Leap Wireless International
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration
Nos. 333-141546
and
333-141546-01
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
May 16, 2007, unless extended.
We are offering to exchange up to $750,000,000 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 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014, referred
to in this prospectus as the old notes. The new notes and the
old notes are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the
notes.
We issued the old notes on October 23, 2006 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. If you fail to tender your old notes, you
will continue to hold unregistered notes that you will not be
able to transfer freely.
See Risk Factors starting on page 18 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tendered and not withdrawn before expiration of the exchange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.
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 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 Private Offerings, Resales, and Trading
through Automatic Linkages Market commonly referred to as the
Portal Market. 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 April 18, 2007
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 or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
You must not rely upon any information or representation not
contained or incorporated by reference 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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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.
ii
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, unless the context suggests
otherwise.
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 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
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 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.
INCORPORATION
BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with it, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to documents
containing that information. The information incorporated by
reference in this prospectus is important business and financial
information about our company that is not included in or
delivered with this prospectus, but is considered to be part of
this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference and
later information that we file with the SEC will automatically
update and supersede this information. We incorporate by
reference the documents listed below and any future filings we
make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act (other than current reports furnished under
Item 2 or Item 7 of
Form 8-K)
until our offering is completed or terminated.
(a) Leaps Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed on
March 1, 2007.
(b) Leaps Current Reports on
Form 8-K,
filed on March 15, 2007, March 21, 2007 and
March 23, 2007.
(c) Leaps Definitive Proxy Statement on
Schedule 14A, filed on April 6, 2007.
Any statement contained herein, or in any documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein,
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for the purpose of
this prospectus to the extent that a subsequent statement
contained herein or in any subsequently filed document which
also is or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so
modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing
or telephoning us at Leap Wireless International, Inc., 10307
Pacific Center Court, San Diego, California, telephone:
(858) 882-6368,
Attention: Secretary. You may
iii
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
May 11, 2007, 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.
SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Except for the historical information contained herein, this
prospectus contains or incorporates by reference
forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
statements reflect managements current forecast of certain
aspects regarding 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 or implied in 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 that could adversely affect the
market for wireless services;
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the impact of competitors initiatives;
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our ability to successfully implement product offerings and
execute market expansion plans;
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failure of the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, to
approve the transfer to Denali Spectrum License, LLC of the
wireless license for which it was named the winning bidder in
Auction #66;
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delays in our market expansion plans resulting from delays in
the availability of network equipment and handsets for the AWS
spectrum we acquired in Auction #66, or resulting from
requirements to clear the AWS spectrum of existing
U.S. government and other private sector wireless
operations, some of which 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, including the indenture
governing the new notes to be issued pursuant to the exchange
offer;
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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 forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus should be considered in the context
of these risk factors. Except as required by applicable 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 contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus may not occur and
actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or
implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers
of this prospectus are cautioned not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements.
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PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this
prospectus and does not contain all the information that you
should consider before participating in the exchange offer. You
should read the entire prospectus carefully, especially
Risk Factors and the financial statements and
related notes, before deciding to participate in the exchange
offer described in this prospectus.
Overview
of Our Business
We are a wireless communications carrier that offers digital
wireless service in the United States of America, or U.S., under
the
Cricket®
and
Jumptm
Mobile brands. Our Cricket service offers customers
unlimited wireless service in their Cricket service area for a
flat monthly rate without requiring a fixed-term contract or a
credit check, and our Jump Mobile service offers customers a
per-minute prepaid service. Cricket and Jump Mobile services are
also offered in certain markets by LCW Wireless Operations, LLC,
or LCW Operations, in which Leap owns an indirect 73.3%
non-controlling interest. Leap also owns an 82.5%
non-controlling interest in Denali Spectrum, LLC, or Denali,
which participated in the FCCs recent auction for Advanced
Wireless Service licenses, or Auction #66, as a designated
entity through its wholly owned subsidiary, Denali Spectrum
License, LLC, or Denali License.
At December 31, 2006, Cricket and Jump Mobile services were
offered in 22 states in the U.S. and had approximately
2,230,000 customers. As of December 31, 2006, we, Alaska
Native Broadband 1 License, LLC, or ANB 1 License (now
a wholly owned subsidiary of Cricket), and LCW Operations owned
wireless licenses covering a total of 137.1 million
potential customers, or POPs, in the aggregate, and our network
in our operating markets covered approximately 48 million
POPs. We are currently building out and launching additional
markets. We anticipate that our combined network footprint will
cover approximately 50 million POPs by mid-2007. In
addition, we participated as a bidder in Auction #66, both
directly and as an investor in Denali License. In
Auction #66, we purchased 99 wireless licenses covering
123.1 million POPs (adjusted to eliminate duplication among
certain overlapping Auction #66 licenses) for an aggregate
purchase price of $710.2 million, and Denali License was
named the winning bidder for one wireless license covering
59.8 million POPs (which includes markets covering
5.7 million POPs which overlap with certain licenses we
purchased in Auction #66) for a net purchase price of
$274.1 million. However, the post-auction grant of the
license for which Denali License was named the winning bidder
remains subject to FCC approval. We anticipate that these
licenses will provide the opportunity to substantially enhance
our coverage area and allow us and Denali License to launch
Cricket service in numerous new markets in multiple construction
phases over time.
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 their Cricket service area.
Our internal customer surveys indicate that approximately 50% of
our customers use our service as their sole phone service and
90% as their primary phone service. For the year ended
December 31, 2006, our customers used our Cricket service
for an average of 1,450 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 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
75% at December 31, 2006. We believe that customers who
require a significantly larger amount of voice usage than
average, are price-sensitive, have lower credit scores or prefer
not to enter into fixed-term contracts represent a large portion
of the remaining growth potential in the U.S. wireless
market. We believe our services appeal strongly to these
customer segments. We believe that we are able to serve these
customers and generate significant operating income before
depreciation and amortization, or OIBDA, because of our
high-quality network and low customer acquisition and operating
costs.
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Our most popular service plan offers customers unlimited local
and U.S. long distance service from their Cricket service
area combined with unlimited use of multiple calling features
and messaging services. More than 60% of Cricket customers as of
December 31, 2006 subscribed to this plan, and a
substantially higher percentage of new Cricket customers
purchased this plan. We also offer a basic service plan which
allows customers to make unlimited calls within their Cricket
service area and receive unlimited calls from any area, and an
intermediate service plan which also includes unlimited
U.S. long distance service. During 2006, we introduced a
higher value plan which includes unlimited mobile web access and
coverage in all markets in which Cricket service is offered, in
addition to the features offered by our other plans. 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 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 level of customer service for customers
and expanding our brand presence within a market. As of
December 31, 2006, we, ANB 1 License and LCW
Operations had 129 direct locations and 2,545 indirect
distributors, including 690 premier dealers. Our direct sales
locations were responsible for approximately 25% of our gross
customer additions in 2006. Premier dealers tend to generate
significantly more business than other indirect dealers. We may
seek to expand the number of premier dealer locations in 2007.
We place our direct and indirect retail locations strategically
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
believe that we have been able to achieve a cost per gross
customer addition, or CPGA, which measures the average cost of
acquiring a new customer, that is significantly lower than most
of our competitors.
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. By building or enhancing market
clusters, we are able to increase the size of our unlimited
Cricket service area for our customers, while leveraging our
existing network investments to improve our economic returns. We
are also strategically expanding into new markets that meet our
internally developed customer demographics and population
density criteria. We, ANB 1 License and LCW Wireless
launched 14 markets in 2006, and we currently expect to launch
Cricket service covering approximately 3.0 million new
covered POPs in Rochester, NY and areas in North Carolina and
South Carolina during 2007.
Our
Business Strengths
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Simple, Differentiated Service. 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 service providers, we
offer high-quality service on a flat-rate, unlimited-usage
basis, without requiring fixed-term contracts, early termination
fees or credit checks, providing a high value/low
price proposition for customers.
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Proven Business Model. Our business
model has enabled us to achieve significant growth in subscriber
numbers in our existing markets, allowing us to spread our fixed
costs over a growing customer base. Over the last eighteen
months, we also have experienced significant growth in our
average revenue per user, or ARPU, while maintaining customer
acquisition and operation costs that are among the lowest in the
industry.
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Substantial Cash Flows from Existing
Markets. From within our existing markets in
which service was launched prior to December 31, 2005, we
continue to generate substantial operating cash flows which
service our financial obligations and fund growth. Throughout
2006, our operating cash flows helped to fund the initial
build-out operating losses and working capital requirements of
our newly launched markets. We expect that the markets that we
have launched during 2006 will begin making a positive
contribution to our cash flows in 2007 as well.
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Low-Cost Provider. Our business model
is designed to provide service to customers at a cost
significantly lower than most of our competitors, enabling us to
achieve attractive economics. We minimize capital costs by
engineering our high-quality, efficient networks to cover only
the areas of our markets where most of our potential customers
live, work and play. We reduce general operating costs through
our efficient network design that focuses on densely populated
areas, lean overhead structure, a fast follower
approach that reduces development costs, streamlined billing
procedures and control of customer care expenses. We maintain
low customer acquisition costs through our focused sales and
marketing, low handset subsidies and cost-effective distribution
strategies.
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Attractive Growth Prospects. We believe
that our business model is highly scalable, with the potential
to generate increased cash flow over time by increasing
penetration in our existing markets, building and enhancing
market clusters and selectively investing in new strategic
markets that reflect our target customer demographics and other
internal criteria for expansion.
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High-Quality Networks. We have deployed
in each of our markets a 100% Code Division Multiple Access
radio transmission technology, or CDMA 1xRTT, network that
delivers high capacity and outstanding quality at a low cost
that can be easily upgraded to support enhanced capacity. We
expect to deploy
CDMA2000®
1xEV-DO technology in most existing and new markets to
support next generation high-speed data services. Our networks
have 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. We plan to continue to
invest in our networks both to enhance our existing service
capability and to expand our coverage area.
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Robust Spectrum Position. As of
December 31, 2006, we, ANB 1 License and LCW
Operations owned wireless licenses covering a total of
137.1 million POPs. Assuming the FCC approves the
post-auction grant to Denali License of the license for which it
was named the winning bidder in Auction #66, our spectrum
portfolio, together with that of ANB 1 License, LCW
Operations and Denali License, will consist of approximately
184.2 million POPs (adjusted to eliminate duplication of
overlapping licenses among these entities).
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Our
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 added instant messaging, multimedia (picture)
messaging, games and our Travel
Timetm
roaming option to our product portfolio. In 2006 we broadened
our data product and service offerings to better meet the needs
of our customers, and we expect to continue to broaden these
data product and service offerings in 2007 and beyond. With our
deployment of 1xEV-DO technology, we believe we will be able to
offer an expanded array of services to our customers, including
high-demand wireless data services such as mobile content,
location-based services and high-quality music downloads at
speeds of up to 2.4 Megabits per second. We believe these
enhanced data offerings will be attractive to many of our
existing customers and will enhance our appeal to new
data-centric customers.
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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 while optimizing our advertising expenses. We 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. We have also initiated our premier
dealer program, and we are in
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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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Enhance Market Clusters and Expand Into Attractive
Strategic Markets. We intend 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, or by participating in new partnerships or joint
ventures. Examples of our market-cluster strategy include the
Fresno, California market we launched in 2005 to complement the
adjacent Visalia and Modesto, California markets in our Central
Valley cluster and the Oregon cluster we created by contributing
our FCC licenses serving the Salem and Eugene, Oregon markets to
LCW Wireless, a joint venture which also owns and operates a
license serving Portland, Oregon. Examples of our strategic
market expansion include the five licenses in central Texas,
including Houston, Austin and San Antonio, and the
San Diego, California license that we and ANB 1
License acquired in Auction #58. All of these markets meet our
internally developed criteria concerning customer demographics
and population density, which we believe will enable us to offer
Cricket service on a cost competitive basis in these markets. We
also anticipate that the licenses we purchased in
Auction #66 and for which Denali License was named the
winning bidder will provide the opportunity to substantially
enhance our coverage area and allow us and Denali License to
launch Cricket service in numerous new markets in multiple
construction phases over time.
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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 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.
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 is a
U.S. registered trademark of Cricket. In addition, the
following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: Unlimited
Access Plus, Unlimited Access, Unlimited Plus, Unlimited
Classic, Jump, Travel Time, Cricket Clicks and the Cricket
K.
4
Organizational
Structure
The following chart represents our current corporate
organizational structure. None of LCW Wireless, LLC, Denali
Spectrum, LLC or their respective subsidiaries is a guarantor of
the new notes, or will be in the Restricted Group or
will be a Subsidiary under the indenture that will
govern the new 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. |
|
(b) |
|
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, LLC nor any of its
subsidiaries will be in the Restricted Group or will
be a Subsidiary under the indenture that will govern
the new notes. |
|
(c) |
|
Remaining 17.5% controlling interest owned by Denali Spectrum
Manager, LLC. Neither Denali Spectrum, LLC nor Denali License
will be in the Restricted Group or will be a
Subsidiary under the indenture that will govern the
new notes. |
|
(d) |
|
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 and the old notes. Leap and all of its
subsidiaries that guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed
of 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, LLC
and its subsidiaries, or Denali Spectrum, LLC and its
subsidiaries will be subject to the covenants under the
indenture governing the new notes. See Description of New
Notes. |
5
The
Exchange Offer
On October 23, 2006, we completed the private offering of
$750,000,000 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.
|
|
|
Old Notes |
|
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014. |
|
New Notes |
|
Notes of the same series, the issuance of which has been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933. The terms of the
new notes are identical in all material respects to those of the
old notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration
rights and additional interest provisions relating to the old
notes do not apply to the new notes. |
|
Terms of the Offer |
|
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 $750,000,000 principal amount
of 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 outstanding. We will issue
new notes promptly after the expiration of the exchange offer. |
|
Expiration Time |
|
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City
time, on May 16, 2007, unless extended. |
|
Procedures for Tendering |
|
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. |
|
|
|
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. |
|
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Issuance of New Notes |
|
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. |
|
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. If your
old notes are accepted for exchange, then you will receive
interest on the new notes and not on the old notes. |
6
|
|
|
Withdrawal Rights |
|
You may withdraw your tender of old notes at any time before the
expiration time. |
|
Conditions to the Exchange Offer |
|
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. |
|
Resales of New Notes |
|
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission, or 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: |
|
|
|
you are acquiring the new notes in the ordinary
course of your business;
|
|
|
|
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;
|
|
|
|
you are not an affiliate of ours; and
|
|
|
|
you are not a broker-dealer that acquired any of its
old notes directly from us.
|
|
|
|
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. |
|
|
|
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 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. |
|
Exchange Agent |
|
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. |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
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. |
7
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 85.
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.
8
The New
Notes
|
|
|
Issuer |
|
Cricket Communications, Inc. |
|
Securities |
|
$750.0 million aggregate principal amount of
9.375% senior notes due 2014. |
|
Maturity |
|
November 1, 2014. |
|
Interest |
|
Annual rate: 9.375%. The notes will pay interest semi-annually
in cash in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each
year, beginning on November 1, 2007. |
|
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;
|
|
|
|
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 December 31, 2006, we had $1,686 million of
indebtedness outstanding (including the new notes),
$896 million of which was secured indebtedness under our
senior secured credit facility, and no borrowings under our
$200 million revolving credit facility. |
|
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 |
9
|
|
|
|
|
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 will, among other things,
limit 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. |
10
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 found in, or incorporated by reference into, 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 Months
|
|
|
Five Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
567,694
|
|
|
$
|
643,566
|
|
|
$
|
398,451
|
|
|
$
|
285,647
|
|
|
$
|
763,680
|
|
|
$
|
972,781
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
50,781
|
|
|
|
107,730
|
|
|
|
83,196
|
|
|
|
58,713
|
|
|
|
150,983
|
|
|
|
163,919
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
618,475
|
|
|
|
751,296
|
|
|
|
481,647
|
|
|
|
344,360
|
|
|
|
914,663
|
|
|
|
1,136,700
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (exclusive of items
shown separately below)
|
|
|
(181,404
|
)
|
|
|
(199,987
|
)
|
|
|
(113,988
|
)
|
|
|
(79,148
|
)
|
|
|
(200,430
|
)
|
|
|
(261,614
|
)
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
(252,344
|
)
|
|
|
(172,235
|
)
|
|
|
(97,160
|
)
|
|
|
(82,402
|
)
|
|
|
(192,205
|
)
|
|
|
(262,330
|
)
|
Selling and marketing
|
|
|
(122,092
|
)
|
|
|
(86,223
|
)
|
|
|
(51,997
|
)
|
|
|
(39,938
|
)
|
|
|
(100,042
|
)
|
|
|
(159,257
|
)
|
General and administrative
|
|
|
(185,915
|
)
|
|
|
(162,378
|
)
|
|
|
(81,514
|
)
|
|
|
(57,110
|
)
|
|
|
(159,249
|
)
|
|
|
(197,070
|
)
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
(287,942
|
)
|
|
|
(300,243
|
)
|
|
|
(178,120
|
)
|
|
|
(75,324
|
)
|
|
|
(195,462
|
)
|
|
|
(226,747
|
)
|
Impairment of indefinite-lived
intangible assets
|
|
|
(26,919
|
)
|
|
|
(171,140
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12,043
|
)
|
|
|
(7,912
|
)
|
Loss on disposal of property and
equipment
|
|
|
(16,323
|
)
|
|
|
(24,054
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(1,072,939
|
)
|
|
|
(1,116,260
|
)
|
|
|
(522,779
|
)
|
|
|
(333,922
|
)
|
|
|
(859,431
|
)
|
|
|
(1,114,930
|
)
|
Gain on sale of wireless licenses
and operating assets
|
|
|
364
|
|
|
|
4,589
|
|
|
|
532
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14,587
|
|
|
|
22,054
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Operating income (loss)
|
|
|
(454,100
|
)
|
|
|
(360,375
|
)
|
|
|
(40,600
|
)
|
|
|
10,438
|
|
|
|
69,819
|
|
|
|
43,824
|
|
Minority interests in consolidated
subsidiaries
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
|
|
1,436
|
|
Interest income
|
|
|
6,345
|
|
|
|
779
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,812
|
|
|
|
9,957
|
|
|
|
23,063
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
(229,740
|
)
|
|
|
(83,371
|
)
|
|
|
(4,195
|
)
|
|
|
(16,594
|
)
|
|
|
(30,051
|
)
|
|
|
(61,334
|
)
|
Gain on sale of unconsolidated
wireless operating company
|
|
|
39,518
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other income (expense), net
|
|
|
(3,001
|
)
|
|
|
(176
|
)
|
|
|
(293
|
)
|
|
|
(117
|
)
|
|
|
1,423
|
|
|
|
(2,650
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before reorganization
items, income taxes and cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
|
|
|
(640,978
|
)
|
|
|
(443,143
|
)
|
|
|
(45,088
|
)
|
|
|
(4,461
|
)
|
|
|
51,117
|
|
|
|
4,339
|
|
Reorganization items, net
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(146,242
|
)
|
|
|
962,444
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before income taxes
and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(640,978
|
)
|
|
|
(589,385
|
)
|
|
|
917,356
|
|
|
|
(4,461
|
)
|
|
|
51,117
|
|
|
|
4,339
|
|
Income tax expense
|
|
|
(23,821
|
)
|
|
|
(8,052
|
)
|
|
|
(4,166
|
)
|
|
|
(3,930
|
)
|
|
|
(21,151
|
)
|
|
|
(9,101
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
(664,799
|
)
|
|
|
(597,437
|
)
|
|
|
913,190
|
|
|
|
(8,391
|
)
|
|
|
29,966
|
|
|
|
(4,762
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
623
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(664,799
|
)
|
|
$
|
(597,437
|
)
|
|
$
|
913,190
|
|
|
$
|
(8,391
|
)
|
|
$
|
29,966
|
|
|
$
|
(4,139
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven Months
|
|
|
Five Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except per share data)
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per
share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per
share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.49
|
|
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per share
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.49
|
|
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in per share
calculations(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
44,591
|
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
60,135
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
44,591
|
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
61,003
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
100,860
|
|
|
$
|
84,070
|
|
|
$
|
141,141
|
|
|
$
|
293,073
|
|
|
$
|
374,939
|
|
Working capital (deficit)(2)
|
|
|
(2,144,420
|
)
|
|
|
(2,254,809
|
)
|
|
|
145,762
|
|
|
|
240,862
|
|
|
|
198,501
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments(3)
|
|
|
25,922
|
|
|
|
55,954
|
|
|
|
31,427
|
|
|
|
13,759
|
|
|
|
13,581
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
2,163,702
|
|
|
|
1,756,843
|
|
|
|
2,220,887
|
|
|
|
2,506,318
|
|
|
|
4,092,968
|
|
Long-term debt(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
371,355
|
|
|
|
588,333
|
|
|
|
1,676,500
|
|
Total stockholders equity
(deficit)
|
|
|
(296,786
|
)
|
|
|
(893,356
|
)
|
|
|
1,470,056
|
|
|
|
1,514,357
|
|
|
|
1,789,001
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
March 31,
|
|
|
June 30,
|
|
|
September 30,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Operating Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of subscribers at end of
period(4)
|
|
|
1,615,205
|
|
|
|
1,617,941
|
|
|
|
1,622,526
|
|
|
|
1,688,293
|
|
|
|
1,778,704
|
|
|
|
1,836,390
|
|
|
|
1,967,369
|
|
|
|
2,229,826
|
|
Net customer additions(4)
|
|
|
45,575
|
|
|
|
2,736
|
|
|
|
23,298
|
(5)
|
|
|
45,767
|
|
|
|
110,409
|
|
|
|
57,683
|
|
|
|
161,688
|
|
|
|
262,457
|
|
ARPU(6)
|
|
$
|
39.03
|
|
|
$
|
39.24
|
|
|
$
|
40.22
|
|
|
$
|
39.74
|
|
|
$
|
41.87
|
|
|
$
|
42.97
|
|
|
$
|
44.39
|
|
|
$
|
44.68
|
|
CPGA(7)
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
138
|
|
|
$
|
142
|
|
|
$
|
158
|
|
|
$
|
130
|
|
|
$
|
198
|
|
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
CCU(8)
|
|
$
|
18.94
|
|
|
$
|
18.43
|
|
|
$
|
19.52
|
|
|
$
|
18.67
|
|
|
$
|
19.57
|
|
|
$
|
19.18
|
|
|
$
|
20.74
|
|
|
$
|
20.21
|
|
Churn(9)
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
|
|
3.9
|
%
|
|
|
4.4
|
%
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
|
|
3.3
|
%
|
|
|
3.6
|
%
|
|
|
4.3
|
%
|
|
|
4.1
|
%
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Months
|
|
|
Five Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted consolidated OIBDA(10)
|
|
$
|
(139,034
|
)
|
|
$
|
106,662
|
|
|
$
|
136,151
|
|
|
$
|
85,762
|
|
|
$
|
274,982
|
|
|
$
|
276,388
|
|
Adjusted consolidated OIBDA
margin(11)
|
|
|
(24
|
)%
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
28.4
|
%
|
Capital expenditures
|
|
$
|
102,181
|
|
|
$
|
37,488
|
|
|
$
|
34,456
|
|
|
$
|
49,043
|
|
|
$
|
208,808
|
|
|
$
|
590,529
|
|
Statement of cash flow
data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities
|
|
$
|
(183,816
|
)
|
|
$
|
44,433
|
|
|
$
|
120,623
|
|
|
$
|
69,752
|
|
|
$
|
308,280
|
|
|
$
|
291,232
|
|
Net cash provided by (used in)
investing activities
|
|
$
|
31,464
|
|
|
$
|
(56,531
|
)
|
|
$
|
(50,299
|
)
|
|
$
|
(46,278
|
)
|
|
$
|
(332,112
|
)
|
|
$
|
(1,549,858
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
|
$
|
10,233
|
|
|
$
|
(4,692
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(36,727
|
)
|
|
$
|
175,764
|
|
|
$
|
1,340,492
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges(12)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63.2
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Refer to Notes 2 and 5 to our audited annual consolidated
financial statements incorporated by reference in this
prospectus for an explanation of the calculation of basic and
diluted net income (loss) per common share. |
|
(2) |
|
We have presented the principal and interest balances related to
our outstanding debt obligations as current liabilities in the
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2002 and
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 ANB 1
License. |
|
(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. |
|
(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 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
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 |
13
|
|
|
|
|
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 over time 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. 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 consolidated OIBDA represents consolidated operating
income before depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude
the effects of: gain/loss on sale of wireless licenses and
operating assets; impairment of indefinite-lived intangible
assets; impairment of long-lived assets and related charges; and
share-based compensation expense (benefit). Adjusted
consolidated OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted
consolidated 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 adjusted consolidated
OIBDA, as well as the associated percentage margin calculation,
to be meaningful measures of our operating performance. We use
adjusted consolidated 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 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 consolidated OIBDA facilitates
internal comparisons of our historical operating performance,
management also uses adjusted consolidated OIBDA for business
planning purposes and in measuring our performance relative to
that of our competitors. Adjusted consolidated OIBDA is also one
of the corporate performance goals upon which our cash bonus
plans for employees are based. In addition, |
14
|
|
|
|
|
we believe that adjusted consolidated OIBDA and similar measures
are widely used by investors, financial analysts and credit
rating agencies as a measure of our financial performance over
time and to compare our financial performance with that of other
companies in our industry. |
|
|
|
Adjusted consolidated 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
consolidated OIBDA does not reflect cash requirements for such
replacements;
|
|
|
|
it does not reflect the costs associated with
share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
|
|
|
|
it does not reflect the interest expense or cash
necessary to service interest 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
consolidated OIBDA as a financial 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 consolidated OIBDA margin is calculated by dividing
adjusted consolidated 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
and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus
minority interest in loss (income) of subsidiary, fixed charges
and amortization of capitalized interest, less interest
capitalized. 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 year ended December 31, 2006 by
$12,958 and for the five months ended December 31, 2004 by
$4,461 and for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
by $586,694 and $640,692, respectively. |
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.
15
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
|
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Selling and marketing expense
|
|
$
|
22,995
|
|
|
$
|
24,810
|
|
|
$
|
25,535
|
|
|
$
|
26,702
|
|
|
$
|
29,102
|
|
|
$
|
35,942
|
|
|
$
|
42,948
|
|
|
$
|
51,265
|
|
Less share-based compensation
expense included in selling and marketing expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(693
|
)
|
|
|
(203
|
)
|
|
|
(125
|
)
|
|
|
(327
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(637
|
)
|
|
|
(533
|
)
|
Plus cost of equipment
|
|
|
49,178
|
|
|
|
42,799
|
|
|
|
49,576
|
|
|
|
50,652
|
|
|
|
58,886
|
|
|
|
52,081
|
|
|
|
68,711
|
|
|
|
82,652
|
|
Less equipment revenue
|
|
|
(42,389
|
)
|
|
|
(37,125
|
)
|
|
|
(36,852
|
)
|
|
|
(34,617
|
)
|
|
|
(50,848
|
)
|
|
|
(37,068
|
)
|
|
|
(38,532
|
)
|
|
|
(37,471
|
)
|
Less net loss on equipment
transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition
|
|
|
(4,012
|
)
|
|
|
(3,484
|
)
|
|
|
(4,917
|
)
|
|
|
(3,775
|
)
|
|
|
(521
|
)
|
|
|
(412
|
)
|
|
|
(983
|
)
|
|
|
(3,026
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation
of CPGA
|
|
$
|
25,772
|
|
|
$
|
26,307
|
|
|
$
|
33,139
|
|
|
$
|
38,837
|
|
|
$
|
36,292
|
|
|
$
|
50,070
|
|
|
$
|
71,507
|
|
|
$
|
92,887
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
201,467
|
|
|
|
191,288
|
|
|
|
233,699
|
|
|
|
245,817
|
|
|
|
278,370
|
|
|
|
253,033
|
|
|
|
405,178
|
|
|
|
519,229
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
128
|
|
|
$
|
138
|
|
|
$
|
142
|
|
|
$
|
158
|
|
|
$
|
130
|
|
|
$
|
198
|
|
|
$
|
176
|
|
|
$
|
179
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
Mar. 31,
|
|
|
Jun. 30,
|
|
|
Sep. 30,
|
|
|
Dec. 31,
|
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
50,197
|
|
|
$
|
49,608
|
|
|
$
|
50,304
|
|
|
$
|
50,321
|
|
|
$
|
55,204
|
|
|
$
|
60,255
|
|
|
$
|
70,722
|
|
|
$
|
75,433
|
|
Plus general and administrative
expense
|
|
|
36,035
|
|
|
|
42,423
|
|
|
|
41,306
|
|
|
|
39,485
|
|
|
|
49,582
|
|
|
|
46,576
|
|
|
|
49,110
|
|
|
|
51,802
|
|
Less share-based compensation
expense included in cost of service and general and
administrative expense
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,436
|
)
|
|
|
(2,518
|
)
|
|
|
(2,270
|
)
|
|
|
(4,399
|
)
|
|
|
(4,215
|
)
|
|
|
(4,426
|
)
|
|
|
(4,949
|
)
|
Plus net loss on equipment
transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition
|
|
|
4,012
|
|
|
|
3,484
|
|
|
|
4,917
|
|
|
|
3,775
|
|
|
|
521
|
|
|
|
412
|
|
|
|
983
|
|
|
|
3,026
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation
of CCU
|
|
$
|
90,244
|
|
|
$
|
89,079
|
|
|
$
|
94,009
|
|
|
$
|
91,311
|
|
|
$
|
100,908
|
|
|
$
|
103,028
|
|
|
$
|
116,389
|
|
|
$
|
125,312
|
|
Weighted-average number of customers
|
|
|
1,588,372
|
|
|
|
1,611,524
|
|
|
|
1,605,222
|
|
|
|
1,630,011
|
|
|
|
1,718,349
|
|
|
|
1,790,232
|
|
|
|
1,870,204
|
|
|
|
2,067,122
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CCU
|
|
$
|
18.94
|
|
|
$
|
18.43
|
|
|
$
|
19.52
|
|
|
$
|
18.67
|
|
|
$
|
19.57
|
|
|
$
|
19.18
|
|
|
$
|
20.74
|
|
|
$
|
20.21
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
16
Adjusted Consolidated OIBDA The following
tables reconcile adjusted consolidated OIBDA to consolidated
operating income (loss), which we consider to be the most
directly comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted
consolidated OIBDA (unaudited; in thousands):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Seven Months
|
|
|
Five Months
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
Year Ended
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
July 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Consolidated operating income
(loss)
|
|
$
|
(454,100
|
)
|
|
$
|
(360,375
|
)
|
|
$
|
(40,600
|
)
|
|
$
|
10,438
|
|
|
$
|
69,819
|
|
|
$
|
43,824
|
|
Plus depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
287,942
|
|
|
|
300,243
|
|
|
|
178,120
|
|
|
|
75,324
|
|
|
|
195,462
|
|
|
|
226,747
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated OIBDA
|
|
$
|
(166,158
|
)
|
|
$
|
(60,132
|
)
|
|
$
|
137,520
|
|
|
$
|
85,762
|
|
|
$
|
265,281
|
|
|
$
|
270,571
|
|
Less (gains) losses on sale of
wireless licenses
|
|
|
(364
|
)
|
|
|
(4,589
|
)
|
|
|
(532
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(14,587
|
)
|
|
|
(22,054
|
)
|
Plus impairment of
indefinite-lived intangible assets
|
|
|
26,919
|
|
|
|
171,140
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,043
|
|
|
|
7,912
|
|
Plus share-based compensation
expense (benefit)
|
|
|
569
|
|
|
|
243
|
|
|
|
(837
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12,245
|
|
|
|
19,959
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Consolidated OIBDA
|
|
$
|
(139,034
|
)
|
|
$
|
106,662
|
|
|
$
|
136,151
|
|
|
$
|
85,762
|
|
|
$
|
274,982
|
|
|
$
|
276,388
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Divided by service revenues
|
|
$
|
567,694
|
|
|
$
|
643,566
|
|
|
$
|
398,451
|
|
|
$
|
285,647
|
|
|
$
|
763,680
|
|
|
$
|
972,781
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Consolidated OIBDA margin
|
|
|
(24
|
)%
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
|
|
34
|
%
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
|
|
36
|
%
|
|
|
28
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17
RISK
FACTORS
You should consider carefully the following information about
the risks described below, together with the other information
contained in this prospectus, before you decide to exchange old
notes for the new notes offered by this prospectus. If any of
the following risks actually occurs, our business, financial
condition, results of operations and future growth prospects
would likely be materially and adversely affected. In such
circumstances, 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 $4.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006, $8.4 million and
$49.3 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 $30.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005, we may not generate profits in the
future on a consistent basis, or at all. 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, the competition in the wireless
telecommunications market, our reduction in spending on capital
investments and advertising while we were in bankruptcy, 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.
If we
experience high rates of customer turnover, our ability to
become profitable will decrease.
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, some of our customers may be more likely to
terminate service due to an inability to pay than the average
industry customer, particularly during economic downturns or
during periods of high gasoline prices. Our turnover could also
increase if recent disruptions in the subprime mortgage market
affect the ability of our customers to pay for their service. In
addition, our rate of 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 and other competitive
factors. Our strategies to address customer turnover may not be
successful. A high rate of customer turnover would reduce
revenues and increase the total marketing expenditures required
to attract the minimum number of replacement 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 November 2004, we acquired a 75% non-controlling interest in
ANB 1, whose wholly owned subsidiary, ANB 1 License,
was awarded certain licenses in Auction #58. In March 2007,
we acquired the remaining 25% interest in ANB 1. 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. Both
ANB 1 License and LCW Wireless acquired their
Auction #58 wireless licenses as very small
business designated entities under FCC regulations. In
July 2006, we acquired an 82.5% non-controlling interest in
Denali, an entity which participated in Auction #66 as a
very small business designated entity under FCC
regulations. Our participation in these joint ventures is
18
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 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, buildout 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 recently implemented rule changes aimed at addressing
alleged abuses of its designated entity program, affirmed these
changes on reconsideration and sought comment on further rule
changes. In that proceeding, the FCC has re-affirmed its goals
of ensuring that only legitimate small businesses reap the
benefits of 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. While we do not believe that the FCCs recent 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 remains in
flux, and parties have already sought further reconsideration or
judicial review of these rule changes. In addition, we cannot
predict how further rule changes or increased regulatory
scrutiny by the FCC flowing from this proceeding 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.
In general, the telecommunications industry is very competitive.
Some competitors have announced rate plans substantially similar
to Crickets service plans (and have also introduced
products that consumers perceive to be similar to Crickets
service plans) in markets in which we offer wireless service. In
addition, one national wireless provider recently announced
plans to conduct trials of a flat-rate unlimited service
offering very similar to the Cricket service. This
providers new service 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 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 that are strongly represented in Crickets
customer base. These competitive offerings could adversely
affect our ability to maintain our pricing and increase or
maintain our market penetration. Our competitors may attract
more customers because of their stronger market presence and
geographic reach. Potential customers may perceive the Cricket
service to be less appealing than other wireless plans, which
offer more features and options. In addition, existing carriers
and potential non-traditional carriers are exploring or have
announced the launch of service using new technologies
and/or
alternative delivery plans.
Many competitors have substantially greater financial and other
resources than we have, and we may not be able to compete
successfully. 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. 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 on a nationwide basis and at
lower rates. We currently offer roaming services on a prepaid
basis. 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 Travel Time roaming service, we have
encountered problems with certain large wireless carriers in
negotiating terms for roaming arrangements that we believe are
reasonable, and believe that consolidation has contributed
significantly to such carriers control over the terms and
conditions of wholesale roaming services.
19
We also compete as a wireless alternative to landline service
providers in the telecommunications industry. Wireline carriers
are also offering unlimited national calling plans and bundled
offerings that include wireless and data services. We may not be
successful in the long term, or continue to be successful, in
our efforts to persuade potential customers to adopt our
wireless service in addition to, or in replacement of, their
current landline service.
The FCC is pursuing policies designed to increase the number of
wireless licenses available 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.
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.
We may
be unable to obtain the roaming services we need from other
carriers to remain competitive.
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. The roaming agreements
generally cover voice but not data services, and at least one
such agreement 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. Our current and future customers may
prefer that we offer roaming services that allow them to make
calls automatically when they are outside of their Cricket
service area, and we cannot assure you that we will be able to
provide such roaming services for our customers in all areas of
the U.S., or that we will be able to provide such services cost
effectively. If we are unable to maintain our existing roaming
agreements, and purchase wholesale roaming services at
reasonable rates, then we may be unable 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
previously identified material weaknesses in our internal
control over financial reporting, and 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 do 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 attest to and report on managements
assessment and the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting. In connection with their evaluations of our
disclosure controls and procedures, our Chief Executive Officer,
or CEO, and Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, concluded that
certain material weaknesses in our internal control over
financial reporting existed at various times during the period
from September 30, 2004 through September 30, 2006.
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. Our
independent registered public accounting firm attested and
reported that our internal control over financial reporting was
not effective as of December 31, 2005. We believe that each
of these material weaknesses has now been adequately remediated.
Although our management has concluded and our independent
registered public accounting firm has attested and reported that
our internal control over financial reporting was effective as
of December 31, 2006, 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.
20
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 local
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 seek to 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 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 acquired in Auction #66 and the
license that Denali License expects to be awarded as a result of
Auction #66 and any licenses that we may acquire from third
parties. Large scale construction projects such as the build-out
of our new markets will require significant capital expenditures
and may suffer cost-overruns. In addition, we will experience
higher operating expenses as we build out and after we launch
our service in new markets. Any 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 expect to be awarded as a result of
Auction #66, would negatively impact our earnings and free
cash flow for those periods in which we incur such capital
expenditures or increased operating expenses. 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.
The spectrum that was auctioned 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. We considered the estimated cost and time
frame required to clear the spectrum for which we and Denali
License were declared the winning bidders 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 are using the
Auction #66 spectrum for classified purposes. Although the
government has agreed to clear that spectrum to allow the
holders to use their AWS licenses in the affected areas, the
government is only providing limited information to spectrum
holders about these classified uses which creates additional
uncertainty about the time at which such spectrum will be
available for commercial use.
Although our vendors have announced their intention to
manufacture and supply network equipment and handsets that
operate in the AWS spectrum bands, network equipment and
handsets that support AWS are not presently available. If
network equipment and handsets for the AWS spectrum are not made
available on a timely basis in the future by our suppliers, our
proposed build-outs and launches of new Auction #66 markets
could be delayed, which would negatively impact our earnings and
cash flows. In addition, if delays in the availability of AWS
network equipment and handsets force us to choose a technology
platform for our networks other than CDMA, the adoption of such
alternative technology solution could have a material adverse
effect on our capital expenditures and capital spending plans.
Any significant increase in our expected capital expenditures in
connection with the build-out and launch of Auction #66
licenses could negatively impact our earnings and free cash flow
for those periods in which we incur such capital expenditures.
21
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 results of operations and
financial condition.
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,
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 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 Voice over Internet
Protocol, or 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 committed a substantial amount of capital
to upgrade our network with 1xEV-DO 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, CDMA 2000 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. 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. In addition, if one or more
Cricket customers were harmed by a defective product provided to
us by the 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 billing and customer care) is vulnerable to damage or
interruption from 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 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
23
while we transition our data and existing systems onto our new
systems. 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 planning to replace our customer billing and activation
system which we outsource to a third party, with a new system.
The vendor who provides billing services to us has a contract to
provide us services until 2010, but the vendors new
billing product is substantially behind schedule and the vendor
has missed significant development milestones. If we choose to
purchase billing services from a different vendor to meet the
requirements of our business and our growing customer base then,
despite the existing vendors repeated performance issues
and its failure to meet significant milestones on its new
billing product, the existing vendor may claim that we have
breached our obligations under the contract and seek substantial
damages. If the vendor were to prevail on any such claim, the
resolution of the matter could materially adversely impact our
earnings and cash flows.
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, on June 14,
2006, we sued MetroPCS Communications, Inc., or MetroPCS, in the
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas,
Marshall Division, Civil Action
No. 2-06-CV-00240-TJW,
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 two related
entities (referred to, collectively with MetroPCS, as the
MetroPCS entities), counterclaimed against Leap, Cricket,
numerous Cricket subsidiaries, ANB 1 License, Denali
License, and current and former employees of Leap and Cricket,
including Leap CEO Douglas Hutcheson. The countersuit alleges
claims for breach of contract, misappropriation, conversion and
disclosure of trade secrets, 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
damages, including punitive damages, impose an injunction
enjoining us from participating in Auction #66, impose a
constructive trust on our business and assets for the benefit of
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. Based upon our preliminary review of the
counterclaims, we believe that we have meritorious defenses and
intend to vigorously defend against the counterclaims. If the
MetroPCS entities were to prevail in their counterclaims, it
could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and results of operations. Also, 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, Civil Action
No. 8:06-CV-01754-T-23TBM,
seeking a declaratory judgment that Crickets
U.S. Patent No. 6,813,497 Method for
Providing Wireless Communication Services and Network and System
for Delivering Same (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.
On October 17, 2006, we filed a motion to dismiss the case
or, in the alternative, to transfer the case to the Eastern
District of Texas. We intend to vigorously defend against these
actions.
24
On August 3, 2006, MetroPCS filed a separate action in the
United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas,
Dallas Division, Civil Action
No. 3-06CV1399-D,
seeking a declaratory judgment that our U.S. Patent
No. 6,959,183 Operations Method for Providing
Wireless Communication Services and Network and System for
Delivering Same (a different patent from the one that
is the subject of our infringement action against MetroPCS) is
invalid and is not being infringed by MetroPCS and its
affiliates. On January 24, 2007, the court dismissed this
case, without prejudice, for lack of subject matter
jurisdiction. Because the case was dismissed without prejudice,
MetroPCS could file another complaint with the same claims in
the future.
Similarly, 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.
We 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 from
time to time based on our general business operations, the
equipment, software or services that we use or provide, or the
specific operation of our wireless networks. 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. 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 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.
A third party with a large patent portfolio has contacted us and
suggested that we need to obtain a license under a number of its
patents in connection with our current business operations. We
understand that the third party has raised similar issues, and
in some cases has filed suit, with other telecommunications
companies, and has obtained license agreements from one or more
of such companies. If we cannot reach a mutually agreeable
resolution with the third party, we may be forced to enter into
a licensing or royalty agreement with it on terms that may have
a negative impact on our operating results. In addition, a
wireless provider has contacted us and asserted that
Crickets practice of providing service to customers with
phones that were originally purchased for use on that
providers network violates copyright laws and interferes
with that providers contracts with its customers. Based on
our preliminary review, we do not believe that Crickets
actions violate copyright laws or otherwise violate the other
providers rights. We do not currently expect that the
eventual resolution of these matters will materially adversely
affect our business, but we cannot provide assurance to our
investors about the effect of any such future resolution.
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. In particular,
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.
25
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.
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 and Jump Mobile services exceeds
our expectations, our costs of providing service could increase,
which could have a material adverse effect on our competitive
position.
During the year ended December 31, 2006, Cricket customers
used their handsets for an average of approximately
1,450 minutes per month, and some markets were experiencing
substantially higher call volumes. Our Cricket service plans
bundle certain features, long distance and unlimited local
service for a fixed monthly fee to more effectively compete with
other telecommunications providers. In addition, call volumes
under our Jump Mobile services have been significantly higher
than expected. 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 and Jump Mobile customers exceeds
the capacity of our network, service quality may suffer. We may
be forced to raise the price of Cricket and Jump Mobile service
to reduce volume or otherwise limit the number of new customers,
or incur substantial capital expenditures to improve network
capacity.
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 spectrum 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, that Denali License will be awarded the
license for which it was the winning bidder at Auction #66,
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 potential
revocation in the event that we violate applicable
laws.
Our existing wireless licenses are subject to renewal upon the
expiration of the 10 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 has
provided substantial service during its past license term and
has substantially complied with applicable FCC rules and
policies and the Communications Act. The FCC has routinely
renewed wireless licenses in the past. However, the
Communications Act provides that licenses may be
26
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.
During the three months ended June 30, 2003, we recorded an
impairment charge of $171.1 million to reduce the carrying
value of our wireless licenses to their estimated fair value.
However, as a result of our adoption of fresh-start reporting
under American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
Statement of Position
90-7,
Financial Reporting by Entities in Reorganization under
the Bankruptcy Code, or
SOP 90-7,
we increased the carrying value of our wireless licenses to
$652.6 million at July 31, 2004, the fair value
estimated by management based in part on information provided by
an independent valuation consultant. During the years ended
December 31, 2006 and 2005, we recorded impairment charges
of $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 an
additional 90 MHz of spectrum in the 1700 MHz to
2100 MHz band in Auction #66 and has announced that it
intends to auction additional spectrum in the 700 MHz and
2.5 GHz bands in subsequent auctions. 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. 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
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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.
Because
our consolidated financial statements reflect fresh-start
reporting adjustments made upon our emergence from bankruptcy,
financial information in our current and future financial
statements will not be comparable to our financial information
for periods prior to our emergence from
bankruptcy.
As a result of adopting fresh-start reporting on July 31,
2004, the carrying values of our wireless licenses and our
property and equipment, and the related depreciation and
amortization expense, among other things, changed considerably
from that reflected in our historical consolidated financial
statements. Thus, our current and future balance sheets and
results of operations will not be comparable in many respects to
our balance sheets and consolidated statements of operations
data for periods prior to our adoption of fresh-start reporting.
You are not able to compare information reflecting our
post-emergence balance sheet data, results of operations and
changes in financial condition to information for periods prior
to our emergence from bankruptcy without making adjustments for
fresh-start reporting.
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.
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-dealer.
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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 December 31, 2006, our total
outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured credit
agreement was $896 million, and we also had a
$200 million undrawn revolving credit facility (which forms
part of our senior secured credit facility). In October 2006, we
issued $750 million in unsecured senior notes, which may be
exchanged for new notes pursuant to the exchange offer. See the
section entitled The Exchange Offer below. In
addition, we may seek to raise additional funds in the future.
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. Our substantial indebtedness could have material
consequences to you. 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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As of December 31, 2006, 57.4% of our assets consisted of
goodwill and other intangibles, including wireless licenses and
deposits for 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 any
remedies to be exercised with respect 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.
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Despite
current indebtedness levels, we may incur substantially more
indebtedness. This could further increase the risks associated
with our leverage.
We may incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future.
Among other things, we may require significant additional
capital in the future to finance the build-out and initial
operating costs associated with licenses that we acquired in
Auction #66 and that Denali License expects to be awarded
as a result of Auction #66. The terms of our senior
unsecured indenture permit us, subject to specified limitations,
to incur additional indebtedness, including secured
indebtedness. In addition, our senior secured 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 new notes and are not restricted by the
covenants in the indenture governing the new
notes.
The terms of the indenture that will govern the new notes will
permit us, subject to specified limitations and conditions, to
make significant investments in designated entities, including
additional investments in LCW Wireless, Denali Spectrum, LLC, or
Denali, and their respective subsidiaries, which are not
guarantors of the new 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 new 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 is 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. 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, including the new notes. We cannot assure you
that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness,
including under our senior unsecured indenture or our senior
secured 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 existing 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, which will govern the terms of
the new notes, and senior secured 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 the 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 the senior secured 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, with respect to a minimum consolidated interest
coverage ratio, a maximum consolidated leverage ratio and a
minimum consolidated fixed charge ratio. The restrictions in our
credit agreement could 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.
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 Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for fiscal year ended December 31, 2004 and our Quarterly
Report on
Form 10-Q
for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2005 constituted
defaults under our previous senior secured credit agreement, and
the restatement of certain of the historical consolidated
financial information contained in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005 may have
constituted a default under our previous senior secured credit
agreement. Although we were able to obtain limited waivers under
our previous senior secured 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 due 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
December 31, 2006, we estimate that approximately 34% 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.
Your
right to receive payments on the new notes and the guarantees
are effectively subordinated to our and the guarantors
secured indebtedness and to the indebtedness of our
non-guarantor subsidiaries.
The new 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 new 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 new notes, and of our
joint ventures, will have claims with respect to the assets of
those subsidiaries or that entity that rank effectively senior
to the new notes. As of December 31, 2006, we had total
outstanding indebtedness of approximately $1,686 million
(of which $896 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
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material asset is Cricket capital stock. As a result,
Leaps guarantee provides little, if any, additional credit
support for the new notes.
If Cricket, Leap or a subsidiary guarantor become insolvent or
are 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 new 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
new 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
new 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 any of its subsidiaries, or Denali or
its subsidiary have any obligation to pay any amounts due on the
new 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
nonguarantor 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, we will be required to offer to repurchase all
outstanding new notes at 101% of the principal amount of the new
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. 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
would prevent us from borrowing under the secured credit
facility to finance a repurchase of the new notes. We cannot
assure you that we will have available funds sufficient to
repurchase the new 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 new 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
new notes. See Description of New Notes
Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of
Control.
Federal
and state statutes would 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 new notes could challenge the guarantees as fraudulent
conveyances or on other grounds. Under the 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 new 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 new 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 new
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 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.
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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, $750,000,000 principal amount of
9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 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 May 16, 2007. 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
May 17, 2007, 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.
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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
35
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.
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
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
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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36
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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.
37
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. 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:
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specify the name of the person, referred to as the depositor,
having tendered the old notes to be withdrawn;
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identify the old notes to be withdrawn, including the
certificate number or numbers and principal amount of the old
notes;
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contain a statement that the holder is withdrawing its election
to have the old notes exchanged;
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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
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specify the name in which the old notes are registered, if
different from that of the depositor.
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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:
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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 compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided
that such
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38
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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;
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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
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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.
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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:
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the new notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the
holders business;
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the holders have no arrangement or understanding with any person
to participate in the distribution of the new notes; and
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the holders are not affiliates of ours within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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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:
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may not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of
the SEC mentioned above;
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will not be permitted or entitled to tender the old notes in the
exchange offer; and
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must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
transaction.
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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, N.A.
AS EXCHANGE AGENT
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By Facsimile for Eligible
Institutions:
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By Mail/Overnight
Courier/Hand:
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Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
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(612)
667-9825
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Corporate Trust Services
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Attention: Lynn M. Steiner
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Sixth and Marquette
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Mac
N9303-120
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Confirm by Telephone:
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Minneapolis, MN 55479
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(612)
316-4305
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Attention: Lynn M. Steiner
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Delivery of the letter of transmittal to an address other than
as set forth above or transmission of such letter of transmittal
via facsimile other than as set forth above does not constitute
a valid delivery of the letter of transmittal.
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.
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
40
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 audited consolidated financial statements. These tables
should be read in conjunction with Item 7.
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
condition and Results of Operations and Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data, each which is
contained in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, which has been
incorporated by reference into 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 2 to the consolidated financial statements contained
in our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006.
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Predecessor Company
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Successor Company
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Seven Months
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Five Months
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Ended
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Ended
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Year Ended December 31,
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July 31,
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December 31,
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Year Ended December 31,
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2002
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2003
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2004
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2004
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2005
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2006
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(In thousands, except per share data)
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Statement of Operations Data:
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Revenues
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$
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618,475
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$
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751,296
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$
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481,647
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$
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344,360
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$
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914,663
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|
$
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1,136,700
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Operating income (loss)
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(454,100
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)
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(360,375
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)
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(40,600
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)
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|
|
10,438
|
|
|
|
69,819
|
|
|
|
43,824
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|
|
|
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Income (loss) before reorganization
items, income taxes and cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
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|
(640,978
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)
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|
|
(443,143
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)
|
|
|
(45,088
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)
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|
|
(4,461
|
)
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|
|
51,117
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|
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|
4,339
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|
Reorganization items, net
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(146,242
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)
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|
962,444
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Income tax expense
|
|
|
(23,821
|
)
|
|
|
(8,052
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)
|
|
|
(4,166
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)
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|
|
(3,930
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)
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|
|
(21,151
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)
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|
(9,101
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)
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Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
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|
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|
|
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|
623
|
|
|
|
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|
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|
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss)
|
|
$
|
(664,799
|
)
|
|
$
|
(597,437
|
)
|
|
$
|
913,190
|
|
|
$
|
(8,391
|
)
|
|
$
|
29,966
|
|
|
$
|
(4,139
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per share(1)
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per share:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.49
|
|
|
$
|
(0.08
|
)
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
0.01
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per
share(1)
|
|
$
|
(14.91
|
)
|
|
$
|
(10.19
|
)
|
|
$
|
15.58
|
|
|
$
|
(0.14
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.49
|
|
|
$
|
(0.07
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shares used in per share
calculations(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
44,591
|
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
60,135
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
44,591
|
|
|
|
58,604
|
|
|
|
58,623
|
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
|
61,003
|
|
|
|
61,645
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges(3)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
63.2
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.7
|
x
|
|
|
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
Predecessor Company
|
|
|
Successor Company
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
$
|
100,860
|
|
|
$
|
84,070
|
|
|
$
|
141,141
|
|
|
$
|
293,073
|
|
|
$
|
374,939
|
|
Working capital (deficit)(2)
|
|
|
(2,144,420
|
)
|
|
|
(2,254,809
|
)
|
|
|
145,762
|
|
|
|
240,862
|
|
|
|
198,501
|
|
Restricted cash, cash equivalents
and short-term investments
|
|
|
25,922
|
|
|
|
55,954
|
|
|
|
31,427
|
|
|
|
13,759
|
|
|
|
13,581
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
2,163,702
|
|
|
|
1,756,843
|
|
|
|
2,220,887
|
|
|
|
2,506,318
|
|
|
|
4,092,968
|
|
Long-term debt(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
371,355
|
|
|
|
588,333
|
|
|
|
1,676,500
|
|
Total stockholders equity
(deficit)
|
|
|
(296,786
|
)
|
|
|
(893,356
|
)
|
|
|
1,470,056
|
|
|
|
1,514,357
|
|
|
|
1,789,001
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
Refer to Notes 2 and 5 to the consolidated financial
statements included in Item 8 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2006, which is incorporated
by reference into this prospectus, for an explanation of the
calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common
share. |
|
(2) |
|
We have presented the principal and interest balances related to
our outstanding debt obligations as current liabilities in the
consolidated balance sheets as of December 31, 2003 and
2002, as a result of the then existing defaults under the
underlying agreements. |
|
(3) |
|
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes
and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle plus
minority interest in loss (income) of subsidiary, fixed charges
and amortization of capitalized interest, less interest
capitalized. 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 year ended December 31, 2006 by
$12,958 and for the five months ended December 31, 2004 by
$4,461 and for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002
by $586,694 and $640,692, respectively. |
44
DESCRIPTION
OF NEW NOTES
We issued the old notes and will issue the new notes pursuant to
an indenture, dated as of October 23, 2006, by and among
Cricket, the Initial Guarantors (as defined therein) and Wells
Fargo Bank, N.A., as trustee (as supplemented, the
Indenture). The terms of the new 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 new notes are subject
to all such terms, and you should refer to the Indenture and the
Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof.
The following description is a summary of the material
provisions of the Indenture. It does not restate the agreement
in its entirety. We urge you to read the Indenture because it,
and not this description, defines your rights as holders of the
new 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 new note will be treated as the owner
of it for all purposes. Only registered holders of new notes
will have rights under the Indenture.
Brief
Description of the New Notes
The new notes:
|
|
|
|
|
are general unsecured obligations of the Company;
|
|
|
|
are equal in right of payment with all existing and any future
unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of the Company;
|
|
|
|
are senior in right of payment to any future subordinated
Indebtedness of the Company;
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
are unconditionally guaranteed on a senior basis by the
Guarantors as described under Note
Guarantees.
|
As of December 31, 2006, the Company had
$1,686 million of consolidated indebtedness outstanding,
$896 million of which was secured indebtedness, and the
Parents Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors had no
indebtedness or other liabilities. In addition, the Company had
no borrowings under its revolving credit facility portion of the
Credit Agreement, which allows the Company to borrow up to
$200 million.
Although the Indenture will limit 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, will be Restricted
Subsidiaries. However, under the circumstances described
below under the caption Certain
Covenants Designation of Restricted and Unrestricted
Subsidiaries, we will be 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 new notes.
45
Principal,
Maturity and Interest
The Indenture, which provided for the issuance of the old notes
of which $750.0 million aggregate principal amount are
currently outstanding, provides for the issuance by the Company
of new notes with an unlimited principal amount, of which up to
$750.0 million may be issued in connection with the
exchange offer. The Company may issue additional new notes (the
additional notes) from time to time after this
offering. Any offering of additional notes is subject to the
covenant described below under the caption
Certain Covenants Incurrence of
Indebtedness. The new notes and any additional notes
subsequently issued under the Indenture would 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 new 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, commencing on
November 1, 2007. 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 the date of original
issuance of the old notes or, if interest has already been paid
on the old notes, from the date it was most recently paid.
Interest will be computed on the basis of a
360-day year
comprised of twelve
30-day
months.
Note
Guarantees
The new 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:
|
|
|
|
|
will be a general unsecured obligation of the Guarantor;
|
|
|
|
will be equal in right of payment with all existing and any
future unsecured, unsubordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor;
|
|
|
|
will be senior in right of payment to any future subordinated
Indebtedness of the Guarantor; and
|
|
|
|
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.
|
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 December 31, 2006, the Company had
$1,686 million of consolidated indebtedness outstanding,
$896 million of which was secured indebtedness, and the
Parents Subsidiaries that are not Guarantors had no
indebtedness or other liabilities. In addition, the Company had
no borrowings under its revolving credit facility portion of the
Credit Agreement, which allows the Company to borrow up to
$200 million.
New 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 new 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
46
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 new
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 new 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.
Except pursuant to the preceding paragraphs, the new 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 new 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:
|
|
|
|
|
Year
|
|
Percentage
|
|
|
2010
|
|
|
104.688
|
%
|
2011
|
|
|
102.344
|
%
|
2012 and thereafter
|
|
|
100.000
|
%
|
If less than all of the new notes are to be redeemed at any
time, the Trustee will select new notes for redemption as
follows:
(1) if the new notes are listed on any national securities
exchange, in compliance with the requirements of such principal
national securities exchange; or
(2) if the new notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis.
No new 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 new notes to be redeemed at its registered address.
Notices of redemption may not be conditional.
If any new note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of
redemption that relates to that new note will state the portion
of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new note in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the original
new note will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon
cancellation of the original new note. New notes called for
redemption become due on the date fixed for redemption. On and
after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on new
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 new notes.
Repurchase
at the Option of Holders
Change
of Control
If a Change of Control occurs, each Holder of new 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 new 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 new 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
47
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 new
notes pursuant to this section in the event that the Company has
exercised its right to redeem all the new 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 new 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 new
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 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 new 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 new notes or
portions thereof so tendered; and
(3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the new
notes so accepted together with an Officers Certificate
stating the aggregate principal amount of new notes or portions
thereof being purchased by the Company.
The Paying Agent will promptly mail or wire transfer to each
Holder of new notes so tendered the Change of Control Payment
for such new notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate
and mail (or cause to be transferred by book entry) to each
Holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased
portion of the new notes surrendered, if any; provided
that each such new 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 new 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 new notes. In the event a
Change of Control occurs at a time when the Company is
prohibited from purchasing new notes, the Company could seek the
consent of its lenders to the purchase of new 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 new notes. In such case, the Companys failure
to purchase tendered new 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 new notes to require
that the Company repurchase or redeem the new 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 new 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
48
Change of Control Offer. New notes repurchased by the Company
pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will have the status of
new notes issued but not outstanding or will be retired and
canceled, at the option of the Company. New notes purchased by a
third party pursuant to the preceding paragraph will have the
status of new 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 new notes to require the Company to repurchase such
new 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.
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 new 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), 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.
49
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 new notes and all holders of other
Indebtedness that is pari passu with the new 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 new 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 new 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.
The Company may defer the Asset Sale Offer until the aggregate
unutilized Excess Proceeds accrued in the preceding twelve
calendar months equals or exceeds $15.0 million, at which
time the entire unutilized amount of Excess Proceeds (not only
the amount in excess of $15.0 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 new notes and such other pari
passu Indebtedness tendered into such Asset Sale Offer
exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the new notes and such
other pari passu Indebtedness will be purchased on a pro
rata basis based on the principal amount of new 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 new 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 new notes. In the event an Asset Sale occurs
at a time when the Company is prohibited from purchasing new
notes, the Company could seek the consent of its lenders to the
purchase of new 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 new notes. In such case,
the Companys failure to purchase tendered new 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
50
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 new 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),
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;
51
(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 new 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 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 $75.0 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 $10.0 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.
52
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 $1,500.0 million, less the
aggregate amount of all Net Proceeds of Asset Sales applied by
the Parent or any 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 new
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
$150.0 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 new 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 new notes or any, than the Guarantee
shall be subordinated or pari passu, as applicable, to
the same extent as the Indebtedness guaranteed;
53
(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 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 $200.0 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
new 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 $100.0 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 new 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
54
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 new 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
new notes or the related Note Guarantees, prior or senior
thereto, with the same relative priority as the new 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.
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 new notes, the New
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,
55
(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;
(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 new 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 new 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 new
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 new notes and the Indenture.
56
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 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 $5.0 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 $15.0 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
57
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 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 new notes or
other Indebtedness of the Parent or its Restricted Subsidiaries
or solicitations of amendments, waivers or consents in respect
of new 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;
58
(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.
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 new notes by such Restricted
Subsidiary, which Guarantee will be pari passu with, or if such
other Indebtedness for borrowed money is subordinated to the new
notes or any new 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
59
(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;
(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 new 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 new 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.
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 new 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 new 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 new 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 new 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 new 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
60
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 $25.0 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 $25.0 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 new 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 new
notes may declare all the new notes to be due and payable
immediately by notice in writing to the Company specifying the
Event of Default.
Holders of the new notes may not enforce the Indenture or the
new notes except as provided in the Indenture. Subject to
certain limitations, Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding new notes may direct
the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee
may withhold from Holders of the new 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
new notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on
behalf of the Holders of all of the new 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 new notes. The Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding new 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 new 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 new notes. A Holder may not pursue any remedy with respect to
the Indenture or the new 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 new 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 new notes do not give the Trustee a direction
that is inconsistent with the request.
61
However, such limitations do not apply to the right of any
Holder of a new 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 new 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 new 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 new
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 new 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
new notes by accepting a new note waives and releases all such
liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration
for issuance of the new notes. The waiver may not be effective
to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws.
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 new 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 new notes to
receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or
premium and Additional Interest, if any, on such new notes when
such payments are due from the trust referred to below;
(2) the Companys obligations with respect to the new
notes concerning issuing temporary new notes, registration of
new notes, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen new 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 new 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 new 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 new 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 new
notes on the Stated Maturity or on the applicable redemption
date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether
the new notes are being defeased to maturity or to a particular
redemption date;
62
(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 new
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 new 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;
(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 new notes are to be redeemed prior to their
Stated Maturity, the Company must deliver to the Trustee
irrevocable instructions to redeem all of the new 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 new notes may be amended or supplemented with
the consent of the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the new notes then outstanding (including,
without limitation, consents obtained in connection with a
purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, new notes),
and any existing default or compliance with any provision of the
Indenture or the new notes may be waived with the consent of the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then
outstanding new notes (including, without limitation, consents
obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or
exchange offer for, new notes).
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or
waiver may not:
(1) reduce the principal amount of new notes whose Holders
must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
63
(2) reduce the principal of or change the fixed maturity of
any new note or alter the provisions, or waive any payment, with
respect to the redemption of the new notes;
(3) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of
interest on any new 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 new notes (except a rescission of acceleration of
the new notes by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the then outstanding new notes and a waiver
of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) make any new 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
new notes to receive payments of principal of, or interest or
premium or Additional Interest, if any, on, the new 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 new 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;
(10) contractually subordinate in right of payment the new
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 new notes, the Company, the Guarantors and the Trustee may
amend or supplement the Indenture or the new notes:
(1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(2) to provide for uncertificated new notes in addition to
or in place of certificated new notes;
(3) to provide for the assumption of the Companys or
any Guarantors obligations to Holders of new 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 new 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 new notes in
accordance with the Indenture; or
(9) to conform the text of the Indenture or the new notes
to any provision of the Description of New Notes to
the extent such provision in the Description of New
Notes was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a
provision of the Indenture.
64
Satisfaction
and Discharge
The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further
effect as to all new notes issued thereunder, when:
(1) either:
(a) all new notes that have been authenticated (except
lost, stolen or destroyed new notes that have been replaced or
paid and new 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 new 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
new 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 new notes at maturity or the
redemption date, as the case may be.
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 new 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.
65
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 Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. DTC holds certificates that
its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the
settlement among participants of securities transactions, 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
66
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).
Except as described below, owners of interests in the Global
Notes will not have new notes registered in their names, will
not receive physical delivery of new 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 names the new 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 new
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 new 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 new 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 new 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
67
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 new 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
new notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or
have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of
Default under the new notes, DTC reserves the right to exchange
the Global Notes for legended new notes in certificated form,
and to distribute such new 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.
Exchange
of Global Notes for Certificated Notes
A Global Note is exchangeable for definitive new 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 new 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).
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 new 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
68
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 new note at any date of redemption, the greater of
(i) 1.0% of the principal amount of such new note and
(ii) the excess of (A) the present value at such date
of redemption of (1) the redemption price of such new note
at November 1, 2010 (such redemption price being described
under Optional Redemption) plus
(2) all remaining required interest payments due on
such new 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 new note.
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.
69
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 $5.0 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;
(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.
Business Day means any day other than
a Legal Holiday.
70
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 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 $500.0 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.
71
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 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 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-
72
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 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
73
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.
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), 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
74
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.
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 new 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 new 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 LCW Wireless, LLC and Denali Spectrum, LLC and each of their
respective Subsidiaries.
Existing Indebtedness means the
aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Parent and its
Restricted Subsidiaries (other than Indebtedness under the
Credit Agreement or under the new notes and the related Note
Guarantees) in existence on the Issue Date after giving effect
to the application of the proceeds of (1) the new notes and
(2) any borrowings made under the Credit 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
(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
75
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.
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
(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
new 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
76
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 Disqualed 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.
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 Citigroup
Global Markets Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co., Banc of
America Securities LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated.
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
77
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 new notes under the Indenture.
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 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
78
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 new 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
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;
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(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 $5.0 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) $1,500.0 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 new 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;
(9) Liens securing obligations that do not exceed
$25.0 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;
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(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
$15.0 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.
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 new notes or the Note Guarantees, such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness
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has a final maturity date later than the final maturity date of
the new notes and is subordinated in right of payment to the new
notes or the Note Guarantees, as applicable, on terms at least
as favorable, taken as a whole, to the Holders of new 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 new notes or any Note Guarantees, such
Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness is pari passu with, or
subordinated in right of payment to, the new 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 new 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.
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.
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
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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 new 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.
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 new notes to November 1,
2010 ; provided, however, that if the then
remaining term of the new 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 new 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.
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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.
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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) 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 is not declared effective
by the SEC on or before July 20, 2007, 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
July 20, 2007, 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. The new notes are
not, and upon consummation of the exchange offer with respect to
the old 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.
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.
The discussion below deals only with the new notes held as
capital assets within the meaning of the Code, and does not
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 should consult your own tax advisor regarding the particular
U.S. federal, state and local and foreign income and other
tax consequences of exchanging the old notes for the 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.
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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 will
be passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP,
San Diego, California.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of Leap (Successor
Company) as of December 31, 2006 and 2005 and for the years
then ended and for the five months ended December 31, 2004,
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, 2006, incorporated in this
prospectus by reference to the Companys Current Report on
Form 8-K
dated March 23, 2007, have been so incorporated in reliance
on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph related
to the Companys emergence from bankruptcy) of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
The consolidated financial statements of Leap (Predecessor
Company) for the seven months ended July 31, 2004,
incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the
Companys Current Report on
Form 8-K
dated March 23, 2007 have been so incorporated in reliance
on the report (which contains an explanatory paragraph related
to the Companys emergence from bankruptcy) of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public
accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts
in auditing and accounting.
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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 of 1933 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.
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LEAP
WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS,
INC.