As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 16, 2008

Registration No. 333-149937

 

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

Amendment No. 1

to

Form S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

 

 

LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULES A, B AND C HERETO

(Exact names of registrants as specified in their charters)

 

 

10307 Pacific Center Court

San Diego, CA 92121

(858) 882-6000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

 

 

 

 

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  o

 

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  o

 

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such dates as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

SCHEDULE A
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTORS

 

 

SCHEDULE B
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR

 

 

SCHEDULE C
SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR

 

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 16, 2008

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

Cricket Communications, Inc.

Offer to exchange its 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014, which have been registered under the

Securities Act of 1933, for any and all of its outstanding 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014

 

The exchange offer and withdrawal rights will expire at 5:00 p.m.,

New York City time, on          , 2008, unless extended.

 

 

 

 

We are offering to exchange up to $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our new 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014, which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, referred to in this prospectus as the “new notes,” for any and all of our outstanding unregistered 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014, referred to in this prospectus as the “old notes.” We issued the old notes on June 6, 2007 in a transaction not requiring registration under the Securities Act. We are offering you new notes, with terms substantially identical to those of the old notes, in exchange for old notes in order to satisfy our registration obligations from that previous transaction. The new notes will be treated as a single class with the $750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 already outstanding, which we refer to as the “existing notes.” The old notes, the new notes and the existing notes are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “notes.”

 

See “Risk Factors” starting on page 16 of this prospectus for a discussion of risks associated with the exchange of old notes for the new notes offered hereby.

 

We will exchange new notes for all old notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn before expiration of the exchange offer. You may withdraw tenders of old notes at any time prior to the expiration of the exchange offer. The exchange procedure is more fully described in “The Exchange Offer — Procedures for Tendering.” If you fail to tender your old notes, you will continue to hold unregistered notes that you will not be able to transfer freely.

 

The terms of the new notes are identical to the existing notes and are identical in all material respects to those of the old notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights applicable to the old notes do not apply to the new notes. See “Description of New Notes” for more details on the terms of the new notes. We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

 

There is no established trading market for the new notes or the old notes. However, the new notes are expected to be eligible for trading in the PORTAL^sm Market of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The exchange of old notes for new notes should not be a taxable event for United States federal income tax purposes. See “Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations.” All broker-dealers must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these notes or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. We are not asking you for a proxy and you are requested not to send us a proxy.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is          , 2008

 

 

Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such new notes. The letter of transmittal delivered with this prospectus states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of new notes received in exchange for outstanding old notes where such outstanding notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, starting on the expiration date of the exchange offer and ending on the close of business one year after such expiration date, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to give any information or to make any representation other than those contained in this prospectus. You must not rely upon any information or representation not contained in this prospectus as if we had authorized it. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which it relates, nor does this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

About this Prospectus

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. We may add, update or change in a prospectus supplement any information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as any post-effective amendments to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, together with the additional information described under “Where You Can Find More Information” before you make any investment decision.

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained in this prospectus. We are offering to exchange old notes for new notes only in jurisdictions where such offers and sales are permitted. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any actual exchange of old notes for new notes.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-4 under the Securities Act with respect to the new notes offered hereby. This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement, as amended, or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith. For further information with respect to us and the new notes offered hereby, please see the registration statement, as amended, and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. A copy of the registration statement, as amended, and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement may be inspected without charge at the public reference room maintained by the SEC, located at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies of all or any part of the registration statement may be obtained from such offices upon the payment of the fees prescribed by the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. The SEC also maintains an internet website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC. The address of the website is www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, and, in accordance therewith, we file annual, quarterly and periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Such reports, proxy statements and other information are available for inspection and copying at the public reference room and website of the SEC referred to above. We maintain a website at www.leapwireless.com. You may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed with or furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The reference to our web address does not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained at such site.

 

This prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about the company that is not included in or delivered with the document. You may request a copy of this information and the filings we mention above, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at Leap Wireless International, Inc., 10307 Pacific Center Court, San Diego, California 92121, telephone: (858) 882-6368, Attention: Secretary. You may also obtain copies of these filings, at no cost, by accessing our website at www.leapwireless.com; however, the information found on our website is not considered part of this prospectus. To obtain timely delivery of any copies of filings requested, please write or telephone no later than          , 2008, five days prior to the expiration of the exchange offer.

 

This exchange offer is not being made to, nor will we accept surrenders for exchange from, holders of outstanding old notes in any jurisdiction in which this exchange offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.

 

Except for the historical information contained herein, this prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current forecast of certain aspects of our future. You can identify most forward-looking statements by forward-looking words such as “believe,” “think,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan,” “expect,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions in this prospectus. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by our forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, among other things:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All future written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us or any persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this section or elsewhere in this prospectus. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, users of this prospectus are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.

 

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

(a)		Guarantor of the notes.
(b)		Of the remaining 26.7% interest, a 2.0% controlling interest is owned by WLPCS Management, LLC and a 24.7% interest is owned by CSM Wireless, LLC. Neither LCW Wireless nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries is in the “Restricted Group” or is a “Subsidiary” under the indenture governing the notes.
(c)		The remaining 17.5% controlling interest is owned by Denali Spectrum Manager, LLC. Neither Denali nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries is in the “Restricted Group” or is a “Subsidiary” under the indenture governing the notes.
(d)		Leap and all of the wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of Leap and Cricket are currently guarantors of, and are subject to the restrictive covenants under, Cricket’s senior secured credit facility. Leap and all of its subsidiaries that guarantee any indebtedness for money borrowed by Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor will be guarantors of the new notes and subject to the restrictive covenants under the indenture governing the new notes. None of LCW Wireless and its subsidiaries, or Denali and its subsidiaries, will be subject to the covenants under the indenture governing the new notes. See “Description of Notes.”

Old Notes		9.375% Senior Notes due 2014.
New Notes		Notes of the same series, the issuance of which has been registered under the Securities Act. The terms of the new notes are identical in all material respects to those of the old notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights provisions relating to the old notes do not apply to the new notes. After payment of the unpaid additional interest that has accrued on the old notes, the additional interest provisions relating to the old notes will not apply to the new notes. The new notes will be treated as a single class with the $750 million aggregate principal amount of 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 already outstanding, which we refer to as the existing notes. The terms of the new notes are identical to the terms of the existing notes. Because of the need to identify the new notes which may be entitled to receive accrued and unpaid additional interest after the completion of the exchange offer, the new notes will have a temporary CUSIP number different from that of the existing notes. Following the first interest payment date after the consummation of the exchange offer, after payment of the interest on the new notes (including any accrued and unpaid additional interest), the new notes will be reassigned the same CUSIP number as that of the existing notes without any further action on the part of the holders.
Terms of the Offer		We are offering to exchange a like amount of new notes for our old notes in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. In order to be exchanged, an old note must be properly tendered and accepted. All old notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn will be exchanged. As of the date of this prospectus, there are $350 million aggregate principal amount of old notes outstanding and $750 million aggregate principal amount of existing notes outstanding. We will issue new notes promptly after the expiration of the exchange offer.
Expiration Time		The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on          , 2008, unless extended.
Procedures for Tendering		To tender old notes, you must complete and sign a letter of transmittal in accordance with the instructions contained in the letter and forward it by mail, facsimile or hand delivery, together with any other documents required by the letter of transmittal, to the exchange agent, either with the old notes to be tendered or in compliance with the specified procedures for guaranteed delivery of old notes. Certain brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and other nominees may also effect tenders by book-entry transfer. Holders of old notes registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee are urged to contact such person promptly if they wish to tender old notes pursuant to the exchange offer. See “The Exchange Offer — Procedures for Tendering.”

		Letters of transmittal and certificates representing old notes should not be sent to us. Such documents should only be sent to the exchange agent. Questions regarding how to tender old notes and requests for information should be directed to the exchange agent. See “The Exchange Offer — Exchange Agent.”
Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Issuance of New Notes		Subject to the conditions stated in “The Exchange Offer — Conditions to the Exchange Offer,” we will accept for exchange any and all old notes which are properly tendered in the exchange offer before the expiration time. The new notes will be delivered promptly after the expiration time.
Interest Payments on the New Notes		The new notes will bear interest from the most recent date through which interest has been paid on the old notes. If your old notes are accepted for exchange, then you will receive interest on the new notes (including any accrued but unpaid additional interest on the old notes) and not on the old notes.
Withdrawal Rights		You may withdraw your tender of old notes at any time before the expiration time.
Conditions to the Exchange Offer		The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions. We may assert or waive these conditions in our sole discretion. If we materially change the terms of the exchange offer, we will resolicit tenders of the old notes. See “The Exchange Offer — Conditions to the Exchange Offer” for more information.
Resales of New Notes		Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC, as detailed in a series of no-action letters issued by the SEC to third parties, we believe that the new notes issued in the exchange offer may be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by you without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as long as:
		• you are acquiring the new notes in the ordinary course of your business;
		• you are not participating, do not intend to participate and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of the new notes;
		• you are not an “affiliate” of ours; and
		• you are not a broker-dealer that acquired any of its old notes directly from us.
		If you fail to satisfy any of the foregoing conditions, you will not be permitted to tender your old notes in the exchange offer and you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or other transfer of your old notes unless such sale is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements.
		Each broker or dealer that receives new notes for its own account in exchange for old notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities

		Act in connection with any offer to resell, resale or other transfer of the new notes issued in the exchange offer, including the delivery of a prospectus that contains information with respect to any selling holder required by the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the new notes. See “The Exchange Offer — Resales of New Notes.”
Exchange Agent		Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. is serving as the exchange agent in connection with the exchange offer. The address and telephone and facsimile numbers of the exchange agent are listed under the heading “The Exchange Offer — Exchange Agent.”
Use of Proceeds		We will not receive any proceeds from the issuance of new notes in the exchange offer. We will pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer. See “Use of Proceeds” and “The Exchange Offer — Fees and Expenses.”

Issuer		Cricket Communications, Inc.
Securities		$350 million aggregate principal amount of 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014. The terms of the new notes are identical in all material respects to those of the old notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration rights provisions relating to the old notes do not apply to the new notes. After payment of the unpaid additional interest that has accrued on the old notes, the additional interest provisions relating to the old notes will not apply to the new notes. The new notes will be treated as a single class with the $750 million aggregate principal amount of 9.375% Senior Notes due 2014 already outstanding, which we refer to as the existing notes. The terms of the new notes are identical to the terms of the existing notes. Because of the need to identify the new notes which may be entitled to receive accrued and unpaid additional interest after the completion of the exchange offer, the new notes will have a temporary CUSIP number different from that of the existing notes. Following the first interest payment date after the consummation of the exchange offer, after payment of the interest on the new notes (including any accrued and unpaid additional interest), the new notes will be reassigned the same CUSIP number as that of the existing notes without any further action on the part of the holders.
Maturity		November 1, 2014.
Interest		Annual rate: 9.375%. The new notes will pay interest semi-annually in cash in arrears on May 1 and November 1 of each year.
Guarantees		The new notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by our parent, Leap Wireless International, Inc., and by each of our existing and future domestic subsidiaries that guarantees indebtedness for money borrowed of Leap, Cricket or any subsidiary guarantor.
Ranking		The new notes and the guarantees:
		• will be our and the guarantors’ general senior unsecured obligations;
		• will rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the guarantors’ existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness, including the $750 million aggregate principal amount of existing notes already outstanding;
		• will be effectively junior to our and the guarantors’ existing and future secured obligations, including under our senior secured credit facility, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations;
		• will be effectively junior to future liabilities of our subsidiaries that are not guarantors and of the designated entities; and
		• will be senior in right of payment to any of our and the guarantors’ future subordinated indebtedness.

		As of March 31, 2008, we had $2,043.5 million of indebtedness outstanding (including the notes), $884.3 million of which was secured indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility, and no borrowings under our $200 million revolving credit facility.

Optional Redemption		The notes may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any time on or after November 1, 2010, at the redemption prices described in this prospectus, plus accrued and unpaid interest. See “Description of New Notes — Optional Redemption.” Prior to November 1, 2010, we may redeem the new notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus the applicable premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest as described in “Description of New Notes — Optional Redemption.”
		Prior to November 1, 2009, we may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the new notes with the net cash proceeds from specified equity offerings at a redemption price set forth in “Description of New Notes — Optional Redemption.” We may, however, only make these redemptions if at least 65% of the aggregate principal amount of the new notes issued under the indenture remains outstanding after the redemptions.
Change of Control		If a change of control occurs, each holder of new notes may require us to repurchase all of the holder’s notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the new notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. See “Description of New Notes — Repurchase at the Option of Holders — Change of Control.”
Certain Covenants		The indenture governing the new notes, among other things, limits our ability to:
		• incur additional indebtedness;
		• create liens or other encumbrances;
		• place limitations on distributions from restricted subsidiaries;
		• pay dividends, make investments, prepay subordinated indebtedness or make other restricted payments;
		• issue or sell capital stock of restricted subsidiaries;
		• issue guarantees;
		• sell or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets;
		• enter into transactions with our affiliates; and
		• make acquisitions or merge or consolidate with another entity.
		The covenants are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions that are described in the section “Description of New Notes — Certain Covenants.”
Use of Proceeds		We will not receive proceeds from the issuance of the new notes offered hereby. In consideration for issuing the new notes in exchange for old notes as described in this prospectus, we will receive old notes of like principal amount. The old notes surrendered in exchange for the new notes will be retired and canceled.

 

SUMMARY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA AND OTHER DATA

		Predecessor Company								Successor Company
						Seven				Five
		Year				Months				Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Year Ended												Three Months Ended
		December 31,				July 31,				December 31,				December 31,												March 31,
		2003				2004				2004				2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
																										(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
										(In thousands except per share data)
Statement of Operations Data:
Revenues:
Service revenues		$	645,207			$	405,850			$	289,355			$	768,916			$	956,365			$	1,395,667			$	321,691			$	398,929
Equipment revenues			107,730				86,906				61,492				188,855				210,822				235,136				71,734				69,455
Total revenues			752,937				492,756				350,847				957,771				1,167,187				1,630,803				393,425				468,384
Operating expenses:
Cost of service (exclusive of items shown separately below)			(199,987	)			(114,628	)			(80,286	)			(203,548	)			(264,162	)			(384,128	)			(90,440	)			(111,170	)
Cost of equipment			(172,235	)			(101,441	)			(85,460	)			(230,520	)			(310,834	)			(405,997	)			(122,665	)			(114,221	)
Selling and marketing			(86,223	)			(51,997	)			(39,938	)			(100,042	)			(159,257	)			(206,213	)			(48,769	)			(58,100	)
General and administrative			(162,378	)			(81,514	)			(57,110	)			(159,741	)			(196,604	)			(271,536	)			(65,234	)			(75,907	)
Depreciation and amortization			(302,424	)			(178,120	)			(75,324	)			(195,462	)			(226,747	)			(302,201	)			(68,800	)			(82,639	)
Impairment of assets			(171,140	)			—				—				(12,043	)			(7,912	)			(1,368	)			—				—
Loss on disposal of property and equipment			(24,054	)			—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Total operating expenses			(1,118,441	)			(527,700	)			(338,118	)			(901,356	)			(1,165,516	)			(1,571,443	)			(395,908	)			(442,037	)
Gain (loss) on sale or disposal of assets			4,589				532				—				14,587				22,054				902				940				(291	)
Operating income (loss)			(360,915	)			(34,412	)			12,729				71,002				23,725				60,262				(1,543	)			26,056
Minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries			—				—				—				(31	)			1,493				1,817				1,579				(823	)
Equity in net loss of investee			—				—				—				—				—				(2,309	)			—				(1,062	)
Interest income			780				—				1,812				9,957				23,063				28,939				5,285				4,781
Interest expense			(83,371	)			(4,195	)			(16,594	)			(30,051	)			(61,334	)			(121,231	)			(26,496	)			(33,357	)
Other income (expense), net			(176	)			(293	)			(117	)			1,423				(2,650	)			(6,039	)			(637	)			(4,036	)
Income (loss) before reorganization items, income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			(443,682	)			(38,900	)			(2,170	)			52,300				(15,703	)			(38,561	)			(21,812	)			(8,441	)
Reorganization items, net			(146,242	)			962,444				—				—				—				—				—				—
Income (loss) before income taxes and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			(589,924	)			923,544				(2,170	)			52,300				(15,703	)			(38,561	)			(21,812	)			(8,441	)
Income tax expense			(8,052	)			(4,166	)			(3,930	)			(21,615	)			(9,277	)			(37,366	)			(2,412	)			(9,703	)
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			(597,976	)			919,378				(6,100	)			30,685				(24,980	)			(75,927	)			(24,224	)			(18,144	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			—				—				—				—				623				—				—				—
Net income (loss)		$	(597,976	)		$	919,378			$	(6,100	)		$	30,685			$	(24,357	)		$	(75,927	)		$	(24,224	)		$	(18,144	)

		Predecessor Company								Successor Company
						Seven				Five
		Year				Months				Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Year Ended												Three Months Ended
		December 31,				July 31,				December 31,				December 31,												March 31,
		2003				2004				2004				2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
																										(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
										(In thousands except per share data)
Basic earnings (loss) per share(1):
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	(10.20	)		$	15.68			$	(0.10	)		$	0.51			$	(0.41	)		$	(1.13	)		$	(0.36	)		$	(0.27	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			—				—				—				—				0.01				—				—				—
Basic earnings (loss) per share		$	(10.20	)		$	15.68			$	(0.10	)		$	0.51			$	(0.40	)		$	(1.13	)		$	(0.36	)		$	(0.27	)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share(1):
Earnings (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle		$	(10.20	)		$	15.68			$	(0.10	)		$	0.50			$	(0.41	)		$	(1.13	)		$	(0.36	)		$	(0.27	)
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle			—				—				—				—				0.01				—				—				—
Diluted earnings (loss) per share		$	(10.20	)		$	15.68			$	(0.10	)		$	0.50			$	(0.40	)		$	(1.13	)		$	(0.36	)		$	(0.27	)
Shares used in per share calculations(1):
Basic			58,604				58,623				60,000				60,135				61,645				67,100				66,870				67,529
Diluted			58,604				58,623				60,000				61,003				61,645				67,100				66,870				67,529

		Predecessor
		Company				Successor Company
		As of December 31,																				As of March 31,
		2003				2004				2005				2006				2007				2008
																						(Unaudited)
		(In thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and cash equivalents		$	84,070			$	141,141			$	293,073			$	372,812			$	433,337			$	437,184
Working capital (deficit)(2)			(2,255,349	)			150,868				245,366				185,191				380,384				312,397
Restricted cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments(3)			55,954				31,427				13,759				13,581				15,550				9,997
Total assets			1,756,843				2,213,312				2,499,946				4,084,947				4,432,998				4,474,344
Capital lease obligations			—				—				—				—				61,538				56,744
Long-term debt(2)			—				371,355				588,333				1,676,500				2,033,902				2,030,150
Total stockholders’ equity (deficit)			(893,895	)			1,472,347				1,517,601				1,771,793				1,724,322				1,711,893

		Three Months Ended
		March 31,				June 30,				September 30,				December 31,				March 31,				June 30,				September 30,				December 31,				March 31,
		2006				2006				2006				2006				2007				2007				2007				2007				2008
Operating Data:
Number of subscribers at end of period(4)			1,778,704				1,836,390				1,967,369				2,229,826				2,548,172				2,674,963				2,711,447				2,863,519				3,093,581
Net customer additions(5)			110,409				57,683				161,688				262,457				318,346				126,791				36,484				152,072				230,062
ARPU(6)		$	42.31			$	42.30			$	42.87			$	43.63			$	44.81			$	44.75			$	44.51			$	45.57			$	44.98
CPGA(7)		$	128			$	195			$	176			$	179			$	166			$	182			$	199			$	178			$	159
CCU(8)		$	19.86			$	19.50			$	21.05			$	20.32			$	21.27			$	19.87			$	21.24			$	21.00			$	21.73
Churn(9)			3.3	%			3.6	%			4.3	%			4.1	%			3.4	%			4.3	%			5.2	%			4.2	%			3.6	%

		Predecessor Company								Successor Company
						Seven				Five
		Year				Months				Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended
		December 31,				July 31,				December 31,				Year Ended December 31,												Three Months Ended March 31,
		2003				2004				2004				2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
																										(Unaudited)				(Unaudited)
		(In thousands, except for ratios and percentages)
Other Financial Data:
Adjusted OIBDA(10)		$	108,303			$	142,339			$	88,053			$	276,399			$	256,055			$	392,268			$	75,060			$	118,688
Adjusted OIBDA margin(11)			17	%			35	%			30	%			36	%			27	%			28	%			23	%			30	%
Capital expenditures		$	37,488			$	34,456			$	49,043			$	208,808			$	591,295			$	504,770			$	133,295			$	157,237
Statement of Cash Flow data:
Net cash provided by operating activities		$	44,433			$	120,623			$	69,752			$	308,280			$	289,871			$	316,181			$	5,122			$	135,680
Net cash used in investing activities		$	(56,531	)		$	(50,299	)		$	(46,278	)		$	(332,112	)		$	(1,550,624	)		$	(622,728	)		$	(78,847	)		$	(127,402	)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities		$	(4,692	)		$	—			$	(36,727	)		$	175,764			$	1,340,492			$	367,072			$	1,234			$	(4,431	)
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(12)			—				63.6	x			—				1.7	x			—				—				—				—

(1)		Refer to Notes 2 and 5 to our annual consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for an explanation of the calculation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share.

(2)		We have presented the principal and interest balances related to our outstanding debt obligations as current liabilities in the consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2003 as a result of the then existing defaults under the underlying agreements.
(3)		Restricted cash consists of cash held in reserve by Leap and funds set aside or pledged by Cricket to satisfy payments and administrative and priority claims against us following our emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August 2004, and cash restricted for other purposes.

(4)		Includes subscribers and net customer additions for the Cricket and Jump® Mobile services offered by Cricket and, commencing in the three months ended March 31, 2006, by Alaska Native Broadband 1 License, LLC (which entity was merged into Cricket on December 31, 2007), and, commencing in the three months ended September 30, 2006, by LCW Operations.

(5)		Net customer additions for the three months ended September 30, 2005 exclude the effect of the transfer of approximately 19,000 customers as a result of the closing of the sale of our operating markets in Michigan in August 2005. Net customer additions for the three months ended September 30, 2006 exclude the effect of the transfer of approximately 31,000 customers as a result of the closing of the sale of our operating markets in Sandusky and Toledo, Ohio in July 2006.
(6)		ARPU is service revenue divided by the weighted-average number of customers, divided by the number of months during the period being measured. Management uses ARPU to identify average revenue per customer, to track changes in average customer revenues over time, to help evaluate how changes in our business, including changes in our service offerings and fees, affect average revenue per customer, and to forecast future service revenue. In addition, ARPU provides management with a useful measure to compare our subscriber revenue to that of other wireless communications providers. We do not recognize service revenue until payment has been received and services have been provided to the customer. In addition, customers are generally disconnected from service approximately 30 days after failing to pay a monthly bill. Therefore, because our calculation of weighted-average number of customers includes customers who have not paid their last bill and have yet to disconnect service, ARPU may appear lower during periods in which we have significant disconnect activity. We believe investors use ARPU primarily as a tool to track changes in our average revenue per customer and to compare our per customer service revenues to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.
(7)		CPGA is selling and marketing costs (excluding applicable share-based compensation expense included in selling and marketing expense), and equipment subsidy (generally defined as cost of equipment less equipment revenue), less the net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition, divided by the total number of gross new customer additions during the period being measured. The net loss on

		equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition includes the revenues and costs associated with the sale of handsets to existing customers as well as costs associated with handset replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs which are the responsibility of the handset manufacturers). We deduct customers who do not pay their first monthly bill from our gross customer additions, which tends to increase CPGA because we incur the costs associated with this customer without receiving the benefit of a gross customer addition. Management uses CPGA to measure the efficiency of our customer acquisition efforts, to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new subscribers over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our sales and distribution strategies affect the cost-efficiency of our customer acquisition efforts. In addition, CPGA provides management with a useful measure to compare our per customer acquisition costs with those of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use CPGA primarily as a tool to track changes in our average cost of acquiring new customers and to compare our per customer acquisition costs to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
(8)		CCU is cost of service and general and administrative costs (excluding applicable share-based compensation expense included in cost of service and general and administrative expense) plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition (which includes the gain or loss on the sale of handsets to existing customers and costs associated with handset replacements and repairs (other than warranty costs which are the responsibility of the handset manufacturers)), divided by the weighted-average number of customers, divided by the number of months during the period being measured. CCU does not include any depreciation and amortization expense. Management uses CCU as a tool to evaluate the non-selling cash expenses associated with ongoing business operations on a per customer basis, to track changes in these non-selling cash costs over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our business operations affect non-selling cash costs per customer. In addition, CCU provides management with a useful measure to compare our non-selling cash costs per customer with those of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use CCU primarily as a tool to track changes in our non-selling cash costs over time and to compare our non-selling cash costs to those of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
(9)		Churn, which measures customer turnover, is calculated as the net number of customers that disconnect from our service divided by the weighted-average number of customers divided by the number of months during the period being measured. Customers who do not pay their first monthly bill are deducted from our gross customer additions in the month that they are disconnected; as a result, these customers are not included in churn. In addition, customers are generally disconnected from service approximately 30 days after failing to pay a monthly bill. Beginning during the quarter ended June 30, 2007, pay-in-advance customers who ask to terminate their service are disconnected when their paid service period ends, whereas previously these customers were generally disconnected on the date of their request to terminate service. Management uses churn to measure our retention of customers, to measure changes in customer retention over time, and to help evaluate how changes in our business affect customer retention. In addition, churn provides management with a useful measure to compare our customer turnover activity to that of other wireless communications providers. We believe investors use churn primarily as a tool to track changes in our customer retention over time and to compare our customer retention to that of other wireless communications providers. Other companies may calculate this measure differently.

(10)		Adjusted OIBDA is defined as operating income (loss) before depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude the effects of: gain/loss on sale/disposal of assets; impairment of assets; and share-based compensation expense (benefit). Adjusted OIBDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. Adjusted OIBDA should not be construed as an alternative to operating income or net income as determined in accordance with GAAP, as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as determined in accordance with GAAP or as a measure of liquidity.

		In a capital-intensive industry such as wireless telecommunications, management believes that adjusted OIBDA, as well as the associated percentage margin calculation, is a meaningful measure of our operating performance. We use adjusted OIBDA as a supplemental performance measure because management believes it facilitates comparisons of our operating performance from period to period and comparisons of our operating performance to that of other companies by backing out potential differences caused by the age and

		book depreciation of fixed assets (affecting relative depreciation expenses) as well as the items described above for which additional adjustments were made. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under generally accepted accounting principles, these expenses primarily represent the non-cash current period allocation of costs associated with long-lived assets acquired or constructed in prior periods. Because adjusted OIBDA facilitates internal comparisons of our historical operating performance, management also uses this metric for business planning purposes and to measure our performance relative to that of our competitors. In addition, we believe that adjusted OIBDA and similar measures are widely used by investors, financial analysts and credit rating agencies as measures of our financial performance over time and to compare our financial performance with that of other companies in our industry.
		Adjusted OIBDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations include:
		• it does not reflect capital expenditures;
		• although it does not include depreciation and amortization, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and adjusted OIBDA does not reflect cash requirements for such replacements;
		• it does not reflect costs associated with share-based awards exchanged for employee services;
		• it does not reflect the interest expense necessary to service interest or principal payments on current or future indebtedness;
		• it does not reflect expenses incurred for the payment of income taxes and other taxes; and
		• other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate this measure differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
		Management understands these limitations and considers adjusted OIBDA as a financial performance measure that supplements but does not replace the information provided to management by our GAAP results. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.
(11)		Adjusted OIBDA margin is calculated by dividing adjusted OIBDA by service revenues. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below.

(12)		For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represent income (loss) before income taxes, cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, minority interests in consolidated subsidiaries and equity in net loss of investee plus fixed charges and capitalized interest, net. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense, whether expensed or capitalized, and the interest portion of rental expense inherent in our operating leases. The portion of total rental expense that represents the interest factor is estimated to be 33%. Our earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the three months ended March 31, 2008 and 2007 by $18,923 and $33,472, respectively, for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 by $80,880 and $33,057, respectively, for the five months ended December 31, 2004 by $2,170 and for the year ended December 31, 2003 by $587,233.

		Three Months Ended
		Mar. 31,				Jun. 30,				Sep. 30,				Dec. 31,				Mar. 31,				Jun. 30,				Sep. 30,				Dec. 31,				Mar. 31,
		2006				2006				2006				2006				2007				2007				2007				2007				2008
Selling and marketing expense		$	29,102			$	35,942			$	42,948			$	51,265			$	48,769			$	47,011			$	54,265			$	56,168			$	58,100
Less share-based compensation expense included in selling and marketing expense			(327	)			(473	)			(637	)			(533	)			(1,001	)			(560	)			(843	)			(926	)			(1,356	)
Plus cost of equipment			71,977				65,396				83,457				90,004				122,665				90,818				97,218				95,296				114,221
Less equipment revenue			(63,765	)			(50,299	)			(52,712	)			(44,046	)			(71,734	)			(50,661	)			(55,161	)			(57,580	)			(69,455	)
Less net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition			(1,247	)			(1,139	)			(1,822	)			(3,988	)			(4,762	)			(2,591	)			(5,747	)			(4,766	)			(14,020	)
Total costs used in the calculation of CPGA		$	35,740			$	49,427			$	71,234			$	92,702			$	93,937			$	84,017			$	89,732			$	88,192			$	87,490
Gross customer additions			278,370				253,033				405,178				519,229				565,055				462,434				450,954				496,061				550,520
CPGA		$	128			$	195			$	176			$	179			$	166			$	182			$	199			$	178			$	159

		Three Months Ended
		Mar. 31,				Jun. 30,				Sep. 30,				Dec. 31,				Mar. 31,				Jun. 30,				Sep. 30,				Dec. 31,				Mar. 31,
		2006				2006				2006				2006				2007				2007				2007				2007				2008
Cost of service		$	56,210			$	61,255			$	71,575			$	75,122			$	90,440			$	90,559			$	100,907			$	102,222			$	111,170
Plus general and administrative expense			49,090				46,576				49,116				51,822				65,234				66,407				68,686				71,209				75,907
Less share-based compensation expense included in cost of service and general and administrative expense			(4,165	)			(4,215	)			(4,426	)			(4,949	)			(7,742	)			(5,335	)			(6,231	)			(6,701	)			(8,346	)
Plus net loss on equipment transactions unrelated to initial customer acquisition			1,247				1,139				1,822				3,988				4,762				2,591				5,747				4,766				14,020
Total costs used in the calculation of CCU		$	102,382			$	104,755			$	118,087			$	125,983			$	152,694			$	154,222			$	169,109			$	171,496			$	192,751
Weighted-average number of customers			1,718,349				1,790,232				1,870,204				2,067,122				2,393,161				2,586,900				2,654,555				2,722,631				2,956,477
CCU		$	19.86			$	19.50			$	21.05			$	20.32			$	21.27			$	19.87			$	21.24			$	21.00			$	21.73

		Predecessor Company								Successor Company
						Seven				Five
		Year				Months				Months
		Ended				Ended				Ended				Year Ended
		December 31,				July 31,				December 31,				December 31,												Three Months Ended March 31,
		2003				2004				2004				2005				2006				2007				2007				2008
Operating income (loss)		$	(360,915	)		$	(34,412	)		$	12,729			$	71,002			$	23,725			$	60,262			$	(1,543	)		$	26,056
Plus depreciation and amortization			302,424				178,120				75,324				195,462				226,747				302,201				68,800				82,639
OIBDA		$	(58,491	)		$	143,708			$	88,053			$	266,464			$	250,472			$	362,463			$	67,257			$	108,695
Less (gain) loss on sale or disposal of assets			(4,589	)			(532	)			—				(14,587	)			(22,054	)			(902	)			(940	)			291
Plus impairment of assets			171,140				—				—				12,043				7,912				1,368				—				—
Plus share-based compensation expense (benefit)			243				(837	)			—				12,479				19,725				29,339				8,743				9,702
Adjusted OIBDA		$	108,303			$	142,339			$	88,053			$	276,399			$	256,055			$	392,268			$	75,060			$	118,688
Divided by service revenues		$	645,207			$	405,850			$	289,355			$	768,916			$	956,365			$	1,395,667			$	321,691			$	398,929
Adjusted OIBDA margin			17	%			35	%			30	%			36	%			27	%			28	%			23	%			30	%

 

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus, before exchanging your old notes for new notes pursuant to this prospectus. The risks described below are not the only risks facing us. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially and adversely affect our business operations. Any of the following risks could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In such case, you may lose all or part of your original investment.

 

Risks Related to Our Business and Industry

 

We Have Experienced Net Losses, and We May Not Be Profitable in the Future.

 

We experienced net losses of $18.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2008, $75.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2007, $24.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2006, $6.1 million and $43.1 million (excluding reorganization items, net) for the five months ended December 31, 2004 and the seven months ended July 31, 2004, respectively, $597.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2003 and $664.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2002. Although we had net income of $30.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2005, we may not generate profits in the future on a consistent basis, or at all. Our strategic objectives depend, in part, on our ability to build out and launch networks associated with newly acquired FCC licenses, including the licenses that we and Denali License acquired in Auction #66, and we will experience higher operating expenses as we build out and after we launch our service in these new markets. If we fail to achieve consistent profitability, that failure could have a negative effect on our financial condition.

 

We May Not Be Successful in Increasing Our Customer Base Which Would Negatively Affect Our Business Plans and Financial Outlook.

 

Our growth on a quarter-by-quarter basis has varied substantially in the past. We believe that this uneven growth generally reflects seasonal trends in customer activity, promotional activity, competition in the wireless telecommunications market, our pace of new market launches, and varying national economic conditions. Our current business plans assume that we will increase our customer base over time, providing us with increased economies of scale. If we are unable to attract and retain a growing customer base, our current business plans and financial outlook may be harmed.

 

Our Business Could Be Adversely Affected By General Economic Conditions; If We Experience Low Rates of Customer Acquisition or High Rates of Customer Turnover, Our Ability to Become Profitable Will Decrease.

 

Our business could be adversely affected in a number of ways by general economic conditions, including interest rates, consumer credit conditions, unemployment and other macro-economic factors. Because we do not require customers to sign fixed-term contracts or pass a credit check, our service is available to a broader customer base than that served by many other wireless providers. As a result, during economic downturns or during periods of high gasoline prices, we may have greater difficulty in gaining new customers within this base for our services and some of our existing customers may be more likely to terminate service due to an inability to pay than the average industry customer. Recent disruptions in the sub-prime mortgage market may also affect our ability to gain new customers or the ability of our existing customers to pay for their service. In addition, our rate of customer acquisition and customer turnover may be affected by other factors, including the size of our calling areas, network performance and reliability issues, our handset or service offerings (including the ability of customers to cost-effectively roam onto other wireless networks), customer care concerns, phone number portability, higher deactivation rates among less-tenured customers we gained as a result of our new market launches, and other competitive factors. We have also experienced an increasing trend of current customers upgrading their handset by buying a new phone, activating a new line of service, and letting their existing service lapse, which trend has resulted in a higher churn rate as these customers are counted as having disconnected service but have actually been retained. Our strategies to acquire new customers and address customer turnover may not be successful. A high rate of customer turnover or low rate of new customer acquisition would reduce revenues and increase the total

marketing expenditures required to attract the minimum number of customers required to sustain our business plan which, in turn, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We Have Made Significant Investment, and Will Continue to Invest, in Joint Ventures That We Do Not Control.

 

In July 2006, we acquired a 72% non-controlling interest in LCW Wireless, which was awarded a wireless license for the Portland, Oregon market in Auction #58 and to which we contributed, among other things, two wireless licenses in Eugene and Salem, Oregon and related operating assets. In December 2006, we completed the replacement of certain network equipment of a subsidiary of LCW Wireless and, as a result, we now own a 73.3% non-controlling membership interest in LCW Wireless. In July 2006, we acquired an 82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali, an entity which participated in Auction #66. LCW Wireless and Denali acquired their wireless licenses as “very small business” designated entities under FCC regulations. Our participation in these joint ventures is structured as a non-controlling interest in order to comply with FCC rules and regulations. We have agreements with our joint venture partners in LCW Wireless and Denali, and we plan to have similar agreements in connection with any future designated entity joint venture arrangements we may enter into, which are intended to allow us to actively participate to a limited extent in the development of the business through the joint venture. However, these agreements do not provide us with control over the business strategy, financial goals, build-out plans or other operational aspects of any such joint venture. The FCC’s rules restrict our ability to acquire controlling interests in such entities during the period that such entities must maintain their eligibility as a designated entity, as defined by the FCC. The entities or persons that control the joint ventures may have interests and goals that are inconsistent or different from ours which could result in the joint venture taking actions that negatively impact our business or financial condition. In addition, if any of the other members of a joint venture files for bankruptcy or otherwise fails to perform its obligations or does not manage the joint venture effectively, we may lose our equity investment in, and any present or future opportunity to acquire the assets (including wireless licenses) of, such entity.

 

The FCC has implemented further rule changes aimed at addressing alleged abuses of its designated entity program. While we do not believe that these rule changes materially affect our current joint ventures with LCW Wireless and Denali, the scope and applicability of these rule changes to such current designated entity structures remain in flux, and the changes remain subject to administrative and judicial review. In addition, we cannot predict how further rule changes or increased regulatory scrutiny by the FCC with respect to designated entity rules or structures will affect our current or future business ventures with designated entities or our participation with such entities in future FCC spectrum auctions.

 

We Face Increasing Competition Which Could Have a Material Adverse Effect on Demand for the Cricket Service.

 

The telecommunications industry is very competitive. In general, we compete with national facilities-based wireless providers and their prepaid affiliates or brands, local and regional carriers, non-facilities-based mobile virtual network operators, or MVNOs, voice-over-internet-protocol, or VoIP, service providers and traditional landline service providers, including telephone and cable companies.

 

Many of these competitors often have greater name and brand recognition, access to greater amounts of capital and established relationships with a larger base of current and potential customers. Because of their size and bargaining power, our larger competitors may be able to purchase equipment, supplies and services at lower prices than we can. For example, prior to the launch of a large market in 2006, disruptions by a competitor interfered with our indirect dealer relationships, reducing the number of dealers offering Cricket service during the initial weeks of launch. In addition, some of our competitors are able to offer their customers roaming services at lower rates. As consolidation in the industry creates even larger competitors, any purchasing advantages our competitors have, as well as their bargaining power as wholesale providers of roaming services, may increase. For example, in connection with the offering of our nationwide roaming service, we have encountered problems with certain large wireless carriers in negotiating terms for roaming arrangements that we believe are reasonable, and we believe that consolidation has contributed significantly to such carriers’ control over the terms and conditions of wholesale roaming services.

These competitors may also offer potential customers more features and options in their service plans than those currently provided by Cricket, as well as new technologies and/or alternative delivery plans.

 

Some of our competitors offer rate plans substantially similar to Cricket’s service plans or products that customers may perceive to be similar to Cricket’s service plans in markets in which we offer wireless service. For example, AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless have each begun to offer flat-rate unlimited service offerings. In addition, Sprint Nextel offers a flat-rate unlimited service offering under its Boost Unlimited brand, which is very similar to the Cricket service. Sprint Nextel has expanded and may further expand its Boost Unlimited service offering into certain markets in which we provide service and could further expand service into other markets in which we provide service or in which we plan to expand, and this service offering may present additional strong competition in markets in which our offerings overlap. The competitive pressures of the wireless telecommunications market have also caused other carriers to offer service plans with unlimited service offerings or large bundles of minutes of use at low prices, which are competing with the predictable and unlimited Cricket calling plans. Some competitors also offer prepaid wireless plans that are being advertised heavily to demographic segments in our current markets and in markets in which we may expand that are strongly represented in Cricket’s customer base. For example, T-Mobile has introduced a FlexPay plan which permits customers to pay in advance for its post-pay plans and avoid overage charges, and an internet-based service upgrade which permits wireless customers to make unlimited local and long-distance calls from their home phone in place of a traditional landline phone service. These competitive offerings could adversely affect our ability to maintain our pricing and increase or maintain our market penetration and may have a material adverse effect on our financial results.

 

We may also face additional competition from new entrants in the wireless marketplace, many of whom may have significantly more resources than we do. The FCC is pursuing policies designed to increase the number of wireless licenses and spectrum available for the provision of wireless voice and data services in each of our markets. For example, the FCC has adopted rules that allow the partitioning, disaggregation or leasing of PCS and other wireless licenses, and continues to allocate and auction additional spectrum that can be used for wireless services, which may increase the number of our competitors. The FCC has also in recent years allowed satellite operators to use portions of their spectrum for ancillary terrestrial use, and also permitted the offering of broadband services over power lines. In addition, the auction and licensing of new spectrum, including the 700 MHz band licenses recently auctioned by the FCC, may result in new competitors and/or allow existing competitors to acquire additional spectrum, which could allow them to offer services that we may not technologically or cost effectively be able to offer with the licenses we hold or to which we have access.

 

Our ability to remain competitive will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate and respond to various competitive factors and to keep our costs low.

 

Recent Disruptions in the Financial Markets Could Affect Our Ability to Obtain Debt or Equity
Financing On Reasonable Terms (or At All), and Have Other Adverse Effects On Us.

 

We may wish to raise significant capital to finance business expansion activities and our ability to raise debt or equity capital in the public or private markets could be impaired by various factors. For example, U.S. credit markets have recently experienced significant dislocations and liquidity disruptions which have caused the spreads on prospective debt financings to widen considerably. These circumstances have materially impacted liquidity in the debt markets, making financing terms for borrowers less attractive, and in certain cases have resulted in the unavailability of certain types of debt financing. Continued uncertainty in the credit markets may negatively impact our ability to access additional debt financing or to refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms (or at all). These events in the credit markets have also had an adverse effect on other financial markets in the U.S., which may make it more difficult or costly for us to raise capital through the issuance of common stock, preferred stock or other equity securities. If we require additional capital to fund or accelerate the pace of any of our business expansion efforts or other strategic activities and were unable to obtain such capital on terms that we found acceptable or at all, we would likely reduce our investments in expansion activities or slow the pace of expansion activities as necessary to match our capital requirements to our available liquidity. Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results. In addition, we maintain investments in commercial paper and other short-term investments. Volatility and

uncertainty in the financial markets has resulted in losses from a decline in the value of those investments, and may result in additional losses and difficulty in monetizing those investments in the future.

 

We May Be Unable to Obtain the Roaming Services We Need From Other Carriers to Remain Competitive.

 

We believe that our customers prefer that we offer roaming services that allow them to make calls automatically when they are outside of their Cricket service area. Many of our competitors have regional or national networks which enable them to offer automatic roaming services to their subscribers at a lower cost than we can offer. We do not have a national network, and we must pay fees to other carriers who provide roaming services to us. We currently have roaming agreements with several other carriers which allow our customers to roam on those carriers’ networks. However, these roaming agreements generally cover voice but not data services and some of these agreements may be terminated on relatively short notice. In addition, we believe that the rates charged to us by some of these carriers are higher than the rates they charge to certain other roaming partners.

 

The FCC has adopted a report and order clarifying that commercial mobile radio service providers are required to provide automatic roaming for voice and SMS text-messaging services on just, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms. The FCC order, however, does not address roaming for data services nor does it provide or mandate any specific mechanism for determining the reasonableness of roaming rates for voice services, and so our ability to obtain roaming services from other carriers at attractive rates remains uncertain. In addition, the FCC order indicates that a host carrier is not required to provide roaming services to another carrier in areas in which that other carrier holds wireless licenses or usage rights that could be used to provide wireless services. Because we and Denali License hold a significant number of spectrum licenses for markets in which service has not yet been launched, we believe that this “in-market” roaming restriction could significantly and adversely affect our ability to receive roaming services in areas where we hold licenses. We and other wireless carriers have filed petitions with the FCC, asking that the agency reconsider this in-market exception to its roaming order. However, we can provide no assurances as to whether the FCC will reconsider this exception or the timeframe in which it might do so.

 

In light of the current FCC order, we cannot provide assurances that we will be able to continue to provide roaming services for our customers across the nation or that we will be able to provide such services on a cost-effective basis. We may be unable to enter into or maintain roaming arrangements for voice services at reasonable rates, including in areas in which we hold wireless licenses or have usage rights but have not yet constructed wireless facilities, and we may be unable to secure roaming arrangements for our data services. Our inability to obtain these roaming services on a cost-effective basis may limit our ability to compete effectively for wireless customers, which may increase our churn and decrease our revenues, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We Have Restated Our Prior Consolidated Financial Statements, Which Has Led to Additional Risks and Uncertainties, Including Shareholder Litigation.

 

As discussed in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements included in “Part II — Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended, for the year ended December 31, 2006 filed with the SEC on December 26, 2007, we have restated our consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended December 31, 2006 and 2005 (including interim periods therein), for the period from August 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004, and for the period from January 1, 2004 to July 31, 2004. In addition, we have restated our condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the quarterly periods ended June 30, 2007 and March 31, 2007. The determination to restate these consolidated financial statements and quarterly condensed consolidated financial statements was made by Leap’s Audit Committee upon management’s recommendation following the identification of errors related to (i) the timing of recognition of certain service revenues prior to or subsequent to the period in which they were earned, (ii) the recognition of service revenues for certain customers that voluntarily disconnected service, (iii) the classification of certain components of service revenues, equipment revenues and operating expenses and (iv) the determination of a tax valuation allowance during the second quarter of 2007.

 

As a result of these events, we have become subject to a number of additional risks and uncertainties, including substantial unanticipated costs for accounting and legal fees in connection with or related to the restatement. In particular, three shareholder derivative actions have been filed, and we have also recently been named in a number of alleged securities class action lawsuits. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits may make additional claims, expand existing claims and/or expand the time periods covered by the complaints. Other plaintiffs may bring additional actions with other claims, based on the restatement. We may incur substantial defense costs with respect to these claims, regardless of their outcome. Likewise, these claims might cause a diversion of our management’s time and attention. If we do not prevail in any such actions, we could be required to pay substantial damages or settlement costs, which could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our Business and Stock Price May Be Adversely Affected If Our Internal Controls Are Not Effective.

 

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires companies to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of their internal control over financial reporting. To comply with this statute, we are required to document and test our internal control over financial reporting; our management is required to assess and issue a report concerning our internal control over financial reporting; and our independent registered public accounting firm is required to report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

 

As described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Controls and Procedures” of this prospectus, our chief executive officer, or CEO, and chief financial officer, or CFO, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective at the reasonable assurance level as of March 31, 2008. Currently, our CEO, S. Douglas Hutcheson, is also serving as acting CFO. The material weakness we have identified in our internal control over financial reporting related to the design of controls over the preparation and review of the account reconciliations and analysis of revenues, cost of revenue and deferred revenues, and ineffective testing of changes made to our revenue and billing systems in connection with the introduction or modification of service offerings.

 

We have taken and are taking actions to remediate this material weakness. In addition, management has developed and presented to the Audit Committee a plan and timetable for the implementation of remediation measures (to the extent not already implemented), and the committee intends to monitor such implementation. We believe that these actions will remediate the control deficiencies we have identified and strengthen our internal control over financial reporting.

 

We previously reported that certain material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting existed at various times during the period from September 30, 2004 through December 31, 2007. These material weaknesses included excessive turnover and inadequate staffing levels in our accounting, financial reporting and tax departments, weaknesses in the preparation of our income tax provision, and weaknesses in our application of lease-related accounting principles, fresh-start reporting oversight, and account reconciliation procedures.

 

Although we believe we are taking appropriate actions to remediate the control deficiencies we have identified and to strengthen our internal control over financial reporting, we cannot assure you that we will not discover other material weaknesses in the future. The existence of one or more material weaknesses could result in errors in our financial statements, and substantial costs and resources may be required to rectify these or other internal control deficiencies. If we cannot produce reliable financial reports, investors could lose confidence in our reported financial information, the market price of Leap’s common stock could decline significantly, we may be unable to obtain additional financing to operate and expand our business, and our business and financial condition could be harmed.

 

Our Primary Business Strategy May Not Succeed in the Long Term.

 

A major element of our business strategy is to offer consumers service plans that allow unlimited calls from within a Cricket calling area for a flat monthly rate without entering into a fixed-term contract or passing a credit check. However, unlike national wireless carriers, we do not currently provide ubiquitous coverage across the U.S. or all major metropolitan centers, and instead have a smaller network footprint covering only the principal population centers of our various markets. This strategy may not prove to be successful in the long term. Some companies that have offered this type of service in the past have been unsuccessful. From time to time, we also

evaluate our service offerings and the demands of our target customers and may modify, change, adjust or discontinue our service offerings or offer new services. We cannot assure you that these service offerings will be successful or prove to be profitable.

 

We Expect to Incur Substantial Costs in Connection With the Build-Out of Our New Markets, and Any Delays or Cost Increases in the Build-Out of Our New Markets Could Adversely Affect Our Business.

 

Our ability to achieve our strategic objectives will depend in part on the successful, timely and cost-effective build-out of the networks associated with newly acquired FCC licenses, including the licenses that we and Denali License acquired in Auction #66 and any licenses that we may acquire from third parties. Large-scale construction projects for the build-out of our new markets will require significant capital expenditures and may suffer cost overruns. In addition, we expect to incur higher operating expenses as our existing business grows and as we build out and after we launch service in new markets. Any such significant capital expenditures or increased operating expenses, including in connection with the build-out and launch of markets for the licenses that we and Denali License acquired in Auction #66, would decrease earnings, operating income before depreciation and amortization, or OIBDA, and free cash flow for the periods in which we incur such costs. If we are unable to fund the build-out of these new markets with our existing cash and our cash generated from operations, we may be required to raise additional equity capital or incur further indebtedness, which we cannot guarantee would be available to us on acceptable terms, or at all. In addition, the build-out of the networks may be delayed or adversely affected by a variety of factors, uncertainties and contingencies, such as natural disasters, difficulties in obtaining zoning permits or other regulatory approvals, our relationships with our joint venture partners, and the timely performance by third parties of their contractual obligations to construct portions of the networks.

 

Portions of the AWS spectrum that was auctioned in Auction #66 are currently used by U.S. federal government and/or incumbent commercial licensees. FCC rules require winning bidders to avoid interfering with these existing users or to clear the incumbent users from the spectrum through specified relocation procedures. We and Denali License considered the estimated cost and time-frame required to clear the spectrum that we and Denali License purchased in Auction #66 while placing bids in the auction. However, the actual cost of clearing the spectrum may exceed our estimated costs. Furthermore, delays in the provision of federal funds to relocate government users, or difficulties in negotiating with incumbent government and commercial licensees, may extend the date by which the auctioned spectrum can be cleared of existing operations, and thus may also delay the date on which we can launch commercial services using such licensed spectrum. In addition, certain existing government operations have been using the spectrum for classified purposes. As a result, although the government has agreed to clear that spectrum to allow AWS licensees to utilize their spectrum in the affected areas, the government has only provided limited information to licensees about these classified uses, which has created additional uncertainty about the time at which such spectrum would be available for commercial use.

 

With respect to our Auction #66 markets, several federal government agencies have cleared or developed plans to clear spectrum covered by licenses we and Denali License purchased in Auction #66 or have indicated that we and Denali License can operate on the spectrum without interfering with the agencies’ current uses. While we do not expect spectrum clearing issues to impact our near-term market launches, we continue to work with one federal agency in other markets to ensure that it either relocates its spectrum use to alternative frequencies or confirms that we can operate on the spectrum without interfering with its current uses. If our efforts with this agency are not successful, the agency’s continued use of the spectrum could delay our launch of certain markets. In addition, to the extent that we or Denali License are operating on AWS spectrum and a federal government agency believes that our planned or ongoing operations interfere with its current uses, we may be required to immediately cease using the spectrum in that particular market for a period of time until the interference is resolved. Any temporary or extended shutdown of one of our or Denali License’s wireless networks in a launched market could materially and adversely affect our competitive position and results of operations.

 

Any failure to complete the build-out of our new markets on budget or on time could delay the implementation of our clustering and strategic expansion strategies, and could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

If We Are Unable to Manage Our Planned Growth, Our Operations Could Be Adversely Impacted.

 

We have experienced substantial growth in a relatively short period of time, and we expect to continue to experience growth in the future in our existing and new markets. The management of such growth will require, among other things, continued development of our financial and management controls and management information systems, stringent control of costs and handset inventories, diligent management of our network infrastructure and its growth, increased spending associated with marketing activities and acquisition of new customers, the ability to attract and retain qualified management personnel and the training of new personnel. In addition, continued growth will eventually require the expansion of our billing, customer care and sales systems and platforms, which will require additional capital expenditures and may divert the time and attention of management personnel who oversee any such expansion. Furthermore, the implementation of any such systems or platforms, including the transition to such systems or platforms from our existing infrastructure, could result in unpredictable technological or other difficulties. Failure to successfully manage our expected growth and development, to enhance our processes and management systems or to timely and adequately resolve any such difficulties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

The Wireless Industry is Experiencing Rapid Technological Change, and We May Lose Customers If We Fail to Keep Up With These Changes.

 

The wireless communications industry is experiencing significant technological change, as evidenced by the ongoing improvements in the capacity and quality of digital technology, the development and commercial acceptance of wireless data services, shorter development cycles for new products and enhancements and changes in end-user requirements and preferences. In the future, competitors may seek to provide competing wireless telecommunications service through the use of developing technologies such as Wi-Fi, WiMax, and VoIP. The cost of implementing or competing against future technological innovations may be prohibitive to us, and we may lose customers if we fail to keep up with these changes.

 

For example, we have expended a substantial amount of capital to upgrade our network with CDMA2000^® 1xEV-DO, or EvDO, technology to offer advanced data services. However, if such upgrades, technologies or services do not become commercially acceptable, our revenues and competitive position could be materially and adversely affected. We cannot assure you that there will be widespread demand for advanced data services or that this demand will develop at a level that will allow us to earn a reasonable return on our investment.

 

In addition, CDMA2000 infrastructure networks could become less popular in the future, which could raise the cost to us of equipment and handsets that use that technology relative to the cost of handsets and equipment that utilize other technologies.

 

The Loss of Key Personnel and Difficulty Attracting and Retaining Qualified Personnel Could Harm Our Business.

 

We believe our success depends heavily on the contributions of our employees and on attracting, motivating and retaining our officers and other management and technical personnel. We do not, however, generally provide employment contracts to our employees. If we are unable to attract and retain the qualified employees that we need, our business may be harmed.

 

We have experienced higher than normal employee turnover in the past, in part because of our bankruptcy, including turnover of individuals at the most senior management levels. In addition, our business is managed by a small number of key executive officers, including our CEO, S. Douglas Hutcheson. During September 2007, Amin Khalifa resigned as our executive vice president and CFO, and the board of directors appointed Mr. Hutcheson to serve as acting CFO until we find a successor to Mr. Khalifa. During February 2008, Grant Burton, who had served as chief accounting officer and controller since June 2005, assumed a new role as vice president, financial systems and processes, and the board of directors appointed Steven R. Martin, a consultant to the company, to serve as acting chief accounting officer. In addition, Jeffrey Nachbor joined us as our senior vice president, financial operations in April 2008. We may have difficulty attracting and retaining key personnel in future periods, particularly if we were to experience poor operating or financial performance. The loss of key individuals in the future may have a material adverse impact on our ability to effectively manage and operate our business.

Risks Associated With Wireless Handsets Could Pose Product Liability, Health and Safety Risks That Could Adversely Affect Our Business.

 

We do not manufacture handsets or other equipment sold by us and generally rely on our suppliers to provide us with safe equipment. Our suppliers are required by applicable law to manufacture their handsets to meet certain governmentally imposed safety criteria. However, even if the handsets we sell meet the regulatory safety criteria, we could be held liable with the equipment manufacturers and suppliers for any harm caused by products we sell if such products are later found to have design or manufacturing defects. We generally have indemnification agreements with the manufacturers who supply us with handsets to protect us from direct losses associated with product liability, but we cannot guarantee that we will be fully protected against all losses associated with a product that is found to be defective.

 

Media reports have suggested that the use of wireless handsets may be linked to various health concerns, including cancer, and may interfere with various electronic medical devices, including hearing aids and pacemakers. Certain class action lawsuits have been filed in the industry claiming damages for alleged health problems arising from the use of wireless handsets. In addition, interest groups have requested that the FCC investigate claims that wireless technologies pose health concerns and cause interference with airbags, hearing aids and other medical devices. The media has also reported incidents of handset battery malfunction, including reports of batteries that have overheated. Malfunctions have caused at least one major handset manufacturer to recall certain batteries used in its handsets, including batteries in a handset sold by Cricket and other wireless providers. Concerns over radio frequency emissions and defective products may discourage the use of wireless handsets, which could decrease demand for our services.

 

Concerns over possible safety risks could decrease the demand for our services. For example, in the beginning of 2008, a technical defect was discovered in one of our manufacturer’s handsets which appeared to prevent a portion of 911 calls from being heard by the operator. After learning of the defect, we instructed our retail locations to temporarily cease selling the handsets, notified our customers of the matter and directed them to bring their handsets into our retail locations to receive correcting software. If one or more Cricket customers were harmed by a defective product provided to us by a manufacturer and subsequently sold in connection with our services, our ability to add and maintain customers for Cricket service could be materially adversely affected by negative public reactions.

 

There also are some safety risks associated with the use of wireless handsets while driving. Concerns over these safety risks and the effect of any legislation that has been and may be adopted in response to these risks could limit our ability to sell our wireless service.

 

We Rely Heavily on Third Parties to Provide Specialized Services; a Failure by Such Parties to Provide the Agreed Upon Services Could Materially Adversely Affect Our Business, Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

We depend heavily on suppliers and contractors with specialized expertise in order for us to efficiently operate our business. In the past, our suppliers, contractors and third-party retailers have not always performed at the levels we expect or at the levels required by their contracts. If key suppliers, contractors or third-party retailers fail to comply with their contracts, fail to meet our performance expectations or refuse or are unable to supply us in the future, our business could be severely disrupted. Generally, there are multiple sources for the types of products we purchase. However, some suppliers, including software suppliers, are the exclusive sources of their specific products. Because of the costs and time lags that can be associated with transitioning from one supplier to another, our business could be substantially disrupted if we were required to replace the products or services of one or more major suppliers with products or services from another source, especially if the replacement became necessary on short notice. Any such disruption could have a material adverse affect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

System Failures Could Result in Higher Churn, Reduced Revenue and Increased Costs, and Could Harm Our Reputation.

 

Our technical infrastructure (including our network infrastructure and ancillary functions supporting our network such as service activation, billing and customer care) is vulnerable to damage or interruption from

technology failures, power loss, floods, windstorms, fires, human error, terrorism, intentional wrongdoing, or similar events. Unanticipated problems at our facilities, system failures, hardware or software failures, computer viruses or hacker attacks could affect the quality of our services and cause network service interruptions. In addition, we are in the process of upgrading some of our internal network systems, and we cannot assure you that we will not experience delays or interruptions while we transition our data and existing systems onto our new systems. Any failure in or interruption of systems that we or third parties maintain to support ancillary functions, such as billing, customer care and financial reporting, could materially impact our ability to timely and accurately record, process and report information important to our business. If any of the above events were to occur, we could experience higher churn, reduced revenues and increased costs, any of which could harm our reputation and have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

To accommodate expected growth in our business, management has been considering replacing our customer billing and activation system, which we license from a third party. The vendor who licenses the software to us and provides certain billing services to us has a contract with us through 2010. The vendor has developed a new billing product and has introduced that product in a limited number of markets operated by another wireless carrier. The vendor was working to adapt the new billing product for our use, but we are now unlikely to use this product because the vendor has announced that it intends to exit the billing business. The vendor is currently exploring alternative exit strategies, including selling its business to a third party. If the vendor or its successor does not provide us with an improved billing system in the future, we might choose to terminate our contract for convenience and purchase billing services from a different vendor if we believed it was necessary to do so to meet the requirements of our business. In such an event, we may owe substantial termination fees.

 

We May Not Be Successful in Protecting and Enforcing Our Intellectual Property Rights.

 

We rely on a combination of patent, service mark, trademark, and trade secret laws and contractual restrictions to establish and protect our proprietary rights, all of which only offer limited protection. We endeavor to enter into agreements with our employees and contractors and agreements with parties with whom we do business in order to limit access to and disclosure of our proprietary information. Despite our efforts, the steps we have taken to protect our intellectual property may not prevent the misappropriation of our proprietary rights. Moreover, others may independently develop processes and technologies that are competitive to ours. The enforcement of our intellectual property rights may depend on any legal actions that we undertake against such infringers being successful, but we cannot be sure that any such actions will be successful, even when our rights have been infringed.

 

We cannot assure you that our pending, or any future, patent applications will be granted, that any existing or future patents will not be challenged, invalidated or circumvented, that any existing or future patents will be enforceable, or that the rights granted under any patent that may issue will provide competitive advantages to us. For example, see “Business — Legal Proceedings — Patent Litigation” for a description of our patent litigation with MetroPCS Communications, Inc., or MetroPCS, and other affiliated entities. We intend to vigorously defend against the matters brought by the MetroPCS entities. Due to the complex nature of the legal and factual issues involved, however, the outcome of these matters is not presently determinable. If the MetroPCS entities were to prevail in any of these matters, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

In addition to these outstanding matters, we cannot assure you that any trademark or service mark registrations will be issued with respect to pending or future applications or that any registered trademarks or service marks will be enforceable or provide adequate protection of our brands. Our inability to secure trademark or service mark protection with respect to our brands could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

We and Our Suppliers May Be Subject to Claims of Infringement Regarding Telecommunications Technologies That Are Protected By Patents and Other Intellectual Property Rights.

 

Telecommunications technologies are protected by a wide array of patents and other intellectual property rights. As a result, third parties may assert infringement claims against us or our suppliers from time to time based on our or their general business operations, the equipment, software or services that we or they use or provide, or the

specific operation of our wireless networks. For example, see “Business — Legal Proceedings — Patent Litigation” for a description of certain patent infringement lawsuits that have been brought against us.

 

We generally have indemnification agreements with the manufacturers, licensors and suppliers who provide us with the equipment, software and technology that we use in our business to protect us against possible infringement claims, but we cannot guarantee that we will be fully protected against all losses associated with infringement claims. Our suppliers may be subject to infringement claims that could prevent or make it more expensive for them to supply us with the products and services we require to run our business. For example, we purchase certain CDMA handsets that incorporate EvDO chipsets manufactured by Qualcomm Incorporated, or Qualcomm, which are the subject of patent infringement actions brought by Broadcom Corporation in separate proceedings before the United States International Trade Commission, or ITC, and the United States District Court for the Central District of California. Both the ITC and District Court have issued orders in their proceedings that prevent or limit Qualcomm’s ability, subject to various conditions and timelines, to sell, import or support the infringing chips, and restrict third parties from importing the handsets that incorporate the chips. Although these orders are currently on appeal and the ITC order is stayed as to certain third parties (including most of our handset suppliers), these patent infringement actions could have the effect of slowing or limiting our ability to introduce and offer EvDO handsets and devices to our customers. Moreover, we may be subject to claims that products, software and services provided by different vendors which we combine to offer our services may infringe the rights of third parties, and we may not have any indemnification from our vendors for these claims. Whether or not an infringement claim against us or a supplier was valid or successful, it could adversely affect our business by diverting management attention, involving us in costly and time-consuming litigation, requiring us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements (which may not be available on acceptable terms, or at all) or requiring us to redesign our business operations or systems to avoid claims of infringement. In addition, infringement claims against our suppliers could also require us to purchase products and services at higher prices or from different suppliers and could adversely affect our business by delaying our ability to offer certain products and services to our customers.

 

Regulation by Government Agencies May Increase Our Costs of Providing Service or Require Us to Change Our Services.

 

The FCC regulates the licensing, construction, modification, operation, ownership, sale and interconnection of wireless communications systems, as do some state and local regulatory agencies. We cannot assure you that the FCC or any state or local agencies having jurisdiction over our business will not adopt regulations or take other enforcement or other actions that would adversely affect our business, impose new costs or require changes in current or planned operations. For example, in 2007 the FCC released an order implementing certain recommendations of an independent panel reviewing the impact of Hurricane Katrina on communications networks, which requires that wireless carriers provide emergency back-up power sources for their equipment and facilities, including up to 24 hours of emergency power for mobile switch offices and up to eight hours for cell site locations. In order for us to comply with the new requirements should they become effective, we may need to purchase additional equipment, obtain additional state and local permits, authorizations and approvals or incur additional operating expenses, and such costs could be material. In addition, state regulatory agencies are increasingly focused on the quality of service and support that wireless carriers provide to their customers and several agencies have proposed or enacted new and potentially burdensome regulations in this area.

 

In addition, we cannot assure you that the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, or the Communications Act, from which the FCC obtains its authority, will not be further amended in a manner that could be adverse to us. The FCC recently implemented rule changes and sought comment on further rule changes focused on addressing alleged abuses of its designated entity program, which gives certain categories of small businesses preferential treatment in FCC spectrum auctions based on size. In that proceeding, the FCC has re-affirmed its goals of ensuring that only legitimate small businesses benefit from the program, and that such small businesses are not controlled or manipulated by larger wireless carriers or other investors that do not meet the small business qualification tests. We cannot predict the degree to which rule changes or increased regulatory scrutiny that may follow from this proceeding will affect our current or future business ventures or our participation in future FCC spectrum auctions.

 

Under existing law, no more than 20% of an FCC licensee’s capital stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, or voted by non-U.S. citizens or their representatives, by a foreign government or its representatives or by a foreign

corporation. If an FCC licensee is controlled by another entity (as is the case with Leap’s ownership and control of subsidiaries that hold FCC licenses), up to 25% of that entity’s capital stock may be owned or voted by non-U.S. citizens or their representatives, by a foreign government or its representatives or by a foreign corporation. Foreign ownership above the 25% holding company level may be allowed if the FCC finds such higher levels consistent with the public interest. The FCC has ruled that higher levels of foreign ownership, even up to 100%, are presumptively consistent with the public interest with respect to investors from certain nations. If our foreign ownership were to exceed the permitted level, the FCC could revoke our wireless licenses, which would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Although we could seek a declaratory ruling from the FCC allowing the foreign ownership or could take other actions to reduce our foreign ownership percentage in order to avoid the loss of our licenses, we cannot assure you that we would be able to obtain such a ruling or that any other actions we may take would be successful.

 

Our operations are subject to various other regulations, including those regulations promulgated by the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and state and local regulatory agencies and legislative bodies. Adverse decisions or regulations of these regulatory bodies could negatively impact our operations and costs of doing business. Because of our smaller size, governmental regulations and orders can significantly increase our costs and affect our competitive position compared to other larger telecommunications providers. We are unable to predict the scope, pace or financial impact of regulations and other policy changes that could be adopted by the various governmental entities that oversee portions of our business.

 

If Call Volume Under Our Cricket Service Exceeds Our Expectations, Our Costs of Providing Service Could Increase, Which Could Have a Material Adverse Effect on Our Competitive Position.

 

Cricket customers generally use their handsets for an average of approximately 1,500 minutes per month, and some markets experience substantially higher call volumes. Our Cricket service plans bundle certain features, long distance and unlimited service in Cricket calling areas for a fixed monthly fee to more effectively compete with other telecommunications providers. If customers exceed expected usage, we could face capacity problems and our costs of providing the services could increase. Although we own less spectrum in many of our markets than our competitors, we seek to design our network to accommodate our expected high call volume, and we consistently assess and try to implement technological improvements to increase the efficiency of our wireless spectrum. However, if future wireless use by Cricket customers exceeds the capacity of our network, service quality may suffer. We may be forced to raise the price of Cricket service to reduce volume or otherwise limit the number of new customers, or incur substantial capital expenditures to improve network capacity or quality.

 

We May Be Unable to Acquire Additional Spectrum in the Future at a Reasonable Cost or on a Timely Basis.

 

Because we offer unlimited calling services for a fixed fee, our customers’ average minutes of use per month is substantially above the U.S. wireless customer average. We intend to meet this demand by utilizing spectrally efficient technologies. Despite our recent spectrum purchases, there may come a point where we need to acquire additional spectrum in order to maintain an acceptable grade of service or provide new services to meet increasing customer demands. We also intend to acquire additional spectrum in order to enter new strategic markets. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire additional spectrum at auction or in the after-market at a reasonable cost or that additional spectrum would be made available by the FCC on a timely basis. If such additional spectrum is not available to us when required or at a reasonable cost, our results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

Our Wireless Licenses are Subject to Renewal and May Be Revoked in the Event that We Violate Applicable Laws.

 

Our existing wireless licenses are subject to renewal upon the expiration of the 10-year or 15-year period for which they are granted, which renewal period commenced for some of our PCS wireless licenses in 2006. The FCC will award a renewal expectancy to a wireless licensee that timely files a renewal application, has provided substantial service during its past license term and has substantially complied with applicable FCC rules and

policies and the Communications Act. The FCC has routinely renewed wireless licenses in the past. However, the Communications Act provides that licenses may be revoked for cause and license renewal applications denied if the FCC determines that a renewal would not serve the public interest. FCC rules provide that applications competing with a license renewal application may be considered in comparative hearings, and establish the qualifications for competing applications and the standards to be applied in hearings. We cannot assure you that the FCC will renew our wireless licenses upon their expiration.

 

Future Declines in the Fair Value of Our Wireless Licenses Could Result in Future Impairment Charges.

 

As of March 31, 2008, the carrying value of our wireless licenses and those of Denali License and LCW License was approximately $1.9 billion. During the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, we recorded impairment charges of $1.0 million, $7.9 million and $12.0 million, respectively.

 

The market values of wireless licenses have varied dramatically over the last several years, and may vary significantly in the future. In particular, valuation swings could occur if:

 

 

In addition, the price of wireless licenses could decline as a result of the FCC’s pursuit of policies designed to increase the number of wireless licenses available in each of our markets. For example, the FCC has recently auctioned additional spectrum in the 1700 MHz to 2100 MHz band in Auction #66 and the 700 MHz band in Auction #73, and has announced that it intends to auction additional spectrum in the 2.5 GHz band. If the market value of wireless licenses were to decline significantly, the value of our wireless licenses could be subject to non-cash impairment charges.

 

We assess potential impairments to our indefinite-lived intangible assets, including wireless licenses, annually and when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. We conduct our annual tests for impairment of our wireless licenses during the third quarter of each year. Estimates of the fair value of our wireless licenses are based primarily on available market prices, including successful bid prices in FCC auctions and selling prices observed in wireless license transactions, pricing trends among historical wireless license transactions, our spectrum holdings within a given market relative to other carriers’ holdings and qualitative demographic and economic information concerning the areas that comprise our markets. A significant impairment loss could have a material adverse effect on our operating income and on the carrying value of our wireless licenses on our balance sheet.

 

Declines in Our Operating Performance Could Ultimately Result in an Impairment of Our Indefinite-Lived Assets, Including Goodwill, or Our Long-Lived Assets, Including Property and Equipment.

 

We assess potential impairments to our long-lived assets, including property and equipment and certain intangible assets, when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We assess potential impairments to indefinite-lived intangible assets, including goodwill and wireless licenses, annually and when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist. If we do not achieve our planned operating results, this may ultimately result in a non-cash impairment charge related to our long-lived and/or our indefinite-lived intangible assets. A significant impairment loss could have a material adverse effect on our operating results and on the carrying value of our goodwill or wireless licenses and/or our long-lived assets on our balance sheet.

 

We May Incur Higher Than Anticipated Intercarrier Compensation Costs.

 

When our customers use our service to call customers of other carriers, we are required under the current intercarrier compensation scheme to pay the carrier that serves the called party. Similarly, when a customer of another carrier calls one of our customers, that carrier is required to pay us. While in most cases we have been

successful in negotiating agreements with other carriers that impose reasonable reciprocal compensation arrangements, some carriers have claimed a right to unilaterally impose what we believe to be unreasonably high charges on us. The FCC is actively considering possible regulatory approaches to address this situation but we cannot assure you that the FCC rulings will be beneficial to us. An adverse ruling or FCC inaction could result in carriers successfully collecting higher intercarrier fees from us, which could adversely affect our business.

 

The FCC also is considering making various significant changes to the intercarrier compensation scheme to which we are subject. We cannot predict with any certainty the likely outcome of this FCC proceeding. Some of the alternatives that are under active consideration by the FCC could severely increase the interconnection costs we pay. If we are unable to cost-effectively provide our products and services to customers, our competitive position and business prospects could be materially adversely affected.

 

If We Experience High Rates of Credit Card, Subscription or Dealer Fraud, Our Ability to Generate Cash Flow Will Decrease.

 

Our operating costs can increase substantially as a result of customer credit card, subscription or dealer fraud. We have implemented a number of strategies and processes to detect and prevent efforts to defraud us, and we believe that our efforts have substantially reduced the types of fraud we have identified. However, if our strategies are not successful in detecting and controlling fraud in the future, the resulting loss of revenue or increased expenses could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and results of operations.

 

Our Directors and Affiliated Entities Have Substantial Influence over Our Affairs, and Our Ownership Is Highly Concentrated.

 

Our directors and entities affiliated with them beneficially owned in the aggregate approximately 23.0% of Leap common stock as of May 2, 2008. Moreover, our four largest stockholders and entities affiliated with them beneficially owned in the aggregate approximately 59.5% of Leap common stock as of May 2, 2008. These stockholders have the ability to exert substantial influence over all matters requiring approval by our stockholders. These stockholders will be able to influence the election and removal of directors and any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of Leap’s assets and other matters. This concentration of ownership could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control or impeding a merger or consolidation, takeover or other business combination.

 

Risks Relating to the Exchange Offer

 

You May Have Difficulty Selling the Old Notes You Do Not Exchange.

 

If you do not exchange your old notes for new notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer of your old notes as described in the legend on the global notes representing the old notes. There are restrictions on transfer of your old notes because we issued the old notes under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. In general, you may only offer or sell the old notes if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or offered and sold under an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, these requirements. We do not intend to register any old notes not tendered in the exchange offer and, upon consummation of the exchange offer, you will not be entitled to any rights to have your untendered old notes registered under the Securities Act. In addition, the trading market, if any, for the remaining old notes will be adversely affected depending on the extent to which old notes are tendered and accepted in the exchange offer.

 

Broker-Dealers May Need To Comply With the Registration and Prospectus Delivery Requirements of the Securities Act.

 

Any broker-dealer that (1) exchanges its old notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the new notes or (2) resells new notes that were received by it for its own account in the exchange offer may be deemed to have received restricted securities and will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction by that broker-

dealer. Any profit on the resale of the new notes and any commission or concessions received by a broker-dealer may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act.

 

You May Not Receive New Notes in the Exchange Offer if the Exchange Offer Procedure Is Not Followed.

 

We will issue the new notes in exchange for your old notes only if you tender the old notes and deliver a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal and other required documents before expiration of the exchange offer. You should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery of the necessary documents. Neither the exchange agent nor we are under any duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the tenders of old notes for exchange. If you are the beneficial holder of old notes that are registered in the name of your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender old notes in the exchange offer, you should promptly contact the person in whose name your old notes are registered and instruct that person to tender your old notes on your behalf.

 

Risks Related to the New Notes

 

Our Significant Indebtedness Could Adversely Affect Our Financial Health and Prevent Us From Fulfilling Our Obligations.

 

We have now and will continue to have a significant amount of indebtedness. As of March 31, 2008 our total outstanding indebtedness under our senior secured credit agreement, or Credit Agreement, was $884.3 million, and we also had a $200 million undrawn revolving credit facility (which forms part of our senior secured credit facility). Indebtedness under our senior secured credit facility bears interest at a variable rate, but we have entered into interest rate swap agreements with respect to $355 million of our indebtedness. We have also issued $1,100 million in unsecured senior notes due 2014, $350 million of which are the old notes we are seeking to exchange. In addition, looking forward we may raise significant capital to finance business expansion activities, which could consist of debt financing from the public and/or private capital markets.

 

Our significant indebtedness could have material consequences. For example, it could:

 

 

Any of these risks could impair our ability to fund our operations or limit our ability to expand our business, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Despite Current Indebtedness Levels, We May Incur Substantially More Indebtedness. This Could Further Increase the Risks Associated With Our Leverage.

 

We may incur significant additional indebtedness in the future over time, as market conditions permit, to enable us to take advantage of business expansion activities. The terms of the indenture governing the notes permit

us, subject to specified limitations, to incur additional indebtedness, including secured indebtedness. In addition, our Credit Agreement permits us to incur additional indebtedness under various financial ratio tests.

 

If new indebtedness is added to our current levels of indebtedness, the related risks that we now face could intensify. Furthermore, the subsequent build-out of the networks covered by the licenses we acquired in Auction #66 may significantly reduce our free cash flow, increasing the risk that we may not be able to service our indebtedness.

 

We May Make Significant Investments in Designated Entities, Which Are Not Guarantors of the Notes and Are Not Restricted by the Covenants in the Indenture Governing the Notes.

 

The terms of the indenture governing the notes permit us, subject to specified limitations and conditions, to make significant investments in designated entities, including additional investments in LCW Wireless and Denali and their respective subsidiaries, which are not guarantors of the notes and are not restricted by the covenants in such indenture. Any such investments may affect our ability to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes.

 

To Service Our Indebtedness and Fund Our Working Capital and Capital Expenditures, We Will Require a Significant Amount of Cash. Our Ability to Generate Cash Depends on Many Factors Beyond Our Control.

 

Our ability to make payments on our indebtedness will depend upon our future operating performance and on our ability to generate cash flow in the future, which are subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. We cannot assure you that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations, or that future borrowings, including borrowings under our revolving credit facility, will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs, or at all. If the cash flow from our operating activities is insufficient, we may take actions, such as delaying or reducing capital expenditures (including expenditures to build out our newly acquired wireless licenses), attempting to restructure or refinance our indebtedness prior to maturity, selling assets or operations or seeking additional equity capital. Any or all of these actions may be insufficient to allow us to service our debt obligations. Further, we may be unable to take any of these actions on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

 

We May Be Unable to Refinance Our Indebtedness.

 

We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness before maturity. We cannot assure you that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, including under our senior unsecured indenture or our Credit Agreement, on commercially reasonable terms, or at all. There can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain sufficient funds to enable us to repay or refinance our debt obligations on commercially reasonable terms, or at all.

 

Covenants in Our Indenture and Credit Agreement and Other Credit Agreements or Indentures That We May Enter Into in the Future May Limit Our Ability To Operate Our Business.

 

Our senior unsecured indenture and Credit Agreement contain covenants that restrict the ability of Leap, Cricket and the subsidiary guarantors to make distributions or other payments to our investors or creditors until we satisfy certain financial tests or other criteria. In addition, the indenture and our Credit Agreement include covenants restricting, among other things, the ability of Leap, Cricket and their restricted subsidiaries to: