sv4
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
May 15, 2007
Registration
No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.
20549
Form S-4
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933
MetroPCS Wireless,
Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as
specified in its charter)
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Co-Registrants
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(See next page)
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Delaware
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4812
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75-2694973
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(State or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation or organization)
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(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
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8144 Walnut Hill Lane
Suite 800
Dallas, Texas
75231-4388
(214) 265-2550
(Address, including zip code,
and telephone number,
including area code, of
registrants principal executive offices)
Roger D. Linquist
Chief Executive Officer
8144 Walnut Hill Lane
Suite 800
Dallas, Texas
75231-4388
(214) 265-2550
(Name, address, including zip
code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent
for service)
Copies to:
Andrew M. Baker, Esq.
William D. Howell, Esq.
Baker Botts L.L.P.
2001 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
(214) 953-6500
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the
securities to the public: As soon as practicable
following the effectiveness of this Registration Statement.
If the securities being registered on this Form are being
offered in connection with the formation of a holding company
and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check
the following box. o
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an
offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act
of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same
offering. o
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to
Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement
number of the earlier effective registration statement for the
same offering. o
CALCULATION
OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum
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Proposed Maximum
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Aggregate
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Amount of
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Title of Each Class of
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Amount
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Offering Price
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Offering
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Registration
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Securities to be Registered
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to be Registered
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per Unit(1)
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Price(1)
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Fee(1)
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91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014
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$
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1,000,000,000
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100
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%
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$
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1,000,000,000
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$
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30,700
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Guarantee(s) of the
91/4%
Senior Notes due 2014(2)
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(3
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(1)
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Estimated solely for the purpose of
calculating the registration fee in accordance with
Rule 457(f) of the Securities Act of 1933.
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(2)
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The
91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014 are guaranteed by MetroPCS Communications, Inc.,
MetroPCS, Inc. and all of MetroPCS Wireless, Inc.s current
and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The notes are not
and will not be guaranteed by Royal Street Communications, LLC
or its subsidiaries, which are consolidated in MetroPCS
Communications, Inc.s financial statements.
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(3)
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Pursuant to 457(n), no separate fee
for the guarantee is payable because the guarantees relate to
other securities that are being registered concurrently.
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The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on
such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective
date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which
specifically states that this Registration Statement shall
thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a)
of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration
Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission,
acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
TABLE OF
CO-REGISTRANTS
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State or Other
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Primary Standard
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Jurisdiction of
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I.R.S. Employer
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Industrial
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Incorporation or
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Identification
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Classification Code
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Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor(1)
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Organization
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Number
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Number
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MetroPCS Communications, Inc.
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Delaware
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20-0836269
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4812
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MetroPCS, Inc.
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Delaware
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20-5449198
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4812
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MetroPCS AWS, LLC
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Delaware
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20-4798776
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4812
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MetroPCS California, LLC
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Delaware
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68-0618381
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4812
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MetroPCS Florida, LLC
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Delaware
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68-0618383
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4812
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MetroPCS Georgia, LLC
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Delaware
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68-0618386
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4812
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MetroPCS Michigan, Inc.
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Delaware
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20-2509038
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4812
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MetroPCS Texas, LLC
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Delaware
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20-2508993
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4812
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GWI PCS1, Inc.
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Delaware
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75-2695069
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4812
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MetroPCS Massachusetts, LLC
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Delaware
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20-8303630
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4812
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MetroPCS Nevada, LLC
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Delaware
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20-8303430
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4812
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MetroPCS New York, LLC
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Delaware
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20-8303519
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4812
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MetroPCS Pennsylvania, LLC
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Delaware
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20-8303570
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4812
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(1) |
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The address and telephone number for each guarantor is 8144
Walnut Hill, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas
75231-4388,
and the telephone number at that address is
(214) 265-2550. |
The
information in this prospectus is not complete and may be
changed. We may not complete the exchange offer and issue these
securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus
is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting
an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or
sale is not permitted.
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SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED
MAY 15, 2007
PROSPECTUS
Offer to Exchange
91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014
that have been registered under
the Securities Act of 1933
for any and all
91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014
This Exchange Offer will expire
at 5:00 P.M.
New York City time,
on ,
2007, unless extended.
MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. is offering to exchange an aggregate
principal amount of $1,000,000,000 of registered
91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014, or the new notes, for any and all of our
original unregistered
91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014 that were issued in a private offering on
November 3, 2006, or the old notes. MetroPCS Wireless, Inc.
refers to this exchange as the exchange offer. MetroPCS
Wireless, Inc. will not receive any proceeds from the exchange
offer.
Terms of the exchange offer:
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MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. will exchange all outstanding old notes
that are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the
expiration of the exchange offer for an equal principal amount
of new notes. All interest due and payable on the old notes will
become due on the same terms under the new notes.
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The terms of the new notes are substantially identical to those
of the old notes, except that the new notes will be registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the transfer
restrictions and registration rights relating to the old notes
will not apply to the new notes.
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You may withdraw your tender of old notes at any time prior to
the expiration of the exchange offer.
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Any old notes which are validly tendered and not timely
withdrawn may be accepted by us.
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The exchange of old notes for new notes should not be a taxable
exchange for U.S. federal income tax purposes but you
should see the discussion under the caption Material
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations on
page 18 for more information.
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The old notes are, and the new notes will be, guaranteed on a
senior unsecured basis by MetroPCS Communications, Inc.,
MetroPCS, Inc. and all of MetroPCS Wireless, Inc.s current
and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries. The new notes
will not be guaranteed by Royal Street Communications, LLC or
its subsidiaries, which are consolidated in MetroPCS
Communications, Inc.s financial statements.
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The new notes will be eligible for trading in the Private
Offering, Resales and Trading Automatic Linkage (PORTAL) Market.
sm
We do not intend to apply for a listing of the new notes on any
securities exchange or for their inclusion on any automated
dealer quotation system.
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See Risk Factors beginning on page 18 for a
discussion of risks you should consider in connection with the
exchange offer.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this
prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offense.
We may amend or supplement this prospectus from time to time
by filing amendments or supplements as required. You should read
this entire prospectus and related documents and any amendments
or supplements to this prospectus carefully before making your
investment decision.
The date of this prospectus is May , 2007.
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
THIS PROSPECTUS IS PART OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WE
FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, OR SEC. IN
MAKING YOUR INVESTMENT DECISION, YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, ANY FREE WRITING
PROSPECTUS PREPARED BY US OR THE INFORMATION TO WHICH WE HAVE
REFERRED YOU. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH
ANY OTHER OR DIFFERENT INFORMATION. IF YOU RECEIVE ANY
UNAUTHORIZED INFORMATION, YOU MUST NOT RELY ON IT. THIS
PROSPECTUS MAY ONLY BE USED WHERE IT IS LEGAL TO EXCHANGE THE
OLD NOTES FOR THE NEW NOTES AND THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN
OFFER TO EXCHANGE OR A SOLICITATION TO EXCHANGE THE OLD
NOTES FOR THE NEW NOTES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE AN
OFFER OR EXCHANGE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE AS OF
ANY DATE OTHER THAN THE DATE ON THE FRONT COVER OF THIS
PROSPECTUS.
Each broker dealer that receives new notes pursuant to this
exchange offer in exchange for securities acquired for its own
account as a result of market making or other trading activities
must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such new notes. The letter of transmittal
attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which
this prospectus forms a part 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. This
prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, may be used by such a broker dealer in connection with
resales of such new notes. We have agreed that, starting on the
date of the completion of the exchange offer to which this
prospectus relates for up to 180 days following completion
of the exchange offer (or such earlier date as eligible
broker-dealers no longer own new notes), we will make this
prospectus available to any broker dealer for use in connection
with any such resale. In addition,
until
(90 days after the date of this prospectus), all dealers
effecting transactions in the new notes may be required to
deliver a prospectus. See Plan of Distribution.
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SPECIAL
NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Any statements made in this prospectus that are not statements
of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and
expectations, are forward-looking statements within
the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, and should
be evaluated as such. Forward-looking statements include
information concerning possible or assumed future results of
operations, including statements that may relate to our plans,
objectives, strategies, goals, future events, future revenues or
performance, capital expenditures, financing needs and other
information that is not historical information. These
forward-looking statements often include words such as
anticipate, expect,
suggests, plan, believe,
intend, estimates, targets,
projects, should, may,
will, forecast, and other similar
expressions. These forward-looking statements are contained
throughout this prospectus, including the Prospectus
Summary, Risk Factors,
Capitalization, Managements Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations and Business.
We base these forward-looking statements or projections on our
current expectations, plans and assumptions that we have made in
light of our experience in the industry, as well as our
perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected
future developments and other factors we believe are appropriate
under the circumstances. As you read and consider this
prospectus, you should understand that these forward-looking
statements or projections are not guarantees of future
performance or results. Although we believe that these
forward-looking statements and projections are based on
reasonable assumptions at the time they are made, you should be
aware that many factors could affect our actual financial
results, performance or results of operations and could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the
forward-looking statements and projections. Factors that may
materially affect such forward-looking statements and
projections include:
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the highly competitive nature of our industry;
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the rapid technological changes in our industry;
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our ability to maintain adequate customer care and manage our
churn rate;
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our ability to sustain the growth rates we have experienced to
date;
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our ability to access the funds necessary to build and operate
our Auction 66 Markets;
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the costs associated with being a public company and our ability
to comply with the internal financial and disclosure control and
reporting obligations of public companies;
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our ability to manage our rapid growth, train additional
personnel and improve our financial and disclosure controls and
procedures;
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our ability to secure the necessary spectrum and network
infrastructure equipment;
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our ability to clear the Auction 66 Market spectrum of incumbent
licensees;
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our ability to adequately enforce or protect our intellectual
property rights;
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governmental regulation of our services and the costs of
compliance and our failure to comply with such regulations;
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our capital structure, including our indebtedness amounts;
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changes in consumer preferences or demand for our products;
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our inability to attract and retain key members of
management; and
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other factors described in this prospectus under Risk
Factors.
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The forward-looking statements and projections are subject to
and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and you should
not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and
projections. All future written and oral forward-looking
statements and projections attributable to us or persons acting
on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by our
cautionary statements. We do not intend to, and do not
iii
undertake a duty to, update any forward-looking statement or
projection in the future to reflect the occurrence of events or
circumstances, except as required by law.
WHERE YOU
CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Our corporate parent, MetroPCS Communications, Inc., is required
to file current, quarterly and annual reports, proxy statements
and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy those
reports, proxy statements and other information at the public
reference facility maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies of this material may also be
obtained from the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F
Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.
Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be
obtained by calling the SEC at
(800) 732-0330.
The SEC maintains a Web site at www.sec.gov that contains
reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants that make electronic filings with the SEC
using its EDGAR system.
You may request a copy of these filings, which we will provide
to you at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following
address: MetroPCS Communications, Inc., 8144 Walnut Hill Lane,
Suite 800, Dallas, Texas
75231-4388.
Our phone number is
(214) 265-2550.
Our website address is www.metropcs.com. The information
contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is
not part of this prospectus.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on
Form S-4
under the Securities Act to register with the SEC the new notes
to be issued in exchange for the old notes and guarantees
thereof. This prospectus is part of that registration statement.
In this prospectus we refer to that registration statement,
together with all amendments, exhibits and schedules to that
registration statement, as the registration
statement.
As is permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, this
prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, omits
some information, exhibits, schedules and undertakings set forth
in the registration statement. For further information with
respect to us, and the securities offered by this prospectus,
please refer to the registration statement.
MARKET
AND OTHER DATA
Market data and other statistical information used throughout
this offering memorandum are based on independent industry
publications, government publications, reports by market
research firms and other published independent sources. Some
data is also based on our good faith estimates, which are
derived from our review of internal surveys and independent
sources, including information provided to us by the
U.S. Census Bureau. Although we believe these sources are
reliable, we have not independently verified the data or
information obtained from these sources. By including such
market data and information, we do not undertake a duty to
provide such data or information in the future or to update such
data or information when such data is updated.
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PROSPECTUS
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information about us and
this offering contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This
summary is not complete and does not contain all of the
information that is important to you or that you should consider
before participating in the exchange offer. You should read
carefully the entire prospectus, including the risk factors,
financial data and financial statements included in this
prospectus, before making a decision about whether to
participate in the exchange offer.
In this prospectus, unless the context indicates otherwise,
references to MetroPCS, MetroPCS
Wireless, our Company, the
Company, we, our, ours
and us refer to MetroPCS Wireless, Inc., a Delaware
corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. Our ultimate
parent is MetroPCS Communications, Inc., which we refer to in
this prospectus as MetroPCS Communications. All of
our capital stock is owned by MetroPCS, Inc., which is a direct
wholly-owned subsidiary of MetroPCS Communications. MetroPCS
Communications and MetroPCS, Inc. have no operations separate
from their investments in us. Accordingly, unless otherwise
noted, all of the financial information in this prospectus is
presented on a consolidated basis of MetroPCS Communications.
Company
Overview
We offer wireless broadband personal communication services, or
PCS, on a no long-term contract, flat rate, unlimited usage
basis in selected major metropolitan areas in the United States.
Since we launched our innovative wireless service in 2002, we
have been among the fastest growing wireless broadband PCS
providers in the United States as measured by growth in
subscribers and revenues during that period. We currently own or
have access to wireless licenses covering a population of
approximately 140 million in the United States, which
includes 14 of the top 25 largest metropolitan areas in the
country. As of December 31, 2006, we had launched service
in seven of the top 25 largest metropolitan areas covering a
licensed population of approximately 39 million and had
approximately 2.9 million total subscribers, representing a
53% growth rate over total subscribers as of December 31,
2005. As of March 31, 2007, we had approximately
3.4 million subscribers.
Our wireless services target a mass market which we believe is
largely underserved by traditional wireless carriers. Our
service, branded under the MetroPCS name, allows
customers to place unlimited wireless calls from within our
service areas and to receive unlimited calls from any area under
our simple and affordable flat monthly rate plans. Our customers
pay for our service in advance, eliminating any customer-related
credit exposure. Our flat rate service plans start as low as
$30 per month. For an additional $5 to $20 per month,
our customers may select a service plan that offers additional
services, such as unlimited nationwide long distance service,
voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, text messaging, mobile
Internet browsing, push
e-mail and
picture and multimedia messaging. For additional fees, we also
provide international long distance and text messaging,
ringtones, games and content applications, unlimited directory
assistance, mobile Internet browsing, ring back tones,
nationwide roaming and other value-added services. As of
December 31, 2006, over 85% of our customers selected
either our $40 or $45 rate plan. Our flat rate plans
differentiate our service from the more complex plans and
long-term contract requirements of traditional wireless carriers.
We launched our service initially in 2002 in the Miami, Atlanta,
Sacramento and San Francisco metropolitan areas, which we
refer to as our Core Markets and which currently comprise our
Core Markets segment. Our Core Markets have a licensed
population of approximately 26 million, of which our
networks cover approximately 22 million as of
December 31, 2006. In our Core Markets we reached the one
million customer mark after eight full quarters of operation,
and as of December 31, 2006 we served approximately
2.3 million customers, representing a customer penetration
of covered population of 10.2%. We reported positive adjusted
earnings before depreciation and amortization and non-cash
stock-based compensation, or Core Markets segment Adjusted
EBITDA, in our Core Markets segment after only four full
quarters of operation. As of March 31, 2007, we served
approximately 2.5 million customers, representing a
customer penetration of covered population of 11.0%. Our Core
Markets segment Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended
December 31, 2006, was $493 million, representing a
56% increase over the comparable period in 2005 and representing
43% of our segment service revenue. For a discussion of our Core
Markets segment Adjusted
1
EBITDA, please read Summary Historical Financial and
Operating Data and Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations Core Markets Performance Measures.
Beginning in the second half of 2004, we began to strategically
acquire licenses in new geographic areas that share certain key
characteristics with our existing Core Markets. These new
geographic areas, which we refer to as our Expansion Markets and
which currently comprise our Expansion Markets segment, include
the Tampa/Sarasota, Dallas/Ft. Worth and Detroit
metropolitan areas, as well as the Los Angeles and Orlando
metropolitan areas and portions of northern Florida, which were
acquired by Royal Street Communications, LLC, or Royal Street
Communications, and together with its subsidiaries, Royal
Street, a company in which we own an 85% limited liability
company member interest. We launched service in the
Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area in October 2005, in the
Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area in March 2006, in the
Detroit metropolitan area in April 2006, and, through our
agreements with Royal Street, in the Orlando metropolitan area
and portions of northern Florida in November 2006. As of
December 31, 2006, our networks covered approximately
16 million people and we served approximately 640,000
customers in these Expansion Markets, representing a customer
penetration of covered population of 4.0%. As of March 31,
2007, we served approximately 0.9 million customers,
representing a customer penetration of covered population of
5.6%. In late second or most likely third quarter of 2007, also
through our agreements with Royal Street, we expect to begin
offering MetroPCS-branded services in Los Angeles, California.
Together, our Core and Expansion Markets, including Los Angeles,
are expected to cover a population of approximately
53 million by the end of 2008.
In November 2006, we were granted licenses covering a total
unique population of approximately 117 million which we
acquired from the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, in
the spectrum auction denominated as Auction 66, for a total
aggregate purchase price of approximately $1.4 billion.
Approximately 69 million of the total licensed population
associated with our Auction 66 licenses represents expansion
opportunities in geographic areas outside of our Core and
Expansion Markets, which we refer to as our Auction 66 Markets.
These new expansion opportunities in our Auction 66 Markets
cover six of the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United
States. Our east coast expansion opportunities cover a
geographic area with a population of approximately
50 million and include the entire east coast corridor from
Philadelphia to Boston, including New York City, as well as the
entire states of New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts. In the
western United States, our new expansion opportunities cover a
geographic area of approximately 19 million people,
including the San Diego, Portland, Seattle and Las Vegas
metropolitan areas. The balance of our Auction 66 Markets, which
cover a population of approximately 48 million, supplements
or expands the geographic boundaries of our existing operations
in Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Los Angeles,
San Francisco and Sacramento. We expect this additional
spectrum to provide us with enhanced operating flexibility,
lower capital expenditure requirements in existing licensed
areas and an expanded service area relative to our position
before our acquisition of this spectrum in Auction 66. We intend
to focus our build-out strategy in our Auction 66 Markets
initially on licenses with a total population of approximately
40 million in major metropolitan areas where we believe we
have the opportunity to achieve financial results similar to our
existing Core and Expansion Markets, with a primary focus on the
New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Las Vegas metropolitan areas.
Competitive
Strengths
Our business model has many competitive strengths that we
believe distinguish us from our primary wireless broadband PCS
competitors and will allow us to execute our business strategy
successfully, including:
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Our fixed price calling plans, which provide unlimited usage
within a local calling area with no long-term contracts;
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Our focus on densely populated markets, which provides
significant operational efficiencies;
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Our leadership position as one of the lowest cost providers of
wireless telephone services in the United States;
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Our spectrum portfolio, which covers 9 of the top 12 and 14 of
the top 25 largest metropolitan areas in the United
States; and
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Our advanced CDMA network, which is designed to provide the
capacity necessary to satisfy the usage requirements of our
customers.
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Business
Strategy
We believe the following components of our business strategy
provide the foundation for our continued rapid growth:
|
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|
|
Target the underserved customer segments in our markets;
|
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|
Offer affordable, fixed price unlimited calling plans with no
long-term service contract;
|
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|
Remain one of the lowest cost wireless telephone service
providers in the United States; and
|
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|
Expand into new attractive markets.
|
Business
Risks
Our business and our ability to execute our business strategy
are subject to a number of risks, including:
|
|
|
Our limited operating history;
|
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|
|
|
|
Competition from other wireline and wireless providers, many of
whom have substantially greater resources than us;
|
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|
Our significant current debt levels of approximately
$2.6 billion as of December 31, 2006, the terms of
which may restrict our operational flexibility;
|
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|
|
Our need to generate significant excess cash flows to meet the
requirements for the build-out and launch of our Auction 66
Markets; and
|
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|
Increased costs which could result from higher customer churn,
delays in technological developments or our inability to
successfully manage our growth.
|
For a more detailed discussion of the risks associated with our
business and an investment in the new notes, please see
Risk Factors.
Recent
Financing Transactions and Initial Public Offering
On November 3, 2006, we entered into a senior secured
credit facility pursuant to which we may borrow up to
$1.7 billion and consummated an offering of the old notes
in the aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion. Prior to
the closing of our senior secured credit facility and the sale
of the old notes, we owed an aggregate of $900 million
under our first and second lien secured credit agreements,
$1.25 billion under an exchangeable secured bridge credit
facility entered into by one of MetroPCS Communications
indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries and $250 million under
an exchangeable unsecured bridge credit facility entered into by
another of MetroPCS Communications indirect wholly-owned
subsidiaries. The funds borrowed under the bridge credit
facilities were used primarily to pay the aggregate purchase
price of approximately $1.4 billion for the licenses we
acquired in Auction 66. We borrowed $1.6 billion under our
senior secured credit facility concurrently with the closing of
the sale of the old notes and used the amount borrowed, together
with the net proceeds from the sale of the old notes, to repay
all amounts owed under our existing first and second lien
secured credit agreements and our bridge credit facilities and
to pay related premiums, fees and expenses, and we will use the
remaining amounts for general corporate purposes. On
February 20, 2007 we amended and restated our senior
secured facility to reduce the rate by
1/4%.
On April 24, 2007, MetroPCS Communications consummated an
initial public offering of its common stock, par value
$0.0001 per share, or common stock. MetroPCS Communications
sold 37,500,000 shares of common stock at a price per share
of $23 (less underwriting discounts and commissions). In
addition, selling stockholders sold an aggregate of
20,000,000 shares of common stock, including
7,500,000 shares sold pursuant to the exercise by the
underwriters of their over-allotment option.
3
Corporate
Information
Our principal executive offices are located at 8144 Walnut Hill
Lane, Suite 800, Dallas, Texas
75231-4388
and our telephone number at that address is
(214) 265-2550.
Our principal website is located at www.metropcs.com. The
information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our
website is not part of this prospectus.
MetroPCS, metroPCS, MetroPCS
Wireless and the MetroPCS logo are registered trademarks
or service marks of MetroPCS. In addition, the following are
trademarks or service marks of MetroPCS: Permission to Speak
Freely; Text Talk; Freedom Package; Talk All I Want, All Over
Town; Metrobucks; Wireless Is Now Minuteless; Get Off the Clock;
My Metro; @Metro; Picture Talk; MiniMetro; GreetMe-Tones; and
Travel Talk. This prospectus also contains brand names,
trademarks and service marks of other companies and
organizations, and these brand names, trademarks and service
marks are the property of their respective owners.
4
The
Exchange Offer
On November 3, 2006, we completed an unregistered private
offering of the old notes. As part of that offering, we entered
into a registration rights agreement, or the 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 use commercially reasonable efforts to complete an
exchange offer. We refer to the old notes and the new notes
(separately or collectively, as the context indicates) as the
notes. The following is a summary of the exchange
offer.
|
|
|
Old Notes |
|
91/4% Senior
Notes due November 1, 2014, which were issued on
November 3, 2006. |
|
New Notes |
|
91/4% Senior
Notes due November 1, 2014. The terms of the new notes are
substantially identical to those terms of the old notes, except
that the new notes are registered under the Securities Act and
are not subject to the transfer restrictions and registration
rights relating to the old notes. |
|
Exchange Offer |
|
We are offering to exchange $1.0 billion principal amount
of our new notes that have been registered under the Securities
Act for an equal amount of our old notes to satisfy our
obligations under the registration rights agreement. We may
withdraw the exchange offer at any time. |
|
|
|
The new notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes,
including principal and interest, and will be issued under and
be entitled to the benefits of the same indenture that governs
the old notes. Holders of the old notes do not have any
appraisal or dissenters rights in connection with the
exchange offer. Because the new notes will be registered, the
new notes will not be subject to transfer restrictions, and
holders of old notes that have tendered and had their old notes
accepted in the exchange offer will have no registration rights. |
|
Expiration Date |
|
The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 P.M., New York City
time,
on ,
2007, unless we decide to extend it or terminate it early. A
tender of old notes pursuant to this exchange offer may be
withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration Date if we receive
a valid written withdrawal request before the expiration of the
exchange offer. |
|
Conditions to the Exchange Offer |
|
The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which we
may, but are not required to, waive. Please see The
Exchange Offer Conditions to the Exchange
Offer for more information regarding the conditions to the
exchange offer. We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to
waive any and all conditions to the exchange offer on or prior
to the Expiration Date. |
|
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes |
|
Unless you comply with the procedures described below under
The Exchange Offer Procedures for Tendering
Old Notes Guaranteed Delivery, you must do one
of the following procedures on or prior to the Expiration Date
to participate in the exchange offer: |
|
|
|
tender your old notes by sending the certificates
for your old notes, in proper form for transfer, a properly
completed and duly executed letter of transmittal with the
required signature
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
guarantee, and all other documents required by the letter of
transmittal, to The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as
exchange agent, at the address set forth in this prospectus and
such old notes are received by our exchange agent prior to the
expiration of the exchange offer; or |
|
|
|
tender your old notes by using the book-entry
transfer procedures described in The Exchange
Offer Procedures for Tendering Old Notes
Book-Entry Delivery Procedures and transmitting a properly
completed and duly executed letter of transmittal with the
required signature guarantee, or an agents message instead
of the letter of transmittal, to the exchange agent. In order
for a book-entry transfer to constitute a valid tender of your
old notes in the exchange offer, The Bank of New York Trust
Company, N.A., as registrar and exchange agent, must receive a
confirmation of book-entry transfer of your old notes into the
exchange agents account at The Depository Trust Company
prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.
|
|
|
|
By signing or agreeing to be bound by the letter of transmittal,
you will represent to us that, among other things: |
|
|
|
any new notes that you will receive will be acquired
in the ordinary course of your business;
|
|
|
|
you have no arrangement or understanding with any
person or entity to participate in the distribution of the new
notes;
|
|
|
|
you are transferring good and marketable title to
the old notes free and clear of all liens, security interests,
encumbrances, or rights or interests of parties other than you;
|
|
|
|
if you are a broker-dealer that will receive new
notes for your own account in exchange for old notes that were
acquired as a result of market-making activities, that you will
deliver a prospectus, as required by law, in connection with any
resale of such new notes; and
|
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|
you are not our affiliate as defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
|
|
Guaranteed Delivery Procedures |
|
If you are a registered holder of the old notes and wish to
tender your old notes in the exchange offer, but |
|
|
|
the old notes are not immediately available,
|
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|
|
time will not permit your old notes or other
required documents to be received by our exchange agent before
the expiration of the exchange offer, or
|
|
|
|
the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be
completed prior to the expiration of the exchange offer,
|
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|
then you may tender old notes by following the procedures
described below under The Exchange Offer
Procedures for Tendering Old Notes Guaranteed
Delivery. |
6
|
|
|
Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners
|
|
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 you wish to tender your old notes in the
exchange offer, you should promptly contact the person in whose
name the old notes are registered and instruct that person to
tender on your behalf the old notes prior to the expiration of
the exchange offer. |
|
|
|
If you wish to tender in the exchange offer on your own behalf,
prior to completing and executing the letter of transmittal and
delivering the certificates for your old notes, you must either
make appropriate arrangements to register ownership of the old
notes in your name or obtain a properly completed bond power
from the person in whose name the old notes are registered. |
|
Withdrawal; Non-Acceptance |
|
You may withdraw any old notes tendered in the exchange offer at
any time prior to 5:00 P.M., New York City time,
on ,
2007 by sending our exchange agent written notice of withdrawal.
Any old notes tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date that
are not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Expiration Date may
not be withdrawn. If we decide for any reason not to accept any
old notes tendered for exchange or to withdraw the exchange
offer, the old notes will be returned to the registered holder
at our expense promptly after the expiration or termination of
the exchange offer. In the case of old notes tendered by
book-entry transfer into the exchange agents account at
The Depository Trust Company, any withdrawn or unaccepted old
notes will be credited to the tendering holders account at
The Depository Trust Company. For further information regarding
the withdrawal of tendered old notes, please see The
Exchange Offer Withdrawal of Tenders. |
|
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations
|
|
The exchange of old notes for new notes in the exchange offer
should not be a taxable exchange for United States federal
income tax purposes. Please see Material United States
Federal Income Tax Considerations for more information
regarding the tax consequences to you of the exchange offer. |
|
Use of Proceeds |
|
The issuance of the new notes will not provide us with any new
proceeds. We are making this exchange offer solely to satisfy
our obligations under the registration rights agreement. |
|
Fees and Expenses |
|
We will pay all of our expenses incident to the exchange offer. |
|
Exchange Agent |
|
We have appointed The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A. as
our exchange agent for the exchange offer. You can find the
address and telephone number of the exchange agent under
The Exchange Offer Exchange Agent. |
|
Resales of New Notes |
|
Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC, as set forth
in no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that
the new notes you receive in the exchange offer may be offered
for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by you without
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery
provisions of the Securities Act so long as certain conditions
are met. See The Exchange Offer |
7
|
|
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|
|
Resale of the New Notes; Plan of Distribution for more
information regarding resales. |
|
Consequences of Not Exchanging Your Old Notes
|
|
If you do not exchange your old notes in this exchange offer,
you will no longer be able to require us to register your old
notes under the Securities Act pursuant to the registration
rights agreement except in the limited circumstances provided
under the registration rights agreement. In addition, you will
not be able to resell, offer to resell or otherwise transfer
your old notes unless we have registered the old notes under the
Securities Act, or unless you resell, offer to resell or
otherwise transfer them under an exemption from the registration
requirements of, or in a transaction not subject to, the
Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Other than
in connection with this exchange offer, or as otherwise required
under certain limited circumstances pursuant to the terms of the
registration rights agreement, we do not currently anticipate
that we will register the old notes under the Securities Act. |
|
|
|
For information regarding the consequences of not tendering your
old notes and our obligation to file a registration statement,
please see The Exchange Offer Consequences of
Failure to Exchange. |
|
Additional Documentation; Further Information;
Assistance
|
|
Any questions or requests for assistance or additional
documentation regarding the exchange offer may be directed to
the exchange agent. |
|
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|
Beneficial owners may also contact their custodian for
assistance concerning the exchange offer. |
8
Description
of New Notes
The terms of the new notes and those of the outstanding old
notes are substantially identical, except that the new notes are
registered under the Securities Act and the transfer
restrictions and registration rights relating to the old notes
do not apply to the new notes. As a result, the new notes will
not bear legends restricting their transfer and will not have
the benefit of the registration rights contained in the
registration rights agreement. The new notes represent the same
debt as the old notes for which they are being exchanged. Both
the old notes and the new notes are governed by the same
indenture.
|
|
|
Issuer |
|
MetroPCS Wireless, Inc. |
|
Notes Offered |
|
$1,000,000,000 principal amount of its
91/4% Senior
Notes due 2014. |
|
Maturity Date |
|
November 1, 2014. |
|
Interest Rate |
|
91/4% per
year (calculated using a
360-day
year). |
|
Interest Payment Dates |
|
May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing
November 1, 2007. |
|
Ranking |
|
The notes and the guarantees are the senior unsecured
obligations of us and the guarantors. Accordingly, they rank: |
|
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|
equal to all of our and the guarantors
existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness;
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senior to all of our and the guarantors
existing and future senior subordinated and subordinated
indebtedness;
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effectively subordinated to all of our and the
guarantors existing and future secured indebtedness,
including indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility,
to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness; and
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|
structurally subordinated to all existing and any
future indebtedness and liabilities, including trade payables,
and other liabilities of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee
the notes, to the extent of the assets of such subsidiaries. For
instance, the notes will not be guaranteed by Royal Street which
is consolidated in MetroPCS Communications financial
statements.
|
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|
|
As of December 31, 2006, we had total indebtedness of
approximately $2.6 billion, $1.0 billion of which was
the notes, and approximately $1.6 billion of which was
secured indebtedness to which the notes effectively were
subordinated as to the value of the collateral. |
|
Guarantees |
|
Our obligations under the notes are jointly and severally, and
fully and unconditionally, guaranteed on a senior unsecured
basis by MetroPCS Communications, MetroPCS, Inc. and all of our
current and future domestic wholly-owned subsidiaries. The notes
are not guaranteed by Royal Street which is consolidated in
MetroPCS Communications financial statements. See
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and
Capital Resources and Description of New
Notes Note Guarantees and
Certain Definitions. |
|
Optional Redemption |
|
We may, at our option, redeem some or all of the notes at any
time on or after November 1, 2010 at the redemption prices
described in |
9
|
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|
|
the section Description of New Notes Optional
Redemption, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. |
|
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|
In addition, prior to November 1, 2009, we may, at our
option, redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of
the notes with the net cash proceeds of certain sales of equity
securities or certain contributions to our equity at the
redemption prices described in the section Description of
New Notes Optional Redemption, plus accrued
interest, if any. We may make the redemption only to the extent
that, after the redemption, at least 65% of the aggregate
principal amount of the notes remains outstanding. |
|
|
|
We may also, at our option, prior to November 1, 2010,
redeem some or all of the notes at the make whole
price set forth under Description of New Notes
Optional Redemption. |
|
Mandatory Redemption |
|
None. |
|
Change of Control |
|
If we experience specific kinds of changes in control, each
holder of notes may require us to repurchase all or a portion of
its notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of
the notes, plus any accrued and unpaid interest to the date of
repurchase. See Description of New Notes
Repurchase at the Option of Holders Change of
Control. |
|
Certain Covenants |
|
The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that, among
other things, limit our ability to: |
|
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|
incur more debt;
|
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|
pay dividends and make distributions;
|
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make certain investments;
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repurchase stock;
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create liens without also securing the notes;
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enter into transactions with affiliates;
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enter into agreements that restrict dividends or
distributions from subsidiaries; and
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|
merge, consolidate or sell, or otherwise dispose of,
substantially all of our assets.
|
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|
These covenants contain important exceptions, limitations and
qualifications. For more details, see Description of New
Notes Certain Covenants. |
|
Absence of Established Market for the Notes
|
|
The new notes are generally freely transferable but are also new
securities for which there will not initially be a market. We do
not intent to apply for a listing of the new notes on any
securities exchange or for their inclusion on any automated
dealer quotation system. Accordingly, we cannot assure you as to
the development or liquidity of any market for the new notes. We
expect that the new notes will be eligible for trading in the
PORTALsm
Market. |
|
Risk Factors |
|
You should consider carefully all of the information set forth
in this offering memorandum and, in particular, you should
evaluate the specific factors under Risk Factors. |
10
Summary
Historical Financial Information
The following tables set forth selected consolidated financial
and other data for MetroPCS Communications and its wholly-owned
and majority-owned subsidiaries for the years ended
December 31, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006. We derived
our summary historical financial data as of and for the years
ended December 31, 2004, 2005 and 2006 from the
consolidated financial statements of MetroPCS Communications,
which were audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. We
derived our summary historical financial data as of and for the
years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 from our
consolidated financial statements. You should read the summary
historical financial and operating data in conjunction with
Capitalization, Managements Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations and Risk Factors and our audited
consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto,
contained elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary historical
financial and operating data presented in this prospectus may
not be indicative of future performance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
Statement of Operations
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
102,293
|
|
|
$
|
369,851
|
|
|
$
|
616,401
|
|
|
$
|
872,100
|
|
|
$
|
1,290,947
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
27,048
|
|
|
|
81,258
|
|
|
|
131,849
|
|
|
|
166,328
|
|
|
|
255,916
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total revenues
|
|
|
129,341
|
|
|
|
451,109
|
|
|
|
748,250
|
|
|
|
1,038,428
|
|
|
|
1,546,863
|
|
Operating expenses:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (excluding
depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)
|
|
|
63,567
|
|
|
|
122,211
|
|
|
|
200,806
|
|
|
|
283,212
|
|
|
|
445,281
|
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
106,508
|
|
|
|
150,832
|
|
|
|
222,766
|
|
|
|
300,871
|
|
|
|
476,877
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization disclosed
separately below)
|
|
|
55,161
|
|
|
|
94,073
|
|
|
|
131,510
|
|
|
|
162,476
|
|
|
|
243,618
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
21,472
|
|
|
|
42,428
|
|
|
|
62,201
|
|
|
|
87,895
|
|
|
|
135,028
|
|
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets
|
|
|
(279,659
|
)
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
|
3,209
|
|
|
|
(218,203
|
)
|
|
|
8,806
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(32,951
|
)
|
|
|
409,936
|
|
|
|
620,492
|
|
|
|
616,251
|
|
|
|
1,309,610
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
162,292
|
|
|
|
41,173
|
|
|
|
127,758
|
|
|
|
422,177
|
|
|
|
237,253
|
|
Other expense (income):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,720
|
|
|
|
11,115
|
|
|
|
19,030
|
|
|
|
58,033
|
|
|
|
115,985
|
|
Accretion of put option in
majority-owned subsidiary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
252
|
|
|
|
770
|
|
Interest and other income
|
|
|
(964
|
)
|
|
|
(996
|
)
|
|
|
(2,472
|
)
|
|
|
(8,658
|
)
|
|
|
(21,543
|
)
|
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of
debt
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
(603
|
)
|
|
|
(698
|
)
|
|
|
46,448
|
|
|
|
51,518
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense
|
|
|
6,459
|
|
|
|
9,516
|
|
|
|
15,868
|
|
|
|
96,075
|
|
|
|
146,730
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income
taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
155,833
|
|
|
|
31,657
|
|
|
|
111,890
|
|
|
|
326,102
|
|
|
|
90,523
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(25,528
|
)
|
|
|
(16,179
|
)
|
|
|
(47,000
|
)
|
|
|
(127,425
|
)
|
|
|
(36,717
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle
|
|
|
130,305
|
|
|
|
15,478
|
|
|
|
64,890
|
|
|
|
198,677
|
|
|
|
53,806
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(120
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
130,305
|
|
|
|
15,358
|
|
|
|
64,890
|
|
|
|
198,677
|
|
|
|
53,806
|
|
Accrued dividends on Series D
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
(10,619
|
)
|
|
|
(18,493
|
)
|
|
|
(21,006
|
)
|
|
|
(21,006
|
)
|
|
|
(21,006
|
)
|
Accrued dividends on Series E
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,019
|
)
|
|
|
(3,000
|
)
|
Accretion on Series D
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
Accretion on Series E
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(114
|
)
|
|
|
(339
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) applicable to
Common Stock
|
|
$
|
119,213
|
|
|
$
|
(3,608
|
)
|
|
$
|
43,411
|
|
|
$
|
176,065
|
|
|
$
|
28,988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per common
share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
0.71
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per common
share
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
0.71
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per
common share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per
common share
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
108,709,302
|
|
|
|
109,331,885
|
|
|
|
126,722,051
|
|
|
|
135,352,396
|
|
|
|
155,820,381
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
150,218,097
|
|
|
|
109,331,885
|
|
|
|
150,633,686
|
|
|
|
153,610,589
|
|
|
|
159,696,608
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(Dollars, customers and POPs in thousands)
|
|
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
|
|
$
|
(50,672
|
)
|
|
$
|
112,605
|
|
|
$
|
150,379
|
|
|
$
|
283,216
|
|
|
$
|
364,761
|
|
Net cash used in investment
activities
|
|
|
(88,311
|
)
|
|
|
(306,868
|
)
|
|
|
(190,881
|
)
|
|
|
(905,228
|
)
|
|
|
(1,939,665
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
|
|
157,039
|
|
|
|
201,951
|
|
|
|
(5,433
|
)
|
|
|
712,244
|
|
|
|
1,623,693
|
|
Consolidated Operating
Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed POPs (at period end)(2)
|
|
|
22,584
|
|
|
|
22,584
|
|
|
|
28,430
|
|
|
|
64,222
|
|
|
|
65,618
|
|
Covered POPs (at period end)(2)
|
|
|
16,964
|
|
|
|
17,662
|
|
|
|
21,083
|
|
|
|
23,908
|
|
|
|
38,630
|
|
Customers (at period end)
|
|
|
513
|
|
|
|
977
|
|
|
|
1,399
|
|
|
|
1,925
|
|
|
|
2,941
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Deficit)(3)
|
|
$
|
(94,376
|
)
|
|
$
|
89,566
|
|
|
$
|
203,597
|
|
|
$
|
294,465
|
|
|
$
|
395,559
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of
service revenues(4)
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
24.2
|
%
|
|
|
33.0
|
%
|
|
|
33.8
|
%
|
|
|
30.6
|
%
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
$
|
227,350
|
|
|
$
|
117,731
|
|
|
$
|
250,830
|
|
|
$
|
266,499
|
|
|
$
|
550,749
|
|
Core Markets Operating
Data(5):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed POPs (at period end)(2)
|
|
|
22,584
|
|
|
|
22,584
|
|
|
|
24,686
|
|
|
|
25,433
|
|
|
|
25,881
|
|
Covered POPs (at period end)(2)
|
|
|
16,964
|
|
|
|
17,662
|
|
|
|
21,083
|
|
|
|
21,263
|
|
|
|
22,461
|
|
Customers (at period end)
|
|
|
513
|
|
|
|
977
|
|
|
|
1,399
|
|
|
|
1,872
|
|
|
|
2,301
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Deficit)(6)
|
|
$
|
(94,376
|
)
|
|
$
|
89,566
|
|
|
$
|
203,597
|
|
|
$
|
316,555
|
|
|
$
|
492,773
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of
service revenues(4)
|
|
|
NM
|
|
|
|
24.2
|
%
|
|
|
33.0
|
%
|
|
|
36.4
|
%
|
|
|
43.3
|
%
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
$
|
227,350
|
|
|
$
|
117,731
|
|
|
$
|
250,830
|
|
|
$
|
171,783
|
|
|
$
|
217,215
|
|
Expansion Markets Operating
Data(5):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Licensed POPs (at period end)(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,744
|
|
|
|
38,789
|
|
|
|
39,737
|
|
Covered POPs (at period end)(2)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2,645
|
|
|
|
16,169
|
|
Customers (at period end)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
53
|
|
|
|
640
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Deficit)(6)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
(22,090
|
)
|
|
$
|
(97,214
|
)
|
Capital Expenditures
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
90,871
|
|
|
$
|
314,308
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
Average monthly churn(7)(8)
|
|
|
4.4
|
%
|
|
|
4.6
|
%
|
|
|
4.9
|
%
|
|
|
5.1
|
%
|
|
|
4.6
|
%
|
Average revenue per user
(ARPU)(9)(10)
|
|
$
|
39.23
|
|
|
$
|
37.49
|
|
|
$
|
41.13
|
|
|
$
|
42.40
|
|
|
$
|
42.98
|
|
Cost per gross addition
(CPGA)(8)(9)(11)
|
|
$
|
157.02
|
|
|
$
|
100.46
|
|
|
$
|
103.78
|
|
|
$
|
102.70
|
|
|
$
|
117.58
|
|
Cost per user (CPU)(9)(12)
|
|
$
|
37.68
|
|
|
$
|
18.21
|
|
|
$
|
18.95
|
|
|
$
|
19.57
|
|
|
$
|
19.65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31, 2006
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Actual
|
|
|
As Adjusted(13)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents &
short-term investments
|
|
$
|
552,149
|
|
|
$
|
1,374,812
|
|
|
|
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
1,256,162
|
|
|
|
1,256,162
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
4,153,122
|
|
|
|
4,975,785
|
|
|
|
|
|
Long-term debt (including current
maturities)
|
|
|
2,596,000
|
|
|
|
2,596,000
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series D Cumulative
Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Stock
|
|
|
443,368
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series E Cumulative
Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Stock
|
|
|
51,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
413,245
|
|
|
|
1,730,410
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1)
|
|
See Note 17 to the
consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this
prospectus for an explanation of the calculation of basic and
diluted net income (loss) per common share. The calculation of
basic and diluted net income per common share for the years
ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 are not included in
Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements.
|
|
(2)
|
|
Licensed POPs represent the
aggregate number of persons that reside within the areas covered
by our or Royal Streets licenses. Covered POPs represent
the estimated number of POPs in our markets that reside within
the areas covered by our network.
|
|
(3)
|
|
Our senior secured credit facility
calculates consolidated Adjusted EBITDA as: consolidated net
income plus depreciation and amortization; gain (loss) on
disposal of assets; non-cash expenses; gain (loss) on
extinguishment of debt; provision for income taxes; interest
|
12
|
|
|
|
|
expense; and certain expenses of
MetroPCS Communications, Inc. minus interest and other
income and non-cash items increasing consolidated net income.
|
We consider Adjusted EBITDA, as defined above, to be an
important indicator to investors because it provides information
related to our ability to provide cash flows to meet future debt
service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements
and fund future growth. We present this discussion of Adjusted
EBITDA because covenants in our senior secured credit facility
contain ratios based on this measure. If our Adjusted EBITDA
were to decline below certain levels, covenants in our senior
secured credit facility that are based on Adjusted EBITDA,
including our maximum senior secured leverage ratio covenant,
may be violated and could cause, among other things, an
inability to incur further indebtedness and in certain
circumstances a default or mandatory prepayment under our senior
secured credit facility. Our maximum senior secured leverage
ratio is required to be less than 4.5 to 1.0 based on Adjusted
EBITDA plus the impact of certain new markets. The lenders under
our senior secured credit facility use the senior secured
leverage ratio to measure our ability to meet our obligations on
our senior secured debt by comparing the total amount of such
debt to our Adjusted EBITDA, which our lenders use to estimate
our cash flow from operations. The senior secured leverage ratio
is calculated as the ratio of senior secured indebtedness to
Adjusted EBITDA, as defined by our senior secured credit
facility. For the year ended December 31, 2006, our senior
secured leverage ratio was 3.24 to 1.0, which means for every
$1.00 of Adjusted EBITDA we had $3.24 of senior secured
indebtedness. In addition, consolidated Adjusted EBITDA is also
utilized, among other measures, to determine managements
compensation levels. See Executive Compensation.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure calculated in accordance with
GAAP and should not be considered a substitute for operating
income (loss), net income (loss), or any other measure of
financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In
addition, Adjusted EBITDA should not be construed as an
alternative to, or more meaningful, than cash flows from
operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP. See
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations Liquidity and
Capital Resources.
The following table shows the calculation of consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in our senior secured credit
facility, for the periods indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Calculation of Consolidated
Adjusted EBITDA (Deficit):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
$
|
130,305
|
|
|
$
|
15,358
|
|
|
$
|
64,890
|
|
|
$
|
198,677
|
|
|
$
|
53,806
|
|
Adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
21,472
|
|
|
|
42,428
|
|
|
|
62,201
|
|
|
|
87,895
|
|
|
|
135,028
|
|
(Gain) loss on disposal of assets
|
|
|
(279,659
|
)
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
|
3,209
|
|
|
|
(218,203
|
)
|
|
|
8,806
|
|
Non-cash compensation expense(a)
|
|
|
1,519
|
|
|
|
5,573
|
|
|
|
10,429
|
|
|
|
2,596
|
|
|
|
14,472
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,720
|
|
|
|
11,115
|
|
|
|
19,030
|
|
|
|
58,033
|
|
|
|
115,985
|
|
Accretion of put option in
majority-owned subsidiary(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
252
|
|
|
|
770
|
|
Interest and other income
|
|
|
(964
|
)
|
|
|
(996
|
)
|
|
|
(2,472
|
)
|
|
|
(8,658
|
)
|
|
|
(21,543
|
)
|
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of
debt
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
(603
|
)
|
|
|
(698
|
)
|
|
|
46,448
|
|
|
|
51,518
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
25,528
|
|
|
|
16,179
|
|
|
|
47,000
|
|
|
|
127,425
|
|
|
|
36,717
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting principle, net of tax(a)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
120
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
(Deficit)
|
|
$
|
(94,376
|
)
|
|
$
|
89,566
|
|
|
$
|
203,597
|
|
|
$
|
294,465
|
|
|
$
|
395,559
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(a)
|
|
Represents a non-cash expense, as
defined by our senior secured credit facility.
|
13
In addition, for further information, the following table
reconciles consolidated Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in our
senior secured credit facility, to cash flows from operating
activities for the periods indicated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Reconciliation of Net Cash (Used
In) Provided By Operating Activities to Consolidated Adjusted
EBITDA (Deficit):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
|
|
$
|
(50,672
|
)
|
|
$
|
112,605
|
|
|
$
|
150,379
|
|
|
$
|
283,216
|
|
|
$
|
364,761
|
|
Adjustments:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,720
|
|
|
|
11,115
|
|
|
|
19,030
|
|
|
|
58,033
|
|
|
|
115,985
|
|
Non-cash interest expense
|
|
|
(2,833
|
)
|
|
|
(3,073
|
)
|
|
|
(2,889
|
)
|
|
|
(4,285
|
)
|
|
|
(6,964
|
)
|
Interest and other income
|
|
|
(964
|
)
|
|
|
(996
|
)
|
|
|
(2,472
|
)
|
|
|
(8,658
|
)
|
|
|
(21,543
|
)
|
Provision for uncollectible
accounts receivable
|
|
|
(359
|
)
|
|
|
(110
|
)
|
|
|
(125
|
)
|
|
|
(129
|
)
|
|
|
(31
|
)
|
Deferred rent expense
|
|
|
(2,886
|
)
|
|
|
(2,803
|
)
|
|
|
(3,466
|
)
|
|
|
(4,407
|
)
|
|
|
(7,464
|
)
|
Cost of abandoned cell sites
|
|
|
(1,449
|
)
|
|
|
(824
|
)
|
|
|
(1,021
|
)
|
|
|
(725
|
)
|
|
|
(3,783
|
)
|
Accretion of asset retirement
obligation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(127
|
)
|
|
|
(253
|
)
|
|
|
(423
|
)
|
|
|
(769
|
)
|
Loss (gain) on sale of investments
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(576
|
)
|
|
|
190
|
|
|
|
2,385
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
25,528
|
|
|
|
16,179
|
|
|
|
47,000
|
|
|
|
127,425
|
|
|
|
36,717
|
|
Deferred income taxes
|
|
|
(6,616
|
)
|
|
|
(18,716
|
)
|
|
|
(44,441
|
)
|
|
|
(125,055
|
)
|
|
|
(32,341
|
)
|
Changes in working capital
|
|
|
(60,845
|
)
|
|
|
(23,684
|
)
|
|
|
42,431
|
|
|
|
(30,717
|
)
|
|
|
(51,394
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Adjusted EBITDA
(Deficit)
|
|
$
|
(94,376
|
)
|
|
$
|
89,566
|
|
|
$
|
203,597
|
|
|
$
|
294,465
|
|
|
$
|
395,559
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(4)
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of
service revenues is calculated by dividing Adjusted EBITDA by
total service revenues.
|
|
(5)
|
|
Core Markets include Atlanta,
Miami, Sacramento and San Francisco. Expansion Markets
include Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Tampa/Sarasota/Orlando
and Los Angeles. See Managements Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
|
|
(6)
|
|
Core and Expansion Markets Adjusted
EBITDA is presented in accordance with SFAS No. 131 as
it is the primary financial measure utilized by management to
facilitate evaluation of our ability to meet future debt
service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements
and to fund future growth. See Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations Operating Segments.
|
|
(7)
|
|
Average monthly churn represents
(a) the number of customers who have been disconnected from
our system during the measurement period less the number of
customers who have reactivated service, divided by (b) the
sum of the average monthly number of customers during such
period. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Performance Measures. A customers handset is
disabled if the customer has failed to make payment by the due
date and is disconnected from our system if the customer fails
to make payment within 30 days thereafter. See
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations Customer
Recognition and Disconnect Policies.
|
|
(8)
|
|
In the first quarter of 2006, based
upon a change in the allowable return period from 7 days to
30 days, we revised our definition of gross additions to
exclude customers that discontinue service in the first
30 days of service as churn. This revision has the effect
of reducing deactivations and gross additions, commencing
March 23, 2006, and reduces churn and increases CPGA. Churn
computed under the original 7 day allowable return period
would have been 5.1% for the year ended December 31, 2006.
|
|
(9)
|
|
Average revenue per user, or ARPU,
cost per gross addition, or CPGA, and cost per user, or CPU, are
non-GAAP financial measures utilized by our management to
evaluate our operating performance. We believe these measures
are important in understanding the performance of our operations
from period to period, and although every company in the
wireless industry does not define each of these measures in
precisely the same way, we believe that these measures (which
are common in the wireless industry) facilitate operating
performance comparisons with other companies in the wireless
industry.
|
|
(10)
|
|
ARPU Average revenue
per user, or ARPU, represents (a) service revenues less
activation revenues,
E-911,
Federal Universal Service Fund, or FUSF, and vendors
compensation charges for the measurement period, divided by
(b) the sum of the average monthly number of customers
during such period. We utilize ARPU to evaluate our per-customer
service revenue realization and to assist in
|
14
|
|
|
|
|
forecasting our future service
revenues. ARPU is calculated exclusive of activation revenues,
as these amounts are a component of our costs of acquiring new
customers and are included in our calculation of CPGA. ARPU is
also calculated exclusive of
E-911, FUSF
and vendors compensation charges, as these are generally
pass through charges that we collect from our customers and
remit to the appropriate government agencies.
|
Average number of customers for any measurement period is
determined by dividing (a) the sum of the average monthly
number of customers for the measurement period by (b) the
number of months in such period. Average monthly number of
customers for any month represents the sum of the number of
customers on the first day of the month and the last day of the
month divided by two. The following table shows the calculation
of ARPU for the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except average number of customers and
ARPU)
|
|
|
Calculation of ARPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
102,293
|
|
|
$
|
369,851
|
|
|
$
|
616,401
|
|
|
$
|
872,100
|
|
|
$
|
1,290,947
|
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Activation revenues
|
|
|
(3,018
|
)
|
|
|
(14,410
|
)
|
|
|
(7,874
|
)
|
|
|
(6,808
|
)
|
|
|
(8,297
|
)
|
E-911,
FUSF and vendors compensation charges
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,527
|
)
|
|
|
(12,522
|
)
|
|
|
(26,221
|
)
|
|
|
(45,640
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net service revenues
|
|
$
|
99,275
|
|
|
$
|
348,914
|
|
|
$
|
596,005
|
|
|
$
|
839,071
|
|
|
$
|
1,237,010
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Divided by:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of customers
|
|
|
210,881
|
|
|
|
775,605
|
|
|
|
1,207,521
|
|
|
|
1,649,208
|
|
|
|
2,398,682
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARPU
|
|
$
|
39.23
|
|
|
$
|
37.49
|
|
|
$
|
41.13
|
|
|
$
|
42.40
|
|
|
$
|
42.98
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(11)
|
|
CPGA Cost per gross
addition, or CPGA, is determined by dividing (a) selling
expenses plus the total cost of equipment associated with
transactions with new customers less activation revenues and
equipment revenues associated with transactions with new
customers during the measurement period by (b) gross
customer additions during such period. We utilize CPGA to assess
the efficiency of our distribution strategy, validate the
initial capital invested in our customers and determine the
number of months to recover our customer acquisition costs. This
measure also allows us to compare our average acquisition costs
per new customer to those of other wireless broadband PCS
providers. Activation revenues and equipment revenues related to
new customers are deducted from selling expenses in this
calculation as they represent amounts paid by customers at the
time their service is activated that reduce our acquisition cost
of those customers. Additionally, equipment costs associated
with existing customers, net of related revenues, are excluded
as this measure is intended to reflect only the acquisition
costs related to new customers. The following table reconciles
total costs used in the calculation of CPGA to selling expenses,
which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP
financial measure to CPGA:
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except gross customer additions and CPGA)
|
|
|
Calculation of CPGA:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling expenses
|
|
$
|
26,228
|
|
|
$
|
44,006
|
|
|
$
|
52,605
|
|
|
$
|
62,396
|
|
|
$
|
104,620
|
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Activation revenues
|
|
|
(3,018
|
)
|
|
|
(14,410
|
)
|
|
|
(7,874
|
)
|
|
|
(6,809
|
)
|
|
|
(8,297
|
)
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
(27,048
|
)
|
|
|
(81,258
|
)
|
|
|
(131,849
|
)
|
|
|
(166,328
|
)
|
|
|
(255,916
|
)
|
Add:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment revenue not associated
with new customers
|
|
|
482
|
|
|
|
13,228
|
|
|
|
54,323
|
|
|
|
77,011
|
|
|
|
114,392
|
|
Add:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
106,508
|
|
|
|
150,832
|
|
|
|
222,766
|
|
|
|
300,871
|
|
|
|
476,877
|
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment costs not associated with
new customers
|
|
|
(4,850
|
)
|
|
|
(22,549
|
)
|
|
|
(72,200
|
)
|
|
|
(109,803
|
)
|
|
|
(155,930
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross addition expenses
|
|
$
|
98,302
|
|
|
$
|
89,849
|
|
|
$
|
117,771
|
|
|
$
|
157,338
|
|
|
$
|
275,746
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Divided by:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gross customer additions
|
|
|
626,050
|
|
|
|
894,348
|
|
|
|
1,134,762
|
|
|
|
1,532,071
|
|
|
|
2,345,135
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPGA
|
|
$
|
157.02
|
|
|
$
|
100.46
|
|
|
$
|
103.78
|
|
|
$
|
102.70
|
|
|
$
|
117.58
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(12)
|
|
CPU Cost per user, or
CPU, is cost of service and general and administrative costs
(excluding applicable non-cash 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 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 sum of the average monthly number of customers during such
period. CPU does not include any depreciation and amortization
expense. Management uses CPU 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, CPU provides management with a useful
measure to compare our non-selling cash costs per customer with
those of other wireless providers. We believe investors use CPU
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 providers. Other wireless
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
carriers may calculate this measure
differently. The following table reconciles total costs used in
the calculation of CPU to cost of service, which we consider to
be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except average number of customers and CPU)
|
|
|
Calculation of CPU:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service
|
|
$
|
63,567
|
|
|
$
|
122,211
|
|
|
$
|
200,806
|
|
|
$
|
283,212
|
|
|
$
|
445,281
|
|
Add:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
General and administrative expense
|
|
|
28,933
|
|
|
|
50,067
|
|
|
|
78,905
|
|
|
|
100,080
|
|
|
|
138,998
|
|
Add:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net loss on equipment transactions
unrelated to initial customer acquisition
|
|
|
4,368
|
|
|
|
9,320
|
|
|
|
17,877
|
|
|
|
32,791
|
|
|
|
41,538
|
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-cash compensation expense
included in cost of service and general and administrative
expense
|
|
|
(1,519
|
)
|
|
|
(5,573
|
)
|
|
|
(10,429
|
)
|
|
|
(2,596
|
)
|
|
|
(14,472
|
)
|
Less:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
E-911,
FUSF and vendors compensation revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(6,527
|
)
|
|
|
(12,522
|
)
|
|
|
(26,221
|
)
|
|
|
(45,640
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total costs used in the calculation
of CPU
|
|
$
|
95,349
|
|
|
$
|
169,498
|
|
|
$
|
274,637
|
|
|
$
|
387,266
|
|
|
$
|
565,705
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Divided by:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of customers
|
|
|
210,881
|
|
|
|
775,605
|
|
|
|
1,207,521
|
|
|
|
1,649,208
|
|
|
|
2,398,682
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
CPU
|
|
$
|
37.68
|
|
|
$
|
18.21
|
|
|
$
|
18.95
|
|
|
$
|
19.57
|
|
|
$
|
19.65
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(13)
|
|
As adjusted to give effect to the
consummation of our initial public offering of
57,500,000 shares of common stock at a price per share of
$23 (less underwriting discounts and fees), consisting of
37,500,000 shares of common stock sold by us and
20,000,000 shares of common stock sold by selling
stockholders, including 7,500,000 sold by selling stockholders
pursuant to the underwriters exercise of their
over-allotment option. Upon consummation of the offering, all of
our shares of Series D and Series E Preferred Stock
were converted into shares of common stock.
|
17
RISK
FACTORS
An investment in the notes involves a high degree of risk.
You should carefully consider the specific risk factors set
forth below, as well as the other information set forth
elsewhere in this prospectus, before deciding to participate in
the exchange offer. Any of the following risks could materially
adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of
operations, which in turn could adversely affect our ability to
pay interest or principal on the notes. In such case, you may
lose all or part of your original investment.
Risks
Related to the Exchange Offer
If you
do not properly tender your old notes, you will continue to hold
unregistered notes and your ability to transfer those notes will
be adversely affected.
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 described in the
legend on the certificates representing your old notes. 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
those requirements. Other than in connection with the exchange
offer, we do not plan to register any sale of the old notes
under the Securities Act unless required to do so under the
limited circumstances set forth in the registration rights
agreement. In addition, the issuance of the new notes may
adversely affect the trading market for untendered, or tendered
but unaccepted, old notes. For further information regarding the
consequences of not tendering your old notes in the exchange
offer, see The Exchange Offer Consequences of
Failure to Exchange.
We will only issue new notes in exchange for old notes that you
timely and properly tender. Therefore, you should allow
sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the old notes and
you should carefully follow the instructions on how to tender
your old notes. Neither we nor the exchange agent is required to
tell you of any defects or irregularities with respect to your
tender of old notes. We may waive any defects or irregularities
with respect to your tender of old notes, but we are not
required to do so and may not do so. See The Exchange
Offer Procedures for Tendering Old Notes and
Description of New Notes.
You
may find it difficult to sell your new notes.
Because there is no public market for the new notes, you may not
be able to resell them. The new notes will be registered under
the Securities Act but will constitute a new issue of securities
with no established trading market. An active market may not
develop for the new notes and any trading market that does
develop may not be liquid. We do not intend to apply to list the
new notes for trading on any securities exchange or to arrange
for quotation on any automated dealer quotation system. The
trading market for the new notes may be adversely affected by:
|
|
|
|
|
changes in the overall market for non-investment grade
securities;
|
|
|
|
changes in our financial performance or prospects;
|
|
|
|
a change in our credit rating;
|
|
|
|
the prospects for companies in our industry generally;
|
|
|
|
the number of holders of the new notes;
|
|
|
|
the interest of securities dealers in making a market for the
new notes; and
|
|
|
|
prevailing interest rates and general economic conditions.
|
Historically, the market for non-investment grade debt has been
subject to substantial volatility in prices. The market for the
new notes, if any, may be subject to similar volatility.
Prospective investors in the new notes should be aware that they
may be required to bear the financial risks of such investment
for an indefinite period of time.
18
Some
holders who exchange their old notes may be deemed to be
underwriters.
If you exchange your old notes in the exchange offer for the
purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes, you
may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so,
will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any resale transaction. See The Exchange Offer
Resale of the New Notes; Plan of Distribution.
Risks
Relating to the Notes
Our
substantial debt could adversely affect our cash flow and
prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under the
notes.
We have now, and will continue to have, a significant amount of
debt. As of December 31, 2006, we had $2.6 billion of
outstanding indebtedness under the senior secured credit
facility and the senior notes.
Our substantial amount of debt could have important material
consequences to you. For example, it could:
|
|
|
|
|
make it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations under
the notes;
|
|
|
|
increase our vulnerability to general adverse economic and
industry conditions;
|
|
|
|
require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow
from operations to make interest and principal payment on our
debt, limiting the availability of our cash flow to fund future
capital expenditures for existing or new markets, working
capital and other general corporate requirements;
|
|
|
|
limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes
in our business and the telecommunications industry;
|
|
|
|
limit our ability to purchase additional spectrum or develop new
metropolitan areas in the future;
|
|
|
|
place us at a competitive disadvantage compared with competitors
that have less debt; and
|
|
|
|
limit our ability to borrow additional funds, even when
necessary to maintain adequate liquidity.
|
In addition, a substantial portion of our debt, including
borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, bears
interest at variable rates. If market interest rates increase,
variable-rate debt will create higher debt service requirements,
which could adversely affect our cash flow. While we may enter
into agreements limiting our exposure to higher interest rates,
any such agreements may not offer complete protection from this
risk and any portions not subject to such agreements would have
full exposure to higher interest rates.
Despite
our current levels of debt, we will be able to incur
substantially more debt and currently anticipate incurring
additional debt. This could further exacerbate the risks
associated with our leverage.
We will be able to incur additional debt in the future despite
our current level of indebtedness. The terms of our senior
secured credit facility and the indenture governing the notes
allow us to incur substantial amounts of additional debt,
subject to certain limitations. In addition, although MetroPCS
Communications and MetroPCS, Inc. guarantee our obligations
under the notes and the senior secured credit facility, there
are no restrictions on their or any of their future unrestricted
subsidiaries ability to incur additional indebtedness.
We are currently contemplating the issuance of up to an
additional $300 million of senior notes under our existing
indenture for general corporate purposes, which could include
participation in the upcoming 700 MHz auction. This
additional indebtedness and any future debt we may incur may
exacerbate the risks associated with our current level of
indebtedness.
Although
the notes are referred to as senior notes, they will
be effectively subordinated to our secured debt.
The notes, and each guarantee of the notes, are unsecured and
therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured debt
we, or the relevant guarantor, may incur to the extent of the
assets securing such debt. The
19
indenture governing the notes will allow us to incur a
substantial amount of additional secured debt. In the event of a
bankruptcy or similar proceeding involving us, MetroPCS
Communications, or any guarantor of the notes and the senior
secured credit facility, the assets which serve as collateral
for any secured debt will be available to satisfy the
obligations under the secured debt before any payments are made
on the notes. As of December 31, 2006, we had
$2.6 billion of secured debt outstanding. The notes will be
effectively subordinated to any borrowings under our senior
secured credit facility and other secured debt. See
Description of Certain Debt.
MetroPCS
Communications may be permitted to form new subsidiaries who are
not guarantors of the notes, and the assets of any non-guarantor
subsidiaries, including Royal Street, may not be available to
make payments on the notes.
MetroPCS Communications, MetroPCS, Inc., and all of our
wholly-owned subsidiaries are guarantors of the notes. Royal
Street is not a guarantor of the notes. All of our future
unrestricted subsidiaries, and any of MetroPCS
Communications subsidiaries that do not guarantee any of
our other debt, will not guarantee the notes. Payments on the
notes are only required to be made by the issuer and the
guarantors. As a result, no payments are required to be made
from assets of MetroPCS Communications subsidiaries that
do not guarantee the notes, including Royal Street, unless those
assets are transferred by dividend or otherwise to the issuer or
a guarantor.
In the event that any non-guarantor subsidiary of MetroPCS
Communications becomes insolvent, liquidates, reorganizes,
dissolves or otherwise winds up, holders of its debt and its
trade creditors generally will be entitled to payment of their
claims from the assets of that subsidiary before any of those
assets are made available to the issuers or any guarantors.
Consequently, your claims in respect of the notes will be
effectively subordinated to all of the liabilities, including
trade payables, of any future subsidiaries of MetroPCS
Communications (other than the issuer) that is not a guarantor.
To
service our debt, we will require a significant amount of cash,
which may not be available to us.
Our ability to make payments on, or repay or refinance, our
debt, including the notes, and to fund planned capital
expenditures and operating losses associated with the Expansion
Markets, will depend largely upon our future operating
performance. Our future performance is subject to certain
general economic, financial, competitive, legislative,
regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. In
addition, our ability to borrow funds in the future to make
payments on our debt will depend on the satisfaction of the
covenants in our senior secured credit facility, the indenture
covering the notes and our other debt agreements and other
agreements we may enter into in the future. Specifically, we
will need to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy
financial condition tests. We cannot assure you that our
business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or
that future borrowings will be available to us under our senior
secured credit facility or from other sources in an amount
sufficient to enable us to pay interest or principal on our
debt, including the notes, or to fund our other liquidity needs.
The
terms of our debt place restrictions on us which may limit our
operating flexibility.
The indenture governing the notes and our senior secured credit
facility impose material operating and financial restrictions on
us. These restrictions, subject in certain cases to ordinary
course of business and other exceptions, may limit our ability
to engage in some transactions, including the following:
|
|
|
|
|
incurring additional debt;
|
|
|
|
paying dividends, redeeming capital stock or making other
restricted payments or investments;
|
|
|
|
selling or buying assets, properties or licenses;
|
|
|
|
developing assets, properties or licenses which we have or in
the future may procure;
|
|
|
|
creating liens on assets;
|
|
|
|
participating in future FCC auctions of spectrum;
|
20
|
|
|
|
|
merging, consolidating or disposing of assets;
|
|
|
|
entering into transactions with affiliates; and
|
|
|
|
placing restrictions on the ability of subsidiaries (other than
Royal Street) to pay dividends or make other payments.
|
Under the senior secured credit facility, we are also subject to
financial maintenance covenants with respect to our senior
secured leverage and in certain circumstances total maximum
consolidated leverage and certain minimum fixed charge coverage
ratios.
These restrictions could limit our ability to obtain debt
financing, repurchase stock, refinance or pay principal on our
outstanding debt, complete acquisitions for cash or debt or
react to changes in our operating environment. Any future debt
that we incur may contain similar or more restrictive covenants.
The
guarantees may not be enforceable because of fraudulent
conveyance laws.
The guarantors guarantees of the notes may be subject to
review under federal bankruptcy law or relevant state fraudulent
conveyance laws if we or any guarantor files a petition for
bankruptcy or our creditors file an involuntary petition for
bankruptcy of us or any guarantor. Under these laws, if a court
were to find that, at the time a guarantor incurred debt
(including debt represented by the guarantee), such guarantor:
|
|
|
|
|
incurred this debt with the intent of hindering, delaying or
defrauding current or future creditors; or
|
|
|
|
received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair
consideration for incurring this debt and the guarantor:
|
|
|
|
|
|
was insolvent or was rendered insolvent by reason of the related
financing transactions;
|
|
|
|
was engaged in, or about to engage in, a business or transaction
for which its remaining assets constituted unreasonably small
capital to carry on its business; or
|
|
|
|
intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond
its ability to pay these debts as they mature, as all of the
foregoing terms are defined in or interpreted under the relevant
fraudulent transfer or conveyance statutes;
|
then the court could void the guarantee or subordinate the
amounts owing under the guarantee to the guarantors
presently existing or future debt or take other actions
detrimental to you.
The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing
considerations will vary depending upon the law of the
jurisdiction that is being applied in any such proceeding.
Generally, an entity would be considered insolvent if, at the
time it incurred the debt or issued the guarantee:
|
|
|
|
|
it could not pay its debts or contingent liabilities as they
become due;
|
|
|
|
the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, is
greater than its assets, at a fair valuation; or
|
|
|
|
the present fair saleable value of its assets is less than the
amount required to pay the probable liability on its total
existing debts and liabilities, including contingent
liabilities, as they become absolute and mature.
|
If a guarantee is voided as a fraudulent conveyance or found to
be unenforceable for any other reason, you will not have a claim
against that obligor and will only be our creditor or that of
any guarantor whose obligation was not set aside or found to be
unenforceable. In addition, the loss of a guarantee will
constitute a default under the indenture, which default would
cause all outstanding notes to become immediately due and
payable and we may not have the ability to pay such amounts.
The
trading prices for the notes will be directly affected by many
factors, including our credit rating.
Credit rating agencies continually revise their ratings for
companies they follow, including us. Any ratings downgrade could
adversely affect the trading price of the notes, or the trading
market for the notes, to the
21
extent a trading market for the notes develops. The condition of
the financial and credit markets and prevailing interest rates
have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the
future and any fluctuation may impact the trading price of the
notes.
Risks
Relating to our Business
Our
business strategy may not succeed in the long
term.
A major element of our business strategy is to offer consumers a
service that allows them to make unlimited local calls and,
depending on the service plan selected, long distance calls,
from within our service area and to receive unlimited calls from
any area for a flat monthly rate without entering into a
long-term service contract. This is a relatively new approach to
marketing wireless services and it may not prove to be
successful in the long term or deployable in geographic areas we
have acquired but not launched or geographic areas we may
acquire in the future. Some companies that have offered this
type of service in the past have not been successful. From time
to time, we evaluate our service offerings and the demands of
our target customers and may amend, change, discontinue or
adjust our service offerings or trial new service offerings as a
result. These service offerings may not be successful or prove
to be profitable.
We
have limited operating history and have launched service in a
limited number of metropolitan areas. Accordingly, our
performance and ability to construct and launch new markets to
date may not be indicative of our future results, our ability to
launch new markets or our performance in future markets we
launch.
We constructed our networks in 2001 and 2002 and began offering
service in certain metropolitan areas in the first quarter of
2002, and we had no revenues before that time. Consequently, we
have a limited operating and financial history upon which to
evaluate our financial performance, business plan execution,
ability to construct and launch new markets, and ability to
succeed in the future. You should consider our prospects in
light of the risks, expenses and difficulties we may encounter,
including those frequently encountered by new companies
competing in rapidly evolving and highly competitive markets. We
and Royal Street face significant challenges in constructing and
launching new metropolitan areas, including, but not limited to,
negotiating and entering into agreements with third parties for
leasing cell sites and constructing our network, securing all
necessary consents, permits and approvals from third parties and
local and state authorities. If we or Royal Street are unable to
execute our or its plans, we or Royal Street may experience a
delay in our or its ability to construct and launch new markets
or grow our or its business, and our financial results may be
materially adversely affected. Our business strategy involves
expanding into new geographic areas beyond our Core Markets and
these geographic areas may present competitive or other
challenges different from those encountered in our Core Markets.
Our financial performance in new geographic areas, including our
Expansion Markets and Auction 66 Markets, may not be as positive
as our Core Markets.
We
face intense competition from other wireless and wireline
communications providers, and potential new entrants, which
could adversely affect our operating results and hinder our
ability to grow.
We compete directly in each of our markets with (i) other
facilities-based wireless providers, such as Verizon Wireless,
Cingular Wireless, Sprint Nextel, and
T-Mobile and
their prepaid affiliates or brands, (ii) non-facilities
based mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, such as Virgin
Mobile USA and Ampd Mobile, (iii) incumbent local
exchange carriers, such as AT&T and Verizon, as a mobile
alternative to traditional landline service and
(iv) competitive local exchange carriers or
Voice-Over-Internet-Protocol,
or VoIP, service providers, such as Vonage, Time Warner,
Comcast, McLeod USA, Clearwire and XO Communications, as a
mobile alternative to wired service. We also may face
competition from providers of an emerging technology known as
Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, or WiMax, which
is capable of supporting wireless transmissions suitable for
mobility applications. Also, certain mobile satellite providers
recently have received authority to offer ancillary terrestrial
service and a coalition of companies which includes DIRECTTV
Group, EchoStar, Google, Inc., Intel Corp. and Yahoo! has
indicated its desire to establish next generation wireless
networks and technologies in the 700 MHz band. In addition,
VoIP service providers have indicated that they may offer
wireless services over a Wi-Fi/Cellular network to compete
22
directly with us for the provisioning of wireless services. Many
major cable television service providers, including Comcast,
Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications and Bright House Networks,
also have indicated their intention to offer suites of service,
including wireless service, often referred to as the
Quadruple Play, and are actively pursuing the
acquisition of spectrum or leasing access to spectrum to
implement those plans. These cable companies formed a joint
venture along with Sprint Nextel called SpectrumCo LLC, or
SpectrumCo, which bid on and acquired 20 MHz of advanced
wireless service, or AWS, spectrum in a number of major
metropolitan areas throughout the United States, including all
of the major metropolitan areas which comprise our Core,
Expansion and Auction 66 Markets. Many of our current and
prospective competitors are, or are affiliated with, major
companies that have substantially greater financial, technical,
personnel and marketing resources than we have (including
spectrum holdings, brands and intellectual property) and larger
market share than we have, which may affect our ability to
compete successfully. These competitors often have greater name
and brand recognition and established relationships with a
larger base of current and potential customers and, accordingly,
we may not be able to compete successfully. In some markets, we
also compete with local or regional carriers, such as Leap
Wireless International, or Leap Wireless, and Sure West
Wireless, some of whom have or may develop fixed-rate unlimited
service plans similar to ours.
Sprint Nextel recently announced that it will offer on a trial
basis an unlimited local calling plan under its Boost brand in
certain of the geographic areas in which we offer service or
plan to offer service, including San Francisco, Sacramento,
Dallas/Ft. Worth and Los Angeles, which could have a
material adverse effect on our future financial results. In
response, we have added selected additional features to our
existing service plans in these markets, and we may consider
additional targeted promotional activities as we evaluate the
competitive environment going forward. As a result of these
initiatives, we may experience lower revenues, lower ARPU, lower
adjusted EBITDA and increased churn in the effected metropolitan
areas. If Sprint Nextel expands its unlimited local calling plan
trials into other metropolitan areas, or if other carriers
institute similar service plans in our other metropolitan areas,
we may consider similar changes to our service plans in
additional markets, which could have a material adverse effect
on our financial results.
We expect that increased competition will result in more
competitive pricing, slower growth and increased churn of our
customer base. Our ability to compete will depend, in part, on
our ability to anticipate and respond to various competitive
factors and to keep our costs low. The competitive pressures of
the wireless telecommunications industry have caused, and may
continue to cause, other carriers to offer service plans with
increasingly large bundles of minutes of use at increasingly
lower prices and rate plans with unlimited nights and weekends.
These competitive plans could adversely affect our ability to
maintain our pricing and market penetration and maintain and
grow our customer base.
We may
face additional competition from new entrants in the wireless
marketplace, many of whom may have significantly more resources
than we do.
Certain new entrants with significant financial resources
participated in Auction 66 and were designated as the high
bidder on spectrum rights in geographic areas served by us. For
example, SpectrumCo acquired 20 MHz of spectrum in all of
the metropolitan areas which comprise our Core, Expansion and
Auction 66 Markets. In addition, Leap Wireless offers fixed-rate
unlimited service plans similar to ours and acquired spectrum
which overlaps some of the metropolitan areas we serve or plan
to serve. These licenses could be used to provide services
directly competitive with our services.
The auction and licensing of new spectrum, including the
spectrum recently auctioned by the FCC in Auction 66, may result
in new competitors
and/or allow
existing competitors to acquire additional spectrum, which could
allow them to offer services that we may not technologically or
cost effectively be able to offer with the licenses we hold or
to which we have access. The FCC has already designated an
additional 60 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz band
which may be used to offer services competitive with the
services we offer or plan to offer. The FCC is obligated to
auction the 700 MHz spectrum by January 2008 and the FCC
has released an order establishing certain rules regarding this
spectrum and is in the process of taking comments on proposed
band plan alternatives, service rules and construction and
performance build-out obligations, configuration of the 700 MHz
public safety spectrum, revisions to the 700 MHz guard bands,
and competitive
23
bidding procedures. Furthermore, the FCC may pursue policies
designed to make available additional spectrum for the provision
of wireless services in each of our metropolitan areas, which
may increase the number of wireless competitors and enhance the
ability of our wireless competitors to offer additional plans
and services that we may be unable to successfully compete
against.
Some
of our competitors have technological or operating capabilities
that we may not be able to successfully compete with in our
existing markets or any new markets we may launch.
Some of the carriers we compete against provide wireless
services using cellular frequencies in the 800 MHz band.
These frequencies enjoy propagation advantages over the PCS
frequencies we use, which may cause us to have to spend more
capital than our competitors in certain areas to cover the same
area. In addition, the FCC plans to auction additional spectrum
in the 700 MHz band by no later than January 2008, which
will have similar characteristics to the 800 MHz cellular
frequencies. Many of the wireless carriers against whom we
compete have service area footprints substantially larger than
our footprint. In addition, certain of our competitors are able
to offer their customers roaming services over larger geographic
areas and at rates lower than the rates we can offer. Our
ability to replicate these roaming service offerings at rates
which will make us, or allow us to be, competitive is uncertain
at this time.
Certain carriers we compete against, or may compete against in
the future, are multi-faceted telecommunications service
providers which, in addition to providing wireless services, are
affiliated with companies that provide local wireline, long
distance, satellite television, Internet, media, content, cable
television
and/or other
services. These carriers are capable of bundling their wireless
services with other telecommunications services and other
services in a package of services that we may not be able to
duplicate at competitive prices.
We also compete with companies that use other communications
technologies, including paging and digital two-way paging,
enhanced specialized mobile radio and domestic and global mobile
satellite service. These technologies may have certain
advantages over the technology we use and may ultimately be more
attractive to our existing and potential customers. We may
compete in the future with companies that offer new technologies
and market other services that we do not offer or may not be
able to offer. Some of our competitors do or may offer these
other services together with their wireless communications
service, which may make their services more attractive to
customers. Energy companies and utility companies are also
expanding their services to offer communications services.
In addition, we compete with companies that take advantage of
the unlicensed spectrum that the FCC is increasingly allocating
for use. Certain technical standards are being prepared,
including WiMax, which may allow carriers to offer services
competitive with ours in the unlicensed spectrum. The users of
this unlicensed spectrum do not have the exclusive use of
licensed spectrum, but they also are not subject to the same
regulatory requirements that we are and, therefore, may have
certain advantages over us.
We may
face increased competition from other fixed rate unlimited plan
competitors in our existing and new markets.
We currently overlap with Leap Wireless and Sure West Wireless,
who are fixed-rate unlimited service plan wireless carriers
providing service in the Sacramento, Modesto and Merced,
California basic trading areas. In Auction 66, the FCC auctioned
90 MHz of spectrum in each geographic area of the United
States including the areas in which we currently hold or have
access to licenses. Leap Wireless also acquired licenses in or
has been announced as the high bidder in Auction 66 in some of
the same geographic areas in which we currently hold or have
access to licenses or in which we were granted licenses as a
result of Auction 66. The FCC intends to auction 60 MHz of
spectrum on the 700 MHz band no later than January 2008. In
addition to Leap Wireless, other licensees who have PCS
spectrum, acquired spectrum in Auction 66, or may acquire
spectrum in the 700 MHz band also may decide to offer
fixed-rate unlimited wireless service offerings. In addition,
Sprint Nextel recently announced that it is launching an
unlimited local calling plan under its Boost brand in certain of
the metropolitan areas in which we offer or plan to offer
service. Other national wireless carriers may also decide in the
future to offer fixed-rate unlimited wireless service offerings.
In addition, we may not be able to launch fixed-rate unlimited
service plans ahead of our competition in our new markets. As
24
a result, we may experience lower growth in such areas, may
experience higher churn, may change our service plans in
affected markets and may incur higher costs to acquire
customers, which may materially and adversely affect our
financial performance in the future.
A
patent infringement suit has been filed against us by Leap
Wireless which could have a material adverse effect on our
business or results of operations.
On June 14, 2006, Leap Wireless and Cricket Communications,
Inc., or collectively Leap, filed suit against us in the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas,
Marshall Division, Civil Action
No. 2-06CV-240-TJW
and amended on June 16, 2006, for infringement of
U.S. Patent No. 6,813,497 Method for
Providing Wireless Communication Services and Network and System
for Delivering of Same, or the 497 Patent,
issued to Leap. The complaint seeks both injunctive relief and
monetary damages for our alleged infringement of such patent.
If Leap is successful in its claim for injunctive relief, we
could be enjoined from operating our business in the manner we
operate currently, which could require us to redesign our
current networks, to expend additional capital to change certain
of our technologies and operating practices, or could prevent us
from offering some or all of our services using some or all of
our existing systems. In addition, if Leap is successful in its
claim for monetary damage, we could be forced to pay Leap
substantial damages for past infringement
and/or
ongoing royalties on a portion of our revenues, which could
materially adversely impact our financial performance. If Leap
prevails in its action, it could have a material adverse effect
on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Moreover, the actions may consume valuable management time, may
be very costly to defend and may distract management attention
away from our business.
The
Department of Justice has informally stated that it would
carefully scrutinize any statement by us in support of any
future efforts by us to acquire divestiture assets and as a
result we may have difficulty acquiring spectrum in this manner
in the future.
We acquired the PCS spectrum for the Dallas/Ft. Worth and
Detroit Expansion Markets from Cingular Wireless as a result of
a consent decree entered into between Cingular Wireless,
AT&T Wireless and the United States Department of Justice,
or the DOJ. When we acquired the spectrum, we had certain
expectations which were communicated to the DOJ about how we
would use the spectrum, including expectations about
constructing a combined 1XRTT/EV-DO network on the spectrum
capable of supporting data services. Although we have
constructed a combined 1XRTT/EV-DO network in those markets, we
expected to be able to support our services as demand increased
by upgrading the networks to a EV-DO Revision A with VoIP when
available. Based upon our discussions at the time with our
network vendor, we anticipated that these upgrades would be
available in 2006.
As a result of a delay in the availability of EV-DO Revision A
with VoIP, we contacted the DOJ in September 2006 to inform them
that we had determined that it was necessary for us to redeploy
the EV-DO network assets at certain cell sites in those markets
to 1XRTT in order to serve our existing customers. The DOJ
responded with an informal letter, which the Company received in
November 2006, expressing concern over our use of the spectrum
and requesting certain information regarding our construction of
our network facilities in these markets, our use of EV-DO, and
the services we are providing in the Dallas/Ft. Worth and
Detroit Expansion Markets. We have responded to the initial DOJ
request and subsequent
follow-up
requests. On March 23, 2007, the DOJ sent us a letter in
which they did not request any further information from us but
stated that the DOJ would carefully scrutinize any statement by
us in support of any future efforts by us to acquire divestiture
assets. This may make it more difficult for us to acquire any
spectrum in the future which may be available as a result of a
divestiture required by the DOJ. This also does not preclude the
DOJ from taking any further action against us with respect to
this matter. We cannot predict at this time whether the DOJ will
pursue this matter any further and, if they do, what actions
they may take or what the outcome may be.
25
If we
experience a higher rate of customer turnover than we have
forecasted, our costs could increase and our revenues could
decline, which would reduce our profits.
Our average monthly rate of customer turnover, or churn, for the
year ended December 31, 2006 was approximately 4.6%. A
higher rate of churn could reduce our revenues and increase our
marketing costs to attract the replacement customers required to
sustain our business plan, which could reduce our profit margin.
In addition, we may not be able to replace customers who leave
our service profitably or at all. Our rate of customer churn may
be affected by several factors, including the following:
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network coverage;
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reliability issues, such as dropped and blocked calls and
network availability;
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handset problems;
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lack of competitive regional and nationwide roaming and the
inability of our customers to cost-effectively roam onto other
wireless networks;
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affordability;
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supplier or vendor failures;
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customer care concerns;
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lack of early access to the newest handsets;
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wireless number portability requirements that allow customers to
keep their wireless phone number when switching between service
providers;
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our inability to offer bundled services or new services offered
by our competitors; and
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competitive offers by third parties.
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Unlike many of our competitors, we do not require our customers
to enter into long-term service contracts. As a result, our
customers have the ability to cancel their service at any time
without penalty, and we therefore expect our churn rate to be
higher than other wireless carriers. In addition, customers
could elect to switch to another carrier that has service
offerings based on newer network technology. We cannot assure
you that our strategies to address customer churn will be
successful. If we experience a high rate of wireless customer
churn, seek to prevent significant customer churn, or fail to
replace lost customers, our revenues could decline and our costs
could increase which could have a material adverse effect on our
business, financial condition and operating results.
We may
not have access to all the funding necessary to build and
operate our Auction 66 Markets.
The proceeds from the sale of the notes and our borrowings under
our senior secured credit facility did not include the funds
necessary to construct, launch and operate our Auction 66
Markets. In addition to the proceeds from MetroPCS
Communications initial public offering in April 2007, we
will need to generate significant excess free cash flow, which
is defined as Adjusted EBITDA less capital expenditures, from
our operations in our Core and Expansion Markets in order to
construct and operate the Auction 66 Markets in the near term or
at all. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Liquidity and Capital Resources. If we are unable to fund
the build-out of our Auction 66 Markets with the proceeds from
MetroPCS Communications initial public offering and excess
internally generated cash flows, we may be forced to seek
additional debt financing or delay our construction. The
covenants under our senior secured credit facility and the
indenture covering the new notes may prevent us from incurring
additional debt to fund the construction and operation of the
Auction 66 Markets, or may prevent us from securing such funds
on suitable terms or in accordance with our preferred
construction timetable. Accordingly, we may be required to
continue to pay interest on the secured debt and the senior
notes for our Auction 66 Market licenses without the ability to
generate any revenue from our Auction 66 Markets.
26
We may
not achieve the customer penetration levels in our Core and
Expansion Markets that we currently believe are possible with
our business model.
Our ability to achieve the customer penetration levels that we
currently believe are possible with our business model in our
Core and Expansion Markets is subject to a number of risks,
including:
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increased competition from existing competitors or new
competitors;
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higher than anticipated churn in our Core and Expansion Markets;
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our inability to increase our network capacity in areas we
currently cover and plan to cover in the Core and Expansion
Markets to meet growing customer demand;
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our inability to continue to offer products or services which
prospective customers want;
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our inability to increase the relevant coverage areas in our
Core and Expansion Markets in areas that are important to our
current and prospective customers;
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changes in the demographics of our Core and Expansion
Markets; and
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adverse changes in the regulatory environment that may limit our
ability to grow our customer base.
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If we are unable to achieve the aggregate levels of customer
penetration that we currently believe are possible with our
business model in our Core and Expansion Markets, our ability to
continue to grow our customer base and revenues at the rates we
currently expect may be limited. Any failure to achieve the
penetration levels we currently believe are possible may have a
material adverse impact on our future financial results and
operations. Furthermore, any inability to increase our overall
level of market penetration in our Core and Expansion Markets,
as well as any inability to achieve similar customer penetration
levels in other markets we launch in the future, could adversely
impact the market price of our stock.
We and
our suppliers may be subject to claims of infringement regarding
telecommunications technologies that are protected by patents
and other intellectual property rights.
Telecommunications technologies are protected by a wide array of
patents and other intellectual property rights. As a result,
third parties may assert infringement claims against us or our
suppliers from time to time based on our or their general
business operations, the equipment, software or services we or
they 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 an infringement claim. Our suppliers may
be subject to claims that if proven could preclude their
supplying us with the products and services we require to run
our business, require them to change the products and services
they provide to us in a way which could have a material adverse
effect, or cause them to increase their charges for their
products and services to us. 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 protection from our vendors for these claims.
Further, we have been, and may be, subject to further claims
that certain business processes we use may infringe the rights
of third parties, and we may have no indemnification rights from
any of our vendors or suppliers. Whether or not an infringement
claim is valid or successful, it could adversely affect our
business by diverting managements 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), require us to pay royalties for
prior periods, requiring us or our suppliers to redesign our or
their business operations, processes or systems to avoid claims
of infringement, or requiring us to purchase products and
services from different vendors or not sell certain products or
services. If a claim is found to be valid or if we or our
suppliers cannot successfully negotiate a required royalty or
license agreement, it could disrupt our business, prevent us
from offering certain products or services and cause us to incur
losses of customers or revenues, any or all of which could be
material and could adversely affect our business, financial
performance, operating results and the market price of our stock.
27
The
wireless industry is experiencing rapid technological change,
and we may lose customers if we fail to keep up with these
changes.
The wireless telecommunications industry is experiencing
significant technological change. Our continued success will
depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate or adapt to
technological changes and to offer, on a timely basis, services
that meet customer demands. We cannot assure you that we will
obtain access to new technology on a timely basis, on
satisfactory terms, or that we will have adequate spectrum to
offer new services or implement new technologies. This could
have a material adverse effect on our business, financial
condition and operating results. For us to keep pace with these
technological changes and remain competitive, we must continue
to make significant capital expenditures to our networks and to
acquire additional spectrum. Customer acceptance of the services
that we offer will continually be affected by technology-based
differences in our product and service offerings and those
offered by our competitors.
The wireless telecommunications industry has been, and we
believe will continue to be, characterized by several trends,
including the following:
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rapid development and introduction of new technologies,
products, and services, such as VoIP,
push-to-talk
services, or
push-to-talk,
location based services, such as global positioning satellite,
or GPS, mapping technology and high speed data services,
including streaming video, mobile gaming, video conferencing and
other applications;
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substantial regulatory change due to the continuing
implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which
amended the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or
Communications Act, and included changes designed to stimulate
competition for both local and long distance telecommunications
services and continued allocation of spectrum for, and
relaxation of existing rules to allow existing licensees to
offer, wireless services competitive with our services;
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increased competition within established metropolitan areas from
current and new entrants that may provide competing or
alternative services;
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an increase in mergers and strategic alliances that allow one
telecommunications provider greater access to capital or
resources or to offer increased services, access to wider
geographic territory, or attractive bundles of services; and
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the blurring of traditional dividing lines between, and the
bundling of, different services, such as local telephone, long
distance, wireless, video, data and Internet services. For
example, several carriers appear to be positioning themselves to
offer a quadruple play of services which includes
telephone service, Internet access, video service and wireless
service.
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We expect competition to intensify as a result of new
competitors, allocation of additional spectrum and relaxation of
existing policies, and the development of new technologies,
products and services. For instance, we currently do not offer
certain of the high speed data applications offered by our
competitors. In addition,
push-to-talk
has become popular as it allows subscribers to save time on
dialing or connecting to a network and some of the companies
that compete with us in our wireless markets offer
push-to-talk.
We do not offer our customers a
push-to-talk
service. As demand for this service continues to grow, and if we
do not offer these technologies, we may have difficulty
attracting and retaining subscribers, which will have an adverse
effect on our business. In addition, other service providers
have announced plans to develop a WiFi or WiMax enabled handset.
Such a handset would permit subscribers to communicate using
voice and data services with their handset using VoIP technology
in any area equipped with a wireless Internet connection, or hot
spot, potentially allowing more carriers to offer larger bundles
of minutes while retaining low prices and the ability to offer
attractive roaming rates. The number of hot spots in the
U.S. is growing rapidly, with some major cities and urban
areas being covered entirely. The availability of VoIP or
another alternative technology to our competitors
subscribers could increase their ability to offer competing rate
plans, which would have an adverse effect on our ability to
attract and retain customers.
28
We and
Royal Street may incur significant costs in our build-out and
launch of new markets and we may incur operating losses in those
markets for an undetermined period of time.
We and Royal Street have invested and expect to continue to
invest a significant amount of capital to build systems that
will adequately cover our Expansion Markets, and we and Royal
Street will incur operating losses in each of these markets for
an undetermined period of time. We also anticipate having to
spend and invest a significant amount of capital to build
systems and operate networks in the Auction 66 Markets.
Our
and Royal Streets network capacities in our existing and
new markets may be insufficient to meet customer demand or to
offer new services that our competitors may be able to
offer.
We and Royal Street have licenses for only 10 MHz of
spectrum in certain of our markets, which is significantly less
than most of the wireless carriers with whom we and Royal Street
compete. This limited spectrum may require Royal Street and us
to secure more cell sites to provide equivalent service
(including data services based on EV-DO technology), spend
greater capital compared to Royal Streets and our
competitors, to deploy more expensive network equipment, such as
six-sector antennas and EV-DO Revision A with VoIP, sooner than
our competitors, or make us more dependent on improvements in
handsets, such as EVRC-B or 4G capable handsets. Royal
Streets and our limited spectrum may also limit Royal
Streets and our ability to support our growth plans
without additional technology improvements
and/or
spectrum, and may make Royal Street and us more reliant on
technology advances than our competitors. There is no guarantee
we and Royal Street can secure adequate tower sites or
additional spectrum, or that expected technology improvements
will be available to support Royal Streets and our
business requirements or that the cost of such technology
improvements will allow Royal Street and us to remain
competitive with other carriers. Competitive carriers in these
markets also may take steps prior to Royal Street and us
launching service to try to attract Royal Streets and our
target customers. There also is no guarantee that the operations
in the Royal Street metropolitan areas, which are based on a
wholesale model, will be profitable or successful.
Most national wireless carriers have greater spectrum capacity
than we do that can be used to support third generation, or 3G,
and fourth generation, or 4G, services. These national wireless
carriers are currently investing substantial sums of capital to
deploy the necessary capital equipment to deliver 3G enhanced
services. We and Royal Street have access to less spectrum than
certain major competitive carriers in most of our and Royal
Streets markets. Our limited spectrum may make it
difficult for us and Royal Street to simultaneously support our
voice services and 3G/4G services. In addition, we and Royal
Street may have to invest additional capital
and/or
acquire additional spectrum to support the delivery of 3G/4G
services. There is no guarantee that we or Royal Street will be
able to provide 3G/4G services on existing licensed spectrum, or
will have access to either the spectrum or capital necessary to
provide competitive 3G/4G services in our metropolitan areas, or
that our vendors will provide the necessary equipment and
software in a timely manner. Moreover, Royal Streets and
our deployment of 3G/4G services requires technology
improvements which may not occur or may be too costly for Royal
Street and us to compete.
We are
dependent on certain network technology improvements which may
not occur, or may be materially delayed.
The adequacy of our spectrum to serve our customers in markets
where we have access to only 10 MHz of spectrum is
dependent upon certain recent and ongoing technology
improvements, such as EV-DO Revision A with VoIP, 4G vocoders,
and intelligent antennas. Further, there can be no assurance
that (1) the additional technology improvements will be
developed by our existing infrastructure provider, (2) such
improvements will be delivered when needed, (3) the prices
for such improvements will be cost-effective, or (4) the
technology improvements will deliver our projected network
efficiency improvements. If projected or anticipated technology
improvements are not achieved, or are not achieved in the
timeframes we need such improvements, we and Royal Street may
not have adequate spectrum in certain metropolitan areas, which
may limit our ability to grow our customer base, may inhibit our
ability to achieve additional economies of scale, may limit our
ability to offer new services offered by our competitors, may
require us to spend considerably more capital and incur more
operating expenses than our competitors with more spectrum, and
may force us to purchase additional spectrum at a potentially
material cost. If our network infrastructure vendor does not
29
supply such improvements or materially delays the delivery of
such improvements and other network equipment manufacturers are
able to develop such technology, we may be at a material
competitive disadvantage to our competitors and we may be
required to change network infrastructure vendors, the cost of
which could be material.
We may
be unable to acquire additional spectrum in the future at a
reasonable cost.
Because we offer unlimited calling services for a fixed fee, our
customers tend, on average, to use our services more than the
customers of other wireless carriers. We believe that the
average amount of use our customers generate may continue to
rise. We intend to meet this demand by utilizing
spectrum-efficient
state-of-the-art
technologies, such as six-sector cell site technology, EV-DO
Revision A with VoIP, 4G vocoders and intelligent antennas.
Nevertheless, in the future we may need to acquire additional
spectrum in order to maintain our grade of service and to meet
increasing customer demands. However, we cannot be sure that
additional spectrum will be made available by the FCC for
commercial uses on a timely basis or that we will be able to
acquire additional spectrum at a reasonable cost. For example,
there have been recent calls for reallocating spectrum
previously slated for commercial mobile uses to public safety
uses in order to enable first responders to establish an
interoperable nationwide broadband network. If the additional
spectrum is unavailable when needed or unavailable at a
reasonable cost, we could lose customers or revenues, which
could be material, and our ability to grow our customer base may
be materially adversely affected.
Substantially
all of our network infrastructure equipment is manufactured or
provided by a single infrastructure vendor and any failure by
that vendor could result in a material adverse effect on
us.
We have entered into a general purchase agreement with an
initial term of three years, effective as of June 6, 2005,
with Lucent Technologies, Inc., or Lucent, now known as Alcatel
Lucent, as our network infrastructure supplier of PCS CDMA
system products and services, including without limitation,
wireless base stations, switches, power, cable and transmission
equipment and services. The agreement does not cover the
spectrum we recently acquired in Auction 66 or any other AWS or
non-PCS spectrum we may acquire in the future, including any
spectrum we may acquire in the 700 MHz band. The agreement
provides for both exclusive and non-exclusive pricing for PCS
CDMA products and the agreement may be renewed at our option on
an annual basis for three additional years after its initial
three-year term concludes. Substantially all of our PCS network
infrastructure equipment is manufactured or provided by Alcatel
Lucent. A substantial portion of the equipment manufactured or
provided by Alcatel Lucent is proprietary, which means that
equipment and software from other manufacturers may not work
with Alcatel Lucents equipment and software, or may
require the expenditure of additional capital, which may be
material. If Alcatel Lucent ceases to develop, or substantially
delays development of, new products or support existing
equipment and software, we may be required to spend significant
amounts of money to replace such equipment and software, may not
be able to offer new products or service, and may not be able to
compete effectively in our markets. If we fail to continue
purchasing our PCS CDMA products exclusively from Alcatel
Lucent, we may have to pay certain liquidated damages based on
the difference in prices between exclusive and non-exclusive
prices, which may be material to us.
Our
network infrastructure vendor has merged, which could have a
material adverse effect on us.
Lucent announced on April 2, 2006 that it had entered into
a definitive merger agreement with Alcatel, and the shareholders
of each company approved the merger. Alcatel and Lucent
announced on November 30, 2006 the completion of the merger
and the companies began doing business on December 1, 2006
as Alcatel Lucent. There can be no assurance that
the combined entity will continue to produce and support the
products and services that we currently purchase from Alcatel
Lucent. In addition, the combined entity may delay or cease
developing or supplying products or services necessary to our
business. If Alcatel Lucent delays or ceases to produce products
or services necessary to our business and we are unable to
secure replacement products and services on reasonable terms and
conditions, our business could be materially adversely affected.
30
Our
network infrastructure vendor may change where it manufactures
equipment necessary for our network which could have a material
adverse effect on us.
As a result of its ongoing operations, Alcatel Lucent may move
the manufacturing of some of its products from its existing
facilities in one country to another manufacturing facility
located in another country and that process may accelerate with
the completion of its merger. To the extent that products are
manufactured outside the current facilities, we may experience
delays in receiving products from Alcatel Lucent and the quality
of the products we receive may suffer. These delays and quality
problems could cause us to experience problems in increasing
capacity of our existing systems, expanding our service areas,
and the construction of new markets. If these delays or quality
problems occur, they could have a material adverse effect on our
ability to meet our business plan and our business operations
and finances may be materially adversely affected.
No
equipment or handsets are currently available for the AWS
spectrum and such equipment or handsets may not be developed in
a timely manner.
The AWS spectrum requires modified or new equipment and handsets
which are not currently available. We do not manufacture or
develop our own equipment or handsets and are dependent on third
party manufacturers to design, develop and manufacture such
equipment. If equipment or handsets are not available when we
need them, we may not be able to develop the Auction 66 Markets.
We may, therefore, be forced to pay interest on our indebtedness
which we used to fund the purchase of the licenses in Auction
66, without realizing any revenues from our Auction 66 Markets.
If we
are unable to manage our planned growth effectively, our costs
could increase and our level of service could be adversely
affected.
We have experienced rapid growth and development in a relatively
short period of time and expect to continue to experience
substantial growth in the future. The management of rapid growth
will require, among other things, continued development of our
financial and management controls and management information
systems. Historically, we have failed to adequately implement
financial controls and management systems. We publicly
acknowledged deficiencies in our financial reporting as early as
August 2004, and controls and systems designed to address these
deficiencies are not yet fully implemented. The costs of
implementing these controls and systems will affect the
near-term financial results of the business and the lack of
these controls and systems may materially adversely affect our
ability to access the capital markets.
Our expected growth also will require stringent control of
costs, diligent management of our network infrastructure and our
growth, increased capital requirements, increased costs
associated with marketing activities, the ability to attract and
retain qualified management, technical and sales personnel and
the training and management of new personnel. Our growth will
challenge the capacity and abilities of existing employees and
future employees at all levels of our business. Failure to
successfully manage our expected growth and development could
have a material adverse effect on our business, increase our
costs and adversely affect our level of service. Additionally,
the costs of acquiring new customers could adversely affect our
near-term profitability.
We
have identified material weaknesses in our internal control over
financial reporting in the past. We will incur significant time
and expense enhancing, documenting, testing and certifying our
internal control over financial reporting and our business may
be adversely affected if we have other material weaknesses or
significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial
reporting in the future.
In connection with the preparation of our quarterly financial
statements for the three months ended June 30, 2004, we
determined that previously disclosed financial statements for
the three months ended March 31, 2004 understated service
revenues and net income. Additionally, in connection with their
evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures with
respect to the filing in May 2006 of our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 2004, our chief executive
officer and chief financial officer concluded that certain
material weaknesses in our internal controls over financial
reporting existed as of December 31, 2004. The material
weaknesses related to deficiencies in our information technology
and
31
accounting control environments, insufficient tone at the
top, deficiencies in our accounting for income taxes, and
a lack of automation in our revenue reporting process. In
connection with their review of our material weaknesses, our
management and audit committee concluded that our previously
reported consolidated financial statements for the years ended
December 31, 2002 and 2003 should be restated to correct
accounting errors resulting from these material weaknesses.
We have identified, developed and implemented a number of
measures to strengthen our internal control over financial
reporting and address the material weaknesses that we identified
in 2004. Although, there were no reported material weaknesses in
our internal controls over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2006, our management did identify significant
deficiencies relating to the accrual of equipment and services
and the accounting for distributed antenna system agreements.
There can be no assurance that we will not have significant
deficiencies in the future or that such conditions will not rise
to the level of a material weakness. The existence of one or
more material weaknesses or significant deficiencies could
result in errors in our financial statements or delays in the
filing of our periodic reports required by the SEC. Any failure
by us to timely file our periodic reports could result in a
breach of the indenture covering the senior notes and our senior
secured credit facility, potentially accelerating payment under
both agreements. We may not have the ability to pay, or borrow
any amounts necessary to pay, any accelerated payment due under
our senior secured credit facility or the indenture covering the
senior notes. We may also incur substantial costs and resources
to rectify any internal control deficiencies.
As a public company we will incur significant legal, accounting,
insurance and other expenses. The Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as
well as compliance with other SEC and exchange listing rules,
will increase our legal and financial compliance costs and make
some activities more time-consuming and costly. Furthermore, SEC
rules require that our chief executive officer and chief
financial officer periodically certify the existence and
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.
Our independent registered public accounting firm will be
required, beginning with our Annual Report on
Form 10-K
for our fiscal year ending on December 31, 2007, to attest
to our assessment of our internal control over financial
reporting.
During the course of our testing, we may identify deficiencies
that would have to be remediated to satisfy the SEC rules for
certification of our internal control over financial reporting.
As a consequence, we may have to disclose in periodic reports we
file with the SEC significant deficiencies or material
weaknesses in our system of internal controls. The existence of
a material weakness would preclude management from concluding
that our internal control over financial reporting is effective,
and would preclude our independent auditors from issuing an
unqualified opinion that our internal control over financial
reporting is effective. If we cannot produce reliable financial
reports, we may be in breach of the indenture covering the
senior notes and our senior secured credit facility, potentially
accelerating payment under both agreements. In addition,
disclosures of this type in our SEC reports could cause
investors to lose confidence in our financial reporting and may
negatively affect the trading price of the notes. Moreover,
effective internal controls are necessary to produce reliable
financial reports and to prevent fraud. If we have deficiencies
in our disclosure controls and procedures or internal control
over financial reporting it may negatively impact our business,
results of operations and reputation.
Because
MetroPCS Communications may have issued stock options in
violation of federal and state securities laws and some of
MetroPCS Communications option holders may have a right of
rescission, MetroPCS Communications intends to make a rescission
offer to certain holders of options to purchase shares of its
common stock.
Certain options to purchase MetroPCS Communications common stock
granted since January 2004 may not have been exempt from the
registration and qualification requirements of the Securities
Act or under the securities laws of a few states. Of such
options, approximately 936,546 remain outstanding with a
weighted average exercise price per option of $7.03. MetroPCS
Communications issued these options to purchase shares of
MetroPCS Communications common stock in reliance on
Rule 701 under the Securities Act of 1933. However,
MetroPCS Communications may not have been entitled to rely on
Rule 701 because (1) during certain periods MetroPCS
Communications exceeded certain thresholds in the rule and may
not have delivered to its option holders the financial and other
information required to be delivered by Rule 701; and
(2) during
32
certain periods in 2004 and 2006, MetroPCS Communications was
subject to, or should have been subject to, the periodic
reporting requirements under the Exchange Act. As a result,
certain holders of options to purchase shares of MetroPCS
Communications common stock may have a right to require MetroPCS
Communications to repurchase those securities if it is found to
be in violation of federal or state securities laws.
In order to address these issues, MetroPCS Communications is in
the process of preparing and filing a registration statement on
Form S-1 to make a rescission offer to the holders of options to
purchase up to approximately 936,546 shares of its common
stock. MetroPCS Communications will be making this offer to up
to approximately 338 of its current and former employees. If the
rescission offer is accepted by all persons to whom it is made,
MetroPCS Communications could be required to make aggregate
payments of up to approximately $1.4 million. This amount
reflects a purchase price equal to 20% of the aggregate exercise
price for each option that is the subject of the rescission
offer. It is possible that an option holder could argue that the
purchase price for the options does not represent an adequate
remedy for the issuance of the option in violation of applicable
securities laws, and a court may find that MetroPCS
Communications is required to pay a greater amount for the
options.
There can be no assurance that the SEC or state regulatory
bodies will not take the position that any rescission offers
should extend to all holders of options granted during the
relevant periods. The Securities Act also does not provide that
a rescission offer will extinguish a holders right to
rescind the grant of an option that was not registered or exempt
from the registration requirements under the Securities Act.
Consequently, should any recipients of MetroPCS
Communications rescission offer reject the offer,
expressly or impliedly, it may remain liable under the
Securities Act for the purchase price of the options that are
subject to the rescission offer.
MetroPCS
Communications failed to register its stock options under the
Exchange Act and, as a result, it may face potential claims
under federal and state securities laws.
As of December 31, 2005, options granted under the Second
Amended and Restated 1995 Stock Option Plan of MetroPCS, Inc.,
as amended, and the Amended and Restated MetroPCS
Communications, Inc. 2004 Equity Incentive Compensation Plan
were held by more than 500 holders. As a result, MetroPCS
Communications was required to file a registration statement
registering the stock options pursuant to Section 12(g) of
the Exchange Act no later than April 30, 2006. MetroPCS
Communications failed to file a registration statement within
the required time period.
If MetroPCS Communications had filed a registration statement
pursuant to Section 12(g) as required, MetroPCS
Communications would have become subject to the periodic
reporting requirements of Section 13 of the Exchange Act
upon the effectiveness of that registration statement. In April
2007, MetroPCS Communications filed quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
for the periods after March 31, 2006, and on March 30,
2007, it filed an annual report on
Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006. MetroPCS
Communications did not file any current reports on
Form 8-K
during the period beginning April 30, 2006 through
March 20, 2007.
MetroPCS Communications failure to file the current
reports on
Form 8-K
and to file the quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q
in a timely manner that it would have been required to file had
it registered its common stock pursuant to Section 12(g)
and to file a registration statement pursuant to Section 12(g)
could give rise to potential claims by present or former
stockholders based on the theory that such holders were harmed
by the absence of such public reports and its failure to file
registration statement pursuant to Section 12(g). In addition to
any claims by present or former stockholders, MetroPCS
Communications could be subject to administrative
and/or civil
actions by the SEC. If any such claim or action is asserted,
MetroPCS Communications could incur significant expenses and
divert managements attention in defending them.
MetroPCS
Communications failure to timely file a registration statement
under the Exchange Act may mean that we may not be able to
timely meet our periodic reporting requirements as a public
company.
The SEC rules require that, as a reporting company, we file
periodic reports containing our financial statements within a
specified period following the completion of quarterly and
annual periods. In 2006,
33
MetroPCS Communications failed to file a registration statement
under the Exchange Act within the time period required by
Section 12(g) of such act as a result of its failure to
have in place procedures to inform it that it was required to
file a registration statement. MetroPCS Communications
failure to timely file that registration statement may mean that
we may not have all of the controls and procedures in place to
ensure compliance with all of the rules and requirements
applicable to public companies. Any failure by us to file our
periodic reports with the SEC in a timely manner could harm our
reputation and reduce the trading price of our notes.
A
significant portion of our revenue is derived from geographic
areas susceptible to natural and other disasters.
Our markets in California, Texas and Florida contribute a
substantial amount of revenue, operating cash flows, and net
income to our operations. These same states, however, have a
history of natural disasters which may adversely affect our
operations in those states. The severity and frequency of
certain of these natural disasters, such as hurricanes, are
projected to increase over the next several years. In addition,
the major metropolitan areas in which we operate, or plan to
operate, could be the target of terrorist attacks. These events
may cause our networks to cease operating for a substantial
period of time while we reconstruct them and our competitors may
be less affected by such natural disasters or terrorist attacks.
If our networks cease operating for any substantial period of
time, we may lose revenue and customers, and may have difficulty
attracting new customers in the future, which could materially
adversely affect our operations. Although we have business
interruption insurance which we believe is adequate, we cannot
provide any assurance that the insurance will cover all losses
we may experience as a result of a natural disaster or terrorist
attack or that the insurance carrier will be solvent.
Our
success depends on our ability to attract and retain qualified
management and other personnel.
Our business is managed by a small number of key executive
officers. The loss of one or more of these persons could disrupt
our ability to react quickly to business developments and
changes in market conditions, which could harm our financial
results. None of our key executives has an employment contract,
so any of our key executive officers may leave at any time
subject to forfeiture of any unpaid performance awards and any
unvested stock options. In addition, upon any change in control,
all unvested stock options and performance awards will vest
which may make it difficult for anyone to acquire us. We believe
that our future success will also depend in large part on our
continued ability to attract and retain highly qualified
executive, technical and management personnel. We believe
competition for highly qualified management, technical and sales
personnel is intense, and there can be no assurance that we will
retain our key management, technical and sales employees or that
we will be successful in attracting, assimilating or retaining
other highly qualified management, technical and sales personnel
in the future sufficient to support our continued growth. We
have occasionally experienced difficulty in recruiting qualified
personnel and there can be no assurance that we will not
experience such difficulties in the future. Our inability to
attract or retain highly qualified executive, technical and
management personnel could materially and adversely affect our
business operations and financial performance.
We
rely on third-party suppliers to provide our customers and us
with equipment, software and services that are integral to our
business, and any significant disruption in our relationship
with these vendors could increase our cost and affect our
operating efficiencies.
We have entered into agreements with third-party suppliers to
provide equipment and software for our network and services
required for our operations, such as customer care and billing
and payment processing. Sophisticated information and billing
systems are vital to our ability to monitor and control costs,
bill customers, process customer orders, provide customer
service and achieve operating efficiencies. We currently rely on
internal systems and third-party vendors to provide all of our
information and processing systems. Some of our billing,
customer service and management information systems have been
developed by third-parties and may not perform as anticipated.
If these suppliers experience interruptions or other problems
delivering these products or services on a timely basis or at
all, it may cause us to have difficulty providing
34
services to or billing our customers, developing and deploying
new services
and/or
upgrading, maintaining, improving our networks, or generating
accurate or timely financial reports and information. If
alternative suppliers and vendors become necessary, we may not
be able to obtain satisfactory and timely replacement services
on economically attractive terms, or at all. Some of these
agreements may be terminated upon relatively short notice. The
loss, termination or expiration of these contracts or our
inability to renew them or negotiate contracts with other
providers at comparable rates could harm our business. Our
reliance on others to provide essential services on our behalf
also gives us less control over the efficiency, timeliness and
quality of these services. In addition, our plans for developing
and implementing our information and billing systems rely to
some extent on the design, development and delivery of products
and services by third-party vendors. Our right to use these
systems is dependent on license agreements with third-party
vendors. Since we rely on third-party vendors to provide some of
these services, any switch or disruption by our vendors could be
costly and affect operating efficiencies.
If we
lose the right to install our equipment on wireless cell sites,
or are unable to renew expiring leases for wireless cell sites
on favorable terms or at all, our business and operating results
could be adversely impacted.
Our base stations are installed on leased cell site facilities.
A significant portion of these cell sites are leased from a
small number of large cell site companies under master
agreements governing the general terms of our use of that
companys cell sites. If a master agreement with one of
these cell site companies were to terminate, the cell site
company were to experience severe financial difficulties or file
for bankruptcy or if one of these cell site companies were
unable to support our use of its cell sites, we would have to
find new sites or rebuild the affected portion of our network.
In addition, the concentration of our cell site leases with a
limited number of cell site companies could adversely affect our
operating results and financial condition if we are unable to
renew our expiring leases with these cell site companies either
on terms comparable to those we have today or at all.
In addition, the tower industry has continued to consolidate. If
any of the companies from which we lease towers or distributed
antenna systems, or DAS systems, were to consolidate with other
tower or DAS systems companies, they may have the ability to
raise prices which could materially affect our profitability. If
any of the cell site leasing companies or DAS system providers
with which we do business were to experience severe financial
difficulties, or file for bankruptcy protection, our ability to
use cell sites leased from that company could be adversely
affected. If a material number of cell sites were no longer
available for our use, our financial condition and operating
results could be adversely affected.
We may
be unable to obtain the roaming and other 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 and long distance
telephone 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 and who
carry long distance calls made by our subscribers. We currently
have roaming agreements with several other carriers which allow
our customers to roam on those carriers network. The
roaming agreements, however, do not cover all geographic areas
where our customers may seek service when they travel, generally
cover voice but not data services, and at least one such
agreement may be terminated on relatively short notice. In
addition, we believe the rates charged by certain of the
carriers to us in some instances are higher than the rates they
charge to certain other roaming partners. The FCC recently
initiated a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking seeking comments on
whether automatic roaming services are considered common carrier
services, whether carriers have an obligation to offer automatic
roaming services to other carriers, whether carriers have an
obligation to provide non-voice automatic roaming services, and
what rates a carrier may charge for roaming services. We are
unable to predict with any certainty the likely outcome of this
proceeding. The FCC previously has initiated roaming proceedings
to address similar issues but repeatedly has failed to resolve
these issues. Our current and future customers may desire that
we offer automatic roaming services when they travel outside the
areas we serve which we may be unable to obtain or provide cost
effectively. If we are unable to obtain
35
roaming agreements at reasonable rates, then we may be unable to
effectively compete and may lose customers and revenues.
A
recent ruling from the Copyright Office of the Library of
Congress may have an adverse effect on our distribution
strategy.
The Copyright Office of the Library of Congress, or the
Copyright Office, recently released final rules on its triennial
review of the exemptions to certain provisions of the Digital
Millennium Copyright Act, or DMCA. A section of the DMCA
prohibits anyone other than a copyright owner from circumventing
technological measures employed to protect a copyrighted work,
or access control. In addition, the DMCA provides that the
Copyright Office may exempt certain activities which otherwise
might be prohibited by that section of the DMCA for a period of
three years when users are (or in the next three years are
likely to be) adversely affected by the prohibition on their
ability to make noninfringing uses of a class of copyrighted
work. Many carriers, including us, routinely place software
locks on wireless handsets, which prevent a customer from using
a wireless handset sold by one carrier on another carriers
system. In its triennial review, the Copyright Office determined
that these software locks on wireless handsets are access
controls which adversely affect the ability of consumers to make
noninfringing use of the software on their wireless handsets. As
a result, the Copyright Office found that a person could
circumvent such software locks and other firmware that enable
wireless handsets to connect to a wireless telephone network
when such circumvention is accomplished for the sole purpose of
lawfully connecting the wireless handset to another wireless
telephone network. A wireless carrier has filed suit in the
United States District Court in Florida to reverse the Copyright
Offices decision. This exemption is effective from
November 27, 2006 through October 27, 2009 unless
extended by the Copyright Office.
This ruling, if upheld, could allow our customers to use their
wireless handsets on networks of other carriers. This ruling may
also allow our customers who are dissatisfied with our service
to utilize the services of our competitors without having to
purchase a new handset. The ability of our customers to leave
our service and use their wireless handsets on other
carriers networks may have an adverse material impact on
our business. In addition, since we provide a subsidy for
handsets to our distribution partners that is incurred in
advance, we may experience higher distribution costs resulting
from wireless handsets not being activated or maintained on our
network, which costs may be material.
We may
incur higher than anticipated intercarrier compensation costs,
which could increase our costs and reduce our profit
margin.
When our customers use our service to call customers of other
carriers, we generally are required to pay the carrier that
serves the called party and any intermediary or transit carrier
for the use of their network. Similarly, when a customer of
another carrier calls one of our customers, that carrier
generally is required to pay us for the use of our network.
While we generally have been successful in negotiating
agreements with other carriers that establish acceptable
compensation arrangements, some carriers have claimed a right to
unilaterally impose charges on us that we consider to be
unreasonably high. The FCC has determined that certain
unilateral termination charges imposed prior to April 2005 may
be appropriate. We have requested clarification of this order.
We cannot assure you that the FCC will rule in our favor. An
adverse ruling or FCC inaction could result in some carriers
successfully collecting such fees from us, which could increase
our costs and affect our financial performance. In the meantime,
certain carriers are threatening to pursue or have initiated
claims against us for termination payments and the likely
outcome of these claims is uncertain. A finding by the FCC that
we are liable for additional terminating compensation payments
could subject us to additional claims by other carriers. In
addition, certain transit carriers have taken the position that
they can charge market rates for transit services,
which may in some instances be significantly higher than our
current rates. We may be obligated to pay these higher rates
and/or
purchase services from others or engage in direct connection,
which may result in higher costs which could materially affect
our costs and financial results.
36
Concerns
about whether wireless telephones pose health and safety risks
may lead to the adoption of new regulations, to lawsuits and to
a decrease in demand for our services, which could increase our
costs and reduce our revenues.
Media reports and some studies have suggested that radio
frequency emissions from wireless handsets are linked to various
health concerns, including cancer, or interfere with various
electronic medical devices, including hearing aids and
pacemakers. Additional studies have been undertaken to determine
whether the suggestions from those reports and studies are
accurate. In addition, lawsuits have been filed against other
participants in the wireless industry alleging various adverse
health consequences as a result of wireless phone usage. While
many of these lawsuits have been dismissed on various grounds,
including a lack of scientific evidence linking wireless
handsets with such adverse health consequences, future lawsuits
could be filed based on new evidence or in different
jurisdictions. If any such suits do succeed, or if plaintiffs
are successful in negotiating settlements, it is likely
additional suits would be filed. Additionally, certain states in
which we offer or may offer service have passed or may pass
legislation seeking to require that all wireless telephones
include an earpiece that would enable the use of wireless
telephones without holding them against the users head.
While it is not possible to predict whether any additional
states in which we conduct business will pass similar
legislation, such legislation could increase the cost of our
wireless handsets and other operating expenses.
If consumers health concerns over radio frequency
emissions increase, consumers may be discouraged from using
wireless handsets, and regulators may impose restrictions or
increased requirements on the location and operation of cell
sites or the use or design of wireless telephones. Such new
restrictions or requirements could expose wireless providers to
further litigation, which, even if not successful, may be costly
to defend, or could increase our cost of handsets and equipment.
In addition, compliance with such new requirements, and the
associated costs, could adversely affect our business. The
actual or perceived risk of radio frequency emissions could also
adversely affect us through a reduction in customers or a
reduction in the availability of financing in the future.
In addition to health concerns, safety concerns have been raised
with respect to the use of wireless handsets while driving.
Certain states and municipalities in which we provide service or
plan to provide service have passed laws prohibiting the use of
wireless phones while driving or requiring the use of wireless
headsets. If additional state and local governments in areas
where we conduct business adopt regulations restricting the use
of wireless handsets while driving, we could have reduced demand
for our services.
A
system failure could cause delays or interruptions of service,
which could cause us to lose customers.
To be successful, we must provide our customers reliable
service. Some of the risks to our network and infrastructure
which may prevent us from providing reliable service include:
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physical damage to outside plant facilities;
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power surges or outages;
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equipment failure;
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vendor or supplier failures or delays;
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software defects;
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human error;
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disruptions beyond our control, including disruptions caused by
terrorist activities, theft, or natural disasters; and
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failures in operational support systems.
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Network disruptions may cause interruptions in service or
reduced capacity for customers, either of which could cause us
to lose customers and incur expenses. Further, our costs to
replace or repair the network may
37
be substantial, thus causing our costs to provide service to
increase. We may also experience higher churn as our competitors
systems may not experience similar problems.
Unauthorized
use of, or interference with, our network could disrupt service
and increase our costs.
We may incur costs associated with the unauthorized use of our
network including administrative and capital costs associated
with detecting, monitoring and reducing the incidence of fraud.
Fraudulent use of our network may impact interconnection and
long distance costs, capacity costs, administrative costs, fraud
prevention costs and payments to other carriers for fraudulent
roaming. Such increased costs could have a material adverse
impact on our financial results.
Security
breaches related to our physical facilities, computer networks,
and informational databases may cause harm to our business and
reputation and result in a loss of customers.
Our physical facilities and information systems may be
vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, theft,
attacks by hackers, or similar disruptive problems. If hackers
gain improper access to our databases, they may be able to
steal, publish, delete or modify confidential personal
information concerning our subscribers. In addition, misuse of
our customer information could result in more substantial harm
perpetrated by third-parties. This could damage our business and
reputation and result in a loss of customers.
Risks
Related to Legal and Regulatory Matters
We are
dependent on our FCC licenses, and our ability to provide
service to our customers and generate revenues could be harmed
by adverse regulatory action or changes to existing laws or
rules.
The FCC regulates most aspects of our business, including the
licensing, construction, modification, operation, use,
ownership, control, sale, roaming arrangements and
interconnection arrangements of wireless communications systems,
as do some state and local regulatory agencies. We can make no
assurances that the FCC or the state and local agencies having
jurisdiction over our business will not adopt regulations or
take other actions that would adversely affect our business by
imposing new costs or requiring changes in our current or
planned operations, or that the Communications Act from which
the FCC obtains its authority, will not be amended in a manner
materially adverse to us.
Taken together or individually, new or changed regulatory
requirements affecting any or all of the wireless, local, and
long distance industries may harm our business and restrict the
manner in which we operate our business. The enactment of new
adverse legislation, regulation or regulatory requirements may
slow our growth and have a material adverse effect upon our
business, results of operations and financial condition. We
cannot assure you that changes in current or future regulations
adopted by the FCC or state regulators, or other legislative,
administrative or judicial initiatives relating to the
communications industry, will not have a material adverse effect
on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
In addition, pending congressional legislative efforts to reform
the Communications Act may cause major industry and regulatory
changes that are difficult to predict and which may have
material adverse consequences to us.
Some of our principal assets are our FCC licenses which we use
to provide our services. The loss of any of these licenses could
have a material adverse effect on our business. Our FCC licenses
are subject to revocation if the FCC finds we are not in
compliance with its rules or the Communications Acts
requirements. We also could be subject to fines and forfeitures
for such non-compliance, which could adversely affect our
business. For example, absent a waiver, failure to comply with
the FCCs Enhanced-911, or
E-911,
requirements, privacy rules, lighting and painting regulations,
employment regulations, Customer Proprietary Network
Information, or CPNI, protection rules, hearing
aid-compatibility rules, number portability requirements, law
enforcement cooperation rate averaging or other existing or new
regulatory mandates could subject us to significant penalties or
a revocation of our FCC licenses, which could have a material
adverse effect on our business, results of operations and
financial condition. In addition, a failure to comply with these
requirements or the FCCs construction requirements could
result in revocation of the licenses
and/or fines
and forfeitures, any of which could have an adverse effect on
our business.
38
The
structure of the transaction with Royal Street creates several
risks because we do not control Royal Street and do not own or
control the licenses it holds.
We have agreements with Royal Street Communications that are
intended to allow us to actively participate in the development
of the Royal Street licenses and networks, and we have the right
to acquire on a wholesale basis 85% of the services provided by
the Royal Street systems and to resell these services on a
retail basis under our brand in accordance with applicable laws
and regulations. There are, nonetheless, risks inherent in the
fact that we do not own or control Royal Street or the Royal
Street licenses. C9 Wireless, LLC, or C9, an unaffiliated third
party, has the ability to put all or part of its ownership
interest in Royal Street Communications to us, but, due to
regulatory restrictions, we have no corresponding right to call
C9s ownership interest in Royal Street Communications. We
can give no assurance that C9 will exercise its put rights or,
if it does, when such exercise may occur. Further, these put
rights expire in June 2012. Subject to certain non-controlling
investor protections in Royal Street Communications
limited liability company agreement, C9 also has control over
the operations of Royal Street because it has the right to elect
three of the five members of Royal Street Communications
management committee, which has the full power to direct the
management of Royal Street. The FCCs rules also restrict
our ability to acquire or control Royal Street licenses during
the period that Royal Street must maintain its eligibility as a
very small business designated entity, or DE, which is currently
through December 2010. Thus, we cannot be certain that the Royal
Street licenses will be developed in a manner fully consistent
with our business plan or that C9 will act in ways that benefit
us.
Royal Street acquired certain of its PCS licenses as a DE
entitled to a 25% discount. As a result, Royal Street received a
bidding credit equal to approximately $94 million for its
PCS licenses. If Royal Street is found to have lost its status
as a DE it would be required to repay the FCC the amount of the
bidding credit on a five-year straight-line basis beginning on
the grant date of the license. If Royal Street were required to
pay this amount, it could have a material adverse effect on us
due to our non-controlling 85% limited liability company member
interest in Royal Street. In addition, if Royal Street is found
to have lost its status as a DE, it could lose some or all of
the licenses only available to DEs, which includes most of its
licenses in Florida. If Royal Street lost those licenses, it
could have a material adverse effect on us because we would lose
access to the Orlando metropolitan area and certain portions of
northern Florida.
Certain recent regulatory developments pertaining to the DE
program indicate that the FCC plans to be proactive in assuring
that DEs abide by the FCCs control requirements. The FCC
has the right to audit the compliance of DEs with FCC rules
governing their operations, and there have been recent
indications that it intends to exercise that authority. In
addition, the Royal Street business plan may become so closely
aligned with our business plan that there is a risk the FCC may
find Royal Street to have relinquished control over its licenses
in violation of FCC requirements. If the FCC were to determine
that Royal Street has failed to exercise the requisite control
over its licenses, the result could be the loss of closed
licenses, which are licenses that the FCC only offered to
qualified DEs, the loss of bidding credits, which effectively
lowered the purchase price for the open licenses, and fines and
forfeitures, which amounts may be material.
In making the changes to the DE rules, the FCC concluded that
certain relationships between a DE licensee and its investors
would in the future be deemed impermissible material
relationships based on a new FCC view that these relationships,
by their very nature, are generally inconsistent with an
applicants or licensees ability to achieve or
maintain designated entity eligibility and inconsistent with
Congress legislative intent. The FCC cited wholesale
service arrangements as an example of an impermissible material
relationship, but indicated that previously approved
arrangements of this nature would be allowed to continue. While
the FCC has grandfathered the existing arrangements between
Royal Street and us, there can be no assurance that any changes
that may be required of those arrangements in the future will
not cause the FCC to determine that the changes would trigger
the loss of DE eligibility for Royal Street and require the
reimbursement of the bidding credits received by Royal Street
and loss of any licenses covering geographic areas that are not
sufficiently constructed which were available initially only to
DEs. Further, the FCC has opened a Notice of Further Proposed
Rulemaking seeking to determine what additional changes, if any,
may be required or appropriate to its DE program. There can be
no assurance that these changes will not be applied to the
current arrangements between Royal Street and us. Any of these
results could be materially adverse to our business.
39
We may
not be able to continue to offer our services if the FCC does
not renew our licenses when they expire.
Our current PCS licenses began to expire in January 2007. We
have filed applications to renew our PCS licenses for additional
ten-year periods by filing renewal applications with the FCC
when the filing windows were opened. A number of the renewal
applications have been granted, including all of the licenses
that expired in January 2007. The remainder of the applications
are currently pending or the filing window has not yet opened.
Renewal applications are subject to FCC review and potentially
public comment to ensure that licensees meet their licensing
requirements and comply with other applicable FCC mandates. If
we fail to file for renewal of any particular license at the
appropriate time or fail to meet any regulatory requirements for
renewal, including construction and substantial service
requirements, we could be denied a license renewal and,
accordingly, our ability to continue to provide service in the
geographic area covered by such license would be adversely
affected. In addition, many of our licenses are subject to
interim or final construction requirements. While we or the
prior licensee have met the five-year construction benchmark,
there is no guarantee that the FCC will find our construction
sufficient to meet the applicable construction requirement, in
which case the FCC could terminate our license and our ability
to continue to provide service in that license area would be
adversely affected. For some of our PCS licenses, we also have a
10 year construction obligation and for our AWS licenses we
have a 15 year construction obligation. For certain PCS
licenses and the AWS licenses, we are required to provide
substantial service in order to renew our licenses. For all PCS
and AWS licenses the FCC requires that a licensee provide
substantial service in order to receive a renewal expectancy.
There is no guarantee that the FCC will find our or the prior
licensees system construction to meet any ten-year
build-out requirement or construction requirements for renewal.
Additionally, while incumbent licensees may enjoy a certain
renewal expectancy if they provide substantial service, there is
no guarantee that the FCC will conclude that we are providing
substantial service, that we are entitled to a renewal
expectancy, or will renew all or any of our licenses, or that
the FCC will not grant the renewal with conditions that could
materially and adversely affect our business. Failure to have
our licenses renewed would materially and adversely affect our
business.
The
value of our licenses may drop in the future as a result of
volatility in the marketplace and the sale of additional
spectrum by the FCC.
The market value of FCC licenses has been subject to significant
volatility in the past and Congress has mandated that the FCC
bring an additional substantial amount of spectrum to the market
by auction in the next several years. The likely impact of these
future auctions on license values is uncertain. For example,
Congress has mandated that the FCC auction 60 MHz of
spectrum in the 700 MHz band in early 2008 and another
40 MHz of AWS spectrum is in the process of being assigned
for wireless broadband services and is expected to be auctioned
in the future by the FCC. There can be no assurance of the
market value of our FCC licenses or that the market value of our
FCC licenses will not be volatile in the future. If the value of
our licenses were to decline significantly, we could be forced
to record non-cash impairment charges which could impact our
ability to borrow additional funds. A significant impairment
loss could have a material adverse effect on our operating
income and on the carrying value of our licenses on our balance
sheet.
The
FCC may license additional spectrum which may not be appropriate
for or available to us or which may allow new competitors to
enter our markets.
The FCC periodically makes additional spectrum available for
wireless use. For instance, the FCC recently allocated and
auctioned an additional 90 MHz of spectrum for AWS. The AWS
band plan made some licenses available in small (Metropolitan
Statistical Area (MSA) and Rural Service Area (RSA)) license
areas, although the predominant amount of spectrum remains
allocated on a regional basis in combinations of 10 MHz and
20 MHz spectrum blocks. This band plan tended to favor
large incumbent carriers with nationwide footprints and
presented challenges for us in acquiring additional spectrum.
The FCC also has allocated an additional 40 MHz of spectrum
devoted to AWS. It is in the process of considering the channel
assignment policies for 20 MHz of this spectrum and has
indicated that it will initiate a further proceeding with regard
to the remaining 20 MHz in the future. The FCC also is in
the process of taking comments on the
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appropriate geographic license areas, channel blocks, service
rules, and construction and performance build-out obligations
for an additional 60 MHz of spectrum in the 700 MHz
band. Specifically, on April 27, 2007, the FCC issued a
Report and Order and Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
seeking comment on possible changes to the 700 MHz band
plan, including possible changes in the service area and channel
block sizes for the 60 MHz of as yet unauctioned
700 MHz spectrum. The FCC is also seeking comments on
performance build-out requirements, revisions to the
700 MHz guard bands, competitive bidding procedures and the
configuration for the 700 MHz public safety spectrum. We,
along with other small, regional and rural carriers, have
previously filed comments advocating changes to the current
700 MHz band plan to create a greater number of licenses
with smaller spectrum blocks and geographic area sizes. Several
national wireless carriers have previously filed comments
supporting larger license areas and other interested parties
have made band plan and licensing proposals that differ from
ours by favoring larger license areas, larger license blocks and
the use of combinatorial bidding, which we do not favor, to
enable applicants to more easily assemble a nationwide foot
print. In addition, one commenter advocates reassigning
30 MHz of the 700 MHz band which now is allocated for
commercial broadband use, to public safety use to create a
nationwide, interoperable broadband network that public safety
users can access on a priority basis. The FCC is also seeking
comment on a proposal to allocate 10 MHz of the
700 MHz band, which now is allocated for commercial
broadband use, on a nationwide basis, in accordance with
specific public safety rules that would force the licensee to
fund the construction of a nationwide broadband infrastructure,
offer service only on a wholesale basis, and provide public
safety with priority access to the 10 MHz of spectrum
during emergencies. In September 2006, the FCC also sought
comment on proposals to increase the flexibility of guard band
licensees in the 700 MHz spectrum. Furthermore, in December
2006, the FCC sought comment on the possible implementation of a
nationwide broadband interoperable network in the 700 MHz
band allocated for public safety use, which also could be used
by commercial service providers on a secondary basis. We cannot
predict the likely outcome of those proceedings or whether they
will benefit or adversely affect us.
There are a series of risks associated with any new allocation
of broadband spectrum by the FCC. First, there is no assurance
that the spectrum made available by the FCC will be appropriate
for or complementary to our business plan and system
requirements. Second, depending upon the quantity, nature and
cost of the new spectrum, it is possible that we will not be
granted any of the new spectrum and, therefore, we may have
difficulty in providing new services. This could adversely
affect the valuation of the licenses we already hold. Third, we
may be unable to purchase additional spectrum or the prices paid
for such spectrum may negatively affect our ability to be
competitive in the market. Fourth, new spectrum may allow new
competitors to enter our markets and impact our ability to grow
our business and compete effectively in our market. Fifth, new
spectrum may be sold at prices lower than we paid at past
auctions or in private transactions, thus adversely affecting
the value of our existing assets. Sixth, the clearing
obligations for existing licensees on new spectrum may take
longer or cost more than anticipated. Seventh, our competitors
may be able to use this new spectrum to provide products and
services that we cannot provide using our existing spectrum.
Eighth, there can be no assurance that our competitors will not
use certain FCC programs, such as its designated entity program
or the proposed nationwide interoperable networks for public
safety use, to purchase or acquire spectrum at materially lower
prices than what we are required to pay. Any of these risks, if
they occur, may have a material adverse effect on our business.
We are
subject to numerous surcharges and fees from federal, state and
local governments, and the applicability and amount of these
fees is subject to great uncertainty and may prove to be
material to our financial results.
Telecommunications providers pay a variety of surcharges and
fees on their gross revenues from interstate and intrastate
services. Interstate surcharges include federal Universal
Service Fund fees and common carrier regulatory fees. In
addition, state regulators and local governments impose
surcharges, taxes and fees on our services and the applicability
of these surcharges and fees to our services is uncertain in
many cases and jurisdictions may argue as to whether we have
correctly assessed and remitted those monies. The division of
our services between interstate services and intrastate services
is a matter of interpretation and may in the future be contested
by the FCC or state authorities. In addition, periodic revisions
by state and federal regulators may increase the surcharges and
fees we currently pay. The Federal government and many states
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apply transaction-based taxes to sales of our products and
services and to our purchases of telecommunications services
from various carriers. It is possible that our transaction based
tax liabilities could change in the future. We may or may not be
able to recover some or all of those taxes from our customers
and the amount of taxes may deter demand for our services.
Spectrum
for which we have been granted licenses as a result of AWS
Auction 66 is subject to certain legal challenges, which may
ultimately result in the FCC revoking our
licenses.
We have paid the full purchase price of approximately
$1.4 billion to the FCC for the licenses we were granted as
a result of Auction 66, even though there are ongoing
uncertainties regarding some aspects of the final auction rules.
In April 2006, the FCC adopted an Order relating to its DE
program, or the DE Order. This Order was modified by the FCC in
an Order on Reconsideration which largely upheld the revised DE
rules but clarified that the FCCs revised unjust
enrichment rules would only apply to licenses initially granted
after April 25, 2006. Several interested parties filed an
appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
on June 7, 2006, of the DE Order. The appeal challenges the
DE Order on both substantive and procedural grounds. Among other
claims, the petitions contest the FCCs effort to apply the
revised rules to applications for the AWS Auction 66 and seeks
to overturn the results of Auction 66. We are unable at this
time to predict the likely outcome of the court action. We also
are unable to predict the likelihood that the litigation will
result in any changes to the DE Order or to the DE program, and,
if there are changes, whether or not any such changes will be
beneficial or detrimental to our interests. If the court
overturns the results of Auction 66, there may be a delay in us
receiving a refund of our payments. Further, the FCC may appeal
any decision overturning Auction 66 and not refund any amounts
paid until the appeal is final. In such instance, we may be
forced to pay interest on the payments made to the FCC without
receiving any interest on such payments from the FCC. If the
results of Auction 66 were overturned and we receive a refund,
the delay in the return of our money and the loss of any amounts
spent to develop the licenses in the interim may affect our
financial results and the loss of the licenses may affect our
business plan. Additionally, such refund would be without
interest. In the meantime we would have been obligated to pay
interest to our lenders on the amounts we advanced to the FCC
during the interim period and such interest amounts may be
material.
We may
be delayed in starting operations in the Auction 66 Markets
because the incumbent licensees may have unreasonable demands
for relocation or may refuse to relocate.
The spectrum allocated for AWS currently is utilized by a
variety of categories of existing licensees (Broadband Radio
Service, Fixed Service) as well as governmental users. The FCC
rules provide that a portion of the money raised in Auction 66
will be used to reimburse the relocation costs of certain
governmental users from the AWS band. However, not all
governmental users are obligated to relocate. To foster the
relocation of non-governmental incumbent licensees, the FCC also
adopted a transition and cost sharing plan under which incumbent
users can be reimbursed for relocating out of the AWS band with
the costs of relocation being shared by AWS licensees benefiting
from the relocation. The FCC has established rules requiring the
new AWS licensee and the non-governmental incumbent user to
negotiate voluntarily for up to three years before the
non-governmental incumbent licensee is subject to mandatory
relocation.
We are not able to determine with any certainty the costs we may
incur to relocate the non-governmental incumbent licenses in the
Auction 66 Markets or the time it will take to clear the AWS
spectrum in those areas.
If any federal government users delay or refuse to relocate out
of the AWS band in a metropolitan area where we have been
granted a license, we may be delayed or prevented from serving
certain geographic areas or customers within the metropolitan
area and such inability may have a material adverse effect on
our financial performance, and our future prospects. In
addition, if any of the incumbent users refuse to voluntarily
relocate, we may be delayed in using the AWS spectrum granted to
us and such delay may have a material adverse effect on our
ability to serve the metropolitan areas, our financial
performance, and our future prospects.
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The
FCC may adopt rules requiring new
point-to-multipoint
emergency alert capabilities that would require us to make
costly investments in new network equipment and consumer
handsets.
In 2004, the FCC initiated a proceeding to update and modernize
its systems for distributing emergency broadcast alerts.
Television stations, radio broadcasters and cable systems
currently are required to maintain emergency broadcast equipment
capable of retransmitting emergency messages received from a
federal agency. As part of its attempts to modernize the
emergency alert system, the FCC in its proceeding is addressing
the feasibility of requiring wireless providers, such as us, to
distribute emergency information through our wireless networks.
Unlike broadcast and cable networks, however, our infrastructure
and protocols like those of all other
similarly-situated wireless broadband PCS carriers
are optimized for the delivery of individual messages on a
point-to-point
basis, and not for delivery of messages on a
point-to-multipoint
basis, such as all subscribers within a defined geographic area.
While multiple proposals have been discussed in the FCC
proceeding, including limited proposals to use existing SMS
capabilities on a short-term basis, the FCC has not yet ruled
and therefore we are not able to assess the short- and long-term
costs of meeting any future FCC requirements to provide
emergency and alert service, should the FCC adopt such
requirements. Congress recently passed the Warning, Alert, and
Response Network Act, or the Act, which was signed into law. In
the Act, Congress provided for the establishment, within
60 days of enactment, of an advisory committee to provide
recommendations to the FCC on, and the FCC is required to
complete a proceeding to adopt, relevant technical standards,
protocols, procedures and other technical requirements based on
such recommendations necessary to enable alerting capability for
commercial mobile radio service, or CMRS, providers that
voluntarily elect to transmit emergency alerts. Under the Act, a
CMRS carrier can elect not to participate in providing such
alerting capability. If a CMRS carrier elects to participate,
the carrier may not charge separately for the alerting
capability and the CMRS carriers liability related to or
any harm resulting from the transmission of, or failure to
transmit, an emergency is limited. Within a relatively short
period of time after receiving the recommendations from the
advisory committee, the FCC is obligated to complete its
rulemaking implementing such rules. Adoption of such
requirements, however, could require us to purchase new or
additional equipment and may also require consumers to purchase
new handsets. Until the FCC rules, we do not know if it will
adopt such requirements, and if it does, what their impact will
be on our network and service.
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THE
EXCHANGE OFFER
This section of the prospectus describes the proposed
exchange offer. While we believe that the description covers the
material terms of the exchange offer, this summary may not
contain all of the information that is important to you. You
should carefully read this entire document for a complete
understanding of the exchange offer.
Purpose
and Effects of the Exchange Offer
The new notes to be issued in the exchange offer for the old
notes were issued in connection with an unregistered private
offering on November 3, 2006. In the private offering, we
initially issued $1.0 billion principal amount of old
notes. The initial purchasers subsequently offered and sold a
portion of the old notes only to qualified institutional
buyers as defined in and in compliance with Rule 144A
and outside the United States in compliance with
Regulation S of the Securities Act.
In connection with the sale of the old notes, we and the
guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement, which
requires us, among other things, to:
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file with the SEC a registration statement under the Securities
Act with respect to an offer to exchange the outstanding old
notes for new notes identical in all material respects to the
old notes within 365 days after the issuance of the old
notes or 30 days after MetroPCS Communications consummated
its initial public offering, which was consummated on
April 24, 2007, and
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use our commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
registration statement to become effective within 180 days
after filing under the Securities Act.
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If we failed to comply with the requirements of the registration
rights agreement we would be required to pay certain liquidated
damages.
We are making the exchange offer to satisfy our obligations
under the registration rights agreement. The term
holder with respect to the exchange offer means any
person in whose name old notes are registered on our or the
Depository Trust Companys, or DTC, books or any other
person who has obtained a properly completed certificate of
transfer from the registered holder, or any person whose old
notes are held of record by DTC who desires to deliver such old
notes by book-entry transfer at DTC.
We have not requested, and do not intend to request, an
interpretation by the staff of the SEC with respect to whether
the new notes issued in the exchange offer in exchange for the
old notes may be offered for sale, resold or otherwise
transferred by any holder without compliance with the
registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the
Securities Act. Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC
set forth in no-action letters issued to third parties, we
believe the new notes issued in exchange for old notes may be
offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by any
holder without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act provided that:
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you are not a broker-dealer who purchased old notes directly
from us for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act,
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you are not our affiliate, or
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you acquire the new notes in the ordinary course of your
business and that you have no arrangement or understanding with
any person to participate in the distribution of the new notes.
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Any holder who tenders in the exchange offer with the intention
to participate, or for the purpose of participating, in a
distribution of the new notes or who is our affiliate may not
rely upon such interpretations by the staff of the SEC and, in
the absence of an exemption, must comply with the registration
and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any secondary resale transaction. Any holder to
comply with such requirements may incur liabilities under the
Securities Act for which the holder is not indemnified by us.
Each broker-dealer (other than an affiliate of ours) that
receives new notes for its own account in the exchange offer
must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
of new notes. The letter of transmittal states that by so
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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. We have agreed that, for a period of 180 days after
the exchange date, we will make the prospectus available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See
Plan of Distribution.
We are not making the exchange offer to, nor will we accept
surrenders for exchange from, holders of old notes in any
jurisdiction in which this exchange offer or its acceptance
would not comply with the securities or blue sky laws.
By tendering in the exchange offer, you will represent to us
that, among other things:
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you are acquiring the new notes in the exchange offer in the
ordinary course of your business, whether or not you are a
holder,
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you are transferring good and marketable title to the old notes
free and clear of all liens, security interests, charges or
encumbrances or rights of parties other than you,
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you do not have an arrangement or understanding with any person
to participate in the distribution of the new notes,
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you are not a broker-dealer, or you are a broker-dealer but will
not receive new notes for your own account in exchange for old
notes, neither you nor any other person is engaged in or intends
to participate in the distribution of the new notes, and
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you are not our affiliate within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act or, if you are our
affiliate, you will comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the
extent applicable.
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Following the completion of the exchange offer, no notes will be
entitled to the liquidated damages payment applicable to the old
notes. Nor will holders of notes have any further registration
rights, and the old notes will continue to be subject to certain
restrictions on transfer. See Consequences of
Failure to Exchange. Accordingly, the liquidity of the
market for the old notes could be adversely affected. See
Risk Factors Risks Related to the Exchange
Offer There may be adverse consequences of a failure
to exchange.
Participation in the exchange offer is voluntary and you should
carefully consider whether to accept. We urge you to consult
your financial and tax advisors in making your own decisions on
whether to participate in the exchange offer.
Consequences
of Failure to Exchange
The old notes that are not exchanged for new notes in the
exchange offer will remain restricted securities within the
meaning of Rule 144(a)(3) of the Securities Act and subject
to restrictions on transfer. Accordingly, such old notes may not
be offered, sold, pledged or otherwise transferred except:
(1) to us, upon redemption thereof or otherwise,
(2) so long as the old notes are eligible for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A, to a person whom the seller
reasonably believes is a qualified institutional buyer within
the meaning of Rule 144A, purchasing for its own account or
for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom
notice is given that the resale, pledge or other transfer is
being made in reliance on Rule 144A,
(3) in an offshore transaction in accordance with
Regulation S under the Securities Act,
(4) pursuant to an exemption from registration in
accordance with Rule 144, if available, under the
Securities Act,
(5) in reliance on another exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act, or
(6) pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act.
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In all of the situations discussed above, the resale must be in
accordance with the Securities Act and any applicable securities
laws of any state of the United States and subject to certain
requirements of the registrar or co-registrar being met,
including receipt by the registrar or co-registrar of a
certification and, in the case of (3), (4) and
(5) above, an opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to
us and the registrar.
To the extent old notes are tendered and accepted in the
exchange offer, the principal amount of outstanding old notes
will decrease with a resulting decrease in the liquidity in the
market therefor. Accordingly, the liquidity of the market of the
old notes could be adversely affected.
Terms of
the Exchange Offer
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
prospectus and in the applicable letter of transmittal, we will
accept any and all old notes validly tendered and not withdrawn
prior to the Expiration Date. We will issue $1,000 principal
amount of new notes in exchange for each $1,000 principal amount
of old notes accepted in the exchange offer. The new notes will
accrue interest on the same terms as the old notes; however,
holders of the old notes accepted for exchange will not receive
accrued interest thereon at the time of exchange; rather, all
accrued interest on the old notes will become obligations under
the new notes. Holders may tender some or all of their old notes
pursuant to the exchange offer. However, old notes may be
tendered only in integral multiples of $1,000 principal amount.
The form and terms of the new notes are the same as the form and
terms of the old notes, except that
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the new notes will have been registered under the Securities Act
and will not bear legends restricting their transfer pursuant to
the Securities Act, and
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except as otherwise described above, holders of the new notes
will not be entitled to the rights of holders of old notes under
the registration rights agreement.
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The new notes will evidence the same debt as the old notes that
they replace, and will be issued under, and be entitled to the
benefits of, the indenture which governs all of the notes,
including the payment of principal and interest.
We are sending this prospectus and the letter of transmittal to
all registered holders of outstanding old notes. Only a
registered holder of old notes or such holders legal
representative or
attorney-in-fact
as reflected on the indenture trustees records may
participate in the exchange offer. There will be no fixed record
date for determining holders of the old notes entitled to
participate in the exchange offer.
Holders of the old notes do not have any appraisal or
dissenters rights under Delaware law or the indenture in
connection with the exchange offer. We intend to conduct the
exchange offer in accordance with the requirements of the
Exchange Act and the SECs rules and regulations thereunder.
We will be deemed to have accepted validly tendered old notes
when, as and if we have given oral or written notice thereof to
the exchange agent. The exchange agent will act as agent for the
tendering holders of the old notes for the purposes of receiving
the new notes. The new notes delivered in the exchange offer
will be issued on the earliest practicable date following our
acceptance for exchange of old notes.
If any tendered old notes are not accepted for exchange because
of an invalid tender, our withdrawal of the tender offer, the
occurrence of certain other events set forth herein or
otherwise, certificates for any such unaccepted old notes will
be returned, without expense, to the tendering holder as
promptly as practicable after the Expiration Date. Any
acceptance, waiver of default or rejection of a tender of notes
shall be at our sole discretion and shall be conclusive, final
and binding.
Holders who tender old notes in the exchange offer will not be
required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to the
instructions in the letter of transmittal, transfer taxes with
respect to the exchange of the old notes in the exchange offer.
We will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain taxes,
in connection with the exchange offer. See
Fees and Expenses.
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Expiration
Date; Extensions; Amendments
The term Expiration Date with respect to the
exchange offer means 5:00 p.m., New York City time,
on ,
2007 unless we, in our sole discretion, extend the exchange
offer, in which case the term Expiration Date shall
mean the latest date and time to which the exchange offer is
extended.
If we extend the exchange offer, we will notify the exchange
agent of any extension by oral or written notice and will make a
public announcement thereof, each prior to 9:00 a.m., New
York City time, on the next business day after the previously
scheduled Expiration Date.
We
reserve the right, in our sole discretion,
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to extend the exchange offer,
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if any of the conditions set forth below under
Conditions to the Exchange Offer have
not been satisfied, to terminate the exchange offer, or
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to amend the terms of the exchange offer in any manner.
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We may effect any such delay, extension or termination by giving
oral or written notice thereof to the exchange agent.
Except as specified in the second paragraph under this heading,
we will make a public announcement of any such delay in
acceptance, extension, termination or amendment as promptly as
practicable. If we amend the exchange offer in a manner
determined by us to constitute a material change, we will
promptly disclose such amendment in a prospectus supplement that
will be distributed to the registered holders of the old notes.
The exchange offer will then be extended for a period of five to
ten business days, as required by law, depending upon the
significance of the amendment and the manner of disclosure to
the registered holders.
We will make a timely release of a public announcement of any
delay, extension, termination or amendment to the exchange offer
to an appropriate news agency.
Procedures
for Tendering Old Notes
Tenders of Old Notes. The tender by a holder
of old notes pursuant to any of the procedures set forth below
will constitute the tendering holders acceptance of the
terms and conditions of the exchange offer. Our acceptance for
exchange of old notes tendered pursuant to any of the procedures
described below will constitute a binding agreement between such
tendering holder and us in accordance with the terms and subject
to the conditions of the exchange offer. Only holders are
authorized to tender their old notes. The procedures by which
old notes may be tendered by beneficial owners that are not
holders will depend upon the manner in which the old notes are
held.
The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, has authorized DTC
participants that are beneficial owners of old notes through DTC
to tender their old notes as if they were holders. To effect a
tender, DTC participants should either (1) complete and
sign the letter of transmittal or a facsimile thereof, have the
signature thereon guaranteed if required by Instruction 1
of the letter of transmittal, and mail or deliver the letter of
transmittal or such facsimile pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth below under
Book-Entry Delivery Procedures, or
(2) transmit their acceptance to DTC through the DTC
Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP, for which the
transaction will be eligible, and follow the procedures for
book-entry transfer, set forth below under
Book-Entry Delivery Procedures.
Tender of Old Notes Held in Physical
Form. To tender old notes held in physical form
in the exchange offer
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the exchange agent must receive at one of the addresses set
forth in this prospectus, a properly completed letter of
transmittal applicable to such notes (or a facsimile thereof)
duly executed by the tendering holder, and any other documents
the letter of transmittal requires, and tendered old notes must
be received by the exchange agent at such address (or delivery
effected through the deposit of old
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notes into the exchange agents account with DTC and making
book-entry delivery as set forth below), on or prior to the
Expiration Date, or
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the tendering holder must comply with the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth below on or prior to the Expiration Date.
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Letters of transmittal or old notes should be sent only to the
exchange agent and should not be sent to us.
Tender of Old Notes Held Through a
Custodian. To tender old notes that a custodian
bank, depository, broker, trust company or other nominee holds
of record, the beneficial owner thereof must instruct such
holder to tender the old notes on the beneficial owners
behalf. A letter of instructions from the record owner to the
beneficial owner may be included in the materials provided along
with this prospectus which the beneficial owner may use in this
process to instruct the registered holder of such owners
old notes to effect the tender.
Tender of Old Notes Held Through DTC. To
tender old notes that are held through DTC, DTC participants on
or before the Expiration Date should either
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properly complete and duly execute the letter of transmittal (or
a facsimile thereof), and any other documents required by the
letter of transmittal, and mail or deliver the letter of
transmittal or such facsimile pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth below, or
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transmit their acceptance through ATOP, for which the
transaction will be eligible, and DTC will then edit and verify
the acceptance and send an Agents Message to the exchange
agent for its acceptance.
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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 the Book-Entry Confirmation, which states that
DTC has received an express acknowledgment from each participant
in DTC tendering the old notes and that such participant has
received the letter of transmittal and agrees to be bound by the
terms of the letter of transmittal and we may enforce such
agreement against such participant.
Tendering old notes held through DTC must be delivered to the
exchange agent pursuant to the book-entry delivery procedures
set forth below or the tendering DTC participant must comply
with the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below.
The method of delivery of old notes and letters of transmittal,
any required signature guarantees and all other required
documents, including delivery through DTC and any acceptance or
Agents Message transmitted through ATOP, is at the
election and risk of the person tendering old notes and
delivering letters of transmittal. If you use ATOP to tender,
you must allow sufficient time for completion of the ATOP
procedures during normal business hours of DTC on the Expiration
Date. Except as otherwise provided in the letter of transmittal,
tender and delivery will be deemed made only when actually
received by the exchange agent. If delivery is by mail, it is
suggested that the holder use properly insured, registered mail
with return receipt requested, and that the mailing be made
sufficiently in advance of the Expiration Date to permit
delivery to the exchange agent prior to such date.
Except as provided below, unless the old notes being tendered
are deposited with the exchange agent on or prior to the
Expiration Date (accompanied by a properly completed and duly
executed letter of transmittal or a properly transmitted
Agents Message), we may, at our option, reject such
tender. Exchange of new notes for old notes will be made only
against deposit of the tendered old notes and delivery of all
other required documents.
Book-Entry Delivery Procedures. The exchange
agent will establish accounts with respect to the old notes at
DTC for purposes of the exchange offer within two business days
after the date of this prospectus, and any financial institution
that is a participant in DTC may make book-entry delivery of the
old notes by causing DTC to transfer such old notes into the
exchange agents account in accordance with DTCs
procedures for such transfer. However, although delivery of old
notes may be effected through book-entry at DTC, the letter of
transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with any required signature
guarantees or an Agents Message in connection with a
book-entry transfer, and any other required documents, must, in
any case, be transmitted to and received by the exchange agent
at one or more of its addresses set forth in this prospectus
48
on or prior to the Expiration Date, or compliance must be made
with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.
Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the
exchange agent. The confirmation of a book-entry transfer into
the exchange agents account at DTC as described above is
referred to as a Book-Entry Confirmation.
Signature Guarantees. Signatures on all
letters of transmittal must be guaranteed by a recognized member
of the Medallion Signature Guarantee Program or by any other
eligible guarantor institution, as that term is
defined in
Rule 17Ad-15
under the Exchange Act (each of the foregoing, an Eligible
Institution), unless the old notes tendered thereby are
tendered (1) by a registered holder of old notes (or by a
participant in DTC whose name appears on a DTC security position
listing as the owner of such old notes) who has not completed
either the box entitled Special Issuance
Instructions or Special Delivery Instructions
on the letter of transmittal, or (2) for the account of an
Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1 of the letter of
transmittal. If the old notes are registered in the name of a
person other than the signer of the letter of transmittal or if
old notes not accepted for exchange or not tendered are to be
returned to a person other than the registered holder, then the
signatures on the letter of transmittal accompanying the
tendered old notes must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution
as described above. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the letter
of transmittal.
Guaranteed Delivery. If you wish to tender
your old notes but they are not immediately available or if you
cannot deliver your old notes, the letter of transmittal or any
other required documents to the exchange agent or comply with
the applicable procedures under DTCs automated tender
offer program prior to the Expiration Date, you may tender if:
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the tender is made by or through an eligible institution;
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prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Expiration
Date, the exchange agent receives from that eligible institution
either a properly completed and duly executed notice of
guaranteed delivery by facsimile transmission, mail, courier or
overnight delivery or a properly transmitted agents
message relating to a notice of guaranteed delivery:
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stating your name and address, the registration number or
numbers of your old notes and the principal amount of old notes
tendered;
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stating that the tender is being made thereby; and
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guaranteeing that, within three business days after the
Expiration Date of the exchange offer, the letter of transmittal
or facsimile thereof or agents message in lieu thereof,
together with the old notes or a book-entry confirmation, 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 exchange agent receives such properly completed and executed
letter of transmittal or facsimile or Agents Message, as
well as all tendered old notes in proper form for transfer or a
book-entry confirmation, and all other documents required by the
letter of transmittal, within three business days after the
Expiration Date.
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Upon request to the exchange agent, the exchange agent will send
a notice of guaranteed delivery to you if you wish to tender
your old notes according to the guaranteed delivery procedures
described above.
Determination of Validity. All questions as to
the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt),
acceptance and withdrawal of tendered old notes will be
determined by us in our sole discretion, which determination
will be conclusive, final and binding. Alternative, conditional
or contingent tenders of notes will not be considered valid and
may not be accepted. We reserve the absolute right to reject any
and all old notes not properly tendered or any old notes our
acceptance of which, in the opinion of our counsel, would be
unlawful.
We also reserve the right to waive any defects, irregularities
or conditions of tender as to particular old notes. The
interpretation of the terms and conditions of our exchange offer
(including the instructions in the
49
letter of transmittal) by us will be conclusive, final and
binding on all parties. Unless waived, any defects or
irregularities in connection with tenders of old notes must be
cured within such time as we shall determine.
Although we intend to notify holders of defects or
irregularities with respect to tenders of old notes through the
exchange agent, neither we, the exchange agent nor any other
person is under any duty to give such notice, nor shall they
incur any liability for failure to give such notification.
Tenders of old notes will not be deemed to have been made until
such defects or irregularities have been cured or waived.
Any old notes received by the exchange agent that are not
validly tendered and as to which the defects or irregularities
have not been cured or waived, or if old notes are submitted in
a principal amount greater than the principal amount of old
notes being tendered by such tendering holder, such unaccepted
or non-exchanged old notes will either be
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returned by the exchange agent to the tendering holders, or
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in the case of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer into
the exchange agents account at the book-entry transfer
facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer procedures
described below, credited to an account maintained with such
book-entry transfer facility.
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Withdrawal
of Tenders
Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of old notes in the
exchange offer may be withdrawn, unless accepted for exchange as
provided in the exchange offer, at any time prior to the
Expiration Date.
To be effective, a written or facsimile transmission notice of
withdrawal must be received by the exchange agent at its address
set forth herein prior to the Expiration Date. Any such notice
of withdrawal must
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specify the name of the person having deposited the old notes to
be withdrawn,
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identify the old notes to be withdrawn, including the
certificate number or numbers of the particular certificates
evidencing the old notes (unless such old notes were tendered by
book-entry transfer), and aggregate principal amount of such old
notes, and
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be signed by the holder in the same manner as the original
signature on the letter of transmittal (including any required
signature guarantees) or be accompanied by documents of transfer
sufficient to have the trustee under the indenture register the
transfer of the old notes into the name of the person
withdrawing such old notes.
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If old notes have been delivered pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth in Procedures
for Tendering Old Notes Book-Entry Delivery
Procedures, any notice of withdrawal must specify the name
and number of the account at the appropriate book-entry transfer
facility to be credited with such withdrawn old notes and must
otherwise comply with such book-entry transfer facilitys
procedures.
If the old notes to be withdrawn have been delivered or
otherwise identified to the exchange agent, a signed notice of
withdrawal meeting the requirements discussed above is effective
immediately upon written or facsimile notice of withdrawal even
if physical release is not yet effected. A withdrawal of old
notes can only be accomplished in accordance with these
procedures.
All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility
(including time of receipt) of such notices will be determined
by us in our sole discretion, which determination shall be final
and binding on all parties. No withdrawal of old notes will be
deemed to have been properly made until all defects or
irregularities have been cured or expressly waived. Neither we,
the exchange agent nor any other person will be under any duty
to give notification of any defects or irregularities in any
notice of withdrawal or revocation, nor shall we or they incur
any liability for failure to give any such notification. Any old
notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have been validly
tendered for purposes of the exchange offer and no new notes
will be issued with respect thereto unless the old notes so
withdrawn are retendered prior to the Expiration Date. Properly
withdrawn old notes may be retendered by following one of the
procedures described above under Procedures
for Tendering Old Notes at any time prior to the
Expiration Date.
50
Any old notes which have been tendered but which are not
accepted for exchange due to the rejection of the tender due to
uncured defects or the prior termination of the exchange offer,
or which have been validly withdrawn, will be returned to the
holder thereof unless otherwise provided in the letter of
transmittal, as soon as practicable following the Expiration
Date or, if so requested in the notice of withdrawal, promptly
after receipt by us of notice of withdrawal without cost to such
holder.
Conditions
to the Exchange Offer
The exchange offer is not subject to any conditions, other than
that:
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the exchange offer, or the making of any exchange by a holder,
does not violate applicable law or any applicable interpretation
of the staff of the SEC,
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there shall have not been instituted, threatened or be pending
any action or proceeding before or by any court, governmental,
regulatory or administrative agency or instrumentality, or by
any other person, in connection with the exchange offer, that
would or might, in our sole judgment, prohibit, prevent,
restrict or delay consummation of the exchange offer,
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no order, statute, rule, regulation, executive order, stay,
decree, judgment or injunction shall have been proposed,
enacted, entered, issued, promulgated, enforced or deemed
applicable by any court or governmental, regulatory or
administrative agency or instrumentality that, in our sole
judgment, would or might prohibit, prevent, restrict or delay
consummation of the exchange offer, or that is, or is reasonably
likely to be, materially adverse to the business, operations,
properties, condition (financial or otherwise), assets,
liabilities or prospects, of us, our subsidiaries or our
affiliates,
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there shall not have occurred or be likely to occur any event
affecting the business, operations, properties, condition
(financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities or prospects of
us, our subsidiaries or our affiliates that, in our sole
judgment, would or might prohibit, prevent, restrict or delay
consummation of the exchange offer,
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the Trustee under the Indenture shall not have objected in any
respect to or taken any action that could, in our sole judgment,
adversely affect the consummation of the exchange offer, or
shall have taken any action that challenges the validity or
effectiveness of the procedures used by us in soliciting or the
making of the exchange offer, or
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there shall not have occurred (a) any general suspension
of, or limitation on prices for, trading in the United States
securities or financial markets, (b) a material impairment
in the trading market for debt securities, (c) a
declaration of a banking moratorium or any suspension of
payments in respect of banks in the United States, (d) any
limitation (whether or not mandatory) by any government or
governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency,
domestic or foreign, or other event that, in our sole judgment,
might affect the extension of credit by banks or other lending
institutions, (e) an outbreak or escalation of hostilities
or acts of terrorism involving the United States or declaration
of a national emergency or war by the United States or any other
calamity or crisis or any other change in political, financial
or economic conditions, if the effect of any such event, in our
sole judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the exchange offer, or (f) in the case of any of the
foregoing existing on the date hereof, a material acceleration
or worsening thereof.
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If we determine in our reasonable discretion that any of the
conditions to the exchange offer are not satisfied, we may
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refuse to accept any old notes and return all tendered old notes
to the tendering holders,
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terminate the exchange offer,
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extend the exchange offer and retain all old notes tendered
prior to the Expiration Date, subject, however, to the rights of
holders to withdraw such old notes, or
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waive such unsatisfied conditions with respect to the exchange
offer and accept all validly tendered old notes which have not
been withdrawn.
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51
If such waiver constitutes a material change to the exchange
offer, we will promptly disclose such waiver by means of a
prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the registered
holders, and will extend the exchange offer for a period of five
to 10 business days, depending upon the significance of the
waiver and the manner of disclosure to the registered holders,
if the exchange offer would otherwise expire during such five to
10 business day period.
Exchange
Agent
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., the trustee under the
indenture governing the notes, has been appointed as exchange
agent for the exchange offer. You should direct 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 and other documents to the
exchange agent addressed as follows:
Delivery by Regular, Registered or Certified Mail or
Overnight Delivery:
The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.
Corporate Trust
Reorganization Unit
101 Barclay Street 7 East
New York, New York 10286
Attn: Carolle Montreuil
To Confirm by Telephone or for Information:
(212) 815-5920
Facsimile Transmissions:
(212) 298-1915
Fees and
Expenses
We will bear the expenses of soliciting tenders. The principal
solicitation is being made by mail by the exchange agent;
however, additional solicitation may be made by telegraph,
telecopy, telephone or in person by our or our affiliates
officers and regular employees.
No dealer-manager has been retained in connection with the
exchange offer and no payments will be made to brokers, dealers
or others soliciting acceptance of the exchange offer. However,
reasonable and customary fees will be paid to the exchange agent
for its services and it will be reimbursed for its reasonable
out-of-pocket
expenses.
Our out of pocket expenses for the exchange offer will include
fees and expenses of the exchange agent and the trustee under
the indenture, accounting and legal fees and printing costs,
among others.
Transfer
Taxes
We will pay all transfer taxes, if any, applicable to the
exchange of the old notes pursuant to the exchange offer. If,
however, a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the
exchange of the old notes pursuant to 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 for Exchange Offer
The new notes will be recorded at the carrying value of the old
notes and no gain or loss for accounting purposes will be
recognized. The expenses of the exchange offer will be amortized
over the term of the new notes.
52
Resale of
the New Notes; Plan of Distribution
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 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 old notes were acquired as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities. In addition,
until ,
2007 (90 days after the date of this prospectus), all
dealers effecting transactions in the new notes, whether or not
participating in this distribution, may be required to deliver a
prospectus. This requirement is in addition to the obligation of
dealers to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and
with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.
We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by
broker-dealers. New notes received by broker-dealers for their
own account pursuant to the exchange offer may be sold from time
to time in one or more transactions:
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in the
over-the-counter
market,
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in negotiated transactions,
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through the writing of options on the new notes or a combination
of such methods of resale,
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at market prices prevailing at the time of resale,
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at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or
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at negotiated prices.
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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
or the purchasers of any such new notes.
Any broker-dealer that resells new notes received 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 commission on 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 a prospectus 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.
53
USE OF
PROCEEDS
The exchange offer is intended to satisfy our obligations under
the registration rights agreement. We will not receive any
proceeds from the issuance of the new notes in the exchange
offer. In consideration for issuing the new notes as
contemplated in this prospectus, we will receive, in exchange,
outstanding old notes in like principal amount. We will cancel
all old notes surrendered in exchange for new notes in the
exchange offer. As a result, the issuance of the new notes will
not result in any increase or decrease in our indebtedness or in
the early payment of interest.
The net proceeds from the offering of the sale of the old notes
in the initial private offering were approximately
$979 million. We used those proceeds, together with
borrowings under our senior secured credit facility, to repay
amounts owed under then existing secured and unsecured bridge
credit facilities of certain subsidiaries of MetroPCS
Communications and our first and second lien secured credit
arrangements, and to pay related premiums, fees and expenses as
well as for general corporate purposes.
54
CAPITALIZATION
We have provided in the table below our consolidated cash, cash
equivalents and short-term investments and capitalization as of
December 31, 2006 on an actual basis and on an as adjusted
basis giving effect to:
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the conversion of our outstanding shares of Series D and
Series E preferred stock, including accrued but unpaid
dividends as of December 31, 2006;
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the exercise of 1,013,739 options at a weighted average exercise
price of $3.65 by the selling stockholders identified in the
prospectus dated April 18, 2007 related to MetroPCS
Communications initial public offering in April
2007; and
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the recent consummation of MetroPCS Communications initial
public offering which consisted of the sale by MetroPCS
Communications of 37,500,000 shares of common stock at a
price per share of $23.00 (less underwriting discounts and
commissions).
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This table should be read in conjunction with Selected
Consolidated Financial Data, Managements
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations and our consolidated financial statements and
related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.
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As of December 31,
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2006
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Actual
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As Adjusted
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(In thousands)
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Cash, cash equivalents and
short-term investments
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$
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552,149
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$
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1,374,812
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Long-Term Debt:
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Senior secured credit facility
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1,596,000
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1,596,000
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Senior notes
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1,000,000
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1,000,000
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Total Long-Term Debt
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$
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2,596,000
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$
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2,596,000
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Series D Preferred Stock(1)
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$
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443,368
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$
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Series E Preferred Stock(2)
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$
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51,135
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$
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Stockholders Equity
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$
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413,245
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$
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1,730,410
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Total Capitalization
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$
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3,503,748
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$
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4,326,410
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(1) |
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Par value $0.0001 per share, 4,000,000 shares
designated and 3,500,993 shares issued and outstanding,
actual; no shares designated, issued or outstanding, pro forma
as adjusted. |
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(2) |
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Par value $0.0001 per share, 500,000 shares designated
and 500,000 shares issued and outstanding, actual; no
shares designated, issued or outstanding, pro forma as adjusted. |
55
SELECTED
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA
The following tables set forth selected consolidated financial
data for MetroPCS Communications. We derived our selected
consolidated financial data as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2004, 2005 and 2006 from the consolidated
financial statements of MetroPCS Communications, which were
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP. We derived our
selected consolidated financial data as of and for the years
ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 from our consolidated
financial statements. You should read the selected consolidated
financial data in conjunction with Capitalization,
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations and our consolidated
financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in
this prospectus.
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Year Ended December 31,
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2002
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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(In thousands, except share and per share data)
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Statement of Operations
Data:
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Revenues:
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Service revenues
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$
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102,293
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$
|
369,851
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$
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616,401
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$
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872,100
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$
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1,290,947
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Equipment revenues
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27,048
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|
|
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81,258
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|
|
|
131,849
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|
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166,328
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|
|
|
255,916
|
|
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Total revenues
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129,341
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451,109
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|
|
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748,250
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|
|
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1,038,428
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|
|
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1,546,863
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Operating expenses:
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|
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Cost of service (excluding
depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)
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63,567
|
|
|
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122,211
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|
|
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200,806
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|
|
|
283,212
|
|
|
|
445,281
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Cost of equipment
|
|
|
106,508
|
|
|
|
150,832
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|
|
|
222,766
|
|
|
|
300,871
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|
|
|
476,877
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Selling, general and
administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization
disclosed separately below)
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|
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55,161
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|
|
|
94,073
|
|
|
|
131,510
|
|
|
|
162,476
|
|
|
|
243,618
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Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
21,472
|
|
|
|
42,428
|
|
|
|
62,201
|
|
|
|
87,895
|
|
|
|
135,028
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(Gain) loss on disposal of assets
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|
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(279,659
|
)
|
|
|
392
|
|
|
|
3,209
|
|
|
|
(218,203
|
)
|
|
|
8,806
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total operating expenses
|
|
|
(32,951
|
)
|
|
|
409,936
|
|
|
|
620,492
|
|
|
|
616,251
|
|
|
|
1,309,610
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income from operations
|
|
|
162,292
|
|
|
|
41,173
|
|
|
|
127,758
|
|
|
|
422,177
|
|
|
|
237,253
|
|
Other expense (income):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
6,720
|
|
|
|
11,115
|
|
|
|
19,030
|
|
|
|
58,033
|
|
|
|
115,985
|
|
Accretion of put option in
majority-owned subsidiary
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
252
|
|
|
|
770
|
|
Interest and other income
|
|
|
(964
|
)
|
|
|
(996
|
)
|
|
|
(2,472
|
)
|
|
|
(8,658
|
)
|
|
|
(21,543
|
)
|
Loss (gain) on extinguishment of
debt
|
|
|
703
|
|
|
|
(603
|
)
|
|
|
(698
|
)
|
|
|
46,448
|
|
|
|
51,518
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total other expense
|
|
|
6,459
|
|
|
|
9,516
|
|
|
|
15,868
|
|
|
|
96,075
|
|
|
|
146,730
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before provision for income
taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
|
155,833
|
|
|
|
31,657
|
|
|
|
111,890
|
|
|
|
326,102
|
|
|
|
90,523
|
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
(25,528
|
)
|
|
|
(16,179
|
)
|
|
|
(47,000
|
)
|
|
|
(127,425
|
)
|
|
|
(36,717
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle
|
|
|
130,305
|
|
|
|
15,478
|
|
|
|
64,890
|
|
|
|
198,677
|
|
|
|
53,806
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(120
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income
|
|
|
130,305
|
|
|
|
15,358
|
|
|
|
64,890
|
|
|
|
198,677
|
|
|
|
53,806
|
|
Accrued dividends on Series D
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
(10,619
|
)
|
|
|
(18,493
|
)
|
|
|
(21,006
|
)
|
|
|
(21,006
|
)
|
|
|
(21,006
|
)
|
Accrued dividends on Series E
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(1,019
|
)
|
|
|
(3,000
|
)
|
Accretion on Series D
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
|
|
(473
|
)
|
Accretion on Series E
Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(114
|
)
|
|
|
(339
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net income (loss) applicable to
Common Stock
|
|
$
|
119,213
|
|
|
$
|
(3,608
|
)
|
|
$
|
43,411
|
|
|
$
|
176,065
|
|
|
$
|
28,988
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
56
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Year Ended December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per common
share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
0.71
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic net income (loss) per common
share
|
|
$
|
0.72
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.18
|
|
|
$
|
0.71
|
|
|
$
|
0.11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per
common share(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) before cumulative
effect of change in accounting principle
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
Cumulative effect of change in
accounting, net of tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(0.00
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted net income (loss) per
common share
|
|
$
|
0.52
|
|
|
$
|
(0.03
|
)
|
|
$
|
0.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.62
|
|
|
$
|
0.10
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
|
|
108,709,302
|
|
|
|
109,331,885
|
|
|
|
126,722,051
|
|
|
|
135,352,396
|
|
|
|
155,820,381
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted
|
|
|
150,218,097
|
|
|
|
109,331,885
|
|
|
|
150,633,686
|
|
|
|
153,610,589
|
|
|
|
159,696,608
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Other Financial Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net cash (used in) provided by
operating activities
|
|
$
|
(50,672
|
)
|
|
$
|
112,605
|
|
|
$
|
150,379
|
|
|
$
|
283,216
|
|
|
$
|
364,761
|
|
Net cash used in investment
activities
|
|
|
(88,311
|
)
|
|
|
(306,868
|
)
|
|
|
(190,881
|
)
|
|
|
(905,228
|
)
|
|
|
(1,939,665
|
)
|
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities
|
|
|
157,039
|
|
|
|
201,951
|
|
|
|
(5,433
|
)
|
|
|
712,244
|
|
|
|
1,623,693
|
|
Ratio of earnings to fixed
charges(2)
|
|
|
6.69x
|
|
|
|
1.54x
|
|
|
|
2.54x
|
|
|
|
3.81x
|
|
|
|
1.37x
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
As of December 31,
|
|
|
|
2002
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Balance Sheet Data:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents &
short-term investments
|
|
$
|
60,724
|
|
|
$
|
254,838
|
|
|
$
|
59,441
|
|
|
$
|
503,131
|
|
|
$
|
552,149
|
|
Property and equipment, net
|
|
|
352,799
|
|
|
|
485,032
|
|
|
|
636,368
|
|
|
|
831,490
|
|
|
|
1,256,162
|
|
Total assets
|
|
|
554,705
|
|
|
|
898,939
|
|
|
|
965,396
|
|
|
|
2,158,981
|
|
|
|
4,153,122
|
|
Long-term debt (including current
maturities)
|
|
|
51,649
|
|
|
|
195,755
|
|
|
|
184,999
|
|
|
|
905,554
|
|
|
|
2,596,000
|
|
Series D Cumulative
Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Stock
|
|
|
294,423
|
|
|
|
378,926
|
|
|
|
400,410
|
|
|
|
421,889
|
|
|
|
443,368
|
|
Series E Cumulative
Convertible Redeemable Participating Preferred Stock
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
47,796
|
|
|
|
51,135
|
|
Stockholders equity
|
|
|
69,397
|
|
|
|
71,333
|
|
|
|
125,434
|
|
|
|
367,906
|
|
|
|
413,245
|
|
|
|
|
(1) |
|
See Note 17 to the consolidated financial statements
included elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the
calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss) per common
share. The calculation of basic and diluted net income (loss)
per common share for the years ended December 31, 2002 and
2003 is not included in Note 17 to the consolidated
financial statements. |
(2) |
|
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earning to fixed
charges, earnings represents income before provision for income
taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest). Fixed
charges include interest expense (including capitalized
interest); amortized discounts related to indebtedness;
amortization of deferred debt issuance costs; the portion of
operating rental expense that management believes is
representative of the appropriate interest component of rent
expense; and net preferred stock dividends. The portion of total
rent expense that represents the interest factor is estimated to
be 33%. Net preferred stock dividends are our preferred expense
net of income tax benefit. |
57
MANAGEMENTS
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and the related notes included
elsewhere in this prospectus. This discussion contains
forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties.
Our actual results could differ materially from the results
contemplated in these forward-looking statements as a result of
factors including, but not limited to, those under Risk
Factors and Liquidity and Capital
Resources.
Company
Overview
Except as expressly stated, the financial condition and results
of operations discussed throughout Managements Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
are those of MetroPCS Communications, and its consolidated
subsidiaries.
We are a wireless telecommunications carrier that currently
offers wireless broadband personal communication services, or
PCS, primarily in the greater Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth,
Detroit, Miami, San Francisco, Sacramento and
Tampa/Sarasota/Orlando metropolitan areas. We launched service
in the greater Atlanta, Miami and Sacramento metropolitan areas
in the first quarter of 2002; in San Francisco in September
2002; in Tampa/Sarasota in October 2005; in
Dallas/Ft. Worth in March 2006; in Detroit in April 2006;
and Orlando in November 2006. In 2005, Royal Street
Communications, LLC (Royal Street), a company in
which we own 85% of the limited liability company member
interests and with which we have a wholesale arrangement
allowing us to sell MetroPCS-branded services to the public, was
granted licenses by the Federal Communications Commission, or
FCC, in Los Angeles and various metropolitan areas throughout
northern Florida. Royal Street is in the process of constructing
its network infrastructure in its licensed metropolitan areas.
We commenced commercial services in Orlando and certain portions
of northern Florida in November 2006 and we expect to begin
offering services in Los Angeles in late second or most likely
third quarter of 2007 through our arrangements with Royal Street.
As a result of the significant growth we have experienced since
we launched operations, our results of operations to date are
not necessarily indicative of the results that can be expected
in future periods. Moreover, we expect that our number of
customers will continue to increase, which will continue to
contribute to increases in our revenues and operating expenses.
In November 2006, we were granted advanced wireless services, or
AWS, licenses covering a total unique population of
approximately 117 million for an aggregate purchase price
of approximately $1.4 billion. Approximately
69 million of the total licensed population associated with
our Auction 66 licenses represents expansion opportunities in
geographic areas outside of our Core and Expansion Markets,
which we refer to as our Auction 66 Markets. These new expansion
opportunities in our Auction 66 Markets cover six of the 25
largest metropolitan areas in the United States. The balance of
our Auction 66 Markets, which cover a population of
approximately 48 million, supplements or expands the
geographic boundaries of our existing operations in
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco
and Sacramento. We currently plan to focus on building out
approximately 40 million of the total population in our
Auction 66 Markets with a primary focus on the New York,
Philadelphia, Boston and Las Vegas metropolitan areas. Of the
approximate 40 million total population, we are targeting
launch of operations with an initial covered population of
approximately 30 to 32 million by late 2008 or early 2009.
Total estimated capital expenditures to the launch of these
operations are expected to be between $18 and $20 per
covered population, which equates to a total capital investment
of approximately $550 million to $650 million. Total
estimated expenditures, including capital expenditures, to
become free cash flow positive, defined as Adjusted EBITDA less
capital expenditures, is expected to be approximately $29 to
$30 per covered population, which equates to
$875 million to $1.0 billion based on an estimated
initial covered population of approximately 30 to
32 million. We believe that our existing cash, cash
equivalents and short-term investments, proceeds from this
offering, and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be
sufficient to fully fund this planned expansion.
We sell products and services to customers through our
Company-owned retail stores as well as indirectly through
relationships with independent retailers. We offer service which
allows our customers to place
58
unlimited local calls from within our local service area and to
receive unlimited calls from any area while in our local service
area, through flat rate monthly plans starting at $30 per
month. For an additional $5 to $20 per month, our customers
may select a service plan that offers additional services, such
as unlimited nationwide long distance service, voicemail, caller
ID, call waiting, text messaging, mobile Internet browsing, push
e-mail and
picture and multimedia messaging. We offer flat rate monthly
plans at $30, $35, $40, $45 and $50 as fully described under
Business MetroPCS Service Plans. All of
these plans require payment in advance for one month of service.
If no payment is made in advance for the following month of
service, service is discontinued at the end of the month that
was paid for by the customer. For additional fees, we also
provide international long distance and text messaging,
ringtones, games and content applications, unlimited directory
assistance, ring back tones, nationwide roaming and other
value-added services. As of December 31, 2006, over 85% of
our customers have selected either our $40 or $45 rate plans.
Our flat rate plans differentiate our service from the more
complex plans and long-term contract requirements of traditional
wireless carriers. In addition the above products and services
are offered by us in the Royal Street markets. Our arrangements
with Royal Street are based on a wholesale model under which we
purchase network capacity from Royal Street to allow us to offer
our standard products and services in the Royal Street markets
to MetroPCS customers under the MetroPCS brand name.
Critical
Accounting Policies and Estimates
The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition
and results of operations are based upon our consolidated
financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance
with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America, or GAAP. You should read this discussion and
analysis in conjunction with our consolidated financial
statements and the related notes thereto contained elsewhere in
this prospectus. The preparation of these consolidated financial
statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of certain
assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of
the financial statements. We base our estimates on historical
experience and on various other assumptions that we believe to
be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form
the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of
assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other
sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under
different assumptions or conditions.
We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our
more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation
of our consolidated financial statements.
Revenue
Recognition
Our wireless services are provided on a
month-to-month
basis and are paid in advance. We recognize revenues from
wireless services as they are rendered. Amounts received in
advance are recorded as deferred revenue. Suspending service for
non-payment is known as hotlining. We do not recognize revenue
on hotlined customers.
Revenues and related costs from the sale of accessories are
recognized at the point of sale. The cost of handsets sold to
indirect retailers are included in deferred charges until they
are sold to and activated by customers. Amounts billed to
indirect retailers for handsets are recorded as accounts
receivable and deferred revenue upon shipment by us and are
recognized as equipment revenues when service is activated by
customers.
Our customers have the right to return handsets within a
specified time or after a certain amount of use, whichever
occurs first. We record an estimate for returns as
contra-revenue at the time of recognizing revenue. Our
assessment of estimated returns is based on historical return
rates. If our customers actual returns are not consistent
with our estimates of their returns, revenues may be different
than initially recorded.
Effective July 1, 2003, we adopted Emerging Issues Task
Force (EITF)
No. 00-21,
Accounting for Revenue Arrangements with Multiple
Deliverables, (EITF
No. 00-21),
which is being applied on a prospective basis. EITF
No. 00-21
also supersedes certain guidance set forth in
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Staff Accounting
Bulletin Number 101, Revenue Recognition in
Financial Statements,
59
(SAB 101). SAB 101 was amended in December
2003 by Staff Accounting Bulletin Number 104,
Revenue Recognition. The consensus addresses
the accounting for arrangements that involve the delivery or
performance of multiple products, services
and/or
rights to use assets. Revenue arrangements with multiple
deliverables are divided into separate units of accounting and
the consideration received is allocated among the separate units
of accounting based on their relative fair values.
We determined that the sale of wireless services through our
direct and indirect sales channels with an accompanying handset
constitutes revenue arrangements with multiple deliverables.
Upon adoption of EITF
No. 00-21,
we began dividing these arrangements into separate units of
accounting, and allocating the consideration between the handset
and the wireless service based on their relative fair values.
Consideration received for the handset is recognized as
equipment revenue when the handset is delivered and accepted by
the customer. Consideration received for the wireless service is
recognized as service revenues when earned.
Allowance
for Uncollectible Accounts Receivable
We maintain allowances for uncollectible accounts for estimated
losses resulting from the inability of our independent retailers
to pay for equipment purchases and for amounts estimated to be
uncollectible for intercarrier compensation. We estimate
allowances for uncollectible accounts from independent retailers
based on the length of time the receivables are past due, the
current business environment and our historical experience. If
the financial condition of a material portion of our independent
retailers were to deteriorate, resulting in an impairment of
their ability to make payments, additional allowances may be
required. In circumstances where we are aware of a specific
carriers inability to meet its financial obligations to
us, we record a specific allowances for intercarrier
compensation against amounts due, to reduce the net recognized
receivable to the amount we reasonably believe will be
collected. Total allowance for uncollectible accounts receivable
as of December 31, 2006 was approximately 7% of the total
amount of gross accounts receivable.
Inventories
We write down our inventory for estimated obsolescence or
unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost
of inventory and the estimated market value or replacement cost
based upon assumptions about future demand and market
conditions. Total inventory reserves for obsolescent and
unmarketable inventory were not significant as of
December 31, 2006. If actual market conditions are less
favorable than those projected, additional inventory write-downs
may be required.
Deferred
Income Tax Asset and Other Tax Reserves
We assess our deferred tax asset and record a valuation
allowance, when necessary, to reduce our deferred tax asset to
the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. We have
considered future taxable income, taxable temporary differences
and ongoing prudent and feasible tax planning strategies in
assessing the need for the valuation allowance. Should we
determine that we would not be able to realize all or part of
our net deferred tax asset in the future, an adjustment to the
deferred tax asset would be charged to earnings in the period we
made that determination.
We establish reserves when, despite our belief that our tax
returns are fully supportable, we believe that certain positions
may be challenged and ultimately modified. We adjust the
reserves in light of changing facts and circumstances. Our
effective tax rate includes the impact of income tax related
reserve positions and changes to income tax reserves that we
consider appropriate. A number of years may elapse before a
particular matter for which we have established a reserve is
finally resolved. Unfavorable settlement of any particular issue
may require the use of cash or a reduction in our net operating
loss carryforwards. Favorable resolution would be recognized as
a reduction to the effective rate in the year of resolution. Tax
reserves as of December 31, 2006 were $23.9 million of
which $4.4 million and $19.5 million are presented on
the consolidated balance sheet in accounts payable and accrued
expenses and other long-term liabilities, respectively.
60
Property
and Equipment
Depreciation on property and equipment is applied using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the
assets once the assets are placed in service, which are ten
years for network infrastructure assets including capitalized
interest, three to seven years for office equipment, which
includes computer equipment, three to seven years for furniture
and fixtures and five years for vehicles. Leasehold improvements
are amortized over the shorter of the remaining term of the
lease and any renewal periods reasonably assured or the
estimated useful life of the improvement. The estimated life of
property and equipment is based on historical experience with
similar assets, as well as taking into account anticipated
technological or other changes. If technological changes were to
occur more rapidly than anticipated or in a different form than
anticipated, the useful lives assigned to these assets may need
to be shortened, resulting in the recognition of increased
depreciation expense in future periods. Likewise, if the
anticipated technological or other changes occur more slowly
than anticipated, the life of the assets could be extended based
on the life assigned to new assets added to property and
equipment. This could result in a reduction of depreciation
expense in future periods.
We assess the impairment of long-lived assets whenever events or
changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be
recoverable. Factors we consider important that could trigger an
impairment review include significant underperformance relative
to historical or projected future operating results or
significant changes in the manner of use of the assets or in the
strategy for our overall business. The carrying amount of a
long-lived asset is not recoverable if it exceeds the sum of the
undiscounted cash flows expected to result from the use and
eventual disposition of the asset. When we determine that the
carrying value of a long-lived asset is not recoverable, we
measure any impairment based upon a projected discounted cash
flow method using a discount rate we determine to be
commensurate with the risk involved and would be recorded as a
reduction in the carrying value of the related asset and charged
to results of operations. If actual results are not consistent
with our assumptions and estimates, we may be exposed to an
additional impairment charge associated with long-lived assets.
The carrying value of property and equipment was approximately
$1.3 billion as of December 31, 2006.
FCC
Licenses and Microwave Relocation Costs
We operate broadband PCS networks under licenses granted by the
FCC for a particular geographic area on spectrum allocated by
the FCC for broadband PCS services. In addition, in November
2006, we acquired a number of AWS licenses which can be used to
provide services comparable to the PCS services provided by us,
and other advanced wireless services. The PCS licenses included
the obligation to relocate existing fixed microwave users of our
licensed spectrum if our spectrum interfered with their systems
and/or
reimburse other carriers (according to FCC rules) that relocated
prior users if the relocation benefits our system. Additionally,
we incurred costs related to microwave relocation in
constructing our PCS network. The PCS and AWS licenses and
microwave relocation costs are recorded at cost. Although FCC
licenses are issued with a stated term, ten years in the case of
PCS licenses and fifteen years in the case of AWS licenses, the
renewal of PCS and AWS licenses is generally a routine matter
without substantial cost and we have determined that no legal,
regulatory, contractual, competitive, economic, or other factors
currently exist that limit the useful life of our PCS and AWS
licenses. The carrying value of FCC licenses and microwave
relocation costs was approximately $2.1 billion as of
December 31, 2006.
Our primary indefinite-lived intangible assets are our FCC
licenses. Based on the requirements of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 142,
Goodwill and other Intangible Assets,
(SFAS No. 142) we test investments in
our FCC licenses for impairment annually or more frequently if
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying
value of our FCC licenses might be impaired. We perform our
annual FCC license impairment test as of each
September 30th. The impairment test consists of a
comparison of the estimated fair value with the carrying value.
We estimate the fair value of our FCC licenses using a
discounted cash flow model. Cash flow projections and
assumptions, although subject to a degree of uncertainty, are
based on a combination of our historical performance and trends,
our business plans and managements estimate of future
performance, giving consideration to existing and anticipated
competitive economic conditions. Other assumptions include our
weighted average cost of capital and long-term rate of
61
growth for our business. We believe that our estimates are
consistent with assumptions that marketplace participants would
use to estimate fair value. We corroborate our determination of
fair value of the FCC licenses, using the discounted cash flow
approach described above, with other market-based valuation
metrics. Furthermore, we segregate our FCC licenses by regional
clusters for the purpose of performing the impairment test
because each geographical region is unique. An impairment loss
would be recorded as a reduction in the carrying value of the
related indefinite-lived intangible asset and charged to results
of operations. Historically, we have not experienced significant
negative variations between our assumptions and estimates when
compared to actual results. However, if actual results are not
consistent with our assumptions and estimates, we may be
required to record to an impairment charge associated with
indefinite-lived intangible assets. Although we do not expect
our estimates or assumptions to change significantly in the
future, the use of different estimates or assumptions within our
discounted cash flow model when determining the fair value of
our FCC licenses or using a methodology other than a discounted
cash flow model could result in different values for our FCC
licenses and may affect any related impairment charge. The most
significant assumptions within our discounted cash flow model
are the discount rate, our projected growth rate and
managements future business plans. A change in
managements future business plans or disposition of one or
more FCC licenses could result in the requirement to test
certain other FCC licenses. If any legal, regulatory,
contractual, competitive, economic or other factors were to
limit the useful lives of our indefinite-lived FCC licenses, we
would be required to test these intangible assets for impairment
in accordance with SFAS No. 142 and amortize the
intangible asset over its remaining useful life.
For the license impairment test performed as of
December 31, 2006, the fair value of the FCC licenses was
in excess of its carrying value. A 10% change in the estimated
fair value of the FCC licenses would not have impacted the
results of our annual license impairment test.
Share-Based
Payments
We account for share-based awards exchanged for employee
services in accordance with SFAS No. 123(R),
Share-Based Payment,
(SFAS No. 123(R)). Under
SFAS No. 123(R), share-based compensation cost is
measured at the grant date, based on the estimated fair value of
the award, and is recognized as expense over the employees
requisite service period. We adopted SFAS No. 123(R)
on January 1, 2006. Prior to 2006, we recognized
stock-based compensation expense for employee share-based awards
based on their intrinsic value on the date of grant pursuant to
Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion
No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees, (APB No. 25) and followed
the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 148,
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
Transition and Disclosure,
(SFAS No. 148), which amends the
disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123,
Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,
(SFAS No. 123).
We adopted SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified
prospective transition method. Under the modified prospective
transition method, prior periods are not revised for comparative
purposes. The valuation provisions of
SFAS No. 123(R)apply to new awards and to awards that
are outstanding on the effective date and subsequently modified
or cancelled. Compensation expense, net of estimated
forfeitures, for awards outstanding at the effective date is
recognized over the remaining service period using the
compensation cost calculated under SFAS No. 123 in
prior periods.
We have granted nonqualified stock options. Most of our stock
option awards include a service condition that relates only to
vesting. The stock option awards generally vest in one to four
years from the grant date. Compensation expense is amortized on
a straight-line basis over the requisite service period for the
entire award, which is generally the maximum vesting period of
the award.
The determination of the fair value of stock options using an
option-pricing model is affected by our common stock valuation
as well as assumptions regarding a number of complex and
subjective variables. The methods used to determine these
variables are generally similar to the methods used prior to
2006 for purposes of our pro forma information under
SFAS No. 148. Factors that our Board of Directors
considers in determining the fair market value of our common
stock, include the recommendation of our finance and planning
committee and of management based on certain data, including
discounted cash flow analysis, comparable company analysis and
comparable transaction analysis, as well as contemporaneous
valuation
62
reports. The volatility assumption is based on a combination of
the historical volatility of our common stock and the
volatilities of similar companies over a period of time equal to
the expected term of the stock options. The volatilities of
similar companies are used in conjunction with our historical
volatility because of the lack of sufficient relevant history
equal to the expected term. The expected term of employee stock
options represents the weighted-average period the stock options
are expected to remain outstanding. The expected term assumption
is estimated based primarily on the stock options vesting
terms and remaining contractual life and employees
expected exercise and post-vesting employment termination
behavior. The risk-free interest rate assumption is based upon
observed interest rates on the grant date appropriate for the
term of the employee stock options. The dividend yield
assumption is based on the expectation of no future dividend
payouts by us.
As share-based compensation expense under
SFAS No. 123(R) is based on awards ultimately expected
to vest, it is reduced for estimated forfeitures.
SFAS No. 123(R) requires forfeitures to be estimated
at the time of grant and revised, if necessary, in subsequent
periods if actual forfeitures differ from those estimates. We
recorded stock-based compensation expense of approximately
$14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006.
The value of the options is determined by using a Black-Scholes
pricing model that includes the following variables:
1) exercise price of the instrument, 2) fair market
value of the underlying stock on date of grant, 3) expected
life, 4) estimated volatility and 5) the risk-free
interest rate. We utilized the following weighted-average
assumptions in estimating the fair value of the options grants
for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
December 31,
|
|
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Expected dividends
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
|
|
0.00
|
%
|
Expected volatility
|
|
|
35.04
|
%
|
|
|
50.00
|
%
|
Risk-free interest rate
|
|
|
4.64
|
%
|
|
|
4.24
|
%
|
Expected lives in years
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
|
|
5.00
|
|
Weighted-average fair value of
options:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted at below fair value
|
|
$
|
10.16
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Granted at fair value
|
|
$
|
3.75
|
|
|
$
|
3.44
|
|
Weighted-average exercise price of
options:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Granted at below fair value
|
|
$
|
1.49
|
|
|
$
|
|
|
Granted at fair value
|
|
$
|
9.95
|
|
|
$
|
7.13
|
|
The Black-Scholes model requires the use of subjective
assumptions including expectations of future dividends and stock
price volatility. Such assumptions are only used for making the
required fair value estimate and should not be considered as
indicators of future dividend policy or stock price
appreciation. Because changes in the subjective assumptions can
materially affect the fair value estimate, and because employee
stock options have characteristics significantly different from
those of traded options, the use of the Black-Scholes option
pricing model may not provide a reliable estimate of the fair
value of employee stock options.
63
During the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006, the
following awards were granted under our Option Plans:
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
Weighted
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
|
Average
|
|
Grants Made During
|
|
Options
|
|
|
Exercise
|
|
|
Market Value
|
|
|
Intrinsic Value
|
|
the Quarter Ended
|
|
Granted
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
per Share
|
|
|
per Share
|
|
|
March 31, 2005
|
|
|
60,000
|
|
|
$
|
6.31
|
|
|
$
|
6.31
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
June 30, 2005
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
September 30, 2005
|
|
|
4,922,385
|
|
|
$
|
7.14
|
|
|
$
|
7.14
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
December 31, 2005
|
|
|
856,149
|
|
|
$
|
7.15
|
|
|
$
|
7.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
March 31, 2006
|
|
|
2,869,989
|
|
|
$
|
7.15
|
|
|
$
|
7.15
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
June 30, 2006
|
|
|
534,525
|
|
|
$
|
7.54
|
|
|
$
|
7.54
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
September 30, 2006
|
|
|
418,425
|
|
|
$
|
8.67
|
|
|
$
|
8.67
|
|
|
$
|
0.00
|
|
December 31, 2006
|
|
|
7,546,854
|
|
|
$
|
10.81
|
|
|
$
|
11.33
|
|
|
$
|
0.53
|
|
Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite service
period for the entire award, which is generally the maximum
vesting period of the award.
Based on the initial public offering price of $23.00, the
intrinsic value of the options outstanding at December 31,
2006, was $378.1 million, of which $173.5 million
related to vested options and $204.6 million related to
unvested options.
Valuation
of Common Stock
Significant Factors, Assumptions, and Methodologies Used in
Determining the Fair Value of our Common Stock.
The determination of the fair value of our common stock requires
us to make judgments that are complex and inherently subjective.
Factors that our board of directors considers in determining the
fair market value of our common stock include the recommendation
of our finance and planning committee and of management based on
certain data, including discounted cash flow analysis,
comparable company analysis and comparable transaction analysis,
as well as contemporaneous valuation reports. When determining
the fair value of our common stock, we followed the guidance
prescribed by the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants in its practice aid, Valuation of
Privately-Held-Company Equity Securities Issued as
Compensation, (the Practice Aid) prior to
our initial public offering in April 2007.
According to the Practice Aid, quoted market prices in active
markets are the best evidence of fair value of a security and
should be used as the basis for the measurement of fair value,
if available. Since quoted market prices for our securities are
not available, the estimate of fair value should be based on the
best information available, including prices for similar
securities and the results of using other valuation techniques.
Privately held enterprises or shareholders sometimes engage in
arms-length cash transactions with unrelated parties for
the issuance or sale of their equity securities, and the cash
exchanged in such a transaction is, under certain conditions, an
observable price that serves the same purpose as a quoted market
price. Those conditions are (a) the equity securities in
the transaction are the same securities as those with the fair
value determination is being made, and (b) the transaction
is a current transaction between willing parties. To the extent
that arms-length cash transactions were available, we
utilized those transactions to determine the fair value of our
common stock. When arms-length transactions as described
above were not available, then we utilized other valuation
techniques based on a number of methodologies and analyses,
including:
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|
|
discounted cash flow analysis;
|
|
|
|
comparable company market multiples; and
|
|
|
|
comparable merger and acquisition transaction multiples.
|
64
Sales of our common stock in arms-length cash transactions
during the years ended December 31, 2005 and 2006 were as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Number of
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
Gross
|
|
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
per Share
|
|
|
Proceeds
|
|
|
October 2005
|
|
|
48,847,533
|
|
|
$
|
7.15
|
|
|
$
|
349,422,686
|
|
September 2006
|
|
|
1,375,488
|
|
|
$
|
8.67
|
|
|
|
11,920,896
|
|
October 2006
|
|
|
1,654,050
|
|
|
$
|
8.67
|
|
|
|
14,335,100
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
|
51,877,071
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
$
|
375,678,682
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Customer
Recognition and Disconnect Policies
When a new customer subscribes to our service, the first month
of service and activation fee is included with the handset
purchase. Under GAAP, we are required to allocate the purchase
price to the handset and to the wireless service revenue.
Generally, the amount allocated to the handset will be less than
our cost, and this difference is included in Cost Per Gross
Addition, or CPGA. We recognize new customers as gross customer
additions upon activation of service. Prior to January 23,
2006, we offered our customers the Metro Promise, which allowed
a customer to return a newly purchased handset for a full refund
prior to the earlier of 7 days or 60 minutes of use.
Beginning on January 23, 2006, we expanded the terms of the
Metro Promise to allow a customer to return a newly purchased
handset for a full refund prior to the earlier of 30 days
or 60 minutes of use. Customers who return their phones under
the Metro Promise are reflected as a reduction to gross customer
additions. Customers monthly service payments are due in
advance every month. Our customers must pay their monthly
service amount by the payment date or their service will be
suspended, or hotlined, and the customer will not be able to
make or receive calls on our network. However, a hotlined
customer is still able to make
E-911 calls
in the event of an emergency. There is no service grace period.
Any call attempted by a hotlined customer is routed directly to
our interactive voice response system and customer service
center in order to arrange payment. If the customer pays the
amount due within 30 days of the original payment date then
the customers service is restored. If a hotlined customer
does not pay the amount due within 30 days of the payment
date the account is disconnected and counted as churn. Once an
account is disconnected we charge a $15 reconnect fee upon
reactivation to reestablish service and the revenue associated
with this fee is deferred and recognized over the estimated life
of the customer.
Revenues
We derive our revenues from the following sources:
Service. We sell wireless broadband PCS
services. The various types of service revenues associated with
wireless broadband PCS for our customers include monthly
recurring charges for airtime, monthly recurring charges for
optional features (including nationwide long distance and text
messaging, ringtones, games and content applications, unlimited
directory assistance, ring back tones, mobile Internet browsing,
push e-mail
and nationwide roaming) and charges for long distance service.
Service revenues also include intercarrier compensation and
nonrecurring activation service charges to customers.
Equipment. We sell wireless broadband PCS
handsets and accessories that are used by our customers in
connection with our wireless services. This equipment is also
sold to our independent retailers to facilitate distribution to
our customers.
Costs and
Expenses
Our costs and expenses include:
Cost of Service. The major components of our
cost of service are:
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|
|
|
|
Cell Site Costs. We incur expenses for the
rent of cell sites, network facilities, engineering operations,
field technicians and related utility and maintenance charges.
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65
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|
|
|
|
Intercarrier Compensation. We pay charges to
other telecommunications companies for their transport and
termination of calls originated by our customers and destined
for customers of other networks. These variable charges are
based on our customers usage and generally applied at
pre-negotiated rates with other carriers, although some carriers
have sought to impose such charges unilaterally.
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|
|
|
Variable Long Distance. We pay charges to
other telecommunications companies for long distance service
provided to our customers. These variable charges are based on
our customers usage, applied at pre-negotiated rates with
the long distance carriers.
|
Cost of Equipment. We purchase wireless
broadband PCS handsets and accessories from third-party vendors
to resell to our customers and independent retailers in
connection with our services. We subsidize the sale of handsets
to encourage the sale and use of our services. We do not
manufacture any of this equipment.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. Our selling expense includes
advertising and promotional costs associated with marketing and
selling to new customers and fixed charges such as retail store
rent and retail associates salaries. General and
administrative expense includes support functions including,
technical operations, finance, accounting, human resources,
information technology and legal services. We record stock-based
compensation expense in cost of service and selling, general and
administrative expenses associated with employee stock options
which is measured at the date of grant, based on the estimated
fair value of the award. Prior to the adoption of
SFAS No. 123(R), we recorded stock-based compensation
expense at the end of each reporting period with respect to our
variable stock options.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation is
applied using the straight-line method over the estimated useful
lives of the assets once the assets are placed in service, which
are ten years for network infrastructure assets and capitalized
interest, three to seven years for office equipment, which
includes computer equipment, three to seven years for furniture
and fixtures and five years for vehicles. Leasehold improvements
are amortized over the term of the respective leases, which
includes renewal periods that are reasonably assured, or the
estimated useful life of the improvement, whichever is shorter.
Interest Expense and Interest Income. Interest
expense includes interest incurred on our borrowings,
amortization of debt issuance costs and amortization of
discounts and premiums on long-term debt. Interest income is
earned primarily on our cash and cash equivalents.
Income Taxes. As a result of our operating
losses and accelerated depreciation available under federal tax
laws, we paid no federal income taxes prior to 2006. For the
year ended December 31, 2006, we paid approximately
$2.7 million in federal income taxes. In addition, we have
paid an immaterial amount of state income tax through
December 31, 2006.
Seasonality
Our customer activity is influenced by seasonal effects related
to traditional retail selling periods and other factors that
arise from our target customer base. Based on historical
results, we generally expect net customer additions to be
strongest in the first and fourth quarters. Softening of sales
and increased customer turnover, or churn, in the second and
third quarters of the year usually combine to result in fewer
net customer additions. However, sales activity and churn can be
strongly affected by the launch of new markets and promotional
activity, which have the ability to reduce or outweigh certain
seasonal effects.
Operating
Segments
Operating segments are defined by SFAS No. 131
Disclosure About Segments of an Enterprise and Related
Information, (SFAS No. 131), as
components of an enterprise about which separate financial
information is available that is evaluated regularly by the
chief operating decision maker in deciding how to allocate
resources and in assessing performance. Our chief operating
decision maker is the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer.
As of December 31, 2006, we had eight operating segments
based on geographic region within the United States: Atlanta,
Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Miami, San Francisco,
Sacramento, Tampa/Sarasota/Orlando and
66
Los Angeles. Each of these operating segments provide wireless
voice and data services and products to customers in its service
areas or is currently constructing a network in order to provide
these services. These services include unlimited local and long
distance calling, voicemail, caller ID, call waiting, text
messaging, picture and multimedia messaging, international long
distance and text messaging, ringtones, games and content
applications, unlimited directory assistance, ring back tones,
nationwide roaming, mobile Internet browsing, push
e-mail and
other value-added services.
We aggregate our operating segments into two reportable
segments: Core Markets and Expansion Markets.
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|
|
|
|
Core Markets, which include Atlanta, Miami, San Francisco,
and Sacramento, are aggregated because they are reviewed on an
aggregate basis by the chief operating decision maker, they are
similar in respect to their products and services, production
processes, class of customer, method of distribution, and
regulatory environment and currently exhibit similar financial
performance and economic characteristics.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets, which include Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit,
Tampa/Sarasota/Orlando and Los Angeles, are aggregated because
they are reviewed on an aggregate basis by the chief operating
decision maker, they are similar in respect to their products
and services, production processes, class of customer, method of
distribution, and regulatory environment and have similar
expected long-term financial performance and economic
characteristics.
|
The accounting policies of the operating segments are the same
as those described in the summary of significant accounting
policies. General corporate overhead, which includes expenses
such as corporate employee labor costs, rent and utilities,
legal, accounting and auditing expenses, is allocated equally
across all operating segments. Corporate marketing and
advertising expenses are allocated equally to the operating
segments, beginning in the period during which we launch service
in that operating segment. Expenses associated with our national
data center are allocated based on the average number of
customers in each operating segment. All intercompany
transactions between reportable segments have been eliminated in
the presentation of operating segment data.
Interest expense, interest income, gain/loss on extinguishment
of debt and income taxes are not allocated to the segments in
the computation of segment operating profit for internal
evaluation purposes.
67
Results
of Operations
Year
Ended December 31, 2006 Compared to Year Ended
December 31, 2005
Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information by
reportable operating segment for the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reportable Operating Segment Data
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
REVENUES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
1,138,019
|
|
|
$
|
868,681
|
|
|
|
31
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
152,928
|
|
|
|
3,419
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
1,290,947
|
|
|
$
|
872,100
|
|
|
|
48
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
208,333
|
|
|
$
|
163,738
|
|
|
|
27
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
47,583
|
|
|
|
2,590
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
255,916
|
|
|
$
|
166,328
|
|
|
|
54
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (excluding
depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
338,923
|
|
|
$
|
271,437
|
|
|
|
25
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
106,358
|
|
|
|
11,775
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
445,281
|
|
|
$
|
283,212
|
|
|
|
57
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of equipment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
364,281
|
|
|
$
|
293,702
|
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
112,596
|
|
|
|
7,169
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
476,877
|
|
|
$
|
300,871
|
|
|
|
59
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and
administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization
disclosed separately below)(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
158,100
|
|
|
$
|
153,321
|
|
|
|
3
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
85,518
|
|
|
|
9,155
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
243,618
|
|
|
$
|
162,476
|
|
|
|
50
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Deficit)(2):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
492,773
|
|
|
$
|
316,555
|
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
(97,214
|
)
|
|
|
(22,090
|
)
|
|
|
**
|
|
Depreciation and amortization:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
109,626
|
|
|
$
|
84,436
|
|
|
|
30
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
21,941
|
|
|
|
2,030
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
Other
|
|
|
3,461
|
|
|
|
1,429
|
|
|
|
142
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
135,028
|
|
|
$
|
87,895
|
|
|
|
54
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
7,725
|
|
|
$
|
2,596
|
|
|
|
198
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
6,747
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
14,472
|
|
|
$
|
2,596
|
|
|
|
457
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
367,109
|
|
|
$
|
219,777
|
|
|
|
67
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
(126,387
|
)
|
|
|
(24,370
|
)
|
|
|
**
|
|
Other
|
|
|
(3,469
|
)
|
|
|
226,770
|
|
|
|
(102
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
237,253
|
|
|
$
|
422,177
|
|
|
|
(44
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
68
|
|
|
** |
|
Not meaningful. The Expansion Markets reportable segment had no
significant operations during 2005. |
|
(1) |
|
Cost of service and selling, general and administrative expenses
include stock-based compensation expense. For the year ended
December 31, 2006, cost of service includes
$1.3 million and selling, general and administrative
expenses includes $13.2 million of stock-based compensation
expense. |
|
(2) |
|
Core and Expansion Markets Adjusted EBITDA (deficit) is
presented in accordance with SFAS No. 131 as it is the
primary financial measure utilized by management to facilitate
evaluation of our ability to meet future debt service, capital
expenditures and working capital requirements and to fund future
growth. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Operating Segments. |
Service Revenues: Service revenues increased
$418.8 million, or 48%, to $1,290.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2006 from $872.1 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase is due to
increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets service revenues
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets service revenues
increased $269.3 million, or 31%, to $1,138.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006 from
$868.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005.
The increase in service revenues is primarily attributable to
net additions of approximately 430,000 customers accounting for
$199.2 million of the Core Markets increase, coupled with
the migration of existing customers to higher price rate plans
accounting for $70.1 million of the Core Markets increase.
|
The increase in customers migrating to higher priced rate plans
is primarily the result of our emphasis on offering additional
services under our $45 rate plan which includes unlimited
nationwide long distance and various unlimited data features. In
addition, this migration is expected to continue as our higher
priced rate plans become more attractive to our existing
customer base.
|
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets service
revenues increased $149.5 million to $152.9 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006 from $3.4 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. These revenues were
attributable to the launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan
area in October 2005, the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan
area in March 2006, the Detroit metropolitan area in April 2006
and the expansion of the Tampa/Sarasota area to include the
Orlando metropolitan area in November 2006. Net additions in the
Expansion Markets totaled approximately 587,000 customers for
the year ended December 31, 2006.
|
Equipment Revenues: Equipment revenues
increased $89.6 million, or 54%, to $255.9 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006 from $166.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase is due
to increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets equipment
revenues as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets equipment revenues
increased $44.6 million, or 27%, to $208.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006 from $163.7 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in
equipment revenues is primarily attributable to the sale of
higher priced handset models accounting for $30.2 million
of the increase, coupled with the increase in gross customer
additions during the year of approximately 130,000 customers,
which accounted for $14.4 million of the increase.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets equipment
revenues increased $45.0 million to $47.6 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006 from $2.6 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005. These revenues were
attributable to the launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan
area in October 2005, the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan
area in March 2006, the Detroit metropolitan area in April 2006
and the expansion of the Tampa/Sarasota area to include the
Orlando metropolitan area in November 2006. Gross additions in
the Expansion Markets totaled approximately 730,000 customers
for the year ended December 31, 2006.
|
The increase in handset model availability is primarily the
result of our emphasis on enhancing our product offerings and
appealing to our customer base in connection with our wireless
services.
69
Cost of Service: Cost of Service increased
$162.1 million, or 57%, to $445.3 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006 from $283.2 million for the
year ended December 31, 2005. The increase is due to
increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets cost of service
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets cost of service
increased $67.5 million, or 25%, to $338.9 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006 from $271.4 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in cost
of service was primarily attributable to a $14.8 million
increase in federal universal service fund, or FUSF, fees, a
$13.2 million increase in long distance costs, a
$7.7 million increase in cell site and switch facility
lease expense, a $6.4 million increase in customer service
expense, a $5.9 million increase in intercarrier
compensation, and a $4.3 million increase in employee
costs, all of which are a result of the 23% growth in our Core
Markets customer base and the addition of approximately 350 cell
sites to our existing network infrastructure.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets cost of
service increased $94.6 million to $106.4 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006 from $11.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. These increases were
attributable to the launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan
area in October 2005, the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan
area in March 2006, the Detroit metropolitan area in April 2006
and the expansion of the Tampa/Sarasota area to include the
Orlando metropolitan area in November 2006. The increase in cost
of service was primarily attributable to a $22.3 million
increase in cell site and switch facility lease expense, a
$13.8 million increase in employee costs, a
$9.3 million increase in intercarrier compensation,
$8.2 million in long distance costs, $8.2 million in
customer service expense and $3.5 million in billing
expenses.
|
Cost of Equipment: Cost of equipment increased
$176.0 million, or 59%, to $476.9 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006 from $300.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2005. The increase is due to
increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets cost of
equipment as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets cost of equipment
increased $70.6 million, or 24%, to $364.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 2006 from $293.7 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in
equipment costs is primarily attributable to the sale of higher
cost handset models accounting for $44.7 million of the
increase. The increase in gross customer additions during the
year of approximately 130,000 customers as well as the sale of
new handsets to existing customers accounted for
$25.9 million of the increase.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets costs of
equipment increased $105.4 million to $112.6 million
for the year ended December 31, 2006 from $7.2 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005. These costs were
primarily attributable to the launch of the Tampa/Sarasota
metropolitan area in October 2005, the Dallas/Ft. Worth
metropolitan area in March 2006, the Detroit metropolitan area
in April 2006 and the expansion of the Tampa/Sarasota area to
include the Orlando metropolitan area in November 2006.
|
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. Selling, general and administrative
expenses increased $81.1 million, or 50%, to
$243.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
from $162.5 million for the year ended December 31,
2005. The increase is due to increases in Core Markets and
Expansion Markets selling, general and administrative expenses
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets selling, general
and administrative expenses increased $4.8 million, or 3%,
to $158.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
from $153.3 million for the year ended December 31,
2005. Selling expenses increased by $10.7 million, or
approximately 18% for the year ended December 31, 2006
compared to year ended December 31, 2005. General and
administrative expenses decreased by $5.9 million, or
approximately 6% for the year ended December 31, 2006
compared to the year ended December 31, 2005. The increase
in selling expenses is primarily due to an increase in
advertising and market research expenses which were incurred to
support the growth in the Core Markets. This increase in selling
expenses was offset by a decrease in general and administrative
expenses, which were higher in 2005 because they included
approximately $5.9 million in legal and accounting expenses
associated with an internal investigation related to material
weaknesses in our
|
70
|
|
|
|
|
internal control over financial reporting as well as financial
statement audits related to our restatement efforts.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets selling,
general and administrative expenses increased $76.3 million
to $85.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
from $9.2 million for the year ended December 31,
2005. Selling expenses increased $31.5 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2005. This increase in selling expenses was
related to marketing and advertising expenses associated with
the launch of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area, the
Detroit metropolitan area, and the expansion of the
Tampa/Sarasota area to include the Orlando metropolitan area.
General and administrative expenses increased by
$44.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
compared to the same period in 2005 due to labor, rent, legal
and professional fees and various administrative expenses
incurred in relation to the launch of the Dallas/Ft. Worth
metropolitan area, Detroit metropolitan area, and the expansion
of the Tampa/Sarasota area to include the Orlando metropolitan
area as well as build-out expenses related to the Los Angeles
metropolitan area.
|
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $47.1 million, or 54%,
to $135.0 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
from $87.9 million for the year ended December 31,
2005. The increase is primarily due to increases in Core Markets
and Expansion Markets depreciation and amortization expense as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets depreciation and
amortization expense increased $25.2 million, or 30%, to
$109.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
from $84.4 million for the year ended December 31,
2005. The increase related primarily to an increase in network
infrastructure assets placed into service during the year ended
December 31, 2006. We added approximately 350 cell sites in
our Core Markets during this period to increase the capacity of
our existing network and expand our footprint.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets
depreciation and amortization expense increased
$19.9 million to $21.9 million for the year ended
December 31, 2006 from $2.0 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005. The increase related to network
infrastructure assets that were placed into service as a result
of the launch of the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area,
the Detroit metropolitan area, and expansion of the
Tampa/Sarasota area to include the Orlando metropolitan area.
|
Stock-Based Compensation Expense. Stock-based
compensation expense increased $11.9 million, or 457%, to
$14.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2006
from $2.6 million for the year ended December 31,
2005. The increase is primarily due to increases in Core Markets
and Expansion Markets stock-based compensation expense as
follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets stock-based
compensation expense increased $5.1 million, or 198%, to
$7.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2006 from
$2.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2005. The
increase is primarily related to the adoption of
SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006. In addition,
in December 2006, we amended the stock option agreements of a
former member of our board of directors to extend the
contractual life of 405,054 vested options to purchase common
stock until December 31, 2006. This amendment resulted in
the recognition of additional stock-based compensation expense
of approximately $4.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2006.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets
stock-based compensation expense was $6.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 2006. This expense is attributable
to stock options granted to employees in our Expansion Markets
which are being accounted for under SFAS No. 123(R)as
of January 1, 2006.
|
71
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Data
|
|
2006
|
|
|
2005
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets
|
|
$
|
8,806
|
|
|
$
|
(218,203
|
)
|
|
|
104
|
%
|
Loss on extinguishment of debt
|
|
|
51,518
|
|
|
|
46,448
|
|
|
|
11
|
%
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
115,985
|
|
|
|
58,033
|
|
|
|
100
|
%
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
36,717
|
|
|
|
127,425
|
|
|
|
(72
|
)%
|
Net income
|
|
|
53,806
|
|
|
|
198,677
|
|
|
|
(73
|
)%
|
Loss (Gain) on Disposal of Assets. In May
2005, we completed the sale of a 10 MHz portion of our
30 MHz PCS license in the
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose basic trading area for
cash consideration of $230.0 million. The sale of PCS
spectrum resulted in a gain on disposal of asset in the amount
of $228.2 million.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. In November
2006, we repaid all amounts outstanding under our first and
second lien credit agreements and the exchangeable secured and
unsecured bridge credit agreements. As a result, we recorded a
loss on extinguishment of debt in the amount of approximately
$42.7 million of the first and second lien credit
agreements and an approximately $9.4 million loss on the
extinguishment of the exchangeable secured and unsecured bridge
credit agreements. In May 2005, we repaid all of the outstanding
debt under our FCC notes,
103/4% senior
notes and bridge credit agreement. As a result, we recorded a
$1.9 million loss on the extinguishment of the FCC notes; a
$34.0 million loss on extinguishment of the
103/4% senior
notes; and a $10.4 million loss on the extinguishment of
the bridge credit agreement.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased
$58.0 million, or 100%, to $116.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006 from $58.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2005. The increase in interest
expense was primarily due to increased average principal balance
outstanding as a result of additional borrowings of
$150.0 million under our first and second lien credit
agreements in the fourth quarter of 2005, $200.0 million
under the secured bridge credit facility in the third quarter of
2006 and an additional $1,300.0 million under the secured
and unsecured bridge credit facilities in the fourth quarter of
2006. Interest expense also increased due to the weighted
average interest rate increasing to 10.30% for the year ended
December 31, 2006 compared to 8.92% for the year ended
December 31, 2005. The increase in interest expense was
partially offset by the capitalization of $17.5 million of
interest during the year ended December 31, 2006, compared
to $3.6 million of interest capitalized during the same
period in 2005. We capitalize interest costs associated with our
FCC licenses and property and equipment beginning with
pre-construction period administrative and technical activities,
which includes obtaining leases, zoning approvals and building
permits. The amount of such capitalized interest depends on the
carrying values of the FCC licenses and construction in progress
involved in those markets and the duration of the construction
process. With respect to our FCC licenses, capitalization of
interest costs ceases at the point in time in which the asset is
ready for its intended use, which generally coincides with the
market launch date. In the case of our property and equipment,
capitalization of interest costs ceases at the point in time in
which the network assets are placed into service. We expect
capitalized interest to be significant during the construction
of our additional Expansion Markets and related network assets.
Provision for Income Taxes. Income tax expense
for the year ended December 31, 2006 decreased to
$36.7 million, which is approximately 41% of our income
before provision for income taxes. For the year ended
December 31, 2005 the provision for income taxes was
$127.4 million, or approximately 39% of income before
provision for income taxes. The year ended December 31,
2005 included a gain on the sale of a 10 MHz portion of our
30 MHz PCS license in the
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose basic trading area in
the amount of $228.2 million.
Net Income. Net income decreased
$144.9 million, or 73%, to $53.8 million for the year
ended December 31, 2006 compared to $198.7 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005. The significant decrease
is primarily attributable to our non-recurring sale of a
10 MHz portion of our 30 MHz PCS license in the
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose basic trading area in
May 2005 for cash consideration of $230.0 million. The sale
of PCS spectrum resulted in a gain on disposal of asset in the
amount of $139.2 million, net of income taxes. Net income
for the year ended December 31, 2006, excluding the tax
effected impact of the gain on the sale of the PCS
72
license, decreased approximately 10%. The decrease in net
income, excluding the tax effected impact of the gain on the
sale of spectrum, is primarily due to the increase in operating
losses in our Expansion Markets. This increase in operating
losses in our Expansion Markets is attributable to the launch of
the Dallas/Ft. Worth metropolitan area in March 2006, the
Detroit metropolitan area in April 2006, and the expansion of
the Tampa/Sarasota area to include the Orlando metropolitan area
in November 2006 as well as build-out expenses related to the
Los Angeles metropolitan area.
We have obtained positive operating income in our Core Markets
at or before five full quarters of operations. Based on our
experience to date in our Expansion Markets and current industry
trends, we expect our Expansion Markets to achieve positive
operating income in a period similar to or better than the Core
Markets.
Year
Ended December 31, 2005 Compared to Year Ended
December 31, 2004
Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information by
reportable operating segment for the periods indicated. For the
year ended December 31, 2004, the consolidated financial
information represents the Core Markets reportable operating
segment, as the Expansion Markets reportable operating segment
had no operations until 2005.
73
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reportable Operating Segment Data
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
REVENUES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
868,681
|
|
|
$
|
616,401
|
|
|
|
41
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
3,419
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
872,100
|
|
|
$
|
616,401
|
|
|
|
41
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Equipment revenues:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
163,738
|
|
|
$
|
131,849
|
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
2,590
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
166,328
|
|
|
$
|
131,849
|
|
|
|
26
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OPERATING EXPENSES:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of service (excluding
depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
271,437
|
|
|
$
|
200,806
|
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
11,775
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
283,212
|
|
|
$
|
200,806
|
|
|
|
41
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cost of equipment:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
293,702
|
|
|
$
|
222,766
|
|
|
|
32
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
7,169
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
300,871
|
|
|
$
|
222,766
|
|
|
|
35
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selling, general and administrative
expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization disclosed
separately below)(1):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
153,321
|
|
|
$
|
131,510
|
|
|
|
17
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
9,155
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
162,476
|
|
|
$
|
131,510
|
|
|
|
24
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Adjusted EBITDA (Deficit)(2):
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
316,555
|
|
|
$
|
203,597
|
|
|
|
55
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
(22,090
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
Depreciation and amortization:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
84,436
|
|
|
$
|
61,286
|
|
|
|
38
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
2,030
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
Other
|
|
|
1,429
|
|
|
|
915
|
|
|
|
56
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
87,895
|
|
|
$
|
62,201
|
|
|
|
41
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock-based compensation expense:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
2,596
|
|
|
$
|
10,429
|
|
|
|
(75
|
)%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
2,596
|
|
|
$
|
10,429
|
|
|
|
(75
|
)%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income (loss) from operations:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets
|
|
$
|
219,777
|
|
|
$
|
128,673
|
|
|
|
71
|
%
|
Expansion Markets
|
|
|
(24,370
|
)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
Other
|
|
|
226,770
|
|
|
|
(915
|
)
|
|
|
**
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
|
|
$
|
422,177
|
|
|
$
|
127,758
|
|
|
|
230
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
** |
|
Not meaningful. The Expansion Markets reportable segment had no
operations until 2005. |
|
(1) |
|
Selling, general and administrative expenses include stock-based
compensation expense disclosed separately. |
|
(2) |
|
Core and Expansion Markets Adjusted EBITDA (deficit) is
presented in accordance with SFAS No. 131 as it is the
primary financial measure utilized by management to facilitate
evaluation of our ability to meet future debt service, capital
expenditures and working capital requirements and to fund future
growth. See Managements Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Operating Segments. |
74
Service Revenues. Service revenues increased
$255.7 million, or 41%, to $872.1 million for the year
ended December 31, 2005 from $616.4 million for the
year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is due to
increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets service revenues
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets service revenues
increased $252.3 million, or 41%, to $868.7 million
for the year ended December 31, 2005 from
$616.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2004.
The increase in service revenues is primarily attributable to
net additions of approximately 473,000 customers accounting for
$231.8 million of the Core Markets increase, coupled with
the migration of existing customers to higher priced rate plans
accounting for $20.5 million of the Core Markets increase.
|
The increase in customers migrating to higher priced rate plans
is primarily the result of our emphasis on offering additional
services under our $45 rate plan which includes unlimited
nationwide long distance and various unlimited data features. In
addition, this migration is expected to continue as our higher
priced rate plans become more attractive to our existing
customer base.
|
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets service
revenues were $3.4 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005. These revenues are attributable to the
launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area in October 2005.
Net additions in the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area totaled
approximately 53,000 customers.
|
Equipment Revenues. Equipment revenues
increased $34.5 million, or 26%, to $166.3 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005 from $131.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is due
to increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets equipment
revenues as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets equipment revenues
increased $31.9 million, or 24%, to $163.7 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005 from $131.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in
revenues was primarily attributable to an increase in sales to
new customers of $32.6 million, a 60% increase over 2004.
During the year ended December 31, 2005, Core Markets gross
customer additions increased 30% to approximately 1,478,500
customers compared to 2004.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets equipment
revenues were $2.6 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005. These revenues are attributable to
approximately 53,600 gross customer additions due to the
launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area in October 2005.
|
Cost of Service. Cost of service increased
$82.4 million, or 41%, to $283.2 million for the year
ended December 31, 2005 from $200.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is due to
increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets cost of service
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets cost of service
increased $70.6 million, or 35%, to $271.4 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005 from $200.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was
primarily attributable to a $12.9 million increase in
intercarrier compensation, a $12.3 million increase in long
distance costs, a $9.5 million increase in cell site and
switch facility lease expense, a $5.6 million increase in
customer service expense, a $3.9 million increase in
billing expenses and $2.6 million increase in employee
costs, which were a result of the 34% growth in our customer
base and the addition of 315 cell sites to our existing network
infrastructure.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets cost of
service was $11.8 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005. These expenses are attributable to the
launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area in October 2005,
which contributed net additions of approximately 53,000
customers during 2005. Cost of service included employee costs
of $4.1 million, cell site and switch facility lease
expense of 3.4 million, repair and maintenance expense of
$1.6 million and intercarrier compensation of
$1.0 million.
|
75
Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment increased
$78.1 million, or 35%, to $300.9 million for the year
ended December 31, 2005 from $222.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 2004. The increase is due to
increases in Core Markets and Expansion Markets cost of
equipment as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets cost of equipment
increased $70.9 million, or 32%, to $293.7 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005 from $222.8 million
for the year ended December 31, 2004. The increase in cost
of equipment is due to the 30% increase in gross customer
additions during 2005 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2004.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets cost of
equipment was $7.2 million for the year ended
December 31, 2005. This cost is attributable to the launch
of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area in October 2005, which
resulted in approximately 53,600 activations during 2005.
|
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. Selling, general and administrative
expenses increased $31.0 million, or 24%, to
$162.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2005
from $131.5 million for the year ended December 31,
2004. The increase is due to increases in Core Markets and
Expansion Markets selling, general and administrative expenses
as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets selling, general
and administrative expenses increased $21.8 million, or
17%, to $153.3 million for the year ended December 31,
2005 from $131.5 million for the year ended
December 31, 2004. Selling expenses increased by
$6.3 million, or 12% for the year ended December 31,
2005 compared to 2004. General and administrative expenses
increased by $15.5 million, or 20%, during 2005 compared to
2004. The significant increase in general and administrative
expenses was primarily driven by increases in accounting and
auditing fees of $4.9 million and increases in professional
service fees of $3.6 million due to substantial legal and
accounting expenses associated with an internal investigation
related to material weaknesses in our internal control over
financial reporting as well as financial statement audits
related to our restatement efforts. We also experienced a
$6.6 million increase in labor costs associated with new
employee additions necessary to support the growth in our
business. These increases were offset by a $7.8 million
decrease in stock-based compensation expense.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets selling,
general and administrative expenses were $9.2 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005. Selling expenses were
$3.5 million and general and administrative expenses were
$5.7 million for 2005. These expenses are comprised of
marketing and advertising expenses as well as labor, rent,
professional fees and various administrative expenses associated
with the launch of the Tampa/Sarasota metropolitan area in
October 2005 and build-out of the Dallas/Ft. Worth and
Detroit metropolitan areas.
|
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $25.7 million, or 41%,
to $87.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2005
from $62.2 million for the year ended December 31,
2004. The increase is primarily due to increases in Core Markets
and Expansion Markets depreciation expense as follows:
|
|
|
|
|
Core Markets. Core Markets depreciation and
amortization expense increased $23.1 million, or 38%, to
$84.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2005
from $61.3 million for the year ended December 31,
2004. The increase related primarily to an increase in network
infrastructure assets placed into service during 2005, compared
to the year ended December 31, 2004. We added 315 cell
sites in our Core Markets during the year ended
December 31, 2005 to increase the capacity of our existing
network and expand our footprint.
|
|
|
|
Expansion Markets. Expansion Markets
depreciation and amortization expense was $2.0 million for
the year ended December 31, 2005. This expense is
attributable to network infrastructure assets placed into
service as a result of the launch of the Tampa/Sarasota
metropolitan area.
|
76
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Consolidated Data
|
|
2005
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Loss (gain) on disposal of assets
|
|
$
|
(218,203
|
)
|
|
$
|
3,209
|
|
|
|
**
|
|
(Gain) loss on extinguishment of
debt
|
|
|
46,448
|
|
|
|
(698
|
)
|
|
|
**
|
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
58,033
|
|
|
|
19,030
|
|
|
|
205
|
%
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
127,425
|
|
|
|
47,000
|
|
|
|
171
|
%
|
Net income
|
|
|
198,677
|
|
|
|
64,890
|
|
|
|
206
|
%
|
Loss (Gain) on Disposal of Assets. In May
2005, we completed the sale of a 10 MHz portion of our
30 MHz PCS license in the
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose basic trading area for
cash consideration of $230.0 million. The sale of PCS
spectrum resulted in a gain on disposal of asset in the amount
of $228.2 million.
(Gain) Loss on Extinguishment of Debt. In May
2005, we repaid all of the outstanding debt under our FCC notes,
Senior Notes and bridge credit agreement. As a result, we
recorded a $1.9 million loss on the extinguishment of the
FCC notes; a $34.0 million loss on extinguishment of the
Senior Notes; and a $10.4 million loss on the
extinguishment of the bridge credit agreement.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased
$39.0 million, or 205%, to $58.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2005 from $19.0 million for the
year ended December 31, 2004. The increase was primarily
attributable to $40.9 million in interest expense related
to our Credit Agreements that were executed on May 31, 2005
as well as the amortization of the deferred debt issuance costs
in the amount of $3.6 million associated with the Credit
Agreements. On May 31, 2005, we paid all of our outstanding
obligations under our FCC notes and Senior Notes, which
generally had lower interest rates than our Credit Agreements.
Provision for Income Taxes. Income tax expense
for year ended December 31, 2005 increased to
$127.4 million, which is approximately 39% of our income
before provision for income taxes. For the year ended
December 31, 2004 the provision for income taxes was
$47.0 million, or approximately 42% of income before
provision for income taxes. The increase in our income tax
expense in 2005 was attributable to our increased operating
profits. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 2004 to
2005 relates primarily to the increase in book income which
lowers the effective rate of tax items included in the
calculation.
Net Income. Net income increased
$133.8 million, or 206%, for the year ended
December 31, 2005 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2004. The significant increase in net income
is primarily attributable to our nonrecurring sale of a
10 MHz portion of our 30 MHz PCS license in the
San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose basic trading area in
May 2005 for cash consideration of $230.0 million. The sale
of PCS spectrum resulted in a gain on disposal of asset in the
amount of $139.2 million, net of income taxes. In addition,
growth in average customers of approximately 37% during 2005
also contributed to the increase in net income for the year
ended December 31, 2005. These increases were partially
offset by a $46.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt.
Year
Ended December 31, 2004 Compared to Year Ended
December 31, 2003
For the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, the
consolidated summary information presented below represents Core
Markets reportable segment information, as the Expansion Markets
reportable segment had no operations until 2005.
77
Set forth below is a summary of certain financial information
for the periods indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2004
|
|
|
2003
|
|
|
Change
|
|
|
|
(In thousands)
|
|
|
Revenues
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Service revenues
|
|
$
|
616,401
|
|
|
$
|
369,851
|
|
|
|
67
|
%
|
Equipment revenues
|
|
|
131,849
|
|
|
|
81,258
|
|
|
|
62
|
%
|
Cost of service (excluding
depreciation and amortization disclosed separately below)
|
|
|
200,806
|
|
|
|
122,211
|
|
|
|
64
|
%
|
Cost of equipment
|
|
|
222,766
|
|
|
|
150,832
|
|
|
|
48
|
%
|
Selling, general and
administrative expenses (excluding depreciation and amortization
disclosed separately below)
|
|
|
131,510
|
|
|
|
94,073
|
|
|
|
40
|
%
|
Depreciation and amortization
|
|
|
62,201
|
|
|
|
42,428
|
|
|
|
47
|
%
|
Interest expense
|
|
|
19,030
|
|
|
|
11,115
|
|
|
|
71
|
%
|
Provision for income taxes
|
|
|
47,000
|
|
|
|
16,179
|
|
|
|
191
|
%
|
Net income
|
|
|
64,890
|
|
|
|
15,358
|
|
|
|
323
|
%
|
Service Revenues. Service revenues increased
$246.5 million, or 67%, to $616.4 million for the year
ended December 31, 2004 from $369.9 million for the
year ended December 31, 2003. The increase is primarily
attributable to the addition of approximately 422,000 customers
accounting for $159.7 million of the increase, coupled with
the migration of existing customers to higher priced rate plans
accounting for $86.8 million of the increase.
The increase in customers migrating to higher priced rate plans
is primarily the result of our emphasis on offering additional
services under our $45 rate plan, which includes unlimited
nationwide long distance and various unlimited data features. In
addition, this migration is expected to continue as our higher
priced rate plans become more attractive to our existing
customer base.
Equipment Revenues. Equipment revenues
increased $50.6 million, or 62%, to $131.9 million for
the year ended December 31, 2004 from $81.3 million
for the year ended December 31, 2003. The increase is
attributable to higher priced handset models accounting for
$28.7 million of the increase; coupled with the increase in
gross customer additions during the year of approximately
240,000 customers accounting for $21.9 million of the
increase.
The increase in handset model availability is primarily the
result of our emphasis on enhancing our product offerings and
appealing to our customer base in connection with our wireless
services.
Cost of Service. Cost of service increased
$78.6 million, or 64%, to $200.8 million for the year
ended December 31, 2004 from $122.2 million for the
year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was attributable
to the addition of approximately 422,000 customers during the
year. Additionally, employee costs, cell site and switch
facility lease expense and repair and maintenance expense
increased as a result of the growth of our business and the
expansion of our network.
Cost of Equipment. Cost of equipment increased
$71.9 million, or 48%, to $222.7 million for the year
ended December 31, 2004 from $150.8 million for the
year ended December 31, 2003. The increase in cost of
equipment was due to a slight increase in the average handset
cost per unit which related to an increase in sales of higher
priced handset models in 2004. In addition, we experienced an
increase in the number of handsets sold to new customers during
the year.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. Selling, general and administrative
expenses increased $37.4 million, or 40%, to
$131.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2004
from $94.1 million for the year ended December 31,
2003. Selling, general and administrative expenses include
stock-based compensation expense, which increased
$4.8 million, or 87%, to $10.4 million for the year
ended December 31, 2004 from $5.6 million for the year
ended December 31, 2003. This increase was primarily
related to the extension of the exercise period of stock options
for a terminated employee in the amount of approximately
$3.6 million. The remaining increase was a result of an
increase in the estimated fair market value of our stock used
for valuing
78
stock options accounted for under variable accounting. Selling
expenses increased by $8.6 million as a result of increased
sales and marketing activities. General and administrative
expenses increased by $25.6 million primarily due to the
increase in our administrative costs associated with our
customer base and to network expansion, a $8.1 million
increase in professional fees including legal and accounting
services, a $3.7 million increase in employee salaries and
benefits, a $3.6 million increase in bank service charges,
a $0.5 million increase in rent expense, a
$1.2 million increase in personal property tax expense, and
a $1.1 million increase in property insurance. Of the
$8.1 million increase in professional fees, approximately
$3.2 million was related to the preparation of a
registration statement for an initial public offering of
MetroPCS Communications common stock to the public. These
costs were expensed, as this initial public offering was not
completed and the registration statement was withdrawn.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation
and amortization expense increased $19.8 million, or 47%,
to $62.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2004
from $42.4 million for the year ended December 31,
2003. The increase related primarily to an increase in network
infrastructure assets placed into service in 2004. In-service
base stations and switching equipment increased by approximately
$237.2 million during the year ended December 31,
2004. In addition, we had 460 more cell sites in service at
December 31, 2004 than at December 31, 2003. We expect
depreciation to continue to increase due to the additional cell
sites, switches and other network equipment that we plan to
place in service to meet future customer growth and usage.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased
$7.9 million, or 71%, to $19.0 million for the year
ended December 31, 2004 from $11.1 million for the
year ended December 31, 2003. The increase was primarily
attributable to interest expense on our $150.0 million
Senior Notes that were issued in September 2003.
Provision for Income Taxes. Income tax expense
for year ended December 31, 2004 increased to
$47.0 million, which is approximately 42% of our income
before provision for income taxes. For the year ended
December 31, 2003 the provision for income taxes was
$16.2 million, or approximately 51% of income before
provision for income taxes. The increase in our income tax
expense in 2004 was attributable to our increased operating
profits. The decrease in the effective tax rate from 2003 to
2004 relates primarily to the increase in book income which
lowers the effective rate of tax items included in the
calculation. In addition, the 2003 income tax provision includes
a charge required under California law to partially reduce the
2003 California net operating loss carryforwards. However, this
statutory requirement did not exist in 2004.
Net Income. Net income increased
$49.5 million, or 323%, for the year ended
December 31, 2004 compared to the year ended
December 31, 2003. The increase in net income is primarily
attributable to growth in average customers of appr