Sprint announced on Friday that it will offer new notes due in 2018 and 2021, the proceeds of which may be used in part to finance Clearwire’s build-out of a 4G LTE network. “The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, redemptions or service requirements of outstanding debt, network expansion and modernization and potential funding of Clearwire Corporation, and its subsidiary, Clearwire Communications LLC,” Sprint said in a press release. The news follows Sprint’s analyst day on October 7th, where executives from the nation’s No. 3 carrier distanced themselves from Clearwire despite owning a controlling stake in the company, and announced plans to spend $10 billion building out their own 4G LTE network. It is unclear how today’s news will impact those plans. Clearwire announced in August that it hoped to adopt LTE technology across its network, but it also said it would need outside funding in order to do so. Sprint’s full press release follows below.
Sprint Announces Private Placement of Notes
OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (BUSINESS WIRE), November 04, 2011 – Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) announced today that it plans to offer notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) and notes due 2018 (the “2018 Notes” and, together with the 2021 Notes, the “Notes”) in a private transaction that is exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the “Act.”) The 2018 Notes will be guaranteed by the company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries that guarantee its existing credit agreements.
The company intends to use the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, redemptions or service requirements of outstanding debt, network expansion and modernization and potential funding of Clearwire Corporation, and its subsidiary, Clearwire Communications LLC.
The Notes and the guarantees related to the 2018 Notes have not been, and will not be, registered under the Act or the securities laws of any other place and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption therefrom. The Notes will be offered only to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to persons outside the United States under Regulation S.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the Notes, and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale of any Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. This notice is being issued pursuant to, and, in accordance with, Rule 135c under the Act.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding Sprint Nextel’s current expectations and beliefs as to the consummation of the offering of Notes and uses of proceeds thereof, as well as other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management’s judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. All information set forth in this release is as of Nov. 4, 2011. Sprint Nextel does not intend, and undertakes no duty, to update this information to reflect future events or circumstances. Information about certain potential factors that could affect our business and financial results and cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements are included from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2011.
