UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One) |
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QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE |
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For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007 |
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OR |
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o |
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TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR
15(d) OF THE |
Commission file number 001-33117
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware |
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41-2116508 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of |
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
Incorporation or Organization) |
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461 South Milpitas Blvd.
Milpitas, California 95035
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(408) 933-4000
Registrants telephone number, including area code
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x. No o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o. No x.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. As of August 9, 2007, there were 76,602,036 shares of $0.0001 par value Common Stock outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
GLOBALSTAR,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
|
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Three Months Ended |
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Six Months Ended |
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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Revenue: |
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Service revenue |
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$ |
19,984 |
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$ |
21,508 |
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$ |
37,450 |
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$ |
42,202 |
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Subscriber equipment sales |
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5,853 |
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16,891 |
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11,541 |
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26,539 |
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Total revenue |
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25,837 |
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38,399 |
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48,991 |
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68,741 |
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Operating expenses: |
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Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
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6,738 |
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7,341 |
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13,121 |
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13,888 |
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Cost of subscriber equipment sales |
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4,557 |
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17,254 |
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8,008 |
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25,769 |
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Marketing, general, and administrative |
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10,634 |
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10,726 |
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22,116 |
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20,691 |
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Depreciation and amortization |
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2,537 |
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1,308 |
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4,961 |
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2,698 |
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Impairment of assets |
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17,255 |
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17,255 |
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Total operating expenses |
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41,721 |
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36,629 |
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65,461 |
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63,046 |
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Operating income (loss) |
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(15,884 |
) |
1,770 |
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(16,470 |
) |
5,695 |
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Other income (expense): |
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Interest income |
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691 |
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199 |
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1,519 |
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366 |
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Interest expense |
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(385 |
) |
(88 |
) |
(696 |
) |
(108 |
) |
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Interest rate derivative gain |
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1,910 |
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1,546 |
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Other |
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(187 |
) |
(1,423 |
) |
1,047 |
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(1,760 |
) |
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Total other income (expense) |
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2,029 |
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(1,312 |
) |
3,416 |
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(1,502 |
) |
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Income (loss) before income taxes |
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(13,855 |
) |
458 |
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(13,054 |
) |
4,193 |
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Income tax expense (benefit) |
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(1,168 |
) |
1,292 |
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(811 |
) |
(17,459 |
) |
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Net income (loss) |
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$ |
(12,687 |
) |
$ |
(834 |
) |
$ |
(12,243 |
) |
$ |
21,652 |
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Earnings (loss) per common share: |
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Basic |
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$ |
(0.17 |
) |
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
$ |
0.35 |
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Diluted |
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(0.17 |
) |
(0.01 |
) |
(0.16 |
) |
0.35 |
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Weighted-average shares outstanding: |
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Basic |
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75,656,992 |
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61,968,046 |
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74,660,368 |
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61,957,906 |
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Diluted |
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75,656,992 |
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61,968,046 |
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74,660,368 |
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62,287,618 |
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See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
3
GLOBALSTAR,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
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June 30, |
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December 31, |
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ASSETS |
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Current assets: |
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Cash and cash equivalents |
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$ |
10,074 |
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$ |
43,698 |
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Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $3,871 (2007) and $3,609 (2006) |
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16,410 |
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19,543 |
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Inventory |
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36,054 |
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33,754 |
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Advances for inventory |
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12,133 |
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15,550 |
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Deferred tax assets |
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2,445 |
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1,495 |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
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2,814 |
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2,512 |
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Total current assets |
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79,930 |
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116,552 |
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Property and equipment: |
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Spare satellites and launch costs |
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111,139 |
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87,813 |
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Second-generation satellites |
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81,577 |
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26,328 |
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Globalstar System, net |
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11,834 |
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15,576 |
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Other property and equipment, net |
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7,943 |
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7,005 |
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212,493 |
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136,722 |
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Other assets: |
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Restricted cash |
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54,817 |
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52,581 |
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Deferred tax assets |
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18,874 |
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18,763 |
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Other assets, net |
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7,510 |
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7,083 |
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Total assets |
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$ |
373,624 |
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$ |
331,701 |
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LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
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Current liabilities: |
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Notes payable, current portion |
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$ |
245 |
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$ |
285 |
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Accounts payable |
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4,226 |
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11,468 |
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Accrued expenses |
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21,913 |
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17,224 |
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Payables to affiliates |
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3,105 |
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6,019 |
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Deferred revenue |
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24,126 |
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24,720 |
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Total current liabilities |
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53,615 |
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59,716 |
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Notes payable, net of current portion |
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237 |
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417 |
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Employee benefit obligations, net of current portion |
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1,762 |
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2,079 |
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Long Term Tax Payable |
|
467 |
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Other non-current liabilities |
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1,821 |
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3,843 |
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Total non-current liabilities |
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4,287 |
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6,339 |
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Redeemable common stock; 259,845 and 347,451 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively |
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3,700 |
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4,949 |
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Shareholders equity: |
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Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding none |
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Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 800,000,000 shares authorized, 76,331,413 shares issued and outstanding at June 30, 2007 and 72,544,543 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 |
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7 |
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7 |
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Additional paid-in capital |
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300,625 |
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238,919 |
|
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Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
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1,327 |
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(1,166 |
) |
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Retained earnings |
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10,063 |
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22,937 |
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Total shareholders equity |
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312,022 |
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260,697 |
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Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
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$ |
373,624 |
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$ |
331,701 |
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See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
4
GLOBALSTAR,
INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
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Six Months Ended |
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June 30, |
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June 30, |
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Cash flows from operating activities: |
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Net income (loss) |
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$ |
(12,243 |
) |
$ |
21,652 |
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Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: |
|
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|
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Deferred income taxes |
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(952 |
) |
(18,500 |
) |
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Depreciation and amortization |
|
4,961 |
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2,698 |
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Interest rate derivative (gain) |
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(1,546 |
) |
|
|
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Stock-based compensation expense |
|
724 |
|
|
|
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Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets |
|
(138 |
) |
1 |
|
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Provision for bad debts |
|
885 |
|
662 |
|
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Interest income on restricted cash |
|
(986 |
) |
|
|
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Contribution of services |
|
174 |
|
72 |
|
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Impairment of assets |
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17,255 |
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|
|
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Amortization of deferred financing costs |
|
221 |
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|
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Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition: |
|
|
|
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|
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Accounts receivable |
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2,901 |
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(1,248 |
) |
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Inventory |
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(17,879 |
) |
(7,841 |
) |
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Advances for inventory |
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4,461 |
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(5,504 |
) |
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Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
(246 |
) |
(326 |
) |
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Other assets |
|
303 |
|
(467 |
) |
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Accounts payable |
|
(8,497 |
) |
603 |
|
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Payables to affiliates |
|
(26 |
) |
3,988 |
|
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Accrued expenses and employee benefit obligations |
|
(3,661 |
) |
4,869 |
|
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Other non-current liabilities |
|
(623 |
) |
(2,093 |
) |
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Deferred revenue |
|
(1,559 |
) |
4,664 |
|
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Net cash from operating activities |
|
(16,471 |
) |
3,230 |
|
||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Spare and second-generation satellites and launch costs |
|
(72,867 |
) |
(38,730 |
) |
||
Property and equipment additions |
|
(1,756 |
) |
(3,750 |
) |
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Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
268 |
|
|
|
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Payment for business acquisition |
|
|
|
(191 |
) |
||
Net cash from investing activities |
|
(74,355 |
) |
(42,671 |
) |
||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Borrowings under revolving credit facility |
|
|
|
15,000 |
|
||
Proceeds from Thermo under the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement |
|
59,255 |
|
15,000 |
|
||
Proceeds from subscription receivable |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
||
Deferred financing cost payments |
|
(1,011 |
) |
(2,881 |
) |
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Net cash from financing activities |
|
58,244 |
|
40,119 |
|
||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
(1,042 |
) |
126 |
|
||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(33,624 |
) |
804 |
|
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Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
43,698 |
|
20,270 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
10,074 |
|
$ |
21,074 |
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
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|
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Cash paid for: |
|
|
|
|
|
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Interest |
|
$ |
2,119 |
|
$ |
16 |
|
Income taxes |
|
$ |
18 |
|
$ |
58 |
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activities: |
|
|
|
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Accrued launch costs and second-generation satellites costs |
|
$ |
5,709 |
|
$ |
11,293 |
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Distribution payable to member |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
686 |
|
Issuance of redeemable common stock in conjunction with acquisition |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
5,198 |
|
Conversion of redeemable common stock to common stock |
|
$ |
1,249 |
|
$ |
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
5
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1: The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
Globalstar, Inc. (Globalstar or the Company) was formed as a Delaware limited liability company in November 2003, and was converted into a Delaware corporation on March 17, 2006.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile voice and data communications services via satellite. Globalstars network, originally owned by Globalstar, L.P. (Old Globalstar), was designed, built and launched in the late 1990s by a technology partnership led by Loral Space and Communications (Loral) and QUALCOMM Incorporated (QUALCOMM). On February 15, 2002, Old Globalstar and three of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In 2004, Thermo Capital Partners L.L.C. (Thermo) became Globalstars principal owner, and Globalstar completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Old Globalstar.
Globalstar offers satellite services to commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. The Companys voice and data products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, Simplex and duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. Many land based and maritime industries benefit from Globalstar with increased productivity from remote areas beyond cellular and landline service. Globalstars customers include those in the following industries: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity, as well as individual recreational users.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Globalstar and its majority owned or otherwise controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidation. In the opinion of management, such information includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are necessary for a fair presentation of the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any future period. Globalstars results of operations are subject to seasonal usage changes. The months of April through October are typically peak months for service revenues and equipment sales. Government customers in North America tend to use Globalstars services during summer months, often in support of relief activities after events such as hurricanes, forest fires and other natural disasters.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory valuation, deferred tax assets, property and equipment, warranty obligations and contingencies and litigation. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 was derived from the Companys audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP. Certain prior year amounts in the notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation.
Globalstar operates in one segment, providing voice and data communication services via satellite. As a result, all segment-related financial information required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, or SFAS 131, is included in the consolidated financial statements.
6
Other income (expense) includes foreign exchange transaction gains (losses) of $(0.2) million and $1.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, and $(1.4) million and $(1.8) million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively.
Impairment of assets
During the three months ended June 30, 2007, the Company recognized a $17.3 million impairment charge on its inventory representing a write-down on its first-generation phone and accessory inventory. This charge was recognized after assessment of the Companys inventory quantities and its recent and projected equipment sales. There was no such charge in the same period in 2006.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxesan Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions. This Interpretation requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. The provisions of FIN 48 were effective for the Company on January 1, 2007, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle, if any, recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. See Note 9 for the impact of the adoption on the Companys financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements and eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. SFAS 157 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. SFAS 159 does not affect any existing accounting literature that requires certain assets and liabilities to be carried at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 159 on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.
Note 2: Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share
The Company applies the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 128, Earnings Per Share (SFAS 128), which requires companies to present basic and diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Common Stock equivalents are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share only when the effect of their inclusion would be dilutive.
The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, 2007 |
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 |
|
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|
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Income |
|
Weighted |
|
Per-Share |
|
Income |
|
Weighted |
|
Per-Share |
|
||||
Basic earnings per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
(12,687 |
) |
75,656,992 |
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
$ |
(12,243 |
) |
74,660,368 |
|
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted earnings per common share |
|
$ |
(12,687 |
) |
75,656,992 |
|
$ |
(0.17 |
) |
$ |
(12,243 |
) |
74,660,368 |
|
$ |
(0.16 |
) |
7
Stock options, GAT acquisition shares (as described in Note 3) and unvested restricted stock of 120,000, 259,845 and 230,000 shares of Common Stock, respectively, were excluded from the computation of diluted shares outstanding for both the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, diluted net loss per share of Common Stock is the same as basic net loss per share of Common Stock, because the effects of potentially dilutive securities are anti-dilutive.
|
|
Three Months Ended June 30, 2006 |
|
Six Months Ended June 30, 2006 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
Income |
|
Weighted |
|
Per-Share |
|
Income |
|
Weighted |
|
Per-Share |
|
||||
Basic earnings per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
(834 |
) |
61,968,046 |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
21,652 |
|
61,957,906 |
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
Effect of Dilutive Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Stock options to director |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
100,206 |
|
|
|
||||
GAT acquisition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
229,506 |
|
|
|
||||
Diluted earnings per common share |
|
$ |
(834 |
) |
61,968,046 |
|
$ |
(0.01 |
) |
$ |
21,652 |
|
62,287,618 |
|
$ |
0.35 |
|
Note 3: Globalstar Americas Telecommunications, LTD
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company consummated an agreement dated December 30, 2005 to purchase all of the issued and outstanding stock of Globalstar Americas Holding Limited (GAH), Globalstar Americas Telecommunications Limited (GAT), and Astral Technologies Investment Limited (Astral), collectively, the GA Companies. The GA Companies owned assets, contract rights, and licenses necessary and sufficient to operate a satellite communications business in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize (collectively, the Territory). The Company believes the purchase of the GA Companies will further enhance Globalstars presence and coverage in Central America and consolidation efforts. The stipulated purchase price for the GA Companies is $5,250,500 payable substantially 100% in Globalstar Common Stock. Additionally, the Company had a $1.0 million receivable from GA Companies as of the acquisition date that was treated as a component to the total purchase price. At the time of closing of the purchase of the GA Companies, the selling stockholders received 91,986 membership units, which subsequently were converted into the same number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as a result of the Companys conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation.
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company was obligated either to redeem the original stock issued to the selling stockholders in January 2006 for $5.2 million in cash or to pay the selling stockholders, in cash or in stock, the difference between $5.2 million and the market value of that stock multiplied by the 5-day average closing price of the Company stock for the period ending November 22, 2006. In accordance with a supplemental agreement dated December 21, 2006 with certain selling stockholders, the Company elected to make payment in Common Stock and issued 259,845 shares of additional Common Stock to certain selling stockholders. Under this supplemental agreement this stock was valued at approximately $3.7 million. However, it was not registered and therefore was not marketable. Accordingly, this supplemental agreement also provided that, in order to compensate the selling stockholders for the inability to sell these shares, every month the Company will pay interest on $3.7 million at the monthly New York prime rate until these shares become marketable, but not later than December 31, 2007. During the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the related interest expense incurred was approximately $76,000 and $153,000, respectively.
The Company has the right to register, before December 22, 2007, the 259,845 shares of Common Stock delivered in December 2006. If it does so and the Company has met in full its obligation to pay interest on $3.7 million, the interest obligation ceases as of the date this registration statement becomes effective. The Company also has the right to register additional shares of sufficient value on the effective date of the registration statement and to pay the interest obligation in Common Stock. In addition, if the per share market value of the Companys Common Stock on December 22, 2007 multiplied by 259,845 is less than $3.7 million minus the sum of interest payments made on the $3.7 million on or before December 28, 2007, the Company will be required to pay the shortfall to these selling stockholders. However, if the Company shall have also registered sufficient additional stock to pay the interest obligation and distributes it to the selling stockholders, they are obligated to accept the tender, return to the Company the interest previously paid in cash, and deem to be satisfied all obligations of the Company under the acquisition agreement and the supplemental agreement.
8
During December 2006, the Company reached a settlement with the remaining selling stockholder and issued 15,109 shares of Common Stock to such stockholder. The 15,109 shares issued during December 2006 and the original 4,380 shares issued in January 2006 to this selling stockholder were not considered redeemable as of December 31, 2006.
In accordance with the supplemental agreement, on January 31, 2007, the remaining 87,606 shares of Common Stock associated with the original 91,986 shares distributed in January 2006, were not considered redeemable. As of June 30, 2007, 259,845 shares of redeemable Common Stock were outstanding.
Note 4: Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
Globalstar System: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Space segment |
|
$ |
5,832 |
|
$ |
5,832 |
|
Ground segment |
|
21,011 |
|
21,033 |
|
||
Spare satellites and launch costs |
|
111,139 |
|
87,813 |
|
||
Second-generation satellites |
|
81,577 |
|
26,328 |
|
||
Construction in progress |
|
861 |
|
16 |
|
||
Land |
|
1,979 |
|
2,089 |
|
||
Leasehold improvements |
|
1,577 |
|
1,477 |
|
||
Buildings |
|
484 |
|
484 |
|
||
Furniture and office equipment |
|
11,270 |
|
9,631 |
|
||
|
|
235,730 |
|
154,703 |
|
||
Accumulated depreciation |
|
(23,237 |
) |
(17,981 |
) |
||
|
|
$ |
212,493 |
|
$ |
136,722 |
|
Property and equipment consists of an in-orbit satellite constellation, ground equipment, spare satellites and launch costs, second-generation satellites and support equipment located in various countries around the world. On November 30, 2006, the Company entered into a contract with Thales Alenia Space (formerly known as Alcatel Alenia Space France) to construct 48 low-earth orbit satellites. The total contract price is approximately 662.6 million (approximately $885.0 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3356 at June 30, 2007) including approximately 146.3 million which will be paid by the Company in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294. The contract requires Thales Alenia Space to commence delivery of satellites in the third quarter of 2009, with deliveries continuing until 2013 unless Globalstar elects to accelerate delivery. At June 30, 2007, the funds held in escrow to secure the Companys payment obligations related to its contract for the construction of its second-generation satellite constellation were $54.8 million.
As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, capitalized interest included within spare and second-generation satellites and launch costs was $0.9 million. No interest was capitalized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007. Depreciation expense for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 was $2.5 million and $4.9 million, respectively, and $1.3 million and $2.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively.
In March 2007, the Company and Thales Alenia Space entered into an agreement for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for the Companys second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract between Globalstar and Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.1 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3475) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009. Globalstar has the option to terminate the contract if excusable delays affecting Thales Alenia Spaces ability to perform the contract total six consecutive months or at its convenience. If Globalstar terminates the contract, it must pay Thales Alenia Space the lesser of its unpaid costs for work performed by Thales Alenia Space and its subcontractors or payments for the next two quarters following termination. If Thales Alenia Space has not completed the Control Network Facility acceptance review within 60 days of the due date, Globalstar will be entitled to certain liquidated
9
damages. Failure to complete the Control Network Facility acceptance review on or before six months after the due date results in a default by Thales Alenia Space, entitling Globalstar to a refund of all payments, except for liquidated damage amounts previously paid or with respect to items where final delivery has occurred. The Control Network Facility, when accepted, will be covered by a limited one-year warranty. The contract contains customary arbitration and indemnification provisions.
On May 29, 2007, the Company successfully launched four of its eight spare satellites into orbit.
Note 5: Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
June 30, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
Accrued compensation and benefits |
|
$ |
4,860 |
|
$ |
5,757 |
|
Accrued expenses related to replacement satellite launch costs |
|
4,323 |
|
51 |
|
||
Accrued professional fees |
|
1,116 |
|
1,493 |
|
||
Accrued property and other taxes |
|
3,382 |
|
3,176 |
|
||
Accrued commissions |
|
566 |
|
610 |
|
||
Customer deposits |
|
3,796 |
|
1,489 |
|
||
Employee benefit obligationcurrent portion |
|
571 |
|
443 |
|
||
Warranty reserve |
|
359 |
|
879 |
|
||
Commitment fees related to delayed draw term loan and revolving credit facility |
|
|
|
731 |
|
||
Other accrued expenses |
|
2,940 |
|
2,595 |
|
||
|
|
$ |
21,913 |
|
$ |
17,224 |
|
Other accrued expenses primarily include outsourced logistics services, storage, maintenance, and roaming charges.
Warranty terms extend from 90 days on equipment accessories to one year for fixed and mobile user terminals. Warranties are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, such that an accrual is made when it is estimable and probable that a loss has been incurred based on historical experience. Warranty costs are accrued based on historical trends in warranty charges as a percentage of gross product shipments. A provision for estimated future warranty costs is recorded as cost of sales when products are shipped. The resulting accrual is reviewed regularly and periodically adjusted to reflect changes in warranty cost estimates. The following is a summary of the activity in the warranty reserve account (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended |
|
||||||||
|
|
June 30, |
|
June 30, |
|
June 30, |
|
June 30, |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Balance, at the beginning of period |
|
$ |
500 |
|
$ |
1,116 |
|
$ |
879 |
|
$ |
977 |
|
Provision |
|
(41 |
) |
281 |
|
(230 |
) |
720 |
|
||||
Utilization |
|
(100 |
) |
(109 |
) |
(290 |
) |
(409 |
) |
||||
Balance, at the end of period |
|
$ |
359 |
|
$ |
1,288 |
|
$ |
359 |
|
$ |
1,288 |
|
Note 6: Payables to Affiliates
Payables to affiliates relate to normal purchase transactions and are comprised of the following (in thousands):
|
June 30, 2007 |
|
December 31, 2006 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
QUALCOMM |
|
$ |
2,855 |
|
$ |
5,847 |
|
Thermo Capital Partners |
|
250 |
|
172 |
|
||
|
|
$ |
3,105 |
|
$ |
6,019 |
|
Thermo incurs certain general and administrative expenses on behalf of the Company, which are reimbursed by the Company. Total expenses were approximately $98,000 for each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, and $0 and $20,000, respectively,
10
for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the Company also recorded $87,000 and $174,000, respectively, of expenses related to services provided by officers of Thermo, which were accounted for as a contribution to capital. Similar expenses for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, were $36,000 and $72,000, respectively. The Thermo expense charges are based on actual amounts incurred or upon allocated employee time. Management believes the allocations are reasonable.
Note 7: Other Related Party Transactions
During 2005, Globalstar issued separate purchase orders for additional phone equipment and accessories under the terms of previously executed commercial agreements with QUALCOMM that aggregate to a total commitment balance of approximately $158.5 million. Approximately $107.7 million of the $158.5 million consists of a new generation of phones and fixed user terminals, car kits and accessories, which QUALCOMM began delivering in October 2006. The remaining $50.8 million consists of phones and accessories under the original commercial agreement and was 100% fulfilled as of December 31, 2006.
Within the terms of the commercial agreements, the Company paid QUALCOMM approximately 15% to 25% of the total order as advances for inventory. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, total advances to QUALCOMM for inventory were $12.1 million and $15.3 million, respectively. Under the new agreements, Globalstar did not receive any additional discounts from QUALCOMM. The total orders placed with QUALCOMM as of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were approximately $189.1 million and $186.7 million, respectively, with outstanding commitment balances of approximately $68.4 million and $86.7 million, respectively.
Purchases from Affiliates
Total purchases from affiliates are as follows (in thousands):
|
Three months ended June 30, |
|
Six months ended June 30, |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
QUALCOMM |
|
$ |
9,735 |
|
$ |
12,754 |
|
$ |
22,692 |
|
$ |
35,641 |
|
Other affiliates |
|
5,461 |
|
2,914 |
|
7,364 |
|
4,533 |
|
||||
Total |
|
$ |
15,196 |
|
$ |
15,668 |
|
$ |
30,056 |
|
$ |
40,174 |
|
Revenues from Affiliates
Total usage revenues from affiliates were $147,000 and $312,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, and $173,000 and $500,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively. Total equipment revenues from affiliates were $16,000 and $41,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, and $1,072,000 and $1,800,000 for the three and six months ended June 30, 2006, respectively.
Note 8: Pension and Other Employee Benefit Plans
Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Companys contributory defined benefit pension plan were as follows (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Interest cost |
|
$ |
190 |
|
$ |
184 |
|
$ |
380 |
|
$ |
368 |
|
Expected return on plan assets |
|
(200 |
) |
(174 |
) |
(400 |
) |
(348 |
) |
||||
Actuarial loss, net |
|
15 |
|
22 |
|
30 |
|
44 |
|
||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
|
$ |
5 |
|
$ |
32 |
|
$ |
10 |
|
$ |
64 |
|
11
Note 9: Income Taxes
On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition issues.
The application of FIN 48 resulted in a cumulative adjustment of $0.6 million which decreased retained earnings. This decrease was a result of an unrecognized tax benefit of approximately $72.5 million which was substantially offset by the application of a valuation allowance. The unrecognized tax benefit did not change significantly during the six months ended June 30, 2007. In addition, future changes in the unrecognized tax benefit may not have an impact on the effective tax rate due to the existence of the valuation allowances on most of the Companys deferred tax assets.
Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company and its U.S. operating subsidiaries were treated as partnerships for U.S. tax purposes. Generally, taxable income or loss, deductions and credits of the partnership were passed through to its partners. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company elected to be taxed as a C corporation in the United States.
The Company is not currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or by any state jurisdiction in the United States. The Companys corporate U.S. tax returns for 2006 and U.S. partnership tax returns filed for years before 2006 remain subject to examination by tax authorities. As a partnership, the Company did not pay entity level taxes during the years before 2006; accordingly, the Company would not expect an examination of these years to expose the Company to additional significant liability or exposure. State income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of three to five years after filing of the respective return. The state impact of any federal changes remains subject to examination by various states for a period of up to one year after formal notification to the states. In the Companys international tax jurisdictions, numerous tax years remain subject to examination by tax authorities, including tax returns for at least 2001 and subsequent years in most of the Companys major international tax jurisdictions.
Prior to the Companys adoption of FIN 48, its policy was to classify interest and penalties as an operating expense in arriving at pretax income. The Company has computed interest on the difference between the tax position recognized in accordance with FIN 48 and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns. Upon adoption of FIN 48, the Company has elected an accounting policy to also classify accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income tax provision. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had recorded a liability of $0.6 million that included approximately $60,000 and $50,000 for the payment of interest and penalties, respectively.
Given that the Company is not currently under audit by the IRS in the United States or in any of its major international tax jurisdictions, the Company does not believe that it is likely that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of its unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.
12
Note 10: Comprehensive Income
SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components in shareholders equity. Comprehensive income (loss) includes all changes in equity during a period from non-owner sources. The change in accumulated other comprehensive income for all periods presented resulted from foreign currency translation adjustments and minimum pension liability adjustment.
The following are the components of comprehensive income (loss) (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
||||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(12,687 |
) |
$ |
(834 |
) |
$ |
(12,243 |
) |
$ |
21,652 |
|
Other comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
2,886 |
|
1,217 |
|
2,696 |
|
1,732 |
|
||||
Minimum pension liability adjustment |
|
(203 |
) |
|
|
(203 |
) |
|
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total comprehensive income (loss) |
|
$ |
(10,004 |
) |
$ |
383 |
|
$ |
(9,750 |
) |
$ |
23,384 |
|
Note 11: Globalstar Financing Transaction
As required by the lender under the Companys credit agreement discussed below, the Company executed an agreement with Thermo Funding Company LLC (Thermo Funding Company), an affiliate of Thermo, to provide Globalstar up to an additional $200.0 million of equity via an irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. The irrevocable standby purchase agreement allows the Company to put up to 12,371,136 shares of its Common Stock to Thermo Funding Company at a predetermined price of approximately $16.17 per share when the Company requires additional liquidity or upon the occurrence of certain other specified events. Thermo Funding Company also may elect to purchase the shares at any time. Minority stockholders of Globalstar as of June 15, 2006 who are accredited investors and who received at least thirty-six shares of Globalstar Common Stock as a result of the Old Globalstar bankruptcy will be provided an opportunity to participate in this financing. On February 5, 2007, Thermo Funding Company purchased 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24.3 million. On April 30, 2007 and May 9, 2007, Thermo Funding Company purchased 1,546,073 and 618,429 shares, respectively, of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $35.0 million. As of June 30, 2007, Thermo Funding Company had purchased 6,592,342 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $106.6 million pursuant to the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. Thermo Funding Company purchased additional shares of Common Stock in July 2007. See Note 16 for details.
On August 16, 2006, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wachovia Investment Holdings, L.L.C., as administrative agent and swingline lender, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as issuing lender, which was subsequently amended on September 29, 2006 and October 26, 2006. The amended and restated credit agreement provides for a $50.0 million revolving credit facility and a $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facility. The delayed draw term loan may be drawn after January 1, 2008 and prior to August 16, 2009, but only if, after giving effect to the delayed draw term loan and thereafter at the end of each quarter while the delayed draw term loan is outstanding, the Companys consolidated senior secured leverage ratio does not exceed 3.5 to 1.0. The Companys ability to borrow under the credit agreement is conditioned on the absence of any material adverse change in the Companys results of operations or financial condition from August 16, 2006 to the date of the borrowing. In addition to the $50.0 million revolving and $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facilities, the amended and restated credit agreement permits the Company to incur additional term loans on an equally and ratably secured, pari passu basis in an aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million (plus the amount of any reduction in the delayed draw term loan facility or prepayment of the delayed draw term loan described above resulting from sales of common stock or any additional term loans) from the lenders under the credit agreement or other banks, financial institutions or investment funds approved by the Company and the administrative agent. The Company has not received any commitments for these additional term loans. These additional term loans may be incurred only if no event of default then exists, if the Company is in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the credit agreement, and if, after giving effect thereto, the Companys consolidated total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to 1.0.
All revolving credit loans will mature on June 30, 2010 and all term loans will mature on June 30, 2011. Revolving credit loans will bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.25% to 4.75% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 3.25% to 3.75%. The delayed draw term loan will bear interest at LIBOR plus 6.0% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 5.0%. The delayed draw term loan facility bears an annual commitment fee of 2.0% until drawn or terminated and the revolving credit facility has an annual commitment fee of 0.5% on the undrawn balance. Commitment fees incurred during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 were $506,000 and $1,069,000, respectively. Additional term loans will bear interest at rates to be negotiated. To hedge a portion of the interest rate risk with respect to the delayed draw term loans, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement (see Note 15). The loans may be prepaid without penalty at any time. The Companys indebtedness under the agreement is guaranteed by its principal domestic subsidiaries and is secured by a first lien on its and their property. The agreement contains covenants limiting the Companys ability to dispose of assets, change its business, merge, make acquisitions, incur indebtedness or liens, pay dividends, make investments or engage in certain transactions with its affiliates. Additionally, the agreement contains covenants requiring Globalstar to maintain certain financial and operating covenants and restricting capital expenditures. The Company was in compliance with all related covenants at June 30, 2007.
13
As of June 30, 2007, there were no drawings under the $50.0 million revolving credit facility. For each of the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, the weighted average annualized interest rate on the outstanding revolving credit loans was 0%, because there was no outstanding debt during the periods.
Note 12: Equity Incentive Plan
At June 30, 2007, the Company had two share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation cost charged against income for those plans during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, was $0.3 million and $0.5 million, respectively, with a total tax benefit of less than $0.1 million and $0.2 million, respectively, being recognized in the same period.
On July 12, 2006, the Companys board of directors adopted and a majority of the Companys stockholders approved the Globalstar, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Equity Plan), which became effective upon the registration of the Companys Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933 in November 2006. The purpose of the Equity Plan is to make available incentives that will assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees, directors and consultants whose contributions are essential to its success. The Company may provide these incentives through the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock purchase rights, restricted stock bonuses, restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units. The Equity Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors. On November 9, 2006, the Company registered under the Securities Act 1,200,000 shares of its Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Plan and, on November 10, 2006, the Compensation Committee authorized granting restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards for an aggregate of approximately 295,000 shares of Common Stock to substantially all the Companys employees.
As per the terms of the restricted stock awards and the restricted stock units, 25% of the shares granted vest within six months of the grant date and the remainder will vest on November 10, 2009, subject to certain acceleration clauses upon satisfactory completion of Company wide goals. A pre-tax non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.3 million and $0.5 million, was recognized in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. The total income tax benefit recognized during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 for these restricted stock awards and restricted stock units was not significant. There was no corresponding stock-based compensation expense or a related tax benefit during the three and six months ended June 30, 2006. The fair value of these grants was measured based upon the market price of the underlying Common Stock at the date of grant.
Approximately 14,000 and 58,000 restricted stock awards and restricted stock units were granted during the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively. In January 2007, the Companys board of directors approved an additional 600,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Plan. As of June 30, 2007, the issuance of these shares had not been registered under the Securities Act. See Note 16.
In January 2005, the Company promised one of its board members an option to purchase up to 120,000 shares at a price of approximately $2.67 per share (as adjusted for a six-for-one stock split). This option vested fully in March 2006. The grant date intrinsic value and fair value of this award were approximately nil and $40,000, respectively. The intrinsic value at June 30, 2007 was approximately $922,000. There have been no other stock option grants.
Note 13: Litigation
From time to time, the Company is involved in various litigation matters involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to its business. Management currently believes that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Companys business, results of operations or financial condition. The Company is involved in certain litigation matters as discussed below.
On February 9, 13 and 21, 2007, three plaintiffs (Ladmen Partners, Israel Bollag and Margueritte Sherrard, respectively) filed purported class action lawsuits in the Southern District of New York against the Company, its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer. The actions allege that the Companys registration statement related to its initial public offering
14
in November 2006 contained material misstatements and omissions. The actions cited a drop in the trading price of the Companys Common Stock that followed its filing, on February 5, 2007, of a current report on Form 8-K relating in part to changes in the condition of its satellite constellation. The actions seek recovery on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Companys Common Stock who purchased shares in the initial public offering or traceable to that offering from November 2, 2006 through February 6, 2007. All of the cases have been consolidated under the name Ladmen Partners, Inc. v. Globalstar, Inc. et al Case No: 07-CV-0976-LAP before Judge Preska, and the Connecticut Laborers Pension Fund has been appointed lead plaintiff. Lead plaintiff is to file a consolidated amended complaint no later than August 15, 2007. The Company intends to defend the matter vigorously.
On April 7, 2007, Kenneth Stickrath and Sharan Stickrath filed a purported class action complaint against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California (Case No: 07-CV-01941 THE). The complaint is based on alleged violations of California Business & Professions Code § 17200 and California Civil Code § 1750, et seq., the Consumers Legal Remedies Act. Plaintiffs allege that members of the proposed class suffered damages from March 2003 to the present because Globalstar did not perform according to its representations with respect to coverage and reliability. Plaintiffs claim that the amount in controversy exceeds $5.0 million but do not allege any particular actual damages incurred. Plaintiffs amended their complaint on June 29, 2007, and the Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on July 6, 2007. Plaintiffs are expected to file a response to the motion in August 2007.
On April 24, 2007, Mr. Jean-Pierre Barrette filed a motion for Authorization to Institute a Class Action in Quebec, Canada, Superior Court against Globalstar Canada. Mr. Barrette asserts claims based on Quebec law related to his alleged problems with Globalstar Canadas service. The Company is evaluating the motion and will respond to it in due course.
Note 14: Geographic Information
Revenue by geographic location, presented net of eliminations for intercompany sales, was as follows for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
Six months ended |
|
|||||||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
||||
Service: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
United States |
|
$ |
11,206 |
|
$ |
10,167 |
|
$ |
20,253 |
|
$ |
19,760 |
|
Canada |
|
6,881 |
|
8,280 |
|
13,344 |
|
16,535 |
|
||||
Europe |
|
1,121 |
|
1,468 |
|
2,067 |
|
2,762 |
|
||||
Central and South America |
|
519 |
|
1,065 |
|
1,229 |
|
2,065 |
|
||||
Others |
|
257 |
|
528 |
|
557 |
|
1,080 |
|
||||
Total service revenue |
|
19,984 |
|
21,508 |
|
37,450 |
|
42,202 |
|
||||
Subscriber equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
United States |
|
1,904 |
|
9,978 |
|
5,053 |
|
12,577 |
|
||||
Canada |
|
1,293 |
|
2,161 |
|
2,737 |
|
4,950 |
|
||||
Europe |
|
2,061 |
|
1,796 |
|
2,903 |
|
3,290 |
|
||||
Central and South America |
|
243 |
|
1,272 |
|
459 |
|
2,205 |
|
||||
Others |
|
352 |
|
1,684 |
|
389 |
|
3,517 |
|
||||
Total subscriber equipment revenue |
|
5,853 |
|
16,891 |
|
11,541 |
|
26,539 |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total revenue |
|
$ |
25,837 |
|
$ |
38,399 |
|
$ |
48,991 |
|
$ |
68,741 |
|
15
Note 15: Interest Rate Derivative
In July 2006, in connection with entering into its credit agreement, which provides for interest at a variable rate (Note 11), the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement. The interest rate swap agreement reflected a $100.0 million notional amount at a fixed interest rate of 5.64%. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement was $1.2 million and $2.7 million at June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, which is reflected in the Companys Consolidated Balance Sheet in Other non-current liabilities. The change in fair value for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, of approximately $1.9 million and $1.5 million, respectively, was charged to Interest rate derivative gain in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Income.
Note 16: Subsequent Events
Consistent with its prior purchases, on July 31, 2007, Thermo Funding Company elected, pursuant to the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, to make a further investment in the Company by purchasing an additional 2,164,502 shares of the Companys Common Stock at a price of $16.17 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million.
On August 9, 2007, the Company registered under the Securities Act, an additional 600,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Plan.
Effective August 10, 2007 (the Effective Date), the Board of Directors of the Company, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the concurrent termination of the Companys Executive Incentive Compensation Plan and awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units under the Companys 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to three named executive officers and two other executives who are not named executive officers (the Participants). Each Award Agreement provides that the recipient will receive awards of restricted Common Stock (or, for the non-U.S. participant, restricted stock units, which upon vesting, each entitle him to one share of Globalstar Common Stock). Total benefits per Participant (valued at the grant date) are $6.0 million, which represents an increase of $1.5 million in potential compensation compared to the maximum potential benefits under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. However, the new Award Agreements extend the vesting period by up to two years and provide for payment in shares of Common Stock instead of cash, thereby enabling the Company to conserve its cash for capital expenditures for the procurement and launch of its second-generation satellite constellation and related ground station upgrades.
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to current and historical information, this Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our future operations, prospects, potential products, services, developments and business strategies. These statements can, in some cases, be identified by the use of terms such as may, will, should, could, would, intend, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements, such as the statements regarding our ability to develop and expand our business, our ability to manage costs, our ability to exploit and respond to technological innovation, the effects of laws and regulations (including tax laws and regulations) and legal and regulatory changes, the opportunities for strategic business combinations and the effects of consolidation in our industry on us and our competitors, our anticipated future revenues, our anticipated capital spending (including for future satellite procurements and launches), our anticipated financial resources, our expectations about the future operational performance of our satellites (including their projected operational lives), the expected strength of and growth prospects for our existing customers and the markets that we serve, and other statements contained in this report regarding matters that are not historical facts, involve predictions. These and similar statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those listed in Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors of this Report. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this Report to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances.
This Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition should be read in conjunction with the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Overview
We are a leading provider of mobile voice and data communication services via satellite. Our communications platform extends telecommunications beyond the boundaries of terrestrial wireline and wireless telecommunications networks to serve our customers desire for connectivity. Using in-orbit satellites and ground stations, which we call gateways, we offer voice and data communications services to government agencies, businesses and other customers in over 120 countries.
In early 2002, Old Globalstar and three of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. We were formed in Delaware in November 2003 for the purpose of acquiring substantially all the assets of Old Globalstar and its subsidiaries. With Bankruptcy Court approval, we acquired Old Globalstars assets and assumed
16
certain of its liabilities in a two-step transaction, with the first step completed on December 5, 2003, and the second step on April 14, 2004 (the Reorganization). On January 1, 2006, we elected to be taxed as a C corporation, and on March 17, 2006, we converted from a Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation.
Material Trends and Uncertainties. Our satellite communications business, by providing critical mobile communications to our subscribers, serves principally the following markets: government, public safety and disaster relief; recreation and personal; oil and gas; maritime and fishing; natural resources, mining and forestry; construction; utilities; and transportation. Both our industry and our own subscriber base have been growing as a result of:
· favorable market reaction to new pricing plans with lower service charges;
· awareness of the need for remote communication services;
· increased demand for communication services by disaster and relief agencies and emergency first responders;
· improved voice and data transmission quality; and
· a general reduction in prices of user equipment.
In addition, our industry as a whole has benefited from the improved financial condition of most industry participants following their financial reorganizations or conversions to private ownership.
Nonetheless, we face a number of challenges and uncertainties, including:
· Constellation life and health. Our current satellite constellation is aging. We launched four of our eight spare satellites in May 2007 and plan to launch the remaining four later in 2007. A number of our satellites have experienced various anomalies over time, one of which is a degradation in the performance of the solid-state power amplifiers of the S-band communications antenna subsystem. The S-band antenna provides the downlink from the satellite to a subscribers phone or data terminal. Degraded performance of the S-band antenna amplifiers reduces the availability of two-way voice and data communication between the affected satellites and the subscriber and may reduce the duration of a call. If the S-band antenna on a satellite ceases to be commercially functional, two-way communication is impossible over that satellite, but not necessarily over the constellation as a whole. Subscriber service will continue to be available, but at certain times in any given location it may take longer to establish calls and the average duration of calls may be impacted adversely. There will be periods of time each day during which no two-way voice and data service will be available at any particular location. The root cause of the degradation in performance of the S-band antenna amplifier is unknown, although we believe it may result from irradiation of the satellites in orbit caused by the space environment at the altitude that our satellites operate.
The S-band antenna amplifier degradation does not affect adversely our one-way Simplex data transmission services, which utilize only the L-band uplink from a subscribers Simplex terminal to the satellites.
To date, we have managed the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifiers in various technical ways, including moving less impaired satellites to key orbital positions and launching four spare satellites. Nonetheless, we have been unable to correct the S-band antenna amplifier degradation and may be unable to do so.
Based on our most recent analysis, we now believe that, if the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifiers continues at the current rate or further accelerates, and if we are unsuccessful in developing additional technical solutions, the interruptions of two-way communications services will increase, and by some time in 2008 substantially all of our satellites launched between 1998 and 2000, but not those satellites launched in 2007, will cease to be able to support two-way communications services. Simplex data service will not be affected.
We are working on plans, including new products and services and pricing programs, and exploring the feasibility of accelerating procurement and launch of our second-generation satellite constellation, to attempt to reduce the effects
17
of this problem upon our customers and operations. See Part II, Item 1A. Risk FactorsOur satellites have a limited life and may fail prematurely, which would cause our network to be compromised and materially and adversely affect our business, prospects and profitability.
· Competition and pricing pressures. We face increased competition from both the expansion of terrestrial-based cellular phone systems and from other mobile satellite service providers. For example, Inmarsat plans to commence offering satellite services to handheld devices in the United States around 2008, and several competitors, such as ICO Global Communications Company, are constructing geostationary satellites that will provide mobile satellite service. Increased numbers of competitors, and the introduction of new services and products by competitors, increases competition for subscribers and pressures all providers, including us, to reduce prices. Increased competition may result in loss of subscribers, decreased revenue, decreased gross margins, higher churn rates, and, ultimately, decreased profitability and cash.
· Technological changes. It is difficult for us to respond promptly to major technological innovations by our competitors because substantially modifying or replacing our basic technology, satellites or gateways is time-consuming and very expensive. Approximately 57% of our total assets at June 30, 2007 represented fixed assets. Although we believe our current technology and fixed assets are competitive with those of our competitors, and our plan to procure and deploy our second-generation satellite constellation and upgrade our gateways and other ground facilities. Nevertheless, we may become vulnerable to the successful introduction of superior technology by our competitors.
· Capital expenditures. Launching our eight spare satellites to augment our current constellation will cost approximately $124.0 million exclusive of capitalized interest and internal costs, of which $109.4 million (exclusive of $0.9 million of capitalized interest) had been paid or accrued by June 30, 2007. We plan to fund the balance of this cost from the sale of our Common Stock to Thermo Funding Company pursuant to its irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement described under Liquidity and Capital ResourcesIrrevocable Standby Stock Purchase Agreement. Procuring and deploying our second-generation satellite constellation and upgrading our gateways and other ground facilities will cost approximately $1.2 billion, which we expect will be reflected in capital expenditures through 2014. On November 30, 2006, we entered into a 662.6 million (approximately $885.0 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3356 at June 30, 2007, including approximately 146.3 million which will be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294), contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of our second-generation constellation. At our request, Thales Alenia Space has presented a plan to us for accelerating delivery of the initial 24 satellites by up to four months. The expected cost of this acceleration will range from approximately 5.8 million to 11.6 million ($7.8 million to $15.6 million at 1.00 = $1.3475). We cannot assure you that any or all of the acceleration will occur. In March 2007, we entered into a 9.0 million (approximately $12.1 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3475) agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for our second-generation satellite constellation. See Liquidity and Capital ResourcesContractual Obligations and Commitments. Additionally, we have begun construction of a gateway in Singapore at a total cost of approximately $4.0 million. This gateway is expected to be operational by July 2008. We plan to fund approximately $400.0 million of the total of approximately $1.2 billion from the $116.6 million net proceeds of our initial public offering, the $150.0 million available through our credit agreement and the remaining proceeds from sales of our Common Stock under the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. Our ability to borrow under the credit agreement is conditioned on the absence of any material adverse change in our results of operations or financial condition from August 16, 2006 to the date of the borrowing. We plan to fund the remaining cost of approximately $800.0 million from cash generated by our business and by accessing capital markets through additional issuance of debt and/or equity securities. Our reliance on outside funding sources will increase and this funding may be difficult or expensive to obtain if our future revenues or profitability are substantially below our expectations whether as a result of the degradation of our constellation or for any other reason, or the conditions requiring Thermo Funding Company to purchase the stock do not occur, and Thermo Funding Company does not elect to purchase the stock during the term of the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. Additionally, because substantially all of these costs will be capitalized, the resulting increase in our non-cash depreciation expense could have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations.
· Introduction of new products. We work continuously with the manufacturers of the products we sell to offer our customers innovative and improved products. Virtually all engineering, research and development costs of these new products are paid by the manufacturers. However, to the extent the costs are reflected in increased inventory costs to us, and we are unable to raise our prices to our subscribers correspondingly, our margins and profitability would be reduced.
18
· Fluctuations in interest and currency rates. Debt under our credit agreement bears interest at a floating rate. Therefore, increases in interest rates will increase our interest costs. A substantial portion of our revenue (38% for the six months ended June 30, 2007) is denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, the contract for the launch of our spare satellites and a substantial majority of our obligations under the contracts for our second-generation constellation and related control network facility are denominated in Euros. Any decline in the relative value of the U.S. dollar may adversely affect our revenues and increase our capital expenditures.
Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC). ATC is the integration of a satellite-based service with a terrestrial wireless service resulting in a hybrid mobile satellite services. The ATC network would extend our services to urban areas and inside buildings where satellite services currently are impractical. We believe we are at the forefront of ATC development and are actively working to be among the first market entrants. To that end we are considering a range of options for rollout of our ATC services. We are exploring selective opportunities with a variety of media and communication companies to capture the full potential of our spectrum and ATC license.
Service Revenues. We earn revenues primarily from the sale of satellite communications services to direct customers, resellers and independent gateway operators. These services include mobile and fixed voice and data services and asset tracking and monitoring services. We generated approximately 77% and 76% of our consolidated revenues from the sale of our satellite communication services for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 56% and 61% for the same periods in 2006.
Subscriber Equipment Sales Revenue. We also sell related voice and data equipment to our customers. We generated approximately 23% and 24% of our consolidated revenues from subscriber equipment sales in the three and six months ended June 30, 2007, respectively, compared to 44% and 39% for the same periods in 2006.
The table below sets forth amounts and percentages of our revenue by type of service and subscriber equipment sales for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.
|
|
Three Months ended June 30, 2007 |
|
Three Months ended June 30, 2006 |
|
Six Months ended June 30, 2007 |
|
Six Months ended June 30, 2006 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
Revenue |
|
% of Total Rev |
|
Revenue |
|
% of Total Rev |
|
Revenue |
|
% of Total Rev |
|
Revenue |
|
% of Total Rev |
|
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Service Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Mobile |
|
$ |
15,910 |
|
62 |
% |
$ |
16,386 |
|
43 |
% |
$ |
29,927 |
|
61 |
% |
$ |
31,930 |
|
46 |
% |
Fixed |
|
1,430 |
|
6 |
% |
1,927 |
|
5 |
% |
2,994 |
|
6 |
% |
3,805 |
|
5 |
% |
||||
Data |
|
387 |
|
1 |
% |
328 |
|
1 |
% |
780 |
|
1 |
% |
678 |
|
1 |
% |
||||
Simplex |
|
730 |
|
3 |
% |
369 |
|
1 |
% |
1,160 |
|
2 |
% |
727 |
|
1 |
% |
||||
IGO |
|
889 |
|
3 |
% |
1,989 |
|
5 |
% |
1,805 |
|
4 |
% |
3,892 |
|
6 |
% |
||||
Other(1) |
|
638 |
|
2 |
% |
509 |
|
1 |
% |
784 |
|
2 |
% |
1,170 |
|
2 |
% |
||||
Total Service Revenue |
|
19,984 |
|
77 |
% |
21,508 |
|
56 |
% |
37,450 |
|
76 |
% |
42,202 |
|
61 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Subscriber Equipment Sales: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Mobile |
|
4,030 |
|
16 |
% |
9,678 |
|
25 |
% |
6,877 |
|
14 |
% |
12,965 |
|
19 |
% |
||||
Fixed |
|
615 |
|
3 |
% |
1,399 |
|
4 |
% |
1,597 |
|
3 |
% |
3,115 |
|
5 |
% |
||||
Data |
|
72 |
|
0 |
% |
785 |
|
2 |
% |
366 |
|
1 |
% |
1,198 |
|
2 |
% |
||||
Accessories/Misc |
|
1,136 |
|
4 |
% |
5,029 |
|
13 |
% |
2,701 |
|
6 |
% |
9,261 |
|
13 |
% |
||||
Total Subscriber Equipment Sales |
|
5,853 |
|
23 |
% |
16,891 |
|
44 |
% |
11,541 |
|
24 |
% |
26,539 |
|
39 |
% |
||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Total Revenue |
|
$ |
25,837 |
|
100 |
% |
$ |
38,399 |
|
100 |
% |
$ |
48,991 |
|
100 |
% |
68,741 |
|
100 |
% |
|
(1) Includes engineering services and activation fees
Operating Income (Loss). We realized operating income of $5.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006 compared to an operating loss of $16.5 million for the same period in 2007. This decrease can be attributed primarily to a $17.3 million charge for impairment of assets caused by a write down of our first-generation product inventory recognized in the quarter ended June 30, 2007. We recognized this impairment charge after an assessment of our inventory and current and projected sales. Lower service revenue and a decline in equipment sales as a result of degraded service during the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same period last year also contributed to the decline in operating results. This service degradation was the result of a constellation reconfiguration we were completing in the first quarter of 2007 to accommodate inclusion of eight spare satellites, four of which were launched in May 2007, and the S-band antenna amplifier degradation described earlier. Lower usage also resulted in lower retail Average Revenue Per Unit (ARPU) on our monthly service plans. Moreover, concerns over the long term viability of our first generation constellations voice service contributed to lower subscriber equipment sales for the quarter.
19
Independent Gateway Acquisition Strategy
Currently, 16 of the gateways in our network are owned and operated by unaffiliated companies, which we call independent gateway operators, some of whom operate more than one gateway. We have no financial interest in these independent gateway operators other than arms length contracts for wholesale minutes of service. Some of these independent gateway operators have been unable to grow their businesses adequately due in part to limited resources. Old Globalstar initially developed the independent gateway operator acquisition strategy to establish operations in multiple territories with reduced demands on its capital. In addition, there are territories in which for political or other reasons, it is impractical for us to operate directly. We sell services to the independent gateway operators on a wholesale basis and they resell them to their customers on a retail basis.
We have acquired, and intend to continue to pursue the acquisition of, independent gateway operators when we believe we can do so on favorable terms. We believe that these acquisitions can enhance our results of operations in three respects. First, we believe that, with our greater financial and technical resources, we can grow our subscriber base and revenue faster than some of the independent gateway operators. Second, we realize greater margin on retail sales to individual subscribers than we do on wholesale sales to independent gateway operators. Third, we believe expanding the territory we serve directly will better position us to market our services directly to multinational customers who require a global communications provider. However, acquisitions of independent gateway operators do require us to commit capital for acquisition of their assets, as well as management resources and working capital to support the gateway operations, and therefore increase our risk in operating in these territories directly rather than through the independent gateway operators. In addition, operating the acquired gateways increases our marketing, general and administrative expenses. Our credit agreement limits to $25.0 million the aggregate amount we may invest in foreign acquisitions without the consent of our lenders.
In February 2005, we purchased the Venezuela gateway for $1.6 million in cash to be paid over four years. Effective January 1, 2006, we acquired the Central American gateway and other real property assets for $5.2 million, paid principally in shares of our common stock. We are continuing negotiations to acquire the independent gateway operator with three gateways in Brazil for $6.5 million in Common Stock. We are unable to predict the timing or cost of further acquisitions since independent gateway operations vary in size and value.
Performance Indicators
Our management reviews and analyzes several key performance indicators in order to manage our business and assess the quality of and potential variability of our earnings and cash flows. These key performance indicators include:
· total revenue, which is an indicator of our overall business growth;
· subscriber growth and churn rate, which are both indicators of the satisfaction of our customers;
· retail average revenue per user, which is an indicator of our ability to obtain effectively long-term, high-value customers;
· operating income, which is an indication of our performance;
· EBITDA, which is an indicator of our financial performance and liquidity; and
· capital expenditures, which are an indicator of future revenue growth potential and cash requirements.
Seasonality
Our results of operations are subject to seasonal usage changes. April through October are typically our peak months for service revenues and equipment sales. Government customers in North America tend to use our services during summer months, often in support of relief activities after events such as hurricanes, forest fires and other natural disasters.
20
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our revenues and expenses for the periods reported and the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities, including contingent assets and liabilities, as of the date of the financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventory, long-lived assets, income taxes, pension obligations, derivative instruments and Stock-Based Compensation, on an on-going basis. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from our estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following accounting policies are most important to understanding our financial results and condition and require complex or subjective judgments and estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Customer activation fees are deferred and recognized over four to five year periods, which approximates the estimated average life of the customer relationship. We periodically evaluate the estimated customer relationship life. Historically, changes in the estimated life have not been material to our financial statements.
Monthly access fees billed to retail customers and resellers, representing the minimum monthly charge for each line of service based on its associated rate plan, are billed on the first day of each monthly bill cycle. Airtime minute fees in excess of the monthly access fees are billed in arrears on the first day of each monthly billing cycle. To the extent that billing cycles fall during the course of a given month and a portion of the monthly services has not been delivered at month end, fees are prorated and fees associated with the undelivered portion of a given month are deferred. Under our annual plans, where customers prepay for minutes, revenue is deferred until the minutes are used or the prepaid time period expires. Unused minutes are accumulated until they expire, usually one year after activation. In addition, we offer an annual plan called the Emergency Plan under which the customer is charged an annual fee to access our system and for each minute used. The annual fee for an Emergency Plan is recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the plan.
Occasionally we have granted customer concessions in the form of customer credits. These concessions are expensed when granted.
Subscriber acquisition costs include items such as dealer commissions, internal sales commissions and equipment subsidies and are expensed at the time of the related sale.
We also provide certain engineering services to assist customers in developing new technologies related to our system. The revenues associated with these services are recorded when the services are rendered, and the expenses are recorded when incurred.
We introduced annual plans (sometimes called Liberty plans) in August 2004 and introduced broadly during the second quarter of 2005. These plans grew substantially in 2005 and 2006. These plans require users to pre-pay usage charges for the entire plan period, generally 12 months, which results in the deferral of certain of our revenues. Under our revenue recognition policy for annual plans, we defer revenue until the earlier of when the minutes are used or when these minutes expire. Any unused minutes are recognized as revenue at the expiration of a plan. Most of our customers have not used all the minutes that are available to them or have not used them at the pace anticipated, which, with the rapid acceptance of our annual plans, has caused us to defer increasingly large amounts of service revenue. At June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, our deferred revenue aggregated approximately $24.1 million and $24.7 million, respectively. We own and operate our satellite constellation and earn a portion of our revenues through the sale of airtime minutes on a wholesale basis to the independent gateway operators. Revenue from services provided to independent gateway operators is recognized based upon airtime minutes used by customers of independent gateway operators and contractual fee arrangements. Where collection is uncertain, revenue is recognized when cash payment is received.
During the second quarter of 2007, we introduced an unlimited airtime usage service plan (called the Unlimited Loyalty plan) which allows existing and new customers to use unlimited satellite voice minutes for anytime calls for a fixed monthly fee. The unlimited loyalty plan incorporates a declining monthly price schedule that reduces the fixed monthly fee at the completion of each calendar year through the duration of the customer agreement, which ends on June 30, 2010. Customers have an option to extend their customer agreement by one year at the fixed monthly price. We record revenue for this plan on a monthly basis based on a straight line average derived by computing the total fees charged over the term of the customer agreement and dividing it by the number of the months. If a customer cancels prior to the ending date of the customer agreement, the balance in deferred revenue is recognized as revenue.
21
Subscriber equipment revenue represents the sale of fixed and mobile user terminals and accessories. Revenue is recognized upon shipment provided title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection is probable.
In December 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. EITF Issue No. 00-21 addresses certain aspects of the accounting by a vendor for arrangements under which it will perform multiple revenue-generating activities. In some arrangements, the different revenue-generating activities (deliveries) are sufficiently separable and there exists sufficient evidence of their fair values to account separately for some or all of the deliveries (that is, there are separate units of accounting). In other arrangements, some or all of the deliveries are not independently functional, or there is not sufficient evidence of their fair values to account for them separately. EITF Issue No. 00-21 addresses when and, if so, how an arrangement involving multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting. EITF Issue No. 00-21 does not change otherwise applicable revenue recognition criteria.
Inventory
Inventory consists of purchased products, including fixed and mobile user terminals, accessories and gateway spare parts. Inventory acquired on December 5, 2003, through the Old Globalstar bankruptcy proceedings, was stated at fair value at the date of our acquisition. Subsequent inventory transactions are stated at the lower of cost or market. At the end of each quarter, product sales and returns from the previous twelve months are reviewed and any excess and obsolete inventory is written off. Cost is computed using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Inventory allowances for inventories with a lower market value or that are slow moving are recorded in the period of determination.
Globalstar System, Property and Equipment
Our Globalstar System assets include costs for the design, manufacture, test and launch of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, including in-orbit spare satellites, which we refer to as the space segment, and primary and backup terrestrial control centers and gateways, which we refer to as the ground segment. Loss from an in-orbit failure of a satellite is recognized as an expense in the period it is determined that the satellite is not recoverable.
The carrying value of the Globalstar System is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recorded value of the space segment and ground segment, taken as a whole, may not be recoverable. We look to current and future undiscounted cash flows, excluding financing costs, as primary indicators of recoverability. If an impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value.
Property and equipment acquired by us on December 5, 2003 in the Old Globalstar bankruptcy proceedings was recorded based on our allocation of acquisition cost. Because the acquisition cost of these assets was substantially below their historic cost or replacement cost, current depreciation and amortization costs have been reduced substantially for GAAP purposes, thereby increasing net income or decreasing net loss. As we increase our capital expenditures, especially to procure and launch our second-generation satellite constellation, we expect GAAP depreciation to increase substantially. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. To verify the life of our satellites, we commissioned a report by an independent consultant to assess the health and life of our current constellation. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease. We perform ongoing evaluations of the estimated useful lives of our property and equipment for depreciation purposes. The estimated useful lives are determined and continually evaluated based on the period over which services are expected to be rendered by the asset. Maintenance and repair items are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes
Until January 1, 2006, we were treated as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. Generally, our taxable income or loss, deductions and credits were passed through to our members. We did have some corporate subsidiaries that required a tax provision or benefit using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (SFAS No. 109). Effective January 1, 2006, we elected to be taxed as a C corporation in the United States. When an enterprise changes its tax status from non-taxable to taxable, under SFAS No. 109 the effect of recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities is included in income from continuing operations in the period of change. As a result, we recognized a gross deferred tax asset of $204.2 million and a gross deferred tax liability of $0.1 million on January 1, 2006. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced
22
by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, we take into account various factors including the expected level of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. We determined that it was more likely than not that we would not recognize the entire deferred tax asset; therefore, we established a valuation allowance of $182.7 million, resulting in recognition of a net deferred tax benefit of $21.4 million. We monitor the situation to ensure that, if and when we are more likely than not to be able to utilize more of the deferred tax asset, we will be able to reduce the valuation allowance accordingly. On January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). See Note 9 to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the impact of this adoption on our financial statements.
Spare Satellites, Launch Costs and Second-Generation Satellites
Old Globalstar purchased eight additional satellites in 1998 for $148.0 million (including performance incentives of up to $16.0 million) to serve as on-ground spares. Costs of $147.0 million (including a portion of the performance incentives) were previously recognized for these spare satellites. Prior to December 5, 2003, Old Globalstar recorded an impairment of these assets, and at December 5, 2003 they were carried at $0.9 million. All eight satellites have been completed. Four of the satellites were launched in May 2007 and we plan to launch the remaining satellites later in 2007. Depreciation of these assets will not begin until the satellites are placed in service and begin to handle call traffic. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, these assets were recorded at $111.1 million and $87.8 million, respectively. On November 30, 2006, we entered into a contract with Thales Alenia Space to construct 48 low-earth orbit satellites. The total contract price will be approximately 662.6 million (approximately $885.0 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3356 at June 30, 2007 including approximately 146.3 million which will be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294). The contract requires Thales Alenia Space to commence delivery of satellites in the third quarter of 2009, with deliveries continuing until 2013 unless we elect to accelerate delivery. If we elect to accelerate delivery of the second phase of satellites, it is contemplated that all of the satellites will be delivered by the third quarter of 2010. As of June 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, capitalized interest included within spare and second-generation satellites and launch costs was $0.9 million. In March, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for the Companys second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.1 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3475) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009.
Pension Obligations
We have a company-sponsored retirement plan covering certain current and past U.S.-based employees. Until June 1, 2004, substantially all of Old Globalstars and our employees and retirees who participated and/or met the vesting criteria for the plan were participants in the Retirement Plan of Space Systems/Loral, Inc. (the Loral Plan), a defined benefit pension plan. The accrual of benefits in the Old Globalstar segment of the Loral Plan was curtailed, or frozen, by the administrator of the Loral Plan as of October 23, 2003. Prior to October 23, 2003, benefits for the Loral Plan were generally based upon compensation, length of service with the company and age of the participant. On June 1, 2004, the assets and frozen pension obligations of the segment attributable to our employees were transferred into a new Globalstar Retirement Plan (the Globalstar Plan). The Globalstar Plan remains frozen and participants are not currently accruing benefits beyond those accrued as of October 23, 2003. Our funding policy is to fund the Globalstar Plan in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and regulations.
We account for our defined benefit pension and life insurance benefit plans in accordance with SFAS No. 87, Employers Accounting for Pensions, (SFAS 87), SFAS No. 106, Employers Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions, (SFAS 106) and SFAS No. 158, Employers Accounting Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, (SFAS 158) which require that amounts recognized in financial statements be determined on an actuarial basis. We adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158 on December 31, 2006 and this adoption did not have any impact on our results of operation. Pension benefits associated with these plans are generally based on each participants years of service, compensation, and age at retirement or termination. Two critical assumptions, the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and liability measurement. We utilize the services of a third party to perform these actuarial calculations.
23
We determine the discount rate used to measure plan liabilities as of the December 31 measurement date for the U.S. pension plan. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the associated liabilities could be effectively settled at the end of the year. In estimating this rate, we look at rates of return on fixed-income investments of similar duration to the liabilities in the plan that receive high, investment grade ratings by recognized ratings agencies. Using these methodologies, we determined a discount rate of 5.75% to be appropriate as of December 31, 2006, which is an increase of 0.25 percentage points from the rate used as of December 31, 2005. An increase of 1.0% in the discount rate would have decreased our plan liabilities as of December 31, 2006 by $0.1 million and a decrease of 1.0% could have increased our plan liabilities by $0.1 million.
A significant element in determining our pension expense in accordance with SFAS No. 87 is the expected return on plan assets, which is based on historical results for similar allocations among asset classes. For the U.S. pension plan, our assumption for the expected return on plan assets was 7.5% for 2006.
The difference between the expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred and, under certain circumstances, amortized over future years of service. Therefore, the net deferral of past asset gains (losses) ultimately affects future pension expense. This is also true of changes to actuarial assumptions. As of December 31, 2006, we had net unrecognized pension actuarial losses of $2.0 million. These amounts represent potential future pension and postretirement expenses that would be amortized over average future service periods.
Derivative Instrument
We utilize a derivative instrument in the form of an interest rate swap agreement to minimize our risk from interest rate fluctuations related to our variable rate credit agreement. We use the interest rate swap agreement to manage risk and not for trading or other speculative purposes. At the end of each accounting period, we record the derivative instrument on our balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. The interest rate swap agreement does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreement are recognized as Interest rate derivative gain (loss) over the life of the agreement.
Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, as a result of our initial public offering, we adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123(R), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)), and related interpretations, or SFAS 123(R), to account for stock-based compensation using the modified prospective transition method and therefore have not restated our prior period results. Among other things, SFAS 123(R) requires that compensation expense be recognized in the financial statements for both employee and non-employee share-based awards based on the grant date fair value of those awards. At January 1, 2006, the option of one board member to purchase up to 120,000 shares of Common Stock at $2.67 per share was the only outstanding equity award. Compensation cost related to the remaining portion of this award for which the requisite service had not been rendered was insignificant. Therefore, the adoption of SFAS 123(R) did not have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Additionally, stock-based compensation expense includes an estimate for pre-vesting forfeitures and is recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards on a straight-line basis, which is generally commensurate with the vesting term.
24
Results of Operations
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended June 30, |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
% Change |
|
||
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Service revenue |
|
$ |
19,984 |
|
$ |
21,508 |
|
(7 |
)% |
Subscriber equipment sales |
|
5,853 |
|
16,891 |
|
(65 |
) |
||
Total revenue |
|
25,837 |
|
38,399 |
|
(33 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
6,738 |
|
7,341 |
|
(8 |
) |
||
Cost of subscriber equipment sales |
|
4,557 |
|
17,254 |
|
(74 |
) |
||
Marketing, general and administrative |
|
10,634 |
|
10,726 |
|
(1 |
) |
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
2,537 |
|
1,308 |
|
94 |
|
||
Impairment of assets |
|
17,255 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
||
Total operating expenses |
|
41,721 |
|
36,629 |
|
14 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating income (loss) |
|
(15,884 |
) |
1,770 |
|
N/A |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest income |
|
691 |
|
199 |
|
247 |
|
||
Interest expense |
|
(385 |
) |
(88 |
) |
338 |
|
||
Interest rate derivative gain |
|
1,910 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
||
Other income (expense) |
|
(187 |
) |
(1,423 |
) |
(87 |
) |
||
Total other income (expense) |
|
2,029 |
|
(1,312 |
) |
N/A |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
(13,855 |
) |
458 |
|
N/A |
|
||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
(1,168 |
) |
1,292 |
|
N/A |
|
||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(12,687 |
) |
$ |
(834 |
) |
1,421 |
% |
Revenue. Total revenue decreased by $12.6 million, or approximately 33%, to $25.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $38.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease is attributed primarily to lower equipment sales as a result of decreased new subscriber additions which, we believe, stem from concerns over the service gaps that have occurred in our constellations two-way communications service. In addition, the degraded satellite performance affecting our two-way service during the first half of 2007 appears to have affected our retail ARPU during the three months ended June 30, 2007, which decreased by 16% to $47.50 from $56.49 for the three months ended June 30, 2006.
Service Revenue. Service revenue decreased $1.5 million, or approximately 7%, to $20.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $21.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. Although our subscriber base grew 17% to approximately 278,000 over the twelve-month period from June 30, 2006 to June 30, 2007, we experienced decreased retail ARPU. We believe that the satellite degradation we reported in February 2007, was the primary reason for this reduction.
Subscriber Equipment Sales. Subscriber equipment sales decreased by $11.0 million, or approximately 65%, to $5.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $16.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease can be attributed to the reasons listed above for decrease in overall revenue.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses increased $5.1 million, or approximately 14%, to $41.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $36.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was due primarily to a net asset impairment charge to our first-generation phone and accessory inventory of $17.3 million as a result of our inventory quantities and recent and projected equipment sales. This impairment was offset partially with lower cost of subscriber equipment consistent with lower subscriber equipment sales for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.
Cost of Services. Our cost of services for the three months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 were $6.7 million and $7.3 million, respectively. Our cost of services is comprised primarily of network operating costs, which are generally fixed in
25
nature. However, we continue to see a reduction of costs as a result of lower telecom costs and capitalization of certain labor costs.
Cost of Subscriber Equipment Sales. Cost of subscriber equipment sales decreased $12.7 million, or approximately 74%, to $4.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $17.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease was primarily due to lower equipment sales. However, we experienced higher equipment margin in the three months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006.
Marketing, General and Administrative. Marketing, general and administrative expenses decreased $0.1 million, or approximately 1%, to $10.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $10.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This resulted from the generally fixed nature of our general and administrative expenses and our decision to keep marketing expenses consistent year over year.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.2 million, or 94%, to $2.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $1.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was primarily due to the additional depreciation associated with our Alaska gateway which became operational in July 2006 and as a result of reducing the remaining useful life of our satellite system and related assets from 39 months to 27 months, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Impairment of assets. For the three months ended June 30, 2007, we recorded a net impairment charge of $17.3 million representing a write down on our first-generation phone and accessory inventory. This charge was taken after an assessment of our current inventory quantities and recent and projected equipment sales. There was no such charge in the same period in 2006.
Operating Income (Loss). Operating income (loss) decreased $17.7 million, to an operating loss of $15.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from operating income of $1.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease was primarily due to the impairment of assets charge offset by lower costs of subscriber equipment sales.
Interest Income. Interest income increased by $0.5 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007. This increase was due to increased cash balances on hand and higher yields on those balances.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $0.3 million, to $0.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 from less than $0.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was due to commitment fees related to our revolving credit facility and amortization of deferred financing costs.
Interest Rate Derivative Gain . For the three months ended June 30, 2007, interest rate derivative gain consists of a $1.9 million gain due to a change in the fair value of our interest rate swap agreement. We did not have any derivatives during the same period in 2006.
Other Income (Expense). Other income (expense) generally consists of foreign exchange transaction gains and losses. Other expense decreased by $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006 primarily as a result of the favorable exchange rate on our Euro denominated escrow account.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax benefit for the three months ended June 30, 2007 was $1.2 million compared to an income tax expense of $1.3 million during the same period in 2006. This was primarily due to the inventory impairment charge that we recognized during the second quarter of 2007.
Net Income (Loss). Our net loss increased $11.9 million to $12.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2007, from $0.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2006. This was due primarily to the impairment charge recognized during the three months ended June 30, 2007.
26
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
Six months ended June 30, |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
% Change |
|
||
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Service revenue |
|
$ |
37,450 |
|
$ |
42,202 |
|
(11 |
)% |
Subscriber equipment sales |
|
11,541 |
|
26,539 |
|
(57 |
) |
||
Total revenue |
|
48,991 |
|
68,741 |
|
(29 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
13,121 |
|
13,888 |
|
(6 |
) |
||
Cost of subscriber equipment sales |
|
8,008 |
|
25,769 |
|
(69 |
) |
||
Marketing, general and administrative |
|
22,116 |
|
20,691 |
|
7 |
|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
4,961 |
|
2,698 |
|
84 |
|
||
Impairment of assets |
|
17,255 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
||
Total operating expenses |
|
65,461 |
|
63,046 |
|
4 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating income (loss) |
|
(16,470 |
) |
5,695 |
|
N/A |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest income |
|
1,519 |
|
366 |
|
315 |
|
||
Interest expense |
|
(696 |
) |
(108 |
) |
544 |
|
||
Interest rate derivative gain |
|
1,546 |
|
|
|
100 |
|
||
Other income (expense) |
|
1,047 |
|
(1,760 |
) |
N/A |
|
||
Total other income (expense) |
|
3,416 |
|
(1,502 |
) |
N/A |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Income (loss) before income taxes |
|
(13,054 |
) |
4,193 |
|
N/A |
|
||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
(811 |
) |
(17,459 |
) |
N/A |
|
||
Net income (loss) |
|
$ |
(12,243 |
) |
$ |
21,652 |
|
N/A |
% |
Revenue. Total revenue decreased by $19.8 million, or approximately 29%, to $49.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $68.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease is attributed in part to lower service revenues as a result of degraded two-way communications service from our constellation reconfiguration to accommodate the inclusion of eight spare satellites, four of which were successfully launched in May 2007. Our subscriber equipment sales decreased significantly during the six months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006 as a result of lower subscriber additions during the first six months of 2007 which, we believe, stem from concerns over service gaps that have occurred in our constellations two-way communications services. The degraded satellite performance appears to have affected our retail ARPU during the six months ended June 30, 2007, which decreased by 22% to $45.11 from $57.52 for the six months ended June 30, 2006.
Service Revenue. Service revenue decreased $4.8 million, or approximately 11%, to $37.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $42.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. Although our subscriber base grew 17% to approximately 278,000 over the twelve-month period from June 30, 2006 to June 30, 2007, we experienced decreased retail ARPU resulting in lower service revenue. We believe that the primary reason for this decrease in our service revenue was the degradation of our two-way communications service during the first six months of 2007.
Subscriber Equipment Sales. Subscriber equipment sales decreased by $15.0 million, or approximately 57%, to $11.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $26.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease was due primarily to lower new subscriber additions during the six months ended June 30, 2007, which resulted in lower equipment sales.
Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses increased $2.4 million, or approximately 4%, to $65.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $63.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was due primarily to the net asset impairment charge described earlier which was offset by lower cost of subscriber equipment consistent with lower equipment sales for the six months ended June 30, 2007.
Cost of Services. Our cost of services for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 were $13.1 million and $13.9 million, respectively. Our cost of services is comprised primarily of network operating costs, which are generally fixed in
27
nature. However, we continue to see a reduction of costs as a result of lower telecom costs and capitalization of certain labor costs.
Cost of Subscriber Equipment Sales. Cost of subscriber equipment sales decreased $17.8 million, or approximately 69%, to $8.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $25.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease was primarily due to lower equipment sales. However, we experienced higher equipment margin in the six months ended June 30, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.
Marketing, General and Administrative. Marketing, general and administrative expenses increased $1.4 million, or approximately 7%, to $22.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $20.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was due primarily to higher professional fees related to operating as a public company and non-cash stock compensation expense.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $2.3 million, or 84%, to $5.0 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $2.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was due primarily to the additional depreciation associated with our Alaska gateway, which became operational in July 2006, and as a result of reducing the remaining useful life of our satellite system and related assets from 39 months to 27 months, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Impairment of assets. For the six months ended June 30, 2007, we recorded a net impairment charge of $17.3 million representing a write down on our first-generation phone and accessory inventory. This charge was taken after assessment of our inventory quantities and recent and projected equipment sales. There was no such charge in the same period in 2006.
Operating Income (Loss). Operating income (loss) decreased $22.2 million, to an operating loss of $16.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from operating income of $5.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. The decrease was due to the asset impairment charge described above and lower service and subscriber equipment revenues partially offset by lower cost of equipment sales.
Interest Income. Interest income increased by $1.2 million to $1.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from $0.4 million for the same period in 2006. This increase was due to increased average cash balances on hand and higher yields on those balances.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $0.6 million, to $0.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 from $0.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This increase was due to commitment fees related to our revolving credit facility and amortization of deferred financing costs.
Interest Rate Derivative Gain. For the six months ended June 30, 2007, interest rate derivative gain consists of a $1.5 million gain due to a change in the fair value of our interest rate swap agreement. We did not have any derivatives during the same period in 2006.
Other Income (Expense). Other income (expense) generally consists of foreign exchange transaction gains and losses. Other income increased by $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006 due to a favorable exchange rate on the Euro denominated escrow account during the first half of 2007.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax benefit for the six months ended June 30, 2007 was $0.8 million compared to a income tax benefit of $17.5 million during the same period in 2006. The change between periods was primarily a result of a $21.4 million deferred tax benefit recorded on January 1, 2006 upon our election to be taxed as a C Corporation.
Net Income (Loss). Our net income decreased $33.9 million to a loss of $12.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, from net income of $21.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease was due primarily to the $17.3 million asset impairment charge related to our inventory recognized during the second quarter of 2007 and the absence in 2007 of the $17.5 million deferred tax benefit recognized during the same period in 2006.
28
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table shows our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2007 and 2006:
|
Six Months Ended |
|
Six Months Ended |
|
|||
|
|
June 30, 2007 |
|
June 30, 2006 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net cash from operating activities |
|
$ |
(16,471 |
) |
$ |
3,230 |
|
Net cash from investing activities |
|
(74,355 |
) |
(42,671 |
) |
||
Net cash from financing activities |
|
58,244 |
|
40,119 |
|
||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
(1,042 |
) |
126 |
|
||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
(33,624 |
) |
$ |
804 |
|
Our principal sources of liquidity are our credit agreement and the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement discussed below, our existing cash and internally generated cash flow from operations.
Our principal short-term liquidity needs are to fund our working capital ($26.3 million at June 30, 2007, which our management believes is sufficient for our present requirements), to pay amounts due within six months for the launch of our four remaining spare satellites (approximately $15.5 million) and to make payments to procure our second-generation satellite constellation, construct the Control Network Facility and upgrade our gateways and other ground facilities, in a total amount not yet determined, but which will include approximately $155.2 million and $5.8 million payable to Thales Alenia Space by June 2008 under the purchase contract for our second-generation satellites and the contract for construction of the Control Network Facility, respectively, and fulfill cash escrow requirements under the Thales Alenia Space contract approximating an additional $31.3 million through June 30, 2008. We expect to fund these requirements with cash on hand ($10.1 million at June 30, 2007), borrowings under our credit facility (of which the entire $100.0 million related to the delayed draw term loan and $50.0 million related to the revolving credit facility, were undrawn at June 30, 2007), and proceeds from the sale of our Common Stock to Thermo Funding Company (whose remaining commitment under the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement at June 30, 2007 was $93.4 million and $58.4 million at August 1, 2007). Our ability to borrow under the credit agreement is conditioned on the absence of any material adverse change in our results of operations or financial condition from August 16, 2006 to the date of the borrowing.
Our principal long-term liquidity needs are to fund our working capital, including any growth in working capital required by growth in our business, to pay the costs of procuring and deploying our second-generation satellite constellation and upgrading our gateways and other ground facilities and to fund the cash requirements of our independent gateway operator acquisition strategy, in an amount not determinable at this time. We expect to fund our long-term capital needs with the proceeds from our initial public offering, the $100.0 million delayed draw term loan and the $50.0 million revolving credit facility under our credit agreement, the remaining funds available from sales of our common stock under Thermo Funding Companys standby stock purchase agreement, cash flow generated from our operations and incurrence of additional indebtedness, additional equity financings or a combination of these potential sources of funds. We have not obtained any commitment for such funds. See Part II, Item 1A. Risk FactorsWe may need additional capital to maintain our network and to pursue future growth opportunities. If we fail to obtain sufficient capital we will not be able to complete our business plan.
Although we believe that these sources will provide sufficient liquidity for us to meet our long-term liquidity requirements, our liquidity and our ability to fund these needs will depend to a significant extent on our future financial performance, which will be subject in part to general economic, financial, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control, including trends in our industry and technology discussed elsewhere in this Report. In addition to these general economic and industry factors, the principal factors determining whether our cash flows will be sufficient to meet our long-term liquidity requirements will be our ability to continue to provide attractive and competitive services and products, successful mitigation of the degradation of our current satellite constellation until we can deploy our second-generation satellite constellation, increase our number of subscribers and retail average revenue per user, control our costs, and maintain our margins and profitability. If those factors change significantly or other unexpected factors adversely affect us, our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations and future financings may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all to meet our liquidity needs.
In assessing our liquidity, management reviews and analyzes our current cash on-hand, the average number of days our accounts receivable are outstanding, the contractual rates that we have established with our vendors, inventory turns, foreign exchange rates, capital expenditure commitments and income tax rates.
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Net Cash from Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2007 decreased to a cash outflow of $16.5 million from a cash inflow of $3.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2006. This decrease was a result of lower revenues and changes in operating assets and liabilities during the six months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2006.
Net Cash from Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $74.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007, compared to $42.7 million for the same period in 2006. This increase was the result of capital expenditures associated with construction expenses for our second-generation satellite constellation and the scheduled launches of our eight spare satellites in 2007 (four of which were launched in May 2007).
Net Cash from Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased by $18.1 million to $58.2 million from $40.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006. The increase was the result of $59.3 million received from Thermo Funding Company for equity purchased pursuant to its irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement in the six months ended June 30, 2007 as compared to $15.0 million received in the six months ended June 30, 2006, offset by proceeds from borrowings under the revolving credit facility and subscription receivable in the same period.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures consist primarily of upgrading our satellite constellation and gateways and other ground facilities. In 2005, we began construction of a new gateway in Wasilla, Alaska to cover the Alaskan territory and part of the Bering Sea. The Alaska gateway went into operation in July 2006. This gateway cost $4.8 million (excluding $0.8 million for the purchase of real property). In 2005, we also commenced capital expenditures for the launch of our eight spare satellites. In 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007, we incurred $84.8 million and $23.3 million, respectively, related to the launch of our eight spare satellites. Total amount incurred related to the launch of our eight satellites as of June 30, 2007 was $109.4 million (excluding capitalized interest). The total expected cost for the launch of the spare satellites is approximately $124.0 million exclusive of capitalized interest and internal costs. In the fourth quarter of 2006, we entered into a contract with Thales Alenia Space for our second-generation satellite constellation in the amount of approximately $885.0 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3356 at June 30, 2007, including approximately 146.3 million which will be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294, and have incurred approximately $103.6 million in related costs through June 30, 2007. At our request, Thales Alenia Space has presented a plan to us for accelerating delivery of the initial 24 satellites by up to four months. The expected cost of this acceleration will range from approximately 5.8 million to 11.6 million ($7.8 million to $15.6 million at 1.00 = $1.3475). We cannot assure you that any or all of the acceleration will occur. In March 2007, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for the Companys second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.1 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3475) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009. We intend to use the proceeds from our initial public offering, cash flows from our operations, funding under our credit agreement and available liquidity from Thermo Funding Companys irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, and to the extent necessary, additional indebtedness, additional equity financings or a combination of these potential sources, to fund our capital expenditures.
Cash Position and Indebtedness
As of June 30, 2007, our total cash and cash equivalents were $10.1 million and we had total indebtedness of $0.5 million, compared to total cash and cash equivalents and total indebtedness at June 30, 2006 of $21.1 million and $16.4 million, respectively.
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Credit Agreement
On August 16, 2006, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wachovia Investment Holdings, LLC, as administrative agent and swingline lender, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as issuing lender, which was subsequently amended on September 29 and October 26, 2006. The amended and restated credit agreement provides for a $50.0 million revolving credit facility and a $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facility. The delayed draw term loan may be drawn after January 1, 2008 and prior to August 16, 2009, but only if, after giving effect to the delayed draw term loan and thereafter at the end of each quarter while the delayed draw term loan is outstanding, our consolidated senior secured leverage ratio does not exceed 3.5 to 1.0. In addition to the $150.0 million revolving and delayed draw term loan facilities, the amended and restated credit agreement permits us to incur additional term loans on an equally and ratably secured, pari passu, basis in an aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million (plus the amount of any reduction in the delayed draw term loan facility or prepayment of loans) from the lenders under the credit agreement or other banks, financial institutions or investment funds approved by us and the administrative agent. We have chosen not to seek commitments for these additional term loans at this time. These additional term loans may be incurred only if no event of default then exists, if we are in pro-forma compliance with all of the financial covenants of the credit agreement, and if, after giving effect thereto, our consolidated total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to 1.0.
All revolving credit loans will mature on June 30, 2010 and all term loans will mature on June 30, 2011. Revolving credit loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.25% to 4.75% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 3.25% to 3.75%. We had no borrowings under the revolving credit facility at June 30, 2007. The delayed draw term loan will bear interest at LIBOR plus 6.0% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 5.0%, and the delayed draw term loan facility bears an annual commitment fee of 2.0% until drawn or terminated. Additional term loans will bear interest at rates to be negotiated. To hedge a portion of the interest rate risk with respect to the delayed draw term loans, we entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement. See Note 15: Interest Rate Derivative of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report. The loans may be prepaid without penalty at any time.
We are currently in compliance with the capital expenditure, liquidity and forward fixed charge coverage ratio tests described above and the other restrictive covenants of the amended and restated credit agreement.
Irrevocable Standby Stock Purchase Agreement
In connection with the execution of the initial Wachovia credit agreement on April 24, 2006, we entered into an irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company pursuant to which it agreed to purchase under the circumstances described below up to 12,371,136 shares of our Common Stock at a price per share of approximately $16.17 (approximately $200.0 million in the aggregate), without regard to any future increase or decrease in the trading price of our Common Stock. Thermo Funding Companys obligation to purchase these shares is secured by the escrow of cash and marketable securities in an amount equal to 105% of its unfunded commitment.
Pursuant to the agreement, Thermo Funding Company will be required to purchase shares of our Common Stock (in minimum amounts of $5.0 million) as may be necessary:
· to enable us to comply with the minimum liquidity and forward fixed charge coverage ratio tests of our credit agreement; or
· to cure a default in payment of regularly scheduled principal or interest under our credit agreement.
The agreement terminates on the earliest of December 31, 2011, our payment in full of all obligations under the credit agreement or Thermo Funding Companys purchase of all of the stock subject to its obligations under the agreement. Thermo Funding Company may elect at any time to purchase any unpurchased stock. Thermo Funding Company purchased 6,592,342 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $106.6 million prior to June 30, 2007. On February 5, 2007, Thermo Funding Company purchased 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24.3 million. Consistent with its prior purchases, on April 26, 2007, Thermo Funding Company elected to make a further investment by purchasing an additional 2,164,502 shares of our Common Stock at a price of $16.17 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million with the payment made in two tranches. The first of these payments was made on April 30, 2007 in the amount of $25.0 million for 1,546,073 shares. The second payment was made on May 9, 2007 in the amount of $10.0 million for 618,429 shares. On July 31, 2007, we received an additional $35.0 million from Thermo Funding Company in exchange for 2,164,502 shares of our Common Stock. We will not receive the entire
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remaining $58.4 million of proceeds of the sale of Common Stock subject to the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company if the conditions requiring Thermo Funding Company to purchase the stock do not occur during the term of the agreement and Thermo Funding Company does not elect to purchase the stock voluntarily.
As required by the pre-emptive rights provisions contained in our former certificate of incorporation, we intend to offer our stockholders as of June 15, 2006 who are accredited investors (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933) and who received thirty-six or more shares of our Common Stock as a result of the Old Globalstar bankruptcy, the opportunity to participate in the transactions contemplated by Thermo Funding Companys irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement on a pro rata basis on substantially the same terms as Thermo Funding Company, except that these stockholders will not be subject to the escrow requirements described above. These stockholders, excluding stockholders who have waived their pre-emptive rights, will be entitled to purchase, and upon entering into a commitment may elect to purchase at any time thereafter, up to 785,328 additional shares of our Common Stock at approximately $16.17 per share in the pre-emptive rights offering.
We plan to use the proceeds from our amended and restated credit agreement and the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, cash generated by our business and proceeds from other equity sales or debt financings to fund the procurement and launch of our second-generation satellite constellation, upgrades to our gateways and other ground facilities and the launch of eight spare satellites (four of which were launched in May 2007) to augment our current constellation, as well as for general corporate purposes.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
During 2004, 2005, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007, we committed to purchase $189.1 million of mobile phones, services and other equipment under various commercial agreements with QUALCOMM. At June 30, 2007, we had a remaining commitment to purchase $68.4 million of equipment from QUALCOMM. We believe the long-term equipment contract with QUALCOMM is necessary to obtain the best possible pricing for the development and purchase of our second-generation of handsets and accessories. We expect to fund this remaining commitment from our working capital and funds generated by our operations.
On June 1, 2004, we entered into a master services agreement with Space Systems/Loral, Inc. providing for various services related to preparing our eight spare satellites for launch. At June 30, 2007, we had authorized Space Systems/Loral, Inc. to spend up to approximately $27.0 million related to this agreement and related task orders, and approximately $23.1 million of those charges had been incurred. The agreement renews annually for up to 10 years unless terminated earlier. We may terminate the agreement upon 30-days notice and any task order upon 10-days notice. Upon termination, we must pay for any costs related to services performed through termination and the 10-day transition period thereafter. Those costs may not exceed the amount previously authorized by us. We or Space Systems/Loral may terminate the agreement upon any uncured material breach of the terms of the agreement or any task order.
On September 19, 2005, we executed a contract with Starsem providing for Starsem to launch our eight spare satellites in two launches of four satellites each. Starsem, a French-Russian joint venture, is a leading provider of launch services utilizing highly reliable human-rated Soyuz launchers, with over 1700 successful missions to date and approximately 99% reliability rating. The contract also provides for a compatibility and feasibility study and certain post-launch services including capitalized interest and excluding capitalized labor. As of June 30, 2007, we had incurred approximately $75.1 million in obligations to Starsem under the contract. We estimate that the total cost of completing, testing and launching our eight spare satellites will be approximately $124.0 million, exclusive of capitalized interest and internal costs.
Pursuant to a memorandum dated as of June 1, 2005, we agreed to provide supplemental incentive compensation to certain of our executive officers in the form of cash bonuses (the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan) which, upon the fulfillment of certain conditions, may aggregate up to $30.0 million. In both 2005 and 2006, we accrued $1.6 million in compensation expense with respect to this plan. Approximately $3.2 million was paid to the executive officers in January 2007 pursuant to this plan. During the six months ended June 30, 2007, we had accrued approximately $1.8 million in compensation expense related to this plan.
Effective August 10, 2007 (the Effective Date), the Board of Directors of the Company, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the concurrent termination of the Companys Executive Incentive Compensation Plan and awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units under the Companys 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to three named executive officers and two other executives who are not named executive officers (the Participants). Each Award Agreement provides that the recipient will receive awards of restricted common stock or restricted stock units, which upon vesting, each entitle him to one share of Globalstar Common Stock. Total benefits per Participant (valued at the grant date) are $6.0 million, which represents an increase of $1.5 million in potential compensation compared to the maximum potential benefits under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. However, the new Award Agreements extend the vesting period by up to two years and provide for payment in shares of Common Stock instead of cash, thereby enabling us to conserve our cash for capital expenditures for the procurement and launch of its second-generation satellite constellation and related ground station upgrades.
On November 30, 2006, we and Thales Alenia Space entered into a definitive contract pursuant to which Thales Alenia Space will construct 48 low-earth-orbit satellites in two batches (the first of 25, including a proto-flight model satellite, and the second of 23) for our second-generation satellite constellation. Under the contract, Thales Alenia Space also will provide launch support services and mission operations support services. We will contract separately with other providers for launch services and launch insurance for the satellites. The total contract price will be approximately 662.6 million, (approximately
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$885.0 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3356 at June 30, 2007 including approximately 146.3 million which will be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294), subject to reduction by approximately 28.0 million (approximately $37.1 million) if we elect to accelerate construction and delivery of the second batch of satellites. Of the 662.6 million, approximately 622.4 million ($831.3 million) will be paid for the design, development and manufacture of the satellites and approximately 40.2 million ($53.7 million) will be paid for launch and mission support services. We are also obligated to pay Thales Alenia Space up to $75.0 million in bonus payments depending upon the fulfillment of various conditions, including our cumulative EBITDA exceeding certain projections, Thales Alenia Spaces achievement of the specified delivery schedule and satisfactory operation of the satellites after delivery. The approximately 12.4 million ($16.0 million) paid by us to Thales Alenia Space pursuant to an Authorization to Proceed dated October 5, 2006, as amended, was credited against payments to be made by us under the contract. We have established and maintain an escrow account with a commercial bank to secure our payment obligations under the contract, with the amount of the escrow account being not less than the next two quarterly payments required by the contract. The initial escrow deposit was 40.0 million. We and Thales Alenia Space entered into the escrow agreement on December 21, 2006. We obtained the consent of our lenders to establish the escrow account. Payments under the contract began in the fourth quarter of 2006 and will extend into the fourth quarter of 2013 unless we elect to accelerate the delivery of the second batch of satellites. The contract requires Thales Alenia Space to commence delivery of the satellites in the third quarter of 2009, with deliveries continuing until the third quarter of 2013, unless we elect to accelerate deliveries. If we elect to accelerate delivery of the second batch of satellites, it is contemplated that all of the satellites will be delivered by the third quarter of 2010. At our request, Thales Alenia Space has presented a plan to us for accelerating delivery of the initial 24 satellites by up to four months. The expected cost of this acceleration will range from approximately 5.8 million to 11.6 million ($7.8 million to $15.6 million at 1.00 = $1.3475). We cannot assure you that any or all of the acceleration will occur.
In March, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for our second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.1 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3475) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009. We have the option to terminate the contract if excusable delays affecting Thales Alenia Spaces ability to perform the contract total six consecutive months or at its convenience. If we terminate the contract, we must pay Thales Alenia Space the lesser of its unpaid costs for work performed by Thales Alenia Space and its subcontractors or payments for the next two quarters following termination. If Thales Alenia Space has not completed the Control Network Facility acceptance review within sixty days of the due date, we will be entitled to certain liquidated damages. Failure to complete the Control Network Facility acceptance review on or before six months after the due date results in a default by Thales Alenia Space, entitling us to a refund of all payments, except for liquidated damage amounts previously paid or with respect to items where final delivery has occurred. The Control Network Facility, when accepted, will be covered by a limited one-year warranty. The contract contains customary arbitration and indemnification provisions.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
We have no material off-balance sheet transactions.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The information provided under Note 1: The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Recent Accounting Pronouncements of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our services and products are sold, distributed or available in over 120 countries. Our international sales are made primarily in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros. In some cases insufficient supplies of U.S. currency may require us to accept payment in other foreign currencies. We reduce our currency exchange risk from revenues in currencies other than the U.S. dollar by requiring payment in U.S. dollars whenever possible and purchasing foreign currencies on the spot market
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when rates are favorable. We currently do not purchase hedging instruments to hedge foreign currencies. However, our credit agreement requires us to do so on terms reasonably acceptable to the administrative agent not later than 90 days after the end of any quarter in which more than 25% of our revenue is originally denominated in a single currency other than U.S. or Canadian dollars.
As discussed in Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesContractual Obligations and Commitments, we have entered into a contract with Starsem to launch our eight spare satellites. We have also entered into two separate contracts with Thales Alenia Space to construct 48 low earth orbit satellites for our second-generation satellite constellation and to provide launch-related and operations support services, and to construct the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In-Orbit Test Equipment for our second-generation satellite constellation. All payments under the Starsem contract, and a substantial majority of the payments under the Thales Alenia Space agreements, are denominated in Euros.
Our interest rate risk arises from our variable rate debt under our credit agreement, under which loans bear interest at a floating rate based on the U.S. prime rate or LIBOR. Assuming that we borrowed the entire $150.0 million in revolving and term debt available under our credit agreement, and without giving effect to the hedging arrangement described in the next sentence, a 1.0% change in interest rates would result in a change to interest expense of approximately $1.5 million annually. To hedge a portion of our interest rate risk, we have entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement with respect to a $100.0 million notional amount at a fixed rate of 5.64%. See Note 15: Interest Rate Derivative of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the end of the period covered by this report. The evaluation included certain internal control areas in which we have made and are continuing to make changes to improve and enhance controls. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Based on the material weakness and significant deficiency discussed below, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Because the material weakness described below has not been fully remediated as of the filing date of this Report, management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, continues to conclude that our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective as of the filing date of this Report. Notwithstanding the material weakness, we believe that the consolidated financial statements included in this Report fairly present, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position and results of operations as of and for the three and six months ended June 30, 2007.
In connection with its audit of our 2006 consolidated financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm, Crowe Chizek and Company LLP (Crowe Chizek), identified a material weakness in our processes, procedures and controls related to the preparation, analysis and review of financial information. The material weakness was a combination of significant deficiencies, including the timeliness of identifying, researching and resolving accounting issues, the sharing of information and knowledge within and outside our accounting department, and the lack of specific metrics or processes to act as early warning indicators of potential impairments, that resulted in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Crowe Chizek also identified a significant deficiency in our internal controls related to the revenue recognition process for annual service plans, which adversely affects our ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report external financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles so that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected. Neither the material weakness nor the significant deficiency resulted in a change to the previously disclosed consolidated financial statements in this Report; however, these issues, if not resolved, could impact our financial statements in the future.
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We intend to remediate this material weakness by hiring additional high-level accounting personnel and instituting additional procedures for interdepartmental communication and staff meetings. We intend to remediate this significant deficiency by adding more automated reporting capabilities in our billing software to reduce the use of manual processes. We have begun implementing the remediation plan to address the material weakness and the significant deficiency and will continue to do so throughout the year to be fully compliant by December 31, 2007. The costs related to these remediations have not been material.
The certifications of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer filed or furnished as Exhibits 31.1, 31.2 and 32.1 to this Report should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in this Item 4.
(b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting.
There were no material changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Since the second half of 2006, we have invested significant resources to comprehensively document and analyze our system of internal control over financial reporting. We have identified areas requiring improvement, and we are in the process of designing enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified through this review. Areas of improvement include streamlining and standardizing our domestic and international billing and other processes, further limiting internal access to certain data systems and continuing to improve coordination and communication across business functions. We plan to continue this initiative as well as prepare for our first management report on internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the annual period ending December 31, 2007, which may result in changes to our internal control over financial reporting.
From time to time, we are involved in various litigation matters involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management currently believes that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial conditions. We are involved in certain litigation matters as discussed elsewhere in this Report. For more detailed information on litigation matters outstanding please see Item 3 - Legal Proceedings in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Note 13 of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
You should carefully consider the risks described in this Report and all of the other reports that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in evaluating and understanding us and our business. Additional risks not presently known or that we currently deem immaterial may also impact our business operations and the risks identified in this Report may adversely affect our business in ways we do not currently anticipate. Our financial condition or results of operations also could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks.
Our satellites have a limited life and may fail prematurely, which would cause our network to be compromised and materially and adversely affect our business, prospects and profitability.
Since the first Old Globalstar satellites were launched in 1998, nine have failed in orbit, one of which we have brought back into service for Simplex use, and we expect others to fail in the future. Eight of our nine satellite failures have been attributed to anomalies of the S-band antenna. The ninth satellites failure was attributed to an anomaly with the satellite command receiver. In-orbit failure may result from various causes, including component failure, loss of power or fuel, inability to control positioning of the satellite, solar or other astronomical events, including solar radiation and flares, and space debris. Other factors that could affect the useful lives of our satellites include the quality of construction, gradual degradation of solar panels and the durability of components. Radiation induced failure of satellite components may result in damage to or loss of a satellite before the end of its currently expected life. As a result, some of our in-orbit satellites may not be fully functioning at any given time.
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As our constellation has aged, the quality of our satellites signals has diminished, and is continuing to diminish, adversely affecting the reliability of our two-way communications service, which could adversely affect our results of operations, cash flow and financial condition. Although we do not incur any direct cash costs related to the failure of a satellite, if a satellite fails, we record an impairment charge reflecting its net book value. There are some remote tools we use to remedy certain types of problems affecting the performance of our satellites, but the physical repair of satellites in space is not feasible. We do not insure our satellites against in-orbit failures, whether such failures are caused by internal or external factors.
S-band Antenna Amplifier Degradation
As described further below, the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifier is occuring at a faster rate than previously experienced and anticipated. The S-band antenna provides the downlink from the satellite to a subscribers phone or data terminal. Degraded performance of the S-band antenna reduces the call completion rate for two-way voice and data communication between the affected satellites and the subscriber and may reduce the duration of a call. If the S-band antenna on a satellite ceases to be commercially functional, two-way communication is impossible over that satellite, but not necessarily over the constellation as a whole. The root cause of the degradation in performance of the S-band antenna amplifiers is unknown, although we believe it may result from irradiation of the satellites in orbit. The S-band antenna amplifier degradation does not affect adversely our one-way Simplex data transmission services, which utilize only the L-band uplink from a subscribers Simplex terminal to the satellites.
To date, we have managed the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifiers in various technical ways, as well as by launching our spare satellites, placing into service spare satellites already in orbit and moving less impaired satellites to key orbital positions. To maintain the highest possible capacity and best possible quality of service in light of this problem and to prepare for the integration of the eight spare satellites to be launched in 2007 (four of which were launched in May 2007), on February 2, 2007, we completed the reconfiguration of our satellite constellation to combine two different Walker configurations, which continue to operate as a single constellation of 40 satellites plus in-orbit spares. This reconfiguration was done to maintain the highest available capacity and quality of service as well as to insert into the constellation spare satellites launched or scheduled for launch in 2007. Following their launch, the eight spare satellites, four of which were launched in May 2007, will be utilized to augment our existing satellite constellation and later will be integrated into our second-generation satellite constellation. We currently expect to launch our second-generation satellites beginning no later than late 2009.
In early 2006, we undertook a comprehensive third-party review of the S-band antenna amplifier degradation and its likely impact on the performance of the constellation as a whole. At that time, based in part on the third-party report, we concluded that, although there was risk, with the addition of the eight spare satellites in 2007, the constellation would continue to provide commercially viable two-way communication services until the next generation satellites begin to be launched in 2009. Based on data collected in 2007 from satellite operations, we have concluded that the degradation of the S-band functionality for two-way communications service is occurring at a faster rate than previously experienced and anticipated. In response, in consultation with outside experts, we have implemented innovative methods, and plan to continue to implement additional corrective measures, to attempt to ameliorate this problem, including modifying the configuration of our constellation as described above, changing the way our gateways operate with the satellites and experimenting with new antennas on our phones, thereby attempting to extend the life of the two-way communication capacity of the constellation. We are able to forecast the duration of service coverage at any particular location in our service area, and we are making this information available without charge to our customers and service providers, including our wholly owned operating subsidiaries, so that they may work with their subscribers to reduce the impact of the service interruptions in their respective service areas. Nonetheless, to date we have been unable to arrest the S-band antenna amplifier degradation and may be unable to do so.
Based on our most recent analysis, we now believe that, if the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifiers continues at the current rate or further accelerates, and if we are unsuccessful in developing additional technical solutions, interruptions of two-way communications services will increase, and by some time in 2008 substantially all of our in-orbit satellites launched prior to 2007 will cease to be able to support two-way communications services. As the number of in-orbit satellites (other than the four spare satellites launched in May 2007 and the remaining four spare satellites scheduled to be launched later in 2007) with properly functioning S-band antenna amplifiers decreases, even with a successful launch and optimized placement in orbit of the eight spare satellites in 2007, increasingly larger coverage gaps will recur over areas in which we currently
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provide two-way communications service. Two-way communications service will continue to be available, but at certain times in any given location it will take substantially longer to establish calls and the average duration of calls may be impacted adversely.
We have introduced plans, including new products and services and pricing programs, and at our request Thales Alenia Space has developed a proposal for accelerating procurement and launch of our second-generation satellite constellation, to attempt to mitigate the effects of this problem upon our customers and operations. However, if we are unable to ameliorate this problem or to maintain our customer base, our business and profitability may be materially and adversely affected.
Implementation of our business plan depends on increased demand for wireless communications services via satellite, both for our existing services and products and for new services and products. If this increased demand does not occur, our revenues and profitability may not increase as we expect.
Demand for wireless communication services via satellite may not grow, or may even shrink, either generally or in particular geographic markets, for particular types of services, or during particular time periods. A lack of demand could impair our ability to sell our services and to develop and successfully market new services, or could exert downward pressure on prices, or both. This, in turn, could decrease our revenues and profitability and adversely affect our ability to increase our revenues and profitability over time.
We are licensed by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, to provide an ancillary terrestrial component, known as ATC services, in combination with our existing communication services. If we can integrate ATC services with our existing business, we will be able to use the spectrum currently licensed to us to provide telecommunications through both our satellite and ground station system and through a terrestrial-based cellular-like system. If successful, this will allow us to address a broader market for our products and services by allowing us to provide communications services where satellite-based service is impractical, such as in urban areas and inside buildings, thereby increasing our revenue and profitability and the value of our business. However, neither we nor any other company has yet successfully integrated ATC services with satellite services, and we may be unable to do so. If we fail to do so, we will not obtain the benefits described above and any investment we make in developing ATC services will be lost.
The success of our business plan, including the integration of ATC services within our existing business, will depend on a number of factors, including:
· the level of market acceptance and demand for all of our services;
· our ability to introduce new services and products that meet this market demand;
· our ability to obtain additional business using our existing spectrum resources both in the United States and internationally;
· our ability to control the costs of developing an integrated network providing related products and services;
· our ability to integrate our satellite services with ATC services, to procure and launch our second-generation satellites and to upgrade our ground facilities consistent with various regulations governing ownership and operation of satellite assets and ATC services;
· our ability to partner with others to maximize the value of our ATC license;
· our ability to develop and deploy innovative network management techniques to permit mobile devices to transition between satellite and terrestrial modes;
· our ability to limit the effects of further degradation of, and to maintain the capacity and control of, our existing satellite network, including the successful launch of the remaining four spare satellites;
· our ability to complete the construction, delivery and launch of our second-generation satellites and, once launched, our ability to maintain their health, capacity and control; and
· the effectiveness of our competitors in developing and offering similar services and products.
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We depend in large part on the efforts of third parties for the retail sale of our services and products. The inability of these third parties to sell our services and products successfully may decrease our revenue and profitability.
For both the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007, approximately 90% of our revenue was derived from products and services sold through independent agents, dealers and resellers, including, outside the United States, independent gateway operators. If these third parties are unable to market our products and services successfully, our revenue and profitability may decrease.
We depend on independent gateway operators to market our services in important regions around the world. If the independent gateway operators are unable to do this successfully, we will not be able to grow our business in those areas as rapidly as we expect.
Although we derive most of our revenue from retail sales to end users in the United States, Canada, a portion of Western Europe, Central America and the northern portion of South America, either directly or through agents, dealers and resellers, we depend on independent gateway operators to purchase, install, operate and maintain gateway equipment, to sell phones and data user terminals, and to market our services in other regions where these independent gateway operators hold exclusive or non-exclusive rights. Not all of the independent gateway operators have been successful and, in some regions, they have not initiated service or sold as much usage as originally anticipated. Some of the independent gateway operators are not earning revenues sufficient to fund their operating costs. If they are unable to continue in business, we will lose the revenue we receive for selling equipment to them and providing services to their customers. Although we have implemented a strategy for the acquisition of certain independent gateway operators when circumstances permit, we may not be able to continue to implement this strategy on favorable terms and may not be able to realize the additional efficiencies that we anticipate from this strategy. In some regions it is impracticable to consolidate the independent gateway operators either because local regulatory requirements or business or cultural norms do not permit consolidation, because the expected revenue increase from consolidation would be insufficient to justify the transaction, or because the independent gateway operator will not sell at a price acceptable to us. In those regions, our revenue and profits may be adversely affected if those independent gateway operators do not fulfill their own business plans to increase substantially their sales of services and products.
We currently are unable to offer service in important regions of the world due to the absence of gateways in those areas, which is limiting our growth and our ability to compete.
Our objective is to establish a worldwide service network, either directly or through independent gateway operators, but to date we have been unable to do so in certain areas of the world and we may not succeed in doing so in the future. We have been unable to find capable independent gateway operators for several important regions and countries, including Central and South Africa, India, and certain parts of Southeast Asia. In addition to the lack of global service availability, cost-effective roaming is not yet available in certain countries because the independent gateway operators have been unable to reach business arrangements with one another. This could reduce overall demand for our products and services and undermine our value for potential users who require service in these areas.
Rapid and significant technological changes in the satellite communications industry may impair our competitive position and require us to make significant additional capital expenditures.
The hardware and software utilized in operating our gateways were designed and manufactured over 10 years ago and portions are becoming obsolete. As they continue to age, they may become less reliable and will be more difficult and expensive to service. Although we maintain inventories of spare parts, it nonetheless may be difficult or impossible to obtain all necessary replacement parts for the hardware. Our business plan contemplates updating or replacing this hardware and software, and we are negotiating with manufacturers to upgrade our gateways for our second-generation constellation, but we may not be successful in these efforts, and the cost may exceed our estimates. We expect to face competition in the future from companies using new technologies and new satellite systems. The space and communications industries are subject to rapid advances and innovations in technology. New technology could render our system obsolete or less competitive by satisfying consumer demand in more attractive ways or through the introduction of incompatible standards. Particular technological developments that could adversely affect us include the deployment by our competitors of new satellites with greater power, greater flexibility, greater efficiency or greater capabilities, as well as continuing improvements in terrestrial wireless technologies. For us to keep up with technological changes and remain competitive, we will need to make significant capital expenditures. Customer acceptance of the services and products that we offer will continually be affected by technology-based differences in our product and service offerings. New technologies may be protected by patents or other intellectual property laws and therefore may not be available to us.
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A decline in our ability to generate cash from operations could impair our ability to pay for our second-generation satellite constellation.
We plan to fund approximately $400.0 million of the total approximately $1.2 billion required to procure and launch our second-generation satellite constellation and related gateway upgrades with approximately $150.0 million from our credit agreement, $116.6 million of the net proceeds from our initial public offering and the remaining proceeds from sales of our common stock under the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. We plan to fund the remaining cost of approximately $800.0 million from cash generated by our business and, if needed, through additional issuance of debt and equity securities. Our reliance on outside funding sources will increase and this funding may be difficult or expensive to obtain if our future revenues or profitability are substantially below our expectations whether as a result of the degradation of our existing constellation or for any other reason, or Thermo Funding Company is not required and does not elect to purchase the stock during the term of the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. Because substantially all of these costs will be capitalized, the resulting increase in our non-cash depreciation expense could have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations. Additionally, we cannot assure you that further equity or debt financing, if needed, will be available on acceptable terms, if at all. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash from our business and if such financing is then unavailable on acceptable terms, we may be unable to put our second-generation satellite constellation into service, which would adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.
A natural disaster could diminish our ability to provide communications service.
Natural disasters could damage or destroy our ground stations resulting in a disruption of service to our customers. In addition, the collateral effects of such disasters such as flooding may impair the functioning of our ground equipment. If a future natural disaster impairs or destroys any of our ground facilities, we may be unable to provide service to our customers in the affected area for a period of time. Even if our gateways are not affected by natural disasters, our service could be disrupted if a natural disaster damages the public switch telephone network or terrestrial wireless networks or our ability to connect to the public switch telephone network or terrestrial wireless networks. Such failure or service disruptions could harm our business and results of operations.
We may not be able to launch our satellites successfully. Loss of a satellite during launch could delay or impair our ability to offer our services or reduce our revenues and launch insurance will not fully cover this risk.
We have in the past insured the launch of our satellites, but we do not insure our existing satellites during their remaining in-orbit operational lives. We will insure the launch of our remaining four spare satellites, which we expect will be launched later in 2007. Insurance proceeds would likely be available in the event of a launch failure, but acquiring replacements for any of these four spares is not feasible and any insurance proceeds would not cover lost revenue.
Our launch failure insurance policy includes specified exclusions, deductibles and material change limitations. Some (but not all) exclusions include damage arising from acts of war, anti-satellite devices and other similar potential risks for which exclusions were customary in the industry at the time the policy was written.
If launch insurance rates were to rise substantially, our future launch costs would increase. In addition, in light of increasing costs, the scope of insurance exclusions and limitations on the nature of the losses for which we can obtain insurance, or other business reasons, we may conclude that it does not make business sense to obtain third-party insurance and may decide to pursue other strategies for mitigating the risk of a satellite launch failure, such as purchasing additional spare satellites or obtaining relaunch guaranties from the launch provider. It is also possible that insurance could become unavailable, either generally or for a specific launch vehicle, or that new insurance could be subject to broader exclusions on coverage, in which event we would bear the risk of launch failures.
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Our business plan includes exploiting our ATC license by combining ATC services with our existing business. If we are unable to accomplish this effectively, our anticipated future revenues and profitability will be reduced and we will lose our investment in developing ATC services.
We plan to integrate ATC services with our existing satellite services and products, initially using our existing communications network, while developing a second-generation satellite network and upgrading our existing ground facilities. To date, neither we nor any other company has developed an integrated commercial network combining satellite services with ATC services, and we may be unable to do so.
Northern Sky Research estimates that development of an independent terrestrial network to provide ATC services could cost $2.5 to $3.0 billion in the United States alone. Therefore, full exploitation of our ATC opportunity probably will require us to form partnerships, service contracts or other joint venture arrangements with other telecommunications or spectrum-based service providers. We may not be able to establish such arrangements at all or on favorable terms and, if such arrangements are established, the other parties may not fulfill their obligations. If we are unable to form a suitable partnership or enter into a service contract or joint venture agreement, we may not be able to realize our plan to offer ATC services, which would limit our ability to expand our business and reduce our revenues and profitability. In addition, in such event we will lose any resources we have invested in developing ATC services, which may be substantial.
ATC spectrum access is limited by regulatory and technological factors. If we are unable to work within these limitations, our anticipated future revenues and profitability will be reduced, and we could lose all or much of our investment in developing ATC services.
We have been granted authority to use a finite quantity of radio spectrum for ATC services. Our ATC license currently is limited to 11 MHz, or 5.5 MHz of spectrum in each of the L and S bands. Any ATC use of more than 11 MHz of spectrum would require a change in or waiver of FCC rules. While we have applied for a change in the rules, no such change may occur. In addition, our authority to provide ATC services is contingent on our continuing to offer satellite services to our customers and having a usable in-orbit spare satellite at the time we begin to offer ATC services. Accordingly, we must continue to provide communication between our satellites and the gateways when we commence providing ATC services through our network. If we are not able to manage our satellite and ATC spectrum use dynamically and efficiently, we may not be able to realize the full value of our ATC license.
The FCC rules governing ATC are relatively new and are subject to interpretation. These rules require ATC service providers to demonstrate that their mobile satellite and ATC services constitute an integrated service offering. The FCC has indicated that one means of meeting this requirement is through the use of dual-mode mobile satellite services/ATC user terminals. Although we believe we can obtain and sell dual-mode mobile satellite services/ATC user terminals that will comply with the ATC rules, the scope of ATC services that we will be permitted and required to provide under our existing FCC license is unclear and we may be required to seek amendments to our ATC license to execute our business plan. The development and operation of our ATC system may also infringe on unknown and unidentified intellectual property rights of other persons, which could require us to modify our business plan, thereby increasing our development costs and slowing our time to market. If we are unable to meet the regulatory requirements applicable to ATC services or develop or acquire the required technology, we may not be able to realize our plan to offer ATC services, which would decrease our revenues and profitability.
If the FCC were to reduce our existing spectrum allocation or impose additional spectrum-sharing requirements on us, our services and operations could be adversely affected.
Under the FCCs plan for mobile satellite services in our frequency bands, we must share frequencies in the United States with other licensed mobile satellite services operators. To date, there are no other authorized CDMA-based mobile satellite services operators and no pending applications for authorization. However, there is a potential German CDMA system called Courier which may be built and which may use our frequencies. In July 2004, the FCC released rules which require us to share 3.1 MHz of the 1610.25 to 1621.35 MHz portion of our uplink band with Iridium and the 2496 to 2500 MHz portion of our downlink band with terrestrial operators providing broadband radio service. The FCC also asked for comment on whether Iridium should be allowed to share the 1616 to 1618.25 MHz portion of the 1.6 GHz band. Although we continue to contest vigorously any proposed additional sharing of our spectrum, we may not retain exclusive use of all of our existing spectrum. If we are required to share additional frequency bands or if Iridium or an operator of a CDMA system uses these frequencies, it may reduce our usable capacity and thereby decrease the value of our spectrum.
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Spectrum values historically have been volatile, which could cause the value of our company to fluctuate.
Our business plan is evolving and it may include forming strategic partnerships to maximize value for our spectrum, network assets and combined service offerings in the United States and internationally. Values that we may be able to realize from such partnerships will depend in part on the value ascribed to our spectrum. Valuations of spectrum in other frequency bands historically have been volatile, and we cannot predict at what amount a future partner may be willing to value our spectrum and other assets. In addition, to the extent that the FCC takes action that makes additional spectrum available or promotes the more flexible use or greater availability (e.g., via spectrum leasing or new spectrum sales) of existing satellite or terrestrial spectrum allocations, the availability of such additional spectrum could reduce the value of our spectrum authorizations and business.
We could lose market share and revenues as a result of increasing competition from companies in the wireless communications industry, including other satellite operators, and from the extension of land-based communication services.
We face intense competition in all of our markets, which could result in a loss of customers and lower revenues and make it more difficult for us to enter new markets.
There are currently five other satellite operators providing services similar to ours on a global or regional basis: Iridium, Inmarsat, Mobile Satellite Ventures, Thuraya and Asian Cellular Satellites. In addition, ICO Global Communications Company and TMI/TerreStar plan to launch their new satellite systems within the next few years. The provision of satellite-based products and services is subject to downward price pressure when the capacity exceeds demand.
In April 2001, Iridium, our principal worldwide mobile satellite competitor, exited bankruptcy and resumed commercial service in competition with us. Iridium has a long-term contract from the United States Department of Defense. ICO Global Communications is expected to complete its system and compete with us in the future. TMI/TerreStar also holds a 2 GHz satellite license and is constructing a system that may compete with us in the future. In addition, we may face competition from new competitors or new technologies, which may materially adversely affect our business plan. With so many companies targeting many of the same customers, we may not be able to retain successfully our existing customers and attract new customers and as a result may not grow our customer base and revenue.
In addition to our satellite-based competitors, terrestrial wireless voice and data service providers are expanding into rural and remote areas and providing the same general types of services and products that we provide through our satellite-based system. Many of these companies have greater resources, wider name recognition and newer technologies than we do. Industry consolidation could adversely affect us by increasing the scale or scope of our competitors and thereby making it more difficult for us to compete.
Although satellite communications services and ground-based communications services are not perfect substitutes, the two compete in certain markets and for certain services. Consumers generally perceive wireless voice communication products and services as cheaper and more convenient than satellite-based ones.
Additionally, the extension of terrestrial telecommunications services to regions previously underserved or not served by wireline or wireless services may reduce demand for our service in those regions. These land-based telecommunications services have been built quickly; therefore, demand for our products and services may decline in these areas more rapidly than we assumed in formulating our business plan. This development has led, in part, to our efforts to identify and sell into geographically remote markets and further the deployment of user terminals and data products in these markets. If we are unable to attract new customers in these regions, our customer base may decrease, which could have a material adverse effect on our business prospects, financial condition and results of operations.
The loss of customers, particularly our large customers, may reduce our future revenues.
We may lose customers due to competition, consolidation, regulatory developments, business developments affecting our customers or their customers, more rapid than anticipated degradation of our constellation or for other reasons. Our top 10 customers for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007 accounted for, in the aggregate, approximately 22% and 17% of our total revenues of $136.7 million and $49.0 million, respectively. For the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007, revenues from our largest customer were $5.4 million, or 3.9%, and $2.6 million, or 5.4% of our total revenues, respectively. If we fail to maintain our relationships with our major
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customers, if we lose them and fail to replace them with other similar customers, or if we experience reduced demand from our major customers, our profitability could be significantly reduced through the loss of these revenues. In addition, we may be required to record additional costs to the extent that amounts due from these customers become uncollectible. More generally, our customers may fail to renew or may cancel their service contracts with us, which could negatively affect future revenues and profitability.
Our customers include multiple agencies of the U.S. government. Service sales to U.S. government agencies constituted approximately 10% of our total service revenue for both the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007. Government sales are made pursuant to individual purchase orders placed from time to time by the governmental agencies and are not related to long-term contracts. U.S. government agencies may terminate their business with us at any time without penalty.
We will need additional capital to maintain our network and to pursue future growth opportunities. If we fail to obtain sufficient capital, we will not be able to complete our business plan.
Our business plan calls for the launch of spare and new satellites, upgrading our ground stations, phones and data terminals and entering into joint ventures to develop ATC and other international services and products. We may not be able to obtain in a timely manner sufficient funds to develop and launch such satellites, upgrade our ground component or develop our ATC services and products. If we do not generate the amount of cash we expect from our operations or do not receive the entire remaining commitment from the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company or raise funds through additional issuance of debt and/or equity securities, we will not be able to complete our current business plan, and will be required to revise the plan to one that can be accomplished with our available capital, which could make us less competitive and reduce our future revenue and profitability.
Our business is subject to extensive government regulation, which mandates how we may operate our business and may increase our cost of providing services, slow our expansion into new markets and subject our services to additional competitive pressures.
Our ownership and operation of wireless communication systems are subject to significant regulation in the United States by the FCC and in foreign jurisdictions by similar local authorities. The rules and regulations of the FCC or these foreign authorities may change and may not continue to permit our operations as presently conducted or as we plan to conduct them. For example, the FCC has cancelled and has refused, to date, to reinstate our license for spectrum in the 2 GHz band.
Failure to provide services in accordance with the terms of our licenses or failure to operate our satellites or ground stations as required by our licenses and applicable government regulations could result in the imposition of government sanctions on us, up to and including cancellation of our licenses.
Our system must be authorized in each of the markets in which we or the independent gateway operators provide service. We and the independent gateway operators may not be able to obtain or retain all regulatory approvals needed for operations. For example, the company with which Old Globalstar contracted to establish an independent gateway operation in South Africa was unable to obtain an operating license from the Republic of South Africa and abandoned the business in 2001. Regulatory changes, such as those resulting from judicial decisions or adoption of treaties, legislation or regulation in countries where we operate or intend to operate, may also significantly affect our business. Because regulations in each country are different, we may not be aware if some of the independent gateway operators and/or persons with which we or they do business do not hold the requisite licenses and approvals.
Our current regulatory approvals could now be, or could become, insufficient in the view of foreign regulatory authorities. Furthermore, any additional necessary approvals may not be granted on a timely basis, or at all, in all jurisdictions in which we wish to offer services, and applicable restrictions in those jurisdictions could become unduly burdensome.
Our operations are subject to certain regulations of the United States State Departments Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (i.e., the export of satellites and related technical data), United States Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (i.e., financial transactions) and the United States Commerce Departments Bureau of Industry and Security (i.e., our gateways and phones). These regulations may limit or delay our ability to operate in a particular country. As new
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laws and regulations are issued, we may be required to modify our business plans or operations. If we fail to comply with these regulations in any country, we could be subject to sanctions that could affect, materially and adversely, our ability to operate in that country. Failure to obtain the authorizations necessary to use our assigned radio frequency spectrum and to distribute our products in certain countries could have a material adverse effect on our ability to generate revenue and on our overall competitive position.
If we do not develop, acquire and maintain proprietary information and intellectual property rights, it could limit the growth of our business and reduce our market share.
Our business depends on technical knowledge, and we believe that our future success is based, in part, on our ability to keep up with new technological developments and incorporate them in our products and services. We own or have the right to use certain of our work products, inventions, designs, software, systems and similar know-how. Although we have taken diligent steps to protect that information, the information may be disclosed to others or others may independently develop similar information, systems and know-how. Protection of our information, systems and know-how may result in litigation, the cost of which could be substantial. Third parties may assert claims that our products or services infringe on their proprietary rights. Any such claims, if made, may prevent or limit our sales of products or services or increase our costs of sales. Although no third party has filed a lawsuit or asserted a written claim against us for allegedly infringing on its proprietary rights, such claims could be made in the future.
Much of the software we require to support critical gateway operations and customer service functions, including billing, is licensed from third parties, including QUALCOMM and Space Systems/Loral Inc., and was developed or customized specifically for our use. If the third party licensors were to cease to support and service the software, or the licenses were to no longer be available on commercially reasonable terms, it may be difficult, expensive or impossible to obtain such services from alternative vendors. Replacing such software could be difficult, time consuming and expensive, and might require us to obtain substitute technology with lower quality or performance standards or at a greater cost.
We face special risks by doing business in developing markets, including currency and expropriation risks, which could increase our costs or reduce our revenues in these areas.
Although our most economically important geographic markets currently are the United States and Canada, we have substantial markets for our mobile satellite services in, and our business plan includes, developing countries or regions that are underserved by existing telecommunications systems, such as rural Venezuela and Central America. Developing countries are more likely than industrialized countries to experience market, currency and interest rate fluctuations and may have higher inflation. In addition, these countries present risks relating to government policy, price, wage and exchange controls, social instability, expropriation and other adverse economic, political and diplomatic conditions.
Although a majority of our revenues are received in U.S. dollars, and our independent gateway operators are required to pay us in U.S. dollars, limited availability of U.S. currency in some local markets or governmental controls on the export of currency may prevent an independent gateway operator from making payments in U.S. dollars or delay the availability of payment due to foreign bank currency processing and approval. In addition, exchange rate fluctuations may affect our ability to control the prices charged for the independent gateway operators services.
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates may adversely impact our financial results.
Our operations involve transactions in a variety of currencies. Sales denominated in foreign currencies primarily involve the Canadian dollar and the Euro. The contract for the launch of our eight spare satellites and a substantial majority of our obligations, including the funds held in escrow to secure our payment obligations, under the contract for construction of our second-generation satellite constellation are denominated in Euros. We expect our obligations for launch of the second-generation satellites also to be in Euros. Accordingly, our operating results may be significantly affected by fluctuations in the exchange rates for these currencies. Approximately 33% and 38% of our total sales were to retail customers in Canada, Europe and Venezuela during the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007. Our results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2006 and the six months ended June 30, 2007 reflected a loss of $4.0 million and a gain of $1.1 million, respectively, on foreign currency transactions. Our exposure to fluctuations in currency exchange rates has increased significantly as a result of our satellite contracts. We may be unable to offset unfavorable currency movements as they adversely effect our revenue and expenses or to hedge them effectively. Our inability to do so could have a substantial negative impact on our operating results and cash flows.
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If we become subject to unanticipated foreign tax liabilities, it could materially increase our costs.
We operate in various foreign tax jurisdictions. We believe that we have complied in all material respects with our obligations to pay taxes in these jurisdictions. However, our position is subject to review and possible challenge by the taxing authorities of these jurisdictions. If the applicable taxing authorities were to challenge successfully our current tax positions, or if there were changes in the manner in which we conduct our activities, we could become subject to material unanticipated tax liabilities. We may also become subject to additional tax liabilities as a result of changes in tax laws, which could in certain circumstances have a retroactive effect.
We rely on a limited number of key vendors for timely supply of equipment and services. If our key vendors fail to provide equipment and services to us, we may face difficulties in finding alternative sources and may not be able to operate our business successfully.
We depend on QUALCOMM for gateway hardware and software, and also as the exclusive manufacturer of phones using the IS 41 CDMA North American standard, which incorporates QUALCOMM proprietary technology. Ericsson OMC Limited and Telit, which until 2000 manufactured phones and other products for us, have discontinued manufacturing these products, and QUALCOMM may choose to terminate its business relationship with us when its current contractual obligations are completed in approximately three years. In addition, we currently have a maintenance and support contract with QUALCOMM that renews annually. If QUALCOMM terminates any one of these relationships, we may not be able to find a replacement supplier. Although the QUALCOMM relationship might be replaced, there could be a substantial period of time in which our products or services are not available and any new relationship may involve a significantly different cost structure, development schedule and delivery times.
We depend on Axonn L.L.C. to produce and sell the data modems through which we provide our Simplex service. These devices incorporate Axonn proprietary technology. If Axonn were to cease producing and selling these data modems, in order to continue to expand our Simplex service, we would either have to acquire from Axonn the right to have the modems manufactured by another vendor or develop a modem that did not rely on Axonns proprietary technology. We have no long-term contract with Axonn for the production and sale of these data modems.
Space Systems/Loral manufactured our eight spare satellites, four of which were launched in May 2007, and the remainder of which are being prepared for launch later in 2007. We are dependent on third parties to test, prepare for launch and provide certain services in support of the launch of our satellites. We contracted with Starsem to launch the spare satellites. A limited number of vendors are available to provide launch services for the second-generation constellation.
On November 30, 2006, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space (formerly known as Alcatel Alenia Space) to construct 48 low earth orbit satellites for our second-generation satellite constellation and to provide launch-related and operations support services. In March 2007, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment for our second-generation satellite constellation. We do not have an alternative source in the event that Thales Alenia Space is unable or unwilling to fulfill these contracts.
Pursuing strategic transactions may cause us to incur additional risks.
We may pursue acquisitions, joint ventures or other strategic transactions on an opportunistic basis, although no such transactions that would be financially significant to us are probable at this time. We may face costs and risks arising from any such transactions, including integrating a new business into our business or managing a joint venture. These may include legal, organizational, financial and other costs and risks.
In addition, if we were to choose to engage in any major business combination or similar strategic transaction, we may require significant external financing in connection with the transaction. Depending on market conditions, investor perceptions of us and other factors, we may not be able to obtain capital on acceptable terms, in acceptable amounts or at appropriate times to implement any such transaction. Any such financing, if obtained, may further dilute our existing stockholders.
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Our indebtedness could impair our ability to react to changes in our business and may limit our ability to use debt to fund future capital needs.
Our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition. If the $150.0 million in committed facilities under our credit agreement had been drawn fully at June 30, 2007, our indebtedness would have been $150.5 million. This would have resulted in annual interest expense of approximately $16.6 million, assuming an interest rate of 11.0%. Our indebtedness could:
· require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to principal payments on our debt in years when the debt matures, thereby reducing the availability of our cash flow to fund working capital, capital expenditures and other general corporate expenditures;
· result in an event of default if we fail to comply with the restrictive covenants contained in our credit agreement, which event of default could result in all of our debt becoming immediately due and payable;
· increase our vulnerability to adverse general economic or industry conditions because our debt could mature at a time when those conditions make it difficult to refinance and our cash flow is insufficient to repay the debt in full, forcing us to sell assets at disadvantageous prices or to default on the debt, and because a decline in our profitability could cause us to be unable to comply with the forward fixed charge coverage ratio in our credit agreement and result in a default on, and acceleration of, our debt;
· limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, competition and/or changes in our business or our industry by limiting our ability to incur additional debt, to make acquisitions and divestitures or to engage in transactions that could be beneficial to us;
· restrict us from making strategic acquisitions, introducing new products or services or exploiting business opportunities; and
· place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to competitors that have less debt or greater financial resources.
Furthermore, if an event of default were to occur with respect to our credit agreement or other indebtedness, our creditors could accelerate the maturity of our indebtedness. Our indebtedness under our credit agreement is secured by a lien on substantially all of our assets and the assets of our domestic subsidiaries and the lenders could foreclose on these assets to repay the indebtedness.
Our ability to make scheduled payments on or to refinance indebtedness obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors beyond our control. We may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness. If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to sell assets, seek additional capital or seek to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. These alternative measures may not be successful or feasible. Our credit agreement restricts our ability to sell assets. Even if we could consummate those sales, the proceeds that we realize from them may not be adequate to meet any debt service obligations then due.
We will be able to incur additional indebtedness or other obligations in the future, which would exacerbate the risks discussed above.
Our credit agreement permits us to incur, in addition to the $150.0 million of revolving credit and delayed draw term loans that the lenders have committed to advance under the credit agreement, other indebtedness under certain conditions, including up to $150.0 million of additional equally and ratably secured, pari passu, term loans, up to $200.0 million of unsecured debt and up to $25.0 million of purchase money indebtedness or capitalized leases. We may incur this additional indebtedness only if no event of default under our credit agreement then exists, if we are in pro forma compliance with all of the financial covenants of our credit agreement, and if, after giving effect thereto, our consolidated total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to 1.0. Our credit agreement also permits us to incur obligations that do not constitute indebtedness as defined in the credit agreement, including obligations to satellite vendors that are not evidenced by a note and not secured by assets other than those purchased with such obligations. To the extent additional debt or other obligations are added to our currently anticipated debt levels, the substantial indebtedness risks described above would increase.
We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under such indebtedness, which may not be successful.
Restrictive covenants in our credit agreement impose restrictions that may limit our operating and financial flexibility.
Our credit agreement contains a number of significant restrictions and covenants that limit our ability to:
· incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;
· pay dividends or make distributions to our stockholders;
· make investments, acquisitions or capital expenditures;
· repurchase or redeem capital stock or subordinated indebtedness;
· grant liens on our assets;
· incur restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments to us;
· enter into transactions with our affiliates;
· incur obligations to vendors of satellites;
· merge or consolidate with other entities or transfer all or substantially all of our assets; and
· transfer or sell assets.
Complying with these restrictive covenants, as well as those that may be contained in any agreements governing future indebtedness, may impair our ability to finance our operations or capital needs or to take advantage of other favorable business opportunities. Our ability to comply with these restrictive covenants will depend on our future performance, which may be affected by events beyond our control. If we violate any of these covenants and are unable to obtain waivers, we would be in default under the agreement and payment of the indebtedness could be accelerated. The acceleration of our indebtedness under one agreement may permit acceleration of indebtedness under other agreements that contain cross-default or cross-acceleration provisions. If our indebtedness is accelerated, we may not be able to repay our indebtedness or borrow sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if we are able to obtain new financing, it may not be on commercially reasonable terms or on terms that are acceptable to us. If our indebtedness is in default for any reason, our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected. In addition, complying with these covenants may also cause us to take actions that are not favorable to holders of the common stock and may make it more difficult for us to successfully execute our business plan and compete against companies who are not subject to such restrictions. Furthermore, our ability to draw on our credit facility is subject to conditions, including the absence of a material adverse change in our business or financial condition.
If we are unable to address successfully the material weakness in our internal controls, or our other control deficiencies, our ability to report our financial results on a timely and accurate basis and to comply with disclosure and other requirements may be adversely affected; public reporting obligations will put significant demands on our financial, operational and management resources.
We are not currently required to comply with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and are therefore not required to make an assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting for that purpose. However, in connection with its audit of our 2006 consolidated financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm, Crowe Chizek and Company LLP, identified a material weakness in our processes, procedures and controls related to the preparation, analysis and review of financial information. A material weakness is defined as a significant deficiency, or a combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Crowe Chizek identified a combination of issues that resulted in a material weakness, including the timeliness of identifying, researching and resolving
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accounting issues, the sharing of information and knowledge within and outside our accounting department, and the lack of specific metrics or processes to act as early warning indicators of potential impairments. Accordingly, our management concluded that this deficiency in internal control over financial reporting was a material weakness. Crowe Chizek recommended that we consider taking remedial actions, including hiring additional accounting resources and/or modifying existing job responsibilities in our corporate accounting department and simplifying and automating our reporting process.
To address this issue, we have hired additional high-level accounting personnel and have instituted additional procedures for inter-departmental communication and staff meetings. In connection with their audit of our 2006 financial statements, Crowe Chizek also advised our management and board of directors that it had identified a significant deficiency in our internal controls related to the revenue recognition process for annual service plans. A significant deficiency is defined as a control deficiency, or a combination of control deficiencies, that adversely affects a companys ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report external financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of the companys annual or interim financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected. We have begun implementing the remediation plan to address the material weakness and significant deficiency in expectation of being fully compliant by December 31, 2007. However, we cannot assure you that we will be successful or that our auditors will determine that we have satisfactorily addressed these issues.
We will continue to monitor the effectiveness of these and other processes, procedures and controls and will make any further changes management determines appropriate, including to effect compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 at or before December 31, 2007, the date by which we are required to comply with it.
Any material weakness or other deficiencies in our control systems may affect our ability to comply with SEC reporting requirements and NASDAQ Global Select Market listing standards or cause our financial statements to contain material misstatements, which could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, as well as subject us to civil or criminal investigations and penalties.
Our pre-emptive rights offering, which we intend to commence in the future, is not in strict compliance with the technical requirements of our prior certificate of incorporation.
Our certificate of incorporation as in effect when we entered into the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company provided that stockholders who are accredited investors (as defined under the Securities Act) were entitled to pre-emptive rights with respect to the transaction with Thermo Funding Company. We intend to offer stockholders of the Company as of June 15, 2006 who are accredited investors the opportunity to participate in the transaction contemplated by the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company on a pro rata basis on substantially the same terms as Thermo Funding Company. Some of our stockholders could allege that the offering does not comply fully with the terms of our prior certificate of incorporation. Although we believe any variance from the requirements of our former certificate of incorporation is immaterial and that we had valid reasons for delaying the pre-emptive rights offering until after our initial public offering, a court may not agree with our position if these stockholders allege that we have violated their pre-emptive rights. In that case, we can not predict the type of remedy the court could award such stockholders.
The pre-emptive rights offering, which we are required to make to our existing stockholders, will be done on a registered basis, and may negatively affect the trading price of our stock.
The pre-emptive rights offering will be made pursuant to a registration statement filed with, and potentially reviewed by, the Securities and Exchange Commission. After giving effect to waivers that we have already received, up to 785,328 shares of our common stock may be purchased if the pre-emptive rights offering is fully subscribed. Such shares may be purchased at approximately $16.17 per share, regardless of the trading price of our common stock. The nature of the pre-emptive rights offering may negatively affect the trading price of our common stock. Additionally, because existing stockholders who commit to participate in the pre-emptive rights offering have the right to purchase their committed shares at any time during the term of the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, any future purchases at $16.17 may also affect the trading price of our common stock at the time of purchase.
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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On April 24, 2006, we entered into an irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company LLC, an affiliate of ours, pursuant to which the latter agreed to purchase up to 12,371,136 shares of Common Stock at a price of $16.17 per share. On April 30, 2007 and May 9, 2007, Thermo Funding Company purchased 1,546,073 and 618,429 shares of common stock for $25.0 million and $10.0 million, respectively. Thermo Funding Company had purchased 6,592,342 of such shares as of June 30, 2007 for an aggregate purchase price of $106.6 million. The standby stock purchase agreement was required by the lender as a condition to entering into our credit agreement. The sale of these shares was exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On November 7, 2006, we completed the initial public offering of our Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-135809) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2006. The managing underwriters for the offering were Wachovia Securities and JP Morgan. Pursuant to the registration statement, we sold 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock at $17.00 per share for an aggregate offering of $127.5 million. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $8.9 million and other estimated offering costs of approximately $1.9 million, our net proceeds from the initial public offering were approximately $116.6 million. As of June 30, 2007, we have used $33.3 million to repay our revolving credit facility, which, subject to the terms of the credit agreement, may be redrawn subsequently, and $27.8 million to make initial payments on our second-generation satellite contract and have distributed $685,848 to Thermo as required by our former operating agreement and permitted by our credit agreement. Of the remaining proceeds, $54.8 million has been placed in an escrow account to secure our payment obligations related to the contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of our second-generation constellation.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
In connection with the companys Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on May 21, 2007, proxies were solicited pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The following votes (representing 88.1% of the shares eligible to vote) were cast at that meeting:
1. Election of Class A Directors
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Votes |
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|||||
Name |
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For |
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Against |
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Withheld |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Richard S. Roberts |
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64,674,169 |
|
|
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1,323,485 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. Patrick McIntyre |
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65,969,950 |
|
|
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27,704 |
|
2. Ratify appointment of Crowe Chizek and Company LLP as the companys independent auditors
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Votes |
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|||||
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For |
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Against |
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Abstain |
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|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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Ratify Crowe Chizek and Company LLP |
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65,980,572 |
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15,129 |
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1,953 |
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Designated Executive Officer Award Agreement
Effective August 10, 2007 (the Effective Date), the Board of Directors of the Company, upon recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the concurrent termination of the Companys Executive Incentive Compensation Plan (as described in the Companys Definitive Proxy Statement filed April 24, 2007) and awards of restricted stock or restricted stock units under the Companys 2006 Equity Incentive Plan to the participants in that plan: Fuad Ahmad, Anthony J. Navarra, Steven Bell (the Named Executive Officers) and two other executive officers who are not Named Executive Officers pursuant to agreements (the Award Agreements) between the Company and each of such officers. The Named Executive Officers and the two other executive officers are referred to below as Participants. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined have the meaning in the forms of the Award Agreement filed as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2.
Each Award Agreement provides that the Participant will receive awards of restricted common stock (or for Mr. Bell, restricted stock units, which upon vesting, each entitle him to one share of Globalstar common stock). Current Award #1 consists of 71,499 shares of restricted stock, having a fair market value of $750,000 on the Effective Date, that vest in three equal portions in 2008, 2009 and 2010 on the third business day after Globalstar announces its earnings for the immediately preceding fiscal year (each an Annual Vesting Date). Current Award #2 consists of 285,987 shares of restricted stock, having a fair market value of $3,000,000 on the Effective Date, that vests in 2011 on the third business day after Globalstar announces its earnings for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010. Each Award Agreement also provides for the grant of Future Awards having a fair market value of $750,000 each on the grant dates in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Total benefits per Participant (valued at the grant date) are $6.0 million, which represents an increase of $1.5 million in potential compensation compared to the maximum potential benefits under the Executive Incentive Compensation Plan. However, the new Award Agreements extend the vesting period by up to two years and provide for payment in shares of Common Stock instead of cash, thereby enabling the Company to conserve its cash for capital expenditures for the procurement and launch of its second-generation satellite constellation and related ground station upgrades.
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If the Company or stockholders owning more than 50% of the Companys outstanding voting stock enter into one or more final and binding agreements that would result in a Change of Control before all Awards have been granted and all shares subject thereto have vested, all non-granted Awards or unvested shares under the Awards will be granted on vest seven trading days before the effective date of the Change of Control, except in the following circumstances. If the agreement governing the Change of Control transaction includes assumption or substitution of the Awards by the successor and requires that a Participant remain employed by the Company or its successor for up to 12 months after the effective date of the Change of Control at a compensation level not less than the compensation received (except pursuant to the Award Agreement) prior to the Change in Control, the Participant agrees, under certain circumstances, to accept employment and any unvested Awards at the effectiveness of the Change of Control will vest on the earlier of 12 months following the Change of Control or termination of the Participants employment by the Company or its successor. If the agreement governing the Change of Control transaction includes assumption or substitution of the Awards by the successor and requires that a Participant remain employed by the Company or its successor for more than 12 months after the effective date of the Change of Control, the Participant agrees, under certain circumstances, to accept employment for up to 24 months and any Awards will vest as to 50% on each of the first and second anniversaries of the Change of Control unless the Participant is terminated prior to those times or the vesting date in 2011 occurs.
All Awards not previously granted or vested under the Award Agreements will be granted and vested immediately (subject to the Companys Insider Trading Policy and applicable law) upon the Compensation Committees determination that at least 24 second-generation satellites have entered commercial service and are performing satisfactorily in carrying two-way voice and data, revenue capable, communications service.
Except in the circumstances described below, termination of a Participants employment by the Company for any reason or a Participants resignation for any reason will result in forfeiture of previously awarded but unvested Awards or restricted stock and forfeiture of any right to receive additional Awards. If the Company terminates a Participant other than for Cause before any Annual Vesting Date, a pro rata portion of the shares that would have vested on the next Annual Vesting Date will vest. If the Company terminates a Participant other than for Cause and the effective date of a Change of Control occurs within six months after such termination, the Participant will receive any shares he would have been entitled to receive if the Participant had been employed on the effective date of the Change of Control. In addition, if these exceptions do not apply and a Participants employment terminates prior to the Annual Vesting Date in 2011 due to the Participants death or disability, the Participants legal beneficiary will receive any shares that would have vested on the next Annual Vesting Date.
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Number |
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Description |
|
|
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10.1 |
|
Form of Designated Executive Award Agreement under the 2006 Globalstar, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan for the U.S. domiciled executives |
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|
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10.2 |
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Form of Designated Executive Award Agreement under the 2006 Globalstar, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan for the Canadian domiciled executive |
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|
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31.1 |
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Section 302 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer |
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|
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31.2 |
|
Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
|
32.1 |
|
Section 906 Certifications |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
GLOBALSTAR, INC. |
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By: |
/s/ JAMES MONROE III |
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Date: August 14, 2007 |
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James Monroe III |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
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By: |
/s/ FUAD AHMAD |
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Date: August 14, 2007 |
|
Fuad Ahmad |
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|
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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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