UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported):
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February 2, 2015
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Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
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000-28167
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52-2126573
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_____________________
(State or other jurisdiction
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(Commission
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(I.R.S. Employer
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of incorporation)
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File Number)
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Identification No.)
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600 Telephone Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska
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99503-6091
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(Address of principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrants telephone number, including area code:
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(907) 297-3000
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Not Applicable
______________________________________________
Former name or former address, if changed since last report
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to
simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any
of the following provisions:
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
In connection with the consummation of the transactions described below under Item 2.01 (the
Transaction), the AWN Operating Agreement and the companys Credit Agreement (each as further
described below) were amended as of the date of the Transaction.
AWN Operating Agreement Amendment
The First Amended and Restated Operating Agreement of The Alaska Wireless Network, LLC, a Delaware
limited liability company (AWN), dated June 4, 2012, by and among AWN, GCI Wireless Holdings,
LLC, an Alaska limited liability company (GCI Wireless), ACS Wireless, Inc., an Alaska
corporation (ACS Wireless), and, solely for purposes of certain sections thereof, Alaska
Communications Systems Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (ACS), and General Communication,
Inc., an Alaska corporation (GCI Parent) (the AWN Operating Agreement), was amended as follows:
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ACS Wireless and ACS withdrew as, and ceased to be, parties to the AWN Operating
Agreement, and all references to ACS Wireless or ACS in the AWN Operating Agreement were
deleted; and |
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all past, present or future rights and obligations of ACS Wireless or ACS under or
pursuant to the AWN Operating Agreement were terminated and all provisions of the AWN
Operating Agreement pursuant to which ACS Wireless or ACS had any rights or obligations
were deleted from the AWN Operating Agreement. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, certain indemnifications rights and obligations of ACS Wireless and
ACS under the AWN Operating Agreement in respect of third party claims continue to survive.
Credit Agreement Amendment
The Credit Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2010 (as amended by the First Amendment Agreement to
Credit Agreement, dated as of November 1, 2012), among Alaska Communications Systems Holdings,
Inc., as borrower (ACS Holdings), ACS, the lenders thereto and JP Morgan Chase Bank, N.A., as
administrative agent for the lenders, was amended as follows:
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the lenders consented to the Transaction; |
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provision was made for, although no lenders committed to: (i) an additional term
facility maturing on April 21, 2019 (subject to early termination based on the amount of
the outstanding debt of ACS Holdings) but otherwise having the same terms and conditions as
the existing term facility and (ii) an additional revolving facility maturing on October
17, 2017 (subject to early termination based on the amount of the outstanding debt of the
Borrower) but otherwise having the same terms and conditions as the existing revolving
facility; and |
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certain covenants were adjusted for periods after the amendment became effective,
including a reduction of the required fixed charge coverage ratio from 2.75:1 to 2.50:1, an
increase in the permissible total leverage ratio from 5.25:1 to 5.50:1, and a decrease in
the permissible senior secured leverage ratio from 4.40:1 to 3.00:1. |
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Item 1.02
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Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement |
To the extent required by Item 1.02 of Form 8-K, the information set forth under Item 1.01 above is
hereby incorporated into this Item 1.02 by reference.
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Item 2.01
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Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets |
As previously announced on December 4, 2014, ACS entered into a Purchase and Sale Agreement (the
Purchase Agreement) with GCI Parent, GCI Communication Corp., an Alaska corporation (GCICC),
ACS Wireless, GCI Wireless and AWN, pursuant to which ACS agreed to sell to GCI Parent and its
affiliates ACS Wirelesss interest in AWN and substantially all the assets related to the wireless
business (including certain wireline assets) of ACS and its affiliates, as described below. On
February 2, 2015, the parties to the Purchase Agreement consummated the transactions contemplated
thereby.
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, ACS has sold, or has caused one or more of its affiliates to
sell, to GCI Parent, or one or more of its affiliates, ACS Wirelesss interest in AWN and
substantially all the assets of ACS and its affiliates related to ACSs wireless business (the
Acquired Assets) for a cash payment of $300.0 million, which amount is subject to adjustment.
ACSs net proceeds at closing totaled approximately $273.4 million, after accounting for, among
other things, amounts held back in escrow or otherwise by GCI Parent pursuant to the terms of the
Purchase Agreement. Approximately $240.0 million of the proceeds were used to pay down ACSs term
loan facility, and the remaining proceeds were used to fund transaction expenses, wind-down costs
of the retail wireless business and taxes, leaving $10.0 million of remaining cash on hand for
general corporate purposes.
The Acquired Assets include, without limitation, all the equity interests of AWN owned or held by
ACS Wireless, substantially all of ACSs wireless subscriber assets, including subscriber
contracts, and certain fiber strands for drop circuits and associated electronics. GCI Parent has
not acquired certain Excluded Assets, which include, without limitation, cash, handset and
accessory inventory, wireless store leases, all rights and assets (other than drop circuits)
primarily used to provide wireline services and any right or asset used by ACS or any of its
affiliates to provide local exchange services under the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or
assets used to provide other wireline services. GCI Parent has assumed from ACS post-closing
liabilities of ACS and its affiliates under contracts assumed by GCI and liabilities with respect
to the ownership by ACS Wireless of its equity interest in AWN to the extent accruing and related
to the period after closing. All other liabilities will be retained by ACS and its affiliates.
ACS and its controlled affiliates will be restricted from engaging in retail wireless operations in
Alaska for a period of four years after closing, except for the following services: (a) fixed
wireless replacement, (b) WiFi, (c) wireless backhaul and transport, (d) providing cell site leases
and (e) acting as a wireless internet service provider.
The foregoing description of the Purchase Agreement and amended Credit Agreement does not purport
to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Purchase Agreement and amended
Credit Agreement, which will be filed as material agreements in connection with ACSs annual report
on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.
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Item 2.05
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Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities |
The Board has authorized management to take certain actions involving the wind-down of ACSs
wireless business and having an aggregate net effect of approximately $12.5 million, including the
following:
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Exit the operations of its statewide retail stores that serve as wireless service and
sales locations throughout the state. The cost to exit these store locations is estimated
to be approximately $4.5 million. |
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Reduce all labor and non-labor costs (including contract) associated with the support of
the wireless business. These costs include contact center support functions, billing and
collection, information technology, product and marketing support, supply chain management,
general and administrative and management layers associated with the resizing of the
organization. The cost for severance and other non-recurring costs associated with this
activity is estimated to be approximately $8.0 million. |
Sell all wireless inventories to third parties, with proceeds therefrom estimated to be
approximately $1.0 million.
A significant portion of these wind-down activities commenced during December 2014 and will
continue to occur during the two to six month transition period. Once this period has ended, any
remaining wind-down activities will be accelerated. Accordingly, ACS will begin to recognize these
wind-down expenses beginning in the fourth quarter of 2014 as ACS reduces its labor costs through a
structured cost reduction program. These amounts will primarily be severance costs associated with
labor cost reductions, and other costs associated with the Transaction such as legal, accounting
and financing costs, and losses on [surplus] wireless inventory sold in connection with the
Transaction. In 2015, wind-down costs, including severance, continued legal and accounting costs,
real estate leases and buyout of such leases will continue until ACS has achieved an appropriate
cost structure to support its wireline business. All wind-down activities are expected to be
substantially completed by the end of 2015.
ACS has contracted to provide transition support to GCI for two to six months. Transition support
includes continuing to provide customer service support functions at ACSs retail stores and
contact center locations, and other support functions. During the transition period, GCI will
compensate ACS for the transition services starting at approximately $1.8 million per month, with
such amounts subject to performance of service level standards, and will be reduced monthly as GCI
moves support functions to its own operations. The compensation for the transition service
agreement is structured to substantially offset ACSs cost of providing such services.
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Item 9.01
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Financial Statements and Exhibits |
There are a limited number of pro forma adjustments that illustrate the effects of the Transaction,
as follows:
For the nine month period ended September 30, 2014, assuming the Transaction occurred on January 1,
2014:
ACS recognized $237.4 million in total revenue. The Transaction represents the sale of ACSs
wireless business, and revenue would have been reduced by (i) $58.8 million of wireless revenue
that includes business and consumer service revenue, equipment sales and other revenue and (ii)
$14.6 million of CETC revenue. We no longer will incur the Cost of Goods Sold Affiliate of $43.3
million. Because we will no longer be a 33.33% owner of AWN, we would not have recognized the
$29.2 million of earnings in equity investments. As a result of the debt pay down of $240.0
million, interest expense would have been approximately $11.0 million lower.
As of December 31, 2013, assuming the Transaction occurred as of that date:
Pro-forma for the Transaction, cash would have been approximately $30.0 million higher, reflecting
the difference between cash received in connection with the Transaction, and pay down of our term
loan facility, and other cash amounts related to the Transaction received following close. Our
equity method investment would have been reduced by $267.0 million. Accounts payable from
affiliates would have been $14.3 million less due to the termination of the Companys wholesale
relationship with AWN.
For the twelve month period ended December 31, 2013, assuming the Transaction occurred on January
1, 2013:
ACS recognized $348.9 million in total revenue. The Transaction represents the sale of ACSs retail
wireless business, and revenue would have been reduced by (i) $81.1 million of wireless revenue
that includes business and consumer service revenue, equipment sales and other revenue and (ii)
$21.0 million of CETC revenue. We no longer will incur the Cost of Goods Sold Affiliate of $25.2
million. Because we will no longer be a 33.33% owner of AWN, we would not have recognized the
$18.1 million of earnings in equity investments. As a result of the debt pay down of $240.0
million, interest expense would have been approximately $14.0 million lower.
The limited pro forma adjustments described above are based upon currently available information
and upon assumptions that management believes are reasonable. However, these limited pro forma
adjustments have not been audited, are for informational purposes only and do not purport to
present what ACSs results would actually have been had the Transaction actually occurred on the
dates presented nor project ACSs results of operations or financial position for any future
period. The limited pro forma adjustments described above should be read in conjunction with ACSs
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the period ended September 30, 2014, and ACSs subsequent filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
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Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc.
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February 6, 2015
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By:
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/s/ Leonard A. Steinberg
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Name: Leonard A. Steinberg
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Title: Corporate Secretary
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