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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 AND 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
BERMUDA 52-2025291
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION 0-22637 (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
CLARENDON HOUSE, 2 CHURCH STREET, HAMILTON HM 11, BERMUDA
(441) 295-5950
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
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IRIDIUM LLC
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 0-22637-01 52-1984342
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1575 EYE STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-3800
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
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IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 0-22637-02 52-2066319
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1575 EYE STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-3800
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
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2
IRIDIUM IP LLC
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 333-31741-01 52-2048736
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1575 EYE STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-3800
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
THIS REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION
(I)(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE
REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
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IRIDIUM ROAMING LLC
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 333-31741-02 52-2048734
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1575 EYE STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-3800
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
THIS REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION
(I)(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE
REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
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IRIDIUM CAPITAL CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 333-31741-03 52-2048739
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1575 EYE STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-3800
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
THIS REGISTRANT MEETS THE CONDITIONS SET FORTH IN GENERAL INSTRUCTION
(I)(1)(a) AND (b) OF FORM 10-K AND IS THEREFORE FILING THIS FORM WITH THE
REDUCED DISCLOSURE FORMAT.
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IRIDIUM FACILITIES CORPORATION
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 333-44349-04 52-2083969
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER) (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
OF ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1575 EYE STREET, N.W., WASHINGTON, D.C. 20005
(202) 408-3800
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SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT:
NAME OF EACH EXCHANGE ON
TITLE OF EACH CLASS WHICH REGISTERED
- ------------------- ----------------
Iridium World
Communications Ltd.................. Nasdaq National Market
Class A Common Stock
($0.01 par value)
Iridium Operating LLC and Iridium Capital Corporation, as issuers, and Iridium
IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium Facilities Corporation, as guarantors,
are required to file reports required by Section 13 of the Act pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Act in respect of the issuers' (i) 13% Senior Notes due
2005, Series A, (ii) 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B, (iii) 11 1/4% Senior
Notes due 2005, Series C and (iv) 10 7/8% Senior Notes due 2005, Series D.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrants (1) have 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
registrants were required to file such reports), and (2) have been subject to
such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ]
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the
best of registrants' knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements
incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this
Form 10-K. [X]
The aggregate market value of the Iridium World Communications Ltd. voting
stock held by nonaffiliates of the registrants as of March 1, 1999 was
$480,820,909.
At March 1, 1999, there were 19,725,986 shares of Iridium World Communications
Ltd. Class A Common Stock ($0.01 par value per share) outstanding.
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
NONE.
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4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
NUMBER
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PART I
Item 1. Business 5
Item 2. Properties 24
Item 3. Legal Proceedings 25
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 25
PART II
Item 5. Market for IWCL's Common Equity and Related
Stockholder Matters 25
Item 6. Selected Financial Data 27
Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operation 30
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market
Risk 40
Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 40
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements With Accountants On
Accounting and Financial Disclosure 40
PART III
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrants 40
Item 11. Executive Compensation 46
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and
Management 49
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 51
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules, and Reports
on Form 8-K 52
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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION
This annual report is filed jointly by Iridium World Communications Ltd., or
"IWCL", Iridium LLC, or "Parent", Iridium Operating LLC, or "Iridium", Iridium
Capital Corporation, or "Capital", Iridium Roaming LLC, or "Roaming", Iridium IP
LLC, or "IP", and Iridium Facilities Corporation, or "Facilities". Unless
otherwise indicated, the information contained in this report is presented as of
March 1, 1999.
IWCL was incorporated by Parent as an exempted company under the Companies Act
1981 of Bermuda on December 12, 1996. IWCL is organized to act as a member of
Parent and to have no other business. As of March 1, 1999, IWCL owned
approximately 13.25% of the outstanding class 1 membership interests in Parent.
Parent was formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions of
the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, or "Delaware Act", on July 16, 1996.
Parent's purpose is to acquire, own and manage the Iridium communications
system, or "Iridium System".
Iridium was formed as a limited liability company pursuant to the provisions
of the Delaware Act on October 23, 1997. Iridium is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Parent. On December 18, 1997, Parent and Iridium effected an asset drop-down
transaction pursuant to which substantially all of the assets and liabilities of
Parent were transferred to Iridium.
Capital is a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium.
Capital has no business other than serving as a co-issuer of Iridium's
approximately $1.45 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes and
guarantor of Iridium's secured bank facility. Capital has no significant assets
and does not conduct any operations.
Roaming, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Iridium, is the entity that enters into roaming agreements with other wireless
telecommunications providers on behalf of Iridium. IP, also a Delaware limited
liability company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium, holds the worldwide
trademark registrations of Iridium. Facilities, a Delaware corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium, is the entity which holds certain real
property interests of Iridium. Each of Roaming, IP, and Facilities is a
guarantor of the senior notes and the secured bank facility. The senior notes
and the secured bank facility are also guaranteed by a new wholly-owned
subsidiary of Iridium, Iridium (Potomac) LLC, a Delaware limited liability
company, or "Potomac". Potomac will also hold certain real property interests of
Iridium. Iridium Canada Facilities Inc., or "Canada Facilities", is a New
Brunswick, Canada corporation and a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary of Iridium.
Canada Facilities will hold certain Canadian real property interests of Iridium,
but is not a guarantor of the senior notes or the secured bank facility.
IWCL acts as a member of Parent and has no other business. The business of
Iridium constitutes substantially all of Parent's business. Any reference below
to Iridium relating to any event prior to the asset drop-down transaction should
be interpreted as a reference to the Parent, as predecessor to Iridium.
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6
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD. ("IWCL")
- - issuer of the class A common stock
- - has no business other than its ownership and participation in the
management of Iridium LLC
IRIDIUM'S 20 STRATEGIC INVESTORS
- - primarily providers of wireless telecommunications services and equipment,
satellite systems and satellite launch services.
IRIDIUM LLC ("Parent")
- - issuer of class 1 interests
- - owner of Iridium Operating LLC
- - owner of Iridum Aero Acquisition Sub, Inc.
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC ("Iridium")
- - owner and operator of Iridium System
- - owner of Iridium Capital Corporation
- - owner of Iridium Roaming LLC
- - owner of Iridium IP LLC
- - owner of Iridium Facilities Corporation
- - owner of Iridium (Potomac) LLC
- - owner of Iridium Canada Facilities Inc.
BUSINESS SEGMENT
Iridium operates in one industry segment, telecommunications.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Iridium is transitioning from a development stage company into an operating
company. Accordingly, many statements contained in, or incorporated by reference
in, this report are forward looking. Examples of such statements include
Iridium's expectations about (i) operations, (ii) its revenues, (iii) its
markets, (iv) the technical capabilities of the Iridium System, (v) its funding
needs, (vi) its funding sources, (vii) its prospects, (viii) regulatory matters,
(ix) the pricing of its services, (x) the availability and distribution of its
phones and pagers, (xi) its competitors and their services and (xii) the actions
of its equipment suppliers, gateway operators, service providers and roaming
partners. Forward looking statements are inherently predictive and speculative
and Iridium cannot assure you that any forward looking statements will prove to
be correct. Actual results and developments are likely to be different, and may
be materially different, from those expressed or implied by forward looking
statements. For example, as described under "Business -- Marketing and
Distribution" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations - Recent Developments - Waiver of Secured
Bank Facility Covenants" below, subscriber levels and revenues for Iridium's
initial commercial
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7
operations have been significantly below Iridium's prior estimates as a result
of various factors, including an initial lack of availability of phones and
pagers, a shortage of fully-trained and motivated service providers and sales
personnel and lack of effective marketing coordination among Iridium, its
gateways and its service providers. In particular, forward looking statements
are based on a number of assumptions about future events, including the
assumption that there will be a sufficient number of customers for, and usage
of, the Iridium System to generate revenues in the amounts and at the times
anticipated by Iridium. In reviewing the information contained in, or
incorporated by reference in, this report (including the forward looking
statements) you should recognize that Iridium has no meaningful operating
history and must generate substantial revenues to satisfy its funding
requirements and, accordingly, there can be no assurance that Iridium will ever
be profitable.
Factors which may cause IWCL's, Parent's or Iridium's results to differ
materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements
include, but are not limited to, (i) Iridium's highly leveraged capital
structure and need to use external funding sources, (ii) customer acceptance of,
and demand for, Iridium World Services, (iii) delays and cost overruns related
to the construction and deployment of the Iridium System, including the
distribution of subscriber equipment, (iv) technological risks related to the
development and implementation of the various components of the Iridium System,
(v) satellite launch, operation and maintenance risks, (vi) risks associated
with the need to obtain operating licenses in the numerous countries where
Iridium assumes it will provide its services, (vii) competition from satellite
and terrestrial communications services and (viii) Iridium's dependence on
Motorola, Inc., or "Motorola", its gateway operators and its service providers
for the construction and operation of the Iridium System and the distribution
and marketing of Iridium World Services. These factors, and other factors that
could result in the forward looking statement proving to be inaccurate, or
materially affect Iridium's operations, are described in greater detail in the
Securities and Exchange Commission filings of IWCL, Parent and Iridium, and in
Exhibit 99, "Risk Factors", to this Report on Form 10-K.
OVERVIEW
Iridium is the first global wireless telecommunications company. Iridium
offers its customers the ability to make and receive phone calls and receive
pages virtually anywhere in the world. Iridium accomplishes this by providing
access to the Iridium satellite constellation as well as the world's cellular
networks -- all with one phone, one phone number and one customer bill. Iridium
believes it will be the only wireless telecommunications company in operation
well into the year 2000 that will be able to offer this comprehensive global
communications service.
Iridium commenced commercial phone service on November 1, 1998 and commercial
paging service on November 15, 1998. Over the past 20 months, Iridium has
successfully launched, deployed and programmed over 75 satellites (including
orbiting spares). Iridium's satellites now orbit the Earth in a constellation
that provides 24 hours per day satellite phone and paging service to virtually
anywhere in the world.
IRIDIUM SERVICES
Iridium's strategy is to be the total mobile communications solution for its
target markets by offering flexible service packages that allow customers to
conveniently select the most attractive telecommunications alternative anywhere
in the world they travel. Iridium World Satellite Service is designed for
customers who need to receive or make phone calls in areas not currently served
by cellular service. Iridium World Roaming Service is designed for customers who
travel to areas where their "home" cellular service will not support roaming,
including areas served by cellular networks that use electronic languages, or
"protocols", that are not compatible with their home network's protocol. Iridium
World Page Service offers the ability to receive a message virtually anywhere in
the world, including on aircraft. The Iridium World Calling Card provides
customers with a cost-effective means of accessing land-line services while
traveling. By packaging these services in various combinations, Iridium can meet
the diverse needs of its customers whether they travel to remote parts of the
globe or to areas served by cellular networks or both.
Iridium World Satellite Service
Iridium's satellites provide phone service to virtually anywhere on the
surface of the Earth where Iridium World Satellite Service is authorized. The
Iridium System is designed to provide a signal strength for voice communication
that averages approximately 16dB with an unobstructed view of the satellite,
which Iridium believes is a significantly higher signal strength than other
proposed mobile satellite systems. Iridium believes its signal strength will
enable it to better serve portable, hand-held phones than competing mobile
satellite systems. In the future, Iridium expects to be able to offer a full
array of calling features including call waiting, call hold, conference calling,
call forwarding and call barring. Iridium World Satellite Service is available
in more than 138 countries and territories as of March 1, 1999. Iridium's goal
is for Iridium World Satellite Service to be available in virtually all
countries and territories.
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8
Iridium World Satellite Service is a complement to, not a replacement for,
cellular service. The availability of cellular service is limited by the
geographic coverage of cellular systems. Iridium World Satellite Service is not
geographically constrained and, accordingly, extends mobile phone access to
areas not covered by cellular service. With a dual mode satellite/cellular
phone, or two separate phones, a customer can travel the globe and make or
receive phone calls from virtually anywhere in the world, including remote and
mid-ocean areas.
Iridium does not expect its customers to use Iridium World Satellite Service
where cellular services are available, because Iridium satellite voice service
is priced significantly higher than most cellular services and because Iridium
satellite voice service does not work as well as cellular services within
buildings and in urban areas where buildings are densely spaced. The quality of
a satellite call depends to a large extent on the strength of the signal between
the satellite and the phone. An obstruction between the satellite and the phone
reduces the signal strength and can result in poor call quality or no service at
all. See Exhibit 99, "Risk Factors -- Factors Affecting Customer Acceptance of
Satellite-Based Service" for a discussion of certain service limitations of
Iridium World Satellite Service. Although Iridium customers should not expect
satellite-based voice services to be reliable in these environments, cellular
and land-line services are typically available in these areas, and Iridium
provides its customers with the ability to access land-line service, cellular
service and satellite service using the same phone number and customer bill.
Iridium World Roaming Service
Iridium World Roaming Service permits subscribers to roam among cellular
networks that have roaming agreements with Iridium and have technically
integrated with the Iridium System. Iridium intends to create the broadest
global cellular roaming service available. Iridium has entered into roaming
agreements with more than 171 roaming partners and has integrated more than 75
of those partners (including cellular networks in more than 48 countries and
territories) with the Iridium System. Iridium's business plan currently calls
for roaming agreements covering networks in more than 150 countries and
territories to be integrated with the Iridium System by 2002.
In providing Iridium World Roaming Service, Iridium acts either as the
customer's "home" system or as an interface between the visited cellular network
and the customer's home network, even if the visited and home networks use
differing protocols (e.g., IS-41 and GSM). Iridium World Roaming Service
customers who travel between places that are served by different wireless
protocols can place calls and can be reached on one phone number by using either
a multi-mode phone that is compatible with multiple protocols or with a
combination of cellular phones, one for each protocol. Because non-conforming
IS-41 cellular technology currently does not permit sufficient anti-fraud
security or certain international dialing, Iridium World Roaming Service is not
provided with networks using non-conforming IS-41, although Iridium has
developed technology for, and is seeking a patent that covers, a technical
solution to the anti-security problem, and expects to begin service integrating
this system by year-end 1999.
Iridium World Page Service
Iridium is the first company to offer global paging to a belt-worn pager.
Iridium offers global paging both as a stand-alone service and bundled with its
voice service. The Iridium pager has a signal strength of approximately 26dB
(which provides significantly greater in-building penetration than
satellite-based voice services) and can receive alphanumeric messages, in any
one of 19 languages, and numeric messages. Iridium World Page Service customers
can be paged in over 200 countries and territories and onboard aircraft.
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To use the Iridium satellites efficiently, pages are sent to specified message
delivery areas, or "MDAs", rather than over the entire constellation (and thus,
the globe). The MDAs vary in size and shape and are designed to encompass common
travel routes and areas, including the air corridors between New York and London
and the eastern third of the United States. Iridium intends to vary the size of
each MDA in light of demand, capacity and competition. Because the pager is a
one-way device and cannot tell the network its location, customers are required
to choose up to three MDAs for normal delivery of messages.
When traveling, Iridium World Satellite Service customers and Iridium World
Roaming Service customers who have Iridium as their "home" system have the
benefit of "follow-me paging". With "follow-me paging", customers are generally
able to register their location (at no charge) by briefly turning on their
Iridium phone. The Iridium System then can identify the appropriate MDAs to send
a page without further customer action. Customers who are not subscribers to
Iridium World Satellite Service or are not "homed" on Iridium can update their
MDAs via a touch-tone phone, operator assistance or the Internet.
Iridium World Calling Card
The Iridium World Calling Card adds land-line access to Iridium's array of
service offerings that can be linked by a single customer bill. The calling card
also provides discount voice mail retrieval for Iridium World Satellite Service
customers. Iridium believes its calling card rates are competitively priced with
other international calling card services. Iridium World Calling Card Service is
available in more than 72 countries and territories.
Iridium Aeronautical Service
Iridium intends to introduce a single channel satellite aeronautical phone
service to private and commercial aircraft in 1999. In addition, on December
22, 1998, Parent, through a wholly-owned subsidiary, Iridium Aero Acquisition
Sub, Inc., or "Aero", agreed to acquire Claircom Communications Group, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. and Rogers Cantel Inc.,
which currently provides inflight phone service (generally under the AT&T brand)
on a total of approximately 1,750 commercial and executive aircraft. The
aggregate acquisition cost is approximately $65 million, consisting of
approximately $25.6 million in cash and approximately $39.4 million of notes of
Claircom which will be guaranteed by the Parent and issued to the sellers of the
Claircom shares. Upon completion of the acquisition, it is expected that Iridium
will operate this service and brand it with the Iridium name. This proposed
acquisition is subject to certain significant conditions and is expected to
close in the third or fourth quarters of 1999.
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TARGET MARKETS
Global Travelers and International Urban Travelers
The Global Travelers and International Urban Travelers market segments are
expected to represent a major market opportunity for Iridium. Currently, the
ability of land-based wireless service subscribers to communicate outside their
home territories or regions is limited by:
- the absence or unavailability of local cellular service in many
regions, particularly in lesser-developed regions of the
world;
- the absence of roaming agreements between the user's local cellular
provider and the wireless providers in the country or region in which
the user is traveling; and
- the inability of the user's "home" system to support roaming to other
cellular systems that use a different wireless protocol than does the
user's "home" wireless system.
Iridium expects that its Iridium World Satellite Service, Iridium World
Roaming Service and Iridium World Page Service will appeal to Global Travelers,
and that its Iridium World Roaming Service and Iridium World Page Service will
appeal to International Urban Travelers who frequently travel to areas served by
cellular networks that use different protocols but who rarely travel outside
cellular coverage, as logical extensions of their existing telecommunications
services. In particular, Iridium believes that traveling professionals will use
the unique capabilities of the Iridium System to remain in contact with their
homes and offices.
Iridium has been disappointed by the initial sales of Iridium World Services
to these market segments. Iridium believes that there is substantial demand in
these markets for the services it provides and that the lack of initial sales is
attributable to difficulties in the production and distribution of phones and
pagers and a shortage of fully-trained and motivated service providers and sales
personnel. Iridium believes the initial subscriber equipment production problems
have been largely addressed. Iridium is undertaking a variety of initiatives to
ensure that subscriber equipment is more effectively distributed and that
service providers are appropriately trained and motivated. In addition, Iridium
expects that, as was the case with cellular service, demand from these target
markets will increase as smaller and less expensive phones become available. See
"- Marketing and Distribution" for a description of these initiatives.
Industrial Users
Iridium believes that the Industrial Users market segment constitutes a
significant and immediate opportunity for Iridium. For companies that have
multiple locations around the globe, or a requirement for remote communications,
the Iridium System provides a single communications solution. This market
segment includes national and multinational companies that have executives who
travel outside of their home cellular coverage area or who have a need for
satellite services in the regular course of business. The segment also includes
companies that are expected to demand satellite services at remote industrial
sites and on land and water transportation vehicles, such as utilities, oil and
mineral exploration, pipeline construction, engineering, fishing and forestry.
Iridium World Satellite Service and Iridium World Page Service are expected to
be used in this market segment for business communications and emergency backup
communications.
Iridium is focusing a substantial portion of its initial marketing and
distribution efforts on the Industrial Users market segment because it believes
many companies in this segment have a significant current demand for mobile
satellite communications and will be significant users of Iridium's services. In
the course of the initial marketing efforts to Industrial Users, Iridium and its
gateways and service providers have encountered coordination difficulties in
packaging global or super-regional telecommunications solutions for potential
customers
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because these customers' operations often span a number of exclusive gateway and
service provider territories. Iridium is undertaking several initiatives to
address these coordination difficulties. See "- Marketing and Distribution" for
a description of these initiatives.
Public Sector Users
Currently, governments are significant users of satellite services, and
Iridium anticipates that the coverage and ease of portability of Iridium World
Satellite Service and Iridium World Page Service will make them attractive for a
variety of governmental applications. The government communications addressable
market includes governmental departments and agencies and international
organizations for civilian and military applications, including law enforcement,
official travel and disaster relief. In addition, governments require satellite
services for operations in areas where inadequate land-based communication
capability is common, such as for border patrols, customs operations,
communication with ships at sea and embassy communications.
One of Iridium's 12 gateways is owned by the U.S. government and Iridium
expects that the U.S. government, including the U.S. military and agencies that
operate internationally, will be significant users of Iridium's services.
In-Country Users
The In-Country Users market segment is comprised of two subcategories:
- users in areas where potential demand for cellular service exists but
such services have yet to be deployed, or, if deployed, are of poor
quality, typically in rural areas of developed countries; and
- users in areas with inadequate or inconvenient access to any telephone
services, typically in developing countries.
Iridium World Satellite Service can be viewed as a precursor to a permanent
wired or land-based wireless service in many of these areas and as a long-term
telecommunications solution in those areas where no land-based system can be
economically justified. In-Country Users are also expected to be candidates for
Iridium World Page Service.
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
Iridium's marketing strategy is to position Iridium as the premier brand in
global wireless communications services. Iridium believes that its principal
target markets can be reached effectively through established marketing
channels. Iridium believes focusing on these market segments gives it an
advantage over mobile satellite systems that target individuals in remote areas
where marketing opportunities and distribution channels are limited. Iridium is
striving to establish a global identity through a comprehensive global marketing
strategy. Iridium coordinates with its gateway partners to determine the optimum
allocation of marketing expenditures and engages in direct marketing to certain
markets, including the utility, oil and gas, mining and maritime industries.
Iridium's distribution strategy reflects its role as a wholesaler of Iridium
services. The retail distribution of Iridium services generally takes place
through Iridium's gateway operators, and is designed primarily to utilize
existing wireless retail distribution channels. Iridium's gateway operators will
distribute Iridium services through their own distribution channels or through,
or in conjunction with, one or more existing wireless service providers
(including Iridium World Roaming Service roaming partners). As of March 1, 1999,
Iridium and its gateway operators had agreements with more than 300 such service
providers and had integrated more than 86 of these service providers. All
Iridium service providers have primary responsibility for marketing Iridium
services within their territories in accordance with marketing policies and
programs established by Iridium and the gateway operators. In addition, Iridium
service providers are responsible for billing, collection and (with Iridium)
share customer service responsibilities. Iridium provides centralized customer
service principally through its three global customer care centers, which
operate 24 hours per day, seven days a week and support 13 languages.
Initial Distribution Challenges
The global availability of phones and pagers, the attraction and retention of
effective service providers and the effective coordination of marketing among
Iridium, its gateways and its service providers have been Iridium's most
significant challenges as it has transitioned from a development stage company
to an operating company.
Production and Distribution of Phones and Pagers
Iridium phones and pagers are an essential component of Iridium's satellite
services and, accordingly, Iridium can only add new Iridium World Satellite
Service and Iridium World Page Service customers to the extent that phones and
pagers are available for
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customer use. Iridium's initial marketing and sales efforts were constrained
by a shortage of phones and pagers. During the initial roll-out of Iridium
World Services, (i) Kyocera experienced significant difficulties in achieving
Iridium's quality control standards for its satellite and dual mode
satellite/cellular phones and was unable to ship significant quantities of
phones until early March of 1999, (ii) there were substantial difficulties in
distributing phones and pagers to various markets around the world and (iii)
although Motorola's satellite phones and pagers have been available, the
production of cellular cassettes for its dual mode satellite/cellular phones
and some other accessories was delayed.
Iridium believes that Motorola and Kyocera now have the production capacity to
supply a sufficient number of phones (including dual mode satellite/cellular
phones) and pagers to meet customer demand. As of March 1, 1999, Motorola had
produced approximately 40,700 phones, Kyocera phones had been approved for
commercial shipment and an aggregate of approximately 13,000 Motorola and
Kyocera pagers had been produced. Once phones and pagers are produced, they must
be distributed to service providers before a new customer can be added.
Distribution of customer equipment to certain parts of the world can require
substantial time. Getting phones and pagers from their two production locations
to a large number of service providers located all over the globe has been, and
continues to be, a significant challenge. Hurdles that must be overcome include
customs and tax clearance in each of the countries to which the phones and
pagers are shipped and ensuring effective coordination among the gateways and
the numerous local and regional distribution channels so that subscriber
equipment is not subject to unnecessary taxes or inefficient mark-ups. For
further discussion of subscriber equipment pricing see "- Components of the
Iridium System - Subscriber Equipment".
Distribution and Marketing of Iridium World Services
Iridium has been disappointed by the initial sales of Iridium World Services
to its target markets because it believes there is substantial demand in these
markets for its services. Putting aside the initial difficulties in the
production and distribution of phones and pagers, Iridium believes this lack of
initial sales is attributable largely to a shortage of fully-trained and
motivated service providers and sales personnel, and a lack of coordination
among Iridium, its gateways and its service providers.
In the global traveler and international urban traveler target markets,
Iridium believes these problems have arisen because Iridium World Services have
not been appropriately positioned within existing distribution channels.
Iridium World Services are significantly different from traditional cellular
services and, in general, appeal only to a small subset of a cellular provider's
existing customer base - those customers that travel beyond their existing
cellular coverage. Because Iridium World Services are different and new to the
marketplace, market education is critical and requires educated, trained and
motivated point of purchase sales personnel. Iridium believes that its service
providers, which for the most part are cellular providers, require significant
additional training and education about Iridium World Services so that they are
both motivated and able to sell Iridium World Services. In addition, market
feedback to Iridium and its gateways from the service providers is important.
Feedback enables Iridium and its gateways to market and price Iridium World
Services in packages that are tailored to market demand. Iridium and its
gateways are developing interactive programs with service providers to address
these market realities and improve the marketing and distribution of Iridium
World Services.
In the industrial users and public sector users target markets, initial
marketing and sales problems have arisen because gateway operators and service
providers have exclusive sales territories and these customers' operations span
a number of these territories. Iridium's initial distribution programs did not
address this coordination problem. Iridium and its gateways have addressed this
problem in the context of several potential global and super-regional customers
and are in the process of developing a more comprehensive solution to this
coordination problem.
These initiatives may take time to implement and, accordingly, Iridium is in
the process of revising its revenue and subscriber estimates in the light of its
initial marketing and distribution difficulties. For a discussion of the effects
such revisions are expected to have on Iridium's financial condition and results
of operations see "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations."
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PRICING
Iridium's wholesale pricing strategy for its voice services is similar to the
prevailing pricing structure for traditional cellular calls. Prices for cellular
calls generally reflect two components -- a charge based on the land-line
"dial-up" rate for a comparable call (primarily the long distance charges) and a
mobility premium for the convenience of wireless service (including any roaming
charges). Pricing for both Iridium World Satellite Service and Iridium World
Roaming Service is based on this structure. For international Iridium World
Satellite Service calls, which Iridium expects will constitute the majority of
calls over the Iridium satellite system, the "dial-up" rate component is
designed to approximate the rates for comparable land-line point-to-point
international long distance calls.
Iridium sets the wholesale prices for its services to allow for a suggested
retail price that approximates the "dial-up" rate plus the mobility premium.
Iridium's wholesale price is designed to compensate Iridium, as the network
provider, and the originating and terminating gateways, as well as to cover the
charges for the landline portion of the call (i.e., for an outbound satellite
call from the gateway to the person receiving the call). The charge for the
landline portion of the call is often referred to as the "PSTN tail charge",
where PSTN is an acronym for public switched telephone network. The home gateway
marks up the wholesale price and the service provider establishes the final
retail price. Iridium currently expects that its wholesale usage fees for
international Iridium World Satellite Service calls between two countries will
result in suggested retail prices that, in aggregate, are approximately 25% to
30% above the retail prices for land-based voice calling options that traveling
customers could use for a similar call between the same two countries (e.g.,
international calling card and international cellular roaming rates). Iridium
expects such prices will be competitive with other global mobile satellite
systems. In addition, from a regulatory approval perspective, in markets where
the monopoly telecommunications provider and the licensing authority are the
same entity, a pricing strategy that takes into account the "dial-up"
alternatives allows Iridium to respond to concerns that Iridium will capture the
local monopoly provider's long-distance revenues by undercutting land based
"dial-up" rates.
For Iridium World Roaming Service pricing, the "dial-up" rate component is
primarily the long distance charge. The mobility premium compensates the parties
involved -- primarily the serving network for its airtime charges, the visited
gateway for customer authentication and Iridium for its protocol translation
services. The retail price includes the markup of the home gateway and service
provider. Iridium believes that its Iridium World Roaming Service suggested
retail prices are comparable to other cross-protocol roaming services.
In addition to airtime charges based on the "dial-up" rate plus mobility
premium, Iridium subscribers pay a monthly subscription fee in the same manner
that cellular customers pay monthly charges. Iridium permits its service
providers that are wireless network operators to offer Iridium's services as
additional features to their existing wireless services, which permits their
customers to remain customers of the wireless network and to roam onto the
Iridium System, including Iridium World Satellite Service and Iridium World
Roaming Service. Generally, these customers pay a feature charge to Iridium for
the roaming privilege that is below the Iridium monthly subscription fee, but
they pay an additional roaming premium for calls made over the Iridium System.
Currently, Iridium paging subscribers pay a fixed monthly subscription fee for
up to 200 pages. The monthly paging subscription fee is discounted for persons
who are also subscribers to Iridium voice services.
In connection with its efforts to improve the marketing and distribution of
Iridium World Services, Iridium is considering various modifications to its
pricing structure, including simplifying the wholesale pricing structure it
offers its gateways and service providers. See "- Marketing and
Distribution" above for a discussion of challenges in marketing and
distribution of Iridium Services that Iridium must overcome.
COMPONENTS OF THE IRIDIUM SYSTEM
The Iridium System has four principal components: the space segment, the
gateways, the Iridium phones, pagers and SIMs and the Iridium land-based
interprotocol roaming infrastructure. Iridium owns the space segment and the
interprotocol roaming infrastructure, and the gateway owners own and operate
their gateways.
Iridium believes that the capabilities and interplay of these four components
of the Iridium System allow Iridium to provide service features that Iridium's
principal target markets will find desirable and that will differentiate Iridium
from its competitors. The number and distribution of satellites in the Iridium
constellation enables Iridium to provide satellite voice and paging services to
virtually anywhere on the globe where service is authorized, including mid-ocean
and remote areas. Iridium believes that its satellite signal strength allows it
to provide better service to hand-held phones and a higher degree of in-building
penetration for pagers than
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competing mobile satellite systems will be able to provide. In addition, Iridium
believes that its satellite voice quality is acceptable to customers as a
complement to cellular service when they are outside cellular coverage.
Space Segment
The space segment, including the initial deployment of the satellite
constellation and the build out of the ground control facilities, was completed
in November 1998.
The satellite constellation of the space segment consists of a constellation
of 66 low earth orbit satellites (plus orbiting spares) arranged in six orbital
planes. The satellites fly at an altitude of approximately 780 kilometers from
the Earth and complete an orbit approximately every 100 minutes. The satellites
have three antennas and communicate with phones and pagers on the ground using
main mission antennas, with gateways using gateway link antennas and with other
Iridium satellites in space using cross-link antennas.
The main mission antennas communicate with phones and pagers through tightly
focused antenna beams forming a continuous pattern on the Earth's surface. The
main mission antenna subsystem of each satellite includes three phased array
antennas, each containing an array of transmit/receive modules. Collectively,
the 48 beams produced by a single satellite combine to cover a circular area of
the Earth with a diameter of approximately 4,340 kilometers. The Iridium System
architecture incorporates certain features, such as call hand-off, which allows
the space segment communications link with phones to be transferred from
satellite to satellite as the satellites move over the area where the customer
is located.
Operation of the satellites is monitored, managed and controlled by the
Satellite Network Operations Center, or the "SNOC", located in Virginia. A
back-up operations center is located in Italy, and additional control stations
are located in northern Canada and Hawaii, with an additional transportable
control system currently located in Iceland. These facilities manage the
performance and status of each of the satellites. The SNOC also manages the
network by developing and distributing routing tables for use by the satellites
and gateways, directing traffic routing through the network and controlling the
formation of coverage areas by the satellites' main mission antennas.
Iridium has contracted with Motorola to maintain the space segment pursuant to
the operations and maintenance, or "O&M", contract. This contract has an initial
term of five years and is extendable, at Iridium's option, for an additional two
years. Motorola's maintenance obligations generally include the placement into
orbit of satellites for the replacement of failed or degraded satellites.
Gateways
Gateway earth stations provide call-processing services, such as subscriber
validation and the interconnection between the world's PSTNs and the Iridium
System, by connecting calls made through the Iridium System to and from the
local PSTN through an international switching center. Gateways communicate with
the space segment via gateway link antennas on the satellites and ground-based
antennas, or earth terminals, at each gateway facility. Each gateway also
includes a subscriber database used in call-processing activities such as
subscriber validation. Gateways generate call detail records that are used by
the Iridium business support systems to generate billing and other information.
Parent has authorized the issuance of warrants to acquire up to 9,165,000
class 1 interests at a price of $.00013 per class 1 interest to gateway owners
who complete construction and installation of their gateways on schedule and who
meet certain revenue criteria thereafter. In 1998, Parent awarded to each of the
gateway owners 300,000 warrants for completing construction and installation of
their gateways on schedule.
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Implementation of Gateways. The success of Iridium is dependent upon the
efforts of its gateway owners, all of whom are investors, or affiliates of
investors, in Parent and are responsible for the operation of the Iridium System
and the distribution of Iridium World Services in their respective territories.
Iridium believes that the lower than anticipated initial sales for Iridium World
Services is attributable, in part, to a shortage of fully-trained and motivated
service providers and sales personnel and a lack of effective coordination among
Iridium, its gateways and its service providers. Because the gateways are
responsible for the distribution of Iridium World Services in their territories,
these problems cannot be successfully addressed without substantial efforts and
cooperation from the gateways. Iridium and its gateway operators are in the
process of developing strategies for addressing these coordination issues with
key service providers.
Subscriber Equipment
Motorola and Kyocera are the suppliers of Iridium phones and pagers. Iridium
generally does not expect to act as a distributor of subscriber equipment or
derive any income from the sale of Iridium subscriber equipment. However, as
noted under "--Marketing and Distribution" above, ensuring global availability
of Iridium's phones and pagers has been one of Iridium's most significant
challenges as it transitions from a development stage company into an operating
company.
The wholesale prices for Iridium satellite phones and pagers have been
approximately $1750 and $500, respectively. However, the initial retail price
for these products generally has been at least $3000 and $600, respectively. In
connection with its efforts to improve the marketing and distribution of Iridium
World Services, Iridium is examining subscriber equipment distribution to ensure
that subscriber equipment is not subject to unnecessary taxes or inefficient
mark-ups.
The Iridium System phones are larger and heavier than today's pocket-sized,
hand-held cellular telephones and have longer and thicker antennas than
hand-held cellular telephones. The Iridium pager is slightly larger than today's
standard alphanumeric belt-worn pagers.
The Iridium phones and pagers are the first commercially marketed personal
telecommunications equipment to carry a mark authorized by the International
Telecommunications Union, or "ITU". Iridium believes this mark will facilitate
the free flow of Iridium phones and pagers across international borders.
Business Support Systems
The Iridium business support systems provide the "back office" business
functions required by Iridium, its gateway operators, and its service providers,
including a clearinghouse operated by Iridium, to calculate the amounts owed to
and from Iridium and each gateway operator and service provider. These business
support functions also include customer service support and billing and
collection. These functions are provided by means of computer and manual
processes at each gateway and service provider location and at a central
processing point. In addition, the gateways are required to enter into
settlement agreements with service providers, on behalf of Iridium, in order to
account for and settle calls made using Iridium World Roaming Service and the
other non-satellite services offered by Iridium.
The coordination of business support functions among Iridium, the gateways and
the service providers necessary to the provision of Iridium's various services
is a large and complex undertaking which requires comprehensive data exchange
capabilities and the negotiation and execution of hundreds of settlement
agreements with gateway operators and service providers. See Exhibit 99, "Risk
Factors -- Reliance on Motorola, Gateway Owners and Other Third Parties".
Global Customer Care Centers
Iridium believes that customers in its target markets place significant value
on their time and, accordingly, customer retention will depend upon high quality
customer service. Iridium has three global customer care centers that operate 24
hours per day, seven days per week and support 13 languages. Iridium believes
this commitment to customer service will distinguish it from many of its
competitors. Iridium believes providing comprehensive customer care is
particularly important as Iridium transitions from a development stage company
into an operating company.
Land-Based Interprotocol Roaming Infrastructure
The key to Iridium World Roaming Service is the ability of Iridium's wireless
roaming infrastructure to support communications between networks that use
incompatible protocols. Similar protocol networks can communicate easily with
one another by sending
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signals between the networks in a standard language that is understood by both
networks. However, different protocol networks require a translator in order to
communicate with each other. Iridium's Interprotocol Roaming Infrastructure
provides this translation service.
Currently, many wireless systems, including systems covering large portions of
South America, use a form of cellular technology, known as "non-authenticating"
IS-41, that does not permit sufficient anti-fraud security or certain
international dialing. Iridium does not currently provide Iridium World Roaming
Service with networks that use this type of technology and, accordingly, Iridium
World Roaming Service does not currently extend to large portions of South
America. However, Iridium has developed technology for, and is seeking a patent
that covers, a technical solution to this anti-fraud security problem, and
expects to begin service in these markets by year-end 1999.
COMPETITION
Certain sectors of the telecommunications industry are highly competitive in
the United States and other countries. The uncertainties and risks created by
this competition are intensified by the continuous technological advances that
characterize the industry, regulatory developments that affect competition and
alliances between industry participants. While Iridium is the only company that
currently serves the global satellite personal communications market, it
anticipates that more than one system may serve this market in some fashion in
the future. Iridium believes that its most likely direct competition will come
from the planned ICO telecommunications service and from one or more of the
other Federal Communications Commission licensed mobile satellite services, or
"MSS", applicants -- Loral/Qualcomm Partnership, L.P., on behalf of Globalstar;
MCHI, on behalf of Ellipso; and Constellation Communications Inc., on behalf of
ECHO/Aries.
Iridium believes that its ability to compete successfully in the market for
global satellite personal communications will depend primarily on its ability to
capitalize on being the first commercially operational company, the
technological qualities of the Iridium System, including its global coverage,
signal strength, dependability and capacity, and the market appeal of Iridium's
service offerings, including Iridium World Roaming Service. Successful
competition will also depend on the cost of service to subscribers and the
success of the marketing, distribution and customer service efforts of gateway
operators and service providers. See Exhibit 99, "Risk Factors -- Risk of Low
Service Demand Because of Pricing, Service Quality, Equipment Characteristics,
Competition and Other Market Factors" and Exhibit 99, "Risk Factors -- Reliance
on Motorola, Gateway Owners and Other Third Parties".
Mobile Satellite Systems
Inmarsat currently operates a world-wide geostationary orbit system that is
capable of providing fixed and mobile voice and data to laptop-sized "Mini-M"
terminals and car-mounted units.
ICO, a public company affiliated with Inmarsat, has announced plans for a
12-satellite system. This system is expected to operate in the 2 GHz band. Many
of the investors in Inmarsat, including numerous state-owned telecommunications
companies, participate in the ownership of the new venture and ICO has announced
the receipt of significant equity commitments from these investors. Iridium
believes that ICO will be the most direct competitor to Iridium in many of
Iridium's target markets. However, ICO has announced that the full constellation
is not expected to be operational before the latter half of the year 2000.
Globalstar, a 48-satellite low earth orbit system, has been proposed by
Loral/Qualcomm. It will offer both fixed and mobile satellite telecommunications
services, and will employ CDMA digital modulation technology. Globalstar has
announced an expected commencement of service in late 1999 in certain geographic
areas where its initial gateway earth stations are expected to be operational
and a principal target market that, like the regional geostationary orbit
systems described below, covers persons who lack telephone service or are
underserved or not served by existing or future cellular systems.
Ellipso, a 17-satellite system, has been proposed by MCHI, and ECHO/Aries, a
54-satellite system, has been proposed by Constellation Communications Inc. Both
systems would offer mobile satellite service globally and would use CDMA digital
modulation technology. The licenses for each of the Ellipso and Constellation
systems require that the system be fully operational by July 2003. MCHI and
Constellation have both announced that they intend to begin operation of their
systems by 2001.
Iridium also expects to encounter competition from regional mobile satellite
systems, three of which have been launched and several of which are in the
planning stage. In April 1995, AMSC launched a geostationary orbit satellite
covering the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S.
Virgin Islands and U.S. coastal waters to provide fixed and mobile voice and
data
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services to mobile terminals and car-mounted units. TMI, a spinoff of Telsat
Canada, launched a satellite, virtually identical to AMSC's, in 1996 to cover
Canada and other parts of the Caribbean not served by AMSC and to provide the
same type of service to similar terminals. AMSC and TMI subsequently agreed to
transfer AMSC's traffic to TMI's satellite. In addition, AMSC announced plans to
lease its satellite to ACTel, which plans to reposition the satellite over
Africa to offer services there.
Mobilesat, launched in 1994, is a geostationary orbit satellite covering
Australia, New Zealand and parts of the Pacific Basin providing mobile and
fixed, voice and data services to mobile terminals and car-mounted units. ACeS
has proposed a one- or two-satellite geostationary orbit satellite system
covering Asia, including Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, and offering
mobile voice and data telecommunications to handheld units. APMT has proposed a
two-satellite geostationary orbit satellite system covering India, China and
certain Southeast Asian nations, offering mobile telecommunications to
dual-mode, handheld terminals. Satphone and Thuraya are two consortia proposing
geostationary orbit systems to serve the North Africa/Middle East region with
dual-mode hand-held phones. EAST is a hybrid system proposed by Matra-Marconi to
provide fixed services and mobile services to hand-held units, with a
geostationary orbit satellite covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Afro-Asian Satellite Communications has proposed a two geostationary orbit
satellite system covering 55 countries in the Middle East, the Asia Pacific
region and eventually Africa, serving dual-mode, hand-held terminals.
Elekon-Stir is a proposed Russian low earth orbit system consisting of seven
satellites offering store and forward mobile data services and offering limited
voice capabilities.
Other regional systems that may be established could also provide services
that compete with Iridium World Satellite Service. The regional geostationary
orbit systems do not provide full global coverage and, therefore, are expected
to generally target persons not currently served by land-line or cellular
telephone service. It is possible that one or more regional mobile satellite
services could enter into agreements to provide intersystem roaming that could
be global or nearly global in scope.
Land-based Telecommunications Systems
Iridium World Satellite Service is a complement to, not a substitute for,
cellular service. Iridium does not intend for Iridium World Satellite Service to
compete with land-based cellular systems for the vast majority of mobile
personal communications services, because, among other reasons, Iridium
satellite voice services are priced significantly higher than most land-based
cellular services, the Iridium System lacks the operational capacity to provide
local service to large numbers of subscribers in concentrated areas and
Iridium's satellite system does not afford the same voice quality, signal
strength, or ability to penetrate various environments (such as buildings) as
land-based cellular systems. Rather, Iridium expects its subscribers to use
Iridium World Satellite Service in areas or situations where local cellular
systems operate on a protocol incompatible with that of users' home markets or
where land-based service is unavailable, inconvenient, of poor quality or
unreliable. Iridium expects that as land-based cellular systems expand their
geographical penetration, particularly outside of major urban and suburban areas
and improve the quality of coverage in already-served areas, potential customers
for Iridium World Satellite Service and other satellite-based services will be
lost. Moreover, the advent of near global land-based cellular roaming described
below represents a significant competitive threat to Iridium's satellite-based
service and Iridium World Roaming Service, particularly with respect to
traveling professionals who spend most of their time in regions that are well
served by land-based wireless services.
Land-based Cellular Interprotocol Roaming Service
Iridium's World Roaming Service offering, which allows Iridium subscribers to
roam onto a variety of cellular networks, faces competition from existing, and
will face additional competition from future, land-based cellular interprotocol
roaming services, which provide roaming services across cellular networks.
GTE Mobilnet ("GTE") and Deutsche Telekom Mobil ("DeTeMobil") of Germany offer
GlobalRoam, a two-way cellular roaming service between certain North American
AMPS cellular networks and GSM cellular networks in certain European countries.
AT&T Wireless Service of the United States and Vodafone of the United Kingdom
offer CellCard, a service that is very similar to GlobalRoam and provides
roaming services from certain North American AMPS networks to certain GSM
networks in certain countries which have roaming agreements with Vodafone.
Two other proposed mobile satellite systems, ICO and Globalstar, and at least
one regional geostationary orbit satellite system, ACeS, have indicated that
they may also offer some form of dual-mode satellite/cellular service, which may
include interprotocol roaming capabilities such as those expected to be offered
by Iridium. For example, ICO recently agreed to resell the GSM to AMPS roaming
portion of the service under the name ICORoam.
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In addition, a number of rental services, primarily in the United States,
provide cellular phones to persons traveling in countries with cellular
standards that differ from the traveler's home market. For example, Worldcell
provides United States travelers GSM phones for travel to Europe, while Shared
Technologies Cellular, in conjunction with United Airlines, provides AMPS phones
for visitors to the United States. These businesses often have rental locations
at airports, hotels and auto rental locations and also deliver phones by mail
service. These companies' services may compete with Iridium World Roaming
Service and Iridium World Satellite Service.
Currently, a number of the world's major cellular network owners and operators
are considering adopting a coordinated standard for future cellular networks. If
such a coordinated standard is agreed upon and new networks are built, Iridium's
ability to provide interprotocol roaming would cease to be an advantage. Iridium
does not expect that such systems would be available on a global basis until
sometime after 2002.
Paging
In addition to competing with paging services offered by proposed regional
mobile satellite systems in the future, Iridium World Page Service currently
faces competition from regional and nationwide land-based paging services, and
from SkyTel's service, which as of November 1998 provided paging services to
over 20 countries around the world. SkyTel operates by forwarding paging
messages via international circuits to a foreign paging network that
subsequently transmits the message over its local network. Also, in 1995
Inmarsat introduced an international satellite-based one-way messaging service
that was upgraded in 1998 to provide two-way messaging to "walkman" (personal
stereo) sized portable units. Iridium believes that the relatively higher link
margins of the Iridium World Page Service will provide superior performance to
any proposed satellite paging systems and that Iridium will be the only global
paging service using a belt-worn pager before 2000.
Competition Related to New Technologies and New Satellite Systems
Iridium may also face competition in the future from companies using new
technologies and new satellite systems which could render the Iridium System
obsolete or less competitive. Such new technologies, even if not ultimately
successful, could have a material and adverse effect on Iridium as a result of
associated initial marketing efforts.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Iridium expects that its satellites will have an average useful life of at
least five years, and Iridium intends to replace its satellites as necessary
pursuant to the O&M contract, which has a five year term and is extendable, at
Iridium's option, for an additional two years. Iridium has engaged in
preliminary discussions with Motorola regarding possible long-term enhancements
to the Iridium System, including upgrades to new satellites placed in the
current constellation and a possible second generation of Iridium satellites. In
September 1997 Iridium filed an application with the FCC for authorization to
operate a satellite system in the 2GHz band, the band in which ICO plans to
operate. Such actions are only preliminary steps in the research and development
process and Iridium has made no significant financial commitment to long-term
enhancements.
CERTAIN REGULATIONS THAT AFFECT IRIDIUM
Iridium's operations, including the operation of the Iridium System and the
distribution of Iridium's services, are subject to significant U.S. and non-U.S.
regulation. This regulation is pervasive and largely outside Iridium's control.
The following is a summary of certain of the regulations that affect Iridium.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS REGULATION AND SPECTRUM ALLOCATION: OVERVIEW
The allocation and use of the radio frequency spectrum for the provision of
communications services are subject to regulation by international organizations
and many nations and other jurisdictions. The implementation and operation of
the Iridium System, like those of all other satellite and wireless systems, are
dependent upon obtaining licenses and other approvals.
The international regulatory framework for spectrum allocation and use is
established by the International Telecommunication Union, or "ITU". The ITU,
which is composed of representatives from most of the countries of the world,
meets officially at conferences known as World Radio Conferences, or "WRCs", to
decide the radio services that should be permitted to operate in various radio
bands and the rules for operating in those bands.
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The national administration of each country decides how the radio frequencies
that the ITU has allocated to particular communications services should be
allocated and assigned domestically to specific radio systems. In addition, the
provision of communications services in most countries is subject to regulatory
controls by the national governments of each country.
In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission, or "FCC", is the
regulatory agency responsible for allocating spectrum and for licensing and
regulating communication systems, facilities, and services. The FCC regulates
satellites in accordance with laws passed by the United States Congress,
particularly the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or the "Communications
Act", regulations adopted pursuant to those laws, and judicial opinions rendered
by U.S. courts.
The Iridium System links phones to Iridium satellites capable of using up to
10.5 MHz of spectrum in L-band frequencies from 1616-1626.5 MHz on a
bi-directional time division basis, Earth-to-space and space-to-Earth. The
system also is capable of operating "feeder" links in the frequencies 19.4-19.6
GHz and 29.1-29.3 GHz (connecting satellites to ground earth station gateway
facilities) and intersatellite links in the frequencies 23.18-23.38 GHz (linking
the satellites in the constellation to each other).
The licensing requirements for the Iridium System include: (i) the FCC license
for the space segment; (ii) the licenses in each country where there is a
gateway or control facility for the satellite constellation; and (iii) the
licenses in each country for Iridium phones, Iridium's service and for the use
of required frequencies. In addition, the Iridium System must be coordinated
with other users of spectrum that have rights to use the same or adjacent
frequencies to the frequencies assigned to the Iridium System. It is only
necessary for one country to license the space segment, which includes
authorizing the construction, launch, and operation of the satellites, including
the use of the intersatellite links and the operation of the primary satellite
control center in that country.
The gateways provide the feeder link between the satellite network and the
PSTNs around the world. A radio license to operate a gateway earth station in a
significant portion of the 29.1-29.3 GHz (Uplink) and 19.4-19.6 GHz (Downlink)
frequency bands has been issued by the appropriate governmental authority of
each of the countries in which an Iridium gateway is located. Similar
authorizations have been obtained in the United States and Canada to operate the
control facilities for the satellite constellation.
Each country in which Iridium provides Iridium World Satellite Service must
authorize the use of the frequencies linking the phones to the satellites. At a
minimum, the Iridium System needs exclusive use of the frequencies
1621.35-1626.5 MHz for this purpose, with authority to operate bi-directionally
within that band. In order to operate the Iridium phones and pagers in a
country, a certificate of type approval must be obtained. The licensing
procedures vary in different countries. Generally there are three aspects to the
required license(s): (i) authorization for the use of the frequencies requested;
(ii) authorization for the equipment to be marketed and used (including
subscriber equipment that may circulate from country to country); and (iii)
authorization for the service to be provided.
LICENSING STATUS
General
Iridium, Motorola, and Iridium's gateway owners have made substantial progress
in taking the regulatory steps needed for Iridium to operate its services on the
scope assumed in its business plan, but certain additional regulatory approvals
within and outside the United States remain to be obtained. Each gateway has
been licensed by the jurisdiction in which it is located. The licenses that have
been received by the gateways are subject to conditions that relate to the
provision of technical information to regulatory authorities. While Iridium
believes the conditions specified in the final gateway licenses that have been
received can be satisfied, there can be no assurance that such conditions will
be satisfied or that conditions to licenses received in the future will be
satisfied.
As of March 1, 1999, approximately 138 administrations had given all or a
substantial portion of the authorizations necessary to provide Iridium World
Satellite Service in their territories. These countries and territories include,
among others: United States, Italy, Argentina, China, Thailand, Malaysia,
Brazil, Japan, South Korea, Austria, Germany, Canada, Australia, Venezuela,
Sweden, Iceland, Russia, Uruguay, New Zealand, Chile, the United Kingdom, India,
Turkey, France, Colombia, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Suriname.
Iridium's gateway owners are seeking licenses throughout the world.
The licenses and authorizations that have been received generally are subject
to conditions relating to, among other things, (i) confining operations to the
scope of the license, (ii) complying with applicable electronic surveillance
laws and (iii) the continued operation of the Iridium System. While substantial
progress has been made in obtaining authorization for Iridium's satellite-based
services and Iridium expects that the gateways will receive authorizations in
additional jurisdictions, there can be no assurance that sufficient licenses for
Iridium to obtain the coverage assumed in its business plan will be obtained or
maintained.
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Spectrum Allocation
At the 1992 WRC, the ITU allocated to the MSS service: (i) on a primary basis,
16.5 MHz of spectrum in the 1610-1626.5 MHz band (Earth-to-space); and (ii) on a
secondary basis, 12.7 MHz of spectrum in the 1613.8-1626.5 MHz band
(space-to-Earth). The ITU had previously authorized the other frequency bands
used in the Iridium System for the purpose for which Iridium intends to use
them. At the 1995 WRC, the ITU defined the coordination procedure for systems
operating in the bands proposed to be used by Iridium for its feeder links. The
ITU's role in allocating frequencies necessary for the operation of the first
generation Iridium System is essentially complete.
United States Licensing
The space segment of the Iridium System, including the use of the
intersatellite frequency band (23.18 to 23.38 GHz), has been licensed by the FCC
in the United States. The license has a term of ten years and contains other
conditions typical of satellite system licenses granted by the FCC. The license
term began on or about May 5, 1997, the date the first satellite was in orbit
and the first transmission occurred. Although the FCC has stated that it will
renew the Iridium System authorization unless extraordinary circumstances
prevent it from doing so, there can be no assurance that the Iridium System
license will be renewed. While Iridium expects that the license will be
transferred to an Iridium subsidiary in 1999, the license is currently held by
Space System License, Inc. a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorola, which is
contractually bound to operate the system for the exclusive benefit of Iridium.
As a result, Motorola, rather than Iridium, has the responsibility to operate
and maintain the Iridium System in accordance with the terms of the license. Any
request to renew or modify the license must be filed and prosecuted by Motorola.
If the O&M contract is terminated or not renewed, Motorola would have to assign
the Iridium license to Iridium or a third party. Any such assignment would be
subject to FCC approval.
Under both the ITU's rules and the terms of the Iridium System license, the
Iridium System must be coordinated with all other domestic and foreign users of
the frequency bands assigned to the Iridium System. The United States has
essentially completed the process of registering the Iridium space segment
operations with the ITU. It has submitted the advance publication and
coordination materials to the ITU and coordinated the use of the space segment
with most of those administrations expressing concerns that the system might
cause or receive interference to their systems. On this basis, the United States
has requested the ITU to notify the Iridium System in the ITU's Master Frequency
Register, which will give it a legal right to protection from interference from
future systems. The request has been published and administrations that have
previously engaged in coordination with the United States regarding the Iridium
System may file comments on the claim that coordination is complete. Any
comments will need to be resolved before the Iridium System will be listed in
the Master Frequency Register. Iridium believes that coordination will be
completed successfully between the Iridium System and all existing or planned
systems that have been identified under the coordination process. Currently,
there is no other action required from any other country to license the space
segment.
Under the FCC's rules and the terms of the license, prior to commencing
operations Motorola must enter into coordination agreements with U.S. radio
astronomy sites and complete consultations with the Inmarsat and Intelsat
systems. Both of these have been accomplished. See "-- Consultations and
Coordinations" below.
In the United States, frequencies have been assigned to the Iridium System
feeder links in the 29.1-29.25 and 19.4-19.6 GHz bands. The 29.1-29.25 GHz
frequencies are shared with the local multipoint distribution service ("LMDS"),
and the FCC has adopted restrictions on LMDS operations that are designed to
protect MSS feeder links from interference. The 19.4-19.6 GHz frequencies are
shared with terrestrial microwave stations and each gateway must be coordinated
in advance with licensed microwave stations. The FCC has granted a license for
the gateways located in Hawaii and Tempe, Arizona. Licenses have also been
granted in the United States for the ground control facilities in Virginia,
Arizona and Hawaii.
The United States license authorizing construction, launch and operation of
the space segment includes the use of 1621.35 to 1626.5 MHz radio frequency band
in the United States exclusively for the Iridium subscriber links. This
frequency assignment may be increased if no more than one CDMA satellite system
becomes operational in the adjacent frequency band. In addition, the FCC has
issued a license permitting 200,000 Iridium mobile phones to be used in the
United States.
In December 1996, Motorola submitted a request to the FCC to authorize the
Iridium System to provide Aeronautical MobileSatellite Route Service ("AMS(R)S")
in its authorized band. The Iridium System is the only mobile satellite system,
licensed or in development, that can provide a communication capability that is
virtually global, while using spectrum already allocated for AMS(R)S. Several
parties filed comments with and have petitioned the FCC to deny Motorola's
application to provide AMS(R)S
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service. Among other arguments, petitioners claim that the AMS(R)S proposal is
inconsistent with ITU and FCC rules and allocations. In addition to FCC
approval, approval is needed from the FAA, which must certify that the avionics
satisfy other international certification requirements. There can be no
assurance that the FCC application will be granted, or that the avionics
certification requirements will be satisfied at all, or in a timely fashion.
Assuming all necessary authorizations are obtained, Iridium expects to provide
both the FCC required "safety" communications capabilities to the flightdeck and
passenger communications, including voice and facsimile. An individual aircraft
may be served by multiple satellite communications carriers. In addition, before
Iridium terminals can be installed on aircraft for either flightdeck or
passenger communications, the FCC will have to type approve such equipment and
may have to change its rules (Part 87) to accommodate such equipment in the
frequencies used by the Iridium System. While Iridium expects its aircraft
terminals will receive this approval and, if necessary, the rule change will be
made, there can be no assurance that such approval or change will occur on a
timely basis or at all.
Licensing Outside the United States
In countries other than the United States, the significant regulatory matters
include: (i) in each country in which a gateway or space segment control
terminal is located, maintaining authorization to operate those facilities,
including necessary gateway feeder link spectrum assignment; (ii) in each
country in which Iridium subscriber equipment operates, obtaining and
maintaining the necessary authorization to use the necessary user link spectrum
(the satellite to phone link); (iii) in each country in which Iridium subscriber
equipment operates, authority to market and operate that equipment must be
maintained or obtained; and (iv) coordination of the use of the frequencies to
be used by the Iridium System must be achieved. Applications for authorizations
are in varying stages of processing in countries other than the United States.
Of the gateway and subscriber authorizations granted to date, many have
conditions attached to them concerning their operation and there can be no
assurance that these conditions will be satisfied. If the initial spectrum
assignments prove insufficient as demand for Iridium's services increases over
time, there can be no assurance Iridium will be able to obtain additional
spectrum from the FCC or other administrations.
In order to bring Iridium terminal equipment into a country, the terminal
equipment must have type approval certification. Iridium has obtained
authorization from the ITU to place a specially designed mark on each of its
phones and pagers. The Iridium phones and pagers are the first commercially
marketed personal telecommunications equipment to carry this mark, which
facilitates the free flow of equipment bearing the mark across international
borders. Approximately 100 countries have either issued type approval
certification for the Iridium terminal equipment or recognize type approval
certification that has been issued by the ITU or some other national
administration. Although Iridium expects to eventually receive type approval
certification for Iridium phones, pagers and other subscriber equipment in all
markets, there can be no assurance as to when this process will be complete.
In connection with Iridium's efforts to obtain worldwide regulatory approval
for Iridium World Satellite Service, governmental, political and security
concerns have arisen. One such concern resulted in the authorization of Iridium
World Satellite Service by many countries being contingent upon Iridium
providing such countries with the ability to legally monitor calls made to or
from their respective territories. Iridium believes that it has been able to
satisfactorily address this concern for many of these countries. However, there
can be no assurance that these countries will find Iridium's efforts
satisfactory over time or that the emergence of governmental or political
concerns will not impair the ability to obtain or maintain licenses or offer
Iridium World Satellite Service.
Consultations and Coordinations
Intelsat and Inmarsat are international organizations that own and operate
satellite systems. International obligations undertaken by the nations which
have signed the international agreements creating Intelsat and Inmarsat,
including the United States, require the United States to consult with both
Intelsat and Inmarsat prior to authorizing any international satellite system to
ensure that the system will not cause significant economic or technical harm to
the Intelsat system or significant technical harm to the Inmarsat system. The
consultations with Intelsat and Inmarsat have been successfully completed.
The Russian global navigation satellite system, GLONASS, operates in a
frequency band that partially overlaps the 1610- 1626.5 MHz MSS band. When
operating co-channel with GLONASS, MSS systems are required to coordinate their
operations with the previously registered operations of GLONASS. In addition,
even when not operating co-channel, they are required to protect GLONASS
operations from harmful interference. Iridium believes that a bilateral
coordination agreement between Russia and the United States is in negotiation,
under which Russia would agree to move the GLONASS system's operations to
frequencies below 1610 MHz sometime after January 1, 1999, and to frequencies
below approximately 1605 MHz by the year 2005. The FCC has conditioned the
Iridium blanket subscriber license upon compliance with a level of protection
from interference to the GLONASS system. During the interim period following the
shift below 1610 MHz and prior to the shift below 1605 MHz, Iridium believes it
will be able to satisfy any reasonable level of protection that is required
although there can be no assurance as to what level of protection
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will be required. While that level of protection has not been determined,
Motorola has committed to meeting a protection level of -70 dBW/MHz at 1605 MHz
and below. Certain aeronautical interests, including the U.S. GPS Industry
Council have strongly encouraged the FCC to set technical standards that provide
a more stringent protection level than -70 dBW/MHz. At this time, it is
uncertain whether Motorola can meet a more stringent protection level. Iridium
believes that it can meet the protection requested for GLONASS when GLONASS
shifts down in frequency to below 1605 MHz by January 1, 2005. Other
administrations will also need to coordinate with the Russian Federation
concerning the level of protection that will be afforded to GLONASS in their
territory. In Russia itself, additional restrictions may be imposed which may
limit the amount of spectrum available to Iridium in Russia. There can be no
assurance that sufficient spectrum will be available to meet subscriber demand
in Russia or any other country that requires a higher level of protection for
GLONASS than the United States. Moreover, there can be no assurance that CDMA
systems will be able to meet the levels of protection required for GLONASS,
either in the United States, Russia or elsewhere. If such systems do not meet
the protection requirements, the FCC and/or other countries' regulatory
authorities might consider requests to reassign the CDMA systems to higher
frequencies within the 1610-1626.5 MHz allocation in order to protect GLONASS.
This development might in turn reduce the amount of spectrum available to
Iridium. See "-- Competition" below.
Under the FCC's rules, the Iridium System also must protect U.S. radio
astronomy sites during periods when they are observing in the 1610.6-1613.8 MHz
band. Coordination has been achieved with respect to all 15 U.S. radio astronomy
sites. There can be no assurance that the technical assumptions underlying the
coordination agreements with the U.S. radio astronomy sites will not differ from
the manner in which the Iridium System performs over time.
Other administrations also require that the Iridium System be coordinated with
radio astronomy sites that observe in the 1.6 GHz band. These are Canada,
Australia, India and several EU-member countries. Iridium and Motorola have
reached preliminary agreements with radio astronomers in all these countries
which have enabled the Iridium System to be licensed in these countries.
However, additional negotiation with the radio astronomers are still necessary
in a number of these countries. Although Iridium believes these negotiations
will be successful, there can be no assurance that these negotiations will be
concluded successfully. Failure to successfully conclude these negotiations
could jeopardize the licenses which have been granted in these countries.
In addition to potential interference between MSS systems and other users of
the 1.6 GHz band, there is a potential for intersystem interference among the
MSS systems themselves. Emissions standards have been developed in various
international forums which would limit out-of-band emissions into the Iridium
System to a level which Iridium believes would not cause harmful interference to
the operation of the Iridium System. These standards would apply to all CDMA MSS
systems, including any subsequent CDMA MSS systems which are authorized to use
the 1610-1621.35 MHz band. There can be no assurance, however, that the
standards adopted would not cause harmful interference to the operation of the
Iridium System.
The Iridium System MSS downlinks operate on a secondary basis. Under the rules
of the ITU and the FCC, these secondary downlinks may not cause harmful
interference to any primary spectrum user that is operating co-frequency, and
must accept any interference caused to them by such primary spectrum users. In
light of the secondary nature of Iridium's MSS downlinks, the failure by an MSS
operator to implement an acceptable CDMA emissions mask could significantly
reduce the total capacity of the Iridium System. Furthermore, the downlinks of
the Iridium System may need to accept interference from Inmarsat terminals,
including Inmarsat aeronautical and land mobile terminals, when they are in the
vicinity of an Iridium terminal.
United States Electronic Surveillance Laws
The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994, or "CALEA", was
enacted on October 25, 1994. CALEA requires that telecommunications carriers
deploy equipment, facilities and services that meet certain electronic
surveillance requirements identified in the statute. Penalties of $10,000 a day
for each wire tap order not fulfilled could be imposed under CALEA as well as an
order of compliance in the case of a failure to comply, and other unspecified
penalties, including injunctions, might otherwise be imposed. The U.S.
government has indicated that CALEA imposes requirements on the Iridium System
similar to the requirements that the U.S. government has requested of the
cellular industry. Because the U.S. government has not identified its capacity
or capability requirements for satellite systems and because of legal challenges
filed by the government concerning the cellular industry's standard for CALEA
wiretap capabilities, there is uncertainty as to the scope of the wiretap
capabilities that may ultimately be required for the Iridium System. On
September 11, 1998, the FCC extended the deadline for compliance with the CALEA
capability requirements to June 30, 2000. See "-- Licensing Status -- Licensing
Outside the United States" above for a description of the surveillance
requirements of countries outside the United States.
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UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATION; EXPORT ADMINISTRATIONS
ACT
The United States International Traffic in Arms Regulations under the United
States Arms Export Control Act authorize the President of the United States to
control the export and import of articles and services that can be used in the
production of arms. Among other things, these regulations limit the ability to
export certain articles and related technical data to certain nations. The scope
of these regulations is very broad and extends to certain spacecraft, including
certain satellites. Certain information involved in the performance of Iridium's
operations falls within the scope of these regulations.
The Export Administrations Act and the regulations thereunder control the
export and re-export of United States-origin technology and commodities capable
of both civilian and military applications (so-called "dual use" items). These
regulations may prohibit or limit export and re-export of certain
telecommunications equipment and related technology which are not affected by
the International Traffic in Arms Regulations by requiring a license from the
Department of Commerce before controlled items may be exported or re-exported to
certain destinations. The export or re-export of certain Iridium equipment,
e.g., Iridium phones and pagers, earth stations and technical data, may be
subject to these regulations, if such equipment is manufactured in the United
States and then exported or re-exported. These regulations may also affect the
export, from one country outside the United States to another, of United
States-origin technical data or the direct products of such technical data.
Motorola has contracted with the China Great Wall Industries Corporation,
utilizing its Long March 2C/SD vehicle, and the Boeing Corporation, utilizing
its Delta II launch vehicle, to perform maintenance launches pursuant to the O&M
contract. Motorola expects that a number of other launch systems currently
available or under development could be used to satisfy any maintenance launch
requirements. Motorola has obtained authorization from the Department of
Commerce to export Iridium replacement satellites, including associated launch
support equipment, for any maintenance launches needed through the end of 1999
on the China Great Wall Long March 2C/SD launch vehicle. No license from the
Department of Commerce is required for replacement launches on the Delta II
launch vehicle. Motorola, however, will require a Technical Assistance Agreement
from the State Department to cover launch operation activities associated with
the satellites being exported.
Competition
At the time that the FCC authorized the construction of the Iridium System, it
also authorized other competitive MSS systems to operate in the 1610-1626.5 MHz
band. These were the Globalstar system, proposed by Loral/Qualcomm Partnership,
L.P., and the Odyssey system, proposed by TRW. Subsequently, TRW turned in its
license. Globalstar, Odyssey and the Iridium System were the only Big LEO
systems initially licensed by the FCC. While the Iridium System was granted
exclusive use of the 1621.35- 1626.5 MHz band in the United States, Globalstar
was granted shared use of the bands 1610-1621.35 MHz and 2483.5-2500 MHz.
At the same time the FCC authorized the Iridium and Globalstar systems, the
FCC afforded three other applicants (that had initially failed to establish
their qualifications) additional time in which to demonstrate that they were
financially qualified. These were MCHI, Constellation and AMSC. In September
1996, AMSC chose not to proceed and the FCC dismissed its application.
Following the submission of updated financial information by MCHI and
Constellation to the FCC, by orders released July 1, 1997, the FCC's
International Bureau granted licenses for the Ellipso system proposed by MCHI
and the Aries system proposed by Constellation. These orders, which are subject
to review by the full FCC, increase to four the number of U.S.-licensed global
MSS systems (including the Iridium System) and may result in increased
competition for the Iridium System.
MCHI and Constellation previously had filed challenges to the FCC's
determination that they were each not financially qualified with the United
States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, which included an
appeal from the FCC's decision to license the Iridium and Globalstar Systems.
This court action has been placed in abeyance pending a final FCC decision on
applications for review of the decision by the FCC's International Bureau to
waive the financial qualification rules and grant licenses to MCHI and
Constellation.
The licensing of the MCHI and Constellation Code Division Multiple Access, or
"CDMA", systems reduces the possibility that only one CDMA system will become
operational in the 1610-1621.35 MHz frequency band adjacent to the Iridium
System's frequency assignment. This in turn reduces the likelihood that the FCC
will increase the frequency assignment for the Iridium System. In addition,
MCHI's and Constellation's licenses may cause the CDMA based global systems to
have less capacity available for their use and thereby make it more difficult
for them to accept the protection levels required for GLONASS, either in the
United States, Russia or elsewhere. This could lead to requests to reassign the
CDMA systems to higher frequencies within the 1610-1626.5 MHz allocation to
protect GLONASS. This development might in turn reduce the amount of spectrum
available to Iridium. Furthermore,
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the possibility that two more CDMA systems may become operational may increase
the risk of harmful interference into the Iridium System's MSS downlinks.
Competition with the Iridium System is also expected from ICO, the private
company affiliated with Inmarsat to provide a mobile satellite service using
satellites to be positioned in medium earth orbit. ICO's system is expected to
become a significant competitor of the Iridium System. ICO's proposed service
will not operate in the same set of user link frequencies in which the Iridium
and Globalstar systems are proposed to operate.
Interconnection and Country Codes
For Iridium to provide outbound (i.e., initiated by an Iridium phone)
satellite voice services on a global basis, each gateway needs to interconnect
with international carriers who can link the gateway with the national and local
public switched telephone networks, or "PSTNs", in each of the countries Iridium
serves. Some gateways may be required to achieve carrier status in their
countries of origin in order to enter into such agreements. As of March 1, 1999,
not all interconnection agreements had been obtained. In the absence of an
interconnection agreement, it may not be possible to complete calls between an
Iridium handset and a wireline phone in a given country. There can be no
assurances that the necessary interconnection agreement will be concluded in any
given country.
For Iridium to provide inbound (i.e., a call to an Iridium phone) satellite
voice services on a global basis, each gateway needs to interconnect with the
PSTNs in the countries that are close to it (so that each country is
interconnected with at least one gateway). In addition, since the Iridium System
will be treated like a "country" with a dedicated country code, each PSTN must
route traffic based on that country code to the Iridium gateway. To route
Iridium System traffic properly, the PSTN operators in each country must program
their international switches (and domestic ones, if necessary) to include the
Iridium country code and signaling point codes.
In May 1996, Study Group 2 of the ITU Telecommunication Standardization Bureau
decided that the Iridium System, ICO, Globalstar and Odyssey should share a
country code and allocated code "881" for this purpose, with each eligible
system to receive two values of the digit following the code 881. The Iridium
System uses codes 8816 and 8817, which enables Iridium to identify approximately
200 million subscribers.
The four-digit country code must be used by domestic and international
carriers in each country to route calls to the Iridium System and to recognize
those calls for billing purposes as calls to the Iridium network. Although the
typical three- digit country code is supported by all carriers for the call
routing and billing systems, it is expected that some carriers will have to
modify their routing and billing systems, and in some cases, enhance their
switch capacity, to be able to route and bill for calls destined for the four
digit codes assigned to the Iridium System and other mobile satellite systems.
It is possible that some carriers will not agree to make the necessary
modifications, to make them in a timely fashion, or to make them without Iridium
and other mobile satellite system operators paying for some or all of the costs
of such modifications. It is generally expected that resistance to making the
modifications is most likely to occur in developing countries that employ less
modern switching equipment.
EMPLOYEES
Pursuant to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium, each officer
of Parent holds the same position with Iridium. There are 9 persons who are
executive officers of Parent and Iridium. Iridium has no employees other than
its officers. As of March 1, 1999, Parent had approximately 536 full-time
employees. Parent supplies management services to Iridium and IWCL pursuant to a
management services agreement. None of Parent's employees are covered by a
collective bargaining agreement. Parent's management considers its relations
with its officers and the employees of Parent to be good.
Each of the four executive officers of IWCL is an executive officer of Parent,
except IWCL's Secretary who, under Bermuda law, must be a Bermuda resident. IWCL
has no employees other than its executive officers.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
Motorola has constructed the Satellite Network Operations Control facility on a
10.4 acre parcel of land in Loudoun County, Virginia, TT&C facilities on leased
or licensed land in Yellowknife and Iqualuit, Northwest Territories, Canada and
Oahu, Hawaii; and the backup control facility in Rome, Italy. Title to these
properties is scheduled to be passed to Iridium in 1999.
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Parent leases its corporate headquarters office space in Washington, D.C. The
lease expires in May 2004, and has an option to renew for one three year period.
In addition, Parent leases office space in Reston, Virginia, Leesburg, Virginia
and Phoenix, Arizona. The leases expire in September 2004, February 2003 and
August 2003, respectively. The Reston, Virginia lease has an option to renew for
one five year period, the Leesburg, Virginia lease has an option to renew for
one five year period, and the Phoenix, Arizona lease has an option to renew for
two five year periods.
Real property interests of Iridium and Parent generally are, or will be, held
by Iridium's wholly-owned subsidiaries, Facilities and Potomac. The Canadian
real property interests are held by Iridium Canada Facilities Inc., a New
Brunswick, Canada corporation and a wholly-owned foreign subsidiary of Iridium.
Iridium and Parent believe they have adequate facilities to operate their
businesses as currently contemplated.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Although the Parent and Iridium from time to time in the course of the
operation of their businesses are subject to various legal proceedings, neither
the Parent nor Iridium is currently a party to any legal proceeding that
management believes has reasonable likelihood of having a material adverse
effect on its business, nor, to the knowledge of management, is any such
proceeding threatened. For a discussion of the regulatory proceeding in which
Iridium is a participant or has an interest see "Business - Certain
Regulations that Affect Iridium".
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
Not Applicable.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR IWCL'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
IWCL was formed on December 12, 1996 for the purpose of acting as a member of
the Parent. On June 13, 1997, IWCL consummated an initial public offering of
12,000,000 shares of its class A common stock, par value $.01 per share and
applied the net proceeds of approximately $225 million to purchase 12,000,000
class 1 membership interests in Parent. On January 26, 1999, IWCL consummated a
second public equity offering of 7,500,000 shares of its class A common stock,
par value $0.01 per share and applied the net proceeds of approximately $242.4
million to purchase 7,500,000 class 1 membership interests in Parent. At March
1, 1999, there were 19,725,986 shares of class A common stock outstanding and
20,625 shares of class B common stock outstanding, and IWCL owned 19,746,611
class 1 interests, constituting approximately 13.25% of the outstanding class 1
interests.
(A) MARKET INFORMATION
The class A common stock is traded on the Nasdaq National Market, or "Nasdaq",
under the symbol "IRID". The following table sets forth the high and low sales
prices per share of class A common stock as reported on the Nasdaq.
MARKET PRICE
-----------------------
HIGH LOW
---- ---
1998 quarter ended:
March 31................................ 68.250 30.500
June 30................................. 72.188 49.000
September 30............................ 61.625 31.000
December 31............................. 49.875 26.750
January 1, 1999 to
March 29, 1999.......................... 44.500 18.688
On July 16, 1997, IWCL, the Parent and Capital, consummated a private offering
of (i) 300,000 units each consisting of (A) $1,000 principal amount of 13%
senior notes due 2005, series A, of the Parent and Capital, or "series A notes",
and (B) one warrant to purchase 5.2 shares of class A common stock and (ii)
$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 14% senior notes due 2005, series B,
of the Parent and Capital, or "series B notes", for aggregate net proceeds to
the Parent of approximately $746 million. The series A notes and series B notes
are guaranteed by IP, Roaming, Facilities and Potomac.
In the aggregate, the warrants entitle the holders thereof to purchase
1,560,000 shares of class A common stock. The exercise price of the warrants is
$20.90 per share of class A common stock. The warrants have been exercisable
since July 11, 1998, subject to
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26
certain conditions. The warrants expire on July 15, 2005. In connection with the
issuance of the warrants, the Parent issued to IWCL warrants to purchase class 1
interests having the same tenor and terms as the warrants. These warrants
entitle IWCL to purchase, in the aggregate, a number of class 1 interests equal
to the aggregate number of shares of class A common stock issued in respect of
the warrants, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. IWCL has agreed, subject to
anti-dilution adjustments, to exercise one such warrant for each share of class
A common stock issued pursuant to the warrants.
On October 17, 1997, the Parent and Capital consummated a private offering of
$300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 11.25% senior notes due 2005, series
C, of the Parent and Capital, or "series C notes", for aggregate net proceeds to
the Parent of approximately $293 million. The series C notes are guaranteed by
IP, Roaming, Facilities and Potomac.
On December 18, 1997, the Parent entered into an asset drop-down transaction
with Iridium, a newly formed Delaware limited liability company and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent. The purpose of the asset drop-down
transaction was to facilitate the pledge the assets held by the Parent in
connection with the establishment of secured bank financing. Pursuant to the
asset drop-down transaction, substantially all of the assets and liabilities of
the Parent were transferred to Iridium, including, without limitation, the
series A notes, the series B notes and the series C notes.
On May 13, 1998, Iridium and Capital consummated a public offering of
350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 107/8% senior notes due 2005, series
D, of Iridium and Capital, or "series D notes" and, together with the series A
notes, series B notes and series C notes, the "senior notes", for aggregate net
proceeds to Iridium of approximately $342 million. The series D notes are
guaranteed by IP, Roaming, Facilities and Potomac.
On January 27, 1999, IWCL consummated a public offering of 7,500,000 shares of
its class A common stock and applied the net proceeds of approximately $242
million to purchase 7,500,000 class 1 interests of Parent. Parent contributed
all of the proceeds from the sale of the class 1 interests to Iridium.
(B) HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
At March 1, 1999, there were approximately 757 holders of record of IWCL's
class A common stock.
(C) DIVIDEND POLICY
IWCL has never declared or paid any dividends on its class A common stock or
class B common stock and the Parent has never made distributions on its class 1
interests. IWCL and, except as described below, the Parent do not currently
anticipate paying any such dividends or distributions until some time following
the date on which the Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries achieve a
positive operating cash flow. Cash distributions from Iridium to Parent, and by
Parent on its class 1 interests, are restricted, either directly or indirectly,
by debt covenants.
IWCL's only assets are its class 1 interests and rights to acquire class 1
interests, and IWCL has no independent means of generating revenues. Iridium
pays IWCL's operating expenses, which expenses have not been material. To the
extent permitted by applicable law and its agreements relating to indebtedness,
Parent intends to distribute to its class 1 members, including IWCL, net cash,
if any, received from its operations, less amounts required to repay outstanding
indebtedness, satisfy other liabilities and fund capital expenditures and
contingencies. Parent's LLC agreement requires the Parent Board of Directors, to
the extent of legally available funds, to declare and pay a dividend sufficient
to assure that each non-U.S. class 1 member receives an amount at least equal to
the amount of such member's United States federal, state and local income tax
liability resulting from allocations of Iridium's income to such member.
IWCL intends to promptly distribute as dividends to its shareholders the
distributions, if any, made to it by Parent, less any amounts reasonably
required to be retained for payment of taxes, for repayment of any liabilities
and to fund any contingencies. Any dividend declared must be declared and paid
equally on the outstanding shares of class A common stock and class B common
stock.
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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
IWCL
The following selected financial data as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 is
derived from IWCL's financial statements which have been audited by KPMG LLP,
independent certified public accountants. The selected financial data should be
read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations" and the financial statements of IWCL and
notes thereto included herein.
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------------------- ---------------------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT
PER SHARE DATA) PER SHARE DATA)
STATEMENT OF LOSS DATA:
Equity in loss of Iridium LLC............... $ 18,834 $ 107,639
Net loss.................................... 18,834 107,639
Net loss per Class A Common
Share - basic and diluted................... $ 2.79 $ 8.91
DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1998
----------------- -----------------
(IN THOUSANDS) (IN THOUSANDS)
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash............................. $ -- $ --
Investment in Iridium LLC 223,922 119,702
Total assets..................... 223,922 119,702
Stockholders' equity............. $ 223,922 $ 119,702
IRIDIUM LLC ("PARENT")
The following selected financial data of Parent as of December 31, 1994, 1995,
1996, 1997 and 1998 for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and
1998 have been derived from the consolidated financial statements of Parent,
which have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants.
The selected financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" and the consolidated financial statements of Parent and notes
thereto included herein. Parent is the predecessor of Iridium, and on December
18, 1997, transferred substantially all of its assets and liabilities to Iridium
pursuant to the asset drop-down transaction.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER CLASS 1 INTEREST DATA)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF LOSS DATA:
Revenues(1) .................. $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 186
Operating expenses............ 17,561 27,187 71,404 296,598 987,773
Interest (income) expense, net (4,252) (5,226) (2,395) (3,045) 265,214
Provision for income taxes ... 1,525 1,684 4,589 -- --
----- ----- ----- ------ -------
Net loss ..................... $ 14,834 $ 23,645 $ 73,598 $ 293,553 $1,252,801
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
Net loss per Class 1
Interest - basic and diluted . $ .38 $ .27 $ .64 $ 2.25 $ 8.91
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
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DECEMBER 31,
----------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
---- ---- ---- ---- ----
(IN THOUSANDS)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents.............................. $202,391 $ 51,332 $1,889 $ 9,040 $ 24,756
Restricted cash........................................ -- -- -- 350,220(2) --
System under construction.............................. 646,000 1,448,000 2,376,884 1,625,054 --
Property and equipment, net............................ 1,522 1,264 2,065 1,526,326 3,584,209
Total assets........................................... 851,809 1,505,383 2,434,081 3,645,687 3,738,895
Long-term debt......................................... -- -- 735,904 1,537,590(3) 2,854,219
Total members' equity.................................. $795,813 $ 1,404,610 $1,572,029 $ 1,634,637 $ 477,163
- ---------------
(1) Parent is transitioning from a development stage company to an operating
company. This transition began in 1998 and accordingly Parent had no
revenue until 1998.
(2) Restricted cash consisted of the first stage of borrowings under a credit
facility. This credit facility has been replaced by Iridium's $800 million
secured bank facility. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations --Recent Developments"
below.
(3) Does not include the $350 million of outstanding borrowings under
"restricted cash". See note (2) above.
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IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC ("IRIDIUM")
The following selected financial data of Iridium has been derived from the
consolidated financial statements of Iridium as of December 31, 1994, 1995,
1996, 1997 and 1998 for the years ended December 31, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and
1998 which have been audited by KPMG LLP, independent certified public
accountants. The selected financial data set forth below should be read in
conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations" and the consolidated financial statements of Iridium
and notes thereto included herein. Parent is the predecessor of Iridium, and on
December 18, 1997, transferred substantially all of its assets and liabilities
to Iridium pursuant to the asset drop-down transaction.
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT PER CLASS 1 INTEREST DATA)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT
OF LOSS DATA:
Revenues(1) .................. $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 186
Operating expenses .......... 17,561 27,187 71,404 296,446 987,481
Interest (income) expense, net (4,252) (5,226) (2,395) (3,045) 265,214
Provision for income taxes ... 1,525 1,684 4,589 -- --
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net loss ..................... $ 14,834 $ 23,645 $ 73,598 $ 293,401 $1,252,509
========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
OTHER DATA(2)
Ratio of earnings to Fixed
charges(3).................... -- -- -- -- --
Deficiency of earnings to cover
Fixed charges ................. $ 13,309 $ 21,961 $ 97,136 $ 449,248 $1,385,803
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash equivalents .... $ 202,391 $ 51,332 $ 1,889 $ 5,940 $ 24,756
Restricted cash .............. -- -- -- 350,220(4) --
System under construction .... 646,000 1,448,000 2,376,884 1,625,054 --
Property and equipment, net .. 1,522 1,264 2,065 1,526,326 3,584,209
Total assets ................. 851,809 1,505,383 2,434,081 3,642,587 3,738,347
Long-term debt ............... -- -- 735,904 1,537,590(5) 2,854,219
Total members' equity ........ $ 795,813 $1,404,610 $1,572,029 $1,634,537 $ 476,615
(1) Iridium is transitioning from a development stage company to an operating
company. This transition began in 1998 and accordingly Iridium had no
revenue until 1998.
(2) For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, and
the deficiency of earnings to cover fixed charges, "earnings" includes
pre-tax income (loss) adjusted for fixed charges. "Fixed charges" consists
of interest capitalized and that portion of operating lease rental expense
(deemed to be one-third of rental expense) representative of interest.
(3) The ratios of earnings to fixed charges are not presented for each of
1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1998 because earnings were inadequate to cover
fixed charges by approximately $13,309,000, $21,961,000, $97,136,000,
$449,248,000 and $1,385,803,000, respectively.
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(4) Restricted cash consisted of the first stage of borrowings under a credit
facility. This credit facility has been replaced by Iridium's $800 million
secured bank facility. See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations --Recent Developments"
below.
(5) Does not include the $350 million of outstanding borrowings under
"restricted cash". See note (4) above.
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS
OF OPERATIONS
IWCL is a member of Parent and has no other business. IWCL has no operations
other than those related to its interests in Parent. IWCL's sole assets are its
membership interests in Parent and its warrants to acquire membership interests
in Parent and, accordingly, IWCL's results of operations reflect its
proportionate share of the results of operations of Parent on an equity
accounting basis. The business of Iridium constitutes substantially all of the
business of Parent. Accordingly, the management's discussion and analysis
section of this report focuses on the financial condition and results of
operations of Iridium.
BACKGROUND - TRANSITION FROM A DEVELOPMENT STAGE COMPANY TO AN OPERATING COMPANY
In the fourth quarter of 1998, Iridium began the transition from a development
stage company into an operating company and, as a result, the character of its
operations and the factors affecting management's assessment of its financial
condition are changing. Iridium's operations are shifting from construction to
operation and service provision, and the principal considerations of Iridium's
management in evaluating Iridium's financial condition have shifted from whether
Iridium would obtain financing on favorable terms for the construction of the
Iridium System and the roll-out of commercial service to when or whether Iridium
will generate revenues and obtain additional funding in amounts sufficient to
satisfy its funding requirements.
Shift in Operations. Prior to the fourth quarter of 1998, Iridium devoted
substantially all of its operations efforts to the design, construction and
development of the Iridium System and to preparation for the commercial
operation of the Iridium System. Iridium expects that its operations efforts for
1999 and the two to three years thereafter will focus on the operation of the
Iridium System, the provision of global wireless telecommunications services and
the attraction and retention of customers.
Shift in Factors Affecting Financial Condition. Prior to the year-end 1998,
Iridium's funding requirements principally were driven by the cost of the
construction and deployment of the Iridium System and interest expense (in 1997
and 1998). During this development stage period, Iridium had no meaningful
revenue and, accordingly, relied on outside funding. Iridium expects that its
operational funding requirements for 1999 and the two to three years thereafter
principally will be driven by the costs of operating and maintaining the
satellite constellation, the costs of providing Iridium services and interest
expense.
Currently, Iridium is not generating sufficient funds from operations to
satisfy its operational cash needs and, accordingly, is continuing to rely on
outside funding. Iridium expects that its funding requirements for 1999 will
substantially exceed its revenues and that this deficiency will be reflected in
an increase in indebtedness from year-end 1998.
Iridium's Expectations About Its Future Operations and Funding Requirements
Are Forward Looking. The statements in this report regarding Iridium's future
funding requirements and funding sources for 1999 and thereafter are estimates
and are forward looking. Actual results are likely to differ, and may differ
materially, from the information expressed or implied in such statements. These
estimates are based on a number of assumptions, including Iridium's expectations
about its ability to generate revenues from operations, and should be viewed in
light of the following facts: (i) Iridium has no meaningful history of
operations or revenues and there is no operational service that provides a
direct comparison to Iridium's services; (ii) the availability of the additional
sources of funding Iridium expects to be able to use is not completely within
Iridium's control and is conditioned on Iridium satisfying certain conditions;
and (iii) Iridium faces many challenges and risks. There are many factors that
could cause these forward looking statements to be inaccurate. For example, as
described under "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
Results of Operations - Recent Developments - Waiver of Secured Bank
Facility Covenants" below, subscriber levels and revenues for Iridium's initial
commercial operations have been significantly below Iridium's prior estimates as
a result of various factors, including lack of availability of phones and pagers
and a shortage of fully-trained service providers, sales personnel and a lack
of effective marketing coordination among Iridium, its gateways and its service
providers. See Exhibit 99 to this report for further discussion of some of the
factors which could result in Iridium's forward looking statements proving to
be inaccurate.
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
Claircom Acquisition. On December 22, 1998, Parent and Iridium Aero
Acquisition Sub, Inc., or "Aero", a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent, entered into a stock purchase agreement pursuant to which
Aero agreed to acquire all of the outstanding capital stock of Claircom
Communications Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a provider of in-flight
phone service for commercial and executive aircraft, from ATGI, Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., and
Rogers Cantel Inc. Aero agreed to acquire the Claircom shares for an estimated
aggregate price of approximately $65 million, consisting of approximately $25.6
million in cash to be paid at closing and approximately $39.4 million of notes
of Claircom which will be guaranteed by Parent and issued to the sellers of the
Claircom shares immediately prior to closing. The aggregate purchase price is
subject to certain adjustments, including working capital adjustments and
adjustments for capital expenditures made for the benefit of Claircom prior to
the closing. The Claircom notes expected to be issued to the sellers will have a
term of nine years and will pay interest at a rate of 8% per annum, but will not
require any payments for the first two years following their issuance --
interest accrued during the first two-year period will be added to the principal
amount of the notes. These Claircom notes also will contain certain restrictive
covenants, including restrictions on dividends, and will be secured by
substantially all of the assets of Claircom and a pledge of the Claircom shares
by Aero. The consummation of the acquisition of the Claircom shares is subject
to certain significant conditions.
Secured Bank Facility and Guaranteed Bank Facilities. On December 23, 1998,
Iridium closed on three new bank credit facilities providing for an aggregate
amount of up to approximately $1.55 billion of borrowings -- the $800 million
secured bank facility due December 29, 2000 and the $750 million (collectively)
Motorola guaranteed bank facilities (which includes a $475 million term credit
facility due December 29, 2000 and a $275 million revolving credit facility due
December 31, 2001). Iridium used (i) approximately $682 million of the funds
available under these new bank facilities to repay its outstanding bank debt, of
which $410 million was due to mature on December 31, 1998, and (ii)
approximately $370 million of such funds to make payments under its various
contracts with Motorola. The secured bank facility is secured by, among other
things, substantially all of Iridium's assets. Borrowings under the Motorola
guaranteed bank facilities are guaranteed by Motorola. Pursuant to the Motorola
MOU and the Motorola ARG (described below), Iridium is required to compensate
Motorola with equity and cash for, among other things, providing guarantees of
Iridium's borrowings under the Motorola guaranteed bank facilities.
IWCL Offering. On January 27, 1999, IWCL consummated a public offering of
7,500,000 shares of its class A common stock and applied the net proceeds of
approximately $242 million to purchase 7,500,000 class 1 interests of Parent.
Parent contributed all of the proceeds from the sale of the class 1 interests to
Iridium.
Waiver of Certain Secured Bank Facility Covenants. Iridium's secured bank
facility contains various covenants, including covenants that require Iridium to
satisfy certain minimum revenue and subscriber levels as of various dates. These
minimum subscriber and revenue covenants include the condition that, at March
31, 1999, Iridium have cumulative cash revenues of at least $4 million,
cumulative accrued revenues of at least $30 million, at least 27,000 Iridium
World Satellite Service subscribers and at least 52,000 total subscribers. As a
result of various factors, Iridium's subscriber levels and revenues for its
initial commercial operations have been significantly below its prior estimates.
Accordingly, Iridium has requested and received a waiver of compliance with the
March 31, 1999 revenue and subscriber conditions from the lenders under the
secured bank facility. This waiver is conditioned on Iridium's compliance with
the March 31, 1999 minimum revenue and subscriber levels by May 31, 1999. The
waiver does not affect or constitute a waiver of any other term of the secured
bank facility, including the minimum revenue and subscriber conditions at June
30, 1999 and September 30, 1999. See "- Liquidity and Capital Resources
- - Sources of Funding" for a description of the secured bank facility.
Iridium believes that its slower than expected subscriber ramp-up and revenue
generation have been primarily the result of problems with the initial
distribution of subscriber equipment, a shortage of fully-trained service
providers and sales personnel and a lack of effective marketing coordination
among Iridium, its gateways and its service providers. During the initial
roll-out of Iridium World Services, (i) Kyocera experienced significant
difficulties in achieving Iridium's quality control standards and was unable to
ship significant quantities of phones until early March of 1999, (ii) there were
substantial difficulties in distributing phones and pagers to various markets
around the world, (iii) although Motorola's satellite phones and pagers have
been available, the production of cellular cassettes for its dual mode
satellite/cellular phones and some other accessories was delayed, and (iv)
Iridium and its gateway operators had difficulty identifying and training
service providers and their sales staffs. Iridium believes that Motorola and
Kyocera have addressed most of these initial production and distribution
problems. However, Iridium believes that it may take more time and effort to
appropriately address the problems that have arisen in connection with the
marketing and distribution of Iridium World Services. For further discussion of
the factors that have adversely affected Iridium's initial marketing and
distribution efforts and the initiatives Iridium, its gateways and its service
providers are taking in response see "Business - Target Markets" and "Business
- - Marketing and Distribution".
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Revision of Subscriber and Revenue Estimates - Request for Amendment of
the Secured Bank Facility. The initiatives Iridium and its gateways have
undertaken to address the current marketing and distribution difficulties may
take time to implement. Accordingly, Iridium is in the process of revising its
revenue and subscriber estimates in the light of its initial marketing and
distribution difficulties. Iridium expects this revision will adversely affect
its prior expectations regarding revenues from operations and accordingly, will
adversely affect its prior expectation about its financial condition, including
(i) its ability to meet the minimum revenue and subscriber covenants and other
terms of the secured bank facility, (ii) its future sources of funds from
revenues from operations and (iii) its financing needs. Iridium intends to
request an amendment of the secured bank facility to modify the minimum revenue
and subscriber level covenants and other terms to reflect its revised
subscriber and revenue estimates. There can be no assurance that the lenders
under the secured bank facility will agree to such an amendment. Failure to
obtain such an amendment would likely result in a default under the secured
bank facility, which would have a material adverse effect on Iridium. In
addition, in consideration for agreeing to such an amendment, the lenders under
the secured bank facility may require Iridium to agree to additional covenants
and provide additional compensation. Iridium also intends to revise its
estimates of its funding requirements and its expectations about its available
sources of funds. See "- Liquidity and Capital Resources".
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Funding Requirements
Funding Requirements - Through Year-End 1998. Through year-end 1998, Iridium's
funding requirements aggregated approximately $4.8 billion from July 29, 1993,
the inception date of Iridium's predecessor, with approximately $1.38 billion
expended in 1998.
Estimated Funding Requirements for 1999. Iridium expects that its aggregate
cash needs for 1999 will be approximately $1.65 billion (the Iridium Board has
approved a cash budget of up to $1.76 billion). This estimate includes Iridium's
estimate of its cash needs for (i) Iridium System construction and operation,
(ii) the expected acquisition of Claircom and (iii) working capital, financing
costs and software development. This estimate, and Iridium's approved cash
budget, may be revised as a result of Iridium's revision of its revenue
and subscriber estimates. As Iridium is striving to increase the ramp-up in the
demand for its services, it is also striving to decrease costs. See "-
Recent Developments - Waiver of Certain Secured Bank Facility Covenants"
above for a discussion of the factors driving the reevaluation.
Estimated Funding Requirements After 1999. Iridium expects that its funding
requirements for operation of the Iridium System for the two to three year
period following 1999 will be driven by costs similar in type to those expected
in 1999.
Iridium System Construction and Operation. With respect to the development and
construction of the Iridium System, Iridium and Motorola are parties to (i) the
space system contract for the design, development, production and delivery in
orbit of the space segment, (ii) the terrestrial network development contract to
design the gateway hardware and software, and (iii) the operations and
maintenance, or "O&M", contract to provide day-to-day management of the space
segment after deployment and to monitor, upgrade and replace hardware and
software of the space segment as necessary to maintain performance
specifications. Substantially all of the initial capital raised by Iridium was
used, and will continue to be used, to make payments to Motorola under the space
system contract, the terrestrial network development contract and the O&M
contract. The space system contract provided for a fixed price (subject to
certain adjustments), scheduled to be paid by Iridium to Motorola over
approximately a five-year period for completion of milestones under the
contract.
As of March 1, 1999, Iridium had incurred all of the approximately $3.435
billion aggregate estimated cost of the space system contract. Iridium paid $519
million of this estimated amount in 1998. On March 8, 1999, Iridium paid $50
million of this estimated amount and the remaining $5 million is expected to be
paid in 1999. As of March 1, 1999, Iridium had incurred approximately $302
million of the $356 million aggregate estimated cost of the terrestrial network
development contract. Iridium paid $97 million under the terrestrial network
development contract in 1998. Iridium expects to make $120 million of payments
under the terrestrial network development contract in 1999 and the remaining $10
million in 2000.
Iridium expects the O&M contract to be the source of Iridium's single most
significant funding requirements during commercial operation of the Iridium
System. The O&M contract has a five-year term (ending in November, 2003) and is
extendable, at Iridium's option, for an additional two years. Payments under the
O&M contract are currently payable monthly and are expected to aggregate
approximately $2.89 billion over the initial five-year term of the contract. If
Iridium exercises its option to extend the O&M contract for an additional two
years, the payments due for that two-year extension are expected to aggregate
approximately $1.34 billion. In
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addition, Iridium is obligated to pay for certain spare satellites, if any, upon
the completion of the contract. The monthly payments under the O&M contract
increase each year, ranging from payments of $43.1 million in 1998 to $52.6
million in 2003 and $57.3 million in 2005 (if extended).
Iridium's historical and expected future cash requirements by year under its
principal contracts through December 31, 2000 are approximately as follows (in
millions):
THROUGH YEAR ENDED
------------------
DECEMBER 31,
------------
1998 1999 2000
---- ---- ----
(ACTUAL) (ESTIMATED)
Space system contract............................ $ 3,380 $ 55 $ --
Terrestrial network development contract......... 226 120` 10
O&M contract(1).................................. 86 537 557
- ----------
(1) Does not reflect deferrals of payments due under the O&M contract. Under
the Motorola MOU, Motorola has agreed to permit Iridium to defer its
obligations to pay up to an aggregate of $400 million of payments due to
Motorola under the O&M contract until December 29, 2000. As of March 1,
1999, Iridium had deferred payment of approximately $220 million of its
obligations under the O&M contract and expects to defer an aggregate of
$400 million of such obligations prior to September 1, 1999.
As a result of technological developments, changes in Iridium's product mix,
and scheduling adjustments, including the implementation of Iridium World
Roaming Services into Iridium's service offerings, there have been, and Iridium
anticipates there may be, amendments and interpretations of the terrestrial
network development contract and the O&M contract and other agreements and
letters with Motorola which may increase the total costs of these contracts.
While Iridium's estimate of the cost of anticipated amendments and
interpretations is reflected in Iridium's estimates of its funding requirements,
there can be no assurance that future amendments or interpretations will not
affect the price and terms of those agreements in a manner that is not reflected
in Iridium's funding estimates.
Claircom Acquisition. The expected acquisition of Claircom has an estimated
aggregate purchase price of approximately $65 million, consisting of
approximately $25.6 million in cash to be paid at closing and approximately
$39.4 million of notes of Claircom which will be guaranteed by Parent and issued
to the sellers of the Claircom shares immediately prior to closing.
Working Capital, Financing Costs and Software Development. Iridium has
required, and will continue to require, funds for working capital, business
software development, interest on borrowings, financing costs and operating
expenses. Iridium estimates that through December 31, 1998 these costs
aggregated approximately $1.09 billion from July 29, 1993, the inception date of
Iridium's predecessor, with approximately $674 million incurred in 1998. Iridium
estimates that its costs in calendar year 1999 for these items will aggregate
approximately $915 million.
Sources of Funding
Sources of Funds - Through Year-End 1998. Through December 31, 1998, Iridium
expended approximately $4.8 billion from July 29, 1993, the inception date of
Iridium's predecessor. At December 31, 1998, Iridium had funded this aggregate
expenditure with (i) approximately $500 million in secured bank debt, (ii)
approximately $625 million in bank debt guaranteed by Motorola, (iii)
approximately $1.38 billion in proceeds from the issuance of senior notes due
2005, (iv) approximately $239 million in proceeds from the issuance of senior
subordinated notes due 2006, (v) approximately $1.95 billion from the issuance
of class 1 interests, (vi) approximately $31 million from the issuance of series
A class 2 interests and (vii) approximately $86 million of vendor financing.
Estimated Sources of Funds for 1999. Iridium estimates that it will have
available for 1999 aggregate sources of external funding of approximately $1.34
billion from the secured bank facility, the guaranteed bank facilities, vendor
financing, proceeds from equity offering and additional Motorola guaranteed
borrowings. Iridium expects that its cash needs for 1999 will be approximately
$1.65 billion (the Iridium Board has approved a budget of up to $1.76 billion ).
To the extent that Iridium's revenues do not exceed the actual difference
between its 1999 cash needs and 1999 available sources (an estimated difference
of approximately $310 million), Iridium will need to seek additional financing.
Iridium is in the process of revising its revenue and subscriber estimates in
light of its initial marketing and distribution difficulties and intends to
seek an amendment to the Secured Bank Facility. These events are likely to
adversely affect Iridium's estimates about its future sources of funds, and
Iridium expects that it will need additional financing.
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Estimated Sources of Funds After 1999. For the two to three years following
1999, Iridium generally expects to fund the costs of operating and maintaining
the Iridium System (including the O&M contract), providing Iridium's services,
working capital, interest expense and financing costs through revenues from
operations and, if required, additional financing.
Equity Investments and Debt Securities. As of March 1, 1999, Iridium had
received approximately $2.19 billion from the issuance of class 1 interests and
approximately $31 million for the issuance of series A class 2 interests. As of
March 1, 1999, Iridium had received approximately $1.62 billion from the
issuance of debt securities, including approximately $1.38 billion from the
issuance of senior notes due 2005 and approximately $239 million from the
issuance of senior subordinated notes due 2006.
Secured Bank Facility. As of March 1, 1999, Iridium had drawn the entire
amount available under the $800 million secured bank facility. Borrowings under
the secured bank facility mature on December 29, 2000. The parties to the
secured bank facility are Iridium, Chase Securities Inc. and Barclays Bank PLC,
as Global Arrangers, The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Administrative Agent, Barclays
Bank PLC, as Documentation Agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc.,
as Syndication Agent, and a syndicate of lenders. Iridium's obligations under
the secured bank facility are secured by pledges of, and security interests in,
substantially all of Iridium's assets, Parent's equity interest in Iridium and
the reserve capital call (the commitment of 17 of Parent's strategic investors
to purchase up to 18,206,550 class 1 interests at a price of $13.33 per class 1
interest, representing an aggregate purchase price of up to approximately $243
million).
The secured bank facility contains various covenants. One group of covenants
requires Iridium to satisfy certain minimum revenue and subscriber levels,
including the conditions that (i) at March 31, 1999, it have cumulative cash
revenues of at least $4 million, cumulative accrued revenues of at least $30
million, at least 27,000 Iridium World Satellite Service subscribers and at
least 52,000 total subscribers, (ii) at June 30, 1999, it have cumulative cash
revenues of at least $50 million, cumulative accrued revenues of at least $150
million, at least 88,000 Iridium World Satellite Service subscribers and at
least 213,000 total subscribers and (iii) at September 30, 1999, it have
cumulative cash revenues of at least $220 million, cumulative accrued revenues
of at least $470 million, at least 173,000 Iridium World Satellite Service
subscribers and at least 454,000 total subscribers. As a result of various
factors, Iridium's subscriber levels and revenues for its initial commercial
operations have been significantly below its prior estimates. Accordingly,
Iridium has requested and received a waiver of compliance with the March 31,
1999 revenue and subscriber conditions from the lenders under the secured bank
facility. This waiver is conditioned on Iridium's compliance with the March 31,
1999 minimum revenue and subscriber levels by May 31, 1999. The waiver does not
affect or constitute a waiver of any other term of the secured bank facility,
and Iridium intends to seek an amendment to the secured bank facility to modify
the minimum revenue and subscriber conditions and other terms to reflect its
revision of its revenue and subscriber estimates. See "- Recent
Developments - Waiver of Certain Secured Bank Facility Covenants" and
"- Revision of Subscriber and Revenue Estimates - Request for Amendment
of the Secured Bank Facility" above. Other covenants in the secured bank
facility require Iridium to comply with certain financial ratios as of various
dates, including maximum debt to total invested capital, maximum secured debt to
earnings, maximum debt to earnings and minimum interest expense to earnings. The
secured bank facility also contains covenants related to, among other things,
the maintenance of insurance, the maintenance of regulatory authority to offer
Iridium World Satellite Service in a minimum number of countries and the
permitted uses of revenues from operations, borrowed funds and proceeds from the
issuance of securities. The secured bank facility also restricts Iridium's
ability to incur additional indebtedness, make dividend and other payments and
merge, consolidate or sell certain of its assets. In addition, the secured bank
facility requires mandatory prepayments in the event that debt and equity
issuances or cash flows exceed specified thresholds.
Guaranteed Bank Facilities. The guaranteed bank facilities consist of a $475
million term credit facility that matures on December 29, 2000 and a $275
million revolving credit facility that matures on December 31, 2001, each with a
different, but partially overlapping, syndicate of lenders. As of March 1, 1999,
Iridium had drawn an aggregate of approximately $480 million under these
facilities (approximately $470 million under the term facility and approximately
$10 million under the revolving facility). Pursuant to the terms of the
guaranteed bank facilities, Iridium cannot have access to more than an aggregate
of approximately $745 million of borrowings in order to ensure that the Motorola
$750 million guarantee covers additional obligations of Iridium to the lenders
under these facilities. The guaranteed bank facilities do not have covenants
that directly address minimum revenues or subscriber levels. Borrowings under
the guaranteed bank facilities are guaranteed by Motorola. Pursuant to the
Motorola MOU and the Motorola ARG (each described below), Parent and Iridium are
required to compensate Motorola with equity and cash interest for, among other
things, guaranteeing borrowings under the guaranteed bank facilities.
Motorola Vendor Financing and O&M Bank Facility Guarantee. Under the Motorola
MOU, described below, Motorola has agreed to permit Iridium to defer its
obligations to pay up to an aggregate of $400 million of payments due to
Motorola under the
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O&M contract until December 29, 2000. As of March 1, 1999, Iridium had deferred
approximately $220 million of its obligations under the O&M contract and expects
to defer an aggregate of $400 million of such obligations prior to September 1,
1999.
Iridium has agreed under a memorandum of understanding with Motorola and
Parent, or "MOU", that it will use its best efforts to obtain the Motorola
guaranteed O&M bank facility to finance the payment of all such deferrals prior
to October 1, 1999. Motorola has conditionally committed under the Motorola MOU
to guarantee up to $400 million of borrowings under such Motorola guaranteed O&M
bank facility. Iridium intends to finance the payment of $400 million of
deferred amounts with the Motorola guaranteed O&M bank facility prior to October
1, 1999. However, many factors, including changes in the bank lending market and
Iridium's ability to generate revenues from commercial operations could
adversely affect Iridium's ability to obtain the Motorola guaranteed O&M bank
facility. In addition, Motorola's commitment to guarantee the Motorola
guaranteed O&M bank facility is subject to certain conditions. Accordingly,
there can be no assurance that Iridium will be able to obtain the Motorola
guaranteed O&M bank facility or otherwise refinance its deferred obligations to
Motorola under the O&M contract. Iridium is required to compensate Motorola
pursuant to the Motorola ARG for Iridium's deferral of payments under the O&M
contract and for Motorola's guarantee of the Motorola guaranteed O&M bank
facility with cash and equity compensation, including warrants to purchase class
1 interests and warrants to purchase class A common stock.
Motorola MOU; Conditional Commitment of Motorola to Guarantee Additional
Borrowings. In connection with the establishment of the secured bank facility
and the guaranteed bank facilities, Motorola, Parent and Iridium entered into
the Motorola MOU, which amended and restated a previous memorandum of
understanding. Under the Motorola MOU, Motorola has agreed to, among other
things, (i) guarantee up to $750 million of obligations under the guaranteed
bank facilities, (ii) consent to and agree to an amendment to the guaranteed
bank facilities and the related guarantee agreement (or to enter into a new bank
credit facility and guarantee agreement on the same terms (other than pricing))
that together provide for a $350 million increase in the Motorola guaranteed
borrowings available thereunder, (iii) permit Iridium to defer its obligations
to pay up to an aggregate of $400 million of payments under the O&M contract
until December 29, 2000, (iv) guarantee up to $400 million of additional
borrowings under a bank credit facility with terms (other than pricing)
identical in all material respects to the guaranteed credit facilities on the
condition that such additional guaranteed borrowings be used exclusively to make
payments to Motorola for deferred obligations under the O&M contract (as
described in (iii) above), (v) subordinate certain of its claims vis-a-vis
Iridium to the lenders under the secured bank facility and (vi) consent to an
amendment to the $275 million revolving credit facility component of the
guaranteed bank facilities that would extend the maturity of such facility to
beyond the maturity of the senior notes (which are due July 15, 2005). Iridium
has agreed under the Motorola MOU that it will compensate Motorola for providing
guarantees, deferral rights and other credit support (collectively, the
"Motorola exposure", which generally includes the aggregate amount guaranteed,
or permitted to be deferred, by Motorola) pursuant to the Motorola ARG,
described below.
Parent and Iridium also have agreed under the Motorola MOU that they (i) will
use their best efforts to reduce the Motorola exposure to no more than $275
million by the earliest possible date, including obtaining bank credit
agreements not guaranteed by Motorola, issuing debt and equity securities (under
certain conditions) and using revenues from operations, if available, to reduce
the available borrowings under credit facilities guaranteed by Motorola and to
pay amounts deferred under contracts with Motorola, (ii) will use their best
efforts to obtain, on or before October 1, 1999, the Motorola guaranteed O&M
bank facility to finance the payment of all deferred amounts under the O&M
contract, (iii) will not have outstanding in excess of (a) $1.7 billion of
indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by the assets of Iridium or (b)
$1.62 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes, (iv) will not make
certain acquisitions without Motorola's consent and (v) will provide Motorola
with the right (in addition to Motorola's rights to representation based on its
holdings of class 1 interests) to appoint one additional director to the Boards
of Directors of Parent and Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $275
million, and the right to appoint a second additional director to the Boards of
Directors of Parent and Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $750
million (Motorola has exercised this right and six of Iridium's and Parent's
directors are appointees of Motorola). In addition, while Motorola has agreed to
consent to (i) a $350 million increase in the amount of guaranteed borrowings
available under the guaranteed bank facilities (or a new credit facility with
terms (other than pricing) identical in all material respects) and (ii) an
extension of the maturity of the $275 million revolving credit facility
component of the guaranteed bank facilities, there can be no assurance that the
lenders under the guaranteed credit facilities would agree to such amendments or
that such a new credit facility would be available.
Motorola's obligation to defer receipt of up to $400 million in payment under
the O&M contract is unconditional. All of Motorola's other obligations under the
Motorola MOU, including, without limitation, its obligation to consent to and
agree to an amendment to the guaranteed bank facilities and the related
guarantee agreement (or to enter into a new bank credit facility and guarantee
agreement on the same material terms (other than principal)) that together
provide for a $350 million increase in the Motorola guaranteed borrowings
available thereunder, are conditioned on Iridium complying with the terms of the
Motorola MOU, Motorola ARG, the O&M contract and other agreements with Motorola,
including Iridium's payment obligations under each such agreement.
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Motorola ARG. In connection with the establishment of the secured bank
facility and the guaranteed bank facilities, Motorola, Parent and Iridium also
entered into the Motorola agreement regarding guarantee, or "ARG", which amended
and restated a previous agreement. Payments under the Motorola ARG are based on
the amount and duration of Motorola exposure and are due and payable quarterly.
Prior to October 1, 1999, Iridium is required to pay Motorola cash interest on
the amount deferred at an annual interest rate of 12% for Motorola exposure
relating to the deferred amounts under the O&M contract. For Motorola exposure
relating to guarantees of borrowings under bank credit facilities that exists
prior to October 1, 1999, Iridium and Parent are required to compensate Motorola
with cash interest and equity (including warrants to purchase either class 1
interests or, under certain conditions, class A common stock). Prior to October
1, 1999, Motorola's compensation for Motorola exposure relating to the
guaranteed bank facilities and the Motorola guaranteed O&M bank facility (if
available) is based on the terms of the series A and series B senior notes. This
"high yield based compensation" equals (i) interest on the Motorola exposure at
an annual interest rate equal to the amount, if any, by which the interest rate
on the relevant bank facility is less than 13.625% (the weighted average
interest rate on the series A and series B senior notes) plus (ii) the payment
of warrants to purchase approximately 66.758 class 1 interests (or shares of
class A common stock) per day per each $100 million of Motorola exposure at a
purchase price of $20.90 per interest (or share) (the average daily warrant
compensation payable to holders of senior notes).
After October 1, 1999, Iridium and Parent are required to pay Motorola equity
compensation (in the form of warrants to purchase class 1 interests at a
purchase price of $0.00013 per interest) for all Motorola exposure unless the
aggregate Motorola exposure is less than or equal to $275 million, in which case
Iridium may pay Motorola high yield based compensation. During this period,
unless the Motorola exposure is less than $275 million, the amount of warrant
compensation payable per dollar of Motorola exposure increases substantially as
the Motorola exposure increases. In addition, Iridium is required to compensate
Motorola with warrants to purchase class 1 interests at a price of $0.00013 per
interest for any Motorola exposure resulting from Motorola making available any
part of the additional $350 million in guaranteed borrowings discussed above
regardless of when such Motorola exposure is incurred.
From the date of the original Motorola ARG through March 1, 1999, for
providing guarantees of Iridium's bank credit facilities and other credit
support, Motorola had earned warrants to purchase an aggregate of (i) 7,741,346
class 1 interests at a price of $.00013 per interest and an aggregate of (ii)
75,692 class 1 interests at a price of $20.90 per interest. The amount of equity
compensation Motorola will earn in the future, under the Motorola ARG, depends
upon the amount of future Motorola exposure, is expected to be substantial and
could increase significantly for a variety of reasons, including if Iridium is
unable to reduce the Motorola exposure to $275 million or less prior to October
1, 1999. While Iridium has agreed with Motorola that it will use its best
efforts to reduce the Motorola exposure to $275 million or less as soon as
possible, Iridium's ability to repay or replace borrowings guaranteed by
Motorola or pay or finance (without a Motorola guarantee) deferrals of amounts
due to Motorola depends on a variety of factors, including Iridium's ability to
generate revenues and factors beyond Iridium's control such as the condition of
the bank lending and securities markets. For example, if Iridium reduces the
Motorola exposure to $275 million for the period from October 1, 1999 through
December 31, 2000 ($275 million of Motorola exposure for approximately 15
months), Motorola would earn warrants to purchase approximately 84,000 class 1
interests (or shares of class A common stock) at a purchase price of $20.90 per
interest (or share) plus cash interest. However, if Iridium draws all amounts
available under the $750 million guaranteed credit facilities and defers the
payment of an aggregate of $400 million under the O&M contract and this Motorola
exposure remains in place in full from October 1, 1999 through December 31, 2000
($1.15 billion of Motorola exposure for 15 months), Motorola would earn warrants
to purchase approximately 12.9 million class 1 interests at a purchase price of
$0.00013 per interest pursuant to the Motorola ARG.
OPERATIONS
Iridium commenced commercial satellite phone service on November 1, 1998 and
commercial satellite paging service on November 15, 1998. Prior to November 1,
1998, Iridium's only source of income was interest income on the cash and
investment balances from the proceeds of equity and debt commitments in Iridium,
which interest income amounted to approximately $23.3 million from July 29,
1993, the inception date of Iridium's predecessor, to December 31, 1998. During
the same period, Iridium recorded a net loss of approximately $1.66 billion.
From December 31, 1997 to December 31, 1998, Iridium's aggregate net loss
increased substantially from $294 million to $1.25 billion for the year ended
December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively. This was primarily the result of the
following increases for the year ended December 31, 1998, as compared to the
corresponding period in 1997: $258 million for sales, general and administrative
expenses due to increased activities associated with commercial activation, $433
million for amortization and depreciation expense due to the depreciation of a
greater number of satellites and $273 million for increased interest expense.
See "-- Capitalization of Costs", "-- Operating Expenses" and "-- Interest
Expense" below.
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CAPITALIZATION OF COSTS
All payments by Iridium under the space system contract have been capitalized.
The satellite components of the space system contract are being depreciated over
the five-year estimated life of the satellites. Depreciation expense is realized
on a satellite-by-satellite basis, commencing with the delivery of each
satellite to its mission orbit. Depreciation related to the ground control
stations commences with the placement in service of each such station over a
seven year estimated life. Losses from satellite failures for which Iridium has
financial responsibility under its contractual arrangements with Motorola are
recognized currently. Motorola bears the risk of loss for launch failures and
satellite failures before a satellite is placed into service. Iridium has
obtained a satellite insurance policy to cover certain costs associated with the
loss of a satellite. Capitalized amounts under the space system contract and the
terrestrial network development contract aggregated approximately $3.74 billion
through December 31, 1998. In addition, costs incurred in connection with the
issuance by Iridium of class 1 interests are reflected as a reduction of
Iridium's additional paid-in capital and Iridium's debt issuance costs are
deferred and amortized over the term of the related indebtedness. Payment of
these costs and charges has resulted in significant negative operating cash
flow. Certain interest costs also have been capitalized through the date of
commencement of commercial operations.
A portion of the payments made under the O&M contract will be capitalized and
depreciated. The amount so capitalized will be determined depending upon the
number of replacement satellites put into service. Any costs under the O&M
contract not capitalized will be expensed as incurred.
OPERATING EXPENSES
For the period from July 29, 1993, the inception date of Iridium's
predecessor, through December 31, 1998, total operating expenses were
approximately $1.40 billion, with $988 million of that amount incurred in 1998.
Iridium expects a substantial increase in future operating expenses relating to
sales, marketing, depreciation and other costs associated with
commercialization.
INTEREST EXPENSE
Iridium has financed, and expects to continue to finance, a significant
portion of its capital requirements through borrowings. As a result of these
borrowings, Iridium has had, and expects it will have, significant interest
costs. Interest costs were capitalized while the Iridium System was under
construction and are now being depreciated. This resulted in all interest costs
being capitalized during 1995, 1996 and 1997. For the year ended December 31,
1998, approximately $443 million of interest cost was incurred. Interest
expensed for the year ended December 31, 1998 was approximately $273 million
with the remaining approximately $170 million of interest capitalized to the
system under construction. Iridium anticipates that all interest cost incurred
in 1999 will be expensed. Some portion of interest expense will not be paid in
cash, including the interest expense related to Iridium's 14 1/2% senior
subordinated notes through March 1, 2001. Such non-cash interest will be accrued
and such accrual will increase outstanding indebtedness on Iridium's
consolidated balance sheets.
INCOME TAXES
Iridium reports its income as a partnership for United States federal income
tax purposes and accordingly, is not expected to be directly subject to U.S.
federal income tax. Iridium may, however, be subject to tax in some state, local
or foreign jurisdictions on portions of its income. IWCL is directly subject to
U.S. federal income tax on the portion of its income which is effectively
connected with the U.S. business of Iridium. IWCL pays no income tax under
Bermuda law.
YEAR 2000 READINESS DISCLOSURE
General
Iridium's Year 2000 Program, or "Y2K Program", addresses
information-technology, or "IT", and non-IT problems that may exist within the
Iridium System, including Iridium's suppliers, roaming partners, service
providers and other material distributors.
Until recently, only two digits were used to represent the year in dates
recorded in computer systems. This practice did not anticipate the problem
generated by the turn of the century, after which dates entered as "00" could be
understood by computers to mean 1900 instead of 2000. This and other date
handling processes could result in the incorrect performance of computer
calculations and functionality involving dates.
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Y2K Program
The Y2K Program encompasses the Iridium space and ground facilities, as well
as the relevant operations of Iridium's material suppliers and distributors, and
addresses both IT and non-IT systems.
The Y2K Program is divided into five major phases - Awareness, Inventory and
Risk Assessment, Repair and Renovation, Verification and Validation, and
Implementation and Monitoring. The Awareness Phase is intended to ensure the
establishment of the Y2K Program and the awareness of potential risks and Year
2000 issues. This phase, which involves communicating the status and progress of
the Y2K Program within Iridium and to third parties, is an ongoing activity and
will continue as Iridium proceeds through the other phases. Iridium has
substantially completed all critical tasks in this phase. The process of
communication, however, is ongoing and will continue through first quarter 2000.
The Inventory and Risk Assessment Phase involves the performance of an initial
inventory of all Iridium hardware, software and infrastructure, as well as
material vendors, to identify potential Year 2000 issues and to determine the
action required, if any, to mitigate the risk to Iridium. Through its gateways,
Iridium is contacting its third party roaming partners and service providers to
determine the Year 2000 status of their systems, as well as their plans to bring
them into compliance. That process is ongoing. Material items are those believed
by Iridium to have a significant impact on the business from a customer service,
financial or legal perspective. This phase is being performed by Iridium's
internal Y2K team.
The assessment of Iridium developed systems and those of Iridium's key
suppliers has been completed. The results have indicated that fewer upgrades
than initially planned are needed. This has allowed Iridium to accelerate the
Y2K Program, now targeted for completion on July 1, 1999. The gateways are still
completing their evaluation of their internally developed systems and the status
of this analysis is not finalized. However, Iridium has every indication that
the systems critical to the completion of an Iridium call from one Iridium
handset to another Iridium handset is expected to be Y2K ready by July 1, 1999.
Iridium also has determined that the systems critical to billing and settlements
are expected to be Y2K ready by July 1, 1999.
The Repair, Replacement and Renovation Phase is intended to ensure that
the appropriate items as identified in the final inventory and risk assessment
are upgraded to meet Year 2000 compliance criteria. This may include software
updates, hardware upgrades, development of new processes, new business
practices, training programs, etc. While completion of the various elements of
this phase is tied to corresponding elements within the assessment phase,
Iridium anticipates that material repairs, replacements and renovations will be
substantially complete by mid-1999 for systems under the direct control of
Iridium. The supplier of the Iridium satellite and ground systems, Motorola, has
indicated that the products they provide to Iridium will be Y2K ready by July 1,
1999. The remaining suppliers of critical hardware and software have provided
upgrades and these will be installed in the first and second quarters of 1999.
The Verification and Validation Phase ensures that critical business
processes, systems and infrastructure are verified and tested to ensure Year
2000 issues will not cause major disruption in the on-going operation of the
Iridium business. Verification and testing of those systems under Iridium's
direct control will be performed by Iridium's internal Y2K team with the support
of its technicians and certain of the principle suppliers of those systems. The
upgrades that are installed into the Iridium environments will be verified and
tested in the first and second quarters of 1999.
Finally, during the Implementation and Monitoring Phase, the Year 2000
upgrades will be installed into Iridium's operating systems, as necessary.
Iridium LLC plans to have all the critical systems installed and operational by
July 1, 1999.
A monitoring activity will be employed in an effort to ensure that unforeseen
Year 2000 critical items are appropriately prioritized for correction.
In addition, the Y2K Program plan addresses the implementation of future
upgrades for new products and services to ensure that no new Y2K problem is
introduced into Y2K ready systems.
State of Readiness
With the completion of the inventory and assessment, Iridium has determined
that the company is well positioned to be ready for the year 2000. The Iridium
Business Support Systems were developed to be Y2K ready and the planned upgrades
are minimal to the application software. Typical upgrades include server
software and operating systems.
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The suppliers of the Iridium satellite and ground systems, Motorola has
completed their assessment and is well into their Y2K program upgrades and
testing phases. They have provided a completion date of July 1, 1999.
Costs
The total cost associated with required modifications to become Year 2000
compliant is not expected to be material to Iridium's financial position or
results of operations. The current estimated total cost to Iridium of the Y2K
Program is $2 million. Iridium estimates that the amount expended on the Y2K
Program during calendar year 1998 was approximately $180,000, all of which was
expensed by Iridium. The gateway costs are not expected to be material as the
majority of the systems are provided to the gateways under maintenance
contracts.
The current $2 million cost to Iridium includes the costs of existing
maintenance contracts, internal labor and a small consulting budget for
miscellaneous tasks. Because Iridium does not require a large remediation
effort, the Y2K activities are substantially absorbed within the existing
departmental cost structure. This estimate does not reflect all Y2K costs
because, for example, the Iridium Business Support Systems were developed from
the outset to handle Year 2000 issues, and the cost of this capability was not
separately identified by the supplier.
Other significant or critical non-Year 2000 information technology projects
under Iridium's direct control have not been materially delayed or impacted by
Year 2000 initiatives.
Risks
Potential risks to Iridium have been differentiated between risks related to
Iridium handset to Iridium handset services versus risks related to Iridium
services dependent upon the existing world telecom structure.
Based on the results of the assessment of the Iridium Systems and the Motorola
provided space and ground systems, the reasonably likely worst case scenario
that would impact Iridium handset to Iridium handset service would be a power
failure at a ground station location. To mitigate this, Iridium gateways have
back-up generators at all critical ground station locations. Additional
contingency planning will be conducted to evaluate and implement re-routing
procedures where this risk is determined to be significant.
The reasonably likely worst case scenario for services that depend upon the
transmission of calls over an existing wireless or landline network is the
failure of a call to be completed due to a failure in the existing telecom
network. The back-up use of an Iridium handset to Iridium handset call would
mitigate this risk. In addition, the gateway business owners are working with
the local network providers to identify critical areas of risk. If it is
determined that a critical issue exists in an interconnection arrangement, the
gateway will determine if re-routing is appropriate.
The Y2K Program is expected to significantly reduce Iridium's level of
uncertainty about the Year 2000 problem and, in particular, about the Year 2000
compliance and readiness of Iridium's material partners. Iridium believes that,
with the completion of the Y2K Program as scheduled, the potential of
significant interruptions of normal operations should be reduced.
Contingency Plans
Based on the information developed in the inventory and assessment, Iridium
has begun to develop contingency plans for critical systems and processes. These
plans will include an analysis of the requirement to re-route calls due to
interruption in power at certain gateway ground stations, back-up and restore
processes to secure critical data, staffing to monitor critical processes
throughout the transition and manual processes for critical operations where
appropriate.
After reviewing information gathered in the Inventory and Risk Assessment
Phase, and to prepare for the possibility that certain information systems or
third party partners and vendors will not be Year 2000 compliant, Iridium
intends to develop additional contingency plans, as appropriate.
These plans may include the establishment of teams to monitor and correct
disruptions, utilization of back-up processes including data back-up and
storage, and the development of manual "work-around" solutions.
Readers are cautioned that the discussion of Iridium's efforts and
expectations related to Year 2000 are forward looking statements and should be
read in conjunction with Exhibit 99 to this report.
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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Iridium's long-term debt includes both fixed and variable interest rate
instruments, and the fair market value of Iridium's fixed long-term debt is
sensitive to changes in interest rates. Iridium runs the risk that market
rates will decline and the required payments will exceed those based on
current market rates. Under its current policies, Iridium does not use
interest rate derivative instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate
changes.
The following table provides information about Iridium's significant
financial instruments that are sensitive to changes in interest rates
(in thousands):
PRINCIPAL MATURITY
FAIR VALUE ON -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 31, 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 THEREAFTER
----------------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Long-term debt:
Fixed rate:
Long-term debt due to Members $ 323,484 $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 480,150
Senior Notes, Series A, B, C and D 1,034,754 -- -- -- -- -- 1,450,000
Variable rate:
Bank facilities 1,125,000 -- 970,000 155,000 -- -- --
---------- --------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Totals $2,483,238 $ -- $ 970,000 $ 155,000 $ -- $ -- $1,930,150
========== ========= ========== ========== =========== ========== ==========
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
See Index to Financial Statements on page F-1.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
Not Applicable.
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANTS
IWCL
The following table sets forth information concerning the executive officers
and directors of IWCL as of March 1, 1999. The current members of the IWCL Board
of Directors were elected by Parent. Members of the IWCL Board of Directors will
hereafter be elected at the annual general meeting or at a special meeting of
stockholders. The exclusive right to elect members of the IWCL Board of
Directors is vested with the holders of class A common stock.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Edward F. Staiano . 62 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Roy Grant ......... 42 Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
F. Thomas Tuttle .. 56 Vice President, General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
Wayne Morgan ...... 54 Secretary
Alberto Finol ..... 63 Deputy Chairman and Director
Robert W. Kinzie .. 65 Director
Richard L. Lesher . 65 Director
William A. Schreyer 71 Director
Yoshiharu Yasuda .. 58 Director
Roy Grant has announced his intention to resign as Chief Financial Officer of
IWCL effective April 16, 1999.
PARENT AND IRIDIUM
The following table sets forth information concerning the executive officers
and directors of Parent and Iridium as of March 1, 1999. Pursuant to the limited
liability company agreement of Iridium, each officer and director of Parent
holds the same position with Iridium. The directors of Parent and Iridium are
designated by the members of Parent and serve until a successor is designated.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Robert W. Kinzie(1) ......... 65 Chairman
Edward F. Staiano ........... 62 Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Mauro Sentinelli ............ 52 Executive Vice President -- Marketing and Distribution
Leo Mondale ................. 39 Senior Vice President - Strategic Planning and
Business Development
O. Bruce Dale ............... 56 Senior Vice President -- Network Operations
Mark Gercenstein ............ 47 Senior Vice President -- Business Operations
Lauri J. Fitz-Pegado ........ 43 Vice President - Global Gateway Relations
Roy Grant ................... 42 Vice President -- Chief Financial Officer
F. Thomas Tuttle ............ 56 Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Richard L. Lesher(2)(3)(4)(5) 65 Vice Chairman and Independent Company Director
Aburizal Bakrie(4) .......... 51 Director (designated by South Pacific Iridium Holdings, Inc)
Hasan M. Binladin(4) ........ 50 Director (designated by Iridium Middle East)
Herbert Brenke (4) .......... 61 Director (designated by Vebacom Holdings, Inc.)
Gordon J. Comerford(2) ...... 61 Director (designated by Motorola)
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Atilano de Oms Sobrinho(2)(4) 55 Director (designated by Iridium SudAmerica)
Stephen P. Earhart .......... 50 Director (designated by Motorola)
Robert A. Ferchat(4) ........ 64 Director (designated by Iridium Canada)
Alberto Finol(1)(3)(4) ...... 64 Director (designated by Iridium SudAmerica)
Edward Gams(1) .............. 51 Director (designated by Motorola)
Durrell Hillis .............. 58 Director (designated by Motorola)
Kazuo Inamori(4) ............ 67 Director (designated by Nippon Iridium)
Georg Kellinghusen(4) ....... 51 Director (designated by Vebacom Holdings, Inc)
S.H. Khan(4) ................ 61 Director (designated by Iridium India)
Anatoly I. Kiselev(4) ....... 59 Director (designated by Khrunichev)
John F. Mitchell(3) ......... 71 Director (designated by Motorola)
Giuseppe Morganti(1)(2)(4) .. 66 Director (designated by Iridium Italia)
J. Michael Norris ........... 52 Director (designated by Motorola)
Yusai Okuyama(2)(4) ......... 67 Director (designated by Nippon Iridium)
Moon Soo Pyo (3)(4) ......... 45 Director (designated by SK Telecom)
John A. Richardson .......... 56 Director (designated by Iridium Africa)
Theodore H. Schell(1)(4) .... 54 Director (designated by Sprint)
William A. Schreyer(1)(4)(5) 71 Independent Company Director
Sribhumi Sukhanetr(1)(3)(4) . 66 Director (designated by Thai Satellite)
Tao-Tsun Sun(2)(4) .......... 49 Director (designated by Pacific Iridium
Telecommunications Corporation)
Yoshiharu Yasuda(1)(3)(4) ... 58 Director (designated by Nippon Iridium)
Wang Mei Yue(3)(4) .......... 57 Director (designated by Iridium China)
Wayne Morgan ................ 54 Secretary of IWCL
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(1) Members of the Banking and Financing Committee
(2) Members of the Audit Committee
(3) Members of the Compensation Committee
(4) Members of the Related Party Contracts Committee
(5) Members of the Audit Committee of the IWCL Board of Directors
Roy Grant has announced his intention to resign as Chief Financial Officer of
Parent and Iridium effective April 16, 1999.
CAPITAL
The following table sets forth information concerning the executive officers
and directors of Capital as of March 1, 1999.
NAME AGE POSITION
---- --- --------
Robert W. Kinzie 65 Director
Edward F. Staiano 62 Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer
Roy Grant 42 Chief Financial Officer
F. Thomas Tuttle 56 Secretary
Roy Grant has announced his intention to resign as Chief Financial Officer of
Capital effective April 16, 1999.
EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF IWCL, PARENT, IRIDIUM AND CAPITAL
Set forth below is information concerning each director and executive officer
of IWCL, Parent, Iridium and Capital, including each individual's principal
occupation and employment. Unless otherwise indicated, each executive officer
holds office until a successor is duly elected and qualified. There are no
family relationships between any officers and directors of IWCL, Parent, Iridium
or Capital.
Unless otherwise noted, dates of service refer to positions with Parent. Each
executive officer of Parent became an executive officer of Iridium, in the same
capacity, on December 18, 1997.
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EDWARD F. STAIANO -- Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since January
2, 1997 and Director since October 1994. Chairman of the Board of IWCL since May
1997 and Chief Executive Officer of IWCL since March 1997. Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Office of Capital since June 18, 1997. Dr. Staiano served
Motorola as Executive Vice President, President and General Manager of the
General Systems Sector (comprised of the cellular subscriber group, cellular
infrastructure group, network ventures division, personal communications and the
computer group) from 1989 to December 1996.
MAURO SENTINELLI -- Executive Vice President -- Marketing and Distribution
since August 1, 1997. Prior thereto, Mr. Sentinelli was Deputy Director General
in charge of Strategic Planning, Strategic Marketing and International Affairs
for Telecom Italia Mobile from 1995 to 1997 and Deputy Managing Director for
1994 to 1995. He joined SIP, Telecom Italia's predecessor, in 1974, and held
various positions in engineering, marketing and strategic planning. He became
head of Business Development of the Mobile Service Department in 1988 and
launched the company's cellular service.
LEO MONDALE -- Senior Vice President -- Strategic Planning and Business
Development since January 1995. From July 1993 until January 1995, Mr. Mondale
served as Vice President, Government Affairs and Strategic Planning and from
January 1991 to July 1993 as Vice President -- International Relations of
Parent. From July 1, 1990 to January 31, 1992, he was Director of International
Relations for the Satellite Communications unit of Motorola. Before joining
Motorola, Mr. Mondale served as Vice President of the Fairchild Space & Defense
Corporation, where he was responsible for the international and commercial
activities of Fairchild Space from 1989 to 1990. Prior to joining Fairchild, Mr.
Mondale was Legal Counsel to the then Space Division of Matra, S.A. (now
Matra-Marconi Space, N.V.), based in Paris, France, following several years of
private legal practice in Washington, D.C.
O. BRUCE DALE -- Senior Vice President -- Network Operations since April 1995.
Prior thereto, Mr. Dale served in a number of positions at Bell Communications
Research ("Bellcore") including, General Manager, Service Assurance Systems and
General Manager, Planning & Engineering System from March 1993 to April 1995,
Vice President, Customer Service Center from January 1992 to March 1993, and
Assistant Vice President, Provisioning Systems Laboratory from January 1990 to
January 1992. From March 1982 to December 1989, Mr. Dale served as Director of
Data Network Systems Development Laboratory for AT&T Bell Laboratories.
MARK GERCENSTEIN -- Senior Vice President -- Business Operations since August
1992. Prior thereto, Mr. Gercenstein was Director of Marketing of Motorola
Satellite Communications from 1990 to 1992. Prior to assuming that position, Mr.
Gercenstein held various marketing and engineering assignments at Motorola
Government Electronics Group from 1984 to 1990, Spar Aerospace from 1985 to 1987
and Bendix Aerospace from 1975 to 1982.
LAURI J. FITZ-PEGADO -- Vice President -- Global Gateway Relations since May
1997. Prior thereto, Ms. Fitz-Pegado served at the U.S. Department of Commerce
as the Director General and Assistant Secretary of the U.S.& Foreign Commercial
Service (US&FCS) International Trade Administration from June 1994 to June 1997
and as a Special Advisor to the Secretary of Commerce from June 1993 to June
1994. From June 1982 to June 1993, Ms. Fitz-Pegado worked at Hill & Knowlton
Public Affairs Worldwide, most recently as Managing Director and Senior Vice
President.
ROY GRANT -- Vice President -- Chief Financial Officer since April 30, 1997
and Vice President -- Treasurer from November 1996 to July 1997. Chief Financial
Officer of IWCL since April 1997. Chief Financial Officer of Capital since June
18, 1997. Prior thereto, Mr. Grant served from 1992 to 1996 as Finance Director
for Edison Mission Energy, the largest independent power developer in the United
States. Mr. Grant also worked for Marriott Corporation from 1988 to 1992 in its
corporate and project finance areas and at American Airlines from 1980 to 1988,
most recently as its Managing Director -- Banking where he was responsible for
all of the airline's banking relationships. Roy Grant has announced his
intention to resign as Chief Financial Officer of IWCL, Parent, Iridium and
Capital effective April 16, 1999.
WAYNE MORGAN -- Secretary of IWCL Mr. Morgan has been employed as a corporate
manager by Codan Services Ltd. In Bermuda since August 1996. Prior thereto, Mr.
Morgan served Johnson & Higgins (Bermuda) Limited from 1980 to 1996 in a number
of positions including Vice President and Manager of Support Services, Senior
Vice President, Client Account Management and Senior Vice President, Principal
Branch Manager. Prior to joining Johnson & Higgins, Mr. Morgan was the Deputy
Accountant General for the Government of Bermuda from 1975 to 1980. Mr. Morgan
has served as the Secretary of IWCL since December 1996.
F. THOMAS TUTTLE -- Vice President -- General Counsel and Secretary since
April 1996. Mr. Tuttle had been employed by Parent as Assistant Secretary since
January 1994 and as Deputy General Counsel since November 1993. Assistant
Secretary of IWCL since December 1996. Secretary of Capital since June 18, 1997.
Prior thereto, Mr. Tuttle was in private law practice in Washington,
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D.C. from 1986 to 1994. Prior thereto, he served as Vice President, Regulatory
and Industry Relations with Satellite Business Systems and held senior legal
positions with COMSAT Corporation.
DIRECTORS OF IWCL, PARENT, IRIDIUM AND CAPITAL
Unless otherwise noted, dates of service refer to directorships of Parent.
Each director of Parent became a director of Iridium on December 18, 1997.
ROBERT W. KINZIE -- Chairman of the Board since October 1991; member of the
Banking and Financing Committee. Chief Executive Officer from October 1991 to
January 1, 1997. Director of IWCL since December 1996. Director of Iridium
Capital since June 18, 1997. Prior thereto, Mr. Kinzie was the Director of
Strategic Planning for Intelsat from 1987 to 1991. Prior to joining Intelsat,
Mr. Kinzie worked from 1966 to 1987 in a number of positions with COMSAT
Corporation including President, Communications Services Division and President
of COMSAT General Corporation. Prior to joining COMSAT Corporation in 1966, Mr.
Kinzie was an economist with the FCC from 1962 to 1965.
RICHARD L. LESHER -- Vice Chairman of the Board and Independent Company
Director since June 1997; member of the Audit Committee, the Compensation
Committee and the Related Party Contracts Committee. Director of IWCL since June
1996. Dr. Lesher was appointed Vice Chairman of the Board and Independent
Company Director upon consummation of the IWCL IPO. Dr. Lesher served as the
President of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, the world's largest
association of business organizations, from 1975 to 1997, when he retired.
ABURIZAL BAKRIE -- Director since July 1997; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Since 1992 Mr. Bakrie has been Chairman of the Bakrie Group
of Companies, a diversified corporation engaged in manufacturing, fabrication,
telecommunications, mining, real estate, financial services, agri-business and
trading activities. Mr. Bakrie is the President of ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and President of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Mr.
Bakrie has served as a member of the People's Consultative Assembly of the
Republic of Indonesia since 1987.
HASAN M. BINLADIN -- Director since January 1996; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. During the past five years, Mr. Binladin has served as
Senior Vice President of the Saudi Binladin Group.
HERBERT BRENKE -- Director since September 1998; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Mr. Brenke served as the Chairman of the Board of E-Plus
Mobilfunk GmbH from 1993 to 1998 and as Chairman of the Executive Board of
Thyssen Rheinstahl Technik GmbH from 1982 to 1994.
GORDON J. COMERFORD -- Director since July 1993; Chairman of the Audit
Committee. Mr. Comerford is a member of the Board of Directors of Iridium
SudAmerica Corporation and Iridium Canada, Inc. Mr. Comerford recently retired
from Motorola, where he served as a Senior Vice President since 1989. He joined
Motorola's communications sector in 1974 as a Director of Business Management
and became a Corporate Vice President in 1980.
ATILANO DE OMS SOBRINHO -- Director since June 1996; member of the Audit
Committee and the Related Party Contracts Committee. Mr. Oms is Chairman of the
Board, President and CEO of Inepar S.A., a diversified Brazilian corporation
with operations in telecommunications, electrical current control equipment and
services, mass transport, vehicle distribution and financial markets. Mr. Oms is
a member of the Board of Directors SudAmerica and Iridium Brasil. He also serves
on the Boards of the National Confederation of Industries (CNI), ABINEE-National
Association of Electro-Electronic Industries and the Federation of Industries of
Parana State.
STEPHEN P. EARHART -- Director since March 1999; Mr. Earhart is currently the
Senior Vice President of Finance for Motorola, Inc. Mr. Earhart previously
served as Senior Vice President of Finance of the Cellular Networks and Space
Sector from 1997 to June 1998 and Senior Vice President of Finance of the
General Systems Sector of Motorola, Inc. from 1990 to 1997.
ROBERT A. FERCHAT -- Director since January 1995; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Mr. Ferchat has served as Chairman and Executive Officer
since May 1995 and as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer from
November 1994 to May 1995 at BCE Mobile Communications Inc. Prior thereto, he
served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of TMI Communications,
a satellite communications company, from 1992 to 1994. He also served as
President of Northern Telecom Canada Ltd. from 1985 to 1990. Mr. Ferchat has
also served as a director at BCE Mobile Communications Inc. since 1994.
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ALBERTO FINOL -- Director since July 1993; Chairman of the Banking and
Financing Committee; member of the Compensation Committee and the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Deputy Chairman and Director of IWCL since December 1996.
Mr. Finol has been the President of Ilapeca, a Venezuelan holding company with
interests in dairy products, supermarkets, pharmaceuticals and communications,
since 1990 and has served as a Director since 1966. He is the Chairman of
Iridium SudAmerica and the Chairman and a major shareholder of Iridium
Andes-Caribe Ltd., one of the owners of Iridium SudAmerica. He has also served
as the Director of Group Zuliano, a major Venezuelan petrochemical holding
group. He represented his native region of Zulia on the Venezuelan Congress from
1969 to 1993.
EDWARD GAMS -- Director since July 1993; member of the Banking and Financing
Committee. Mr. Gams has served as Corporate Vice President and Director of
Investor Relations of Motorola since 1996 and Vice President and Director of
Investor Relations of Motorola since 1991. He was first employed by Motorola in
1979, and has held a variety of positions in operational and corporate finance,
including service as Director of Corporate Financial Planning from February 1991
to August 1991 and as manager of Corporate Financial Planning from December 1989
to February 1991.
DURRELL HILLIS-- Director since 1998; Mr. Hillis is currently Senior Vice
President and General Manager of the Systems Solutions Group of Motorola, Inc.
Prior thereto, he served as General Manager of Motorola's SSTG's Satellite
Communications Division. Mr. Hillis has also served as General Manager of
Motorola's Strategic Electronics Division.
KAZUO INAMORI -- Director since July 1993; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Dr. Inamori has been Chairman of the Board of Nippon
Iridium Corporation since 1993, has been Founder and Chairman Emeritus of DDI
Corporation since 1997 (was Chairman of the Board since 1984) and has been
Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Kyocera Corporation since 1997 (was Chairman of
the Board since 1985) and has been Chairman Emeritus of Taito Corporation since
1997 (was Chairman of the Board since 1990).
GEORG KELLINGHUSEN -- Director since January 1999; member of the Banking and
Financing Committee and the Related Party Contracts Committee. Prior thereto,
Mr. Kellinghusen served in several positions for Bertelsmann and from 1981 to
1986 as Commercial Director and Managing Director of the German-Language Books
Production Division. Mr. Kellinghusen served as CFO and later Chairman of the
Board of Management of Varta-Bosch Ltd. from 1989 to 1996. Since August 1997, he
has served as CFO and as a Member of the Board of Management of o.tel.o
communications GmbH & Co. Since January 1999, Mr. Kellinghusen has also served
as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Iridium Communications Germany Ltd.
S.H. KHAN -- Director since October 1994; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Mr. Khan has served as Chairman and Managing Director of
the Industrial Development Bank of India between December 1993 and June 1998.
Prior thereto, from 1966, he served in various positions with the Industrial
Development Bank of India, including Managing Director from February 1992 to
December 1993 and Executive Director from 1986 to 1992. He also serves as
Chairman of the Credit Analysis & Research Ltd., National Securities Depository
Ltd. and National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. He is also Director on the Board
of Infrastructure Development - Finance Co. Ltd.
ANATOLY I. KISELEV -- Director since July 1993; member of the Related Party
Contracts Committee. Mr. Kiselev has served as Director General of the facility
that has produced the Salyut, Almaz and Mir space stations, the Proton rocket,
and other spacecraft since 1993. Mr. Kiselev has been employed by Khrunichev,
and its predecessor organizations since 1956, including as Khrunichev Enterprise
Director from 1975 to 1993.
JOHN F. MITCHELL -- Director since July 1993; Chairman of the Compensation
Committee since July 1993. Mr. Mitchell has served as Vice Chairman of the Board
of Motorola since 1988 to 1998, and served as Officer of the Board from 1988 to
1995. Mr. Mitchell now serves as a consultant to Motorola. He was employed by
Motorola from 1953 to 1995 and served as President from 1980 to 1986 and as
Chief Operating Officer from 1986 to 1988.
GIUSEPPE MORGANTI -- Director since April 1996; member of the Banking and
Financing Committee, the Audit Committee and the Related Party Contracts
Committee. Since August 1996, Ing. Morganti has served as Chief Executive
Officer and Managing Director of Iridium Italia S.p.A. Ing. Morganti has been
with STET (now Telecom Italia) since 1984 in various management positions within
the Planning and Strategic Control Department, most recently as the head of the
Telecommunications Services Division.
J. MICHAEL NORRIS -- Director since July 1996; Mr. Norris is a Senior Vice
President of Motorola and has been with Motorola for 25 years. He is currently
the Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Network Management Group,
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responsible for all Motorola cellular joint ventures and Iridium gateway
operations worldwide. He also sits on the boards of Hutchinson Telephone Company
Ltd. (Hong Kong), and Pelephone (Israel).
YUSAI OKUYAMA -- Director since July 1996; member of the Audit Committee and
Related Party Contracts Committee. Mr. Okuyama has been Director of Nippon
Iridium Corporation since 1996, has been President of Nippon Iridium (Bermuda)
Ltd. since 1997 and has been Chairman of the Board of DDI Corporation since 1998
(was President since 1993). Mr. Okuyama retired from MPT in 1989 as a Deputy
Secretary of MPT and served at MPT related enterprise as Chairman of the Board
before joining DDI Corporation in 1993.
MOON SOO PYO -- Director since January 1999; member of the Compensation
Committee and Related Party Contracts Committee. Dr. Pyo is Senior Vice
President of SK Telecom Co., Ltd.
JOHN A. RICHARDSON -- Director since March 1998; member of the Banking and
Financing Committee, Compensation Committee and the Related Party Contracts
Committee. Mr. Richardson has been the Chief Executive Officer of Iridium Africa
since January 1998. He previously was Chairman and CEO of Barclays-BZW Asia and
prior thereto was CEO of Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (Hong Kong) from 1979 to 1984.
THEODORE H. SCHELL -- Director since July 1993; member of the Banking and
Financing Committee and the Related Party Contract Committee. Mr. Schell has
served as Senior Vice President -- Strategic Planning and Corporate Development
at Sprint since 1990. Prior thereto, he served as President and Chief Executive
Officer of RealCom Communications Corporation, an IBM subsidiary. Mr. Schell is
a Member of Board of Directors Kansas City Board of Trade.
WILLIAM A. SCHREYER -- Independent Company Director; member of the Banking
and Financing Committee and the Related Party Contracts Committee. Mr. Schreyer
was appointed Independent Company Director, upon consummation of the IWCL IPO in
June 1997. Director or IWCL since June 1997. Mr. Schreyer is Chairman Emeritus
of Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. and has served as Chairman of the Board from April
1985 through June 1993 and as Chief Executive Officer from July 1984 through
April 1992. Mr. Schreyer is currently a Director of Callaway Golf Company, Deere
& Company, and Schering-Plough Corporation.
SRIBHUMI SUKHANETR -- Director since July 1993; member of the Banking and
Financing Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Related Party Contracts
Committee. Since 1992, Mr. Sukhanetr has been the Chairman of United
Communication Industry Co., Ltd. ("UCOM") and of Thai Satellite
Telecommunications Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of UCOM. Prior thereto, he served as
advisor to the Prime Minister's Office in Thailand from February 1991 to
September 1992 and as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Transport and
Communications from 1988 to February 1991.
TAO-TSUN SUN -- Director since January 1994; member of the Audit Committee and
the Related Party Contracts Committee. Mr. Sun has been Executive Director and
President of Pacific Electric Wire & Cable Co., Ltd., the parent of Pacific
Iridium Telecommunications Corporation, since 1986. Since 1996, he has served as
Executive Director of Taiwan Electric Wire & Cable Ind. Assoc. and of Chinese
National Federation of Industries, and as Honorary Chairman of the Council for
Industry and Commercial Development. He has also served as Chairman of Taiwan
Aerospace Corporation since 1994, Executive Director of Walsin Lihwa Corp. and
Executive Vice Chairman of Charoong Thai Wire & Cable Co., Ltd. since 1993 and
Director of Pacific Construction Co., Ltd. since 1995.
YOSHIHARU YASUDA -- Director since January 1996; member of the Banking and
Financing Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Related Party Contracts
Committee. Director of IWCL since December 1996. Mr. Yasuda has been President
of Nippon Iridium Corporation since 1996 (was Director since 1995) and has been
Vice President of Nippon Iridium (Bermuda) Ltd. since 1997. Mr. Yasuda was
Director of DDI Corporation from 1992 to 1995. Prior to joining DDI Corporation,
Mr. Yasuda was with the Sanwa Research Institute and the Sanwa Bank Ltd.
WANG MEI YUE -- Director since October 1995; member of the Compensation
Committee and the Related Party Contracts Committee. Dr. Wang has served as
Chairman and President of Iridium China (Hong Kong) Ltd. since September 1995,
as Chairman and President of China Aerospace International Holdings Ltd., Hong
Kong since 1993 and as Chairman of China Southern Telecommunication Co., Ltd.
since 1991. From 1988 to 1993 Dr. Wang served as Vice Chairman of the Board at
Conic Investment Co. Ltd.
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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
The following table sets forth, as applicable, the compensation paid for the
fiscal years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 to those persons who were,
at December 31, 1998, the Chief Executive Officer of Parent and Iridium and the
four next most highly compensated executive officers of Parent and Iridium.
Pursuant to limited liability company agreement of Iridium, all officers of
Parent are also officers of Iridium. Pursuant to the Management Services
Agreement, Iridium is required to provide sufficient funds to Parent to, among
other things, satisfy Parent's obligations to its employees. IWCL does not have
any salaried employees. All executive officers of IWCL are executive officers of
Parent and Iridium, except for the Secretary who is a Bermuda resident, as
required under Bermuda law.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
---------------------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION
------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF
OTHER SECURITIES
ANNUAL UNDERLYING LTIP ALL OTHER
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR SALARY BONUS(a) COMPENSATION OPTIONS/SARS PAYOUT COMPENSATION
- --------------------------- ---- ------ -------- ------------ ------------ ------ ------------
Edward F. Staiano ........ 1998 $500,000 -- $160,039(b) -- -- $ 5,000(c)
Vice Chairman and Chief 1997 $500,000 -- $187,827 750,000 -- $ 4,750
Executive Officer 1996 -- -- -- -- -- --
Robert W. Kinzie.......... 1998 $390,080 $100,000 -- -- -- $ 9,093(d)
Chairman 1997 $368,424 $154,560 -- 90,000 -- $ 8,462
1996 $344,000 $117,669 -- 90,000 -- $ 7,819
Mauro Sentinelli.......... 1998 $500,000 -- $176,357(e) 20,000 -- $ 5,000(c)
Executive Vice President - 1997 $208,333 -- $ 20,053 75,000 -- $ 4,750
Marketing & Distribution 1996 -- -- -- -- -- --
Leo Mondale .............. 1998 $287,833 $110,000 -- 17,500 -- $ 5,000(c)
Senior Vice President - 1997 $262,504 $110,000 -- 67,500 -- $ 4,750
Strategic Planning & 1996 $220,561 $100,000 -- 45,000 -- $ 4,500
Business Development
F. Thomas Tuttle ......... 1998 $257,292 $ 95,000 -- 30,000 -- $ 5,000(c)
Vice President - 1997 $222,611 $ 69,086 -- -- -- $ 4,750
General Counsel and Secretary 1996 $190,000 $ 36,438 -- 30,000 -- $ 4,500
- ------------
(a) Through the fiscal year ending December 31, 1995, Parent maintained the
Iridium Long Range Incentive Plan of 1993 (the "Plan"). The Plan was
terminated as of December 31, 1995. Final awards for performance in Fiscal
Year 1995 were determined by the Compensation Committee of the Parent Board
in April 1996. The Iridium Option Plan (described under "-- Option Plan"
below) was at that time substituted for the Plan. Under the Long Range
Incentive Plan amounts were earned each year and credited to an account
established for the participant. Amounts in each account earn interest at
1% over the prime rate until the end of the performance cycle which runs
from 1993 through 1998. The amounts in each account will become payable in
fiscal year 1999, subject to forfeiture in the event the participant's
employment with Iridium is terminated for any reason other than death,
disability, retirement or a change from full-time to part-time employment.
(b) This amount includes amounts paid to Dr. Staiano for airplane expenses
($53,663), a salary gross-up to cover taxes incurred ($87,880), apartment
($38,447) and car lease ($7,837).
(c) Parent matching contributions to 401(k) plan.
(d) This amount includes the value of term life insurance provided to Mr.
Kinzie ($4,093) and Parent's matching contribution to 401(k) plan ($5,000).
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(e) This amount includes amounts paid to Mr. Sentinelli for personal travel
($19,967), apartment and furniture expenses ($73,591) and a salary gross-up
to cover taxes incurred ($82,799).
On January 2, 1997, Edward F. Staiano became Chief Executive Officer of Parent
and Vice Chairman of the Parent Board. Pursuant to the terms of his employment
agreement, Dr. Staiano will receive a base salary of $500,000 per year. In
addition to base salary, Parent has agreed to provide Dr. Staiano, at its
expense, with a car, a furnished apartment in Washington, D.C. and access to a
corporate jet aircraft. Parent has agreed to provide reimbursement for any tax
liability created as a result of the use of those items. Dr. Staiano was also
awarded options to purchase 750,000 shares of class A common stock of IWCL at a
price of $13.33 per share. The options vest, pro rata, over a period of five
years. Vested options may be exercised at any time after a public offering. Dr.
Staiano's options will continue to vest even if his employment is terminated by
Iridium, other than for cause, so long as he is not retained or employed by a
competitor. Dr. Staiano does not receive an annual bonus or participate in
Parent's retirement plans.
OPTION GRANTS
The following table sets forth the options granted for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1998 for each named executive officer.
OPTIONS/SAR GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
------------------------------------
POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE
NUMBER OF PERCENT OF TOTAL AT ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF
SECURITIES OPTIONS/SARS STOCK PRICE APPRECIATION FOR
UNDERLYING GRANTED TO EXERCISE OF OPTION TERM(a)
OPTIONS/SARS EMPLOYEES BASE PRICE EXPIRATION -------------------------------
NAME GRANTED IN FISCAL YEAR ($/sh) DATE 5%($) 10%($)
- ------------------- ------------- ------------------- ------------- ------------ -------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano -- --% $-- -- $-- $--
Robert W. Kinzie -- -- -- -- -- --
Mauro Sentinelli 20,000 3.19% $32.750 1/19/08 $412,000 $1,044,000
Leo Mondale 17,500 2.79% $32.750 1/19/08 $360,500 $ 913,500
F. Thomas Tuttle 30,000 4.78% $32.750 1/19/08 $618,000 $1,566,000
- ---------------
(a) This figure is achieved by multiplying the number of Options by the Final
Assumed Appreciated Stock Price at the end of the Option Term, and then
subtracting the original cost of the Options, which is the number of Options
multiplied by the Exercise or Base Price.
YEAR-END OPTION/SAR TABLE
The following table shows certain information with respect to stock options
held as of December 31, 1998 by the named executive officers.
AGGREGATE OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FISCAL YEAR-END
OPTION/SAR VALUES
SHARES
ACQUIRED
ON OPTIONS VALUE DATE OF MONTHS
NAME YEAR EXERCISE GRANTED REALIZED OPTION HELD
- ---- ---- -------- ------- -------- ------ ----
Edward F. Staiano 1998 -- -- -- -- --
Robert W. Kinzie 1998 -- -- -- -- --
Mauro Sentinelli 1998 12,500 20,000 $779,688 1/20/98 12
Leo Mondale 1998 -- 17,500 -- 1/20/98 12
F. Thomas Tuttle 1998 -- 30,000 -- 1/20/98 12
VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
NUMBER OF IN-THE-MONEY
UNEXERCISED OPTIONS OPTIONS/SARS
AT FISCAL YEAR-END(a) AT FISCAL YEAR-END(b)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE EXERCISABLE UNEXERCISABLE
- ---- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Edward F. Staiano 287,500 462,500 11,374,363 $ 18,297,888
Robert W. Kinzie 82,500 97,500 3,263,948 $ 3,857,393
Mauro Sentinelli 13,667 68,833 540,708 $ 2,723,240
Leo Mondale 51,958 78,042 2,055,614 $ 3,087,576
F. Thomas Tuttle 21,000 39,000 830,823 $ 1,542,957
- ---------------
(a) These figures include Options granted before fiscal year 1998.
(b) The closing price of Company Stock on the last day of fiscal year was
$39.563 per share.
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COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION
The Compensation Committee of the Parent Board and the Iridium Board
determines the compensation of the executive officers of Parent and Iridium
consistent with guidelines established by the Parent Board and the Iridium
Board. The members of the Compensation Committee for the fiscal year ending
December 31, 1998 were Alberto Finol, Richard L. Lesher, George S. Medawar, John
F. Mitchell, Jung L. Mok, Sribhumi Sukhanetr, Wang Mei Yue and Yoshiharu Yasuda.
The Compensation Committee was chaired by Mr. Mitchell, formerly an executive
officer of Motorola, who continues to serve as Vice Chairman of the Board of
Directors of Motorola. Mr. Finol serves as the Deputy Chairman of IWCL. Upon his
appointment to the Parent Board and the Iridium Board in January, 1999, Moon Soo
Pyo assumed the position on the Compensation Committee formerly held by Dr. Mok,
who stepped down from the Boards in January, 1999.
PENSION PLAN
YEARS OF SERVICE
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION 15 20 25 30 35
- ------------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
125,000.................. $ 36,964 $ 49,286 $ 61,607 $ 76,929 $ 86,250
150,000.................. 45,000 60,000 75,000 90,000 105,000
175,000.................. 53,036 70,714 88,393 106,071 123,750
200,000.................. 61,071 81,429 101,786 122,143 142,500
225,000.................. 69,107 92,143 115,179 138,214 161,250
250,000.................. 77,143 102,857 128,571 154,286 180,000
300,000.................. 93,214 124,286 155,357 186,429 217,500
400,000.................. 125,357 167,143 208,929 250,714 292,500
450,000.................. 141,429 188,571 235,714 282,857 330,000
500,000.................. 157,500 210,000 262,500 315,000 367,500
Parent maintains the Parent Pension Plan, or "Pension Plan", for the benefit
of its employees. The Pension Plan is a defined benefit plan and is qualified
under the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code related to such plans.
Benefits payable under the Pension Plan are computed on the basis of a single
life annuity payable at age 65 and are subject to a partial offset by Social
Security payments. Compensation taken into account for purposes of computing the
benefits payable under the Pension Plan generally includes final average salary,
bonuses and qualified salary deferrals. Although the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, limits the amount of covered compensation under the Pension
Plan to $150,000 subject to adjustment, or the "Compensation Cap", the table
above also reflects benefits payable under a supplemental retirement income
plan, or the "Supplemental Plan", established by Parent for the benefit of
employees whose compensation exceeds the Compensation Cap or whose benefit would
be limited by Section 415 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. Benefits under the
Supplemental Plan are calculated in the same manner as the Pension Plan. Under
the Supplemental Plan, Parent will pay the employee an amount which together
with the amounts due under the Pension Plan will equal what the employee would
have received under the Pension Plan if the Compensation Cap was not in effect.
Mr. Staiano has two years of credited service; Mr. Kinzie has seven years of
credited service; Mr. Sentinelli has one year of credited service; Mr. Mondale
has eight years of credit service; and Mr. Tuttle has five years of credited
service. Messrs. Kinzie, Mondale and Tuttle participate in the Pension Plan but
do not participate in the Supplemental Plan.
Parent maintains a supplementary retirement plan for selected senior officers.
The plan provides for an annual income, normally beginning at age 60, equal to
the larger of (i) 40% of the participant's compensation (salary plus an
adjustment for bonuses) at retirement or (ii) the annual benefit calculated
using the formula under the Supplemental Plan, in either case reduced by any
amount payable under the Pension Plan. Regardless of which formula is used, the
total retirement income cannot exceed 70% of an individual's retiring salary. At
retirement a participant receives an annuity purchased by Iridium from an
insurance company sufficient to make the payments required. Parent also pays to
the participant or to the proper taxing authorities an amount sufficient to pay
the income taxes arising from the purchase of the annuity for the participant. A
participant also has the option of receiving a lump sum equal to the purchase
price of the annuity. As with the annuity Parent pays the income taxes arising
from the payment of the lump sum.
EMPLOYMENT ARRANGEMENTS
On January 2, 1997, Edward F. Staiano became Chief Executive Officer and Vice
Chairman of the Parent Board. Pursuant to the terms of his employment agreement,
Dr. Staiano will receive a base salary of $500,000 per year. In addition to base
salary, Parent has agreed to provide Dr. Staiano, at its expense, with a car, a
furnished apartment in Washington, D.C. and access to a corporate jet aircraft.
Parent has agreed to provide reimbursement for any tax liability created as a
result of the use of those items. Dr. Staiano was
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also awarded options to purchase 750,000 class 1 interests of Iridium at a price
of $13.33 per interest. The options vest, pro rata, over a period of five years.
Vested options may be exercised at any time after a public offering. Generally,
Dr. Staiano's options are subject to all of the provisions of the Option Plan
(described under "-- Option Plan" below) except that Dr. Staiano's options will
continue to vest even if his employment is terminated by Parent, other than for
cause, so long as he is not retained or employed by a competitor. Dr. Staiano
does not receive an annual bonus or participate in Parent's pension plans.
OPTION PLAN
Parent has established a plan under which executive officers and managers of
Parent are awarded options to purchase class A common stock, or the "Option
Plan". The Option Plan covers 5,625,000 shares of class A common stock. The
Option Plan also permits the award of stock appreciation rights in connection
with any grant of options. As of March 1, 1999, options covering 3,615,538
shares of class A common stock had been granted. Options to purchase 1,018,144
shares of class A common stock were vested at March 1, 1999. As of that date no
stock appreciation awards had been granted. This amount of outstanding options
includes the options issued to Dr. Staiano when he joined Iridium. If an award
under the Option Plan expires, or is terminated, surrendered or canceled, the
shares of class A common stock subject to such award are added to the number of
shares of class A common stock available for awards under the Option Plan. Under
the Option Plan, option awards are made from time to time by the Compensation
Committee of the Parent Board.
The right to exercise the options vests, pro rata, over a period of five
years, however, all options and stock appreciation rights become immediately
vested on a Change in Control (as defined in the Option Plan) and in the event
of a Change in Control, Parent is required to purchase each outstanding option
and stock appreciation right for an immediate lump sum payment equal to the
difference between (i) the higher of (x) the fair market value of a share of
class A common stock immediately prior to payment or (y) the highest price
actually paid in connection with the Change in Control, and (ii) the exercise
price. A "Change in Control" is defined in the Option Plan as a sale by one or
more holders of 50% or more of the outstanding class 1 interests, other than in
connection with a Public Offering (as defined), to third parties who are not
holders of class 1 interests or affiliated with holders of class 1 interests and
following which the members of the Parent prior to the sale cease to constitute
a majority of the Parent Board.
The plan was established in April 1996. Except for Dr. Staiano, under the
Option Plan, a participant whose employment is terminated by Parent forfeits any
unvested options. There are exceptions for death, retirement and certain other
situations. Dr. Staiano's options will continue to vest even if his employment
is terminated by Parent, other than for cause, so long as he is not retained or
employed by a competitor.
IWCL has agreed that upon the exercise of any options, it will issue to
Parent, for delivery to an exercising option holder, the number of shares of
class A common stock covered by the exercised options and Parent has agreed to
simultaneously deliver to IWCL a like number of class 1 interests, subject to
anti-dilution adjustments. The exercise price of the option will be paid to
Parent and will represent payment for the class A common stock by the exercising
option holder and for the class 1 interests by IWCL.
SUBSIDIARIES OF IRIDIUM
Iridium has six subsidiaries: Iridium Capital Corporation ("Capital"), Iridium
Roaming LLC ("Roaming"), Iridium IP LLC ("IP"), Iridium Facilities Corporation
("Facilities"), Iridium (Potomac) LLC ("Potomac") and Iridium Canada Facilities
Inc. ("Canada Facilities"). Each of Roaming, IP and Potomac is a Delaware
limited liability company, of which Iridium is the only member. Each of Capital
and Facilities is a Delaware corporation and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Iridium. Canada Facilities is a New Brunswick, Canada corporation and a
wholly-owned foreign subsidiary of Iridium. Pursuant to the limited liability
company agreement relating to each of Roaming, IP and Potomac, the power and
authority to manage and conduct the business and affairs of such company is
vested in Iridium, acting through certain of the officers and directors of
Iridium listed above. Each of the directors and officers of Capital, Facilities
and Canada Facilities is an officer of Iridium.
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
There are no persons known by IWCL to own beneficially more than five percent
of its class A common stock as of March 1, 1999. The following table sets forth
certain information regarding beneficial ownership of IWCL's class A common
stock as of March 1, 1999 by the Directors and nominees, the named executive
officers, or "NEOs", in the Summary Compensation Table and all Directors,
nominees and officers as a group.
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AMOUNT AND NATURE
OF BENEFICIAL PERCENT OF
NAME OF INDIVIDUAL OWNERSHIP(1)(2) CLASS(1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------- ------------------ -------------
Robert W. Kinzie.......................................... 108,382(3) *
Edward F. Staiano......................................... 387,400 1.93%
Mauro Sentinelli.......................................... 29,939 *
Leo Mondale............................................... 65,625 *
F. Thomas Tuttle.......................................... 27,500 *
Alberto Finol............................................. 127,900(4) *
Richard L. Lesher......................................... 9,367 *
William A. Schreyer....................................... 10,367 *
Yoshiharu Yasuda.......................................... 2,000 *
All Directors of IWCL and Executive
Officers of IWCL and Parent as a Group 768,480 3.80%
- ---------------
* Represents holdings of less than one percent.
(1) Includes shares which, as of March 1, 1999, may be acquired within sixty
days pursuant to the exercise of options (which shares are treated as
outstanding for the purposes of determining beneficial ownership and
computing the percentage set forth).
(2) Except as noted, all shares are owned directly with sole investment and
voting power.
(3) Includes 1,500 shares owned by Mr. Kinzie's wife, as to which Mr. Kinzie
disclaims beneficial ownership.
(4) Includes 122,900 shares owned by Mr. Finol's holding company and 5,000
shares owned by Mr. Finol's wife. Mr. Finol disclaims beneficial
ownership of the shares owned by his wife.
PARENT
Iridium is wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent. The following table sets forth
certain information regarding beneficial ownership of Parent's class 1 interests
as of March 1, 1999 (i) by each person known by Parent to own beneficially more
than five percent of its class 1 interests and (ii) by all of Iridium's
executive officers and directors of Parent and Iridium (named in the table under
"Management" above) as a group.
AMOUNT AND NATURE
OF BENEFICIAL PERCENT OF
NAME AND ADDRESS OF BENEFICIAL OWNER OWNERSHIP(1) CLASS(1)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------- -----------------
Motorola, Inc.(2).................................................. 38,914,138 25.45%
1303 East Algonquin Rd.
Schaumburg, IL 60196
Nippon Iridium (Bermuda) Limited(3)................................ 15,750,000 10.57%
c/o NIPPON IRIDIUM CORPORATION
Ichibancho FS Building 8
Ichibancho Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo 102 Japan
Vebacom Holdings, Inc.(4).......................................... 12,427,875 8.34%
c/o o.tel.o communications GmbH & Co.
Am Bonneshof 35
D-40474 Dusseldorf Germany
All Directors and Executive Officers as a
Group(5)........................................................... 0 0
(1) Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the
Commission and includes voting and investment power with respect to the
class 1 interests. Class 1 interests subject to options or warrants
currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of the date of this
Form 10-K are deemed outstanding for computing the percentage ownership
of the person holding such options or warrants, but are not deemed
outstanding for computing the percentage of any other person.
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(2) The class 1 interests beneficially owned by Motorola include 24,477,000
class 1 interests held directly by Motorola and 3,937,138 class 1
interests issuable under a warrant to purchase series M class 2 interests
in Iridium which would be convertible into class 1 interests equal to
2.5% of the fully diluted number of class 1 interests outstanding at the
time of exercise. The remaining class 1 interests shown in the table as
being beneficially owned by Motorola consists of 5,250,000 class 1
interests held by Iridium Canada (33.3% of which is owned by a subsidiary
of Motorola) and 5,250,000 class 1 interests held by Iridium India
Telecom (20% of which is owned by a subsidiary of Motorola). Although
Motorola does not have the right to vote or dispose of the class 1
interests held by these companies, it may be deemed to beneficially own
these interests because these companies cannot dispose of their class 1
interests without the consent of the applicable Motorola subsidiary. The
beneficial ownership of Motorola does not include class 1 interests
issuable under warrants to which Motorola will become entitled as a
result of its guarantee of borrowings by Iridium or class 1 interests
that may be issued pursuant to the Reserve Capital Call.
(3) Nippon Iridium (Bermuda) Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nippon
Iridium Corporation, which is a consortium formed by DDI Corporation.
(4) Vebacom Holdings, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of o.tel.o
communications GmbH & Co., which is owned by VEBA Telecom GmbH and Lehman
Brothers Bankhaus Aktiengesellschaft (as a fiduciary).
(5) No directors or executive officers of Parent own class 1 interests. As of
March 1, 1999, the IWCL directors and the executive officers of IWCL and
Parent owned an aggregate of 707,855 shares of class A common stock and
IWCL owned 707,855 class 1 interests in respect of such class A common
stock. Up to 5,625,000 shares of class A common stock may be issued
pursuant to the Option Plan. As of March 1, 1999, options covering an
aggregate of 3,615,538 shares of class A common stock had been granted
under the Option Plan. Options to purchase 1,018,144 shares of class A
common stock were vested at March 1, 1999.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
MOTOROLA RELATED MATTERS
Motorola is one of the world's leading providers of electronic equipment,
systems, components and services. Its products include two-way radios, pagers,
cellular telephones and systems, semiconductors, defense and aerospace
electronics, automotive and industrial electronics and data communications and
information processing equipment.
Motorola created and developed the concept of the Iridium System and Iridium's
initial technical and business plans. Motorola is a founding investor, has been
allocated gateway service territories, shares a gateway service territory and
has additional interests in other entities which have been allocated gateway
service territories. Motorola is Iridium's largest holder of class 1 interests.
The directors and officers of Iridium include numerous current and former
Motorola employees. Motorola is also Iridium's principal supplier through the
space system contract, the O&M contract and the terrestrial network development
contract.
Motorola MOU and Motorola ARG
Under the Motorola MOU, Motorola has agreed to provide various guarantees,
deferral rights and other credit support to Iridium, and Iridium has agreed that
it will compensate Motorola for Motorola exposure with cash interest and equity
pursuant to the Motorola ARG. Iridium has also agreed under the Motorola MOU
that it (i) will use its best efforts to reduce the Motorola exposure to no more
than $275 million by the earliest possible date, (ii) will not have more than
certain amounts of indebtedness outstanding, (iii) will not make certain
acquisitions without Motorola's consent and (iv) will provide Motorola with the
right (in addition to Motorola's rights to representation based on its holdings
of class 1 interests) to appoint one additional director to the Board of
Directors of Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $275 million and the
right to appoint a second additional director to the Board of Directors of
Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $750 million. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations --
Liquidity and Capital Resources -- Sources of Funding" above.
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Motorola Conflicts of Interest
Motorola has and may have various conflicts of interest with Iridium and with
other members of Iridium. See Exhibit 99, "Risk Factors -- Conflicts of Interest
with Motorola". Motorola is the principal supplier to Iridium as well as the
actual or prospective supplier and licensor to gateway owners and operators,
service providers, subscriber equipment manufacturers and individual
subscribers. See Exhibit 99, "Risk Factors -- Reliance on Motorola, Gateway
Owners and Other Third Parties". Motorola has asserted and may assert positions
on the space system contract, O&M contract, the terrestrial network development
contract, the Motorola MOU and the Motorola ARG that are contrary to those
asserted by Iridium. To help ameliorate these conflicts under the space system
contract, the O&M contract and the terrestrial network development contract,
Iridium maintains a Related Party Contracts Committee of the Iridium Board of
Directors which consists of all Board members other than any Board members who
are directors, officers, employees or persons nominated to serve on the Board of
Directors by Motorola (so long as Motorola is a party to the space system
contract, the O&M contract or the terrestrial network development contract),
Lockheed Martin or Raytheon (so long as Lockheed Martin or Raytheon, as the case
may be, are subcontractors to Motorola under the space system contract or the
O&M contract). The Related Party Contracts Committee has authority to review and
monitor the space system contract, the O&M contract and the terrestrial network
development contract and, as it deems appropriate, cause Iridium to enforce its
rights thereunder and propose amendments and waivers to these contracts.
Iridium's payment obligations under these contracts have comprised, and are
expected to compromise, most of Iridium's expenses.
Motorola has been involved in the manufacture of components for satellites for
over thirty years. Motorola has informed Iridium that it has under consideration
future space-based data and communications systems and ventures. Motorola has
also informed Iridium that Motorola may decide to undertake further development
of one or more such systems or ventures but no decision has been made as to
whether Iridium would be a participant in any such system or venture. It is
possible that any such system could be competitive to some degree with the
Iridium System. Motorola has agreed in the space system contract that, without
Iridium's consent, it will not produce for itself or others a similar
satellite-based space system or a global communication system for commercial use
prior to the earlier of July 31, 2003 or the termination date of the space
system contract. Motorola has applied to the Federal Communications Commission
for licenses to construct, launch and operate satellite-based systems designed
to provide fixed-broadband, fixed-data transmissions.
Other Matters
Iridium Services Deutschland, a wholly-owned subsidiary of o.tel.o
communications GmbH & Co., the parent of Vebacom Holdings, Inc., a holder of
approximately 8.34% of the class 1 interests, was allocated a gateway service
territory consisting of several countries in or near Europe. Nippon Iridium
Corporation, an affiliate of Nippon Iridium (Bermuda) Corporation, a holder of
approximately 11.2% of the class 1 interests, was allocated the Japan gateway
service territory. Each of o.tel.o communications GmbH & Co. and Nippon Iridium
Corporation have entered into a Gateway Authorization Agreement, pursuant to
which they, or their affiliates, will operate their respective gateway service
territory and provide gateway services. In addition, o.tel.o communications GmbH
& Co. and Nippon Iridium Corporation will serve as service providers to their
respective gateway territory and, as such, will be entitled to payments
associated with sales of Iridium's services.
Certain of the directors of IWCL are, or have been within the past year,
executive officers of suppliers of Iridium. In addition, certain of the
directors of Iridium are executive officers of gateway owners and service
providers. See Exhibit 99, "Management of Iridium and IWCL" and Exhibit 99,
"Risk Factors -- Conflicts of Interest with Gateway Owners."
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) The following are filed as a part of this Report on Form 10-K:
1. The following financial statements are included at the indicated page in
this Report.
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PAGE
----
Index to Financial Statements............................... F-1
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
Independent Auditors' Report......................... F-2
Balance Sheets....................................... F-3
Statements of Loss................................... F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity................... F-5
Statements of Cash Flows............................. F-6
Notes to Financial Statements........................ F-7
IRIDIUM LLC
Independent Auditors' Report......................... F-11
Consolidated Balance Sheets.......................... F-12
Consolidated Statements of Loss...................... F-13
Consolidated Statements of Members'
Equity (Deficit)................................. F-14
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-16
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statement........................................ F-17
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
Independent Auditors' Report......................... F-34
Consolidated Balance Sheets.......................... F-35
Consolidated Statements of Loss...................... F-36
Consolidated Statements of Member's
Equity (Deficit)................................. F-37
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-38
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements....................................... F-39
2. The following additional financial data are transmitted with this Report
and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and
Financial Statements in this Report. Schedules other than those listed below
have been omitted because they are inapplicable or are not required.
PAGE
----
Independent Auditors' Report on
Consolidated Financial
Statement Schedule............................................. S-1
Schedule 1 -- Condensed Financial
Information of
Iridium LLC.................................................... S-2
3. Exhibits
A list of the exhibits included as part of this Report on Form 10-K is
set forth in the Exhibit Index which immediately precedes such exhibits and is
incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium Facilities
Corporation filed a Current Report on Form 8-K, or "8-K", on September 10, 1998
reporting the introduction of the Iridium System to a select number of
subscribers worldwide beginning on September 23, 1998 with full commercial
service expected to follow on November 1, 1998.
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Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium Facilities
Corporation filed an 8-K on November 4, 1998 reporting that on October 28, 1998
and November 1, 1998, Iridium LLC issued press releases. The October 28 release
announced third quarter progress which included the successful launch of seven
additional satellites aboard two launch vehicles and the advancement of its
technical, infrastructure, licensing, marketing and distribution activities. The
November 1 press release reported that Iridium LLC announced that the world's
first hand-held, global satellite phone and paging system is commercially
available to customers.
Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium Facilities
Corporation filed an 8-K on December 30, 1998 reporting that Iridium LLC and
Iridium Aero Acquisition Sub, Inc. entered into a Stock Purchase Agreement with
AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. and Rogers Cantel Inc. to acquire all of the
outstanding capital stock of Claircom Communications Group, Inc. for an
estimated aggregate price of approximately $65 million. Such form 8-K also
reported that the transition from a development stage company into an operating
company had begun and, as a result, Iridium Operating LLC had closed three new
bank credit facilities that provide for an aggregate of up to approximately
$1.55 billion of borrowings.
Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium Facilities
Corporation filed an 8-K on January 27, 1999 reporting a press release
announcing revenues for the fourth quarter.
Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC, and Iridium Facilities
Corporation filed an 8-K on March 3, 1999 reporting a press release issued by
Iridium LLC in response to inquires regarding the company's financial
arrangements due to a delay in subscriber ramp-up caused by distribution
problems.
Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC, and Iridium Facilities
Corporation filed an 8-K on March 29, 1999 reporting press releases issued by
Iridium LLC announcing that (i) Iridium Operating LLC had requested and
received a waiver of compliance with the March 31, 1999 revenue and subscriber
covenants under its secured bank facility and (ii) Roy Grant, CFO of Iridium
World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC and Iridium
Capital Corporation will resign from the registrants effective April 16, 1999.
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INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
PAGE
----
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
Independent Auditors' Report............................. F-2
Balance Sheets........................................... F-3
Statements of Loss....................................... F-4
Statements of Stockholders' Equity....................... F-5
Statements of Cash Flows................................. F-6
Notes to Financial Statements............................ F-7
IRIDIUM LLC
Independent Auditors' Report............................. F-11
Consolidated Balance Sheets.............................. F-12
Consolidated Statements of Loss.......................... F-13
Consolidated Statements of Members'
Equity (Deficit)..................................... F-14
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................... F-16
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements........................................... F-17
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
Independent Auditors' Report............................. F-34
Consolidated Balance Sheets.............................. F-35
Consolidated Statements of Loss.......................... F-36
Consolidated Statements of Member's
Equity (Deficit)..................................... F-37
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.................... F-38
Notes to Consolidated Financial
Statements........................................... F-39
IRIDIUM LLC
Independent Auditors' Report............................. S-1
Schedule 1 - Condensed Financial
Information of Iridium LLC........................... S-2
F-1
56
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Iridium World Communications Ltd.:
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Iridium World
Communications Ltd. as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the related statements
of loss, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the period December 12, 1996
(inception) through December 31, 1996 and for the years ended December 31, 1997
and 1998. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial
statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Iridium World Communications
Ltd. as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for the period December 12, 1996 (inception) through December 31,
1996, and for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG LLP
McLean, Virginia
January 14, 1999, except as to note 6
which is as of January 21, 1999
F-2
57
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------
1997 1998
-------------------------------
ASSETS
Cash................................................. $ -- $ --
Investment in Iridium LLC............................ 223,922 119,702
-------- ---------
Total assets............................... $223,922 $ 119,702
======== =========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Liabilities.......................................... $ -- $ --
Stockholders' equity:
Class A Common stock, voting, par value
$0.01; 50,000,000 shares authorized;
12,003,262 and 12,180,648 issued and
outstanding..................................... 120 122
Class B Common stock, non-voting, par
value $0.01; 2,500,000 shares
authorized; none and 20,625 issued
and outstanding................................. -- --
Additional paid-in capital......................... 242,636 246,053
Accumulated deficit................................ (18,834) (126,473)
-------- ---------
Total stockholders' equity........................ 223,922 119,702
-------- ---------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $223,922 $ 119,702
======== =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-3
58
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
STATEMENTS OF LOSS
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 12, 1996 YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
(INCEPTION) TO DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 31,
DECEMBER 31, 1996 1997 1998
--------------------- -------------- ------------
Equity in loss of Iridium LLC.................. $ -- $ 18,834 $107,639
------- ---------- --------
Loss before income taxes....................... -- 18,834 107,639
Income taxes................................... -- -- --
------- ---------- --------
Net loss....................................... $ -- $ 18,834 $107,639
======= ========== ========
Net loss per Class A Common share -- basic and
diluted..................................... $ -- $ 2.79 $ 8.91
------- ---------- --------
Weighted average shares used in computing net
loss per Class A Common share -- basic and
diluted..................................... -- 6,739,726 12,083,261
======= ========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-4
59
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT SHARE DATA)
CLASS A CLASS B
COMMON STOCK COMMON STOCK
--------------------- ----------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
---------- -------- -------- --------
Inception, December 12, 1996.............. -- $ -- -- $ --
Class A Common Stock
subscribed.............................. 1,200,000 12 -- --
---------- ------ ------ -------
BALANCE, December 31,
1996.................................... 1,200,000 12 -- --
Retire subscribed Class A
Common Stock............................ (1,200,000) (12) -- --
Equity offering........................... 12,000,000 120 -- --
Warrants issued in conjunction
with Iridium LLC Series A
Senior Notes............................ -- -- -- --
Exercise of stock options................. 3,262 -- -- --
Net loss.................................. -- -- -- --
---------- ------ ------ -------
BALANCE, December 31,
1997.................................... 12,003,262 120 -- --
Class B Common Stock issued............... -- -- 20,625 --
Warrants exercised in
conjunction with Iridium LLC
Series A Senior Notes................... 98,800 1 -- --
Exercise of stock options................. 78,586 1 -- --
Net loss.................................. -- -- -- --
---------- ------ ------ -------
BALANCE, December 31,
1998.................................... 12,180,648 $ 122 20,625 $ --
========== ====== ====== =======
ADDITIONAL
PAID-IN SUBSCRIPTION ACCUMULATED
CAPITAL RECEIVABLE DEFICIT TOTAL
------------- ------------ ---------------- ------------
Inception, December 12, 1996.............. $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Class A Common Stock
subscribed.............................. -- (12) -- --
--------- -------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31,
1996.................................... -- (12) -- --
Retire subscribed Class A
Common Stock............................ -- 12 -- --
Equity offering........................... 225,480 -- -- 225,600
Warrants issued in conjunction
with Iridium LLC Series A
Senior Notes............................ 17,113 -- -- 17,113
Exercise of stock options................. 43 -- -- 43
Net loss.................................. -- -- (18,834) (18,834)
--------- -------- ----------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31,
1997.................................... 242,636 -- (18,834) 223,922
Class B Common Stock issued............... 275 -- -- 275
Warrants exercised in
conjunction with Iridium LLC
Series A Senior Notes................... 2,064 -- -- 2,065
Exercise of stock options................. 1,078 -- -- 1,079
Net loss.................................. -- -- (107,639) (107,639)
--------- -------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31,
1998.................................... $246,053 $ -- $(126,473) $119,702
========= ======== ========== =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-5
60
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
PERIOD FROM
DECEMBER 12, 1996
(INCEPTION) TO YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 31, 1996 DECEMBER 31, 1997 DECEMBER 31, 1998
--------------------- ------------------- --------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss................................................ $ -- $ (18,834) $(107,639)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities -
Equity in loss of Iridium LLC........................ -- 18,834 107,639
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in operating activities........... -- -- --
----------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES :
Investments in Iridium LLC.............................. -- (242,756) (3,419)
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash used in investing activities........... -- (242,756) (3,419)
----------- --------- ---------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from equity offering....................... -- 225,600 --
Proceeds from issuance of Class B Common Stock.......... -- -- 275
Proceeds from warrants issued in conjunction with
Iridium LLC, Series A Senior Notes................. -- 17,113 --
Proceeds from warrants exercised in conjunction
With Iridium LLC Series A Senior Notes.............. -- -- 2,065
Proceeds from Class A Common Stock subscribed........... -- 12 --
Retirement and cancellation of Class A Common
Stock............................................... -- (12) --
Proceeds from exercise of stock options................. -- 43 1,079
----------- --------- ---------
Net cash provided by financing activities....... -- 242,756 3,419
----------- --------- ---------
Increase in cash.......................................... -- -- --
CASH, beginning of period................................. -- -- --
----------- --------- ---------
CASH, end of period....................................... $ -- $ -- $ --
=========== ========= =========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
F-6
61
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Iridium World Communications Ltd. ("IWCL") was incorporated under the laws
of Bermuda on December 12, 1996. At inception, IWCL was wholly owned by Iridium
LLC, a limited liability company. In June 1997, IWCL registered with the
Securities and Exchange Commission a total of 13,800,000 shares of its Class A
Common Stock ("Class A Common Stock") for sale in an initial public offering
(the "Offering"), and on June 13, 1997 IWCL consummated the Offering and issued
12,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. Pursuant to the 1997 Subscription
Agreement between IWCL and Iridium LLC, approximately $225 million in net
proceeds from the Offering were invested in Class 1 Membership Interests of
Iridium LLC ("Class 1 Interests"), at which time the outstanding shares of Class
A Common Stock held by Iridium LLC were retired, and IWCL became a member of
Iridium LLC.
Iridium LLC, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Iridium Operating LLC
("Iridium"), a Delaware limited liability company, is currently transitioning
from a development stage limited liability company to an operating limited
liability company.
IWCL's sole asset is its investment in Iridium LLC. At December 31, 1997 and
1998, IWCL's investment was approximately 8.5% and 8.6%, respectively, of the
total outstanding Class I Membership Interests in Iridium LLC.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Investment in Iridium LLC
The investment in Iridium LLC is accounted for using the equity method. In
accordance with the equity method of accounting, IWCL's carrying amount of the
investment in an affiliate is initially recorded at cost and is increased to
reflect its share of the affiliate's income and is reduced to reflect its share
of the affiliate's losses each period since the initial investment.
IWCL has no activities other than its investment in, and participation in
the management of, Iridium LLC. Accordingly, IWCL is also subject to the risks
and uncertainties that Iridium LLC faces, which include, but are not limited to
those discussed below: Iridium LLC has a highly leveraged capital structure and,
as a result, will be required to satisfy substantial periodic cash debt service
obligations in the future and may be constrained by the covenants in its bank
facilities and debt securities. Iridium LLC, currently transitioning from a
development stage limited liability company to an operating limited liability
company, has not generated substantial revenues or positive cash flows from
operations, and accordingly, there can be no assurance that Iridium LLC will be
able to generate sufficient cash flow or otherwise obtain funds to cover
principal and interest payments associated with currently outstanding and future
debt and other obligations.
Iridium LLC's continuing operations are expected to require substantial
capital expenditures, and its ability to fund these expenditures will be
dependent upon its ability to generate substantial revenues and raise additional
financing. Iridium LLC's existing credit agreements and debt securities
constrain its ability to raise additional financing. Failure to generate
revenues or otherwise raise sufficient capital could have a material adverse
effect on Iridium LLC's business, results of operations, and financial
condition, and the recoverability of IWCL's investment in Iridium LLC.
At December 31, 1997, Iridium LLC had total assets, total liabilities and
total members' equity of $3,646,000,000, $2,011,000,000 and $1,635,000,000,
respectively. At December 31, 1998, Iridium LLC had total assets, total
liabilities and total members' equity of approximately $3,739,000,000,
$3,262,000,000 and $477,000,000, respectively. Iridium LLC reported a net loss
of $73,598,000, $293,553,000, and $1,252,801,000, for the years ended December
31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Management Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles 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 reported
periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
F-7
62
Income Taxes
IWCL recognizes income taxes using the asset and liability method. Under the
asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized
for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the
financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and
their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured
using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in
which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The
effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is
recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date.
3. STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
On July 16,1997, Iridium LLC and Iridium Capital Corporation, a wholly owned
subsidiary of Iridium, completed an offering (the "High Yield Offering") of (i)
300,000 units, each consisting of $1,000 principal amount of Iridium LLC 13%
Senior Notes due 2005, Series A ("Series A Notes"), and one IWCL Warrant,
representing the right to purchase 5.2 shares of Class A Common Stock of IWCL
and (ii) $500 million aggregate principal amount of Iridium LLC 14% Senior Notes
due 2005, Series B ("Series B Notes"). Iridium was subsequently substituted for
Iridium LLC as obligor under the Series A Notes and the Series B Notes. The
Series A Notes and Series B Notes are guaranteed by Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium
IP LLC and Iridium Facilities Corporation, also wholly-owned subsidiaries of
Iridium. IWCL is not an obligor or guarantor of the Series A Notes or Series B
Notes. The IWCL Warrants represent, in aggregate, the right to purchase
1,560,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of IWCL. Approximately $17,113,000 of
the proceeds of the High Yield Offering were allocated to the fair value of the
purchase price of the IWCL Warrants. The exercise price of each IWCL Warrant is
$20.90 per share. The IWCL Warrants are exercisable at anytime on or after one
year from the date of original issuance and expire on July 15, 2005. Concurrent
with the issuance of the IWCL Warrants in the High Yield Offering, Iridium LLC
issued to IWCL 1,560,000 LLC Interest Warrants, each exercisable for one Iridium
LLC Class 1 Interest at an exercise price of $20.90 per LLC Interest Warrant.
IWCL and Iridium LLC have agreed that IWCL will exercise one LLC Interest
Warrant upon the exercise of each IWCL Warrant. During 1998, 98,800 warrants
were exercised.
Exchange Rights of Iridium LLC Members
Concurrent with the Offering, IWCL and Iridium LLC executed an Interest
Exchange Agreement that conditionally permits holders of Class 1 Interests in
Iridium LLC to exchange those interests, subject to the restrictions on transfer
in the Iridium LLC Limited Liability Agreement, for shares of Class A Common
Stock in IWCL at a ratio of one share of Class A Common Stock for each Iridium
LLC Class 1 Interest, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. Under the Interest
Exchange Agreement, no exchanges of Iridium LLC Class 1 Interests are permitted
until 90 days after Iridium LLC has achieved one full quarter of positive
earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. In addition, no
exchange shall take place unless approved pursuant to authorization of Directors
representing at least 66 2/3% of the Iridium LLC Board of Directors.
Global Ownership Program
IWCL and Iridium LLC have commenced a Global Ownership Program which is
designed to offer up to an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of IWCL's Class B
Common Stock at a purchase price of $13.33 per share to certain governmental
telecommunication administrations and related entities as part of a
comprehensive program to enhance market access, improve the competitive standing
of the Iridium System and achieve appropriate regulatory approvals. At the time
of issuance, purchasers of Class B Common Stock will be required to pay only an
amount equal to the per share par value of the Class B Common Stock; $.01 per
share. The balance of the purchase price will be payable through the withholding
of dividends, if any, which would otherwise be payable on the shares of Class B
Common Stock. A holder of Class B Common Stock may elect to pay the purchase
price in cash at any time. Class B Common Stock is convertible to Class A Common
Stock on a one-for-one basis, subject to anti-dilution adjustments, once certain
conditions are met, including full payment for the shares and expiration of a
minimum holding period. The proceeds generated from each sale of Class B Common
Stock will be used to purchase Class 1 Interests in Iridium LLC. The payment
terms with respect to such Iridium LLC Class 1 Interests will mirror the payment
terms on the Class B Common Stock. During 1998, 20,625 shares of Class B Common
Stock were issued under this program. These shares had a fair market value of
$692,000 at the date of issuance.
Share Issuance Agreement
IWCL and Iridium LLC have also executed a Share Issuance Agreement which
provides that all net proceeds from primary offerings of securities by IWCL will
be invested in Class 1 Interests of Iridium LLC.
F-8
63
Voting Rights
The holders of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote per share. The
holders of Class B Common Stock have no voting rights, except as required by
Bermuda law in connection with matters involving a variation in terms of the
Class B Common Stock.
Participation in the Governance of Iridium LLC
Providing that IWCL's Interest in Iridium LLC represents five percent or
more of the total outstanding Class 1 Interests of Iridium LLC (which occurred
upon the consummation of the IWCL Offering), IWCL shall be entitled to designate
two Independent Company Directors as Directors of Iridium LLC.
Stock Option Plan of Iridium LLC
Iridium LLC has established a plan under which executive officers, managers
and independent directors of Iridium LLC are awarded options to purchase Class A
Common Stock of IWCL (the "Option Plan"). In 1998 the Option Plan was amended to
include 5,625,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The Option Plan also permits
the award of stock appreciation rights in connection with any grant of options.
As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, options covering 2,004,556 and 2,469,810
shares of Class A Common Stock were outstanding with exercise prices ranging
from $13.33 to $52.50 in 1997 and from $13.33 to $57.13 in 1998. As of December
31, 1997 and 1998, there were 397,145 and 827,777 options, respectively,
exercisable at weighted average exercise prices of $13.33 and $16.20,
respectively. As of December 31, 1998, no stock appreciation rights had been
granted. The right to exercise the options vests, pro rata, over a period of
five years. Pursuant to the Share Issuance Agreement, IWCL has agreed that upon
the exercise of any options, it will issue to Iridium LLC, for delivery to an
exercising option holder, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock covered
by the exercised options and Iridium LLC has agreed to simultaneously deliver to
IWCL a like number of Iridium LLC Class 1 Interests, subject to anti-dilution
adjustments. The exercise price of the option is paid to Iridium LLC and
represents payment for the Class A Common Stock by the exercising option holder
and for the Iridium LLC Class 1 Interests by IWCL. During the years ended
December 31, 1997 and 1998, options to acquire 3,262 and 78,586 shares of Class
A Common Stock were exercised. IWCL issued such shares in the names of the
optionees and Iridium LLC issued 3,262 and 78,586 Class 1 Interests to IWCL.
Management Services Agreement
In connection with the IWCL Offering, Iridium LLC and IWCL entered into a
Management Services Agreement. Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement,
Iridium LLC has agreed to supervise and manage the day-to-day operations of
IWCL. Among other things, Iridium LLC is responsible for administering the
following functions of IWCL: treasury, accounting, legal, tax, insurance,
licenses and permits and securities law compliance. Iridium LLC receives no fees
or reimbursement from IWCL for its services to IWCL under the Management
Services Agreement. Operating costs incurred by IWCL during the period since
inception and paid for by Iridium LLC have not been significant.
4. EARNINGS PER SHARE
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 128, Earnings per Share ("Statement 128"). Statement 128 supersedes
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15, Earnings per Share ("APB 15") and
its related interpretations, and promulgates new accounting standards for the
computation and manner of presentation of earnings (loss) per share data.
Statement 128 requires the presentation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per
share data. Basic earnings (loss) per Class A Common Share is calculated by
dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of Class A Common
Shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is
calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of Class
A Common Shares and, to the extent dilutive, other potentially dilutive
securities outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive securities are
comprised of warrants to purchase Class A Common Stock issued in conjunction
with the Series A Notes, stock options, and shares of Class B Common Stock. Due
to losses incurred during the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, the impact
of the warrants, options, and shares is anti-dilutive and is not included in the
diluted earnings (loss) per share calculation. The adoption of Statement 128 had
no effect on earnings (loss) per share as previously presented.
F-9
64
5. INCOME TAXES
IWCL is subject to income taxation based on its ratable portion of Iridium
LLC's income or loss that is effectively connected to its U.S. business. During
the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, IWCL recognized no current or
deferred income tax expense or benefit. As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, IWCL's
deferred tax assets relate entirely to its investment in Iridium LLC and
amounted to approximately $7,446,000 and $16,433,000, respectively, for which a
full valuation allowance has been established. As of December 31, 1998, IWCL had
net operating loss carryforwards effectively connected to its U.S. business
which amounted to $12,804,000 and are scheduled to expire in 2018.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers
whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax
asset will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is
dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in
which temporary differences become deductible. Management considers scheduled
reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax
planning strategies that can be implemented in making this assessment.
6. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On January 21,1999, IWCL issued 7,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
resulting in net proceeds of $242,400,000. Pursuant to the 1997 Subscription
Agreement between IWCL and Iridium LLC, such proceeds were used to purchase
7,500,000 Class 1 Interests in Iridium LLC, increasing IWCL's interest in Class
1 Membership Interests in Iridium LLC to approximately 13.23%.
F-10
65
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Members
Iridium LLC and subsidiaries:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Iridium LLC
and subsidiaries (a development stage limited liability company) as of December
31, 1997 and 1998, and the related consolidated statements of loss, members'
equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1998, and for the period June 14, 1991 (inception) through
December 31, 1998. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Iridium LLC
and subsidiaries (a development stage limited liability company) as of December
31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for
each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, and for the
period June 14, 1991 (inception) through December 31, 1998, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG LLP
McLean, Virginia
January 14, 1999, except as to note 12
which is as of January 21, 1999
F-11
66
IRIDIUM LLC
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT MEMBER INTEREST DATA)
DECEMBER 31,
-----------------------------
1997 1998
------------- -------------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents............................................ $ 9,040 $ 24,756
Restricted cash ..................................................... 350,220 --
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $93 in 1998................. -- 93
Due from affiliates.................................................. 13,604 17,031
Prepaid expenses and other current assets............................ 6,612 15,021
----------- ------------
Total current assets......................................... 379,476 56,901
Property and equipment, net ........................................... 1,526,326 3,584,209
System under construction ............................................. 1,625,054 --
Other assets .......................................................... 114,831 97,785
----------- ------------
Total assets................................................. $ 3,645,687 $ 3,738,895
=========== ============
LIABILITIES AND MEMBERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses................................ $ 106,794 $ 165,539
Due to Member, current portion....................................... 10,601 131,532
Bank facilities, current portion .................................... 350,000 --
----------- ------------
Total current liabilities.................................... 467,395 297,071
Bank facilities, net of current portion ............................... 210,000 1,125,000
Long-term debt due to Members ......................................... 273,302 323,484
Notes payable, principal amounts of $1,100,000 and
$1,450,000............................................................. 1,054,288 1,405,735
Due to Member, net of current portion.................................. -- 86,240
Other liabilities ..................................................... 6,065 24,202
----------- ------------
Total liabilities............................................ 2,011,050 3,261,732
----------- ------------
Commitments and Contingencies .........................................
Members' equity:
Class 2 Interests,
authorized 50,000
interests for Series M;
authorized an aggregate
of 300,000 interests for
Series A, Series B and
Series C:
Series M, convertible, no interests issued and outstanding..... -- --
Series A, redeemable, convertible, 39,907 and 46,016
interests issued and outstanding; liquidation value
of $39,907 and $46,016......................................... 39,907 46,016
Series B, redeemable, 1 interest issued and outstanding......... -- --
Series C, redeemable, 75 interests issued and outstanding....... -- --
Class 1 Interests, authorized 225,000,000 interests,
141,222,442 and 141,420,453 interests issued and
outstanding....................................................... 2,024,220 2,114,316
Deferred Class 1 Interest compensation............................... (1,454) (1,162)
Other comprehensive income - adjustment for minimum pension
liability......................................................... (643) (1,813)
Deficit accumulated during the development stage..................... (427,393) (1,680,194)
----------- ------------
Total members' equity........................................ 1,634,637 477,163
----------- ------------
Total liabilities and members' equity........................ $3,645,687 $ 3,738,895
=========== ============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial
statements.
F-12
67
IRIDIUM LLC
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT MEMBER INTEREST DATA)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PERIOD FROM
------------------------------------------------------- JUNE 14, 1991
(INCEPTION) THROUGH
1996 1997 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1998
----------------- --------------- --------------- --------------------
Revenues................................. $ -- $ -- $ 186 $ 186
Operating expenses:
Sales, general and administrative...... 70,730 177,474 435,861 749,162
Depreciation and amortization.......... 674 119,124 551,912 673,341
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Total operating expenses....... 71,404 296,598 987,773 1,422,503
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Operating loss........................... 71,404 296,598 987,587 1,422,317
Other income and expenses:
Interest (income) expense, net......... (2,395) (3,045) 265,214 249,906
--------------- --------------- -------------- -------------
Loss before provision for income
taxes.................................. 69,009 293,553 1,252,801 1,672,223
Provision for income taxes............. 4,589 -- -- 7,971
-------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Net loss................................. $ 73,598 $ 293,553 $ 1,252,801 $ 1,680,194
============== ============== ============== =============
Preferred dividend requirement........... 3,652 5,703 6,109
Net loss applicable to Class 1 Interests. $ 77,250 $ 299,256 $ 1,258,910
============== ============== ==============
Net loss per Class 1 Interest -- basic
and diluted............................ $ 0.64 $ 2.25 $ 8.91
============== ============== ==============
Weighted average interests used in
computing net loss per Class 1
Interest -- basic and diluted.......... 120,115,575 132,879,976 141,322,445
============== ============== ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-13
68
IRIDIUM LLC
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT INTEREST DATA)
CLASS 2 INTERESTS
ALL SERIES CLASS 1 INTERESTS
-------------------- ----------------------------
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
INTERESTS AMOUNT INTERESTS AMOUNT
--------- --------- ----------- -------------
Inception June 14, 1991.................. -- $ -- -- $ --
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
-------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1991............... -- -- -- --
-------- -------- ----------- -----------
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
-------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1992............... -- -- -- --
----------- -----------
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
-------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, July 29, 1993................... -- -- -- --
Class 1 Interests subscribed, July
29, 1993............................... -- -- 60,000,000 --
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 324,167
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (8,096)
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
-------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1993............... -- -- 60,000,000 316,071
Class 1 Interests subscribed............. -- -- 59,458,350 --
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 518,202
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (1,863)
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1994............... -- -- 119,458,350 832,410
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 633,514
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (7)
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability.............................. -- -- -- --
------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1995............... -- -- 119,458,350 1,465,917
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- 1,377,675 140,131
Class 2 Interests issued for cash at
$13.33 per Interest................... 43,401 43,325 -- --
Series A, Class 2 Interests issued
in dividends........................... 3,652 3,632 (3,652)
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (251)
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with 14.5% Senior subordinated
notes.................................. -- -- -- 31,761
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with debt guarantee.................... -- -- -- 25,719
Net loss................................. -- -- -- --
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability.............................. -- -- -- --
------- -------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1996............... 47,053 46,977 120,836,025 1,659,625
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- 7,500,000 59,248
Exercise of employee stock
options................................ -- -- 3,262 43
Initial Public offering.................. -- -- 12,000,000 240,000
DEFICIT
DEFERRED ADJUSTMENT ACCUMULATED
CLASS 1 FOR MINIMUM DURING THE
INTEREST PENSION DEVELOPMENT
COMPENSATION LIABILITY STAGE TOTAL
--------------- ------------ ----------- ------------
Inception June 14, 1991.................. $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Net loss................................. -- -- (757) (757)
-------- --------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31, 1991............... -- -- (757) (757)
Net loss................................. -- -- (8,773) (8,773)
-------- --------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31, 1992............... -- -- (9,530) (9,530)
Net loss................................. -- -- (5,309) (5,309)
-------- --------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, July 29, 1993................... -- -- (14,839) (14,839)
Class 1 Interests subscribed, July
29, 1993............................... -- -- -- --
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 324,167
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (8,096)
Net loss................................. -- -- (6,924) (6,924)
-------- --------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31, 1993............... -- -- (21,763) 294,308
Class 1 Interests subscribed............. -- -- -- --
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 518,202
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (1,863)
Net loss................................. -- -- (14,834) (14,834)
------- --------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31, 1994............... -- -- (36,597) 795,813
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 633,514
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (7)
Net loss................................. -- -- (23,645) (23,645)
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability.............................. -- (1,065) -- (1,065)
------- --------- ---------- ---------
BALANCE, December 31, 1995............... -- (1,065) (60,242) 1,404,610
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 140,131
Class 2 Interests issued for cash at
$13.33 per Interest................... -- -- -- 43,325
Series A, Class 2 Interests issued
in dividends........................... -- -- -- --
Costs of raising equity.................. -- -- -- (251)
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with 14.5% Senior subordinated
notes.................................. -- -- -- 31,761
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with debt guarantee.................... -- -- -- 25,719
Net loss................................. -- -- (73,598) (73,598)
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability.............................. 332 -- 332
------- --------- ---------- ----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1996............... -- (733) (133,840) 1,572,029
Subscribed Class 1 Interests
issued for cash at $13.33 per
interest............................... -- -- -- 59,248
Exercise of employee stock
options................................ -- -- -- 43
Initial Public offering.................. -- -- -- 240,000
(continued)
F-14
69
CLASS 2 INTERESTS
ALL SERIES CLASS 1 INTERESTS
-------------------- ----------------------------
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
INTERESTS AMOUNT INTERESTS AMOUNT
--------- --------- ----------- -------------
Class 2 Interests converted to
Class 1 Interests..................... (12,773) (12,773) 883,155 12,773
Series A, Class 2 Interests issued
in dividends......................... 5,703 5,703 -- (5,703)
Costs of raising equity................. -- -- -- (16,100)
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with 13% Senior notes, Series A....... -- -- -- 17,113
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with debt guarantee................... -- -- -- 55,615
Deferred Class 1 Interests
compensation.......................... -- -- -- 1,606
Net loss................................ -- -- -- --
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability............................. -- -- -- --
------- -------- ------------ ------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1997.............. 39,983 39,907 141,222,442 2,024,220
Proceeds from subscribed Class 1
Interests at $13.33 per interest...... -- -- 20,625 46,354
Exercise of employee stock
options............................... -- -- 78,586 1,079
Series A, Class 2 Interests issued
in dividends.......................... 6,109 6,109 -- (6,109)
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in
connection with 13% Senior
notes, Series A....................... -- -- 98,800 2,065
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in
connection with debt guarantee........ -- -- -- 46,707
Deferred Class 1 Interests
compensation.......................... -- -- -- --
Net loss................................ -- -- -- --
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability............................. -- -- -- --
------- -------- ------------ ------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1998.............. 46,092 $46,016 141,420,453 $ 2,114,316
======= ======== ============ ============
DEFICIT
DEFERRED ADJUSTMENT ACCUMULATED
CLASS 1 FOR MINIMUM DURING THE
INTEREST PENSION DEVELOPMENT
COMPENSATION LIABILITY STAGE TOTAL
--------------- ------------ ------------- ------------
Class 2 Interests converted to
Class 1 Interests..................... -- -- -- --
Series A, Class 2 Interests issued
in dividends......................... -- -- -- --
Costs of raising equity................. -- -- -- (16,100)
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with 13% Senior notes, Series A....... -- -- -- 17,113
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in connection
with debt guarantee................... -- -- -- 55,615
Deferred Class 1 Interests
compensation.......................... (1,454) -- -- 152
Net loss................................ -- -- (293,553) (293,553)
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability............................. -- 90 -- 90
----------- --------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1997.............. (1,454) (643) (427,393) 1,634,637
Proceeds from subscribed Class 1
Interests at $13.33 per interest...... -- -- -- 46,354
Exercise of employee stock
options............................... -- -- -- 1,079
Series A, Class 2 Interests issued
in dividends.......................... -- -- -- --
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in
connection with 13% Senior
notes, Series A....................... -- -- -- 2,065
Warrants to purchase Class 1
Interests issued in
connection with debt guarantee........ -- -- -- 46,707
Deferred Class 1 Interests
compensation.......................... 292 -- -- 292
Net loss................................ -- -- (1,252,801) (1,252,801)
Adjustment for minimum pension
liability............................. -- (1,170) -- (1,170)
----------- ---------- ----------- -----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1998.............. $ (1,162) $ (1,813) $(1,680,194) $477,163
=========== ========= =========== ===========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-15
70
IRIDIUM LLC
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------------
1996 1997
-------------- --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss.................................................. $ (73,598) $ (293,553)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization........................... 674 119,124
Interest converted to debt.............................. -- --
Expense recognized for warrants issued in
connection with debt guarantee........................ 25,719 55,615
Employee Class 1 Interests compensation................. -- 152
Loss on disposal of assets.............................. -- 87
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable ...................... -- --
Decrease (Increase) in prepaid expenses and other
current assets ..................................... (6,281) 542
Increase in due from affiliates....................... (3,476) (10,128)
Increase in other assets.............................. (4,079) (2,286)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses..... 12,968 30,857
(Decrease) Increase in other liabilities.............. 2,739 (1,493)
----------- ----------
Net cash used in operating activities.............. (45,334) (101,083)
----------- ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment....................... (902,232) (861,563)
----------- ----------
Net cash used in investing activities.............. (902,232) (861,563)
----------- ----------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of Class 1 and Class 2
Interests............................................... 183,205 283,191
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes and
warrants................................................ 238,453 1,039,189
Borrowings under guaranteed bank line of credit........... 505,000 655,000
Payments under guaranteed bank line of credit............. -- (950,000)
Borrowings under senior secured line of credit............ -- 350,000
Payments under senior secured line of credit.............. -- --
(Increase) Decrease in restricted cash.................... -- (350,220)
Deferred financing costs.................................. (28,535) (57,363)
----------- ----------
Net cash provided by financing activities.......... 898,123 969,797
----------- ----------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents............ (49,443) 7,151
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
beginning of period...................................... 51,332 1,889
----------- ----------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
end of period............................................. $ 1,889 $ 9,040
=========== ==========
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PERIOD FROM
----------------------- JUNE 14, 1991
(INCEPTION) THROUGH
1998 DECEMBER 31, 1998
----------------------- -----------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss.................................................. $ (1,252,801) $ (1,680,194)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used
in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization........................... 551,912 673,341
Interest converted to debt.............................. 143,966 143,966
Expense recognized for warrants issued in
connection with debt guarantee........................ 46,707 128,041
Employee Class 1 Interests compensation................. 292 444
Loss on disposal of assets.............................. -- 87
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable ...................... (93) (93)
Decrease (Increase) in prepaid expenses and other
current assets ..................................... (8,409) (15,021)
Increase in due from affiliates....................... (3,427) (17,031)
Increase in other assets.............................. (431) (19,090)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses..... 23,976 72,770
(Decrease) Increase in other liabilities.............. 7,959 13,944
------------ --------------
Net cash used in operating activities.............. (490,349) (698,836)
------------ --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment....................... (751,790) (3,866,480)
------------ --------------
Net cash used in investing activities.............. (751,790) (3,866,480)
------------ --------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of Class 1 and Class 2
Interests............................................... 49,081 1,981,392
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes and
warrants................................................ 341,317 1,618,959
Borrowings under guaranteed bank line of credit........... 971,500 2,131,500
Payments under guaranteed bank line of credit............. (556,500) (1,506,500)
Borrowings under senior secured line of credit............ 560,000 910,000
Payments under senior secured line of credit.............. (410,000) (410,000)
(Increase) Decrease in restricted cash.................... 350,220 --
Deferred financing costs.................................. (47,763) (135,279)
------------ --------------
Net cash provided by financing activities.......... 1,257,855 4,590,072
------------ --------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents............ 15,716 24,756
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
beginning of period...................................... 9,040 --
------------ --------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
end of period............................................. $ 24,756 $ 24,756
============ ==============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these
consolidated financial statements.
F-16
71
IRIDIUM LLC
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Iridium LLC (the "Parent") and its subsidiaries have completed their effort
to develop and commercialize a global wireless system -- the Iridium(R)
Communications System (the "Iridium System") -- that enables subscribers to send
and receive telephone calls virtually anywhere in the world -- all with one
phone, one phone number and one customer bill. Iridium commenced commercial
satellite phone service on November 1, 1998 and commercial satellite paging
service on November 15, 1998. The Parent and its subsidiaries are currently
transitioning from a development stage limited liability company to an operating
limited liability company.
Iridium, Inc. was incorporated on June 14, 1991. Iridium, Inc. operated as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorola, Inc. ("Motorola") until July 29, 1993. On
July 29, 1993, Iridium, Inc. closed on, and had its first capital draw under, a
private placement of shares of Common Stock, subscribed to by U.S. and foreign
investors. As a result of three private placements of equity, five supplemental
private placements with certain additional equity investors and proceeds
received from the initial public offering of common stock of Iridium World
Communications Ltd. ("IWCL") (see note 3), Motorola's direct and indirect Class
1 Membership Interest ("Class 1 Interest") in the Parent has been reduced to
approximately 19% as of December 31, 1998, before considering unexercised
warrants held by Motorola.
The Iridium System is subject to regulation by the Federal Communications
Commission ("FCC"), and by foreign administrations and regulatory bodies. On
January 31, 1995, Motorola obtained a license from the FCC to construct, launch
and operate the Iridium System, subject to certain conditions.
On July 29, 1996, the Parent was formed as a limited liability company,
under the terms and conditions of the limited liability agreement ("LLC
Agreement"), pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware limited liability
company act. Also on July 29, 1996, Iridium, Inc. was merged with and into the
Parent, with the Parent as the surviving entity. Concurrent with the merger, all
shares of Common Stock of Iridium, Inc. were exchanged for Class 1 Interests in
the Parent.
On December 18, 1997, the Parent entered into an asset drop-down transaction
(the "Asset Drop-Down Transaction") with Iridium Operating LLC ("Iridium"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent. Pursuant to the Asset Drop-Down
Transaction, substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Parent were
transferred to Iridium, including, without limitation, all liabilities with
respect to the outstanding 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A and 14% Senior
Notes due 2005 Series B and the 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005 Series C
(collectively, the "Senior Notes"). Pursuant to the indentures relating to the
Senior Notes, Iridium has been substituted for the Parent, and the Parent has
been released from all obligations under the indentures relating to the Senior
Notes. All assets and liabilities were transferred to Iridium at the Parent's
carrying value. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified, references within these
notes to Iridium that relate to any action prior to the date of the Asset
Drop-Down Transaction should be construed as references to the Parent, as
predecessor of Iridium. As a result of the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the
Parent's only significant asset is its investment in Iridium.
On December 22, 1998, the Parent entered into a stock purchase agreement
with AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., ATGI, Inc. and Rogers Cantel Inc., pursuant
to which the Parent agreed to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of
Claircom Communications Group, Inc., a provider of in-flight phone service for
commercial and private aircraft. The estimated aggregate purchase price is
approximately $65 million. The closing of this purchase is expected to occur in
the latter half of 1999 and is subject to regulatory approval and certain other
conditions.
2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
F-17
72
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Parent and
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Iridium, Iridium Geolink LLC, Iridium Promotions
Inc. and Iridium Aero Acquisition Sub, Inc. and Iridium's wholly-owned
subsidiaries, Iridium Capital Corporation, Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC,
Iridium Facilities Corporation and Iridium Canada Facilities Inc. All
significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. Operations in 1998
of Iridium Geolink LLC, Iridium Promotions Inc. and Iridium Canada Facilities
Inc. were inconsequential to the business of Iridium.
Development Stage Enterprise
Through the end of 1998, the Parent, through Iridium, devoted its entire
efforts to establishing and commercializing the Iridium System. On December 18,
1997, the Parent and Iridium entered into an Asset Drop-Down Transaction whereby
substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the Parent were transferred
to Iridium. The purpose of the Asset Drop-Down Transaction was to facilitate the
pledge of substantially all of the assets of the Parent in connection with the
establishment of secured bank financing for the development and construction of
the Iridium System. At December 31, 1998, the Parent's ownership interest in
Iridium constituted substantially all of the Parent's assets. Accordingly,
Iridium's principal activities related to managing the design, construction and
development of the system and preparing for its day-to-day operations. Iridium
commenced commercial activation on November 1, 1998 and began the transition
from a development stage enterprise to an operating company.
Management Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles 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 consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Parent considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity
of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
In 1997, restricted cash consisted of the first stage of borrowing under the
$1 billion secured credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, led by Chase
Securities, Inc., and Barclays Capital, a division of Barclays Bank PLC. The
funds were restricted subject to Iridium meeting specified milestones. The
milestones were met in January 1998 and the restriction was lifted.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is carried at historical cost less accumulated
depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is calculated using
the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
Satellites in service................... 5 years
Ground segment in service ........... 7 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment....... 5 years
Leasehold improvements.................. Shorter of 5 years or remaining lease term
The costs of constructing and placing satellites into service are
capitalized. Losses from satellite failures for which Iridium has financial
responsibility under its contractual arrangements with Motorola are recognized
currently. Motorola bears the risk of loss for launch failures and satellite
failures before a satellite is placed into service.
System Under Construction
System under construction includes all costs incurred related to the
construction of the space and ground components of the Iridium System.
Depreciation expense is recognized on a satellite-by-satellite basis as the
satellites are placed into service following delivery of each satellite to its
mission orbit. Depreciation related to the ground control stations commenced
with the placement in service of each station.
F-18
73
A portion of interest costs incurred during the construction of the Iridium
System were capitalized. Total interest costs in 1998 amounted to approximately
$443,308,000. Interest cost capitalized for the years ended December 31, 1997
and 1998 was approximately $163,747,000 and $170,089,000, respectively. Interest
costs amounting to $273,219,000 have been expensed as incurred in 1998. Interest
paid for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 was approximately
$30,191,000 and $186,897,000, respectively.
The costs capitalized in system under construction are transferred to
property and equipment as the underlying assets are placed into service. As of
December 31, 1998, all costs associated with the system have been placed into
service.
The Parent has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121,
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-lived Assets and for Long-lived Assets to
be Disposed of ("Statement 121"). Statement 121 requires that long-lived assets
to be held and used be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the undiscounted net cash
flows associated with the asset are less than the asset's carrying amount.
Impairment losses, if any, are measured as the excess of the carrying amount of
the asset over its estimated fair market value. The adoption of Statement 121
did not have a material impact on the Parent's results of operations for the
years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998.
Member Interest-Based Compensation
During 1996, the Parent adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation ("Statement 123"), which
encourages, but does not require, the recognition of member interest-based
employee compensation at fair value. The Parent has elected to continue to
account for member interest-based employee compensation using the intrinsic
value method prescribed in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25,
Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and related interpretations.
Accordingly, compensation cost for options to purchase Class A Common Stock of
IWCL granted to employees is measured as the excess, if any, of the fair value
of Class A Common Stock at the date of the grant over the exercise price an
employee must pay to acquire the interest. Compensation expense, if any, is
recognized over the period earned by the employee and was $152,000 and $292,000,
respectively, for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998. No compensation
expense was recognized for the year ended December 31, 1996 as all options to
acquire Class 1 Interests were granted at an exercise price equal to the fair
market value as of the date of grant.
Warrants or options to purchase member interests granted to other than
employees as consideration for goods or services rendered are measured at fair
market value and are recognized as the goods or services are provided.
Equity Issuance Costs
The Parent classifies all costs incurred in connection with the issuance of
equity as a reduction of members' equity. These costs include fees paid to
investment bankers, attorneys and others in connection with the issuance of
equity.
Deferred Financing Costs
All costs incurred in connection with securing debt financing have been
deferred and are amortized over the terms of the related debt in a manner that
approximates the effective yield method. Such costs are included in other
non-current assets in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. Total
deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization, are approximately
$113,394,000 and $96,136,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Income Taxes
Iridium, Inc. was subject to Federal, state and local income taxes directly.
As a result of the merger of Iridium, Inc. with and into the Parent, the Parent
became a limited liability company. As a limited liability company, the Parent
is no longer subject to U. S. Federal income tax directly. Rather, each Class 1
member is subject to U.S. Federal income taxation based on its ratable portion
of the Parent's income or loss. However, the Parent's primary operations are in
the District of Columbia which does not recognize the limited liability status
for tax purposes. Accordingly, the Parent is subject to District of Columbia
franchise taxes directly. The Parent recognizes its provision for income taxes
under the asset and liability method. Under the asset and liability method,
deferred tax
F-19
74
assets and deferred tax liabilities are recognized for the future tax
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement
carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax
bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates expected
to apply to taxable income in the years in which these temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and
liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that
includes the enactment date.
Revenues
The Parent recognizes revenue as phone and paging services are provided.
Revenue in 1998 relates solely to satellite phone usage. Revenue is earned
through gateway owners whose subscribers utilize the phone and paging services.
Gateway owners are also members of the Parent. The Parent has executed a 60-day
settlement agreement with each of these gateway owners for purposes of
collecting earned revenues.
Operations and Maintenance Contract
The Parent recognizes its obligations under the Operations and Maintenance
Contract (Note 7) on a straight-line basis over the term of the contract. Costs
incurred under the contract that extend the useful life of the space system are
capitalized and all other costs are expensed.
Net Income (Loss) per Class 1 Interest
In February 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement
No. 128, Earnings per Share ("Statement 128"). Statement 128 supersedes
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 15, Earnings per Share ("APB 15") and
its related interpretations, and promulgates new accounting standards for the
computation and manner of presentation of the Parent's loss per Class 1 Interest
data. Statement 128 requires the presentation of basic and diluted earnings
(loss) per interest data. Basic earnings (loss) per Class 1 Interest is
calculated by dividing net income (loss), after considering required dividends
on Class 2 Interests, by the weighted average number of Class 1 Interests
outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per share is calculated
by dividing net income (loss), after considering required dividends on Class 2
Interests, by the weighted average number of Class 1 Interests and, to the
extent dilutive, other potentially dilutive securities outstanding during the
period. Potentially dilutive securities are comprised of options, warrants, and
convertible Class 2 Interests. Due to the losses incurred during the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, the impact of other potentially dilutive
securities is anti-dilutive and is not included in the diluted earnings (loss)
per Class 1 Interest calculation. The adoption of Statement 128 had no effect on
earnings (loss) per Class 1 Interest as previously presented.
Other Comprehensive Income
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No.
130, Reporting Comprehensive Income ("Statement 130"). Statement 130 establishes
standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its
components in the consolidated financial statements. The amounts associated with
the components of other comprehensive income relate to the Parent's adjustment
for minimum pension liability and are not material.
Reclassifications
Certain 1996 and 1997 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 1998
presentation.
3. MEMBERS' EQUITY
Classes of Membership Interests
The members' interests in the Parent are divided into two classes: Class 1
Interests which represent the common equity and Class 2 Interests which
represent the preferred equity. The LLC Agreement authorizes the Parent to issue
225,000,000 Class 1 Interests,
F-20
75
50,000 Series M Class 2 Interests, and 300,000 additional Class 2 Interests. A
description of each of the classes of membership interests follows:
CLASS 1 INTERESTS. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of
Class 2 Interests, all voting rights of the members are vested in the Class
1 Interests. Each member is entitled to appoint one Director for each
5,250,000 Class 1 Interests owned. Class 1 members may aggregate any or all
of their Class 1 Interests with other Class 1 members and appoint one
Director for each 5,250,000 Class 1 Interests owned in the aggregate. The
members may manage the Parent only through their designated Directors and
have no authority, in their capacity as members, to act on behalf of or bind
the Parent.
The LLC Agreement contains a reserve capital call provision under which
certain members have agreed to purchase additional Class 1 Interests (the
"Reserve Capital Call"). If the Board elects to exercise this option, the
Parent could raise up to an additional $243 million for 18,206,550 Class 1
Interests. However, the Reserve Capital Call is pledged to secure the
Secured Bank Facility (see note 5).
SERIES M CLASS 2 INTERESTS. Motorola owns a warrant to purchase Series M
Class 2 Interests in an amount that is convertible into 2.5% of the
outstanding Class 1 Interests at the time of exercise of the warrant
(calculated on a fully diluted basis) at a price of $1,000 per Series M
Class 2 Interest. Each Series M Class 2 Interest is non-voting and currently
convertible into 75 Class 1 Interests. The initial Series M Conversion Price
is $13.33, but is subject to anti-dilution adjustments from time to time.
Dividends on Series M Class 2 Interests are cumulative and accrue at the
rate of 8% per annum. No Series M Class 2 Interests are outstanding.
SERIES A CLASS 2 INTERESTS. The Series A Class 2 Interests are
convertible preferred interests that pay dividends at a rate of 14 1/2% per
annum. Dividends on the Series A Class 2 Interests are payable, either
in-kind or in cash, at the option of the Parent, through February 28, 2001.
Commencing March 1, 2001, dividends on the Series A Class 2 Interests are
payable only in cash. Dividends on the Series A Class 2 Interests accrue
whether or not they have been declared and whether or not there are profits
or other funds of the Parent legally available for the payment of such
dividends. No dividend may be declared and paid on the Class 1 Interests
unless all accrued dividends on the Series A Class 2 Interests have been
paid in full. The Series A Class 2 Interests are non-voting and convertible
to Class 1 Interests at any time at the option of the holder, at the
conversion price then in effect, initially $54.03. The conversion price is
adjusted from time to time to reflect, among other things, distributions or
reclassifications of the Class 1 Interests. Currently each Series A Class 2
Interest may be converted into 18.51 Class 1 Interests. The Series A Class 2
Interests are redeemable, at the option of the Parent, at anytime after
March 1, 2001, subject to a premium if redeemed prior to March 1, 2005.
SERIES B AND SERIES C CLASS 2 INTERESTS. In connection with Motorola's
guarantee of the $450 million credit facility (the "Guarantee Agreement")
(see Note 5), the Parent issued to Motorola one Series B Class 2 Interest
and 75 Series C Class 2 Interests. The Series B Class 2 Interest and Series
C Class 2 Interests do not pay any dividends. The Series B Class 2 Interest
entitles Motorola to one seat on the Board of Directors in addition to
Directors it may appoint as the owner of Class 1 Interests and Series M
Class 2 Interests. The Series C Class 2 Interests entitle Motorola to
appoint a majority of the Board of Directors in the event of certain events
of default. The Series B and Series C Class 2 Interests are redeemable at
the option of the Parent at $.01 per interest upon the later of (i) the
termination or expiration of the Guarantee Agreement and (ii) the
reimbursement of any payments made by Motorola pursuant to the Guarantee
Agreement (see note 5).
The LLC Agreement provides that the Parent may merge or consolidate with one
or more limited liability companies, corporations, or similar entities provided
that the transaction is approved by the Board of Directors and Class 1 members
holding not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding Class 1 Interests. In the event
of a merger, members who hold interests and do not vote in favor of, or consent
in writing to, the merger are entitled to appraisal and repurchase rights of
their interests as specified in the LLC Agreement.
Dividend and Liquidation Rights
Class 1 members are entitled to receive dividends, as and when declared by
the Board of Directors, in its discretion. Class 2 members are entitled to
receive dividends, if any, in accordance with the terms of the relevant series
of Class 2 Interests, as and when declared by the Board of Directors. The Class
2 Interests rank senior to the Class 1 Interests as to dividends and
distributions upon the liquidation, dissolution and winding-up of the Parent.
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The LLC Agreement requires the Board of Directors, to the extent of legally
available funds, to declare and pay a dividend sufficient to assure that each
non-U. S. Class 1 Member receives an amount at least equal to the amount of such
member's U. S. Federal, state and local income tax liability resulting from
allocations of the Parent's taxable income to such member. The Parent's only
current source of funds is from dividend distributions from Iridium, and Iridium
is required to declare and pay a dividend to the Parent in the same amount as
required by the LLC Agreement. However, Iridium is restricted by the terms of
certain of its debt obligations from declaring and paying dividends in excess of
those required to be made to the Parent.
The LLC Agreement contains significant restrictions on the ability of a
member to transfer any interests in the Parent, including but not limited to the
conditions that: (i) a majority of the Directors approve the transfer, and (ii)
the transfer not result in any member beneficially owning, or having the right
to beneficially own, more than 45% of the outstanding Class 1 Interests.
Exchange Rights of Iridium LLC Members
Concurrent with the initial public offering, IWCL and Iridium LLC executed
an Interest Exchange Agreement that conditionally permits holders of Class 1
Interests in Iridium LLC to exchange those interests, subject to the
restrictions on transfer in the Iridium LLC Limited Liability Agreement, for
shares of Class A Common Stock in IWCL at a ratio of one share of Class A Common
Stock for each Iridium LLC Class 1 Interest, subject to anti-dilution
adjustments. Under the Interest Exchange Agreement, no exchanges of Iridium LLC
Class 1 Interests are permitted until 90 days after Iridium has achieved one
full quarter of positive earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization. In addition, no exchange shall take place unless approved pursuant
to authorization of Directors representing at least 66 2/3% of the Iridium LLC
Board of Directors.
Global Ownership Program
The Parent, in conjunction with IWCL, has commenced a Global Ownership
Program which is designed to offer up to an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of
IWCL's Class B Common Stock at a purchase price of $13.33 per share to certain
governmental telecommunication administrations and related entities as part of a
comprehensive program to enhance market access, improve the competitive standing
of the Iridium System and achieve appropriate regulatory approvals. As of
December 31, 1997 and 1998, 0 and 20,625 shares, respectively, of Class B Common
Stock had been issued under this program. These shares had a fair market value
of $692,000 at the date of issuance.
Limitations on Liability
Members are generally not liable for the debts, obligations or liabilities
of the Parent.
Equity Transactions
On April 16, 1997, the LLC Agreement was amended to increase the authorized
number of Class 1 Interests from 3,000,000 to 225,000,000. On May 9, 1997, the
Parent effected a 75 for 1 subdivision of its Class 1 Membership Interests
whereby each existing Class 1 Interest was subdivided into 75 Class 1 Interests.
All interest and per interest data appearing in the consolidated financial
statements and notes thereto have been retroactively adjusted for the
subdivision.
On May 9, 1997, the Parent entered into a definitive agreement with South
Pacific Iridium Holdings Limited ("SPI"), an affiliate of P. T. Bakrie
Communications Corporation, pursuant to which SPI acquired from Parent 7,500,000
Class 1 Interests at $13.33 per interest. The transaction closed on May 30, 1997
with 40% of the total purchase price paid on that date and the remainder due on
or before May 1998 which was extended in 1998 through 1999 and includes interest
at 18%. Through December 31, 1997 and 1998, the Parent has received an aggregate
of $59.2 million and $104.9 million, respectively, from SPI in satisfaction of
the commitment which includes interest of $11.5 million.
On June 13, 1997, IWCL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent as of that
date, consummated an initial public offering (the "Offering") of 12,000,000
shares of its Class A Common Stock which resulted in proceeds of approximately
$225 million to IWCL (expenses of the offering were paid by the Parent).
Pursuant to the 1997 Subscription Agreement between the Parent and IWCL, such
proceeds were used to purchase 12,000,000 Class 1 Interests in the Parent. Upon
consummation of the Offering, all of the outstanding shares of IWCL held by the
Parent were retired and cancelled, and IWCL became a member of the Parent.
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On January 21, 1999, IWCL commenced a secondary offering of 7,500,000 shares
of Class A Common Stock (see note 12).
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment at December 31, 1997 and 1998, consists of the
following (in thousands):
1997 1998
----------------- --------------
Space system in service............................ $ 1,624,120 $ 3,481,482
Terrestrial system asset........................... -- 550,716
Business support systems........................... -- 176,624
Office equipment and furniture..................... 13,920 37,450
Leasehold improvements............................. 8,424 9,852
---------------- -------------
1,646,464 4,256,124
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization..... (120,138) (671,915)
---------------- -------------
Property and equipment, net........................ $ 1,526,326 $ 3,584,209
================ =============
5. DEBT
Old Guaranteed Bank Facility
On August 21, 1996, the Parent entered into a $750 million credit agreement
(the "Old Guaranteed Bank Facility") with a group of banks led by The Chase
Manhattan Bank, NA and Barclays Bank, PLC. On the same date, the Parent entered
into the Guarantee Agreement whereby Motorola agreed to guarantee the entire
$750 million commitment amount (the "Old Motorola Guarantee"). In connection
with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent's obligations under the Old
Guaranteed Bank Facility were assigned to Iridium. The Old Guaranteed Bank
Facility provided that Iridium could elect to borrow amounts at the then current
short-term Eurodollar rate plus 1/4% or at the then current Base Rate
(generally, the higher of the Federal Funds Rate as established by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York plus 0.50% or The Chase Manhattan Bank's prime
commercial lending rate). Iridium also paid a commitment fee of 1/10 of 1% on
any unused portion of the $750 million credit facility. Interest rates on the
Old Guaranteed Bank Facility ranged from 5.63% to 8.50 % during 1997 and from
5.75% to 5.94% during 1996. On July 21, 1997, the commitment of the bank lenders
under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility was permanently reduced from $750 million
to $655 million. On October 22, 1997, the commitment of the bank lenders under
the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility was further permanently reduced to $450
million. At December 31, 1997, $210,000,000 was outstanding under the Old
Guaranteed Bank Facility. Borrowings under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility were
to mature on June 30, 1999.
On May 11, 1998, the Parent entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with
Motorola (the "Old Motorola MOU") whereby Motorola conditionally agreed that it
would (i) guarantee up to $350 million of additional indebtedness (including
principal and interest) under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility or another credit
facility on identical terms, provided that borrowings under such additional
indebtedness were made on or prior to February 28, 1999 and (ii) guarantee up to
approximately $175 million of additional indebtedness (including principal and
interest) under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility or a credit agreement having
identical terms as the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility (other than maturity). As
discussed below, the Old Motorola MOU has been replaced with a new agreement.
Under the Old Motorola Guarantee, the Parent was required to issue warrants
to Motorola to purchase up to 11,250,000 Class 1 Interests and as consideration
for its guarantee, Motorola earned 82,500 warrants for each year (or portion
thereof) the $750 million guarantee was outstanding. Warrants earned were issued
to Motorola on a quarterly basis. Each warrant entitled Motorola to purchase 75
Class 1 Interests at an exercise price of $0.00013 per interest, subject to
anti-dilution adjustments. The warrants can be exercised after five years from
date of issuance and expired ten years from date of issuance. Motorola earned
29,836, 64,518 and 9,472 warrants to purchase Class 1 Interests in accordance
with the Old Motorola Guarantee Agreement during the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Iridium recognized $25,719,000, $55,615,000
and $8,790,000 as an expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations to reflect the fair market value of the warrants earned by Motorola
for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. As discussed
below, the Old Motorola Guarantee has been replaced with a new agreement.
New Guaranteed Bank Facility
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On December 23, 1998, Iridium replaced the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility with
two new bank facilities that consist of a $475 million term credit facility that
matures on December 29, 2000 and a $275 million revolving credit facility that
matures on December 31, 2001, each with a different, but partially overlapping,
syndicate of lenders. These facilities are guaranteed by Motorola and provide
that Iridium may elect to borrow amounts at the then current Eurodollar rate
plus 0.75% or at the then current Base Rate (generally, the higher of the
Federal funds rate as established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York plus
0.50% or The Chase Manhattan Bank's prime commercial lending rate). In 1998
interest rates on the Guaranteed Bank Facility ranged from 5.313 % to 8.00%. As
of December 31, 1998, Iridium had drawn an aggregate of approximately $625
million under these facilities (approximately $470 million under the term
facility and approximately $155 million under the revolving facility).
Old Senior Secured Bank Line of Credit
In 1997, Iridium entered into a Credit Agreement with Chase Securities Inc.,
The Chase Manhattan Bank, Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Capital, the investment
banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, and a syndicate of lenders (the "Old
Secured Lenders") for a senior bank facility in a principal amount of $1 billion
(the "Old Secured Bank Facility"), of which $250 million was not available for
borrowings prior to the commercial activation date. The Old Secured Bank
Facility was secured by substantially all of Iridium's assets. The Old Secured
Bank Facility was further secured by the $243 million Reserve Capital Call of
the members of Parent and all of the Parent's membership interests in Iridium.
Borrowings under the Old Secured Bank Facility were to mature on September 30,
1998, subject to Iridium's right to extend such maturity until up to June 30,
1999 if it could demonstrate by July 1, 1998 that it had sufficient available or
committed financing for its budgeted project costs through such extended
maturity. At December 31, 1997, $350,000,000 was outstanding under the Old
Secured Bank Facility. In 1998, the maturity of the borrowings under the Old
Secured Bank Facility was extended to December 31, 1998.
New Senior Secured Bank Line of Credit
On December 23, 1998 Iridium entered into a new secured facility with a new
syndicate of lenders for $800 million. This facility provides that Iridium may
elect to borrow amounts at the then current short-term Eurodollar rate plus 4%
or at the then current Base Rate (generally, the higher of the Federal Funds
Rate as established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York plus 0.50% or The
Chase Manhattan Bank's prime commercial lending rate plus 2.75% ). The facility
is secured by the same assets as the Old Secured Bank Facility and as of
December 31, 1998 Iridium had drawn $500 million. The principal matures on
December 29, 2000. Various additional covenants were added to the agreement,
which include meeting certain revenue and subscriber levels. Additionally, in
January 1999 Iridium drew down another $300 million in connection with this
facility.
Motorola MOU and Motorola ARG; Conditional Commitment of Motorola to Guarantee
Additional Borrowings.
In connection with the establishment of the secured bank facility and the
guaranteed bank facilities, Motorola, Parent and Iridium entered into the
Motorola memorandum of understanding, or "MOU", which amended and restated the
Old Motorola MOU. Under the Motorola MOU, Motorola has agreed to, among other
things, (i) guarantee up to $750 million of obligations under the guaranteed
bank facilities, (ii) consent to and agree to an amendment to the guaranteed
bank facilities and the related guarantee agreement (or to enter into a new bank
credit facility and guarantee agreement on the same terms (other than pricing))
that together provide for a $350 million increase in the Motorola guaranteed
borrowings available thereunder, (iii) permit Iridium to defer its obligations
to pay up to an aggregate of $400 million of payments under the O&M contract
until December 29, 2000, (iv) guarantee up to $400 million of additional
borrowings under a bank credit facility with terms (other than pricing)
identical in all material respects to the guaranteed credit facilities on the
condition that such additional guaranteed borrowings be used exclusively to make
payments to Motorola for deferred obligations under the O&M contract (as
described in (iii) above), (v) subordinate certain of its claims vis-a-vis
Iridium to the lenders under the secured bank facility and (vi) consent to an
amendment to the $275 million revolving credit facility component of the
guaranteed bank facilities that would extend the maturity of such facility to
beyond the maturity of the senior notes (which are due July 15, 2005). Iridium
has agreed under the Motorola MOU that it will compensate Motorola for providing
guarantees, deferral rights and other credit support (collectively, the
"Motorola exposure", which generally includes the aggregate amount guaranteed,
or permitted to be deferred, by Motorola) pursuant to the Motorola agreement
regarding guarantee, or "ARG".
Motorola, Parent and Iridium also entered into the Motorola ARG, which
amended and restated the Old Motorola ARG. Payments under the Motorola ARG are
based on the amount and duration of Motorola exposure and are due and payable
quarterly. Prior to October 1, 1999, Iridium is required to pay Motorola cash
interest on the amount deferred at an annual interest rate of 12%
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for Motorola exposure relating to the deferred amounts under the O&M contract.
For Motorola exposure relating to guarantees of borrowings under bank credit
facilities that exists prior to October 1, 1999, Iridium and Parent are required
to compensate Motorola with cash interest and equity (including warrants to
purchase either Class 1 Interests or, under certain conditions, Class A Common
Stock). Prior to October 1, 1999, Motorola's compensation for Motorola exposure
relating to the guaranteed bank facilities and the Motorola guaranteed O&M bank
facility (if available) is based on the terms of the Series A and Series B
Senior Notes. This "high yield based compensation" equals (i) interest on the
Motorola exposure at an annual interest rate equal to the amount, if any, by
which the interest rate on the relevant bank facility is less than 13.625% (the
weighted average interest rate on the Series A and Series B Senior Notes) plus
(ii) the payment of warrants to purchase approximately 66.758 Class 1 Interests
(or shares of Class A Common Stock) per day per each $100 million of Motorola
exposure at a purchase price of $20.90 per interest (or share) (the average
daily warrant compensation payable to holders of senior notes).
After October 1, 1999, Iridium and Parent are required to pay Motorola
equity compensation (in the form of warrants to purchase Class 1 Interests at a
purchase price of $0.00013 per interest) for all Motorola exposure unless the
aggregate Motorola exposure is less than or equal to $275 million, in which case
Iridium may pay Motorola high yield based compensation. During this period,
unless the Motorola exposure is less than $275 million, the amount of warrant
compensation payable per dollar of Motorola exposure increases substantially as
the Motorola exposure increases. In addition, Iridium is required to compensate
Motorola with warrants to purchase Class 1 Interests at a price of $0.00013 per
interest for any Motorola exposure resulting from Motorola making available any
part of the additional $350 million in guaranteed borrowings discussed above
regardless of when such Motorola exposure is incurred.
Parent and Iridium also have agreed under the Motorola MOU that they (i)
will use their best efforts to reduce the Motorola exposure to no more than $275
million by the earliest possible date, including obtaining bank credit
agreements not guaranteed by Motorola, issuing debt and equity securities (under
certain conditions) and using revenues from operations, if available, to reduce
the available borrowings under credit facilities guaranteed by Motorola and to
pay amounts deferred under contracts with Motorola, (ii) will use their best
efforts to obtain, on or before October 1, 1999, the Motorola guaranteed O&M
bank facility to finance the payment of all deferred amounts under the O&M
contract, (iii) will not have outstanding in excess of (a) $1.7 billion of
indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by the assets of Iridium or (b)
$1.62 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes, (iv) will not make
certain acquisitions without Motorola's consent and (v) will provide Motorola
with the right (in addition to Motorola's rights to representation based on its
holdings of Class 1 Interests) to appoint one additional director to the Boards
of Directors of Parent and Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $275
million, and the right to appoint a second additional director to the Boards of
Directors of Parent and Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $750
million. In addition, while Motorola has agreed to consent to (i) a $350 million
increase in the amount of guaranteed borrowings available under the guaranteed
bank facilities (or a new credit facility with terms (other than pricing)
identical in all material respects) and (ii) an extension of the maturity of the
$275 million revolving credit facility component of the guaranteed bank
facilities, there can be no assurance that the lenders under the guaranteed
credit facilities would agree to such amendments or that such a new credit
facility would be available.
Motorola's obligation to defer receipt of up to $400 million in payment
under the O&M contract is unconditional. All of Motorola's other obligations
under the Motorola MOU, including, without limitation, its obligation to consent
to and agree to an amendment to the guaranteed bank facilities and the related
guarantee agreement (or to enter into a new bank credit facility and guarantee
agreement on the same material terms (other than principal)) that together
provide for a $350 million increase in the Motorola guaranteed borrowings
available thereunder, are conditioned on Iridium complying with the terms of the
Motorola MOU, Motorola ARG, the O&M contract and other agreements with Motorola,
including Iridium's payment obligations under each such agreement.
Notes Payable
On July 16, 1997, the Parent, IWCL and Iridium Capital Corporation completed
an offering (the "High Yield Offering") of (i) 300,000 units, each consisting of
$1,000 principal amount of 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A ("Series A
Notes"), and one IWCL Warrant representing the right to purchase 5.2 shares of
Class A Common Stock of IWCL, and (ii) $500 million aggregate principal amount
of 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B ("Series B Notes"). Concurrent with the
Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent's obligations under the Series A Notes
and Series B Notes were assigned to Iridium. The Series A Notes and Series B
Notes are guaranteed by Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium
Facilities Corporation. The aggregate net proceeds received were approximately
$746 million. Interest on the Series A Notes and Series B Notes is payable in
cash semi-annually on
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January 15th and July 15th of each year, commencing on January 15, 1998. The
notes are redeemable at the option of Iridium, in whole or in part, at any time
on or after July 15, 2002. The Series A Notes and Series B Notes mature on July
15, 2005.
On October 17, 1997, the Parent and Iridium Capital Corporation completed an
offering of $300 million principal amount of 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005,
Series C ("Series C Notes"). Concurrent with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction,
the Parent's obligations under the Series C Notes were assigned to Iridium. The
Series C Notes are guaranteed by Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium
Facilities Corporation. The net proceeds received were approximately $293
million. Interest on the Series C Notes is payable in cash semi-annually on
January 15th and July 15th of each year, commencing on January 15, 1998. The
Series C Notes are redeemable at the option of Iridium, in whole or in part, at
any time on or after July 15, 2002. The Series C Notes mature on July 15, 2005.
On May 13, 1998, Iridium and Iridium Capital Corporation completed an
offering of $350 million principal amount of 10 7/8% Senior Notes due 2005,
Series D ("Series D Notes"). The Series D Notes are guaranteed by Iridium
Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium Facilities Corporation. The Series D
Notes have substantially the same terms as the Senior Notes other than interest
rate and issue date. The net proceeds received were approximately $342 million.
Interest on the Series D Notes is payable in cash semi-annually on January 15th
and July 15th of each year, commencing on July 15, 1998. The Series D Notes are
redeemable at the option of Iridium, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after July 15, 2002. The Series D Notes mature on July 15, 2005.
Notes payable, net of discounts, as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 consist of
the following (in thousands):
1997 1998
---- ----
13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A............... $ 276,439 $ 278,282
14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B............... 477,849 479,565
11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005, Series C........... 300,000 300,000
10 7/8% Senior Notes due 2005, Series D........... -- 347,888
----------- -----------
$ 1,054,288 $ 1,405,735
=========== ===========
Long-Term Debt Due to Members of the Parent
During 1996, the Parent sold units to certain of its members and their
affiliates; each unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount at maturity of 14
1/2% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2006 (the "Notes") and one warrant
to purchase 10.40775 Class 1 Interests of the Parent, for aggregate proceeds of
approximately $238,453,000. Concurrent with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the
Parent's obligations under the Notes were assigned to Iridium. The Notes are
unsecured and are subordinate to all senior debt of Iridium. The Notes fully
accrete to an aggregate face value of $480,150,000 on March 1, 2001 and mature
on March 1, 2006. Each Note accrues cash interest at a rate of 14 1/2% per
annum, payable semi-annually commencing on September 1, 2001. The Notes will be
subject to redemption, at the option of Iridium, at any time on or after March
1, 2001. The warrants, which entitle the holder to purchase Class I Interests at
an exercise price of $.01 per interest, are exercisable on March 1, 2001 and
expire on March 1, 2006. The Parent recognized the estimated fair market value
of these warrants of $31,761,000 as an addition to members' equity.
Future Principal Payments
Future scheduled principal payments of long-term debt are as follows (in
thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT
- --------------------------------------- ------------
1999................................. $ --
2000................................. 1,056,000
2001................................. 155,000
2002................................. --
2003................................. --
2004 and beyond...................... 1,930,000
----------
$3,141,000
==========
6. INCOME TAXES
From inception through July 29, 1996, Iridium, Inc. was subject to U.S.
Federal and state and local income taxes directly, and accordingly, recognized
provisions for income taxes for U.S. Federal and for all state and local
jurisdictions. Subsequent to the merger of Iridium, Inc. into a limited
liability company, the Parent is no longer subject to U.S. Federal income tax
directly; however, the Parent is subject to District of Columbia franchise
taxes.
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The Parent's provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997, and 1998 consists of the following (in thousands):
1996 1997 1998
---- ---- ----
Current
-- Federal................ $ 3,435 $ -- $ --
-- State and Local........ 1,154 -- --
Deferred
-- Federal................ -- -- --
-- State and Local........ -- -- --
--------- ----- -----
$ 4,589 $ -- $ --
========= ===== =====
The primary reconciling differences between income tax expense and the
amount of tax benefit that would be expected to result by applying the Federal
statutory rate of 35% to the loss before income taxes for the period from
January 1, 1996 to July 29, 1996 (the date of the merger of Iridium, Inc. into
Iridium) relate to the capitalization for tax purposes of certain start-up
expenditures, and state and local taxes. Subsequent to the date of the merger of
Iridium, Inc. into the Parent, the Parent recognizes deferred taxes for those
jurisdictions for which the Parent is taxed directly, resulting in a deferred
tax asset for capitalized start-up expenditures and depreciation of $34,599,000
and $59,660,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, for which a 100%
valuation allowance has been established.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers
whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax
asset will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is
dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in
which temporary differences become deductible. Management considers scheduled
reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax
planning strategies that can be implemented in making this assessment.
7. TRANSACTIONS WITH MEMBERS
Management Services Agreement
In connection with the IWCL IPO, the Parent and IWCL entered into a
Management Services Agreement. The Management Services Agreement was amended and
restated in connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction to add Iridium as a
party.
Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, the Parent has agreed to
supervise and manage the day-to-day activities of Iridium. Among other things,
the Parent is responsible for administering the following functions of Iridium:
contract administration (including the Space System Contract, the TNDC and the
O&M Contract), treasury, accounting, legal, tax, insurance, licenses and permits
and securities law compliance. The Parent similarly has agreed to supervise and
manage the day-to-day operations of IWCL. Among other things, the Parent is
responsible for administering the following functions of IWCL: treasury,
accounting, legal, tax, insurance, licenses and permits and securities law
compliance. In addition, Parent has agreed to advance funds to IWCL in the event
that IWCL does not have sufficient funds to pay income or similar taxes. The
Parent does not receive fees or reimbursement from IWCL for its services to IWCL
under the Management Services Agreement; however, the cost of such services
provided to IWCL to date is not significant.
In return for such services, Iridium has agreed to provide sufficient funds,
on a cost reimbursable basis, to the Parent to enable the Parent to manage the
business and operations of each of Iridium and IWCL, including payments of
Parent's obligations to its employees, consultants and directors, and payments
for Parent's office space and equipment, sales, general operating and
administrative expenses, insurance and its obligations under certain contracts.
Support Agreement
Under a Support Agreement, Motorola provides certain general and
administrative support to the Parent and its subsidiaries. On a cost
reimbursable basis, Motorola has provided payroll processing and related
benefits to the Parent employees, processed payments to certain contractors
providing support to the Parent, and provided other administrative support. In
connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the Support
Agreement to Iridium. The amounts and nature of such costs for the years ended
December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 consist of the following (in thousands):
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1996 1997 1998
------ ------ ------
Consulting........... $ 826 $ 643 $ 244
Other................ 26 5 --
------ ------ ------
$ 852 $ 648 $ 244
====== ====== ======
As of December 31, 1997, and 1998, the balance payable to Motorola under the
Support Agreement was $0 and $244,000, respectively.
Space System Contract
The Parent entered into the Space System Contract with Motorola to design,
develop, produce and deliver the Space Segment component of the Iridium System.
In connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the
Space System Contract to Iridium. Under this fixed priced contract, Motorola
constructed the space vehicles, placed them into low-earth orbits and
constructed the related ground segments for a contract price of $3.45 billion
(subject to certain adjustments). For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997,
and 1998, $836 million, $577 million, and $574 million, respectively, was
incurred under the Space System Contract. Such costs are capitalized as system
under construction in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are
transferred to property and equipment as the underlying assets are placed into
service. As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, the balance payable to Motorola under
the Space System Contract was $0, and $55 million, respectively. The remaining
$55 million obligation, under the Space System Contract, is expected to be paid
in 1999.
Terrestrial Network Development Contract
The Parent entered into the Terrestrial Network Development Contract
("TNDC") with Motorola for an original amount of $160 million. In connection
with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the TNDC to Iridium.
Under the TNDC, Motorola is designing and developing the terrestrial gateway
hardware and software. The payments under the original contract are tied to the
completion of milestones specified in the contract. During 1996, the TNDC was
amended to obligate Motorola to provide additional services and support under
the TNDC in exchange for an additional $18.9 million. During 1997 and 1998, the
TNDC was further amended to obligate Motorola to provide additional services and
support bringing the total contract price of the TNDC to $356 million. Certain
of the Parent's members will own the individual gateways and will have no
obligation to Iridium or the Parent for any of the amounts due to Motorola under
the TNDC. For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, Iridium incurred $74
million and $174 million, respectively, under the TNDC. Such costs are
capitalized as system under construction in the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets and are transferred to property and equipment as the underlying
assets are placed into service. As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, the balance
payable to Motorola under the TNDC was $11 million and $76 million,
respectively. The aggregate fixed and determinable portion of all remaining
obligations under the TNDC, assuming that all obligations are settled in cash,
is $130 million, of which $120 million is expected to be paid in 1999 and the
remaining $10 million in 2000.
Operations and Maintenance Contract
To provide for the operations and maintenance of the space segment upon
completion of the Space System Contract, the Parent entered into the Operations
and Maintenance Contract ("O&M") with Motorola. In connection with the Asset
Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the O&M contract to Iridium. This
contract obligates Motorola for a period of five years after completion of the
final milestone under the Space System Contract to operate the Space System, and
to exert its best efforts to monitor, upgrade and replace hardware and software
of the space segment (including the individual space vehicles) at specified
levels, in exchange for specified monthly payments. Such payments are expected
to aggregate approximately $2.89 billion. During 1996, a two-year option
agreement was entered into for the extension of the O&M contract with Motorola
after the completion of the initial five-year term. If such option is exercised,
Iridium will be obligated to make monthly payments expected to aggregate an
additional $1.34 billion. The contract commenced in November 1998. Iridium
capitalized $46 million of costs in 1998 that pertain to hardware and software
components of the space segment that extend its useful life. The portion of the
costs of the O&M associated with day-to-day operations in 1998 was $50.4 million
and was expensed as incurred. Under the Motorola MOU, Motorola has agreed to
permit Iridium to defer its obligations to up to an aggregate of $400 million of
payments due to Motorola under the O&M Contract until December 29, 2000. As of
December 31, 1998, Iridium has deferred payment of $86 million of its
obligations under the O&M Contract and expects to defer an aggregate of $400
million of such obligations prior to September 1, 1999. Under the O&M, the
Parent is required to compensate Motorola with cash and equity compensation. The
remaining aggregate fixed and
F-28
83
determinable portion of all obligations under the O&M, excluding vendor
financing and the optional two-year extension, is expected to be as follows (in
thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT
- -------------------------------------- ------------
1999................................ 537,000
2000................................ 557,000
2001................................ 581,000
2002................................ 605,000
2003 (10 months only)............... 525,000
------------
$ 2,805,000
============
Gateway Owners Incentives
The Parent agreed to issue warrants to purchase 300,000 Class 1 Interests to
each gateway owner whose specified gateway activities were completed on
schedule, and warrants to purchase 7,500 Class 1 Interests for each $1 million
of cumulative Iridium System service revenue generated within 15 months of
commercial activation, but in no event will warrants to purchase more than an
aggregate of 9,165,000 Class 1 Interests be issued to all gateway owners. In
1998, the Parent authorized the issuance of 3.3 million warrants for those
gateways in compliance with the schedule at an exercise price of $.00013 per
interest, no warrants have been issued related to service revenues through
December 31, 1998. The warrants have terms identical to those issued to Motorola
under the Guarantee Agreement (see Note 5). In 1998, the Parent expensed
$37,917,000 in connection with these warrants.
8. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Parent has adopted a comprehensive performance incentive and retirement
benefit package. The performance incentive program became effective in 1993,
while the various retirement plans became effective on February 1, 1994.
Incentive Programs
The Parent has established short and long-term incentive plans primarily
based on employee performance. Effective December 31, 1995, the Parent
terminated the long-term incentive plan. The remaining liability of the
long-term incentive plan is approximately $1,738,000 and $1,745,000 as of
December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and was paid in January of 1999. Under
these plans, the Parent incurred expenses of approximately $1,252,000,
$3,412,000, and $5,800,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, and
1998, respectively.
401(k) Employee Retirement Savings Plan
The Parent adopted a 401(k) employee retirement savings plan in 1994
covering all employees. Through 1997, the Parent made matching contributions to
this qualified plan on behalf of participating employees up to 3% of employees'
compensation. During 1998, in accordance with plan amendments, the Parent made
matching payments equal to 50% of employee contributions up to certain limits.
Employee contributions to the plan vest immediately. The Parent's contributions
vest ratably over a seven-year period, including service credit for any prior
employment with Motorola. Under this plan, the Parent has incurred expenses of
approximately $288,000, $558,000, and $1,539,000 during the years ended December
31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
Retirement Plans
All employees of the Parent are covered by a non-contributory defined
benefit retirement plan. Vesting in plan benefits generally occurs after five
years. Benefits under the plan are based on years of credited service (including
any prior employment with Motorola), age at retirement and the average earnings
over the last four years. The plan is funded annually in accordance with the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
The Parent adopted non-qualified defined benefit plans covering employees
earnings in excess of the maximum amounts which may be considered under the
qualified plan.
The net periodic pension cost recognized under the plans was approximately
$1,925,000, $2,420,000, and $6,847,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1997, and 1998, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998,
the amounts
F-29
84
provided to cover taxes associated with the plan benefits were $693,000, and
$1,411,000, respectively. In addition, the Parent recorded an additional minimum
pension liability adjustment of $90,000 and a reduction adjustment of $1,170,000
for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, for its
non-qualified plans. The additional minimum pension liability is included as an
increase (decrease) to members' equity.
Summary of Defined Benefit Plans
Benefit obligations for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit
plans in total for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, are as
follows (in thousands):
1996 1997 1998
------------------------------- ----------------------------- ----------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
-------------- --------------- -------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Benefit obligation at end of
prior year................... $ 1,602 $ 4,404 $ 2,554 $ 5,179 $ 4,722 $ 5,039
Service cost................... 789 438 1,291 513 3,162 2,453
Interest cost.................. 133 339 206 285 381 600
Plan amendments................ -- -- -- -- -- 1,149
Net actuarial (gain)/loss...... 30 (2) 671 595 1,876 3,624
Benefits paid.................. -- -- -- -- (20) (1)
Curtailments and/or
settlements.................. -- -- -- (1,533) -- --
------------ ------------ ------------- ---------- --------- ----------
Benefit obligation at end of
year......................... $ 2,554 $ 5,179 $ 4,722 $ 5,039 $ 10,121 $ 12,864
============ ============ ============= ========== ========= ==========
Plan assets for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans in
total for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, are as follows (in
thousands):
1996 1997 1998
-------------------------- ---------------------------- ----------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
--------- ------------- ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
Fair value of assets at end of
prior year................... $ 1,186 $ -- $ 1,931 $ -- $ 3,757 $ --
Actual return on plan assets 217 -- 477 -- 713 --
Employer contribution.......... 528 -- 1,363 1,418 240 1
Benefits paid.................. -- -- (14) (1,418) (20) (1)
--------- -------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Fair value of assets at end of
year......................... $ 1,931 $ -- $ 3,757 $ -- $ 4,690 $ --
========= ======== ========== ========== ======== ==========
Pension cost for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans in
total for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, are as follows (in
thousands):
1996 1997 1998
----------------------------- ------------------------------- --------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
------------ ------------- ------------- ---------------- ----------- -------------
Service cost................... $ 789 $ 438 $ 1,292 $ 512 $ 3,162 $2,453
Interest cost on projected
benefit obligation........... 133 339 206 285 381 599
Actual return on assets........ (82) -- (138) -- (261) --
Amortization of actuarial loss. -- 51 -- 6 33 133
Amortization of unrecognized
prior service costs.......... -- -- -- -- -- 99
Amortization of transition
obligation................... 19 238 19 238 19 229
----------- ------------- ------------ ------------- ---------- -----------
Net periodic cost.............. $ 859 $ 1,066 $ 1,379 $ 1,041 $ 3,334 $ 3,513
=========== ============= ============ ============= ========== ===========
The following table describes the funded status of the plans at December 31,
1997 and 1998 (in thousands). The actuarial calculations were determined by
consulting actuaries:
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85
1997 1998
------------------------------ -------------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
------------- ------------- ------------- -------------
Accumulated present value of obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation, including
vested benefits.......................... $ (3,334) $ (2,269) $ (6,933) $ (6,822)
=========== ========== =========== ============
Projected benefit obligation for service
rendered to date......................... $ (4,722) $ (5,039) $ (10,121) $ (12,864)
Plan assets at fair value.................. 3,757 -- 4,690 --
----------- ---------- ----------- ------------
Projected benefit obligation in excess of
plan assets.............................. (965) (5,039) (5,431) (12,864)
Unrecognized prior service costs........... -- -- -- 1,050
Unrecognized transition obligation......... 302 2,123 283 1,894
Unrecognized net (gain) loss............... 118 870 1,508 4,361
----------- ---------- ----------- ------------
Accrued pension cost....................... (545) (2,046) (3,640) (5,559)
Adjustment required to recognize minimum
liability................................ -- (643) -- (1,813)
----------- ---------- ----------- ------------
Pension liability.......................... $ (545) $ (2,689) $ (3,640) $ (7,372)
=========== ========== =========== ============
Actuarial assumptions:
Discount rate.............................. 7% 7% 6.5% 6.5%
Long-term rate of return................... 8% 8% 8% 8%
Salary increases........................... 5% 7.5% 5% 7.5%
Option Plan of Iridium LLC
The Parent has established a plan under which executive officers and
managers of the Parent are awarded options to purchase Class A Common Stock (the
"Option Plan") of IWCL. The Option Plan covers 5,625,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock of IWCL. The Option Plan also permits the award of stock
appreciation rights in connection with any grant of options. As of December 31,
1997 and 1998, options covering 2,004,556 and 2,673,648 shares, respectively, of
Class A Common Stock of IWCL had been granted. As of that date, no stock
appreciation awards had been granted. The right to exercise the options vests,
pro rata, over a period of five years. Pursuant to the Share Issuance Agreement,
IWCL has agreed that upon the exercise of any options, it will issue to the
Parent, for delivery to an exercising option holder, the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock of IWCL covered by the exercised options and the Parent has
agreed to simultaneously deliver to IWCL a like number of Class 1 Interests,
subject to anti-dilution adjustments. The exercise price of the option will be
paid to the Parent and will represent payment for the Class A Common Stock by
the exercising option holder and for the Class 1 Interests by IWCL.
As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, 2,625,000 and 5,625,000 Class 1 Interests
respectively, have been reserved for issuance to IWCL in connection with the
Option Plan. As permitted by Statement 123, the Parent applies the intrinsic
value method in accounting for compensation cost under this plan. Accordingly,
no compensation expense is recognized for options to acquire Class A Common
Stock of IWCL granted at an exercise price equal to or exceeding the fair market
value as of the date of grant. For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998,
the Parent recognized $152,000 and $292,000, respectively, in compensation
expense for options to acquire Class A Common Stock of IWCL granted at an
exercise price that was below fair market value at the date of grant. Had
compensation cost been determined in accordance with the fair value method of
Statement 123, the Parent's net loss and net loss per Class 1 Interest would
have been increased to the pro forma amounts indicated below (in thousands
except per interest data) for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998:
1997 1998
------------- ---------------
Net loss
As reported................... $ (293,553) $ (1,252,801)
Pro forma..................... (296,132) (1,258,190)
Net loss per Class 1 Interest
As reported................... $ 2.25 $ 8.91
Pro forma..................... 2.27 8.95
During 1997 and 1998, the fair value of options granted are estimated on the
dates of the grants using the Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model with the
following weighted-average assumptions: dividend yield of 0.0%, expected
volatility of 45% in 1997 and 63% in 1998, risk-free interest rates from 5.97%
to 6.76% in 1997 and 4.14% to 5.46% in 1998, and expected life of five years.
The effects on compensation cost as determined under Statement 123 on net loss
in 1997 and 1998 may not be representative of the effects on pro forma net
income (loss) for future periods. The weighted-average contractual life for
options outstanding at December 31, 1997 and 1998 was 8.92 and 8.23 years,
respectively.
F-31
86
A summary of the Parent's stock option activity, and related information for
the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 follows:
1997 1998
-------------------------------- --------------------------------
WEIGHTED WEIGHTED
INTERESTS AVERAGE INTERESTS AVERAGE
UNDER EXERCISE UNDER EXERCISE
OPTION PRICE OPTION PRICE
----------------- ----------- ---------------- -----------
Outstanding -- beginning of year.......... 729,750 $ 13.33 2,004,556 $ 13.92
Granted................................. 1,309,775 14.24 626,998 33.17
Exercised............................... (3,262) 13.33 (78,586) 13.73
Forfeited............................... (31,707) 13.33 (83,158) 21.15
-------------- -------- -------------- --------
Outstanding -- end of year................ 2,004,556 $ 13.92 2,469,810 $ 18.58
============== ======== ============== ========
Options exercisable at end of year........ 397,145 $ 13.33 827,777 $ 16.20
Weighted-average fair value of options
granted during the year................. $ 8.35 $ 19.39
The range of exercise prices of options outstanding at December 31, 1997 and
1998 are as follows:
1997 1998
- ------------------------------ ------------------------------
RANGE OF
EXERCISE EXERCISE
OPTIONS PRICES OPTIONS PRICES
- ----------- --------- ------------ --------------
1,972,556 $13.33 1,844,384 $13.33
2,000 20.00 571,926 20.00-32.75
30,000 52.50 53,500 37.88-57.13
- ----------- -----------
2,004,556 2,469,810
9. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values
of financial instruments as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 (in thousands):
1997 1998
------------------------------- ---------------------------
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
AMOUNT VALUE AMOUNT VALUE
-------------- ------------- ------------ -----------
Bank facilities....................... $ 560,000 $ 560,000 $ 1,125,000 $1,125,000
Long-term debt due to Members......... 273,302 273,302 323,484 323,484
Senior Notes, Series A, B, C and D.... 1,054,288 1,156,000 1,405,735 1,034,754
The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market
prices or on current rates offered for similar debt. The carrying amounts of due
from affiliates and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair
market value as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 because of the relatively short
duration of these financial instruments.
10. COMMITMENTS
Operating Leases
The Parent leases office space and equipment under non-cancelable operating
lease agreements. Future minimum payments under all operating lease arrangements
are as follows (in thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT
- --------------------------------------- ------------
1999................................. $10,697,000
2000................................. 10,437,000
2001................................. 7,475,000
2002................................. 5,980,000
2003................................. 6,026,000
2004 and beyond...................... 2,696,000
-----------
$43,311,000
===========
Rental expense under operating leases for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1997, and 1998 was approximately $1,194,000, $7,821,000 and $10,149,000,
respectively.
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87
11. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED)
IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT MEMBER INTEREST DATA:
The following is a summary of results of operations for each of the quarters
during 1996:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
--------------- -------------- -------------- -------------- -------------
Operating expenses................. $ 8,410 $ 10,321 $ 19,621 $ 33,052 $ 71,404
Net loss........................... 7,663 9,840 24,232 31,863 73,598
Net loss applicable to Class 1
Interests......................... 7,663 10,679 25,812 33,096 77,250
Net loss per Class 1 Interest...... 0.07 0.09 0.21 0.28 0.64
The following is a summary of results of operations for each of the quarters
during 1997:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- -------------
Operating expenses................. $ 36,054 $ 48,414 $ 84,997 $ 127,133 $ 296,598
Net loss........................... 35,928 47,926 84,095 125,604 293,553
Net loss applicable to Class 1
Interests........................ 37,602 49,242 85,412 127,000 299,256
Net loss per Class 1 Interest...... 0.31 0.40 0.60 0.90 2.25
The following is a summary of results of operations for each of the quarters
during 1998:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
--------- ------------ ----------- ------------ --------------
Revenues........................ $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 186 $ 186
Operating expenses.............. 168,302 189,509 281,726 348,236 987,773
Net loss........................ 203,566 244,775 364,381 440,079 1,252,801
Net loss applicable to Class 1
Interests..................... 205,013 246,274 365,934 441,689 1,258,910
Net loss per Class 1 Interest... 1.45 1.74 2.59 3.12 8.91
12. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
On January 21,1999, IWCL issued 7,500,000 shares of Class A Common Stock
resulting in net proceeds of $242,400,000. Pursuant to the 1997 Subscription
Agreement between IWCL and Iridium LLC, such proceeds were used to purchase
7,500,000 Class I Interests in the Parent. The proceeds from this secondary
offering will be used to partially fund operations in 1999.
F-33
88
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Member
Iridium Operating LLC and subsidiaries:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Iridium
Operating LLC and subsidiaries (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium LLC) (a
development stage limited liability company) as of December 31, 1997 and 1998,
and the related consolidated statements of loss, member's equity (deficit), and
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1998, and for the period June 14, 1991 (inception) through December 31, 1998.
These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above
present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Iridium
Operating LLC and subsidiaries (a development stage limited liability company)
as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the results of their operations and their
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
1998, and for the period June 14, 1991 (inception) through December 31, 1998, in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
KPMG LLP
McLean, Virginia
January 14, 1999
F-34
89
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
(A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IRIDIUM LLC)
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(IN THOUSANDS)
DECEMBER 31,
---------------------------
1997 1998
---------- ----------
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents............................................. $ 5,940 $ 24,756
Restricted cash ...................................................... 350,220 --
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $93 in 1998.................. -- 93
Due from affiliates................................................... 13,604 17,031
Prepaid expenses and other current assets............................. 6,612 15,021
---------- ----------
Total current assets.......................................... 376,376 56,901
Property and equipment, net............................................. 1,526,326 3,584,209
System under construction .............................................. 1,625,054 --
Other assets ........................................................... 114,831 97,237
---------- ----------
Total assets.................................................. $3,642,587 $3,738,347
========== ==========
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER'S EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses................................. $ 106,794 $ 165,539
Due to Parent's Member, current portion .............................. 10,601 131,532
Bank facilities, current portion ..................................... 350,000 --
---------- ----------
Total current liabilities..................................... 467,395 297,071
Bank facilities, net of current portion ................................ 210,000 1,125,000
Long-term debt due to Parent's Members ................................. 273,302 323,484
Notes payable, principal amounts of $1,100,000 and $1,450,000 .......... 1,054,288 1,405,735
Due to Parent's Member, net of current portion.......................... -- 86,240
Other liabilities ...................................................... 6,065 24,202
---------- ----------
Total liabilities............................................. 2,011,050 3,261,732
---------- ----------
Commitments and Contingencies
Member's equity:
Member's Interest..................................................... 2,059,421 2,158,178
Deficit accumulated during the development stage...................... (427,241) (1,679,750)
Other comprehensive income-adjustment for minimum pension
liability ........................................................... (643) (1,813)
---------- ----------
Total member's equity......................................... 1,631,537 476,615
---------- ----------
Total liabilities and member's equity......................... $3,642,587 $3,738,347
========== ==========
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
F-35
90
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
(A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IRIDIUM LLC)
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF LOSS
(IN THOUSANDS)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PERIOD FROM
------------------------------------------------------- JUNE 14, 1991
(INCEPTION) THROUGH
1996 1997 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1998
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- -------------------
Revenues.......................................... $ -- $ -- $ 186 $ 186
Operating expenses:
Sales, general and administrative............... 70,730 177,322 435,569 748,718
Depreciation and amortization................... 674 119,124 551,912 551,912
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Total operating expenses................ 71,404 296,446 987,481 1,422,059
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Operating loss.................................... 71,404 296,446 987,295 1,421,873
Other income and expenses:
Interest (income) expense, net.................. (2,395) (3,045) 265,214 249,906
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Loss before provision for income taxes............ 69,009 293,401 1,252,509 1,671,779
Provision for income taxes ....................... 4,589 -- -- 7,971
--------------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
Net loss.......................................... $ 73,598 $ 293,401 $ 1,252,509 $ 1,679,750
=============== ================ ================ ================
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
F-36
91
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
(A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IRIDIUM LLC)
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF MEMBER'S EQUITY (DEFICIT)
(IN THOUSANDS)
ADJUSTMENT DEFICIT
FOR ACCUMULATED
MEMBER'S MINIMUM DURING THE
INTEREST PENSION DEVELOPMENT
AMOUNT LIABILITY STAGE TOTAL
---------------- ---------------- ---------------- ---------------
Inception June 14, 1991..................... $ -- $ -- $ -- $ --
Net loss.................................... -- -- (757) (757)
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1991.................. -- -- (757) (757)
Net loss.................................... -- -- (8,773) (8,773)
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1992.................. -- -- (9,530) (9,530)
Net loss.................................... -- -- (5,309) (5,309)
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, July 29, 1993...................... -- -- (14,839) (14,839)
Contributions by Parent..................... 316,071 -- -- 316,071
Net loss.................................... -- -- (6,924) (6,924)
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1993.................. 316,071 -- (21,763) 294,308
Contributions by Parent..................... 516,339 -- -- 516,339
Net loss.................................... -- -- (14,834) (14,834)
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1994.................. 832,410 -- (36,597) 795,813
Contributions by Parent..................... 633,507 -- -- 633,507
Net loss.................................... -- -- (23,645) (23,645)
Adjustment for minimum pension liability.... -- (1,065) -- (1,065)
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1995.................. 1,465,917 (1,065) (60,242) 1,404,610
Contributions by Parent..................... 240,685 -- -- 240,685
Net loss.................................... -- -- (73,598) (73,598)
Adjustment for minimum pension liability.... -- 332 -- 332
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1996.................. 1,706,602 (733) (133,840) 1,572,029
Contributions by Parent..................... 352,819 -- -- 352,819
Net loss.................................... -- -- (293,401) (293,401)
Adjustment for minimum pension liability.... -- 90 -- 90
---------- ------------- ------------- -------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1997.................. 2,059,421 (643) (427,241) 1,631,537
Contributions by Parent..................... 98,757 -- -- 98,757
Net Loss.................................... -- -- (1,252,509) (1,252,509)
Adjustment for minimum pension liability.... -- (1,170) -- (1,170)
---------- -------------- ------------- --------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1998.................. $2,158,178 $ (1,813) $ (1,679,750) $ 476,615
========== ============== ============== =============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
F-37
92
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
(A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IRIDIUM LLC)
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(IN THOUSANDS)
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PERIOD FROM
------------------------------------------------ JUNE 14, 1991
(INCEPTION)
THROUGH
1996 1997 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1998
--------------- ---------------- ------------- --------------------
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net loss................................................. $ (73,598) $ (293,401) $(1,252,509) $(1,679,750)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash
used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization.......................... 674 119,124 551,912 673,341
Interest converted to debt............................. -- -- 143,966 143,966
Expense recognized for warrants issued in
connection with debt guarantee....................... 25,719 55,615 46,707 128,041
Loss on disposal of assets............................. -- 87 -- 87
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Increase in accounts receivable......................
Decrease (Increase) in prepaid expenses and -- -- (93) (93)
other current assets............................... (6,281) 542 (8,409) (15,021)
Increase in due from affiliates...................... (3,476) (10,128) (3,427) (17,031)
Increase in other assets............................. (4,079) (2,286) (431) (19,090)
Increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses.... 12,968 30,857 23,976 72,770
(Decrease) Increase in other liabilities............. 2,739 (1,493) 7,959 13,944
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
Net cash used in operating activities............. (45,334) (101,083) (490,349) (698,836)
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Purchases of property and equipment...................... (902,232) (861,563) (751,790) (3,866,480)
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
Net cash used in investing activities............. (902,232) (861,563) (751,790) (3,866,480)
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Net proceeds from issuance of Parent's Class 1
and Class 2 Interests.................................. 183,205 283,191 49,081 1,981,392
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes and warrants.. 238,453 1,039,189 341,317 1,618,959
Borrowings under guaranteed bank line of credit.......... 505,000 655,000 971,500 2,131,500
Payments under guaranteed bank line of credit............ -- (950,000) (556,500) (1,506,500)
Borrowings under senior secured line of credit........... -- 350,000 560,000 910,000
Payments under senior secured line of credit............. -- -- (410,000) (410,000)
Restricted cash (Increase) Decrease...................... -- (350,220) 350,220 --
Deferred financing costs................................. (28,535) (57,363) (47,763) (135,279)
Transfer (to) from Parent................................ -- (3,100) 3,100 --
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
Net cash provided by financing activities......... 898,123 966,697 1,260,955 4,590,072
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents........... (49,443) 4,051 18,816 24,756
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
beginning of period........................................ 51,332 1,889 5,940 --
------------- ------------- -------------- -------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period................... $ 1,889 $ 5,940 $ 24,756 $ 24,756
============= ============= ============== =============
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated
financial statements.
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IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
(A WHOLLY-OWNED SUBSIDIARY OF IRIDIUM LLC)
(A DEVELOPMENT STAGE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY)
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS
Iridium Operating LLC ("Iridium"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iridium LLC
(the "Parent") has completed its effort to develop and commercialize global
wireless system -- the Iridium(R) Communications System (the "Iridium System")
- -- that enables subscribers to send and receive telephone calls virtually
anywhere in the world -- all with one phone, one phone number and one customer
bill. Iridium commenced commercial phone service on November 1, 1998 and
commercial satellite paging service on November 15, 1998. Iridium is currently
transitioning from a development stage limited liability company to an operating
limited liability company.
Iridium, Inc. was incorporated on June 14, 1991. Iridium, Inc. operated as
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Motorola, Inc. ("Motorola") until July 29, 1993. On
July 29, 1993, Iridium, Inc. closed on, and had its first capital draw under, a
private placement of shares of Common Stock, subscribed to by U.S. and foreign
investors. As a result of three private placements of equity, five supplemental
private placements with certain additional equity investors and proceeds
received from the initial public offering of common stock of Iridium World
Communications Ltd. ("IWCL") (see note 3), Motorola's direct and indirect Class
1 Membership Interest ("Class 1 Interest") in the Parent has been reduced to
approximately 19% as of December 31, 1998, before considering unexercised
warrants held by Motorola.
The Iridium System is subject to regulation by the Federal Communications
Commission ("FCC"), and by foreign administrations and regulatory bodies. On
January 31, 1995, Motorola obtained a license from the FCC to construct, launch
and operate the Iridium System, subject to certain conditions.
On July 29, 1996, the Parent was formed as a limited liability company,
under the terms and conditions of the limited liability agreement ("LLC
Agreement"), pursuant to the provisions of the Delaware limited liability
company act. Also on July 29, 1996, Iridium, Inc. was merged with and into the
Parent, with the Parent as the surviving entity. Concurrent with the merger,
all shares of Common Stock of Iridium, Inc. were exchanged for Class 1
Interests in the Parent.
On December 18, 1997, the Parent entered into an asset drop-down
transaction ("the Asset Drop-Down Transaction") with Iridium Operating LLC
("Iridium"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent. Pursuant to the Asset
Drop-Down Transaction, substantially all of the assets and liabilities of the
Parent were transferred to Iridium, including, without limitation, all
liabilities with respect to the outstanding 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A
and 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B and the 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005,
Series C (collectively, the "Senior Notes"). Pursuant to the indentures relating
to the Senior Notes, Iridium has been substituted for the Parent, and the Parent
has been released from all obligations under the indentures relating to the
Senior Notes. All assets and liabilities were transferred to Iridium at the
Parent's carrying value. Accordingly, unless otherwise specified, references
within these notes to Iridium that relate to any action prior to the date of the
Asset Drop-Down Transaction should be construed as references to the Parent, as
predecessor of Iridium. As a result of the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the
Parent's only significant asset is its investment in Iridium.
On December 22, 1998, the Parent entered into a stock purchase agreement
with AT&T Wireless Services, Inc., ATGI, Inc. and Rogers Cantel Inc., pursuant
to which Iridium agreed to purchase all of the outstanding capital stock of
Claircom Communications Group, Inc., a provider of in-flight phone service for
commercial and private aircraft. The estimated aggregate purchase price is
approximately $65 million. The closing of this purchase is expected to occur in
the latter half of 1999 and is subject to regulatory approval and certain other
conditions.
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2. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
Principles of Consolidation and Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Iridium and
its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Iridium Capital Corporation, Iridium Roaming LLC,
Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Facilities Corporation and Iridium Canada Facilities
Inc. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
The accompanying consolidated financial statements present the financial
position and results of operations of Iridium for all prior periods as if the
Asset Drop-Down Transaction with Iridium had occurred as of June 14, 1991
(inception).
Development Stage Enterprise
Through the end of 1998, Iridium devoted its entire efforts to establishing
and commercializing the Iridium System. Accordingly, Iridium's principal
activities related to managing the design, construction and development of the
system and preparing for its day-to-day operations. Iridium commenced commercial
activation on November 1, 1998 and began the transition from a development stage
enterprise to an operating company.
Management Estimates
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles 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 consolidated
financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during
the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Iridium considers all highly liquid investments with an original maturity
of three months or less at the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Restricted Cash
In 1997, restricted cash consisted of the first stage of borrowing under
the $1 billion secured credit facility with a syndicate of lenders, led by Chase
Securities, Inc., and Barclays Capital, a division of Barclays Bank PLC. The
funds were restricted subject to Iridium meeting specified milestones. The
milestones were met in January 1998 and the restriction was lifted.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment is carried at historical cost less accumulated
depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization is calculated using
the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives:
Satellites in service................... 5 years
Ground segment in service............... 7 years
Furniture, fixtures and equipment....... 5 years
Leasehold improvements.................. Shorter of 5 years or remaining lease term
The costs of constructing and placing satellites into service are
capitalized. Losses from satellite failures for which Iridium has financial
responsibility under its contractual arrangements with Motorola are recognized
currently. Motorola bears the risk of loss for launch failures and satellite
failures before a satellite is placed into service.
System Under Construction
System under construction includes all costs incurred related to the
construction of the space and ground components of the Iridium System.
Depreciation expense is recognized on a satellite-by-satellite basis as the
satellites are placed into service following delivery of each satellite to its
mission orbit. Depreciation related to the ground control stations commenced
with the placement in service of each station.
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A portion of interest costs incurred during the construction of the Iridium
System were capitalized. Total interest costs in 1998 amounted to approximately
443,308,000. Interest cost capitalized for the years ended December 31, 1997 and
1998 was approximately $163,747,000 and $170,089,000, respectively. Interest
costs amounting to $273,219,000 have been expensed as incurred in 1998. Interest
paid for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998 was approximately
$30,191,000 and $186,897,000, respectively.
The costs capitalized in system under construction are transferred to
property and equipment as the underlying assets are placed into service. As of
December 31, 1998, all costs associated with the system have been placed into
service.
Iridium has adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 121,
Accounting for the Impairment of Long-lived Assets and for Long-lived Assets to
be Disposed of ("Statement 121"). Statement 121 requires that long-lived assets
to be held and used be reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be
recoverable. An impairment loss is recognized when the undiscounted net cash
flows associated with the asset are less than the asset's carrying amount.
Impairment losses, if any, are measured as the excess of the carrying amount of
the asset over its estimated fair market value. The adoption of Statement 121
did not have a material impact on Iridium's results of operations for the years
ended December 31, 1997 and 1998.
Deferred Financing Costs
All costs incurred in connection with securing debt financing have been
deferred and are amortized over the terms of the related debt in a manner that
approximates the effective yield method. Costs for future debt financing are
also deferred and are included in other non-current assets in the accompanying
consolidated balance sheets. Total deferred financing costs, net of accumulated
amortization, are approximately $113,394,000 and $96,136,000 at December 31,
1997 and 1998, respectively.
Income Taxes
As a limited liability company with a single member, Iridium is not treated
as a separate entity for Federal income tax purposes. Instead, the Parent
reports Iridium's taxable income or loss in its Federal income tax return.
Iridium, Inc. was subject to Federal, state and local income taxes directly. As
a result of the merger of Iridium, Inc. with and into the Parent, the Parent
became a limited liability company. As a limited liability company, the Parent
is no longer subject to U. S. Federal income tax directly. Rather, each member
of the Parent is subject to U.S. Federal income taxation based on its ratable
portion of the Parent's income or loss. However, Iridium's primary operations
are in the District of Columbia which does not recognize the limited liability
status for tax purposes. Accordingly, Iridium is subject to District of Columbia
franchise taxes directly. Iridium recognizes its provision for income taxes
under the asset and liability method as if it filed its income tax returns on a
separate basis. Under the asset and liability method, deferred tax assets and
deferred tax liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences
attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of
existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax
assets and liabilities are measured using tax rates expected to apply to taxable
income in the years in which these temporary differences are expected to be
recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a
change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the
enactment date.
Revenues
Iridium recognizes revenue as phone and paging services are provided.
Revenue in 1998 relates solely to satellite phone usage. Revenue is earned
through Gateway owners whose subscribers utilize the phone and paging services.
Gateway owners are also members of the Parent. Iridium has executed a 60-day
settlement agreement with each of these Gateway owners for purposes of
collecting earned revenues.
Operations and Maintenance Contract
Iridium recognizes its obligations under the Operations and Maintenance
Contract (Note 7) on a straight-lined basis over the term of the contract. Costs
incurred under the contract that extend the useful life of the space system are
capitalized and all other costs are expensed.
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Other Comprehensive Income
In June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement No.
130, Reporting Comprehensive Income ("Statement 130"). Statement 130 establishes
standards for the reporting and display of comprehensive income and its
components in the consolidated financial statements. The amounts associated with
the components of other comprehensive income relate to the Iridium's adjustment
for minimum pension liability and are not material.
Reclassifications
Certain 1996 and 1997 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the 1998
presentation.
3. MEMBER'S EQUITY
The sole member of Iridium is the Parent and the Parent holds all
outstanding membership interests in Iridium. The limited liability company
agreement of Iridium provides that the members of the Parent may manage Iridium
only through their designated directors and have no authority in their capacity
as members to act on the behalf of Iridium. The Parent is generally not liable
for the debts, obligations or liabilities of Iridium.
The Parent is entitled to receive dividends, as and when declared by the
Iridium Board of Directors, in its discretion. In the event that the Parent is
required by the terms of the Parent's Limited Liability Agreement to declare or
pay a dividend to its members, Iridium is required to declare and pay a dividend
to the Parent in the same amount. The Parent is currently required to declare
and pay a dividend sufficient to assure that each non-U.S. Class 1 Member of the
Parent receives and amount at least equal to the amount of such member's U.S.
federal, state and local income tax liability resulting from allocations of the
Parent's taxable income to such member. Iridium is presently restricted by the
terms of certain of its debt obligations from declaring or paying dividends to
the Parent in amounts in excess of those required to be made to the Parent.
4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment at December 31, 1997 and 1998, consists of the
following (in thousands):
1997 1998
--------------- ---------------
Space system in service................................. $ 1,624,120 $ 3,481,482
Terrestrial system asset................................ -- 550,716
Business support systems................................ -- 176,624
Office equipment and furniture.......................... 13,920 37,450
Leasehold improvements.................................. 8,424 9,852
-------------- -------------
1,646,464 4,256,124
Less-accumulated depreciation and amortization.......... (120,138) (671,915)
-------------- -------------
Property and equipment, net............................. $ 1,526,326 $ 3,584,209
============== =============
5. DEBT
Old Guaranteed Bank Facility
On August 21, 1996, the Parent entered into a $750 million credit agreement
(the "Old Guaranteed Bank Facility") with a group of banks led by The Chase
Manhattan Bank, NA and Barclays Bank, PLC. On the same date, the Parent entered
into the Guarantee Agreement whereby Motorola agreed to guarantee the entire
$750 million commitment amount (the "Old Motorola Guarantee"). In connection
with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent's obligations under the Old
Guaranteed Bank Facility were assigned to Iridium. The Old Guaranteed Bank
Facility provided that Iridium could elect to borrow amounts at the then current
short-term Eurodollar rate plus 1/4% or at the then current Base Rate
(generally, the higher of the Federal Funds Rate as established by the Federal
Reserve Bank of New York plus 0.50% or The Chase Manhattan Bank's prime
commercial lending rate). Iridium also paid a commitment fee of 1/10 of 1% on
any unused portion of the $750 million credit facility. Interest rates on the
Old Guaranteed Bank Facility ranged from 5.63% to 8.50 % during 1997 and from
5.75% to 5.94% during 1996. On July 21, 1997, the commitment of the bank lenders
under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility was permanently reduced from $750 million
to $655 million. On October 22, 1997, the commitment of the bank lenders under
the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility was further permanently reduced to $450
million. At December 31, 1997, $210,000,000 was outstanding under the Old
Guaranteed Bank Facility. Borrowings under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility were
to mature on June 30, 1999.
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On May 11, 1998, the Parent entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with
Motorola (the "Old Motorola MOU") whereby Motorola conditionally agreed that it
would (i) guarantee up to $350 million of additional indebtedness (including
principal and interest) under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility or another credit
facility on identical terms, provided that borrowings under such additional
indebtedness were made on or prior to February 28, 1999 and (ii) guarantee up to
approximately $175 million of additional indebtedness (including principal and
interest) under the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility or a credit agreement having
identical terms as the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility (other than maturity). As
discussed below, the Old Motorola MOU has been replaced with a new agreement.
Under the Old Motorola Guarantee, the Parent was required to issue warrants
to Motorola to purchase up to 11,250,000 Class 1 Interests and as consideration
for its guarantee, Motorola earned 82,500 warrants for each year (or portion
thereof) the $750 million guarantee was outstanding. Warrants earned were issued
to Motorola on a quarterly basis. Each warrant entitled Motorola to purchase 75
Class 1 Interests at an exercise price of $0.00013 per interest, subject to
anti-dilution adjustments. The warrants can be exercised after five years from
date of issuance and expired ten years from date of issuance. Motorola earned
29,836, 64,518 and 9,472 warrants to purchase Class 1 Interests in accordance
with the Old Motorola Guarantee Agreement during the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. Iridium recognized $25,719,000, $55,615,000
and $8,790,000 as an expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of
operations to reflect the fair market value of the warrants earned by Motorola
for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively. As discussed
below, the Old Motorola Guarantee has been replaced with a new agreement.
New Guaranteed Bank Facility
On December 23, 1998, Iridium replaced the Old Guaranteed Bank Facility
with two new bank facilities that consist of a $475 million term credit facility
that matures on December 29, 2000 and a $275 million revolving credit facility
that matures on December 31, 2001, each with a different, but partially
overlapping, syndicate of lenders. These facilities are guaranteed by Motorola
and provide that Iridium may elect to borrow amounts at the then current
Eurodollar rate plus 0.75% or at the then current Base Rate (generally, the
higher of the Federal funds rate as established by the Federal Reserve Bank of
New York plus 0.50% or The Chase Manhattan Bank's prime commercial lending
rate). In 1998 interest rates on the Guaranteed Bank Facility ranged from 5.313
% to 8.00%. As of December 31, 1998, Iridium had drawn an aggregate of
approximately $625 million under these facilities (approximately $470 million
under the term facility and approximately $155 million under the revolving
facility).
Old Senior Secured Bank Line of Credit
In 1997, Iridium entered into a Credit Agreement with Chase Securities
Inc., The Chase Manhattan Bank, Barclays Bank PLC and Barclays Capital, the
investment banking division of Barclays Bank PLC, and a syndicate of lenders
(the "Old Secured Lenders") for a senior bank facility in a principal amount of
$1 billion (the "Old Secured Bank Facility"), of which $250 million was not
available for borrowings prior to the commercial activation date. The Old
Secured Bank Facility was secured by substantially all of Iridium's assets. The
Old Secured Bank Facility was further secured by the $243 million Reserve
Capital Call of the members of Parent and all of the Parent's membership
interests in Iridium. Borrowings under the Old Secured Bank Facility were to
mature on September 30, 1998, subject to Iridium's right to extend such maturity
until up to June 30, 1999 if it could demonstrate by July 1, 1998 that it had
sufficient available or committed financing for its budgeted project costs
through such extended maturity. At December 31, 1997, $350,000,000 was
outstanding under the Old Secured Bank Facility. In 1998, the maturity of the
borrowings under the Old Secured Bank Facility was extended to December 31,
1998.
New Senior Secured Bank Line of Credit
On December 23, 1998 Iridium entered into a new secured facility with a new
syndicate of lenders for $800 million. This facility provides that Iridium may
elect to borrow amounts at the then current short-term Eurodollar rate plus 4%
or at the then current Base Rate (generally, the higher of the Federal Funds
Rate as established by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York plus 0.50% or The
Chase Manhattan Bank's prime commercial lending rate plus 2.75% ). The facility
is secured by the same assets as the Old Secured Bank Facility and as of
December 31, 1998 Iridium had drawn $500 million. The principal matures on
December 29, 2000. Various additional covenants were added to the agreement,
which include meeting certain revenue and subscriber levels. Additionally, in
January 1999 Iridium drew down another $300 million in connection with this
facility.
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98
Motorola MOU and Motorola ARG; Conditional Commitment of Motorola to Guarantee
Additional Borrowings.
In connection with the establishment of the secured bank facility and the
guaranteed bank facilities, Motorola, Parent and Iridium entered into the
Motorola memorandum of understanding, or "MOU", which amended and restated the
Old Motorola MOU. Under the Motorola MOU, Motorola has agreed to, among other
things, (i) guarantee up to $750 million of obligations under the guaranteed
bank facilities, (ii) consent to and agree to an amendment to the guaranteed
bank facilities and the related guarantee agreement (or to enter into a new bank
credit facility and guarantee agreement on the same terms (other than pricing))
that together provide for a $350 million increase in the Motorola guaranteed
borrowings available thereunder, (iii) permit Iridium to defer its obligations
to pay up to an aggregate of $400 million of payments under the O&M contract
until December 29, 2000, (iv) guarantee up to $400 million of additional
borrowings under a bank credit facility with terms (other than pricing)
identical in all material respects to the guaranteed credit facilities on the
condition that such additional guaranteed borrowings be used exclusively to make
payments to Motorola for deferred obligations under the O&M contract (as
described in (iii) above), (v) subordinate certain of its claims vis-a-vis
Iridium to the lenders under the secured bank facility and (vi) consent to an
amendment to the $275 million revolving credit facility component of the
guaranteed bank facilities that would extend the maturity of such facility to
beyond the maturity of the senior notes (which are due July 15, 2005). Iridium
has agreed under the Motorola MOU that it will compensate Motorola for providing
guarantees, deferral rights and other credit support (collectively, the
"Motorola exposure", which generally includes the aggregate amount guaranteed,
or permitted to be deferred, by Motorola) pursuant to the Motorola agreement
regarding guarantee, or "ARG".
Motorola, Parent and Iridium also entered into the Motorola ARG, which
amended and restated the Old Motorola ARG. Payments under the Motorola ARG are
based on the amount and duration of Motorola exposure and are due and payable
quarterly. Prior to October 1, 1999, Iridium is required to pay Motorola cash
interest on the amount deferred at an annual interest rate of 12% for Motorola
exposure relating to the deferred amounts under the O&M contract. For Motorola
exposure relating to guarantees of borrowings under bank credit facilities that
exists prior to October 1, 1999, Iridium and Parent are required to compensate
Motorola with cash interest and equity (including warrants to purchase either
Class 1 Interests or, under certain conditions, Class A Common Stock). Prior to
October 1, 1999, Motorola's compensation for Motorola exposure relating to the
guaranteed bank facilities and the Motorola guaranteed O&M bank facility (if
available) is based on the terms of the Series A and Series B Senior Notes. This
"high yield based compensation" equals (i) interest on the Motorola exposure at
an annual interest rate equal to the amount, if any, by which the interest rate
on the relevant bank facility is less than 13.625% (the weighted average
interest rate on the Series A and Series B Senior Notes) plus (ii) the payment
of warrants to purchase approximately 66.758 Class 1 Interests (or shares of
Class A Common Stock) per day per each $100 million of Motorola exposure at a
purchase price of $20.90 per interest (or share) (the average daily warrant
compensation payable to holders of senior notes).
After October 1, 1999, Iridium and Parent are required to pay Motorola
equity compensation (in the form of warrants to purchase Class 1 Interests at a
purchase price of $0.00013 per interest) for all Motorola exposure unless the
aggregate Motorola exposure is less than or equal to $275 million, in which case
Iridium may pay Motorola high yield based compensation. During this period,
unless the Motorola exposure is less than $275 million, the amount of warrant
compensation payable per dollar of Motorola exposure increases substantially as
the Motorola exposure increases. In addition, Iridium is required to compensate
Motorola with warrants to purchase Class 1 Interests at a price of $0.00013 per
interest for any Motorola exposure resulting from Motorola making available any
part of the additional $350 million in guaranteed borrowings discussed above
regardless of when such Motorola exposure is incurred.
Parent and Iridium also have agreed under the Motorola MOU that they (i)
will use their best efforts to reduce the Motorola exposure to no more than $275
million by the earliest possible date, including obtaining bank credit
agreements not guaranteed by Motorola, issuing debt and equity securities (under
certain conditions) and using revenues from operations, if available, to reduce
the available borrowings under credit facilities guaranteed by Motorola and to
pay amounts deferred under contracts with Motorola, (ii) will use their best
efforts to obtain, on or before October 1, 1999, the Motorola guaranteed O&M
bank facility to finance the payment of all deferred amounts under the O&M
contract, (iii) will not have outstanding in excess of (a) $1.7 billion of
indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by the assets of Iridium or (b)
$1.62 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes, (iv) will not make
certain acquisitions without Motorola's consent and (v) will provide Motorola
with the right (in addition to Motorola's rights to representation based on its
holdings of Class 1 Interests) to appoint one additional director to the Boards
of Directors of Parent and Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $275
million, and the right to appoint a second additional director to the Boards of
Directors of Parent and Iridium any time the Motorola exposure exceeds $750
million. In addition, while Motorola has agreed to consent to (i) a $350 million
increase in the amount of guaranteed borrowings available under the guaranteed
bank facilities (or a new credit facility with terms (other than pricing)
identical in all material respects) and (ii) an extension of the maturity of the
$275 million revolving credit facility component of the guaranteed bank
facilities, there can be no assurance that the lenders under the guaranteed
credit facilities would agree to such amendments or that such a new credit
facility would be available.
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Motorola's obligation to defer receipt of up to $400 million in payment
under the O&M contract is unconditional. All of Motorola's other obligations
under the Motorola MOU, including, without limitation, its obligation to consent
to and agree to an amendment to the guaranteed bank facilities and the related
guarantee agreement (or to enter into a new bank credit facility and guarantee
agreement on the same material terms (other than principal)) that together
provide for a $350 million increase in the Motorola guaranteed borrowings
available thereunder, are conditioned on Iridium complying with the terms of the
Motorola MOU, Motorola ARG, the O&M contract and other agreements with Motorola,
including Iridium's payment obligations under each such agreement.
Notes Payable
On July 16, 1997, the Parent, IWCL and Iridium Capital Corporation
completed an offering (the "High Yield Offering") of (i) 300,000 units, each
consisting of $1,000 principal amount of 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A
("Series A Notes"), and one IWCL Warrant representing the right to purchase 5.2
shares of Class A Common Stock of IWCL, and (ii) $500 million aggregate
principal amount of 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B ("Series B Notes").
Concurrent with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent's obligations under
the Series A Notes and Series B Notes were assigned to Iridium. The Series A
Notes and Series B Notes are guaranteed by Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC
and Iridium Facilities Corporation. The aggregate net proceeds received were
approximately $746 million. Interest on the Series A Notes and Series B Notes is
payable in cash semi-annually on January 15th and July 15th of each year,
commencing on January 15, 1998. The notes are redeemable at the option of
Iridium, in whole or in part, at any time on or after July 15, 2002. The Series
A Notes and Series B Notes mature on July 15, 2005.
On October 17, 1997, the Parent and Iridium Capital Corporation completed
an offering of $300 million principal amount of 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005,
Series C ("Series C Notes"). Concurrent with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction,
the Parent's obligations under the Series C Notes were assigned to Iridium. The
Series C Notes are guaranteed by Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium
Facilities Corporation. The net proceeds received were approximately $293
million. Interest on the Series C Notes is payable in cash semi-annually on
January 15th and July 15th of each year, commencing on January 15, 1998. The
Series C Notes are redeemable at the option of Iridium, in whole or in part, at
any time on or after July 15, 2002. The Series C Notes mature on July 15, 2005.
On May 13, 1998, Iridium and Iridium Capital Corporation completed an
offering of $350 million principal amount of 10 7/8% Senior Notes due 2005,
Series D ("Series D Notes"). The Series D Notes are guaranteed by Iridium
Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium Facilities Corporation. The Series D
Notes have substantially the same terms as the Senior Notes other than interest
rate and issue date. The net proceeds received were approximately $342 million.
Interest on the Series D Notes is payable in cash semi-annually on January 15th
and July 15th of each year, commencing on July 15, 1998. The Series D Notes are
redeemable at the option of Iridium, in whole or in part, at any time on or
after July 15, 2002. The Series D Notes mature on July 15, 2005.
Notes payable, net of discounts, as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 consist
of the following (in thousands):
1997 1998
------------ --------------
13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A............... $ 276,439 $ 278,282
14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B............... 477,849 479,565
11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005, Series C........... 300,000 300,000
10 7/8% Senior Notes due 2005, Series D........... -- 347,888
------------ --------------
$ 1,054,288 $ 1,405,735
============ ==============
Long-Term Debt Due to Members of the Parent
During 1996, the Parent sold units to certain of its members and their
affiliates; each unit consisting of $1,000 principal amount at maturity of 14
1/2% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes due 2006 (the "Notes") and one warrant
to purchase 10.40775 Class 1 Interests of the Parent, for aggregate proceeds of
approximately $238,453,000. Concurrent with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the
Parent's obligations under the Notes were assigned to Iridium. The Notes are
unsecured and are subordinate to all senior debt of Iridium. The Notes fully
accrete to an aggregate face value of $480,150,000 on March 1, 2001 and mature
on March 1, 2006. Each Note accrues cash interest at a rate of 14 1/2% per
annum, payable semi-annually commencing on September 1, 2001. The Notes will be
subject to redemption, at the option of Iridium, at any time on or after March
1, 2001. The warrants, which entitle the holder to purchase Class I Interests at
an exercise price of $.01 per interest, are exercisable on March 1, 2001 and
expire on March 1, 2006. The Parent recognized the estimated fair market value
of these warrants of $31,761,000 as an addition to members' equity.
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100
Future Principal Payments
Future scheduled principal payments of long-term debt are as follows (in
thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT
-------------------------------------------- ----------------
1999...................................... $ --
2000...................................... 1,056,000
2001...................................... 155,000
2002...................................... --
2003...................................... --
2004 and beyond........................... 1,930,000
---------------
$3,141,000
===============
6. INCOME TAXES
From inception through July 29, 1996, Iridium, Inc. was subject to U.S.
Federal and state and local income taxes directly, and accordingly, recognized
provisions for income taxes for U.S. Federal and for all state and local
jurisdictions. Subsequent to the merger of Iridium, Inc. into a limited
liability company, the Parent and Iridium are no longer subject to U.S. Federal
income tax directly; however, Iridium is subject to District of Columbia
franchise taxes.
Iridium's provision for income taxes for the years ended December 31, 1995,
1996, and 1997 consists of the following (in thousands):
1996 1997 1998
--------- --------- -----------
Current
-- Federal............. $ 3,435 $ -- $ --
-- State and Local..... 1,154 -- --
Deferred
-- Federal............. -- -- --
-- State and Local..... -- -- --
--------- --------- -----------
$ 4,589 $ -- $ --
========= ========= ===========
The primary reconciling differences between income tax expense and the
amount of tax benefit that would be expected to result by applying the Federal
statutory rate of 35% to the loss before income taxes for the period from
January 1, 1996 to July 29, 1996 (the date of the merger of Iridium, Inc. into
the Parent) relate primarily to the capitalization for tax purposes of certain
start-up expenditures, and state and local taxes. Subsequent to the date of the
merger of Iridium, Inc. into the Parent, deferred taxes are recognized for those
jurisdictions for which the Parent and Iridium are taxed directly, resulting in
a deferred tax asset for capitalized start-up expenditures and depreciation of
$34,599,000 and $59,660,000 at December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, for
which a 100% valuation allowance has been established.
In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, management considers
whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of deferred tax
assets will be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is
dependent upon the generation of future taxable income during the periods in
which temporary differences become deductible. Management considers scheduled
reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax
planning strategies that can be implemented in making this assessment.
7. TRANSACTIONS WITH MEMBERS OF THE PARENT
Management Services Agreement
In connection with the IWCL IPO, the Parent and IWCL entered into a
Management Services Agreement. The Management Services Agreement was amended and
restated in connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction to add Iridium as a
party.
Pursuant to the Management Services Agreement, the Parent has agreed to
supervise and manage the day-to-day activities of Iridium. Among other things,
the Parent is responsible for administering the following functions of Iridium:
contract administration (including the Space System Contract, the TNDC and the
O&M Contract), treasury, accounting, legal, tax, insurance, licenses and permits
and securities law compliance. The Parent similarly has agreed to supervise and
manage the day-to-day operations of IWCL. Among other things, the Parent is
responsible for administering the following functions of IWCL: treasury,
accounting, legal, tax, insurance, licenses and permits and securities law
compliance. In addition, Parent has agreed to advance funds to IWCL in the event
that IWCL does not have sufficient funds to pay income or similar taxes. The
Parent does not receive fees or reimbursement from
F-46
101
IWCL for its services to IWCL under the Management Services Agreement; however,
the cost of such services provided to IWCL to date is not significant.
In return for such services, Iridium has agreed to provide sufficient
funds, on a cost reimbursable basis, to the Parent to enable the Parent to
manage the business and operations of each of Iridium and IWCL, including
payments of Parent's obligations to its employees, consultants and directors,
and payments for Parent's office space and equipment, sales, general operating
and administrative expenses, insurance and its obligation under certain
contracts.
Support Agreement
Under a Support Agreement, Motorola provides certain general and
administrative support to the Parent, Iridium and its subsidiaries. On a cost
reimbursable basis, Motorola has provided payroll processing and related
benefits to the Parent employees, processed payments to certain contractors
providing support to the Parent and Iridium, and provided other administrative
support. In connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned
the Support Agreement to Iridium. The amounts and nature of such costs for the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 consist of the following (in
thousands):
1996 1997 1998
------- ------- ------
Consulting $ 826 $ 643 $ 244
Other......... 26 5 --
------- ------- ------
$ 852 $ 648 $ 244
======= ======= ======
As of December 31, 1997, and 1998, the balance payable to Motorola under
the Support Agreement was approximately $0 and $244,000, respectively.
Space System Contract
The Parent entered into the Space System Contract with Motorola to design,
develop, produce and deliver the Space Segment component of the Iridium System.
In connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the
Space System Contract to Iridium. Under this fixed priced contract, Motorola
constructed the space vehicles, placed them into low-earth orbits and
constructed the related ground segments for a contract price of $3.45 billion.
For the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, $836 million, $577
million, and $574 million respectively, was incurred under the Space System
Contract. Such costs are capitalized as system under construction in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets and are transferred to property and
equipment as the underlying assets are placed into service. As of December 31,
1997 and 1998, the balance payable to Motorola under the Space System Contract
was $0 million and $55 million, respectively. The remaining $55 million
remaining obligation under the Space System Contract, is expected to be paid in
1999.
Terrestrial Network Development Contract
The Parent entered into the Terrestrial Network Development Contract
("TNDC") with Motorola for an original amount of $160 million. In connection
with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the TNDC to Iridium.
Under the TNDC, Motorola is designing and developing the terrestrial gateway
hardware and software. The payments under the original contract are tied to the
completion of milestones specified in the contract. During 1996, the TNDC was
amended to obligate Motorola to provide additional services and support under
the TNDC in exchange for an additional $18.9 million. During 1997 and 1998, the
TNDC was further amended to obligate Motorola to provide additional services and
support bringing the total contract price of the TNDC to $356 million. Certain
of the Parent's members will own the individual gateways and will have no
obligation to Iridium or the Parent for any of the amounts due to Motorola under
the TNDC. For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, Iridium incurred $74
million and $174 million, respectively, under the TNDC. Such costs are
capitalized as system under construction in the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets and are transferred to property and equipment as the underlying
assets are placed into service. As of December 31, 1997 and 1998, the balance
payable to Motorola under the TNDC was $11 million and $76 million,
respectively. The aggregate fixed and determinable portion of all remaining
obligations under the TNDC, assuming that all obligations are settled in cash,
is $130 million, of which $120 million is expected to be paid in 1999 and the
remaining $10 million in 2000.
Operations and Maintenance Contract
To provide for the operations and maintenance of the space segment upon
completion of the Space System Contract, the Parent entered into the Operations
and Maintenance Contract ("O&M") with Motorola. In connection with the Asset
Drop-Down Transaction, the Parent assigned the O&M contract to Iridium. This
contract obligates Motorola for a period of five years after
F-47
102
completion of the final milestone under the Space System Contract to operate the
Space System, and to exert its best efforts to monitor, upgrade and replace
hardware and software of the space segment (including the individual space
vehicles) at specified levels, in exchange for specified monthly payments. Such
payments are expected to aggregate approximately $2.89 billion. During 1996, a
two-year option agreement was entered into for the extension of the O&M contract
with Motorola after the completion of the initial five-year term. If such option
is exercised, Iridium will be obligated to make monthly payments expected to
aggregate an additional $1.34 billion. The contract commenced in November 1998.
Iridium capitalized $46 million of costs in 1998 that pertain to hardware and
software components of the space segment that extend its useful life. The
portion of the costs of the O&M associated with day-to-day operations in 1998
was $50.4 million and was expensed as incurred. Under the Motorola MOU, Motorola
has agreed to permit Iridium to defer its obligations to up to an aggregate of
$400 million of payments due to Motorola under the O&M Contract until December
29, 2000. As of December 31, 1998 Iridium has deferred payment of $86 million of
its obligations under the O&M Contract and expects to defer an aggregate of $400
million of such obligations prior to September 1, 1999. Under the O&M, Iridium
is required to compensate Motorola with cash and equity compensation. The
remaining aggregate fixed and determinable portion of all obligations under the
O&M, excluding vendor financing and the optional two-year extension, is expected
to be as follows (in thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT
-------------------------------------------- --------------
1999...................................... $ 537,000
2000...................................... 557,000
2001...................................... 581,000
2002...................................... 605,000
2003...................................... 525,000
------------
$ 2,805,000
============
Gateway Owners Incentives
The Parent agreed to issue warrants to purchase 300,000 Class 1 Interests
to each gateway owner whose specified gateway activities were completed on
schedule, and warrants to purchase 7,500 Class 1 Interests for each $1 million
of cumulative Iridium System service revenue generated within 15 months of
commercial activation, but in no event will warrants to purchase more than an
aggregate of 9,165,000 Class 1 Interests be issued to all gateway owners. In
1998, the Parent authorized the issuance of 3.3 million warrants for those
gateways in compliance with the schedule at an exercise price of $.00013 per
interest, no warrants have been issued related to service revenues through
December 31, 1998. The warrants have terms identical to those issued to Motorola
under the Guarantee Agreement (see Note 5). In 1998, the Parent expensed
$37,917,000 in connection with these warrants.
8. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS
The Parent has adopted a comprehensive performance incentive and retirement
benefit package. Under the terms of the Management Services Agreement (See Note
7), Iridium has committed to reimburse the Parent for all costs associated with
employee benefits except for non-cash compensation related to employee stock
options. The performance incentive program became effective in 1993, while the
various retirement plans became effective on February 1, 1994.
Incentive Programs
The Parent has established short and long-term incentive plans primarily
based on employee performance. Effective December 31, 1995, the Parent
terminated the long-term incentive plan. The remaining liability of the
long-term incentive plan is approximately $1,738,000 and $1,745,000 as of
December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, and was paid in January of 1999. Under
these plans, the Parent incurred expenses of approximately $1,252,000,
$3,412,000 and $5,800,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998,
respectively.
401(k) Employee Retirement Savings Plan
The Parent adopted a 401(k) employee retirement savings plan in 1994
covering all employees. Through 1997, the Parent made matching contributions to
this qualified plan on behalf of participating employees up to 3% of employees'
compensation. During 1998, in accordance with plan amendments, the Parent made
matching payments equal to 50% of employee contributions up to certain limits.
Employee contributions to the plan vest immediately. The Parent's contributions
vest ratably over a seven-year period, including service credit for any prior
employment with Motorola. Under this plan, the Parent has incurred expenses of
approximately $288,000, $558,000 and $1,539,000 during the years ended December
31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, respectively.
F-48
103
Retirement Plans
All employees of the Parent are covered by a non-contributory defined
benefit retirement plan. Vesting in plan benefits generally occurs after five
years. Benefits under the plan are based on years of credited service (including
any prior employment with Motorola), age at retirement and the average earnings
over the last four years. The plan is funded annually in accordance with the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
The Parent adopted non-qualified defined benefit plans covering employees
earnings in excess of the maximum amounts which may be considered under the
qualified plan.
The net periodic pension cost recognized under the plans was approximately
$1,925,000, $2,420,000 and $6,847,000 for the years ended December 31, 1996,
1997, and 1998, respectively. For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998,
the amounts provided to cover taxes associated with the plan benefits were
$693,000 and $1,411,000 respectively. In addition, an additional minimum pension
liability adjustment of $90,000 and a reduction adjustment of $1,170,000 has
been recorded for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1998, respectively, for
its non-qualified plans. The additional minimum pension liability is included as
an increase (decrease) to members' equity.
Summary of Defined Benefit Plans
Benefit obligations for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit
plans in total for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997, and 1998, are as
follows (in thousands):
1996 1997 1998
------------------------------- ----------------------------- -------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
------------- ----------------- ------------ ---------------- ----------- -------------
Benefit obligation at end of
prior year................... $ 1,602 $ 4,404 $ 2,554 $ 5,179 $ 4,722 $ 5,039
Service cost................... 789 438 1,291 513 3,162 2,453
Interest cost.................. 133 339 206 285 381 600
Plan amendments................ -- -- -- -- -- 1,149
Net actuarial (gain)/loss...... 30 (2) 671 595 1,876 3,624
Benefits paid.................. -- -- -- -- (20) (1)
Curtailments and/or
settlements.................. -- -- -- (1,533) -- --
------------ ----------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ---------
Benefit obligation at end of
year......................... $ 2,554 $ 5,179 $ 4,722 $ 5,039 $ 10,121 $ 12,864
============ =========== ========== =========== ========== =========
Plan assets for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans in
total for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, are as follows (in
thousands):
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104
1996 1997
--------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
----------------- -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
Fair value of assets at end of
prior year................... $ 1,186 $ -- $ 1,931 $ --
Actual return on plan assets 217 -- 477 --
Employer contribution.......... 528 -- 1,363 1,418
Benefits paid.................. -- -- (14) (1,418)
------------ ---------------- -------------- ----------------
Fair value of assets at end of
year......................... $ 1,931 $ -- $ 3,757 $ --
============ ================ ============= ===============
1998
------------------------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
------------------ -------------------
Fair value of assets at end of
prior year................... $ 3,757 $ --
Actual return on plan assets 713 --
Employer contribution.......... 240 1
Benefits paid.................. (20) (1)
-------------- --------------
Fair value of assets at end of
year......................... $ 4,690 $ --
============= =============
Pension cost for the qualified and non-qualified defined benefit plans in
total for the years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998, are as follows (in
thousands):
1996 1997
--------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
----------------- -------------------- ------------------ -------------------
Service cost................... $ 789 $ 438 $ 1,292 $ 512
Interest cost on projected
benefit obligation........... 133 339 206 285
Actual return on assets........ (82) -- (138) --
Amortization of actuarial
loss......................... -- 51 -- 6
Amortization of
unrecognized prior service
costs........................ -- -- -- --
Amortization of transition
obligation................... 19 238 19 238
------- --------- --------- ---------
Net periodic cost.............. $ 859 $ 1,066 $ 1,379 $ 1,041
======= ========= ========= =========
1998
------------------------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
------------------ -------------------
Service cost................... $ 3,162 $ 2,453
Interest cost on projected
benefit obligation........... 381 599
Actual return on assets........ (261) --
Amortization of actuarial
loss......................... 33 133
Amortization of
unrecognized prior service
costs........................ -- 99
Amortization of transition
obligation................... 19 229
-------------- --------------
Net periodic cost.............. $ 3,334 $ 3,513
============== ==============
The following table describes the funded status of the plans at December
31, 1997 and 1998 (in thousands). The actuarial calculations were determined by
consulting actuaries:
1997 1998
------------------------------------------ --------------------------------------
QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED QUALIFIED NON-QUALIFIED
-------------- ------------------- --------------- -----------------
Accumulated present value of obligations:
Accumulated benefit obligation,
including vested benefits.............. $(3,334) $ (2,269) $(6,933) $(6,822)
======== ========== ========== =============
Projected benefit obligation for
service rendered to date............... $(4,722) $ (5,039) $(10,121) $(12,864)
Plan assets at fair value................ 3,757 -- 4,690 --
------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Projected benefit obligation in
excess of plan assets.................. (965) (5,039) (5,431) (12,864)
Unrecognized prior service
costs.................................. -- -- -- 1,050
Unrecognized transition obligation....... 302 2,123 283 1,894
Unrecognized net (gain) loss............. 118 870 1,508 4,361
------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Accrued pension cost..................... (545) (2,046) (3,640) (5,559)
Adjustment required to recognize
minimum liability...................... -- (643) -- (1,813)
------- ---------- ---------- -------------
Pension liability........................ $ (545) $ (2,689) $ (3,640) $ (7,372)
======= ========== ========== =============
Actuarial assumptions:
Discount rate............................ 7% 7% 6.5% 6.5%
Long-term rate of return................. 8% 8% 8% 8%
Salary increases......................... 5% 7.5% 5% 7.5%
9. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following table presents the carrying amounts and estimated fair values
of financial instruments as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 (in thousands):
1997 1998
------------------------------------ ----------------------------------
CARRYING FAIR CARRYING FAIR
AMOUNT VALUE AMOUNT VALUE
--------------- -------------- ----------- -----------
Bank facilities $ 560,000 $ 560,000 $ 1,125,000 $ 1,125,000
Long-term debt due to Members 273,302 273,302 323,484 323,484
Senior Notes, Series A, B, C and D 1,054,288 1,156,000 1,405,735 1,034,754
F-50
105
The fair value of long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market
prices or on current rates offered for similar debt. The carrying amounts of due
from affiliates and accounts payable and accrued expenses approximate their fair
market value as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 because of the relatively short
duration of these financial instruments.
10. COMMITMENTS
Operating Leases
The Parent leases office space and equipment under non-cancelable operating
lease agreements. Future minimum payments under all operating lease arrangements
are as follows (in thousands):
YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, AMOUNT
- -------------------------------------------- ------------
1999...................................... $10,697,000
2000...................................... 10,437,000
2001...................................... 7,475,000
2002...................................... 5,980,000
2003...................................... 6,026,000
2004 and beyond........................... 2,696,000
-----------
$43,311,000
Rental expense under operating leases for the years ended December 31,
1996, 1997, and 1998 was approximately $1,194,000, $7,821,000, and $10,149,000,
respectively.
11. IRIDIUM SUBSIDIARIES
The Series A Notes, Series B Notes, Series C Notes and Series D Notes are
co-issued by Iridium and Iridium Capital Corporation ("Capital") and are fully
and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a senior unsecured
basis by Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium Facilities Corporation
(collectively, the "Guarantor Subsidiaries" and together with Capital, the
"Iridium Subsidiaries"). Each of the Iridium Subsidiaries is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Iridium. Iridium Canada Facilities Inc., a wholly-owned foreign
subsidiary of Iridium, has not guaranteed the Series A Notes, Series B Notes,
Series C Notes and Series D Notes, and had operations in 1998 that were
inconsequential to the business of Iridium. Capital was formed and capitalized
by the Parent on June 16, 1997 (subscribed capital of $100). Iridium Roaming LLC
was formed by the Parent on June 15, 1997. Iridium IP LLC was formed by the
Parent on February 28, 1997. In connection with the Asset Drop-Down Transaction,
Parent's interest in Capital, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium IP LLC was
transferred to Iridium. Iridium Facilities Corporation was formed by Iridium on
February 6, 1998. Iridium Canada Facilities Inc. was formed by Iridium on March
19, 1998.
The following is summarized financial information of Capital as of December
31, 1998 and for the period from inception through December 31, 1998. Full
financial statements of Capital are not presented because management believes
they are not material to investors.
DECEMBER 31, 1998
-----------------
Current assets......... $ 0
Total assets........... 0
Current liabilities.... 0
Total liabilities...... 0
FOR THE PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION THROUGH
DECEMBER 31, 1998
-------------------
Net revenues............ $ 0
Cost of services........ 0
Net loss................ 0
Iridium has recognized the obligations relating to the Series A Notes, Series B
Notes, Series C Notes and Series D Notes because Iridium will have the
operations to service such obligations.
F-51
106
The following is summarized financial information of the Guarantor
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998 and for the period from inception of each
of the Guarantor Subsidiaries through December 31, 1998. Full financial
statements of the Guarantor Subsidiaries are not presented because management
believes they are not material to investors.
DECEMBER 31, 1998
-----------------
Current assets............ $ 0
Total assets.............. 0
Current liabilities....... 0
Total liabilities......... 0
FOR THE PERIOD FROM
INCEPTION THROUGH
DECEMBER 31, 1998
-------------------
Net revenue............... $ 0
Cost of services.......... 0
Net loss.................. 0
12. QUARTERLY FINANCIAL INFORMATION (UNAUDITED) IN THOUSANDS:
The following is a summary of results of operations for each of the
quarters during 1996:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
------- ------- ------- ------- -----
Operating expenses........... $ 8,410 $ 10,321 $ 19,621 $ 33,052 $ 71,404
Net loss..................... 7,663 9,840 24,232 31,863 73,598
The following is a summary of results of operations for each of the
quarters during 1997:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
------- ------- ------- ------- -----
Operating expenses........... $ 36,054 $ 48,414 $ 84,959 $ 127,019 $ 296,446
Net loss..................... 35,928 47,926 84,057 125,490 293,401
The following is a summary of results of operations for each of the
quarters during 1998:
FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH TOTAL
QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER YEAR
------- ------- ------- ------- -----
Revenues................ $ -- $ -- $ -- $ 186 $ 186
Operating expenses...... 168,252 189,428 281,645 348,156 987,481
Net loss................ 203,516 244,694 364,300 439,999 1,252,509
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107
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
The Board of Directors and Members
Iridium LLC:
Under date of January 14, 1999, we reported on the consolidated balance
sheets of Iridium LLC and subsidiaries (a development stage limited liability
company) as of December 31, 1997 and 1998, and the related consolidated
statements of loss, members' equity (deficit), and cash flows for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1998, and for the period June
14, 1991 (inception) through December 31, 1998, as contained in the annual
report on Form 10-K for the year 1998. In connection with our audits of the
aforementioned consolidated financial statements, we also audited the related
financial statement schedule as listed in Item 14(a)2 in the annual report on
Form 10-K for the year 1998. This financial statement schedule is the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on the financial statement schedule based on our audits.
In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in
relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole,
presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.
KPMG LLP
McLean, Virginia
January 14, 1999
S-1
108
SCHEDULE 1
IRIDIUM LLC
SCHEDULE 1 -- CONDENSED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF REGISTRANT
(IN THOUSANDS)
Condensed Balance Sheets:
DECEMBER 31,
-------------------------------------
1997 1998
---------------- ----------------
Cash................................................. $ 3,100 $ --
Investment in Iridium Operating LLC.................. 1,631,537 476,615
Other assets -- 548
------------- ----------------
Total assets............................... $ 1,634,637 $ 477,163
============= ================
Liabilities
Total liabilities.......................... $ -- $ --
Members' equity...................................... 1,634,637 477,163
------------- ----------------
Total liabilities and members' equity...... $ 1,634,637 $ 477,163
============= ================
Condensed Statements of Loss:
PERIOD FROM
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, JUNE 14, 1991
------------------------------------------------------------ (INCEPTION) TO
1996 1997 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------------ ------------------ ------------------ -------------------
Equity in loss of Iridium Operating
LLC............................................ $ 73,598 $ 293,401 1,252,509 $1,679,750
Employee Class 1 Interests
Compensation................................... -- 152 292 444
----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
Loss before income taxes............... 73,598 293,553 1,252,801 1,680,194
Income taxes..................................... -- -- -- --
----------- ----------- ---------- ----------
Net loss............................... $ 73,598 $ 293,553 $1,252,801 $1,680,194
=========== =========== ========== ===========
Condensed Statements of Cash Flows:
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PERIOD FROM
------------------------------------------------------------ JUNE 14, 1991
(INCEPTION) TO
1996 1997 1998 DECEMBER 31, 1998
------------------ -------------------- ------------------ --------------------
Net loss.......................................... $ (73,598) $ (293,553) $ (1,252,801) $(1,680,194)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
cash flows from operating activities:
Employee Class 1 Interests
Compensation................................. -- 152 292 444
Equity in loss of Iridium Operating
LLC.......................................... 73,598 293,401 1,252,509 1,679,750
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Cash used in operating activities............ -- -- -- --
Cash flows used in investing
Activities --
Investment in Iridium Operating
LLC.......................................... (193,708) (399,796) (98,756) (2,158,177)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from equity transactions............ 193,708 399,796 98,756 2,158,171
Transfer from Iridium Operating
LLC........................................ -- 3,100 (3,100) --
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Cash provided by financing
Activities................................. 193,708 402,896 95,656 --
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and
cash equivalents -- 3,100 (3,100) --
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period.... -- -- 3,100 --
------------ ------------ ------------ -----------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of
Period.......................................... $ -- $ 3,100 $ -- $ --
============ ============= ============ ===========
S-2
109
Note to Condensed Financial Statements of Registrant:
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying condensed financial statements represent the accounts of
Iridium LLC (a development stage limited liability company) on a stand-alone
basis. Substantially all footnote disclosures are omitted. Reference is made to
the audited consolidated financial statements and footnotes of Iridium LLC and
subsidiaries (a development stage limited liability company) as of December 31,
1997 and 1998, and for each of the years in the three-year period December 31,
1998, and for the period June 14, 1991 (inception) through December 31, 1998,
which appear in the 1998 Form 10-K.
S-3
110
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, each of the Registrants has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
IRIDIUM WORLD COMMUNICATIONS LTD.
By: /s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
----------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date:
IRIDIUM LLC
By: /s/ ROBERT W. KINZIE
----------------------------------
Robert W. Kinzie
Chairman
Date:
IRIDIUM OPERATING LLC
By: /s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
----------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano
Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date:
IRIDIUM CAPITAL CORPORATION
By: /s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
----------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Date:
IRIDIUM ROAMING LLC
By: /s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
----------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Date:
IRIDIUM IP LLC
By: /s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
----------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Date:
IRIDIUM FACILITIES CORPORATION
By: /s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
----------------------------------
Edward F. Staiano
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Date:
111
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this
report has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the
dates indicated.
NAME TITLE DATE
---- ----- ----
/s/ ROBERT W. KINZIE
________________________ Director of Iridium World
Robert W. Kinzie Communications Ltd.; Chairman
of Iridium LLC and Iridium
Operating LLC; Director of
Iridium Capital Corporation
/s/ EDWARD F. STAIANO
________________________ Chairman and Chief Executive
Edward F. Staiano Officer of Iridium World
Communications Ltd.;
Vice Chairman and Chief
Executive Officer of Iridium LLC
and Iridium Operating LLC;
Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of Iridium Capital
Corporation; Acting Chief
Executive Officer of Iridium
Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC
and Iridium Facilities
Corporation
/s/ ROY GRANT
________________________ Chief Financial Officer of Iridium
Roy Grant World Communications Ltd.;
Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer of Iridium LLC and
Iridium Operating LLC;
Chief Financial Officer of
Iridium Capital Corporation;
Acting Chief Financial Officer of
Iridium Roaming LLC,
Iridium IP LLC and Iridium
Facilities Corporation
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Aburizal Bakrie Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ HASAN M. BINLADIN
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Hasan M. Binladin Iridium Operating LLC
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Herbert Brenke Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ GORDON J. COMERFORD
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Gordon J. Comerford Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ ATILANO DE OMS SOBRINHO
___________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Atilano de Oms Sobrinho Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ STEPHEN P. EARHART
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Stephen P. Earhart Iridium Operating LLC
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Robert A. Ferchat Iridium Operating LLC
112
/s/ ALBERTO FINOL
________________________ Deputy Chairman and Director of
Alberto Finol Iridium World Communications
Ltd.; Director of Iridium LLC and
Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ EDWARD GAMS
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Edward Gams Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ DURRELL HILLIS
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Durrell Hillis Iridium Operating LLC
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Kazuo Inamori Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ GEORG KELLINGHUSEN
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Georg Kellinghusen Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ S. H. KHAN
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
S. H. Khan Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ ANATOLY I. KISELEV
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Anatoly I. Kiselev Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ RICHARD L. LESHER
________________________ Vice Chairman and Director of
Richard L. Lesher Iridium WorldCommunications Ltd.;
Iridium LLC and Iridium Operating
LLC
/s/ JOHN F. MITCHELL
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
John F. Mitchell Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ GIUSEPPE MORGANTI
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Giuseppe Morganti Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ J. MICHAEL NORRIS
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
J. Michael Norris Iridium Operating LLC
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Yusai Okuyama Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ MOON SOO PYO
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Moon Soo Pyo Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ JOHN A. RICHARDSON
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
John A. Richardson Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ THEODORE H. SCHELL
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Theodore H. Schell Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ WILLIAM A. SCHREYER
________________________ Director of Iridium World
William A. Schreyer Communications Ltd.; Iridium
LLC and Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ SRIBHUMI SUKHANETR
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Sribhumi Sukhanetr Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ TAO-TSUN SUN
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Tao-Tsun Sun Iridium Operating LLC
113
/s/ YOSHIHARU YASUDA
________________________ Director of Iridium World
Yoshiharu Yasuda Communications Ltd.; Iridium
LLC and Iridium Operating LLC
/s/ WANG MEI YUE
________________________ Director of Iridium LLC and
Wang Mei Yue Iridium Operating LLC
114
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
------ -----------------------
3.1 Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium LLC, dated as of July 29, 1996, as amended:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of
Iridium World Communications Ltd. and Iridium LLC (Registration Nos. 333-23419 and 333-23419-01)
(the "1997 Form S-1").
3.1.1 Amendments to the Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium LLC, as approved by the
members of Iridium LLC on November 25, 1998.*
3.2 Articles of Incorporation of Iridium Capital Corporation: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.2 of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of Iridium LLC, Iridium Capital
Corporation, Iridium Roaming LLC, and Iridium IP LLC (Registration Nos. 333-31741, -01, -02
and -03) (the "1997 Form S-4").
3.3 By-laws of Iridium Capital Corporation: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the 1997
Form S-4.
3.4 Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium Roaming LLC: Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 3.4 of the Registration Statement on form S-4 of Iridium Operating
LLC, Iridium Capital Corporation, Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC and Iridium Facilities
Corporation (Registration Nos. 333-4439, -01, -02, -03 and -04) (the "1998 Form S-4").
3.5 Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium IP LLC: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 3.5 to the 1998 Form S-4.
3.6 Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium Operating LLC: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.6 to the 1998 Form S-4.
3.7 Articles of Incorporation of Iridium Facilities Corporation: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.7 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium
LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium IP LLC, Iridium Roaming LLC and Iridium Capital
Corporation (the "1997 Form 10-K").
3.8 By-Laws of Iridium Facilities Corporation: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.8 to the
1997 Form 10-K.
3.9 Memorandum of Association of Iridium World Communications Ltd.: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 3.1 to the 1997 Form S-1.
3.10 By-Laws of Iridium World Communications Ltd.: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the
1997 Form S-1.
3.11 Limited Liability Company Agreement of Iridium (Potomac) LLC.*
4.1.1 Indenture dated as of July 16, 1997 relating to Iridium LLC's and Iridium Capital Corporation's
13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A, and 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A/EN: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the 1997 Form S-4.
4.1.2 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 18, 1997 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A, and 13% Senior Notes
due 2005, Series A/EN: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.2 to the 1998 Form S- 4.
4.1.3 Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 27, 1998 relating to Iridium Operating
LLC's and Iridium Capital Corporation's 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A, and 13% Senior
Notes due 2005, Series A/EN: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1.3 to the 1997 Form 10-K.
4.1.4 Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 17, 1999 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 13% Senior Notes due 2005, Series A.*
4.2 Forms of Series A Note and Series A/EN Note: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the
1997 Form S-4.
115
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
------ -----------------------
4.3.1 Indenture dated as of July 16, 1997 relating to Iridium LLC's and Iridium Capital
Corporation's 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B, and 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B/EN:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the 1997 Form S-4.
4.3.2 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 18, 1997 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B, and 14% Senior Notes
due 2005, Series B/EN: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.2 to the 1998 Form S- 4.
4.3.3 Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 27, 1998 relating to Iridium Operating
LLC's and Iridium Capital Corporation's 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B, and 14% Senior
Notes due 2005, Series B/EN: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3.3 to the 1997 Form 10-K.
4.3.4 Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 17, 1999 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 14% Senior Notes due 2005, Series B.*
4.4 Forms of Series B Note and Series B/EN Note: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
1997 Form S-4.
4.5.1 Indenture dated as of October 17, 1997 relating to Iridium LLC's and Iridium Capital
Corporation's 11 1/4% Senior Notes due 2005, Series C: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
4.5.1 to the 1998 Form S-4.
4.5.2 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 18, 1997 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 11 1/4 Senior Notes due 2005, Series C: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.5.2 to the 1998 Form S-4.
4.5.3 Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 27, 1998 relating to Iridium Operating
LLC's and Iridium Capital Corporation's 11 1/4 % Senior Notes due 2005, Series C: Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 4.5.3 to the 1997 Form 10-K.
4.5.4 Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 17, 1999 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 11 1/4 % Senior Notes due 2005, Series C.*
4.6 Forms of Series C Note and Series C/EN Note: contained in an exhibit to Exhibit 4.5.1.
4.7 Form of Indenture dated as of May 13, 1998 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's and Iridium
Capital Corporation's 107/8% Senior Notes due 2005, Series D : Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 of Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC, and Iridium Facilities Corporation
(Registration Nos. 333-51099, -01, -02, -03 and -04) (the "1998 Form S-1").
4.7.1 First Supplemental Indenture dated as of February 17, 1999 relating to Iridium Operating LLC's
and Iridium Capital Corporation's 107/8% Senior Notes due 2005, Series D.*
4.8 Form of Series D Note: contained in an exhibit to Exhibit 4.7.
4.9 Form of Indenture: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 of Iridium World Communications Ltd., Iridium LLC, Iridium Operating LLC, Iridium
Capital Corporation, Iridium Roaming LLC, Iridium IP LLC, and Iridium Facilities Corporation
(Registration Nos. 333-65559, -01, -02, -03, -04, -05 and -06) (the "1998 Form S-3").
4.10 Form of Subordinated Note: contained in an exhibit to Exhibit 4.9.
10.1 Form of Interest Exchange Agreement between IWCL and Iridium LLC: Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.2 Form of amended and restated Management Services Agreement between IWCL, Iridium LLC and
Iridium Operating LLC: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the 1998 Form S-4.
10.2.1 Form of Amendment No. 1 to the Amended and Restated Management Services Agreement.*
116
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
------ -----------------------
10.3 Form of 1997 Subscription Agreement between IWCL and Iridium LLC: Incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.4 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.4 Space System Contract between Iridium LLC and Motorola, Inc. effective July 29, 1993, as
amended and conformed on January 14, 1997: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to the
1997 Form S-1.++
10.4.1 Amendment No. 7 to the Space System Contract: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10 to the
Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.
10.5 Communications System Operations & Maintenance Contract between Iridium LLC and Motorola, Inc.
effective July 29, 1993, as amended and conformed on January 14, 1997: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the 1997 Form S-1.++
10.6 Terrestrial Network Development Contract between Iridium LLC and Motorola, Inc., effective
January 1, 1993, as amended and conformed on May 18, 1998: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.7 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of Iridium World Communications Ltd.
And Iridium LLC (Registration Nos. 333-56385, and -01). +
10.7 Amendment No. 5 to the Terrestrial Network Development Contract: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10 to the Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1998.
10.8 Support Agreement between Iridium LLC and Motorola, Inc.: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.9 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.9 Agreement, executed as of December 16, 1996, between Andersen Consulting LLC and Iridium LLC
relating to the development of business support systems: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.10 to the 1997 Form S-1.+
10.10 14 1/2% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes Due 2006 of Iridium: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.11 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.11 Form of Warrant issued in respect of 14 1/2% Senior Subordinated Discount Notes: Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.12 Warrant to purchase Series M Class 2 Interests dated July 29, 1993, as amended: Incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.13 Form of Gateway Authorization Agreement: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the
1997 Form S-1.
10.17 Form of Third Amended and Restated Agreement regarding Guarantee: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 99.7 to the Report on Form 8-K filed on December 30, 1998.
10.18 Form of Second Amended and Restated Memorandum of Understanding with Motorola, Inc.:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.6 to the Report on Form 8-K filed on December 30,
1998.
10.19 Share Issuance Agreement between IWCL and Iridium LLC: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit
10.17 to the 1997 Form S-1.
10.22 Amended and Restated Iridium LLC Option Plan: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to
the Registration Statement on Form S-8 of Iridium World Communications Ltd. And Iridium LLC
(Registration Nos. 333-63337 and -01). +++
10.23 Iridium LLC Selected Senior Officers' Supplementary Retirement Plan: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.27 to the 1997 Form S-4.
10.24 Agreement between Mr. Staiano and Iridium LLC: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to
the 1997 Form S-4.
10.25 Asset Transfer Agreement: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.25 to the 1998 Form S-4.
117
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBITS
------ -----------------------
10.26 Form of Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to Contract Assignment: Incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.26 to the 1998 Form S-4.
10.26.1 Amendment No. 1 to Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP to Contract Assignment.*
10.27 Consent of Motorola Inc. to Contract Assignment contained in an exhibit to Exhibit 10.28.
10.28 Form of the Senior Secured Credit Agreement among Iridium Operating LLC, The Chase Manhattan
Bank, Chase Securities Inc. and Barclays Bank PLC and the lenders thereto, dated as of
December 23, 1998 (includes exhibits): Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.4 to the Report
on Form 8-K filed on December 30, 1998.
10.29 Form of the Senior Guaranteed Credit Agreement among Iridium Operating LLC, The Chase
Manhattan Bank, Chase Securities Inc. and Barclays Bank PLC and the lenders thereto, dated as
of December 23, 1998 (includes exhibits): Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.5 to the
Report on Form 8-K filed on December 30, 1998.
10.30 Form of China Gateway Compensation Agreement between Motorola, Inc. and Iridium Operating
LLC: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.43 to the 1998 Form S-1.
10.31 Standby Purchase Agreement between Iridium Operating LLC and Motorola, Inc.: Incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998.
10.32 Form of Standby Purchase Agreement between Iridium Operating LLC and Kyocera Corporation:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.45 to the 1998 Form S-1.
10.33 Form of Agreement Regarding Guarantee among Kyocera Corporation, Iridium Operating LLC and
Iridium LLC: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.46 to the 1998 Form S-1.
10.34 Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of December 22, 1998, among Iridium LLC, Iridium Aero
Acquisition Sub, Inc., ATG I, Inc., AT&T Wireless Services, Inc. and Rogers Cantel Inc.:
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Report on Form 8-K filed on December 30, 1998.
10.35 Form of Subsidiary Guarantee Assumption Agreement, dated as of February 26, 1999, between
Iridium (Potomac) LLC and The Chase Manhattan Bank.*
10.36 Form of Bank Waiver, dated as of March 16, 1999, among Iridium Operating LLC and each of the
lenders signatory thereto: Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.2 to the Report on Form 8-K
filed on March 29, 1999.
11.1 Statement re Computation of Loss per class A common share: Iridium World Communications Ltd.*
11.2 Statement re Computation of Loss per Class 1 Interest: Iridium LLC.*
12 Statement re Computation of Ratios: Iridium Operating LLC.*
21 Subsidiaries of the Registrants.*
23 Consent of KPMG LLP.*
27.1 Financial Data Schedule - Iridium World Communications, Ltd.*
27.2 Financial Data Schedule - Iridium LLC*
27.3 Financial Data Schedule - Iridium Operating LLC*
99 Certain Factors Which May Affect Forward Looking Statements.*
- -------------------
* Filed herewith.
+ Confidential treatment previously granted in connection with the
1997 Form S-1.
++ Confidential treatment requested.
+++ Management Compensation Plan.