Exhibit 99.1
Leap Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full-Year 2009
~ Adjusted OIBDA Increases 43 Percent Over Prior Year Quarter~
~Adds Record 1.1 Million Net New Customers in 2009~
Note: A webcast of Leap’s conference call and accompanying presentation slides will be available at 5:00 p.m. EST today at http://investor.leapwireless.com.
SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 25, 2010--Leap Wireless International, Inc. (NASDAQ: LEAP), a leading provider of innovative and value-driven wireless communications services, today reported financial and operational results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2009. Service revenues for the fourth quarter increased 19.3 percent over the prior year quarter to $547.0 million. The Company reported adjusted operating income before depreciation and amortization (OIBDA) of $129.5 million for the fourth quarter, up $38.6 million over the comparable period of the prior year, and fourth quarter 2009 operating income of $4.5 million, compared to $3.8 million for the fourth quarter of 2008. Adjusted OIBDA for the Company’s existing business was $157.3 million for the quarter, an increase of approximately $7.8 million, or 5 percent, over the prior year period.
The Company reported approximately 298,000 net customer additions for the fourth quarter of 2009, resulting in 4.95 million end-of-period customers, an increase of more than one million customers over the prior year end. Fourth quarter net customer additions included approximately 102,000 net voice additions in the Company’s existing markets (those markets in operation on December 31, 2007); approximately 127,000 net voice additions in the Company’s expansion markets (those markets that launched service after December 31, 2007); and approximately 69,000 net broadband additions. Churn for the quarter was 4.7 percent.
“During a year of unprecedented change and challenge, the Company continued to execute on its strategy and ended 2009 with growth across the business. The Company delivered solid fourth quarter performance, as demonstrated by a 19 percent year-over-year increase in service revenues and a 43 percent year-over-year increase in adjusted OIBDA as we move towards completing the initial phase of our Auction 66 investment,” said Doug Hutcheson, Leap's president and chief executive officer. “The Company added more than 1.1 million new customers in 2009, the most in any year in its history, ending the year with a 29 percent annual increase in total customers. We are also pleased with the developing performance of our 3G broadband services, including our new, unique Cricket Broadband product which we introduced in the fourth quarter of 2009 in mass merchant distribution.”
Continued Hutcheson, “We believe our competitive position remains attractive as we move into 2010 and that the steps we have taken and plan to take will provide us with flexibility and a strong platform for continued customer growth in the wireless marketplace. As we move through the first quarter, we are experiencing the typical seasonality of the business and recently gained our five millionth customer, including the 600 thousandth customer for our Cricket Broadband service. Although we expect churn to remain higher than historical levels in the near-term, we look forward to improved performance over the long-term due to expected improvements in customer tenure in our newly-launched markets, potential lower unemployment levels among our customer base and the impact of new enhancements we are introducing. These enhancements include plans to refresh our service plans in the coming weeks as we typically do, which will feature an even-larger expanded calling footprint for our customers. In addition, the Company expects to launch its first fully-3G smartphones with the introduction of a Blackberry device and an Android phone later in the year, and we also just announced plans to form a joint venture with Pocket Communications in our attractive South Texas market area. We believe these enhancements will bring even greater value to our customers while generating attractive financial results.”
Key Financial Results and Operating Metrics (1) (In millions, except for percentages, customer data and operating metrics) | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended December 31, | | Year Ended December 31, | |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | Change | | | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | Change | |
| | (Unaudited) | | | (Unaudited) | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Service revenues | | $ | 547.0 | | | $ | 458.5 | | | 19.3 | % | | $ | 2,143.8 | | | $ | 1,709.1 | | | 25.4 | % |
| Existing business service revenues(2) | | $ | 407.7 | | | $ | 415.8 | | | 2.0 | % | | $ | 1,711.8 | | | $ | 1,629.6 | | | 5.0 | % |
| Total revenues | | $ | 599.3 | | | $ | 518.9 | | | 15.5 | % | | $ | 2,383.2 | | | $ | 1,958.9 | | | 21.7 | % |
| Operating income | | $ | 4.5 | | | $ | 3.8 | | | 18.4 | % | | $ | 31.1 | | | $ | 46.7 | | | (33.4 | %) |
| Adjusted OIBDA | | $ | 129.5 | | | $ | 90.9 | | | 42.5 | % | | $ | 485.6 | | | $ | 413.7 | | | 17.4 | % |
| Adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of service revenues | | | 24 | % | | | 20 | % | | — | | | | 23 | % | | | 24 | % | | — | |
| Existing business adjusted OIBDA(2) | | $ | 157.3 | | | $ | 149.5 | | | 5.2 | % | | $ | 688.2 | | | $ | 585.8 | | | 17.5 | % |
| Existing business adjusted OIBDA as a percentage of existing business service revenues | | | 39 | % | | | 36 | % | | — | | | | 40 | % | | | 36 | % | | — | |
| Net loss | | $ | (64.0 | ) | | $ | (54.6 | ) | | (17.2 | %) | | $ | (238.0 | ) | | $ | (143.4 | ) | | (66.0 | %) |
| Diluted loss per share | | $ | (0.82 | ) | | $ | (0.82 | ) | | — | | | $ | (3.30 | ) | | $ | (2.21 | ) | | — | |
| Gross customer additions(3) | | | 968,039 | | | | 801,436 | | | 20.8 | % | | | 3,500,113 | | | | 2,487,579 | | | 40.7 | % |
| Net customer additions | | | 297,743 | | | | 385,292 | | | (22.7 | %) | | | 1,109,445 | | | | 942,304 | | | 17.7 | % |
| End of period customers | | | 4,954,105 | | | | 3,844,660 | | | 28.9 | % | | | 4,954,105 | | | | 3,844,660 | | | 28.9 | % |
| Weighted-average customers | | | 4,716,185 | | | | 3,600,393 | | | 31.0 | % | | | 4,440,822 | | | | 3,272,347 | | | 35.7 | % |
| Churn | | | 4.7 | % | | | 3.8 | % | | | | | | 4.5 | % | | | 4.0 | % | | | |
| End of period covered POPS | | ~ 94.2 | | | ~67.2 | | | 40.2 | % | | ~ 94.2 | | | ~67.2 | | | 40.2 | % |
| Average revenue per user (ARPU) | | $ | 38.66 | | | $ | 42.44 | | | (8.9 | %) | | $ | 40.23 | | | $ | 43.52 | | | (7.6 | %) |
| Cash costs per user (CCU) | | $ | 17.10 | | | $ | 20.55 | | | (16.8 | %) | | $ | 18.26 | | | $ | 21.18 | | | (13.8 | %) |
| Cost per gross addition (CPGA) | | $ | 181 | | | $ | 182 | | | (0.5 | %) | | $ | 196 | | | $ | 186 | | | 5.4 | % |
| Cash purchases of property and equipment | | $ | 122.0 | | | $ | 267.3 | | | (54.4 | %) | | $ | 699.5 | | | $ | 795.7 | | | (12.1 | %) |
| Unrestricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments | | $ | 564.2 | | | $ | 595.9 | | | (5.3 | %) | | $ | 564.2 | | | $ | 595.9 | | | (5.3 | %) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(1) For a reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures, please refer to the section entitled “Definition of Terms and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included at the end of this release. Information relating to population and potential customers (POPs) is based on population estimates provided by Claritas Inc. for the relevant year. | |
| | | | | | |
(2) The term “existing markets” in this release refers to the Company’s markets in service on December 31, 2007, and the term “expansion markets” refers to the Company’s markets which launched service after December 31, 2007. The term “existing business” refers to the Company’s business operations in existing markets, excluding any effects of the Company’s Cricket Broadband service. | |
| | | | | | |
(3) The Company recognizes a gross customer addition for each Cricket Wireless, Cricket Broadband and Cricket PAYGo™ line of service activated by a customer. | |
| | | | | | |
Discussion of Financial and Operational Results for the Fourth Quarter
- Service revenues for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased to $547 million, a 19.3 percent increase over the comparable period of the prior year and a 1 percent increase over the third quarter of 2009. The year-over-year increase resulted from a 31 percent increase in weighted-average customers reflecting growth in the Company’s existing business, success of the Company’s new market launches and customer acceptance of the Company’s Cricket Broadband service, offset by changes in ARPU.
- Fourth quarter 2009 ARPU declined 8.9 percent from the prior year quarter, and 2.4 percent from the third quarter of 2009, to $38.66, primarily due to competitive pricing actions implemented by the Company in the middle of the prior quarter, the continued growth of the Company’s lower-priced Cricket Broadband and Cricket PAYGo products, and higher churn as a result of the effects of less-tenured customers in our expansion markets.
- Fourth quarter 2009 operating income was $4.5 million, an increase of $0.7 million from the comparable period of the prior year. Adjusted OIBDA for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $129.5 million, an increase of 43% over the prior year period, which included $27.8 million of negative OIBDA associated with the Company’s new initiatives, including the Company’s Cricket Broadband service and the Company’s recently launched A66 markets. Existing business adjusted OIBDA for the fourth quarter of 2009 increased $7.8 million over the prior year period to $157.3 million, reflecting an increase of approximately 1.1 million end-of-period customers year-over-year and the resulting benefits of scale.
- Net loss for the fourth quarter of 2009 was $64.0 million, or a loss of $0.82 per share, compared to a net loss of $54.6 million, or a loss of $0.82 per share, for the comparable period of the prior year.
- End-of-period customers for the fourth quarter of 2009 were 4.95 million, a 29 percent increase from end-of-period customers for the fourth quarter of 2008 of 3.84 million.
- Customer churn for the fourth quarter of 2009 was 4.7 percent, an increase from 3.8 percent in the comparable period of the prior year but a decrease from 5.4 percent from the third quarter of 2009. This year-over-year increase in fourth quarter churn reflected the effects of increased competition, the effect of less-tenured customers in our expansion markets, and higher unemployment. Fourth quarter churn in the existing business increased to 4.3% from 3.7% in the prior year quarter primarily due to increasing competition and the continued challenging macroeconomic environment.
- Capital expenditures during the fourth quarter of 2009 were $122 million, including capitalized interest of $0.3 million, bringing full-year capital expenditures to $700 million, including capitalized interest of $21 million for the year.
Other Key Operational Highlights
- Completed the initial phase of the Company’s mass merchant distribution strategy, including the rollout of the monthly all-inclusive Cricket PAYGo product into Target and Dollar General stores. The number of national retail locations carrying Cricket products totaled approximately 3,900 at the end of 2009.
- Successfully launched two new tri-band phones: the LG Helix and the Cricket MSGM8T.
- Cricket and mPortal, Inc., were named the Key Technology Enabler in U.S. Mobile Data Services by Frost & Sullivan, an industry analyst. The companies were recognized for deploying mPortal’s software platform that enables next-generation user experiences across devices offered by Cricket.
- Signed an agreement with Pocket Communications in February 2010 to form a Leap-controlled and managed joint venture that will provide enhanced mobile communications through Leap’s Cricket® brand to customers in the South Texas region.
“The strength and resiliency of our business was again evident in our fourth quarter adjusted OIBDA margins as we realized the benefits of increasing scale and cost management activities,” said Walter Berger, Leap’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. “During the fourth quarter, our Cricket Broadband product contributed positive adjusted OIBDA and our consolidated business was unlevered free-cash-flow breakeven for the first time since we began the expansion into our Auction 66 markets. The Company continues to maintain solid financial resources including strong cash flow, a solid balance sheet and effective liquidity management. Our industry-leading cost structure, combined with our continued focus on improving our efficiency and driving our costs lower, position us well to provide our customers increasing value in an evolving wireless marketplace.”
Conference Call Information
As previously announced, Leap management will host a conference call with live webcast at 5:00 p.m. EST / 2:00 p.m. PST today to discuss these results. Other forward-looking and material information may also be discussed during this call.
To listen live via telephone, dial 1-800-920-2905 (domestic) or 1-212-231-2900 (international). No participant pass code number is required for this call. If listening via telephone, the accompanying presentation slides may be accessed by visiting http://investor.leapwireless.com. Listeners should navigate to the webcast and choose the 'Live Phone' option to view the slides in conjunction with the live conference call. Individuals dialing into the live call are encouraged to call in 10 minutes prior to the start time in order to register and be placed into the call.
To listen live via webcast and view accompanying presentation slides, visit http://investor.leapwireless.com. Please choose the 'webcast' option to view the slides in conjunction with the webcast.
An online replay and downloadable MP3 of the event will be available on the Company’s website shortly after the live call and will be accessible for a limited period of time. A telephonic replay will be available two hours after the call’s completion and can be accessed by dialing 1-800-633-8284 (domestic) or 1-402-977-9140 (international) and entering passcode number 21456876.
About Leap
Leap provides innovative, high-value wireless services to a fast-growing, young and ethnically diverse customer base. With the value of unlimited wireless services as the foundation of its business, Leap pioneered its Cricket service. The Company and its joint ventures now operate in 35 states and the District of Columbia and hold licenses in 35 of the top 50 U.S. markets. Through its affordable, flat-rate service plans, Cricket offers customers a choice of unlimited voice, text, data and mobile Web services. Headquartered in San Diego, Calif., Leap is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol "LEAP." For more information, please visit www.leapwireless.com.
Notes Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Information presented in this press release and in the attached financial tables includes financial information prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the U.S., or GAAP, as well as non-GAAP financial measures. Generally, a non-GAAP financial measure, within the meaning of Item 10 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), is a numerical measure of a company’s financial performance or cash flows that (a) excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, which are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the consolidated balance sheets, consolidated statements of operations or consolidated statements of cash flows; or (b) includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, which are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. As described more fully in the notes to the attached financial tables, management supplements the information provided by financial statement measures with several customer-focused performance metrics that are widely used in the telecommunications industry. Adjusted OIBDA, existing business adjusted OIBDA, CPGA, and CCU are non-GAAP financial measures. Non-GAAP financial measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, the information prepared in accordance with GAAP. Reconciliations of non-GAAP financial measures used in this release to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures can be found in the section entitled “Definition of Terms and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” included toward the end of this release.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current expectations based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information, but are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Our forward-looking statements include our discussions about planned product and service plan developments, competitiveness, expected financial and operational performance, including the performance of our new initiatives, 2010 cash flow levels, our pending joint venture with Pocket Communications, and are generally identified with words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “could,” “may” and similar expressions. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our forward-looking statements include, among other things:
- our ability to attract and retain customers in an extremely competitive marketplace;
- the duration and severity of the current economic downturn in the United States and changes in economic conditions, including interest rates, consumer credit conditions, consumer debt levels, consumer confidence, unemployment rates, energy costs and other macro-economic factors that could adversely affect demand for the services we provide;
- the impact of competitors’ initiatives;
- our ability to successfully implement product offerings and execute effectively on our other strategic activities;
- our ability to obtain roaming services from other carriers at cost-effective rates;
- our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;
- our ability to attract, motivate and retain an experienced workforce;
- our ability to comply with the covenants in any credit agreement, indenture or similar instrument governing any of our existing or future indebtedness;
- failure of our network or information technology systems to perform according to expectations and risks associated with the upgrade of certain of those systems, including our customer billing system; and
- our ability to consummate the joint venture with Pocket Communications, associated integration risks and costs, and uncertainties regarding the performance of the joint venture post-closing; and
- other factors detailed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” included in our periodic reports filed with the SEC, including our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 filed with the SEC, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, which we expect to file shortly with the SEC.
All forward-looking statements included in this news release should be considered in the context of these risks. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Investors and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.
Leap is a U.S. registered trademark and the Leap logo is a trademark of Leap. Cricket, Cricket Wireless, Cricket Clicks, Jump, Jump Mobile, Flex Bucket, Real Unlimited Unreal Savings and the Cricket “K” are U.S. registered trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: BridgePay, Cricket By Week, Cricket Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation, Cricket PAYGo, MyPerks and Cricket MyPerks and Cricket Wireless Internet Service. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (1) (In thousands, except share amounts) |
| | | | | | |
| | | December 31,
2009 | | | December 31,
2008 |
| Assets | | | | | | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | | | $ | 174,999 | | | | $ | 357,708 | |
| Short-term investments | | | | 389,154 | | | | | 238,143 | |
| Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments | | | | 3,866 | | | | | 4,780 | |
| Inventories | | | | 107,912 | | | | | 99,086 | |
| Deferred charges | | | | 38,872 | | | | | 27,207 | |
| Other current assets | | | | 73,204 | | | | | 51,948 | |
| Total current assets | | | | 788,007 | | | | | 778,872 | |
| Property and equipment, net | | | | 2,121,094 | | | | | 1,842,718 | |
| Wireless licenses | | | | 1,921,973 | | | | | 1,841,798 | |
| Assets held for sale | | | | 2,381 | | | | | 45,569 | |
| Goodwill | | | | 430,101 | | | | | 430,101 | |
| Intangible assets, net | | | | 24,535 | | | | | 29,854 | |
| Other assets | | | | 83,630 | | | | | 83,945 | |
| Total assets | | | $ | 5,371,721 | | | | $ | 5,052,857 | |
| Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity | | | | | | |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | $ | 310,386 | | | | $ | 325,294 | |
| Current maturities of long-term debt | | | | 8,000 | | | | | 13,000 | |
| Other current liabilities | | | | 196,647 | | | | | 162,002 | |
| Total current liabilities | | | | 515,033 | | | | | 500,296 | |
| Long-term debt | | | | 2,735,318 | | | | | 2,566,025 | |
| Deferred tax liabilities | | | | 259,512 | | | | | 217,631 | |
| Other long-term liabilities | | | | 99,696 | | | | | 84,350 | |
| Total liabilities | | | | 3,609,559 | | | | | 3,368,302 | |
| Redeemable noncontrolling interests | | | | 71,632 | | | | | 71,879 | |
| Stockholders’ equity: | | | | | | |
| Preferred stock — authorized 10,000,000 shares, $.0001 par value; no shares issued and outstanding | | | | — | | | | | — | |
| Common stock — authorized 160,000,000 shares, $.0001 par value; 77,524,040 and 69,515,526 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively | | | | 8 | | | | | 7 | |
| Additional paid-in capital | | | | 2,148,194 | | | | | 1,839,313 | |
| Accumulated deficit | | | | (458,685 | ) | | | | (220,722 | ) |
| Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | | | | 1,013 | | | | | (5,922 | ) |
| Total stockholders’ equity | | | | 1,690,530 | | | | | 1,612,676 | |
| Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity | | | $ | 5,371,721 | | | | $ | 5,052,857 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (1) (In thousands, except per share data) |
| | | | | | |
| | Three Months Ended December 31, | | | Year Ended December 31, |
| | 2009 | | | 2008 | | | 2009 | | 2008 |
| | (Unaudited) | | | (Unaudited) | | | | | |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Service revenues | | $ | 546,971 | | | $ | 458,506 | | | $ | 2,143,829 | | | $ | 1,709,101 | |
| Equipment revenues | | | 52,328 | | | | 60,417 | | | | 239,333 | | | | 249,761 | |
| Total revenues | | | 599,299 | | | | 518,923 | | | | 2,383,162 | | | | 1,958,862 | |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below) | | | 153,388 | | | | 128,563 | | | | 609,006 | | | | 488,298 | |
| Cost of equipment | | | 142,189 | | | | 133,017 | | | | 561,262 | | | | 465,422 | |
| Selling and marketing | | | 99,651 | | | | 85,134 | | | | 411,564 | | | | 294,917 | |
| General and administrative | | | 84,260 | | | | 91,029 | | | | 358,452 | | | | 331,691 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | 113,467 | | | | 76,609 | | | | 410,697 | | | | 331,448 | |
| Impairment of assets | | — | | | — | | | | 639 | | | | 177 | |
| Total operating expenses | | | 592,955 | | | | 514,352 | | | | 2,351,620 | | | | 1,911,953 | |
| Loss on sale or disposal of assets | | | (1,854 | ) | | | (768 | ) | | | (418 | ) | | | (209 | ) |
| Operating income | | | 4,490 | | | | 3,803 | | | | 31,124 | | | | 46,700 | |
| Equity in net income (loss) of investee | | | 956 | | | | 829 | | | | 3,946 | | | | (298 | ) |
| Interest income | | | 1,492 | | | | 3,132 | | | | 3,806 | | | | 14,571 | |
| Interest expense | | | (60,349 | ) | | | (49,149 | ) | | | (210,389 | ) | | | (158,259 | ) |
| Other income (expense), net | | | 595 | | | | (3,897 | ) | | | 469 | | | | (7,125 | ) |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | | — | | | | — | | | | (26,310 | ) | | | — | |
| Loss before income taxes | | | (52,816 | ) | | | (45,282 | ) | | | (197,354 | ) | | | (104,411 | ) |
| Income tax expense | | | (11,197 | ) | | | (9,287 | ) | | | (40,609 | ) | | | (38,970 | ) |
| Net loss | | | (64,013 | ) | | | (54,569 | ) | | | (237,963 | ) | | | (143,381 | ) |
| Accretion of redeemable noncontrolling interests, net of tax | | | 2,141 | | | | (995 | ) | | | (1,529 | ) | | | (6,820 | ) |
| Net loss attributable to common stockholders | | $ | (61,872 | ) | | $ | (55,564 | ) | | $ | (239,492 | ) | | $ | (150,201 | ) |
| Loss per share: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | $ | (0.82 | ) | | $ | (0.82 | ) | | $ | (3.30 | ) | | $ | (2.21 | ) |
| Diluted | | $ | (0.82 | ) | | $ | (0.82 | ) | | $ | (3.30 | ) | | $ | (2.21 | ) |
| Shares used in per share calculations: | | | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | | 75,617 | | | | 68,085 | | | | 72,515 | | | | 68,021 | |
| Diluted | | | 75,617 | | | | 68,085 | | | | 72,515 | | | | 68,021 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (1) (In thousands) |
| | | | | | |
| | | Year Ended
December 31,
2009 | | | Year Ended
December 31,
2008 |
| Operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Net loss | | | $ | (237,963 | ) | | | $ | (143,381 | ) |
| Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by operating activities: | | | | | | |
| Share-based compensation expense | | | | 42,713 | | | | | 35,215 | |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | | 410,697 | | | | | 331,448 | |
| Accretion of asset retirement obligations | | | | 1,888 | | | | | 1,153 | |
| Non-cash interest items, net | | | | 8,357 | | | | | 13,057 | |
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | | | | 8,805 | | | | | — | |
| Deferred income tax expense | | | | 38,164 | | | | | 36,310 | |
| Impairment of assets | | | | 639 | | | | | 177 | |
| Impairment of short-term investments | | | | — | | | | | 7,538 | |
| Loss on sale or disposal of assets | | | | 418 | | | | | 209 | |
| Equity in net income (loss) of investee | | | | (3,946 | ) | | | | 298 | |
| Changes in assets and liabilities | | | | | | |
| Inventories and deferred charges | | | | (20,491 | ) | | | | (60,899 | ) |
| Other assets | | | | (17,287 | ) | | | | (20,759 | ) |
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | | | | 5,674 | | | | | 75,344 | |
| Other liabilities | | | | 46,649 | | | | | 74,936 | |
| Net cash provided by operating activities | | | | 284,317 | | | | | 350,646 | |
| Investing activities: | | | | | | |
| Acquisition of a business, net of cash acquired | | | | — | | | | | (31,217 | ) |
| Purchases of property and equipment | | | | (699,525 | ) | | | | (795,678 | ) |
| Change in prepayments for purchases of property and equipment | | | | 5,691 | | | | | (5,876 | ) |
| Purchases of and deposits for wireless licenses and spectrum clearing costs | | | | (35,356 | ) | | | | (78,451 | ) |
| Return of deposit for wireless licenses | | | | — | | | | | 70,000 | |
| Proceeds from sale of wireless licenses and operating assets | | | | 2,965 | | | | | — | |
| Purchases of investments | | | | (883,173 | ) | | | | (598,015 | ) |
| Sales and maturities of investments | | | | 733,268 | | | | | 532,468 | |
| Purchase of noncontrolling interest | | | | — | | | | | — | |
| Purchase of membership units of equity method investment | | | | — | | | | | (1,033 | ) |
| Change in restricted cash | | | | 338 | | | | | (2,176 | ) |
| Net cash used in investing activities | | | | (875,792 | ) | | | | (909,978 | ) |
| Financing activities: | | | | | | |
| Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt | | | | 1,057,474 | | | | | 535,750 | |
| Repayment of long-term debt | | | | (897,904 | ) | | | | (10,500 | ) |
| Payment of debt issuance costs | | | | (16,200 | ) | | | | (7,658 | ) |
| Proceeds from issuance of common stock, net | | | | 267,105 | | | | | 7,885 | |
| Other | | | | (1,709 | ) | | | | (41,774 | ) |
| Net cash provided by financing activities | | | | 408,766 | | | | | 483,703 | |
| Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents | | | | (182,709 | ) | | | | (75,629 | ) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | | | | 357,708 | | | | | 433,337 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | | | $ | 174,999 | | | | $ | 357,708 | |
| | | | | | | | | | |
Explanatory Notes to Financial Statements
(1) The consolidated financial statements and the tables of results and operating and financial metrics included at the beginning of this release include the accounts of Leap and its wholly owned subsidiaries as well as the accounts of LCW Wireless, LLC and Denali Spectrum, LLC and their wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company consolidates its interests in LCW Wireless, LLC and Denali Spectrum, LLC in accordance with the authoritative guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities because these entities are variable interest entities and the Company will absorb a majority of their expected losses. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.
(2) On January 1, 2009, we adopted the authoritative guidance for noncontrolling interests, which requires noncontrolling interests to be presented as a separate component of equity in the consolidated balance sheet. The guidance also modifies the presentation of net income by requiring earnings and other comprehensive income to be attributed to controlling and noncontrolling interests. The cumulative impact to the Company’s financial statements as a result of the adoption of the guidance resulted in a $9.2 million reduction to stockholders’ equity, a $5.8 million reduction to deferred tax liabilities and a $15.0 million increase to redeemable noncontrolling interests (formerly referred to as minority interests) as of December 31, 2008. The Company retrospectively applied the guidance to all prior periods.
(3) The following tables summarize operating data for the Company’s consolidated operations for the three months and years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):
| | | Three Months Ended December 31, |
| | | 2009 | | | % of 2009
Service
Revenues | | 2008 | | | % of 2008
Service
Revenues | | Change from Prior Year |
| | | | | | Dollars | | Percent |
| | | (Unaudited) | | | | (Unaudited) | | | | | | |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Service revenues | | | $ 546,971 | | | | | $ 458,506 | | | | | $ | 88,465 | | | 19.3 | % |
| Equipment revenues | | | 52,328 | | | | | 60,417 | | | | | | (8,089 | ) | | (13.4 | %) |
| Total revenues | | | 599,299 | | | | | 518,923 | | | | | | 80,376 | | | 15.5 | % |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of service | | | 153,388 | | | 28.0 | % | | 128,563 | | | 28.0 | % | | | 24,825 | | | 19.3 | % |
| Cost of equipment | | | 142,189 | | | 26.0 | % | | 133,017 | | | 29.0 | % | | | 9,172 | | | 6.9 | % |
| Selling and marketing | | | 99,651 | | | 18.2 | % | | 85,134 | | | 18.6 | % | | | 14,517 | | | 17.1 | % |
| General and administrative | | | 84,260 | | | 15.4 | % | | 91,029 | | | 19.9 | % | | | (6,769 | ) | | (7.4 | %) |
| Depreciation and amortization | | | 113,467 | | | 20.7 | % | | 76,609 | | | 16.7 | % | | | 36,858 | | | 48.1 | % |
| Total operating expenses | | | 592,955 | | | 108.4 | % | | 514,352 | | | 112.2 | % | | | 78,603 | | | 15.3 | % |
| Loss on sale or disposal of assets | | | (1,854 | ) | | (0.3 | )% | | (768 | ) | | (0.2 | %) | | | (1,086 | ) | | (141.4 | %) |
| Operating income | | | $ 4,490 | | | 0.8 | % | | $ 3,803 | | | 0.8 | % | | $ | 687 | | | (18.1 | %) |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | Year Ended December 31, |
| | 2009 | | | % of 2009
Service
Revenues | | 2008 | | | % of 2008
Service
Revenues | | Change from Prior Year |
| | | | | Dollars | | Percent |
| Revenues: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Service revenues | | $ 2,143,829 | | | | | $ 1,709,101 | | | | | $ | 434,728 | | | 25.4 | % |
| Equipment revenues | | 239,333 | | | | | 249,761 | | | | | | (10,428 | ) | | (4.2 | %) |
| Total revenues | | 2,383,162 | | | | | 1,958,862 | | | | | | 424,300 | | | 21.7 | % |
| Operating expenses: | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Cost of service | | 609,006 | | | 28.4 | % | | 488,298 | | | 28.6 | % | | | 120,708 | | | 24.7 | % |
| Cost of equipment | | 561,262 | | | 26.2 | % | | 465,422 | | | 27.2 | % | | | 95,840 | | | 20.6 | % |
| Selling and marketing | | 411,564 | | | 19.2 | % | | 294,917 | | | 17.3 | % | | | 116,647 | | | 39.6 | % |
| General and administrative | | 358,452 | | | 16.7 | % | | 331,691 | | | 19.4 | % | | | 26,761 | | | 8.1 | % |
| Depreciation and amortization | | 410,697 | | | 19.2 | % | | 331,448 | | | 19.4 | % | | | 79,249 | | | 23.9 | % |
| Impairment of assets | | 639 | | | 0.0 | % | | 177 | | | 0.0 | % | | | 462 | | | 261.0 | % |
| Total operating expenses | | 2,351,620 | | | 109.7 | % | | 1,911,953 | | | 111.9 | % | | | 439,667 | | | 23.0 | % |
| Loss on sale or disposal of assets | | (418 | ) | | 0.0 | % | | (209 | ) | | 0.0 | % | | | (209 | ) | | (100.0 | )% |
| Operating income | | $ 31,124 | | | 1.5 | % | | $ 46,700 | | | 2.7 | % | | $ | (15,576 | ) | | (33.4 | )% |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
(4) Total share-based compensation expense related to the Company’s share-based awards for the three months and years ended December 31, 2009 and 2008 was allocated to the statements of operations as follows (in thousands, except per share data):
| | Three Months Ended December 31, | | Year Months Ended December 31, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
| | (Unaudited) | | (Unaudited) | | | | |
| Cost of service | | $ | 1,036 | | $ | 915 | | $ | 3,546 | | $ | 3,060 |
| Selling and marketing expenses | | | 1,349 | | | 1,174 | | | 6,264 | | | 4,580 |
| General and administrative expenses | | | 7,259 | | | 7,624 | | | 32,903 | | | 27,575 |
| Share-based compensation expense | | $ | 9,644 | | $ | 9,713 | | $ | 42,713 | | $ | 35,215 |
| Share-based compensation expense per share: | | | | | | | | |
| Basic | | $ | 0.13 | | $ | 0.14 | | $ | 0.59 | | $ | 0.52 |
| Diluted | | $ | 0.13 | | $ | 0.14 | | $ | 0.59 | | $ | 0.52 |
Definition of Terms and Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company utilizes certain financial measures that are widely used in the telecommunications industry and are not calculated based on GAAP. Certain of these financial measures are considered non-GAAP financial measures within the meaning of Item 10 of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.
(4) Churn, which measures customer turnover, is calculated as the net number of customers that disconnect from our service divided by the weighted-average number of customers divided by the number of months during the period being measured. Customers who do not pay their first monthly bill are deducted from our gross customer additions in the month in which they are disconnected; as a result, these customers are not included in churn. Customers of our Cricket Wireless and Cricket Broadband service are generally disconnected from service approximately 30 days after failing to pay a monthly bill, and pay-in-advance customers who ask to terminate their service are disconnected when their paid service period ends. Customers of our Cricket PAYGo service are generally disconnected from service if they have not replenished or “topped up” their account within 60 days after the end of their current term of service. Management uses churn to measure our retention of customers, to measure changes in customer retention over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our business affect customer retention. In addition, churn provides management with a useful measure to compare our customer turnover activity to that of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use churn primarily as a tool to track changes in our customer retention over time and to compare our customer retention to that of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
(5) ARPU is service revenue divided by the weighted-average number of customers, divided by the number of months during the period being measured. Management uses ARPU to identify average revenue per customer, to track changes in average customer revenues over time, to help evaluate how changes in our business, including changes in our service offerings and fees, affect average revenue per customer, and to forecast future service revenue. In addition, ARPU provides management with a useful measure to compare our subscriber revenue to that of other wireless communications providers. We do not recognize service revenue until payment has been received and services have been provided to the customer. In addition, customers of our Cricket Wireless and Cricket Broadband service are generally disconnected from service approximately 30 days after failing to pay a monthly bill. Customers of our Cricket PAYGo service are generally disconnected from service if they have not replenished or “topped up” their account within 60 days after the end of their current term of service. Therefore, because our calculation of weighted-average number of customers includes customers who have not paid their last bill and have yet to disconnect service, ARPU may appear lower during periods in which we have significant disconnect activity. We believe investors use ARPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our average revenue per customer and to compare our per customer service revenues to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
(6) CPGA is selling and marketing costs (excluding applicable share-based compensation expense included in selling and marketing expense), and equipment subsidy (generally defined as cost of equipment less equipment revenue), less the net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition, divided by the total number of gross new customer additions during the period being measured. The net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition includes the revenues and costs associated with the sale of handsets to existing customers as well as costs associated with handset replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs which are the responsibility of the handset manufacturers). We deduct customers who do not pay their first monthly bill from our gross customer additions, which tends to increase CPGA because we incur the costs associated with this customer without receiving the benefit of a gross customer addition. Management uses CPGA to measure the efficiency of our customer acquisition efforts, to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new subscribers over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our sales and distribution strategies affect the cost-efficiency of our customer acquisition efforts. In addition, CPGA provides management with a useful measure to compare our per customer acquisition costs with those of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use CPGA primarily as a tool to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new customers and to compare our per customer acquisition costs to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
The following table reconciles total costs used in the calculation of CPGA to selling and marketing expense, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CPGA (unaudited; in thousands, except gross customer additions and CPGA):
| | Three Months Ended | | Year Ended |
| | December 31, | | December 31, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
| Selling and marketing expense | | $ | 99,651 | | | $ | 85,134 | | | $ | 411,564 | | | $ | 294,917 | |
| Less share-based compensation expense included in selling and marketing expense | | | (1,349 | ) | | | (1,174 | ) | | | (6,264 | ) | | | (4,580 | ) |
| Plus cost of equipment | | | 142,189 | | | | 133,017 | | | | 561,262 | | | | 465,422 | |
| Less equipment revenue | | | (52,328 | ) | | | (60,417 | ) | | | (239,333 | ) | | | (249,761 | ) |
| Less net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition | | | (12,521 | ) | | | (10,885 | ) | | | (42,069 | ) | | | (42,174 | ) |
| Total costs used in the calculation of CPGA | | $ | 175,642 | | | $ | 145,675 | | | $ | 685,160 | | | $ | 463,824 | |
| Gross customer additions | | | 968,039 | | | | 801,436 | | | | 3,500,113 | | | | 2,487,579 | |
| CPGA | | $ | 181 | | | $ | 182 | | | $ | 196 | | | $ | 186 | |
(7) CCU is cost of service and general and administrative costs (excluding applicable share-based compensation expense included in cost of service and general and administrative expense) plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition (which includes the gain or loss on the sale of handsets to existing customers and costs associated with handset replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs which are the responsibility of the handset manufacturers)), divided by the weighted-average number of customers, divided by the number of months during the period being measured. CCU does not include any depreciation and amortization expense. Management uses CCU as a tool to evaluate the non-selling cash expenses associated with ongoing business operations on a per customer basis, to track changes in these non-selling cash costs over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our business operations affect non-selling cash costs per customer. In addition, CCU provides management with a useful measure to compare our non-selling cash costs per customer with those of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use CCU primarily as a tool to track changes in our non-selling cash costs over time and to compare our non-selling cash costs to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
The following table reconciles total costs used in the calculation of CCU to cost of service, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to CCU (unaudited; in thousands, except weighted-average number of customers and CCU):
| | Three Months Ended | | Year Ended |
| | December 31, | | December 31, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
| | | | | | | | |
| Cost of service | | $ | 153,388 | | | $ | 128,563 | | | $ | 609,006 | | | $ | 488,298 | |
| Plus general and administrative expense | | | 84,260 | | | | 91,029 | | | | 358,452 | | | | 331,691 | |
| Less share-based compensation expense included in cost of service and general and administrative expense | | | (8,295 | ) | | | (8,539 | ) | | | (36,449 | ) | | | (30,635 | ) |
| Plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition | | | 12,521 | | | | 10,885 | | | | 42,069 | | | | 42,174 | |
| Total costs used in the calculation of CCU | | $ | 241,874 | | | $ | 221,938 | | | $ | 973,078 | | | $ | 831,528 | |
| Weighted-average number of customers | | | 4,716,185 | | | | 3,600,393 | | | | 4,440,822 | | | | 3,272,347 | |
| CCU | | $ | 17.10 | | | $ | 20.55 | | | $ | 18.26 | | | $ | 21.18 | |
(8) Adjusted OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of: (gain)/loss on sale/disposal of assets; impairment of assets; and share-based compensation expense (benefit).
Existing business adjusted OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that further adjusts adjusted OIBDA to exclude total revenues attributable to expansion markets launched or to be launched after December 31, 2007 and to the Company’s Cricket Broadband service, and to add back operating expenses attributable to such activities that were included in total operating expenses (other than depreciation and amortization and share-based compensation expense, which have already been added back to adjusted OIBDA). Generally, for purposes of calculating these measures, corporate-level and regional-level overhead expenses are allocated to our markets based on gross customer additions and weighted average customers by market. Adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA should not be construed as alternatives to operating income or net income as determined in accordance with GAAP, as alternatives to cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP or as measures of liquidity.
In a capital-intensive industry such as wireless telecommunications, management believes that adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA, as well as the associated percentage margin calculations, are meaningful measures of the Company’s operating performance. We use adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA as supplemental performance measures because management believes they facilitate comparisons of the Company’s operating performance from period to period and comparisons of the Company’s operating performance to that of other companies by backing out potential differences caused by the age and book depreciation of fixed assets (affecting relative depreciation expenses) as well as the items described above for which additional adjustments were made. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, these expenses primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. Because adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA facilitate internal comparisons of our historical operating performance, management also uses these metrics for business planning purposes and to measure our performance relative to that of our competitors. In addition, we believe that adjusted OIBDA, existing business adjusted OIBDA, and similar measures are widely used by investors, financial analysts and credit rating agencies as measures of our financial performance over time and to compare our financial performance with that of other companies in our industry. Adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations include:
- they do not reflect capital expenditures;
- although they do not include depreciation and amortization, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA do not reflect cash requirements for such replacements;
- they do not reflect costs associated with share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
- they do not reflect the interest expense necessary to service interest or principal payments on current or future indebtedness;
- they do not reflect expenses incurred for the payment of income taxes and other taxes; and
- other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.
Management understands these limitations and considers adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA as financial performance measures that supplement but do not replace the information provided to management by our GAAP results.
The following table reconciles adjusted OIBDA and Existing Business Adjusted OIBDA to operating income, which we consider to be the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to adjusted OIBDA and existing business adjusted OIBDA (unaudited; in thousands):
| | Three Months Ended
December 31, | | Year Ended
December 31, |
| | 2009 | | 2008 | | 2009 | | 2008 |
| Operating income | | $ | 4,490 | | $ | 3,803 | | $ | 31,124 | | $ | 46,700 |
| Plus depreciation and amortization | | | 113,467 | | | 76,609 | | | 410,697 | | | 331,448 |
| OIBDA | | | 117,957 | | | 80,412 | | | 441,821 | | | 378,148 |
| Less (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets | | | 1,854 | | | 768 | | | 418 | | | 209 |
| Plus impairment of assets | | | — | | | — | | | 639 | | | 177 |
| Plus share-based compensation | | | 9,644 | | | 9,713 | | | 42,713 | | | 35,215 |
| Adjusted OIBDA | | $ | 129,455 | | $ | 90,893 | | $ | 485,591 | | $ | 413,749 |
| Plus net operating expenses attributable to expansion markets and the Company’s Cricket Broadband service included in total operating expenses | | | 27,852 | | 58,563 | | | 202,615 | | | 172,031 |
| Existing business adjusted OIBDA | | $ | 157,307 | | $ | 149,456 | | $ | 688,206 | | $ | 585,780 |
CONTACT:
Leap Contacts:
Greg Lund, Media Relations
858-882-9105
glund@leapwireless.com
Amy Wakeham, Investor Relations
858-882-6084
awakeham@leapwireless.com
