atni_Current folio_10Q

Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

Form 10-Q

 

 

 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2015

 

OR

 

 

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from           to             

 

Commission File Number 001-12593

 


 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

 

Delaware

 

47-0728886

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

 

600 Cummings Center

Beverly, MA 01915

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

 

(978) 619-1300

(Registrant’s 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    No  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes    No  

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

 

 

 

Large accelerated filer

 

Accelerated filer 

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer

 

Smaller reporting company 

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act): Yes    No  

 

As of November 9, 2015, the registrant had outstanding 16,062,167 shares of its common stock ($.01 par value).

 

 

 


 

Table of Contents

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

Quarter Ended September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS 

 

 

 

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION 

 

 

 

Item 1 

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Income Statements for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2015

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2015

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2015

 

 

 

 

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

 

 

Item 2 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

21-37

 

 

 

Item 3 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

37 

 

 

 

Item 4 

Controls and Procedures

38 

 

 

 

PART II—OTHER INFORMATION 

39 

 

 

 

Item 1 

Legal Proceedings

39 

 

 

 

Item1A 

Risk Factors

39 

 

 

 

Item 2 

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

39 

 

 

 

Item 5 

Other Information

40 

 

 

 

Item 6 

Exhibits

41 

 

 

 

SIGNATURES 

42 

 

 

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

 

 

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Table of Contents

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (or the “Report”) contains forward-looking statements relating to, among other matters, our future financial performance and results of operations; the competitive environment in our key markets, demand for our services and industry trends; the outcome of regulatory matters; our continued access to the credit and capital markets; the pace of our network expansion and improvement, including our level of estimated future capital expenditures and our realization of the benefits of these investments; and management’s plans and strategy for the future. These forward-looking statements are based on estimates, projections, beliefs, and assumptions and are not guarantees of future events or results.  Actual future events and results could differ materially from the events and results indicated in these statements as a result of many factors, including, among others, (1)  the general performance of our operations, including operating margins, revenues, and the future growth and retention of our subscriber base and consumer demand for solar power; (2) government regulation of our businesses, which may impact our FCC and other telecommunications licenses or our renewables business; (3) economic, political and other risks facing our operations; (4) our ability to maintain favorable roaming arrangements; (5) our ability to efficiently and cost-effectively upgrade our networks and IT platforms to address  rapid and significant technological changes in the telecommunications industry; (6) the loss of or an inability to recruit skilled personnel in our various jurisdictions, including key members of management; (7) our ability to find investment or acquisition or disposition opportunities that fit our strategic goals for the Company; (8) increased competition; (9) our ability to operate in the renewable energy industry; (10) our reliance on a limited number of key suppliers and vendors for timely supply of equipment and services relating to our network infrastructure; (11) the adequacy and expansion capabilities of our network capacity and customer service system to support our customer growth; (12) the occurrence of weather events and natural catastrophes; (13) our continued access to capital and credit markets; (14) our ability to realize the value that we believe exists in our businesses;  and (15) our ability to receive requisite regulatory consents and approvals and satisfy other conditions needed to complete our proposed acquisitions . These and other additional factors that may cause actual future events and results to differ materially from the events and results indicated in the forward-looking statements above are set forth more fully under Item 1A “Risk Factors” of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015 and the other reports we file from time to time with the SEC.  The Company undertakes no obligation and has no intention to update these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors that may affect such forward-looking statements.

 

In this Report, the words “the Company”, “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” and “ATN” refer to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. and its subsidiaries. This Report contains trademarks, service marks and trade names that are the property of, or licensed by, ATN, and its subsidiaries.

 

Reference to dollars ($) refer to U.S. dollars unless otherwise specifically indicated.

 

 

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Table of Contents

PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 

 

September 30, 

 

 

    

2014

    

2015

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

326,216

 

$

397,797

 

Restricted cash

 

 

39,703

 

 

797

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $11.3 million and $10.9 million, respectively

 

 

52,873

 

 

47,419

 

Materials and supplies

 

 

10,546

 

 

9,270

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

2,588

 

 

2,673

 

Prepayments and other current assets

 

 

19,273

 

 

20,596

 

Assets of discontinued operations

 

 

175

 

 

44

 

Total current assets

 

 

451,374

 

 

478,596

 

Fixed Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

 

763,417

 

 

787,778

 

Less accumulated depreciation

 

 

(393,835)

 

 

(421,763)

 

Net fixed assets

 

 

369,582

 

 

366,015

 

Telecommunication licenses, net

 

 

44,090

 

 

43,622

 

Goodwill

 

 

45,077

 

 

45,077

 

Trade name license, net

 

 

417

 

 

417

 

Customer relationships, net

 

 

1,496

 

 

1,161

 

Restricted cash

 

 

5,475

 

 

5,013

 

Other assets

 

 

7,519

 

 

6,557

 

Total assets

 

$

925,030

 

$

946,458

 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current portion of long-term debt

 

$

6,083

 

$

6,254

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

61,737

 

 

46,127

 

Dividends payable

 

 

4,631

 

 

5,150

 

Accrued taxes

 

 

5,667

 

 

10,935

 

Advance payments and deposits

 

 

7,898

 

 

8,194

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

213

 

 

201

 

Other current liabilities

 

 

16,593

 

 

10,433

 

Liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

1,247

 

 

1,293

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

104,069

 

 

88,587

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

30,366

 

 

37,694

 

Other liabilities

 

 

19,619

 

 

28,738

 

Long-term debt, excluding current portion

 

 

32,794

 

 

28,141

 

Total liabilities

 

 

186,848

 

 

183,160

 

Commitments and contingencies (Note 12)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share; 10,000,000 shares authorized, none issued and outstanding

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value per share; 50,000,000 shares authorized; 16,647,334 and 16,802,073 shares issued, respectively, and 15,925,748 and 16,051,111 shares outstanding, respectively

 

 

166

 

 

166

 

Treasury stock, at cost; 721,586 and 750,962 shares, respectively

 

 

(15,549)

 

 

(17,504)

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

145,563

 

 

151,466

 

Retained earnings

 

 

549,963

 

 

548,280

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(2,921)

 

 

(2,892)

 

Total Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. stockholders’ equity

 

 

677,222

 

 

679,516

 

Non-controlling interests

 

 

60,960

 

 

83,782

 

Total equity

 

 

738,182

 

 

763,298

 

Total liabilities and equity

 

$

925,030

 

$

946,458

 

 

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 and 2015

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended  September 30, 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

 

    

2014

    

2015

    

2014

    

2015

 

REVENUE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. wireless

 

$

44,306

 

$

47,047

 

$

110,153

 

$

122,993

 

International wireless

 

 

21,557

 

 

20,392

 

 

67,127

 

 

61,787

 

Wireline

 

 

21,531

 

 

21,815

 

 

64,344

 

 

64,497

 

Renewable energy

 

 

 —

 

 

5,052

 

 

 —

 

 

15,631

 

Equipment and other

 

 

1,999

 

 

2,476

 

 

6,212

 

 

7,545

 

Total revenue

 

 

89,393

 

 

96,782

 

 

247,836

 

 

272,453

 

OPERATING EXPENSES (excluding depreciation and amortization unless otherwise indicated):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination and access fees

 

 

19,321

 

 

21,343

 

 

58,188

 

 

60,827

 

Engineering and operations

 

 

7,525

 

 

10,631

 

 

21,508

 

 

26,218

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

5,827

 

 

5,797

 

 

16,499

 

 

16,315

 

Equipment expense

 

 

2,924

 

 

3,431

 

 

8,938

 

 

10,093

 

General and administrative

 

 

12,823

 

 

15,930

 

 

38,596

 

 

44,743

 

Transaction-related charges

 

 

(27)

 

 

2,536

 

 

341

 

 

2,852

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

12,842

 

 

14,590

 

 

37,752

 

 

43,813

 

Gain on disposition of long-lived assets

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,823)

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

61,235

 

 

74,258

 

 

181,822

 

 

202,038

 

Income from operations

 

 

28,158

 

 

22,524

 

 

66,014

 

 

70,415

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(13)

 

 

(795)

 

 

(220)

 

 

(2,153)

 

Loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary (note 5)

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

(19,937)

 

Other income , net

 

 

338

 

 

53

 

 

302

 

 

114

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

325

 

 

(742)

 

 

82

 

 

(21,976)

 

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

28,483

 

 

21,782

 

 

66,096

 

 

48,439

 

Income taxes

 

 

9,569

 

 

10,134

 

 

22,460

 

 

22,655

 

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

 

18,914

 

 

11,648

 

 

43,636

 

 

25,784

 

INCOME FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

390

 

NET INCOME

 

 

18,914

 

 

11,648

 

 

43,636

 

 

26,174

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax:

 

 

(2,747)

 

 

(5,072)

 

 

(8,116)

 

 

(13,417)

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS

 

$

16,167

 

$

6,576

 

$

35,520

 

$

12,757

 

NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE BASIC SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

1.02

 

$

0.41

 

$

2.24

 

$

0.77

 

Discontinued operations:

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

0.02

 

Total

 

$

1.02

 

$

0.41

 

$

2.24

 

$

0.79

 

NET INCOME PER WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.41

 

$

2.22

 

$

0.77

 

Discontinued operations

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

0.02

 

Total

 

$

1.01

 

$

0.41

 

$

2.22

 

$

0.79

 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

15,923

 

 

16,049

 

 

15,890

 

 

16,009

 

Diluted

 

 

16,030

 

 

16,165

 

 

16,001

 

 

16,128

 

DIVIDENDS PER SHARE APPLICABLE TO COMMON STOCK

 

$

0.29

 

$

0.32

 

$

0.83

 

$

0.90

 

 

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 AND 2015

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

 

    

2014

    

2015

 

Net income

 

$

43,636

 

$

26,174

 

Other comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax

 

 

 —

 

 

29

 

Other comprehensive income, net of tax

 

 

 —

 

 

29

 

Comprehensive income

 

 

43,636

 

 

26,203

 

Less: Comprehensive income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

 

(8,116)

 

 

(13,417)

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

$

35,520

 

$

12,786

 

 

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2014 AND 2015

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

 

    

2014

    

2015

 

Cash flows from operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

43,636

 

$

26,174

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

37,752

 

 

43,813

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

 

1,313

 

 

711

 

Amortization and write off of debt discount and debt issuance costs

 

 

72

 

 

424

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3,381

 

 

3,832

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

 —

 

 

(390)

 

Gain on disposition of long-lived assets

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,823)

 

Loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 

19,937

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, excluding the effects of acquisitions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable, net

 

 

(7,830)

 

 

3,832

 

Materials and supplies, prepayments, and other current assets

 

 

(1,921)

 

 

(5,563)

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities, advance payments and deposits and other current liabilities

 

 

1,444

 

 

399

 

Accrued taxes

 

 

(18,401)

 

 

27,684

 

Other

 

 

(3,785)

 

 

(5,485)

 

Net cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations

 

 

55,661

 

 

112,545

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities of discontinued operations

 

 

(4,612)

 

 

566

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

51,049

 

 

113,111

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital expenditures

 

 

(41,699)

 

 

(46,031)

 

Acquisition of business (Note 4)

 

 

 —

 

 

(11,968)

 

Change in restricted cash

 

 

38,707

 

 

39,368

 

Proceeds from disposition of long-lived assets (Note 5)

 

 

1,371

 

 

5,873

 

Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations

 

 

(1,621)

 

 

(12,758)

 

Net cash used in investing activities of discontinued operations

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

 

(1,621)

 

 

(12,758)

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends paid on common stock

 

 

(12,873)

 

 

(13,920)

 

Distribution to minority stockholders

 

 

(7,932)

 

 

(11,363)

 

Payment of debt issuance costs

 

 

 —

 

 

(30)

 

Proceeds from stock option exercises

 

 

610

 

 

1,686

 

Principal repayments of term loan

 

 

 —

 

 

(4,482)

 

Purchase of common stock

 

 

(1,355)

 

 

(1,568)

 

Repurchases of non-controlling interests

 

 

(59)

 

 

 —

 

Investments made by minority shareholders in consolidated affiliates

 

 

 —

 

 

905

 

Net cash used in financing activities of continuing operations

 

 

(21,609)

 

 

(28,772)

 

Net cash used in financing activities of discontinued operations

 

 

 —

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

 

(21,609)

 

 

(28,772)

 

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

27,819

 

 

71,581

 

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

 

 

356,607

 

 

326,216

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

 

$

384,426

 

$

397,797

 

 

The accompanying condensed notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

 

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ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

1.ORGANIZATION AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

 

The Company is a holding company that, through its operating subsidiaries, (i) provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services in North America, Bermuda and the Caribbean, (ii) owns and operates commercial distributed generation solar power systems in the United States, and (iii) owns and operates terrestrial and submarine fiber optic transport systems in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively.

 

The Company offers the following principal services:

 

·

Wireless.  In the United States, the Company offers wholesale wireless voice and data roaming services to national, regional, local and selected international wireless carriers in rural markets located principally in the Southwest and Midwest United States. The Company also offers wireless voice and data services to retail customers in Guyana, Bermuda, and in other smaller markets in the Caribbean and the United States.

 

·

Wireline.  The Company’s local telephone and data services include its operations in Guyana and the mainland United States. The Company is the exclusive licensed provider of domestic wireline local and long-distance telephone services in Guyana and international voice and data communications into and out of Guyana. The Company also offers facilities-based integrated voice and data communications services and wholesale transport services to enterprise and residential customers in New England, primarily in Vermont, and in New York State. In addition, the Company offers wholesale long-distance voice services to telecommunications carriers.

 

·

Renewable Energy.   In the United States, the Company provides distributed generation solar power to corporate, utility and municipal customers in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey.

 

The following chart summarizes the operating activities of the Company’s principal subsidiaries, the segments in which the Company reports its revenue and the markets it served as of September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services

   

Segment

   

Markets

   

Tradenames

 

Wireless

 

U.S. Wireless

 

United States (rural markets)

 

Commnet, Choice

 

 

 

Island Wireless

 

Aruba, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos (through March 23, 2015), U.S. Virgin Islands

 

Mio, CellOne, Islandcom (through March 23, 2015), Choice

 

 

 

International Integrated Telephony

 

Guyana

 

Cellink

 

Wireline

 

International Integrated Telephony

 

Guyana

 

GT&T

 

 

 

U.S. Wireline

 

United States (New England and New York State)

 

Sovernet, ION, Essextel

 

Renewable Energy

 

Renewable Energy

 

United States (Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey)

 

Ahana Renewables

 

 

The Company is actively evaluating potential acquisitions, investment opportunities and other strategic transactions, both domestic and international, that meet its return‑on‑investment and other criteria. The Company provides management, technical, financial, regulatory, and marketing services to its subsidiaries and typically receives a management fee equal to a percentage of their respective revenue and which the Company believes approximates the level of effort provided for such services. Management fees from subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation. For information about the Company’s business segments and geographical information about its revenue, operating income and long‑lived assets, see Note 11 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

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Beginning with the first quarter of 2016, the Company anticipates re-presenting its operating segments as follows: i) Domestic Telecom, consisting of the Company’s current  U.S. Wireless and U.S. Wireline segments, ii) International Telecom, consisting of the Company’s current Island Wireless and International Integrated Telephony segments, and iii) Renewable Energy, consisting of the Company’s current Renewable Energy segment. 

 

The pending acquisitions, as described in Note 4, will be included within the International Telecom segment upon the completion of those acquisitions.

 

2. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

 

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The financial information included herein is unaudited; however, the Company believes such information and the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading and reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) that are necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position and results of operations for such periods. The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Results of interim periods may not be indicative of results for the full year.  These condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and certain entities, which are consolidated in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s (“FASB”) authoritative guidance on the consolidation of variable interest entities since it is determined that the Company is the primary beneficiary of these entities.

 

Certain reclassifications have been made in the prior period financial statements to conform the Company’s consolidated income statements to how management analyzes its operations in the current period.  These changes did not impact operating income.  For the three months ended September 30, 2014 the aggregate impact of the changes included an increase to termination and access fees of $3.3 million, a decrease to engineering and operations expenses of $2.3 million, an increase to sales and marketing expenses of $0.3 million and a decrease to general and administrative expenses of $1.4 million. For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 the aggregate impact of the changes included an increase to termination and access fees of $10.1 million, a decrease to engineering and operations expenses of $7.4 million, an increase to sales and marketing expenses of $1.1 million and a decrease to general and administrative expenses of $3.7 million.

 

The Company’s effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015 were 33.6% and 46.5%, respectively.  The Company’s effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015 were 34.0% and 46.8%, respectively.  The Company’s effective tax rate increased in 2015 primarily due to the $19.9 million loss on deconsolidation of its Island Wireless business that has no 2015 tax benefit.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued a standard on revenue recognition providing a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers. The revenue standard is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application.  On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the new standard's effective date by one year. The new standard now would be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The FASB will permit companies to adopt the new standard early, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016.  The Company is currently evaluating the adoption method options and the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 provides guidance on determining when disposals can be presented as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. A strategic shift may include a disposal of a major line of business, major equity method investment or a major part of an entity. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures regarding discontinued operations. This standard was effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, which amends the presentation of debt issuance costs on the consolidated balance sheet. Under the new guidance, debt issuance costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability rather than as an asset. The new guidance is effective retrospectively for fiscal periods starting after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. We expect to adopt ASU 2015-03 on January 1, 2016 and have determined that its adoption will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures at that time.

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes software and how to account for that software license.  The new guidance does not change the accounting for a customer’s accounting for service contracts.  The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. We do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance related to simplifying the accounting for measurement period adjustments related to business combinations.  The amended guidance eliminates the requirement to retrospectively account for adjustments made during the measurement period. The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

3. USE OF ESTIMATES

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States 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 dates of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. The most significant estimates relate to the allowance for doubtful accounts, useful lives of the Company’s fixed and finite-lived intangible assets, allocation of purchase price to assets acquired and liabilities assumed in purchase business combinations, fair value of indefinite-lived intangible assets, goodwill and income taxes. Actual results could differ significantly from those estimates.

 

4. ACQUISITIONS

 

Pending Acquisitions

 

KeyTech Limited

 

On October 6, 2015, the Company entered into an agreement with KeyTech Limited (“KeyTech”), a publicly held Bermuda company listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange (“BSX”) that provides voice, broadband, and cable television services under the “Logic” name in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, in which the Company will acquire a controlling interest in KeyTech as part of a proposed business combination of KeyTech with the Company’s subsidiary providing wireless services under the “CellOne” name in Bermuda. As part of the proposed transaction, the Company will contribute its current ownership interest of approximately 43% in CellOne and approximately $42 million in cash in exchange for a 51% ownership interest in KeyTech. On a combined basis, the Company and KeyTech currently own approximately 85% of CellOne.  As part of the proposed transaction, CellOne will be merged with and into a company within the KeyTech group and the approximate 15% interest in CellOne held, in the aggregate, by CellOne’s minority shareholders will be converted into the right to receive common shares in KeyTech. Following the transaction, CellOne

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will be indirectly wholly owned by KeyTech and KeyTech will continue to be listed on the BSX.    A portion of the cash proceeds that KeyTech will receive upon closing will be used to fund a one-time special dividend to KeyTech's existing shareholders and to retire KeyTech's subordinated debt.  The Company currently consolidates the operations of CellOne and, upon closing of the proposed transaction, will consolidate the results of KeyTech, in its financial statements.

 

The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing terms and conditions, including, among others, the receipt of approval from the Bermuda Regulatory Authority, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Information and Communications Technology Authority of the Cayman Islands and the consent of the Bermuda Stock Exchange to certain transaction matters. KeyTech shareholders approved the proposed transaction by affirmative vote on October 20, 2015. The Company currently expects to complete the proposed transaction in the first quarter of 2016.

 

Caribbean Asset Holdings LLC

 

On October 1, 2015, the Company announced that it had entered into an agreement to acquire all of the membership interests of Caribbean Asset Holdings LLC, the holding company for the Innovative group of companies operating cable TV, Internet and landline services primarily in the U.S. Virgin Islands ("Innovative") from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC"). The Company will purchase the Innovative operations for a purchase price of approximately $145 million, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, with $85 million payable in cash and the option to finance the remaining $60 million of the purchase price with a loan from an affiliate of CFC, the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative. With the purchase, the Company’s current operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands under the "Choice" name will be combined with Innovative to deliver residential and business subscribers a full range of telecommunications and media services.

 

The agreement is subject to customary closing terms and conditions, the expiration of the Hart-Scott Rodino waiting period and the receipt of approvals from the Federal Communications Commission and regulatory authorities in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten.  The Company currently expects to complete the proposed transaction in mid-2016.

 

Completed Acquisition

 

On December 24, 2014, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of Green Lake Capital, LLC and certain of its affiliates (collectively, "Green Lake"), an owner and operator of commercial distributed generation solar power systems in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey (the "Ahana Acquisition"). The Company acquired these assets as part of a total transaction valued at approximately $117.7 million which is comprised of approximately $66.3 million of cash consideration, a $12.5 million reimbursement of cash and restricted cash held by Green Lake on the date of the acquisition, and the assumption of $38.9 million of debt. Of the $78.8 million purchase price, $11.9 million was paid in 2015. The acquisition was performed through the Company's newly formed subsidiary, Ahana Renewables, LLC ("Ahana Renewables"). Certain subsidiaries of Ahana Renewables have been partially capitalized by a third-party tax equity investor who maintains a non-controlling interest in these subsidiaries.  The tax equity investor’s interest in these subsidiaries changes at a certain date (the "Flip Date"), which is the later of a) the five-year anniversary of the placed in service date for the solar assets owned by the subsidiary or, b) the date that the tax equity investor receives a certain return on their original investment in that subsidiary. These dates typically occur at approximately 2 - 4 years from the acquisition date. The profits and losses of these subsidiaries will be allocated to the tax equity investors and to the Company using the Hypothetical Liquidation Book Value method. The Hypothetical Liquidation Book Value Method is used to calculate the non-controlling interests' share of income for each period by measuring the difference in funds that would flow to the non-controlling interests in a hypothetical liquidation event at the beginning of the period compared to the end of a period (adjusted for capital distributions). The method assumes that the proceeds on liquidation approximate book value and then the proceeds are allocated to the Company and non-controlling interests based on the liquidation provisions of the solar facility operating agreement. A positive difference during the period represents non-controlling interests' share of income and a decrease represents a loss.  Ahana Renewables has the option to buy-out the non-controlling interests.

 

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Ahana Renewables generates revenue from the sale of electricity through long-term (10 - 25 years) power purchase agreements as well as the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (“SRECs”) which are government emissions allowances obtained through power generation and compliance with various regulations.

 

 

5. LOSS ON DECONSOLIDATION OF SUBSIDIARY

 

During March 2015, the Company sold certain assets and liabilities of its Turks and Caicos business in its Island Wireless segment.  As a result, the Company recorded a loss of approximately $19.9 million arising from the deconsolidation of non-controlling interests of $20.0 million and a gain of $0.1 million arising from an excess of sales proceeds over the carrying value of net assets disposed of.  The disposition is included within other income (expense) and does not relate to a strategic shift in the Company’s operations.  As a result, the subsidiary’s historical results and financial position are presented with continuing operations.

 

6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

 

In accordance with the provisions of fair value accounting, a fair value measurement assumes that a transaction to sell an asset or transfer a liability occurs in the principal market for the asset or liability or, in the absence of a principal market, the most advantageous market for the asset or liability and defines fair value based upon an exit price model.

 

The fair value measurement guidance establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. The guidance describes three levels of inputs that may be used to measure fair value:

 

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities as of the reporting date. Active markets are those in which transactions for the asset and liability occur in sufficient frequency and volume to provide pricing information on an ongoing basis. Level 1 assets and liabilities include money market funds, debt and equity securities and derivative contracts that are traded in an active exchange market.

 

 

 

Level 2

 

Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities. Level 2 assets and liabilities include debt securities with quoted prices that are traded less frequently than exchange-traded instruments and derivative contracts whose value is determined using a pricing model with inputs that are observable in the market or can be derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data. This category generally includes corporate obligations and non-exchange traded derivative contracts.

 

 

 

Level 3

 

Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities. Level 3 assets and liabilities include financial instruments and intangible assets that have been impaired whose value is determined using pricing models, discounted cash flow methodologies, or similar techniques, as well as instruments for which the determination of fair value requires significant management judgment or estimation.

 

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Assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015 are summarized as follows  (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

    

 

 

    

Significant Other

    

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in

 

Observable

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active Markets

 

Inputs

 

 

 

 

Description

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

Total

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

 —

 

$

363

 

$

363

 

Money market funds

 

$

1,493

 

$

 —

 

$

1,493

 

Total assets measured at fair value

 

$

1,493

 

$

363

 

$

1,856

 

Debt (Note 7)

 

$

 —

 

$

38,877

 

$

38,877

 

Total liabilities measured at fair value

 

$

 —

 

$

38,877

 

$

38,877

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2015

 

 

    

 

 

    

Significant Other

    

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices in

 

Observable

 

 

 

 

 

 

Active Markets

 

Inputs

 

 

 

 

Description

 

(Level 1)

 

(Level 2)

 

Total

 

Certificates of deposit

 

$

 —

 

$

363

 

$

363

 

Money market funds

 

$

71,105

 

$

 —

 

$

71,105

 

Total assets measured at fair value

 

$

71,105

 

$

363

 

$

71,468

 

 

Certificate of Deposit

 

As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, this asset class consisted of a time deposit at a financial institution denominated in U.S. dollars. The asset class is classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy because the fair value was based on observable market data.

 

Money Market Funds

 

As of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, this asset class consisted of a money market portfolio that comprises Federal government and U.S. Treasury securities. The asset class is classified within Level 1 of the fair value hierarchy because its underlying investments are valued using quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets.

 

7. LONG-TERM DEBT

 

Long-term debt comprises the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

December 31,

    

September 30, 

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Term loans assumed in Ahana acquisition

 

$

38,877

 

$

34,395

 

Less: current portion

 

 

(6,083)

 

 

(6,254)

 

Total long-term debt

 

$

32,794

 

$

28,141

 

 

On December 19, 2014, the Company amended and restated its credit facility to provide for a $225 million revolving credit facility (the "Amended Credit Facility") that includes (i) up to $10 million under the Amended Credit Facility for standby or trade letters of credit, (ii) up to $25 million under the Amended Credit Facility for letters of credit that are necessary or desirable to qualify for disbursements from the FCC's mobility fund and (iii) up to $10 million under a swingline sub-facility.

 

Amounts the Company may borrow under the Amended Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at its option, either (i) the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus an applicable margin ranging between 1.50% to

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1.75% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.50% to 0.75%. Swingline loans will bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable margin for base rate loans. The base rate is equal to the higher of (i) 1.00% plus the higher of (x) the one-week LIBOR and (y) the one-month LIBOR; (ii) the federal funds effective rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 0.50% per annum; and (iii) the prime rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The applicable margin is determined based on the ratio (as further defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) of the Company's indebtedness to EBITDA. Under the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, the Company must also pay a fee ranging from 0.175% to 0.250% of the average daily unused portion of the Amended Credit Facility over each calendar quarter.

 

The Amended Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, as well as covenants by the Company limiting additional indebtedness, liens, guaranties, mergers and consolidations, substantial asset sales, investments and loans, sale and leasebacks, transactions with affiliates and fundamental changes. In addition, the Amended Credit Facility contains a financial covenant that imposes a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA on the Company. As of September 30, 2015, the Company was in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the Amended Credit Facility.

 

Throughout 2014 and as of September 30, 2015, the Company had no borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility and approximately $10.6 million of outstanding letters of credit.

 

The carrying value of debt approximates its fair value.

 

Acquisition of Green Lake Capital, LLC

 

In connection with the Ahana Acquisition on December 24, 2014, the Company assumed $38.9 million in long-term debt (the "Ahana Debt"). The Ahana Debt includes multiple loan agreements with banks that bear interest at rates between 4.5% and 6.0%, mature at various times between 2018 and 2023 and are secured by certain solar facilities. Repayment of the Ahana Debt with the banks is made on a monthly basis until maturity.  As of September 30, 2015, $34.4 million of the Ahana Debt remained outstanding.

 

The Ahana Debt includes a loan from Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) of $2.8 million. The note payable to PSE&G bears interest at 11.3%,  matures in 2027, and is secured by certain solar facilities. Repayment of the Ahana Debt with PSE&G can be made in either cash or solar renewable energy credits (“SRECs”), at the Company's discretion, with the value of the SRECs being the current market value as of the date of repayment.

 

8. GOVERNMENT GRANTS

 

The Company has received funding from the U.S. Government and its agencies under Stimulus and Universal Services Fund programs.  These are generally designed to fund telecommunications infrastructure expansion into rural or underserved areas of the United States.  The fund programs are evaluated to determine if they represent funding related to capital expenditures (capital grants) or operating activities (income grants).

 

Mobility Fund Grants

 

As part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) reform of its Universal Service Fund (“USF”) program, which previously provided support to carriers seeking to offer telecommunications services in high-cost areas and to low-income households, the FCC created two new funds, including the Mobility Fund, a one-time award meant to support wireless coverage in underserved geographic areas in the United States. In August 2013, the Company received FCC final approval for $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business (the "Mobility Funds"), to expand voice and broadband networks in certain geographic areas in order to offer either 3G or 4G coverage. As part of the receipt of the Mobility Funds, the Company committed to comply with certain additional FCC construction and other requirements. A portion of these funds will be used to offset network capital costs and a portion is used to offset the costs of supporting the networks for a period of five years. In connection with the Company’s application for the Mobility Funds, the Company has issued approximately $10.6 million in letters of credit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) to secure these obligations. If the Company fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions upon which the Mobility Funds were granted, or if it loses eligibility for the Mobility Funds, USAC will

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be entitled to draw the entire amount of the letter of credit applicable to the affected project plus penalties and may disqualify the Company from the receipt of additional Mobility Fund support.

 

The Company began the construction of its Mobility Funds projects during the third quarter of 2013 and its results are included in the Company’s “U.S. Wireless” segment. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has received approximately $8.1 million in Mobility Funds. Of these funds, $3.1 million was recorded as an offset to the cost of the property, plant, and equipment associated with these projects and, consequentially, a reduction of future depreciation expense and $1.2 million is recorded within other current liabilities while the remaining $3.8 million is recorded within other long-term liabilities in the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015. The balance sheet presentation is based on the timing of the expected usage of the funds which will reduce future operations expenses.

 

9. EQUITY

 

Shareholders’ equity was as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-

 

Non-Controlling

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-

 

Non-Controlling

 

Total

 

 

    

Network, Inc.

    

Interests

    

Total Equity

    

Network, Inc.

    

Interests

    

Equity

 

Equity, beginning of period

 

$

643,330

 

$

56,525

 

$

699,855

 

$

677,222

 

$

60,960

 

$

738,182

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3,381

 

 

 

 

3,381

 

 

3,832

 

 

 —

 

 

3,832

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

35,520

 

 

8,116

 

 

43,636

 

 

12,757

 

 

13,417

 

 

26,174

 

Translation adjustment

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

 —

 

 

29

 

 

 

 

29

 

Total comprehensive income

 

 

35,520

 

 

8,116

 

 

43,636

 

 

12,786

 

 

13,417

 

 

26,203

 

Issuance of common stock upon exercise of stock options

 

 

1,106

 

 

 

 

1,106

 

 

2,073

 

 

 —

 

 

2,073

 

Dividends declared on common stock

 

 

(13,218)

 

 

 

 

(13,218)

 

 

(14,442)

 

 

 —

 

 

(14,442)

 

Distributions to non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(7,932)

 

 

(7,932)

 

 

 —

 

 

(11,513)

 

 

(11,513)

 

Investments made by non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 

 

905

 

 

905

 

Sale of non-controlling interests

 

 

 

 

(59)

 

 

(59)

 

 

 

 

20,013

 

 

20,013

 

Purchase of treasury stock

 

 

(1,850)

 

 

 

 

(1,850)

 

 

(1,955)

 

 

 —

 

 

(1,955)

 

Equity, end of period

 

$

668,269

 

$

56,650

 

$

724,919

 

$

679,516

 

$

83,782

 

$

763,298

 

 

 

 

 

10. NET INCOME PER SHARE

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, outstanding stock options were the only potentially dilutive securities. The reconciliation from basic to diluted weighted average common shares outstanding is as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three months ended  September 30, 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

 

    

2014

    

2015

    

2014

    

2015

 

Basic weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

15,923

 

16,049

 

15,890

 

16,009

 

Stock options

 

107

 

116

 

111

 

119

 

Diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding

 

16,030

 

16,165

 

16,001

 

16,128

 

 

The above calculation for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2015, does not include approximately 2,000 and 1,000 shares related to certain stock options because the effect of such options were anti-dilutive.  There were no anti-dilutive shares for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2014.

 

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11. SEGMENT REPORTING

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014, the Company had four reportable segments for separate disclosure in accordance with the FASB’s authoritative guidance on disclosures about segments of an enterprise. Those four segments were: i) U.S. Wireless, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in the United States, ii) International Integrated Telephony, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in Guyana, iii) Island Wireless, which generates a majority of its revenues in, and has a majority of its assets located in, Bermuda and which also generates revenues in and has assets located in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Aruba and Turks and Caicos (through March 23, 2015) and iv) U.S. Wireline, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in the United States. With the Ahana Acquisition on December 24, 2014, the Company added a fifth reportable segment, Renewable Energy, which generates all of its revenues in and has all of its assets located in the United States. Segment presentations for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 were not impacted by the Ahana Acquisition. The operating segments are managed separately because each offers different services and serves different markets. 

 

The following tables provide information for each operating segment (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2014

 

    

 

 

    

International

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Wireless

 

$

44,306

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

44,306

International Wireless

 

 

 —

 

 

6,399

 

 

15,158

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

21,557

Wireline

 

 

152

 

 

15,249

 

 

 —

 

 

6,130

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

21,531

Renewable energy

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Equipment and Other

 

 

278

 

 

183

 

 

1,469

 

 

69

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,999

Total Revenue

 

 

44,736

 

 

21,831

 

 

16,627

 

 

6,199

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

89,393

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

3,657

 

 

4,397

 

 

2,596

 

 

1,193

 

 

 —

 

 

999

 

 

12,842

Non-cash stock-based compensation

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

1,002

 

 

1,002

Operating income (loss)

 

 

27,585

 

 

5,065

 

 

2,231

 

 

(471)

 

 

 —

 

 

(6,252)

 

 

28,158

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

    

 

 

    

International

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Wireless

 

$

47,047

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

47,047

International Wireless

 

 

 —

 

 

6,503

 

 

13,889

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

20,392

Wireline

 

 

152

 

 

15,572

 

 

 —

 

 

6,091

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

21,815

Renewable energy

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

5,052

 

 

 —

 

 

5,052

Equipment and Other

 

 

480

 

 

462

 

 

1,479

 

 

55

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

2,476

Total Revenue

 

 

47,679

 

 

22,537

 

 

15,368

 

 

6,146

 

 

5,052

 

 

 —

 

 

96,782

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

4,522

 

 

4,470

 

 

1,930

 

 

1,193

 

 

1,205

 

 

1,270

 

 

14,590

Non-cash stock-based compensation

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

29

 

 

1,126

 

 

1,155

Operating income (loss)

 

 

25,208

 

 

1,313

 

 

3,615

 

 

(990)

 

 

2,694

 

 

(9,316)

 

 

22,524

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014

 

    

 

 

    

International

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Wireless

 

$

110,153

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

110,153

International Wireless

 

 

 —

 

 

20,054

 

 

47,073

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

67,127

Wireline

 

 

457

 

 

44,399

 

 

 —

 

 

19,488

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

64,344

Renewable energy

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

Equipment and Other

 

 

663

 

 

573

 

 

4,782

 

 

194

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

6,212

Total Revenue

 

 

111,273

 

 

65,026

 

 

51,855

 

 

19,682

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

247,836

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

10,413

 

 

13,111

 

 

7,810

 

 

3,519

 

 

 —

 

 

2,899

 

 

37,752

Non-cash stock-based compensation

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

3,381

 

 

3,381

Operating income (loss)

 

 

63,826

 

 

15,293

 

 

8,210

 

 

(2,511)

 

 

 —

 

 

(18,804)

 

 

66,014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2015

 

 

    

 

 

    

International

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

 

Revenue

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

U.S. Wireless

 

$

122,993

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

 —

 

$

122,993

 

International Wireless

 

 

 —

 

 

19,114

 

 

42,673

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

61,787

 

Wireline

 

 

457

 

 

45,583

 

 

 —

 

 

18,457

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

64,497

 

Renewable energy

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

15,631

 

 

 —

 

 

15,631

 

Equipment and Other

 

 

1,606

 

 

1,305

 

 

4,467

 

 

167

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

7,545

 

Total Revenue

 

 

125,056

 

 

66,002

 

 

47,140

 

 

18,624

 

 

15,631

 

 

 —

 

 

272,453

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

13,175

 

 

13,249

 

 

6,461

 

 

3,699

 

 

3,613

 

 

3,616

 

 

43,813

 

Non-cash stock-based compensation

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

238

 

 

3,594

 

 

3,832

 

Operating income (loss)

 

 

67,160

 

 

11,545

 

 

9,902

 

 

(3,046)

 

 

8,037

 

 

(23,183)

 

 

70,415

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

 

    

International

    

 

 

    

 

    

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

 

December 31, 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net fixed assets

 

$

79,910

 

$

108,972

 

$

26,590

 

$

28,113

 

$

111,342

 

$

14,655

 

$

369,582

 

Goodwill

 

 

32,148

 

 

 —

 

 

5,438

 

 

7,491

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

45,077

 

Total assets

 

 

188,377

 

 

201,649

 

 

74,563

 

 

42,446

 

 

130,124

 

 

287,871

(1)

 

925,030

 

September 30, 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net fixed assets

 

$

84,631

 

$

107,222

 

$

23,200

 

$

29,593

 

$

107,754

 

$

13,615

 

$

366,015

 

Goodwill

 

 

32,148

 

 

 —

 

 

5,438

 

 

7,491

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

45,077

 

Total assets

 

 

193,315

 

 

204,315

 

 

76,629

 

 

45,387

 

 

122,667

 

 

304,145

(1)

 

946,458

 

 

 


(1)

Includes $175 and $44 of assets associated with our discontinued operations as of December 31, 2014 and September 30, 2015, respectively.

 

 

 

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Capital Expenditures

 

 

    

 

    

International

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

 

2014

$

26,496

$

6,816

$

3,966

$

2,325

$

 —

$

2,096

$

41,699

 

2015

 

21,617

 

9,720

 

6,077

 

6,015

 

26

 

2,576

 

46,031

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

 

Regulatory and Litigation Matters

 

The Company and its subsidiaries are subject to certain regulatory and legal proceedings and other claims arising in the ordinary course of business, some of which involve claims for damages and taxes that are substantial in amount. The Company believes that, except for the items discussed below, for which the Company is currently unable to predict the final outcome, the disposition of proceedings currently pending will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

As part of the FCC’s reform of its USF program, which previously provided support to carriers seeking to offer telecommunications services in high-cost areas and to low-income households, the FCC created two new funds, including the Mobility Fund, a one-time award meant to support wireless coverage in underserved geographic areas in the United States. In August 2013, the Company received FCC final approval for $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business (the "Mobility Funds"), to expand voice and broadband networks in certain geographic areas in order to offer either 3G or 4G coverage. As part of the receipt of the Mobility Funds, the Company committed to comply with certain additional FCC construction and other requirements. A portion of these funds will be used to offset network capital costs and a portion is used to offset the costs of supporting the networks for a period of five years. In connection with the Company’s application for the Mobility Funds, the Company has issued approximately $10.6 million in letters of credit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) to secure these obligations. The letters of credit accrue a fee at a rate of 1.75% per annum on the outstanding amounts. As of Septemer 30, 2015 the Company had approximately $10.6 million in letters of credit payable to USAC outstanding to cover its Mobility Fund obligations and there were no drawdowns against these letters of credit. If the Company fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions upon which the Mobility Funds were granted, or if it loses eligibility for the Mobility Funds, USAC will be entitled to draw the entire amount of the letter of credit applicable to the affected project plus penalties and may disqualify the Company from the receipt of additional Mobility Fund support.

Currently, the Company’s Guyana subsidiary, GT&T, holds a license to provide domestic fixed services and international voice and data services in Guyana on an exclusive basis until December 2030. Since 2001, the Government of Guyana has stated its intention to introduce additional competition into Guyana’s telecommunications sector. Since that time, the Company and GT&T have met on several occasions with officials of the Government of Guyana to discuss potential modifications of GT&T’s exclusivity and other rights under the existing agreement and license. In 2012, the Government of Guyana introduced draft legislation in Parliament that, if enacted, would have the effect of terminating the Company’s exclusive license rights by permitting other telecommunications carriers to receive licenses to provide domestic fixed services and international voice and data services in Guyana. Along with the draft legislation, the Government also released drafts of new regulations and licenses (collectively, the “Draft Laws”). These Draft Laws would also introduce material changes to many other features of Guyana’s existing telecommunications regulatory regime. While little or no substantive actions were taken on the Draft Laws since 2012, the Company cannot predict when or if the proposed legislation will be adopted by Parliament or, if adopted and then signed into law by the President, the manner in which it would be implemented by the relevant Minister and the PUC. Although the Company believes that it would be entitled to damages or other compensation for any involuntary termination of its contractual exclusivity rights, it cannot guarantee that the Company would prevail in a proceeding to enforce its rights or that its actions would effectively halt any unilateral action by the Government.

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Historically, GT&T has been subject to other litigation proceedings and disputes in Guyana that, while not conclusively resolved, to the Company’s knowledge have not been the subject of discussions or other significant activity in the last five years. It is possible, but not likely, that these disputes, as discussed below, may be revived. The Company believes that none of these additional proceedings would, in the event of an adverse outcome, have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operation or liquidity.

In a letter dated September 8, 2006, the National Frequency Management Unit ("NFMU") agreed that total spectrum fees in Guyana should not increase for the years 2006 and 2007. However, that letter implied that spectrum fees in 2008 and onward may be increased beyond the amount GT&T agreed to with the Government. GT&T has objected to the NFMU's proposed action and reiterated its position that an increase in fees prior to development of an acceptable methodology would violate the Government's prior agreement. Using a recommended methodology for the calculation of spectrum fees as jointly proposed by GT&T and Digicel to the NFMU by letter in November 2011, GT&T, over the past four years, calculated and paid the NFMU spectrum fees representing payments in full for 2008-2014. While the NFMU rejected this proposed methodology in 2011, to date, it has not yet provided its own recommendation for such calculation to GT&T. There have been no further discussions on this subject and GT&T has not had the opportunity to review any recommendation made to the Minister.

 

In November 2007, Caribbean Telecommunications Limited (“CTL”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey against GT&T and ATN claiming breach of an interconnection agreement for domestic cellular services in Guyana and related claims. CTL asserted over $200 million in damages. GT&T and ATN moved to dismiss the complaint on procedural and jurisdictional grounds. On January 26, 2009, the court granted the motions to dismiss the complaint on the grounds asserted. On November 7, 2009 and again on April 4, 2013, CTL filed a similar claim against GT&T and the PUC in the High Court of Guyana. The Company believes these claims are without merit and are duplicative of a previous claim filed by CTL in Guyana that was dismissed. There has been no action on these matters since the April 2013 filing.

On May 8, 2009, Digicel filed a lawsuit in Guyana challenging the legality of GT&T’s exclusive license rights under Guyana’s constitution. Digicel initially filed this lawsuit against the Attorney General of Guyana in the High Court. On May 13, 2009, GT&T petitioned to intervene in the suit in order to oppose Digicel’s claims and that petition was granted on May 18, 2009. GT&T filed an answer to the charge on June 22, 2009 and the case is pending. The Company believes that any legal challenge to GT&T’s exclusive license rights granted in 1990 is without merit and the Company intends to vigorously defend against such a legal challenge.

On February 17, 2010, GT&T filed a lawsuit in the High Court of Guyana asserting that, despite its denials, Digicel is engaged in international bypass in violation of GT&T’s exclusive license rights, the interconnection agreement between the parties, and the laws of Guyana. GT&T is seeking, among other things, injunctive relief to stop the illegal bypass activity, actual damages in excess of US$9 million and punitive damages of approximately US$5 million. Digicel filed counterclaims alleging that GT&T has violated the terms of the interconnection agreement and Guyana laws. GT&T intends to vigorously prosecute this suit.

On July 20, 2012 a trial court in Guyana made findings calling into question the validity of GT&T's exclusive license to provide international voice and data service in Guyana and the applicability of that license to telecommunications services using Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP"). The findings were made in a breach of contract case brought originally in 2007 against GT&T by a subscriber to its Internet service.  The Court of Appeals in Guyana reversed the decision of the trial court and both Plaintiff and GT&T appealed the case to the Caribbean Court of Justice (“CCJ”).  In July 2015, the CCJ upheld the trial judge’s finding that no GT&T contract term prohibited the personal use of VoIP by the GT&T customer.  The CCJ declined to express any view on the validity or Constitutionality of GT&T’s exclusive license and dismissed that aspect of the appeal.

 

GT&T is also involved in several legal claims regarding its tax filings with the Guyana Revenue Authority dating back to 1991 regarding the deductibility of intercompany advisory fees as well as other tax assessments. Should GT&T be held liable for any of the disputed tax assessments, totaling $33.2 million, the Company believes that the Government of Guyana would then be obligated to reimburse GT&T for any amounts necessary to ensure that GT&T’s return on investment was no less than 15% per annum for the relevant periods.

 

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In Bermuda, the Regulatory Authority continued its implementation of the Electronic Communications Act of 2011, which allows communications service providers to enter new lines of business and encourages further competition in the sector. As the government of Bermuda reforms the local telecommunications market, it has imposed regulatory and other fees and adopted additional regulation that have increased the regulatory costs incurred by and could otherwise impact the Company’s Bermuda operations. For instance, in December 2014, the Bermuda Regulatory Authority adopted a decision imposing a limitation on amounts of spectrum that may be held by a single carrier and requiring the Company to surrender a portion of existing spectrum held in Bermuda that the Company had reserved for the launch of next generation services in accordance with the Company’s plans and demands of its customers. The Company initiated legal proceedings challenging the implementation of such decision, however, was not successful in staying the decision and in March 2015 surrendered the spectrum in question to the Bermuda Regulatory Authority. The Company has withdrawn its appeal of the decision without prejudice and cannot now accurately predict the impact to the competitive position of the Company’s Bermuda business or limitations that such actions will have on the Company’s ability to grow.

 

The term of the Company’s telecommunications license to operate in Aruba expired on January 15, 2014. The government of Aruba informed the Company earlier in January 2014 that a renewed license would be issued only upon payment by the Company of a fee in the amount of Afl 7.2 million (or approximately US$4 million). The Company is continuing to operate as it is actively contesting the assessment of such fee.

 

13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

 

See Note 4 for discussions of the Company’s pending acquisitions of KeyTech Limited and Caribbean Asset Holdings, LLC.

 

 

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ITEM 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations that follows are based upon our condensed consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of our financial statements requires us to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses, and the related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of our financial statements. Actual results may differ significantly from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. This discussion should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements herein and the accompanying notes thereto, and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, in particular, the information set forth therein under Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”.

 

Overview

 

We are a holding company that, through our operating subsidiaries, (i) provides wireless and wireline telecommunications services in North America, Bermuda and the Caribbean, (ii) owns and operates commercial distributed generation solar power systems in the United States, and (iii) owns and operates terrestrial and submarine fiber optic transport systems in the United States and the Caribbean, respectively. We were incorporated in Delaware in 1987 and began trading publicly in 1991. Since that time, we have engaged in strategic acquisitions and investments to grow our operations. We continue to actively evaluate additional domestic and international acquisition, divesture, and investment opportunities and other strategic transactions in the telecommunications, energy-related and other industries that meet our return-on-investment and other acquisition criteria. For a discussion of our investment strategy and risks involved, see “Risk Factors—We are actively evaluating investment, acquisition and other strategic opportunities, which may affect our long-term growth prospects.” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

We offer the following principal services:

 

·

Wireless.   In the United States, we offer wholesale wireless voice and data roaming services to national, regional, local and selected international wireless carriers in rural markets located principally in the Southwest and Midwest United States. We also offer wireless voice and data services to retail customers in Guyana, Bermuda, and in other smaller markets in the Caribbean and the United States.

 

·

Wireline.   Our local telephone and data services include our operations in Guyana and the mainland United States. We are the exclusive licensed provider of domestic wireline local and long-distance telephone services in Guyana and international voice and data communications into and out of Guyana. We also offer facilities-based integrated voice and data communications services and wholesale transport services to enterprise and residential customers in New England, primarily in Vermont and New York State. In addition, we offer wholesale long-distance voice services to telecommunications carriers.

 

·

Renewable Energy.   In the United States, we provide distributed generation solar power to corporate, utility and municipal customers in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey.

 

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The following chart summarizes the operating activities of our principal subsidiaries and the segments in which we report our revenue and the markets we served as of September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Services

   

Segment

   

Markets

   

Tradenames

 

Wireless

 

U.S. Wireless

 

United States (rural markets)

 

Commnet, Choice

 

 

 

Island Wireless

 

Aruba, Bermuda, Turks and Caicos (through March 23, 2015), U.S. Virgin Islands

 

Mio, CellOne, Islandcom (through March 23, 2015), Choice

 

 

 

International Integrated Telephony

 

Guyana

 

Cellink

 

Wireline

 

International Integrated Telephony

 

Guyana

 

GT&T

 

 

 

U.S. Wireline

 

United States (New England and New York State)

 

Sovernet, ION, Essextel

 

Renewable Energy

 

Renewable Energy

 

United States (Massachusetts, California, and New Jersey)

 

Ahana Renewables

 

 

We provide management, technical, financial, regulatory, and marketing services to our subsidiaries and typically receive a management fee equal to a percentage of their respective revenue. Management fees from our subsidiaries are eliminated in consolidation.

 

Beginning with the first quarter of 2016, the Company anticipates re-presenting its operating segments as follows: i) Domestic Telecom, consisting of the Company’s current  U.S. Wireless and U.S. Wireline segments, ii) International Telecom, consisting of the Company’s current Island Wireless and International Integrated Telephony segments, and iii) Renewable Energy, consisting of the Company’s current Renewable Energy segment. 

 

The pending acquisitions, as described in Note 4, will be included within the International Telecom segment upon the completion of those acquisitions.

 

 

Acquisitions

 

Pending Acquisitions

 

For the purpose of clarity and consistency, and except where expressly indicated, each of the forward-looking statements made regarding our operations in this Item 2 assumes that the acquisitions have not yet been consummated.

 

 

KeyTech Limited

 

On October 6, 2015, we entered into an agreement with KeyTech Limited (“KeyTech”), a publicly held Bermuda listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange (“BSX”) company that provides voice, broadband, and cable television services under the “Logic” name in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, in which we will acquire a controlling interest in KeyTech as part of a proposed business combination of KeyTech with our subsidiary providing wireless services under the “CellOne” name in Bermuda (the “KeyTech Transaction”). As part of the KeyTech Transaction, we will contribute our current ownership interest of approximately 43% in CellOne and approximately $42 million in cash in exchange for a 51% ownership interest in KeyTech. Together with KeyTech, we currently own approximately 85% of CellOne.  CellOne will then be merged with and into a company within the KeyTech group and the approximate 15% interest in CellOne held, in the aggregate, by CellOne’s minority shareholders will be converted into the right to receive common shares in KeyTech. Following the transaction, CellOne will be indirectly wholly owned by KeyTech and KeyTech will continue to be listed on the BSX. A portion of the cash proceeds that KeyTech will receive upon closing will be used to fund a one-time special dividend to KeyTech's existing shareholders and to retire KeyTech's subordinated debt.  We currently consolidate the operations of CellOne and, upon closing of the KeyTech Transaction, will consolidate the results of KeyTech, in our financial statements.

 

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The KeyTech Transaction is subject to customary closing terms and conditions, including, among others, the receipt of approval from the Bermuda Regulatory Authority, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Information and Communications Technology Authority of the Cayman Islands and the consent of the Bermuda Stock Exchange to certain transaction matters.  KeyTech shareholders approved the proposed transaction by affirmative vote on October 20, 2015. We currently expect to complete the KeyTech Transaction in the first quarter of 2016.

 

Caribbean Asset Holdings LLC

 

On October 1, 2015, we announced that we have entered into an agreement to acquire all of the membership interests of Caribbean Asset Holdings LLC, the holding company for the Innovative group of companies operating cable TV, Internet and landline services primarily in the U.S. Virgin Islands (the "Innovative Purchase") from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC"). We will purchase the Innovative operations for a purchase price of approximately $145 million, subject to certain purchase price adjustments, with $85 million payable in cash and the option to finance the remaining $60 million of the purchase price with a loan from an affiliate of CFC, the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative. With the purchase, our current operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands under the "Choice" name will be combined with Innovative to deliver residential and business subscribers a full range of telecommunications and media services. Subject to customary closing terms and conditions, we currently expect to complete the transaction in mid-2016.

 

The Innovative Purchase is subject to customary closing terms and conditions, the expiration of the Hart-Scott Rodino waiting period and the receipt of approvals from the Federal Communications Commission and regulatory authorities in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten.

.

 

Completed Acquisition

 

On December 24, 2014, we acquired substantially all of the assets of Green Lake Capital, LLC and certain of its affiliates (collectively, "Green Lake"), an owner and operator of commercial distributed generation solar power systems in Massachusetts, California and New Jersey (the "Ahana Acquisition"). We acquired these assets as part of a total transaction valued at approximately $117.7 million which is comprised of approximately $66.3 million of cash consideration, a $12.5 million reimbursement of cash and restricted cash held by Green Lake on the date of the acquisition, and the assumption of $38.9 million of debt. The acquisition was performed through our newly formed subsidiary, Ahana Renewables, LLC ("Ahana Renewables"). Certain subsidiaries of Ahana Renewables have been partially capitalized by a third-party tax equity investor who maintains a non-controlling interest in these subsidiaries.  The tax equity investor’s interest in these subsidiaries changes at a certain date (the "Flip Date"), which is the later of a) the five-year anniversary of the placed in service date for the solar assets owned by the subsidiary or, b) the date that the tax equity investor receives a certain return on their original investment in that subsidiary. These dates typically occur at approximately 2 - 4 years from the acquisition date. The profits and losses of these subsidiaries will be allocated to the tax equity investors and to the Company using the Hypothetical Liquidation Book Value method. The Hypothetical Liquidation Book Value Method is used to calculate the non-controlling interests' share of income for each period by measuring the difference in funds that would flow to the non-controlling interests in a hypothetical liquidation event at the beginning of the period compared to the end of a period (adjusted for capital distributions). The method assumes that the proceeds on liquidation approximate book value and then the proceeds are allocated to ATN and non-controlling interests based on the liquidation provisions of the solar facility operating agreement. A positive difference during the period represents non-controlling interests' share of income and a decrease represents a loss.  Ahana Renewables has the option to buy-out the non-controlling interests.

 

Ahana Renewables generates revenue from the sale of electricity through long-term (10 - 25 years) power purchase agreements as well as the sale of Solar Renewable Energy Credits (“SRECs”) which are government emissions allowances obtained through power generation and compliance with various regulations.

 

 

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Disposal of Turks and Caicos Operations

 

During March 2015, we completed the sale of certain assets and liabilities operated in Turks and Caicos and recorded a loss on the disposition and related deconsolidation of this subsidiary of approximately $19.9 million.

 

 

Stimulus Grants

 

We were awarded several federal stimulus grants in 2009 and 2010 by the U.S. Government under provisions of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 intended to stimulate the deployment of broadband infrastructure and services to rural, unserved and underserved areas. As of September 30, 2015, we have spent (i) $35.8 million in capital expenditures (of which $27.5 million has been funded by the federal stimulus grant) in connection with our build of ten new segments of fiber-optic, middle-mile broadband infrastructure in upstate New York and parts of Pennsylvania and Vermont; (ii) $7.6 million in capital expenditures (of which $5.3 million has been funded by the federal stimulus grant) in connection with our last-mile broadband infrastructure buildout in the Navajo Nation across Arizona, New Mexico and Utah; and (iii) $47.9 million in capital expenditures (of which $33.0 million has been  funded by the federal stimulus grant) in connection with our fiber-optic middle mile network buildout to provide broadband and transport services to over 340 community anchor institutions in Vermont. The results of our New York and Vermont stimulus projects are included in our “U.S. Wireline” segment and the results of our Navajo stimulus project are included in our “U.S. Wireless” segment. The New York and Navajo stimulus projects were completed during 2013. The Vermont stimulus project was completed during the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Mobility Fund Grants

 

As part of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) reform of its Universal Service Fund (“USF”) program, which previously provided support to carriers seeking to offer telecommunications services in high-cost areas and to low-income households, the FCC created two new funds, including the Mobility Fund, a one-time award meant to support wireless coverage in underserved geographic areas in the United States. In August 2013, the Company received FCC final approval  for $21.7 million of Mobility Fund support to its wholesale wireless business (the “Mobility Funds”), to expand voice and broadband networks in certain geographic areas in order to offer either 3G or 4G coverage. As part of the receipt of the Mobility Funds, the Company committed to comply with certain additional FCC construction and other requirements. A portion of these funds will be used to offset network capital costs and a portion is used to offset the costs of supporting the networks for a period of five years. In connection with the Company’s application for the Mobility Funds, the Company has issued approximately $10.6 million in letters of credit to the Universal Service Administrative Company (“USAC”) to secure these obligations. If the Company fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions upon which the Mobility Funds were granted, or if it loses eligibility for the Mobility Funds, USAC will be entitled to draw the entire amount of the letter of credit applicable to the affected project plus penalties and may disqualify the Company from the receipt of additional Mobility Fund support.

 

The Company began the construction of its Mobility Funds projects during the third quarter of 2013 and their results are included in the Company’s “U.S. Wireless” segment. As of September 30, 2015, the Company has received approximately $8.1 million in Mobility Funds. Of these funds, $3.1 million was recorded as an offset to the cost of the property, plant, and equipment associated with these projects and, consequentially, a reduction of future depreciation expense and $1.2 million is recorded within other current liabilities while the remaining $3.8 million is recorded within other long-term liabilities in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet as of September 30, 2015. The balance sheet presentation is based on the timing of the expected usage of the funds which will reduce future operations expenses.

 

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Results of Operations

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Amount of

 

Percent

 

 

 

September 30, 

 

Increase

 

Increase

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

(Decrease)

 

(Decrease)

 

REVENUE:

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

    

 

U.S. wireless

 

$

44,306

 

$

47,047

 

$

2,741

 

6.2

%  

International wireless

 

 

21,557

 

 

20,392

 

 

(1,165)

 

(5.4)

 

Wireline

 

 

21,531

 

 

21,815

 

 

284

 

1.3

 

Renewable Energy

 

 

 —

 

 

5,052

 

 

5,052

 

100.0

 

Equipment and other

 

 

1,999

 

 

2,476

 

 

477

 

23.9

 

Total revenue

 

 

89,393

 

 

96,782

 

 

7,389

 

8.3

 

OPERATING EXPENSES  (excluding depreciation and amortization unless otherwise indicated):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination and access fees

 

 

19,321

 

 

21,343

 

 

2,022

 

10.5

 

Engineering and operations

 

 

7,525

 

 

10,631

 

 

3,106

 

41.3

 

Sales, marketing and customer services

 

 

5,827

 

 

5,797

 

 

(30)

 

(0.5)

 

Equipment expense

 

 

2,924

 

 

3,431

 

 

507

 

17.3

 

General and administrative

 

 

12,823

 

 

15,930

 

 

3,107

 

24.2

 

Transaction-related charges

 

 

(27)

 

 

2,536

 

 

2,563

 

(9,492.6)

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

12,842

 

 

14,590

 

 

1,748

 

13.6

 

Gain on disposition of long-lived assets

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

(100.0)

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

61,235

 

 

74,258

 

 

13,023

 

21.3

 

Income from operations

 

 

28,158

 

 

22,524

 

 

(5,634)

 

(20.0)

 

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(13)

 

 

(795)

 

 

(782)

 

6,015.4

 

Loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 

 —

 

 —

 

Other income, net

 

 

338

 

 

53

 

 

(285)

 

(84.3)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

325

 

 

(742)

 

 

(1,067)

 

(328.1)

 

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

28,483

 

 

21,782

 

 

(6,701)

 

(23.5)

 

Income tax expense

 

 

9,569

 

 

10,134

 

 

565

 

5.9

 

NET INCOME

 

 

18,914

 

 

11,648

 

 

(7,266)

 

(38.4)

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax:

 

 

(2,747)

 

 

(5,072)

 

 

(2,325)

 

84.6

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS

 

$

16,167

 

$

6,576

 

$

(9,591)

 

(59.3)

%

 

U.S. wireless revenue.  The substantial majority of U.S. wireless revenue consists of wholesale revenue. For each of the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, wholesale revenue represented 95% and 91% of total U.S. wireless revenue, respectively. In addition, U.S. wireless revenue also includes retail revenues generated by our operations in certain smaller rural markets already covered by our wholesale network in the western United States. Wholesale revenue is generated from providing mobile voice or data services to the customers of other wireless carriers, the provision of network switching services and certain transport services using our wireless networks. Wholesale wireless revenue is primarily driven by the number of sites and base stations we operate, the amount of voice and data traffic from the subscribers of other carriers that each of these sites generates, and the rates we are paid from our carrier customers for carrying that traffic.

 

The most significant competitive factor we face in our wholesale wireless business is the extent to which our carrier customers choose to roam on our networks or elect to build or acquire their own infrastructure in a market, reducing or eliminating their need for our services in those markets. Occasionally, we have entered into buildout projects with existing carrier customers to help the customer accelerate the buildout of a given area. Pursuant to these

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arrangements, we agree to incur the cost of building and operating a network in a newly designated area meeting specified conditions. In exchange, the carrier agrees to license us spectrum in that area and enter into a contract with specific pricing and terms. These arrangements typically include a right in favor of the carrier to purchase that portion of the network and receive back the spectrum for a predetermined price, depending on when such option to purchase is exercised. For example, as previously disclosed, in December 2012, we sold a portion of our network to a carrier customer pursuant to an option to purchase contained in our roaming and buildout agreement with that carrier. We currently have one buildout arrangement of approximately 100 newly built cell sites, which provides the carrier with an option to purchase such sites exercisable beginning no earlier than 2018. At this time, we cannot predict the level of roaming traffic that will develop on this newly built network or whether the call option will be exercised.

 

Our U.S. wireless revenue increased from $44.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $47.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015, an increase of $2.7 million or 6%.  The increase was mainly driven by revenue growth in our rural U.S. retail business.  U.S. wholesale revenues increased slightly from the prior year as a result of expanded network traffic volume, driven by the increased demand for our data services supported by our network capacity and technology upgrades and the increase to 799 base stations as of September 30, 2015, offset by lower wholesale rates.   

 

While we will continue to expand our coverage with additional and upgraded base stations in the fourth quarter 2015 and into 2016, it will be at a slower rate than in previous periods. We expect that data volumes will continue to increase during the fourth quarter of 2015 and into 2016, however, we expect to experience a significant decline in revenues in the fourth quarter of 2015 due to the greater impact of contract calendar year volume tier pricing.  We expect revenues to increase in the first quarter 2016 compared with the fourth quarter of 2015 after the reset of annual volume based pricing tiers.  We believe that our new model which lowered contract rates in exchange for an extended term has much lower risk and creates a long-lived infrastructure solution for our roaming partner that increases the ultimate value of our wholesale business.  Our U.S. wireless revenues may also be positively impacted by our expanded network capabilities, reach and capacity, but continued declines in overall voice traffic on our networks or decisions by our roaming partners to no longer roam on our networks or to expand their networks in areas where we operate may partially or entirely offset such increases.

 

International wireless revenue.  International wireless revenue includes retail and wholesale voice and data wireless revenue from our operations in Bermuda and the Caribbean, including the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

International wireless revenue decreased by $1.2 million, or 6%, from $21.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $20.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This decrease was primarily the result of the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015 and a decrease in roaming revenue in our other Island Wireless businesses due to anticipated rate declines.

 

In total, our international wireless subscribers decreased from approximately 320,000 to 315,000 as of September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.  A substantial majority of the net decrease was the result of the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos within our Island Wireless segment offset by additions in our Integrated International Telephony segment. 

 

We expect international wireless revenues from our retail operations to grow in future periods as a result of subscriber growth. However, we anticipate that wholesale roaming revenues in Bermuda and the Caribbean will continue to decline in future periods due to anticipated rate declines. Wholesale roaming revenues in these markets are also subject to seasonality and can fluctuate between quarters.

 

Additionally, international wireless revenue from our wireless voice and data services in Bermuda may be negatively impacted, principally through the loss of market share, if the Bermuda Regulatory Authority decides to reassign our competitors the spectrum we surrendered to it in March 2015 that we had reserved for the launch of next generation wireless and data services. We currently cannot predict the impact that the recapturing of our spectrum will have on our operations or if the Bermuda Regulatory Authority will choose to reassign such spectrum to our competitors.

 

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Wireline revenue.  Wireline revenue is generated by our wireline operations in Guyana, including international telephone calls into and out of that country, our integrated voice and data operations in New England, our wholesale transport operations in New York State and our wholesale long-distance voice services to telecommunications carriers. This revenue includes basic service fees, measured service revenue, and internet access fees, as well as installation charges for new lines, monthly line rental charges, long-distance or toll charges, and maintenance and equipment sales.

 

Wireline revenue increased by $0.3 million, or 1%, from $21.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $21.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This increase was primarily due to a $0.3 million increase in data services within our International Integrated Telephony segment.

 

We anticipate that wireline revenue from our international long-distance business in Guyana will continue to be negatively impacted, principally through the loss of market share, should we cease to be the exclusive provider of domestic fixed and international long-distance service in Guyana, whether by reason of the Government of Guyana enacting legislation to such effect or a modification, revocation or lack of enforcement of our exclusive rights. While the loss of our exclusive rights will likely cause an immediate reduction in our wireline revenue, over the longer term such declines may be offset by increased revenue from data services to consumers and enterprises in Guyana, an increase in regulated local calling rates in Guyana, and increased wholesale transport services and large enterprise and agency sales in the United States.

 

We currently cannot predict when or if the Government of Guyana will enact such legislation or take, or fail to take, any action that would otherwise affect our exclusive rights in Guyana. See “Business—Guyana Regulation” in the Company’s 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Renewable Energy revenue.  Renewable energy revenue represents revenue from the sale of electricity through long-term (10 to 25 years) power purchase agreements (“PPAs”) as well as the sale of solar renewable energy credits (“SRECs”).

 

Renewable energy revenue was $5.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and is attributable to Ahana Renewables, LLC which we acquired in December 2014.

 

Our PPAs, which are typically priced at or below local retail electricity rates, allow our customers to secure electricity at predictable and stable prices over the duration of their long-term contract. As such, our PPAs provide us with high-quality contracted cash flows, which will continue over their average remaining life.  For these reasons, we expect that Renewable Energy revenue from our current portfolio of commercial solar projects will remain fairly consistent in future periods.

 

Equipment and other revenue.  Equipment and other revenue represent revenue from wireless equipment sales, primarily handsets, to retail telecommunications and other miscellaneous revenue items.

 

Equipment and other revenue increased by $0.5 million, or 25% from $2.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $2.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Equipment and other revenue increased in our U.S. Wireless segment’s retail operations and in our International Integrated Telephony segment by $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, as a result of increased demand for handsets.

 

We believe that equipment and other revenue could continue to increase as a result of gross subscriber additions, more aggressive subsidies driving demand for devices and the continued growth in smartphone penetration.

 

Termination and access fee expenses.  Termination and access fee expenses are charges that we pay for voice and data transport circuits (in particular, the circuits between our wireless sites and our switches), internet capacity, other access fees we pay to terminate our calls, customer bad debt expense, telecommunication spectrum fees and direct costs associated with our Renewable Energy segment.

 

Termination and access fees increased by $2.0 million, or 10%, from $19.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $21.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. Our U.S. Wireless segment

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reported an increase of $1.8 million in these costs as the result of increased data traffic volumes and the expansion and upgrade of our networks.  Termination and access fees also increased in our International Integrated Telephony segment by $0.4 million and as a result of our Renewable Energy business, acquired in December 2014, which recorded $0.3 million of these costs.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.6 million in our Island Wireless segment primarily as the result of the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015.

 

Termination and access fees are expected to continue to increase in future periods with expected growth in data traffic volumes on our networks, but remain fairly proportionate to their related revenue as our networks expand.

 

Engineering and operations expenses.  Engineering and operations expenses include the expenses associated with developing, operating and supporting our expanding telecommunications networks and renewable energy operations, including the salaries and benefits paid to employees directly involved in the development and operation of our networks.

 

Engineering and operations expenses increased by $3.1 million, or 41%, from $7.5 million to $10.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.  The increase was primarily the result of an increase within our U.S. Wireless segment of $1.7 million to support its expanding and upgraded network and as a result of the conclusion of a transition services agreement entered into to provide supporter services following the sale of our Alltel business which was accounted for as an offset to the expenses in previous periods. Our International Integrated Telephony segment reported an increase in engineering and operations expenses of $1.6 million for network and billing system support, maintenance, and consulting.  These increases were offset partially by decreases of $0.1 million in our other operating segments as a result of operating efficiencies and the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015.

 

Engineering and operations expenses are expected to increase as a result of the costs required to support the increased capacity and geographic expansion of our telecommunications network as well as to support our Renewable Energy segment.

 

Sales and marketing expenses.    Sales and marketing expenses include salaries and benefits we pay to sales personnel, customer service expenses, sales commissions and the costs associated with the development and implementation of our promotion and marketing campaigns.

 

Sales and marketing expenses remained consistent at $5.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $0.7 million in our International Integrated Telephony segment as a result of increased promotions and product re-branding expenses.  Such increase was partially offset by a reduction in sales and marketing expenses in our Island Wireless segment of $0.6 million primarily as a result of the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015.

 

We expect that sales, marketing and customer service expenses will remain fairly consistent as a percentage of revenues in future periods.

 

Equipment expenses.  Equipment expenses include the costs of our handset and customer resale equipment in our retail wireless businesses.

 

Equipment expenses increased by $0.5 million, or 17%, from $2.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $3.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in equipment expenses was primarily the result of increased equipment sales in our U.S. Wireless segment’s retail operations as well as our International Integrated Telephony segment which incurred increases in equipment expenses of $0.4 million and $0.6 million, respectively.  These increases were partially offset by reduced expenses in our Island Wireless segment of $0.5 million which previously included our operations in Turks and Caicos which was sold in March 2015.

 

We believe that equipment expenses could continue to increase as a result of the increase in demand for smartphones by our subscribers.

 

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General and administrative expenses.  General and administrative expenses include salaries, benefits and related costs for general corporate functions including executive management, finance and administration, legal and regulatory, facilities, information technology and human resources. General and administrative expenses also include internal costs associated with our performance of due-diligence in connection with acquisition activities.

 

General and administrative expenses increased by $3.1 million, or 24% from $12.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $15.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase is primarily the result of an increase of $1.1 million relating to one-time legal and consulting costs in our International Integrated Telephony segment.  Our U.S. Wireless segment also reported an increase in general and administrative expenses of $0.8 million as a result of the conclusion of a transition services agreement entered into to provide supporter services following the sale of our Alltel business which was accounted for as an offset to the expenses in previous periods.  In addition, our Renewable Energy business, acquired in December 2014, incurred $0.8 million of general and administrative expenses.  The remaining increase of $0.2 million was incurred in our other operating segments and within our corporate overhead.

 

We expect that these general and administrative expenses will remain fairly consistent as a percentage of revenues in future periods.

 

Transaction-related charges.  Transaction-related charges include the external costs, such as legal, tax and accounting, and consulting fees directly associated with acquisition and disposition-related activities, which are expensed as incurred. Transaction-related charges do not include internal costs, such as employee salary and travel-related expenses, incurred in connection with acquisitions or dispositions or any integration-related costs.

 

The $2.5 million of transaction-related charges during the three months ended September 30, 2015 primarily related to our pending KeyTech Transaction and Innovative Purchase.

 

We expect that acquisition and disposition related expenses will continue to be incurred from time to time as we continue to explore additional acquisition or disposition opportunities.

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses.  Depreciation and amortization expenses represent the depreciation and amortization charges we record on our property and equipment and on certain intangible assets.

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $1.8 million, or 14% from $12.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $14.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2015 respectively. The increase is primarily the result of our Renewable Energy business which was acquired in December 2014 and reported $1.2 million of depreciation and amortization expense during the three months ended September 30, 2015.  Our U.S. Wireless segment incurred an increase in depreciation and amortization expenses of $0.9 million as a result of network expansions and upgrades and our corporate overhead incurred an increase of $0.3 million to support our expanding operations.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.7 million in our Island Wireless segment primarily as a result of the sale of our operations in Turks in Caicos in March 2015.

 

We expect depreciation expense to increase due to the assets acquired as part of our Renewable Energy segment business and as we acquire more tangible assets to expand or upgrade our telecommunications networks.

 

Interest income (expense), net.  Interest income (expense), net represents interest and commitment fees incurred on our outstanding credit facilities and interest incurred on the term loans we assumed in our Ahana acquisition, net of interest income.

 

Interest income (expense), net increased $0.8 million from a nominal amount of expense for the three months ended September 30, 2014 to $0.8 million of expense for the three months ended September 30, 2015. This increase was primarily the result of the interest we incurred on the term loans we assumed in our December 2014 Ahana Acquisition.

 

Other income (expense), net.  Other income (expense), net represents miscellaneous non-operational income we earned or expenses we incurred. Other income (expense), net was nominal for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015.

 

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Income taxes.  Our effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015 were 33.6 % and 46.5%, respectively.  Our effective tax rate is based upon estimated income before provision for income taxes for the year, composition of the income in different countries, and adjustments, if any, in the applicable quarterly periods for potential tax consequences, benefits and/or resolutions of tax contingencies.  Our effective tax rate increased in 2015 primarily due to the loss on the deconsolidation of our Turks and Caicos business. This loss generated in a non-tax foreign jurisdiction for which we receive no tax benefit.  Our consolidated tax rate will continue to be impacted by the mix of income generated among the jurisdictions in which we operate.

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests.  Net income attributable to non-controlling interests reflected an allocation of $2.7 million and $5.1 million of income generated by our less than wholly-owned subsidiaries for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.  Of this $2.4 million increase, $1.3 million was the result of increased net income at our less than wholly-owned retail operations in our U.S. Wireless segment, $0.4 million was the result of our renewable energy operations which were acquired in December 2014 and $1.0 million was the result of our operations in Turks and Caicos which were sold in March 2015 and which operated at a loss.  These increases were partially offset by decrease of $0.4 million in our other less than wholly owned operations.

 

Net income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. stockholders.  Net income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. stockholders decreased from $16.2 million to $6.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

On a per share basis, net income increased from $1.01 per diluted share to $0.41 per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

 

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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2014 and 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

Amount of

 

Percent

 

 

 

September 30, 

 

Increase

 

Increase

 

 

 

2014

 

2015

 

(Decrease)

 

(Decrease)

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

REVENUE:

 

 

    

    

 

    

    

 

    

    

    

 

U.S. wireless

 

$

110,153

 

$

122,993

 

$

12,840

 

11.7

%  

International wireless

 

 

67,127

 

 

61,787

 

 

(5,340)

 

(8.0)

 

Wireline

 

 

64,344

 

 

64,497

 

 

153

 

0.2

 

Renewable Energy

 

 

 —

 

 

15,631

 

 

15,631

 

100.0

 

Equipment and other

 

 

6,212

 

 

7,545

 

 

1,333

 

21.5

 

Total revenue

 

$

247,836

 

$

272,453

 

$

24,617

 

9.9

%  

OPERATING EXPENSES  (excluding depreciation and amortization unless otherwise indicated):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Termination and access fees

 

 

58,188

 

 

60,827

 

 

2,639

 

4.5

 

Engineering and operations

 

 

21,508

 

 

26,218

 

 

4,710

 

21.9

 

Sales and marketing

 

 

16,499

 

 

16,315

 

 

(184)

 

(1.1)

 

Equipment expense

 

 

8,938

 

 

10,093

 

 

1,155

 

12.9

 

General and administrative

 

 

38,596

 

 

44,743

 

 

6,147

 

15.9

 

Transaction-related charges

 

 

341

 

 

2,852

 

 

2,511

 

736.4

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

37,752

 

 

43,813

 

 

6,061

 

16.1

 

Gain on disposition of long lived asset

 

 

 —

 

 

(2,823)

 

 

(2,823)

 

(100.0)

 

Total operating expenses

 

$

181,822

 

$

202,038

 

$

20,216

 

11.1

%  

Income from operations

 

$

66,014

 

$

70,415

 

$

4,401

 

6.7

%  

OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest expense, net

 

 

(220)

 

 

(2,153)

 

 

(1,933)

 

878.6

 

Loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary

 

 

 —

 

 

(19,937)

 

 

(19,937)

 

(100.0)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

 

302

 

 

114

 

 

(188)

 

(62.3)

 

Other income (expense), net

 

$

82

 

$

(21,976)

 

$

(22,058)

 

(26,900.0)

%  

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES

 

 

66,096

 

 

48,439

 

 

(17,657)

 

(26.7)

 

Income tax expense

 

 

22,460

 

 

22,655

 

 

195

 

0.9

 

INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

 

 

43,636

 

 

25,784

 

 

(17,852)

 

(40.9)

 

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

 —

 

 

390

 

 

390

 

100.0

 

NET INCOME

 

 

43,636

 

 

26,174

 

 

(17,462)

 

(40.0)

 

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests, net of tax:

 

 

(8,116)

 

 

(13,417)

 

 

(5,301)

 

65.3

 

NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC. STOCKHOLDERS

 

$

35,520

 

$

12,757

 

$

(22,763)

 

(64.1)

%  

 

U.S. wireless revenue. U.S. wireless revenue increased by $12.8 million, or 12%, from $110.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, to $123.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. The increase was primarily driven by growth in our rural U.S. retail wireless business and the result of U.S. wholesale growth due to expanded traffic volume driven by capacity and technology upgrades to our network and the increase in the number of base stations from 716 as of September 30, 2014 to 799 as of September 30, 2015.  The increase in traffic volume was partially offset by a decrease in wholesale rates due to volume tier discounts.

 

 International wireless revenue.   International wireless revenue decreased by $5.3 million, or 8%, from $67.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $61.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Our Island Wireless segment reported a decrease in international wireless revenue of $4.4 million primarily as the result of the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015 and a decrease in roaming revenue in our other Island Wireless businesses due to anticipated rate declines.  Our International Integrated Telephony segment also reported a $1.0 million decrease in international wireless revenue as a result of a decrease in subscribers.

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Wireline revenue.  Wireline revenue increased by $0.2 million from $64.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $64.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. This increase was primarily due to a $1.2 million increase in our International Integrated Telephony segment due to increased data revenues offset by a $0.9 decrease in our U.S. wireline segment due to decreases in our wholesale long-distance voice services operations.  

 

Renewable energy.  Renewable energy revenue was $15.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and is attributable to Ahana Renewables, LLC which we acquired in December 2014.

 

Equipment and other revenue.   Equipment and other revenue increased by $1.3 million, or 21% from $6.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014, to $7.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Equipment and other revenue increased in both our U.S. Wireless segment’s retail operations and in our International Integrated Telephony segment by $0.8 million and $0.7 million, respectively, as a result of increased demand for handsets. These increases, however, were offset by a $0.3 million decrease in our Island Wireless segment as a result of our sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015 and a decrease in subscribers within our other Island Wireless locations purchasing handsets.

 

Termination and access fee expenses. Termination and access fees increased by $2.6 million, or 4%, from $58.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $60.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Our U.S. Wireless segment reported an increase of $4.7 million in these costs as the result of increased data traffic volumes and the expansion and upgrade of our networks.  Termination and access fees also increased as a result of our Renewable Energy business, acquired in December 2014, which recorded $0.9 million of these costs.  These increases were partially offset by decreases of $1.0 million in our International Integrated Telephony segment as a result of non-recurring reductions in bandwidth costs, a $0.7 million reduction in our wholesale long-distance voice services operations within our U.S. Wireline segment and $1.2 million in our Island Wireless segment which included our operations in Turks and Caicos which was sold in March of 2015.

 

Engineering and operations expenses.   Engineering and operations expenses increased by $4.7 million, or 22%, from $21.5 million to $26.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.  The increase was primarily the result of an increase within our U.S. Wireless segment of $3.3 million to support its expanding and upgraded network and as a result of the conclusion of a transition services agreement entered into to provide supporter services following the sale of our Alltel business which was accounted for as an offset to the expenses in previous periods.  Our International Integrated Telephony segment reported an increase in engineering and operations expenses of $2.0 million for network and billing system support, maintenance, and consulting.  These increases were offset partially by decreases in our other operating segments as a result of operating efficiencies.

 

Sales and marketing.   Sales and marketing expenses increased by $0.2 million, or 1%, from $16.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $16.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015. Sales and marketing expenses increased by $1.0 million in our International Integrated Telephony segment as a result of increased promotions and product re-branding expenses and by $0.3 million in our U.S. Wireless segment’s retail operations to support our increased revenues and subscriber base.  Such increases were partially offset by a reduction in sales and marketing expenses in our Island Wireless segment of $1.7 million primarily as a result of the sale of our operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015.

 

Equipment expenses.   Equipment expenses increased by $1.2 million, or 13%, from $8.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $10.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 primarily as a result of increased equipment sales in our U.S. Wireless segment’s retail operations as well as in our International Integrated Telephony segment which incurred increases in equipment expenses of $1.2 million and $1.1 million, respectively.  These increases were partially offset by reduced expense in our Island Wireless segment of $1.1 million which previously included our operations in Turks and Caicos which was sold in March 2015.

 

General and administrative expenses.   General and administrative expenses increased by $6.1 million, or 16% from $38.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $44.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  The increase was primarily the result of our newly acquired Renewable Energy business which

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was acquired in December 2014 and incurred $3.0 million of general and administrative expenses during the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  Our International Integrated Telephony segment reported an increase in general and administrative expenses of $1.5 million relating to one-time legal and consulting costs.  Our U.S. Wireless segment reported an increase of $1.1 million as a result of the conclusion of a transition services agreement entered into to provide supporter services following the sale of our Alltel business which was accounted for as an offset to the expenses in previous periods.  The remaining increase of $0.6 million was incurred within our other operating segments and within our corporate overhead. 

 

Transaction-related charges.   We incurred $0.3 million and $2.9 million of transaction-related charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively. The increase was primarily related to our pending KeyTech Transaction and Innovative Purchase.

 

Depreciation and amortization expenses.   Depreciation and amortization expenses increased by $6.0 million from $37.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $43.8 million for the nine months September 30, 2015, respectively. The increase was primarily the result of $3.6 million of depreciation and amortization being recognized in our Renewable Energy business which was acquired in December 2014 and a $2.8 million increase in depreciation expense in our U.S. Wireless segment as a result of certain network expansions.  Our corporate overhead incurred an increase of $0.7 million to support our expanding operations.  These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $1.3 million in our Island Wireless segment primarily as a result of our sale of operations in Turks and Caicos in March 2015. 

 

Gain on disposal of long lived asset.  During the nine months ended September 30, 2015, we sold certain network assets and telecommunications licenses in our U.S. Wireless segment and recognized a gain on such disposition of $2.8 million.

 

Interest income (expense), net.  Interest income (expense), net increased $2.0 million from $0.2 million of expense to $2.2 million of expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.   This increase was primarily the result of the interest we incur on Ahana debt. 

 

Loss on deconsolidation of subsidiary.  During March 2015, we completed the sale of certain assets and liabilities operated in Turks and Caicos and recorded a loss on the disposition and related deconsolidation of this subsidiary of approximately $19.9 million.

 

Other income (expense), net.   Other income (expense), net represents miscellaneous non-operational income we earned or expenses we incurred. Other income (expense), net was nominal for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015.

 

Income taxes.   Our effective tax rates for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015 were 33.9% and 46.8%, respectively. Our effective tax rate increased in 2015 primarily due to the loss on the deconsolidation of our Turks and Caicos business. This loss was generated in a non-tax foreign jurisdiction for which we receive no tax benefit.  Our consolidated tax rate will continue to be impacted by the mix of income generated among the jurisdictions in which we operate.

 

Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests.  Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests reflected an allocation of $8.1 million and $13.4 million of income generated by our less than wholly-owned subsidiaries for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.  Of this $5.3 million increase, $3.0 million was the result of increased net income at our less than wholly-owned retail operations in our U.S. Wireless segment, $1.5 million was the result of our renewable energy operations which were acquired in December 2014 and $1.3 million was the result of our operations in Turks and Caicos which were sold in March 2015. These increases were partially offset by a decrease of $0.5 million in our other less than wholly owned operations.

 

Net income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. stockholders.   Net income attributable to Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. stockholders decreased from $35.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $12.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

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On a per share basis, net income decreased from $2.22 per diluted share to $0.79 per diluted share for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, respectively.

 

Regulatory and Tax Issues

 

We are involved in a number of regulatory and tax proceedings. A material and adverse outcome in one or more of these proceedings could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and future operations.  For discussion of ongoing proceedings, see Note 12 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in this Report.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Historically, we have met our operational liquidity needs through a combination of cash on hand and internally generated funds and have funded capital expenditures and acquisitions with a combination of internally generated funds, cash on hand and borrowings under our credit facilities. We believe our current cash, cash equivalents and availability under our current credit facility will be sufficient to meet our cash needs for the next twelve months for working capital and capital expenditures.

 

Uses of Cash

 

Capital Expenditures.  A significant use of our cash has been for capital expenditures to expand and upgrade our networks.

 

For the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2015, we spent approximately $41.7 million and $46.0 million, respectively, on capital expenditures. The following notes our capital expenditures, by operating segment, for these periods (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Capital Expenditures

 

 

    

 

    

International

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

    

 

 

 

 

U.S.

 

Integrated

 

Island

 

U.S.

 

Renewable

 

Reconciling

 

 

 

Nine months ended September 30, 

 

Wireless

 

Telephony

 

Wireless

 

Wireline

 

Energy

 

Items

 

Consolidated

 

2014

$

26,496

$

6,816

$

3,966

$

2,325

$

 —

$

2,096

$

41,699

 

2015

 

21,617

 

9,720

 

6,077

 

6,015

 

26

 

2,576

 

46,031

 

 

We are continuing to invest in upgrading and expanding our telecommunications networks in many of our markets, along with upgrading our operating and business support systems. We currently anticipate that telecom capital expenditures for the year ended December 31, 2015 will be between $60 million and $70 million.  Capital expenditures in our Renewable Energy segment are more difficult to project, however we continue to actively pursue investments in this segment.

 

We expect to fund our current capital expenditures primarily from our current cash balances and cash generated from operations.

 

Acquisitions and Investments.     Historically, we have funded our acquisitions with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under our credit facilities.  As discussed above, we expected to fund our pending acquisition of KeyTech with $42 million of cash.  In regard to the pending acquisition of Caribbean Asset Holding, LLC, we expect to fund $85 million payable in cash and the option to finance the remaining $60 million of the purchase price with a loan from an affiliate of CFC, the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative

 

We continue to explore opportunities to expand our business or acquire new businesses and licenses in the United States, the Caribbean and elsewhere. Such acquisitions, including acquisitions of renewable energy assets, may require external financing. While there can be no assurance as to whether, when or on what terms we will be able to

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acquire any such businesses or licenses or make such investments, such acquisitions may be accomplished through the issuance of shares of our capital stock, payment of cash or incurrence of additional debt. From time to time, we may raise capital ahead of any definitive use of proceeds to allow us to move more quickly and opportunistically if an attractive investment materializes.

 

As of September 30, 2015, we had approximately $403.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, of which $102.5 million was held outside the United States in our foreign subsidiaries and $34.4 million of debt. How and when we deploy our balance sheet capacity will figure prominently in our longer-term growth prospects and stockholder returns.

 

Income taxes.  We have historically used cash-on-hand to make payments for income taxes.  The Company does not provide for United States income tax on earnings for foreign subsidiaries as such earnings are considered to be indefinitely reinvested.

 

Dividends.    We use cash-on-hand to make dividend payments to our common stockholders when declared by our Board of Directors. For the nine months ended September 30, 2015, our Board declared dividends to our stockholders, which includes a $0.32 per share dividend declared on September 10, 2015, and paid on October 9, 2015, of $14.4 million. We have declared quarterly dividends for the last 68 fiscal quarters.

 

Stock repurchase plan.     Our Board of Directors approved a $5.0 million stock buyback plan in September 2004 pursuant to which we have spent approximately $2.1 million through September 30, 2015. Our last repurchase of our Common Stock under this plan was in 2007. We may repurchase shares at any time depending on market conditions, our available cash and our cash needs.

 

Sources of Cash

 

Total liquidity.     As of September 30, 2015, we had approximately $403.6 million in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, an increase of $32.2 million from the December 31, 2014 balance of $371.4 million. The increase is attributable to cash provided by our operating activities of $113.1 million and cash proceeds from our sale of certain assets and liabilities operated in Turks and Caicos partially offset by our capital expenditures of $46.0 million, cash used to complete the Ahana Acquisition of $12.0 million and cash used in our financing activities of $28.8 million.

 

Cash provided by operations.     Cash provided by operating activities was $113.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 as compared to cash provided by operating activities of $51.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The increase in cash flow from operations of $62.1 million was primarily the result of an increase in the change in accounts receivable of $11.6 million, an increased change in accrued taxes of $46.1 million (which was driven by tax payments made in 2014 in connection with or sale of the Alltel business in September 2013) and an increase in cash provided by discontinued operations of $5.2 million arising from refunds of overpayments and limited payables actively.  Cash flow from operations was also impacted by a decrease in net income of $17.5 million and the $19.9 million loss on the deconsolidation of our operations in Turks and Caicos recorded in the nine months ended September 30, 2015.

 

Cash used in investing activities.     Cash used in investing activities was $12.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  Cash used in investing activities was $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014.  The increase in cash used in investing activities of $11.1 million was primarily the result of an increase in capital expenditures of $4.3 million and the usage of $12.0 million related to the Ahana acquisition.  These increases were partially offset by an increase in the proceeds received from the disposition of certain assets of $4.5 million.

 

Cash used in financing activities.     Cash used in financing activities increased by $7.2 million, from $21.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2014 to $28.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015.  This increase was predominately the result of increased distributions to minority holders of $3.4 million, and   repayments of $4.5 million of Ahana debt.

 

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Credit facilities.     On December 19, 2014, we amended and restated our credit facility to provide for a $225.0 million revolving credit facility (the “Amended Credit Facility”) that includes (i) up to $10.0 million under the Amended Credit Facility for standby or trade letters of credit, (ii) up to $25.0 million under the Amended Credit Facility for letters of credit that are necessary or desirable to qualify for disbursements from the FCC’s mobility fund and (iii) up to $10 million under a swingline sub-facility.

 

Amounts we may borrow under the Amended Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to, at our option, either (i) the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus an applicable margin ranging between 1.50% to 1.75% or (ii) a base rate plus an applicable margin ranging from 0.50% to 0.75%. Swingline loans will bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable margin for base rate loans. The base rate is equal to the higher of (i) 1.00% plus the higher of (x) the one-week LIBOR and (y) the one-month LIBOR; (ii) the federal funds effective rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement) plus 0.50% per annum; and (iii) the prime rate (as defined in the Credit Agreement). The applicable margin is determined based on the ratio (as further defined in the Amended Credit Agreement) of the Company’s indebtedness to EBITDA. Under the terms of the Amended Credit Agreement, we must also pay a fee ranging from 0.175% to 0.250% of the average daily unused portion of the Amended Credit Facility over each calendar quarter.

 

The Amended Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including a financial covenant that imposes a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA as well as covenants by us limiting additional indebtedness, liens, guaranties, mergers and consolidations, substantial asset sales, investments and loans, sale and leasebacks, transactions with affiliates and fundamental changes. As of September 30, 2015, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the Amended Credit Facility.

 

As of September 30, 2015, we had no borrowings under the Amended Credit Facility and approximately $10.6 million of outstanding letters of credit.

 

Acquisition of Green Lake Capital, LLC

 

In connection with the Ahana Acquisition on December 24, 2014, we assumed $38.9 million in long-term debt (the “Ahana Debt”). The Ahana Debt includes multiple loan agreements with banks that bear interest at rates between 4.5% and 6.0%, mature at various times between 2018 and 2023 and are secured by certain solar facilities. Repayment of the Ahana Debt with the banks is made on a monthly basis until maturity.

 

The Ahana Debt includes a loan from Public Service Electric & Gas (PSE&G) of $2.8 million. The note payable to PSE&G bears interest at 11.3%, matures in 2027, and is secured by certain solar facilities. Repayment of the Ahana Debt with PSE&G can be made in either cash or solar renewable energy credits (“SRECs”), at the Company’s discretion.  The value of the SRECs was fixed at the time of the loan’s closing.

 

Factors Affecting Sources of Liquidity

 

Internally generated funds. The key factors affecting our internally generated funds are demand for our services, competition, regulatory developments, economic conditions in the markets where we operate our businesses and industry trends within the telecommunications and renewable energy industries.

 

Restrictions under Amended Credit Facility.     Our Amended Credit Facility contains customary representations, warranties and covenants, including covenants limiting additional indebtedness, liens, guaranties, mergers and consolidations, substantial asset sales, investments and loans, sale and leasebacks, transactions with affiliates and fundamental changes. In addition, the Amended Credit Facility contains a financial covenant that imposes a maximum ratio of indebtedness to EBITDA. As of September 30, 2015, we were in compliance with all of the financial covenants of the Amended Credit Facility.

 

Capital markets.     Our ability to raise funds in the capital markets depends on, among other things, general economic conditions, the conditions of the telecommunications and renewable energy industries, our financial performance, the state of the capital markets and our compliance with Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”)

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requirements for the offering of securities. On June 6, 2014, the SEC declared effective our “universal” shelf registration statement. This filing registered potential future offering of our securities.

 

Pending Acquisitions.     As discussed above, we expected to fund our pending acquisition of KeyTech with $42 million of cash.  In regard to the pending acquisition of Caribbean Asset Holding, LLC, we expect to fund $85 million payable in cash and the option to finance the remaining $60 million of the purchase price with a loan from an affiliate of CFC, the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued a standard on revenue recognition providing a single, comprehensive revenue recognition model for all contracts with customers. The revenue standard is based on the principle that revenue should be recognized to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. The standard may be applied retrospectively to each prior period presented or retrospectively with the cumulative effect recognized as of the date of initial application.  On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved the deferral of the new standard's effective date by one year. The new standard now would be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. The FASB will permit companies to adopt the new standard early, but not before the original effective date of December 15, 2016.  The Company is currently evaluating the adoption method options and the impact of the new guidance on our consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2014-08, “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU 2014-08 provides guidance on determining when disposals can be presented as discontinued operations. ASU 2014-08 requires that only disposals representing a strategic shift in operations should be presented as discontinued operations. A strategic shift may include a disposal of a major line of business, major equity method investment or a major part of an entity. Additionally, ASU 2014-08 requires expanded disclosures regarding discontinued operations. This standard was effective prospectively for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2014. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In April 2015, FASB issued ASU 2015-03, which amends the presentation of debt issuance costs on the consolidated balance sheet. Under the new guidance, debt issuance costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability rather than as an asset. The new guidance is effective retrospectively for fiscal periods starting after December 15, 2015 and early adoption is permitted. We expect to adopt ASU 2015-03 on January 1, 2016 and have determined that its adoption will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures at that time.

 

In April 2015, the FASB issued guidance to customers about whether a cloud computing arrangement includes software and how to account for that software license.  The new guidance does not change the accounting for a customer’s accounting for service contracts.  The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2017, with early adoption permitted, and may be applied prospectively or retrospectively. We do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

In September 2015, the FASB issued updated guidance related to simplifying the accounting for measurement period adjustments related to business combinations.  The amended guidance eliminates the requirement to retrospectively account for adjustments made during the measurement period. The standard is effective beginning January 1, 2016, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect it to have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

 

ITEM 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Foreign Currency Exchange Sensitivity.     The only foreign currency for which we have a material exposure is the Guyanese dollar, because a significant portion of our Guyana revenues and expenditures are transacted in Guyanese

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dollars. The Guyanese exchange rate remained relatively constant at approximately 205 Guyana dollars to 1 U.S. dollar from 2004 through May 2013. Beginning in May 2013, the exchange rate began to increase and ended at a rate of approximately 210 Guyana dollars to 1 U.S. dollar as of September 30, 2015. The results of future operations may be affected by changes in the value of the Guyana dollar.

 

Interest Rate Sensitivity.  As of September 30, 2015, we did not have any outstanding variable rate debt and as a result, we believe that we do not have an exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. We may have an exposure to fluctuations in interest rates if we again borrow amounts under our revolver loan within our Credit Facility.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Management’s 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 as of September 30, 2015. Disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), means controls and other procedures of an issuer that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by an issuer in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the issuer’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2015, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in internal control over financial reporting.  There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the three months ended September 30, 2015 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

See Note 12 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements included in this Report.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Risks Relating to Our Pending Acquisitions

On October 1, 2015, we announced that we have entered into an agreement (the “Innovative Purchase”) to acquire all of the membership interests of Caribbean Asset Holdings LLC, the holding company for the Innovative group of companies operating cable TV, Internet and landline services primarily in the U.S. Virgin Islands from the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation ("CFC"). The agreement is subject to customary closing terms and conditions, the expiration of the Hart-Scott Rodino waiting period and the receipt of approvals from the Federal Communications Commission (the “FCC”) and regulatory authorities in the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and St. Maarten.  Although we have received no indication that these regulatory authorities do not plan to grant the required approvals, there can be no guarantee that we will receive such approvals.  In addition, the FCC may impose conditions on any approval, such as requiring the divestiture of certain markets and spectrum licenses. These conditions, if imposed and if sufficiently significant, may permit CFC not to consummate the transaction or may have other negative impacts on our business. Subject to the receipt of these approvals and other customary closing terms and conditions, the Company currently expects to complete the transaction in mid-2016.

On October 6, 2015, we entered into an agreement with KeyTech Limited (“KeyTech”), a publicly held Bermuda company listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange that provides voice, broadband, and cable television services under the “Logic” name in Bermuda and the Cayman Islands, in which we will acquire a controlling interest in KeyTech as part of a proposed business combination of KeyTech with our subsidiary providing wireless services under the “CellOne” name in Bermuda. The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing terms and conditions, including, among others, the receipt of approval from the Bermuda Regulatory Authority, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Information and Communications Technology Authority of the Cayman Islands and the consent of the Bermuda Stock Exchange to certain transaction matters.  KeyTech shareholders approved the proposed transaction by affirmative vote on October 20, 2015. Although we have receive no indication that the regulatory authorities listed above do no plan to grant the required approvals, there can be no guarantee that we will receive such approval or consent. In addition, the Bermuda Regulatory Authority may impose conditions on any approval, such as a prohibition or strict approval of any bundling of services between the combined companies. These conditions, if imposed and if sufficiently significant, may permit KeyTech not to consummate the transaction or may have other negative impacts on our business or the business of the combined companies following the consummation of the KeyTech Transaction. Subject to the receipt of these approvals and other customary closing terms and conditions, the Company currently expects to complete the transaction in the first quarter of 2016.

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this Report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I, “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our 2014 Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the SEC on March 16, 2015. The risks described in our 2014 Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company.  Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

In September 2004, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to repurchase up to $5.0 million of common stock. The repurchase authorizations do not have a fixed termination date and the timing of the buyback amounts and exact number of shares purchased will depend on market conditions.  No repurchases were made under this plan during the quarter ended September 30, 2015.

 

39


 

Table of Contents

The following table reflects the repurchases by the Company of its common stock during the quarter ended September 30, 2015:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

 

    

 

 

    

 

    

(d)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maximum

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Number (or

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(c)

 

Approximate

 

 

 

 

 

(b)

 

Total Number of

 

Dollar Value) of

 

 

 

(a)

 

Average

 

Shares Purchased

 

Shares that May

 

 

 

Total Number

 

Price

 

as Part of Publicly

 

be Purchased

 

 

 

of Shares

 

Paid per

 

Announced Plans

 

Under the Plans or

 

Period

 

Purchased (1)

 

Share (1)

 

or Programs

 

Programs

 

July 1, 2015 — July 31, 2015

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

$

2,919,965

 

August 1, 2015 — August 31, 2015

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

$

2,919,965

 

September 1, 2015 — September 30, 2015

 

 —

 

$

 —

 

 

$

2,919,965

 

 


 

 

Item 5.  Additional Information

 

None.

 

40


 

Table of Contents

Item 6. Exhibits :

 

 

 

 

2.1*

 

Purchase Agreement, effective as of September 30, 2015, by and among Caribbean Asset Holdings, LLC, National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, ATN VI Holdings, LLC and Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

 

2.2

 

Transaction Agreement, dated as of October 5, 2015, by and among Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc., ATN Caribbean Holdings, Ltd., ATN Bermuda Holdings Ltd., KeyTech Limited and Chancery Holdings Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-12593) filed on October 6, 2015).

 

 

 

31.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

31.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.1

 

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

32.2

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

 

 

101.INS

 

XBRL Instance Document

 

 

 

101.SCH

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document

 

 

 

101.CAL

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

101.DEF

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document

 

 

 

101.LAB

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document

 

 

 

101.PRE

 

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Filed herewith. Schedules omitted pursuant to item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K.  The Company agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.

 

41


 

Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

Date: November 9, 2015

/s/ Michael T. Prior

 

Michael T. Prior

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date: November 9, 2015

/s/ Justin D. Benincasa

 

Justin D. Benincasa

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

 

42


atni_Ex2_1

EXHIBIT 2.1

 

 

 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

 

by and among

 

 

NATIONAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION CARIBBEAN ASSET HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

ATN VI HOLDINGS, LLC

 

 

and

 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

 

 

Dated as of September 30, 2015

 

 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01

 

Definitions.

 

Section 1.02

 

Cross-References to Other Defined Terms

12 

ARTICLE 2

TRANSACTION

14 

 

Section 2.01

 

Acquisition of Membership Interest

14 

 

Section 2.02

 

Purchase Price

14 

 

Section 2.03

 

Escrow

16 

 

Section 2.04

 

The Closing

16 

 

Section 2.05

 

Purchase Price Adjustments

17 

 

Section 2.06

 

Withholding Rights

19 

ARTICLE 3

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

19 

 

Section 3.01

 

Organization and Qualification

19 

 

Section 3.02

 

Interests Owned

20 

 

Section 3.03

 

Authority

21 

 

Section 3.04

 

Compliance with Laws

22 

 

Section 3.05

 

Advisory and Other Fees

23 

 

Section 3.06

 

Taxes

23 

 

Section 3.07

 

Litigation

24 

 

Section 3.08

 

Financial Statements; Indebtedness

24 

 

Section 3.09

 

Transactions with Related Persons

25 

 

Section 3.10

 

Real Properties

25 

 

Section 3.11

 

Tangible Personal Property; Facilities

27 

 

Section 3.12

 

Intellectual Property

28 

 

Section 3.13

 

Contracts

28 

 

Section 3.14

 

Insurance

30 

 

Section 3.15

 

Permits

31 

 

Section 3.16

 

Employee Benefit Plans

33 

 

Section 3.17

 

Labor Matters

35 

 

Section 3.18

 

Environmental Matters

36 

 

Section 3.19

 

Books and Records

37 

 

Section 3.20

 

Absence of Certain Events

37 

 

Section 3.21

 

Accounts Receivable

39 

 

Section 3.22

 

Business Names and Addresses

39 

 

Section 3.23

 

Bank Accounts

39 

 

Section 3.24

 

Solvency

39 

 

Section 3.25

 

Privacy and Data Security Matters

40 

 

Section 3.26

 

Plan of Record

40 

 

Section 3.27

 

No Other Representations and Warranties

40 

ARTICLE 4

BUYER AND BUYER PARENT UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTY

40 

 

Section 4.01

 

Guaranty

40 

 

i -


 

ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND BUYER PARENT

41 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 5.01

 

Existence and Power

41 

 

Section 5.02

 

Organizational Authorization.

41 

 

Section 5.03

 

Governmental Authorization

41 

 

Section 5.04

 

Noncontravention

42 

 

Section 5.05

 

Buyer’s Qualification to Hold Permits

42 

 

Section 5.06

 

Sufficient Funds

42 

 

Section 5.07

 

Purchase for Investment

42 

 

Section 5.08

 

Actions and Proceedings

42 

 

Section 5.09

 

Finder’s Fees

42 

 

Section 5.10

 

Solvency

43 

 

Section 5.11

 

Acknowledgment by the Buyer and Buyer Parent

43 

 

Section 5.12

 

No Reliance

44 

ARTICLE 6

COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS

45 

 

Section 6.01

 

Conduct of the Company

45 

 

Section 6.02

 

Buyer Access; Financial Statements

49 

 

Section 6.03

 

Notice; Supplemental Disclosure

51 

 

Section 6.04

 

Acquisition Proposals

51 

 

Section 6.05

 

Real Estate Matters

52 

ARTICLE 7

COVENANTS OF THE BUYER

53 

 

Section 7.01

 

Confidentiality

53 

 

Section 7.02

 

Seller Access

53 

ARTICLE 8

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

53 

 

Section 8.01

 

Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances

53 

 

Section 8.02

 

Further Cooperation; Required Actions

54 

 

Section 8.03

 

Alternative Transaction Structure

56 

 

Section 8.04

 

Public Announcements

57 

 

Section 8.05

 

Transfer Taxes

57 

 

Section 8.06

 

Disclosure Generally

57 

 

Section 8.07

 

Straddle Period Taxes

57 

 

Section 8.08

 

Tax Returns

58 

 

Section 8.09

 

Allocation Statement

58 

 

Section 8.10

 

Asset Purchase Reporting

59 

ARTICLE 9

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

59 

 

Section 9.01

 

Conditions to the Buyer’s Obligations

59 

 

Section 9.02

 

Conditions to the Sellers’ Obligations

62 

ARTICLE 10

TERMINATION

63 

 

Section 10.01

 

Termination

63 

 

Section 10.02

 

Effect of Termination

64 

 

ii -


 

ARTICLE 11

INDEMNIFICATION

64 

 

Section 11.01

 

Survival Period.

64 

 

Section 11.02

 

Indemnification

64 

 

Section 11.03

 

Limitations

66 

 

Section 11.04

 

Indemnification Procedure as to Third Party Claims

66 

 

Section 11.05

 

Non-Third Party Claims

68 

 

Section 11.06

 

Adjustments; Subrogation; Regarding the Net Working Capital Amount

69 

 

Section 11.07

 

Surviving Company

70 

 

Section 11.08

 

Limitation of Recourse

70 

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

70 

 

Section 12.01

 

Notices

70 

 

Section 12.02

 

Amendments and Waivers

72 

 

Section 12.03

 

Construction; Severability

72 

 

Section 12.04

 

Expenses

73 

 

Section 12.05

 

Successors and Assigns

73 

 

Section 12.06

 

Governing Law

73 

 

Section 12.07

 

Jurisdiction; Venue

73 

 

Section 12.08

 

Waiver of Jury Trial

74 

 

Section 12.09

 

Specific Performance, Remedies Not Exclusive

74 

 

Section 12.10

 

Prevailing Party

74 

 

Section 12.11

 

Counterparts; Third Party Beneficiaries

74 

 

Section 12.12

 

Entire Agreement

74 

 

iii -


 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A

Escrow Agreement 

Exhibit B

Loan Agreement 

Exhibit C

Security Agreement 

Exhibit D

Buyer Parent Guaranty 

Exhibit E

Subsidiary Guaranty

Exhibit F

Secured Promissory Note 

Exhibit G

Subordination Agreement

Exhibit H

Assignment of Membership Interest 

Exhibit I

Union Contract Extension

Exhibit J

FTI Letter Agreement

Exhibit K

FTI Transition Management Services Agreement

 

 

INDEX OF SCHEDULES

 

 

 

Schedule 1.A

Excluded Assets

Schedule 1.B

Net Working Capital

Schedule 1.C

Rate Adjustment

Schedule 1.D

Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall

Schedule 3.01(a)

Seller Entities’ Jurisdictions of Incorporation/Formation 

Schedule 3.02(a)

Seller Entities’ Equity Ownership

Schedule 3.02(c)

Voting and Non-Voting Stock or Equity Interests 

Schedule 3.02(e)

Seller Entities’ Options

Schedule 3.03(c)

Notices, Consents and Approvals 

Schedule 3.04

Compliance with Laws

Schedule 3.06

Taxes

Schedule 3.07

Litigation

Schedule 3.08(a)

Financial Statements 

Schedule 3.08(c)

Other Liabilities

Schedule 3.08(d)

Closing Indebtedness

Schedule 3.09(a)

Affiliate Transactions

Schedule 3.09(b)

Affiliate Indebtedness to the Company 

Schedule 3.10(a)

Owned Real Property

Schedule 3.10(b)

List of Real Property Leases 

Schedule 3.10(c)(i)

Valid Leasehold Interests

Schedule 3.10(c)(ii)

Subleases

Schedule 3.10(c)(iii)

Tenancy Agreements

Schedule 3.10(d)(i)

Real Estate Permits

Schedule 3.10(d)(ii)

Leases Requiring Consent

Schedule 3.10(e)

Conditions

Schedule 3.11

Tangible Personal Property 

Schedule 3.12(a)

List of Intellectual Property

Schedule 3.12(c)

Intellectual Property Infringement

Schedule 3.13

List of Company Contracts

 

iv -


 

 

 

Schedule 3.14(a)

List of Insurance Policies 

Schedule 3.14(b)

List of Claims

Schedule 3.14(c)

Termination/Lapse of Insurance Policies 

Schedule 3.15(a)

List of Permits

Schedule 3.15(b)

Status of Permits 

Schedule 3.16(a)

Employee Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.16(d)

Noncompliant Employee Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.16(e)

Employee Benefit Plans Subject to ERISA Title IV

Schedule 3.16(g)

Employee Benefit Plans Providing Retiree Health & Welfare Benefits 

Schedule 3.16(j)

Outstanding Company Contributions to Employee Benefit Plans

Schedule 3.16(k)

Foreign Employee Benefit Plan

Schedule 3.17(b)

Labor Complaints

Schedule 3.17(c)

Collective Bargaining Agreements 

Schedule 3.18

List of Environmental Permits

Schedule 3.20

Events Outside Ordinary Course of Business 

Schedule 3.21

Accounts Receivable

Schedule 3.21(b)

Uncollectable Accounts Receivable 

Schedule 3.22

List of Business Names and Addresses

Schedule 3.23

List of Bank Accounts

Schedule 3.25

Privacy and Data Security Matters 

Schedule 5.04

Potential Contravention

Schedule 5.05

Permit Qualifications 

Schedule 6.01

Conduct of the Company

Schedule 6.01(a)(ii)

Budget

Schedule 6.01(a)(vii)

Metrics

Schedule 6.01(a)(x)

Required Conduct 

Schedule 6.01(b)(xx)

Tax Matters

Schedule 9.01(c)

Governmental and Third Party Consents 

Schedule 9.01(r)

Renewed Permits

 

 

 

 

 

 

v -


 

PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is entered into to be effective as of September 30, 2015, by and among Caribbean Asset Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation, a member-owned, nonprofit financing cooperative incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia, and the sole member of the Company (the “Parent” and, together with the Company, the “Sellers”), ATN VI Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Buyer”), and Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation and parent corporation of Buyer (“Buyer Parent”). Unless otherwise provided, capitalized terms used herein are defined, or the definitions cross-referenced, in Article 1 below.

 

PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

 

A.The Company, through its ownership of operating Subsidiaries, is in the business of marketing, selling and providing wireless and wireline telecommunications, broadband (including data transmission via undersea cable), video programming services, hosting, storage, VOIP and managed services throughout the United States Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (the “Business”).

 

B.The Buyer wishes to acquire the Business from the Parent by purchasing all of the issued and outstanding right, title and interest in and to the member interests in the Company, and Parent desires to sell the Business to the Buyer by the sale of all such member interests in the Company, on the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement.

 

C.In connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and as a condition to the consummation thereof, the Company shall, or cause its direct or indirect Subsidiary to, sell, assign, transfer and convey to a third party all right, title and interest in and to the Excluded Assets (such transactions, each, a “Divestiture” and collectively, the “Divestitures”).

 

D.In connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, Buyer Parent and FTI Consulting, Inc. (“FTI”) have entered into a letter agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit J (the “FTI Letter Agreement”), concerning, among other things, transition management  services which may be provided by FTI to Buyer, the Company and Seller Entities after the Closing on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the form of transition management services agreement attached hereto as Exhibit K (the “FTI Transition Management Services Agreement”).

 

STATEMENT OF AGREEMENT

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS

 

Section 1.01  Definitions.The  following  terms,  as  used  in  this  Agreement  and  the Exhibits and Schedules hereto, have the following meanings:

 


 

Action” means any suit, litigation, hearing, examination, inquiry, investigation, audit, arbitration, cause of action, claim, complaint, criminal prosecution, governmental or other administrative proceeding, whether at law or at equity, before or by any Governmental Authority, arbitrator or other tribunal.

 

Affiliate” means, as to any Person, any other Person which, directly or indirectly, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person; provided, that (i) for purposes of Section 3.06, Section 3.09, Section 3.13(o),  Section 3.13(r),  Section 11.02 and the definition of “Related Person”, National Cooperative Services Corporation, RTFC and the directors, officers and employees of such cooperatives and of Parent shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the Sellers or the Seller Entities, and (ii) for all other purposes of this Agreement, none of National Cooperative Services Corporation, RTFC or the directors, officers or employees of such cooperatives or of Parent shall be deemed to be Affiliates of the Sellers or the Seller Entities. As used in this definition, “control” (including, with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”) means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.

 

Anti-Corruption Laws” means any Applicable Laws in the Territory related to combating bribery and corruption, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977.

 

Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws” means any Applicable Laws in the Territory related to terrorism or money laundering, including: the Executive Order and statutes authorizing the establishment of trade and economic sanctions programs enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the Bank Secrecy Act of 1970 and the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001.

 

Applicable Law” means, with respect to any Person, any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local law (statutory, common or otherwise), constitution, treaty, convention, licensing requirement, ordinance, code, rule, regulation, order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated, applied or enforced by a Governmental Authority that is binding upon or applicable to such Person or its assets or properties, as amended unless expressly specified otherwise; and “Applicable Tax Law” means Applicable Law relating to Taxes.

 

Auction” means the broadcast incentive auction to be conducted by the FCC under Section 6403 of the Middle Class Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2012.

 

Available Cash” means the aggregate amount of cash and cash equivalents (including bank deposits) as reflected in the Company’s and the Seller Entities’ bank statements and certificates of deposit less escrowed amounts or other restricted cash balances and less the amounts of any unpaid checks, drafts and wire transfers issued on or prior to the date of determination, calculated in accordance with GAAP and consistent with the preparation of the Latest Balance Sheet. For the avoidance of doubt, Available Cash shall (a) be calculated net of issued but uncleared checks and drafts, (b) include cash, checks and drafts deposited or on hand

- 2 -


 

to be deposited for the accounts of the Company and the Seller Entities, and (c) be calculated net of overdrawn accounts.

 

Bonneville Matter” means the dispute raised by the Sellers with Bonneville Group Virgin Islands, a construction company based in Puerto Rico, for the overcharge of materials and labor and the scope of work performed with respect to the installation of telecommunications fiber optic cables in the U.S. Virgin Islands pursuant to five (5) contracts between the parties, including addendums and supplemental documents thereto, which contracts consist of (a) the June 17, 2011 contract, (b) the June 21, 2011 contract, (c) the October 13, 2011 contract, (d) the August 30, 2010 contract and (e) the September 5, 2008 contract.

 

BT&P” means the Bureau Telecommunications and Post St. Maarten.

 

Business Day” means any day excluding Saturday, Sunday and any day on which banking institutions located in the State of New York or Commonwealth of Massachusetts are authorized or required by Applicable Law to close.

 

BVI  Ministry”  means  the  British  Virgin  Islands  Ministry  of  Communications  and Works.

 

Closing Indebtedness” means an amount equal to the unpaid principal amount of, all interest on, all premiums, penalties or fees, if any, and all other costs, expenses and other amounts owed to any Person or other Liabilities as of the Closing in respect of Indebtedness (excluding pre-billed customer services).

 

Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall” means, with respect to each Pension/OPEB Plan, the excess, if any, of the aggregate value of the benefits accrued under such Pension/OPEB Plan as of the Closing Date, over the fair value, determined as of the Closing Date, of the assets held in segregated trusts, escrow accounts, rabbi trusts, insurance contracts or other funding mechanisms established or maintained by the Company or a Seller Entity for the purpose of funding the liabilities under such Pension/OPEB Plan. The Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall for each Pension/OPEB Plan shall be jointly determined by the plan’s enrolled actuary and by Deloitte & Touche LLP in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 715 based on the RP-2014 mortality table, the MP-2014 projection scale, subject to the immediately following four sentences, other assumptions as detailed in Schedule 1.D, and other reasonable plan assumptions. The actuarial assumptions included in Schedule 1.D are based on economic and demographic conditions as of the date of this Agreement. To the extent there are changes in economic and demographic conditions between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, the assumptions will be reviewed by both the plan’s enrolled actuary and by Deloitte & Touche LLP to ensure that they are still appropriate as of the Closing Date. If not, the plan’s enrolled actuary and Deloitte & Touche LLP will cooperate in good faith to make appropriate changes in the assumptions at such time. The discount rate for each of the Pension/OPEB Plans will be determined as of the Closing Date using the same method used to determine the unfunded benefit obligations under such Pension/OPEB Plan for purposes of the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended May 31, 2015.

- 3 -


 

CoBank” means CoBank ACB, as administrative agent and lender to Buyer Parent, or any successor or assign thereof.

 

Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any reference to any particular Code section shall be interpreted to include any revision of or successor to that section regardless of how numbered or classified.

 

Communications Laws” means, collectively, the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the FCC under the foregoing, as in effect from time to time.

 

Communications Permits” means all Permits issued or granted by a Communications Regulatory Authority that are held by the Company or a Seller Entity.

 

Communications Regulatory Authority” means any Governmental Authority having the regulatory, administrative or licensing authority over the operations or assets of the Company or a Seller Entity in any given jurisdiction, including, without limitation, the FCC, the PSC, the BVI Ministry, the BT&P, and the Sint Maarten Ministry, and, in each case, any successor authority.

 

Communications Regulatory Authority Consent” means the grant by any Communications Regulatory Authority of its consent, where required or advisable by legal counsel (including the consent of the Sint Maarten Ministry), to the assignment of a Communications Permit or the transfer of control of a Communications Permit or a Seller Entity holding a Communications Permit, in each case, in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including the sale of the Membership Interest to Buyer.

 

Competition Laws” means Applicable Laws regulating antitrust, anti-monopoly, trade practices and other anti-competitive conduct; provided, however, that “Competition Laws” shall not be deemed to include the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 254(e).

 

Contract” means any contract, agreement, license, lease, instrument, arrangement or other understanding, including purchase orders and invoices, whether written or oral, and all amendments, modifications and supplements thereto.

 

Copyleft License” means any license that requires, as a condition of use, modification or distribution of a work of authorship, that such work of authorship or derivative works thereof be made available free of charge under such license, and that, in the case of software, be made available in source code form, or under terms that allow such software to be reverse engineered. Copyleft Licenses include without limitation the GNU General Public License, the GNU Lesser General Public License, the Mozilla Public License, the Common Development and Distribution License, the Eclipse Public License, and all Creative Commons “sharealike” licenses.

 

Environmental Laws” means Applicable Laws concerning pollution or protection of the environment or human health and safety, including, but without limitation, Applicable Laws relating to the generation, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, discharge, emission, release, threatened release, control, mitigation, or remediation of any Hazardous Substances.

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ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

Escrow Account” means the account established by the Escrow Agent to hold the Escrow Amount, and any earnings thereon, pursuant to the Escrow Agreement.

 

Escrow Agent” means JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

 

Escrow Agreement” means the Escrow Agreement, in the form of Exhibit A, to be entered into between the Buyer, Parent and the Escrow Agent effective as of the Closing Date.

 

Excluded Assets” means (a) all of the equity interests and assets of Group B-200, Inc., (b) the real property owned by Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation listed on Schedule 3.10(a) as the “Sunny Isle Property,” and (c) the other assets set forth on Schedule 1.A.

 

FCC” means the United States Federal Communications Commission.

 

Filing” means any registration, petition, statement, application, schedule, form, declaration, notice, notification, report, submission or information or other filing.

 

Final Order” means action by a Governmental Authority which has not been vacated, reversed, set aside, annulled or suspended and as to which: (a) no request for stay by such authority of the action is pending, no such stay is in effect, and, if any deadline for filing any such request is designated by statute or regulation, it has passed; (b) no petition for rehearing or reconsideration of the action is pending before such Governmental Authority, and the time for filing any such petition has passed; (c) such Governmental Authority does not have the action under reconsideration on its own motion and the time for such reconsideration has passed; and (d) no appeal to a court, or request for stay by a court, of such Governmental Authority’s action is pending or in effect, and, if any deadline for filing any such appeal or request is designated by statute or rule, it has passed.

 

Financing” means the financing of the Purchase Price by RTFC in the amount and on the terms and conditions set forth in the Financing Documents.

 

Financing Documents” means the Loan Agreement by and between Buyer, the Company and RTFC, the Security Agreement by and between Buyer, the Company, RTFC and the other parties thereto, the Guaranty made by Buyer Parent in favor of RTFC, the Guaranty made by the subsidiaries of the Company in favor of RTFC, the Secured Promissory Note with Buyer and the Company as borrowers in favor of RTFC, and the Subordination Agreement, substantially in the forms of Exhibits B, C, D, E, F and G, respectively.

 

GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied.

 

Governmental Authority” means any transnational, domestic or foreign federal, state or local governmental, regulatory or administrative authority, department, court, agency or official, including any political subdivision thereof.

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Hazardous Substances” means any substance, material or waste the presence, use, handling, storage or disposal of which is regulated, prohibited or restricted under Environmental Laws, including, but without limitation: (1) petroleum and its by-products, asbestos or asbestos- containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, radon and lead-based paint and (2) any material or substance which is defined by Environmental Laws as a “hazardous waste,” “hazardous substance,” “hazardous material,” “restricted hazardous waste,” “industrial waste,” “solid waste,” “contaminant,” “pollutant,” “special waste,” “toxic material,” “toxic waste” or “toxic substance.”

 

Plan of Record Adjustment” means the aggregate amount, if any, calculated in accordance with Part 1 of the Plan of Record on the basis of the average costs and Closing Count, in each case in connection with the Reduction.

 

HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the related regulations and published interpretations.

 

Plan of Record” means that certain schedule executed and delivered by Buyer and Sellers as of the date of this Agreement setting forth, among other things, (a) in Part 1 thereof, the manner in which the Plan of Record Adjustment, if any, shall be calculated, (b) in Part 2 thereof, average costs underlying the calculation set forth in Part 1, (c) in Part 3 thereof, targeted cost reductions and a mutually agreed upon permissible variance therefrom, and (d) in Part 4 thereof, detailed supporting information underlying the average costs contained in Part 2.

 

Income Tax” means any federal, state, local or non-U.S. income tax measured by or imposed on net income, including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.

 

Income Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement relating to Income Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto.

 

Indebtedness” means all aggregate obligations of the Company and the Seller Entities (including all obligations in respect of principal, accrued interest, penalties, fees and premiums) (a) for borrowed money (including overdraft facilities), (b) evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar Contracts, (c) for the deferred purchase price of property, goods or services (other than any trade accounts payable of the Business or other items as and to the extent actually included as current Liabilities in the calculation of the Net Working Capital amount, but including any deferred purchase price Liabilities, earnouts, contingency payments, installment payments, seller notes, promissory notes, or similar Liabilities, in each case, related to past acquisitions by the Company or any Seller Entity and, for the avoidance of doubt, in each case, whether or not contingent), (d) under capital leases (in accordance with GAAP), (e) in respect of deferred compensation for services, (f) in respect of severance, change of control payments, stay bonuses, retention bonuses, success bonuses, and other bonuses and similar Liabilities payable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby), (g) obligations and/or Contracts relating to hedging, interest rate protection, swaps, collar agreements and similar arrangements, and (h) in the nature of guarantees of the obligations described in clauses (a) through (g) above of any other Person.

- 6 -


 

Knowledge” when used in the phrase “to the Knowledge of the Sellers” or similar phrases means, and shall be limited to, (i) the current, actual knowledge and awareness of Shawn O’Donnell, Mark Fortin, Matt Muckelbauer and Pam Schaard after inquiry of each of  the Persons reporting directly to them with positions of Vice President and above at the Seller Entities (including, at a minimum, each of Debra Thomas Smith, Michael McHale, Jennifer Matarangas-King and Nathania Bates) and responsibility for the subject matter in question, and (i) the current, actual knowledge and awareness of Luanne Hodge and Beulah Jonis without inquiry of any of the Persons reporting to them.

 

Liabilities” means any and all Indebtedness, liabilities, commitments and obligations of any kind, whether fixed, contingent or absolute, matured or unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, accrued or not accrued, asserted or not asserted, known or unknown, direct or indirect, determined, determinable or otherwise, whenever or however arising (including whether arising out of any contract or tort or whether based on negligence or strict liability) and whether or not the same would be required by GAAP to be reflected in financial statements or disclosed in the notes thereto.

 

Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any lien, pledge, charge, claim, security interest, mortgage, easement, equitable interest, right of possession, lease or tenancy, infringement, encroachment, hypothecation, restriction, assignment or other encumbrance of any kind, including any right of first refusal, option or similar right providing for the purchase, disposition or acquisition thereof, conditional sale agreement, preemptive right, community property interest, impediment or exception to title, reservation of right, limitation or impairment of use, imperfection of title, attachment, easement, any restriction on the transfer of any asset, any restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession, exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset (including any agreement to give any of the foregoing).

 

Losses” means any and all actions, claims, Liabilities, damages, losses, penalties, awards, settlements, judgments, charges, expenses and costs, including any interest, penalties, fines, reasonable legal, accounting and other professional fees directly related thereto and reasonable expenses incurred in the investigation, collection, prosecution, determination and defense of such Losses, that is incurred or suffered by a specified Person; provided,  however, that Losses will not include any indirect, consequential, special or punitive damages or any damages or liability for lost profits or the like or based on multiple of profits, multiple of cash flow or similar valuation methodology, except to the extent (a) awarded by a court or other authority of competent jurisdiction to an unaffiliated third party in any Third Party Claim, or (b) arising from intentional or willful misrepresentation of facts that constitutes common law fraud under Applicable Laws.

 

Material Adverse Effect” means any event, change, development, circumstance or condition that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have (a) a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, liabilities, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and the Seller Entities, taken as a whole, or (b) a material adverse effect on the ability of the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than, in the case of clause (a) only: (i) changes to the telecommunications, video programming or media services industries or the markets in which the Business operates

- 7 -


 

that are not unique to the Business, (ii) the announcement or disclosure of the transactions contemplated  herein,  (iii) general  economic,  regulatory  or  political  conditions  or  changes, (iv) changes in or the condition of financial, banking or securities markets (including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index), (v) military action  or  any  act  of  terrorism,  (vi) changes  in  law  or  GAAP  after  the  date  hereof, (vii)compliance with the express terms of this Agreement or any express request of the Buyer or Buyer Parent (other than in respect of any requirement to operate in the ordinary course of business), (viii) a flood, hurricane, earthquake or other natural disaster, (ix) the failure of any Seller Entity to meet or achieve the results set forth in any internal projection (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of “Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a “Material Adverse Effect”), (ix) any matter set forth in the Schedules to the extent existing as of the date of this Agreement and expressly set forth in the Schedules, (x) changes in rates for residential and business customers of the Business pursuant to a Final Order by the PSC with respect to the Rate Case, (xi) changes directly and proximately resulting from the Reduction, or (xii) any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (provided that the existence of any such suit, action or proceeding may nonetheless constitute the breach of a representation or warranty or the failure of a condition precedent to a party’s obligation to perform hereunder); provided, that, in the case of clauses (i),  (iii),  (iv),  (v),  (vi) and (viii), such change does not disproportionately affect the Company, the Seller Entities or the Business compared to third parties.

 

Material Adverse Regulatory Event” means the imposition by the FCC of a spectrum- related condition or divestment as a requirement to its approval of the Buyer’s purchase of the Membership Interest and operation of the Business, which would curtail the network or services of Buyer Parent or its Affiliate, Choice Communications, LLC, a U.S. Virgin Islands limited liability company, in the United States Virgin Islands as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

Metrics” means the quality of service and other standards applicable to the Business and set forth in Schedule 6.01(a)(vii).

 

Net Working Capital” means, subject to the exceptions and qualifications, if any, set forth on Schedule 1.B, the difference of (a) all consolidated current assets of the Business (excluding Available Cash), minus (b) all consolidated current Liabilities of the Business (excluding each of any deferred revenue, Closing Indebtedness and Closing Transaction Costs, if any). The foregoing shall be determined from the consolidated balance sheet of the Company in accordance with GAAP (except as otherwise provided in the immediately preceding sentence), consistent with the preparation of the Latest Balance Sheet.

 

Net Working Capital Amount” means the Net Working Capital of the Company as of the close of business on the Closing Date.

 

Open Source License” means any license meeting the Open Source Definition (as promulgated by the Open Source Initiative) or the free Software Definition (as promulgated by the Free Software Foundation), or any substantially similar license, including but not limited to

- 8 -


 

any license approved by the Open Source Initiative or any Creative Commons License.   For avoidance of doubt, Open Source Licenses include without limitation Copyleft Licenses.

 

Open Source Software” means any software subject to an Open Source License.

 

ordinary course of business” means the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice in both nature and amount.

 

Organizational Documents” means the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, charter, bylaws, articles of formation, certificate of formation, regulations, operating agreement, limited liability company agreement, certificate of limited partnership, partnership agreement, and all other similar documents, instruments or certificates executed, adopted, or filed in connection with the creation, formation, or organization of a Person, including any amendments thereto.

 

Pension/OPEB Plan” means each of (a) the Innovative Communications Corp. Consolidated Pension Plan (the “iCC Pension Plan”), (b) the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation Pension Plan for Hourly Employees (the “VITELCo Pension Plan”), (c) the Innovative Communications Corp. and Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. Salaried Employees Postretirement Benefits Plan (the “Salaried Postretirement Plan”), and (d) the Innovative Communications Corp. and Virgin Islands Telephone Corp. Bargaining Unit Employees Postretirement Plan (the “Hourly Postretirement Plan”).

 

Permits” means all permits, approvals, consents, licenses, concessions or other rights granted by any Governmental Authority (including any Communications Regulatory Authority) that are necessary for the lawful ownership and operation of the assets of a Seller Entity or other lawful conduct of the Business as currently conducted.

 

Permitted Liens” means any (a) Liens in respect of Taxes not yet due and payable or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or which can be paid currently with no penalty and, in either case, for which adequate reserves are reflected in the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP; (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s, statutorily imposed or other like Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business of the Business for sums not yet due that are not material in amount and do not materially detract from the value of or materially impair the existing use of the property affected by such Lien, or for which appropriate reserves are reflected in the Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP, which shall not be individually or in the aggregate greater than $100,000 (or, with the Buyer’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, such greater amount); (c) Liens arising under original purchase price conditional sales Contracts and equipment leases with third parties that are Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business of the Business which conditional sales Contracts or equipment leases involve less than $100,000 individually or in the aggregate or which are identified in subsection (q) of Schedule 3.13; (d) statutory or common law Liens to secure sums not yet do to landlords, sublandlords, licensors or  sublicensors  under  any  Real  Property  Lease  that  are  expressly  set  forth  in  such  lease; (e) survey exceptions, imperfections of title, Liens or other title matters affecting any personal or real property that do not, individually or in the aggregate, adversely affect the continued use of the encumbered property for the purposes for which such property is currently being used;

- 9 -


 

(f) with respect to real property, zoning, building codes and other Applicable Law regulating the use or occupancy of such real property or the activities conducted thereon that are imposed by any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over such real property, but only to the extent such Liens do not impair or hinder the ordinary course of business of the Business or adversely affect the continued use of the encumbered property for the purposes for which such property is currently being used; and (g) Liens securing Indebtedness to be repaid and released in connection with the Closing (provided that all such Liens are released at Closing and, following the Closing, will no longer be a “Permitted Lien” for purposes hereof).

 

Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or any agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

PSC” means the U.S. Virgin Islands Public Services Commission.

 

Quiet Period” means the period of time during which Auction applicants are prohibited by Applicable Law from communicating with “covered television licensees” and “forward auction applicants” (as such terms are defined in the rules and regulations of the FCC) regarding the applicants’ bids and bidding strategies.

 

Rate Adjustment” means in the event that the rates in effect on the date of this Agreement for residential and business customers of the Business are (a) decreased, (b) neither increased nor decreased, or (c) increased by less than 10%, in each case, on a consolidated basis based on local revenue requirements, pursuant to a Final Order by the PSC with respect to the Rate Case, then an amount calculated in accordance with Schedule 1.C.

 

Rate Case” means the rate review proceeding pending before the PSC in Dockets 626 and 628.

 

Reduction” has the meaning set forth in Part 1 of the Plan of Record.

 

Reference Date” means (i) with respect to matters pertaining the Company and DTR Holdings, LLC and its Subsidiaries, October 6, 2010, and (ii) with respect to matters pertaining to BVI Assets Holdings, LLC, STM Asset Holdings, LLC and their respective Subsidiaries, March 1, 2011.

 

Related Agreements” means the Escrow Agreement and all other documents, certificates and instruments created, executed and delivered by any of the parties to this Agreement in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby except the Financing Documents.

 

Related Person” means, with respect to a specified entity, (a) any Affiliate of such entity, (b) each other Person who owns of record or beneficially at least five percent of the outstanding capital stock or other equity securities of such entity, (c) each individual who is an officer, director, manager or trustee of such entity, and (d) to the Knowledge of the Sellers’, any Affiliate, beneficiary or immediate family member of any Person described in clause (b) or (c) of this definition.

- 10 -


 

RT Park” means the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park Corporation, a public corporation and autonomous instrumentality of the Government of the United States Virgin Islands.

 

RT Park-PC” means the Research and Technology Park Protected Cell Corporation, as created pursuant to Chapter 43, Title 17, Virgin Islands Code, as amended form time to time.

 

RT Park Agreement” means, collectively, (i) the Park Tenant Agreement, dated as of November 30, 2011, by and among Caribbean Communications Corp. d/b/a Innovative Cable TV – St. Thomas and St. John; St. Croix Cable TV, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Cable TV – St. Croix; Vitelcom Cellular, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Wireless; VI PowerNet, LLC; and iCC TV, Inc. d/b/a TV2, RT Park; and RT Park-PC, (ii) the VI E-Cell Company Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2011, by and among Caribbean Communications Corp. d/b/a Innovative Cable TV – St. Thomas and St. John; St. Croix Cable TV, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Cable TV – St. Croix; Vitelcom Cellular, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Wireless; VI PowerNet, LLC; and iCC TV, Inc. d/b/a TV2, RT Park; and RT Park-PC and (iii) the Protected Cell License Agreement, dated as of June 1, 2011, by and among RT Park, RT Park-PC and Caribbean Communications Corp. d/b/a Innovative Cable TV – St. Thomas and St. John; St. Croix Cable TV, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Cable TV – St. Croix; Vitelcom Cellular, Inc. d/b/a Innovative Wireless; VI PowerNet, LLC; and iCC TV, Inc. d/b/a TV2.

 

RTFC” means Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, a District of  Columbia cooperative association.

 

Seller Closing Certificates” means the Closing Count Schedule and the certificates delivered by Sellers pursuant to the last sentence of Section 6.03 and pursuant to Sections 9.01(f), (j), (l) and (m).

 

Seller Entities” means all of the Company’s direct and indirect Subsidiaries other than Group B-200, Inc., which Subsidiaries are set forth on Schedule 3.01(a).

 

Seller Proceeds” means the net amount payable to Parent from the Purchase Price, which shall be an amount equal to the difference of (a) Purchase Price less (b) the Closing Pension/OPEP Shortfall for each of the Pension/OPEB Plans less (c) the Closing Transaction Costs less (d) the Closing Indebtedness paid at Closing, if any, pursuant to Section 2.02(c)(i).

 

Sint Maarten Ministry” means the Sint Maarten Ministry of Tourism, Economic Affairs, Traffic and Telecommunication.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person, the securities or other ownership interests of which having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, or other individuals performing similar functions, is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or one of its Subsidiaries.

 

Target Net Working Capital Amount” means zero dollars and cents.

 

Tax” means any federal, state, territory, local or foreign income, gross receipts, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security, unemployment, disability, real property, ad

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valorem/personal property, stamp, excise, occupation, sales, use, transfer, value added, alternative minimum, estimated or other tax, assessment, duty, fee, levy or other governmental charge, including any interest, penalty or addition thereto.

 

Tax Returns” means any return, report, information return or other document (including schedules or any related or supporting information) filed or required to be filed with any Governmental Authority or other authority in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax or the administration of any laws, regulations or administrative requirements relating to any Tax.

 

Territory” means United States Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and the Dutch overseas territory of Sint Maarten.

 

Transaction Costs” means all fees, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, fees, costs and expenses of legal counsel, investment bankers, brokers or other representatives and consultants and appraisal fees, costs and expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including legal, accounting and investment banking fees.

 

Union Contract Extension” means the Memorandum of Agreement, dated as of September 2, 2015, by and between the Virgin Islands Telephone Corporation d/b/a Innovative Telephone, its successors and assigns, and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union, the United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO-CLC on behalf of Locals 8713 and 8545, extending the term of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit I.

 

Section 1.02  Cross-References to Other Defined Terms.   Each term listed below is defined in the Section of this Agreement listed opposite such term:

 

Term

 

Section

Agreement

 

Preface

Allocation Statement

 

Section 8.09

Alternative Transaction

 

Section 8.03

Business

 

Preliminary Statement  A

Buyer

 

Preface

Buyer’s Computation

 

Section 2.05(a)

Buyer Indemnified Parties

 

Section 11.02(a)

Buyer Parent

 

Preface

BVI

 

Section 8.03

Claim

 

Section 11.05

Claim Notice

 

Section 11.05

Closing

 

Section 2.04(a)

Closing Date

 

Section 2.04(a)

Closing Count

 

Section 2.02(b)(ii)

Closing Count Schedule

 

Section 2.02(b)(ii)

Closing Transaction Costs

 

Section 2.02(c)

Collateral Source

 

Section 11.06(a)

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Term

 

Section

Confidentiality Agreement

 

Section 7.01

Company

 

Preface

Company Contracts

 

Section 3.13

Consulting Agreement

 

Preliminary Statement  E

Deductible

 

Section 11.03(a)

Designated Easements

 

Section 6.01(a)(ix)

Designated Leased Properties

 

Section 6.01(a)(ix)

Divestitures

 

Preliminary Statement  C

Employee Benefit Plans

 

Section 3.16(a)

Environmental Permits

 

Section 3.18(a)

ERISA Affiliate

 

Section 3.16(a)

Escrow Amount

 

Section 2.03

Estimated Purchase Price

 

Section 2.02(b)(i)

Exceptions

 

Section 6.05(b)

Excluded Real Property

 

Section 3.10(a)

Facilities

 

Section 3.11(b)

Financial Statements

 

Section 3.08(a)(ii)

Firm

 

Section 2.05(d)

Fiscal 2014 Financial Statements

 

Section 3.08(a)(i)

Flow of Funds

 

Section 2.02(b)(ii)

Force Majeure Interruption

 

Section 9.01(u)

FTI

 

Preliminary Statement  D

FTI Letter Agreement

 

Preliminary Statement  D

FTI Transition Management Services Agreement

 

Preliminary Statement  D

Fundamental Representations

 

Section 11.01

Indemnitee

 

Section 11.04(a)

Indemnitors

 

Section 11.04(a)

Interim Balance Sheet

 

Section 3.08(a)(ii)

Interim Financial Statements

 

Section 3.08(a)(ii)

Latest Balance Sheet

 

Section 3.08(a)(ii)

Leased Real Property

 

Section 3.10(a)

Membership Interest

 

Section 2.01(a)

Objection Notice

 

Section 2.05(c)

Outside Date

 

Section 10.01(d)

Parent

 

Preface

Payoff Letter

 

Section 2.02(c)(i)

Pre-Closing Tax Period

 

Section 8.08

Purchase Price

 

Section 2.02(a)

Real Property

 

Section 3.10(a)

Real Property Lease

 

Section 3.10(a)

Retained Litigation

 

Section 11.04(f)

Schedules

 

Article 3  Preamble

Second Request

 

Section 8.02(a)

Section 1060 Allocation

 

Section 8.09

Securities Act

 

Section 3.02(d)

 

- 13 -


 

 

Term

 

Section

Seller Indemnified Parties

 

Section 11.02(b)

Seller Insurance Policy

 

Section 11.06(b)

Sellers

 

Preface

Sellers’ Computation

 

Section 2.02(b)(i)

Statement

 

Section 8.08

STM

 

Section 8.03

Straddle Period

 

Section 8.07

Tax Claim

 

Section 11.04(f)

Tax Indemnity

 

Section 11.02(a)(vii)

Third Party Claim

 

Section 11.04(a)

Title Exceptions Adjustment

 

Section 2.02(a)(vii)

Transfer Taxes

 

Section 8.05

USVI Conditions Precedent

 

Section 8.03

 

 

ARTICLE 2
TRANSACTION

 

Section 2.01  Acquisition of Membership Interest.

 

(a)As of the Closing, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, Parent shall sell, assign, transfer and convey to the Buyer free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under Applicable Law and Liens created by the Buyer or its Affiliates), and the Buyer shall purchase and acquire from Parent, all right, title and interest in and to the Parent’s entire membership interest in the Company (the “Membership Interest”), which constitutes 100% of the membership interests in the Company.

 

(b)The purchase price to be paid by the Buyer to Parent for the Membership Interest shall consist of the Purchase Price. At the Closing, the Buyer shall pay, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts designated by Parent, an amount of cash equal to the Estimated Purchase Price less the Escrow Amount.

 

Section 2.02  Purchase Price.

 

(a)For purposes of this Agreement, “Purchase Price” means an amount equal to the total of:

 

(i)$145,000,000,

 

(ii)either (A) plus an amount equal to the excess of the Net Working Capital Amount over the Target Working Capital Amount, if any, or (B) minus an amount equal to the excess of the Target Working Capital Amount over the Net Working Capital Amount, if any,

 

(iii)plus an amount equal to Available Cash as of the Closing Date,

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(iv)minus an amount equal to any Closing Indebtedness that is not included in the Flow of Funds;

 

(v)minus the Rate Adjustment, if any;

 

(vi)minus the Plan of Record Adjustment, if any; and

 

(vii)minus an amount equal to the aggregate of any liquidated sums required to remove Exceptions as contemplated by Section 6.05(b)(ii) to the extent not included in the Flow of Funds (the “Title Exceptions Adjustment”).

 

(b)At least three Business Days prior to the scheduled Closing Date and in accordance with the accounting methods, policies, principles, practices and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and estimation methodology as set forth in the Plan of Record and on Schedule 1.B, Schedule 1.C and Schedule 1.D, the Sellers shall deliver to the Buyer:

 

(i)the Sellers’ good faith estimate, on a reasonable basis using the Company’s and the Seller Entities’ then available financial information, of the Purchase Price (such estimate is referred to as the “Estimated Purchase Price”), together with reasonable detail of such calculation, which shall include the Sellers’ good faith estimate or determination, as applicable, of Net Working Capital, Available Cash as of the Closing Date, Closing Indebtedness, the Rate Adjustment, the Plan of Record Adjustment, the Title Exceptions Adjustment, the Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall for each of the Pension/OPEB Plans, the Closing Transaction Costs and the Seller Proceeds (collectively, the “Sellers’ Computation”), in each case, with reasonable detail of such estimates or determination; and

 

(ii)a schedule (in the form of Part 3 of the Plan of Record) setting forth the number of Company and Seller Entity employees and independent contractors as of the Closing Date (the “Closing Count” and such schedule, the “Closing Count Schedule”),

 

The Sellers will make available to the Buyer and its auditors, employees and advisors all records and work papers used in preparing the Sellers’ Computation and will consult with and answer any questions the Buyer or auditors, employees and advisors (including outside accountants) may have concerning the calculations. The Sellers’ Computation shall include the Rate Adjustment, if any, if such amount is determinable at such time. If such amount is not then determinable, the Seller Proceeds shall be adjusted after the Closing in accordance with Section 2.05(f) to give effect to the Rate Adjustment, if applicable.

 

(c)Contemporaneously with the delivery of the Sellers’ Computation, the Sellers shall also deliver to the Buyer the following:

 

(i)one or more payoff letters (each a “Payoff Letter”), dated no more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date and in customary form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, with respect to all Closing Indebtedness, if any, of the Company or any Seller Entities in order to (i) satisfy such Closing Indebtedness as of the Closing Date, and (ii) terminate and release any Liens related thereto;

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(ii)an invoice from each advisor or other service provider to the Company or any Seller Entities, dated no more than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, with respect to all Transaction Costs estimated to be due and payable to such advisor or other service provider by the Company or any Seller Entity, as the case may be, as of the Closing Date, including, without limitation, any Transaction Costs payable to legal counsel for the Company and the Seller Entities (such amounts, “Closing Transaction Costs”); and

 

(iii)a schedule, which shall be subject to Buyer’s review and approval, setting forth the various payments to be funded on the Closing Date with proceeds from the Estimated Purchase Price, including payment of any Closing Indebtedness to be paid at Closing, the Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall, any Closing Transaction Costs (including, without limitation, fees payable to the Escrow Agent, to the extent not otherwise paid) and Transfer Taxes, to the extent known and not otherwise paid, and the Seller Proceeds, any liquidated sums required to remove Exceptions as contemplated by Section 6.05(b)(ii), together with the names of the payees, the amounts to be paid, and the manner in which payments will be made, including wire instructions if applicable (the “Flow of Funds”).

 

Buyer and Buyer Parent shall be entitled to rely on the Flow of Funds without independent investigation or confirmation and shall have no Liability for any error or omission contained therein.

 

Section 2.03 Escrow. At the Closing, the Buyer shall deposit with the Escrow Agent, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, $14,500,000 of the Purchase Price (together with interest earned thereon, the “Escrow Amount”) to be held in the Escrow Account in accordance with the Escrow Agreement and this Agreement. The Escrow Account shall provide security to the Buyer for Parent’s indemnification obligations under this Agreement. On the 15th month anniversary of the Closing Date, the balance of the Escrow Amount, less any amounts subject to outstanding claims for Losses, shall be released to Parent in accordance with this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement. If on the 15th month anniversary of the Closing, the Buyer shall have made any claim against Parent for any other Losses that remain outstanding, the Escrow Agreement and Escrow Account shall remain in place, and an amount equal to such Losses, shall continue to be held by the Escrow Agent thereunder until final resolution of all of such claims, at which time the Escrow Agreement and the Escrow Account shall be terminated in accordance with this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement.

 

Section 2.04 The Closing.

 

(a)The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Norton Rose Fulbright, 799 9th Street NW, Suite 1000, Washington, D.C. 20001, at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the last Business Day of the month following full satisfaction or due waiver of all of the closing conditions set forth in Article 9 (other than those that, by their nature, are to be satisfied at the Closing) or on such other date or at such other place (including remotely via the exchange of executed documents and other deliverables) as is mutually agreeable to the Buyer and the Sellers. The date of the Closing is referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the

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other agreements, documents, certificates or instruments to be delivered by the parties at the Closing, may be accomplished via facsimile, portable document format, overnight delivery or courier services as the parties may agree. The Closing will be effective, and all documents will be deemed executed and delivered, and all actions and proceedings will be deemed taken, simultaneously as of 12:01 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the Closing Date.

 

(b)Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the parties hereto shall consummate the following transactions as of the Closing:

 

(i)Parent shall deliver to the Buyer an executed assignment document, in the form of Exhibit H, transferring the Membership Interest to the Buyer;

 

(ii)the Buyer shall pay the Estimated Purchase Price by making the payments in such amounts and to such payees as specified in the Flow of Funds, including, without limitation, in respect of: (A) the Escrow Amount, (B) the Closing Indebtedness to be paid at Closing pursuant to Section 2.02(c)(i), (C) the Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall, (D) the Closing Transaction Costs, (E) liquidated sums required to remove Exceptions as contemplated by Section 6.05(b)(ii), and (F) the Seller Proceeds on the basis of the Estimated Purchase Price; and

 

(iii)the Buyer and the Sellers shall make such other deliveries as are required by, and in accordance, with Article 9.

 

Section 2.05 Purchase Price Adjustments.

 

(a)Buyer’s Calculation.Within 60 days after the Closing Date, the Buyer shall prepare and deliver to Parent the Buyer’s determination of (i) the Net Working Capital Amount, (ii) Available Cash as of the Closing Date, (iii) Closing Indebtedness; (iv) the Closing Count and related Plan of Record Adjustment, (v) the Title Exceptions Adjustment, (vi) the Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall for each of the Pension/OPEB Plans, (vii) the Closing Transaction Costs, and (viii) the Purchase Price and Seller Proceeds resulting therefrom (collectively, the “Buyer’s Computation”). The Buyer’s Computation shall be prepared, and the components thereof determined, in accordance with the accounting methods, policies, principles, practices and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and estimation methodology as set forth in the Plan of Record and on Schedule 1.B,  Schedule 1.C and Schedule 1.D, as applicable. The Buyer will make available to Parent and its auditors, employees and advisors all records and work papers used in preparing the Buyer’s Computation and will prepare and deliver to Parent a reasonably detailed analysis of the changes supporting any variances between the Buyer’s determination of the components thereof and the corresponding estimates of such amounts as determined by the Sellers pursuant to Section 2.02(b).

 

(b)Methodology. The parties agree that the purpose of preparing the Sellers’ Computation and the Buyer’s Computation and determining the components thereof and the related Seller Proceeds adjustment contemplated by this Section 2.05 is to measure the amount of any changes in the Net Working Capital Amount, Available Cash as of the Closing Date, Closing Indebtedness, Closing Count and related Plan of Record Adjustment, Title Exceptions Adjustment, Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall and Closing Transaction Costs and such processes

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are not intended to permit the introduction of judgments, accounting methods, policies, principles, practices, procedures, classifications or estimation methodologies that are different than those reflected in the Plan of Record and in Schedule 1.B, Schedule 1.C and Schedule 1.D, as applicable.

 

(c)Parent’s Objection. If Parent disagrees with any aspect of the Buyer’s Computation, Parent may, within 60 days after receipt of the Buyer’s Computation, deliver a notice (an “Objection Notice”) to the Buyer setting forth Parent’s objection in reasonable detail and the Parent’s determination of the Net Working Capital Amount, Available Cash as of the Closing Date, Closing Indebtedness, Closing Count and related Plan of Record Adjustment, Title Exceptions Adjustment, Closing Pension/OPEB Shortfall and Closing Transaction Costs and Parent’s calculation of the Purchase Price and Seller Proceeds resulting therefrom, together with all supporting documentation. If Parent does not deliver an Objection Notice to the Buyer within 60 days after receipt of the Buyer’s Computation, then the parties hereto will be deemed to have agreed to the Buyer’s Computation and the components of such Buyer’s Computation shall be deemed to be finally determined as set forth therein.

 

(d)Resolution of Disagreements. The Buyer and Parent shall use reasonable efforts to resolve any disagreements as to the Buyer’s Computation and the Objection Notice, but if they do not obtain a final resolution within 30 days after the Buyer has received the Objection Notice, the Buyer and Parent shall jointly retain Ernst & Young LLP or other accounting firm of national reputation mutually acceptable to the Buyer and Parent (the “Firm”) to resolve any remaining disagreements. The Buyer and Parent shall direct the Firm to render a determination within 30 days after its retention and the Buyer, Parent and their respective agents shall cooperate with the Firm during its engagement. The Firm will act as an expert and not as an  arbitrator  in conducting its analysis and may consider only those items and amounts in the Buyer’s Computation or Objection Notice which the Buyer and Parent are unable to resolve. In resolving any disputed item, the Firm may not assign a value to any item greater than the greatest value for such item claimed by either party or less than the smallest value for such item claimed by either party. The Firm’s determination shall be based solely on written submissions by the Buyer and Parent (i.e., not on independent review) and on the definitions, principles, methodologies and standards included herein. The determination of the Firm shall be conclusive and binding upon the Buyer and Parent. Until the Firm makes its determination, the costs and expenses of the Firm shall be borne equally by the Buyer, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand; provided that, when the Firm makes its determination, any costs and expenses (including costs and expenses previously advanced) of the Firm that are allocable to the party whose determination of the Purchase Price in its original submission to the Firm was closest to the Firm’s determination of the same shall be paid by the other party, it being agreed among the parties that the Buyer and Parent shall bear the Firm’s costs and expenses equally if their respective determinations are equidistant from the Firm’s determination.

 

(e)Post-Closing Adjustment.

 

(i)If the Seller Proceeds as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.05(d) exceeds the Seller Proceeds set forth in Sellers’ Computation, within five Business Days after such final determination, the Buyer shall pay to Parent, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to such difference plus simple interest

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thereon, at an interest rate equal to 4%, from the Closing Date to the date of payment, computed on an annual basis using a 360-day year.

 

(ii)If the Seller Proceeds as finally determined pursuant to Section 2.05(d) is less than the Seller Proceeds set forth in Sellers’ Computation, then within five Business Days after the determination thereof, Parent shall pay to the Buyer, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an amount equal to such excess plus simple interest thereon, at an interest rate equal to 4%, from the Closing Date to the date of payment, computed on an annual basis using a 360-day year.

 

(iii)If the Seller Proceeds as finally determined pursuant to Sections 2.05(d) is equal to the Seller Proceeds set forth in Sellers’ Computation, then there shall be no other adjustment to Seller Proceeds pursuant to this Section 2.05, except as provided in Section 2.05(f).

 

(f)Rate Adjustment. If the Rate Adjustment occurs prior to the Closing, then the Sellers shall include such amount in the Sellers’ Computation using the same accounting methods, policies, principles, practices and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and estimation methodology, as are reflected on Schedule 1.C. If occurring after the Closing, then within ten Business Days after the final determination of the Rate Adjustment, the Buyer shall prepare and deliver to Parent the Buyer’s calculation of the Purchase Price and Seller Proceeds resulting therefrom, as determined by using the same accounting methods, policies, principles, practices and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgments and estimation methodology, as are reflected on Schedule 1.C. Such calculations and resulting by either party and the resulting adjustments to the Purchase Price and Seller Proceeds shall be subject to the procedures, methodologies and payment mechanics set forth in this Section 2.05 mutatis mutandis, subject to differences in the timing of Buyer’s delivery of its initial calculation.

 

Section 2.06 Withholding Rights. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Buyer shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any amounts otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this Agreement such amounts required to be deducted and withheld under any provision of Applicable Tax Law. All such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the recipient in respect of which such withholding was made.

 

ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

 

The Sellers, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Buyer that, as of the date of this Agreement, each statement contained in this Article 3 is correct and complete and will be correct and complete as of the Closing, except as set forth in the Schedules accompanying this Agreement (each a “Schedule” and, collectively, the “Schedules”) delivered pursuant to Section 6.03.

 

Section 3.01  Organization and Qualification.

 

(a)Parent is a cooperative association duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing  under  the  laws  of  the  District  of  Columbia.The  Company  is  a  limited  liability

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company, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of its formation. Each Seller Entity is a corporation or limited liability company duly incorporated or formed, as applicable, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, as applicable, as set forth on Schedule 3.01(a). The Company and each Seller Entity has all requisite corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its businesses in the manner and in the places where such properties are owned or leased and where such businesses are currently conducted and currently proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)The Company and each Seller Entity is duly licensed and qualified to do business and in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned or leased by it or the operation of its business makes such licensing or qualification to do business necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)The Company has made available to the Buyer the Organizational Documents of the Company and each Seller Entity, which are in full force and effect, and the Company and each Seller Entity are in full compliance with the provisions thereof.

 

Section 3.02  Interests Owned.

 

(a)Parent owns of record and beneficially the Membership Interest free and clear of all Liens (other than restrictions under Applicable Law and Liens created by the Buyer or its Affiliates), which constitute all of the membership interests in the Company. Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has any Subsidiaries or owns any capital stock or other equity securities issued by any other Person, other than (i) the Seller Entities as set forth on Schedule 3.02(a),  (ii)  short-term  marketable  securities  held  in  the  ordinary  course  of  business,  and (iii)  Group B-200, Inc., the capital stock of which is an Excluded Asset that will be assigned or otherwise transferred at or prior to the Closing, so that as of the Closing neither the Company nor any Seller Entity will own any equity interests in Group B-200, Inc.

 

(b)As of the date of this Agreement, except for RT Park-PC’s right to, or ownership of, a 0.5% equity interest in certain Seller Entities as set forth on Schedule 3.02(a), each Seller Entity is wholly-owned by the Company, either directly or indirectly through other Seller Entities. Except as set forth in the RT Park Agreement and on Schedule 3.02(a), RT Park-PC has no rights to, or ownership of, any equity interests in any Seller Entity.

 

(c)Schedule 3.02(c) sets forth with respect to the Company and each Seller Entity, the authorized voting and non-voting capital stock or equity interests, the outstanding voting and non-voting capital stock or equity interests, and the record holders thereof.

 

(d)The Membership Interest and all outstanding capital stock and equity interests of the Seller Entities are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any preemptive or similar right. No class of equity securities of the Company or any Seller Entity is registered or required to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or any other applicable securities law.

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(e)Except for this Agreement, the RT Park Agreement and as set forth in Schedule 3.02(e), there are no outstanding or authorized securities, options (whether vested or unvested), warrants, rights, contracts, rights to subscribe, calls, conversion rights, redemption rights or other agreements providing for the issuance, redemption, purchase, disposition or acquisition of any membership or other ownership interest in the Company or any Seller Entity. Except for this Agreement, the RT Park Agreement and as set forth in Schedule 3.02(e), there are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements to which any Seller or Seller Entity is a party or by which any of them is bound with respect to the issuance, holding, acquisition, voting or disposition of any capital stock or membership interest in the Company or any Seller Entity. There are no outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued by the Company or any Seller Entity (i) having the right to vote on any matters on which equity holders thereof may vote (or which is convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having such right), or (ii) the value of which is directly based upon or derived from the equity interests, voting securities or other ownership interests of the Company or Seller Entity.

 

(f)Except for the membership interests in DTR Holdings, LLC, STM Asset Holdings, LLC and BVI Asset Holdings, LLC and inter-company receivables, the Company does not own any material assets.

 

Section 3.03  Authority.

 

(a)Each Seller has the full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and each Related Agreement to be executed and delivered by it pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance of each Seller’s respective obligations under this Agreement and each Related Agreement to which it is (or will be) a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Sellers, respectively, and no other proceedings on the part of the Sellers are necessary to authorize this Agreement or any Related Agreement to which it is (or will be) a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement, each Related Agreement to which the Sellers are a party and each agreement, document and instrument to be executed and delivered by the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement constitute, or will when executed and delivered constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Sellers, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

(b)The execution and delivery by the Sellers of this Agreement and each Related Agreement to which they are a party do not, and, will not, (i) assuming all notices, consents, approvals, authorizations, Filings or other actions described in Section 3.03(c) and Schedule 3.03(c) have been obtained or made, conflict with or violate any Applicable Law with respect to any Seller or any Seller Entity or by which any of their respective properties or assets are bound or affected, (ii) violate or conflict with the Organizational Documents of any Seller or any Seller Entity, or (iii) result in any material violation or material breach of or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, result in triggering any

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payment or other obligations under, or result in the creation of a Lien on any of the property or assets of any Seller or any Seller Entity pursuant to any Company Contract, material Permit or other material obligation to which it is a party or by which any Seller or Seller Entity or its respective properties or assets are bound or affected.

 

(c)Except as set forth in Schedule 3.03(c), the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Sellers and the consummation by the Sellers of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Related Agreements require no material action by or in respect of, or Filing with, or acknowledgement, consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority or other Person other than (i) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act and other Competition Laws and (ii) receipt by the parties hereto of each of the Communications Regulatory Authority Consents as set forth in Schedule 3.03(c).

 

Section 3.04 Compliance with Laws. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.04, and except with respect to the subject matter of the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.06 (Taxes), Section 3.12 (Intellectual Property), Section 3.15 (Permits), Section 3.16 (Employee Benefit Plans), Section 3.17 (Labor Matters) and Section 3.18 (Environmental Matters), since the Reference Date and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date:

 

(a)the Company and each Seller Entity has in all material respects complied with, and currently is in compliance in all material respects with, all Applicable Laws, including, without limitation, Competition Laws, Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws, and no investigation, review, request for information, notice or other communication by any Governmental Authority with respect to violations of any Applicable Law, including, without limitation, Competition Laws, Anti-Terrorism and Anti-Money Laundering Laws and Anti-Corruption Laws, by the Company or any Seller Entity is pending, or to the Knowledge of the Sellers, threatened, and (ii) to the Knowledge of the Sellers, there is no fact which might reasonably be expected to give rise to any such material investigation, material review, material request for information, or material notice; and

 

(b)(i) none of the Company, any Seller Entity nor, to the Knowledge of Sellers, any equity owner, director, officer or employee or any agent or other Person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any Seller Entity, has, directly or indirectly, in connection with the operation of their respective businesses given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar unlawful benefit (other than with respect to bona fide payments for which adequate consideration has been given) to, or otherwise taken any direct or indirect unlawful interest in, any Governmental Authority or other Person in violation of Applicable Law, and (ii) none of the Company or any Seller Entity nor, to the Knowledge of Sellers, any equity owner, director, officer or employee or any agent or other Person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any Seller Entity, has used the Company’s or any Seller Entity’s corporate funds for unlawful contributions, bribes, kickbacks, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to political activity or violated any of the provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended (or similar non-U.S. Applicable Laws); provided, however, that notwithstanding the forgoing, no representation under this Section 3.04(b) is being made with respect to RT Park-PC as an equity owner of certain of the Seller Entities.

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Section 3.05 Advisory and Other Fees. No Seller has incurred, and no Seller Entity shall become liable for, any advisory fee, broker’s commission or finder’s fee relating to or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than fees and costs payable to FTI, which fees shall be paid by Parent.

 

Section 3.06  Taxes.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.06 and subject to Section 3.06(i) below:

 

(a)(i) All Income Tax Returns and other material Tax Returns with respect to the Company and the Seller Entities required by Applicable Law to be filed have been timely filed on or before the Closing Date (after giving effect to any applicable extensions granted);

 

(ii)The Company and each Seller Entity has timely paid or caused to be paid as of the date hereof all Income Taxes and other material Taxes (whether or not shown on any Tax Returns) due and owing by the Company and the Seller Entities, except where the failure to pay such Taxes would not have a Material Adverse Effect or except to the extent such Taxes are being contested in good faith or are properly reserved for on the books or records of the Company or such Seller Entity; and

 

(iii)There has not been any audit of material Taxes with respect to the Company or any Seller Entity or of any material Tax Return filed by or with respect to the Company or any Seller Entity for which the applicable statute of limitations has not expired; no audit of any material Taxes with respect to the Company or any Seller Entity or of any such Tax Return of or including the Company or any Seller Entity is in progress; and neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has been notified in writing by any Governmental Authority that any audit is contemplated or pending.

 

(b)Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity (a) is or has ever been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal Income Tax Return or (b) has any liability for Taxes of any Person arising from the application of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign law, or as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(c)To the Knowledge of the Sellers, the Company and the Seller Entities have withheld and paid each Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of Applicable Law.

 

(d)No claim has been made by any Governmental Authority in any jurisdiction where the Company or the Seller Entities do not file Tax Returns that it is, or may be, subject to Tax by that jurisdiction, and to Sellers’ Knowledge, there is no basis for any such claim to be made.

 

(e)No private letter rulings, technical advice memoranda or similar agreement or rulings have been requested, entered into or issued by any Governmental Authority with respect to the Company or any Seller Entity.

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(f)From its formation, the Company has been a disregarded entity distinct from Parent for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The Company has not made an election to be treated as an association taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(g)Neither the Company nor any of the Seller Entities has waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment.

 

(h)None of the non-U.S. Seller Entities has recognized a material amount of Subpart F Income as defined in Section 952 of the Code.

 

(i)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 3.06, the representations and warranties in paragraph (a) through (h) of this Section 3.06 as they apply to any period ending prior to the Reference Date or, for a period that began before and ended after the Reference Date, that portion of such period ending on the Reference Date, are limited to, and qualified by, the Knowledge of the Sellers.

 

Section 3.07 Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.07, (a) there is no Action pending or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge threatened, in either case, by or against the Company or any Seller Entity, or any properties, assets or rights of the Company or any Seller Entity before or by any Governmental Authority, or any officer or employee of the Company or any Seller Entity in such officer’s or employee’s capacity as such, and (b) neither the Company nor any Seller Entity is subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction, ruling, decision or decree of, or any settlement under the jurisdiction of, any Governmental Authority.

 

Section 3.08  Financial Statements; Indebtedness.

 

(a)Attached as Schedule 3.08(a) are the following financial statements:

 

(i)the consolidated audited balance sheets of the Company as of May 31, 2014 (“Latest Balance Sheet”), and the consolidated audited statements of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended (collectively, the “Fiscal 2014 Financial Statements”); and

 

(ii)the consolidated unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2015 (the “Interim Balance Sheet”), and the related statements of operations and cash flows for the one fiscal month then ended (collectively, the “Interim Financial Statements” and, together with the Fiscal 2014 Financial Statements, the “Financial Statements”).

 

(b)The Fiscal 2014 Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently during the periods covered thereby, and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Company at the dates of said statements and the results of its consolidated operations and cash flows for the periods covered thereby. The Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied consistently during the period covered thereby, and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Company at the date of such statements and the results of its consolidated operations and cash flows for the period covered thereby, except that they do not

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contain the materials and disclosures to be found in notes to financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP, nor do they reflect year-end adjustments.

 

(c)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.08(c) neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has any Liabilities, except for (i) the Liabilities (in nature and amount) reflected or reserved against on the Latest Balance Sheet (including any notes thereto); (ii) Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet, none of which are, individually or in the aggregate, material in amount; (iii) Transaction Costs; and (iv) Liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business under Contracts (other than arising out of a breach or a default).

 

(d)Schedule 3.08(d) sets forth a true and complete list of the individual items constituting the Indebtedness of the Company and each Seller Entity as of the date hereof (indicating the amount and the Person to whom such amount is owed).

 

Section 3.09  Transactions with Related Persons.

 

(a)Except for (i) Indebtedness pursuant to credit arrangements with Parent or Affiliates disclosed on Schedule 3.08(d), (ii) transactions between and among the Company and Seller Entities (and no other Person), in each case, with a value less than $120,000, and (iii) as set forth on Schedule 3.09(a), no Related Person of the Company or any Seller Entity is currently (A) a party to any transaction with the Company or any Seller Entity with a value in excess of $120,000 (including any Contract providing for the employment of, furnishing of goods or services by, rental of real or personal property from, borrowing money from or lending money to, or otherwise requiring payments to, any such Related Person, but excluding payments for normal salary and bonuses and reimbursement of reasonable business and travel-related expenses to employees), or (B) to the Knowledge of the Sellers, the direct or indirect owner of a material interest in any Person which is a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company with a value in excess of $120,000. Without limiting the foregoing, Schedule 3.09(a) identifies each and every Contract or transaction involving the Company or a Seller Entity, on the one hand, and FTI, on the other hand.

 

(b)Except as set forth in Schedule 3.09(b), no Related Person of the Company has any outstanding Indebtedness payable to the Company and the Company has not guaranteed any obligation or Indebtedness of any such Related Person to any Person.

 

Section 3.10 Real Properties.

 

(a)The Company does not own any real property. The Seller Entities own only (i) the real property as set forth on Schedule 3.10(a) (collectively, the “Real Property”), and (ii) the real property that is an Excluded Asset as set forth on Schedule 3.10(a) (the “Excluded Real Property”) (as to which no representations are made). The applicable Seller Entity set forth on Schedule 3.10(a) has good and indefeasible title to the applicable Real Property free and clear of any Liens, except for Permitted Liens. Prior to the Closing, the Excluded Real Property will be sold or otherwise transferred and will not be owned by the Company or any Seller Entity as of the Closing. The transactions contemplated in this Agreement do not require the payment of any Transfer Tax, fee or other similar type of payment or the filing of any Transfer Tax return or any

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similar forms.  No Seller Entity has granted an option, right of first refusal or first opportunity to any party to purchase all or any portion the Real Property or any interest therein.

 

(b)Schedule 3.10(b) sets forth each lease, license, easement or other agreement under which the Company or any Seller Entity leases or has rights to use any material real property, including site leases and tower leases (the “Real Property Leases”). The Sellers have made available to Buyer true and complete copies of all Real Property Leases, including any amendments or modifications thereto. Each Real Property Lease is valid, binding and in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any Seller Entity, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party thereto is in breach or default thereunder and, to the Knowledge of Sellers, no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time, or both, would constitute a breach or default or permit termination, modification or acceleration thereunder. The Company or a Seller Entity is in actual possession of the leased premises under the Real Property Leases. The Company or a Seller Entity has paid or cause to be paid the rent set forth in the Real Property Leases on a current basis and there are no past due amounts for rent or other fees or charges or unpaid deposits or claims against any deposits and neither the Company nor any Seller Entity is obligated to pay any additional rent, charges or other amounts to any of the landlords for any period subsequent to the Closing Date. The Company or any Seller Entity has not received written notice from or given written notice to any landlord claiming that such landlord or the Company or the Seller Entity party thereto is in material default under any Real Property Lease, which has not been cured. Nor, during the last two years, has the Company or any Seller Entity received any written notice from any easement grantor requesting removal of equipment or other personal property. Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity nor, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, any other party to a Real Property Lease has violated in any material respect any provision of, or committed or failed to perform any act that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of such Real Property Lease.

 

(c)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(c)(i), the Company or such Seller Entity, as applicable, has a valid and subsisting leasehold interest in all the real property which is the subject of each of the respective Real Property Leases (the “Leased Real Properties”), free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(c)(ii), no Leased Real Property is subject to any sublease, sublicense or other agreement granting to any other Person any right to use, occupancy or enjoyment of such property or any portion thereof. Except for Permitted Liens, the Sellers have no Knowledge of any impediment to the right of the Company or Seller Entity, as applicable, to quiet enjoyment of each of the Leased Real Properties for the full term of the applicable Real Property Lease (and any renewal option(s) contained therein). Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(c)(iii), the Company and the Seller Entities are not parties to any agreement governing or affecting the occupancy or tenancy of any of the Leased Real Property by any Person other than the Company or a Seller Entity. Since the Reference Date, and to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date, the Company has not received written notice (or been served with legal process to the effect) that the whole nor any part of any Real Property or Leased Real Property is subject to any pending suit for condemnation or other taking by any Government Authority, and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, no such condemnation or other taking is threatened. The current use, occupancy and operation of the Real Property and the premises leased pursuant to the Real Property Leases by the  Company  and  the  Seller  Entities  is  (i)  in  compliance  in  all  material  respects  with  all

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Applicable Laws (including, without limitation, zoning, use, occupancy, building, ordinance and other applicable Laws), and (ii) in compliance in all material respects with and permitted by the Real Property Leases. No notes or notices of violation of law or municipal ordinances or of Federal, State, Municipal, County, local or other governmental agency regulations, orders or requirements relating to all or any portion of any of the Real Property or Leased Real Property have been entered or received by the Company or the Seller Entities.

 

(d)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(d)(i), to the Knowledge of Sellers, no Permit pertaining to the leasing or operation of any Real Property or Leased Real Property, other than those which are transferable with such property, is required by any Governmental Authority. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(d)(ii), no consent from the landlord or any other party pertaining to the transfer or assignment of the Real Property Leases is required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(e)The Real Property and the Leased Real Property constitute all of the real property that is used in the Business or occupied by the Company and Seller Entities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10(e), all of the buildings and structures and improvements located on any of the Real Property or Leased Real Property are in good condition and repair, subject to normal wear and tear, and are free of any significant defects.

 

Section 3.11  Tangible Personal Property; Facilities.

 

(a)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11 and with respect to any Excluded Asset (as to which no representations are made), (i) the Seller Entities have good and valid title to or a valid license or leasehold interest in all of the material items of network equipment and other tangible personal property reflected on the Latest Balance Sheet or acquired after the date of the Latest Balance Sheet that are purported to be leased by the Seller Entities, except as sold or disposed of subsequent to the date thereof in the ordinary course of business, (ii) all such tangible personal property is used exclusively by the Seller Entities in the operation of the Business, and (iii) all such tangible personal property (other than licensed or leased tangible property) is owned free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens. The Company does not own any tangible personal property. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, the properties, assets and rights owned, leased or licensed by the Seller Entities constitute all of the properties, assets and rights used in connection with the operation of the Business as currently conducted by the Company and the Seller Entities.

 

(b)The properties and assets of the Seller Entities, including, without limitation, the wireless and wireline telecommunications and video distribution networks and information technology systems owned by the Sellers and Seller Entities for use in the operation of the Business, including all computer hardware, software, firmware, and process automation (collectively, “Facilities”), taken as a whole, perform in material conformance with the appropriate specifications or documentation for such Facilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, since the Reference Date there have been no failures, breakdowns, data security breaches or other events materially affecting any such Facilities that were required to be reported to either the FCC, PSC, BT&P or Telecommunications Regulatory Commission by the Company or any Seller Entity. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11, the Facilities are in good working order and condition, free from all material defects, ordinary wear and tear excepted and subject to routine

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maintenance. The Facilities are currently available, in all material respects, for the Sellers and Seller Entities and, as applicable, their customers, in the ordinary course of businesses. The Sellers and Seller Entities maintain commercially reasonable security, disaster recovery and business continuity plans, and procedures and have taken commercially reasonable measures to protect the security and integrity of the Facilities and the data stored or contained therein or transmitted thereby.

 

Section 3.12  Intellectual Property.

 

(a)Schedule 3.12(a) sets forth all patents, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, trade names, domain name registrations, copyright registrations, and  all applications for any of the foregoing, that are used or held for use by the Company or any Seller Entity. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(a), no intellectual property is owned by a third party that is necessary for the operation of the Business, as currently conducted and as proposed to be conducted.

 

(b)The Company has not embedded any Open Source Software subject to a Copyleft License in any of its products or services made generally available or that is in development. No Open Source Software of any kind has been embedded into any of its products or made available as a part of any of its services. However, to the extent that any such Open Source Software, including any libraries or code, may have been embedded or otherwise integrated into, aggregated or compiled with any of the Company’s products or made available as a part of any of its services, no such Open Source Software is subject to the terms of, or licensed on terms of or substantially similar to a Copyleft License.

 

(c)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(c), since the Reference Date and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date, neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has received any written notice of infringement of, misappropriation of, or conflict with the rights of others with respect to any know-how, trade secrets, patents, trademarks, trade names, brand names and copyrights. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(c), neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has breached any license to which it is a party or infringed or misappropriated the intellectual property of any third party.

 

(d)Each employee who has commenced employment with the Company since January 1, 2015 and each current consultant of the Company has assigned and/or is under an obligation to assign to the Company any and all intellectual property rights to intellectual property that he or she created or conceived of and/or will create or conceive of during the course of their employment or the term of their consulting contract, respectively, with the Company.

 

(e)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12(c), to the Sellers’ Knowledge, there has been no infringement or misappropriation by any third party of the intellectual property owned by a Seller Entity.

 

Section 3.13 Contracts. Except for the RT Park Agreement, the Real Property Leases listed on Schedule 3.10(b) and the other Contracts listed on Schedule 3.13 (collectively, the “Company Contracts”), neither the Company nor any Seller Entity is a party to or subject to:

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(a)any plan or Contract providing for bonuses, stock, options, stock purchases, profit sharing, collective bargaining or the like;

 

(b)any employment Contract or Contract for services, including for services by independent contractors, which requires the payment of more than $150,000 annually in total cash compensation which is not terminable on 90 or fewer days’ notice by the Company or a Seller Entity without liability for any material penalty or severance payment;

 

(c)any Contract (including a purchase order entered in the ordinary course of business)  for  the  purchase  of  any  commodity,  material,  equipment  or  service  in  excess  of

$150,000;

 

(d)any other Contracts creating any obligation of the Company or any Seller Entity of more than $150,000 annually with respect to any such contract;

 

(e)any Contract requiring the purchase of all or substantially all of its requirements of a particular product or service from a supplier;

 

(f)any Contract which by its terms does not terminate or is not terminable by the Company or any Seller Entity on fewer than 91 days’ notice without payment of a penalty of

$100,000 or more;

 

(g)any Contract containing covenants limiting the freedom of the Company or any Seller Entity to compete in any line of the Business or with any Person with respect to the Business or limiting or restricting the ability of the Company or any Seller Entity to solicit customers or employees of the Business;

 

(h)any Contract for the purchase of any fixed asset for a price in excess of $150,000;

 

(i)any partnership, joint venture or other similar Contract;

 

(j)any Contract providing for the license of patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how or other intellectual property between the Company or any Seller Entity and any third party (other than shrink wrap and off-the-shelf software and licenses);

 

(k)any lease of personal property which involves annual payments by the Company or any Seller Entity of $150,000 or more;

 

(l)any Contract that relates to any Indebtedness in excess of $150,000 or grants a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any assets of the Company or any Seller Entity with a value in excess of $100,000;

 

(m)any Contract pursuant to which the Company receives or makes annual payments in excess of $200,000 in any calendar year (other than any Contract described elsewhere in this Section 3.13);

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(n)any Contract under which the Company or a Seller Entity has made advances or loans to any Person in excess of $100,000 (which shall not include advances made to an employee of the Company or any Seller Entity in the ordinary course of business and intercompany loans and advances among the Company and the Seller Entities, in each case, individually or in the aggregate in an amount no greater than $100,000);

 

(o)any Contract with any Affiliate of the Company or any Seller Entity with payments in excess of $50,000 and that is not terminable upon less than 91 days’ notice (other than any Contract described elsewhere in this Section 3.13);

 

(p)any Contract for the sale of any assets (other than Excluded Assets) of the Company or any Seller Entity with a value in excess of $100,000 or the acquisition of the equity or assets of another Person with a value in excess of $100,000, other than this Agreement and other than the purchase and sale of services in the ordinary course of business;

 

(q)conditional sales Contracts and equipment leases involving at least $100,000;

 

(r)any Contract that measures performance or determines the amount of any money to be paid or received by the Company or any Seller Entity by reference to the revenues, profits, assets, subscribers, homes-passed, or other attributes or operating results or metrics of Affiliates of the Company or any Seller Entity; and

 

(s)any Contract with any Governmental Authority.

 

All Company Contracts are valid and in full force and effect and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company or the Seller Entity party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, the other parties thereto, and are enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). Neither the Company nor the Seller Entity party thereto, nor to the Knowledge of the Sellers, any other party thereto, is in default in complying with any material provisions thereof, nor has such party received written or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, oral notice of any such default, and to the Knowledge of the Sellers, no condition or event or facts exist which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default of any material provision thereof on the part of the Company or any Seller Entity. The Sellers have made available to Buyer true and complete copies of all Company Contracts, including all exhibits, schedules, amendments and supplements thereto. Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, oral notice from any other party to a Company Contract of the early termination thereof, or of any claim, dispute or controversy in excess of $100,000 with respect thereto.

 

Section 3.14 Insurance.

 

(a)Schedule 3.14(a) lists, by type, carrier, policy number, coverage amount and expiration date, all insurance coverage carried by the Company and each Seller Entity, indicating, with respect to each such policy, whether it is occurrence based or claims made.

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(b)Schedule 3.14(b) sets forth a schedule of all claims made under any of the policies listed in Schedule 3.14(a) in excess of $100,000 (aggregating for purposes of such threshold all claims for related matters) since the Reference Date. All outstanding claims have been filed in a timely fashion. All premiums which are due and payable with respect thereto have been timely paid. Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has received written notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any such policy or binder. All such insurance policies are in full force and effect and sufficient for compliance with all Applicable Laws and Contracts to which the Company or any Seller Entity is a party or by which it is bound

 

(c)Except as set forth in Schedule 3.14(c), none of such insurance policies will terminate or lapse by reason of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the sale of the Member Interests contemplated hereby. The Company and each Seller Entity has complied in all material respects with the provisions of each insurance policy under which it is currently the insured. No insurer under any insurance policy under which the Company or any Seller Entity currently is insured has canceled or provided written notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any such policy.

 

Section 3.15  Permits.

 

(a)Schedule 3.15(a) sets forth as of the date of this Agreement (i) all material Permits, including all Communications Permits, held by the Company or any Seller Entity and (ii) all applications in connection with such Communications Permits that are pending before a Communications Regulatory Authority.

 

(b)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(b), (i) the Company and each Seller Entity has obtained all Permits from Governmental Authorities necessary for the ownership of such entities’ assets and properties and the conduct of the Business as presently conducted, which have been granted pursuant to and in accordance with the requirements of Applicable Law, except, with respect to Permits other than Communications Permits, where the failure to obtain such Permits would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect (except as may expire at the end of their stated terms), and have not been suspended, revoked, cancelled, terminated, forfeited or adversely modified to any material extent, and are issued in the name of the Company or Seller Entity that holds such Permits, (iii) none of such Permits is subject to termination by its terms as a result of the execution of this Agreement by the Sellers or by the consummation of sale of the Membership Interest or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (iv) there is no Action pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened that could result in the termination, revocation, limitation, suspension, restriction, adverse modification, or impairment, to any material extent, of any material Permit or any Communications Permit or the imposition of any fine, penalty or other sanctions in excess of $25,000 (1) for violation of any legal or regulatory requirements relating to any material Permit or (2) for violation of any legal or regulatory requirements relating to any Communications Permit. With respect to the Communications Permits, “full force and effect” means that (1) the orders issuing the Communications Permits have become effective under the Applicable Law; (2) the grant of each of the Communications Permits to the applicable holder thereof has become a Final Order; (3) the actions granting all Communications Permits, together with all underlying construction permits,   have   not   been   reversed,   stayed,   enjoined,   annulled   or   suspended;   (4)   the

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Communications Permits have not expired by their own terms or been invalidated or modified by any subsequent action and, to the Knowledge of Sellers, no event, condition or circumstance would preclude any Communications Permit from being renewed in the ordinary course (to the extent that such Communications Permit is renewable by its terms); and (5) there is no material condition outside of the ordinary course imposed on the Communications Permits by a Communications Regulatory Authority (including any material condition on the grant of a renewal application) that is not disclosed on the face of the Communications Permit; provided that ordinary course shall include any condition described in any Applicable Law that applies generally to substantially similar communications permits held by third parties. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15(b), the Company and the Seller Entities are in compliance in all material respects with their obligations under each of the Permits set forth on Schedule 3.15(a) and the rules and regulations of the FCC and any other Governmental Authority, and no notice of material violation, order of forfeiture or material complaint, proceeding, review or investigation against the Company or any Seller Entity relating to any such Permits by any Governmental Authority is pending nor, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, has any Governmental Authority indicated in writing to the Company or a Seller Entity an intention to conduct the same.

 

(c)The Sellers and the Seller Entities (i) are in material compliance with all Applicable Laws that apply to, and all requirements that are contained in, each Communications Permit and since the Reference Date have timely fulfilled and performed all of their material obligations with respect thereto; (ii) since the Reference Date have timely made all required Filings with all Communications Regulatory Authority required by Applicable Law and such filings were correct in all material respects; (iii) have provided Buyer with access to copies of each such material Filing made in the last three years; (iv) since the Reference Date have not made any misstatements of fact, or omitted to disclose any fact, to any Communications Regulatory Authority or in any Filing therewith, which misstatements or omissions, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be expected to subject a Communications Permit to revocation or failure to renew; and (v) since the Reference Date do not have Knowledge of any fact or circumstance, which if known by a Communications Regulatory Authority would present a substantial risk that a Communications Permit could be revoked, cancelled, suspended, not renewed in the ordinary course or materially adversely modified or that any substantial fine or forfeiture could be imposed against Seller or a Seller Entity.

 

(d)Since the Reference Date, neither Sellers nor any Seller Entity has incurred, or if incurred it has fully discharged, any fine, charge or other liability resulting from any noncompliance with a Communications Permit or an Applicable Law applicable to the holder of a Communications Permit prior to the Closing. Sellers and all Seller Entities have timely made the payment of all regulatory fees and surcharges, including contributions to universal service funds, disability access funds, emergency calling funds, and all other such funds to which contributions are required by Applicable Law, and all other debts and amounts otherwise due and owing to a Communications Regulatory Authority or other Governmental Authority by reason of the ownership of, or operation pursuant to, a Communications Permit.

 

(e)Except for structures that do not require registration, each of the antenna structures used for the operation of the Communications Permits has been registered with the appropriate Governmental Authority by Sellers or a Seller Entity, or, in the case of structures where Sellers or a Seller Entity is a lessee of the structure, to the Knowledge of Sellers, by the

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lessor of the structure. All of the transmission sites and paths currently operated by Sellers or a Seller Entity and that are subject to a Communications Permit have been constructed and are currently operated in all respects as represented to the applicable Communications Regulatory Authority in currently effective filings, and modifications to such transmission sites and paths have been preceded by the submission to the appropriate Communications Regulatory Authority of all filings required by Applicable Law.

 

(f)Since the Reference Date and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date, neither Sellers nor Seller Entities have violated Section 254(e) of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, 47 U.S.C. § 254(e).

 

Section 3.16  Employee Benefit Plans.

 

(a)Schedule 3.16(a) sets forth a list of all material “employee benefit plans,” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA, and all other employee benefit or executive compensation arrangements, whether offered to current or former employees or their beneficiaries or dependents, perquisite programs, including severance pay, sick leave, vacation pay, salary continuation for disability, retirement benefits, deferred compensation, bonus pay, incentive pay, profit sharing, hospitalization insurance, medical insurance, life insurance, scholarships or tuition reimbursements, whether written or unwritten, that are maintained, sponsored, contributed to, or required to be contributed to by the Company, any Seller Entity, or any entity within the same “controlled group” as the Company or any Seller Entity, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA (an “ERISA Affiliate”), or under which the Company, any Seller Entity or any of their ERISA Affiliates have any ongoing material liability (collectively, the “Employee Benefit Plans”).

 

(b)The Company has made available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of each Employee Benefit Plan (including any amendments), or if the Employee Benefit Plan is not in writing, a summary of the material terms, and, to the extent applicable, a copy of: (i) any related trust documents, insurance contracts or other funding instruments and amendments thereto; (ii) the three most recent Forms 5500, including all schedules, if any; (iii) the most recent financial statement (to the extent such financial statements are not included in the Form 5500) (iv) current summary plan descriptions and summaries of material modifications, if any; (v) employee handbooks; (vi) the three most recent reports regarding the satisfaction of the nondiscrimination requirements of Section 410(b), 401(k) and 401(m) of the Code (vii) the most recent determination or opinion letter from the Internal Revenue Service, if any; and (viii) any material correspondence from a Governmental Authority, with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan.

 

(c)There are no pending actions, claims or lawsuits which have been asserted, instituted or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened, against the Employee Benefit Plans, the assets of any of the trusts in their capacity as such under such plans or the plan sponsor or the plan administrator, or against any fiduciary of the Employee Benefit Plans with respect to the operation of such plans (other than routine benefit claims), which could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company or a Seller Entity.

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(d)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16(d), all Employee Benefit Plans subject to ERISA or the Code have been maintained and administered, in all material respects, in accordance with their terms and with all provisions of ERISA and the Code, respectively (including rules and regulations thereunder), and other Applicable Law. Each Employee Benefit Plan that is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has received a favorable determination or opinion letter as to its qualification, and nothing has occurred that would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

 

(e)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16(e), (i) no Employee Benefit Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA; (ii) no “reportable event” within the meaning of Section 4043 of ERISA (for which the 30-day notice requirement has not been waived) has occurred within the preceding three years with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan; (iii) no material lien has been imposed in favor of any Employee Benefit Plan against the assets of the Company, any Seller Entity or any ERISA Affiliate pursuant to Section 303(k) of ERISA or Section 430(k) of the Code and no event or condition has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur which might give rise to the imposition of such a lien. Neither the Company, any Seller Entity, or any ERISA Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any material liability under Title IV of ERISA other than contributions to the plans set forth on Schedule 3.16(e) or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation with respect to such plans in the ordinary course. Each plan set forth on Schedule 3.16(e) is in compliance in all material respects with the minimum funding standards set forth in ERISA Section 303 and Section 412 of the Code and all contributions required under ERISA Section 303 and Section 412 of the Code as of the date of this Agreement have been made and no such plan is in “at-risk” status within the meaning of Section 430(i)(4) of the Code or Section 303(i)(4) of ERISA or subject to the limitations of Section 436 of the Code.

 

(f)Neither the Company, any Seller Entity, or any ERISA Affiliate has, within the past six years, sponsored or contributed to, or has had any material liability or obligation, in respect of (i) any multiple employer welfare arrangement (as defined in Section 3(40)  of ERISA); (ii) any multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA; or (iii) any multiple employer plan for purposes of Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA. No Employee Benefit Plan is funded by, associated with or related to a voluntary employee’s benefit association (as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.

 

(g)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16(g), no Employee Benefit Plan provides health or other welfare benefits to any employee of the Company, Seller Entity, or current or former ERISA Affiliate, or any dependent of any such employee, following termination of the employee’s employment, except as may be required by Section 4980B of the Code or similar Applicable Law and at the individual’s sole expense.

 

(h)Neither the Company nor any other “disqualified person” or “party in interest,” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code and Section 3(14) of ERISA, respectively, has engaged in any “prohibited transaction,” as defined in Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 of ERISA (which is not otherwise exempt), with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, nor, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, have there been any fiduciary violations under ERISA that could subject the Company (or any employee) to any material penalty or tax under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.

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(i)Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the approval or consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) entitle any current employee of the Company or a Seller Entity to severance pay, unemployment compensation, or accrued pension benefit or any other compensatory payment or benefit, (ii) increase the dollar value of any payments or benefits under any Employee Benefit Plan.

 

(j)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.16(j), the Company or Seller Entity, as applicable, has made on a timely basis all contributions, premiums or payments required to be made by it under the terms of each Employee Benefit Plan or applicable Law or, to the extent not yet due, have been adequately accrued on the financial statements of the Company or Seller Entity.

 

(k)No Company Employee Benefit Plan is subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States, except as set forth on Schedule 3.16(k).

 

(l)Neither the Company nor the Seller Entity are a party to any oral or written (i) agreement, plan or arrangement under which any person may receive an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of 280G of the Code from the Company or the Seller Entity that may be subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code; or (ii) agreement or plan binding the Company or the Seller Entity, any of the benefits of which shall be increased (including without limitation any Section 280G gross up payment) or the vesting of the benefits of which shall be accelerated by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 3.17 Labor Matters. The Company has delivered to Buyer and Buyer Parent a list certified by an authorized officer of the Company of the employees and independent contractors of the Sellers and the Seller Entities providing services to the Business as of the date hereof, which sets forth each such individual’s current salary or base rate of pay, title or job function, job location, status (as to leave or disability, full or part time, exempt or non-exempt and temporary or permanent status) and union membership (if applicable).

 

(a)Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity is delinquent in any material respect for the payment of any material wages, salaries, commissions, consulting fees, bonuses, severance, termination pay or other compensation for any services performed for it or any such amounts required to be reimbursed by it to any employee or independent contractor.

 

(b)Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17(b), there are no material grievances, complaints or charges by any individual providing services to the Business that have been filed against any Seller or Seller Entity under any dispute resolution procedure that have not been dismissed. There is no, and since the Latest Balance Sheet, there has not been any, (a) unfair labor practice charge or complaint pending or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened, against the Company or any Seller Entity; (b) labor strike, slowdown or stoppage actually pending or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any Seller Entity; (c) labor grievance, demand for arbitration or any arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements, is pending; (d) organizational campaigns, petitions or other unionization activities seeking recognition of a collective bargaining unit; and (e) administrative charge or court  complaint  against  the  Company or  any  Seller  Entity concerning  alleged  employment

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discrimination or other employment-related matters pending or threatened before the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other Governmental Authority.

 

(c)Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.17(c), neither the Company nor any Seller Entity is a party to any collective bargaining agreement, contract or other oral or written agreement, including but not limited to any work rules, past practices, memoranda of understanding or letters of understanding with a labor union or labor organization and there are no labor unions, labor organizations, work councils or other organizations representing, or purporting to represent or organize any employee of the Company or any Seller Entity. Each collective bargaining agreement set forth on Schedule 3.17(c), including but not limited to the Union Contract Extension, is complete and accurate and has been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and Seller Entities that are parties thereto, and to the Sellers’ Knowledge, the other parties thereto.

 

(d)The Company and each Seller Entity are currently in material compliance with all applicable Laws relating to employment and labor, including those related to wages and hours, hiring practices, parental and family leave and pay, immigration, non-discrimination in employment, workers compensation, and the collection and payment of withholding and/or payroll taxes and similar Taxes.

 

(e)Any individual providing services for the Company or any Seller Entity who has been classified as an independent contractor, as an employee of some other entity whose services are leased to the Company or any Seller Entity, or as any other non-employee category, has been correctly so classified and is in fact not a common law employee of any of the Company or any Seller Entity.

 

Section 3.18  Environmental Matters.

 

Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18:

 

(a)The Company and the Seller Entities have obtained and, since the Reference Date (and to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date), have possessed and maintained compliance with all Permits required under Environmental Laws for the conduct of the Business as presently conducted and the use of Real Property (“Environmental Permits”). All Environmental Permits are listed in Schedule 3.18.

 

(b)Since the Reference Date and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date, the Company and the Seller Entities have complied in all material respects with, and have not committed any violation of, any Environmental Laws.

 

(c)Since the Reference Date and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers, prior to the Reference Date if not resolved as of the Reference Date, neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has received written notice from, or been subject to any Action by, any Governmental Authority or other Person asserting or alleging that the Company or any Seller Entity has failed to comply with any Environmental Laws, or that the Company or any Seller Entity is liable for any material injury or material damages to any Person or property because of the release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances.   To the Knowledge of the Company and Seller

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Entities, no circumstances exists that could give rise to any such notice, Action, inquiry, or investigation.

 

(d)To the Knowledge of the Sellers, neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has disposed of or released any Hazardous Substance at any Real Property or at any real property formerly owned or operated by the Company or any Seller Entity.

 

(e)To Knowledge of the Company and Seller Entities, none of the following exists at the Real Property: (i) underground or aboveground storage tanks; (ii) asbestos-containing material in any form; (iii) materials or equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls; (iv) landfills, dumps or other disposal facilities; (v) manufacturing operations; (vi) vehicle maintenance or washing facilities; or, (vii) Hazardous Substances other than of the types and in the quantities necessary and ordinarily used in the Business, as allowed under Environmental Laws.

 

(f)The Company has made available to Buyer true and complete copies of all material reports, studies and results of analyses, tests, or monitoring relating to the environmental condition of the Real Property, including without limitation the presence of Hazardous Substances in, on, or under the Real Property, or concerning compliance, by the Company, Seller Entities, or any other Person for whose conduct the Company or Seller Entities are or may be held responsible, with Environmental Laws.

 

(g)Neither the Company nor any Seller Entity (i) is subject to any judgment, order, writ, injunction, ruling, decision or decree of, or any settlement under the jurisdiction of, any Governmental Authority imposed by or under any Environmental Laws, or (ii) has assumed, either contractually or by operation of Applicable Law, the liabilities or obligations of any other Person under any Environmental Law.

 

Notwithstanding any implication to the contrary contained herein, this Section 3.18 constitutes the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Sellers with respect to Environmental Laws and all other environmental matters.

 

Section 3.19 Books and Records. The books and records of the Company have been maintained accurately in all material respects and in accordance with good business and bookkeeping practices and in accordance with all Applicable Laws; the transactions entered therein represent bona fide transactions; and the revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities of the Company have been properly recorded therein. The internal controls and procedures of the Company are sufficient to ensure that the Financial Statements are accurate in all material respects. Since the Reference Date, there has been no material change in any accounting controls, policies, principles, methods or practice, including any change with respect to the establishment of reserves of the Company.

 

Section 3.20 Absence of Certain Events. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.20, since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet through the date hereof, the Company and the Seller Entities have conducted the Business only in the ordinary course of business. Without limiting the foregoing, since the date of the Latest Balance Sheet through the date hereof, except as set forth in Schedule 3.20, there has not been:

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(a)Any sale, assignment, license or other disposition of any portion of the assets or properties of the Company or any Seller Entity, except in the ordinary course of business;

 

(b)Any Liens imposed or created on any of the assets or properties of the Company or any Seller Entity, other than Permitted Liens;

 

(c)Any (i) Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) damage, destruction or loss of any of the material assets or properties of the Company or any Seller Entity by fire or other casualty, whether or not covered by insurance;

 

(d)Any termination, modification or amendment of any Contract, except for terminations, modifications or amendments which are not material to the operation of the Business (other than the Union Contract Extension);

 

(e)A change in any of the accounting principles adopted by the Company or any Seller Entity or any change in any Company’s or Seller Entities’ accounting policies, procedures, practices or methods with respect to applying such principles, other than as required by GAAP or by Applicable Law;

 

(f)Any acceleration or delay in the collection of notes or accounts receivable of the Company or any Seller Entity in an aggregate amount in excess of $150,000 in advance of or beyond their regular due dates or the dates when the same would have been collected in the ordinary course of business;

 

(g)Any delay or acceleration in the payment of any account payable or other liability of the Company or any Seller Entity in an aggregate amount in excess of $150,000 beyond or in advance of its due date or the date when such account payable or other liability would have been paid in the ordinary course of business;

 

(h)Any material change in the prices at which any products or services are sold or distributed, or any offering of any rebates, discounts, commissions, incentives or inducements for the purchase of any products or services that are materially different from those rebates, discounts, commissions, incentives or inducements offered by the Company or the Seller Entities to subscribers on a case by case basis in the ordinary course of business;

 

(i)Any issuance, redemption, repurchase, split, combination or reclassification by the Company or any Seller Entity of any shares of its capital stock or other equity interest;

 

(j)Any loan, advance or capital contribution made by the Company or any Seller Entity to, or investment in, any Person, other than loans or advances (i) among the Company and the Seller Entities and (ii) to employees in connection with reasonable business-related expenses, in each case made in the ordinary course of business and that will be reimbursed in full in accordance with the Company’s or Seller Entity’s business expense policies prior to Closing;

 

(k)Any acquisition by merger or consolidation with, or by purchase of a substantial portion of the assets or equity interests of, or by any other manner, any business or any Person or any division thereof for consideration in excess of $200,000;

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(l)Any adoption of a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, reorganization or restructuring of the Company or any Seller Entity or filing of a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Applicable Law;

 

(m)Any incurrence of any capital expenditures or any obligations or liabilities in respect thereof in excess of budget, individually or in the aggregate;

 

(n)Any settlement, or offer or proposal to settle, any material Action (other than the Bonneville Matter); and

 

(o)Any agreement, understanding, authorization or proposal for the Company or any Seller Entity to take any of the actions specified in this Section 3.20 other than as expressly contemplated pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Section 3.21 Accounts Receivable.  Schedule 3.21 contains true and complete copies of the accounts receivable aging of the Company and the Seller Entities as of the Interim Balance Sheet. All accounts receivable of the Company and the Seller Entities (a) have arisen from bona fide transactions by the Company or Seller Entity, as applicable, in the ordinary course of business, (b) except as listed on Schedule 3.21(b), to the Knowledge of the Sellers, have been validly billed in the ordinary course of business at the aggregate recorded amounts thereof, net of any applicable allowance for doubtful accounts reflected in the Interim Balance Sheet or in Net Working Capital (it being understood that this clause (b) shall be deemed a representation only and not a warranty or guaranty of collection), (c) have not been assigned or pledged to any Person and (d) as of the Closing, will not be subject to any Liens, other than Permitted Liens and Liens created by the Buyer.

 

Section 3.22 Business Names and Addresses. Since the Reference Date, neither the Company nor any Seller Entity has used any business name other than as set forth in Schedule 3.22, and has not had a business address other than the address(es) that are set forth in Schedule 3.22.

 

Section 3.23 Bank Accounts.  Schedule 3.23 sets forth (a) the name of each bank, trust corporation or other financial institution and stock or other broker with which the Company or any Seller Entity has an account, credit line or safe deposit box or vault, (b) the names of all Persons authorized to draw thereon or to have access to any safe deposit box or vault, (c) the purpose of each such account, safe deposit box or vault, and (d) the names of all Persons authorized by proxies, powers of attorney or other like instruments to act on behalf of the Company and/or any Seller Entity in matters concerning its business or affairs. No such proxies, powers of attorney or other like instruments are irrevocable.

 

Section 3.24 Solvency. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Parent will be able to pay its debts as they become due and will own property which has a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required to pay its debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent Liabilities). After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Parent will have adequate capital to carry on its business.    No  transfer  of  property  is  being  made  and  no  obligation  is  being  incurred  in

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connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of Parent.

 

Section 3.25 Privacy and Data Security Matters. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.25, the Company and the Seller Entities have adopted privacy and data security policies and measures consistent with Applicable Law in all material respects and are and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers since the Reference Date have been, in compliance with such policies  and measures in all material respects. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company or any of the Seller Entities has, with respect to its data or systems (or to the knowledge of the Sellers, the data or systems of any vendor or agent), suffered any unauthorized access or disclosure, or violation of any applicable privacy or data security Applicable Law, including but not limited to those requiring notification to any person or Governmental Authority, in connection with the confidential or personal information of any person.

 

Section 3.26 Plan of Record. Part 2 of the Plan of Record sets forth a complete and accurate calculation of the average costs identified therein and associated with the Reduction and Part 4 of the Plan of Record sets for complete and accurate information supporting such average costs.

 

Section 3.27 No Other Representations and Warranties. EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS ARTICLE 3 (QUALIFIED BY THE SCHEDULES, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED), AND IN ANY SELLER CLOSING CERTIFICATES (AS DEFINED IN SECTION 1.01), THE SELLERS MAKE NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY, AND THE SELLERS HEREBY DISCLAIM ANY SUCH REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY WITH RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT AND THE CONSUMMATION OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT.

 

ARTICLE 4

BUYER AND BUYER PARENT UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTY

 

Section 4.01 Guaranty. Buyer Parent hereby unconditionally guarantees to the Sellers the full, complete and prompt payment and performance by the Buyer of all of the Buyer’s Liabilities, responsibilities and duties under this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby. In the event that the Buyer fails at any time to perform any obligation it is required to perform under this Agreement or the other agreements contemplated hereby, the Sellers shall first make written demand to the Buyer for such performance and shall concurrently provide a copy of such written demand to Buyer Parent. In the event that the Buyer’s failure continues for a period of five Business Days after delivery of such demand, the Sellers shall deliver a written demand for performance to Buyer Parent and Buyer Parent shall perform or cause the Buyer or other entity to perform such obligations (a) within two Business Days after delivery of such written demand, with respect to the payment of money, and (b) as promptly as practicable, with respect to other obligations; provided, that Buyer Parent shall promptly commence its efforts to perform or cause the performance of any such obligation and shall diligently  pursue  performance  of  such  obligation  thereafter.     This  guaranty  is  absolute,

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unconditional and irrevocable irrespective of any circumstances which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, but subject to the rights, defenses and limitations that are available to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement. Buyer Parent further agrees to pay all reasonable costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees) paid or incurred by the Sellers in enforcing this guaranty.

 

ARTICLE 5

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND BUYER PARENT

 

The Buyer and Buyer Parent, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Sellers that each statement contained in this Article 5 is correct and complete.

 

Section 5.01 Existence and Power. Buyer Parent is a corporation  duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all corporate powers and all material Permits from Governmental Authorities required to carry on its business as now conducted. The Buyer is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of U.S. Virgin Islands and has all limited liability company powers and all material Permits from Governmental Authorities required to carry on its business as now conducted.

 

Section 5.02 Organizational Authorization. Each of the Buyer and Buyer Parent has the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Financing and each Related Agreement to be executed and delivered by it pursuant to or as contemplated by this Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Financing and each Related Agreement to which the Buyer or Buyer Parent is (or will be) a party, and the performance of the Buyer’s and Buyer Parent’s respective obligations hereunder and thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Buyer and Buyer Parent, respectively. This Agreement, the Financing Documents and each Related Agreement to which the Buyer or Buyer Parent is a party and each agreement, document and instrument to be executed and delivered by the Buyer or Buyer Parent pursuant to this Agreement constitute, or will when executed and delivered constitute, valid and binding obligations of the Buyer and Buyer Parent, respectively, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

Section 5.03 Governmental Authorization. The execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer and Buyer Parent of this Agreement, the Financing Documents and the Related Agreements, and the consummation by the Buyer and Buyer Parent of the transactions contemplated hereunder and thereunder, require no material action by or in respect of, or Filing with, any Governmental Authority other than (i) compliance with any applicable requirements of the HSR Act and other Competition Laws, (ii) receipt by the parties hereto of each of the Communications Regulatory Authority Consents as set forth in Schedule 3.03(c), and (iii) any other actions or Filings the absence of which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

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Section 5.04 Noncontravention. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.04, the execution, delivery and performance by the Buyer and Buyer Parent of this Agreement, the Financing Documents and each Related Agreement to which they are a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not (i) violate the Organizational Documents of either the Buyer or Buyer Parent, (ii) assuming compliance with the matters referred to in Section 5.03, violate any material Applicable Law, judgment, injunction, order or decree or (iii) require any material consent or other material action by any Person under, constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation of either the Buyer or Buyer Parent under any provisions of any material agreement or other material instrument binding upon the Buyer or Buyer Parent.

 

Section 5.05 Buyer’s Qualification to Hold Permits. Except as set forth in Schedule 5.05, (a) the Buyer is qualified to directly or indirectly hold all Permits (including Communications Permits) necessary for the conduct of the Business, including with respect to composition of the Buyer’s ownership and with respect to the Buyer’s character qualifications and (b) the Buyer is not aware of any fact or circumstance concerning the Buyer that would be reasonably expected to cause a Governmental Authority, including any Communications Regulatory Authority, to fail to grant its consent to the Buyer’s purchase of the Membership Interest and the other transactions contemplated hereby, including any Communications Regulatory Authority Consent.

 

Section 5.06 Sufficient Funds. The Buyer and Buyer Parent have, and will continue to have until and as of the Closing, cash on hand and committed financing, assuming the funding of the Financing, as are needed to pay the Purchase Price and discharge their respective obligations under this Agreement and the Related Agreements, and neither the Buyer nor Buyer Parent has reason to believe that such cash on hand and committed financing (assuming the funding of the Financing) will not be available on a timely basis for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 5.07 Purchase for Investment. The Buyer is purchasing the Membership Interest for investment for its own account and not with a view to, or for sale in connection with, any distribution thereof. The Buyer is an “accredited investor” and has sufficient knowledge and experience in financial and business matters so as to be capable of evaluating the merits and risks of its investment in the Membership Interest and is capable of bearing the economic risks of such investment.

 

Section 5.08 Actions and Proceedings. There are no (a) outstanding judgments, orders, writs, injunctions or decrees of any court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal against the Buyer, Buyer Parent or any of their Affiliates, which have or would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Buyer or Buyer Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or (b) actions, suits, claims or legal, administrative or arbitration proceedings or investigations pending or, to the knowledge of the Buyer or Buyer Parent, threatened against the Buyer or Buyer Parent, which have or would have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Buyer or Buyer Parent to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 5.09 Finder’s Fees. There is no investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf of the Buyer or Buyer

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Parent who might be entitled to any fee or commission upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than Q Advisors LLC, which fees shall be paid by Buyer Parent or an Affiliate thereof.

 

Section 5.10 Solvency. After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Financing and any other financing arrangements incurred in connection herewith, the Company and the Seller Entities will be able to pay their respective debts as they become due and will own property which has a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required to pay their debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount of all contingent Liabilities). After giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Financing, the Company and the Seller Entities will have adequate capital to carry on the Business. No transfer of property is being made and no obligation is being incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement with the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of the Company or any Seller Entity.

 

Section 5.11  Acknowledgment by the Buyer and Buyer Parent.

 

(a)The Buyer and Buyer Parent have conducted to their satisfaction, an independent investigation and verification of the financial condition, results of operations, assets, Liabilities, properties and projected operations of the Company, the Seller Entities and the Business, and in making their determination to proceed with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Buyer and Buyer Parent have relied on the results of their own independent investigation and verification and the representations and warranties of the Sellers expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement (including the Schedules, as the same may be amended or supplemented) and any Seller Closing Certificates delivered to Buyer at Closing. SUCH REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE SELLERS CONSTITUTE THE SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS TO THE BUYER AND BUYER PARENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND THE BUYER AND BUYER PARENT UNDERSTAND, ACKNOWLEDGE AND AGREE THAT ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY RELATING TO THE FUTURE OR HISTORICAL FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS, ASSETS OR LIABILITIES OF THE COMPANY OR ANY SELLER ENTITY OR THE QUALITY, QUANTITY OR CONDITION OF THE BUSINESS) ARE SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMED BY THE SELLERS. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH IN ANY REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS EXPRESSLY AND SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THIS AGREEMENT (INCLUDING THE SCHEDULES, AS THE SAME MAY BE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED) AND ANY SELLER CLOSING CERTIFICATES DELIVERED TO BUYER AT CLOSING, THE SELLERS DO NOT MAKE OR PROVIDE, AND THE BUYER AND BUYER PARENT HEREBY WAIVE, ANY WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE QUALITY, MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, CONFORMITY TO SAMPLES, OR CONDITION OF THE ANY ASSETS, THE BUSINESS OR ANY PART THERETO. NOTWITHSTANDING THE FOREGOING OR ANYTHING ELSE HEREIN TO THE CONTRARY, NOTHING HEREIN IS INTENDED TO LIMIT THE RIGHTS OF THE BUYER OR BUYER PARENT WITH RESPECT TO INTENTIONAL OR WILLFUL MISREPRESENTATION  OF  FACTS  THAT  CONSTITUTES  COMMON  LAW  FRAUD

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UNDER APPLICABLE LAWS WITH RESPECT TO THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES IN THIS AGREEMENT AS MADE BY SELLERS AND AS QUALIFIED BY THE SCHEDULES. AND/OR ANY SELLER CLOSING CERTIFICATES DELIVERED TO BUYER AT CLOSING.

 

(b)In connection with the Buyer’s and Buyer Parent’s investigation of the Company and the Business, the Buyer and Buyer Parent have received from or on behalf of the Sellers certain projections and other forward-looking information of the Seller Entities and the Business. The Buyer and Buyer Parent acknowledge that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such estimates, projections and other forecasts and plans, that the Buyer and Buyer Parent are familiar with such uncertainties, that the Buyer and Buyer Parent are taking full responsibility for making their own evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections and other forecasts and plans so furnished to them (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections and forecasts), and that the Buyer and Buyer Parent shall have no claim against the Sellers with respect thereto. Accordingly, the Sellers make no representations or warranties whatsoever with respect to such estimates, projections and other forecasts and plans (including the reasonableness of the assumptions underlying such estimates, projections and forecasts). The Buyer and Buyer Parent agree that none of Parent, the Company, any Seller Entity, or any other Person will have or be subject to any liability to the Buyer, Buyer Parent or any other Person resulting from the distribution to the Buyer and Buyer Parent, or the Buyer’s or Buyer Parent’s use of, any information regarding the Company, any Seller Entity or the Business, and any information, document or material made available to the Buyer, Buyer Parent or their Affiliates in certain physical or on-line “data rooms,” management presentations or any other form in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than as set forth in any representations and warranties of the Sellers expressly and specifically set forth in his Agreement (including the Schedules, as the same may be amended or supplemented) and any Seller Closing Certificates delivered to Buyer at Closing.

 

Section 5.12 No Reliance. Except as it may apply to claims by the Buyer or Buyer Parent for intentional or willful misrepresentation of facts that constitutes common law fraud under Applicable Laws, the Buyer and Buyer Parent acknowledge and agree that the representations and warranties made by the Sellers in this Agreement (as qualified by the Schedules) and any Seller Closing Certificates delivered to Buyer at Closing supersede, replace and nullify in every respect the data set forth in any other document, material or statement, whether written or oral, made available to the Buyer and Buyer Parent, and the Buyer and Buyer Parent shall be deemed to have not relied on any data contained in such other document, material or statement for any purpose whatsoever, including, without limitation, as a promise, projection, guaranty, representation, warranty or covenant, except as set forth in any representations and warranties of the Sellers expressly and specifically set forth in this Agreement (including the Schedules, as the same may be amended or supplemented) and any Seller Closing Certificates delivered to Buyer at Closing.

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ARTICLE 6

COVENANTS OF THE SELLERS

 

Section 6.01 Conduct of the Company. During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the Closing, the Sellers agree that, except (i) as expressly contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or Schedule 6.01, (ii) as required by Applicable Law, or (iii) to the extent that the Buyer or Buyer Parent shall otherwise consent (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, delayed, or conditioned):

 

(a)the Company and the Seller Entities shall:

 

(i)use all reasonable efforts to carry on the Business in the usual, regular and ordinary course in all material respects, in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted, and shall use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact the present lines of the Business, maintain their respective Permits (including Communications Permits) and other rights and franchises and preserve their respective relationships (contractual or otherwise) with customers, suppliers and others having business dealings with the Business (including, without limitation, through ordinary course renewals, negotiations with and amendments to such relationships) to the end that the ongoing Business shall not be impaired in any material respect at the Closing;

 

(ii)incur the capital expenditures consistent in all material respects with the budget set forth on Schedule 6.01(a)(ii);

 

(iii)consummate the Divestitures;

 

(iv)cause any Liens other than Permitted Liens on the assets of the Company and the Seller Entities to be released, discharged and terminated as of or prior to the Closing (it being understood that Liens terminated upon payment of Closing Indebtedness in accordance with the Flow of Funds shall be deemed released, discharged and terminated as of Closing);

 

(v)as of or prior to the Closing, cause to be paid, settled, cancelled or otherwise satisfied all Indebtedness and any other intercompany Liabilities owing or due by the Company or any Seller Entity, on the one hand, and Parent, on the other hand (it being understood that Closing Indebtedness paid at Closing in accordance with the Flow of Funds shall be deemed paid, settled, cancelled and satisfied as of the Closing);

 

(vi)implement the Reduction in accordance with the scheduled headcount reduction set forth in Part 3 of the Plan of Record such that the Closing Count does not vary from the target count set forth in the column labeled “Column C” by more than the number set forth in the corresponding column labeled “Column D” on a line by line basis;

 

(vii)use commercially reasonable efforts to promptly comply with the Metrics and conduct the activities related thereto in each case as set forth on Schedule 6.01(a)(vii);

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(viii)use commercially reasonable efforts to migrate residential customers to the hybrid fiber-coaxial network operated by the Company and Seller Entities and to decommission their copper plant, in each case, in accordance with the schedule executed by Sellers and delivered to Buyer as of the date of this Agreement;

 

(ix)use commercially reasonable efforts to:

 

(A)with respect to each of the Leased Real Properties listed on Schedule 3.10(b) and identified with an asterisk (*) (the “Designated Leased Properties”), (i) enter into fully executed, and if applicable, duly registered leases or other similar agreements on customary terms providing a valid and subsisting leasehold interest or other similar rights, and (ii) remove, discharge or obtain a release of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) adversely affecting the applicable Seller Entity’s occupancy or enjoyment thereof;

 

(B)enter into and duly record easements on customary terms with respect to each of the properties listed on Schedule 3.10(b) under the heading “List of Easements” and identified with an asterisk (*) (the “Designated Easements”); and

 

(C)complete the purchase of real property listed on Schedule 3.10(a) under the heading “Real Property in Process of finalizing transfer and registration process”; and, in each case, provide Buyer with evidence of the same; and

 

(x)take the actions set forth in Schedule 6.01(a)(x).

 

(b)the Company and the Seller Entities shall not:

 

(i)incur or commit to any capital expenditures or any obligations or Liabilities in connection with capital expenditures, except for (i) capital expenditures and obligations or Liabilities in connection therewith incurred or committed to in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) other capital expenditures and obligations or Liabilities that are incurred in good faith and acting reasonably, as a prudent operator of its business; provided, that, in each case such capital expenditures and obligations are consistent in all material respects with the budget attached as Schedule 6.01(a)(ii);

 

(ii)acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing a substantial equity interest in or a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business organization or division thereof or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire or license any assets or rights (other than the acquisition or license of assets used in the operations of the Business in the ordinary course of business in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000);

 

(iii)other than the Divestitures, sell, license, encumber (other than Permitted Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business) or otherwise dispose of, or agree to

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sell, license, encumber (other than Permitted Liens incurred in the ordinary course of business) or otherwise dispose of, any of material assets other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(iv)create, incur, assume or suffer to exist any Indebtedness, issuances of debt, securities, guarantees, loans or advances not in existence as of the date of this Agreement, except trade debt and commercial finance in the ordinary course of business and except for Indebtedness which shall be paid, settled, cancelled or otherwise satisfied at or prior to the Closing;

 

(v)except as required by changes in GAAP or as required by Applicable Law, change their respective methods of accounting in effect as of the date hereof;

 

(vi)enter into or become bound by, or permit any of the assets owned or used by it to become bound by, any Contract of the type required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 3.13 of this Agreement other than Contracts (A) involving less $100,000 and which are terminable by the Company or Seller Entity on less than 91 days’ notice without penalty or payment, and (B) entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(vii)modify, amend, terminate (except by its stated termination date) or waive any material right or remedy under any Company Contract in a manner that would be adverse to the Company or the Seller Entities;

 

(viii)amend or otherwise change the Organizational Documents of the Company or any Seller Entity through merger, liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or in any other fashion change the corporate structure or ownership of the Company or any Seller Entity;

 

(ix)issue, sell, transfer, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize the issuance, sale, transfer, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, any shares of capital stock or other equity of any class, or any options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights of any kind to acquire any shares of capital stock, or any other ownership interest of, the Company or any Seller Entity;

 

(x)split, combine or reclassify any of the Company’s or any Seller Entity’s capital stock or other securities or issue or authorize or propose the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or other equity interests;

 

(xi)a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization or file any petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or state bankruptcy law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Applicable Law;

 

(xii)form any Subsidiary or acquire any equity or other interest or make any other investment in or capital contribution to any other Person, other than investments in short-term marketable securities in the ordinary course of business;

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(xiii)acquire (by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or other securities or assets or otherwise) any corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture or other business organization or division thereof;

 

(xiv)change in any manner the compensation (including bonus) or fringe benefits payable or to become payable to their respective officers, directors or employees, other than (i) changes in the ordinary course of business or (ii) stay bonuses granted and paid to such individuals in connection with the transactions contemplated herein;

 

(xv)grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter into or amend any employment or severance agreement with, any director, officer or other employee, or establish, adopt, enter into or amend any Employee Benefit Plan, except as required by Applicable Law, or pay or agree to pay any severance or termination pay to any director, officer, employee or consultant;

 

(xvi)declare, set aside or pay any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or other securities or property or any combination thereof) in respect of any of its capital stock or other equity interests, except dividends or other distributions made in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xvii)accelerate or delay collection of any notes or accounts receivable of the Company or any Seller Entity in advance of or beyond their regular due dates or the dates when the same would have been collected in the ordinary course of business, other than accounts receivable that are (individually or in the aggregate) less than $250,000;

 

(xviii)delay or accelerate payment of any account payable or other Liability of the Company or any Seller Entity beyond or in advance of its due date or the date when such account payable or other Liability would have been paid in the ordinary course of business, other than accounts payable or other Liabilities that are (individually or in the aggregate) less than $100,000;

 

(xix)make any material change in the prices at which any products or services are sold or distributed, or offer any rebates, discounts, commissions, incentives or inducements for the purchase of any products or services other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xx)except as set forth on Schedule 6.01(b)(xx), make, change or revoke any material Tax election, change an annual accounting period, adopt or change any material accounting method, file any amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle any material Tax Claim or material assessment relating to the Company, surrender any right to claim a material refund of Taxes, consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax Claim or material assessment relating to the Company or any Seller Entity, or take any other similar action, or omit to take any action relating to the filing of any material Tax Return or the payment of any material Tax;

 

(xxi)except in accordance with the budget set forth on Schedule 6.01(a)(ii), purchase, acquire, lease or license any assets in any single transaction or series of related

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transactions having a fair market value in excess of $120,000 in the aggregate, other than in the ordinary course of business;

 

(xxii)write-down or write-up the value of any asset by more than 10%, except as required by or in accordance with GAAP;

 

(xxiii)settle any Action asserting Liabilities in excess of $25,000, individually, or $150,000 in the aggregate against any other Person;

 

(xxiv)make a Filing with the FCC to obtain eligibility to bid on spectrum licenses in the Auction, unless such Filing complies with the requirements set forth in Section 8.02(g); or

 

(xxv)authorize, recommend, propose or announce an intention to do any of the foregoing, or agree or enter into any Contract to do any of the foregoing;

 

provided, however, that this Section 6.01 shall in not in any way restrict or otherwise prohibit the ability of the Sellers and the Seller Entities to (i) take any action with respect to an Excluded Asset, including selling, disposing or otherwise transferring an Excluded Asset to any other person or entity, (ii) make payments, accept additional advances and prepay intercompany Indebtedness and other intercompany liabilities prior to the determination of the Estimated Purchase Price, (iii) make distributions or dividends prior to the determination of the Estimated Purchase Price, (iv) take any action with respect to the Reduction provided that the same complies with all Applicable Laws, or (v) incur the capital expenditures and other budgeted cash flows consistent in all material respects with the budget set forth on Schedule 6.01(a)(ii).

 

Section 6.02  Buyer Access; Financial Statements.

 

(a)From the date hereof until the Closing Date, Sellers will (i) give the Buyer, Buyer Parent and their respective counsel, auditors, financing sources and other authorized representatives reasonable access to the offices, properties, books and records of the Company and the Seller Entities, (ii) furnish promptly to Buyer, Buyer Parent and their respective counsel, auditors, financing sources, and other authorized representatives all information concerning the Company and the Seller Entities, the Business and their respective properties, books, Contracts, records and personnel as Buyer, Buyer Parent or such representatives may reasonably request and, without limiting the foregoing, within 30 days following the date of this Agreement, provide the Buyer with a schedule setting forth a brief description of the use of each Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property; (iii) make available to the representatives of Buyer and Buyer Parent, upon the reasonable request therefor, the Company’s and Seller Entities’ accountants, counsel and employees, by telephone or at the locations at which they generally perform services for the Company and the Seller Entities, for discussion of the Company’s businesses, properties or personnel as Buyer or Buyer Parent may reasonably request, (iv) without limiting the foregoing, make available to the representatives of Buyer and Buyer Parent the Company’s and Seller Entities’ senior management for (A) weekly operations integration and transition planning meetings, and (B) monthly meetings to discuss the status of pending Tax Claims, and (v) use reasonable efforts to make available to the representatives of Buyer and Buyer Parent, upon reasonable request therefor, such customers, suppliers or other Persons with

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whom the Company or Seller Entities maintain a business or commercial relationship; provided that any such access (A) shall be during normal business hours on reasonable notice, (B) shall not be required where such access would be prohibited or otherwise limited by any Applicable Law, and (C) shall not otherwise unreasonably interfere with the conduct of the Business.

 

(b)Following the date hereof and through the Closing Date, the Company shall prepare and furnish to the Buyer and Buyer Parent:

 

(i)promptly after completion, the consolidated audited balance sheets of the Company as of May 31, 2015, and the consolidated audited statements of operations and cash flows for the fiscal year then ended;

 

(ii)promptly after completion and in any event within thirty (30) days of the end of each calendar month, (A) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Seller Entities as of the end of such preceding calendar month, and (B) the related unaudited consolidated statement of operations and cash flow of the Company and the Seller Entities for such preceding month; and

 

(iii)promptly after completion and in any event within forty-five (45) days of the end of each calendar quarter, (A) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the Seller Entities as of the end of such preceding quarter, and (B) the related unaudited consolidated statement of operations and cash flow of the Company and the Seller Entities for such preceding quarter.

 

(c)Following the date hereof and through the Closing Date, the Company shall prepare and furnish to the Buyer and Buyer Parent, within ten (10) days of the end of each calendar month, a status report reflecting the Company’s and Seller Entities’ progress relative to the Reduction.

 

(d)From and following the date of this Agreement, unless this Agreement is terminated in accordance with the terms hereof, the Sellers, jointly and severally, covenant and agree that they will not, and will not permit any of their respective controlled Affiliates to, divulge or make use of any trade secrets or other Confidential Information (as such term is defined in the Confidentiality Agreement) of the Company, any Seller Entity or the Business, other than in connection with the Financing and to disclose such secrets and information to Buyer, Buyer Parent or to such other Persons as requested by Buyer.

 

(e)Following the date hereof and through the Closing Date, the Seller shall make available to the representatives of Buyer and Buyer Parent the Company’s and Seller Entities’ senior management for weekly regulatory meetings (which may be held in connection with the Section 6.02(a)(iv) weekly operations integration and transition planning meetings) during which, among other things, the Company’s and Seller Entities’ senior management shall report to Buyer and Buyer Parent regarding (i) their respective compliance with the Metrics and Communications Laws; (ii) all communications with Communications Regulatory Authorities; and (iii) any recent developments in connection with a Communications Regulatory Authority that is reasonably likely to have an effect on the Business.

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Section 6.03 Notice; Supplemental Disclosure. Between the date hereof and the Closing Date, the Sellers, on the one hand, and the Buyer and Buyer Parent, on the other hand, will promptly provide the other party with written notice, in reasonable detail, of (i) the discovery of any event, condition, fact or circumstance that occurred or existed on or prior to the date of this Agreement and that causes or constitutes a material breach of any representation or warranty made by such party in this Agreement, (ii) any Action, event, condition, fact or circumstance that occurs, arises or exists after the date of this Agreement and that causes or constitutes a material inaccuracy in or material breach of any representation or warranty made by such party in this Agreement, (iii) the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which has caused, or would cause, any condition set forth in Article 9 to be incapable of being satisfied, and (iv) any material breach of any covenant or obligation of such party. Such written notice shall state whether such matter, event, condition, fact, circumstance or development (A) cannot be cured and (B) would result in any of the other party’s conditions set forth in Article 9 to be incapable of being satisfied. Upon receipt of any such notice stating the matters set forth in clauses (A) and (B) of the immediately preceding sentence, the non-notifying party may terminate this Agreement in accordance with Article 10 (1) within 30 days after being provided such written notice in the event the notice relates to a breach of a representation or warranty, or (2) within 90 days after being provided such written notice in the event the notice relates to a breach of covenant or agreement or a condition becoming incapable of being satisfied (or in either case, if Buyer requests additional information of Sellers within five Business Days following receipt of such notice, then such applicable time period shall begin at such time as Buyer is provided with such requested supplemental information). If such party chooses not to terminate this Agreement, then such written notice shall constitute an amendment to the Schedules hereto and cure, or be deemed an exception to, any breach of representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or condition, as applicable, for purposes of satisfying such Closing condition in Article 9, and such party shall be deemed to have irrevocably waived its right to terminate this Agreement solely with respect to such matter; provided, however, that such party’s other rights and remedies hereunder, including, without limitation, to terminate this Agreement by reason of additional, though related matters, events, conditions, facts, circumstances or developments, or to seek indemnification pursuant to Article 11, shall remain unaffected by such deemed waiver. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any updates relating to Actions, events, conditions, facts or circumstances that occur, arise or exist after the date of this Agreement to any of Schedules 3.10(b) (List of Real Property Leases), 3.12(a) (List of Intellectual Property) 3.13 (List of Company Contracts), 3.14(a) and (b) (List of Insurance Policies and Claims), 3.15(a) (List of Permits), 3.18 (List of Environmental Permits), 3.22 (List of Business Names and Addresses) and 3.23 (List of Bank Accounts) shall be deemed to have cured any misrepresentation or breach that might have existed hereunder by reason of such matter not being disclosed on the Schedules hereto as of the date of this Agreement, and no party shall be entitled to terminate this Agreement under Article 10 or seek indemnification pursuant to Article 11 with respect to such matters. The Company will deliver to Buyer and Buyer Parent an update, certified by an authorized officer of the Company, to the information regarding employees and independent contractors of the Sellers and the Seller Entities delivered pursuant to Section 3.17, dated no later than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

 

Section 6.04 Acquisition Proposals. Neither of the Sellers shall, nor shall either of them authorize or permit any officer, director, member, manager, employee, agent or other representative of the Company or Parent or any of their respective Affiliates to, directly or

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indirectly, seek, solicit or encourage, or furnish information with respect to the sale of the Membership Interest, the Company, the Seller Entities or the Business (or any portion of the foregoing) to, or engage in any discussions with, any Person in connection with, any proposal for the acquisition of all or any portion of the Membership Interest or the assets or properties of the Company or any Seller Entity, other than as contemplated by this Agreement. The Sellers will promptly cease or cause to be terminated any existing activities or discussions with any Person (other than Buyer and Buyer Parent) with respect to any of the foregoing and will promptly request the return or destruction of any confidential information provided to any such Person in connection with a prospective acquisition of the Membership Interest, or any of the assets or properties of the Company or Seller Entities. The Sellers shall notify Buyer in writing of any breach of this Section 6.04 within one Business Day after any Sellers’ officers or directors become aware of such breach. Such written notification shall describe in reasonable detail any such occurrence and identify the Persons, circumstances and all relevant terms involved. Without limiting the foregoing, any violation of the restrictions set forth above by any officer, director, member, manager, authorized agent or other authorized representative of the Sellers, the Company or any Seller Entity shall be deemed to be a breach of this Section 6.04 by the Sellers.

 

Section 6.05Real Estate Matters.

 

(a)Without limiting the generality of Section 6.02, from and after the date of this Agreement, Sellers shall afford to the officers, employees, attorneys, accountants, agents and other authorized representatives of Buyer reasonable access in order that Buyer may have full opportunity, at Buyer’s sole cost and expense, to inspect, take measurements, conduct surveys and tests, show the Owned Real Property to contractors, architects, surveyors, engineers, consultants, insurers, banks and other lenders or investors, and to make legal, financial, engineering, accounting and other reviews or investigations of the Owned Real Property. In addition, Sellers shall reasonably cooperate with Buyer and execute documents reasonably required by Buyer in order to obtain, at Buyer’s sole cost and expense, appraisals, title commitments, surveys or other documents related to the Owned Real Property. To the extent Buyer elects to obtain title commitments or title policies with respect to Owned Real Property, it shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the same as soon as practicable following the date of this Agreement and, with respect to any such title commitments or title policies which reflect Exceptions, will deliver the same to Sellers promptly following receipt thereof.

 

(b)If any title commitment or any title policy obtained by Buyer discloses any Lien, mortgage, judgement or other encumbrance affecting any parcel of Owned Real Property (collectively, “Exceptions”), other than the Permitted Liens, then, with respect to each such Exception, Sellers shall take such action as is required to have such Exception removed by the title company, which action may include the payment of a liquidated sum of money, the delivery of an affidavit and/or the delivery of an indemnity, in each case, as reasonably requested by Buyer's title company; provided, that, (i) if such Exception may be satisfied by the payment of a liquidated sum of money then, in lieu of such removal, (A) such liquidated sum shall be reflected on the Flow of Funds and paid from the Estimated Purchase Price, or (B) the Purchase Price will be reduced, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, by the amount of such liquidated sum, and (ii) if such Exception has not been reduced to a liquidated sum and is not material, Sellers failure to remove said Exception shall not be considered a breach of this Section 6.05(b).

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ARTICLE 7

COVENANTS OF THE BUYER

 

Section 7.01 Confidentiality. The Buyer Parent and the Company acknowledge and agree to continue to be bound by the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2015, between the Buyer Parent and the Company, as amended from time to time (the “Confidentiality Agreement”).

 

Section 7.02 Seller Access. From and after the Closing, the Buyer shall afford the Parent and its designees and representatives reasonable access to the books, records (including accountants’ work papers) and employees of the Company and the Seller Entities, in each case, solely to the extent the Parent reasonably needs (a) to comply with reporting, disclosure, filing or other requirements imposed on the Parent by a Governmental Authority, (ii) for use in any Tax audits or litigation in which the Parent is a party (it being understood for the avoidance of doubt that information sharing with respect to any litigation to which the Parent is a party shall be subject to Article 11), or (iii) to comply with the Parent’s obligations under this Agreement; provided,  however, that as a condition to providing such access, the Parent and its representatives shall agree to enter into a confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer. Unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Parent, none of Buyer, Buyer Parent, the Company or any Seller Entity shall, for a period of six years after the Closing Date, destroy, alter or otherwise dispose of any of the books and records without first offering to surrender to the Sellers such books and records or any portion thereof which such party may intend to destroy, alter or otherwise dispose of.

 

ARTICLE 8

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES

 

Section 8.01 Commercially Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, including, Section 8.02(a) below, (a) the Buyer, Buyer Parent and the Sellers shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions necessary or desirable under Applicable Law to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) preparing and filing as promptly as practicable with any Governmental Authority all documentation to effect all necessary Filings, and (ii) obtaining and maintaining all licenses, authorizations, permits, consents, approvals, clearances, variances, exemptions and other confirmations required to be obtained from any Governmental Authority or other third party to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article 9), (b) the Sellers and the Buyer and Buyer Parent agree to execute and deliver such other documents, certificates, agreements and other writings and to take such other actions as may be necessary or desirable in order to consummate or implement expeditiously the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (c) from time to time, as and when requested by any party hereto and at such party’s expense, any other party shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents and instruments and shall take, or cause to be taken, all such further or other actions as such other party may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to evidence and effectuate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, the Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company and the Seller Entities and, in each case, their respective officers, employees and agents, to, cooperate in good faith with Buyer to consummate the Financing,

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which cooperation shall include, without limitation, providing evidence of insurance satisfactory to RTFC and the execution of the Financing Documents.

 

Section 8.02  Further Cooperation; Required Actions.

 

(a)In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each of the Sellers and the Buyer shall, as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, make any and all Filings necessary or appropriate under the HSR Act and the Competition Laws of the British Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to Section 8.01, each of the Sellers and the Buyer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to supply as promptly as practicable any additional information that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act or such Competition Law and to take all other actions necessary to cause the expiration, termination, or early termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act or such Competition Law, or the receipt of any requisite clearances and approvals under such Competition Law, including responding to a Request for Additional Information and Material pursuant to the HSR Act (a “Second Request”), as soon as practicable. Except with respect to any condition or divestment related to spectrum licenses held by Buyer or its Affiliates and contemplated in the definition of Material Adverse Regulatory Event which shall not be prohibited or restrained by the following proviso, nothing in this Agreement (i) shall require Buyer or Buyer Parent to litigate or participate in the litigation of any action or proceeding pursuant to the HSR Act or any other Competition Law, whether judicial or administrative, brought by any Governmental Authority or appeal any order (A) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transaction or seeking to obtain from Buyer or Buyer Parent any damages in relation therewith, or (B) seeking to prohibit or limit in any respect, or place any conditions on, the ownership or operation by Buyer or Buyer Parent of all or any portion of Buyer or Buyer Parent’s business, the Business or assets or any product of the Company, or the equity of, or voting interest in, the Company or any Seller Entity, or to require any such person to dispose of, license (whether pursuant to an exclusive or nonexclusive license) or hold separate all or any portion of Buyer or Buyer Parent’s business, the Business or assets or any product of the Company, or the equity of, or voting interest in, the Company or any Seller Entity, in each case, as a result of or in connection with the transaction, or (ii) shall require Buyer or Buyer Parent to, nor shall the Company without the prior written consent of Buyer or Buyer Parent, (A) agree or proffer to any of the prohibitions, limitations, conditions or other actions referred to in the preceding clause (i)(B), or (B) enter into any settlement, undertaking, consent decree, stipulation or agreement with any Governmental Authority in connection with the transaction.

 

(b)In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each of the Sellers, the Buyer, and the Buyer Parent shall, as promptly as practicable after the date hereof, assemble all appropriate information to complete and jointly submit Filings (i) seeking the Communications Regulatory Authority Consents set forth in Schedule 3.03(c) or described in Section 3.03(c)(i) and (ii) to the extent necessary and appropriate under Applicable Law providing notice to applicable Communications Regulatory Authorities, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii) with respect to consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, within 30 Business Days of the date hereof (or such later date as mutually agreed by the parties hereto, such agreement not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

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(c)In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing and to the extent not prohibited by Applicable Law or any Governmental Authority, each of the Sellers, the Buyer, and Buyer Parent shall cooperate with each other (i) in determining what actions by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental Authority other than those identified in Sections 8.02(a) through (b) are required, or which actions, consents, approvals or waivers are required to be obtained under any Company Contracts, including the RT Park Agreement, in each case in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) in taking such actions or making any such filings, in furnishing information required in connection therewith and in seeking timely to obtain any such actions, consents, approvals or waivers. Except with respect to any condition or divestment related to spectrum licenses held by Buyer or its Affiliates and contemplated in the definition of Material Adverse Regulatory Event which shall not be prohibited or restrained by the following proviso and subject to the last provision of this Section 8.02(c), nothing in this Agreement, (i) shall require Buyer or Buyer Parent to litigate or participate in the litigation of any action or proceeding in connection with a Communications Regulatory Authority Consent, whether judicial or administrative, brought by any Governmental Authority or appeal any order (A) challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the transaction or seeking to obtain from Buyer or Buyer Parent any damages in relation therewith, or (B) seeking to prohibit or limit in any respect, or place any conditions on, the ownership or operation by Buyer or Buyer Parent of all or any portion of Buyer or Buyer Parent’s business or the Business or assets (including Communications Permits) or any product of the Company or to require any such person to dispose of, license (whether pursuant to an exclusive or nonexclusive license) or hold separate all or any portion of Buyer or Buyer Parent’s business or the Business or assets (including Communications Permits) or any product of the Company, in each case, as a result of or in connection with the transaction, or (ii) shall require Buyer or Buyer Parent to, nor shall the Company without the prior written consent of Buyer or Buyer Parent, (A) agree or proffer to any of the prohibitions, limitations, conditions or other actions referred to in the preceding clause (i)(B), or (B) enter into any settlement, undertaking, consent decree, stipulation or agreement with any Governmental Authority in connection with the transaction; provided,  however, Buyer and Buyer Parent shall negotiate in good faith with the PSC with respect to obtaining the Communications Regulatory Authority Consents.

 

(d)In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, and to the extent permitted by Applicable Law, each of the Sellers, Buyer, and Buyer Parent shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) cooperate in all respects with each other in connection with any Filing and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry by or on behalf of a Governmental Authority; (ii) promptly inform the other party of any Filing or communication received from, or intended to be given to, any Governmental Authority regarding any of the transactions contemplated hereby; (iii) and prior to submitting any Filing, substantive written communication, correspondence or other information or response by such party to any Governmental Authority (or members of the staff of any Governmental Authority), permit the other party and its counsel the opportunity to review as reasonably in advance as practicable under the circumstances, and consider in good faith the comments of the other party in connection with any such Filing, communication or inquiry; (iv) furnish each other with a copy of any Filing, communication or, if in written form, inquiry, it or any of its Affiliates makes to or receives from any Governmental Authority; and (v) consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with any such Governmental Authority to the extent reasonably practicable,  give the other party the

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opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences, in each case (i)-(iv) regarding any of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(e)Each of the Company and the Buyer shall pay its own costs in connection with any Filings pursuant to this Section 8.02, and each of them shall pay one-half of any filing fees in connection with any joint Filings pursuant to this Section 8.02, including pursuant to the HSR Act and any other Competition Law.

 

(f)Promptly after the date hereof, and only to the extent permitted by FCC rules, Sellers and Buyer Parent shall establish, and Sellers shall designate the appropriate employees of the Company to participate with employees of Buyer Parent in, a joint working group to prepare for the integration of the Company and the Seller Entities after the Closing into Buyer Parent’s internal control structure and procedures for financial reporting compliance with  the requirements of Rule 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and Buyer Parent’s financial reporting structure. In addition, prior to the Closing, Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company and the Seller Entities and their respective directors, officers, employees and representatives to, reasonably cooperate with Buyer Parent and its representatives in connection with the preparation of any financial information that may be required by Form 8-K, Regulation S-X, and/or Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Act (including any audited financial statements and pro forma financial statements under Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X) in connection with the transaction. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Sellers shall, and shall cause the Company, its other Subsidiaries and their respective representatives to, upon reasonable request (a) furnish the report of the Company’s auditor on the most recent audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Seller Entities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consent of such auditor to the use of such report in accordance with normal custom and practice; (b) furnish any additional financial statements, schedules or other financial data relating to the Company and the Seller Entities reasonably requested by Buyer Parent; (c) furnish management and legal representatives of senior officers of the Company to auditors; and (d) make available the employees and advisors of the Company and the Seller Entities to provide reasonable assistance with Buyer Parent’s preparation of any required financial statements.

 

(g)The Buyer, Buyer Parent, Sellers, and Seller Entities shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause their respective Affiliates to (to the extent required by Applicable Law), disclose the existence of this Agreement and the Related Agreements in any Filing that they make to participate in, or otherwise in connection with, the Auction to the extent reasonably necessary to enable the parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement and complete the transactions contemplated herein during the Auction’s Quiet Period.

 

Section 8.03 Alternative Transaction Structure. In the event that all conditions precedent under Section 9.01 and Section 9.02 have been satisfied other than the receipt of Communications Regulatory Authority Consents necessary to transfer control of STM Asset Holdings, LLC (“STM”) and/or BVI Assets Holdings, LLC (“BVI”) (all such conditions precedent, the “USVI Conditions Precedent”), and it is reasonably likely that the receipt of the Communications Regulatory Authority Consents necessary to transfer control of STM and/or BVI will materially delay Closing, then the parties shall cooperate and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to restructure the transaction contemplated hereby to facilitate a

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timely Closing (the “Alternative Transaction”). In the event of such restructuring, the parties shall cooperate in good faith to modify this Agreement and enter into such other agreements and arrangements necessary in order to effect such Alternative Transaction.

 

Section 8.04 Public Announcements. No press release or other public announcement related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated herein shall be issued or made without the joint approval of the Buyer and the Sellers unless required by Applicable Law or listing agreement with a national securities exchange (in the reasonable opinion of counsel), in which case, the party proposing to issue such press release or make such public announcement shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to consult in good faith with the other party before issuing any such press release or making any such public announcement to attempt to agree upon mutually satisfactory text.

 

Section 8.05 Transfer Taxes. Parent and the Buyer shall each bear 50% of the obligation with respect to all use, sales, transfer, recording, registration and other fees, and other similar transaction Taxes (but not taxes on any income or gain realized by the Sellers in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, which taxes shall be solely the responsibility of the Sellers), if any, imposed by reason of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (“Transfer Taxes”). Parent and the Buyer shall be jointly responsible for preparing and timely filing any Tax Returns required with respect to any such Transfer Taxes, and shall provide each other with cooperation in the preparation of any such Tax Returns.

 

Section 8.06 Disclosure Generally. The Schedules have been arranged, for purposes of convenience only, as separately titled Schedules corresponding to the Sections of this Agreement. Any information set forth in any Schedule or incorporated in any Section of this Agreement shall be considered to have been set forth in each other Schedule only to the extent the relevance of such information is reasonably apparent on the face of such Schedule. The specification of any dollar amount in the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or the inclusion of any specific item in the Schedules is not intended to imply that such amounts, or higher or lower amounts, or the items so included or other items, are or are not required to be disclosed or are within or outside of the ordinary course of business. The information contained in the Schedules is disclosed solely for the purposes of this Agreement, and no information contained therein shall be deemed to be an admission by any party hereto to any third party of any matter whatsoever, including of any violation of Applicable Law or breach of any agreement.

 

Section 8.07 Straddle Period Taxes. For purposes of this Agreement, any Tax Liability attributable to a taxable period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date (a “Straddle Period”) shall be apportioned, (i) in the case of Taxes based upon, or related to, income or receipts, or imposed in connection with any sale or other transfer or assignment of property (real or personal, tangible or intangible) (other than conveyances pursuant to this Agreement), on the basis of a “closing of the books” as of the beginning of, but not including, the Closing Date; and (ii)in the case of other Taxes, amounts allocated to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date shall be deemed to be the amount of such Taxes for the entire period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in the entire period.

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Section 8.08 Tax Returns. Parent shall be responsible for preparing any Tax Returns with respect to the Company and the Seller Entities for any taxable year that ends on or prior to the Closing Date. All such Tax Returns shall be prepared in accordance with past practice and custom of the Company and the Seller Entities. The Buyer shall be responsible for preparing any Tax Returns with respect to the Company and the Seller Entities for any Straddle Periods and for taxable years beginning and ending after the Closing Date. For any Tax Return filed by Parent after the Closing Date, Parent shall make such Tax Returns available for review by the Buyer no less than 15 days in advance of the due date for filing such Tax Returns, and shall cause any reasonable comments of the Buyer to be reflected in such Tax Return, and Buyer and Parent shall work together to resolve any disagreement regarding the Tax Returns; provided, however, that if any disagreements are not resolved prior to the due date of a Tax Return, such Tax Return shall be filed as prepared by Parent and such disagreement shall be resolved by the Firm and any determination of the Firm will be final. Parent shall pay to Buyer on or before the due date of such Tax Return any Tax Liability shown as due thereon, but only to the extent such Tax Liability exceeds the amount of such Tax Liability included in the determination of Net Working Capital and taken into account as an adjustment to the purchase price hereunder. For all Straddle Period Tax Returns, Buyer shall make such Tax Returns available to Parent no less than 15 days in advance of the due for filing such Tax Returns, together with a statement showing the computation of the Tax Liability of the Company or Seller Entities (as the case may be) for the portion of the Straddle Period ending on or before the Closing Date (the “Pre-Closing Tax Period”) and for the portion of the Straddle Period ending after the Closing Date (the “Statement”). Buyer shall cause any reasonable comments of Parent to be reflected in such Tax Return. Parent shall pay to Buyer on or before the due date of the Straddle Period Tax Return any Tax Liability attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period reflected on the Statement to Buyer, but only to the extent such Tax Liability for the Pre-Closing Tax Period exceeds the amount of such Tax Liability included in the determination of Net Working Capital and taken into account as an adjustment to the purchase price hereunder. In the event of any disagreement between the Buyer and Parent regarding such Tax Returns or the Statement, such disagreement shall be resolved by the Firm and any such determination by the Firm shall be conclusive and final. The fees and expenses of the Firm shall be borne equally by the Buyer and Parent. Unless otherwise required by Applicable Law, Buyer shall not amend any Tax Return of the Seller Entities or the Company for any taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date or amend or revoke any Tax elections of the Seller Entities or the Company if such amendment or revocation would impact the Tax Liability of the Seller Entities or the Company for any such taxable periods.

 

Section 8.09 Allocation Statement. Within 90 days after the Closing, Parent shall deliver to the Buyer a statement (the “Allocation Statement”) allocating the consideration paid by the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement among the Company’s assets in accordance with Section 1060 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (the “Section 1060 Allocation”). If, within 30 days after delivery of the Allocation Statement, the Buyer notifies Parent in writing that the Buyer objects to the allocation set forth in the Allocation Statement, Parent and the Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to resolve such dispute within 20 days. In the event the Buyer and Parent are unable to resolve such dispute within 20 days, the Buyer and Parent shall file their Tax Returns in accordance with their own determinations as to the correct allocation. The parties agree to amend the Section 1060 Allocation as necessary to reflect any adjustments in consideration agreed upon, or payments made, after the Closing Date. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 8.09, the Buyer and Parent further agree to file, and

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to cause their respective Affiliates to file, their income tax returns and all other Tax Returns and necessary forms in such a manner as to reflect the allocation of the consideration as determined in accordance with this Section 8.09,  provided, however, nothing herein shall prevent the Buyer or Parent, as the case may be, from settling any proposed deficiency or adjustment by any Governmental Authority based on the Allocation Statement and neither the Buyer nor Parent will be required to litigate any proposed adjustment by any Governmental Authority challenging such Allocation Statement. Any refund received by the Seller Entities for periods prior to the Closing Date or any portion of a Straddle Period prior to the Closing Date shall be paid to Parent, except to the extent such refund was taken into account as an adjustment to the Purchase Price hereunder.

 

Section 8.10 Asset Purchase Reporting. For U.S. federal Income Tax (and state, local and non-U.S. tax purposes, as applicable), Parent and the Buyer agree to report the Buyer’s purchase of the Membership Interest as the purchase of the assets and liabilities of the Company.

 

ARTICLE 9

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

 

Section 9.01 Conditions to the Buyer’s Obligations. The obligations of the Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction (or the Buyer’s waiver) of the following conditions as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)(i) the representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in Section 3.02 (Interests Owned) shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date in all respects, (ii) the Fundamental Representations shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect within any such representation or warranty, true and correct in all respects) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, except (A) for changes contemplated by this Agreement, and (B) for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of the date of this Agreement or any other particular date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect within any such representation or warranty, true and correct in all respects) as of such particular date), and (iii) all other representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in Article 3 shall have been true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date (except that the accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of specific date will be determined as of such specified date), other than to the extent that the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct individually or in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect (or, to the extent qualified by Material Adverse Effect within any such representation or warranty, true and correct in all respects);

 

(b)the Sellers shall have performed in all material respects all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing;

 

(c)all consents, approvals, Filings, waivers or concessions required from third parties set forth on Schedule 9.01(c) and all Communications Regulatory Authority Consents set forth on Schedule 3.03(c) shall have been made or obtained, and, in the case of consents, approvals,

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Filings,  waivers  or  concessions  of  Governmental  Authorities  (including  Communications Regulatory Authority Consents), shall have been made by Final Order;

 

(d)no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by a Governmental Authority or pursuant to Applicable Law shall be in effect which prohibits, restrains or renders illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or would cause such transactions to be rescinded, nor shall any proceeding brought by any Governmental Authority seeking any of the foregoing be pending, and there shall not be any action taken, or any Applicable Law enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which makes the consummation thereof, as contemplated herein, illegal;

 

(e)since the date of this Agreement, there shall have been no Material Adverse Effect or Material Adverse Regulatory Event;

 

(f)the Parent shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate, executed by the chief executive or financial officer of the Parent, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.01(a),  (b) and (e) have been satisfied;

 

(g)the Sellers shall have delivered the Payoff Letters or other written agreements for the release of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens) on any assets or properties of the Company and the Seller Entities (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer);

 

(h)the Escrow Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by Parent and the Escrow Agent;

 

(i)the Financing Documents shall have been executed and delivered by RTFC and the Company;

 

(j)the Company or, alternatively, Parent, shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate or certificates in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, certifying any facts that would exempt the transaction contemplated hereby from or eliminate withholding under Section 1445 of the Code and analogous provisions of foreign Applicable Tax Law;

 

(k)Buyer shall have received, with respect to the Company and each Seller Entity, a certificate of good standing or valid existence, as applicable, of the Company or Seller Entity, as applicable, issued by the Secretary of State or other Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction in which such entity was organized and each jurisdiction in which such entity is qualified or authorized to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity, in each case, dated no more than seven days prior to the Closing Date;

 

(l)Buyer shall have received, with respect to the Company and each Seller Entity the Organizational Documents, certified by the Secretary of State or other Governmental Authority of the jurisdiction of organization, to the extent applicable, and the Company’s or Seller Entity’s corporate Secretary, as applicable;

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(m)Buyer shall have received, resolutions of the members of Parent authorizing and approving this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, certified by the Parent’s Secretary or other authorized officer;

 

(n)Buyer shall have received (at the office of its outside legal counsel) the corporate minute books and stock or other equity interests of the Company and each Seller Entity;

 

(o)Buyer shall have received evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, as to the consummation of the Divestitures;

 

(p)The FTI Letter Agreement shall be in full force and effect and, to the extent requested by Buyer Parent in accordance with the terms of the FTI Letter Agreement, the FTI Transition Management Services Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by FTI;

 

(q)The PSC shall not have granted a cable franchise to a third party, who in ATN’s reasonable judgment is (or is reasonably likely to become) a bona fide competitor to the cable business operated by the Seller Entities, between the date hereof and the Closing Date;

 

(r)Each of the Permits identified on Schedule 9.01(r) is in full force and effect and, with respect to any Permit identified on Schedule 9.01(r) that pursuant to its terms is scheduled to expire within sixty (60) days after the Closing Date, the Company and the Seller Entities have timely filed an application to renew or extend such Permit;

 

(s)The Management Services Agreement, dated as of January 28, 2010, between FTI and Parent shall be terminated with no further force or effect or Liability on the part of the Company or any Seller Entity;

 

(t)The Union Contract Extension is in full force and effect;

 

(u)Each Seller Entity providing services in the United States that is subject to Communications Laws and all facilities in the United States used by the Business to provide services in the United States that are subject to Communications Laws are compliant in all material respects with all applicable Communication Laws; each Seller Entity providing services in the United States that is subject to the Metrics and all facilities in the United States used by the Business to provide services in the United States that are subject to the Metrics are compliant in all material respects with all applicable Metrics; each Seller Entity that is subject to Communications Laws shall provide the Buyer with reasonable evidence of such compliance; and each Seller Entity that is subject to a Metric shall provide the Buyer with reasonable evidence that it has been in compliance with such Metrics for at least the 90 consecutive days immediately preceding the Closing Date, excluding, for purposes of such calculation, any days of non-compliance attributable to a single event outside of the reasonable control of the Company and Seller Entities that could not have been avoided through the exercise of due care and that causes a Seller Entity to fail to comply with one or more Metrics during such 90-day period (a “Force Majeure Interruption”), and aggregating the days immediately preceding and immediately following such Force Majeure Interruption as if consecutive; and

 

(v)The Settlement Agreement and Mutual Release, dated as of August 25, 2015, by and  between  Bonneville  Group  Virgin  Islands,  Inc.  and  the  Virgin  Islands  Telephone

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Corporation d/b/a Innovative Telephone, a copy of which has been provided to Buyer, remains in full force and effect and Sellers have paid all amounts owed thereunder and delivered evidence reasonably satisfactory to Buyer of such payment.

 

Section 9.02 Conditions to the Sellers’ Obligations. The obligation of the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction (or the Sellers’ waiver) of the following conditions as of the Closing Date:

 

(a)The representations and warranties of the Buyer and Buyer Parent contained in Article 5 hereof shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent qualified by materiality within any such representation or warranty, true and correct in all respects) as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, except (i) for changes contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) for those representations and warranties that address matters only as of the date of this Agreement or any other particular date (in which case such representations and warranties shall have been true and correct in all material respects (or, to the extent qualified by materiality within any such representation or warranty, true and correct in all respects) as of such particular date);

 

(b)the Buyer and Buyer Parent shall have performed in all material respects all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by each of them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing;

 

(c)all consents, approvals, Filings, waivers, or concessions required from third parties set forth on Schedule 9.01(c) and all Communications Regulatory Authority Consents set forth on Schedule 3.03(c) shall have been made or obtained;

 

(d)no temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other judgment or order issued by a Governmental Authority or pursuant to Applicable Law shall be in effect which prohibits, restrains or renders illegal the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or would cause such transactions to be rescinded, nor shall any proceeding brought by any Governmental Authority seeking any of the foregoing be pending, and there shall not be any action taken, or any Applicable Law enacted, entered, enforced or deemed applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement which makes the consummation thereof, as contemplated herein, illegal;

 

(e)the Escrow Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by Buyer and the Escrow Agent; and

 

(f)the Buyer shall have delivered to Parent a certificate, executed by the chief executive or financial officer of the Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions set forth in Sections 9.02(a) and (b) have been satisfied.

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ARTICLE 10

TERMINATION

 

Section 10.01 Termination. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:

 

(a)by the mutual written consent of the Buyer and Buyer Parent, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand;

 

(b)by the Buyer and Buyer Parent, if the Sellers (or either of them) shall have breached in any material respect any of its or their representations or warranties or failed to perform in any material respect any covenant or other agreement contained herein, which breach or failure to perform would render unsatisfied any condition to the obligations of the Buyer at the Closing and (i) such breach or failure to perform is not curable, or (ii) if capable of being cured, has not been cured by the Sellers prior to the earlier of (A) ten Business Days after the Sellers’ receipt of written notice thereof from the Buyer, and (B) the Outside Date;

 

(c)by the Sellers, if Buyer or Buyer Parent shall have breached in any material respect any of its representations or warranties or failed to perform in any material respect any covenant or other agreement contained herein, which breach or failure to perform would render unsatisfied any condition to the obligations of the Sellers at the Closing and (i) such breach or failure to perform is not curable, or (ii) if capable of being cured, has not been cured by the Buyer or Buyer Parent, as applicable, prior to the earlier of (A) ten Business Days after the Buyer’s and Buyer Parent’s receipt of written notice thereof from the Sellers, and (B) the Outside Date;

 

(d)by the Buyer and Buyer Parent, if the Closing has not occurred on or before the 15th-month anniversary of the date that the last application (that is in proper form and content for processing) for the Communications Regulatory Authority Consents is filed by the parties (such date, the “Outside Date”); provided, further, the Buyer and Buyer Parent shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(d) if the Buyer’s or Buyer Parent’s breach of this Agreement has prevented the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

 

(e)by the Sellers, if the Closing has not occurred on or before the Outside Date; provided, further, the Sellers shall not be entitled to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01(e) if the Sellers’ breach of this Agreement has prevented the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; or

 

(f)By either Buyer and Buyer Parent, on the one hand, or the Sellers, on the other hand, if a Governmental Authority shall have issued an order, permanent injunction or other judgment or taken any other action including in connection with the required approvals under the HSR Act, other Competition Laws, or a Communications Regulatory Authority Consent, in each case, which has become a Final Order and which restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits or denies the consummation of the transfer of control of DTR Holdings, LLC.

 

The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10.01 shall give written notice of such termination to the other parties hereto.

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Section 10.02 Effect of Termination. In the event this Agreement is terminated as provided in Section 10.01, the provisions of this Agreement shall immediately become void and of no further force and effect, other than Section 7.01 (Confidentiality), Section 8.04 (Public Announcements), this Section 10.02, and Article 12;  provided,  however, that nothing in this Section 10.02 shall be deemed to impair the right of any party to compel specific performance by any other party of its obligations under this Agreement; and provided further, however, that termination shall not relieve any party of liability for any breach by it prior to such termination of its obligations under this Agreement; and; provided,  further, that, parties hereto shall cooperate in good faith to withdraw Filings made to Governmental Authorities in respect of any requested or required consent or approval.

 

ARTICLE 11

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 11.01 Survival Period.  All representations and warranties made by the parties in this Agreement will survive until the fifteen (15)-month anniversary of the Closing Date, except that the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.01(a) (Organization and Qualification), Section 3.02 (Interests Owned), Section 3.03(a) and clause (ii) of Section 3.03(b) (Authority; No Conflicts of Organizational Documents), Section 3.05 (Advisory and Other Fees), Section 3.06 (Taxes), Section 3.08(d) (Indebtedness), Section 3.15(f) (Permits); Section 3.16 (Employee Benefit Plans), Section 3.18 (Environmental Matters), Section 5.01 (Existence and Power), Section 5.02 (Organizational Authorization) and Section 5.09 (Finder’s Fees) (the foregoing Sections, the “Fundamental Representations”) shall survive the Closing until the date that is sixty (60) days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations or other effective temporal limitation governing claims relating to the underlying subject matter, as applicable. This Article 11 will survive the Closing and will remain in effect (i) with respect to Sections 11.02(a)(i) and 11.02(b)(i), so long as the relevant representations and warranties survive, (ii) with respect to Sections 11.02(a)(ii) and 11.02(b)(ii), so long as the applicable covenant survives, (iii) with respect to Sections 11.02(a)(iii)-(viii), until the date that is sixty (60) days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations, (iv) with respect to Section 11.02(a)(ix), until the fifteen (15)-month anniversary of the Closing Date, and (v) with respect to Section 11.02(a)(x), until the date that is 60 days following the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations relating to the underlying Tax matter. Any matter as to which a claim has been asserted by timely notice that is pending or unresolved at the end of the applicable survival period will continue to be covered by this Article 11, notwithstanding any applicable statute of limitations, until such matter is finally terminated or otherwise resolved under this Agreement or non-appealable judgment of an arbitrator, and any amounts payable under this Agreement are finally determined and paid.

 

Section 11.02  Indemnification.

 

(a)Subject to the other provisions and limitations of this Article 11, after the Closing, Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Buyer, Buyer Parent, and their respective Affiliates (including, following the Closing, the Company and the Seller Entities) and their respective officers, directors, members, managers, shareholders, employees, agents and representatives (the “Buyer Indemnified Parties”) from, against and in respect of any Loss which the Buyer Indemnified Party suffers as a result of or arising from:

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(i)any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Sellers in this Agreement or any Seller Closing Certificate, in each case without giving effect to any qualifications as to materiality, Material Adverse Effect or similar qualifications contained in such representations and warranties;

 

(ii)any breach of any covenant or agreement of the Sellers set forth in this Agreement or in any Seller Closing Certificate;

 

(iii)any Transaction Costs or Closing Indebtedness to the extent not satisfied in full pursuant to Section 2.05;

 

(iv)any matter set forth in Schedule 3.07;

 

(v)any  claims  by  any  interested  party  arising  out  of,  or  related  to,  the bankruptcy of Innovative Communication Corporation;

 

(vi)any matter set forth in Schedule 3.04;

 

(vii)failure of the Company or a Seller Entity to comply with any Communications Law or Metric prior to the Closing Date;

 

(viii)any Exceptions that are neither (A) removed prior to Closing as contemplated by Section 6.02(b)(i), nor (B) with respect to which a liquidated sum is reflected on the Flow of Funds or accounted for as a reduction to Purchase Price as contemplated by Section 6.20(b)(ii);

 

(ix)failure of the applicable Seller Entity to: (A) with respect to each of the Designated Leased Properties, (i) enter into fully executed, and if applicable, duly registered leases or other similar agreements on customary terms providing a valid and subsisting leasehold interest or other similar rights, or (ii) remove, discharge or obtain a release of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) adversely affecting the applicable Seller Entity’s occupancy or enjoyment thereof; (B) enter into and duly record easements on customary terms with respect to each of the Designated Easements; and (C) complete the purchase of real property listed on Schedule 3.10(a) under the heading “Real Property in Process of finalizing transfer and registration process”; and

 

(x)any Taxes imposed on the Company or any Seller Entity attributable to

(A) any taxable year ending on or before the Closing Date, (B) the Pre-Closing Tax Period, (C) the Divestitures, and/or (D) Liabilities of the Company or the Selling Entities for Taxes (including, without limitation, Taxes payable to the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue) for any taxable year ending on or before the Closing Date or Pre- Closing Tax Period of any other Person by reason of Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or analogous provisions of state, local or foreign Applicable Tax Laws), or as a successor, transferee or otherwise (the “Tax Indemnity”).

 

(b)Subject to the other provisions and limitations of this Article 11, after the Closing the Buyer and Buyer Parent shall, jointly and severally, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Parent   and   its   Affiliates   and   their   respective   officers,   directors,   members,   managers,

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shareholders, employees, agents and representatives (the “Seller Indemnified Parties”) from, against and in respect of any Loss which the Seller Indemnified Party suffers as a result of or arising from:

 

(i)any breach of any representation or warranty made by the Buyer and Buyer Parent in this Agreement; and

 

(ii)any breach of any covenant or agreement of the Buyer or Buyer Parent set forth in this Agreement.

 

Section 11.03 Limitations. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary:

 

(a)Parent, on the one hand, and Buyer and Buyer Parent, on the other hand, as applicable, will not be required to indemnify any Person under Section 11.02(a)(i) or Section 11.02(b)(i), respectively, with respect to any Losses unless and until the individual Loss, together with all other Losses, exceeds $1,450,000 (the “Deductible”), and in such event the Parent, on the one hand, or Buyer and Buyer Parent, on the other hand, as applicable, will be responsible for only those indemnifiable Losses in excess of those counted towards the Deductible;

 

(b)the aggregate Liability of the Parent under Section 11.02(a)(i), or Buyer and Buyer Parent under Section 11.02(b)(i), respectively, for all Losses (other  than  Losses arising out of a breach of any Fundamental Representation) will not exceed an amount equal to $36,250,000;

 

(c)without limiting the foregoing, the limitations set forth in this Section 11.3 will also not apply to claims based upon intentional or willful misrepresentation of facts that constitutes common law fraud under Applicable Laws; and

 

(d)the Buyer Indemnified Parties shall not be entitled to seek indemnification from Parent with respect to any Losses suffered as a direct result of any election by the Buyer to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement prior to the last date on which a Communications Regulatory Authority Consent becomes a Final Order.

 

Section 11.04  Indemnification Procedure as to Third Party Claims.

 

(a)Promptly after the assertion by any third party of any claim (a “Third Party Claim”) that results, or might upon the resolution of such Third Party Claim result in, Losses for which any Person entitled to indemnification under Section 11.02 (the “Indemnitee”) is entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, such Indemnitee shall promptly provide notice of such Third Party Claim to the parties from whom such indemnification could be sought (the “Indemnitors”) (provided that failure to so notify the Indemnitors will only relieve the indemnification obligation if and to the extent such failure results in material prejudice with respect to such Third Party Claim) and prior to the fifteen (15)-month anniversary of the Closing Date, the Escrow Agent.

 

(b)The Indemnitors may, at its option and upon acknowledging in writing to the Indemnitee’s  reasonable  satisfaction  the  Indemnitor’s  responsibility  for  the  entirety  of  any

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amounts payable to any third party with respect to such Third Party Claim (without regard to any threshold or limitation contemplated by Section 11.02(a) or (b), as the case may be), assume the defense of the Indemnitee against such Third Party Claim (including the employment of counsel reasonably acceptable the Indemnitee and the payment of reasonable expenses). Any Indemnitee shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such Third Party Claim and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall not be an expense of the Indemnitor unless (i) the Indemnitor shall have failed, within a reasonable time after having been notified by the Indemnitee of the existence of such Third Party Claim as provided in the preceding sentence, to assume the defense of such Third Party Claim or (ii) the employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized by the Indemnitor. If (i) the Indemnitor does not assume such defense, or notifies the Indemnitee within 30 days after the date notice is provided pursuant to Section 11.04(a) that the Indemnitor does not assume such defense, (ii) the Indemnitor having assumed such defense but failed to contest such Third Party Claim in good faith with legal counsel reasonably acceptable to Indemnitee (and Indemnitee’s consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), then the Indemnitee shall have the right, but not the obligation (upon delivering notice to such effect to the Indemnitor) to retain separate counsel of its choosing, defend such Third Party Claim and have the sole power to direct and control such defense (all at the reasonable cost and expense of the Indemnitor); it being understood that the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification for a Third Party Claim shall not be adversely affected by assuming the defense of such Third Party Claim. In all cases, the party without the right to control the defense of the Third Party Claim may retain counsel of its choice at its own expense, and may participate in the defense of such Third Party Claim.

 

(c)Notwithstanding Section 11.04(b) above, if, with respect to a Third Party Claim: (i) such Third Party Claim seeks an injunction or other equitable remedies other than monetary damages in respect of the Indemnitee or its business; (ii) such Third Party Claim is reasonably likely to result in liabilities that, taken with other then existing claims under this Article 11, will not be fully indemnified hereunder; (iii) the Indemnitee has been advised by counsel in writing that an actual or potential conflict exists between the Indemnitee and the Indemnitor in connection with the defense of the Third Party Claim; (iv) such Third Party Claim involves a Permit or Governmental Authority; or (v) such Third Party Claim seeks a finding or admission of a violation of Applicable Law by the Indemnitee or any of its Affiliates, then, in each such case (A) the Indemnitee alone shall be entitled, but not obligated, to contest and defend, such Third Party Claim in the first instance, with counsel of its choosing and reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Parties, at the expense of the Indemnifying Parties; it being understood that the Indemnitee’s right to indemnification for a Third Party Claim shall not be adversely affected by assuming the defense of such Third Party Claim, and (B) if the Indemnitee does not contest and defend such Third Party Claim, the Indemnitor shall then have the right to contest and defend such Third Party Claim.

 

(d)The Indemnitee and the Indemnitor shall use commercially reasonable efforts to avoid production of confidential information (consistent with Applicable Law), and to cause all communications among employees, counsel and others representing any party to a Third Party Claim to be made so as to preserve any applicable attorney-client or work-product privileges.

 

(e)Notwithstanding anything in this Section 11.04 to the contrary, neither the Indemnitor nor the  Indemnitee may, without the written consent of the other party, which

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consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, settle or compromise any Third Party Claim for which indemnification is sought, or permit a default judgment, or consent to entry of any judgment. If a settlement offer solely for money damages is made by the applicable third- party claimant, and the Indemnitor notifies the Indemnitee in writing of the Indemnitor’s willingness to accept the settlement offer and pay the amount called for by such offer without reservation of any rights or defenses against the Indemnitee, the Indemnitee may decline to accept the settlement offer and may continue to contest such claim, free of any participation by the Indemnitor, and the amount of any ultimate Liability with respect to such Third Party Claim that the Indemnitor has an obligation to pay under this Agreement will be limited to the lesser of (i) the amount of the settlement offer that the Indemnitee declined to accept plus the Losses of the Indemnitee relating to such Third Party Claim incurred with respect to costs and expenses of investigation, collection, prosecution, determination and defense thereof (including reasonable legal, accounting and other professional fees) through the date of its rejection of the settlement offer, or (ii) the aggregate Losses of the Indemnitee with respect to such Third Party Claim.

 

(f)Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section 11.04 to the contrary, for (i) any matter identified on Schedule 3.06 and identified with an asterisk (*) (each, a “Tax Claim”), and (ii) any Action or other matter set forth on Schedule 3.07 that remains open after the Closing (collectively with the Tax Claims, the “Retained Litigation”), (A) Parent shall control, prosecute and defend against, the Retained Litigation on behalf of the Company and the Seller Entities, including, without limitation, any settlement of the Retained Litigation; provided, that, no compromise or settlement of the Retained Litigation may be effected without the written consent of Buyer (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed provided that such compromise or settlement involves the payment of money damages only and includes mutual general releases), (B) Parent shall actively and diligently conduct the prosecution or defense, as applicable, of the Retained Litigation, (C) Parent shall keep the Buyer reasonably informed as to the status of the Retained Litigation (including, without limitation, by participating in monthly meetings with Buyer to discuss status and strategy) and copy Buyer on all correspondence relating thereto, (D) Buyer shall be entitled to participate in, and be present at, conference calls and meetings concerning the Retained Litigation, and (E) the Buyer shall be entitled to retain separate legal counsel and other advisors for purposes of keeping itself reasonably apprised as to the rights and obligations of the Buyer Indemnified Parties with respect to the Retained Litigation, and the Buyer shall bear all of the costs and expenses of such counsel and other advisors.

 

Section 11.05 Non-Third Party Claims. If a claim for Losses (a “Claim”) is to be made by any Indemnitee that does not involve a third party, such Indemnitee shall give written notice (a “Claim Notice”) to the Parent if the Claim Notice is being given by a Buyer Indemnified Party and to Buyer and Buyer Parent if the Claim Notice is being given by a Seller Indemnified Party, in each case, promptly after such Indemnitee becomes aware of any fact, condition or event giving rise to Losses for which indemnification may  be  sought  under Section 11.02(a) or 11.02(b), which Claim Notice shall specify in reasonable detail, to the extent reasonably practicable at such time, the amount of the Claim and the Losses included in the amount so stated, the date (if any) such item was incurred or suffered, the basis for any anticipated liability and the nature of the misrepresentation, default, breach of warranty or breach of covenant or claim to which each such item is related. The failure of any Indemnitee to give timely notice hereunder shall not affect such Indemnitee’s rights to indemnification hereunder,

- 68 -


 

except to the extent the applicable Indemnitor is actually prejudiced by such delay or failure, and the amount of reimbursement to which the Indemnitee is entitled shall be reduced by the amount, if any, by which the Indemnitee’s Losses would have been less had such Claim Notice been timely given. If the applicable Indemnitor notifies the Indemnitee that it does not dispute the claim described in such Claim Notice or fails to respond within 30 days following receipt of such Claim Notice, the Losses identified in the Claim Notice will be conclusively deemed a liability of the Indemnitor under Section 11.02(a) or 11.02(b), as applicable. If the applicable Indemnitor disputes its liability with respect to such Claim or the estimated amount of such Losses pursuant to this Section 11.05, the parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve such dispute; provided, that if such dispute has not been resolved within 90 days following receipt of such Claim Notice, then the Indemnitor and the Indemnitee may seek legal redress in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.06 Adjustments; Subrogation; Regarding the Net Working Capital Amount.

 

(a)For purposes of calculating amounts recoverable from an Indemnitor, Losses will be measured net of any amounts actually recovered (and not simply recoverable) after deducting collection costs and expenses, including any deductible amount, and any resultant increase in insurance premiums, by the Indemnitee for the Losses for which such indemnification payment is payable under any insurance policy, warranty or indemnity from any third party (each such source, a “Collateral Source”). In the event that a recovery or payment from a Collateral Source is received by an Indemnitee with respect to any Loss for which any such Indemnitee has been indemnified by any Indemnitor hereunder, then a refund equal to the aggregate amount of the recovery (after deducting collection costs and expenses, including any deductible amount, and any resultant increase in insurance premiums), up to the amount paid by the Indemnitor to the Indemnitee, shall be made promptly by such Indemnitee to such Indemnitor. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, all such amounts actually recovered shall count against the Deductible.

 

(b)If (i) Indemnitee is a Buyer Indemnified Party and (ii) a Loss is covered by a Seller Insurance Policy, Indemnitee shall seek full recovery and payment of such Loss from such Seller Insurance Policy to the same extent as it would if such Loss were not subject to indemnification hereunder. The Buyer and the Company shall not terminate or cancel any Seller Insurance Policy. For purposes hereof, “Seller Insurance Policy” means any insurance policy in effect for periods prior to the Closing to the extent the premiums therefor have been paid in full by the Company or a Seller Entity prior to the Closing.

 

(c)All indemnification payments made hereunder shall be treated by all parties as adjustments to the Purchase Price.

 

(d)Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 11, there shall be no recovery for any Loss or alleged Loss by the Buyer under Section 11.02, and the Loss shall not be included in meeting the Deductible hereunder, to the extent such item has been included in the calculation of the Net Working Capital Amount, including reserves and accruals, as determined pursuant to Section 2.05.

- 69 -


 

Section 11.07 Surviving Company. The parties acknowledge and agree that, if the Company or any Seller Entity suffers, incurs or otherwise becomes subject to any Losses as a result of or in connection with any misrepresentation or inaccuracy in or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement, then (without limiting any of the rights of the Company or Seller Entity as an Indemnitee) Buyer shall also be deemed, by virtue of its ownership of the Membership Interest, to have incurred Losses as a result of and in connection with such misrepresentation, inaccuracy or breach.

 

Section 11.08  Limitation of Recourse.

 

(a)Except for (i) claims arising from intentional or willful misrepresentation of facts that constitutes common law fraud under Applicable Laws, committed by a party hereto (ii) specific performance of obligations to be performed in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, (iii) claims by any party for equitable relief as permitted by this Agreement, and (iv) the purchase price adjustment provisions of Section 2.05 (none of which shall not be limited or impeded by this Article 11), the indemnification provided by this Article 11 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for any Losses of the Buyer Indemnified Parties or Seller Indemnified Parties, as applicable, with respect to any misrepresentation or inaccuracy in, or breach of, any representations or warranties or any breach or failure in performance of any covenants or agreements made in this Agreement or in any Related Agreement, and except as set forth in this Article 11, the parties hereto waive any and all rights and claims they may have against the other parties hereto with respect thereto, including claims and rights for contribution, indemnity or other rights of recovery.

 

(b)No claim shall be brought or maintained by any party hereto or their respective successors or permitted assigns against any officer, director, employee (present or former) or Affiliate of any party hereto which is not otherwise expressly identified as a party hereto, and no recourse shall be brought or granted against any of them, by virtue of or based upon any alleged misrepresentation or inaccuracy in or breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants of any party hereto set forth or contained in this Agreement or any exhibit or Schedule hereto or any certificate delivered hereunder.

 

ARTICLE 12

MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 12.01 Notices. All notices, requests and other communications to any party hereunder shall be in writing (including by confirmed facsimile or email transmission to the extent facsimile numbers and/or email addresses are provided below or subsequently designated) and shall be given, in each case to the appropriate address(es) and facsimile number(s) set forth below (or to such other address(es) and facsimile number(s) as a party may designate by notice, given as provided herein, to the other parties hereto):

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if to the Buyer, Buyer Parent or, following the Closing, the Company, then to:

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. 

600 Cummings Center

Beverly, MA 01915

Attn:Bill Kreisher, Senior Vice President of Corporate Development 

Email: legalnotices@atni.com

 

with  a copy to (which copies shall not constitute notice):

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

600 Cummings Center

Beverly, MA 01915

Attn:Leonard Q. Slap, Senior Vice President & General Counsel 

Email: legalnotices@atni.com

 

and

 

Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. 

One Financial Center

Boston, MA 02111

Attn:    Matthew J. Gardella, Esq.

Fax: (617) 542-2241

 

or, if to the Company, prior to the Closing, or the Parent, then to:

 

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation 

20701 Cooperative Way

Dulles, VA 20166

Attn:    Steven L. Lilly, Senior Vice President Fax: (703) 467-5178

 

with  a copy to (which copies shall not constitute notice):

 

National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation 

20701 Cooperative Way

Dulles, VA 20166

Attn: Roberta B. Aronson, General Counsel 

Fax: (703) 467-5651

 

and

 

Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP 

2200 Ross Avenue, Suite 3600

Dallas, Texas  75201 

Attn:Toby Gerber 

Fax:(214) 855-8200

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All such notices, requests and other communications shall be deemed received on the date of receipt by the recipient thereof if received on a Business Day in the place of receipt prior to 5:00 p.m. in the place of receipt. Otherwise, any such notice, request or communication shall be deemed not to have been received until the next succeeding Business Day in the place of receipt.

 

Section 12.02  Amendments and Waivers.

 

(a)Except as otherwise provided herein, any provision of this Agreement may be amended or waived if, but only if, such amendment or waiver is in writing and is signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Buyer, Buyer Parent, the Parent and the Company, or in the case of a waiver, by the party against whom the waiver is to be effective.

 

(b)No failure or delay by any party in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or privilege.

 

Section 12.03 Construction; Severability. The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties hereto to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Person. The headings of the sections and paragraphs of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall in no way restrict or otherwise modify any of the terms or provisions hereof. Whenever possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under Applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be prohibited by or invalid under Applicable Law, such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of this Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this Agreement to $ or dollars are to U.S. dollars. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of like import used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole (including all of the Schedules and Exhibits) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. The words “party” or “parties” shall refer to parties to this Agreement. References to Recitals, Articles, Sections, subsections, clauses, Schedules and Exhibits are to Recitals, Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any capitalized term used in any Schedule or Exhibit but not otherwise defined therein shall have the meaning given to such term in this Agreement. Any singular term in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the plural, and any plural term the singular, and words of one gender shall be held to include the other gender as the context requires. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation,” whether or not they are in fact followed by those words or words of like import. “Writing,” “written” and comparable terms refer to printing, typing and other means of reproducing words (including electronic media) in a visible form. References to any Person include the successors and permitted assigns of that Person. References from or through any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and including, respectively. Any reference to “days” means calendar days unless Business Days are expressly specified. If any action under this Agreement is required to be done or taken on a day that is not a Business Day, then such action shall be required to be done or taken not on such day but on the first

- 72 -


 

succeeding Business Day thereafter. Dates and times set forth in this Agreement for the performance of the parties’ respective obligations hereunder or for the exercise of their rights hereunder shall be strictly construed, time being of the essence of this Agreement.

 

Section 12.04 Expenses. Except as set forth in Section 8.02(e), all Transaction Costs shall be paid by the party incurring such Transaction Costs, whether or not the Closing occurs. Without limiting the foregoing, all costs and expenses associated with the consents, approvals, Filings, waivers or concessions required from any Person other than any Governmental Authority and set forth on Schedule 3.03(c) shall be borne exclusively by the Parent. All Transaction Costs which are incurred by the Company and the Seller Entities and which remain unpaid as of the Closing Date will be paid at the Closing as Closing Transaction Costs. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, all fees and expenses of the Escrow Agent shall be borne 50% by Buyer, on the one hand, and 50% by the Company prior to Closing (and included as Closing Transaction Costs) or, following the Closing, the Parent, on the other hand.

 

Section 12.05 Successors and Assigns. The provisions of this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided that no party may assign, delegate or otherwise transfer any of its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the consent of each other party hereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Buyer may, without the prior written consent of any other party hereto, (i) assign any or all of its rights hereunder to one or more of Buyer Parent’s wholly- owned subsidiaries that are entities formed and existing in the United States, (ii) designate one or more of Buyer Parent’s wholly-owned subsidiaries that are entities formed and existing in the United States to perform its obligations hereunder, (iii) assign any or all of its rights to any Person that acquires all or substantially all of the business of the Buyer, and (iv) assign any or all of its rights hereunder to one or more financing sources; provided, that such assignment is not reasonably expected to have an adverse effect or delay on any Communications Regulatory Authority Consent; and, provided, further, that Buyer Parent may not assign its obligations under Article 4 without the Parent’s prior written consent.

 

Section 12.06 Governing Law. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of this Agreement and the exhibits and Schedules hereto shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States applicable thereto and the internal laws of the State of Delaware, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction.

 

Section 12.07 Jurisdiction; Venue. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined in any state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Each of the parties to this Agreement irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts of Delaware and to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement and each of the parties to this Agreement irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such Action may be heard and determined exclusively in any Delaware state or federal court sitting in the State of Delaware. Each of the parties to this Agreement consents to service of process by delivery pursuant to Section 12.01 and agrees that a final judgment in any Action shall be

- 73 -


 

conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law.

 

Section 12.08 Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT, THE RELATED AGREEMENTS OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.

 

Section 12.09 Specific Performance, Remedies Not Exclusive. The parties acknowledge that the Buyer and Buyer Parent, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand, would be irreparably damaged if the provisions of this Agreement are not performed by the other parties hereto in accordance with their specific terms and that any breach of this Agreement by a party could not be adequately compensated in all cases by monetary damages alone. Accordingly, the Buyer and Buyer Parent (in the event of such a breach by the Sellers) and the Sellers (in the event of such a breach by the Buyer or Buyer Parent) shall be entitled to a decree of specific performance pursuant to which the Buyer and Buyer Parent or the Sellers, respectively, are ordered to affirmatively carry out their obligations under this Agreement, whether before or after the Closing, and each party hereto hereby waives any defense to the effect that a remedy at law would be an adequate remedy for such breach. Any requirements for the securing or posting of any bond by a party hereto with such equitable remedy are hereby waived.

 

Section 12.10 Prevailing Party. If any litigation or other court action, arbitration or similar adjudicatory proceeding is commenced by any party hereto to enforce its rights under this Agreement against any other party, all fees, costs and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and court costs, incurred by the prevailing party in such litigation, action, arbitration or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the losing party; provided, that if a party to such litigation, action, arbitration or proceeding prevails in part, and loses in part, the court, arbitrator or other adjudicator presiding over such litigation, action, arbitration or proceeding shall award a reimbursement of the fees, costs and expenses incurred by such party on an equitable basis.

 

Section 12.11 Counterparts; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement may  be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement shall become effective when each party hereto shall have received a counterpart hereof signed by the other parties hereto. Except as otherwise specifically set forth herein, no provision of this Agreement (including specifically, but not limited to, Sections 7.02,  11.01,  11.02 and 11.03) is intended to confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto any rights or remedies hereunder.

 

Section 12.12 Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents referred to herein (including the Confidentiality Agreement) contain the complete agreement between the parties hereto and supersede any other prior understandings, agreements or representations by or between the parties, written or oral, which may have related to the subject matter hereof in any way.

 

 

- 74 -


 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed by their respective authorized officers to be effective as of the day and year first above written.

 

 

 

COMPANY:

 

CARIBBEAN ASSET HOLDINGS, LLC

 

By: National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance

Corporation, its sole and managing member

 

By:

/s/ Steven L. Lilly

Name:

Steven L. Lilly

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

PARENT:

 

NATURAL RURAL UTILITIES COOPERATIVE FINANCE CORPORATION

 

By:

/s/ Steven L. Lilly

Name:

Steven L. Lilly

Title:

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

BUYER:

 

ATN VI HOLDINGS, LLC

 

By:

 /s/ Michael T. Prior

Name:

 Michael T. Prior

Title:

 Chief Executive Officer

 

BUYER PARENT:

 

ATLANTIC TELE-NETWORK, INC.

 

By:

 /s/ Michael T. Prior

Name:

 Michael T. Prior

Title:

 Chief Executive Officer

 

Signature Page to Purchase Agreement


atni_Ex_31-1

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO

RULE 13a-14(a) OR RULE 15d-14(a),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Michael T. Prior, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)All significant deficiencies and material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

Date: November 9, 2015

/s/ Michael T. Prior

 

Michael T. Prior

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 


atni_Ex_31-2

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO

RULE 13a-14(a) OR RULE 15d-14(a),

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Justin D. Benincasa, certify that:

 

1.I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.;

 

2.Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3.Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this Report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a)Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b)Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

c)Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d)Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual Report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5.The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a)All significant deficiencies and material weakness in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b)Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

Date: November 9, 2015

By:

/s/ Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 


atni_Ex_32-1

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended September 30, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Michael T. Prior, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2015

By:

/s/ Michael T. Prior

 

 

Michael T. Prior

 

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 


atni_Ex_32-2

Exhibit 32.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO

18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO

SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

In connection with the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc. (the “Company”) for the period ended September 30, 2015 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Justin D. Benincasa, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

1.The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2.The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

 

 

 

 

Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc.

 

 

 

Date: November 9, 2015

By:

/s/ Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

Justin D. Benincasa

 

 

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer