,
with the same relative priority as the notes or the related Note
Guarantees will have with respect to such subordinated
Indebtedness) until such time as such obligations are no longer
secured by a Lien.
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Dividend
and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted
Subsidiaries
The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or permit to
exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or
restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:
(1) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its
Capital Stock (or with respect to any other interest or
participation in, or measured by, its profits) to the Parent or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or pay any liabilities owed
to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) make loans or advances to the Parent or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries; or
(3) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets
to the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
However, the preceding restrictions will not apply to
encumbrances or restrictions:
(1) existing under, by reason of or with respect to the
Credit Agreement, Existing Indebtedness or any other agreements
in effect on the Issue Date and any amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings thereof, provided that the
encumbrances and restrictions in any such amendments,
modifications, restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements,
refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith
judgment of the Board of Directors of the Parent, not materially
more restrictive, taken as a whole, than those contained in the
Credit Agreement, Existing Indebtedness or such other
agreements, as the case may be, as in effect on the Issue Date;
(2) set forth in the Indenture, the notes, the Note
Guarantees and the exchange notes and the related Guarantees to
be issued pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement in
exchange therefor;
(3) existing under, by reason of or with respect to
applicable law, rule, regulation or order;
(4) with respect to any Person or the property or assets of
a Person acquired by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries existing at the time of such acquisition and not
incurred in connection with or in contemplation of such
acquisition, which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable
to any Person or the properties or assets of any Person, other
than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so
acquired and any amendments, modifications, restatements,
renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings, replacements or
refinancings thereof, provided that the encumbrances and
restrictions in any such amendments, modifications,
restatements, renewals, extensions, supplements, refundings,
replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of
the Board of Directors of the Parent, not materially more
restrictive, taken as a whole, than those in effect on the date
of the acquisition;
(5) in the case of clause (3) of the first paragraph
of this covenant:
(A) that restrict in a customary manner the subletting,
assignment or transfer of any property or asset that is a lease,
license, conveyance or contract or similar property or asset,
(B) existing by virtue of any transfer of, agreement to
transfer, option or right with respect to, or Lien on, any
property or assets of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary
thereof not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture, or
(C) arising or agreed to in the ordinary course of
business, not relating to any Indebtedness, and that do not,
individually or in the aggregate, detract from the value of
property or assets of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary
thereof in any manner material to the Parent or any Restricted
Subsidiary thereof;
(6) existing under, by reason of or with respect to any
agreement for the sale or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the Capital Stock of, or property and
assets of, a Restricted Subsidiary that restrict distributions
by that Restricted Subsidiary pending such sale or other
disposition;
(7) existing under restrictions on cash or other deposits
or net worth imposed by customers or required by insurance,
surety or bonding companies, in each case, under contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business;
148
(8) existing under, by reason of or with respect to
provisions with respect to the disposition or distribution of
assets or property, in each case contained in joint venture
agreements and which the Board of Directors of the Parent
determines in good faith will not adversely affect the
Companys ability to make payments of principal or interest
payments on the notes; and
(9) restrictions in other Indebtedness incurred in
compliance with the covenant described under the caption
Incurrence of Indebtedness; provided
that such restrictions, taken as a whole, are, in the good faith
judgment of the Parents Board of Directors, no more
materially restrictive with respect to such encumbrances and
restrictions than those contained in the existing agreements
referenced in clauses (1) and (2) above.
Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets
Neither the Company nor Parent will, directly or indirectly:
(1) consolidate or merge with or into another Person
(whether or not the Company or the Parent, as applicable, is the
surviving corporation) or (2) sell, assign, transfer,
convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its
properties and assets in one or more related transactions, to
another Person, unless:
(1) either: (a) the Company or the Parent, as
applicable, is the surviving corporation; or (b) the Person
formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if
other than the Company or the Parent, as applicable) or to which
such sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition
will have been made (i) is a corporation, partnership or
limited liability company organized or existing under the laws
of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia and (ii) assumes all the obligations of the
Company or the Parent, as applicable, under the notes, the
Guarantee, the Indenture and the Registration Rights Agreement,
as the case may be, pursuant to agreements reasonably
satisfactory to the Trustee; provided that in the case where
such Person is not a corporation, a co-obligor of the notes is a
corporation;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists;
(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction on
a pro forma basis, (a) the Company or the Parent, as
applicable, or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Company or the
Parent, as applicable), or to which such sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition will have been made,
will be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional
Indebtedness pursuant to the first paragraph of the covenant
described above under the caption Incurrence
of Indebtedness or (b) the Consolidated Leverage
Ratio for the Parent or such Person, as the case may be, will
not be greater than the Consolidated Leverage Ratio for the
Parent immediately prior to such transaction; and
(4) each Guarantor, unless such Guarantor is the Person
with which the Company or the Parent has entered into a
transaction under this covenant, will have by amendment to its
Note Guarantee confirmed that its Note Guarantee will apply to
the obligations of the Company or the surviving Person in
accordance with the notes and the Indenture.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment,
transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company or Parent, as
applicable, in accordance with this covenant, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into or with which
the Company or Parent, as applicable, is merged or to which such
sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other disposition is
made will succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and
after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment,
conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of the Indenture
referring to the Company or Parent, as
applicable, will refer instead to the successor corporation and
not to the Company or the Parent, as applicable), and may
exercise every right and power of, the Company or Parent, as
applicable, under the Indenture with the same effect as if such
successor Person had been named as the Company or Parent, as
applicable, in the Indenture.
In addition, the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries may not,
directly or indirectly, lease all or substantially all of the
properties or assets of the Parent and its Restricted
Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, in one or more
related transactions, to any other Person. Clause (3) above
of this covenant will not apply to (x) any merger,
consolidation or sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition of assets between or among the Parent
149
or the Company and any of the Parents Restricted
Subsidiaries or (y) a merger of the Parent or the Company
with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the
Parent or the Company in another jurisdiction.
Transactions
with Affiliates
The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer
or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or
purchase any property or assets from, or enter into, make,
amend, renew or extend any transaction, contract, agreement,
understanding, loan, advance or Guarantee with, or for the
benefit of, any Affiliate (each, an Affiliate
Transaction), unless:
(1) such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are no less
favorable to the Parent or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary
than those that would have been obtained in a comparable
arms-length transaction by the Parent or such Restricted
Subsidiary with a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Parent
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; and
(2) the Parent delivers to the Trustee:
(a) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration
in excess of $5 million, a Board Resolution set forth in an
Officers Certificate certifying that such Affiliate
Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions complies
with this covenant and that such Affiliate Transaction or series
of related Affiliate Transactions has been approved by a
majority of the disinterested members of the Board of Directors
of the Parent; and
(b) with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of
related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration
in excess of $15 million, an opinion as to the fairness to
the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary of such Affiliate
Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions from a
financial point of view issued by an independent accounting,
appraisal or investment banking firm of national standing.
The following items will not be deemed to be Affiliate
Transactions and, therefore, will not be subject to the
provisions of the prior paragraph:
(1) transactions between or among the Parent
and/or its
Restricted Subsidiaries;
(2) payment of reasonable and customary fees to, and
reasonable and customary indemnification and similar payments on
behalf of, directors of the Parent;
(3) Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments that are
permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above
under the caption Restricted Payments;
(4) any sale of Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Parent or receipt of any capital contribution from
any Affiliate of the Parent;
(5) any transaction with any of the Parents
Designated Entities pursuant to which the Parent or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries provides or receives any of the
following: operational, technical, administrative or other
services; goods; intellectual property or any rights therein;
co-location rights or other licensed rights; or leased or other
real or personal property rights; provided that (a) if an
Affiliate of the Parent, other than any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, owns any Equity Interests in such Designated
Entity, such services, goods, or other rights provided to any
such Designated Entity shall be provided at prices equal to or
greater than the cost to the Parent or such Restricted
Subsidiary of providing such services, goods or other rights,
and (b) the Board of Directors of the Company determines in
good faith that such transaction is in the best interests of the
Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries;
(6) the provision of, or payment for, services in the
ordinary course of business on terms no less favorable to the
Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, than
those that would be obtained in a comparable transaction with an
unrelated Person;
(7) transactions pursuant to agreements or arrangements in
effect on the Issue Date, or any amendment, modification, or
supplement thereto or replacement thereof, as long as such
agreement or arrangement, as so
150
amended, modified, supplemented or replaced, taken as a whole,
is not more disadvantageous to the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries than the original agreement or arrangement in
existence on the Issue Date;
(8) any employment, consulting, service or termination
agreement, or indemnification arrangements, entered into by the
Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with current or
former directors, officers and employees of the Parent or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries and the payment of compensation to
current or former directors, officers and employees of the
Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (including amounts
paid pursuant to employee benefit plans, employee stock option
or similar plans), so long as such agreement, arrangement, plan
or payment have been approved by a majority of the disinterested
members of the Board of Directors of the Parent;
(9) issuances, purchases or repurchases of notes or other
Indebtedness of the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries or
solicitations of amendments, waivers or consents in respect of
notes or such other Indebtedness, if such issuance, purchase,
repurchase or solicitation is approved by a majority of the
disinterested members of the Board of Directors of the Parent;
(10) payments or prepayments in respect of Indebtedness
under the Credit Agreement or solicitations of amendments,
waivers or consents in respect of the Indebtedness under the
Credit Agreement, if such payment, prepayment or solicitation is
on the same terms as those offered to each holder of the
Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement that is not an Affiliate
of the Parent; and
(11) reasonable payments made for any financial advisory,
financing, underwriting, placement or syndication services
approved by the Board of Directors of the Parent in good faith.
Designation
of Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries
The Board of Directors of the Parent may designate any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, other than the Company, to
be an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided that:
(1) any Guarantee by the Parent or any Restricted
Subsidiary thereof of any Indebtedness of the Subsidiary being
so designated will be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness
by the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary (or both, if
applicable) at the time of such designation, and such Incurrence
of Indebtedness would be permitted under the covenant described
above under the caption Incurrence of
Indebtedness;
(2) the aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding
Investments owned by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries
in the Subsidiary being so designated (including any Guarantee
by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of any
Indebtedness of such Subsidiary) and any commitments to make any
such Investments will be deemed to be an Investment made as of
the time of such designation and that such Investment would be
permitted under the covenant described above under the caption
Restricted Payments;
(3) such Subsidiary does not hold any Liens on any property
of the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
(4) the Subsidiary being so designated:
(a) is not party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding with the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Parent unless the terms of any such agreement, contract,
arrangement or understanding are no less favorable to the Parent
or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been
obtained at the time the agreement, contract, arrangement or
understanding was entered into from Persons who are not
Affiliates of the Parent (other than any such agreement,
contract, arrangement or understanding permitted under the
covenant described under the caption Certain
Covenants Transactions with
Affiliates), and
(b) has not Guaranteed or otherwise directly or indirectly
provided credit support for any Indebtedness of the Parent or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, except to the extent such
Guarantee or credit support would be released upon such
designation; and
(5) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence
following such designation.
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Any designation of a Subsidiary of the Parent as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary will be evidenced to the Trustee by filing with the
Trustee the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation
and an Officers Certificate certifying that such
designation complied with the preceding conditions and was
permitted by the Indenture. If, at any time, any Unrestricted
Subsidiary would fail to meet any of the preceding requirements
described in clause (4) above, it will thereafter cease to
be an Unrestricted Subsidiary for purposes of the Indenture and
any Indebtedness, Investments, or Liens on the property, of such
Subsidiary will be deemed to be Incurred or made by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent as of such date and, if such
Indebtedness, Investments or Liens are not permitted to be
Incurred or made as of such date under the Indenture, the Parent
will be in default under the Indenture.
The Board of Directors of the Parent may at any time designate
any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary;
provided that:
(1) such designation will be deemed to be an Incurrence of
Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent of any
outstanding Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary and
such designation will only be permitted if such Indebtedness is
permitted under the covenant described under the caption
Incurrence of Indebtedness;
(2) all outstanding Investments owned by such Unrestricted
Subsidiary will be deemed to be made as of the time of such
designation and such designation will only be permitted if such
Investments would be permitted under the covenant described
above under the caption Restricted
Payments;
(3) all Liens upon property or assets of such Unrestricted
Subsidiary existing at the time of such designation would be
permitted under the caption
Liens; and
(4) no Default or Event of Default would be in existence
following such designation.
Guarantees
The Parent will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries,
directly or indirectly, to Guarantee or pledge any assets to
secure the payment of any other Indebtedness for borrowed money
of the Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor unless
such Restricted Subsidiary is the Company or a Subsidiary
Guarantor or simultaneously executes and delivers to the Trustee
an Opinion of Counsel and a supplemental indenture providing for
the Guarantee of the payment of the notes by such Restricted
Subsidiary, which Guarantee will be pari passu with, or
if such other Indebtedness for borrowed money is subordinated to
the notes or any notes Guarantee, senior to, such
Subsidiarys Guarantee of such other Indebtedness for
borrowed money.
A Subsidiary Guarantor may not sell or otherwise dispose of all
or substantially all of its assets to, or consolidate with or
merge with or into (whether or not such Subsidiary Guarantor is
the surviving Person), another Person, other than the Parent,
the Company or another Subsidiary Guarantor, unless:
(1) immediately after giving effect to that transaction, no
Default or Event of Default exists; and
(2) either:
(a) the Person acquiring the property in any such sale or
disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such
consolidation or merger (if other than the Subsidiary Guarantor)
is organized or existing under the laws of the United States,
any state thereof or the District of Columbia and assumes all
the obligations of that Subsidiary Guarantor under the
Indenture, its Note Guarantee and the Registration Rights
Agreement pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to
the Trustee; or
(b) such sale or other disposition or consolidation or
merger complies with the covenant described above under the
caption Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales.
The Note Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be released:
(1) in connection with any sale or other disposition of all
of the Capital Stock of a Subsidiary Guarantor to a Person that
is not (either before or after giving effect to such
transaction) a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, if the sale
of all such Capital Stock of that Subsidiary Guarantor complies
with the covenant described above under the caption
Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales;
152
(2) if the Parent properly designates any Restricted
Subsidiary that is a Subsidiary Guarantor as an Unrestricted
Subsidiary under the Indenture;
(3) upon legal or covenant defeasance or satisfaction and
discharge of the notes as permitted under the Indenture; or
(4) upon release or discharge of the Guarantees securing
the Credit Agreement and all other Indebtedness for borrowed
money of the Parent, the Company or any other Subsidiary
Guarantor (other than the notes and Note Guarantees), except a
discharge or release by or as a result of payment under such
Guarantees.
Business
Activities
The Parent will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary thereof to, engage in any business other than
Permitted Businesses, except to such extent as would not be
material to the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as
a whole.
Payments
for Consent
The Parent will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid
any consideration to or for the benefit of any Holder of Notes
for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of
any of the terms or provisions of the Indenture or the notes
unless such consideration is offered to be paid and is paid to
all Holders of the notes that consent, waive or agree to amend
in the time frame set forth in the solicitation documents
relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.
Reports
Each of Parent and the Company will furnish to the Trustee and,
upon written request, to beneficial owners and prospective
investors a copy of all of the information and reports referred
to in clauses (1) and (2) below within the time
periods specified in the Commissions rules and regulations
(including all applicable extension periods):
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that
would be required to be contained in a filing with the
Commission on
Forms 10-Q
and 10-K if
it were required to file such Forms, including a
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and, with respect to
the annual information only, a report on the annual financial
statements by its certified independent accountants; and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed
with the Commission on
Form 8-K
if it were required to file such reports.
Whether or not required by the Commission, each of Parent and
the Company will comply with the periodic reporting requirements
of the Exchange Act and will file the reports specified in the
preceding paragraph with the Commission within the time periods
specified above unless the Commission will not accept such a
filing. Each of Parent and the Company agrees that it will not
take any action for the purpose of causing the Commission not to
accept any such filings. If, notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Commission will not accept Parent or the Companys filings
for any reason, Parent or the Company, as the case may be, will
post the reports referred to in the preceding paragraph on its
website within the time periods that would apply if Parent or
the Company were required to file those reports with the
Commission (including all applicable extension periods).
If the Parent has designated any of its Subsidiaries as
Unrestricted Subsidiaries, then the quarterly and annual
financial information required by this covenant will include a
reasonably detailed presentation, either on the face of the
financial statements or in the footnotes thereto, and in
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations, of the financial
condition and results of operations of the Parent and its
Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition
and results of operations of the Unrestricted Subsidiaries of
the Parent.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as Parent is a Guarantor,
the reports, information and other documents required to be
filed and provided by the Company as described above will be
satisfied by those of Parent, so long as such filings would
satisfy the Commissions requirements.
153
In addition, the Company and the Guarantors have agreed that,
for so long as any Notes remain outstanding and each of Parent
and the Company is not required to comply with the periodic
reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, they will furnish to
the Holders and to prospective investors, upon their written
request, the information required to be delivered pursuant to
Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act.
Events of
Default and Remedies
Each of the following is an Event of Default:
(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of
interest on, or Additional Interest, if any, with respect to,
the notes;
(2) default in payment when due (whether at maturity, upon
acceleration, redemption, required repurchase or otherwise) of
the principal of, or premium, if any, on the notes;
(3) failure by the Parent, the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiaries of the Parent for 30 days after written notice
to the Parent by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of notes then outstanding to comply
with the provisions described under the captions
Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of
Control, or Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales, (in each case other than
a failure to purchase notes which will constitute an Event of
Default under clause (2) above) or the failure by Parent or
the Company to comply with the provisions described under
Certain Covenants Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets;
(4) failure by Parent, the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent for 60 days after written notice
to the Parent by the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of notes then outstanding to comply
with any of the other agreements in the Indenture;
(5) default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument
under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured
or evidenced any Indebtedness by Parent, the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary of the
Parent (or the payment of which is Guaranteed by Parent, the
Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary that is a Significant
Subsidiary of the Parent) whether such Indebtedness or Guarantee
now exists, or is created after the Issue Date, if that default:
(a) is caused by a failure to make any payment when due at
the final maturity of such Indebtedness (a Payment
Default); or
(b) results in the acceleration of such Indebtedness prior
to its express maturity,
and, in each case, the amount of any such Indebtedness, together
with the amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there
has been a Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so
accelerated, aggregates $25 million or more;
(6) failure by Parent, the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary of the Parent to pay
final judgments (to the extent such judgments are not paid or
covered by insurance provided by a reputable carrier)
aggregating in excess of $25 million, which judgments are
not paid, discharged or stayed for a period of 60 days;
(7) except as permitted by the Indenture, any Note
Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable
or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and
effect or any Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any
Guarantor, denies or disaffirms its obligations under its Note
Guarantee; and
(8) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect
to the Parent, the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or any
Significant Subsidiary of the Parent.
In the case of an Event of Default under clause (8), all
outstanding notes will become due and payable immediately
without further action or notice. If any other Event of Default
occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding notes
may declare all the notes to be due and payable immediately by
notice in writing to the Company specifying the Event of Default.
154
Holders of the notes may not enforce the Indenture or the notes
except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to certain
limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the then outstanding notes may direct the Trustee in its
exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from
Holders of the notes notice of any Default or Event of Default
(except a Default or Event of Default relating to the payment of
principal or interest or Additional Interest, if any) if it
determines that withholding notice is in their interest.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of
the Holders of all of the notes waive any existing Default or
Event of Default and its consequences under the Indenture except
a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of
interest or Additional Interest, if any on, or the principal of,
the notes. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the then outstanding notes will have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee. However, the
Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with
law or the Indenture, that may involve the Trustee in personal
liability, or that the Trustee determines in good faith may be
unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of notes not joining
in the giving of such direction and may take any other action it
deems proper that is not inconsistent with any such direction
received from Holders of notes. A Holder may not pursue any
remedy with respect to the Indenture or the notes unless:
(1) the Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default;
(2) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of then outstanding notes make a written request to the
Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(3) such Holder or Holders offer the Trustee indemnity
satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs, liability or
expense;
(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within
60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of
indemnity; and
(5) during such
60-day
period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding notes do not give the Trustee a direction
that is inconsistent with the request.
However, such limitations do not apply to the right of any
Holder of a note to receive payment of the principal of, premium
or Additional Interest, if any, or interest on, such Note or to
bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment, on or after
the due date expressed in the notes, which right will not be
impaired or affected without the consent of the Holder.
In the case of any Event of Default occurring by reason of any
willful action or inaction taken or not taken by or on behalf of
the Parent or the Company with the intention of avoiding payment
of the premium that the Company would have had to pay if the
Company then had elected to redeem the notes pursuant to the
optional redemption provisions of the Indenture, an equivalent
premium will also become and be immediately due and payable to
the extent permitted by law upon the acceleration of the notes.
The Parent is required to deliver to the Trustee annually within
90 days after the end of each fiscal year a statement
regarding compliance with the Indenture. Upon becoming aware of
any Default or Event of Default, the Parent is required to
deliver to the Trustee a statement specifying such Default or
Event of Default.
No
Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and
Stockholders
No director, officer, employee, incorporator, stockholder,
member, manager or partner of the Company or any Guarantor, as
such, will have any liability for any obligations of the Company
or the Guarantors under the notes, the Indenture, the Note
Guarantees or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by
reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of
notes by accepting a note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration
for issuance of the notes. The waiver may not be effective to
waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
155
Legal
Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have
all of its obligations discharged with respect to the
outstanding notes and all obligations of the Guarantors
discharged with respect to their Note Guarantees (Legal
Defeasance) except for:
(1) the rights of Holders of outstanding notes to receive
payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium
and Additional Interest, if any, on such notes when such
payments are due from the trust referred to below;
(2) the Companys obligations with respect to the
notes concerning issuing temporary notes, registration of notes,
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen notes and the maintenance
of an office or agency for payment and money for security
payments held in trust;
(3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of
the Trustee, and the Companys and the Guarantors
obligations in connection therewith; and
(4) the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture.
In addition, the Company may, at its option and at any time,
elect to have the obligations of the Company and the Guarantors
released with respect to certain covenants that are described in
the Indenture (Covenant Defeasance) and thereafter
any omission to comply with those covenants will not constitute
a Default or Event of Default with respect to the notes. In the
event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events (not including
non-payment, bankruptcy, receivership, rehabilitation and
insolvency events) described under Events of Default
will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to the
notes.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant
Defeasance:
(1) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee,
in trust, for the benefit of the Holders of the notes, cash in
U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a
combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent
public accountants, to pay the principal of, or interest and
premium and Additional Interest, if any, on the outstanding
notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption
date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether
the notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular
redemption date;
(2) in the case of Legal Defeasance, the Company will have
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee confirming that (a) the Company
has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
Revenue Service a ruling or (b) since the Issue Date, there
has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in
either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion
of Counsel will confirm that, the Holders of the outstanding
notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be
subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such
Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3) in the case of Covenant Defeasance, the Company will
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the Holders of the
outstanding notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for
federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant
Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(4) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and
be continuing either: (a) on the date of such deposit; or
(b) insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or
insolvency events are concerned, at any time in the period
ending on the 123rd day after the date of deposit;
(5) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not
result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default
under any material agreement or instrument to which the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is bound;
156
(6) the Company must have delivered to the Trustee an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, (1) assuming no
intervening bankruptcy of the Company or any Guarantor between
the date of deposit and the 123rd day following the deposit
and assuming that no Holder is an insider of the
Company under applicable bankruptcy law, after the
123rd day following the deposit, the trust funds will not
be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors rights generally, including Section 547 of
the United States Bankruptcy Code and Section 15 of the New
York Debtor and Creditor Law and (2) the creation of the
defeasance trust does not violate the Investment Company Act of
1940;
(7) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an
Officers Certificate stating that the deposit was not made
by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over
the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating,
hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or
others;
(8) if the notes are to be redeemed prior to their Stated
Maturity, the Company must deliver to the Trustee irrevocable
instructions to redeem all of the notes on the specified
redemption date; and
(9) the Company must deliver to the Trustee an
Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal
Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Amendment,
Supplement and Waiver
Except as provided in the next two succeeding paragraphs, the
Indenture or the notes may be amended or supplemented with the
consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the notes then outstanding (including,
without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a
purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, notes), and
any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the notes may be waived with the consent of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding notes (including, without limitation, consents
obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or
exchange offer for, notes).
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or
waiver may not:
(1) reduce the principal amount of notes whose Holders must
consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of
any note or alter the provisions, or waive any payment, with
respect to the redemption of the notes;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of
interest on any note;
(4) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of
principal of, or interest, or premium or Additional Interest, if
any, on, the notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the
notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding notes and a waiver of
the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) make any note payable in money other than
U.S. dollars;
(6) make any change in the provisions of the Indenture
relating to waivers of past Defaults or the rights of Holders of
notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or
premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the notes;
(7) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations under
its Note Guarantee or the Indenture, except in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture;
(8) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement
of any payment on or with respect to the notes or the Note
Guarantees;
(9) except as otherwise permitted under the covenants
described under the captions Certain
Covenants Merger, Consolidation and Sale of
Assets and Certain Covenants
Guarantees, consent to the assignment or transfer by the
Company or any Guarantor of any of their rights or obligations
under the Indenture;
157
(10) contractually subordinate in right of payment the
notes or any Note Guarantee to any other Indebtedness; or
(11) make any change in the preceding amendment and waiver
provisions.
Notwithstanding the preceding, without the consent of any Holder
of notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may amend
or supplement the Indenture or the notes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated notes in addition to or
in place of certificated notes;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Companys or
any Guarantors obligations to Holders of notes in the case
of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all
of the Companys or such Guarantors assets;
(4) to make any change that would provide any additional
rights or benefits to the Holders of notes or that does not
materially adversely affect the legal rights under the Indenture
of any such Holder;
(5) to comply with requirements of the Commission in order
to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under
the Trust Indenture Act;
(6) to comply with the provisions described under
Certain Covenants Guarantees;
(7) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of
appointment by a successor Trustee;
(8) to provide for the issuance of additional notes in
accordance with the Indenture; or
(9) to conform the text of the Indenture or the notes to
any provision of the Description of Notes to the
extent such provision in the Description of Notes
was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the
Indenture.
Satisfaction
and Discharge
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further
effect as to all notes issued thereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all notes that have been authenticated (except lost,
stolen or destroyed notes that have been replaced or paid and
notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered
to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(b) all notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the
mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become
due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor
has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the
Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the
Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government
Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be
sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of
interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the
notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for
principal, premium and Additional Interest, if any, and accrued
interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(2) no Default or Event of Default will have occurred and
be continuing on the date of such deposit or will occur as a
result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other
instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or
by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
(3) the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be
paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture; and
(4) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to
the Trustee under the Indenture to apply the deposited money
toward the payment of the notes at maturity or the redemption
date, as the case may be.
158
In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee stating
that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have
been satisfied.
Concerning
the Trustee
If the Trustee becomes a creditor of the Company or any
Guarantor, the Indenture and the Trust Indenture Act limit
its right to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to
realize on certain property received in respect of any such
claim as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to
engage in other transactions; however, if it acquires any
conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within
90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue
or resign.
The Indenture provides that in case an Event of Default will
occur and be continuing, the Trustee will be required, in the
exercise of its power, to use the degree of care of a prudent
man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to such
provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise
any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request
of any Holder of notes, unless such Holder will have offered to
the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against
any loss, liability or expense.
Book-Entry,
Delivery and Form
Except as set forth below, new notes will be issued in
registered, global form in minimum denominations of $2,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The new notes
will be issued in the form of one or more registered notes in
book-entry form (collectively, the Global Notes).
Each such Global Note will be registered in the name of a
nominee of DTC, as depositary, and will be deposited with DTC or
a nominee thereof or custodian therefor. Interest in each such
Global Note will not be exchangeable for certificated notes in
definitive, fully registered form, except in the limited
circumstances described below. We will be entitled, along with
the Trustee and any other agent, to treat DTC or its nominee, as
the case may be, as the sole owner and holder of the Global
Notes for all purposes.
So long as DTC or its nominee or a common depositary is the
registered holder of a Global Note, DTC or such nominee or
common depositary, as the case may be, will be considered the
sole owner and holder of such Global Note, and of the notes
represented thereby, for all purposes under the Indenture and
the new notes and the beneficial owners of new notes will be
entitled only to those rights and benefits afforded to them in
accordance with DTCs regular operating procedures. Upon
specified written instructions of a DTC participant, DTC will
have its nominee assist its participants in the exercise of
certain holders rights, such as a demand for acceleration
or an instruction to the Trustee. Except as provided below,
owners of beneficial interests in a Global Note will not be
entitled to have new notes represented by a Global Note
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of new notes in certificated form and
will not be considered the registered holders thereof under the
Indenture.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Note will be
limited to DTC participants or persons who hold interests
through DTC participants. Upon the issuance of a Global Note,
DTC or its custodian will credit on its internal system the
respective principal amount of the individual beneficial
interest represented by such Global Note to the accounts of its
participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global note
will be shown on, and the transfer of those ownership interests
will be effected through, records maintained by DTC or its
nominee (with respect to interests of participants) or by any
such participant (with respect to interests of persons held by
such participants on their behalf). Payments, transfers,
exchanges and other matters relating to beneficial interests in
a Global Note may be subject to various policies and procedures
adopted by DTC from time to time. None of the Company, the
Trustee or any of their agents will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of DTCs or any DTC
participants records relating to, or for payments made on
account of, beneficial interest in any Global Note, or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial interests.
DTC has advised us that it is a limited-purpose trust company
organized under the New York Banking Law, a banking
organization within the meaning of the New York Banking
Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a clearing
corporation within the meaning of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code and a clearing agency registered
pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange
Act. DTC holds certificates that its participants deposit with
DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among participants of
securities transactions,
159
such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through
electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants
accounts, thereby eliminating the need for the physical movement
of securities certificates. Participants include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is owned by a
number of its direct participants and by the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the
DTC system is also available to others such as securities
brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct
participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable
to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
subject to the applicable rules and procedures of DTC and its
direct or indirect participants (including, if applicable, those
of Euroclear and Clearstream), which may change from time to
time.
Depository
Procedures
The following description of the operations and procedures of
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream are provided solely as a matter
of convenience. These operations and procedures are solely
within the control of the respective settlement systems and are
subject to changes by them. The Company takes no responsibility
for these operations and procedures and urges investors to
contact the system or their participants directly to discuss
these matters.
DTC has advised the Company that DTC is a limited-purpose trust
company created to hold securities for its participating
organizations (collectively, the Participants) and
to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in
those securities between Participants through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The
Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including
the Initial Purchasers), banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations. Access to
DTCs system is also available to other entities such as
banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through
or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either
directly or indirectly (collectively, the Indirect
Participants). Persons who are not Participants may
beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only
through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The
ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in,
each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the
records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
DTC has also advised the Company that, pursuant to procedures
established by it:
(1) upon deposit of the Global Notes, DTC will credit the
accounts of Participants designated by the Initial Purchasers
with portions of the principal amount of the Global
Notes; and
(2) ownership of these interests in the Global Notes will
be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect
to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect
Participants (with respect to other owners of beneficial
interest in the Global Notes).
All interests in a Global Note, including those held through
Euroclear or Clearstream, may be subject to the procedures and
requirements of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or
Clearstream may also be subject to the procedures and
requirements of such systems. The laws of some states require
that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form
of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in a Global Note to such persons
will be limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on
behalf of Participants, which in turn act on behalf of Indirect
Participants, the ability of a person having beneficial interest
in a Global Note to pledge such interests to persons that do not
participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in
respect of such interests, may be affected by the lack of a
physical certificate evidencing such interests.
Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global
Notes will not have notes registered in their names, will not
receive physical delivery of notes in certificated form and will
not be considered the registered owners or Holders
thereof under the Indenture for any purpose.
Payments in respect of the principal of, and interest and
premium and Additional Interest, if any, on a Global Note
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee will be payable to
DTC in its capacity as the registered Holder under the
Indenture. Under the terms of the Indenture, the Company and the
Trustee will treat the Persons in whose
160
names the notes, including the Global Notes, are registered as
the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving payments and for
all other purposes. Consequently, neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee has or will
have any responsibility or liability for:
(1) any aspect of DTCs records or any
Participants or Indirect Participants records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interest in the Global Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any of DTCs records or any Participants or
Indirect Participants records relating to the beneficial
ownership interests in the Global Notes; or
(2) any other matter relating to the actions and practices
of DTC or any of its Participants or Indirect Participants.
DTC has advised the Company that its current practice, upon
receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as the
notes (including principal and interest), is to credit the
accounts of the relevant Participants with the payment on the
payment date unless DTC has reason to believe it will not
receive payment on such payment date. Each relevant Participant
is credited with an amount proportionate to its beneficial
ownership of an interest in the principal amount of the relevant
security as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the
Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial
owners of notes will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices and will be the responsibility of the
Participants or the Indirect Participants and will not be the
responsibility of DTC, the Trustee or the Company. Neither the
Company nor the Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or
any of its Participants in identifying the beneficial owners of
the notes, and the Company and the Trustee may conclusively rely
on and will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or
its nominee for all purposes.
Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in
accordance with DTCs procedures, and will be settled in
same-day
funds, and transfers between participants in Euroclear and
Clearstream will be effected in accordance with their respective
rules and operating procedures.
Subject to compliance with the transfer restrictions applicable
to the notes described herein, cross-market transfers between
the Participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear or
Clearstream participants, on the other hand, will be effected
through DTC in accordance with DTCs rules on behalf of
Euroclear or Clearstream, as the case may be, by its respective
depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require
delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, as the
case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance
with the rules and procedures and within the established
deadlines (Brussels time) of such system. Euroclear or
Clearstream, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets
its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its
respective depositary to take action to effect final settlement
on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in the
relevant Global Note in DTC, and making or receiving payment in
accordance with normal procedures for
same-day
funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear participants and
Clearstream participants may not deliver instructions directly
to the depositories for Euroclear or Clearstream.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action
permitted to be taken by a Holder of notes only at the direction
of one or more Participants to whose account DTC has credited
the interests in the Global Notes and only in respect of such
portion of the aggregate principal amount of the notes as to
which such Participant or Participants has or have given such
direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the
notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global Notes for
legended notes in certificated form, and to distribute such
notes to its Participants.
Although DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream have agreed to the
foregoing procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the
Global Notes among participants in DTC, Euroclear and
Clearstream, they are under no obligation to perform or to
continue to perform such procedures, and may discontinue such
procedures at any time. Neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any of their respective agents will have any responsibility for
the performance by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream or their
respective participants or indirect participants of their
respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing
their operations.
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Exchange
of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive notes in registered
certificated form (Certificated Notes) if:
(1) DTC (a) notifies the Company that it is unwilling
or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes or
(b) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act, and in each case the Company fails to appoint a
successor depositary;
(2) the Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in
writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Certificated
Notes (DTC has advised the Company that, in such event, under
its current practices, DTC would notify its participants of the
Companys request, but will only withdraw beneficial
interests from a Global Note at the request of each DTC
participant); or
(3) there will have occurred and be continuing a Default or
Event of Default with respect to the notes.
In addition, beneficial interests in a Global Note may be
exchanged for Certificated Notes upon prior written notice given
to the Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in accordance with the
Indenture. In all cases, Certificated Notes delivered in
exchange for any Global Note or beneficial interests in Global
Notes will be registered in the names, and issued in any
approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of the
depositary (in accordance with its customary procedures).
Exchange
of Certificated Notes for Global Notes
Certificated Notes may not be exchanged for beneficial interests
in any Global Note unless the transferor first delivers to the
Trustee a written certificate (in the form provided in the
Indenture) to the effect that such transfer will comply with the
appropriate transfer restrictions applicable to such Notes.
Certain
Definitions
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indenture.
Reference is made to the Indenture for a full disclosure of all
such terms, as well as any other capitalized terms used herein
for which no definition is provided.
Acquired Indebtedness means
Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such Person
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or merges with or into the
Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or which is assumed
by the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in
connection with an Asset Acquisition and not incurred in
connection with, or in anticipation of, such Person becoming a
Restricted Subsidiary or such Asset Acquisition. The term
Acquired Indebtedness does not include Indebtedness
of a Person which is redeemed, defeased, retired or otherwise
repaid at the time of or immediately upon consummation of the
transactions by which such Person becomes a Restricted
Subsidiary or such Asset Acquisition.
Additional Interest means all
additional interest owing on the notes pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement.
Affiliate of any specified Person
means (1) any other Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person, (2) any executive
officer or director of such specified Person or (3) any
Designated Entity. For purposes of this definition,
control, as used with respect to any Person, will
mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of
such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities,
by agreement or otherwise; provided that beneficial
ownership of 10% or more of the Voting Stock of a Person will be
deemed to be control. For purposes of this definition, the terms
controlling, controlled by and
under common control with will have correlative
meanings.
Applicable Premium means, with respect
to a note at any date of redemption, the greater of
(i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such note and
(ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such date
of redemption of (1) the redemption price of such note at
November 1, 2010 (such redemption price being described
under Optional Redemption) plus
(2) all remaining required interest payments due on
such note through November 1, 2010 (excluding accrued but
unpaid interest to the date of redemption), computed using a
discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis
points, over (B) the principal amount of such note.
162
Asset Acquisition means:
(1) an Investment by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in any other Person pursuant to which such Person
shall become a Restricted Subsidiary or shall be merged into or
consolidated with the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries but only if such Persons primary business is
a Permitted Business,
(2) an acquisition by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of the property and assets of any Person other than
the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that constitute
all or substantially all of a division, operating unit or line
of business of such Person but only if the property and assets
so acquired is a Permitted Business,
(3) an Investment by a Designated Entity in any other
Person pursuant to which such Person shall (a) become a
Subsidiary of such Designated Entity or (b) be merged into
or consolidated with such Designated Entity, but, in the case of
(a) or (b), only if such Persons primary business is
a Permitted Business, or
(4) an acquisition by a Designated Entity of the property
and assets of any Person other than the Parent, any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or any other Designated Entity that
constitute all or substantially all of a division, operating
unit or line of business of such Person but only if the property
and assets so acquired is a Permitted Business.
Asset Disposition means the sale or
other disposition by:
(1) the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries other
than to the Parent or another Restricted Subsidiary of
(a) all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary or any Designated Entity or (b) all
or substantially all of the assets that constitute a division,
operating unit or line of business of the Parent or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, or
(2) a Designated Entity other than to the Parent, any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or any other Designated Entity of
(a) all or substantially all of the Capital Stock of a
Subsidiary of such Designated Entity or (b) all or
substantially all of the assets that constitute a division,
operating unit or line of business of such Designated Entity.
Asset Sale means:
(1) the sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of any
assets, other than a transaction governed by the provisions of
the Indenture described above under the caption
Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Change of Control
and/or the
provisions described above under the caption
Certain Covenants Merger,
Consolidation or Sale of Assets; and
(2) (a) the issuance of Equity Interests by any of the
Parents Restricted Subsidiaries or (b) the sale by
the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof of any Equity
Interests it owns in any of its Subsidiaries (other than
directors qualifying shares and shares issued to foreign
nationals to the extent required by applicable law) or
Designated Entities.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the following items will be
deemed not to be Asset Sales:
(1) any single transaction or series of related
transactions that involves assets or Equity Interests having a
Fair Market Value of less than $5 million;
(2) a transfer of assets or Equity Interests between or
among the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(3) an issuance of Equity Interests by a Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent to the Parent or to another Restricted
Subsidiary;
(4) the sale, lease, sublease, license, sublicense,
consignment, conveyance or other disposition of equipment,
inventory, accounts receivable or other assets in the ordinary
course of business or to any Designated Entity in compliance
with the provisions under Certain Covenants
Transactions with Affiliates;
(5) the sale or other disposition of Cash Equivalents;
163
(6) dispositions of accounts receivable in connection with
the compromise, settlement or collection thereof in the ordinary
course of business or in bankruptcy or similar proceedings;
(7) a Restricted Payment that is permitted by the covenant
described above under the caption Certain
Covenants Restricted Payments and any
Permitted Investment;
(8) any sale or disposition of any property or equipment
that has become damaged, worn out or obsolete;
(9) the creation of a Lien not prohibited by the
Indenture; and
(10) the licensing of intellectual property or other
general intangibles (other than FCC Licenses) to third persons
on terms approved by the Board of Directors of the Parent or the
Company in good faith and in the ordinary course of business.
Attributable Debt in respect of a Sale
and Leaseback Transaction means, at the time of determination,
the present value of the obligation of the lessee for net rental
payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction, including any period for which
such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
lessor, be extended. Such present value will be calculated using
a discount rate equal to the rate of interest implicit in such
transaction, determined in accordance with GAAP.
Beneficial Owner has the meaning
assigned to such term in
Rule 13d-3
and
Rule 13d-5
under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the
beneficial ownership of any particular person (as
that term is used in Section 13(d) (3) of the Exchange
Act), such person will be deemed to have beneficial
ownership of all securities that such person has the
right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities,
whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable
only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition. The terms
Beneficially Owns and Beneficially Owned
will have a corresponding meaning.
Board of Directors means:
(1) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors
of the corporation or, except in the context of the definitions
of Change of Control, a duly authorized committee
thereof;
(2) with respect to a partnership, the Board of Directors
of the general partner of the partnership;
(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the
managing member or members or any controlling committee or board
of directors of such company or of the sole member or of the
managing member thereof; and
(4) with respect to any other Person, the board or
committee of such Person serving a similar function.
Board Resolution means a resolution
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Parent, or the Company, as applicable, to have been duly adopted
by the Board of Directors of the Parent or the Company, as
applicable, and to be in full force and effect on the date of
such certification.
Bridge Agreement means that certain
Bridge Credit Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2006, by and
among the Company, Parent, Citicorp North America, Inc., as
Administrative Agent, and the other lenders named therein,
including any related notes, Guarantees, instruments and
agreements executed in connection therewith, and in each case as
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded or refinanced
from time to time, regardless of whether such amendment,
restatement, modification, renewal, refunding or refinancing is
with the same financial institutions or otherwise.
In connection with the Companys issuance of
$750 million aggregate principal amount of the original
notes under the Indenture on October 23, 2006, the Company
repaid all $570 million of principal amount of
indebtedness, plus accrued interest, under the Bridge Agreement
with part of the proceeds from the sale of such notes and the
parties to the Bridge Agreement terminated the Bridge Agreement
(and the loan commitments thereunder) and the related Guarantees.
Business Day means any day other than
a Legal Holiday.
Capital Lease Obligation means, at the
time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the
liability in respect of a capital lease that would at that time
be required to be capitalized on a balance sheet in
164
accordance with GAAP, and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be
the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due
under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease
may be prepaid by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
Capital Stock means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any
and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability
company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or
limited); and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a
Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses
of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.
Cash Equivalents means:
(1) United States dollars;
(2) readily marketable obligations issued or directly and
fully guaranteed or insured by the United States of America or
any agency or instrumentality thereof (provided that the full
faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged in
support thereof), having maturities of not more than two years
of the date of acquisition thereof;
(3) demand deposits, certificates of deposit and eurodollar
time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date
of acquisition, bankers acceptances with maturities not
exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case,
with any domestic commercial bank having capital and surplus in
excess of $500 million and a rating at the time of
acquisition thereof of
P-1 or
better from Moodys or
A-1 or
better from S&P;
(4) commercial paper outstanding at any time issued by any
Person organized under the laws of any state of the United
States of America and rated
P-1 or
better from Moodys or
A-1 or
better from S&P and in each case with maturities of not
more than 270 days from the date of acquisition thereof;
(5) securities with final maturities of not more than two
years from the date of acquisition thereof issued or fully
guaranteed by any state, territory or municipality of the United
States of America or by any political subdivision, taxing
authority, agency or instrumentality thereof and rated at least
A by S&P or A by Moodys;
(6) insured demand deposits made in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with the Parents or its
Subsidiaries customary cash management policy in any
domestic office of any commercial bank organized under the laws
of the United States of America or any state thereof;
(7) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than
90 days for underlying securities of the types described in
clauses (2), (3) and (4) above entered into with any
financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in
clause (3) above;
(8) auction rate notes with a maximum time between interest
rate resets of 35 days and a rating of at least AAA by
S&P or AAA by Moodys; and
(9) investments, classified in accordance with GAAP as
current assets of the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, in money market funds or investment programs
registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the
portfolios of which are limited solely to Investments of the
character, quality and maturity described in clauses (2)
through (8) of this definition.
Change of Control means the occurrence
of any of the following:
(1) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition (other than by way of merger or
consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of
all or substantially all of the properties or assets of
165
the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to
any person (as that term is used in
Section 13(d) (3) of the Exchange Act);
(2) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company or Parent;
(3) any person or group (as such
terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange
Act, but excluding any employee benefit plan of such
person or its Subsidiaries, and any Person or entity
acting in its capacity as trustee, agent or other fiduciary or
administrator of any such plan) becomes the Beneficial Owner,
directly or indirectly, of 35% or more of the Voting Stock of
Parent on a fully-diluted basis (and taking into account all
such securities that such person or
group has the right to acquire pursuant to any
option right to the extent that such option right is exercisable
within 60 days after the date of determination);
(4) during any period of 12 consecutive months, a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors or other equivalent
governing body of the Company or Parent cease to be composed of
individuals (i) who were members of the Board of Directors
or equivalent governing body on the first day of such period,
(ii) whose election or nomination to that Board of
Directors or equivalent governing body was approved by
individuals referred to in clause (i) above constituting at
the time of such election or nomination at least a majority of
that Board of Directors or equivalent governing body,
(iii) whose election or nomination to that Board of
Directors or other equivalent governing body was approved by
individuals referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) above
constituting at the time of such election or nomination at least
a majority of that Board of Directors or equivalent governing
body or (iv) in the case of the Company, whose election or
nomination to that Board of Directors or equivalent governing
body was approved by Parent (excluding, in the case of both
clause (ii) and clause (iii) any individual whose
initial nomination for, or assumption of office as, a member of
that Board of Directors or equivalent governing body occurs as a
result of an actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or
consents for the election or removal of one or more directors by
any person or group other than a
solicitation for the election of one or more directors by or on
behalf of the Board of Directors);
(5) the Company or Parent consolidates with, or merges with
or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merges
with or into the Company or Parent, in any such event pursuant
to a transaction in which any of the outstanding Voting Stock of
the Company, or Parent is converted into or exchanged for cash,
securities or other property, other than any such transaction
where immediately after such transaction, no person
or group (as such terms are used in
Section 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act) becomes,
directly or indirectly, the Beneficial Owner of 35% or more of
the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving or
transferee Person; or
(6) Parent ceases to own 100% of the Equity Interests of
the Company (unless Parent and the Company are merged).
Commission means the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Common Stock means, with respect to
any Person, any Capital Stock (other than Preferred Stock) of
such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or issued
thereafter.
Consolidated Cash Flow means, with
respect to any specified Person for any period, the Consolidated
Net Income of such Person for such period plus:
(1) provision for taxes based on income or profits of such
Person, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities
for such period, to the extent that such provision for taxes was
deducted in computing such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(2) Fixed Charges of such Person, its Restricted
Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities for such period, to the
extent that any such Fixed Charges were deducted in computing
such Consolidated Net Income; plus
(3) depreciation, amortization (including amortization of
intangibles but excluding amortization of prepaid cash expenses
that were paid in a prior period) and other non-cash expenses
(excluding any such non-cash expense to the extent that it
represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in any
future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was
paid in a prior period) of such Person, its Restricted
Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities for such period to the
extent that such depreciation, amortization and
166
other non-cash expenses were deducted in computing such
Consolidated Net Income, such other non-cash expenses to
include, without limitation, impairment charges associated with
goodwill, wireless licenses, other indefinite-lived assets and
long-lived assets, and stock-based compensation awards; minus
(4) non-cash items increasing such Consolidated Net Income
for such period, other than the accrual of revenue consistent
with past practice;
in each case, on a consolidated basis and determined in
accordance with GAAP.
Notwithstanding the preceding, the provision for taxes based on
the income or profits of, the Fixed Charges of and the
depreciation and amortization and other non-cash expenses of, a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent or a Designated Entity will
be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Consolidated Cash
Flow of the Parent (A) in the same proportion that the Net
Income of such Restricted Subsidiary or such Designated Entity
was added to compute such Consolidated Net Income of the Parent
and (B) only to the extent that a corresponding amount
would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended
or distributed to the Parent by such Restricted Subsidiary or
such Designated Entity without prior governmental approval (that
has not been obtained), and without direct or indirect
restriction pursuant to the terms of its charter and all
agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes,
rules and governmental regulations applicable to that Subsidiary
or its stockholders, or such Designated Entity or holders of its
Capital Stock, as applicable (other than restrictions on
dividends or distributions in respect of Existing Designated
Entities that are contained in agreements or instruments
existing on the Issue Date and any amendment, restatement,
modification, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing
thereof, provided that such corresponding restrictions on
dividends or distributions, as the case may be, included therein
are no more restrictive than the applicable restrictions on
dividends or distributions in the agreement or instrument being
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or
refinanced).
Consolidated Leverage Ratio means on
any Transaction Date, the ratio of:
(1) the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Parent, its
Restricted Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities on a
consolidated basis outstanding on such Transaction Date, to
(2) the aggregate amount of Consolidated Cash Flow of the
Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities
for the Four Quarter Period.
In determining the Consolidated Leverage Ratio:
(1) pro forma effect shall be given to any Indebtedness
that is to be incurred or repaid on the Transaction Date;
(2) pro forma effect shall be given to Asset Dispositions
and Asset Acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to the
application of proceeds of any Asset Disposition) that occur
during the Reference Period as if they had occurred and such
proceeds had been applied on the first day of such Reference
Period; and
(3) pro forma effect shall be given to asset dispositions
and asset acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to the
application of proceeds of any asset disposition) that have been
made by any Person that has become a Restricted Subsidiary of
the Parent or a Designated Entity or has been merged with or
into the Parent, any Restricted Subsidiary or any Designated
Entity during such Reference Period and that would have
constituted Asset Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions had such
transactions occurred when such Person was a Restricted
Subsidiary or a Designated Entity, as the case may be, as if
such asset dispositions or asset acquisitions were Asset
Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions that occurred on the first
day of such Reference Period.
To the extent that pro forma effect is given to an Asset
Acquisition or Asset Disposition, such pro forma calculation
shall be based upon the four full fiscal quarters immediately
preceding the Transaction Date of the Person, or division,
operating unit or line of business of the Person, that is
acquired or disposed of for which financial information is
available, and Consolidated Cash Flow will be calculated on a
pro forma basis in accordance with
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act, but without giving effect to
clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of
Consolidated Net Income.
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Consolidated Net Income means, with
respect to any specified Person for any period, the aggregate of
the Net Income of such Person, its Subsidiaries and its
Designated Entities for such period, on a consolidated basis,
determined in accordance with GAAP; provided that:
(1) the Net Income of any Person that is not a Restricted
Subsidiary or a Designated Entity or that is accounted for by
the equity method of accounting will be included only to the
extent of the amount of dividends or distributions paid in cash
to the specified Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof;
(2) the Net Income of any Restricted Subsidiary or any
Designated Entity will be excluded to the extent that the
declaration or payment of dividends or similar distributions by
that Restricted Subsidiary or that Designated Entity, as
applicable, of that Net Income is not at the date of
determination permitted without any prior governmental approval
(that has not been obtained) or, directly or indirectly, by
operation of the terms of its charter or any agreement,
instrument, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or
governmental regulation applicable to that Restricted Subsidiary
or its equityholders, or such Designated Entity or holders of
its Capital Stock, as applicable (other than restrictions on
dividends or distributions in respect of Existing Designated
Entities that are contained in agreements or instruments
existing on the Issue Date and any amendment, restatement,
modification, renewal, refunding, replacement or refinancing
thereof, provided that such corresponding restrictions on
dividends or distributions, as the case may be, included therein
are no more restrictive than the applicable restrictions on
dividends or distributions in the agreement or instrument being
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or
refinanced);
(3) the Net Income of any Person acquired during the
specified period for any period prior to the date of such
acquisition will be excluded;
(4) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting
principles will be excluded; and
(5) notwithstanding clause (1) above, the Net Income
or loss of any Unrestricted Subsidiary will be excluded, whether
or not distributed to the specified Person or one of its
Subsidiaries.
Credit Agreement means that certain
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 16,
2006, by and among the Company, Parent, Bank of America, N.A.,
as Administrative Agent, and the other lenders named therein,
including any related notes, Guarantees, collateral documents,
instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and
in each case as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded,
replaced or refinanced from time to time, regardless of whether
such amendment, restatement, modification, renewal, refunding,
replacement or refinancing is with the same financial
institutions or otherwise.
Credit Facilities means, one or more
debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit
Agreement and the Bridge Agreement), commercial paper facilities
or indentures, in each case with banks or other institutional
lenders or a trustee, providing for revolving credit loans, term
loans, receivables financing (including through the sale of
receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities
formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables),
letters of credit or issuances of notes, in each case, as
amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or
refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.
Default means any event that is, or
with the passage of time or the giving of notice or both would
be, an Event of Default.
Designated Entity means a Person that
is designated as a Designated Entity by the Board of
Directors of the Parent pursuant to a Board Resolution;
provided that (i) at the time of the making of the
initial investment by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries in such Person, such Person (A) holds or is
intended to hold, whether directly or indirectly through one or
more subsidiaries, one or more FCC Licenses as, or is eligible
to participate in an FCC auction or auctions for FCC Licenses
and/or
purchase of FCC Licenses or spectrum in an after-market
therefor, from time to time as, a Designated Entity,
Entrepreneur, Small Business, or
Very Small Business, as those terms are defined
under FCC rules and regulations as in effect at the time of such
initial investment in such Person or (B) is a wholly owned
Subsidiary of a Person meeting the requirements of
subclause (A) above; (ii) the Parent and its
Restricted Subsidiaries own a majority (but less than 100%) of
the equity interests of such Person (or in the case of a Person
referred to in subclause (i) (B), the Person referred to in
subclause (i) (A) of which such Person is a wholly owned
Subsidiary); (iii) the accounts of such Person are
consolidated with those of the Parent and its Subsidiaries in
accordance with GAAP; and (iv) such Persons primary
business is a Permitted Business.
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Disqualified Stock means any Capital
Stock that, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into
which it is convertible, or for which it is exchangeable, in
each case at the option of the holder thereof), or upon the
happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily redeemable,
pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or
redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in
part, on or prior to the date that is one year after the date on
which the notes mature. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence,
any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock
solely because the holders thereof have the right to require the
Parent to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a
change of control or an asset sale will not constitute
Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide
that the Parent may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital
Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or
redemption complies with the covenant described above under the
caption Certain Covenants
Restricted Payments. The term Disqualified
Stock will also include any options, warrants or other
rights that are convertible into Disqualified Stock or that are
redeemable at the option of the holder, or required to be
redeemed, prior to the date that is one year after the date on
which the notes mature.
Equity Interests means Capital Stock
and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital
Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into,
or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
Equity Offering means any public or
private placement of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified
Stock) of Parent (other than pursuant to a registration
statement on
Form S-8
or otherwise relating to equity securities issuable under any
employee benefit plan of Parent) to any Person other than any
Subsidiary thereof.
Existing Designated Entity means each
of Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC, LCW Wireless, LLC and Denali
Spectrum, LLC and each of their respective Subsidiaries.
On March 5, 2007, the Company acquired the remaining 25% of
the membership interests in Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC that
it did not already own. As a result of this acquisition, Alaska
Native Broadband 1, LLC and its wholly owned subsidiary, Alaska
Native Broadband 1 License, LLC, became direct and indirect
wholly owned subsidiaries, respectively, of the Company and
Restricted Subsidiaries under the Indenture. On
December 31, 2007, Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC and
Alaska Native Broadband 1 License, LLC were merged with and into
Cricket, with Cricket as the surviving entity.
Existing Indebtedness means the
aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Parent and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the
Credit Agreement, the Bridge Agreement or under the notes and
the related Note Guarantees) in existence on the Issue Date
after giving effect to the application of the proceeds of
(1) the notes and (2) any borrowings made under the
Credit Agreement or the Bridge Agreement on the Issue Date,
until such amounts are repaid.
Fair Market Value means the price that
would be paid in an arms-length transaction between an
informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an
informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy, as
determined in good faith by an Officer of the Parent or by the
Board of Directors of the Parent, evidenced by an Officers
Certificate or Board Resolution, as applicable.
FCC means the Federal Communications
Commission.
FCC Licenses means broadband personal
communications service licenses or other licenses for the
provision of wireless telecommunications services or operation
of wireless telecommunications systems issued by the FCC from
time to time.
Fixed Charges means, with respect to
any specified Person for any period, the sum, without
duplication, of:
(1) the consolidated interest expense of such Person, its
Restricted Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities for such
period, whether paid or accrued, including, without limitation,
amortization of debt issuance costs and original issue discount,
non-cash interest payments, the interest component of any
deferred payment obligations, the interest component of all
payments associated with Capital Lease Obligations, imputed
interest with respect to Attributable Debt, commissions,
discounts and other fees and charges incurred in respect of
letter of credit or bankers acceptance financings, and net
of the effect of all payments made or received pursuant to
Hedging Obligations; plus
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(2) the consolidated interest of such Person, its
Restricted Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities that was
capitalized during such period; plus
(3) any interest expense on Indebtedness of another Person
that is Guaranteed by such Person, any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of its Designated Entities or secured by a
Lien on assets of such Person, any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries or any of its Designated Entities whether or not
such Guarantee or Lien is called upon; plus
(4) the product of (a) all dividends, whether paid or
accrued and whether or not in cash, on any series of
Disqualified Stock of such Person or Disqualified Stock or
Preferred Stock of any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or any of
its Designated Entities other than dividends on Equity Interests
payable solely in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified
Stock) of the Parent or to the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary
of the Parent, times (b) a fraction, the numerator of which
is one and the denominator of which is one minus the then
current combined federal, state and local statutory tax rate of
such Person (if such Person is part of a consolidated group,
then such tax rate shall be computed on a standalone basis for
such Person), expressed as a decimal, in each case, on a
consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.
Forward Sale Agreements means
collectively (a) that certain Confirmation of Forward Sale
Transaction, dated as of August 15, 2006, between Parent
and Goldman Sachs Financial Markets, L.P. and (b) that
certain Confirmation of Forward Sale Transaction, dated as of
August 15, 2006, between Parent and Citibank, N.A.
Four Quarter Period means, with
respect to any specified Transaction Date, the four fiscal
quarters immediately prior to the Transaction Date for which
internal financial statements of the Parent are available.
GAAP means generally accepted
accounting principles set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the opinions
and pronouncements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board and in the statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of
the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date.
Government Securities means securities
that are direct obligations of the United States of America for
the timely payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged.
Guarantee means, as to any Person, a
guarantee other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments
for collection in the ordinary course of business, direct or
indirect, in any manner including, without limitation, by way of
a pledge of assets or through letters of credit or reimbursement
agreements in respect thereof, of all or any part of any
Indebtedness of another Person.
Guarantors means:
(1) the Initial Guarantors; and
(2) any other Subsidiary that executes a Note Guarantee in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture;
and their respective successors and assigns until released from
their obligations under their Note Guarantees and the Indenture
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
On March 5, 2007, Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC and Alaska
Native Broadband 1 License, LLC became Subsidiaries of the
Company and executed a Note Guarantee in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture. On December 31, 2007, Alaska Native
Broadband 1, LLC and Alaska Native Broadband 1 License, LLC were
merged with and into Cricket, with Cricket as the surviving
entity.
Hedging Obligations means, with
respect to any specified Person, the obligations of such Person
under:
(1) interest rate swap agreements, interest rate cap
agreements, interest rate collar agreements and other agreements
or arrangements with respect to interest rates;
(2) commodity swap agreements, commodity option agreements,
forward contracts and other agreements or arrangements with
respect to commodity prices; and
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(3) foreign exchange contracts, currency swap agreements
and other agreements or arrangements with respect to foreign
currency exchange rates.
Holder means a Person in whose name a
note is registered.
Incur means, with respect to any
Indebtedness, to incur, create, issue, assume, Guarantee or
otherwise become directly or indirectly liable for or with
respect to, or become responsible for, the payment of,
contingently or otherwise, such Indebtedness (and
Incurrence and Incurred will have
meanings correlative to the foregoing); provided that
(1) any Indebtedness of a Person existing at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent or a
Designated Entity will be deemed to be Incurred by such
Restricted Subsidiary or such Designated Entity at the time it
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent or a Designated
Entity and (2) neither the accrual of interest nor the
accretion of original issue discount nor the payment of interest
in the form of additional Indebtedness with the same terms and
the payment of dividends on Disqualified Stock or Preferred
Stock in the form of additional shares of the same class of
Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock (to the extent provided
for when the Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or Preferred
Stock on which such interest or dividend is paid was originally
issued) will be considered an Incurrence of Indebtedness;
provided that in each case the amount thereof is for all
other purposes included in the Fixed Charges and Indebtedness of
the Parent, its Restricted Subsidiaries or its Designated
Entities as accrued.
Indebtedness means, with respect to
any specified Person, any indebtedness of such Person, whether
or not contingent:
(1) in respect of borrowed money;
(2) evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar
instruments or letters of credit (or reimbursement agreements in
respect thereof);
(3) in respect of bankers acceptances;
(4) in respect of Capital Lease Obligations and
Attributable Debt;
(5) in respect of the balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any property or services, except any such
balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable;
(6) representing Hedging Obligations;
(7) representing Disqualified Stock valued at the greater
of its voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price
plus accrued dividends; or
(8) in the case of a Subsidiary of such Person,
representing Preferred Stock valued at the greater of its
voluntary or involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus
accrued dividends.
In addition, the term Indebtedness includes
(x) all Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on any
asset of the specified Person (whether or not such Indebtedness
is assumed by the specified Person), provided that the
amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (A) the
Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination
and (B) the amount of such Indebtedness, and (y) to
the extent not otherwise included, the Guarantee by the
specified Person of any Indebtedness of any other Person. For
purposes hereof, the maximum fixed repurchase price
of any Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock which does not have
a fixed repurchase price will be calculated in accordance with
the terms of such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock, as
applicable, as if such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock
were repurchased on any date on which Indebtedness will be
required to be determined pursuant to the Indenture.
The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date will
be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional
obligations as described above and, with respect to contingent
obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the
contingency giving rise to the obligation, and will be:
(1) the accreted value thereof, in the case of any
Indebtedness issued with original issue discount; and
(2) the principal amount thereof, together with any
interest thereon that is more than 30 days past due, in the
case of any other Indebtedness.
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Initial Guarantors means Parent and
all of the Restricted Subsidiaries of the Parent existing on the
Issue Date, other than inactive Subsidiaries.
Initial Purchasers means (a) for
the existing notes, Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Goldman,
Sachs & Co., Banc of America Securities LLC, Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc. and Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and (b) for the old notes, Citigroup Global
Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc.
Investments means, with respect to any
Person, all direct or indirect investments by such Person in
other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans or
other extensions of credit (including Guarantees), advances,
capital contributions (by means of any transfer of cash or other
property to others or any payment for property or services for
the account or use of others), purchases or other acquisitions
for consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other
securities, together with all items that are or would be
classified as investments on a balance sheet prepared in
accordance with GAAP.
If the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent sells
or otherwise disposes of any Equity Interests of any direct or
indirect Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent such that, after
giving effect to any such sale or disposition, such Person is no
longer a Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, the Parent will be
deemed to have made an Investment on the date of any such sale
or disposition equal to the Fair Market Value of the Investment
in such Subsidiary not sold or disposed of. The acquisition by
the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent of a
Person that holds an Investment in a third Person will be deemed
to be an Investment by the Parent or such Restricted Subsidiary
in such third Person in an amount equal to the Fair Market Value
of the Investment held by the acquired Person in such third
Person.
Issue Date means the date of original
issuance of the notes under the Indenture. The original notes
were issued on October 23, 2006.
Legal Holiday means a Saturday, a
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New
York or at a place of payment are authorized or required by law,
regulation or executive order to remain closed.
Lien means, with respect to any asset,
any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or
encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not
filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law,
including any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other
agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing
of or agreement to give any financing statement under the
Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any
jurisdiction.
Moodys means Moodys
Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
Net Income means, with respect to any
specified Person, the net income (loss) of such Person,
determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in
respect of Preferred Stock dividends, excluding, however:
(1) any gain or loss, together with any related provision
for taxes on such gain or loss, realized in connection with:
(a) any sale of assets outside the ordinary course of
business of such Person; or (b) the disposition of any
securities by such Person, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or
any of its Designated Entities or the extinguishment of any
Indebtedness of such Person, any of its Restricted Subsidiaries
or any of its Designated Entities; and
(2) any extraordinary gain or loss, together with any
related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain or loss.
Net Proceeds means the aggregate cash
proceeds, including payments in respect of deferred payment
obligations (to the extent corresponding to the principal, but
not the interest component, thereof) received by the Parent or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale
(including, without limitation, any cash received upon the sale
or other disposition of any non-cash consideration received in
any Asset Sale), net of (1) the direct costs relating to
such Asset Sale, including, without limitation, legal,
accounting, investment banking and brokerage fees, and sales
commissions, and any relocation expenses incurred as a result
thereof, (2) taxes paid or payable as a result thereof, in
each case, after taking into account any available tax credits
or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements, (3) amounts
required to be applied to the repayment of Indebtedness or other
liabilities secured by a Lien on the asset or assets that were
the subject of such Asset Sale or required to be paid as a
result of
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such sale, (4) any reserve for adjustment in respect of the
sale price of such asset or assets established in accordance
with GAAP, (5) in the case of any Asset Sale by a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent, payments to holders of
Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary in such capacity
(other than such Equity Interests held by the Parent or any
Restricted Subsidiary thereof) to the extent that such payment
is required to permit the distribution of such proceeds in
respect of the Equity Interests in such Restricted Subsidiary
held by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary thereof and
(6) appropriate amounts to be provided by the Parent or its
Restricted Subsidiaries as a reserve against liabilities
associated with such Asset Sale, including, without limitation,
pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities,
liabilities related to environmental matters and liabilities
under any indemnification obligations associated with such Asset
Sale, all as determined in accordance with GAAP; provided
that (a) excess amounts set aside for payment of taxes
pursuant to clause (2) above remaining after such taxes
have been paid in full or the statute of limitations therefor
has expired and (b) amounts initially held in reserve
pursuant to clause (6) no longer so held, will, in the case
of each of subclause (a) and (b), at that time become Net
Proceeds.
Note Guarantee means a Guarantee of
the notes pursuant to the Indenture.
Obligations means any principal,
interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements,
damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation
governing any Indebtedness.
Officer means, with respect to any
Person, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer,
the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial
Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller,
the Secretary or any Vice-President of such Person.
Officers Certificate means a
certificate signed on behalf of the Company or the Parent, as
the case may be, by at least two Officers of the Company, one of
whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal
financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting
officer of the Company or the Parent as the case may be, that
meets the requirements of the Indenture.
Opinion of Counsel means an opinion
from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee
(who may be counsel to or an employee of the Parent or the
Company) that meets the requirements of the Indenture.
Permitted Business means any business
conducted or proposed to be conducted (as described in the
prospectus) by the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the
Issue Date, (including, without limitation, the delivery or
distribution of wireless telecommunications services (including
voice, data or video services) and the acquisition, holding or
exploitation of any license relating to the delivery of such
wireless telecommunications services) and other businesses
related, ancillary or complementary thereto.
Permitted Investments means:
(1) any Investment in the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary
of the Parent;
(2) any Investment in Cash Equivalents;
(3) any Investment by the Parent or any Restricted
Subsidiary of the Parent in a Person, if as a result of such
Investment:
(a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Parent; or
(b) such Person is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with
or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets
to, or is liquidated into, the Parent or a Restricted Subsidiary
of the Parent;
provided that such Persons primary business is a
Permitted Business;
(4) any Investment made as a result of the receipt of
non-cash consideration from an Asset Sale that was made pursuant
to and in compliance with the covenant described above under the
caption Repurchase at the Option of
Holders Asset Sales;
(5) Hedging Obligations that are Incurred for the purpose
of fixing, hedging or swapping interest rate, commodity price or
foreign currency exchange rate risk (or to reverse or amend any
such agreements previously made for such purposes), and not for
speculative purposes, and that do not increase the Indebtedness
173
of the obligor outstanding at any time other than as a result of
fluctuations in interest rates, commodity prices or foreign
currency exchange rates or by reason of fees, indemnities and
compensation payable thereunder;
(6) stock, obligations or securities received in
satisfaction of judgments;
(7) advances to customers or suppliers in the ordinary
course of business that are, in conformity with GAAP, recorded
as accounts receivable, prepaid expenses or deposits on the
balance sheet of the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries and
endorsements for collection or deposit arising in the ordinary
course of business;
(8) commission, payroll, travel and similar advances to
officers and employees of the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries that are expected at the time of such advance
ultimately to be recorded as an expense in conformity with GAAP;
(9) loans and advances to employees, officers or directors
of the Parent or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries made in the
ordinary course of business, provided that such loans and
advances do not exceed $5 million at any one time
outstanding;
(10) Investments in any Existing Designated Entity pursuant
to agreements in existence on the Issue Date or to the extent
permitted under the Credit Agreement in effect on the Issue Date;
(11) Investments existing on the Issue Date; and
(12) other Investments in any Person primarily engaged in a
Permitted Business (provided that any such Person is not an
Affiliate of the Parent or is an Affiliate of the Parent solely
because the Parent, directly or indirectly, owns Equity
Interests in, or controls, such Person) having an aggregate Fair
Market Value (measured on the date each such Investment was made
and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value), when
taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this
clause (12) since the Issue Date, not to exceed 10% of
total assets of the Parent (determined as of the end of the most
recent fiscal quarter of the Parent for which internal financial
statements of the Parent are available).
Permitted Liens means:
(1) Liens on the assets of the Parent and any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries securing Indebtedness in an aggregate
amount not to exceed the greater of (x) $1,500 million
and (y) an amount equal to the Secured Debt Cap on the date
on which such Lien is to be incurred;
(2) Liens in favor of the Parent or any Subsidiary
Guarantor;
(3) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such
Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged with or into
or consolidated with the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Parent; provided that such Liens were in existence prior to
the contemplation of such merger or consolidation or other event
resulting in such Person becoming a Restricted Subsidiary and do
not extend to any assets other than those of the Person that
becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into or
consolidated with the Parent or the Restricted Subsidiary;
(4) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition
thereof by the Parent or any Restricted Subsidiary of the
Parent, provided that such Liens were in existence prior to the
contemplation of such acquisition and do not extend to any
property other than the property so acquired by the Parent or
the Restricted Subsidiary;
(5) Liens securing the notes and the Note Guarantees;
(6) Liens existing on the Issue Date (other than any Liens
securing Indebtedness Incurred under the Credit Agreement) and
any renewals or extension thereof, provided that property or
assets covered thereby is not expanded in connection with such
renewal or extension;
(7) Liens securing Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness;
provided that such Liens do not extend to any property or assets
other than the property or assets that secure the Indebtedness
being refinanced;
(8) Liens on property or assets used to defease or to
satisfy and discharge Indebtedness; provided that (a) the
Incurrence of such Indebtedness was not prohibited by the
Indenture and (b) such defeasance or satisfaction and
discharge is not prohibited by the Indenture;
174
(9) Liens securing obligations that do not exceed
$25 million at any one time outstanding;
(10) Liens to secure Indebtedness (including Capital Lease
Obligations) permitted by clause (4) of the second
paragraph of the covenant described under the caption
Certain Covenants Incurrence of
Indebtedness; provided that any such Lien (a) covers
only the assets acquired, constructed or improved with such
Indebtedness and (b) is created within 180 days of
such acquisition, construction or improvement;
(11) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course
of business in connection with workers compensation,
unemployment insurance or other social security obligations;
(12) Liens, deposits (including deposits with the FCC) or
pledges to secure the performance of bids, tenders, contracts
(other than contracts for the payment of Indebtedness), leases,
or other similar obligations arising in the ordinary course of
business;
(13) survey exceptions, encumbrances, easements or
reservations of, or rights of other for, rights of way, zoning
or other restrictions as to the use of properties, and defects
in title which, in the case of any of the foregoing, were not
incurred or created to secure the payment of Indebtedness, and
which in the aggregate do no materially adversely affect the
value of such properties or materially impair the use for the
purposes of which such properties are held by the Parent or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(14) judgment and attachment Liens not giving rise to an
Event of Default and notices of lis pendens and associated
rights related to litigation being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves have
been made;
(15) Liens, deposits or pledges to secure public or
statutory obligations, surety, stay, appeal, indemnity,
performance or other similar bonds or obligations; and Liens,
deposits or pledges in lieu of such bonds or obligations, or to
secure such bonds or obligations, or to secure letters of credit
in lieu of or supporting the payment of such bonds or
obligations;
(16) Liens in favor of collecting or payor banks having a
right of setoff, revocation, refund or chargeback with respect
to money or instruments of the Parent or any Subsidiary thereof
on deposit with or in possession of such bank;
(17) any interest or title of a lessor, licensor or
sublicensor in the property subject to any lease, license or
sublicense (other than any property that is the subject of a
Sale and Leaseback Transaction);
(18) Liens for taxes, assessments and governmental charges
not yet delinquent or being contested in good faith and for
which adequate reserves have been established to the extent
required by GAAP;
(19) Liens arising from precautionary UCC financing
statements regarding operating leases or consignments;
(20) Liens in favor of customs and revenue authorities
arising as a matter of law to secure payment of customs duties
in connection with the importation of goods;
(21) Liens on cash collateral not in excess of
$15 million in the aggregate at any time securing letters
of credit; and
(22) carriers, warehousemens, mechanics,
landlords materialmens, repairmens or other
like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in respect
of obligations not overdue for a period in excess of
60 days or which are being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings promptly instituted and diligently
prosecuted; provided, however, that any reserve or other
appropriate provision as will be required to conform with GAAP
will have been made for that reserve or provision.
175
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
means any Indebtedness of the Parent or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries issued in exchange for, or the net
proceeds of which are used to extend, refinance, renew,
replace, defease or refund other Indebtedness of the Parent or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (other than intercompany
Indebtedness); provided that:
(1) the amount of such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
does not exceed the amount of the Indebtedness so extended,
refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded (plus all
accrued and unpaid interest thereon and the amount of any
reasonably determined premium necessary to accomplish such
refinancing and such reasonable expenses incurred in connection
therewith);
(2) such Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness has a final
maturity date later than the final maturity date of, and has a
Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or greater than the
Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded;
(3) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is subordinated in right
of payment to the notes or the Note Guarantees, such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness has a final maturity date later than
the final maturity date of the notes and is subordinated in
right of payment to the notes or the Note Guarantees, as
applicable, on terms at least as favorable, taken as a whole, to
the Holders of notes as those contained in the documentation
governing the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed,
replaced, defeased or refunded;
(4) if the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced,
renewed, replaced, defeased or refunded is pari passu in right
of payment with the notes or any Note Guarantees, such Permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness is pari passu with, or subordinated in
right of payment to, the notes or such Note Guarantees; and
(5) such Indebtedness is Incurred by either (a) the
Restricted Subsidiary that is the obligor on the Indebtedness
being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced, defeased or
refunded or (b) the Parent or the Company.
Person means any individual,
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association,
joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited
liability company or government or other entity.
Preferred Stock means, with respect to
any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person that has
preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person
with respect to dividends or redemptions upon liquidation.
Reference Period means, with respect
to any specified Transaction Date, the period beginning on the
first day of the Four Quarter Period and ending on such
Transaction Date.
Registration Rights Agreement means
(1) with respect to the notes issued on the Issue Date, the
Registration Rights Agreement, to be dated the Issue Date, among
the Company, the Initial Guarantors and the Initial Purchasers
and (2) with respect to any additional notes, any
registration rights agreement the Company, the Guarantors and
the other parties thereto relating to the registration by the
Company and the Guarantors of such additional notes under the
Securities Act. The old notes constitute additional notes under
the Indenture.
Replacement Assets means
(1) capital expenditures or other non-current assets that
will be used or useful in a Permitted Business or
(2) substantially all the assets of a Permitted Business or
Voting Stock of any Person engaged in a Permitted Business that,
when taken together with all other Voting Stock of such Person
owned by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries,
constitutes a majority of the Voting Stock of such Person and
such Person will become on the date of acquisition thereof a
Restricted Subsidiary.
Restricted Investment means an
Investment other than a Permitted Investment.
Restricted Subsidiary of a Person
means any Subsidiary of such Person that is not an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.
S&P means Standard &
Poors, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, and its
successors.
176
Sale and Leaseback Transaction means,
with respect to any Person, any transaction involving any of the
assets or properties of such Person, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, whereby such Person sells or otherwise
transfers such assets or properties and then or thereafter
leases such assets or properties or any part thereof or any
other assets or properties which such Person intends to use for
substantially the same purpose or purposes as the assets or
properties sold or transferred.
Secured Debt Cap means, on any
Transaction Date, an amount equal to the aggregate amount of the
Consolidated Cash Flow of the Parent, its Restricted
Subsidiaries and its Designated Entities for the Four Quarter
Period times 4.0 for any Transaction Date on or prior to
June 30, 2008 and 3.5 thereafter. For purposes of making
the computation referred to above, (1) pro forma effect
shall be given to Asset Dispositions and Asset Acquisitions
(including giving pro forma effect to the application of
proceeds of any Asset Disposition) that occur during the
Reference Period as if they had occurred and such proceeds had
been applied on the first day of such Reference Period and
(2) pro forma effect shall be given to asset dispositions
and asset acquisitions (including giving pro forma effect to the
application of proceeds of any asset disposition) that have been
made by any Person that has become a Restricted Subsidiary or a
Designated Entity or has been merged with or into the Parent,
any Restricted Subsidiary or any Designated Entity during such
Reference Period and that would have constituted Asset
Dispositions or Asset Acquisitions had such transactions
occurred when such Person was a Restricted Subsidiary or a
Designated Entity, as the case may be, as if such asset
dispositions or asset acquisitions were Asset Dispositions or
Asset Acquisitions that occurred on the first day of such
Reference Period. To the extent that pro forma effect is given
to an Asset Acquisition or Asset Disposition, such pro forma
calculation shall be based upon the four full fiscal quarters
immediately preceding the Transaction Date of the Person, or
division, operating unit or line of business of the Person, that
is acquired or disposed of for which financial information is
available, and Consolidated Cash Flow will be calculated on a
pro forma basis in accordance with
Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act, but without giving effect to
clause (3) of the proviso set forth in the definition of
Consolidated Net Income.
Significant Subsidiary means any
Subsidiary that would constitute a significant
subsidiary within the meaning of Article 1 of
Regulation S-X
of the Securities Act.
Stated Maturity means, with respect to
any installment of interest or principal on any series of
Indebtedness, the date on which such payment of interest or
principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation
governing such Indebtedness, and will not include any contingent
obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or
principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment
thereof.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any
specified Person:
(1) any corporation, association or other business entity
of which more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting
Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and
(2) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or
the managing general partner of which is such Person or a
Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners
of which are such Person or one or more Subsidiaries of such
Person (or any combination thereof);
provided, however, that for avoidance of doubt, a
Designated Entity shall not be deemed to be a Subsidiary of the
Parent, the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so
long as the Parent and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not own
Voting Stock having the power (without regard to the occurrence
of any contingency) to elect more than 50% of the directors,
managers or trustees of such Designated Entity or become the
sole general partner or the managing general partner of such
Designated Entity.
Subsidiary Guarantor means any
Restricted Subsidiary of the Parent that guarantees the
Companys Obligations under the notes in accordance with
the terms of the Indenture, and its successors and assigns,
until released from its obligations under such Guarantee and the
Indenture in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
Transaction Date means, with respect
to the incurrence of any Indebtedness by the Parent or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries, the date such Indebtedness is to be
incurred, with respect to any Restricted Payment, the date such
Restricted Payment is to be made, and with respect to the
incurrence of any Lien by the Parent or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries, the date such Lien is to be incurred.
177
Treasury Rate means the yield to
maturity at the time of computation of United States Treasury
securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published
in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release
H.15 (519) which has become publicly available at
least two Business Days prior to the date fixed for prepayment
(or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any
publicly available source for similar market data)) most nearly
equal to the then remaining term of the notes to
November 1, 2010; provided, however, that if
the then remaining term of the notes to November 1, 2010 is
not equal to the constant maturity of a United States Treasury
security for which a weekly average yield is given, the Treasury
Rate will be obtained by linear interpolation (calculated to the
nearest one-twelfth of a year) from the weekly average yields of
United States Treasury securities for which such yields are
given, except that if the then remaining term of the notes to
November 1, 2010 is less than one year, the weekly average
yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities
adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
Unrestricted Subsidiary means any
Subsidiary of the Parent (other than the Company) that is
designated by the Board of Directors of the Parent as an
Unrestricted Subsidiary pursuant to a Board Resolution in
compliance with the covenant described under the caption
Certain Covenants Designation of
Restricted and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and any
Subsidiary of such Subsidiary.
Voting Stock of any Person as of any
date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is ordinarily
entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of
such Person.
Weighted Average Life to Maturity
means, when applied to any Indebtedness at any date, the
number of years obtained by dividing:
(1) the sum of the products obtained by multiplying
(a) the amount of each then remaining installment, sinking
fund, serial maturity or other required payments of principal,
including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by
(b) the number of years (calculated to the nearest
one-twelfth) that will elapse between such date and the making
of such payment; by
(2) the then outstanding principal amount of such
Indebtedness.
178
DESCRIPTION
OF OLD NOTES
The terms of the old notes are identical in all material
respects to those of the new notes, except that (1) the old
notes have not been registered under the Securities Act, are
subject to certain restrictions on transfer and are entitled to
certain rights under the registration rights agreement (which
rights will terminate upon consummation of the exchange offer,
except under limited circumstances); and (2) after payment
of the unpaid additional interest that has accrued on the old
notes, the new notes will not provide for any additional
interest as a result of our failure to fulfill certain
registration obligations. The old notes provide that, in the
event that the registration statement in which this prospectus
is included was not filed with the SEC on or before
November 2, 2007 or is not declared effective by the SEC on
or before March 2, 2008, or the exchange offer is not
consummated within 30 business days after the effectiveness of
such registration statement, or, in certain limited
circumstances, in the event that a shelf registration statement
with respect to the resale of the old notes is not filed within
30 days from the date on which the obligation to file such
shelf registration statement arises or is not declared effective
within 75 days after such filing (or by March 2, 2008,
if later), then we will pay additional interest to each holder
of old notes, with respect to the first
90-day
period immediately following the occurrence of such event in an
amount equal to one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum (in
addition to the interest rate on the old notes) on the principal
amount of old notes held by such holder. In addition, the amount
of the additional interest will increase by an additional
one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum on the principal
amount of old notes with respect to each subsequent
90-day
period until such failure has been cured, up to a maximum amount
of additional interest of 1.5% per annum. After payment of the
unpaid additional interest that has accrued on the old notes,
the new notes will not be entitled to any such additional
interest. Accordingly, holders of old notes should review the
information set forth under Risk Factors and
Description of New Notes.
179
CERTAIN
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary describes the material U.S. federal
income tax consequences of the exchange of old notes for the new
notes pursuant to this exchange offer. This summary does not
discuss all of the aspects of U.S. federal income taxation
which may be relevant to investors in light of their particular
circumstances. In addition, this summary does not discuss any
state or local income or foreign income or other tax
consequences. This summary is based upon the provisions of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
Code), Treasury Regulations, rulings and judicial
decisions, all as in effect as of the date of this prospectus
and all of which are subject to change or differing
interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. We have not
requested, and do not plan to request, any rulings from the
Internal Revenue Service concerning the tax consequences of the
exchange of the old notes for the new notes or the ownership or
disposition of the new notes. The statements set forth below are
not binding on the Internal Revenue Service or on any court.
Thus, we can provide no assurance that the statements set forth
below will not be challenged by the Internal Revenue Service, or
that they would be sustained by a court if they were so
challenged.
This summary only applies to you if you exchange your old notes
for new notes in the exchange offer. This summary also does not
discuss the effect of any applicable state and local or
non-U.S. tax
laws or any tax laws other than U.S. federal income tax
law. This summary deals only with the new notes held as capital
assets within the meaning of the Code, and it does not discuss
every aspect of U.S. federal income taxation that may be
relevant to you in light of your personal circumstances or
address holders of the new notes that may be subject to special
rules. Holders that may be subject to special rules include:
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some U.S. expatriates;
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banks, thrifts or other financial institutions;
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regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts;
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insurance companies;
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tax-exempt entities;
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S Corporations;
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broker-dealers or dealers in securities or currencies;
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traders in securities;
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holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar;
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persons that hold the notes as part of a straddle, hedge,
conversion or other risk reduction or constructive sale
transaction; and
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persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the
Code.
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If a partnership or other entity taxable as a partnership holds
the new notes, the tax treatment of a partner in the partnership
will generally depend on the status of the partner and the
activities of the partnership. Such partner should consult its
tax advisor as to the tax consequences of the partnership owning
and disposing of the notes.
YOU ARE URGED TO CONSULT YOUR TAX ADVISOR WITH RESPECT TO THE
APPLICATION OF THE U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX LAWS TO YOUR
PARTICULAR SITUATION AS WELL AS ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING
UNDER THE FEDERAL ESTATE OR GIFT TAX RULES OR UNDER THE
LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION
OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY IN CONNECTION WITH THE
EXCHANGE OF OLD NOTES FOR NEW NOTES.
The
Exchange
The exchange of the old notes for the new notes in the exchange
offer will not be treated as an exchange for federal
income tax purposes, because the new notes will not be
considered to differ materially in kind or extent from the old
notes. Accordingly, the exchange of old notes for new notes will
not be a taxable event to holders for federal income tax
purposes. Moreover, the new notes will have the same tax
attributes as the old notes and the same tax consequences to
holders as the old notes have to holders, including without
limitation, the same issue price, adjusted issue price, adjusted
tax basis and holding period.
180
PLAN OF
DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account
in connection with the exchange offer must acknowledge that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such
new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented
from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes
where such notes were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that,
beginning on the date of consummate of the exchange offer and
ending on the close of business one year after the consummation
of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus, as amended
or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. In addition, all dealers
effecting transactions in the new notes may be required to
deliver a prospectus during the time periods prescribed by
applicable securities laws.
We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of new notes
in the exchange offer or from any sale of new notes by
broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their
own accounts pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from
time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter
market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of
options on the new notes or a combination of such methods of
resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at
prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to
or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in
the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer
and/or the
purchasers of any such new notes. Any broker-dealer that resells
new notes that were received by it for its own account pursuant
to the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates
in a distribution of such new notes may be deemed to be an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities
Act, and any profit on any such resale of new notes and any
commissions or concessions received by any such persons may be
deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.
The letter of transmittal states that by acknowledging that it
will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer
will not be deemed to admit that it is an
underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act.
For a period of one year after the consummation of the exchange
offer, we will promptly send a reasonable number of additional
copies of the prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this
prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such document in
the letter of transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses
incident to the exchange offer (including the expenses of one
counsel for the holder of the notes) other than commissions or
concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the
holders of the new notes, including any broker-dealers, against
certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act.
LEGAL
MATTERS
The validity of the new notes and guarantees offered hereby has
been and, with respect to Hargray Wireless, will be passed upon
for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, San Diego,
California.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Leap as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006 and for each of the three years
in the period ended December 31, 2007 and managements
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting (which is included in Managements
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) as of
December 31, 2007 included in this prospectus have been so
included in reliance on the report (which contains an adverse
opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial
reporting) of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent
registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of
said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
181
LIMITATION
ON LIABILITY AND DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON
INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that we will
indemnify our directors and officers, and may indemnify our
employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by
the Delaware General Corporation Law. Insofar as indemnification
for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been
advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.
182
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
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Page
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Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31,
2007 and 2006 and for the Years Ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005:
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
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F-2
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Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2007 and 2006
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F-3
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Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
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F-4
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Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
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F-5
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Consolidated Statements of Stockholders Equity for the
years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005
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F-6
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Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
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F-7
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Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements as of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007 and for the Three
Months Ended March 31, 2008 and 2007:
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Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at March 31, 2008
(unaudited) and December 31, 2007
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F-45
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)
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F-46
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Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three
months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 (unaudited)
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F-47
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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
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F-48
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F-1
REPORT OF
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board
of Directors and Stockholders of Leap Wireless International,
Inc.:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and
the related consolidated statements of operations, of cash flows
and of stockholders equity (deficit) present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Leap Wireless
International, Inc. and its subsidiaries at December 31,
2007 and December 31, 2006, and the results of their
operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2007 in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of
America. Also in our opinion, the Company did not maintain, in
all material respects, effective internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria
established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework
issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the
Treadway Commission (COSO) because a material weakness in
internal control over financial reporting related to the
existence, completeness and accuracy of revenues, cost of
revenues and deferred revenues existed as of that date. A
material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of
deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such
that there is a reasonable possibility that a material
misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will
not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The material
weakness referred to above is described in the accompanying
Managements Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting. We considered this material weakness in determining
the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our
audit of the December 31, 2007 consolidated financial
statements, and our opinion regarding the effectiveness of the
Companys internal control over financial reporting does
not affect our opinion on those consolidated financial
statements. The Companys management is responsible for
these financial statements, for maintaining effective internal
control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
included in managements report referred to above. Our
responsibility is to express opinions on these financial
statements and on the Companys internal control over
financial reporting based on our integrated audits. We conducted
our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public
Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those
standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are
free of material misstatement and whether effective internal
control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audits of the financial statements included
examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and
disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the
accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, and evaluating the overall financial statement
presentation. Our audit of internal control over financial
reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal
control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a
material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design
and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the
assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other
procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We
believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our
opinions.
As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial
statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts
for uncertain tax positions in 2007. As discussed in Note 2
and Note 9 to the consolidated financial statements, the
Company changed the manner in which it accounts for share-based
compensation in 2006. As discussed in Note 9 to the
consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the
manner in which it accounts for site rental costs incurred
during the construction period in 2006.
A companys internal control over financial reporting is a
process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. A companys
internal control over financial reporting includes those
policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance
of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the
company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the
company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of
management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide
reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of
unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the
companys assets that could have a material effect on the
financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over
financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements.
Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future
periods are subject to the risk that controls may become
inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree
of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
San Diego, California
February 28, 2008
F-2
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(In thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
|
$
|
372,812
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
179,233
|
|
|
|
66,400
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
|
|
|
15,550
|
|
|
|
13,581
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
65,208
|
|
|
|
90,185
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
38,099
|
|
|
|
52,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
731,427
|
|
|
|
595,959
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
1,316,657
|
|
|
|
1,078,521
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
1,866,353
|
|
|
|
1,563,958
|
|
Assets held for sale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,070
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
|
|
46,102
|
|
|
|
79,828
|
|
Deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
274,084
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
46,677
|
|
|
|
58,745
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
$
|
4,084,947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
225,735
|
|
|
$
|
317,093
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
114,808
|
|
|
|
84,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
351,043
|
|
|
|
410,768
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
2,033,902
|
|
|
|
1,676,500
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
182,835
|
|
|
|
148,335
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
90,172
|
|
|
|
47,608
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
2,657,952
|
|
|
|
2,283,211
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
50,724
|
|
|
|
29,943
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 13)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock authorized 10,000,000 shares,
$.0001 par value; no shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock authorized 160,000,000 shares,
$.0001 par value;
68,674,435 and 67,892,512 shares issued and outstanding at
December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,808,689
|
|
|
|
1,769,772
|
|
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit)
|
|
|
(75,699
|
)
|
|
|
228
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
|
|
|
(8,675
|
)
|
|
|
1,786
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
1,771,793
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
$
|
4,084,947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-3
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
1,395,667
|
|
|
$
|
956,365
|
|
|
$
|
768,916
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
235,136
|
|
|
|
210,822
|
|
|
|
188,855
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
1,630,803
|
|
|
|
1,167,187
|
|
|
|
957,771
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
(384,128
|
)
|
|
|
(264,162
|
)
|
|
|
(203,548
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
(405,997
|
)
|
|
|
(310,834
|
)
|
|
|
(230,520
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(206,213
|
)
|
|
|
(159,257
|
)
|
|
|
(100,042
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(271,536
|
)
|
|
|
(196,604
|
)
|
|
|
(159,741
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(302,201
|
)
|
|
|
(226,747
|
)
|
|
|
(195,462
|
)
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
(1,368
|
)
|
|
|
(7,912
|
)
|
|
|
(12,043
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(1,571,443
|
)
|
|
|
(1,165,516
|
)
|
|
|
(901,356
|
)
|
Gain on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
902
|
|
|
|
22,054
|
|
|
|
14,587
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income
|
|
|
60,262
|
|
|
|
23,725
|
|
|
|
71,002
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
1,817
|
|
|
|
1,493
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
28,939
|
|
|
|
23,063
|
|
|
|
9,957
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(121,231
|
)
|
|
|
(61,334
|
)
|
|
|
(30,051
|
)
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
(6,039
|
)
|
|
|
(2,650
|
)
|
|
|
1,423
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(38,561
|
)
|
|
|
(15,703
|
)
|
|
|
52,300
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(37,366
|
)
|
|
|
(9,277
|
)
|
|
|
(21,615
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
|
(24,980
|
)
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
$
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.41
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(1.13
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.40
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in per share calculations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
60,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
61,003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-4
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
$
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided
by operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense
|
|
|
29,339
|
|
|
|
19,725
|
|
|
|
12,479
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
302,201
|
|
|
|
226,747
|
|
|
|
195,462
|
|
Accretion of asset retirement obligations
|
|
|
1,666
|
|
|
|
1,617
|
|
|
|
1,323
|
|
Non-cash interest items, net
|
|
|
(4,425
|
)
|
|
|
(266
|
)
|
|
|
(620
|
)
|
Loss on extinguishment of debt
|
|
|
669
|
|
|
|
6,897
|
|
|
|
1,219
|
|
Deferred income tax expense
|
|
|
36,084
|
|
|
|
8,831
|
|
|
|
21,552
|
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
1,368
|
|
|
|
7,912
|
|
|
|
12,043
|
|
Impairment of short-term investments
|
|
|
5,440
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gain on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
(902
|
)
|
|
|
(22,054
|
)
|
|
|
(14,587
|
)
|
Gain on extinguishment of asset retirement obligations
|
|
|
(6,089
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minority interest activity
|
|
|
(1,817
|
)
|
|
|
(1,493
|
)
|
|
|
31
|
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
2,309
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(623
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in assets and liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
24,977
|
|
|
|
(52,898
|
)
|
|
|
(11,504
|
)
|
Other assets
|
|
|
31,164
|
|
|
|
(26,912
|
)
|
|
|
5,408
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
|
(53,310
|
)
|
|
|
95,502
|
|
|
|
57,514
|
|
Other liabilities
|
|
|
23,434
|
|
|
|
51,243
|
|
|
|
(2,725
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
|
316,181
|
|
|
|
289,871
|
|
|
|
308,280
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment
|
|
|
(504,770
|
)
|
|
|
(591,295
|
)
|
|
|
(208,808
|
)
|
Change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment
|
|
|
12,831
|
|
|
|
(3,846
|
)
|
|
|
(9,828
|
)
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses and spectrum
clearing costs
|
|
|
(5,292
|
)
|
|
|
(1,018,832
|
)
|
|
|
(243,960
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses and operating assets
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
|
|
40,372
|
|
|
|
108,800
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
(642,513
|
)
|
|
|
(150,488
|
)
|
|
|
(307,021
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
530,956
|
|
|
|
177,932
|
|
|
|
329,043
|
|
Purchase of minority interest
|
|
|
(4,706
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of membership units
|
|
|
(18,955
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments, net
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
|
(4,467
|
)
|
|
|
(338
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(622,728
|
)
|
|
|
(1,550,624
|
)
|
|
|
(332,112
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal payments on capital lease obligation
|
|
|
(5,213
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from long-term debt
|
|
|
370,480
|
|
|
|
2,260,000
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
|
(1,168,944
|
)
|
|
|
(418,285
|
)
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
(7,765
|
)
|
|
|
(22,864
|
)
|
|
|
(6,951
|
)
|
Minority interest contributions
|
|
|
8,880
|
|
|
|
12,402
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
1,119
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from physical settlement of forward equity sale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
260,036
|
|
|
|
|
|
Payment of fees related to forward equity sale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,257
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
367,072
|
|
|
|
1,340,492
|
|
|
|
175,764
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
60,525
|
|
|
|
79,739
|
|
|
|
151,932
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
372,812
|
|
|
|
293,073
|
|
|
|
141,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
|
$
|
372,812
|
|
|
$
|
293,073
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-5
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(In
thousands, except share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Retained
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Additional
|
|
|
Unearned
|
|
|
Earnings
|
|
|
Comprehensive
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common Stock
|
|
|
Paid-In
|
|
|
Share-Based
|
|
|
(Accumulated
|
|
|
Income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Amount
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Compensation
|
|
|
Deficit)
|
|
|
(Loss)
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
Successor Company balance at December 31, 2004
|
|
|
60,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
6
|
|
|
$
|
1,478,392
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(6,100
|
)
|
|
$
|
49
|
|
|
$
|
1,472,347
|
|
Components of comprehensive income:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
Net unrealized holding losses on investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(57
|
)
|
|
|
(57
|
)
|
Unrealized gains on derivative instruments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,146
|
|
|
|
2,146
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
32,774
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans,
net of repurchases
|
|
|
1,202,806
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,105
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7,105
|
|
Unearned share-based compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,317
|
|
|
|
(26,317
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Amortization of share-based compensation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
61,202,806
|
|
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
1,511,814
|
|
|
|
(20,942
|
)
|
|
|
24,585
|
|
|
|
2,138
|
|
|
|
1,517,601
|
|
Components of comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(24,357
|
)
|
Net unrealized holding gains on investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
4
|
|
Unrealized losses on derivative instruments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(356
|
)
|
|
|
(356
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(24,709
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(623
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(623
|
)
|
Reclassification of unearned share-based compensation related to
the adoption of SFAS 123(R)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,942
|
)
|
|
|
20,942
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of common stock under forward sale agreements
|
|
|
6,440,000
|
|
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
258,679
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
258,680
|
|
Share-based compensation expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,725
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,725
|
|
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans,
net of repurchases
|
|
|
249,706
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,119
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,119
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
67,892,512
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
1,769,772
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
228
|
|
|
|
1,786
|
|
|
|
1,771,793
|
|
Components of comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(75,927
|
)
|
Net unrealized holding losses on investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(70
|
)
|
|
|
(70
|
)
|
Unrealized losses on derivative instruments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(10,391
|
)
|
|
|
(10,391
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(86,388
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,227
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,227
|
|
Issuance of common stock under share-based compensation plans,
net of repurchases
|
|
|
781,923
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
68,674,435
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
1,808,689
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(75,699
|
)
|
|
$
|
(8,675
|
)
|
|
$
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
F-6
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Note 1. The
Company
Leap Wireless International, Inc. (Leap), a Delaware
corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is a wireless
communications carrier that offers digital wireless service in
the United States of America under the
Cricket®
brand. Cricket service offers customers unlimited wireless
service for a flat monthly rate without requiring a fixed-term
contract or credit check. Leap conducts operations through its
subsidiaries and has no independent operations or sources of
operating revenue other than through dividends, if any, from its
subsidiaries. Cricket service is offered by Cricket
Communications, Inc. (Cricket), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Leap, and is also offered in Oregon by LCW
Wireless Operations, LLC (LCW Operations), a wholly
owned subsidiary of LCW Wireless, LLC (LCW Wireless)
and a designated entity under Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) regulations. Cricket owns an indirect 73.3%
non-controlling interest in LCW Operations through a 73.3%
non-controlling interest in LCW Wireless. Cricket also owns an
82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali Spectrum, LLC
(Denali), which purchased a wireless license in the
FCCs auction for Advanced Wireless Service licenses
(Auction #66), covering the upper mid-west
portion of the United States, as a designated entity through its
wholly owned subsidiary, Denali Spectrum License, LLC
(Denali License). Leap, Cricket, and their
subsidiaries, including LCW Wireless and Denali, are
collectively referred to herein as the Company.
The Company operates in a single operating segment as a wireless
communications carrier that offers digital wireless service in
the United States of America.
|
|
Note 2.
|
Basis of
Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
|
Basis
of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Leap and its wholly owned subsidiaries as well as
the accounts of LCW Wireless and Denali and their wholly owned
subsidiaries. The Company consolidates its interests in LCW
Wireless and Denali in accordance with Financial Accounting
Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No.
(FIN) 46(R), Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities, because these entities are variable
interest entities and the Company will absorb a majority of
their expected losses. Prior to March 2007, the Company
consolidated its interests in Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC
(ANB 1) and its wholly owned subsidiary Alaska
Native Broadband 1 License, LLC (ANB 1 License)
in accordance with FIN 46(R). The Company acquired the
remaining interests in ANB 1 in March 2007 and merged
ANB 1 and ANB 1 License into Cricket in December 2007.
All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been
eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in conformity
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America (GAAP). These principles require
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the
reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities, and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses. By their nature, estimates are subject to
an inherent degree of uncertainty. Actual results could differ
from managements estimates.
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform
to the current year presentation.
Revenues
Crickets business revenues principally arise from the sale
of wireless services, handsets and accessories. Wireless
services are generally provided on a month-to-month basis. New
and reactivating customers are required to pay for their service
in advance, and generally, customers who activated their service
prior to May 2006 pay in arrears. The Company does not require
any of its customers to sign fixed-term service commitments or
submit to a credit check. These terms generally appeal to less
affluent customers who are considered more likely to terminate
service for inability to pay than wireless customers in general.
Consequently, the Company has concluded that collectibility of
its revenues is not reasonably assured until payment has been
received. Accordingly, service revenues are recognized only
after services have been rendered and payment has been received.
F-7
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
When the Company activates a new customer, it frequently sells
that customer a handset and the first month of service in a
bundled transaction. Under the provisions of Emerging Issues
Task Force (EITF) Issue
No. 00-21,
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables,
(EITF 00-21)
the sale of a handset along with a month of wireless service
constitutes a multiple element arrangement. Under
EITF 00-21,
once a company has determined the fair value of the elements in
the sales transaction, the total consideration received from the
customer must be allocated among those elements on a relative
fair value basis. Applying
EITF 00-21
to these transactions results in the Company recognizing the
total consideration received, less one month of wireless service
revenue (at the customers stated rate plan), as equipment
revenue.
Equipment revenues and related costs from the sale of handsets
are recognized when service is activated by customers. Revenues
and related costs from the sale of accessories are recognized at
the point of sale. The costs of handsets and accessories sold
are recorded in cost of equipment. In addition to handsets that
the Company sells directly to its customers at Cricket-owned
stores, the Company also sells handsets to third-party dealers.
These dealers then sell the handsets to the ultimate Cricket
customer, and that customer also receives the first month of
service in a bundled transaction (identical to the sale made at
a Cricket-owned store). Sales of handsets to third-party dealers
are recognized as equipment revenues only when service is
activated by customers, since the level of price reductions
ultimately available to such dealers is not reliably estimable
until the handsets are sold by such dealers to customers. Thus,
handsets sold to third-party dealers are recorded as consigned
inventory and deferred equipment revenue until they are sold to,
and service is activated by, customers.
Through a third-party provider, the Companys customers may
elect to participate in an extended handset warranty/insurance
program. The Company recognizes revenue on replacement handsets
sold to its customers under the program when the customer
purchases a replacement handset.
Sales incentives offered without charge to customers and
volume-based incentives paid to the Companys third-party
dealers are recognized as a reduction of revenue and as a
liability when the related service or equipment revenue is
recognized. Customers have limited rights to return handsets and
accessories based on time
and/or
usage; as a result, customer returns of handsets and accessories
have historically been negligible.
Amounts billed by the Company in advance of customers
wireless service periods are not reflected in accounts
receivable or deferred revenue as collectibility of such amounts
is not reasonably assured. Deferred revenue consists primarily
of cash received from customers in advance of their service
period and deferred equipment revenue related to handsets and
accessories sold to third-party dealers.
Costs and
Expenses
The Companys costs and expenses include:
Cost of Service. The major components of cost
of service are: charges from other communications companies for
long distance, roaming and content download services provided to
the Companys customers; charges from other communications
companies for their transport and termination of calls
originated by the Companys customers and destined for
customers of other networks; and expenses for tower and network
facility rent, engineering operations, field technicians and
related utility and maintenance charges, and salary and overhead
charges associated with these functions.
Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment primarily
includes the cost of handsets and accessories purchased from
third-party vendors and resold to the Companys customers
in connection with its services, as well as the lower of cost or
market write-downs associated with excess and damaged handsets
and accessories.
Selling and Marketing. Selling and marketing
expenses primarily include advertising expenses, promotional and
public relations costs associated with acquiring new customers,
store operating costs (such as retail associates salaries
and rent), and overhead charges associated with selling and
marketing functions.
F-8
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
General and Administrative. General and
administrative expenses primarily include call center and other
customer care program costs and salary, overhead and outside
consulting costs associated with the Companys customer
care, billing, information technology, finance, human resources,
accounting, legal and executive functions.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a
maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less to be
cash equivalents. The Company invests its cash with major
financial institutions in money market funds, short-term
U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of
U.S. government agencies and other securities such as
prime-rated short-term commercial paper and investment grade
corporate fixed-income securities. The Company has not
experienced any significant losses on its cash and cash
equivalents.
Short-Term
Investments
Short-term investments generally consist of highly liquid,
fixed-income investments with an original maturity at the time
of purchase of greater than three months. Such investments
consist of commercial paper, asset-backed commercial paper,
auction rate securities, obligations of the
U.S. government, and investment grade fixed-income
securities guaranteed by U.S. government agencies.
Investments are classified as available-for-sale and stated at
fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on
available-for-sale securities are reported as a component of
comprehensive income (loss). The specific identification method
is used to compute the realized gains and losses on investments.
Investments are periodically reviewed for impairment. If the
carrying value of an investment exceeds its fair value and the
decline in value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an
impairment loss is recognized for the difference.
Restricted
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
consist primarily of amounts that the Company has set aside to
satisfy remaining allowed administrative claims and allowed
priority claims against Leap and Cricket following their
emergence from bankruptcy and investments in money market
accounts or certificates of deposit that have been pledged to
secure operating obligations.
Inventories
Inventories consist of handsets and accessories not yet placed
into service and units designated for the replacement of damaged
customer handsets, and are stated at the lower of cost or market
using the
first-in,
first-out method.
Property
and Equipment
Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Additions
and improvements are capitalized, while expenditures that do not
enhance the asset or extend its useful life are charged to
operating expenses as incurred. Depreciation is applied using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets once the assets are placed in service.
F-9
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
The following table summarizes the depreciable lives for
property and equipment (in years):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciable
|
|
|
Life
|
|
Network equipment:
|
|
|
|
|
Switches
|
|
|
10
|
|
Switch power equipment
|
|
|
15
|
|
Cell site equipment, and site acquisitions and improvements
|
|
|
7
|
|
Towers
|
|
|
15
|
|
Antennae
|
|
|
3
|
|
Computer hardware and software
|
|
|
3-5
|
|
Furniture, fixtures, retail and office equipment
|
|
|
3-7
|
|
The Companys network construction expenditures are
recorded as
construction-in-progress
until the network or assets are placed in service, at which time
the assets are transferred to the appropriate property or
equipment category. The Company capitalizes salaries and related
costs of engineering and technical operations employees as
components of
construction-in-progress
during the construction period to the extent time and expense
are contributed to the construction effort. The Company also
capitalizes certain telecommunications and other related costs
as
construction-in-progress
during the construction period to the extent they are
incremental and directly related to the network under
construction. In addition, interest is capitalized on the
carrying values of both wireless licenses and equipment during
the construction period and is depreciated over an estimated
useful life of ten years. During the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company capitalized
interest of $45.6 million and $16.7 million,
respectively, to property and equipment.
Property and equipment to be disposed of by sale is not
depreciated and is carried at the lower of carrying value or
fair value less costs to sell. As of December 31, 2007 and
2006, there was no property or equipment classified as assets
held for sale.
Wireless
Licenses
The Company and LCW Wireless operate broadband PCS networks
under wireless licenses granted by the FCC that are specific to
a particular geographic area on spectrum that has been allocated
by the FCC for such services. In addition, through the
Companys and Denali Licenses participation in
Auction #66 in December 2006, it and Denali License
acquired a number of AWS licenses that can be used to provide
services comparable to the PCS services the Company currently
provides, in addition to other advanced wireless services.
Wireless licenses are initially recorded at cost and are not
amortized. Although FCC licenses are issued with a stated term,
ten years in the case of PCS licenses and fifteen years in the
case of AWS licenses, wireless licenses are considered to be
indefinite-lived intangible assets because the Company and LCW
Wireless expect to continue to provide wireless service using
the relevant licenses for the foreseeable future, PCS and AWS
licenses are routinely renewed for a nominal fee, and management
has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual,
competitive, economic, or other factors currently exist that
limit the useful life of the Companys or its consolidated
joint ventures PCS and AWS licenses. On a quarterly basis,
the Company evaluates the remaining useful life of its
indefinite lived wireless licenses to determine whether events
and circumstances, such as any legal, regulatory, contractual,
competitive, economic or other factors, continue to support an
indefinite useful life. If a wireless license is subsequently
determined to have a finite useful life, the Company tests the
wireless license for impairment in accordance with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142,
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,
(SFAS 142). The wireless license would then be
amortized prospectively over its estimated remaining useful
life. In addition to its quarterly evaluation of the indefinite
useful lives of its wireless licenses, the Company also tests
its wireless licenses for impairment in accordance with
SFAS 142 on an annual basis. As of December 31, 2007
and 2006, the carrying value of the Companys and its
consolidated joint ventures wireless licenses was
$1.9 billion and $1.6 billion,
F-10
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
respectively. Wireless licenses to be disposed of by sale are
carried at the lower of carrying value or fair value less costs
to sell. As of December 31, 2007 there were no wireless
licenses classified as assets held for sale. As of
December 31, 2006, wireless licenses with a carrying value
of $8.1 million were classified as assets held for sale.
The spectrum that the Company and Denali License purchased in
Auction #66 currently is used by U.S. federal
government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. The Companys and Denali
Licenses spectrum clearing costs are capitalized to
wireless licenses as incurred. During the year ended
December 31, 2007, the Company and Denali License incurred
approximately $3.0 million in spectrum clearing costs. No
such costs were incurred during 2006.
Goodwill
and Other Intangible Assets
Goodwill represents the excess of reorganization value over the
fair value of identified tangible and intangible assets recorded
in connection with fresh-start reporting as of July 31,
2004. Other intangible assets were recorded upon adoption of
fresh-start reporting and consist of customer relationships and
trademarks which are being amortized on a straight-line basis
over their estimated useful lives of four and 14 years,
respectively. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, there were no
other intangible assets classified as assets held for sale.
Impairment
of Long-Lived Assets
The Company assesses potential impairments to its long-lived
assets, including property and equipment and certain intangible
assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be
recoverable. An impairment loss may be required to be recognized
when the undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by a
long-lived asset (or group of such assets) is less than its
carrying value. Any required impairment loss would be measured
as the amount by which the assets carrying value exceeds
its fair value and would be recorded as a reduction in the
carrying value of the related asset and charged to results of
operations.
Impairment
of Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets
The Company assesses potential impairments to its
indefinite-lived intangible assets, including wireless licenses
and goodwill, on an annual basis or when there is evidence that
events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment
condition may exist. The annual impairment test is conducted
during the third quarter of each year.
The Companys wireless licenses in its operating markets
are combined into a single unit of accounting for purposes of
testing impairment because management believes that utilizing
these wireless licenses as a group represents the highest and
best use of the assets, and the value of the wireless licenses
would not be significantly impacted by a sale of one or a
portion of the wireless licenses, among other factors. The
Companys non-operating licenses are tested for impairment
on an individual basis. An impairment loss is recognized when
the fair value of a wireless license is less than its carrying
value and is measured as the amount by which the licenses
carrying value exceeds its fair value. Estimates of the fair
value of the Companys wireless licenses are based
primarily on available market prices, including successful bid
prices in FCC auctions and selling prices observed in wireless
license transactions and qualitative demographic and economic
information concerning the areas that comprise its markets. Any
required impairment losses are recorded as a reduction in the
carrying value of the wireless license and charged to results of
operations. As a result of the annual impairment test of
wireless licenses, the Company recorded impairment charges of
$1.0 million and $4.7 million during the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, to reduce the
carrying values of certain non-operating wireless licenses to
their estimated fair values. No impairment charges were recorded
for the Companys licenses in its operating markets as the
fair value of these licenses, as a group, exceeded the carrying
value.
F-11
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
The goodwill impairment test involves a two-step process. First,
the book value of the Companys net assets, which are
combined into a single reporting unit for purposes of the
impairment test of goodwill, is compared to the fair value of
the Companys net assets. If the fair value was determined
to be less than book value, a second step would be performed to
measure the amount of the impairment, if any. During September
2007, the Company completed the first step of the goodwill
impairment test and did not identify any indicia of impairment.
The accounting estimates for the Companys wireless
licenses and goodwill require management to make significant
assumptions about fair value. Managements assumptions
regarding fair value require significant judgment about economic
factors, industry factors and technology considerations, as well
as its views regarding the Companys business prospects.
Changes in these judgments may have a significant effect on the
estimated fair values.
Derivative
Instruments and Hedging Activities
From time to time, the Company hedges the cash flows of a
portion of its long-term debt using interest rate swaps. The
Company enters into these derivative contracts to manage its
exposure to interest rate changes by achieving a desired
proportion of fixed rate versus variable rate debt. In an
interest rate swap, the Company agrees to exchange the
difference between a variable interest rate and either a fixed
or another variable interest rate, multiplied by a notional
principal amount. The Company does not use derivative
instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.
The Company records all derivatives in other assets or other
liabilities on its consolidated balance sheet at their fair
values. If the derivative is designated as a cash flow hedge and
the hedging relationship qualifies for hedge accounting, the
effective portion of the change in fair value of the derivative
is recorded in other comprehensive income (loss) and
reclassified to interest expense when the hedged debt affects
interest expense. The ineffective portion of the change in fair
value of the derivative qualifying for hedge accounting and
changes in the fair values of derivative instruments not
qualifying for hedge accounting are recognized in interest
expense in the period of the change.
At inception of the hedge and quarterly thereafter, the Company
performs a quantitative and qualitative assessment to determine
whether changes in the fair values or cash flows of the
derivatives are deemed highly effective in offsetting changes in
the fair values or cash flows of the hedged items. If at any
time subsequent to the inception of the hedge, the correlation
assessment indicates that the derivative is no longer highly
effective as a hedge, the Company discontinues hedge accounting
and recognizes all subsequent derivative gains and losses in
results of operations.
Investments
in Other Entities
The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in
common stock of corporations in which it has a voting interest
of between 20% and 50% or in which the Company otherwise has the
ability to exercise significant influence, and in limited
liability companies that maintain specific ownership accounts in
which it has more than a minor but not greater than a 50%
ownership interest. Under the equity method, the investment is
originally recorded at cost and is adjusted to recognize the
Companys share of net earnings or losses of the investee.
During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Companys
share of its equity method investee losses was
$2.3 million. No such amounts were recorded during 2006 as
the Company did not have any equity method investments during
that year.
The Company regularly monitors and evaluates the realizable
value of its investments. When assessing an investment for an
other-than-temporary decline in value, the Company considers
such factors as, among other things, the performance of the
investee in relation to its business plan, the investees
revenue and cost trends, liquidity and cash position, market
acceptance of the investees products or services, any
significant news that has been released regarding the investee,
and the outlook for the overall industry in which the investee
operates. If
F-12
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
events and circumstances indicate that a decline in the value of
these assets has occurred and is other-than-temporary, the
Company records a reduction to the carrying value of its
investment and a corresponding charge to the consolidated
statements of operations.
Concentrations
The Company generally relies on one key vendor for billing
services and one key vendor for handset logistics. Loss or
disruption of these services could adversely affect the
Companys business.
The Company does not have a national network, and it must pay
fees to other carriers who provide the Company with roaming
services. Currently, the Company has roaming agreements with
several other carriers which allow its customers to roam on such
carriers networks. If it were unable to cost-effectively
provide roaming services to customers, the Companys
competitive position and business prospects could be adversely
affected.
Operating
Leases
Rent expense is recognized on a straight-line basis over the
initial lease term and those renewal periods that are reasonably
assured as determined at lease inception. The difference between
rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent and is
included in other long-term liabilities in the consolidated
balance sheets. Rent expense totaled $127.0 million,
$85.8 million and $59.3 million for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
Asset
Retirement Obligations
The Company recognizes an asset retirement obligation and an
associated asset retirement cost when it has a legal obligation
in connection with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets.
These obligations arise from certain of the Companys
leases and relate primarily to the cost of removing its
equipment from such lease sites and restoring the sites to their
original condition. When the liability is initially recorded,
the Company capitalizes the cost of the asset retirement
obligation by increasing the carrying amount of the related
long-lived asset. The liability is initially recorded at its
present value and is accreted to its then present value each
period, and the capitalized cost is depreciated over the useful
life of the related asset. Accretion expense is recorded in cost
of service in the consolidated statements of operations. Upon
settlement of the obligation, any difference between the cost to
retire the asset and the liability recorded is recognized in
operating expenses in the consolidated statements of operations.
The following table summarizes the Companys asset
retirement obligations as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligations, beginning of year
|
|
$
|
20,489
|
|
|
$
|
13,961
|
|
Liabilities incurred
|
|
|
1,602
|
|
|
|
5,174
|
|
Liabilities settled(1)
|
|
|
(7,944
|
)
|
|
|
(263
|
)
|
Accretion expense
|
|
|
1,666
|
|
|
|
1,617
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Asset retirement obligations, end of year
|
|
$
|
15,813
|
|
|
$
|
20,489
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
During 2007, the Company negotiated amendments to agreements
that reduced its liability for the removal of equipment on
certain of its cell sites at the end of the lease term,
resulting in a reduction to its liability of $7.9 million. |
F-13
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Debt
Issuance Costs
Debt issuance costs are amortized and recognized as interest
expense under the effective interest method over the expected
term of the related debt. Unamortized debt issuance costs
related to extinguished debt are expensed at the time the debt
is extinguished and recorded in other income (expense), net in
the consolidated statements of operations.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying values of certain of the Companys financial
instruments, including cash equivalents, short-term investments,
accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities,
approximate fair value due to their short-term maturities. The
fair value of Crickets term loans, based on quoted market
prices, was $859.9 million as of December 31, 2007.
The carrying values of LCW Operations term loans
approximate their fair values due to the floating rates of
interest on such loans. The fair value of the Companys
unsecured senior notes, based on quoted market prices, was
$1,034 million as of December 31, 2007.
Advertising
Costs
Advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising costs
totaled $63.9 million, $48.0 million and
$25.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2007,
2006 and 2005, respectively.
Share-Based
Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based awards exchanged for
employee services in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R),
Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)).
Under SFAS 123(R), share-based compensation expense is
measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of
the award, and is recognized as expense, net of estimated
forfeitures, over the employees requisite service period.
Prior to 2006, the Company recognized compensation expense for
employee share-based awards based on their intrinsic value on
the grant date pursuant to Accounting Principles Board Opinion
No. 25 (APB 25), Accounting for Stock
Issued to Employees, and provided the required pro forma
disclosures of SFAS No. 123, Accounting for
Stock-Based Compensation (SFAS 123).
The Company adopted SFAS 123(R) using the modified
prospective approach under SFAS 123(R) and, as a result,
has not retroactively adjusted results from prior periods. The
valuation provisions of SFAS 123(R) apply to new awards and
to awards that are outstanding on the effective date and
subsequently modified or cancelled. Compensation expense, net of
estimated forfeitures, for awards outstanding on the effective
date is recognized over the remaining service period using the
compensation cost calculated for pro forma disclosure purposes
in prior periods.
Income
Taxes
The Company calculates income taxes in each of the jurisdictions
in which it operates. This process involves calculating the
actual current tax expense and any deferred income tax expense
resulting from temporary differences arising from differing
treatments of items for tax and accounting purposes. These
temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and
liabilities. Deferred tax assets are also established for the
expected future tax benefits to be derived from net operating
loss carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards, and income tax
credits.
The Company must then periodically assess the likelihood that
its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable
income, which assessment requires significant judgment. To the
extent the Company believes it is more likely than not that its
deferred tax assets will not be recovered, it must establish a
valuation allowance. As part of this periodic assessment for the
year ended December 31, 2007, the Company weighed the
positive and negative factors with respect to this determination
and, at this time, except with respect to the realization of a
$2.5 million Texas Margins Tax (TMT) credit,
does not believe there is sufficient positive evidence and
sustained operating
F-14
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
earnings to support a conclusion that it is more likely than not
that all or a portion of its deferred tax assets will be
realized. The Company will continue to closely monitor the
positive and negative factors to determine whether its valuation
allowance should be released. Deferred tax liabilities
associated with wireless licenses, tax goodwill and investments
in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a source of
taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets
because these deferred tax liabilities will not reverse until
some indefinite future period.
At such time as the Company determines that it is more likely
than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets are
realizable, the valuation allowance will be reduced. Pursuant to
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Statement of Position
90-7,
Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under
the Bankruptcy Code
(SOP 90-7),
up to $218.5 million in future decreases in the valuation
allowance established in fresh-start reporting will be accounted
for as a reduction of goodwill rather than as a reduction of
income tax expense if the valuation allowance decrease occurs
prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 141 (revised
2007), Business Combinations
(SFAS 141(R)). Effective January 1, 2009,
SFAS 141(R) provides that any reduction in the valuation
allowance established in fresh-start reporting be accounted for
as a reduction to income tax expense.
On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of
FIN No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109, (FIN 48). At the date of
adoption and during the year ended December 31, 2007, the
Companys unrecognized income tax benefits and uncertain
tax positions were not material. Interest and penalties related
to uncertain tax positions are recognized by the Company as a
component of income tax expense but were immaterial on the date
of adoption and for the year ended December 31, 2007. All
of the Companys tax years from 1998 to 2006 remain open to
examination by federal and state taxing authorities.
The Company changed its tax accounting method for amortizing
wireless licenses during the year ended December 31, 2007.
Under the prior method, the Company began amortizing wireless
licenses for tax purposes on the date a license was placed into
service. Under the new tax accounting method, the Company
generally begins amortizing wireless licenses for tax purposes
on the date the wireless license is acquired. The new tax
accounting method generally allows the Company to amortize
wireless licenses for tax purposes at an earlier date and allows
it to accelerate its tax deductions. At the same time, the new
method increases the Companys income tax expense due to
the deferred tax effect of accelerating amortization on wireless
licenses. The Company has applied the new method as if it had
been in effect for all of its prior tax periods, and the
resulting increase to income tax expense of $28.9 million
was recorded during the year ended December 31, 2007. This
tax accounting method change also affects the characterization
of certain income tax gains and losses on the sale of
non-operating wireless licenses. Under the prior method, gains
or losses on the sale of non-operating licenses were
characterized as capital gains or losses; however, under the new
method, gains or losses on the sale of non-operating licenses
for which the Company had commenced tax amortization prior to
the sale are characterized as ordinary gains or losses. As a
result of this change, $64.7 million of net income tax
losses previously reported as capital loss carryforwards have
been recharacterized as net operating loss carryforwards. These
net operating loss carryforwards can be used to offset future
taxable income and reduce the amount of cash required to settle
future tax liabilities.
Basic
and Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net
income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares
outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is
computed by dividing net income by the sum of the
weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the
period and the weighted-average number of dilutive common share
equivalents outstanding during the period, using the treasury
stock method. Dilutive common share equivalents are comprised of
stock options, restricted stock awards, employee stock purchase
rights and warrants.
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157,
Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157),
which defines fair value for accounting purposes, establishes a
framework for measuring fair value in accounting principles
F-15
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
generally accepted in the United States of America and expands
disclosure regarding fair value measurements. In February 2008,
the FASB deferred for one year the requirement to adopt
SFAS 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are
not remeasured on a recurring basis. However, the Company will
be required to adopt SFAS 157 in the first quarter of 2008
with respect to financial assets and liabilities and
nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are remeasured at fair
value on a recurring basis. The Company does not expect adoption
of SFAS 157 to have a material impact to its consolidated
financial statements with respect to financial assets and
liabilities and nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are
remeasured on a recurring basis and is currently evaluating what
impact SFAS 157 will have on its consolidated financial
statements with respect to nonfinancial assets and liabilities
that are not remeasured on a recurring basis.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159,
The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial
Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement
No. 115 (SFAS 159), which permits
all entities to choose, at specified election dates, to measure
eligible items at fair value and establishes presentation and
disclosure requirements designed to facilitate comparisons
between entities that choose different measurement attributes
for similar types of assets and liabilities. The Company will be
required to adopt SFAS 159 in the first quarter of 2008.
The Company is currently evaluating what impact, if any, SFAS
159 will have on its consolidated financial statements.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R),
which expands the definition of a business and a business
combination, requires the fair value of the purchase price of an
acquisition including the issuance of equity securities to be
determined on the acquisition date, requires that all assets,
liabilities, contingent consideration, contingencies and
in-process research and development costs of an acquired
business be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date,
requires that acquisition costs generally be expensed as
incurred, requires that restructuring costs generally be
expensed in periods subsequent to the acquisition date, and
requires changes in accounting for deferred tax asset valuation
allowances and acquired income tax uncertainties after the
measurement period to impact income tax expense. The Company
will be required to adopt SFAS 141(R) on January 1,
2009. The Company is currently evaluating what impact, if any,
SFAS 141(R) may have on its consolidated financial
statements; however, since it has significant deferred tax
assets recorded through fresh-start reporting for which full
valuation allowances were recorded at the date of its emergence
from bankruptcy, this standard could materially affect its
results of operations if changes in the valuation allowances
occur once it adopts the standard.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51
(SFAS 160), which changes the accounting and
reporting for minority interests such that minority interests
will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and will be
required to be reported as a component of equity, and requires
that purchases or sales of equity interests that do not result
in a change in control be accounted for as equity transactions
and, upon a loss of control, requires the interest sold, as well
as any interest retained, to be recorded at fair value with any
gain or loss recognized in earnings. The Company will be
required to adopt SFAS 160 on January 1, 2009. The
Company is currently evaluating what impact SFAS 160 will
have on its consolidated financial statements.
F-16
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
|
|
Note 3.
|
Financial
Instruments
|
Short-Term
Investments
As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, all of the Companys
short-term investments were debt securities with contractual
maturities of less than one year and were classified as
available-for-sale. Available-for-sale securities were comprised
as follows as of December 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized
|
|
|
Unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Gain
|
|
|
Loss
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Commercial paper
|
|
$
|
69,333
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(135
|
)
|
|
$
|
69,198
|
|
Asset-backed commercial paper
|
|
|
26,962
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,962
|
|
U.S. government or government agency securities
|
|
|
52,972
|
|
|
|
103
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
53,073
|
|
Auction rate securities
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
179,267
|
|
|
$
|
103
|
|
|
$
|
(137
|
)
|
|
$
|
179,233
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Unrealized
|
|
|
Unrealized
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost
|
|
|
Gain
|
|
|
Loss
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
Asset-backed commercial paper
|
|
$
|
42,498
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(5
|
)
|
|
$
|
42,493
|
|
Commercial paper
|
|
|
8,238
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,238
|
|
Certificate of deposit
|
|
|
15,669
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,669
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
66,405
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(5
|
)
|
|
$
|
66,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2007, through its non-controlled
consolidated subsidiary, Denali, the Company held investments in
asset-backed commercial paper, which were purchased as highly
rated investment grade securities, with a par value of
$32.9 million. These securities, which are collateralized,
in part, by residential mortgages, have declined in value. As a
result, the Company recognized an other-than-temporary
impairment loss related to these investments in asset-backed
commercial paper of approximately $5.4 million to other
income (expense), net, in its consolidated statements of
operations during the year ended December 31, 2007 to bring
the carrying value to $27.5 million. The impairment loss
was calculated based on market valuations provided by the
Companys investment broker as well as an analysis of the
underlying collateral.
As of January 31, 2008, after an additional
$11.3 million in asset-backed commercial matured, the
Company held investments in asset-backed commercial paper with a
par value of $21.6 million. During January 2008, the value
of these securities declined by an additional $0.9 million
to bring the carrying value to $15.3 million. Additionally,
during January, the Company liquidated its remaining investments
in auction rate securities. The Company did not realize any
losses on the sale or maturity of these auction rate securities.
Future volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets could
result in additional losses.
F-17
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
|
|
Note 4.
|
Supplementary
Financial Information
|
Supplementary
Balance Sheet Information (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Other current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, net(1)
|
|
$
|
21,158
|
|
|
$
|
38,257
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
16,076
|
|
|
|
11,808
|
|
Other
|
|
|
865
|
|
|
|
2,916
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
38,099
|
|
|
$
|
52,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net:(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Network equipment
|
|
$
|
1,421,648
|
|
|
$
|
1,128,127
|
|
Computer equipment and other
|
|
|
184,224
|
|
|
|
100,496
|
|
Construction-in-progress
|
|
|
341,742
|
|
|
|
238,579
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,947,614
|
|
|
|
1,467,202
|
|
Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(630,957
|
)
|
|
|
(388,681
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,316,657
|
|
|
$
|
1,078,521
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other intangible assets, net:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer relationships
|
|
$
|
124,715
|
|
|
$
|
124,715
|
|
Trademarks
|
|
|
37,000
|
|
|
|
37,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
161,715
|
|
|
|
161,715
|
|
Accumulated amortization customer relationships(3)
|
|
|
(106,583
|
)
|
|
|
(75,500
|
)
|
Accumulated amortization trademarks(3)
|
|
|
(9,030
|
)
|
|
|
(6,387
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
46,102
|
|
|
$
|
79,828
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts payable
|
|
$
|
109,781
|
|
|
$
|
218,020
|
|
Accrued payroll and related benefits
|
|
|
41,048
|
|
|
|
29,450
|
|
Other accrued liabilities
|
|
|
74,906
|
|
|
|
69,623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
225,735
|
|
|
$
|
317,093
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred service revenue(4)
|
|
$
|
45,387
|
|
|
$
|
32,929
|
|
Deferred equipment revenue(5)
|
|
|
14,615
|
|
|
|
16,589
|
|
Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes
payable
|
|
|
20,903
|
|
|
|
15,865
|
|
Accrued interest
|
|
|
18,508
|
|
|
|
13,671
|
|
Other
|
|
|
15,395
|
|
|
|
5,621
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
114,808
|
|
|
$
|
84,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Accounts receivable consists primarily of amounts billed to
third-party dealers for handsets and accessories. |
F-18
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
|
|
|
(2) |
|
As of December 31, 2007, approximately $49.5 million
of gross assets were held by the Company under capital lease
arrangements. Accumulated amortization relating to these assets
totaled $5.6 million at December 31, 2007. |
|
(3) |
|
Amortization expense for other intangible assets for the years
ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was
$33.7 million, $33.7 million and $34.5 million,
respectively. Estimated amortization expense for intangible
assets for 2008 is $20.8 million, from 2009 through 2012 is
$2.6 million in each year and totals $14.8 million
thereafter. |
|
(4) |
|
Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received
from customers in advance of their service period. |
|
(5) |
|
Deferred equipment revenue relates to handsets and accessories
sold to third-party dealers. |
Supplementary
Cash Flow Information (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
|
$
|
161,280
|
|
|
$
|
61,360
|
|
|
$
|
55,653
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes
|
|
$
|
506
|
|
|
$
|
1,034
|
|
|
$
|
305
|
|
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Contribution of wireless licenses
|
|
$
|
25,130
|
|
|
$
|
16,100
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Supplementary disclosure of non-cash financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets acquired through capital lease arrangements
|
|
$
|
40,799
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
|
Note 5.
|
Basic and
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
|
A reconciliation of basic weighted-average shares outstanding to
diluted weighted-average shares outstanding used in calculating
basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share is as follows (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
60,135
|
|
Effect of dilutive common share equivalents:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-qualified stock options
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
130
|
|
Restricted stock awards
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
472
|
|
Warrants
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
266
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding
|
|
|
67,100
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
61,003
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Company incurred losses for the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006; therefore, 5.4 million and
4.9 million common share equivalents were excluded in
computing diluted earnings (loss) per share for those periods,
respectively. The number of common share equivalents not
included in the computation of diluted earnings per share,
because the effect of their inclusion would have been
antidilutive, totaled 0.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005.
F-19
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Long-term debt at December 31, 2007 and 2006 was comprised
of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Term loans under senior secured credit facilities
|
|
$
|
926,500
|
|
|
$
|
935,500
|
|
Unamortized deferred lender fees
|
|
|
(1,898
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Senior notes
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
|
750,000
|
|
Unamortized premium on senior notes
|
|
|
19,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,044,402
|
|
|
|
1,685,500
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
(10,500
|
)
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,033,902
|
|
|
$
|
1,676,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Secured Credit Facilities
Cricket
Communications
The senior secured credit facility under the Companys
Credit Agreement (the Credit Agreement) consists of
a six year $895.5 million term loan and an undrawn
$200 million revolving credit facility. As of December 31,
2007, the outstanding indebtedness was $886.5 million.
Outstanding borrowings under the term loan must be repaid in 22
quarterly payments of $2.25 million each (which commenced
on March 31, 2007) followed by four quarterly payments
of $211.5 million (which commence on September 30,
2012).
As of December 31, 2007, the interest rate on the term loan
was the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus 3.00% or the
bank base rate plus 2.00%, as selected by Cricket. This
represents an increase of 25 basis points to the interest
rate applicable to the term loan borrowings in effect on
December 31, 2006. On November 20, 2007, the Company
entered into a second amendment (the Second
Amendment) to the Credit Agreement, in which the lenders
waived defaults and potential defaults under the Credit
Agreement arising from the Companys breach and potential
breach of representations regarding the presentation of its
prior consolidated financial statements and the associated delay
in filing its Quarterly Report on
Form 10-Q
for the three months ended September 30, 2007. In
connection with this waiver, the Second Amendment also amended
the applicable interest rates to term loan borrowings and the
revolving credit facility.
Outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to
the extent that there are any borrowings, are due in June 2011.
As of December 31, 2007, the revolving credit facility was
undrawn. The commitment of the lenders under the revolving
credit facility may be reduced in the event mandatory
prepayments are required under the Credit Agreement. As of
December 31, 2007, borrowings under the revolving credit
facility accrued interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% or the bank base
rate plus 2.00%, as selected by Cricket. This represents an
increase of 25 basis points to the interest rate applicable
to the revolving credit facility in effect on December 31,
2006, which increase was made under the Second Amendment, as
described above.
The facilities under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Leap
and all of its direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (other
than Cricket, which is the primary obligor, and LCW Wireless and
Denali and their respective subsidiaries) and are secured by
substantially all of the present and future personal property
and real property owned by Leap, Cricket and such direct and
indirect domestic subsidiaries. Under the Credit Agreement, the
Company is subject to certain limitations, including limitations
on its ability to: incur additional debt or sell assets, with
restrictions on the use of proceeds; make certain investments
and acquisitions; grant liens; pay dividends; and make certain
other restricted payments. In addition, the Company will be
required to pay down the facilities under certain
F-20
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
circumstances if it issues debt, sells assets or property,
receives certain extraordinary receipts or generates excess cash
flow (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The Company is also
subject to a financial covenant with respect to a maximum
consolidated senior secured leverage ratio and, if a revolving
credit loan or uncollateralized letter of credit is outstanding
or requested, with respect to a minimum consolidated interest
coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a
minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio. The Company
was in compliance with the covenants as of December 31,
2007. The Credit Agreement also prohibits the occurrence of a
change of control, which includes the acquisition of beneficial
ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity securities, a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board and the occurrence
of a change of control under any of the
Companys other credit instruments. In addition to
investments in the Denali joint venture, the Credit Agreement
allows the Company to invest up to $85 million in LCW
Wireless and its subsidiaries and up to $150 million plus
an amount equal to an available cash flow basket in other joint
ventures, and allows the Company to provide limited guarantees
for the benefit of Denali, LCW Wireless and other joint ventures.
Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (a beneficial
stockholder of Leap and an affiliate of James D. Dondero, a
former director of Leap) participated in the syndication of the
term loan in an amount equal to $222.9 million.
Additionally, Highland Capital Management continues to hold a
$40 million commitment under the $200 million
revolving credit facility.
At December 31, 2007, the effective interest rate on the
term loan was 7.9%, including the effect of interest rate swaps.
The terms of the Credit Agreement require the Company to enter
into interest rate swap agreements in a sufficient amount so
that at least 50% of the Companys outstanding indebtedness
for borrowed money bears interest at a fixed rate. The Company
is in compliance with this requirement. The Company has entered
into interest rate swap agreements with respect to
$355 million of its debt. These interest rate swap
agreements effectively fix the LIBOR interest rate on
$150 million of indebtedness at 8.3% and $105 million
of indebtedness at 7.3% through June 2009 and $100 million
of indebtedness at 8.0% through September 2010. The fair value
of the swap agreements at December 31, 2007 and
December 31, 2006 was a liability of $7.2 million and
an asset of $3.2 million, respectively, and was recorded in
other liabilities and other assets, respectively, in the
consolidated balance sheets.
LCW
Operations
LCW Operations has a senior secured credit agreement consisting
of two term loans for $40 million in the aggregate. The
loans bear interest at LIBOR plus the applicable margin ranging
from 2.7% to 6.3%. At December 31, 2007, the effective
interest rate on the term loans was 9.1%, and the outstanding
indebtedness was $40 million. In January 2007, LCW
Operations entered into an interest rate cap agreement which
effectively caps the three month LIBOR interest rate at 7.0% on
$20 million of its outstanding borrowings. The obligations
under the loans are guaranteed by LCW Wireless and LCW Wireless
License, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of LCW Operations (and
are non-recourse to Leap, Cricket and their other subsidiaries).
Outstanding borrowings under the term loans must be repaid in
varying quarterly installments starting in June 2008, with an
aggregate final payment of $24.5 million due in June 2011.
Under the senior secured credit agreement, LCW Operations and
the guarantors are subject to certain limitations, including
limitations on their ability to: incur additional debt or sell
assets with restrictions on the use of proceeds; make certain
investments and acquisitions; grant liens; pay dividends; and
make certain other restricted payments. In addition, LCW
Operations will be required to pay down the facilities under
certain circumstances if it or the guarantors issue debt, sell
assets or generate excess cash flow. The senior secured credit
agreement requires that LCW Operations and the guarantors comply
with financial covenants related to earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization, gross additions of
subscribers, minimum cash and cash equivalents and maximum
capital expenditures, among other things. LCW was in compliance
with the covenants as of December 31, 2007.
F-21
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Senior
Notes
In October 2006, Cricket issued $750 million of unsecured
senior notes due 2014 in a private placement to institutional
buyers. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company offered
to exchange the notes for identical notes that had been
registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(SEC), and all notes were tendered for exchange.
The notes bear interest at the rate of 9.375% per year, payable
semi-annually in cash in arrears, which interest payments
commenced in May 2007. The notes are guaranteed on an unsecured
senior basis by Leap and each of its existing and future
domestic subsidiaries (other than Cricket, which is the issuer
of the notes, and LCW Wireless and Denali and their respective
subsidiaries) that guarantee indebtedness for money borrowed of
Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor. The notes and the
guarantees are Leaps, Crickets and the
guarantors general senior unsecured obligations and rank
equally in right of payment with all of Leaps,
Crickets and the guarantors existing and future
unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness. The notes and the
guarantees are effectively junior to Leaps, Crickets
and the guarantors existing and future secured
obligations, including those under the Credit Agreement, to the
extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations, as
well as to future liabilities of Leaps and Crickets
subsidiaries that are not guarantors, and of LCW Wireless and
Denali and their respective subsidiaries. In addition, the notes
and the guarantees are senior in right of payment to any of
Leaps, Crickets and the guarantors future
subordinated indebtedness.
Prior to November 1, 2009, Cricket may redeem up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption
price of 109.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon to
the redemption date, from the net cash proceeds of specified
equity offerings. Prior to November 1, 2010, Cricket may
redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the
applicable premium and any accrued and unpaid interest. The
applicable premium is calculated as the greater of (i) 1.0%
of the principal amount of such notes and (ii) the excess
of (a) the present value at such date of redemption of
(1) the redemption price of such notes at November 1,
2010 plus (2) all remaining required interest payments due
on such notes through November 1, 2010 (excluding accrued
but unpaid interest to the date of redemption), computed using a
discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis
points, over (b) the principal amount of such notes. The
notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after November 1, 2010, at a redemption price of 104.688%
and 102.344% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during
the twelve months ending October 31, 2011 and 2012,
respectively, or at 100% of the principal amount if redeemed
during the twelve months ending October 31, 2013 or
thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
If a change of control occurs (which includes the
acquisition of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of
Leaps equity securities, a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of Leap and its restricted subsidiaries and a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board), each holder of the
notes may require Cricket to repurchase all of such
holders notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the
principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (a beneficial
stockholder of Leap and an affiliate of James D. Dondero, a
former director of Leap) purchased an aggregate of
$25 million principal amount of unsecured senior notes in
the October 2006 private placement. In March 2007, these notes
were sold by the Highland entities to a third party.
In June 2007, Cricket issued an additional $350 million of
unsecured senior notes due 2014 in a private placement to
institutional buyers at an issue price of 106% of the principal
amount. These notes are an additional issuance of the 9.375%
unsecured senior notes due 2014 discussed above and are treated
as a single class with these notes. The terms of these
additional notes are identical to the existing notes, except for
certain applicable transfer restrictions. The $21 million
premium the Company received in connection with the issuance of
the notes has been recorded in long-term debt in the
consolidated financial statements and is being amortized as a
reduction to interest
F-22
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
expense over the term of the notes. At December 31, 2007,
the effective interest rate on the $350 million of
unsecured senior notes was 8.6%, which included the effect of
the premium amortization.
In connection with the private placement of the additional
senior notes, the Company entered into a registration rights
agreement with the purchasers in which the Company agreed to
file a registration statement with the SEC to permit the holders
to exchange or resell the notes. The Company must use reasonable
best efforts to file such registration statement within
150 days after the issuance of the notes, have the
registration statement declared effective within 270 days
after the issuance of the notes and then consummate any exchange
offer within 30 business days after the effective date of the
registration statement. In the event that the registration
statement is not filed or declared effective or the exchange
offer is not consummated within these deadlines, the agreement
provides that additional interest will accrue on the principal
amount of the notes at a rate of 0.50% per annum during the
90-day
period immediately following any of these events and will
increase by 0.50% per annum at the end of each subsequent
90-day
period, but in no event will the penalty rate exceed 1.50% per
annum. There are no other alternative settlement methods and,
other than the 1.50% per annum maximum penalty rate, the
agreement contains no limit on the maximum potential amount of
penalty interest that could be paid in the event the Company
does not meet the registration statement filing requirements.
Due to the Companys restatement of its historical
consolidated financial results during the fourth quarter of
2007, the Company was unable to file the registration statement
within 150 days after issuance of the notes. Based on the
anticipated filing date of the registration statement and the
penalty rate applicable to the associated registration default
event, the Company accrued additional interest expense of
approximately $1.1 million as of December 31, 2007.
The components of the Companys income tax provision are
summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Current provision:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
$
|
(422
|
)
|
|
$
|
422
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
State
|
|
|
1,704
|
|
|
|
21
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,282
|
|
|
|
443
|
|
|
|
63
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred provision:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Federal
|
|
|
39,044
|
|
|
|
7,389
|
|
|
|
17,958
|
|
State
|
|
|
(2,960
|
)
|
|
|
1,445
|
|
|
|
3,594
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
36,084
|
|
|
|
8,834
|
|
|
|
21,552
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
37,366
|
|
|
$
|
9,277
|
|
|
$
|
21,615
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-23
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
A reconciliation of the amounts computed by applying the
statutory federal income tax rate to income before income taxes
to the amounts recorded in the consolidated statements of
operations is summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Amounts computed at statutory federal rate
|
|
$
|
(13,496
|
)
|
|
$
|
(5,335
|
)
|
|
$
|
18,305
|
|
Non-deductible expenses
|
|
|
2,910
|
|
|
|
421
|
|
|
|
929
|
|
State income tax expense (benefit), net of federal income tax
impact
|
|
|
(816
|
)
|
|
|
(425
|
)
|
|
|
2,335
|
|
Net tax expense related to joint venture
|
|
|
2,645
|
|
|
|
1,751
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46
|
|
Change in valuation allowance
|
|
|
46,123
|
|
|
|
12,865
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
37,366
|
|
|
$
|
9,277
|
|
|
$
|
21,615
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The components of the Companys deferred tax assets
(liabilities) are summarized as follows (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Deferred tax assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net operating loss carryforwards
|
|
$
|
276,361
|
|
|
$
|
171,104
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
17,950
|
|
|
|
41,854
|
|
Capital loss carryforwards
|
|
|
4,200
|
|
|
|
29,592
|
|
Reserves and allowances
|
|
|
16,024
|
|
|
|
12,446
|
|
Share-based compensation
|
|
|
14,190
|
|
|
|
9,006
|
|
Deferred charges
|
|
|
20,112
|
|
|
|
6,419
|
|
Investments and deferred tax on unrealized losses
|
|
|
6,105
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
8,560
|
|
|
|
3,834
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross deferred tax assets
|
|
|
363,502
|
|
|
|
274,255
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Intangible assets
|
|
|
(17,727
|
)
|
|
|
(31,168
|
)
|
Property and equipment
|
|
|
(58,967
|
)
|
|
|
(7,689
|
)
|
Deferred revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,311
|
)
|
Deferred tax on unrealized gains
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,243
|
)
|
Other
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(390
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax assets
|
|
|
286,808
|
|
|
|
231,454
|
|
Valuation allowance
|
|
|
(284,301
|
)
|
|
|
(231,454
|
)
|
Other deferred tax liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
(172,492
|
)
|
|
|
(139,278
|
)
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
(8,688
|
)
|
|
|
(6,169
|
)
|
Investment in joint venture
|
|
|
(6,225
|
)
|
|
|
(3,367
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net deferred tax liabilities
|
|
$
|
(184,898
|
)
|
|
$
|
(148,814
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-24
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) are reflected in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets as follows (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Current deferred tax liabilities (included in other current
liabilities)
|
|
$
|
(2,063
|
)
|
|
$
|
(479
|
)
|
Long-term deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
(182,835
|
)
|
|
|
(148,335
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(184,898
|
)
|
|
$
|
(148,814
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2007 and 2006, except with respect to a
$2.5 million TMT recorded during the year ended
December 31, 2007, the Company established a full valuation
allowance against its net deferred tax assets due to the
uncertainty surrounding the realization of such assets. The
valuation allowance is based on available evidence, including
the Companys historical operating losses. Deferred tax
liabilities associated with wireless licenses, tax goodwill and
investments in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a
source of taxable income to support the realization of deferred
tax assets because these deferred tax liabilities will not
reverse until some indefinite future period.
At December 31, 2007, the Company estimated it had federal
net operating loss carryforwards of approximately
$715 million which begin to expire in 2022, and state net
operating loss carryforwards of approximately $872 million
which begin to expire in 2008. In addition, the Company had
federal capital loss carryforwards of approximately
$10.7 million which begin to expire in 2010. Included in
the Companys federal and state net operating loss
carryforwards are $12.7 million of losses which, when
utilized, will increase additional paid-in capital by
approximately $4.9 million.
Pursuant to
SOP 90-7,
the tax benefits of deferred tax assets recorded in fresh-start
reporting will be recorded as a reduction of goodwill if the
benefit is recognized in the Companys financial statements
prior to January 1, 2009. These tax benefits will not
reduce income tax expense for GAAP purposes, although such
assets, when recognized as a deduction for tax income tax return
purposes, may reduce U.S. federal and certain state taxable
income, if any, and may therefore reduce income taxes payable.
Effective for years beginning after December 15, 2008,
SFAS 141(R) provides that any tax benefit related to
deferred tax assets recorded in fresh-start reporting be
accounted for as a reduction to income tax expense. During the
year ended December 31, 2005, approximately
$25.1 million of fresh-start related net deferred tax
assets were utilized and, therefore, the Company recorded a
corresponding reduction to goodwill. No such net deferred tax
assets were utilized during 2006 and 2007. As of
December 31, 2007, the balance of fresh-start related net
deferred tax assets was $218.5 million, which was subject
to a full valuation allowance.
|
|
Note 8.
|
Stockholders
Equity
|
Forward
Sale Agreements
In August 2006, in connection with a public offering of Leap
common stock, Leap entered into forward sale agreements for the
sale of an aggregate of 6,440,000 shares of its common
stock, including an amount equal to the underwriters
over-allotment option in the public offering (which was fully
exercised). The initial forward sale price was $40.11 per share,
which was equivalent to the public offering price less the
underwriting discount, and was subject to daily adjustment based
on a floating interest factor equal to the federal funds rate,
less a spread of 1.0%. The forward sale agreements allowed the
Company to elect to physically settle the transactions, or to
issue shares of its common stock in satisfaction of its
obligations under the forward sale agreements, in all
circumstances (unless the Company had previously elected
otherwise). As a result, these forward sale agreements were
initially measured at fair value and reported in permanent
equity. Subsequent changes in fair value were not recognized as
the forward sale agreements continued to be classified as
permanent equity. In October 2006, Leap issued
6,440,000 shares of its common stock to physically settle
its forward sale agreements and received aggregate cash proceeds
of
F-25
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
$260.0 million (before expenses) from such physical
settlements. Upon such full settlement, the forward sale
agreements were fully performed.
Warrants
On the Effective Date of the plan of reorganization, Leap issued
warrants to purchase 600,000 shares of Leap common stock at
an exercise price of $16.83 per share, which expire on
March 23, 2009. All of these warrants were outstanding as
of December 31, 2007.
|
|
Note 9.
|
Share-Based
Compensation
|
The Company allows for the grant of stock options, restricted
stock awards and deferred stock units to employees, independent
directors and consultants under its 2004 Stock Option,
Restricted Stock and Deferred Stock Unit Plan (the 2004
Plan). A total of 4,800,000 shares of common stock
were initially reserved for issuance under the 2004 Plan and,
during May 2007, the Company reserved an additional
3,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the
2004 Plan. The additional shares reserved resulted in 8,300,000
aggregate shares of common stock reserved for issuance under the
2004 Plan of which 2,773,568 shares of common stock were
available for future awards under the 2004 Plan as of
December 31, 2007. Certain of the Companys stock
options and restricted stock awards include both a service
condition and a performance condition that relates only to the
timing of vesting. These stock options and restricted stock
awards generally vest in full three or five years from the grant
date. These awards also provide for the possibility of annual
accelerated performance-based vesting of a portion of the awards
if the Company achieves specified performance conditions. In
addition, the Company has granted stock options and restricted
stock awards that vest periodically over a fixed term, usually
four years. These awards do not contain any performance
conditions. Share-based awards also generally provide for
accelerated vesting if there is a change in control (as defined
in the 2004 Plan) and, in some cases, if additional conditions
are met. The stock options are exercisable for up to
10 years from the grant date. Compensation expense is
amortized on a straight-line basis over the requisite service
period for the entire award, which is generally the maximum
vesting period of the award, and if necessary, is adjusted to
ensure that the amount recognized is at least equal to the
vested (earned) compensation. No share-based compensation
expense has been capitalized as part of inventory or fixed
assets.
Stock
Options
The estimated fair value of the Companys stock options is
determined using the Black-Scholes model. All stock options were
granted with an exercise price equal to the fair value of the
common stock on the grant date. The weighted-average grant date
fair value of employee stock options granted during the years
ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $34.50 and $25.74 per
share, respectively, which was estimated using the following
weighted-average assumptions:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
Expected volatility
|
|
|
47
|
%
|
|
|
46
|
%
|
Expected term (in years)
|
|
|
6.3
|
|
|
|
6.3
|
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
4.30
|
%
|
|
|
4.72
|
%
|
Expected dividend yield
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The determination of the fair value of stock options using an
option valuation model is affected by the Companys stock
price, as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and
subjective variables. The volatility assumption is based on a
combination of the historical volatility of the Companys
common stock and the volatilities of similar companies over a
period of time equal to the expected term of the stock options.
The volatilities of similar companies are used in conjunction
with the Companys historical volatility because of the
lack of sufficient relevant history for the Companys
common stock equal to the expected term. The expected term of
F-26
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
employee stock options represents the weighted-average period
the stock options are expected to remain outstanding. The
expected term assumption is estimated based primarily on the
options vesting terms and remaining contractual life and
employees expected exercise and post-vesting employment
termination behavior. The risk-free interest rate assumption is
based upon observed interest rates at the end of the period in
which the grant occurred appropriate for the term of the
employee stock options. The dividend yield assumption is based
on the expectation of no future dividend payouts by the Company.
A summary of the Companys stock option award activity as
of and for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 is as
follows (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Remaining
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Price per
|
|
|
Contractual
|
|
|
Aggregate
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Share
|
|
|
Term
|
|
|
Intrinsic Value
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In years)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,892
|
|
|
$
|
28.94
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35
|
|
|
$
|
26.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options granted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,277
|
|
|
$
|
50.04
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options forfeited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(99
|
)
|
|
|
34.21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,070
|
|
|
$
|
37.55
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
76
|
|
|
$
|
26.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options granted
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
956
|
|
|
$
|
67.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options forfeited
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(374
|
)
|
|
|
51.08
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercised
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(278
|
)
|
|
|
29.33
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options outstanding at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,374
|
|
|
$
|
45.12
|
|
|
|
8.28
|
|
|
$
|
28,419
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Options exercisable at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
270
|
|
|
$
|
38.71
|
|
|
|
7.85
|
|
|
$
|
3,370
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As share-based compensation expense under SFAS 123(R) is
based on awards ultimately expected to vest, it is reduced for
estimated forfeitures. SFAS 123(R) requires forfeitures to
be estimated at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in
subsequent periods if actual forfeitures differ from those
estimates.
At December 31, 2007, total unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested stock options was $45.5 million, which
is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of
2.7 years.
Upon option exercise, the Company issues new shares of common
stock. Cash received from stock option exercises was
$8.2 million during the year ended December 31, 2007.
The Company did not recognize any income tax benefits from stock
option exercises. The total intrinsic value of stock options
exercised was $10.7 million during the year ended
December 31, 2007.
Restricted
Stock
Under SFAS 123(R), the fair value of the Companys
restricted stock awards is based on the grant date fair value of
the Companys common stock. All restricted stock awards
were granted with a purchase price of $0.0001 per share. The
weighted-average grant date fair value of the restricted stock
awards was $56.86 and $51.86 per share during the years ended
December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
F-27
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
A summary of the Companys restricted stock award activity
as of and for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 is
as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted-
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grant Date
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Fair Value
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Per Share
|
|
|
Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2005
|
|
|
895
|
|
|
$
|
28.56
|
|
Shares issued
|
|
|
286
|
|
|
|
51.86
|
|
Shares forfeited
|
|
|
(35
|
)
|
|
|
30.40
|
|
Shares vested
|
|
|
(28
|
)
|
|
|
27.35
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2006
|
|
|
1,118
|
|
|
|
34.50
|
|
Shares issued
|
|
|
529
|
|
|
|
56.86
|
|
Shares forfeited
|
|
|
(74
|
)
|
|
|
50.48
|
|
Shares vested
|
|
|
(168
|
)
|
|
|
29.24
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Restricted stock awards outstanding at December 31, 2007
|
|
|
1,405
|
|
|
$
|
42.70
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table summarizes information about restricted
stock awards that vested during the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
2007
|
|
2006
|
|
2005
|
|
Fair value on vesting date of vested restricted stock awards
|
|
$
|
10,525
|
|
|
$
|
1,519
|
|
|
$
|
993
|
|
At December 31, 2007, total unrecognized compensation cost
related to unvested restricted stock awards was
$33.0 million, which is expected to be recognized over a
weighted-average period of 2.3 years.
The terms of the restricted stock grant agreements allow the
Company to repurchase unvested shares at the option, but not the
obligation, of the Company for a period of sixty days,
commencing ninety days after the employee has a termination
event. If the Company elects to repurchase all or any portion of
the unvested shares, it may do so at the original purchase price
per share.
Employee
Stock Purchase Plan
The Companys Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the ESP
Plan) allows eligible employees to purchase shares of
common stock during a specified offering period. The purchase
price is 85% of the lower of the fair market value of such stock
on the first or last day of the offering period. Employees may
authorize the Company to withhold up to 15% of their
compensation during any offering period for the purchase of
shares under the ESP Plan, subject to certain limitations. A
total of 800,000 shares of common stock were initially
reserved for issuance under the ESP Plan, and a total of
732,439 shares remained available for issuance under the
ESP Plan as of December 31, 2007. The most recent offering
period under the ESP Plan was from July 1, 2007 through
December 31, 2007.
Deferred
Stock Units
Under SFAS 123(R), the fair value of the Companys
deferred stock units is based on the grant date fair value of
the common stock. No deferred stock units were granted during
the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. During the year
ended December 31, 2005, 246,484 deferred stock units with
a purchase price of $0.0001 per share were granted at a
weighted-average grant date fair value of $27.87 per share.
These awards were recorded as an expense on the grant date as
they were immediately vested.
F-28
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Allocation
of Share-Based Compensation Expense
Total share-based compensation expense related to all of the
Companys share-based awards for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 was allocated as follows
(in thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
2,156
|
|
|
$
|
1,245
|
|
|
$
|
1,204
|
|
Selling and marketing expenses
|
|
|
3,330
|
|
|
|
1,970
|
|
|
|
1,021
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
23,853
|
|
|
|
16,510
|
|
|
|
10,254
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense before tax
|
|
|
29,339
|
|
|
|
19,725
|
|
|
|
12,479
|
|
Related income tax benefit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense, net of tax
|
|
$
|
29,339
|
|
|
$
|
19,725
|
|
|
$
|
12,479
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net share-based compensation expense per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.44
|
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
$
|
0.21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.44
|
|
|
$
|
0.32
|
|
|
$
|
0.20
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Effect
of SFAS 123(R) Adoption
Forfeitures were accounted for as they occurred in the
Companys pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123. The
Company recorded a gain of $0.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006 as the cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle related to the change in accounting for
forfeitures under SFAS 123(R). In addition, upon adoption
of SFAS 123(R) during 2006, the Company recorded decreases
in additional paid-in capital and unearned share-based
compensation of $20.9 million. The adoption of
SFAS 123(R) did not affect the share-based compensation
expense associated with the Companys restricted stock
awards as they were already recorded at fair value on the grant
date and recognized as an expense over the requisite service
period. As a result, the incremental share-based compensation
expense recognized upon adoption of SFAS 123(R) related
only to stock options and the ESP Plan.
Pro
Forma Information under SFAS 123 for Periods Prior to
Fiscal 2006
For stock options granted prior to the adoption of
SFAS 123(R), the following table illustrates the pro forma
effect on net income and earnings per share as if the Company
had applied the fair value recognition provisions of
SFAS 123 in determining share-based compensation (in
thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
As reported net income
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
Add: Share-based compensation expense included in net income
|
|
|
12,479
|
|
Deduct: Net pro forma compensation expense
|
|
|
(20,085
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma net income
|
|
$
|
23,079
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
As reported
|
|
$
|
0.51
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
$
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted earnings per share:
|
|
|
|
|
As reported
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Pro forma
|
|
$
|
0.38
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-29
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
For purposes of pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123, the
estimated fair value of the stock options was amortized on a
straight-line basis over the maximum vesting period of the
awards.
|
|
Note 10.
|
Employee
Savings and Retirement Plan
|
The Companys 401(k) plan allows eligible employees to
contribute up to 30% of their salary, subject to annual limits.
The Company matches a portion of the employee contributions and
may, at its discretion, make additional contributions based upon
earnings. The Companys contributions were approximately
$1,571,000, $1,698,000 and $1,485,000 for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.
|
|
Note 11.
|
Significant
Acquisitions and Dispositions
|
In January 2007, the Company completed the sale of three
wireless licenses that it was not using to offer commercial
service for an aggregate sales price of $9.5 million,
resulting in a net gain of $1.3 million.
In June and August 2007, the Company purchased approximately 20%
of the outstanding membership units of a regional wireless
service provider for an aggregate purchase price of
$18.0 million. In October 2007, the Company contributed an
additional $1.0 million. The Company uses the equity method
to account for its investment. The Companys equity in net
earnings or losses are recorded two months in arrears to
facilitate the timely inclusion of such equity in net earnings
or losses in the Companys consolidated financial
statements. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the
Companys share of its net losses of the entity were
$2.3 million.
In December 2007, the Company agreed to purchase Hargray
Communications Groups wireless subsidiary for
$30 million. This subsidiary owns a 15 MHz wireless
license covering approximately 0.8 million POPs and
operates a wireless business in Georgia and South Carolina,
which complements the Companys existing market in
Charleston, South Carolina. Completion of this transaction is
subject to customary closing conditions, including FCC approval.
The FCC issued its approval of the transaction in February 2008,
but this approval has not yet become final.
In January 2008, the Company agreed to exchange an aggregate of
20 MHz of disaggregated spectrum under certain of its
existing PCS licenses in Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas for an
aggregate of 30 MHz of disaggregated and partitioned
spectrum in New Jersey and Mississippi under certain of Sprint
Nextels existing wireless licenses. Completion of this
transaction is subject to customary closing conditions,
including FCC approval.
|
|
Note 12.
|
Segment
and Geographic Data
|
The Company operates in a single operating segment as a wireless
communications carrier that offers digital wireless service in
the United States of America. As of and for the years ended
December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, all of the Companys
revenues and long-lived assets related to operations in the
United States of America.
|
|
Note 13.
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
Patent
Litigation
On June 14, 2006, the Company sued MetroPCS in the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas,
Marshall Division, for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 6,813,497 Method for Providing Wireless
Communication Services and Network and System for Delivering
Same, issued to it. The Companys complaint seeks
damages and an injunction against continued infringement. On
August 3, 2006, MetroPCS (i) answered the complaint,
(ii) raised a number of affirmative defenses, and
(iii) together with certain related entities (referred to,
collectively with MetroPCS, as the MetroPCS
entities), counterclaimed against Leap, Cricket, numerous
Cricket subsidiaries, Denali License, and current and former
employees of Leap and Cricket, including the Companys
chief executive officer, S. Douglas Hutcheson. MetroPCS has
since amended its complaint and Denali License has been
F-30
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
dismissed, without prejudice, as a counterclaim defendant. The
countersuit now alleges claims for breach of contract,
misappropriation, conversion and disclosure of trade secrets,
fraud, misappropriation of confidential information and breach
of confidential relationship, relating to information provided
by MetroPCS to such employees, including prior to their
employment by Leap, and asks the court to award attorneys fees
and damages, including punitive damages, impose an injunction
enjoining the Company from participating in any auctions or
sales of wireless spectrum, impose a constructive trust on the
Companys business and assets for the benefit of the
MetroPCS entities, transfer the Companys business and
assets to MetroPCS, and declare that the MetroPCS entities have
not infringed U.S. Patent No. 6,813,497 and that such
patent is invalid. MetroPCSs claims allege that the
Company and the other counterclaim defendants improperly
obtained, used and disclosed trade secrets and confidential
information of the MetroPCS entities and breached
confidentiality agreements with the MetroPCS entities. On
October 31, 2007, pursuant to a stipulation between the
parties, the court administratively closed the case for a period
not to exceed six months. The parties stipulated that neither
will move the court to reopen the case until at least
90 days following the administrative closure. On
November 1, 2007, MetroPCS formally withdrew its
September 4, 2007 unsolicited merger proposal, which the
Companys board of directors had previously rejected on
September 16, 2007. On February 14, 2008, in response to
the Companys motion, the court re-opened the case. On
September 22, 2006, Royal Street Communications, LLC, or
Royal Street, an entity affiliated with MetroPCS, filed an
action in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida, Tampa Division, seeking a declaratory
judgment that the Companys U.S. Patent
No. 6,813,497 (the same patent that is the subject of the
Companys infringement action against MetroPCS) is invalid
and is not being infringed by Royal Street or its PCS systems.
Upon the Companys request, the court has transferred the
Royal Street case to the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas due to the affiliation between
MetroPCS and Royal Street. On February 25, 2008, the
Company filed an answer to the Royal Street complaint, together
with counterclaims for patent infringement. The Company intends
to vigorously defend against the counterclaims filed by the
MetroPCS entities and the action brought by Royal Street. Due to
the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved,
however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to prevail in these
matters, it could have a material adverse effect on the
Companys business, financial condition and results of
operations.
On August 17, 2006, the Company was served with a complaint
filed by certain MetroPCS entities, along with another
affiliate, MetroPCS California, LLC, in the Superior Court of
the State of California, which names Leap, Cricket, certain of
its subsidiaries, and certain current and former employees of
Leap and Cricket, including Mr. Hutcheson, as defendants.
In response to demurrers by the Company and by the court, two of
the plaintiffs amended their complaint twice, dropped the other
plaintiffs and have filed a third amended complaint. In the
current complaint, the plaintiffs allege statutory unfair
competition, statutory misappropriation of trade secrets, breach
of contract, intentional interference with contract, and
intentional interference with prospective economic advantage,
seek preliminary and permanent injunction, and ask the court to
award damages, including punitive damages, attorneys fees, and
restitution. The Company has filed a demurrer to the third
amended complaint. On October 25, 2007, pursuant to a
stipulation between the parties, the court entered a stay of the
litigation for a period of 90 days. On January 28,
2008, the court ordered that the stay remain in effect for a
further 120 days, or until May 27, 2008. If and when
the case proceeds, the Company intends to vigorously defend
against these claims. Due to the complex nature of the legal and
factual issues involved, however, the outcome of this matter is
not presently determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to
prevail in this action, it could have a material adverse effect
on the Companys business, financial condition and results
of operations.
On June 6, 2007, the Company was sued by Minerva
Industries, Inc., or Minerva, in the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for
infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,681,120 entitled
Mobile Entertainment and Communication Device.
Minerva alleges that certain handsets sold by the Company
infringe a patent relating to mobile entertainment features, and
the complaint seeks damages (including enhanced damages), an
injunction and attorneys fees. The Company filed an answer
to the complaint and counterclaims of invalidity on
January 7, 2008. On January 21, 2008, Minerva filed
another suit against the Company in the United States District
Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for
infringement of its newly issued
F-31
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
U.S. Patent No. 7,321,738 entitled Mobile
Entertainment and Communication Device. This matter has
been transferred to the judge overseeing the first Minerva
action, and it is likely the two actions will be consolidated.
On June 7, 2007, the Company was sued by Barry W. Thomas
(Thomas) in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement
of U.S. Patent No. 4,777,354 entitled System for
Controlling the Supply of Utility Services to Consumers.
Thomas alleges that certain handsets sold by the Company
infringe a patent relating to actuator cards for controlling the
supply of a utility service, and the complaint seeks damages
(including enhanced damages) and attorneys fees. The
Company and other co-defendants have filed a motion to stay the
litigation pending the determination of similar litigation in
the Western District of North Carolina. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against these matters brought by Minerva and
Thomas. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual
issues involved, however, the outcome of these matters is not
presently determinable. The Company has notified its handset
suppliers of these lawsuits, the majority of whom were also sued
by Minerva and Thomas in other actions, and the Company
anticipates that it will be indemnified by such suppliers for
the costs of defense and any damages arising with respect to
such lawsuits.
On June 8, 2007, the Company was sued by Ronald A. Katz
Technology Licensing, L.P. (Katz) in the United
States District Court for the District of Delaware, for
infringement of 19 U.S. patents, 15 of which have expired.
Katz alleged that the Company has infringed patents relating to
automated telephone systems, including customer service systems,
and the complaint sought damages (including enhanced damages),
an injunction, and attorneys fees. The Company has since
settled this matter with Katz.
On October 15, 2007, Leap was sued by Visual Interactive
Phone Concepts, Inc., or Visual Interactive, in the United
States District Court for the Southern District of California
for infringement of U.S. Patent No. 5,724,092 entitled
Videophone Mailbox Interactive Facility System and Method
of Processing Information and U.S. Patent
No. 5,606,361 entitled Videophone Mailbox Interactive
Facility System and Method of Processing Information.
Visual Interactive alleged that Leap infringed these patents
relating to interactive videophone systems, and the complaint
sought an accounting for damages under 35 U.S.C.
§ 284, an injunction and attorneys fees. The
Company filed its answer to the complaint on December 13,
2007, and on the same day, Cricket filed a complaint against
Visual Interactive in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of California seeking a declaration by the
court that the patents alleged against the Company are neither
valid nor infringed by it. Visual Interactive agreed to dismiss
its complaint against Leap and file an amended complaint against
Cricket, and Cricket filed its answer on January 23, 2008.
The Company intends to vigorously defend against this matter.
Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues
involved, however, the outcome of this matter is not presently
determinable.
On December 10, 2007, the Company was sued by Freedom
Wireless, Inc., or Freedom Wireless, in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall
Division, for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 5,722,067 entitled Security Cellular
Telecommunications System, U.S. Patent
No. 6,157,823 entitled Security Cellular
Telecommunications System, and U.S. Patent
No. 6,236,851 entitled Prepaid Security Cellular
Telecommunications System. Freedom Wireless alleges that
its patents claim a novel cellular system that enables prepaid
services subscribers to both place and receive cellular calls
without dialing access codes or using modified telephones. The
complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages, increased damages
under 35 U.S.C. § 284 together with interest,
costs and attorneys fees, and an injunction. On
February 15, 2008, the Company filed a motion to sever and
stay the proceedings against Cricket or, alternatively, to
transfer the case to the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against this matter. Due to the complex nature
of the legal and factual issues involved, however, the outcome
of this matter is not presently determinable.
On February 4, 2008, the Company and certain other wireless
carriers were sued by Electronic Data Systems Corporation
(EDS) in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement
of U.S. Patent No. 7,156,300 entitles System and
Method for Dispensing a Receipt Reflecting Prepaid Phone
Services and a U.S. Patent No. 7,255,268
entitled System for Purchase of Prepaid Telephone
F-32
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Services. EDS alleges that the sale and marketing by the
Company of prepaid wireless cellular telephone services
infringes these patents, and the complaint seeks an injunction
against further infringement, damages (including enhanced
damages) and attorneys fees. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against this lawsuit. Due to the complex
nature of the legal and factual issues involved, however, the
outcome of this lawsuit is not presently determinable.
American
Wireless Group
On December 31, 2002, several members of American Wireless
Group, LLC (AWG) filed a lawsuit against various
officers and directors of Leap in the Circuit Court of the First
Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, referred to
herein as the Whittington Lawsuit. Leap purchased certain FCC
wireless licenses from AWG and paid for those licenses with
shares of Leap stock. The complaint alleges that Leap failed to
disclose to AWG material facts regarding a dispute between Leap
and a third party relating to that partys claim that it
was entitled to an increase in the purchase price for certain
wireless licenses it sold to Leap. In their complaint,
plaintiffs seek rescission
and/or
damages according to proof at trial of not less than the
aggregate amount paid for the Leap stock (alleged in the
complaint to have a value of approximately $57.8 million in
June 2001 at the closing of the license sale transaction), plus
interest, punitive or exemplary damages in the amount of not
less than three times compensatory damages, and costs and
expenses. Plaintiffs contend that the named defendants are the
controlling group that was responsible for Leaps alleged
failure to disclose the material facts regarding the third party
dispute and the risk that the shares held by the plaintiffs
might be diluted if the third party was successful with respect
to its claim. The defendants in the Whittington Lawsuit filed a
motion to compel arbitration or, in the alternative, to dismiss
the Whittington Lawsuit. The motion noted that plaintiffs, as
members of AWG, agreed to arbitrate disputes pursuant to the
license purchase agreement, that they failed to plead facts that
show that they are entitled to relief, that Leap made adequate
disclosure of the relevant facts regarding the third party
dispute and that any failure to disclose such information did
not cause any damage to the plaintiffs. The court denied
defendants motion and the defendants appealed the denial
of the motion to the Mississippi Supreme Court. On
November 15, 2007, the Mississippi Supreme Court issued an
opinion denying the appeal and remanded the action to the trial
court. The defendants have since filed a motion to stay the
remand pending application to the United States Supreme Court
for a writ of certiorari. The Mississippi Supreme Court granted
the motion and the remand is now stayed until at least
April 2, 2008.
In a related action to the action described above, in June 2003,
AWG filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial
District of Hinds County, Mississippi (AWG Lawsuit)
against the same individual defendants named in the Whittington
Lawsuit. The complaint generally sets forth the same claims made
by the plaintiffs in the Whittington Lawsuit. In its complaint,
plaintiff seeks rescission
and/or
damages according to proof at trial of not less than the
aggregate amount paid for the Leap stock (alleged in the
complaint to have a value of approximately $57.8 million in
June 2001 at the closing of the license sale transaction), plus
interest, punitive or exemplary damages in the amount of not
less than three times compensatory damages, and costs and
expenses. Defendants filed a motion to compel arbitration or, in
the alternative, to dismiss the AWG Lawsuit, making arguments
similar to those made in their motion to dismiss the Whittington
Lawsuit. AWG has since agreed to arbitrate this lawsuit. The
arbitration is proceeding and a briefing schedule for motions
for summary judgment has been set.
Although Leap is not a defendant in either the Whittington or
AWG Lawsuits, several of the defendants have indemnification
agreements with the Company. Management believes that the
defendants liability, if any, from the AWG and Whittington
Lawsuits and any further indemnity claims of the defendants
against Leap is not presently determinable.
Securities
Litigation
Two shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the California
Superior Court for the County of San Diego in November 2007
and January 2008, and one shareholder derivative lawsuit was
filed in the United States District
F-33
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Court for the Southern District of California in February 2008
against certain of the Companys current and former
directors and executive officers, and against Leap as a nominal
defendant. Plaintiffs in one of the state shareholder derivative
lawsuits have indicated that they have filed a notice of
dismissal of the lawsuit. The claims asserted in these lawsuits
include breaches of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, waste
of corporate assets, unjust enrichment and violations of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)
arising from Leaps restatement of its financial statements
as described in Note 2 to the Companys consolidated
financial statements included in Part II
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
of its Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed
with the SEC on December 26, 2007, the September 2007
unsolicited merger proposal from MetroPCS and sales of Leap
common stock by certain of the defendants between December 2004
and June 2007. The complaints variously seek unspecified
damages, equitable
and/or
injunctive relief, a constructive trust, disgorgement and
reasonable attorneys fees and costs. Due to the complex nature
of the legal and factual issues involved, the outcome of these
matters is not presently determinable.
The Company and certain of its current and former officers and
directors have been named as defendants in multiple securities
class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of California between November 2007
and February 2008 purportedly on behalf of investors who
purchased Leap common stock between May 16, 2004 and
November 9, 2007. The Companys independent registered
public accounting firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, has been
named in one of these lawsuits. The class action lawsuits allege
that all defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange
Act and
Rule 10b-5,
and allege the individual defendants violated Section 20(a)
of the Exchange Act, by making false and misleading statements
about the Companys business and financial results arising
from Leaps November 9, 2007 announcement of its
restatement of its financial statements as described in
Note 2 to the Companys consolidated financial
statements included in Part II
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
of its Annual Report on
Form 10-K,
as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed
with the SEC on December 26, 2007. Some of these lawsuits
also allege false and misleading statements revealed by
Leaps August 7, 2007 second quarter 2007 earnings
release. The class action lawsuits seek, among other relief,
determinations that the actions are proper class actions,
unspecified damages and reasonable attorneys fees and
costs. Plaintiffs have filed motions for the appointment of lead
plaintiff, lead plaintiffs counsel and consolidation of
all related cases, and these motions are scheduled to be heard
on March 28, 2008. The Company intends to vigorously defend
against these lawsuits. Due to the complex nature of the legal
and factual issues involved, however, the outcome of these
matters is not presently determinable.
Other
Litigation
In addition to the matters described above, the Company is often
involved in certain other claims, arising in the ordinary course
of business, seeking monetary damages and other relief, none of
which claims, based upon current information, is currently
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Companys
business, financial condition and results of operations.
Spectrum
Clearing Obligations
The AWS spectrum that was auctioned in Auction #66 is
currently used by U.S. government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. To facilitate the clearing of this
spectrum, the FCC adopted a transition and cost-sharing plan
whereby incumbent non-governmental users may be reimbursed for
costs they incur in relocating from the spectrum by AWS
licensees benefiting from the relocation. In addition, this plan
requires the AWS licensees and the applicable incumbent
non-governmental user to negotiate for a period of two or three
years (depending on the type of incumbent user and whether the
user is a commercial or non-commercial licensee), triggered from
the time that an AWS licensee notifies the incumbent user that
it desires the incumbent to relocate. If no agreement is reached
during this period of time, the FCC rules provide that an AWS
licensee may force the incumbent non-governmental user to
relocate at the licensees expense. The FCC rules also
provide that a portion of the proceeds raised in
Auction #66 will be used to reimburse the costs of
governmental
F-34
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
users relocating from the AWS spectrum. However, some such users
may delay relocation for an extended and undetermined period of
time. The Company is currently evaluating its spectrum clearing
obligations and the potential costs that may be incurred could
be material.
FCC
Hurricane Katrina Order
The FCC regulates the licensing, construction, modification,
operation, ownership, sale and interconnection of wireless
communications systems, as do some state and local regulatory
agencies. The FCC recently released an order implementing
certain recommendations of an independent panel reviewing the
impact of Hurricane Katrina on communications networks, which
requires wireless carriers to provide emergency
back-up
power sources for their equipment and facilities, including
24 hours of emergency power for mobile switch offices and
up to eight hours for cell site locations. The order was
expected to become effective sometime in 2008. However, on
February 28, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit stayed the effective date of
the order pending resolution of a petition for review of the
FCCs rules. In order for the Company to comply with the
requirements of the order, it would likely need to purchase
additional equipment, obtain additional state and local permits,
authorizations and approvals and incur additional operating
expenses. The Company is currently evaluating its compliance
with this order should it become effective and the potential
costs that may be incurred to achieve compliance could be
material.
System
Equipment Purchase Agreements
In June 2007, the Company entered into certain system equipment
purchase agreements. The agreements generally have a term of
three years pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase
and/or
license wireless communications systems, products and services
designed to be AWS functional at a current estimated cost to the
Company of approximately $266 million, which commitments
are subject, in part, to the necessary clearance of spectrum in
the markets to be built. Under the terms of the agreements, the
Company is entitled to certain pricing discounts, credits and
incentives, which credits and incentives are subject to the
Companys achievement of its purchase commitments, and to
certain technical training for the Companys personnel. If
the purchase commitment levels per the agreements are not
achieved, the Company may be required to refund previous credits
and incentives it applied to historical purchases.
Capital
and Operating Leases
The Company has entered into non-cancelable operating lease
agreements to lease its administrative and retail facilities,
and sites for towers, equipment and antennae required for the
operation of its wireless network. These leases typically
include renewal options and escalation clauses, some of which
escalation clauses are based on the consumer price index. In
general, site leases have five-year initial terms with four
five-year
renewal options. In addition, the Company has entered into
capital lease agreements for its primary billing and activation
system and for certain equipment required for the operation of
its wireless network. Under its lease agreement for its billing
and activation system, the Company must make contingent payments
to the lessor based on specified levels of active customers. No
such contingent payments were made during the year ended
December 31, 2007. The following table summarizes the
approximate future minimum rentals under non-cancelable
operating leases, including renewals
F-35
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
that are reasonably assured, and future minimum capital lease
payments in effect at December 31, 2007 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Capital
|
|
|
Operating
|
|
Years Ended December 31:
|
|
Leases
|
|
|
Leases
|
|
|
2008
|
|
$
|
16,716
|
|
|
$
|
121,712
|
|
2009
|
|
|
16,716
|
|
|
|
121,519
|
|
2010
|
|
|
16,716
|
|
|
|
121,139
|
|
2011
|
|
|
2,466
|
|
|
|
115,676
|
|
2012
|
|
|
2,466
|
|
|
|
114,530
|
|
Thereafter
|
|
|
6,458
|
|
|
|
461,518
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total minimum lease payments
|
|
$
|
61,538
|
|
|
$
|
1,056,094
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Less amount representing interest
|
|
|
(10,848
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Present value of minimum lease payments
|
|
$
|
50,690
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Outstanding
Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds
As of December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately
$4.6 million of letters of credit outstanding, which were
collateralized by restricted cash, related to contractual
commitments under certain of its administrative facility leases,
surety bond programs and workers compensation insurance
program. Approximately $2.0 million of these letters of
credit were issued pursuant to the Companys
$200 million revolving credit facility and are considered
as usage for purposes of determining the maximum available
credit line and excess availability.
As of December 31, 2007, the Company had approximately
$2.1 million of surety bonds outstanding to guarantee to
government municipalities the Companys own performance
with respect to removal of equipment from its cell sites.
|
|
Note 14.
|
Guarantor
Financial Information
|
The $1,100 million of unsecured senior notes issued by
Cricket (the Issuing Subsidiary) are due in 2014 and
are jointly and severally guaranteed on a full and unconditional
basis by Leap (the Guarantor Parent Company) and
certain of its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries,
including Crickets subsidiaries that hold real property
interests or wireless licenses (collectively, the
Guarantor Subsidiaries).
The indenture governing the notes limits, among other things,
Leaps, Crickets and the Guarantor Subsidiaries
ability to: incur additional debt; create liens or other
encumbrances; place limitations on distributions from restricted
subsidiaries; pay dividends; make investments; prepay
subordinated indebtedness or make other restricted payments;
issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; issue
guarantees; sell assets; enter into transactions with its
affiliates; and make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with
another entity.
Consolidating financial information of the Guarantor Parent
Company, the Issuing Subsidiary, the Guarantor Subsidiaries,
non-guarantor subsidiaries and total consolidated Leap and
subsidiaries as of for the years ended December 31, 2007
and 2006 and for the year ended December 31, 2005 is
presented below. The equity method of accounting is used to
account for ownership interests in subsidiaries, where
applicable.
F-36
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2007 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
62
|
|
|
$
|
399,153
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
34,122
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
163,258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,975
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
179,233
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and
short-term
investments
|
|
|
7,671
|
|
|
|
7,504
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,550
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,583
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,208
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
|
37,201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
796
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
7,835
|
|
|
|
671,699
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51,893
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
731,427
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
1,254,856
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,901
|
|
|
|
(5,130
|
)
|
|
|
1,316,657
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
1,728,602
|
|
|
|
1,903,009
|
|
|
|
173,922
|
|
|
|
5,325
|
|
|
|
(3,810,858
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,533
|
|
|
|
1,519,638
|
|
|
|
328,182
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,866,353
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,948
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
154
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,102
|
|
Deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
44,464
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,172
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,677
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
1,736,508
|
|
|
$
|
4,364,291
|
|
|
$
|
1,693,560
|
|
|
$
|
454,627
|
|
|
$
|
(3,815,988
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
6,459
|
|
|
$
|
210,707
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
8,562
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
225,735
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
Intercompany payables
|
|
|
5,727
|
|
|
|
179,248
|
|
|
|
726
|
|
|
|
2,986
|
|
|
|
(188,687
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
112,626
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,182
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
114,808
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
12,186
|
|
|
|
511,581
|
|
|
|
733
|
|
|
|
15,230
|
|
|
|
(188,687
|
)
|
|
|
351,043
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,995,402
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
311,052
|
|
|
|
(272,552
|
)
|
|
|
2,033,902
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,606
|
|
|
|
163,229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
182,835
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,570
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,602
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,172
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
12,186
|
|
|
|
2,615,159
|
|
|
|
163,962
|
|
|
|
327,884
|
|
|
|
(461,239
|
)
|
|
|
2,657,952
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,530
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,194
|
|
|
|
50,724
|
|
Membership units subject to repurchase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,879
|
|
|
|
(37,879
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
1,728,602
|
|
|
|
1,529,598
|
|
|
|
88,864
|
|
|
|
(3,347,064
|
)
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
1,736,508
|
|
|
$
|
4,364,291
|
|
|
$
|
1,693,560
|
|
|
$
|
454,627
|
|
|
$
|
(3,815,988
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-37
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
206
|
|
|
$
|
329,240
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
43,366
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
372,812
|
|
Short-term
investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,400
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,400
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and
short-term
investments
|
|
|
8,093
|
|
|
|
4,753
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
735
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13,581
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
89,383
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
802
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,185
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
105
|
|
|
|
52,404
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
472
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
52,981
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
8,404
|
|
|
|
542,180
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
595,959
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
117
|
|
|
|
1,040,380
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,078,521
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
1,779,514
|
|
|
|
1,867,876
|
|
|
|
142,072
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,789,462
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,527,574
|
|
|
|
36,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,563,958
|
|
Assets held for sale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,070
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8,070
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79,409
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
419
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79,828
|
|
Deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
274,084
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
274,084
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
815
|
|
|
|
56,875
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,827
|
|
|
|
(772
|
)
|
|
|
58,745
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
1,788,850
|
|
|
$
|
4,012,502
|
|
|
$
|
1,677,716
|
|
|
$
|
396,113
|
|
|
$
|
(3,790,234
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,084,947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
6,792
|
|
|
$
|
300,070
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
10,231
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
317,093
|
|
Current maturities of
long-term
debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
Intercompany payables
|
|
|
10,265
|
|
|
|
142,072
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,893
|
|
|
|
(162,230
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,844
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
604
|
|
|
|
(773
|
)
|
|
|
84,675
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
17,057
|
|
|
|
535,986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,728
|
|
|
|
(163,003
|
)
|
|
|
410,768
|
|
Long-term
debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,636,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
271,443
|
|
|
|
(231,443
|
)
|
|
|
1,676,500
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,057
|
|
|
|
139,278
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
148,335
|
|
Other
long-term
liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,622
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
986
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,608
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
17,057
|
|
|
|
2,228,165
|
|
|
|
139,278
|
|
|
|
293,157
|
|
|
|
(394,446
|
)
|
|
|
2,283,211
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,821
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
25,122
|
|
|
|
29,943
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,771,793
|
|
|
|
1,779,516
|
|
|
|
1,538,438
|
|
|
|
102,956
|
|
|
|
(3,420,910
|
)
|
|
|
1,771,793
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
1,788,850
|
|
|
$
|
4,012,502
|
|
|
$
|
1,677,716
|
|
|
$
|
396,113
|
|
|
$
|
(3,790,234
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,084,947
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-38
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31,
2007 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,360,801
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
34,866
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,395,667
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
230,457
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,679
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
235,136
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
|
54,424
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(54,462
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,591,296
|
|
|
|
54,424
|
|
|
|
39,545
|
|
|
|
(54,462
|
)
|
|
|
1,630,803
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(424,022
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14,494
|
)
|
|
|
54,388
|
|
|
|
(384,128
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(392,062
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13,935
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(405,997
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
(196,803
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,402
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(206,213
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(4,979
|
)
|
|
|
(259,325
|
)
|
|
|
(132
|
)
|
|
|
(7,174
|
)
|
|
|
74
|
|
|
|
(271,536
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(65
|
)
|
|
|
(293,621
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,515
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(302,201
|
)
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(383
|
)
|
|
|
(985
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,368
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(5,052
|
)
|
|
|
(1,566,216
|
)
|
|
|
(1,117
|
)
|
|
|
(53,520
|
)
|
|
|
54,462
|
|
|
|
(1,571,443
|
)
|
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(349
|
)
|
|
|
1,251
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
902
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(5,052
|
)
|
|
|
24,731
|
|
|
|
54,558
|
|
|
|
(13,975
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,262
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,067
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,884
|
|
|
|
1,817
|
|
Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
(70,838
|
)
|
|
|
(7,708
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
78,546
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,309
|
)
|
Interest income
|
|
|
38
|
|
|
|
63,024
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
985
|
|
|
|
(35,108
|
)
|
|
|
28,939
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(119,734
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(34,296
|
)
|
|
|
32,799
|
|
|
|
(121,231
|
)
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(75
|
)
|
|
|
(5,933
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,039
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
|
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
|
(49,996
|
)
|
|
|
54,558
|
|
|
|
(47,317
|
)
|
|
|
80,121
|
|
|
|
(38,561
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(20,842
|
)
|
|
|
(16,524
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(37,366
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
$
|
(70,838
|
)
|
|
$
|
38,034
|
|
|
$
|
(47,317
|
)
|
|
$
|
80,121
|
|
|
$
|
(75,927
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-39
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31,
2006 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
952,921
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
3,444
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
956,365
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
210,123
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,474
|
|
|
|
(775
|
)
|
|
|
210,822
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
364
|
|
|
|
39,943
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(40,307
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,163,408
|
|
|
|
39,943
|
|
|
|
4,918
|
|
|
|
(41,082
|
)
|
|
|
1,167,187
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(300,949
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,156
|
)
|
|
|
39,943
|
|
|
|
(264,162
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(309,223
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,386
|
)
|
|
|
775
|
|
|
|
(310,834
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(155,615
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,642
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(159,257
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(7,178
|
)
|
|
|
(186,931
|
)
|
|
|
(937
|
)
|
|
|
(1,922
|
)
|
|
|
364
|
|
|
|
(196,604
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(100
|
)
|
|
|
(223,576
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,071
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(226,747
|
)
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,912
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,912
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(7,278
|
)
|
|
|
(1,176,294
|
)
|
|
|
(8,849
|
)
|
|
|
(14,177
|
)
|
|
|
41,082
|
|
|
|
(1,165,516
|
)
|
Gain on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,300
|
|
|
|
754
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
22,054
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(7,278
|
)
|
|
|
8,414
|
|
|
|
31,848
|
|
|
|
(9,259
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23,725
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(695
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,188
|
|
|
|
1,493
|
|
Equity in net income (loss) of consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
(19,116
|
)
|
|
|
4,869
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,247
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
37
|
|
|
|
30,317
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
664
|
|
|
|
(7,955
|
)
|
|
|
23,063
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(61,219
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,070
|
)
|
|
|
7,955
|
|
|
|
(61,334
|
)
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
(4,650
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,650
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
|
(22,964
|
)
|
|
|
31,848
|
|
|
|
(16,665
|
)
|
|
|
16,435
|
|
|
|
(15,703
|
)
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,225
|
|
|
|
(12,502
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,277
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting
principle
|
|
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
|
(19,739
|
)
|
|
|
19,346
|
|
|
|
(16,665
|
)
|
|
|
16,435
|
|
|
|
(24,980
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
$
|
(19,116
|
)
|
|
$
|
19,346
|
|
|
$
|
(16,665
|
)
|
|
$
|
16,435
|
|
|
$
|
(24,357
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-40
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Statement of Operations for the Year Ended December 31,
2005 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
768,916
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
768,916
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
188,855
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
188,855
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31,790
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
957,771
|
|
|
|
31,165
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31,790
|
)
|
|
|
957,771
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(234,713
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,165
|
|
|
|
(203,548
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(230,520
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(230,520
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(100,042
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(100,042
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(3,345
|
)
|
|
|
(156,396
|
)
|
|
|
(625
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
(159,741
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(643
|
)
|
|
|
(194,819
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(195,462
|
)
|
Impairment of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,043
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,043
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(3,988
|
)
|
|
|
(916,490
|
)
|
|
|
(12,668
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,790
|
|
|
|
(901,356
|
)
|
Gain on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,587
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,587
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(3,363
|
)
|
|
|
41,281
|
|
|
|
33,084
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,002
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
Equity in net income of consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
32,361
|
|
|
|
18,962
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(51,323
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,957
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,957
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(30,051
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(30,051
|
)
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
1,687
|
|
|
|
(264
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,423
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before income taxes
|
|
|
30,685
|
|
|
|
39,854
|
|
|
|
33,084
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(51,323
|
)
|
|
|
52,300
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,493
|
)
|
|
|
(14,122
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(21,615
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
|
$
|
32,361
|
|
|
$
|
18,962
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
(51,323
|
)
|
|
$
|
30,685
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-41
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31,
2007 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
$
|
(1,166
|
)
|
|
$
|
316,746
|
|
|
$
|
(3,756
|
)
|
|
$
|
(16,168
|
)
|
|
$
|
20,525
|
|
|
$
|
316,181
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of and changes in prepayments for property and
equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(463,389
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(28,550
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(491,939
|
)
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses and spectrum
clearing costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,744
|
)
|
|
|
452
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,292
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses and operating assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(642,513
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(642,513
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
530,956
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
530,956
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
(9,690
|
)
|
|
|
(4,706
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
(4,706
|
)
|
Purchase of membership units
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(18,955
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(18,955
|
)
|
Other
|
|
|
1,022
|
|
|
|
(426
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(375
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
221
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(8,668
|
)
|
|
|
(599,033
|
)
|
|
|
3,756
|
|
|
|
(28,473
|
)
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
(622,728
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal payments on capital lease obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,213
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,213
|
)
|
Proceeds from long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
370,480
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
(6,000
|
)
|
|
|
370,480
|
|
Issuance of related party debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,000
|
)
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,757
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(7,765
|
)
|
Capital contributions, net
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29,405
|
|
|
|
(30,215
|
)
|
|
|
18,570
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
9,690
|
|
|
|
352,200
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
35,397
|
|
|
|
(30,215
|
)
|
|
|
367,072
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(144
|
)
|
|
|
69,913
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,244
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,525
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
206
|
|
|
|
329,240
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,366
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
372,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
62
|
|
|
$
|
399,153
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
34,122
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-42
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31,
2006 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
6,933
|
|
|
$
|
269,947
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
12,991
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
289,871
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of and changes in prepayments for property and
equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(567,518
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(27,623
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(595,141
|
)
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(743,688
|
)
|
|
|
(275,144
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,018,832
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses and operating assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,887
|
|
|
|
33,485
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
40,372
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(150,488
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(150,488
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,932
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
177,932
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
(259,898
|
)
|
|
|
(777,291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,037,189
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments, net
|
|
|
(6,773
|
)
|
|
|
1,571
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
735
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,467
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(266,671
|
)
|
|
|
(1,308,907
|
)
|
|
|
(710,203
|
)
|
|
|
(302,032
|
)
|
|
|
1,037,189
|
|
|
|
(1,550,624
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,220,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
263,378
|
|
|
|
(223,378
|
)
|
|
|
2,260,000
|
|
Issuance of related party debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(223,378
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
223,378
|
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,168,944
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,168,944
|
)
|
Capital contributions, net
|
|
|
259,898
|
|
|
|
268,783
|
|
|
|
710,203
|
|
|
|
70,605
|
|
|
|
(1,037,189
|
)
|
|
|
272,300
|
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(21,288
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,576
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(22,864
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
259,898
|
|
|
|
1,075,173
|
|
|
|
710,203
|
|
|
|
332,407
|
|
|
|
(1,037,189
|
)
|
|
|
1,340,492
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
160
|
|
|
|
36,213
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
43,366
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79,739
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
46
|
|
|
|
293,027
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
293,073
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
206
|
|
|
$
|
329,240
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
43,366
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
372,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-43
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS (Continued)
Consolidating
Statement of Cash Flows for the Year Ended December 31,
2005 (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
and Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
364
|
|
|
$
|
307,916
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
308,280
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of and changes in prepayments for property and
equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(218,636
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(218,636
|
)
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(243,960
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(243,960
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses and operating assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,300
|
|
|
|
88,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
108,800
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(307,021
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(307,021
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
329,043
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
329,043
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(191,408
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
191,408
|
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments, net
|
|
|
(338
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(338
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(338
|
)
|
|
|
(367,722
|
)
|
|
|
(155,460
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
191,408
|
|
|
|
(332,112
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
600,000
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(377,912
|
)
|
|
|
(40,373
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(418,285
|
)
|
Capital contributions, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
|
|
191,408
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(191,408
|
)
|
|
|
1,000
|
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,951
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,951
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by financing activities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
216,137
|
|
|
|
151,035
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(191,408
|
)
|
|
|
175,764
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
26
|
|
|
|
156,331
|
|
|
|
(4,425
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
151,932
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
20
|
|
|
|
136,696
|
|
|
|
4,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
141,141
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
46
|
|
|
$
|
293,027
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
293,073
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-44
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In
thousands, except share amounts)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
|
(Unaudited)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
437,184
|
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
71,556
|
|
|
|
179,233
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
|
|
|
9,997
|
|
|
|
15,550
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
71,873
|
|
|
|
65,208
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
113,853
|
|
|
|
38,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
704,463
|
|
|
|
731,427
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
1,389,866
|
|
|
|
1,316,657
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
1,860,414
|
|
|
|
1,866,353
|
|
Assets held for sale
|
|
|
6,816
|
|
|
|
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
|
|
37,670
|
|
|
|
46,102
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
49,333
|
|
|
|
46,677
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
4,474,344
|
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
225,371
|
|
|
$
|
225,735
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
11,500
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
155,195
|
|
|
|
114,808
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
392,066
|
|
|
|
351,043
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
2,030,150
|
|
|
|
2,033,902
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
191,924
|
|
|
|
182,835
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
96,764
|
|
|
|
90,172
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
2,710,904
|
|
|
|
2,657,952
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
51,547
|
|
|
|
50,724
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Preferred stock authorized 10,000,000 shares;
$.0001 par value, no shares issued and outstanding
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common stock authorized 160,000,000 shares;
$.0001 par value, 68,976,443 and 68,674,435 shares
issued and outstanding at March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, respectively
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
7
|
|
Additional paid-in capital
|
|
|
1,821,205
|
|
|
|
1,808,689
|
|
Accumulated deficit
|
|
|
(93,843
|
)
|
|
|
(75,699
|
)
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
|
(15,476
|
)
|
|
|
(8,675
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,711,893
|
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
4,474,344
|
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements.
F-45
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited
and in thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
398,929
|
|
|
$
|
321,691
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
69,455
|
|
|
|
71,734
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
468,384
|
|
|
|
393,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
(111,170
|
)
|
|
|
(90,440
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
(114,221
|
)
|
|
|
(122,665
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(58,100
|
)
|
|
|
(48,769
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(75,907
|
)
|
|
|
(65,234
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(82,639
|
)
|
|
|
(68,800
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(442,037
|
)
|
|
|
(395,908
|
)
|
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
(291
|
)
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
26,056
|
|
|
|
(1,543
|
)
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
(823
|
)
|
|
|
1,579
|
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
4,781
|
|
|
|
5,285
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(33,357
|
)
|
|
|
(26,496
|
)
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
(4,036
|
)
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
(8,441
|
)
|
|
|
(21,812
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(9,703
|
)
|
|
|
(2,412
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
(0.27
|
)
|
|
$
|
(0.36
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in per share calculations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
67,529
|
|
|
|
66,870
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
67,529
|
|
|
|
66,870
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements.
F-46
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CONDENSED
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited
and in thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
135,680
|
|
|
$
|
5,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of property and equipment
|
|
|
(157,237
|
)
|
|
|
(133,295
|
)
|
Change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment
|
|
|
(2,601
|
)
|
|
|
7,409
|
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses and spectrum
clearing costs
|
|
|
(70,877
|
)
|
|
|
(423
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses and operating assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
(19,744
|
)
|
|
|
(42,727
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
124,341
|
|
|
|
84,293
|
|
Purchase of minority interest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,706
|
)
|
Purchase of membership units
|
|
|
(1,033
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Changes in restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term
investments, net
|
|
|
(251
|
)
|
|
|
1,102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(127,402
|
)
|
|
|
(78,847
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal payments on capital lease obligations
|
|
|
(4,794
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
(364
|
)
|
|
|
(881
|
)
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
(4,431
|
)
|
|
|
1,234
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
3,847
|
|
|
|
(72,491
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
433,337
|
|
|
|
372,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
437,184
|
|
|
$
|
300,321
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Supplementary disclosure of cash flow information:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash paid for interest
|
|
$
|
19,767
|
|
|
$
|
18,373
|
|
Cash paid for income taxes
|
|
$
|
52
|
|
|
$
|
332
|
|
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial
statements.
F-47
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
NOTES TO
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(UNAUDITED)
Leap Wireless International, Inc. (Leap), a Delaware
corporation, together with its subsidiaries, is a wireless
communications carrier that offers digital wireless service in
the United States of America under the
Cricket®
brand. Cricket service offers customers unlimited wireless
service for a flat monthly rate without requiring a fixed-term
contract or a credit check. Leap conducts operations through its
subsidiaries and has no independent operations or sources of
income other than through dividends, if any, from its
subsidiaries. Cricket service is offered by Cricket
Communications, Inc. (Cricket), a wholly owned
subsidiary of Leap, and is also offered in Oregon by LCW
Wireless Operations, LLC (LCW Operations), a wholly
owned subsidiary of LCW Wireless, LLC (LCW Wireless)
and a designated entity under Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) regulations. Cricket owns an indirect 73.3%
non-controlling interest in LCW Operations through a 73.3%
non-controlling interest in LCW Wireless. Cricket also owns an
82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali Spectrum, LLC
(Denali), which purchased a wireless license in the
FCCs auction for Advanced Wireless Services
(AWS) licenses (Auction #66),
covering the upper mid-west portion of the United States, as a
designated entity through its wholly owned subsidiary, Denali
Spectrum License, LLC (Denali License). Leap,
Cricket and their subsidiaries, including LCW Wireless and
Denali, are collectively referred to herein as the
Company.
The Company operates in a single operating segment as a wireless
communications carrier that offers digital wireless service in
the United States of America.
|
|
Note 2.
|
Basis of
Presentation and Significant Accounting Policies
|
Basis
of Presentation
The accompanying interim condensed consolidated financial
statements have been prepared without audit, in accordance with
the instructions to
Form 10-Q
and, therefore, do not include all information and footnotes
required by accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America for a complete set of financial
statements. In the opinion of management, the unaudited
financial information for the interim periods presented reflects
all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results
for the periods presented, with such adjustments consisting of
normal recurring adjustments and other than normal recurring
adjustments associated with the
out-of-period
adjustments described below. Accounting principles generally
accepted in the United States of America require management to
make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets
and liabilities, and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses. By their nature, estimates are subject to an inherent
degree of uncertainty. Actual results could differ from
managements estimates and operating results for interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for
an entire fiscal year.
For the three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company
recorded an adjustment to cost of equipment previously reported
in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended
December 31, 2007. This adjustment resulted in a
$2.5 million increase ($0.04 per share) to the
Companys net loss for the three months ended
March 31, 2008. The Company assessed the quantitative and
qualitative effects of the adjustment on each of its previously
reported periods and concluded that the adjustment was not
material to any period and is not expected to be material to its
consolidated financial statements for the year ended December
31, 2008.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include the
accounts of Leap and its wholly owned subsidiaries as well as
the accounts of LCW Wireless and Denali and their wholly owned
subsidiaries. The Company consolidates its interests in LCW
Wireless and Denali in accordance with Financial Accounting
Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No.
(FIN) 46(R), Consolidation of Variable
Interest Entities, because these entities are variable
interest entities and the Company will absorb a majority of
their expected losses. Prior to March 2007, the Company
consolidated its interests in Alaska Native Broadband 1, LLC
(ANB 1) and its wholly owned subsidiary Alaska
Native Broadband 1 License, LLC (ANB 1 License)
in accordance with FIN 46(R). The Company acquired the
remaining interests in ANB 1 in March 2007 and merged
ANB 1 and ANB 1 License into
F-48
Cricket in December 2007. All significant intercompany accounts
and transactions have been eliminated in the condensed
consolidated financial statements.
Revenues
Crickets business revenues principally arise from the sale
of wireless services, handsets and accessories. Wireless
services are generally provided on a
month-to-month
basis. New and reactivating customers are required to pay for
their service in advance, and generally, customers who activated
their service prior to May 2006 pay in arrears. The Company does
not require any of its customers to sign fixed-term service
commitments or submit to a credit check. These terms generally
appeal to less affluent customers who are considered more likely
to terminate service for inability to pay than wireless
customers in general. Consequently, the Company has concluded
that collectibility of its revenues is not reasonably assured
until payment has been received. Accordingly, service revenues
are recognized only after services have been rendered and
payment has been received.
When the Company activates a new customer, it frequently sells
that customer a handset and the first month of service in a
bundled transaction. Under the provisions of Emerging Issues
Task Force (EITF) Issue
No. 00-21,
Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables,
(EITF 00-21)
the sale of a handset along with a month of wireless service
constitutes a multiple element arrangement. Under
EITF 00-21,
once a company has determined the fair value of the elements in
the sales transaction, the total consideration received from the
customer must be allocated among those elements on a relative
fair value basis. Applying
EITF 00-21
to these transactions results in the Company recognizing the
total consideration received, less one month of wireless service
revenue (at the customers stated rate plan), as equipment
revenue.
Equipment revenues and related costs from the sale of handsets
are recognized when service is activated by customers. Revenues
and related costs from the sale of accessories are recognized at
the point of sale. The costs of handsets and accessories sold
are recorded in cost of equipment. In addition to handsets that
the Company sells directly to its customers at Cricket-owned
stores, the Company also sells handsets to third-party dealers.
These dealers then sell the handsets to the ultimate Cricket
customer, and that customer also receives the first month of
service in a bundled transaction (identical to the sale made at
a Cricket-owned store). Sales of handsets to third-party dealers
are recognized as equipment revenues only when service is
activated by customers, since the level of price reductions
ultimately available to such dealers is not reliably estimable
until the handsets are sold by such dealers to customers. Thus,
handsets sold to third-party dealers are recorded as consigned
inventory and deferred equipment revenue until they are sold to,
and service is activated by, customers.
Through a third-party provider, the Companys customers may
elect to participate in an extended handset warranty/insurance
program. The Company recognizes revenue on replacement handsets
sold to its customers under the program when the customer
purchases a replacement handset.
Sales incentives offered without charge to customers and
volume-based incentives paid to the Companys third-party
dealers are recognized as a reduction of revenue and as a
liability when the related service or equipment revenue is
recognized. Customers have limited rights to return handsets and
accessories based on time
and/or
usage; as a result, customer returns of handsets and accessories
have historically been negligible.
Amounts billed by the Company in advance of customers
wireless service periods are not reflected in accounts
receivable or deferred revenue as collectibility of such amounts
is not reasonably assured. Deferred revenue consists primarily
of cash received from customers in advance of their service
period and deferred equipment revenue related to handsets and
accessories sold to third-party dealers.
Costs
and Expenses
The Companys costs and expenses include:
Cost of Service. The major components of cost
of service are: charges from other communications companies for
long distance, roaming and content download services provided to
the Companys customers; charges from other communications
companies for their transport and termination of calls
originated by the Companys customers and destined for
customers of other networks; and expenses for tower and network
facility
F-49
rent, engineering operations, field technicians and utility and
maintenance charges, and salary and overhead charges associated
with these functions.
Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment primarily
includes the cost of handsets and accessories purchased from
third-party vendors and resold to the Companys customers
in connection with its services, as well as the lower of cost or
market write-downs associated with excess and damaged handsets
and accessories.
Selling and Marketing. Selling and marketing
expenses primarily include advertising expenses, promotional and
public relations costs associated with acquiring new customers,
store operating costs (such as retail associates salaries
and rent), and overhead charges associated with selling and
marketing functions.
General and Administrative. General and
administrative expenses primarily include call center and other
customer care program costs and salary, overhead and outside
consulting costs associated with the Companys customer
care, billing, information technology, finance, human resources,
accounting, legal and executive functions.
Cash
and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a
maturity at the time of purchase of three months or less to be
cash equivalents. The Company invests its cash with major
financial institutions in money market funds, short-term
U.S. Treasury securities, obligations of
U.S. government agencies and other securities such as
prime-rated short-term commercial paper and investment grade
corporate fixed-income securities. The Company has not
experienced any significant losses on its cash and cash
equivalents.
Short-Term
Investments
Short-term investments generally consist of highly liquid,
fixed-income investments with an original maturity at the time
of purchase of greater than three months. Such investments
consist of commercial paper, asset-backed commercial paper,
obligations of the U.S. government, and investment grade
fixed-income securities guaranteed by U.S. government
agencies.
Investments are classified as
available-for-sale
and stated at fair value. The net unrealized gains or losses on
available-for-sale
securities are reported as a component of comprehensive income
(loss). The specific identification method is used to compute
the realized gains and losses on investments. Investments are
periodically reviewed for impairment. If the carrying value of
an investment exceeds its fair value and the decline in value is
determined to be
other-than-temporary,
an impairment loss is recognized for the difference. See
Note 5 for a discussion regarding the Companys
impairment losses recognized on its short-term investments.
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
On January 1, 2008, with respect to valuing its financial
assets and liabilities, the Company adopted the provisions of
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS)
No. 157, Fair Value Measurements
(SFAS 157), which defines fair value for
accounting purposes, establishes a framework for measuring fair
value and expands disclosure requirements regarding fair value
measurements. Fair value is defined as an exit price, which is
the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to
transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market
participants at the measurement date. The degree of judgment
utilized in measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities
generally correlates to the level of pricing observability.
Financial assets and liabilities with readily available,
actively quoted prices or for which fair value can be measured
from actively quoted prices in active markets generally have
more pricing observability and require less judgment in
measuring fair value. Conversely, financial assets and
liabilities that are rarely traded or not quoted have less
pricing observability and are generally measured at fair value
using valuation models that require more judgment. These
valuation techniques involve some level of management estimation
and judgment, the degree of which is dependent on the price
transparency of the asset, liability or market and the nature of
the asset or liability. The Company has categorized its
financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value into a
three-level hierarchy in accordance with SFAS 157. See
Note 5 for a further discussion regarding the
Companys measurement of financial assets and liabilities
at fair value.
F-50
Property
and Equipment
Property and equipment are initially recorded at cost. Additions
and improvements are capitalized, while expenditures that do not
enhance the asset or extend its useful life are charged to
operating expenses as incurred. Depreciation is applied using
the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets once the assets are placed in service.
The following table summarizes the depreciable lives for
property and equipment (in years):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciable
|
|
|
|
Life
|
|
|
Network equipment:
|
|
|
|
|
Switches
|
|
|
10
|
|
Switch power equipment
|
|
|
15
|
|
Cell site equipment, and site acquisitions and improvements
|
|
|
7
|
|
Towers
|
|
|
15
|
|
Antennae
|
|
|
5
|
|
Computer hardware and software
|
|
|
3-5
|
|
Furniture, fixtures, retail and office equipment
|
|
|
3-7
|
|
The Companys network construction expenditures are
recorded as
construction-in-progress
until the network or assets are placed in service, at which time
the assets are transferred to the appropriate property or
equipment category. The Company capitalizes salaries and related
costs of engineering and technical operations employees as
components of
construction-in-progress
during the construction period to the extent time and expense
are contributed to the construction effort. The Company also
capitalizes certain telecommunications and other related costs
as
construction-in-progress
during the construction period to the extent they are
incremental and directly related to the network under
construction. In addition, interest is capitalized on the
carrying values of both wireless licenses and equipment during
the construction period and is depreciated over an estimated
useful life of ten years. During the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company capitalized interest
of $13.0 million and $10.7 million, respectively, to
property and equipment.
Property and equipment to be disposed of by sale is not
depreciated and is carried at the lower of carrying value or
fair value less costs to sell. As of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, there was no property or equipment
classified as assets held for sale.
Wireless
Licenses
The Company and LCW Wireless operate broadband PCS networks
under wireless licenses granted by the FCC that are specific to
a particular geographic area on spectrum that has been allocated
by the FCC for such services. In addition, through the
Companys and Denali Licenses participation in
Auction #66 in December 2006, it and Denali License
acquired a number of AWS licenses that can be used to provide
services comparable to the PCS services the Company currently
provides, in addition to other advanced wireless services. The
Company launched service in its first AWS market in April 2008.
Wireless licenses are initially recorded at cost and are not
amortized. Although FCC licenses are issued with a stated term
(ten years in the case of PCS licenses and fifteen years in the
case of AWS licenses), wireless licenses are considered to be
indefinite-lived intangible assets because the Company and LCW
Wireless expect to continue to provide wireless service using
the relevant licenses for the foreseeable future, PCS and AWS
licenses are routinely renewed for a nominal fee and management
has determined that no legal, regulatory, contractual,
competitive, economic or other factors currently exist that
limit the useful life of the Companys or its consolidated
joint ventures PCS and AWS licenses. On a quarterly basis,
the Company evaluates the remaining useful life of its
indefinite lived wireless licenses to determine whether events
and circumstances, such as any legal, regulatory, contractual,
competitive, economic or other factors, continue to support an
indefinite useful life. If a wireless license is subsequently
determined to have a finite useful life, the Company tests the
wireless license for impairment in accordance with
SFAS No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible
Assets, (SFAS 142). The wireless license
would then be amortized prospectively over its estimated
remaining useful life. In addition to its quarterly evaluation
of the indefinite useful lives of its wireless licenses, the
F-51
Company also tests its wireless licenses for impairment in
accordance with SFAS 142 on an annual basis. As of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the carrying
value of the Companys and its consolidated joint
ventures wireless licenses was $1.9 billion. Wireless
licenses to be disposed of by sale are carried at the lower of
carrying value or fair value less costs to sell. As of
March 31, 2008 there was $6.8 million of wireless
licenses classified as assets held for sale. No wireless
licenses were classified as assets held for sale as of
December 31, 2007.
Portions of the spectrum that the Company and Denali License
purchased in Auction #66 are currently used by
U.S. federal government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. The Companys and Denali
Licenses spectrum clearing costs are capitalized to
wireless licenses as incurred. During the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company and Denali License
incurred approximately $0.9 million and $0.1 million,
respectively, in spectrum clearing costs.
Investments
in Other Entities
The Company uses the equity method to account for investments in
common stock of corporations in which it has a voting interest
of between 20% and 50% or in which the Company otherwise has the
ability to exercise significant influence, and in limited
liability companies that maintain specific ownership accounts in
which it has more than a minor but not greater than a 50%
ownership interest. Under the equity method, the investment is
originally recorded at cost and is adjusted to recognize the
Companys share of net earnings or losses of the investee.
During the three months ended March 31, 2008, the
Companys share of its equity method investee losses was
$1.1 million. No such amounts were recorded during the
three months ended March 31, 2007 as the Company did not
have any equity method investments during that period.
The Company regularly monitors and evaluates the realizable
value of its investments. When assessing an investment for an
other-than-temporary
decline in value, the Company considers such factors as, among
other things, the performance of the investee in relation to its
business plan, the investees revenue and cost trends,
liquidity and cash position, market acceptance of the
investees products or services, any significant news that
has been released regarding the investee, and the outlook for
the overall industry in which the investee operates. If events
and circumstances indicate that a decline in the value of these
assets has occurred and is other-than-temporary, the Company
records a reduction to the carrying value of its investment and
a corresponding charge to the consolidated statements of
operations.
Concentrations
The Company generally relies on one key vendor for billing
services and one key vendor for handset logistics. Loss or
disruption of these services could adversely affect the
Companys business.
The Company does not have a national network, and it must pay
fees to other carriers who provide the Company with roaming
services. Currently, the Company has roaming agreements with
several other carriers which allow its customers to roam on such
carriers networks. If it were unable to cost-effectively
provide roaming services to customers, the Companys
competitive position and business prospects could be adversely
affected.
Share-Based
Compensation
The Company accounts for share-based awards exchanged for
employee services in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R),
Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)).
Under SFAS 123(R), share-based compensation expense is
measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of
the award, and is recognized as expense, net of estimated
forfeitures, over the employees requisite service period.
F-52
Total share-based compensation expense related to all of the
Companys share-based awards for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 was allocated as follows (in
thousands, except per share data):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
903
|
|
|
$
|
679
|
|
Selling and marketing expenses
|
|
|
1,356
|
|
|
|
1,001
|
|
General and administrative expenses
|
|
|
7,443
|
|
|
|
7,063
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense
|
|
$
|
9,702
|
|
|
$
|
8,743
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Share-based compensation expense per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
|
$
|
0.13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
$
|
0.14
|
|
|
$
|
0.13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income
Taxes
The computation of the annual effective tax rate includes a
forecast of the Companys estimated ordinary
income (loss), which is its annual income (loss) from continuing
operations before tax, excluding unusual or infrequently
occurring (or discrete) items. Significant management judgment
is required in projecting the Companys ordinary income
(loss) and the Companys projection for 2008 is close to
break-even. The Companys projected ordinary income tax
expense for the full year 2008, which excludes the effect of
unusual or infrequently occurring (or discrete) items, consists
primarily of the deferred tax effect of the amortization of
wireless licenses and goodwill for income tax purposes. Because
the Companys projected 2008 income tax expense is a
relatively fixed amount, a small change in the ordinary income
(loss) projection can produce a significant variance in the
effective tax rate and, therefore, it is difficult to make a
reliable estimate of the annual effective tax rate. As a result
and in accordance with paragraph 82 of FIN 18, the
Company has computed its provision for income taxes for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 by applying the
actual effective tax rate to the
year-to-date
income.
The Company calculates income taxes in each of the jurisdictions
in which it operates. This process involves calculating the
actual current tax expense and any deferred income tax expense
resulting from temporary differences arising from differing
treatments of items for tax and accounting purposes. These
temporary differences result in deferred tax assets and
liabilities. Deferred tax assets are also established for the
expected future tax benefits to be derived from net operating
loss carryforwards, capital loss carryforwards, and income tax
credits.
The Company must then periodically assess the likelihood that
its deferred tax assets will be recovered from future taxable
income, which assessment requires significant judgment. To the
extent the Company believes it is more likely than not that its
deferred tax assets will not be recovered, it must establish a
valuation allowance. As part of this periodic assessment for the
three months ended March 31, 2008, the Company weighed the
positive and negative factors with respect to this determination
and, at this time, except with respect to the realization of a
$2.5 million Texas Margins Tax credit, does not believe
there is sufficient positive evidence and sustained operating
earnings to support a conclusion that it is more likely than not
that all or a portion of its deferred tax assets will be
realized. The Company will continue to closely monitor the
positive and negative factors to determine whether its valuation
allowance should be released. Deferred tax liabilities
associated with wireless licenses, tax goodwill and investments
in certain joint ventures cannot be considered a source of
taxable income to support the realization of deferred tax assets
because these deferred tax liabilities will not reverse until
some indefinite future period.
At such time as the Company determines that it is more likely
than not that all or a portion of the deferred tax assets are
realizable, the valuation allowance will be reduced. Pursuant to
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Statement of Position
No. 90-7,
Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under
the Bankruptcy Code
(SOP 90-7),
up to $218.5 million in future decreases in the valuation
allowance established in fresh-start reporting will be accounted
for as a reduction of goodwill rather than as a reduction of
income tax expense if the valuation allowance decrease occurs
prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 141 (revised
2007),
F-53
Business Combinations
(SFAS 141(R)). Effective January 1, 2009,
SFAS 141(R) provides that any reduction in the valuation
allowance established in fresh-start reporting be accounted for
as a reduction to income tax expense.
In January 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of
FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income
Taxes an interpretation of FASB Statement
No. 109, (FIN 48). At the date of
adoption, during 2007 and during the three months ended
March 31, 2008, the Companys unrecognized income tax
benefits and uncertain tax positions were not material. Interest
and penalties related to uncertain tax positions are recognized
by the Company as a component of income tax expense but were
immaterial on the date of adoption, during 2007 and during the
three months ended March 31, 2008. All of the
Companys tax years from 1998 to 2007 remain open to
examination by federal and state taxing authorities.
Comprehensive
Loss
Comprehensive loss consisted of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months
|
|
|
|
Ended March 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
Other comprehensive loss:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on investments, net of tax
|
|
|
91
|
|
|
|
(27
|
)
|
Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps
|
|
|
(6,892
|
)
|
|
|
(1,194
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Comprehensive loss
|
|
$
|
(24,945
|
)
|
|
$
|
(25,445
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss consist of
the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Net unrealized holding losses on investments, net of tax
|
|
$
|
(1,366
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,457
|
)
|
Unrealized losses on interest rate swaps
|
|
|
(14,110
|
)
|
|
|
(7,218
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
|
|
$
|
(15,476
|
)
|
|
$
|
(8,675
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS 141(R), which
expands the definition of a business and a business combination,
requires the fair value of the purchase price of an acquisition
(including the issuance of equity securities) to be determined
on the acquisition date and requires that all assets,
liabilities, contingent consideration, contingencies and
in-process research and development costs of an acquired
business be recorded at fair value at the acquisition date. In
addition, SFAS 141(R) requires that acquisition costs
generally be expensed as incurred, requires that restructuring
costs generally be expensed in periods subsequent to the
acquisition date and requires certain changes in accounting for
deferred tax asset valuation allowances and acquired income tax
uncertainties after the measurement period to impact income tax
expense. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS 141(R)
on January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating
what impact SFAS 141(R) will have on its consolidated
financial statements; however, since the Company has significant
deferred tax assets recorded through fresh-start reporting for
which full valuation allowances were recorded as of its
emergence from bankruptcy, this standard could materially affect
the Companys results of operations if changes in the
valuation allowances occur once it adopts the standard.
In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160,
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial
Statements, an Amendment of ARB No. 51
(SFAS 160), which changes the accounting and
reporting for minority interests such that minority interests
will be recharacterized as noncontrolling interests and will be
required to be reported as a component of equity. In addition,
SFAS 160 requires that purchases or sales of equity
interests that do not result in a change in control be accounted
for as equity transactions and, upon a loss of control, requires
the interest sold, as well as any interest retained, be recorded
at fair value with any gain or loss recognized
F-54
in earnings. The Company will be required to adopt SFAS 160
on January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating
what impact SFAS 160 will have on its consolidated
financial statements.
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161,
Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities (SFAS 161), which is intended
to help investors better understand how derivative instruments
and hedging activities affect an entitys financial
position, financial performance and cash flows through enhanced
disclosure requirements. The enhanced disclosures include, for
example, a tabular summary of the fair values of derivative
instruments and their gains and losses, disclosure of derivative
features that are credit-risk-related to provide more
information regarding an entitys liquidity and
cross-referencing within footnotes to make it easier to locate
important information about derivative instruments. The Company
will be required to adopt SFAS 161 on January 1, 2009.
The Company is currently evaluating what impact SFAS 161
will have on its consolidated financial statements.
|
|
Note 3.
|
Supplementary
Balance Sheet Information (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Other current assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts receivable, net(1)
|
|
$
|
20,462
|
|
|
$
|
21,158
|
|
Prepaid expenses
|
|
|
22,436
|
|
|
|
16,076
|
|
Deposits(2)
|
|
|
70,370
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other
|
|
|
585
|
|
|
|
865
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
113,853
|
|
|
$
|
38,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net(3):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Network equipment
|
|
$
|
1,563,336
|
|
|
$
|
1,421,648
|
|
Computer equipment and other
|
|
|
190,615
|
|
|
|
184,224
|
|
Construction-in-progress
|
|
|
335,698
|
|
|
|
341,742
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,089,649
|
|
|
|
1,947,614
|
|
Accumulated depreciation
|
|
|
(699,783
|
)
|
|
|
(630,957
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
1,389,866
|
|
|
$
|
1,316,657
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Trade accounts payable
|
|
$
|
106,365
|
|
|
$
|
109,781
|
|
Accrued payroll and related benefits
|
|
|
35,496
|
|
|
|
41,048
|
|
Other accrued liabilities
|
|
|
83,510
|
|
|
|
74,906
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
225,371
|
|
|
$
|
225,735
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Deferred service revenue(4)
|
|
$
|
52,041
|
|
|
$
|
45,387
|
|
Deferred equipment revenue(5)
|
|
|
17,530
|
|
|
|
14,615
|
|
Accrued sales, telecommunications, property and other taxes
payable
|
|
|
21,303
|
|
|
|
20,903
|
|
Accrued interest
|
|
|
44,573
|
|
|
|
18,508
|
|
Other
|
|
|
19,748
|
|
|
|
15,395
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
155,195
|
|
|
$
|
114,808
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Accounts receivable consists primarily of amounts billed to
third-party dealers for handsets and accessories. |
|
(2) |
|
Deposits consists primarily of $70.0 million deposited with
the FCC in early January 2008 in connection with the
Companys participation in Auction #73, all of which
was returned to the Company in April 2008. |
|
(3) |
|
As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007,
approximately $49.5 million of gross assets were held by
the Company under capital lease arrangements. Accumulated
amortization relating to these assets totaled $8.9 million
and $5.6 million as of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007, respectively. |
|
(4) |
|
Deferred service revenue consists primarily of cash received
from customers in advance of their service period. |
|
(5) |
|
Deferred equipment revenue relates to handsets and accessories
sold to third-party dealers. |
F-55
|
|
Note 4.
|
Basic and
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share
|
Basic earnings (loss) per share is computed by dividing net
income (loss) by the weighted-average number of common shares
outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share is
computed by dividing net income by the sum of the
weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the
period and the weighted-average number of dilutive common share
equivalents outstanding during the period, using the treasury
stock method. Dilutive common share equivalents are comprised of
stock options, restricted stock awards, employee stock purchase
rights and warrants.
The Company incurred losses for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007; therefore, 5.2 million and
4.8 million common share equivalents were excluded in
computing diluted earnings (loss) per share for those periods,
respectively.
|
|
Note 5.
|
Fair
Value of Financial Instruments
|
The Company has categorized its financial assets and liabilities
measured at fair value into a three-level hierarchy in
accordance with SFAS 157. Fair value measurements of
financial assets and liabilities that use quoted prices in
active markets for identical assets or liabilities are generally
categorized as Level 1, fair value measurements of
financial assets and liabilities that use observable
market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated
by market data for similar assets or liabilities are generally
categorized as Level 2 and fair value measurements of
financial assets and liabilities that use unobservable inputs
that cannot be corroborated by market data are generally
categorized as Level 3. The lowest level input that is
significant to the fair value measurement of a financial asset
or liability is used to categorize the asset or liability and
reflects the judgment of management. Financial assets and
liabilities presented at fair value in the Companys
condensed consolidated balance sheets are generally categorized
as follows:
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or
liabilities. The Company does not have Level 1 assets or
liabilities as of March 31, 2008.
|
Level 2
|
|
Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted
prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in
markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable
or can be corroborated by observable market data for
substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. The
Companys Level 2 assets and liabilities include its
cash equivalents, its short-term investments in obligations of
the U.S. government and investment grade fixed-income securities
that are guaranteed by U.S. government agencies, a majority of
its short-term investments in commercial paper and its interest
rate swaps.
|
Level 3
|
|
Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market
activity and that are significant to the fair value of the
assets or liabilities. Such assets and liabilities may have
values determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow
methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for
which the determination of fair value requires significant
management judgment or estimation. The Companys
Level 3 assets include certain of its short-term
investments in asset-backed commercial paper.
|
F-56
The following table sets forth by level within the fair value
hierarchy the Companys financial assets and liabilities
that were accounted for at fair value as of March 31, 2008.
As required by SFAS 157, financial assets and liabilities
are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of
input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Thus, a
Level 3 fair value measurement may include inputs that are
observable (Levels 1 and 2) and unobservable
(Level 3). The Companys assessment of the
significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement
requires judgment and may affect the valuation of financial
assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value
hierarchy levels.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
At Fair Value as of March 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
Level 1
|
|
|
Level 2
|
|
|
Level 3
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Assets:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
226,902
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
226,902
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
69,678
|
|
|
|
11,875
|
|
|
|
81,553
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
296,580
|
|
|
$
|
11,875
|
|
|
$
|
308,455
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest rate swaps
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,110
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,110
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,110
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
14,110
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The following table provides a summary of the changes in the
fair value of the Companys Level 3 assets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Level 3 Assets as of
|
|
|
|
March 31, 2008
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Beginning balance
|
|
$
|
16,200
|
|
Total gains (losses) (realized/unrealized):
|
|
|
|
|
Included in earnings
|
|
|
(4,325
|
)
|
Included in other comprehensive income
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases, issuances and settlements
|
|
|
|
|
Transfers in (out) of Level 3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ending balance
|
|
$
|
11,875
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The realized losses included in earnings noted in the table
above are presented in other expense, net in the condensed
consolidated statement of operations and relate to assets still
held by the Company as of March 31, 2008.
Cash
Equivalents and Short-Term Investments
The fair value of the Companys cash equivalents,
short-term investments in obligations of the
U.S. government and investment grade fixed-income
securities that are guaranteed by U.S. government agencies
and a majority of its short-term investments in commercial paper
is determined using observable market-based inputs for similar
assets, primarily yield curves and time to maturity factors, and
therefore such investments are considered to be Level 2
items. The fair value of certain of the Companys
investments in asset-backed commercial paper is determined using
primarily unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by
market data, primarily ABX and monoline indices and a valuation
model that considers a liquidity factor that is subjective in
nature, and therefore such investments are considered to be
Level 3 items.
Through its non-controlled consolidated subsidiary Denali, the
Company held investments in asset-backed commercial paper for
which the fair value was determined using the Level 3
inputs described above. These investments were purchased as
highly rated investment grade securities, with a par value of
$21.6 million and $32.9 million as of March 31,
2008 and December 31, 2007, respectively. These securities,
which are collateralized, in part, by residential mortgages,
have declined in value since December 31, 2007. As a
result, during the three months ended March 31, 2008, the
Company recognized an
other-than-temporary
impairment loss of approximately $4.3 million related to
these investments in asset-backed commercial paper to bring the
net carrying value of
F-57
such investments to $11.9 million as of March 31, 2008
and to bring the cumulative
other-than-temporary
impairment loss recognized to approximately $9.7 million as
of March 31, 2008. In April 2008, Denali received a
$2.1 million distribution related to these investments. As
a result, the remaining par value of these investments was
reduced to $19.5 million as of April 30, 2008. In
addition, during April 2008, the value of these investments
increased by $2.1 million and, after consideration of the
distribution received, these investments had a net carrying
value of $11.9 million as of April 30, 2008. Future
volatility and uncertainty in the financial markets could result
in additional losses.
Interest
Rate Swaps
As more fully described in Note 6, the Companys
interest rate swaps effectively fix the London Interbank Offered
Rate (LIBOR) interest rate on a portion of its floating rate
debt. The fair value of the Companys interest rate swaps
is primarily determined using LIBOR spreads, which are
significant observable inputs that can be corroborated, and
therefore such swaps are considered to be Level 2 items.
SFAS 157 states that the fair value measurement of a
liability must reflect the nonperformance risk of the entity.
Therefore, the impact of the Companys creditworthiness has
been considered in the fair value measurement of the interest
rate swaps.
Long-Term
Debt
The Company continues to report its long-term debt obligations
at amortized cost; however, for disclosure purposes, the Company
is required to measure the fair value of outstanding debt on a
recurring basis. The fair value of the Companys
outstanding long-term debt is determined using quoted prices in
active markets and was $1,893.8 million as of
March 31, 2008.
Long-term debt as of March 31, 2008 and December 31,
2007 was comprised of the following (in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2008
|
|
|
2007
|
|
|
Term loans under senior secured credit facilities
|
|
$
|
924,250
|
|
|
$
|
926,500
|
|
Unamortized deferred lender fees
|
|
|
(1,856
|
)
|
|
|
(1,898
|
)
|
Senior notes
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
|
|
1,100,000
|
|
Unamortized premium on senior notes
|
|
|
19,256
|
|
|
|
19,800
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,041,650
|
|
|
|
2,044,402
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
(11,500
|
)
|
|
|
(10,500
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
2,030,150
|
|
|
$
|
2,033,902
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Senior
Secured Credit Facilities
Cricket
Communications
The senior secured credit facility under the Companys
senior secured credit agreement (the Credit
Agreement) consists of a six year $895.5 million term
loan and a $200 million revolving credit facility. As of
March 31, 2008, the outstanding indebtedness under the term
loan was $884.3 million. Outstanding borrowings under the
term loan must be repaid in 22 quarterly payments of
$2.25 million each (which commenced on March 31,
2007) followed by four quarterly payments of
$211.5 million (which commence on September 30, 2012).
As of March 31, 2008, the interest rate on the term loan
was LIBOR plus 3.00% or the bank base rate plus 2.00%, as
selected by Cricket.
At March 31, 2008, the effective interest rate on the term
loan was 6.6%, including the effect of interest rate swaps. The
terms of the Credit Agreement require the Company to enter into
interest rate swap agreements in a sufficient amount so that at
least 50% of the Companys outstanding indebtedness for
borrowed money bears interest at a fixed rate. The Company was
in compliance with this requirement as of March 31, 2008.
The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements with
respect to $355 million of its debt. These interest rate
swap agreements effectively fix the LIBOR interest rate on
$150 million of indebtedness at 8.3% and $105 million
of indebtedness at 7.3% through June 2009 and $100 million
of indebtedness at 8.0% through September 2010. The
F-58
fair value of the swap agreements as of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007 were liabilities of $14.1 million
and $7.2 million, respectively, which were recorded in
other liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Outstanding borrowings under the revolving credit facility, to
the extent that there are any borrowings, are due in June 2011.
As of March 31, 2008, the revolving credit facility was
undrawn; however, approximately $3.2 million of letters of
credit were issued under the Credit Agreement and were
considered as usage of the revolving credit facility, as more
fully described in Note 8. The commitment of the lenders
under the revolving credit facility may be reduced in the event
mandatory prepayments are required under the Credit Agreement.
The commitment fee on the revolving credit facility is payable
quarterly at a rate of between 0.25% and 0.50% per annum,
depending on the Companys consolidated senior secured
leverage ratio, and the rate is currently 0.25%. As of
March 31, 2008, borrowings under the revolving credit
facility would have accrued interest at LIBOR plus 3.00% or the
bank base rate plus 2.00%, as selected by Cricket.
The facilities under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by Leap
and all of its direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries (other
than Cricket, which is the primary obligor, and LCW Wireless and
Denali and their respective subsidiaries) and are secured by
substantially all of the present and future personal property
and real property owned by Leap, Cricket and such direct and
indirect domestic subsidiaries. Under the Credit Agreement, the
Company is subject to certain limitations, including limitations
on its ability to: incur additional debt or sell assets, with
restrictions on the use of proceeds; make certain investments
and acquisitions; grant liens; pay dividends; and make certain
other restricted payments. In addition, the Company will be
required to pay down the facilities under certain circumstances
if it issues debt, sells assets or property, receives certain
extraordinary receipts or generates excess cash flow (as defined
in the Credit Agreement). The Company is also subject to a
financial covenant with respect to a maximum consolidated senior
secured leverage ratio and, if a revolving credit loan or
uncollateralized letter of credit is outstanding or requested,
with respect to a minimum consolidated interest coverage ratio,
a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a minimum consolidated
fixed charge coverage ratio. In addition to investments in the
Denali joint venture, the Credit Agreement allows the Company to
invest up to $85 million in LCW Wireless and its
subsidiaries and up to $150 million plus an amount equal to
an available cash flow basket in other joint ventures, and
allows the Company to provide limited guarantees for the benefit
of Denali, LCW Wireless and other joint ventures. The Company
was in compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2008.
The Credit Agreement also prohibits the occurrence of a change
of control, which includes the acquisition of beneficial
ownership of 35% or more of Leaps equity securities, a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board and the occurrence
of a change of control under any of the
Companys other credit instruments.
Affiliates of Highland Capital Management, L.P. (an affiliate of
James D. Dondero, a former director of Leap) participated in the
syndication of the term loan in an amount equal to
$222.9 million. Additionally, Highland Capital Management
continues to hold a $40 million commitment under the
$200 million revolving credit facility.
LCW
Operations
LCW Operations has a senior secured credit agreement consisting
of two term loans for $40 million in the aggregate. The
loans bear interest at LIBOR plus the applicable margin ranging
from 2.7% to 6.3%. At March 31, 2008, the effective
interest rate on the term loans was 6.9%, and the outstanding
indebtedness was $40 million. LCW Operations has entered
into an interest rate cap agreement which effectively caps the
three month LIBOR interest rate at 7.0% on $20 million of
its outstanding borrowings. The obligations under the loans are
guaranteed by LCW Wireless and LCW Wireless License, LLC, a
wholly owned subsidiary of LCW Operations (and are non-recourse
to Leap, Cricket and their other subsidiaries). Outstanding
borrowings under the term loans must be repaid in varying
quarterly installments starting in June 2008, with an aggregate
final payment of $24.5 million due in June 2011. Under the
senior secured credit agreement, LCW Operations and the
guarantors are subject to certain limitations, including
limitations on their ability to: incur additional debt or sell
assets, with restrictions on the use of proceeds; make certain
investments and acquisitions; grant liens; pay dividends; and
make certain other restricted payments. In addition, LCW
Operations will be required to pay down the facilities under
certain circumstances if it or the guarantors issue debt, sell
assets or generate excess cash flow. The senior secured credit
agreement requires that LCW Operations and the guarantors comply
with financial covenants related to earnings before interest,
taxes, depreciation and amortization, gross additions of
subscribers, minimum cash and cash equivalents and maximum
F-59
capital expenditures, among other things. LCW Operations was in
compliance with these covenants as of March 31, 2008.
Senior
Notes
In 2006, Cricket issued $750 million of 9.375% unsecured
senior notes due 2014 in a private placement to institutional
buyers, and in 2007, the Company exchanged the notes for
identical notes that had been registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). In June 2007, Cricket
issued an additional $350 million of unsecured senior notes
due 2014 in a private placement to institutional buyers at an
issue price of 106% of the principal amount. These notes are an
additional issuance of the 9.375% unsecured senior notes due
2014 discussed above and are treated as a single class with
these notes. The terms of these additional notes are identical
to the existing notes, except for certain applicable transfer
restrictions. The $21 million premium the Company received
in connection with the issuance of the notes has been recorded
in long-term debt in the condensed consolidated financial
statements and is being amortized as a reduction to interest
expense over the term of the notes. At March 31, 2008, the
effective interest rate on the $350 million of unsecured
senior notes was 8.8%, which includes the effect of the premium
amortization and excludes the effect of the additional interest
that has been accrued in connection with the Companys
obligation to offer to exchange the notes for identical notes
that have been registered with the SEC, as more fully described
below.
The notes bear interest at the rate of 9.375% per year, payable
semi-annually in cash in arrears, which interest payments
commenced in May 2007. The notes are guaranteed on an unsecured
senior basis by Leap and each of its existing and future
domestic subsidiaries (other than Cricket, which is the issuer
of the notes, and LCW Wireless and Denali and their respective
subsidiaries) that guarantee indebtedness for money borrowed of
Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor. The notes and the
guarantees are Leaps, Crickets and the
guarantors general senior unsecured obligations and rank
equally in right of payment with all of Leaps,
Crickets and the guarantors existing and future
unsubordinated unsecured indebtedness. The notes and the
guarantees are effectively junior to Leaps, Crickets
and the guarantors existing and future secured
obligations, including those under the Credit Agreement, to the
extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations, as
well as to future liabilities of Leaps and Crickets
subsidiaries that are not guarantors, and of LCW Wireless and
Denali and their respective subsidiaries. In addition, the notes
and the guarantees are senior in right of payment to any of
Leaps, Crickets and the guarantors future
subordinated indebtedness.
Prior to November 1, 2009, Cricket may redeem up to 35% of
the aggregate principal amount of the notes at a redemption
price of 109.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued
and unpaid interest and additional interest, if any, thereon to
the redemption date, from the net cash proceeds of specified
equity offerings. Prior to November 1, 2010, Cricket may
redeem the notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price
equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the
applicable premium and any accrued and unpaid interest. The
applicable premium is calculated as the greater of (i) 1.0%
of the principal amount of such notes and (ii) the excess
of (a) the present value at such date of redemption of
(1) the redemption price of such notes at November 1,
2010 plus (2) all remaining required interest payments due
on such notes through November 1, 2010 (excluding accrued
but unpaid interest to the date of redemption), computed using a
discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis
points, over (b) the principal amount of such notes. The
notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after November 1, 2010, at a redemption price of 104.688%
and 102.344% of the principal amount thereof if redeemed during
the twelve months ending October 31, 2011 and 2012,
respectively, or at 100% of the principal amount if redeemed
during the twelve months ending October 31, 2013 or
thereafter, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
If a change of control occurs (which includes the
acquisition of beneficial ownership of 35% or more of
Leaps equity securities, a sale of all or substantially
all of the assets of Leap and its restricted subsidiaries and a
change in a majority of the members of Leaps board of
directors that is not approved by the board), each holder of the
notes may require Cricket to repurchase all of such
holders notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the
principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
In connection with the private placement of the
$350 million of additional senior notes, the Company
entered into a registration rights agreement with the purchasers
in which the Company agreed to file a registration statement
with the SEC to permit the holders to exchange or resell the
notes. The Company must use reasonable best efforts to
F-60
file such registration statement within 150 days after the
issuance of the notes, have the registration statement declared
effective within 270 days after the issuance of the notes
and then consummate any exchange offer within 30 business days
after the effective date of the registration statement. In the
event that the registration statement is not filed or declared
effective or the exchange offer is not consummated within these
deadlines, the agreement provides that additional interest will
accrue on the principal amount of the notes at a rate of 0.50%
per annum during the
90-day
period immediately following the first to occur of these events
and will increase by 0.50% per annum at the end of each
subsequent
90-day
period until all such defaults are cured, but in no event will
the penalty rate exceed 1.50% per annum. There are no other
alternative settlement methods and, other than the 1.50% per
annum maximum penalty rate, the agreement contains no limit on
the maximum potential amount of penalty interest that could be
paid in the event the Company does not meet the registration
statement filing requirements. Due to the Companys
restatement of its historical consolidated financial results
during the fourth quarter of 2007, the Company was unable to
file the registration statement within 150 days after
issuance of the notes. The Company filed the registration
statement on March 28, 2008; however, the registration
statement has not yet been declared effective. Due to the delay
in filing the registration statement and having it declared
effective, the Company has accrued additional interest expense
of approximately $1.6 million as of March 31, 2008.
|
|
Note 7.
|
Significant
Acquisitions and Dispositions
|
On April 1, 2008, the Company completed the purchase of
Hargray Communications Groups wireless subsidiary, Hargray
Wireless, LLC (Hargray Wireless), for approximately
$30 million. Hargray Wireless owns a 15 MHz wireless
license covering approximately 0.8 million POPs and
operates a wireless business in Georgia and South Carolina,
which complements the Companys existing market in
Charleston, South Carolina. The transaction will be recorded as
a purchase and the results of operations of Hargray Wireless
will be included in the Companys condensed consolidated
statement of operations beginning on April 1, 2008. On
April 3, 2008, Hargray Wireless became a guarantor under
the Credit Agreement and indenture. In connection with this
acquisition, the Company entered into a wholesale agreement with
Hargray Communications Group, under which Hargray Communications
Group is permitted to resell Cricket service with its wireline
services as part of a bundled offering.
In January 2008, the Company agreed to exchange certain
disaggregated spectrum with Sprint Nextel. An aggregate of
20 MHz of disaggregated spectrum under certain of the
Companys existing PCS licenses in Tennessee, Georgia and
Arkansas will be exchanged for an aggregate of 30 MHz of
disaggregated and partitioned spectrum in New Jersey and
Mississippi owned by Sprint Nextel. The fair value of the assets
exchanged is expected to be approximately $8.1 million. The
FCC issued its approval of the transaction in March 2008;
however, the transaction remains subject to customary closing
conditions. The carrying values of the disaggregated portion of
the Tennessee, Georgia and Arkansas licenses of
$6.8 million have been classified in assets held for sale
in the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of March 31,
2008.
|
|
Note 8.
|
Commitments
and Contingencies
|
Patent
Litigation
On June 14, 2006, the Company sued MetroPCS Communications,
Inc. (MetroPCS) in the United States District Court
for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for
infringement of U.S. Patent No. 6,813,497 Method
for Providing Wireless Communication Services and Network and
System for Delivering Same, issued to it. The
Companys complaint seeks damages and an injunction against
continued infringement. On August 3, 2006, MetroPCS
(i) answered the complaint, (ii) raised a number of
affirmative defenses, and (iii) together with certain
related entities (referred to, collectively with MetroPCS, as
the MetroPCS entities), counterclaimed against Leap,
Cricket, numerous Cricket subsidiaries, Denali License, and
current and former employees of Leap and Cricket, including the
Companys chief executive officer, S. Douglas Hutcheson.
MetroPCS has since amended its complaint and Denali License has
been dismissed, without prejudice, as a counterclaim defendant.
The countersuit now alleges claims for breach of contract,
misappropriation, conversion and disclosure of trade secrets,
fraud, misappropriation of confidential information and breach
of confidential relationship, relating to information provided
by MetroPCS to such employees, including prior to their
employment by Leap, and asks the court to award attorneys fees
and damages, including punitive damages, impose an injunction
enjoining the Company from participating in any auctions or
sales of wireless spectrum, impose a constructive trust on the
Companys business
F-61
and assets for the benefit of the MetroPCS entities, transfer
the Companys business and assets to MetroPCS, and declare
that the MetroPCS entities have not infringed U.S. Patent
No. 6,813,497 and that such patent is invalid.
MetroPCSs claims allege that the Company and the other
counterclaim defendants improperly obtained, used and disclosed
trade secrets and confidential information of the MetroPCS
entities and breached confidentiality agreements with the
MetroPCS entities. On October 31, 2007, pursuant to a
stipulation between the parties, the court administratively
closed the case for a period not to exceed six months. The
parties stipulated that neither will move the court to reopen
the case until at least 90 days following the
administrative closure. On November 1, 2007, MetroPCS
formally withdrew its September 4, 2007 unsolicited merger
proposal, which the Companys board of directors had
previously rejected on September 16, 2007. On
February 14, 2008, in response to the Companys
motion, the court re-opened the case. On September 22,
2006, Royal Street Communications, LLC (Royal
Street), an entity affiliated with MetroPCS, filed an
action in the United States District Court for the Middle
District of Florida, Tampa Division, seeking a declaratory
judgment that the Companys U.S. Patent
No. 6,813,497 (the same patent that is the subject of the
Companys infringement action against MetroPCS) is invalid
and is not being infringed by Royal Street or its PCS systems.
Upon the Companys request, the court has transferred the
Royal Street case to the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas due to the affiliation between
MetroPCS and Royal Street. On February 25, 2008, the
Company filed an answer to the Royal Street complaint, together
with counterclaims for patent infringement, and on
February 29, 2008, the Company moved to consolidate the
Royal Street matter with the MetroPCS case. The Company
intends to vigorously defend against the counterclaims filed by
the MetroPCS entities and the action brought by Royal Street.
Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues
involved, however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to prevail in these
matters, it could have a material adverse effect on the
Companys business, financial condition and results of
operations.
On August 17, 2006, the Company was served with a complaint
filed by certain MetroPCS entities, along with another
affiliate, MetroPCS California, LLC, in the Superior Court of
the State of California, which names Leap, Cricket, certain of
its subsidiaries, and certain current and former employees of
Leap and Cricket, including Mr. Hutcheson, as defendants.
In response to demurrers by the Company and by the court, two of
the plaintiffs amended their complaint twice, dropped the other
plaintiffs and have filed a third amended complaint. In the
current complaint, the plaintiffs allege statutory unfair
competition, statutory misappropriation of trade secrets, breach
of contract, intentional interference with contract, and
intentional interference with prospective economic advantage,
seek preliminary and permanent injunction, and ask the court to
award damages, including punitive damages, attorneys fees, and
restitution. The Company has filed a demurrer to the third
amended complaint. On October 25, 2007, pursuant to a
stipulation between the parties, the court entered a stay of the
litigation for a period of 90 days. On January 28,
2008, the court ordered that the stay remain in effect for a
further 120 days, or until May 27, 2008. If and when
the case proceeds, the Company intends to vigorously defend
against these claims. Due to the complex nature of the legal and
factual issues involved, however, the outcome of this matter is
not presently determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to
prevail in this action, it could have a material adverse effect
on the Companys business, financial condition and results
of operations.
On June 6, 2007, the Company was sued by Minerva
Industries, Inc. (Minerva), in the United States
District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall
Division, for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 6,681,120 entitled Mobile Entertainment and
Communication Device. Minerva alleges that certain
handsets sold by the Company infringe a patent relating to
mobile entertainment features, and the complaint seeks damages
(including enhanced damages), an injunction and attorneys
fees. The Company filed an answer to the complaint and
counterclaims of invalidity on January 7, 2008. On
January 21, 2008, Minerva filed another suit against the
Company in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement of its
newly issued U.S. Patent No. 7,321,738 entitled
Mobile Entertainment and Communication Device. On
April 15, 2008, at Minervas request, the cases were
dismissed without prejudice.
On June 7, 2007, the Company was sued by Barry W. Thomas
(Thomas) in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement
of U.S. Patent No. 4,777,354 entitled System for
Controlling the Supply of Utility Services to Consumers.
Thomas alleges that certain handsets sold by the Company
infringe a patent relating to actuator cards for controlling the
supply of a utility service, and the complaint seeks damages
(including enhanced damages) and attorneys fees. The
Company and other co-defendants filed a
F-62
motion to stay the litigation pending the determination of
similar litigation in the United States District Court for the
Western District of North Carolina. On February 28, 2008,
the District Court issued its claim construction ruling,
adopting all of the interpretations offered by the defendants in
that action. Based upon this ruling, Thomas has agreed in
principle to dismiss his complaint with prejudice and to provide
a release, in exchange for the agreement of the defendants to
dismiss their counterclaims, including claims for costs and
fees. In the event that this case is not resolved, the Company
intends to vigorously defend against this matter.
On October 15, 2007, Leap was sued by Visual Interactive
Phone Concepts, Inc. (Visual Interactive), in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of
California for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 5,724,092 entitled Videophone Mailbox Interactive
Facility System and Method of Processing Information and
U.S. Patent No. 5,606,361 entitled Videophone
Mailbox Interactive Facility System and Method of Processing
Information. Visual Interactive alleged that Leap
infringed these patents relating to interactive videophone
systems, and the complaint sought an accounting for damages
under 35 U.S.C. § 284, an injunction and
attorneys fees. The Company filed its answer to the
complaint on December 13, 2007, and on the same day,
Cricket filed a complaint against Visual Interactive in the
United States District Court for the Southern District of
California seeking a declaration by the court that the patents
alleged against the Company are neither valid nor infringed by
it. Visual Interactive agreed to dismiss its complaint against
Leap and filed an amended complaint against Cricket, and Cricket
filed its answer to this amended complaint on January 23,
2008. The Company intends to vigorously defend against this
matter. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual
issues involved, however, the outcome of this matter is not
presently determinable.
On December 10, 2007, the Company was sued by Freedom
Wireless, Inc. (Freedom Wireless), in the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas,
Marshall Division, for infringement of U.S. Patent
No. 5,722,067 entitled Security Cellular
Telecommunications System, U.S. Patent
No. 6,157,823 entitled Security Cellular
Telecommunications System, and U.S. Patent
No. 6,236,851 entitled Prepaid Security Cellular
Telecommunications System. Freedom Wireless alleges that
its patents claim a novel cellular system that enables prepaid
services subscribers to both place and receive cellular calls
without dialing access codes or using modified telephones. The
complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages, increased damages
under 35 U.S.C. § 284 together with interest,
costs and attorneys fees, and an injunction. On
February 15, 2008, the Company filed a motion to sever and
stay the proceedings against Cricket or, alternatively, to
transfer the case to the United States District Court for the
Northern District of California. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against this matter. Due to the complex nature
of the legal and factual issues involved, however, the outcome
of this matter is not presently determinable.
On February 4, 2008, the Company and certain other wireless
carriers were sued by Electronic Data Systems Corporation
(EDS) in the United States District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division, for infringement
of U.S. Patent No. 7,156,300 entitles System and
Method for Dispensing a Receipt Reflecting Prepaid Phone
Services and a U.S. Patent No. 7,255,268
entitled System for Purchase of Prepaid Telephone
Services. EDS alleges that the sale and marketing by the
Company of prepaid wireless cellular telephone services
infringes these patents, and the complaint seeks an injunction
against further infringement, damages (including enhanced
damages) and attorneys fees. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against this lawsuit. Due to the complex
nature of the legal and factual issues involved, however, the
outcome of this lawsuit is not presently determinable.
American
Wireless Group
On December 31, 2002, several members of American Wireless
Group, LLC (AWG) filed a lawsuit against various
officers and directors of Leap in the Circuit Court of the First
Judicial District of Hinds County, Mississippi, referred to
herein as the Whittington Lawsuit. Leap purchased certain FCC
wireless licenses from AWG and paid for those licenses with
shares of Leap stock. The complaint alleges that Leap failed to
disclose to AWG material facts regarding a dispute between Leap
and a third party relating to that partys claim that it
was entitled to an increase in the purchase price for certain
wireless licenses it sold to Leap. In their complaint,
plaintiffs seek rescission
and/or
damages according to proof at trial of not less than the
aggregate amount paid for the Leap stock (alleged in the
complaint to have a value of approximately $57.8 million in
June 2001 at the closing of the license sale transaction), plus
interest, punitive or exemplary damages in the amount of not
less than three times
F-63
compensatory damages, and costs and expenses. Plaintiffs contend
that the named defendants are the controlling group that was
responsible for Leaps alleged failure to disclose the
material facts regarding the third party dispute and the risk
that the shares held by the plaintiffs might be diluted if the
third party was successful with respect to its claim. The
defendants in the Whittington Lawsuit filed a motion to compel
arbitration or, in the alternative, to dismiss the Whittington
Lawsuit. The motion noted that plaintiffs, as members of AWG,
agreed to arbitrate disputes pursuant to the license purchase
agreement, that they failed to plead facts that show that they
are entitled to relief, that Leap made adequate disclosure of
the relevant facts regarding the third party dispute and that
any failure to disclose such information did not cause any
damage to the plaintiffs. The court denied defendants
motion and the defendants appealed the denial of the motion to
the Mississippi Supreme Court. On November 15, 2007, the
Mississippi Supreme Court issued an opinion denying the appeal
and remanded the action to the trial court. The defendants
applied to the United States Supreme Court for a writ of
certiorari, which was denied on April 14, 2008, and
subsequently filed an answer to the complaint on May 2,
2008.
In a related action to the action described above, in June 2003,
AWG filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of the First Judicial
District of Hinds County, Mississippi (AWG Lawsuit)
against the same individual defendants named in the Whittington
Lawsuit. The complaint generally sets forth the same claims made
by the plaintiffs in the Whittington Lawsuit. In its complaint,
plaintiff seeks rescission
and/or
damages according to proof at trial of not less than the
aggregate amount paid for the Leap stock (alleged in the
complaint to have a value of approximately $57.8 million in
June 2001 at the closing of the license sale transaction), plus
interest, punitive or exemplary damages in the amount of not
less than three times compensatory damages, and costs and
expenses. Defendants filed a motion to compel arbitration or, in
the alternative, to dismiss the AWG Lawsuit, making arguments
similar to those made in their motion to dismiss the Whittington
Lawsuit. AWG has since agreed to arbitrate this lawsuit. The
arbitration is proceeding and a briefing schedule for motions
for summary judgment has been set.
Although Leap is not a defendant in either the Whittington or
AWG Lawsuits, several of the defendants have indemnification
agreements with the Company. Management believes that the
defendants liability, if any, from the AWG and Whittington
Lawsuits and any further indemnity claims of the defendants
against Leap is not presently determinable.
Securities
Litigation
Two shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in the California
Superior Court for the County of San Diego in November 2007
and January 2008 purporting to assert claims on behalf of Leap
against certain of the Companys current and former
directors and executive officers and naming Leap as a nominal
defendant. In February 2008, the plaintiff in one of these
lawsuits voluntarily dismissed his action and filed a derivative
complaint in the United States District Court for the
Southern District of California. On April 21, 2008, the
plaintiff in the remaining state derivative lawsuit filed an
amended complaint. The complaints in the federal and state
derivative actions assert various claims, including alleged
breaches of fiduciary duty, gross mismanagement, waste of
corporate assets, unjust enrichment and violation of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the Exchange Act)
based on Leaps November 9, 2007 announcement that it
would restate certain of its financial statements, as well as
claims based on the September 2007 unsolicited merger proposal
from MetroPCS, and sales of Leap common stock by certain of the
defendants between December 2004 and June 2007. The derivative
complaints seek judicial determination that the claims may be
asserted derivatively on behalf of Leap as well as unspecified
damages, equitable
and/or
injunctive relief, imposition of a constructive trust,
disgorgement, and attorneys fees and costs. Due to the
complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved,
however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable.
The Company and certain of its current and former officers and
directors have been named as defendants in several securities
class action lawsuits filed in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of California between November 2007
and February 2008 purportedly on behalf of investors who
purchased Leap common stock between May 16, 2004 and
November 9, 2007. The Companys independent registered
public accounting firm PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has been named
in one of these lawsuits. The class action lawsuits allege that
the defendants violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act
and
Rule 10b-5,
and further allege that the individual defendants violated
Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, by allegedly making
false and misleading statements about the Companys
business and financial results. The claims are based primarily
on Leaps November 9, 2007 announcement that it would
restate certain of its financial statements and, in some cases,
on Leaps August 7, 2007
F-64
second quarter 2007 earnings release. The class action lawsuits
seek, among other relief, determinations that the alleged claims
may be asserted on a
class-wide
basis, and unspecified damages and attorneys fees and
costs. Plaintiffs filed motions to consolidate the class action
lawsuits and for appointment of a lead plaintiff and lead
plaintiffs counsel to lead the consolidated action.
Several of the plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their lawsuits.
On March 28, 2008, the District Court took the
consolidation and lead plaintiff motions in the remaining
lawsuits under submission, and it has not yet issued a ruling.
The Company intends to vigorously defend against these lawsuits.
Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues
involved, however, the outcome of these matters is not presently
determinable.
If the plaintiffs were to prevail in these matters, the Company
could be required to pay substantial damages or settlement
costs, which could materially adversely affect its business,
financial condition and results of operations.
Other
Litigation
In addition to the matters described above, the Company is often
involved in certain other claims, including disputes alleging
intellectual property infringement, which arise in the ordinary
course of business and seek monetary damages and other relief.
Based upon information currently available to the Company, none
of these other claims is expected to have a material adverse
effect on the Companys business, financial condition or
results of operations.
Spectrum
Clearing Obligations
Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in
Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. government
and/or
incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning
bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to
clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified
relocation procedures. To facilitate the clearing of this
spectrum, the FCC adopted a transition and cost-sharing plan
whereby incumbent non-governmental users may be reimbursed for
costs they incur in relocating from the spectrum by AWS
licensees benefiting from the relocation. In addition, this plan
requires the AWS licensees and the applicable incumbent
non-governmental user to negotiate for a period of two or three
years (depending on the type of incumbent user and whether the
user is a commercial or non-commercial licensee), triggered from
the time that an AWS licensee notifies the incumbent user that
it desires the incumbent to relocate. If no agreement is reached
during this period of time, the FCC rules provide that an AWS
licensee may force the incumbent non-governmental user to
relocate at the licensees expense. The FCC rules also
provide that a portion of the proceeds raised in
Auction #66 will be used to reimburse the costs of
governmental users relocating from the AWS spectrum. However,
some such users may delay relocation for an extended and
undetermined period of time. The Company is continuing to
evaluate its spectrum clearing obligations and the potential
costs that may be incurred could be material.
FCC
Hurricane Katrina Order
The FCC regulates the licensing, construction, modification,
operation, ownership, sale and interconnection of wireless
communications systems, as do some state and local regulatory
agencies. In 2007, FCC released an order implementing certain
recommendations of an independent panel reviewing the impact of
Hurricane Katrina on communications networks, which requires
wireless carriers to provide emergency
back-up
power sources for their equipment and facilities, including
24 hours of emergency power for mobile switch offices and
up to eight hours for cell site locations. The order was
expected to become effective sometime in 2008. However, on
February 28, 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for
the District of Columbia Circuit stayed the effective date of
the order pending resolution of a petition for review of the
FCCs rules. In order for the Company to comply with the
requirements of the order, it would likely need to purchase
additional equipment, obtain additional state and local permits,
authorizations and approvals and incur additional operating
expenses. The Company is currently evaluating its compliance
with this order should it become effective and the potential
costs that may be incurred to achieve compliance could be
material.
F-65
System
Equipment Purchase Agreements
In June 2007, the Company entered into certain system equipment
purchase agreements. The agreements generally have a term of
three years pursuant to which the Company agreed to purchase
and/or
license wireless communications systems, products and services
designed to be AWS functional at a current estimated cost to the
Company of approximately $266 million, which commitments
are subject, in part, to the necessary clearance of spectrum in
the markets to be built. Under the terms of the agreements, the
Company is entitled to certain pricing discounts, credits and
incentives, which credits and incentives are subject to the
Companys achievement of its purchase commitments, and to
certain technical training for the Companys personnel. If
the purchase commitment levels per the agreements are not
achieved, the Company may be required to refund any previous
credits and incentives it applied to historical purchases.
Outstanding
Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds
As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the
Company had approximately $8.5 million and
$4.6 million, respectively, of letters of credit
outstanding, which were collateralized by restricted cash,
related to contractual commitments under certain of its
administrative facility leases and surety bond programs and its
workers compensation insurance program. As of
March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, approximately
$3.2 million and $2.0 million, respectively, of these
letters of credit were issued pursuant to the Credit Agreement
and were considered as usage for purposes of determining
availability under the revolving credit facility.
As of March 31, 2008 and December 31, 2007, the
Company had approximately $3.6 million and
$2.1 million, respectively, of surety bonds outstanding to
guarantee the Companys own performance with respect to
certain of its contractual obligations.
|
|
Note 9.
|
Guarantor
Financial Information
|
The $1,100 million of unsecured senior notes issued by
Cricket (the Issuing Subsidiary) are due in 2014 and
are jointly and severally guaranteed on a full and unconditional
basis by Leap (the Guarantor Parent Company) and
certain of its direct and indirect wholly owned subsidiaries,
including Crickets subsidiaries that hold real property
interests or wireless licenses (collectively, the
Guarantor Subsidiaries).
The indenture governing the notes limits, among other things,
Leaps, Crickets and the Guarantor Subsidiaries
ability to: incur additional debt; create liens or other
encumbrances; place limitations on distributions from restricted
subsidiaries; pay dividends; make investments; prepay
subordinated indebtedness or make other restricted payments;
issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries; issue
guarantees; sell assets; enter into transactions with its
affiliates; and make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with
another entity.
Condensed consolidating financial information of the Guarantor
Parent Company, the Issuing Subsidiary, the Guarantor
Subsidiaries, Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries and total consolidated
Leap and subsidiaries as of March 31, 2008 and
December 31, 2007 and for the three months ended
March 31, 2008 and 2007 is presented below. The equity
method of accounting is used to account for ownership interests
in subsidiaries, where applicable.
F-66
Condensed
Consolidating Balance Sheet as of March 31, 2008 (unaudited
and in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
419,440
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,744
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
437,184
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
59,906
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,650
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,556
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
|
|
|
1,794
|
|
|
|
7,828
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,997
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,029
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
844
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
71,873
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
112,842
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
970
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
113,853
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
1,835
|
|
|
|
671,045
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
31,583
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
704,463
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
18
|
|
|
|
1,287,044
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
106,437
|
|
|
|
(3,633
|
)
|
|
|
1,389,866
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
1,717,517
|
|
|
|
1,954,508
|
|
|
|
229,132
|
|
|
|
10,572
|
|
|
|
(3,911,729
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,533
|
|
|
|
1,513,649
|
|
|
|
328,232
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,860,414
|
|
Assets held for sale
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,816
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6,816
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,582
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,670
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
47,137
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,153
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
49,333
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
1,719,413
|
|
|
$
|
4,441,631
|
|
|
$
|
1,749,597
|
|
|
$
|
479,065
|
|
|
$
|
(3,915,362
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,474,344
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
500
|
|
|
$
|
193,731
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
31,140
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
225,371
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11,500
|
|
Intercompany payables
|
|
|
7,020
|
|
|
|
239,703
|
|
|
|
315
|
|
|
|
3,208
|
|
|
|
(250,246
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
152,320
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,875
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
155,195
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
7,520
|
|
|
|
594,754
|
|
|
|
315
|
|
|
|
39,723
|
|
|
|
(250,246
|
)
|
|
|
392,066
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,992,650
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
319,698
|
|
|
|
(282,198
|
)
|
|
|
2,030,150
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,380
|
|
|
|
171,544
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
191,924
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
94,804
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,960
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
96,764
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
7,520
|
|
|
|
2,702,588
|
|
|
|
171,859
|
|
|
|
361,381
|
|
|
|
(532,444
|
)
|
|
|
2,710,904
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21,526
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,021
|
|
|
|
51,547
|
|
Membership units subject to repurchase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,834
|
|
|
|
(38,834
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,711,893
|
|
|
|
1,717,517
|
|
|
|
1,577,738
|
|
|
|
78,850
|
|
|
|
(3,374,105
|
)
|
|
|
1,711,893
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
1,719,413
|
|
|
$
|
4,441,631
|
|
|
$
|
1,749,597
|
|
|
$
|
479,065
|
|
|
$
|
(3,915,362
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,474,344
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-67
Condensed
Consolidating Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2007 (in
thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
62
|
|
|
$
|
399,153
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
34,122
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
433,337
|
|
Short-term investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
163,258
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,975
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
179,233
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments
|
|
|
7,671
|
|
|
|
7,504
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
375
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,550
|
|
Inventories
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
64,583
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
625
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
65,208
|
|
Other current assets
|
|
|
102
|
|
|
|
37,201
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
796
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
38,099
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current assets
|
|
|
7,835
|
|
|
|
671,699
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
51,893
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
731,427
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
30
|
|
|
|
1,254,856
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
66,901
|
|
|
|
(5,130
|
)
|
|
|
1,316,657
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
1,728,602
|
|
|
|
1,903,009
|
|
|
|
173,922
|
|
|
|
5,325
|
|
|
|
(3,810,858
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
18,533
|
|
|
|
1,519,638
|
|
|
|
328,182
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,866,353
|
|
Goodwill
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
425,782
|
|
Other intangible assets, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
45,948
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
154
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,102
|
|
Deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other assets
|
|
|
41
|
|
|
|
44,464
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,172
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
46,677
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
$
|
1,736,508
|
|
|
$
|
4,364,291
|
|
|
$
|
1,693,560
|
|
|
$
|
454,627
|
|
|
$
|
(3,815,988
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Liabilities and Stockholders Equity
|
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
|
|
$
|
6,459
|
|
|
$
|
210,707
|
|
|
$
|
7
|
|
|
$
|
8,562
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
225,735
|
|
Current maturities of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10,500
|
|
Intercompany payables
|
|
|
5,727
|
|
|
|
179,248
|
|
|
|
726
|
|
|
|
2,986
|
|
|
|
(188,687
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Other current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
112,626
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,182
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
114,808
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total current liabilities
|
|
|
12,186
|
|
|
|
511,581
|
|
|
|
733
|
|
|
|
15,230
|
|
|
|
(188,687
|
)
|
|
|
351,043
|
|
Long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,995,402
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
311,052
|
|
|
|
(272,552
|
)
|
|
|
2,033,902
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19,606
|
|
|
|
163,229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
182,835
|
|
Other long-term liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
88,570
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,602
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
90,172
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities
|
|
|
12,186
|
|
|
|
2,615,159
|
|
|
|
163,962
|
|
|
|
327,884
|
|
|
|
(461,239
|
)
|
|
|
2,657,952
|
|
Minority interests
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,530
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
30,194
|
|
|
|
50,724
|
|
Membership units subject to repurchase
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
37,879
|
|
|
|
(37,879
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
1,728,602
|
|
|
|
1,529,598
|
|
|
|
88,864
|
|
|
|
(3,347,064
|
)
|
|
|
1,724,322
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total liabilities and stockholders equity
|
|
$
|
1,736,508
|
|
|
$
|
4,364,291
|
|
|
$
|
1,693,560
|
|
|
$
|
454,627
|
|
|
$
|
(3,815,988
|
)
|
|
$
|
4,432,998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-68
Condensed
Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2008 (unaudited and in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
386,898
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
12,031
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
398,929
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68,350
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,105
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
69,455
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,171
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(17,171
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
455,248
|
|
|
|
17,171
|
|
|
|
13,136
|
|
|
|
(17,171
|
)
|
|
|
468,384
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(122,959
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(5,284
|
)
|
|
|
17,073
|
|
|
|
(111,170
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(111,411
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,810
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(114,221
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(55,414
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,686
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(58,100
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(1,399
|
)
|
|
|
(71,186
|
)
|
|
|
(247
|
)
|
|
|
(3,173
|
)
|
|
|
98
|
|
|
|
(75,907
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(11
|
)
|
|
|
(80,483
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,145
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(82,639
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(1,410
|
)
|
|
|
(441,453
|
)
|
|
|
(247
|
)
|
|
|
(16,098
|
)
|
|
|
17,171
|
|
|
|
(442,037
|
)
|
Loss on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(291
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(1,410
|
)
|
|
|
13,504
|
|
|
|
16,924
|
|
|
|
(2,962
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
26,056
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(996
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
173
|
|
|
|
(823
|
)
|
Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
(16,816
|
)
|
|
|
(708
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,524
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equity in net loss of investee
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,062
|
)
|
Interest income
|
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
14,243
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,098
|
|
|
|
(10,567
|
)
|
|
|
4,781
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(34,449
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8,150
|
)
|
|
|
9,242
|
|
|
|
(33,357
|
)
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
75
|
|
|
|
(4,111
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,036
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes
|
|
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
|
(13,579
|
)
|
|
|
16,924
|
|
|
|
(10,014
|
)
|
|
|
16,372
|
|
|
|
(8,441
|
)
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(3,237
|
)
|
|
|
(6,466
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(9,703
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
$
|
(16,816
|
)
|
|
$
|
10,458
|
|
|
$
|
(10,014
|
)
|
|
$
|
16,372
|
|
|
$
|
(18,144
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-69
Condensed
Consolidating Statement of Operations for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007 (unaudited and in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
287,945
|
|
|
$
|
28,186
|
|
|
$
|
5,560
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
321,691
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
79,447
|
|
|
|
4,512
|
|
|
|
1,496
|
|
|
|
(13,721
|
)
|
|
|
71,734
|
|
Other revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
13,028
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13,041
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
367,405
|
|
|
|
45,726
|
|
|
|
7,056
|
|
|
|
(26,762
|
)
|
|
|
393,425
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(88,049
|
)
|
|
|
(12,346
|
)
|
|
|
(3,073
|
)
|
|
|
13,028
|
|
|
|
(90,440
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(120,627
|
)
|
|
|
(10,897
|
)
|
|
|
(4,862
|
)
|
|
|
13,721
|
|
|
|
(122,665
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
(39,762
|
)
|
|
|
(6,597
|
)
|
|
|
(2,402
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(48,769
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(321
|
)
|
|
|
(55,029
|
)
|
|
|
(8,714
|
)
|
|
|
(1,183
|
)
|
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
(65,234
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(60,887
|
)
|
|
|
(6,006
|
)
|
|
|
(1,907
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(68,800
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(329
|
)
|
|
|
(364,354
|
)
|
|
|
(44,560
|
)
|
|
|
(13,427
|
)
|
|
|
26,762
|
|
|
|
(395,908
|
)
|
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(311
|
)
|
|
|
1,251
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
940
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(329
|
)
|
|
|
2,740
|
|
|
|
2,417
|
|
|
|
(6,371
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,543
|
)
|
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(180
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,759
|
|
|
|
1,579
|
|
Equity in net loss of consolidated subsidiaries
|
|
|
(23,905
|
)
|
|
|
(24,797
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
48,702
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
21,179
|
|
|
|
176
|
|
|
|
376
|
|
|
|
(16,456
|
)
|
|
|
5,285
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(25,410
|
)
|
|
|
(8,331
|
)
|
|
|
(9,211
|
)
|
|
|
16,456
|
|
|
|
(26,496
|
)
|
Other expense, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(625
|
)
|
|
|
(12
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Loss before income taxes
|
|
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
|
(27,093
|
)
|
|
|
(5,750
|
)
|
|
|
(15,206
|
)
|
|
|
50,461
|
|
|
|
(21,812
|
)
|
Income tax (expense) benefit
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,188
|
|
|
|
(5,600
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,412
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
$
|
(23,905
|
)
|
|
$
|
(11,350
|
)
|
|
$
|
(15,206
|
)
|
|
$
|
50,461
|
|
|
$
|
(24,224
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-70
Condensed
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2008 (unaudited and in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by operating activities
|
|
$
|
513
|
|
|
$
|
111,533
|
|
|
$
|
805
|
|
|
$
|
22,829
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
135,680
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of and changes in prepayments for property and
equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(120,681
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(39,157
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(159,838
|
)
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses and spectrum
clearing costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(70,022
|
)
|
|
|
(805
|
)
|
|
|
(50
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(70,877
|
)
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19,744
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(19,744
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
124,341
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
124,341
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
(2,977
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchase of membership units
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,033
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,033
|
)
|
Other
|
|
|
(575
|
)
|
|
|
324
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(251
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash used in investing activities
|
|
|
(3,552
|
)
|
|
|
(86,815
|
)
|
|
|
(805
|
)
|
|
|
(39,207
|
)
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
(127,402
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Principal payments on capital lease obligations
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,794
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,794
|
)
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(364
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(364
|
)
|
Capital contributions, net
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,977
|
)
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
2,977
|
|
|
|
(4,431
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,977
|
)
|
|
|
(4,431
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(62
|
)
|
|
|
20,287
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(16,378
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,847
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
62
|
|
|
|
399,153
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
34,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
433,337
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
419,440
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
17,744
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
437,184
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-71
Condensed
Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended
March 31, 2007 (unaudited and in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
and
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Parent
|
|
|
Issuing
|
|
|
Guarantor
|
|
|
Non-Guarantor
|
|
|
Eliminating
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
|
Subsidiary
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Subsidiaries
|
|
|
Adjustments
|
|
|
Consolidated
|
|
|
Operating activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
|
|
$
|
(1,322
|
)
|
|
$
|
33,316
|
|
|
$
|
(9,840
|
)
|
|
$
|
(17,032
|
)
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
5,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Investing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Purchases of and changes in prepayments for property and
equipment
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(115,436
|
)
|
|
|
(3,288
|
)
|
|
|
(7,162
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(125,886
|
)
|
Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(254
|
)
|
|
|
(169
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(423
|
)
|
Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9,500
|
|
Purchases of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(42,727
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(42,727
|
)
|
Sales and maturities of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,293
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
84,293
|
|
Investments in and advances to affiliates and consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
(4,365
|
)
|
|
|
(4,706
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
(4,706
|
)
|
Other
|
|
|
1,250
|
|
|
|
(2
|
)
|
|
|
(146
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,102
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
|
|
(3,115
|
)
|
|
|
(78,578
|
)
|
|
|
5,812
|
|
|
|
(7,331
|
)
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
(78,847
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Financing activities:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Issuance of related party debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(17,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from related party debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
2,000
|
|
|
|
(17,000
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Repayment of long-term debt
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2,250
|
)
|
Payment of debt issuance costs
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(873
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(8
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(881
|
)
|
Capital contributions, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4,365
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
|
|
4,365
|
|
|
|
(15,758
|
)
|
|
|
15,000
|
|
|
|
1,992
|
|
|
|
(4,365
|
)
|
|
|
1,234
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
|
(72
|
)
|
|
|
(61,020
|
)
|
|
|
10,972
|
|
|
|
(22,371
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(72,491
|
)
|
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
|
|
|
206
|
|
|
|
316,398
|
|
|
|
12,842
|
|
|
|
43,366
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
372,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
|
|
$
|
134
|
|
|
$
|
255,378
|
|
|
$
|
23,814
|
|
|
$
|
20,995
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
|
$
|
300,321
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F-72
LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.