e10vq
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
 
 
 
Form 10-Q
 
 
     
þ
  QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2009
OR
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
    For the transition period from          to          
 
 
Commission file number: 0-32421
 
 
 
 
NII HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
 
     
Delaware   91-1671412
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
1875 Explorer Street, Suite 1000
Reston, Virginia
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
  20190
(Zip Code)
 
(703) 390-5100
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
 
 
Not Applicable
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes þ     No 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. (Check one):
 
             
Large accelerated filer þ
  Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
  Smaller reporting company o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
 
     
    Number of Shares Outstanding
Title of Class
 
on July 31, 2009
 
Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share
  166,073,002
 


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
INDEX
 
                 
        Page
 
      Financial Statements (Unaudited)     2  
        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets — As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008     2  
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income — For the Six and Three Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008     3  
        Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity — For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009     4  
        Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows — For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008     5  
        Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements     6  
      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     20  
      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     50  
      Controls and Procedures     51  
      Legal Proceedings     52  
      Risk Factors     52  
      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     52  
      Exhibits     52  


1


 

 
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Financial Statements.
 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except par values)
Unaudited
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
 
ASSETS
Current assets
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,136,764     $ 1,243,251  
Short-term investments
    37,517       82,002  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $37,690 and $27,875
    549,947       454,769  
Handset and accessory inventory
    191,052       139,285  
Deferred income taxes, net
    129,639       135,265  
Prepaid expenses and other
    193,134       130,705  
                 
Total current assets
    2,238,053       2,185,277  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    2,275,871       1,892,113  
Intangible assets, net
    326,248       317,878  
Deferred income taxes, net
    486,150       429,365  
Other assets
    353,192       265,440  
                 
Total assets
  $ 5,679,514     $ 5,090,073  
                 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities
               
Accounts payable
  $ 171,808     $ 136,442  
Accrued expenses and other
    472,413       446,270  
Deferred revenues
    122,834       116,267  
Accrued interest
    10,462       13,166  
Current portion of long-term debt
    198,378       99,054  
                 
Total current liabilities
    975,895       811,199  
Long-term debt
    2,030,543       2,034,086  
Deferred revenues
    28,011       29,616  
Deferred credits
    126,748       144,397  
Other long-term liabilities
    165,817       158,652  
                 
Total liabilities
    3,327,014       3,177,950  
                 
Commitments and contingencies (Note 6)
               
Stockholders’ equity
               
Undesignated preferred stock, par value $0.001, 10,000 shares authorized — 2009 and 2008, no shares issued or outstanding — 2009 and 2008
           
Common stock, par value $0.001, 600,000 shares authorized — 2009 and 2008, 166,061 shares issued and outstanding — 2009, 165,782 shares issued and outstanding — 2008
    166       166  
Paid-in capital
    1,190,921       1,158,925  
Retained earnings
    1,498,335       1,293,407  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (336,922 )     (540,375 )
                 
Total stockholders’ equity
    2,352,500       1,912,123  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 5,679,514     $ 5,090,073  
                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


2


 

NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
Unaudited
 
                                 
    Six Months Ended
    Three Months Ended
 
    June 30,     June 30,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
 
Operating revenues
                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 1,902,447     $ 1,990,780     $ 992,140     $ 1,043,030  
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    117,732       106,391       66,725       60,924  
                                 
      2,020,179       2,097,171       1,058,865       1,103,954  
                                 
Operating expenses
                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    545,154       542,992       289,255       284,483  
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    310,987       293,398       165,738       158,709  
Selling, general and administrative
    652,031       669,957       337,005       355,888  
Depreciation
    182,922       183,062       96,570       96,715  
Amortization
    13,727       16,527       7,183       8,589  
                                 
      1,704,821       1,705,936       895,751       904,384  
                                 
Operating income
    315,358       391,235       163,114       199,570  
                                 
Other income (expense)
                               
Interest expense, net
    (86,709 )     (102,759 )     (42,113 )     (50,805 )
Interest income
    16,422       36,528       3,769       17,588  
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    56,238       40,306       63,552       37,401  
Other income (expense), net
    5,568       (5,175 )     7,210       (646 )
                                 
      (8,481 )     (31,100 )     32,418       3,538  
                                 
Income before income tax provision
    306,877       360,135       195,532       203,108  
Income tax provision
    (101,949 )     (104,525 )     (61,242 )     (54,562 )
                                 
Net income
  $ 204,928     $ 255,610     $ 134,290     $ 148,546  
                                 
Net income, per common share, basic
  $ 1.24     $ 1.52     $ 0.81     $ 0.89  
                                 
Net income, per common share, diluted
  $ 1.22     $ 1.48     $ 0.79     $ 0.86  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, basic
    165,882       168,129       165,980       166,907  
                                 
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding, diluted
    173,086       176,883       173,312       175,757  
                                 
Comprehensive income, net of income taxes
                               
Foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ 201,693     $ 202,568     $ 281,849     $ 240,601  
Reclassification for gains on derivatives included in other income (expense), net
    294       146       216       64  
Unrealized gains on derivatives, net
    1,466       297       1,178       289  
                                 
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes
    203,453       203,011       283,243       240,954  
Net income
    204,928       255,610       134,290       148,546  
                                 
Total comprehensive income
  $ 408,381     $ 458,621     $ 417,533     $ 389,500  
                                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


3


 

NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
(in thousands)
Unaudited
 
                                                 
                            Accumulated
       
                            Other
    Total
 
    Common Stock     Paid-in
    Retained
    Comprehensive
    Stockholders’
 
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Earnings     Loss     Equity  
 
Balance, January 1, 2009
    165,782     $ 166     $ 1,158,925     $ 1,293,407     $ (540,375 )   $ 1,912,123  
Net income
                      204,928             204,928  
Other comprehensive income, net of taxes
                            203,453       203,453  
Exercise of stock options
    279             47                   47  
Tax deficiency on current period exercise of stock options
                (2,905 )                 (2,905 )
Share-based payment expense for equity-based awards
                34,854                   34,854  
                                                 
Balance, June 30, 2009
    166,061     $ 166     $ 1,190,921     $ 1,498,335     $ (336,922 )   $ 2,352,500  
                                                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


4


 

NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2009 and 2008
(in thousands)
Unaudited
 
                 
    2009     2008  
 
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net income
  $ 204,928     $ 255,610  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Amortization of debt financing costs
    3,694       3,955  
Depreciation and amortization
    196,649       199,589  
Provision for losses on accounts receivable
    50,011       39,211  
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    (56,238 )     (40,306 )
Deferred income tax benefit
    (3,374 )     (35,266 )
Share-based payment expense
    34,939       35,392  
Amortization of discount on convertible notes
    24,182       22,602  
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment
          (2,874 )
(Gain) loss on short-term investments
    (183 )     2,955  
Accretion of asset retirement obligations
    4,262       3,643  
Contingency reversals, net of charges
    (5,823 )      
Other, net
    (7,359 )     2,019  
Change in assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, gross
    (113,658 )     (112,927 )
Handset and accessory inventory
    (45,660 )     (64,673 )
Prepaid expenses and other
    (43,809 )     (15,388 )
Other long-term assets
    (16,882 )     (45,577 )
Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other
    56,693       55,485  
Current deferred revenue
    224       13,830  
Deferred revenue and other long-term liabilities
    (1,480 )     4,766  
                 
Net cash provided by operating activities
    281,116       322,046  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Capital expenditures
    (344,350 )     (424,735 )
Payments for purchases of licenses and other
    (9,992 )     (4,275 )
Proceeds from sales of short-term investments
    425,006       355,013  
Purchase of short-term investments
    (364,409 )     (273,888 )
Transfers to restricted cash
    (44,498 )     (521 )
Other
    (1,728 )     476  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (339,971 )     (347,930 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Payments to purchase common stock
          (242,665 )
Borrowings under credit paper
    25,342        
Borrowings under syndicated loan facilities
          125,000  
Repayments under syndicated loan facilities
    (24,048 )     (31,922 )
Payments of short-term notes payable
    (18,000 )      
Proceeds from stock option exercises
    47       28,639  
Excess tax benefit from share-based payment
          2,874  
Proceeds from tower financing transactions
          27,271  
Repayments under capital leases, license financing, tower financing and other transactions
    (5,262 )     (5,710 )
                 
Net cash used in financing activities
    (21,921 )     (96,513 )
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (25,711 )     32,012  
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (106,487 )     (90,385 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    1,243,251       1,370,165  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 1,136,764     $ 1,279,780  
                 
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.


5


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Unaudited
 
Note 1.   Basis of Presentation
 
General.  Our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. While they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements, they reflect all adjustments that, in the opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of the results for interim periods. In addition, the year-end condensed consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have evaluated all subsequent events through August 5, 2009, which is the date our condensed consolidated financial statements were issued.
 
You should read these condensed consolidated financial statements in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K and our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2009. You should not expect results of operations for interim periods to be an indication of the results for a full year.
 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss.  The components of our accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of taxes, are as follows:
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (in thousands)  
 
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustment
  $ (337,323 )   $ (539,016 )
Unrealized gains (losses) on derivatives and available-for-sale securities
    401       (1,359 )
                 
    $ (336,922 )   $ (540,375 )
                 
 
Supplemental Cash Flow Information.
 
                 
    Six Months Ended
 
    June 30,  
    2009     2008  
    (in thousands)  
 
Capital expenditures
               
Cash paid for capital expenditures, including capitalized interest
  $ 344,350     $ 424,735  
Change in capital expenditures accrued and unpaid or financed, including accreted interest capitalized
    56,571       11,509  
                 
    $ 400,921     $ 436,244  
                 
Interest costs
               
Interest expense, net
  $ 86,709     $ 102,759  
Interest capitalized
    5,160       5,132  
                 
    $ 91,869     $ 107,891  
                 
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized
  $ 54,678     $ 53,650  
                 
Cash paid for income taxes
  $ 111,504     $ 127,009  
                 
 
For the six months ended June 30, 2009, we had $61.0 million in non-cash financing activities related to the short-term financing of imported handsets and infrastructure in Brazil, the financing of a mobile switching office in Peru and co-location capital lease obligations on our communication towers. For the six months ended June 30, 2008, we had $7.1 million in non-cash financing activities related to co-location capital lease obligations on our communication towers.


6


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Net Income Per Common Share, Basic and Diluted.  Basic net income per common share includes no dilution and is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per common share reflects the potential dilution of securities that could participate in our earnings, but not securities that are antidilutive, including stock options with an exercise price greater than the average market price of our common stock.
 
As presented for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, our calculation of diluted net income per share includes shares of common stock issuable upon the potential exercise of stock options under our stock-based employee compensation plans, shares of restricted common stock and shares of common stock issuable upon the potential conversion of our 2.75% convertible notes. We did not include the shares of common stock issuable upon the potential conversion of our 3.125% convertible notes in our calculation of diluted net income per common share because their effect would have been antidilutive to our net income per common share for those periods. Further, for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009, we did not include 16.9 million antidilutive stock options, and for the six and three months ended June 30, 2008, we did not include 9.6 million antidilutive stock options. Finally, we did not include an immaterial amount of antidilutive restricted stock in our calculation of diluted net income per common share for those periods.
 
The following tables provide a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators used to calculate basic and diluted net income per common share as disclosed in our condensed consolidated statements of operations for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008:
 
                                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2009     Six Months Ended June 30, 2008  
    Income
    Shares
    Per Share
    Income
    Shares
    Per Share
 
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount     (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount  
    (in thousands, except per share data)  
 
Basic net income per share:
                                               
Net income
  $ 204,928       165,882     $ 1.24     $ 255,610       168,129     $ 1.52  
                                                 
Effect of dilutive securities:
                                               
Stock options
          30                     1,524          
Restricted stock
          186                     240          
Convertible notes, net of capitalized interest and taxes
    6,595       6,988               6,339       6,990          
                                                 
Diluted net income per share:
                                               
Net income
  $ 211,523       173,086     $ 1.22     $ 261,949       176,883     $ 1.48  
                                                 
 
                                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30, 2009     Three Months Ended June 30, 2008  
    Income
    Shares
    Per Share
    Income
    Shares
    Per Share
 
    (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount     (Numerator)     (Denominator)     Amount  
    (in thousands, except per share data)  
 
Basic net income per share:
                                               
Net income
  $ 134,290       165,980     $ 0.81     $ 148,546       166,907     $ 0.89  
                                                 
Effect of dilutive securities:
                                               
Stock options
          33                     1,584          
Restricted stock
          310                     276          
Convertible notes, net of capitalized interest and taxes
    3,280       6,989               3,166       6,990          
                                                 
Diluted net income per share:
                                               
Net income
  $ 137,570       173,312     $ 0.79     $ 151,712       175,757     $ 0.86  
                                                 


7


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Purchase of Common Stock.  In January 2008, our Board of Directors authorized a program to purchase shares of our common stock for cash. The Board approved the purchase of shares having an aggregate market value of up to $500.0 million, depending on market conditions and factors. During the six months ended June 30, 2008, we purchased a total of 5,555,033 shares of our common stock for $242.7 million. We did not purchase any shares of our common stock under this program during 2009. We treated purchases under this program as effective retirements of the purchased shares and therefore reduced our reported shares issued and outstanding by the number of shares purchased. In addition, we recorded the excess of the purchase price over the par value of the common stock as a reduction to paid-in capital.
 
Adoption of FSP APB 14-1.  On January 1, 2009, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Staff Position No. APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement),” or FSP APB 14-1. FSP APB 14-1 requires that issuers of certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion, including partial cash settlement, separately account for the liability and equity components (i.e. the embedded conversion option) of those debt instruments and recognize the accretion of the resulting discount on the debt as interest expense. FSP APB 14-1 is required to be applied retrospectively to convertible debt instruments within its scope that were outstanding during any period presented in financial statements issued after its adoption. The adoption of FSP APB 14-1 affected the accounting for:
 
  •  our 2.875% convertible notes issued in 2004 and due 2034, of which 99.99% were converted into shares of our common stock in June 2007;
 
  •  our 2.75% convertible notes issued in 2005 and due 2025; and
 
  •  our 3.125% convertible notes issued in 2007 and due 2012.
 
The retroactive application of FSP APB 14-1 resulted primarily in the recognition of additional non-cash interest expense in the affected prior periods. For the six and three months ended June 30, 2008, we recognized additional non-cash interest expense, net of incremental capitalized interest, of $21.1 million and $10.6 million, respectively. See Note 5 for further information.
 
The following table sets forth the effect of the retrospective application of FSP APB 14-1 on certain previously reported line items (in thousands, except per share data):
 
                                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30, 2008     Three Months Ended June 30, 2008  
          As Previously
    Effect of
          As Previously
    Effect of
 
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations:
  As Adjusted     Reported     Change     As Adjusted     Reported     Change  
 
Operating income
  $ 391,235     $ 391,519     $ (284 )   $ 199,570     $ 199,721     $ (151 )
Net income
    255,610       268,843       (13,233 )     148,546       155,274       (6,728 )
Net income, per common share, basic
  $ 1.52     $ 1.60     $ (0.08 )   $ 0.89     $ 0.93     $ (0.04 )
                                                 
Net income, per common share, diluted
  $ 1.48     $ 1.52     $ (0.04 )   $ 0.86     $ 0.88     $ (0.02 )
                                                 
 
New Accounting Pronouncements.  In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133,” or SFAS No. 161, which amends and expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 in the first quarter of 2009 did not impact our condensed consolidated financial statements as the value of our derivative instruments is not material.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” or FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1. FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 require quarterly disclosures of the fair value and carrying value of all financial instruments aggregated by major category and disclosures


8


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
concerning the methods and assumptions used to estimate the instruments’ fair value. FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 is effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 in the second quarter of 2009 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events,” or SFAS No. 165. SFAS No. 165 establishes the accounting for and disclosure of events and transactions which occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. This standard requires disclosure of the date through which such subsequent events have been evaluated. SFAS No. 165 became effective for interim or annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. Our adoption of SFAS No. 165 during the second quarter of 2009 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R),” or SFAS No. 167. SFAS No. 167 changes the consolidation guidance under FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), or FIN 46, to require an ongoing qualitative assessment to determine the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, or VIE. SFAS No. 167 also amends the circumstances that would require a reassessment of whether an entity in which we had a variable interest qualifies as a VIE and would be subject to the consolidation guidance in this standard. SFAS No. 167 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, that the adoption of this standard will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Note 2.   Fair Value Measurements
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements,” or SFAS No. 157, which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring the fair value of assets and liabilities when other accounting pronouncements require or permit fair value measurements and expands related disclosure requirements. On January 1, 2008, we adopted SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and financial liabilities, except for those that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis (at least annually). On January 1, 2009 we adopted SFAS No. 157 for non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities as contemplated by FASB Staff Position No. 157-2, “Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157,” or FSP 157-2, that was issued in February 2008. As of June 30, 2009, the adoption of SFAS No. 157 with respect to our nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities has not had a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
SFAS No. 157 clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that is determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability. As a basis for considering such assumptions, SFAS No. 157 utilizes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used to measure fair value. The three levels in the fair value hierarchy used are summarized as follows:
 
Level 1:  Observable inputs such as quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
 
Level 2:  Inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.
 
Level 3:  Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.
 
Considerable judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value. To the extent that the valuation is based on models or inputs that are less observable or unobservable in the market, the determination of fair value requires more judgment. Accordingly, the degree of judgment exercised in determining fair value is greatest for instruments categorized in Level 3. The estimates presented below are not necessarily indicative of the amounts that we could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and valuation techniques may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.


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NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The following is a description of the major categories of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis.
 
Available-for-Sale Securities.
 
Available-for-sale securities include short-term investments made by Nextel Brazil and current and long term classifications of our enhanced cash fund which is invested primarily in asset-backed securities. The short-term investments by Nextel Brazil are classified as Level 1 within the fair value hierarchy as these short-term investments trade regularly in observable markets. The enhanced cash fund is classified as Level 3 within the fair value hierarchy at June 30, 2009 since certain significant inputs for the fair value measurement remain unobservable.
 
The following table sets forth the classification within the fair value hierarchy of our financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet as of June 30, 2009 (in thousands):
 
                                         
    Fair Value Measurements as of June 30, 2009
    Fair Value as of  
    Using the Fair Value Hierarchy     June 30,
    December 31,
 
Financial Instruments
  Level 1     Level 2     Level 3     2009     2008  
 
Short-term investment:
                                       
Available-for-sale securities — Nextel Brazil investments
  $ 12,084     $     $     $ 12,084     $ 48,858  
Available-for-sale securities — Enhanced cash fund
                25,433       25,433       33,144  
                                         
      12,084             25,433       37,517       82,002  
Long-term investment:
                                       
Available-for-sale securities — Enhanced cash fund
                9,382       9,382       20,016  
                                         
    $ 12,084     $     $ 34,815     $ 46,899     $ 102,018  
                                         
 
The following table summarizes the changes in fair value of our Level 3 financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis (in thousands):
 
                 
    Six Months Ended
    Three Months Ended
 
    June 30,
    June 30,
 
    2009     2009  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 53,160     $ 38,267  
Principal distributions
    (20,372 )     (5,136 )
Unrealized gain, included in other comprehensive income
    1,844       1,523  
Realized gain on distributions, included in net income
    183       161  
                 
Ending balance
  $ 34,815     $ 34,815  
                 
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2008, we had no activity with respect to assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis using Level 3 inputs.
 
Other Financial Instruments
 
We estimate the fair value of our financial instruments other than our available-for-sale securities, including cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable, derivative instruments and debt. The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and short-term borrowings contained in


10


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
the condensed consolidated balance sheets approximate their fair values due to the short-term nature of these instruments. The fair values of our derivative instruments are immaterial.
 
The carrying amounts and estimated fair values of our long-term debt instruments at June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 are as follows:
 
                                 
    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    Carrying
    Estimated
    Carrying
    Estimated
 
    Amount     Fair Value     Amount     Fair Value  
    (in thousands)  
 
Convertible notes
  $ 1,415,028     $ 1,255,599     $ 1,390,847     $ 1,036,526  
Syndicated loan facilities
    481,859       461,097       505,863       456,848  
Tower financing obligations
    168,352       53,965       157,262       58,027  
Brazil spectrum license financing
    6,546       4,184       6,660       4,649  
Brazil credit paper
    25,620       26,646              
                                 
    $ 2,097,405     $ 1,801,491     $ 2,060,632     $ 1,556,050  
                                 
 
We estimated the fair values of our convertible notes using quoted market prices in a broker dealer market which are adjusted for certain factors such as historical trading levels and market data for our notes, credit default spreads, stock volatility assumptions and other corroborating market or internally generated data. Because our fair value measurement includes market data, corroborating market data and some broker internally generated information, we consider this Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy.
 
We estimated the fair values of our syndicated loan facilities, towers financing obligations and Brazil spectrum license financing using primarily Level 3 inputs such as U.S. Treasury yield curves, prices of comparable bonds, LIBOR and zero-coupon yield curves, Treasury bond rates and credit spreads on comparable publicly traded bonds.
 
The Brazil credit paper is a $25.6 million working capital loan from a Brazilian bank, which we entered into in May 2009. We estimated the fair value of the loan by discounting the expected cash flows utilizing primarily Level 3 inputs such as a forward zero-coupon curve of the U.S. Treasury bonds and an appropriate credit spread based on comparable publicly traded bonds.
 
Note 3.   Property, Plant and Equipment
 
The components of our property, plant and equipment are as follows:
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (in thousands)  
 
Land
  $ 7,099     $ 6,600  
Leasehold improvements
    94,380       84,663  
Digital mobile network equipment and network software
    2,723,078       2,216,212  
Office equipment, furniture and fixtures and other
    376,699       329,352  
Corporate aircraft capital lease
    31,450       31,450  
Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (1,181,632 )     (928,368 )
                 
      2,051,074       1,739,909  
Construction in progress
    224,797       152,204  
                 
    $ 2,275,871     $ 1,892,113  
                 


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NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
Note 4.   Intangible Assets
 
Our intangible assets consist of our licenses and trade name, all of which have finite useful lives, as follows:
 
                                                 
    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    Gross
          Net
    Gross
          Net
 
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Carrying
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Carrying
 
    Value     Amortization     Value     Value     Amortization     Value  
    (in thousands)  
 
Amortizable intangible assets:
                                               
Licenses
  $ 398,322     $ (72,074 )   $ 326,248     $ 373,315     $ (55,437 )   $ 317,878  
Trade name and other
    1,547       (1,547 )           1,412       (1,412 )      
                                                 
Total intangible assets
  $ 399,869     $ (73,621 )   $ 326,248     $ 374,727     $ (56,849 )   $ 317,878  
                                                 
 
Based solely on the carrying amount of amortizable intangible assets existing as of June 30, 2009 and current foreign currency exchange rates, we estimate amortization expense for each of the next five years ending December 31 to be as follows (in thousands):
 
         
    Estimated
 
    Amortization
 
Years
  Expense  
 
2009
  $ 28,161  
2010
    28,869  
2011
    28,869  
2012
    28,869  
2013
    28,782  
 
Actual amortization expense to be reported in future periods could differ from these estimates as a result of additional acquisitions of intangibles, as well as changes in foreign currency exchange rates and other relevant factors. During the three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, we did not acquire, dispose of or write down any goodwill or intangible assets with indefinite useful lives.
 
Note 5.   Debt
 
The components are as follows:
 
                 
    June 30,
    December 31,
 
    2009     2008  
    (in thousands)  
 
3.125% convertible notes due 2012, net
  $ 1,078,488     $ 1,059,997  
2.75% convertible notes due 2025, net
    336,540       330,850  
Brazil syndicated loan facility
    300,000       300,000  
Mexico syndicated loan facility
    181,859       205,863  
Tower financing obligations
    168,352       157,262  
Capital lease obligations
    72,028       68,167  
Brazil import financing
    53,470        
Brazil credit paper
    25,620        
Brazil spectrum license financing
    6,546       6,660  
Other
    6,018       4,341  
                 
Total debt
    2,228,921       2,133,140  
Less: current portion
    (198,378 )     (99,054 )
                 
    $ 2,030,543     $ 2,034,086  
                 


12


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Convertible Notes.
 
3.125% Convertible Notes.  The 3.125% notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at a conversion rate of 8.4517 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, or 10,142,040 aggregate common shares, representing a conversion price of about $118.32 per share. For the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009, the closing sale price of our common stock did not exceed 120% of the conversion price of $118.32 per share for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on June 30, 2009. As a result, the conversion contingency was not met as of June 30, 2009.
 
2.75% Convertible Notes.  The 2.75% notes are convertible, at the option of the holder, into shares of our common stock at an adjusted conversion rate of 19.967 shares per $1,000 principal amount of notes, or 6,988,370 aggregate common shares, representing a conversion price of about $50.08 per share. For the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2009, the closing sale price of our common stock did not exceed 120% of the conversion price of $50.08 per share for at least 20 trading days in the 30 consecutive trading days ending on June 30, 2009. As a result, the conversion contingency was not met as of June 30, 2009.
 
As a result of the adoption of FSP APB 14-1 on January 1, 2009, we were required to separately account for the debt and equity components of our 3.125% convertible notes and our 2.75% convertible notes in a manner that reflects our nonconvertible debt (unsecured debt) borrowing rate. The debt and equity components recognized for our 3.125% convertible notes and our 2.75% convertible notes were as follows (in thousands):
 
                                 
    June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    3.125% Notes
    2.75% Notes
    3.125% Notes
    2.75% Notes
 
    due 2012     due 2025     due 2012     due 2025  
 
Principal amount of convertible notes
  $ 1,200,000     $ 349,996     $ 1,200,000     $ 349,996  
Unamortized discount on convertible notes
    121,512       13,456       140,003       19,146  
Net carrying amount of convertible notes
    1,078,488       336,540       1,059,997       330,850  
Carrying amount of equity component
    194,557       53,253       194,557       53,253  


13


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
As of June 30, 2009, the unamortized discount on our 3.125% convertible notes and our 2.75% convertible notes had remaining recognition periods of approximately 35 months and 14 months, respectively.
 
The amount of interest expense recognized on our 3.125% convertible notes and our 2.75% convertible notes and effective interest rates for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008 were as follows (dollars in thousands):
 
                                 
    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2009     2008  
    3.125% Notes
    2.75% Notes
    3.125% Notes
    2.75% Notes
 
    due 2012     due 2025     due 2012     due 2025  
 
Contractual coupon interest
  $ 18,750     $ 4,812     $ 18,750     $ 4,812  
Amortization of discount on convertible notes
    18,491       5,690       17,257       5,346  
                                 
Interest expense, net
  $ 37,241     $ 10,502     $ 36,007     $ 10,158  
                                 
Effective interest rate on convertible notes
    7.15 %     6.45 %     7.15 %     6.45 %
                                 
 
                                 
    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2009     2008  
    3.125% Notes
    2.75% Notes
    3.125% Notes
    2.75% Notes
 
    due 2012     due 2025     due 2012     due 2025  
 
Contractual coupon interest
  $ 9,375     $ 2,406     $ 9,375     $ 2,406  
Amortization of discount on convertible notes
    9,299       2,867       8,679       2,694  
                                 
Interest expense, net
  $ 18,674     $ 5,273     $ 18,054     $ 5,100  
                                 
Effective interest rate on convertible notes
    7.15 %     6.45 %     7.15 %     6.45 %
                                 
 
Syndicated Loan Facilities.  In September 2007, Nextel Brazil entered into a $300.0 million syndicated loan facility. Of the total amount of the facility, $45.0 million is denominated in U.S. dollars with a floating interest rate based on LIBOR plus a specified margin ranging from 2.00% to 2.50% (Tranche A — 2.60% and 3.43% as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively). The remaining $255.0 million is denominated in U.S. dollars with a floating interest rate based on LIBOR plus a specified margin ranging from 1.75% to 2.25% (Tranche B — 2.35% and 3.18% as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, respectively). Tranche A matures on September 14, 2014, and Tranche B matures on September 14, 2012.
 
In addition, a portion of Nextel Mexico’s syndicated loan facility bears a floating interest rate based on LIBOR plus a specified margin. The interest rate on the portions of both the Brazil and Mexico syndicated loan facilities that have interest rates based on LIBOR are reset each quarter. If the LIBOR rate increases, Nextel Brazil and Nextel Mexico will incur increased interest expense related to their syndicated loans.
 
Brazil Import Financing.  In March 2009, Nextel Brazil began financing certain equipment mainly purchased from Motorola and Research in Motion, or RIM, that is imported into Brazil through agreements with several Brazilian banks. Each tranche of these financings matures within a six to twelve-month period.
 
Brazil Credit Paper.  In May 2009, Nextel Brazil entered into a $25.6 million working capital loan with a Brazilian bank. Interest is payable quarterly for the first twelve months beginning August 2009 and monthly for the remaining six months, and the principal matures beginning in June 2010 through November 2010 with six equal consecutive payments.


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NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
Note 6.   Commitments and Contingencies
 
Brazilian Contingencies.
 
Nextel Brazil has received various assessment notices from state and federal Brazilian authorities asserting deficiencies in payments related primarily to value-added taxes, excise taxes on imported equipment and other non-income based taxes. Nextel Brazil has filed various administrative and legal petitions disputing these assessments. In some cases, Nextel Brazil has received favorable decisions, which are currently being appealed by the respective governmental authority. In other cases, Nextel Brazil’s petitions have been denied, and Nextel Brazil is currently appealing those decisions. Nextel Brazil is also disputing various other claims. As a result of a favorable ruling by the state tax authority in Brazil, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, Nextel Brazil reversed $10.5 million in accrued liabilities, of which we recorded $5.8 million as other income.
 
As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, Nextel Brazil had accrued liabilities of $11.6 million and $18.3 million, respectively, related to contingencies, all of which were classified in accrued contingencies reported as a component of other long-term liabilities. Of the total accrued liabilities as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, Nextel Brazil had $0.3 million and $9.2 million in unasserted claims. We currently estimate the range of reasonably possible losses related to matters for which Nextel Brazil has not accrued liabilities, as they are not deemed probable, to be between $95.6 million and $99.6 million as of June 30, 2009. We are continuing to evaluate the likelihood of probable and reasonably possible losses, if any, related to all known contingencies. As a result, future increases or decreases to our accrued liabilities may be necessary and will be recorded in the period when such amounts are determined to be probable and estimable.
 
Argentine Contingencies.
 
As of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008, Nextel Argentina had accrued liabilities of $26.8 million and $35.0 million, respectively, related primarily to local turnover taxes, universal service tax and local government claims, all of which were classified in accrued contingencies and accrued non-income taxes reported as components of accrued expenses and other.
 
Turnover Tax.  The government of the city of Buenos Aires imposes a turnover tax rate of 6% of revenues for cellular companies while maintaining a 3% rate for other telecommunications services. From a regulatory standpoint, we are not considered a cellular company, although, the city of Buenos Aires made claims to the effect that the higher turnover tax rate should apply to our services. As a result, until April 2006, Nextel Argentina paid the turnover tax at a rate of 3% and recorded a liability and related expense for the differential between the higher rate applicable to cellular carriers and the 3% rate, plus interest. In April 2006, following some adverse decisions by the city of Buenos Aires, Nextel Argentina decided to pay under protest $18.8 million, which represented the total amount of principal and interest, related to the city’s turnover tax claims and subsequently paid an additional $4.2 million under protest for the period April 2006 through December 2006 related to this tax. Nextel Argentina filed a lawsuit against the city of Buenos Aires to pursue the reimbursement of the $18.8 million paid under protest in April 2006, as well as an administrative claim for the remaining $4.2 million for the period April 2006 through December 2006.
 
In December 2006, the city of Buenos Aires issued new laws that support Nextel Argentina’s position that it should be taxed at the general 3% rate and not at the 6% cellular rate. Beginning in January 2007, Nextel Argentina determined that it would continue to accrue and pay only the 3% general turnover tax rate and would continue with its efforts to obtain reimbursement of amounts previously paid under protest in excess of that level.
 
In 2007, Nextel Argentina received a $4.2 million tax refund, plus interest, as the result of a resolution issued by the tax authorities of the city of Buenos Aires with respect to the amounts paid from April 2006 through December 2006 relating to this tax. In June 2009, the city of Buenos Aires agreed to refund by tax credit an additional $18.9 million to Nextel Argentina related to the $18.8 million in turnover tax principal and interest paid


15


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
under protest, plus additional interest. In addition, Nextel Argentina unconditionally and unilaterally committed to donate $5.7 million to charitable organizations.
 
Separately, in June 2009, another provincial government that had made a similar case for a higher turnover tax rate finalized an examination that supported Nextel Argentina’s position that its turnover tax obligations should be taxed at the 3% general turnover tax rate. Nextel Argentina previously accrued a liability for the difference between the higher rate and the general turnover tax rate. As a result of this indirect confirmation, Nextel Argentina reversed $9.2 million in accrued liabilities related to this contingency during June 2009.
 
Legal Proceedings.
 
We are subject to claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any of these pending claims or legal actions will have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
Note 7.   Income Taxes
 
We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and the non-U.S. jurisdictions in which we operate. Certain of our entities are under examination by the relevant taxing authorities for various tax years. The earliest years that remain subject to examination by jurisdiction are: Chile — 1993; U.S. — 1995; Mexico — 2001; Argentina — 2002; Peru and Brazil — 2004. We regularly assess the potential outcome of current and future examinations in each of the taxing jurisdictions when determining the adequacy of the provision for income taxes.
 
The following table shows a reconciliation of our unrecognized tax benefits according to FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — An interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109,” or FIN No. 48, for the six months ended June 30, 2009 (in thousands):
 
         
Unrecognized tax benefits — December 31, 2008
  $ 85,886  
Additions for current year tax positions
    1,594  
Additions for prior year tax positions
     
Lapse of statute of limitations
    (577 )
Settlements with taxing authorities
     
Foreign currency translation adjustment
    1,576  
         
Unrecognized tax benefits — June 30, 2009
  $ 88,479  
         
 
The unrecognized tax benefits as of December 31, 2008 and June 30, 2009 include $63.2 million and $65.8 million, respectively, of tax benefits that could potentially reduce our future effective tax rate, if recognized.
 
We record interest and penalties associated with uncertain tax positions as a component of our income tax provision.
 
We assessed the realizability of our deferred tax assets during the second quarter of 2009, consistent with the methodology we employed for 2008, and determined that the realizability of those deferred assets has not changed for the markets in which we operate. In that assessment, we considered the reversal of existing temporary differences associated with deferred tax assets and liabilities, future taxable income, tax planning strategies and historical and future pre-tax book income (as adjusted for permanent differences between financial and tax accounting items) in order to determine if it is “more-likely-than-not” that the deferred tax asset will be realized. As a result of the retrospective adoption of FSP APB 14-1 on January 1, 2009, we recorded additional U.S. deferred tax liabilities, allowing us to record a smaller valuation allowance against our U.S. deferred tax assets and increase the amount of recognized U.S. deferred tax benefit. We believe it is reasonably possible that, within the next year, we will release some portion of the U.S. valuation allowance. The character of the valuation allowance that would likely be released would result in a reduction to the income tax expense.


16


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
During 2004, Nextel Mexico amended its Mexican Federal income tax returns in order to reverse a benefit previously claimed for a disputed provision of the Federal income tax law covering deductions and gains from the sale of property. We filed the amended returns in order to avoid potential penalties, and we also filed administrative petitions seeking clarification of our right to the tax benefits claimed on the original income tax returns. The tax authorities constructively denied our administrative petitions in January 2005, and in May 2005 we filed an annulment suit challenging the constructive denial. Resolution of the annulment suit is pending. We believe it is probable that we will recover this amount. Our condensed consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008 include $13.2 and $12.8 million, respectively, in income taxes receivable, which are included as components of other non-current assets. The income tax benefit for this item was related to our income tax provision for the years ended December 31, 2005, 2004 and 2003.
 
Note 8.   Segment Reporting
 
We have determined that our reportable segments are those that are based on our method of internal reporting, which disaggregates our business by geographical location. Our reportable segments are: (1) Mexico, (2) Brazil, (3) Argentina and (4) Peru. The operations of all other businesses that fall below the segment reporting thresholds are included in the “Corporate and other” segment below. This segment includes our Chilean operating companies and our corporate operations in the U.S. We evaluate performance of these segments and provide resources to them based on operating income before depreciation and amortization and impairment, restructuring and other charges, which we refer to as segment earnings. Because we do not view share-based compensation as an important element of operational performance, we recognize share-based payment expense at the corporate level and exclude it when evaluating the business performance of our segments.
 
                                                         
                            Corporate
    Intercompany
       
    Mexico     Brazil     Argentina     Peru     and other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (in thousands)  
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2009
                                                       
Service and other revenues
  $ 877,648     $ 657,498     $ 243,582     $ 118,340     $ 5,968     $ (589 )   $ 1,902,447  
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    38,335       48,996       17,301       13,072       28             117,732  
                                                         
Operating revenues
  $ 915,983     $ 706,494     $ 260,883     $ 131,412     $ 5,996     $ (589 )   $ 2,020,179  
                                                         
Segment earnings (losses)
  $ 326,917     $ 183,443     $ 83,321     $ 15,264     $ (96,938 )   $     $ 512,007  
Management fee
    (15,900 )                       15,900              
Depreciation and amortization
    (80,902 )     (74,655 )     (19,480 )     (14,853 )     (6,759 )           (196,649 )
                                                         
Operating income (loss)
    230,115       108,788       63,841       411       (87,797 )           315,358  
Interest expense, net
    (22,867 )     (22,482 )     5,890       (287 )     (49,101 )     2,138       (86,709 )
Interest income
    13,044       2,332       368       202       2,614       (2,138 )     16,422  
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net
    (20,653 )     69,716       5,340       (281 )     2,116             56,238  
Other (expense) income, net
    (268 )     5,902       3,747       1       (3,814 )           5,568  
                                                         
Income (loss) before income tax
  $ 199,371     $ 164,256     $ 79,186     $ 46     $ (135,982 )   $     $ 306,877  
                                                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 57,400     $ 246,688     $ 20,130     $ 64,972     $ 11,731     $     $ 400,921  
                                                         


17


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                                                         
                            Corporate
    Intercompany
       
    Mexico     Brazil     Argentina     Peru     and other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (in thousands)  
 
Six Months Ended June 30, 2008
                                                       
Service and other revenues
  $ 1,024,101     $ 616,584     $ 241,121     $ 105,639     $ 3,981     $ (646 )   $ 1,990,780  
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    39,231       34,887       23,395       8,855       23             106,391  
                                                         
Operating revenues
  $ 1,063,332     $ 651,471     $ 264,516     $ 114,494     $ 4,004     $ (646 )   $ 2,097,171  
                                                         
Segment earnings (losses)
  $ 391,480     $ 175,248     $ 81,817     $ 22,630     $ (80,351 )   $     $ 590,824  
Management fee
    (16,752 )                       16,800       (48 )      
Depreciation and amortization
    (96,168 )     (69,047 )     (18,507 )     (9,955 )     (5,792 )     (120 )     (199,589 )
                                                         
Operating income (loss)
    278,560       106,201       63,310       12,675       (69,343 )     (168 )     391,235  
Interest expense, net
    (31,732 )     (26,075 )     (1,387 )     (36 )     (47,718 )     4,189       (102,759 )
Interest income
    21,852       3,260       1,867       618       13,120       (4,189 )     36,528  
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net
    16,515       25,467       (2,673 )     (162 )     1,111       48       40,306  
Other (expense) income, net
    (159 )     (1,552 )     44             (3,508 )           (5,175 )
                                                         
Income (loss) before income tax
  $ 285,036     $ 107,301     $ 61,161     $ 13,095     $ (106,338 )   $ (120 )   $ 360,135  
                                                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 126,709     $ 219,310     $ 40,788     $ 22,991     $ 26,446     $     $ 436,244  
                                                         
Three Months Ended June 30, 2009
                                                       
Service and other revenues
  $ 450,241     $ 360,208     $ 119,411     $ 59,408     $ 3,193     $ (321 )   $ 992,140  
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    20,713       30,205       9,306       6,479       22             66,725  
                                                         
Operating revenues
  $ 470,954     $ 390,413     $ 128,717     $ 65,887     $ 3,215     $ (321 )   $ 1,058,865  
                                                         
Segment earnings (losses)
  $ 172,757     $ 95,419     $ 41,448     $ 5,897     $ (48,654 )   $     $ 266,867  
Management fee
    (7,950 )                       7,950              
Depreciation and amortization
    (41,893 )     (41,267 )     (9,629 )     (7,581 )     (3,383 )           (103,753 )
                                                         
Operating income (loss)
    122,914       54,152       31,819       (1,684 )     (44,087 )           163,114  
Interest expense, net
    (10,792 )     (11,978 )     4,828       (223 )     (24,394 )     446       (42,113 )
Interest income
    2,188       1,093       160       162       612       (446 )     3,769  
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net
    (11,113 )     67,321       259       (172 )     7,257             63,552  
Other (expense) income, net
    (200 )     7,219       3,745       1       (3,555 )           7,210  
                                                         
Income (loss) before income tax
  $ 102,997     $ 117,807     $ 40,811     $ (1,916 )   $ (64,167 )   $     $ 195,532  
                                                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 31,683     $ 132,770     $ 10,100     $ 49,242     $ 7,648     $     $ 231,443  
                                                         

18


 

 
NII HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
                                                         
                            Corporate
    Intercompany
       
    Mexico     Brazil     Argentina     Peru     and other     Eliminations     Consolidated  
    (in thousands)  
 
Three Months Ended June 30, 2008
                                                       
Service and other revenues
  $ 530,786     $ 330,268     $ 126,154     $ 53,943     $ 2,199     $ (320 )   $ 1,043,030  
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    24,174       19,718       12,330       4,693       9             60,924  
                                                         
Operating revenues
  $ 554,960     $ 349,986     $ 138,484     $ 58,636     $ 2,208     $ (320 )   $ 1,103,954  
                                                         
Segment earnings (losses)
  $ 199,728     $ 93,858     $ 42,439     $ 10,569     $ (41,720 )   $     $ 304,874  
Management fee
    (8,354 )                       8,402       (48 )      
Depreciation and amortization
    (50,063 )     (37,071 )     (9,768 )     (5,000 )     (3,184 )     (218 )     (105,304 )
                                                         
Operating income (loss)
    141,311       56,787       32,671       5,569       (36,502 )     (266 )     199,570  
Interest expense, net
    (15,670 )     (12,810 )     (729 )     (19 )     (23,798 )     2,221       (50,805 )
Interest income
    11,283       2,263       600       327       5,336       (2,221 )     17,588  
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net
    12,355       27,214       (3,103 )     29       858       48       37,401  
Other (expense) income, net
    (80 )     (355 )     16       (1 )     (226 )           (646 )
                                                         
Income (loss) before income tax
  $ 149,199     $ 73,099     $ 29,455     $ 5,905     $ (54,332 )   $ (218 )   $ 203,108  
                                                         
Capital expenditures
  $ 76,649     $ 115,911     $ 23,960     $ 13,981     $ 13,815     $     $ 244,316  
                                                         
June 30, 2009
                                                       
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 692,713     $ 1,062,877     $ 194,023     $ 201,465     $ 125,080     $ (287 )   $ 2,275,871  
                                                         
Identifiable assets
  $ 2,135,139     $ 2,084,031     $ 387,621     $ 346,977     $ 726,033     $ (287 )   $ 5,679,514  
                                                         
December 31, 2008
                                                       
Property, plant and equipment, net
  $ 687,839     $ 725,892     $ 212,908     $ 151,034     $ 114,727     $ (287 )   $ 1,892,113  
                                                         
Identifiable assets
  $ 2,122,133     $ 1,492,260     $ 450,781     $ 291,397     $ 733,789     $ (287 )   $ 5,090,073  
                                                         

19


 

Item 2.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
INDEX TO MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
         
    21  
    21  
    26  
    26  
    27  
    27  
    28  
    33  
    36  
    39  
    41  
    43  
    44  
    45  
    48  
    50  


20


 

Introduction
 
The following is a discussion and analysis of:
 
  •  our consolidated financial condition and results of operations for the six- and three-month periods ended June 30, 2009 and 2008; and
 
  •  significant factors which we believe could affect our prospective financial condition and results of operations.
 
You should read this discussion in conjunction with our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 and the discussion regarding our critical accounting judgments included below and in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K. Historical results may not indicate future performance. See “Forward Looking Statements” for risks and uncertainties that may impact our future performance.
 
Business Overview
 
We provide wireless communication services, primarily targeted at meeting the needs of customers who use our services in their businesses and individuals that have medium to high usage patterns, both of whom value our multi-function handsets, including our Nextel Direct Connect® feature, and our high level of customer service. We provide these services through operating companies located in selected Latin American markets under the Nexteltm brand, with our principal operations located in major business centers and related transportation corridors of Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile. We provide our services in major urban and suburban centers with high population densities, which we refer to as major business centers, where we believe there is a concentration of the country’s business users and economic activity. We believe that vehicle traffic congestion, low wireline service penetration and the expanded coverage of wireless networks in these major business centers encourage the use of the mobile wireless communications services that we offer.
 
We use a wireless transmission technology called integrated digital enhanced network, or iDEN, developed by Motorola, Inc. to provide our digital mobile services on 800 MHz spectrum holdings in all of our markets. This technology, which is the only digital technology currently available that can be used on non-contiguous spectrum like ours, allows us to use our spectrum efficiently and offer multiple wireless services integrated into a variety of handset devices. The services we offer include:
 
  •  mobile telephone service, including advanced calling features such as speakerphone, conference calling, voice-mail, call forwarding and additional line service;
 
  •  Nextel Direct Connect® service, which allows subscribers anywhere on our network to talk to each other instantly, on a “push-to-talk” basis, private one-to-one call or group call;
 
  •  International Direct Connect® service, together with Sprint Nextel Corporation and TELUS Corporation, which allows subscribers to communicate instantly across national borders with our subscribers in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Chile, with Sprint Nextel Corporation subscribers using compatible handsets in the United States and with TELUS subscribers using compatible handsets in Canada;
 
  •  text messaging services, mobile internet services, e-mail services including Blackberrytm services, location-based services, which include the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies, digital media services and advanced Javatm enabled business applications; and
 
  •  international roaming services.
 
Our goal is to generate increased revenues in our Latin American markets by providing differentiated wireless communications services that are valued by our customers, while improving our profitability and cash flow over the long term. We plan to continue to expand the coverage and capacity of our networks in our existing markets and increase our existing subscriber base while managing our costs in a manner designed to support that growth and improve our operating results. We will seek to add subscribers at rates and other terms that are competitive with other offerings in the market, but that are consistent with our strategy of finding the optimal balance of growth and profitability regardless of the competitive landscape. See “Forward Looking Statements” and “Item 1A. — Risk


21


 

Factors” in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K for information on risks and uncertainties that could affect our ability to reach these goals and the other objectives described below.
 
We may also explore financially attractive opportunities to expand our network coverage in areas that we do not currently serve. Based on market data that continues to show lower wireless penetration in our markets relative to other regions of the world and our current market share in those markets, we believe that we can continue to generate growth in our subscriber base and revenues while improving our profitability and cash flow over the long term.
 
We believe that the wireless communications industry in the markets in which we operate has been and will continue to be highly competitive on the basis of price, the types of services offered, the diversity of handsets offered and the quality of service. In each of our markets, we compete with at least two large, well-capitalized competitors with substantial financial and other resources. Some of these competitors have the ability to offer bundled telecommunications services that include local, long distance and data services, and can offer a larger variety of handsets with a wide range of prices, brands and features. Although competitive pricing of services and the variety and pricing of handsets are often important factors in a customer’s decision making process, we believe that the users who primarily make up our targeted customer base are also likely to base their purchase decisions on quality of service and customer support, as well as on the availability of differentiated features and services, like our Direct Connect services, that make it easier for them to communicate quickly, efficiently and economically.
 
We have implemented a strategy that we believe will position us to achieve our long-term goal of generating profitable growth. The key components of that strategy are as follows:
 
Focusing on Major Business Centers in Key Latin American Markets.  We operate primarily in large urban markets, including five of the six largest cities in Latin America, which have a concentration of medium to high usage business customers and consumers. We target these markets because we believe they have favorable long-term growth prospects for our wireless communications services while offering the cost benefits associated with providing services in more concentrated population centers. In addition, the cities in which we operate account for a high proportion of total economic activity in each of their respective countries and provide us with a large potential market. We believe that there are significant opportunities for growth in these markets due to the high demand for wireless communications services and the large number of potential customers within our targeted customer groups.
 
Targeting High Value Customers.  Our main focus is on customers who purchase services under contract and primarily use our services in their businesses and on individuals that have medium to high usage patterns, both of whom value our multi-function handsets, including our Nextel Direct Connect feature and our high level of customer service. In our current customer base, our typical customer has between 3 and 30 handsets, and some of our largest customers have over 500 handsets; however, new customers that we have recently acquired generally have a lower number of handsets per customer.
 
Providing Differentiated Services.  We differentiate ourselves from our competitors by offering unique services like our “push-to-talk” service, which we refer to as Direct Connect. This service, which is available throughout our service areas, provides significant value to our customers by eliminating the long distance and domestic roaming fees charged by other wireless service providers, while also providing added functionality due to the near-instantaneous nature of the communication and the ability to communicate on a one-to-many basis. In addition, we are in the process of developing a high performance push-to-talk service that utilizes wideband CDMA, or WCDMA, technology in an effort to continually provide differentiated service to our customers as we acquire spectrum rights and deploy WCDMA-based networks. Our competitors have introduced competitive push-to-talk over cellular products, but we believe that the quality of our Direct Connect service is superior at this time. We add further value by customizing data applications that enhance the productivity of our business customers, such as vehicle and delivery tracking, order entry processing and workforce monitoring applications.
 
Delivering Superior Customer Service.  In addition to our unique service offerings, we seek to further differentiate ourselves by providing a higher level of customer service than our competitors. We work proactively with our customers to match them with service plans that offer greater value based on the


22


 

customer’s usage patterns. After analyzing customer usage and expense data, we strive to minimize a customer’s per minute costs while increasing overall usage of our array of services, thereby providing higher value to our customers while increasing our monthly revenues. This goal is also furthered by our efforts during and after the sales process to educate customers about our services, multi-function handsets and rate plans. In addition, we have implemented proactive customer retention programs to increase customer satisfaction and retention.
 
Selectively Expanding our Service Areas.  We believe that we have significant opportunities to grow through selective expansion of our service into additional areas in some of the countries in which we currently operate, particularly in Brazil where our coverage is not as extensive as in our other markets. Such expansion may involve building out certain areas in which we already have spectrum, obtaining additional spectrum in new areas which would enable us to expand our network service areas, and further developing our business in key urban areas. In addition, we may consider selectively expanding into other Latin American countries where we do not currently operate. We have made significant additional investments in Brazil in order to expand our service areas, including expansion into the northeast region of the country, and add more capacity to Nextel Brazil’s network to support its growth. See “Future Capital Needs and Resources — Capital Expenditures” for a discussion of the factors that drive our capital spending.
 
Preserving the iDEN Opportunity.  The iDEN networks that we operate allow us to offer differentiated services like Direct Connect while offering high quality voice telephony and other innovative services. The iDEN technology is unique in that it is the only widespread, commercially available technology that operates on non-contiguous spectrum, which is important to us because much of the spectrum that our operating companies hold in each of the markets we serve is non-contiguous. Because Motorola is the sole supplier of iDEN technology, we are dependent on Motorola’s support of the evolution of the iDEN technology and of the development of new features, functionality and handset models.
 
Sprint Nextel Corporation is the largest customer of Motorola with respect to iDEN technology and, in the past, has provided significant support with respect to new product development for that technology. In recent years, Sprint Nextel Corporation has reduced its commitment to the development of new iDEN handsets and features, and there has been a decline in the number of handsets purchased by them; however, there has recently been an increase in the level of Sprint Nextel Corporation’s advertising and promotion of iDEN services, including its Boost branded prepaid services. In light of the reduction in Sprint Nextel Corporation’s development efforts, we have increased our effort and support of iDEN handset product development and now lead the majority of that development activity in support of our customers’ needs. In addition, we have entered into arrangements with Motorola that are designed to provide us with a continued source of iDEN network equipment and handsets in an environment in which Sprint Nextel’s purchases and support of future development of that equipment may decline. Specifically, in September 2006, we entered into agreements to extend our relationship with Motorola for the supply of iDEN handsets and iDEN network infrastructure through December 31, 2011. Under these agreements, Motorola agreed to maintain an adequate supply of the iDEN handsets and equipment used in our business for the term of the agreement and to continue to invest in the development of new iDEN devices and infrastructure features. In addition, we agreed to annually escalating handset volume purchase commitments and certain pricing parameters for handsets and infrastructure linked to the volume of our purchases. If we do not meet the specified handset volume commitments, we would be required to pay an additional amount based on any shortfall of actual purchased handsets compared to the related annual volume commitment.
 
During the first quarter of 2008, Motorola announced plans to separate its mobile devices division into a separate public entity through a spin-off of that division; however, in October 2008, Motorola announced its intention to delay this spin-off. While we cannot determine the impact of Motorola’s planned separation of the mobile devices business on its iDEN business, Motorola’s obligations under our existing agreements, including the obligation to supply us with iDEN handsets and network equipment, remain in effect.
 
Planning for the Future.  Another key component in our overall strategy is to expand and improve the innovative and differentiated services we offer and evaluate the technologies necessary to provide those services. One such initiative is to develop and offer a broader range of data services on our networks, including


23


 

evaluating the feasibility of offering next generation voice and broadband data services in the future. This focus on offering innovative and differentiated services requires that we continue to invest in, evaluate and, if appropriate, deploy new services and enhancements to our existing services. In some cases, we will consider and pursue acquisitions of assets that include spectrum licenses to deploy these services, including in auctions of newly available spectrum and through transactions involving acquisitions of existing spectrum rights. We currently plan to participate in auctions and other transactions of this nature, particularly in Brazil, Mexico and Chile, to the extent new spectrum can be obtained at a reasonable cost with available financing and consistent with our overall technology strategy.
 
As part of our ongoing assessment of our ability to meet our customers’ current and future needs, we continually review alternate technologies to assess their technical performance, cost and functional capabilities. These reviews may involve the deployment of the technologies under consideration on a trial basis in order to evaluate their capabilities and the market demand for the supported services. We will deploy a new technology beyond the minimum levels required by the terms of our spectrum licenses only if it is warranted by expected customer demand and when the anticipated benefits of services supported by the new technology outweigh the costs of providing those services. Our decision whether and how to deploy alternative technologies, as well as our choice of alternative technologies, would likely be affected by a number of factors, including:
 
  •  types of features and services supported by the technology and our assessment of the demand for those features and services;
 
  •  the availability and pricing of related equipment, the spectrum bands available in our markets and whether other wireless carriers are operating or plan to operate a particular technology in those spectrum bands;
 
  •  our need to continue to support iDEN-based services for our existing customer base either on an ongoing or transitional basis; and
 
  •  the availability and terms of any financing that we would be required to raise in order to acquire the spectrum and fund the deployment of an alternative technology. See “Future Capital Needs and Resources” for more information.
 
Consistent with this strategy of pursuing new spectrum and technology opportunities, in July 2007, we participated in a spectrum auction and were awarded a nationwide license of 35 MHz of 1.9 GHz spectrum in Peru for a term of 20 years. The license under which the spectrum rights were granted requires us to deploy new network technology within specified timeframes throughout Peru, including in areas that we do not currently serve. We are deploying a third generation network in Peru that utilizes WCDMA technology and will operate on this spectrum. We believe that the deployment of this next generation network will enable us to significantly increase the size of our opportunity in Peru by allowing us to offer new and differentiated services to a larger base of potential customers.
 
During 2008 and continuing into the first half of 2009, the global economic environment was characterized by a significant decline in economic growth rates, a marked increase in the volatility of foreign currency exchange rates, disruptions in the capital markets and a reduction in the availability of financing. These conditions are expected to continue at least for the remainder of 2009 with most economists predicting a significant slowing, and possibly a contraction, of economic growth both globally and in the markets in which we operate. We have also seen an increase in the inflation rates in some markets in which we operate, particularly in Argentina. While we believe that we will be able to continue to expand our business in this environment, these economic trends could affect our business in a number of ways by:
 
  •  reducing the demand for our services resulting from reduced discretionary spending;
 
  •  increasing the level of competition among the other wireless service providers as we compete for a smaller number of potential customers, which could require us to offer more competitive service plans that could result in lower average revenue per subscriber; and


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  •  increasing the level of voluntary customer turnover due to increased competition and simultaneously increasing the levels of involuntary customer turnover and bad debt expense as customers find it more difficult to pay for services.
 
Historically, the value of the currencies of the countries in which we do business in relation to the U.S. dollar have been volatile. Recent weakness in the economies of those countries has led to increased volatility in these currencies. Because a significant portion of our outstanding debt is denominated in U.S. dollars and we report our results in U.S. dollars, significant fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can affect our reported results. For example, from September 30, 2008 to March 31, 2009, the exchange rate for the Mexican peso increased from 10.79 pesos per U.S. dollar to 14.33 pesos per U.S. dollar. These changes, as well as changes in the exchange rate for the Brazilian real, resulted in foreign currency transaction losses of $104.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008 and $7.3 million during the first quarter of 2009. While the average values of the Brazilian real and the Mexican peso appreciated relative to the U.S. dollar during the second quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2009, which contributed to consolidated foreign currency transaction gains of $63.6 million for the second quarter of 2009, those values remained at levels substantially below those that prevailed during the second quarter of 2008. Depreciation in the values of the local currencies in the markets where we operate makes it more costly for us to service our U.S. dollar-denominated debt obligations and affects our operating results because we generate nearly all of our revenues in foreign currencies, but we pay for some of our operating expenses and capital expenditures in U.S. dollars. Further, because we report our results of operations in U.S. dollars, changes in relative foreign currency valuations have resulted in reductions in our reported revenues, operating income and earnings, as well as a reduction in the carrying value of our assets, including the value of cash investments held in local currencies during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first two quarters of 2009 compared to the relevant prior year periods. Accordingly, if the values of local currencies in the countries in which our operating companies conduct business depreciate further relative to the U.S. dollar, we would expect our operating results in future periods, and the value of our assets held in local currencies, to continue to be adversely affected.
 
Deteriorating conditions in the economy and the capital markets have also resulted in significant increases in the cost of capital and have made it increasingly difficult for companies with operations in emerging markets to obtain debt or equity financing on acceptable terms. While a number of governments have taken actions in an effort to address liquidity issues in the financial markets and have undertaken various other initiatives designed to help relieve the credit crisis, the overall effects of these and other efforts on the financial markets are uncertain, and they may not have the intended effects. While we believe that our current cash balances and the funds we expect to generate in our business are sufficient to support our existing iDEN business and our current business plans, we have in the past and likely will in the future depend upon access to the credit and capital markets to help fund the growth of our business, for the acquisition of additional spectrum and for capital expenditures in connection with the expansion and improvement of our wireless networks and the deployment of new network technologies. If the present financial market conditions continue, we expect that our borrowing costs will increase to the extent that we incur new debt at comparatively higher interest rates and as a result of increases in the interest rates on our variable rate debt obligations, and it may be difficult for us to obtain funding on terms that are acceptable. These market conditions may limit our access to funding that may be needed to pursue our expansion plans and to acquire rights to use spectrum and deploy networks that use new technologies in our markets.
 
We have taken a number of actions to address the potential impact of these changes in the economic environment and capital markets, including:
 
  •  implementing strategies designed to conserve our liquidity by increasing the cash generated by our operations;
 
  •  developing and implementing strategies to target, capture and retain profitable customers;
 
  •  managing our subscriber and revenue growth consistent with our long term strategy of expanding our business while improving our profitability and cash flow generation;
 
  •  improving our efficiency by managing our growth in headcount and other expenses at levels consistent with our expectations regarding subscriber and revenue growth; and


25


 

 
  •  developing and implementing network expansion plans that target our capital expenditures in areas with greater growth opportunities consistent with our long term strategy of meeting our customers’ demand for innovative high quality services while remaining consistent with our goal of preserving liquidity in light of the uncertain conditions in the capital markets.
 
We expect to continue to pursue these and other strategies as necessary to adapt our business plans in order to meet our long term business goals in a manner that takes into account the uncertainty of the current economic environment.
 
See “Forward Looking Statements” for information on risks and uncertainties that could affect the above objectives.
 
Handsets in Commercial Service
 
The table below provides an overview of our total handsets in commercial service in the countries indicated as of June 30, 2009 and December 31, 2008. For purposes of the table, handsets in commercial service represent all handsets with active customer accounts on the networks in each of the listed countries.
 
                                                 
    Mexico     Brazil     Argentina     Peru     Chile     Total  
    (handsets in thousands)  
 
Handsets in commercial service — December 31, 2008
    2,726       1,812       967       669       26       6,200  
Net subscriber additions
    109       294       19       79       7       508  
                                                 
Handsets in commercial service — June 30, 2009
    2,835       2,106       986       748       33       6,708  
                                                 
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
The preparation of our financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Although we believe that our estimates, assumptions and judgments are reasonable, they are based upon presently available information. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making those estimates, actual results reported in future periods could differ from those estimates.
 
As described in more detail in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” we consider the following accounting policies to be the most important to our financial position and results of operations or policies that require us to exercise significant judgment and/or estimates:
 
  •  revenue recognition;
 
  •  allowance for doubtful accounts;
 
  •  depreciation of property, plant and equipment;
 
  •  amortization of intangible assets;
 
  •  asset retirement obligations;
 
  •  foreign currency;
 
  •  loss contingencies;
 
  •  stock-based compensation; and
 
  •  income taxes.


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There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates during the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to those discussed in our 2008 annual report of Form 10-K under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
 
         
Three Months
 
Ended
 
June 30,  
2009
  2008  
 
4.34x
    3.99x  
 
For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges and amortization of capitalized interest less capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of:
 
  •  interest on all indebtedness, amortization of debt financing costs and amortization of original issue discount;
 
  •  interest capitalized; and
 
  •  the portion of rental expense we believe is representative of interest.
 
Results of Operations
 
Operating revenues primarily consist of wireless service revenues and revenues generated from the sale of digital handsets and accessories. Service revenues primarily include fixed monthly access charges for mobile telephone service and digital two-way radio and other services, including revenues from calling party pays programs and variable charges for airtime and digital two-way radio usage in excess of plan minutes, long-distance charges and international roaming revenues derived from calls placed by our customers. Digital handset and accessory revenues represent revenues we earn on the sale of digital handsets and accessories to our customers.
 
In addition, we also have other less significant sources of revenues. These revenues primarily include revenues generated from our handset maintenance programs, roaming revenues generated from other companies’ customers that roam on our networks and co-location rental revenues from third-party tenants that rent space on our towers.
 
Cost of revenues primarily includes the cost of providing wireless service and the cost of digital handset and accessory sales. Cost of providing wireless service consists largely of costs of interconnection with local exchange carrier facilities and direct switch and transmitter and receiver site costs, including property taxes, expenses related to our handset maintenance programs, insurance costs, utility costs, maintenance costs, spectrum license fees and rent for the network switch sites and transmitter sites used to operate our networks. Interconnection costs have fixed and variable components. The fixed component of interconnection costs consists of monthly flat-rate fees for facilities leased from local exchange carriers, primarily for circuits required to connect our transmitter sites to our network switches and to connect our switches to each other. The variable component of interconnection costs, which fluctuates in relation to the volume and duration of wireless calls, generally consists of per-minute use fees charged by wireline and wireless providers for wireless calls from our digital handsets that terminate on those providers’ networks. Cost of digital handset and accessory sales consists largely of the cost of the handset and accessories, order fulfillment and installation-related expenses, as well as write-downs of digital handset and related accessory inventory for shrinkage or obsolescence.
 
Our service and other revenues and the variable component of our cost of service are primarily driven by the number of digital handsets in service and not necessarily by the number of customers, as one customer may purchase one or many digital handsets. Our digital handset and accessory revenues and cost of digital handset and accessory sales are primarily driven by the number of new handsets placed into service, as well as handset upgrades provided to existing customers during the year.
 
Selling and marketing expenses include all of the expenses related to acquiring customers. General and administrative expenses include expenses related to revenue-based taxes, billing, customer care, collections including bad debt, repairs and maintenance of management information systems, spectrum license fees, corporate overhead and share-based payment for stock options and restricted stock.


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As further discussed in the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements, we adjusted our condensed consolidated financial statements for the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 for the retrospective application of Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, Staff Position No. APB 14-1, “Accounting for Convertible Debt Instruments That May Be Settled in Cash upon Conversion (Including Partial Cash Settlement),” or FSP APB 14-1.
 
In accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, we translated the results of operations of our operating segments using the average exchange rates for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. The following table presents the average exchange rates we used to translate the results of operations of our operating segments, as well as changes from the average exchange rates utilized in the prior period. Because the U.S. dollar is the functional currency in Peru, Nextel Peru’s results of operations are not significantly impacted by changes in the U.S. dollar to Peruvian sol exchange rate.
 
                         
    Six Months Ended June 30,  
    2009     2008     Percent Change  
 
Mexican peso
    13.87       10.63       (30.5 )%
Brazilian real
    2.19       1.70       (28.8 )%
Argentine peso
    3.64       3.14       (15.9 )%
 
                         
    Three Months Ended June 30,  
    2009     2008     Percent Change  
 
Mexican peso
    13.37       10.44       (28.1 )%
Brazilian real
    2.07       1.66       (24.7 )%
Argentine peso
    3.73       3.12       (19.6 )%
 
a.   Consolidated
 
                                                 
          % of
          % of
             
          Consolidated
          Consolidated
    Change from
 
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year  
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Six Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 1,902,447       94 %   $ 1,990,780       95 %   $ (88,333 )     (4 )%
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    117,732       6 %     106,391       5 %     11,341       11 %
                                                 
      2,020,179       100 %     2,097,171       100 %     (76,992 )     (4 )%
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (545,154 )     (27 )%     (542,992 )     (26 )%     (2,162 )      
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (310,987 )     (15 )%     (293,398 )     (14 )%     (17,589 )     6 %
                                                 
      (856,141 )     (42 )%     (836,390 )     (40 )%     (19,751 )     2 %
Selling and marketing expenses
    (234,382 )     (11 )%     (276,974 )     (13 )%     42,592       (15 )%
General and administrative expenses
    (417,649 )     (21 )%     (392,983 )     (19 )%     (24,666 )     6 %
Depreciation and amortization
    (196,649 )     (10 )%     (199,589 )     (9 )%     2,940       (1 )%
                                                 
Operating income
    315,358       16 %     391,235       19 %     (75,877 )     (19 )%
Interest expense, net
    (86,709 )     (4 )%     (102,759 )     (5 )%     16,050       (16 )%
Interest income
    16,422       1 %     36,528       1 %     (20,106 )     (55 )%
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    56,238       2 %     40,306       2 %     15,932       40 %
Other income (expense), net
    5,568             (5,175 )           10,743       (208 )%
                                                 
Income before income tax provision
    306,877       15 %     360,135       17 %     (53,258 )     (15 )%
Income tax provision
    (101,949 )     (5 )%     (104,525 )     (5 )%     2,576       (2 )%
                                                 
Net income
  $ 204,928       10 %   $ 255,610       12 %   $ (50,682 )     (20 )%
                                                 


28


 

                                                 
          % of
          % of
             
          Consolidated
          Consolidated
    Change from
 
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year  
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Three Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 992,140       94 %   $ 1,043,030       94 %   $ (50,890 )     (5 )%
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    66,725       6 %     60,924       6 %     5,801       10 %
                                                 
      1,058,865       100 %     1,103,954       100 %     (45,089 )     (4 )%
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (289,255 )     (27 )%     (284,483 )     (26 )%     (4,772 )     2 %
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (165,738 )     (16 )%     (158,709 )     (14 )%     (7,029 )     4 %
                                                 
      (454,993 )     (43 )%     (443,192 )     (40 )%     (11,801 )     3 %
Selling and marketing expenses
    (121,169 )     (11 )%     (149,750 )     (14 )%     28,581       (19 )%
General and administrative expenses
    (215,836 )     (20 )%     (206,138 )     (19 )%     (9,698 )     5 %
Depreciation and amortization
    (103,753 )     (10 )%     (105,304 )     (9 )%     1,551       (1 )%
                                                 
Operating income
    163,114       15 %     199,570       18 %     (36,456 )     (18 )%
Interest expense, net
    (42,113 )     (4 )%     (50,805 )     (5 )%     8,692       (17 )%
Interest income
    3,769             17,588       2 %     (13,819 )     (79 )%
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    63,552       6 %     37,401       3 %     26,151       70 %
Other income (expense), net
    7,210       1 %     (646 )           7,856       NM  
                                                 
Income before income tax provision
    195,532       18 %     203,108       18 %     (7,576 )     (4 )%
Income tax provision
    (61,242 )     (5 )%     (54,562 )     (5 )%     (6,680 )     12 %
                                                 
Net income
  $ 134,290       13 %   $ 148,546       13 %   $ (14,256 )     (10 )%
                                                 
 
 
NM-Not Meaningful
 
During the first half of 2009, we continued to expand our subscriber base across all of our markets with most of this growth concentrated in Brazil. We also experienced a higher consolidated customer turnover rate, which resulted primarily from the combined impact of weaker economic conditions in Mexico and Argentina during the first half of 2009 and the more competitive sales environment in Mexico that arose during 2008. While we have implemented initiatives designed to stabilize our customer turnover rate, the economic environment and competitive conditions we face in our markets has adversely affected, and may continue to adversely affect, our ability to retain customers, particularly in Mexico.
 
We continued to invest in coverage expansion and network improvements in the first half of 2009, resulting in consolidated capital expenditures of $400.9 million, which represented a $35.3 million decrease from the first half of 2008. The majority of this investment occurred in Brazil where we continued to expand our coverage areas and enhance the quality and capacity of our networks, consistent with our plans to increase our customer base in that market. We expect that the amounts invested in Brazil to expand our network coverage and improve network quality and capacity will continue to represent the majority of our consolidated capital expenditure investments for 2009 as we focus more resources on expansion in that market. In addition, our deployment of a next generation network in Peru will require additional significant capital expenditures. We will also incur additional significant capital expenditures if we pursue our plans to acquire spectrum and deploy next generation networks in any of our other markets. See “Future Capital Needs and Resources — Capital Expenditures” for more information.
 
The average values of the local currencies in each of our markets depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar during the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the same periods in 2008. Our operating results for the remainder of 2009 will be adversely affected in comparison to prior periods if the values of the local currencies relative to the U.S. dollar remain at the average levels that prevailed during the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 or if those values depreciate further.

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1.   Operating revenues
 
The $88.3 million, or 4%, and $50.9 million, or 5%, decreases in consolidated service and other revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to declines in average consolidated revenues per subscriber resulting from the depreciation in the average values of the local currencies in each of our markets relative to the U.S. dollar, continued competitive pressures in Mexico and an increase in the percentage of subscribers purchasing prepaid rate plans in Peru. These decreases were partially offset by 27% and 26% increases in the average number of total handsets in service from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009, which resulted from both the continued strong demand for our services and our balanced growth and expansion strategy, primarily in Brazil.
 
2.   Cost of revenues
 
The $17.6 million, or 6%, and $7.0 million, or 4%, increases in consolidated cost of digital handset and accessory sales from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 is principally due to increases in consolidated handset upgrades for existing subscribers, primarily in Mexico, and, to a lesser extent, an increase in sales of higher cost handsets to new subscribers, primarily in Brazil.
 
3.   Selling and marketing expenses
 
The $42.6 million, or 15%, and $28.6 million, or 19%, decreases in consolidated selling and marketing expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are mostly the result of $35.7 million, or 30%, and $23.9 million, or 37%, decreases in consolidated indirect commissions caused by lower gross subscriber additions, primarily in Mexico, and $8.8 million, or 9%, and $6.1 million, or 11%, decreases in consolidated payroll expenses and direct commissions resulting from decreases in commission rates per gross subscriber addition, primarily in Mexico.
 
4.   General and administrative expenses
 
The $24.7 million, or 6%, and $9.7 million, or 5%, increases in consolidated general and administrative expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to the following:
 
  •  $10.8 million, or 28%, and $3.2 million, or 16%, increases in consolidated bad debt expense, primarily as a result of the weaker economic environment in Mexico;
 
  •  $7.4 million, or 73%, and $4.2 million, or 71%, increases in consolidated engineering management expenses related to some of our new technology and other initiatives; and
 
  •  $7.4 million, or 21%, and $3.4 million, or 18%, increases in consolidated information technology expenses resulting from increases in information technology personnel and higher systems maintenance costs, both of which are related to our deployment of new billing systems in some of our markets.
 
5.   Interest expense, net
 
The $16.1 million, or 16%, and $8.7 million, or 17%, decreases in consolidated interest expense from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily related to a refund of interest paid on turnover taxes in Argentina, as well as decreases in interest incurred under Nextel Mexico’s syndicated loan facility as a result of the repayment of a portion of the loans under that facility in 2008 and 2009.
 
See Note 5 to our condensed consolidated financial statements for further information on the impact of the adoption of FSP APB 14-1 on our net interest expense.
 
6.   Interest income
 
The $20.1 million, or 55%, and $13.8 million, or 79%, decreases in consolidated interest income from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are principally due to lower average interest rates, as well as decreases in average consolidated cash balances over the same periods.


30


 

7.   Foreign currency transaction gains, net
 
Consolidated foreign currency transaction gains of $56.2 million and $63.6 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 are largely the result of the impact of the appreciation in the value of the Brazilian real relative to the U.S. dollar on Nextel Brazil’s net liabilities, primarily its syndicated loan facility, during the three months ended June 30, 2009, partially offset by the impact of the depreciation in the value of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar on Nextel Mexico’s U.S. dollar-denominated net assets during the same periods.
 
Consolidated foreign currency transaction gains of $40.3 million and $37.4 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 are primarily the result of the appreciation in the value of the Mexican peso and the Brazilian real relative to the U.S. dollar on Nextel Mexico’s and Nextel Brazil’s U.S. dollar-denominated liabilities, primarily Nextel Brazil’s syndicated loan facility during those periods.
 
8.   Other income (expense), net
 
Consolidated other income of $5.6 million and $7.2 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 primarily represents the reversal of contingencies in Brazil, as well as a gain we recorded in Argentina in connection with the turnover tax refund agreement with the city of Buenos Aires.
 
9.   Income tax provision
 
The $2.6 million, or 2%, decrease in the consolidated income tax provision from the six months ended June 30, 2008 to the same period in 2009 is primarily due to the $53.3 million, or 15%, decrease in consolidated income before taxes. The $6.7 million, or 12%, increase in the consolidated income tax provision from the second quarter of 2008 to the second quarter of 2009 is primarily due to the tax expense from the additional valuation allowance recorded against the corporate deferred tax assets and an increase in income before taxes in Brazil, partially offset by a $7.6 million, or 4%, decrease in consolidated income before taxes.
 
Segment Results
 
We evaluate performance of our segments and provide resources to them based on operating income before depreciation and amortization and impairment, restructuring and other charges, which we refer to as segment earnings. Because we do not view share-based compensation as an important element of operational performance, we recognize share-based payment expense at the corporate level and exclude it when evaluating the business performance of our segments. The tables below provide a summary of the components of our consolidated segments for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008. The results of Nextel Chile are included in “Corporate and other.” Both Nextel Mexico and Nextel Brazil’s results of operations were significantly affected by the decline in the average values of the Mexican peso and the Brazilian real during the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the average values of those currencies during the same periods in 2008.
 
                                                         
                                  % of
       
                                  Consolidated
       
          % of
          % of
    Selling,
    Selling,
       
          Consolidated
          Consolidated
    General and
    General and
    Segment
 
Six Months Ended
  Operating
    Operating
    Cost of
    Cost of
    Administrative
    Administrative
    Earnings
 
June 30, 2009
  Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Expenses     Expenses     (Losses)  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Nextel Mexico
  $ 915,983       45 %   $ (351,361 )     41 %   $ (237,705 )     37 %   $ 326,917  
Nextel Brazil
    706,494       35 %     (313,583 )     37 %     (209,468 )     32 %     183,443  
Nextel Argentina
    260,883       13 %     (116,816 )     14 %     (60,746 )     9 %     83,321  
Nextel Peru
    131,412       7 %     (69,688 )     8 %     (46,460 )     7 %     15,264  
Corporate and other
    5,996             (5,282 )           (97,652 )     15 %     (96,938 )
Intercompany eliminations
    (589 )           589                          
                                                         
Total consolidated
  $ 2,020,179       100 %   $ (856,141 )     100 %   $ (652,031 )     100 %        
                                                         
 


31


 

                                                         
                                  % of
       
                                  Consolidated
       
          % of
          % of
    Selling,
    Selling,
       
          Consolidated
          Consolidated
    General and
    General and
    Segment
 
Three Months Ended
  Operating
    Operating
    Cost of
    Cost of
    Administrative
    Administrative
    Earnings
 
June 30, 2009
  Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Expenses     Expenses     (Losses)  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Nextel Mexico
  $ 470,954       45 %   $ (179,449 )     39 %   $ (118,748 )     35 %   $ 172,757  
Nextel Brazil
    390,413       37 %     (179,159 )     39 %     (115,835 )     34 %     95,419  
Nextel Argentina
    128,717       12 %     (58,574 )     13 %     (28,695 )     9 %     41,448  
Nextel Peru
    65,887       6 %     (35,139 )     8 %     (24,851 )     7 %     5,897  
Corporate and other
    3,215             (2,993 )     1 %     (48,876 )     15 %     (48,654 )
Intercompany eliminations
    (321 )           321                          
                                                         
Total consolidated
  $ 1,058,865       100 %   $ (454,993 )     100 %   $ (337,005 )     100 %        
                                                         
 
                                                         
                                  % of
       
                                  Consolidated
       
          % of
          % of
    Selling,
    Selling,
       
          Consolidated
          Consolidated
    General and
    General and
    Segment
 
Six Months Ended
  Operating
    Operating
    Cost of
    Cost of
    Administrative
    Administrative
    Earnings
 
June 30, 2008
  Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Expenses     Expenses     (Losses)  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Nextel Mexico
  $ 1,063,332       51 %   $ (376,630 )     45 %   $ (295,222 )     44 %   $ 391,480  
Nextel Brazil
    651,471       31 %     (277,310 )     33 %     (198,913 )     30 %     175,248  
Nextel Argentina
    264,516       13 %     (120,716 )     14 %     (61,983 )     9 %     81,817  
Nextel Peru
    114,494       5 %     (58,495 )     7 %     (33,369 )     5 %     22,630  
Corporate and other
    4,004             (3,885 )     1 %     (80,470 )     12 %     (80,351 )
Intercompany eliminations
    (646 )           646                          
                                                         
Total consolidated
  $ 2,097,171       100 %   $ (836,390 )     100 %   $ (669,957 )     100 %        
                                                         
 
                                                         
                                  % of
       
                                  Consolidated
       
          % of
          % of
    Selling,
    Selling,
       
          Consolidated
          Consolidated
    General and
    General and
    Segment
 
Three Months Ended
  Operating
    Operating
    Cost of
    Cost of
    Administrative
    Administrative
    Earnings
 
June 30, 2008
  Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Revenues     Expenses     Expenses     (Losses)  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Nextel Mexico
  $ 554,960       50 %   $ (199,808 )     45 %   $ (155,424 )     44 %   $ 199,728  
Nextel Brazil
    349,986       32 %     (148,779 )     34 %     (107,349 )     30 %     93,858  
Nextel Argentina
    138,484       13 %     (62,448 )     14 %     (33,597 )     9 %     42,439  
Nextel Peru
    58,636       5 %     (30,253 )     7 %     (17,814 )     5 %     10,569  
Corporate and other
    2,208             (2,224 )           (41,704 )     12 %     (41,720 )
Intercompany eliminations
    (320 )           320                          
                                                         
Total consolidated
  $ 1,103,954       100 %   $ (443,192 )     100 %   $ (355,888 )     100 %        
                                                         

32


 

A discussion of the results of operations for each of our reportable segments is provided below.
 
b.   Nextel Mexico
 
                                                 
          % of
          % of
             
          Nextel
          Nextel
             
          Mexico’s
          Mexico’s
    Change from
 
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year  
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent  
                (dollars in thousands)              
 
Six Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 877,648       96 %   $ 1,024,101       96 %   $ (146,453 )     (14 )%
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    38,335       4 %     39,231       4 %     (896 )     (2 )%
                                                 
      915,983       100 %     1,063,332       100 %     (147,349 )     (14 )%
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (172,130 )     (19 )%     (199,032 )     (19 )%     26,902       (14 )%
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (179,231 )     (19 )%     (177,598 )     (16 )%     (1,633 )     1 %
                                                 
      (351,361 )     (38 )%     (376,630 )     (35 )%     25,269       (7 )%
Selling and marketing expenses
    (106,120 )     (12 )%     (156,456 )     (15 )%     50,336       (32 )%
General and administrative expenses
    (131,585 )     (14 )%     (138,766 )     (13 )%     7,181       (5 )%
                                                 
Segment earnings
    326,917       36 %     391,480       37 %     (64,563 )     (16 )%
Management fee
    (15,900 )     (2 )%     (16,752 )     (2 )%     852       (5 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (80,902 )     (9 )%     (96,168 )     (9 )%     15,266       (16 )%
                                                 
Operating income
    230,115       25 %     278,560       26 %     (48,445 )     (17 )%
Interest expense, net
    (22,867 )     (2 )%     (31,732 )     (3 )%     8,865       (28 )%
Interest income
    13,044       1 %     21,852       2 %     (8,808 )     (40 )%
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net
    (20,653 )     (2 )%     16,515       2 %     (37,168 )     (225 )%
Other expense, net
    (268 )           (159 )           (109 )     69 %
                                                 
Income before income tax
  $ 199,371       22 %   $ 285,036       27 %   $ (85,665 )     (30 )%
                                                 
Three Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 450,241       96 %   $ 530,786       96 %   $ (80,545 )     (15 )%
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    20,713       4 %     24,174       4 %     (3,461 )     (14 )%
                                                 
      470,954       100 %     554,960       100 %     (84,006 )     (15 )%
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (88,541 )     (19 )%     (101,695 )     (18 )%     13,154       (13 )%
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (90,908 )     (19 )%     (98,113 )     (18 )%     7,205       (7 )%
                                                 
      (179,449 )     (38 )%     (199,808 )     (36 )%     20,359       (10 )%
Selling and marketing expenses
    (52,396 )     (11 )%     (83,391 )     (15 )%     30,995       (37 )%
General and administrative expenses
    (66,352 )     (14 )%     (72,033 )     (13 )%     5,681       (8 )%
                                                 
Segment earnings
    172,757       37 %     199,728       36 %     (26,971 )     (14 )%
Management fee
    (7,950 )     (2 )%     (8,354 )     (2 )%     404       (5 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (41,893 )     (9 )%     (50,063 )     (9 )%     8,170       (16 )%
                                                 
Operating income
    122,914       26 %     141,311       25 %     (18,397 )     (13 )%
Interest expense, net
    (10,792 )     (2 )%     (15,670 )     (3 )%     4,878       (31 )%
Interest income
    2,188             11,283       2 %     (9,095 )     (81 )%
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net
    (11,113 )     (2 )%     12,355       3 %     (23,468 )     (190 )%
Other expense, net
    (200 )           (80 )           (120 )     150 %
                                                 
Income before income tax
  $ 102,997       22 %   $ 149,199       27 %   $ (46,202 )     (31 )%
                                                 


33


 

Nextel Mexico continues to be our largest and most profitable market segment, comprising 45% of our consolidated operating revenues and generating a 36% segment earnings margin for the six months ended June 30, 2009, which was slightly lower than the margin reported for the six months ended June 30, 2008. During the six months ended June 30, 2009, Nextel Mexico’s results of operations reflected lower average revenues per subscriber, as well as increased costs on a local currency basis, including network, personnel and other expenses, incurred in connection with the expansion of the quality and capacity of its network to support subscriber growth during the period.
 
The average value of the Mexican peso for the six months ended June 30, 2009 depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar by 30% compared to the average rates that prevailed during the six months ended June 30, 2008. While the average exchange rate of the Mexican peso continued to decline subsequent to December 31, 2008, the majority of this depreciation occurred during the fourth quarter of 2008. As a result, the components of Nextel Mexico’s results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2009 after translation into U.S. dollars reflect substantially lower U.S. dollar-denominated revenues and expenses than would have occurred if it were not for the impact of the depreciation in the average value of the peso relative to the U.S. dollar. Nextel Mexico’s results will continue to be adversely affected in future periods if the average value of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar remains at its current levels or if the peso depreciates further.
 
During 2008, some of Nextel Mexico’s competitors significantly lowered their prices for postpaid wireless services, offered free or significantly discounted handsets, specifically targeted some of Nextel Mexico’s largest corporate customers, offered various incentives to Nextel Mexico’s customers to switch service providers, including reimbursement of cancellation fees, and offered bundled telecommunications services that include local, long distance and data services. These competitive actions and practices largely remained in place during the first two quarters of 2009. Nextel Mexico is addressing these competitive actions by, among other things, launching attractive commercial campaigns and offering both handsets and more competitive rate plans to new and existing customers. These competitive rate plans are designed to encourage increased usage of the Direct Connect feature, but have resulted in lower average revenues per subscriber. In addition, during the second quarter of 2009, Nextel Mexico experienced lower gross subscriber additions and increased deactivations as a result of the downturn in economic conditions in Mexico, which was compounded by the closing of businesses and cancellation of other activities in response to the outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus. The weaker economic conditions and more competitive environment in Mexico resulted in a higher customer turnover rate during 2009 compared to 2008 and in the addition of more subscribers with limited credit histories or higher credit risk. As Nextel Mexico continues to expand its customer base and continues to address a more competitive sales environment, Nextel Mexico’s average revenue per subscriber could continue to decline on a local currency basis during 2009. In addition, while we have implemented initiatives that were designed to stabilize the customer turnover rate in Mexico, the pressures of the weaker economic environment combined with the competitive conditions we face there may adversely affect our ability to retain or attract customers.
 
Coverage expansion and network improvements in Mexico resulted in capital expenditures totaling $57.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009, which represents 14% of our consolidated capital expenditures for the first six months of 2009 and which is a decrease from 29% of consolidated capital expenditures during the first six months of 2008.
 
1.   Operating revenues
 
The $146.5 million, or 14%, and $80.5 million, or 15%, decreases in service and other revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to decreases in average service revenue per subscriber resulting from our reduction in plan rates in response to competitive offerings and the depreciation of the Mexican peso. These decreases were partially offset by 22% and 20% increases in the average number of digital handsets in service resulting from growth in Nextel Mexico’s existing markets and the expansion of service coverage into new markets.
 
The $0.9 million and $3.5 million decreases in digital handset and accessory revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to decreases in handset sales to new


34


 

subscribers over both periods, decreases in average revenue per handset upgrade and the depreciation of the Mexican peso, partially offset by increases in the number of units upgraded for those periods.
 
2.   Cost of revenues
 
The $26.9 million, or 14%, and $13.2 million, or 13%, decreases in cost of service from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are principally a result of the following:
 
  •  $14.2 million, or 15%, and $6.6 million, or 13%, decreases in interconnect costs, largely as a result of the depreciation of the Mexican peso, partially offset by increases in the proportion of mobile-to-mobile minutes of use, which generally have higher costs per minute; and
 
  •  $8.8 million, or 13%, and $4.8 million, or 14%, decreases in direct switch and transmitter and receiver site costs resulting from the depreciation of the Mexican peso, partially offset by a 4% increase in the number of sites in service from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
 
The $7.2 million, or 7%, decrease in cost of digital handset and accessory sales from the three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same period in 2009 is primarily due to a decrease in handset sales and the depreciation of the Mexican peso, partially offset by an increase in handset upgrade costs.
 
3.   Selling and marketing expenses
 
The $50.4 million, or 32%, and $31.0 million, or 37%, decreases in selling and marketing expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily a result of the following:
 
  •  $33.5 million, or 41%, and $22.5 million, or 51%, decreases in indirect commissions, primarily due to 15% and 33% decreases in gross subscriber additions generated by Nextel Mexico’s external sales channels, higher commission charge backs to external sales personnel and the depreciation of the Mexican peso; and
 
  •  $12.2 million, or 27%, and $7.7 million, or 32%, decreases in direct commissions and payroll expenses, principally due to 9% and 22% decreases in gross subscriber additions generated by Nextel Mexico’s internal sales personnel, higher commission charge backs to internal sales personnel and the depreciation of the Mexican peso.
 
4.   General and administrative expenses
 
The $7.2 million, or 5%, and $5.7 million, or 8%, decreases in general and administrative expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are largely a result of the following:
 
  •  $6.4 million, or 12%, and $3.4 million, or 13%, decreases in customer care expenses, primarily due to the depreciation of the Mexican peso, partially offset by increases in customer care personnel and facilities expenses necessary to support a growing customer base;
 
  •  $6.4 million, or 13%, and $2.6 million, or 11%, decreases in other general and administrative costs resulting from the depreciation of the Mexican peso, partially offset by an increase in general and administrative personnel; partially offset by
 
  •  a $4.9 million, or 19%, increase in bad debt expense from the six months ended June 30, 2008 to the same period in 2009, which increased as a percentage of revenue from 2.4% to 3.3%, due to a decline in the credit worthiness of some customers and decreased collections related to the weaker economic conditions in Mexico.
 
5.   Depreciation and amortization
 
The $15.3 million, or 16%, and $8.2 million, or 16%, decreases in depreciation and amortization from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to the depreciation of the Mexican peso.


35


 

6.   Interest expense, net
 
The $8.9 million, or 28%, and $4.9 million, or 31%, decreases in interest expense from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily a result of the repayment of a portion of the loans under Nextel Mexico’s syndicated loan facility in 2008 and 2009 and the depreciation of the Mexican peso.
 
7.   Interest income
 
The $8.8 million, or 40%, and $9.1 million, or 81%, decreases in interest income from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily the result of lower average cash balances and reduced interest rates, as well as the depreciation of the Mexican peso.
 
8.   Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net
 
Consolidated foreign currency transaction losses of $20.7 million and $11.1 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 are largely the result of the impact of the depreciation in the value of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar during 2009 compared to the levels during 2008 on Nextel Mexico’s U.S. dollar-denominated net assets.
 
Consolidated foreign currency transaction gains of $16.5 million and $12.4 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 are primarily the result of the appreciation in the value of the Mexican peso relative to the U.S. dollar during 2008 compared to the levels during 2007 on Nextel Mexico’s U.S. dollar-denominated net liabilities, primarily its syndicated loan facility.
 
c.   Nextel Brazil
 
                                                         
          % of
          % of
                   
          Nextel
          Nextel
                   
          Brazil’s
          Brazil’s
    Change from
       
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year        
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent        
    (dollars in thousands)        
 
Six Months Ended
                                                       
Operating revenues
                                                       
Service and other revenues
  $ 657,498       93 %   $ 616,584       95 %   $ 40,914       7 %        
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    48,996       7 %     34,887       5 %     14,109       40 %        
                                                         
      706,494       100 %     651,471       100 %     55,023       8 %        
Cost of revenues
                                                       
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (239,843 )     (34 )%     (218,581 )     (34 )%     (21,262 )     10 %        
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (73,740 )     (10 )%     (58,729 )     (9 )%     (15,011 )     26 %        
                                                         
      (313,583 )     (44 )%     (277,310 )     (43 )%     (36,273 )     13 %        
Selling and marketing expenses
    (82,356 )     (12 )%     (78,930 )     (12 )%     (3,426 )     4 %        
General and administrative expenses
    (127,112 )     (18 )%     (119,983 )     (18 )%     (7,129 )     6 %        
                                                         
Segment earnings
    183,443       26 %     175,248       27 %     8,195       5 %        
Depreciation and amortization
    (74,655 )     (11 )%     (69,047 )     (11 )%     (5,608 )     8 %        
                                                         
Operating income
    108,788       15 %     106,201       16 %     2,587       2 %        
Interest expense, net
    (22,482 )     (3 )%     (26,075 )     (4 )%     3,593       (14 )%        
Interest income
    2,332             3,260             (928 )     (28 )%        
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    69,716       10 %     25,467       4 %     44,249       174 %        
Other income (expense), net
    5,902       1 %     (1,552 )           7,454       NM          
                                                         
Income before income tax
  $ 164,256       23 %   $ 107,301       16 %   $ 56,955       53 %        
                                                         


36


 

                                                         
          % of
          % of
                   
          Nextel
          Nextel
                   
          Brazil’s
          Brazil’s
    Change from
       
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year        
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent        
    (dollars in thousands)        
 
Three Months Ended
                                                       
Operating revenues
                                                       
Service and other revenues
  $ 360,208       92 %   $ 330,268       94 %   $ 29,940       9 %        
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    30,205       8 %     19,718       6 %     10,487       53 %        
                                                         
      390,413       100 %     349,986       100 %     40,427       12 %        
                                                         
Cost of revenues
                                                       
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (134,747 )     (35 )%     (118,112 )     (34 )%     (16,635 )     14 %        
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (44,412 )     (11 )%     (30,667 )     (9 )%     (13,745 )     45 %        
                                                         
      (179,159 )     (46 )%     (148,779 )     (43 )%     (30,380 )     20 %        
Selling and marketing expenses
    (44,657 )     (12 )%     (43,598 )     (12 )%     (1,059 )     2 %        
General and administrative expenses
    (71,178 )     (18 )%     (63,751 )     (18 )%     (7,427 )     12 %        
                                                         
Segment earnings
    95,419       24 %     93,858       27 %     1,561       2 %        
Depreciation and amortization
    (41,267 )     (10 )%     (37,071 )     (11 )%     (4,196 )     11 %        
                                                         
Operating income
    54,152       14 %     56,787       16 %     (2,635 )     (5 )%        
Interest expense, net
    (11,978 )     (3 )%     (12,810 )     (4 )%     832       (6 )%        
Interest income
    1,093             2,263       1 %     (1,170 )     (52 )%        
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    67,321       17 %     27,214       8 %     40,107       147 %        
Other income (expense), net
    7,219       2 %     (355 )           7,574       NM          
                                                         
Income before income tax
  $ 117,807       30 %   $ 73,099       21 %   $ 44,708       61 %        
                                                         
 
 
NM-Not Meaningful
 
Over the last several years, Nextel Brazil’s subscriber base has grown as a result of its continued focus on customer service and the expansion of the geographic coverage of its network. As a result, Nextel Brazil contributed 35% of consolidated revenues in the first six months of 2009 compared to 31% for the same period in 2008. Nextel Brazil has continued to experience growth in its existing markets and has made significant investments in new markets as a result of increased demand for its services. Consistent with the expansion plans that we announced in 2007 and 2008, we have recently made significant investments in Brazil in order to expand the geographic coverage of Nextel Brazil’s network and to add capacity to and improve the quality of the network to support its growth. Specifically, Nextel Brazil launched several large markets in its northeast region during the first half of 2009. Coverage expansion and network improvements in Brazil resulted in capital expenditures of $246.7 million for the first half of 2009, which represented 62% of our consolidated capital expenditure investments during that period, compared to 50% in the first half of 2008. We believe that Nextel Brazil’s quality improvements and network expansion are contributing factors to its low customer turnover rate and increased subscriber growth.
 
The average exchange rates of the Brazilian real for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar by 29% and 25% compared to the average rates that prevailed during the six and three months ended June 30, 2008. As a result, the components of Nextel Brazil’s results of operations for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009, after translation into U.S. dollars, reflect significantly lower U.S. dollar-denominated revenues and expenses with respect to revenues that are earned and expenses that are paid in Brazilian reais than would have occurred if the Brazilian real had not depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar. The majority of this currency depreciation occurred during the fourth quarter of 2008. The average exchange rate of the Brazilian real during the second quarter of 2009 appreciated compared to the average exchange rates that prevailed during the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter of 2009.

37


 

1.   Operating revenues
 
The $40.9 million, or 7%, and $29.9 million, or 9%, increases in service and other revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily a result of the following:
 
  •  39% and 38% increases in the average number of digital handsets in service resulting from growth in Nextel Brazil’s existing markets and the expansion of service coverage into new markets in connection with its balanced growth and expansion objectives; partially offset by
 
  •  a decline in average revenue per subscriber primarily due to the depreciation in the Brazilian real.
 
The $14.1 million, or 40%, and $10.5 million, or 53%, increases in digital handset and accessory revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to increases in handset upgrades for existing subscribers, as well as increases in handset sales to new subscribers.
 
2.   Cost of revenues
 
The $21.3 million, or 10%, and $16.6 million, or 14%, increases in cost of service from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to the following:
 
  •  $10.9 million, or 9%, and $8.0 million, or 12%, increases in interconnect costs resulting from 50% increases in interconnect minutes of use over both periods;
 
  •  $6.5 million, or 26%, and $4.7 million, or 32%, increases in service and repair costs largely due to increases in the cost of repair per subscriber related to a change in the mix of handsets toward more mid and high tier handsets as well as increased percentage of Nextel Brazil’s subscriber base participating in its handset maintenance program; and
 
  •  $3.4 million, or 5%, and $3.8 million, or 12%, increases in direct switch and transmitter and receiver site costs resulting from a 32% increase in the number of sites in service from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2009.
 
All of these increases were partially offset by the depreciation of the Brazilian real relative to the U.S. dollar.
 
The $15.0 million, or 26%, and $13.7 million, or 45%, increases in cost of digital handset and accessory sales from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to increases in handset upgrades and cost per handset upgrade for existing customers and increases in handset sales to new subscribers, partially offset by decreases in cost per handset sold to new subscribers as a larger proportion of these sales were sales of SIM cards.
 
3.   General and administrative expenses
 
The $7.1 million, or 6%, and $7.4 million, or 12%, increases in general and administrative expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily a result of the following:
 
  •  $4.2 million, or 11%, and $3.3 million, or 16%, increases in customer care expenses resulting from increases in customer care personnel necessary to support a larger customer base, as well as increases in the number of retail stores; and
 
  •  $2.3 million, or 22%, and $1.5 million, or 26%, increases in bad debt expense as a result of the increases in Nextel Brazil’s operating revenues. Bad debt expense as a percentage of consolidated operating revenues increased from 1.6% for the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to 1.8% for the same periods in 2009.
 
All of these increases were partially offset by the depreciation of the Brazilian real relative to the U.S. dollar.
 
4.   Depreciation and amortization
 
The $5.6 million, or 8%, and $4.2 million, or 11%, increases in depreciation and amortization from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to an increase in Nextel Brazil’s property, plant and equipment in service resulting from the continued build-out of Nextel Brazil’s network, partially offset by the depreciation of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar.


38


 

5.   Foreign currency transaction gains, net
 
The $44.2 million and $40.1 million increases in net foreign currency transaction gains from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are the result of the impact of the appreciation of the value of the Brazilian real against the U.S. dollar during 2009 compared to the levels during 2008 on Nextel Brazil’s U.S. dollar-denominated liabilities.
 
d.   Nextel Argentina
 
                                                 
          % of
          % of
             
          Nextel
          Nextel
             
          Argentina’s
          Argentina’s
    Change from
 
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year  
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent  
    (dollars in thousands)  
 
Six Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 243,582       93 %   $ 241,121       91 %   $ 2,461       1 %
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    17,301       7 %     23,395       9 %     (6,094 )     (26 )%
                                                 
      260,883       100 %     264,516       100 %     (3,633 )     (1 )%
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (87,795 )     (34 )%     (85,287 )     (32 )%     (2,508 )     3 %
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (29,021 )     (11 )%     (35,429 )     (13 )%     6,408       (18 )%
                                                 
      (116,816 )     (45 )%     (120,716 )     (45 )%     3,900       (3 )%
Selling and marketing expenses
    (20,181 )     (8 )%     (21,152 )     (8 )%     971       (5 )%
General and administrative expenses
    (40,565 )     (15 )%     (40,831 )     (16 )%     266       (1 )%
                                                 
Segment earnings
    83,321       32 %     81,817       31 %     1,504       2 %
Depreciation and amortization
    (19,480 )     (8 )%     (18,507 )     (7 )%     (973 )     5 %
                                                 
Operating income
    63,841       24 %     63,310       24 %     531       1 %
Interest expense, net
    5,890       2 %     (1,387 )     (1 )%     7,277       NM  
Interest income
    368             1,867       1 %     (1,499 )     (80 )%
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net
    5,340       2 %     (2,673 )     (1 )%     8,013       (300 )%
Other income, net
    3,747       2 %     44             3,703       NM  
                                                 
Income before income tax
  $ 79,186       30 %   $ 61,161       23 %   $ 18,025       29 %
                                                 
Three Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 119,411       93 %   $ 126,154       91 %   $ (6,743 )     (5 )%
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    9,306       7 %     12,330       9 %     (3,024 )     (25 )%
                                                 
      128,717       100 %     138,484       100 %     (9,767 )     (7 )%
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (43,022 )     (34 )%     (43,931 )     (32 )%     909       (2 )%
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (15,552 )     (12 )%     (18,517 )     (13 )%     2,965       (16 )%
                                                 
      (58,574 )     (46 )%     (62,448 )     (45 )%     3,874       (6 )%
Selling and marketing expenses
    (10,079 )     (8 )%     (11,489 )     (8 )%     1,410       (12 )%
General and administrative expenses
    (18,616 )     (14 )%     (22,108 )     (16 )%     3,492       (16 )%
                                                 
Segment earnings
    41,448       32 %     42,439       31 %     (991 )     (2 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (9,629 )     (7 )%     (9,768 )     (7 )%     139       (1 )%
                                                 
Operating income
    31,819       25 %     32,671       24 %     (852 )     (3 )%
Interest expense, net
    4,828       4 %     (729 )     (1 )%     5,557       NM  
Interest income
    160             600             (440 )     (73 )%
Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net
    259             (3,103 )     (2 )%     3,362       (108 )%
Other income, net
    3,745       3 %     16             3,729       NM  
                                                 
Income before income tax
  $ 40,811       32 %   $ 29,455       21 %   $ 11,356       39 %
                                                 
 
 
NM-Not Meaningful


39


 

Over the course of the last two years, the inflation rate in Argentina has risen significantly, and we expect that it may continue to remain elevated over the next several years. The higher inflation rate has affected costs that are incurred in Argentine pesos, including personnel costs in particular. In addition, in recent quarters, Nextel Argentina’s customer turnover rate has increased because of the adverse changes in the economic environment in Argentina. If the weaker economic conditions in Argentina continue or worsen, Nextel Argentina’s results of operations may be adversely affected.
 
The average values of the Argentine peso for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar by 16% and 20% from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008. As a result, the components of Nextel Argentina’s results of operations for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 after translation into U.S. dollars reflect significantly lower U.S. dollar-denominated revenues and expenses than would have occurred if the Argentine peso had not depreciated relative to the U.S. dollar.
 
1.   Operating revenues
 
The $6.7 million, or 5%, decrease in service and other revenues from the three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same period in 2009 is primarily the result of a decline in average revenue per subscriber mainly due to the depreciation in the value of the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar, partially offset by a 12% increase in the average number of digital handsets in service, resulting mostly from growth in Nextel Argentina’s existing markets.
 
The $6.1 million, or 26%, and $3.0 million, or 25%, decreases in digital handset and accessory revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to decreases in handset upgrades to existing subscribers, slight decreases in handset sales to new subscribers and the depreciation of the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar.
 
2.   Cost of revenues
 
The $6.4 million, or 18%, and $3.0 million, or 16%, decreases in cost of digital handset and accessory sales from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to decreases in handset upgrades to existing subscribers, slight decreases in handset sales to new subscribers and the depreciation of the Argentine peso relative to the U.S. dollar.
 
3.   General and administrative expenses
 
The $3.5 million, or 16%, decrease in general and administrative expenses from the three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 is primarily due to the $4.5 million, or 38%, decrease in general corporate costs primarily as a result of the city of Buenos Aires turnover tax refund agreement, partially offset by a $0.9 million, or 75%, increase in bad debt expense primarily due to an increase in customer turnover resulting from a decrease in customer collections.
 
4.   Interest expense, net
 
The $7.3 million and $5.6 million decreases in net interest expense from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to the refund of interest paid on turnover taxes by the city of Buenos Aires.
 
5.   Foreign currency transaction gains (losses), net
 
Foreign currency transaction gains of $5.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 are mostly due to the impact of the depreciation of the value of the Argentine peso against the U.S. dollar on the Nextel Argentina’s U.S. dollar-denominated net assets.
 
6.   Other income, net
 
Other income, net, of $3.7 million for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 primarily represents a gain we recorded in connection with the turnover tax refund agreement with the city of Buenos Aires.


40


 

e.   Nextel Peru
 
                                                 
          % of
          % of
             
          Nextel
          Nextel
             
          Peru’s
          Peru’s
    Change from
 
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year  
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent  
    (dollars in thousands)  
 
Six Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 118,340       90 %   $ 105,639       92 %   $ 12,701       12 %
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    13,072       10 %     8,855       8 %     4,217       48 %
                                                 
      131,412       100 %     114,494       100 %     16,918       15 %
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (42,351 )     (32 )%     (37,879 )     (33 )%     (4,472 )     12 %
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (27,337 )     (21 )%     (20,616 )     (18 )%     (6,721 )     33 %
                                                 
      (69,688 )     (53 )%     (58,495 )     (51 )%     (11,193 )     19 %
Selling and marketing expenses
    (17,827 )     (14 )%     (13,829 )     (12 )%     (3,998 )     29 %
General and administrative expenses
    (28,633 )     (22 )%     (19,540 )     (17 )%     (9,093 )     47 %
                                                 
Segment earnings
    15,264       12 %     22,630       20 %     (7,366 )     (33 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (14,853 )     (11 )%     (9,955 )     (9 )%     (4,898 )     49 %
                                                 
Operating income
    411             12,675       11 %     (12,264 )     (97 )%
Interest expense, net
    (287 )           (36 )           (251 )     NM  
Interest income
    202             618             (416 )     (67 )%
Foreign currency transaction losses, net
    (281 )           (162 )           (119 )     73 %
Other income, net
    1                         1       NM  
                                                 
Income before income tax
  $ 46           $ 13,095       11 %   $ (13,049 )     (100 )%
                                                 
Three Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 59,408       90 %   $ 53,943       92 %   $ 5,465       10 %
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    6,479       10 %     4,693       8 %     1,786       38 %
                                                 
      65,887       100 %     58,636       100 %     7,251       12 %
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (21,251 )     (32 )%     (19,411 )     (33 )%     (1,840 )     9 %
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (13,888 )     (21 )%     (10,842 )     (19 )%     (3,046 )     28 %
                                                 
      (35,139 )     (53 )%     (30,253 )     (52 )%     (4,886 )     16 %
Selling and marketing expenses
    (9,691 )     (15 )%     (7,561 )     (13 )%     (2,130 )     28 %
General and administrative expenses
    (15,160 )     (23 )%     (10,253 )     (17 )%     (4,907 )     48 %
                                                 
Segment earnings
    5,897       9 %     10,569       18 %     (4,672 )     (44 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (7,581 )     (12 )%     (5,000 )     (8 )%     (2,581 )     52 %
                                                 
Operating income
    (1,684 )     (3 )%     5,569       10 %     (7,253 )     (130 )%
Interest expense, net
    (223 )           (19 )           (204 )     NM  
Interest income
    162             327             (165 )     (50 )%
Foreign currency transaction (losses) gains, net
    (172 )           29             (201 )     NM  
Other income (expense), net
    1             (1 )           2       (200 )%
                                                 
(Loss) income before income tax
  $ (1,916 )     (3 )%   $ 5,905       10 %   $ (7,821 )     (132 )%
                                                 
 
 
NM-Not Meaningful


41


 

We are developing and deploying a third generation network in Peru in 2009 using 1.9 GHz spectrum we acquired in 2007. We believe that these plans will enable us to significantly increase the size of our opportunity in Peru by allowing us to offer new and differentiated services to a larger base of potential customers.
 
Because the U.S. dollar is Nextel Peru’s functional currency, results of operations are not significantly impacted by changes in the U.S. dollar to Peruvian sol exchange rate.
 
1.   Operating revenues
 
The $12.7 million, or 12%, and $5.5 million, or 10%, increases in service and other revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to 35% and 33% increases in the average number of digital handsets in service, partially offset by decreases in average revenue per subscriber mainly resulting from an increase in sales of prepaid rate plans, which have lower average monthly revenues per subscriber.
 
The $4.2 million, or 48%, and $1.8 million, or 38%, increases in digital handset and accessory revenues from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to increases in handset upgrades to existing subscribers, as well as increases in handset sales to new subscribers.
 
2.   Cost of revenues
 
The $4.5 million, or 12%, and $1.8 million, or 9%, increases in cost of service from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are largely the result of increases in service and repair costs related to more service and repair personnel, a change in the mix of handsets repaired toward higher cost handsets and increases in direct switch and transmitter and receiver site costs due to a 23% increase in the number of sites in service from June 30, 2008 to June 30, 2009. These increases were partially offset by decreases in interconnect costs due to lower rates charged for interconnect minutes of use.
 
The $6.7 million, or 33%, and $3.0 million, or 28%, increases in cost of digital handset and accessory sales from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to increases in handset upgrades for existing subscribers, as well as increases in handset sales to new customers.
 
3.   Selling and marketing expenses
 
The $4.0 million, or 29%, and $2.1 million, or 28%, increases in selling and marketing expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are largely the result of increases in direct commissions and payroll expenses principally due to increases in sales and marketing personnel and higher advertising costs.
 
4.   General and administrative expenses
 
The $9.1 million, or 47%, and $4.9 million, or 48%, increases in general and administrative expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to $4.4 million, or 133%, and $2.7 million, or 161%, increases in expenses resulting from costs related to our new technology initiative.


42


 

f.   Corporate and other
 
                                                 
          % of
          % of
             
          Corporate
          Corporate
             
          and other
          and other
    Change from
 
    June 30,
    Operating
    June 30,
    Operating
    Previous Year  
    2009     Revenues     2008     Revenues     Dollars     Percent  
    (dollars in thousands)  
 
Six Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 5,968       100 %   $ 3,981       99 %   $ 1,987       50 %
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    28             23       1       5       22 %
                                                 
      5,996       100 %     4,004       100 %     1,992       50 %
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (3,624 )     (60 )%     (2,859 )     (71 )%     (765 )     27 %
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (1,658 )     (28 )%     (1,026 )     (26 )%     (632 )     62 %
                                                 
      (5,282 )     (88 )%     (3,885 )     (97 )%     (1,397 )     36 %
Selling and marketing expenses
    (7,898 )     (132 )%     (6,607 )     (165 )%     (1,291 )     20 %
General and administrative expenses
    (89,754 )     NM       (73,863 )     NM       (15,891 )     22 %
                                                 
Segment losses
    (96,938 )     NM       (80,351 )     NM       (16,587 )     21 %
Management fee
    15,900       265 %     16,800       NM       (900 )     (5 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (6,759 )     (113 )%     (5,792 )     (145 )%     (967 )     17 %
                                                 
Operating loss
    (87,797 )     NM       (69,343 )     NM       (18,454 )     27 %
Interest expense, net
    (49,101 )     NM       (47,718 )     NM       (1,383 )     3 %
Interest income
    2,614       44 %     13,120       NM       (10,506 )     (80 )%
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    2,116       35 %     1,111       28 %     1,005       90 %
Other expense, net
    (3,814 )     (64 )%     (3,508 )     (88 )%     (306 )     9 %
                                                 
Loss before income tax
  $ (135,982 )     NM     $ (106,338 )     NM     $ (29,644 )     28 %
                                                 
Three Months Ended
                                               
Operating revenues
                                               
Service and other revenues
  $ 3,193       99 %   $ 2,199       100 %   $ 994       45 %
Digital handset and accessory revenues
    22       1 %     9             13       144 %
                                                 
      3,215       100 %     2,208       100 %     1,007       46 %
                                                 
Cost of revenues
                                               
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization included below)
    (2,015 )     (63 )%     (1,654 )     (75 )%     (361 )     22 %
Cost of digital handsets and accessories
    (978 )     (30 )%     (570 )     (26 )%     (408 )     72 %
                                                 
      (2,993 )     (93 )%     (2,224 )     (101 )%     (769 )     35 %
Selling and marketing expenses
    (4,346 )     (135 )%     (3,711 )     (168 )%     (635 )     17 %
General and administrative expenses
    (44,530 )     NM       (37,993 )     NM       (6,537 )     17 %
                                                 
Segment losses
    (48,654 )     NM       (41,720 )     NM       (6,934 )     17 %
Management fee
    7,950       247 %     8,402       NM       (452 )     (5 )%
Depreciation and amortization
    (3,383 )     (105 )%     (3,184 )     (144 )%     (199 )     6 %
                                                 
Operating loss
    (44,087 )     NM       (36,502 )     NM       (7,585 )     21 %
Interest expense, net
    (24,394 )     NM       (23,798 )     NM       (596 )     3 %
Interest income
    612       19 %     5,336       242 %     (4,724 )     (89 )%
Foreign currency transaction gains, net
    7,257       226 %     858       39 %     6,399       NM  
Other expense, net
    (3,555 )     (110 )%     (226 )     (10 )%     (3,329 )     NM  
                                                 
Loss before income tax
  $ (64,167 )     NM     $ (54,332 )     NM     $ (9.835 )     18 %
                                                 
 
 
NM-Not Meaningful


43


 

For the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, corporate and other operating revenues and cost of revenues primarily represent the results of operations reported by Nextel Chile. We are currently participating in the spectrum licensing process in Chile and submitted our proposals to acquire spectrum in July 2009. This process contemplates the award of spectrum licenses based on the attractiveness of participants’ network deployment proposals with key factors in that evaluation being the scope of the proposed coverage and speed of the deployment. Although this process does not require initial payments for the spectrum unless two proposals are deemed equivalent under the Chilean regulations, successful participants are required to meet the network build-out requirements as outlined in their proposals. If we are successful in the spectrum award process in Chile, our planned network expansion over the next several years will require additional investments in capital expenditures.
 
1.   General and administrative expenses
 
The $15.9 million, or 22%, and $6.5 million, or 17%, increases in general and administrative expenses from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are primarily due to increases in corporate personnel expenses and increased consulting costs, both of which are largely related to the commencement of some of our new technology and other initiatives.
 
2.   Interest income
 
The $10.5 million, or 80%, and $4.7 million, or 89%, decreases in interest income from the six and three months ended June 30, 2008 to the same periods in 2009 are the result of lower average cash balances and a decrease in short-term investments.
 
3.   Foreign currency transaction gains, net
 
Foreign currency transaction gains for the six and three months ended June 30, 2009 are primarily due to the impact of the appreciation of the value of the Mexican peso during the 2009 periods relative to the U.S. dollar on the Mexican peso-denominated management fee due from Nextel Mexico.
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
We derive our liquidity and capital resources primarily from cash flows from our operations. As of June 30, 2009, we had working capital, which is defined as total current assets less total current liabilities, of $1,262.2 million, a $111.9 million decrease compared to working capital of $1,374.1 million as of December 31, 2008, due to a combination of our use of cash for capital expenditures and a reduction in the value of our cash held in local currencies as a result of the decline in the value of those currencies relative to the U.S. dollar. Our working capital includes $1,136.8 million in cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2009, of which about 13% was held in currencies other than U.S. dollars, primarily Mexican pesos, and $37.5 million of short-term investments. A substantial portion of our cash and cash equivalents held in U.S. dollars is maintained in U.S. treasury security funds, and our cash and cash equivalents held in local currencies is typically maintained in highly liquid overnight securities and certificates of deposit.
 
We recognized net income of $204.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to $255.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. During the six months ended June 30, 2009 and 2008, our operating revenues more than offset our operating expenses, excluding depreciation and amortization, and our cash capital expenditures.
 
Because we report our results of operations in U.S. dollars, the declines in relative currency valuations that occurred during the six months ended June 30, 2009 compared to the valuations as of December 31, 2008 resulted in reductions in some of the reported values of our assets, including the values of cash and cash equivalents held in local currencies. The effect of exchange rate changes on consolidated cash and cash equivalents as of June 30, 2009 was a $25.7 million loss in the value of those assets. If the values of the currencies in the countries in which our operating companies conduct business relative to the U.S. dollar depreciate further, we would expect the reported value of these assets held in local currencies to decrease further.


44


 

We believe our current working capital and anticipated future cash flows will be adequate to meet our cash needs for ongoing operations and capital expenditures, but our funding needs could be affected by a number of factors. Specifically, our liquidity could be negatively affected by a decrease in operating revenues resulting from a decline in demand for our products and services due to the significant downturn in the global economy or from a decline in the values of the currencies in the countries in which we conduct our business relative to the U.S. dollar among other factors. See “Future Capital Needs and Resources — Future Outlook.”
 
Cash Flows
 
                         
    Six Months Ended
       
    June 30,        
    2009     2008     Change  
 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year
  $ 1,243,251     $ 1,370,165     $ (126,914 )
Net cash provided by operating activities
    281,116       322,046       (40,930 )
Net cash used in investing activities
    (339,971 )     (347,930 )     7,959  
Net cash used in financing activities
    (21,921 )     (96,513 )     74,592  
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (25,711 )     32,012       (57,723 )
                         
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year
  $ 1,136,764     $ 1,279,780     $ (143,016 )
                         
 
As discussed above, one of the primary sources of our liquidity is our ability to generate positive cash flows from operations. The following is a discussion of the primary sources and uses of cash in our operating, investing and financing activities:
 
Our operating activities provided us with $281.1 million of cash during the six months ended June 30, 2009, a $40.9 million, or 13%, decrease from the same period in 2008. The decrease in cash generated from operating activities was primarily due to the effect of depreciating foreign currencies in the markets where we do business on the value of cash in U.S. dollars and increased cash used for working capital.
 
We used $340.0 million of cash in our investing activities during the first half of 2009, an $8.0 million decrease from the first half of 2008, primarily due to an $80.4 million decrease in cash capital expenditures and a $20.4 million increase in distributions we received in connection with our investment in an enhanced cash fund, partially offset by a $90.5 million increase in short-term investments purchased in Brazil. Cash capital expenditures decreased from $424.7 million in the first half of 2008 to $344.4 million in the first half of 2009. For the six months ended June 30, 2009, about 62% of our total capital expenditures were focused in Brazil in connection with the implementation of our expansion plans. In addition, during the second quarter of 2009, our total capital expenditures included $36.3 million related to investments in our new network in Peru.
 
We used $21.9 million of cash in our financing activities during the second quarter of 2009, primarily due to $24.0 million in repayments under Nextel Mexico’s syndicated loan facility, $18.0 million in repayments under short-term notes payable in Peru and $5.3 million in repayments under capital leases, license financing, tower financing and other transactions, partially offset by $25.3 million in short-term borrowings in Brazil. We used $96.5 million of cash in our financing activities during the second quarter of 2008, primarily due to $242.7 million in cash we used to purchase our common stock and $31.9 million in repayments under Nextel Mexico’s syndicated loan facility, partially offset by $125.0 million in borrowings under Nextel Brazil’s syndicated loan facility, $28.6 million in proceeds we received from stock option exercise and $27.3 million in proceeds from our towers financing transactions in Mexico and Brazil.
 
Future Capital Needs and Resources
 
Capital Resources.  Our ongoing capital resources depend on a variety of factors, including our existing cash and cash equivalents balances, the value of our short-term investments, cash flows generated by our operating companies and external financing sources that may be available.


45


 

Our ability to generate net cash from our operating activities is dependent upon, among other things:
 
  •  the amount of revenue we are able to generate and collect from our customers;
 
  •  the amount of operating expenses required to provide our services;
 
  •  the cost of acquiring and retaining customers, including the commissions we pay in connection with the acquisition of new customers and the subsidies we incur to provide handsets to both our new and existing customers;
 
  •  our ability to continue to increase the size of our subscriber base; and
 
  •  fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.
 
Capital Needs and Contractual Obligations.  We currently anticipate that our future capital needs will principally consist of funds required for:
 
  •  operating expenses relating to our business;
 
  •  capital expenditures to expand and enhance our networks, as discussed below under “Capital Expenditures;”
 
  •  operating and capital expenditures related to the deployment of a next generation network in Peru;
 
  •  the costs relating to any future spectrum purchases;
 
  •  operating expenses and capital expenditures related to the deployment of next generation networks in our other markets if we are successful in acquiring spectrum;
 
  •  debt service requirements, including tower financing and capital lease obligations;
 
  •  cash taxes; and
 
  •  other general corporate expenditures.
 
Capital Expenditures.  Our capital expenditures, including capitalized interest, were $400.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2009 and $436.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2008. In each of these years, a substantial portion of our capital expenditures was invested in the expansion of the coverage and capacity of our networks in Mexico and Brazil. In addition, during the second quarter of 2009, our total capital expenditures included $36.3 million related to investments in our new network in Peru. We expect to continue to focus our capital spending in these markets, particularly in Brazil, as we significantly expand the geographic coverage of Nextel Brazil’s network, including expansion into the northeast region of the country, and as we expand that network’s capacity to support Nextel Brazil’s growth.
 
In addition, we have participated in and plan to participate in spectrum auctions and similar processes in our markets, including the pending spectrum licensing process in Chile and the auctions that are expected to be conducted in Brazil and Mexico. If we are successful in acquiring spectrum in those auctions, we plan to deploy next generation networks in those markets consistent with applicable regulatory requirements and our business strategy. The purchase of spectrum in these auctions and deployment of new next generation networks would result in a significant increase in our capital expenditures in the applicable markets although the amount and timing of those additional capital expenditures is dependent on, among other things, the timing of the auctions and the nature and extent of any regulatory requirements that may be imposed regarding the timing and scope of the deployment of the new networks.
 
We expect to finance our capital spending for our existing and future network needs using the most effective combination of cash from operations, cash on hand, cash from the sale or maturity of our short-term investments and proceeds from external financing sources that are or may become available. Our capital spending is expected to be driven by several factors, including:
 
  •  the extent to which we expand the coverage of our networks in new or existing market areas;


46


 

 
  •  the number of additional transmitter and receiver sites we build in order to increase system capacity and maintain system quality and the costs associated with the installation of related switching equipment in some of our existing market areas;
 
  •  the amount we spend to deploy the next generation network in Peru that utilizes the 1.9 GHz spectrum that we acquired in 2007;
 
  •  the costs we incur in connection with future spectrum acquisitions and the development and deployment of any future next generation networks in our other markets; and
 
  •  the costs we incur in connection with non-network related information technology projects.
 
Our future capital expenditures may be affected by future technology improvements and technology choices. For example, we have experienced voice quality problems related to certain types of calls made using the 6:1 voice coder technology, an upgrade to the iDEN technology used in our mobile network, and in some markets, we have adjusted the network software to reduce the number of calls completed using the 6:1 voice coder technology in order to balance our network capacity needs with the need to maintain voice quality. Because we have not used the 6:1 voice coder technology to its full capacity, we have invested more capital in our infrastructure to satisfy our network capacity needs than would have been necessary if we had been able to complete a higher percentage of calls using the technology, and we may make similar investments in the future as we optimize our network to meet our capacity and voice quality requirements. If we were to decide to significantly curtail the use of the 6:1 voice coder technology in all of our markets, these investments could be significant. See “Forward Looking Statements.”
 
Future Outlook.  We believe that our current business plans, which contemplate significant expansion of our iDEN network in Brazil, continued coverage and capacity expansion of our iDEN networks in Mexico, Argentina and Chile, and the construction of a new, complementary next generation network in Peru, do not require us to raise additional external funding to enable us to operate and grow our business while servicing our debt obligations and that our current working capital and anticipated cash flows will be adequate to meet our cash needs to support our existing business.
 
Our funding needs could, however, be significantly affected by our participation in auctions of spectrum rights and other spectrum licensing processes in our markets including our participation in the pending spectrum licensing process in Chile and our plans to participate in the auctions that are expected to be conducted in Brazil and Mexico and by our plans to deploy next generation networks in those markets if we are successful in acquiring those spectrum rights. These plans, which are consistent with our business strategy of providing differentiated services to our customers, would require us to raise significant additional funding. The amounts and timing of those additional funding requirements would be affected by, among other things:
 
  •  the timing of the auctions and other spectrum licensing processes, whether we are successful in acquiring spectrum in those auctions or processes, and the amounts paid for the spectrum rights if we are successful;
 
  •  the nature and extent of any regulatory requirements that may be imposed regarding the timing and scope of the deployment of new networks; and
 
  •  our assessment of market conditions and their impact on both the business opportunities supported by the new networks and the availability of funding to support their construction.
 
Although we currently anticipate that most of those additional funding requirements will not arise until after 2009, we will continue to assess opportunities to raise additional funding as market conditions permit during the remainder of 2009 that could be used, among other purposes, to meet those requirements or to refinance our existing obligations. The indebtedness that we may incur in connection with these business expansion activities and for refinancing may be significant.
 
In making this assessment of our funding needs under our current plans and under our plans that contemplate the acquisition of spectrum and the deployment of next generation networks, we have considered:
 
  •  cash and cash equivalents on hand and short-term-investments available to fund our operations;
 
  •  expected cash flows from operations;


47


 

 
  •  the anticipated level of capital expenditures, including minimum build-out requirements, relating to the deployment of the next generation network that utilizes the 1.9 GHz spectrum we acquired in Peru;
 
  •  our expectation of the values of the currencies in the countries in which we conduct business relative to the U.S. dollar;
 
  •  our scheduled debt service; and
 
  •  income taxes.
 
In addition to the factors described above, the anticipated cash needs of our business, as well as the conclusions presented herein as to the adequacy of the available sources of cash and timing on our ability to generate net income, could change significantly:
 
  •  if our plans change;
 
  •  if we decide to expand into new markets or expand our geographic coverage or network capacity in our existing markets beyond our current plans, as a result of the construction of additional portions of our networks or the acquisition of competitors or others;
 
  •  if currency values in our markets depreciate further relative to the U.S. dollar;
 
  •  if economic conditions in any of our markets change generally;
 
  •  if competitive practices in the mobile wireless telecommunications industry in certain of our markets change materially from those currently prevailing or from those now anticipated; or
 
  •  if other presently unexpected circumstances arise that have a material effect on the cash flow or profitability of our mobile wireless business.
 
Any of these events or circumstances could result in significant funding needs beyond those contemplated by our current plans as described above, and those funding needs could exceed our currently available funding sources, which could require us to raise additional capital to meet those needs. Our ability to seek additional capital, if necessary, is subject to a variety of additional factors that we cannot presently predict with certainty, including:
 
  •  the commercial success of our operations;
 
  •  the volatility and demand of the capital markets; and
 
  •  the future market prices of our securities.
 
Recent financial market conditions in debt and equity markets in the United States and global markets have resulted in substantial decline in the amount of funding available to corporate borrowers. As a result, available funding is both more costly and provided on terms that are less favorable to borrowers than were previously available. If these conditions continue or worsen, it could be difficult or more costly for us to raise additional capital in order to meet our cash needs that result from the factors identified above including those that may result from our acquisition of spectrum and deployment of next generation networks, and the related additional costs and terms of any financing we raise could impose restrictions that limit our flexibility in responding to business conditions and our ability to obtain additional financing. If new indebtedness is added to our current levels of indebtedness, the related risks that we now face could intensify. For more information, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors 4. Our funding needs and debt service requirements could make us more dependent on external financing. If we are unable to obtain financing, our business may be adversely affected.” and “5. Our current and future debt may limit our flexibility and increase our risk of default.” in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K.
 
Forward Looking Statements
 
“Safe Harbor” Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Certain statements made in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q are not historical or current facts, but deal with potential future circumstances and developments. They can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as “believes,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “could,” “should” or “anticipates” or other comparable words, or by discussions of strategy that involve risks and uncertainties. We caution you that these forward-looking statements are only predictions, which are subject to risks and uncertainties, including technical uncertainties,


48


 

financial variations and changes in the regulatory environment, industry growth and trend predictions. We have attempted to identify, in context, some of the factors that we currently believe may cause actual future experience and results to differ from our current expectations regarding the relevant matter or subject area. The operation and results of our wireless communications business also may be subject to the effects of other risks and uncertainties in addition to the other qualifying factors identified in this Item, including, but not limited to:
 
  •  our ability to meet the operating goals established by our business plan;
 
  •  general economic conditions in the United States or in Latin America and in the market segments that we are targeting for our services, including the impact of the current uncertainties in global economic conditions;
 
  •  the political and social conditions in the countries in which we operate, including political instability, which may affect the economies of our markets and the regulatory schemes in these countries;
 
  •  the impact of foreign exchange volatility in our markets as compared to the U.S. dollar and related currency depreciation in countries in which our operating companies conduct business;
 
  •  our ability to access sufficient debt or equity capital to meet any future operating and financial needs, including the impact of the recent disruption in global capital markets that have made it more difficult or costly to obtain funding on acceptable terms;
 
  •  reasonable access to and the successful performance of the technology being deployed in our service areas, and improvements thereon, including technology deployed in connection with the introduction of our mobile services in our markets;
 
  •  the availability of adequate quantities of system infrastructure and subscriber equipment and components at reasonable pricing to meet our service deployment and marketing plans and customer demand;
 
  •  Motorola’s ability and willingness to provide handsets and related equipment and software applications or to develop new technologies or features for us, including the timely development and availability of new handsets with expanded applications and features;
 
  •  the risk of deploying new technologies, including the potential need for additional funding to support that deployment, the risk that new services supported by the new technology will not attract enough subscribers to support the related costs of deploying or operating the new technology, the need to significantly increase our employee base and the potential distraction of management;
 
  •  our ability to successfully scale our billing, collection, customer care and similar back-office operations to keep pace with customer growth, increased system usage rates and growth or to successfully deploy new systems that support those functions;
 
  •  the success of efforts to improve and satisfactorily address any issues relating to our network performance;
 
  •  future legislation or regulatory actions relating to our SMR services, other wireless communications services or telecommunications generally;
 
  •  the ability to achieve and maintain market penetration and average subscriber revenue levels sufficient to provide financial viability to our network business;
 
  •  the quality and price of similar or comparable wireless communications services offered or to be offered by our competitors, including providers of cellular services and personal communications services;
 
  •  market acceptance of our new service offerings; and
 
  •  other risks and uncertainties described in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and from time to time in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K.


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Effect of New Accounting Standards
 
In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities — An Amendment of FASB Statement No. 133,” or SFAS No. 161, which amends and expands the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued in fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The adoption of SFAS No. 161 in the first quarter of 2009 did not impact our condensed consolidated financial statements as the value of our derivative instruments is not material.
 
In April 2009, the FASB issued Staff Position No. 107-1 and APB 28-1, “Interim Disclosures about Fair Value of Financial Instruments,” or FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1. FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 require quarterly disclosures of the fair value and carrying value of all financial instruments aggregated by major category and disclosures concerning the methods and assumptions used to estimate the instruments’ fair value. FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 is effective for interim reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. The adoption of FSP 107-1 and APB 28-1 in the second quarter of 2009 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 165, “Subsequent Events,” or SFAS No. 165. SFAS No. 165 establishes the accounting for and disclosure of events and transactions which occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. This standard requires disclosure of the date through which such subsequent events have been evaluated. SFAS No. 165 became effective for interim or annual reporting periods ending after June 15, 2009. Our adoption of SFAS No. 165 during the second quarter of 2009 did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2009, the FASB issued SFAS No. 167, “Amendments to FASB Interpretation No. 46(R),” or SFAS No. 167. SFAS No. 167 changes the consolidation guidance under FASB Interpretation No. 46(R), or FIN 46, to require an ongoing qualitative assessment to determine the primary beneficiary of a variable interest entity, or VIE. SFAS No. 167 also amends the circumstances that would require a reassessment of whether an entity in which we had a variable interest qualifies as a VIE and would be subject to the consolidation guidance in this standard. SFAS No. 167 will be effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2009. We are currently evaluating the potential impact, if any, that the adoption of this standard will have on our condensed consolidated financial statements.
 
Item 3.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
 
Our revenues are primarily denominated in foreign currencies, while a significant portion of our operations are financed in U.S. dollars through our convertible notes, a portion of our syndicated loan facility in Mexico and our syndicated loan facility in Brazil. As a result, fluctuations in exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar expose us to foreign currency exchange risks. These risks include the impact of translating our local currency reported earnings into U.S. dollars when the U.S. dollar strengthens against the local currencies of our foreign operations. In addition, Nextel Mexico, Nextel Brazil, Nextel Argentina and Nextel Chile purchase some capital assets and the majority of handsets in U.S. dollars, but generate revenue from their operations in local currency.
 
We occasionally enter into derivative transactions for hedging or risk management purposes. We have not and will not enter into any derivative transactions for speculative or profit generating purposes. During 2009, Nextel Mexico entered into a hedge agreement to manage foreign currency risk on certain forecasted transactions. The value of this instrument is not material.
 
Interest rate changes expose our fixed rate long-term borrowings to changes in fair value and expose our variable rate long-term borrowings to changes in future cash flows. As of June 30, 2009, $1,897.0 million, or 80%, of our total consolidated debt was fixed rate debt, and the remaining $466.9 million, or 20%, of our total consolidated debt was variable rate debt. Nextel Mexico has entered into interest rate swap agreements to hedge its exposure to interest rate risk. The values of these instruments are not material.


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The table below presents principal amounts, related interest rates by year of maturity and aggregate amounts as of June 30, 2009 for our fixed rate debt obligations, including our convertible notes, our syndicated loan facilities in Mexico and Brazil, our tower financing obligations and our interest rate swap, as well as the notional amounts of our purchased call options and written put options, all of which have been determined at their fair values. In addition, the $350.0 million repayment of the principal balance of our 2.75% convertible notes due 2025 is included in the table below in the column labeled “thereafter.” However, in accordance with the terms of these notes, if the notes are not converted, the noteholders have the right to require us to repurchase the notes in August 2010 at a repurchase price equal to 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest.
 
The changes in the fair values of our consolidated debt compared to their fair values as of December 31, 2008 reflect changes in applicable market conditions during the second quarter of 2009. All of the information in the table is presented in U.S. dollar equivalents, which is our reporting currency. The actual cash flows associated with our consolidated long-term debt are denominated in U.S. dollars (US$), Mexican pesos (MP) and Brazilian reais (BR).
 
                                                                                 
    Year of Maturity     June 30, 2009     December 31, 2008  
    1 Year     2 Years     3 Years     4 Years     5 Years     Thereafter     Total     Fair Value     Total     Fair Value  
                            (dollars in thousands)                          
 
Long-Term Debt:
                                                                               
Fixed Rate (US$)
  $ 79,089     $ 1,192     $ 1,201,192     $ 1,191     $ 1,191     $ 350,019     $ 1,633,874     $ 1,339,454     $ 1,579,600     $ 1,066,131  
Average Interest Rate
    8.4 %     7.3 %     3.1 %     7.3 %     7.3 %     2.8 %     3.3 %             3.2 %        
Fixed Rate (MP)
  $ 20,098     $ 5,952     $ 7,010     $ 8,267     $ 9,761     $ 93,916     $ 145,004     $ 83,709     $ 158,104     $ 95,870  
Average Interest Rate
    12.4 %     15.5 %     15.5 %     15.5 %     15.5 %     15.4 %     15.1 %             14.7 %        
Fixed Rate (BR)
  $ 7,864     $ 25,714     $ 5,161     $ 6,219     $ 6,192     $ 66,977     $ 118,127     $ 63,177     $ 77,924     $ 38,414  
Average Interest Rate
    16.3 %     14.6 %     20.8 %     21.4 %     24.4 %     23.9 %     21.1 %             23.2 %        
Variable Rate (US$)
  $ 81,039     $ 237,639     $ 81,039     $ 44,610     $ 8,182     $ 4,091     $ 456,600     $ 436,853     $ 456,600     $ 408,776  
Average Interest Rate
    2.4 %     2.4 %     2.4 %     2.4 %     2.4 %     2.4 %     2.4 %             2.9 %        
Variable Rate (MP)
  $ 10,288     $     $     $     $     $     $ 10,288     $ 9,795     $ 20,066     $ 19,372  
Average Interest Rate
    7.0 %                                   7.0 %             9.0 %        
Interest Rate Swaps:
                                                                               
Variable to Fixed
  $ 6,651     $ 156,600     $     $     $     $     $ 163,251     $ 689     $ 13,301     $ (124 )
Average Pay Rate
    10.8 %     1.4 %                             1.8 %             10.8 %        
Average Receive Rate
    7.0 %     0.8 %                             1.1 %             9.0 %        
Foreign Currency Exchange Options:
                                                                               
Notional Amount
  $ 166,000     $     $     $     $     $     $ 166,000     $ 1,130     $     $  
Average Strike Price
  $ 0.07 – 0.08                                   $ 0.07 – 0.08                        
 
Item 4.   Controls and Procedures.
 
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods required by the Securities and Exchange Commission and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
 
As of June 30, 2009, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of our management teams in the United States and in our operating companies, including our chief executive officer and chief financial officer. Based on and as of the date of such evaluation, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
There have been no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the most recently completed fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.


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PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
 
Item 1.   Legal Proceedings.
 
We are subject to claims and legal actions that may arise in the ordinary course of business. We do not believe that any of these pending claims or legal actions will have a material effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
 
For information on our various loss contingencies, see Note 6 to our condensed consolidated financial statements above.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors.
 
There have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in our 2008 annual report on Form 10-K.
 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
 
(a) Our Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on Tuesday, May 12, 2009.
 
(c) The common stockholders voted for the election of three directors to serve for terms of three years each, expiring on the date of the annual meeting in 2012 or until their successors are elected. The results of the voting in these elections are set forth below:
 
                         
          Votes
    Broker
 
Nominee
  Votes For     Withheld     Non Votes  
 
George A. Cope
    96,161,706       55,633,251       N/A  
Raymond P. Dolan
    149,681,220       2,113,737       N/A  
Carolyn Katz
    141,939,768       9,855,189       N/A  
 
In addition, the stockholders voted to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2009. The results of the voting are set forth below:
 
                                 
          Votes
    Votes
    Broker
 
Nominee
  Votes For     Against     Withheld     Non Votes  
 
Ratification of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    150,815,379       905,359       74,219       N/A  
 
No other matters were voted upon at the Annual Meeting or during the quarter covered by this report.
 
Item 6.   Exhibits.
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
  10 .1   Employment Agreement of Steven M. Shindler dated June 8, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to N11 Holdings’ Form 8-K, filed on June 9, 2009).
  12 .1   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  31 .1   Statement of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
  31 .2   Statement of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
  32 .1   Statement of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
  32 .2   Statement of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
  101     The following materials from the NII Holdings, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.*
 
 
* Submitted electronically herewith.


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SIGNATURE
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
  By: 
/s/  CATHERINE E. NEEL
Catherine E. Neel
Vice President and Controller
(on behalf of the registrant and as
chief accounting officer)
 
Date: August 5, 2009


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EXHIBIT INDEX
 
         
Exhibit
   
Number
 
Exhibit Description
 
  10 .1   Employment Agreement of Steven M. Shindler dated June 8, 2009 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to NII Holdings’ Form 8-K, filed on June 9, 2009).
  12 .1   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  31 .1   Statement of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
  31 .2   Statement of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a).
  32 .1   Statement of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
  32 .2   Statement of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
  101     The following materials from the NII Holdings, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and (v) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.*
 
 
* Submitted electronically herewith.


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