UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007
OR
o TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission file number 001-33117
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware |
|
41-2116508 |
(State or Other
Jurisdiction of |
|
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
461 South Milpitas Blvd.
Milpitas, California 95035
(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)
(408) 933-4000
Registrants telephone number, including area code
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x. No o.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of accelerated filer and large accelerated filer in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer x
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o. No x.
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuers classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date. As of May 9, 2007, there were 76,586,196 shares of $0.0001 par value Common Stock outstanding.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
2
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
March 31, |
|
||
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Service revenue |
|
$ |
17,466 |
|
$ |
20,694 |
|
Subscriber equipment sales |
|
5,688 |
|
9,648 |
|
||
Total revenue |
|
23,154 |
|
30,342 |
|
||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
6,383 |
|
6,547 |
|
||
Cost of subscriber equipment sales |
|
3,451 |
|
8,515 |
|
||
Marketing, general, and administrative |
|
11,482 |
|
9,965 |
|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
2,424 |
|
1,390 |
|
||
Total operating expenses |
|
23,740 |
|
26,417 |
|
||
Operating income (loss) |
|
(586 |
) |
3,925 |
|
||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest income |
|
828 |
|
167 |
|
||
Interest expense |
|
(311 |
) |
(20 |
) |
||
Interest rate derivative loss |
|
(364 |
) |
|
|
||
Other |
|
1,234 |
|
(337 |
) |
||
Total other income (expense) |
|
1,387 |
|
(190 |
) |
||
Income before income taxes |
|
801 |
|
3,735 |
|
||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
357 |
|
(18,751 |
) |
||
Net income |
|
$ |
444 |
|
$ |
22,486 |
|
Earnings per common share: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
$ |
0.36 |
|
Diluted |
|
0.01 |
|
0.36 |
|
||
Weighted-average shares outstanding: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Basic |
|
73,651,548 |
|
61,947,654 |
|
||
Diluted |
|
73,745,811 |
|
62,277,366 |
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
3
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
(In thousands, except share data)
(Unaudited)
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
19,419 |
|
$ |
43,698 |
|
Accounts receivable, net of allowance of $4,040 (2007) and $3,609 (2006) |
|
16,887 |
|
19,543 |
|
||
Inventory |
|
43,878 |
|
33,754 |
|
||
Advances for inventory |
|
13,604 |
|
15,550 |
|
||
Deferred tax assets |
|
1,487 |
|
1,495 |
|
||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
2,459 |
|
2,512 |
|
||
Total current assets |
|
97,734 |
|
116,552 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Property and equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Spare satellites and launch costs |
|
91,949 |
|
87,813 |
|
||
Second-generation satellites |
|
56,130 |
|
26,328 |
|
||
Globalstar System, net |
|
13,711 |
|
15,576 |
|
||
Other property and equipment, net |
|
7,115 |
|
7,005 |
|
||
|
|
168,905 |
|
136,722 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Restricted cash |
|
53,879 |
|
52,581 |
|
||
Deferred tax assets |
|
18,949 |
|
18,763 |
|
||
Other assets, net |
|
7,224 |
|
7,083 |
|
||
Total assets |
|
$ |
346,691 |
|
$ |
331,701 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Current liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Notes payable, current portion |
|
$ |
397 |
|
$ |
285 |
|
Accounts payable |
|
5,035 |
|
11,468 |
|
||
Accrued expenses |
|
17,578 |
|
17,224 |
|
||
Payables to affiliates |
|
3,041 |
|
6,019 |
|
||
Deferred revenue |
|
24,110 |
|
24,720 |
|
||
Total current liabilities |
|
50,161 |
|
59,716 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Notes payable, net of current portion |
|
305 |
|
417 |
|
||
Employee benefit obligations, net of current portion |
|
1,935 |
|
2,079 |
|
||
Other non-current liabilities |
|
4,139 |
|
3,843 |
|
||
Total non-current liabilities |
|
6,379 |
|
6,339 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Redeemable common stock; 259,845 and 347,451 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively |
|
3,700 |
|
4,949 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Shareholders equity: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding none |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Common stock, $0.0001 par value; 800,000,000 shares authorized, 74,161,865 shares issued and outstanding at March 31, 2007 and 72,544,543 shares issued and outstanding at December 31, 2006 |
|
7 |
|
7 |
|
||
Additional paid-in capital |
|
265,050 |
|
238,919 |
|
||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss |
|
(1,356 |
) |
(1,166 |
) |
||
Retained earnings |
|
22,750 |
|
22,937 |
|
||
Total shareholders equity |
|
286,451 |
|
260,697 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Total liabilities and shareholders equity |
|
$ |
346,691 |
|
$ |
331,701 |
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
4
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
|
|
Three Months Ended |
|
||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
March 31, |
|
||
Cash flows from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net income |
|
$ |
444 |
|
$ |
22,486 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Deferred income taxes |
|
387 |
|
(18,761 |
) |
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
2,424 |
|
1,390 |
|
||
Interest rate derivative loss |
|
364 |
|
|
|
||
Stock-based compensation expense |
|
245 |
|
|
|
||
Loss (gain) on disposal of fixed assets |
|
(138 |
) |
1 |
|
||
Provision for bad debts |
|
792 |
|
290 |
|
||
Interest income on restricted cash |
|
(469 |
) |
|
|
||
Contribution of services |
|
87 |
|
36 |
|
||
Amortization of deferred financing costs |
|
111 |
|
|
|
||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisition: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accounts receivable |
|
1,980 |
|
5,183 |
|
||
Inventory |
|
(10,715 |
) |
(7,978 |
) |
||
Advances for inventory |
|
1,958 |
|
(7,058 |
) |
||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
64 |
|
656 |
|
||
Other assets |
|
247 |
|
(337 |
) |
||
Accounts payable |
|
(8,931 |
) |
(2,059 |
) |
||
Payables to affiliates |
|
(2,955 |
) |
10,594 |
|
||
Accrued expenses and employee benefit obligations |
|
(2,923 |
) |
(1,190 |
) |
||
Deferred revenue |
|
(628 |
) |
1,082 |
|
||
Net cash from operating activities |
|
(17,656 |
) |
4,335 |
|
||
Cash flows from investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Spare and second-generation satellites and launch costs |
|
(29,482 |
) |
(1,582 |
) |
||
Property and equipment additions |
|
(786 |
) |
(2,697 |
) |
||
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment |
|
263 |
|
|
|
||
Payment for business acquisition |
|
|
|
(191 |
) |
||
Net cash from investing activities |
|
(30,005 |
) |
(4,470 |
) |
||
Cash flows from financing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from Thermo under the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement |
|
24,255 |
|
|
|
||
Proceeds from subscription receivable |
|
|
|
13,000 |
|
||
Deferred financing cost payments |
|
(500 |
) |
(163 |
) |
||
Net cash from financing activities |
|
23,755 |
|
12,837 |
|
||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
(373 |
) |
91 |
|
||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
(24,279 |
) |
12,793 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
|
43,698 |
|
20,270 |
|
||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
|
$ |
19,419 |
|
$ |
33,063 |
|
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cash paid for: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest |
|
$ |
282 |
|
$ |
1 |
|
Income taxes |
|
$ |
50 |
|
$ |
36 |
|
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing and investing activities: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Accrued launch costs and second-generation satellites costs |
|
$ |
4,422 |
|
$ |
|
|
Distribution payable to member |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
686 |
|
Issuance of redeemable common stock in conjunction with acquisition |
|
$ |
|
|
$ |
5,198 |
|
Conversion of redeemable common stock to common stock |
|
$ |
1,249 |
|
$ |
|
|
See accompanying notes to unaudited interim consolidated financial statements.
5
GLOBALSTAR, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1: The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Operations
Globalstar, Inc. (Globalstar or the Company) was formed as a Delaware limited liability company in November 2003, and was converted into a Delaware corporation on March 17, 2006.
Globalstar is a leading provider of mobile voice and data communications services via satellite. Globalstars network, originally owned by Globalstar, L.P. (Old Globalstar), was designed, built and launched in the late 1990s by a technology partnership led by Loral Space and Communications (Loral) and QUALCOMM Incorporated (QUALCOMM). On February 15, 2002, Old Globalstar and three of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. In 2004, Thermo Capital Partners L.L.C. (Thermo) became Globalstars principal owner, and Globalstar completed the acquisition of the business and assets of Old Globalstar.
Globalstar offers satellite services to commercial and recreational users in more than 120 countries around the world. The Companys voice and data products include mobile and fixed satellite telephones, simplex and duplex satellite data modems and flexible service packages. Many land based and maritime industries benefit from Globalstar with increased productivity from remote areas beyond cellular and landline service. Globalstars customers include those in the following industries: oil and gas, government, mining, forestry, commercial fishing, utilities, military, transportation, heavy construction, emergency preparedness, and business continuity, as well as individual recreational users.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (GAAP) for interim financial information. These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Globalstar and its majority owned or otherwise controlled subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in the consolidation. In the opinion of management, such information includes all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, that are necessary for a fair presentation of the Companys consolidated financial position, results of operations, and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2007 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any future period. Globalstars results of operations are subject to seasonal usage changes. The months of April through October are typically peak months for service revenues and equipment sales. Government customers in North America tend to use Globalstars services during summer months, often in support of relief activities after events such as hurricanes, forest fires and other natural disasters.
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company evaluates its estimates on an ongoing basis, including those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, inventory valuation, deferred tax assets, property and equipment, warranty obligations and contingencies and litigation. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. The consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 was derived from the Companys audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2006, but does not include all disclosures required by GAAP.
Globalstar operates in one segment, providing voice and data communication services via satellite. As a result, all segment-related financial information required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 131, Disclosures About Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information, or SFAS No. 131, is included in the consolidated financial statements.
Other income (expense) includes foreign exchange transaction gains (losses) of $1.2 million and ($0.3) million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
6
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxesan Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (FIN 48), which clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income tax positions. This Interpretation requires that the Company recognize in its financial statements the impact of a tax position if that position is more likely than not of being sustained on audit, based on the technical merits of the position. The provisions of FIN 48 were effective for the Company on January 1, 2007, with the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle, if any, recorded as an adjustment to opening retained earnings. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN 48 on January 1, 2007. See Note 9 for the impact of the adoption on the Companys financial statements.
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (SFAS 157), which clarifies the definition of fair value, establishes guidelines for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures regarding fair value measurements. SFAS 157 does not require any new fair value measurements and eliminates inconsistencies in guidance found in various prior accounting pronouncements. SFAS 157 will be effective for the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 157 on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115 (SFAS 159). SFAS 159 permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value that are not currently required to be measured at fair value. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected are reported in earnings. SFAS 159 does not affect any existing accounting literature that requires certain assets and liabilities to be carried at fair value. SFAS 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS 159 on its financial position, cash flows, and results of operations.
Note 2: Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share
The Company applies the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standard No. 128, Earnings Per Share (SFAS 128), which requires companies to present basic and diluted earnings per share. Basic earnings per share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Common Stock equivalents are included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share only when the effect of their inclusion would be dilutive.
7
The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share (in thousands, except share and per share data):
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 |
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 |
|
||||||||||||
|
|
Income |
|
Weighted |
|
Per-Share |
|
Income |
|
Weighted |
|
Per-Share |
|
||||
Basic earnings per common share |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Net income |
|
$ |
444 |
|
73,651,548 |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
$ |
22,486 |
|
61,947,654 |
|
$ |
0.36 |
|
Effect of Dilutive Securities |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Stock options to director |
|
|
|
93,608 |
|
|
|
|
|
100,206 |
|
|
|
||||
GAT acquisition |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
229,506 |
|
|
|
||||
Unvested restricted stock |
|
|
|
655 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Diluted earnings per common share |
|
$ |
444 |
|
73,745,811 |
|
$ |
0.01 |
|
$ |
22,486 |
|
62,277,366 |
|
$ |
0.36 |
|
Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units representing approximately 215,000 shares of Common Stock were excluded from the computation of diluted shares outstanding for the three months ended March 31, 2007 as their inclusion would have been anti-dilutive.
Note 3: Globalstar Americas Telecommunications, LTD
Effective January 1, 2006, the Company consummated an agreement dated December 30, 2005 to purchase all of the issued and outstanding stock of the Globalstar Americas Holding (GAH), Globalstar Americas Telecommunications (GAT), and Astral Technologies Investment Limited (Astral), collectively, the GA Companies. The GA Companies owned assets, contract rights, and licenses necessary and sufficient to operate a satellite communications business in Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize (collectively, the Territory). The Company believes the purchase of the GA Companies will further enhance Globalstars presence and coverage in Central America and consolidation efforts. The stipulated purchase price for the GA Companies is $5,250,500 payable substantially 100% in Globalstar Common Stock. Additionally, the Company had a $1.0 million receivable from GA Companies as of the acquisition date that was treated as a component to the total purchase price. At the time of closing of the purchase of the GA Companies, the selling stockholders received 91,986 membership units, which subsequently were converted into the same number of shares of Common Stock of the Company as a result of the Companys conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation.
Under the terms of the acquisition agreement, the Company was obligated either to redeem the original stock issued to the selling stockholders in January 2006 for $5.2 million in cash or to pay the selling stockholders, in cash or in stock, the difference between $5.2 million and the market value of that stock multiplied by the 5-day average closing price of the Company stock for the period ending November 22, 2006. In accordance with a supplemental agreement dated December 21, 2006 with certain selling stockholders, the Company elected to make payment in Common Stock and issued 259,845 shares of additional Common Stock to certain selling stockholders. Under this supplemental agreement this stock was valued at approximately $3.7 million. However, it was not registered and therefore was not marketable. Accordingly, this supplemental agreement also provided that, in order to compensate the selling stockholders for the inability to sell these shares, every month the Company will pay interest on $3.7 million at the monthly New York prime rate until these shares become marketable, but not later than December 31, 2007. During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the related interest expense incurred was approximately $76,000.
The Company has the right to register, before December 22, 2007, the 259,845 shares of Common Stock delivered in December 2006. If it does so and the Company has met in full its obligation to pay interest on $3.7 million, the interest obligation ceases as of the date this registration statement becomes effective. The Company also has the right to register additional shares of sufficient value on the effective date of the registration statement and to pay the interest obligation in Common Stock. In addition, if the per share market value of the Companys Common Stock on December 22, 2007 multiplied by 259,845 is less than $3.7 million minus the sum of interest payments made on the $3.7 million on or before December 28, 2007, the Company will be required to pay the shortfall to these selling stockholders. However, if the Company shall have also registered sufficient additional stock to pay the interest obligation and distributes it to the selling stockholders, they are obligated to accept the tender, return to the Company the interest previously paid in cash, and deem to be satisfied all obligations of the Company under the acquisition agreement and the supplemental agreement.
During December 2006, the Company reached a settlement with the remaining selling stockholder and issued 15,109 shares of Common Stock to such stockholder. The 15,109 shares issued during December 2006 and the original 4,380 shares issued in January 2006 to this selling stockholder were not considered redeemable as of December 31, 2006.
8
In accordance with the supplemental agreement, on January 31, 2007, the remaining 87,606 shares of Common Stock associated with the original 91,986 shares distributed in January 2006, were not considered redeemable. As of March 31, 2007, 259,845 shares of redeemable Common Stock were outstanding.
Note 4: Property and Equipment
Property and equipment consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
Globalstar System: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Space segment |
|
$ |
5,832 |
|
$ |
5,832 |
|
Ground segment |
|
21,008 |
|
21,033 |
|
||
Spare satellites and launch costs |
|
91,949 |
|
87,813 |
|
||
Second-generation satellites |
|
56,130 |
|
26,328 |
|
||
Construction in progress |
|
143 |
|
16 |
|
||
Land |
|
1,966 |
|
2,089 |
|
||
Leasehold improvements |
|
1,512 |
|
1,477 |
|
||
Buildings |
|
484 |
|
484 |
|
||
Furniture and office equipment |
|
10,286 |
|
9,631 |
|
||
|
|
189,310 |
|
154,703 |
|
||
Accumulated depreciation |
|
(20,405 |
) |
(17,981 |
) |
||
|
|
$ |
168,905 |
|
$ |
136,722 |
|
Property and equipment consists of an in-orbit satellite constellation, ground equipment, spare satellites and launch costs, second-generation satellites and support equipment located in various countries around the world. On November 30, 2006, the Company entered into a contract with Thales Alenia Space (formerly known as Alcatel Alenia Space France) to construct 48 low-earth orbit satellites. The total contract price will be approximately 661.0 million (approximately $875.6 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3247 at March 31, 2007) including approximately 146.8 million which may be paid by the Company in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294. The contract requires Thales Alenia Space to commence delivery of satellites in the third quarter of 2009, with deliveries continuing until 2013 unless Globalstar elects to accelerate delivery. At March 31, 2007, the funds held in escrow to secure the Companys payment obligations related to its contract for the construction of its second-generation satellite constellation were $53.9 million.
As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, capitalized interest included within spare and second-generation satellites and launch costs was $0.9 million. No interest was capitalized during the three months ended March 31, 2007. Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 was $2.4 million and $1.3 million, respectively.
On March 27, 2007, the Company and Thales Alenia Space entered into an agreement dated March 22, 2007 for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for the Companys second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract between Globalstar and Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.0 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3335) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009. Globalstar has the option to terminate the contract if excusable delays affecting Thales Alenia Spaces ability to perform the contract total six consecutive months or at its convenience. If Globalstar terminates the contract, it must pay Thales Alenia Space the lesser of its unpaid costs for work performed by Thales Alenia Space and its subcontractors or payments for the next two quarters following termination. If Thales Alenia Space has not completed the Control Network Facility acceptance review within 60 days of the due date, Globalstar will be entitled to certain liquidated damages. Failure to complete the Control Network Facility acceptance review on or before six months after the due date results in a default by Thales Alenia Space, entitling Globalstar to a refund of all payments, except for liquidated damage amounts previously paid or with respect to items where final delivery has occurred. The Control Network Facility, when accepted, will be covered by a limited one-year warranty. The contract contains customary arbitration and indemnification provisions.
9
Note 5: Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of the following (in thousands):
|
|
March 31, |
|
December 31, |
|
||
Accrued compensation and benefits |
|
$ |
4,168 |
|
$ |
5,757 |
|
Accrued professional fees |
|
1,367 |
|
1,493 |
|
||
Accrued property and other taxes |
|
3,661 |
|
3,176 |
|
||
Accrued commissions |
|
354 |
|
610 |
|
||
Customer deposits |
|
2,388 |
|
1,489 |
|
||
Employee benefit obligationcurrent portion |
|
588 |
|
443 |
|
||
Warranty reserve |
|
500 |
|
879 |
|
||
Commitment fees related to delayed draw term loan and revolving credit facility |
|
569 |
|
731 |
|
||
Other accrued expenses |
|
3,983 |
|
2,646 |
|
||
|
|
$ |
17,578 |
|
$ |
17,224 |
|
Other accrued expenses primarily include outsourced logistics services, storage, maintenance, and roaming charges.
Warranty terms extend from 90 days on equipment accessories to one year for fixed and mobile user terminals. Warranties are accounted for in accordance with SFAS No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies, such that an accrual is made when it is estimable and probable that a loss has been incurred based on historical experience. Warranty costs are accrued based on historical trends in warranty charges as a percentage of gross product shipments. A provision for estimated future warranty costs is recorded as cost of sales when products are shipped. The resulting accrual is reviewed regularly and periodically adjusted to reflect changes in warranty cost estimates. The following is a summary of the activity in the warranty reserve account (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
|||||
|
|
March 31, |
|
March 31, |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Balance, at the beginning of period |
|
$ |
879 |
|
$ |
977 |
|
Provision |
|
(189 |
) |
439 |
|
||
Utilization |
|
(190 |
) |
(300 |
) |
||
Balance, at the end of period |
|
$ |
500 |
|
$ |
1,116 |
|
Note 6: Payables to Affiliates
Payables to affiliates relate to normal purchase transactions and are comprised of the following (in thousands):
|
March 31, 2007 |
|
December 31, 2006 |
|
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
QUALCOMM |
|
$ |
2,861 |
|
$ |
5,847 |
|
Thermo Capital Partners |
|
180 |
|
172 |
|
||
|
|
$ |
3,041 |
|
$ |
6,019 |
|
Thermo incurs certain general and administrative expenses on behalf of the Company, which are reimbursed by the Company. For the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, total expenses were approximately $0 and $25,000, respectively. For each of the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company also recorded $87,000 and $36,000, respectively, of expenses related to services provided by officers of Thermo which were accounted for as a contribution to capital. The Thermo expense charges are based on actual amounts incurred or upon allocated employee time. Management believes the allocations are reasonable.
10
Note 7: Other Related Party Transactions
During 2005, Globalstar issued separate purchase orders for additional phone equipment and accessories under the terms of previously executed commercial agreements with QUALCOMM that aggregate to a total commitment balance of approximately $158.5 million. Approximately $107.7 million of the $158.5 million consists of a new generation of phones and fixed user terminals, car kits and accessories, which QUALCOMM began delivering in October 2006. The remaining $50.8 million consists of phones and accessories under the original commercial agreement and was 100% fulfilled as of December 31, 2006.
Within the terms of the commercial agreements, the Company paid QUALCOMM approximately 15% to 25% of the total order as advances for inventory. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, total advances to QUALCOMM for inventory were $13.6 million, and $15.3 million, respectively. Under the new agreements, Globalstar did not receive any additional discounts from QUALCOMM. The total orders placed with QUALCOMM as of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006 were approximately $186.7 million, with outstanding commitment balances of approximately $76.3 million and $86.7 million, respectively.
Purchases from Affiliates
Total purchases from affiliates are as follows (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
|||||
|
|
March 31, 2007 |
|
March 31, 2006 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
QUALCOMM |
|
$ |
12,957 |
|
$ |
22,887 |
|
Other affiliates |
|
1,903 |
|
1,619 |
|
||
Total |
|
$ |
14,860 |
|
$ |
24,506 |
|
Revenues from Affiliates
Total usage revenues from affiliates for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were $165,000 and $327,000, respectively. Total equipment revenues from affiliates for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were $25,000 and $728,000, respectively.
Note 8: Pension and Other Employee Benefit Plans
Components of the net periodic benefit cost of the Companys contributory defined benefit pension plan were as follows (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
|||||
|
|
March 31, 2007 |
|
March 31, 2006 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest cost |
|
$ |
190 |
|
$ |
184 |
|
Expected return on plan assets |
|
(200 |
) |
(174 |
) |
||
Actuarial loss, net |
|
15 |
|
22 |
|
||
Net periodic benefit cost |
|
$ |
5 |
|
$ |
32 |
|
Note 9: Income Taxes
On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements and provides guidance on derecognition, measurement, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition issues.
11
The application of FIN 48 resulted in a cumulative adjustment of $0.6 million which decreased retained earnings. This decrease was a result of an unrecognized tax benefit of approximately $72.5 million which was substantially offset by the application of a valuation allowance. The unrecognized tax benefit did not change significantly during the three months ended March 31, 2007. In addition, future changes in the unrecognized tax benefit may not have an impact on the effective tax rate due to the existence of the valuation allowances on most of the Companys deferred tax assets.
Prior to January 1, 2006, the Company and its U.S. operating subsidiaries were treated as partnerships for U.S. tax purposes. Generally, taxable income or loss, deductions and credits of the partnership were passed through to its partners. Effective January 1, 2006, the Company elected to be taxed as a C corporation in the United States.
The Company is not currently under audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or by any state jurisdiction in the United States. The Companys corporate U.S. tax returns for 2006 remain subject to examination by tax authorities. The U.S. partnership tax returns filed for years before 2006 remain subject to examination by the tax authorities. As a partnership, the Company did not pay entity level taxes during the years before 2006; accordingly, the Company would not expect an examination of these years to expose the Company to additional significant liability or exposure. State income tax returns are generally subject to examination for a period of three to five years after filing of the respective return. The state impact of any federal changes remains subject to examination by various states for a period of up to one year after formal notification to the states. In the Companys international tax jurisdictions, numerous tax years remain subject to examination by tax authorities, including tax returns for at least 2001 and subsequent years in most of the Companys major international tax jurisdictions.
Prior to the Companys adoption of FIN 48, its policy was to classify interest and penalties as an operating expense in arriving at pretax income. The Company has computed interest on the difference between the tax position recognized in accordance with FIN 48 and the amount previously taken or expected to be taken in its tax returns. Upon adoption of FIN 48, the Company has elected an accounting policy to also classify accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in our income tax provision. As of January 1, 2007, the Company had recorded a liability of $0.6 million that included approximately $60,000 and $50,000 for the payment of interest and penalties, respectively.
Given that the Company is not currently under audit by the IRS in the United States or in any of its major international tax jurisdictions, the Company does not believe that it is likely that the amount of the unrecognized benefit with respect to certain of its unrecognized tax positions will significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.
The Companys effective tax rate for the first quarter of 2007 was 45%. The effective tax rate may change due to shifts in domestic and international income and other factors.
Note 10: Comprehensive Income
SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income and its components in shareholders equity. Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity during a period from non-owner sources. The change in accumulated other comprehensive income for all periods presented resulted from foreign currency translation adjustments and minimum pension liability adjustment.
The following are the components of comprehensive income (in thousands):
|
Three months ended |
|
|||||
|
|
March 31, 2007 |
|
March 31, 2006 |
|
||
Net income |
|
$ |
444 |
|
$ |
22,486 |
|
Other comprehensive income: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
Foreign currency translation adjustments |
|
(190 |
) |
515 |
|
||
Total comprehensive income |
|
$ |
254 |
|
$ |
23,001 |
|
Note 11: Globalstar Financing Transaction
As required by the lender under the Companys credit agreement discussed below, the Company executed an agreement with Thermo Funding Company LLC (Thermo Funding Company), an affiliate of Thermo, to provide Globalstar up to an additional $200.0 million of equity via an irrevocable standby stock purchase commitment. The irrevocable standby purchase
12
commitment allows the Company to put up to 12,371,136 shares of its Common Stock to Thermo Funding Company at a predetermined price of approximately $16.17 per share when the Company requires additional liquidity or upon the occurrence of certain other specified events. Thermo Funding Company also may elect to purchase the shares at any time. Minority stockholders of Globalstar as of June 15, 2006 who are accredited investors and who received at least thirty-six shares of Globalstar Common Stock as a result of the Old Globalstar bankruptcy will be provided an opportunity to participate in this financing. On February 5, 2007, Thermo Funding Company purchased 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $24.3 million. As of March 31, 2007, Thermo Funding Company had purchased 4,427,840 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of $71.6 million. Thermo Funding Company purchased additional shares of Common Stock in April and May 2007. See Note 16 for details.
On August 16, 2006, the Company entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wachovia Investment Holdings, L.L.C., as administrative agent and swingline lender, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as issuing lender, which was subsequently amended on September 29, 2006 and October 26, 2006. The amended and restated credit agreement provides for a $50.0 million revolving credit facility and a $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facility. The delayed draw term loan may be drawn after January 1, 2008 and prior to August 16, 2009, but only if, after giving effect to the delayed draw term loan and thereafter at the end of each quarter while the delayed draw term loan is outstanding, the Companys consolidated senior secured leverage ratio does not exceed 3.5 to 1.0. In addition to the $50.0 million revolving and $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facilities, the amended and restated credit agreement permits the Company to incur additional term loans on an equally and ratably secured, pari passu basis in an aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million (plus the amount of any reduction in the delayed draw term loan facility or prepayment of the delayed draw term loan described above resulting from sales of common stock or any additional term loans) from the lenders under the credit agreement or other banks, financial institutions or investment funds approved by the Company and the administrative agent. The Company has not received any commitments for these additional term loans. These additional term loans may be incurred only if no event of default then exists, if the Company is in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the credit agreement, and if, after giving effect thereto, the Companys consolidated total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to 1.0.
All revolving credit loans will mature on June 30, 2010 and all term loans will mature on June 30, 2011. Revolving credit loans will bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.25% to 4.75% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 3.25% to 3.75%. The delayed draw term loan will bear interest at LIBOR plus 6.0% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 5.0%. The delayed draw term loan facility bears an annual commitment fee of 2.0% until drawn or terminated and the revolving credit facility has an annual commitment fee of 0.5% on the undrawn balance. Commitment fees incurred during the three months ended March 31, 2007 were $563,000. Additional term loans will bear interest at rates to be negotiated. To hedge a portion of the interest rate risk with respect to the delayed draw term loans, the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement (see Note 15). The loans may be prepaid without penalty at any time. The Companys indebtedness under the agreement is guaranteed by its principal domestic subsidiaries and is secured by a first lien on its and their property. The agreement contains covenants limiting the Companys ability to dispose of assets, change its business, merge, make acquisitions, incur indebtedness or liens, pay dividends, make investments or engage in certain transactions with its affiliates. Additionally, the agreement contains covenants requiring Globalstar to maintain certain financial and operating covenants and restricting capital expenditures. The Company was in compliance with all related covenants at March 31, 2007.
As of March 31, 2007, there were no drawings under the $50.0 million revolving credit facility. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, the weighted average annualized interest rate on the outstanding revolving credit loans was 0% because there was no outstanding debt during the period.
Note 12: Equity Incentive Plan
At March 31, 2007, the Company had two share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation cost charged against income for those plans during the three months ended March 31, 2007, was $0.2 million, with a total tax benefit of less than $0.1 million, being recognized in the same period.
On July 12, 2006, the Companys board of directors adopted and a majority of the Companys stockholders approved the Globalstar, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Equity Plan), which became effective upon the registration of the Companys Common Stock under the Securities Act of 1933 in November 2006. The purpose of the Equity Plan is to make available incentives that will assist the Company in attracting, retaining and motivating employees, directors and consultants whose contributions are essential to its success. The Company may provide these incentives through the grant of stock
13
options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock purchase rights, restricted stock bonuses, restricted stock units, performance shares or performance units. The Equity Plan is administered by the Compensation Committee of the board of directors. On November 9, 2006, the Company registered under the Securities Act 1,200,000 shares of its Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Plan and, on November 10, 2006, the Compensation Committee authorized granting restricted stock and restricted stock unit awards for an aggregate of approximately 295,000 shares of Common Stock to substantially all the Companys employees.
As per the terms of the restricted stock awards and the restricted stock units, 25% of the shares granted vest on either December 12, 2006 or May 1, 2007 and the remainder will vest on November 10, 2009, subject to certain acceleration clauses upon satisfactory completion of Company wide goals. A pre-tax non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $0.2 million was recognized in the three months ended March 31, 2007. The remaining $2.3 million is expected to be amortized over the shares remaining three-year vesting period. The total income tax benefit recognized during the three months ended March 31, 2007 for these restricted stock awards and restricted stock units was not significant. There was no corresponding stock-based compensation expense or a related tax benefit during the three months ended March 31, 2006. The fair value of these grants was measured based upon the market price of the underlying Common Stock at the date of grant.
Approximately 44,000 restricted stock awards and restricted stock units were granted during the three months ended March 31, 2007. During the three months ended March 31, 2007, the Companys board of directors approved an additional 600,000 shares of the Companys Common Stock for issuance under the Equity Plan. These shares have not been registered under the Securities Act as of March 31, 2007.
In January 2005, the Company promised one of its board members an option to purchase up to 120,000 shares at a price of approximately $2.67 per share (as adjusted for a six-for-one stock split). This option vested fully in March 2006. The grant date intrinsic value and fair value of this award was approximately nil and $40,000, respectively. The intrinsic value at March 31, 2007 was approximately $952,000. There have been no other stock option grants.
Note 13: Litigation
From time to time, the Company is involved in various litigation matters involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to its business. Management currently believes that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on the Companys business, results of operations or financial condition. The Company is involved in certain litigation matters as discussed below.
On February 9, 13 and 21, 2007, three plaintiffs (Ladmen Partners, Israel Bollag and Margueritte Sherrard, respectively) filed purported class action lawsuits in the Southern District of New York against the Company, its chief executive officer and its chief financial officer. The actions allege that the Companys registration statement related to its initial public offering in November 2006 contained material misstatements and omissions. The actions cited a drop in the trading price of the Companys Common Stock that followed its filing, on February 5, 2007, of a current report on Form 8-K relating in part to changes in the condition of its satellite constellation. The actions seek recovery on behalf of a class of purchasers of the Companys Common Stock who purchased shares in the initial public offering or traceable to that offering from November 2, 2006 through February 6, 2007. All of the cases have been consolidated, and the Connecticut Laborers Pension Fund has been appointed lead plaintiff. The Company intends to defend the matters vigorously.
14
Note 14: Geographic Information
Revenue by geographic location, presented net of eliminations for intercompany sales, was as follows for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended |
|
||||
|
|
March 31, 2007 |
|
March 31, 2006 |
|
||
Service: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
United States |
|
$ |
9,047 |
|
$ |
9,593 |
|
Canada |
|
6,463 |
|
8,255 |
|
||
Europe |
|
946 |
|
1,294 |
|
||
Central and South America |
|
710 |
|
1,000 |
|
||
Others |
|
300 |
|
552 |
|
||
Total service revenue |
|
17,466 |
|
20,694 |
|
||
Subscriber equipment: |
|
|
|
|
|
||
United States |
|
3,149 |
|
2,599 |
|
||
Canada |
|
1,444 |
|
2,789 |
|
||
Europe |
|
842 |
|
1,494 |
|
||
Central and South America |
|
216 |
|
933 |
|
||
Others |
|
37 |
|
1,833 |
|
||
Total subscriber equipment revenue |
|
5,688 |
|
9,648 |
|
||
Total revenue |
|
$ |
23,154 |
|
$ |
30,342 |
|
Note 15: Interest Rate Derivative
In July 2006, in connection with entering into its credit agreement, which provides for interest at a variable rate (Note 11), the Company entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement. The interest rate swap agreement reflected a $100.0 million notional amount at a fixed interest rate of 5.64%. The fair value of the interest rate swap agreement was $3.1 million and $2.7 million at March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, which is reflected in the Companys Consolidated Balance Sheet in Other non-current liabilities. The change in fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2007, of approximately $0.4 million, was charged to Interest rate derivative loss in the accompanying Consolidated Statement of Income.
Note 16: Subsequent Events
On April 7, 2007, Kenneth Stickrath and Sharan Stickrath filed a purported class action complaint against the Company in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint is based on alleged violations of California Business & Professions Code § 17200 and California Civil Code § 1750, et seq., the Consumers Legal Remedies Act. Plaintiffs allege that members of the proposed class suffered damages from March 2003 to the present because Globalstar did not perform according to its representations with respect to coverage and reliability. Plaintiffs claim that the amount in controversy exceeds $5 million but do not allege any particular actual damages incurred. The Company intends to answer the complaint at the proper time and to defend itself against the charges in the complaint.
On April 24, 2007, Mr. Jean-Pierre Barrette filed a Motion for Authorization to Institute a Class Action in Quebec, Canada, Superior Court against Globalstar Canada. Mr. Barrette asserts claims based on Quebec law related to his alleged problems with Globalstar Canadas service. The Company is evaluating the Motion and will respond to it in due course.
Consistent with its prior purchases, on April 26, 2007, Thermo Funding Company elected, pursuant to the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, to make a further investment in the Company by purchasing an additional 2,164,502 shares of the Companys Common Stock at a price of $16.17 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million with the payment made in two tranches. The first of these payments was made on April 30, 2007 in the amount of $25.0 million for 1,546,073 shares. The second payment was made on May 9, 2007 in the amount of $10.0 million for 618,429 shares.
15
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Forward-Looking Statements
In addition to current and historical information, this Report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements relate to our future operations, prospects, potential products, services, developments and business strategies. These statements can, in some cases, be identified by the use of terms such as may, will, should, could, would, intend, expect, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, project, potential, continue, the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements, such as the statements regarding our ability to develop and expand our business, our ability to manage costs, our ability to exploit and respond to technological innovation, the effects of laws and regulations (including tax laws and regulations) and legal and regulatory changes, the opportunities for strategic business combinations and the effects of consolidation in our industry on us and our competitors, our anticipated future revenues, our anticipated capital spending (including for future satellite procurements and launches), our anticipated financial resources, our expectations about the future operational performance of our satellites (including their projected operational lives), the expected strength of and growth prospects for our existing customers and the markets that we serve, and other statements contained in this report regarding matters that are not historical facts, involve predictions. These and similar statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those listed in Part II, Item 1A Risk Factors of this Report and Part I, Item A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. We do not intend, and undertake no obligation, to update any of our forward-looking statements after the date of this Report to reflect actual results or future events or circumstances.
This Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition should be read in conjunction with the Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and information included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Overview
We are a leading provider of mobile voice and data communication services via satellite. Our communications platform extends telecommunications beyond the boundaries of terrestrial wireline and wireless telecommunications networks to serve our customers desire for connectivity and reliable service at all times and locations. Using in-orbit satellites and ground stations, which we call gateways, we offer voice and data communications services to government agencies, businesses and other customers in over 120 countries.
In early 2002, Old Globalstar and three of its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. We were formed in Delaware in November 2003 for the purpose of acquiring substantially all the assets of Old Globalstar and its subsidiaries. With Bankruptcy Court approval, we acquired Old Globalstars assets and assumed certain of its liabilities in a two-step transaction, with the first step completed on December 5, 2003, and the second step on April 14, 2004 (the Reorganization). On January 1, 2006, we elected to be taxed as a C corporation, and on March 17, 2006, we converted from a Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation.
Material Trends and Uncertainties. Our satellite communications business, by providing critical mobile communications to our subscribers, serves principally the following markets: government, public safety and disaster relief; recreation and personal; maritime and fishing; natural resources, mining and forestry; oil and gas; construction; utilities; and transportation. Both our industry and our own subscriber base have been growing as a result of:
· favorable market reaction to new pricing plans with lower service charges;
· awareness of the need for remote and reliable communication services;
· increased demand for reliable communication services by disaster and relief agencies and emergency first responders;
· improved voice and data transmission quality; and
· a general reduction in prices of user equipment.
In addition, our industry as a whole has benefited from the improved financial condition of most industry participants following their financial reorganizations or conversions to private ownership.
16
Nonetheless, we face a number of challenges and uncertainties, including:
· Constellation life and health. Our current satellite constellation is aging. We plan to launch four of our eight spare satellites during the second quarter of 2007 with the remaining four to be launched later in 2007. Assuming these launches are successful and we are able to mitigate the S-band anomaly described below, we expect that our current satellite constellation will provide a commercially acceptable quality of service through 2009, albeit with an increasing number of coverage gaps over areas in which we currently provide two-way communication services. A number of our satellites have experienced various anomalies over time, one of which is a degradation in the performance of the solid-state power amplifiers of the S-band communications antenna. The S-band antenna provides the downlink from the satellite to a subscribers phone or data terminal. Degraded performance of the S-band antenna reduces the quality of two-way voice and data communication between the affected satellites and the subscriber and may reduce the duration of a call. If the S-band antenna on a satellite ceases to be commercially functional, two-way communication is impossible over that satellite, but not necessarily over the constellation as a whole. Subscriber service will continue to be available, but at certain times in any given location it may take longer to establish calls and the average duration of calls may be impacted adversely. The root cause of the degradation in performance of the amplifiers is unknown, although we believe it may result from irradiation of the satellites in orbit caused by the space environment at the altitude that our satellites operate.
The S-band antenna amplifier degradation does not affect adversely our one-way Simplex data transmission services, which utilize only the L-band uplink from a subscribers Simplex terminal to the satellites.
To date, we have managed the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifiers in various technical ways, including moving unimpaired satellites to key orbital positions.
Based on our most recent analysis, we now believe that, if the degradation of the S-band antenna amplifiers continues at the current rate or further accelerates, and if we are unsuccessful in developing additional technical solutions, the quality of two-way communications services will decline, and by some time in 2008 substantially all of our satellites launched between 1998 and 2000, but not those satellites launched in 2007, will cease to be able to support two-way communications services. Simplex data service will not be affected.
We are working on plans, including new products and services and pricing programs, and exploring the feasibility of accelerating procurement and launch of our second-generation satellite constellation, to attempt to reduce the effects of this problem upon our customers and operations. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk FactorsOur satellites have a limited life and may fail prematurely, which would cause our network to be compromised and materially and adversely affect our business, prospects and profitability in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
· Competition and pricing pressures. We face increased competition from both the expansion of terrestrial-based cellular phone systems and from other mobile satellite service providers. For example, Inmarsat plans to commence offering satellite services to handheld devices in the United States around 2008, and several competitors, such as ICO Global Communications Company, are constructing geostationary satellites that will provide mobile satellite service. Increased numbers of competitors, and the introduction of new services and products by competitors, increases competition for subscribers and pressures all providers, including us, to reduce prices. Increased competition may result in loss of subscribers, decreased revenue, decreased gross margins, increased cost per gross addition, higher churn rates, and, ultimately, decreased profitability and cash.
· Technological changes. It is difficult for us promptly to match major technological innovations by our competitors because substantially modifying or replacing our basic technology, satellites or gateways is time-consuming and very expensive. Approximately 49% of our total assets at March 31, 2007 represented fixed assets. Although we believe our current technology and fixed assets are competitive with those of our competitors, and we plan to procure and deploy our second-generation satellite constellation and upgrade our gateways and other ground facilities, we are vulnerable to the successful introduction of superior technology by our competitors.
· Capital expenditures. Launching our eight spare satellites to augment our current constellation will cost approximately $120.0 million exclusive of capitalized interest and internal costs, of which $91.9 million (inclusive of $0.8 million of capitalized interest) had been paid or accrued by March 31, 2007. We plan to fund the balance of this cost from the sale of our common stock to Thermo Funding Company pursuant to its irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement described under Liquidity and Capital ResourcesIrrevocable Standby Stock Purchase
17
Agreement. Procuring and deploying our second-generation satellite constellation and upgrading our gateways and other ground facilities will cost $1.0 to $1.2 billion, which we expect will be reflected in capital expenditures through 2014. On November 30, 2006, we entered into a 661.0 million, (approximately $875.6 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3247 at March 31, 2007 including approximately 146.8 million which may be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294), contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of our second-generation constellation. On March 27, 2007, we entered into a 9.0 million (approximately $12.0 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3335) agreement with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for our second-generation satellite constellation. See Liquidity and Capital ResourcesContractual Obligations and Commitments. We plan to fund approximately $400.0 million of the total $1.0 to $1.2 billion from the $116.6 million net proceeds of our initial public offering, the $150.0 million available through our credit agreement and the remaining proceeds from sales of our common stock under the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. We plan to fund the remaining cost of approximately $600.0 million to $800.0 million from cash generated by our business and by accessing capital markets through additional issuance of debt and equity securities. Our reliance on outside funding sources will increase and this funding may be difficult or expensive to obtain if our future revenues or profitability are substantially below our expectations whether as a result of the degradation of our constellation or for any other reason, or the conditions requiring Thermo Funding Company to purchase the stock do not occur, and Thermo Funding Company does not elect to purchase the stock during the term of the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement. Additionally, because substantially all of these costs will be capitalized, the resulting increase in our non-cash depreciation expense could have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations.
· Introduction of new products. We work continuously with the manufacturers of the products we sell to offer our customers innovative and improved products. Virtually all engineering, research and development costs of these new products are paid by the manufacturers. However, to the extent the costs are reflected in increased inventory costs to us, and we are unable to raise our prices to our subscribers correspondingly, our margins and profitability would be reduced.
· Fluctuations in interest and currency rates. Debt under our credit agreement bears interest at a floating rate. Therefore, increases in interest rates will increase our interest costs. A substantial portion of our revenue (39% for the three months ended March 31, 2007) is denominated in foreign currencies. In addition, the contract for the launch of our spare satellites and a substantial majority of our obligations under the contract for our second-generation constellation are denominated in Euros. Any decline in the relative value of the U.S. dollar may adversely affect our revenues and increase our capital expenditures.
Ancillary Terrestrial Component (ATC). ATC is the integration of a satellite-based service with a terrestrial wireless service resulting in a hybrid mobile satellite services. The ATC network would extend our services to urban areas and inside buildings where satellite services currently are impractical. We believe we are at the forefront of ATC development and are actively working to be among the first market entrants. To that end we are considering a range of options for rollout of our ATC services. We are exploring selective opportunities with a variety of media and communication companies to capture the full potential of our spectrum and ATC license.
Service Revenues. We earn revenues primarily from the sale of satellite communications services to direct customers, resellers and independent gateway operators. These services include mobile and fixed voice and data services and asset tracking and monitoring services. We generated approximately 75% and 68% of our consolidated revenues from the sale of our satellite communication services for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
Subscriber Equipment Sales Revenue. We also sell related voice and data equipment to our customers. We generated approximately 25% and 32% of our consolidated revenues from subscriber equipment sales in the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
18
The table below sets forth amounts and percentages of our revenue by type of service and subscriber equipment sales for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006.
|
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 |
|
Three Months Ended March 31, 2006 |
|
||||||
|
|
Revenue |
|
% of Total Rev |
|
Revenue |
|
% of Total Rev |
|
||
Service Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Mobile |
|
$ |
14,017 |
|
60 |
% |
$ |
15,542 |
|
52 |
% |
Fixed |
|
1,564 |
|
7 |
|
1,878 |
|
6 |
|
||
Data |
|
393 |
|
1 |
|
350 |
|
1 |
|
||
Simplex |
|
430 |
|
2 |
|
328 |
|
1 |
|
||
IGO |
|
916 |
|
4 |
|
1,902 |
|
6 |
|
||
Other(1) |
|
146 |
|
1 |
|
694 |
|
2 |
|
||
Total Service Revenue |
|
17,466 |
|
75 |
|
20,694 |
|
68 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Subscriber Equipment Sales: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Mobile |
|
2,846 |
|
13 |
|
3,287 |
|
11 |
|
||
Fixed |
|
983 |
|
4 |
|
1,716 |
|
6 |
|
||
Data |
|
294 |
|
1 |
|
413 |
|
1 |
|
||
Accessories/Misc |
|
1,565 |
|
7 |
|
4,232 |
|
14 |
|
||
Total Subscriber Equipment Sales |
|
5,688 |
|
25 |
|
9,648 |
|
32 |
|
||
Total Revenue |
|
$ |
23,154 |
|
100 |
% |
$ |
30,342 |
|
100 |
% |
(1) Includes Engineering Services and activation fees
Operating Income (Loss). Our operating income (loss) decreased from an operating income of $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006, to an operating loss of $0.6 million for the same period in 2007. The decrease related principally to lower service revenue as a result of degraded service our customers experienced during the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period last year. This service degradation was the result of a constellation reconfiguration we were in the midst of completing in the first quarter of 2007 to accommodate inclusion of eight spare satellites that we plan to launch in 2007 and the S-band antenna amplifier problem described above. Lower usage also resulted in lower Average Revenue Per Unit (ARPU) on our monthly service plans. Moreover, in order to stimulate future demand for our services we began offering promotional pricing to certain wholesale customers, which resulted in lower service revenue for the quarter. Subscriber Equipment Sales were lower than during the three months ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period in 2006. This was primarily due to the Independent Gateway Operators (IGOs) making their equipment purchases during the fourth quarter of 2006 to take advantage of equipment discounts available to them during that period and consequently buying less equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2007.
Independent Gateway Acquisition Strategy
Currently, 16 of the gateways in our network are owned and operated by unaffiliated companies, which we call independent gateway operators, some of whom operate more than one gateway. Some of these independent gateway operators have been unable to grow their businesses adequately due in part to limited resources. Old Globalstar initially developed the independent gateway strategy to establish operations in multiple territories with reduced demands on its capital. In addition, for political or other reasons, there are territories in which it is impractical for us to operate directly. We sell services to the independent gateway operators on a wholesale basis and they resell them to their customers on a retail basis.
We have acquired, and intend to continue to pursue the acquisition of, independent gateway operators when we believe we can do so on favorable terms. We believe that these acquisitions can enhance our results of operations in three respects. First, we believe that, with our greater financial and technical resources, we can grow our subscriber base and revenue faster than some of the independent gateway operators. Second, we realize greater margin on retail sales to individual subscribers than we do on wholesale sales to independent gateway operators. Third, we believe expanding the territory we serve directly will better position us to market our services directly to multinational customers who require a global communications provider. However, acquisitions of independent gateway operators do require us to commit capital for acquisition of their assets, as well as management resources and working capital to support the gateway operations, and therefore increase our risk in operating in these territories directly rather than through the independent gateway operators. In addition, operating the acquired gateways increases our marketing, general and administrative expenses. Our credit agreement limits to $25.0 million the aggregate amount we may invest in foreign acquisitions without the consent of our lenders.
In February 2005, we purchased the Venezuela gateway for $1.6 million in cash to be paid over four years. Effective January 1, 2006, we acquired the Central American gateway and other real property assets for $5.2 million, paid principally in shares of our common stock. Because independent gateway operations vary in size and value, we are unable to predict the timing or cost of further acquisitions.
19
Performance Indicators
Our management reviews and analyzes several key performance indicators in order to manage our business and assess the quality of and potential variability of our earnings and cash flows. These key performance indicators include:
· total revenue, which is an indicator of our overall business growth;
· subscriber growth and churn rate, which are both indicators of the satisfaction of our customers;
· average revenue per user, which is an indicator of our ability to obtain effectively long-term, high-value customers;
· operating income, which is an indication of our performance and liquidity;
· EBITDA, which is an indicator of our financial performance; and
· capital expenditures, which are an indicator of future revenue growth potential and cash requirements.
Seasonality
Our results of operations are subject to seasonal usage changes. April through October are typically our peak months for service revenues and equipment sales. Government customers in North America tend to use our services during summer months, often in support of relief activities after events such as hurricanes, forest fires and other natural disasters.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect our revenues and expenses for the periods reported and the reported amounts of our assets and liabilities, including contingent assets and liabilities, as of the date of the financial statements. We evaluate our estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventory, long-lived assets, income taxes, pension obligations, derivative instruments and Stock-Based Compensation, on an on-going basis. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from our estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following accounting policies are most important to understanding our financial results and condition and require complex or subjective judgments and estimates.
Revenue Recognition
Customer activation fees are deferred and recognized over four to five year periods, which approximates the estimated average life of the customer relationship. We periodically evaluate the estimated customer relationship life. Historically, changes in the estimated life have not been material to our financial statements.
Monthly access fees billed to retail customers and resellers, representing the minimum monthly charge for each line of service based on its associated rate plan, are billed on the first day of each monthly bill cycle. Airtime minute fees in excess of the monthly access fees are billed in arrears on the first day of each monthly billing cycle. To the extent that billing cycles fall during the course of a given month and a portion of the monthly services has not been delivered at month end, fees are prorated and fees associated with the undelivered portion of a given month are deferred. Under our annual plans, where customers prepay for minutes, revenue is deferred until the minutes are used or the prepaid time period expires. Unused minutes are accumulated until they expire, usually one year after activation. In addition, we offer an annual plan called the Emergency Plan whereby the customer is charged an annual fee to access our system and the customer is charged for each minute used under this plan. The annual fee for an Emergency Plan is recognized as revenue on a straight-line basis over the term of the plan.
Occasionally we have granted customer concessions in the form of customer credits. These concessions are expensed when granted.
Subscriber acquisition costs include items such as dealer commissions, internal sales commissions and equipment subsidies and are expensed at the time of the related sale.
20
We also provide certain engineering services to assist customers in developing new technologies related to our system. The revenues associated with these services are recorded when the services are rendered, and the expenses are recorded when incurred.
We introduced annual plans (sometimes called Liberty plans) in August 2004 and introduced broadly during the second quarter of 2005. These plans grew substantially in 2005 and 2006. These plans require users to pre-pay usage charges for the entire plan period, generally 12 months, which results in the deferral of certain of our revenues. Under our revenue recognition policy for annual plans, we defer revenue until the earlier of when the minutes are used or when these minutes expire. Any unused minutes are recognized as revenue at the expiration of a plan. Most of our customers have not used all the minutes that are available to them or have not used them at the pace anticipated, which, with the rapid acceptance of our annual plans, has caused us to defer increasingly large amounts of service revenue. At March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, our deferred revenue aggregated approximately $24.1 million and $24.7 million, respectively. We own and operate our satellite constellation and earn a portion of our revenues through the sale of airtime minutes on a wholesale basis to the independent gateway operators. Revenue from services provided to independent gateway operators is recognized based upon airtime minutes used by customers of independent gateway operators and contractual fee arrangements. Where collection is uncertain, revenue is recognized when cash payment is received.
Subscriber equipment revenue represents the sale of fixed and mobile user terminals and accessories. Revenue is recognized upon shipment provided title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the fee is fixed and determinable and collection is probable.
In December 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) reached a consensus on EITF Issue No. 00-21, Revenue Arrangements with Multiple Deliverables. EITF Issue No. 00-21 addresses certain aspects of the accounting by a vendor for arrangements under which it will perform multiple revenue-generating activities. In some arrangements, the different revenue-generating activities (deliveries) are sufficiently separable and there exists sufficient evidence of their fair values to account separately for some or all of the deliveries (that is, there are separate units of accounting). In other arrangements, some or all of the deliveries are not independently functional, or there is not sufficient evidence of their fair values to account for them separately. EITF Issue No. 00-21 addresses when and, if so, how an arrangement involving multiple deliverables should be divided into separate units of accounting. EITF Issue No. 00-21 does not change otherwise applicable revenue recognition criteria.
Inventory
Inventory consists of purchased products, including fixed and mobile user terminals, accessories and gateway spare parts. Inventory acquired on December 5, 2003, through the Old Globalstar bankruptcy proceedings, was stated at fair value at the date of our acquisition. Subsequent inventory transactions are stated at the lower of cost or market. At the end of each quarter, product sales and returns from the previous twelve months are reviewed and any excess and obsolete inventory is written off. Cost is computed using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. Inventory allowances for inventories with a lower market value or that are slow moving are recorded in the period of determination.
Globalstar System, Property and Equipment
Our Globalstar System assets include costs for the design, manufacture, test and launch of a constellation of low earth orbit satellites, including in-orbit spare satellites, which we refer to as the space segment, and primary and backup terrestrial control centers and gateways, which we refer to as the ground segment. Loss from an in-orbit failure of a satellite is recognized as an expense in the period it is determined that the satellite is not recoverable.
The carrying value of the Globalstar System is reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the recorded value of the space segment and ground segment, taken as a whole, may not be recoverable. We look to current and future undiscounted cash flows, excluding financing costs, as primary indicators of recoverability. If an impairment is determined to exist, any related impairment loss is calculated based on fair value.
Property and equipment acquired by us on December 5, 2003 in the Old Globalstar bankruptcy proceedings was recorded based on our allocation of acquisition cost. Because the acquisition cost of these assets was substantially below their historic cost or replacement cost, current depreciation and amortization costs have been reduced substantially for GAAP purposes, thereby increasing net income or decreasing net loss. As we increase our capital expenditures, especially to procure and launch our second-generation satellite constellation, we expect GAAP depreciation to increase substantially.
21
Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. To verify the life of our satellites, we commissioned a report by an independent consultant to assess the health and life of our current constellation. Leasehold improvements are amortized on a straight-line basis over the shorter of the estimated useful life of the improvement or the term of the lease. We perform ongoing evaluations of the estimated useful lives of our property and equipment for depreciation purposes. The estimated useful lives are determined and continually evaluated based on the period over which services are expected to be rendered by the asset. Maintenance and repair items are expensed as incurred.
Income Taxes
Until January 1, 2006, we were treated as a partnership for U.S. tax purposes. Generally, our taxable income or loss, deductions and credits were passed through to our members. We did have some corporate subsidiaries that required a tax provision or benefit using the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes as prescribed by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes (SFAS No. 109). Effective January 1, 2006, we elected to be taxed as a C corporation in the United States. When an enterprise changes its tax status from non-taxable to taxable, under SFAS No. 109 the effect of recognizing deferred tax assets and liabilities is included in income from continuing operations in the period of change. As a result, we recognized a gross deferred tax asset of $204.2 million and a gross deferred tax liability of $0.1 million on January 1, 2006. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be reduced by a valuation allowance if it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In evaluating the need for a valuation allowance, we take into account various factors including the expected level of future taxable income and available tax planning strategies. We determined that it was more likely than not that we would not recognize the entire deferred tax asset; therefore, we established a valuation allowance of $182.7 million, resulting in recognition of a net deferred tax benefit of $21.4 million. We monitor the situation to ensure that, if and when we are more likely than not to be able to utilize more of the deferred tax asset, we will be able to reduce the valuation allowance accordingly. On January 1, 2007, the Company adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 48 Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (FIN 48). See Note 9 to our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements for the impact of this adoption on our financial statements.
Spare Satellites, Launch Costs and Second-Generation Satellites
Old Globalstar purchased eight additional satellites in 1998 for $148.0 million (including performance incentives of up to $16.0 million) to serve as on-ground spares. Costs of $147.0 million (including a portion of the performance incentives) were previously recognized for these spare satellites. Prior to December 5, 2003, Old Globalstar recorded an impairment of these assets, and at December 5, 2003 they were carried at $0.9 million. All eight satellites have been completed and are being readied for launch. We plan to launch four of the eight spare satellites during the second quarter of 2007 with the remaining satellites expected to be launched later in 2007. Depreciation of these assets will not begin until the satellites are placed in service. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, these assets were recorded at $91.9 million and $87.8 million, respectively. On November 30, 2006, we entered into a contract with Thales Alenia Space to construct 48 low-earth orbit satellites. The total contract price will be approximately 661.0 million (approximately $875.6 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3247 at March 31, 2007 including approximately 146.8 million which may be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294). The contract requires Thales Alenia Space to commence delivery of satellites in the third quarter of 2009, with deliveries continuing until 2013 unless we elect to accelerate delivery. As of March 31, 2007 and December 31, 2006, capitalized interest included within spare and second-generation satellites and launch costs was $0.9 million. On March 27, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space dated March 22, 2007 for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for the Companys second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.0 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3335) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009.
22
Pension Obligations
We have a company-sponsored retirement plan covering certain current and past U.S.-based employees. Until June 1, 2004, substantially all of Old Globalstars and our employees and retirees who participated and/or met the vesting criteria for the plan were participants in the Retirement Plan of Space Systems/Loral, Inc. (the Loral Plan), a defined benefit pension plan. The accrual of benefits in the Old Globalstar segment of the Loral Plan was curtailed, or frozen, by the administrator of the Loral Plan as of October 23, 2003. Prior to October 23, 2003, benefits for the Loral Plan were generally based upon compensation, length of service with the company and age of the participant. On June 1, 2004, the assets and frozen pension obligations of the segment attributable to our employees were transferred into a new Globalstar Retirement Plan (the Globalstar Plan). The Globalstar Plan remains frozen and participants are not currently accruing benefits beyond those accrued as of October 23, 2003. Our funding policy is to fund the Globalstar Plan in accordance with the Internal Revenue Code and regulations.
We account for our defined benefit pension and life insurance benefit plans in accordance with SFAS No. 87, Employers Accounting for Pensions, (SFAS 87), SFAS No. 106, Employers Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other than Pensions, (SFAS 106) and SFAS No. 158, Employers Accounting Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans, (SFAS 158) which require that amounts recognized in financial statements be determined on an actuarial basis. We adopted the recognition and disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 158 on December 31, 2006 and this adoption did not have any impact on our results of operation. Pension benefits associated with these plans are generally based on each participants years of service, compensation, and age at retirement or termination. Two critical assumptions, the discount rate and the expected return on plan assets, are important elements of expense and liability measurement. We utilize the services of a third party to perform these actuarial calculations.
We determine the discount rate used to measure plan liabilities as of the December 31 measurement date for the U.S. pension plan. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the associated liabilities could be effectively settled at the end of the year. In estimating this rate, we look at rates of return on fixed-income investments of similar duration to the liabilities in the plan that receive high, investment grade ratings by recognized ratings agencies. Using these methodologies, we determined a discount rate of 5.75% to be appropriate as of December 31, 2006, which is an increase of 0.25 percentage points from the rate used as of December 31, 2005. An increase of 1.0% in the discount rate would have decreased our plan liabilities as of December 31, 2006 by $0.1 million and a decrease of 1.0% could have increased our plan liabilities by $0.1 million.
A significant element in determining our pension expense in accordance with SFAS No. 87 is the expected return on plan assets, which is based on historical results for similar allocations among asset classes. For the U.S. pension plan, our assumption for the expected return on plan assets was 7.5% for 2006.
The difference between the expected return and the actual return on plan assets is deferred and, under certain circumstances, amortized over future years of service. Therefore, the net deferral of past asset gains (losses) ultimately affects future pension expense. This is also true of changes to actuarial assumptions. As of December 31, 2006, we had net unrecognized pension actuarial losses of $2.0 million. These amounts represent potential future pension and postretirement expenses that would be amortized over average future service periods.
Derivative Instrument
We utilize a derivative instrument in the form of an interest rate swap agreement to minimize our risk from interest rate fluctuations related to our variable rate credit agreement. We use the interest rate swap agreement to manage risk and not for trading or other speculative purposes. At the end of each accounting period, we record the derivative instrument on our balance sheet as either an asset or a liability measured at fair value. The interest rate swap agreement does not qualify for hedge accounting treatment. Changes in the fair value of the interest rate swap agreement are recognized as Interest rate derivative gain (loss) over the life of the agreement.
23
Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 1, 2006, as a result of our initial public offering, we adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 123(R), Share-Based Payment (SFAS 123(R)), and related interpretations, or SFAS 123(R), to account for stock-based compensation using the modified prospective transition method and therefore have not restated our prior period results. Among other things, SFAS 123(R) requires that compensation expense be recognized in the financial statements for both employee and non-employee share-based awards based on the grant date fair value of those awards. At January 1, 2006, the option of one board member to purchase up to 120,000 shares of Common Stock at $2.67 per share was the only outstanding equity award. Compensation cost related to the remaining portion of this award for which the requisite service had not been rendered was insignificant. Therefore, the adoption of SFAS 123(R) did not have a significant impact on our financial position or results of operations.
Additionally, stock-based compensation expense includes an estimate for pre-vesting forfeitures and is recognized over the requisite service periods of the awards on a straight-line basis, which is generally commensurate with the vesting term.
24
Results of Operations
Comparison of Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):
|
|
Three months ended March 31, |
|
|
|
||||
|
|
2007 |
|
2006 |
|
% Change |
|
||
Revenue: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Service revenue |
|
$ |
17,466 |
|
$ |
20,694 |
|
(16 |
)% |
Subscriber equipment sales |
|
5,688 |
|
9,648 |
|
(41 |
) |
||
Total revenue |
|
23,154 |
|
30,342 |
|
(24 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating expenses: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Cost of services (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below) |
|
6,383 |
|
6,547 |
|
(3 |
) |
||
Cost of subscriber equipment sales |
|
3,451 |
|
8,515 |
|
(59 |
) |
||
Marketing, general and administrative |
|
11,482 |
|
9,965 |
|
15 |
|
||
Depreciation and amortization |
|
2,424 |
|
1,390 |
|
74 |
|
||
Total operating expenses |
|
23,740 |
|
26,417 |
|
(10 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Operating income (loss) |
|
(586 |
) |
3,925 |
|
(115 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Other income (expense): |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Interest income |
|
828 |
|
167 |
|
396 |
|
||
Interest expense |
|
(311 |
) |
(20 |
) |
1,455 |
|
||
Interest rate derivative loss |
|
(364 |
) |
|
|
100 |
|
||
Other income (expense) |
|
1,234 |
|
(337 |
) |
(466 |
) |
||
Total other income (expense) |
|
1,387 |
|
(190 |
) |
(830 |
) |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Income before income taxes |
|
801 |
|
3,735 |
|
(79 |
) |
||
Income tax expense (benefit) |
|
357 |
|
(18,751 |
) |
(102 |
) |
||
Net income |
|
$ |
444 |
|
$ |
22,486 |
|
(98 |
)% |
Revenue. Total revenue decreased by $7.2 million, or approximately 24%, to $23.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $30.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This decrease can be attributed to lower service revenues as a result of degraded service from the constellation reconfiguration we were in the midst of completing in the first quarter of 2007 to accommodate the inclusion of eight spare satellites we plan to launch in 2007. Additionally, lower equipment sales to our Independent Gateway Operators (IGOs) in the quarter ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period last year further contributed to the decrease in our revenues. Our IGOs made their equipment purchases during the fourth quarter of 2006 to take advantage of equipment discounts available to them during that period and consequently purchased less equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2007. As a result of degraded satellite performance, our retail ARPU during the three months ended March 31, 2007 decreased by 27% to $42.71 from $58.55 for the three months ended March 31, 2006.
Service Revenue. Service revenue decreased $3.2 million, or approximately 16%, to $17.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $20.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. Although our subscriber base grew 33% to approximately 272,000 over the twelve-month period from March 31, 2006 to March 31, 2007, we experienced decreased ARPU and lower usage from our existing subscribers. The primary reason for this reduction was the degraded nature of our service in the first quarter of 2007.
Subscriber Equipment Sales. Subscriber equipment sales decreased by $3.9 million, or approximately 41%, to $5.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $9.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The decrease was primarily due to lower equipment sales to our Independent Gateway Operators (IGOs) in the quarter ended March 31, 2007 compared to the same period last year. Our IGOs made their equipment purchases during the fourth quarter of 2006 to take advantage of equipment discounts available to them during that period and consequently bought less equipment during the three months ended March 31, 2007.
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Operating Expenses. Total operating expenses decreased $2.7 million, or approximately 10%, to $23.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $26.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This decrease was due primarily to lower cost of subscriber equipment consistent with lower equipment sales for the quarter ended March 31, 2007.
Cost of Services. Our cost of services for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006 were $6.4 million and $6.5 million, respectively. Our cost of services is comprised primarily of network operating costs, which are generally fixed in nature.
Cost of Subscriber Equipment Sales. Cost of subscriber equipment sales decreased $5.1 million, or approximately 59%, to $3.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $8.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This decrease was due primarily to lower equipment sales and higher margin sales in the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006.
Marketing, General and Administrative. Marketing, general and administrative expenses increased $1.5 million, or approximately 15%, to $11.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $10.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This increase was primarily due to higher professional fees related to operating as a public company and non-cash stock compensation expense.
Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1.0 million, or 74%, to $2.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This increase was primarily due to the additional depreciation associated with our Alaska gateway which became operational in July 2006 and as a result of reducing the remaining useful life of our satellite system and related assets from 39 months to 27 months, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2006.
Operating Income (Loss). Operating income (loss) decreased $4.5 million, or approximately 115%, to an operating loss of $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from operating income of $3.9 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. The decrease was due to the lower service and subscriber equipment revenues and higher marketing, general and administrative expenses and higher depreciation expenses.
Interest Income. Interest income increased by $0.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007. This increase was due to increased cash balances on hand and higher yields on those balances.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $0.3 million, to $0.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 from less than $0.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This increase was due to commitment fees related to our revolving credit facility and amortization of deferred financing costs.
Interest Rate Derivative Loss. For the three months ended March 31, 2007, interest rate derivative loss consists of a $0.4 million loss due to a change in the fair value of our interest rate swap agreement. In July 2006, in connection with entering into our credit agreement, which provides for interest at a variable rate, we entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement to minimize the risk of variability in our borrowing costs over the term of our credit agreement. Derivative instruments are recorded in the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities, measured at fair value. The interest rate swap agreement does not qualify for hedge accounting and the changes in its fair value are recorded as Interest rate derivative gain (loss) over the life of the agreement.
Other Income (Expense). Other income (expense) generally consists of foreign exchange transaction gains and losses. Other expense increased by $1.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006.
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was $0.4 million compared to an income tax benefit of $18.8 million during the same period in 2006. The change between periods was a result of a $21.4 million deferred tax benefit recorded on January 1, 2006 upon our election to be taxed as a C Corporation.
Net Income. Our net income decreased $22.0 million to $0.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, from $22.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This was primarily due to lower revenue during the three months ended March 31 2007 and deferred tax benefit recognized during the same period in 2006.
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Liquidity and Capital Resources
The following table shows our cash flows from operating, investing, and financing activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 and 2006:
|
Three Months Ended |
|
Three Months Ended |
|
|||
|
|
March 31, 2007 |
|
March 31, 2006 |
|
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
Net cash from operating activities |
|
$ |
(17,656 |
) |
$ |
4,335 |
|
Net cash from investing activities |
|
(30,005 |
) |
(4,470 |
) |
||
Net cash from financing activities |
|
23,755 |
|
12,837 |
|
||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
|
(373 |
) |
91 |
|
||
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ |
(24,279 |
) |
$ |
12,793 |
|
Our principal sources of liquidity are our credit agreement and the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement discussed below, our existing cash and internally generated cash flow from operations.
Our principal short-term liquidity needs are to fund our working capital ($47.6 million at March 31, 2007, which our management believes is sufficient for our present requirements), to pay amounts due within six months for the launch of our eight spare satellites (approximately $26.7 million) and to make any initial payments to procure our second-generation satellite constellation, construct the Control Network Facility and upgrade our gateways and other ground facilities, in a total amount not yet determined, but which will include approximately $130.2 million and $6.7 million payable to Thales Alenia Space by March 2008 under the purchase contract for our second-generation satellites and the contract for construction of the Control Network Facility, respectively, and fulfill cash escrow requirements under the Thales Alenia Space contract approximating an additional $51.5 million through March 31, 2008. We expect to fund these requirements with cash on hand ($19.4 million at March 31, 2007), borrowings under our credit facility (of which the entire $100.0 million related to the delayed draw term loan and $50.0 million related to the revolving credit facility, was undrawn at March 31, 2007), and proceeds from the sale of our common stock to Thermo Funding Company (whose remaining commitment under the standby stock purchase agreement at March 31, 2007 was $128.4 million).
Our principal long-term liquidity needs are to fund our working capital, including any growth in working capital required by growth in our business, to pay the costs of procuring and deploying our second-generation satellite constellation and upgrading our gateways and other ground facilities and to fund the cash requirements of our independent gateway operator acquisition strategy, in an amount not determinable at this time. We expect to fund our long-term capital needs with the proceeds from our initial public offering, the $100.0 million delayed draw term loan and the revolving credit facility under our credit agreement, the remaining funds available from sales of our common stock under Thermo Funding Companys standby stock purchase agreement and cash flow generated from our operations. To the extent additional funds are necessary to meet our long-term liquidity needs, we anticipate that they will be obtained through the incurrence of additional indebtedness, additional equity financings or a combination of these potential sources of funds. We have not obtained any commitment for such funds. See Part I, Item 1A. Risk FactorsWe may need additional capital to maintain our network and to pursue future growth opportunities. If we fail to obtain sufficient capital we will not be able to complete our business plan in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.
Although we believe that these sources will provide sufficient liquidity for us to meet our long-term liquidity requirements, our liquidity and our ability to fund these needs will depend to a significant extent on our future financial performance, which will be subject in part to general economic, financial, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control, including trends in our industry and technology discussed elsewhere in this Report. In addition to these general economic and industry factors, the principal factors determining whether our cash flows will be sufficient to meet our long-term liquidity requirements will be our ability to continue to provide attractive and competitive services and products, successful mitigation of the degradation of our current satellite constellation until we can deploy our second-generation satellite constellation, increase our number of subscribers and average revenue per user, control our costs, and maintain our margins and profitability. If those factors change significantly or other unexpected factors adversely affect us, our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations and future financings may not be available on terms acceptable to us or at all to meet our liquidity needs.
We derive additional liquidity from our Liberty Plans, which provide for payment in advance of a full year of services. Revenue is recognized as the services are provided or the contract expires. As a result, cash flow from the sale of Liberty Plans precedes recognition of the associated revenues.
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In assessing our liquidity, management reviews and analyzes our current cash on-hand, the average number of days our accounts receivable are outstanding, the contractual rates that we have established with our vendors, inventory turns, foreign exchange rates, capital expenditure commitments and income tax rates.
Net Cash from Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2007 decreased to a cash outflow of $17.7 million from a cash inflow of $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2006. This decrease was a result of lower revenues and changes in operating assets and liabilities during the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2006.
Net Cash from Investing Activities
Cash used in investing activities was $30.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007, compared to $4.5 million for the same period in 2006. This increase was the result of capital expenditures for the scheduled launch of our eight spare satellites in 2007 and construction expenses for our second-generation satellite constellation.
Net Cash from Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased by $11.0 million to $23.8 million from $12.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to the same period in 2006. The increase was the result of $24.3 million received from Thermo Funding Company for equity purchased pursuant to its irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement in the three months ended March 31, 2007 as compared to $13.0 million of subscription receivables received in the three months ended March 31, 2006.
Capital Expenditures
Our capital expenditures consist primarily of upgrading our satellite constellation and gateways and other ground facilities. In 2005, we began construction of a new gateway in Wasilla, Alaska to cover the Alaskan territory and part of the Bering Sea. The Alaska gateway went into operation in July 2006. This gateway cost $4.8 million (excluding $0.8 million for the purchase of real property). In 2005, we also commenced capital expenditures for the launch of our eight spare satellites. In 2006 and the three months ended March 31, 2007, we incurred $84.8 million and $4.1 million, respectively, related to the launch of our eight spare satellites. Total amount incurred related to the launch of our eight satellites as of March 31, 2007 was $91.9 million. The total expected cost for the launch of the spare satellites is approximately $120.0 million exclusive of capitalized interest and internal costs. In the fourth quarter of 2006, we entered into a contract for our second-generation satellite constellation in the amount of approximately $875.6 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3247 at March 31, 2007, including approximately 146.8 million which may be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294, and have incurred approximately $56.0 million in related costs through March 31, 2007. We intend to use the proceeds from our initial public offering, cash flows from our operations, funding available from our credit agreement and available liquidity from Thermo Funding Companys irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, and to the extent necessary, additional indebtedness, additional equity financings or a combination of these potential sources, to fund our capital expenditures.
Cash Position and Indebtedness
As of March 31, 2007, our total cash and cash equivalents were $19.4 million and we had total indebtedness of $0.7 million, compared to total cash and cash equivalents and total indebtedness at March 31, 2006 of $33.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively.
Credit Agreement
On August 16, 2006, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement with Wachovia Investment Holdings, LLC, as administrative agent and swingline lender, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as issuing lender, which was subsequently amended on September 29 and October 26, 2006. The amended and restated credit agreement provides for a $50.0 million revolving credit facility and a $100.0 million delayed draw term loan facility. The delayed draw term loan may be drawn after January 1, 2008 and prior to August 16, 2009, but only if, after giving effect to the delayed draw term loan and thereafter at the end of each quarter while the delayed draw term loan is outstanding, our consolidated senior secured leverage ratio does not exceed 3.5 to 1.0. In addition to the $150.0 million revolving and delayed draw term loan facilities,
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the amended and restated credit agreement permits us to incur additional term loans on an equally and ratably secured, pari passu, basis in an aggregate amount of up to $150.0 million (plus the amount of any reduction in the delayed draw term loan facility or prepayment of loans) from the lenders under the credit agreement or other banks, financial institutions or investment funds approved by us and the administrative agent. We have chosen not to seek commitments for these additional term loans at this time. These additional term loans may be incurred only if no event of default then exists, if we are in pro-forma compliance with all of the financial covenants of the credit agreement, and if, after giving effect thereto, our consolidated total leverage ratio does not exceed 5.5 to 1.0.
All revolving credit loans will mature on June 30, 2010 and all term loans will mature on June 30, 2011. Revolving credit loans bear interest at LIBOR plus 4.25% to 4.75% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 3.25% to 3.75%. We had no borrowings under the revolving credit facility at March 31, 2007. The delayed draw term loan will bear interest at LIBOR plus 6.0% or the greater of the prime rate or Federal Funds rate plus 5.0%, and the delayed draw term loan facility bears an annual commitment fee of 2.0% until drawn or terminated. Additional term loans will bear interest at rates to be negotiated. To hedge a portion of the interest rate risk with respect to the delayed draw term loans, we entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement. See Note 15: Interest Rate Derivative of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report. The loans may be prepaid without penalty at any time.
We are currently in compliance with the capital expenditure, liquidity and forward fixed charge coverage ratio tests described above and the other restrictive covenants of the amended and restated credit agreement.
Irrevocable Standby Stock Purchase Agreement
In connection with the execution of the initial Wachovia credit agreement on April 24, 2006, we entered into an irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company pursuant to which it agreed to purchase under the circumstances described below up to 12,371,136 shares of our Common Stock at a price per share of approximately $16.17 (approximately $200.0 million in the aggregate), without regard to any future increase or decrease in the trading price of the Common Stock. Thermo Funding Companys obligation to purchase these shares is secured by the escrow of cash and marketable securities in an amount equal to 105% of its unfunded commitment.
Pursuant to the agreement, Thermo Funding Company will be required to purchase shares of our Common Stock (in minimum amounts of $5.0 million) as may be necessary:
· to enable us to comply with the minimum liquidity and forward fixed charge coverage ratio tests of our credit agreement; or
· to cure a default in payment of regularly scheduled principal or interest under our credit agreement.
The agreement terminates on the earliest of December 31, 2011, our payment in full of all obligations under the credit agreement or Thermo Funding Companys purchase of all of the stock subject to its obligations under the agreement. Thermo Funding Company may elect at any time to purchase any unpurchased stock. Thermo Funding Company purchased 4,427,840 shares of Common Stock for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $71.6 million prior to March 31, 2007. Consistent with its prior purchases, on April 26, 2007, Thermo Funding Company elected to make a further investment by purchasing an additional 2,164,502 shares of our Common Stock at a price of $16.17 per share for an aggregate purchase price of $35.0 million with the payment made in two tranches. The first of these payments was made on April 30, 2007 in the amount of $25.0 million for 1,546,073 shares. The second payment was made on May 9, 2007 in the amount of $10.0 million for 618,429 shares. We will not receive the entire remaining $93.4 million of proceeds of the sale of Common Stock subject to the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company if the conditions requiring Thermo Funding Company to purchase the stock do not occur during the term of the agreement and Thermo Funding Company does not elect to purchase the stock voluntarily.
As required by the pre-emptive rights provisions contained in our former certificate of incorporation, we intend to offer our stockholders as of June 15, 2006 who are accredited investors (as defined under the Securities Act of 1933) and who received thirty-six or more shares of our common stock as a result of the Old Globalstar bankruptcy, the opportunity to participate in the transactions contemplated by Thermo Funding Companys irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement on a pro rata basis on substantially the same terms as Thermo Funding Company, except that these stockholders will not be subject to the escrow requirements described above. These stockholders, excluding stockholders who have waived their pre-emptive rights, will be entitled to purchase, and upon entering into a commitment may elect to purchase at any time thereafter, up to 785,328 additional shares of our common stock at approximately $16.17 per share in the pre-emptive rights offering.
29
We plan to use the proceeds from our amended and restated credit agreement and the irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement, cash generated by our business and proceeds from other equity sales or debt financings to fund the procurement and launch of our second-generation satellite constellation, upgrades to our gateways and other ground facilities and the launch of eight spare satellites to augment our current constellation, as well as for general corporate purposes.
Contractual Obligations and Commitments
During 2004, 2005, 2006 and the three months ended March 31, 2007, we committed to purchase $187.6 million of mobile phones, services and other equipment under various commercial agreements with QUALCOMM. At March 31, 2007, we had a remaining commitment to purchase $76.3 million of equipment from QUALCOMM. We believe the long-term equipment contract with QUALCOMM is necessary to obtain the best possible pricing for the development and purchase of our second-generation of handsets and accessories. We expect to fund this remaining commitment from our working capital and funds generated by our operations.
On June 1, 2004, we entered into a master services agreement with Space Systems/Loral, Inc. providing for various services related to preparing our eight spare satellites for launch. At March 31, 2007, we had authorized Space Systems/Loral, Inc. to spend up to approximately $25.4 million related to this agreement and related task orders, and approximately $13.8 million of those charges had been incurred. The agreement renews annually for up to 10 years unless terminated earlier. We may terminate the agreement upon 30-days notice and any task order upon 10-days notice. Upon termination, we must pay for any costs related to services performed through termination and the 10-day transition period thereafter. Those costs may not exceed the amount previously authorized by us. We or Space Systems/Loral may terminate the agreement upon any uncured material breach of the terms of the agreement or any task order.
On September 19, 2005, we executed a contract with Starsem providing for Starsem to launch our eight spare satellites in two launches of four satellites each. Starsem, a French-Russian joint venture, is a leading provider of launch services utilizing highly reliable human-rated Soyuz launchers, with over 1700 successful missions to date and approximately 99% reliability rating. The contract also provides for a compatibility and feasibility study and certain post-launch services. As of March 31, 2007, we had incurred approximately $69.9 million in obligations to Starsem under the contract. We estimate that the total cost of completing, testing and launching our eight spare satellites (including launch insurance) will be approximately $120.0 million, including payments to Starsem.
Pursuant to a memorandum dated as of June 1, 2005, we agreed to provide supplemental incentive compensation to certain of our executive officers in the form of cash bonuses which, upon the fulfillment of certain conditions, may aggregate up to $30.0 million. In both 2005 and 2006, we accrued $1.6 million in compensation expense with respect to this plan. Approximately $3.2 million was paid to the executive officers in January 2007 pursuant to this plan. During the three months ended March 31, 2007, we had accrued approximately $1.0 million in compensation expense related to this plan.
On November 30, 2006, we and Thales Alenia Space entered into a definitive contract pursuant to which Thales Alenia Space will construct 48 low-earth-orbit satellites in two batches (the first of 25, including a proto-flight model satellite, and the second of 23) for our second-generation satellite constellation. Under the contract, Thales Alenia Space also will provide launch support services and mission operations support services. We will contract separately with other providers for launch services and launch insurance for the satellites. The total contract price will be approximately 661.0 million, (approximately $875.6 million at a weighted average conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3247 at March 31, 2007 including approximately 146.8 million which may be paid by us in U.S. dollars at a fixed conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.294), subject to reduction by approximately 28.0 million (approximately $37.1 million) if we elect to accelerate construction and delivery of the second batch of satellites. Of the 661.0 million, approximately 620.0 million ($821.3 million) will be paid for the design, development and manufacture of the satellites and approximately 41.0 million ($54.3 million) will be paid for launch and mission support services. We are also obligated to pay Thales Alenia Space up to $75.0 million in bonus payments depending upon the fulfillment of various conditions, including our cumulative EBITDA exceeding certain projections, Thales Alenia Spaces achievement of the specified delivery schedule and satisfactory operation of the satellites after delivery. The approximately 12.4 million ($16.0 million) paid by us to Thales Alenia Space pursuant to an Authorization to Proceed dated October 5, 2006, as amended, was credited against payments to be made by us under the contract. We have established and maintain an escrow account with a commercial bank to secure our payment obligations under the contract, with the amount of the escrow account being not less than the next two quarterly payments required by the contract. The initial escrow deposit was 40.0 million. We and Thales Alenia Space entered into the escrow agreement on December 21, 2006. We obtained the consent of our lenders to establish the escrow account. Payments under the contract began in the fourth quarter of 2006 and will extend into the fourth quarter of 2013 unless we elect to accelerate the delivery of the second batch of satellites. The contract requires Thales Alenia Space to commence delivery of the satellites in the third quarter of 2009, with deliveries continuing until the third quarter of 2013, unless we elect to accelerate deliveries. If we elect to accelerate delivery of the second batch of satellites, it is contemplated that all of the satellites will be delivered by the third quarter of 2010.
30
On March 27, 2007, we entered into an agreement with Thales Alenia Space dated March 22, 2007 for the construction of the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In Orbit Test Equipment (collectively, the Control Network Facility) for our second-generation satellite constellation. This agreement complements the second-generation satellite construction contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of 48 low-earth orbit satellites and allows Thales Alenia Space to coordinate all aspects of the second-generation satellite constellation project, including the transition of first-generation software and hardware to equipment for the second generation. The total contract price for the construction and associated services is 9.0 million (approximately $12.0 million at a conversion rate of 1.00 = $1.3335) consisting of 4.0 million for the Satellite Operations Control Centers, 3.0 million for the Telemetry Command Units and 2.0 million for the In Orbit Test Equipment, with payments to be made on a quarterly basis through completion of the Control Network Facility in late 2009. We have the option to terminate the contract if excusable delays affecting Thales Alenia Spaces ability to perform the contract total six consecutive months or at its convenience. If we terminate the contract, we must pay Thales Alenia Space the lesser of its unpaid costs for work performed by Thales Alenia Space and its subcontractors or payments for the next two quarters following termination. If Thales Alenia Space has not completed the Control Network Facility acceptance review within sixty days of the due date, we will be entitled to certain liquidated damages. Failure to complete the Control Network Facility acceptance review on or before six months after the due date results in a default by Thales Alenia Space, entitling us to a refund of all payments, except for liquidated damage amounts previously paid or with respect to items where final delivery has occurred. The Control Network Facility, when accepted, will be covered by a limited one-year warranty. The contract contains customary arbitration and indemnification provisions.
Off-Balance Sheet Transactions
We have no material off-balance sheet transactions.
Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements
The information provided under Note 1: The Company and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Recent Accounting Pronouncements of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
31
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
Our services and products are sold, distributed or available in over 120 countries. Our international sales are made primarily in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars and Euros. In some cases insufficient supplies of U.S. currency require us to accept payment in other foreign currencies. We reduce our currency exchange risk from revenues in currencies other than the U.S. dollar by requiring payment in U.S. dollars whenever possible and purchasing foreign currencies on the spot market when rates are favorable. We currently do not purchase hedging instruments to hedge foreign currencies. However, our credit agreement requires us to do so on terms reasonably acceptable to the administrative agent not later than 90 days after the end of any quarter in which more than 25% of our revenue is originally denominated in a single currency other than U.S. or Canadian dollars.
As discussed in Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of OperationsLiquidity and Capital ResourcesContractual Obligations and Commitments, we have entered into a contract with Starsem to launch our eight spare satellites. We have also entered into two separate contracts with Thales Alenia Space to construct 48 low earth orbit satellites for our second-generation satellite constellation and to provide launch-related and operations support services, and to construct the Satellite Operations Control Centers, Telemetry Command Units and In-Orbit Test Equipment for our second-generation satellite constellation. All payments under the Starsem contract, and a substantial majority of the payments under the Thales Alenia Space agreement, are denominated in Euros.
Our interest rate risk arises from our variable rate debt under our credit agreement, under which loans bear interest at a floating rate based on the U.S. prime rate or LIBOR. Assuming that we borrowed the entire $150.0 million in revolving and term debt available under our credit agreement, and without giving effect to the hedging arrangement described in the next sentence, a 1.0% change in interest rates would result in a change to interest expense of approximately $1.5 million annually. To hedge a portion of our interest rate risk, we have entered into a five-year interest rate swap agreement with respect to a $100.0 million notional amount at a fixed rate of 5.64%. See Note 15: Interest Rate Derivative of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures
(a) Evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures.
Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as of the end of the period covered by this report. The evaluation included certain internal control areas in which we have made and are continuing to make changes to improve and enhance controls. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
Based on the material weakness and significant deficiency discussed below, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to provide reasonable assurance that information we are required to disclose in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Because the material weakness described below has not been fully remediated as of the filing date of this Report, management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, continues to conclude that our disclosure controls and procedures are not effective as of the filing date of this Report. Notwithstanding the material weakness, we believe that the consolidated financial statements included in this Report fairly present, in all material respects, our consolidated financial position and results of operations as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2007.
In connection with its audit of our 2006 consolidated financial statements, our independent registered public accounting firm, Crowe Chizek and Company LLP (Crowe Chizek), identified a material weakness in our processes, procedures and controls related to the preparation, analysis and review of financial information. The material weakness was a combination of significant deficiencies, including the timeliness of identifying, researching and resolving accounting issues, the sharing of information and knowledge within and outside our accounting department, and the lack of specific metrics or processes to act
32
as early warning indicators of potential impairments, that resulted in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. Crowe Chizek also identified a significant deficiency in our internal controls related to the revenue recognition process for annual service plans, which adversely affects our ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report external financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles so that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected. Neither the material weakness nor the significant deficiency resulted in a change to the previously disclosed consolidated financial statements in this Report; however, these issues, if not resolved, could impact our financial statements in the future.
We intend to remediate this material weakness by hiring additional high-level accounting personnel and instituting additional procedures for interdepartmental communication and staff meetings. We intend to remediate this significant deficiency by adding more automated reporting capabilities in our billing software to reduce the use of manual processes. We do not expect the costs related to these remediations to be material.
The certifications of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer filed as Exhibits 31.1, 31.2 and 32.1 to this Report should be read in conjunction with the disclosures in this Item 4T.
(b) Changes in internal controls over financial reporting.
There were no material changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
Since the second half of 2006, we have invested significant resources to comprehensively document and analyze our system of internal control over financial reporting. We have identified areas requiring improvement, and we are in the process of designing enhanced processes and controls to address issues identified through this review. Areas of improvement include streamlining and standardizing our domestic and international billing and other processes, further limiting internal access to certain data systems and continuing to improve coordination and communication across business functions. We plan to continue this initiative as well as prepare for our first management report on internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 for the annual period ending December 31, 2007, which may result in changes to our internal control over financial reporting.
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From time to time, we are involved in various litigation matters involving ordinary and routine claims incidental to our business. Management currently believes that the outcome of these proceedings, either individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations or financial conditions. We are involved in certain litigation matters as discussed elsewhere in this Report. For more detailed information on litigation matters outstanding please see Item 3 - Legal Proceedings in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Notes 13 and 16 of the Notes to Unaudited Interim Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 of this Report.
You should carefully consider the risks described in this Report and all of the other reports that we file from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), in evaluating and understanding us and our business. Additional risks not presently known or that we currently deem immaterial may also impact our business operations and the risks identified in this Report may adversely affect our business in ways we do not currently anticipate. Our financial condition or results of operations also could be materially adversely affected by any of these risks. We do not believe there have been any material changes to the risk factors previously disclosed in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. We advise you to review that report, which we filed on April 2, 2007.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
On April 24, 2006, we entered into an irrevocable standby stock purchase agreement with Thermo Funding Company LLC, an affiliate of ours, pursuant to which the latter agreed to purchase up to 12,371,136 shares of Common Stock at a price of $16.17 per share. On February 5, 2007, Thermo Funding Company purchased 1,500,000 shares of common stock for $24.3 million. Thermo Funding Company had purchased 4,427,840 of such shares as of March 31, 2007 for an aggregate purchase price of $71.6 million. The standby stock purchase agreement was required by the lender as a condition to entering into our credit agreement. The sale of these shares was exempt from registration under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
On November 7, 2006, we completed the initial public offering of our Common Stock pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-135809) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2006. The managing underwriters for the offering were Wachovia Securities and JP Morgan. Pursuant to the registration statement, we sold 7,500,000 shares of Common Stock at $17.00 per share for an aggregate offering of $127.5 million. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions of approximately $8.9 million and other estimated offering costs of approximately $1.9 million, our net proceeds from the initial public offering were approximately $116.6 million. As of March 31, 2007, we have used $33.3 million to repay our revolving credit facility, which may be redrawn subsequently, and to make initial payments on our second-generation satellite contract and have distributed $685,848 to Thermo as required by our former operating agreement and permitted by our credit agreement. Of the remaining proceeds, $53.9 million has been placed in an escrow account to secure our payment obligations related to the contract with Thales Alenia Space for the construction of our second-generation constellation and $15.4 million has been invested in highly liquid short-term investments in accordance with our investment policy.
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Description |
10.1+ |
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Contract between Globalstar, Inc. and Thales Alenia Space France (formerly known as Alcatel Alenia Space France) dated as of March 22, 2007. |
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31.1 |
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Section 302 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer |
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31.2 |
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Section 302 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer |
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32.1 |
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Section 906 Certifications |
+ Portions of the exhibit have been omitted pursuant to a request for confidential treatment filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The omitted portions of the exhibit have been filed with the Commission.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
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GLOBALSTAR, INC. |
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By: |
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/s/ JAMES MONROE III |
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Date: May 15, 2007 |
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James Monroe III |
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Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
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By: |
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/s/ FUAD AHMAD |
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Date: May 15, 2007 |
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Fuad Ahmad |
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Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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