EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE ANNOUNCING FOURTH QUARTER 2011 AND YEAR END RESULTS Sprint 4Q Earnings Release

News Release
Contacts:
Media Relations        
Scott Sloat
240-855-0164
scott.sloat@sprint.com

Investor Relations
Brad Hampton
800-259-3755
investor.relations@sprint.com

SPRINT NEXTEL REPORTS
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR 2011 RESULTS
 

•
Quarterly year-over-year Sprint platform postpaid ARPU growth of $3.69 is the best on record in the industry

•
Largest sequential increase in net operating revenues in more than five years

•
Sprint serves more than 55 million customers - highest level ever
◦
1.6 million total net subscriber additions in the quarter - best since 2005
◦
539,000 postpaid net additions on the Sprint platform in the quarter

•
Strong iPhone sales - 40 percent to new customers

•
Network Vision on schedule and on budget; six major cities to launch 4G LTE by mid-year with the addition of Kansas City and Baltimore

•
Adjusted OIBDA* of $842 million and the first year of Operating Income since 2006

The company's fourth quarter 2011 earnings conference call will be held at 8 a.m. ET today. Participants may dial 800-938-1120 in the U.S. or Canada (706-634-7849 internationally) and provide the following ID: 40556064 or may listen via the Internet at www.sprint.com/investor.

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. - Feb. 8, 2012 - Sprint Nextel Corp. (NYSE: S) today reported Adjusted OIBDA* of $842 million for the fourth quarter and nearly $5.1 billion for the full year 2011. Wireless service revenues for the fourth quarter increased more than 7 percent year-over-year, driven by Sprint platform postpaid ARPU growth of $3.69 - the largest year-over-year increase on record across the U.S. wireless industry. Strong revenue growth and cost management partially offset the impact of increased equipment net subsidies and sales expense associated with the successful launch of the iPhone®. Forty percent of Sprint's 1.8 million iPhone sales in the fourth quarter were to new customers. Based on internal estimates, including incremental costs associated with iPhone sales, the combined impact of iPhone and Network Vision costs reduced fourth quarter Adjusted OIBDA* margin, which was 10.8 percent, by approximately 8.8 percentage points.

The company reported total net subscriber additions of 1.6 million during the fourth quarter of 2011 - the best quarterly result in six years - bringing total ending subscribers to the highest level in the company's history. Total postpaid net additions of 161,000 for the fourth quarter represent the tenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year improvement and were driven by continued strength of the Sprint platform, which had net postpaid additions of 539,000. This is the seventh consecutive quarter of net postpaid subscriber growth on the Sprint platform.

1

“Our strong fourth quarter performance illustrates the power of matching iconic devices like the iPhone with our simple, unlimited plans and industry-leading customer experience,” said Dan Hesse, Sprint CEO. “During the past year, Sprint added more than 5 million net new customers and grew wireless service revenue by more than 5 percent, including 17 percent for the Sprint platform. This momentum gives us confidence as we execute our Network Vision upgrade and 4G LTE roll-out."

The company continued to rapidly grow the number of prepaid and wholesale and affiliate subscribers in the fourth quarter. Prepaid net additions were 507,000 bringing total prepaid subscribers to nearly 14.8 million at the end of 2011, an increase of 20 percent since the end of 2010. Net additions of 954,000 for wholesale and affiliates in the fourth quarter were the highest in seven years.

Additionally, the company reported a net loss of $1.3 billion and a diluted loss of $.43 per share for the quarter, which includes pre-tax, non-cash charges of $241 million, or $.08 per share, consisting of asset and impairment charges of $78 million on property, plant and equipment, $135 million on Sprint's investment in Clearwire and $28 million in severance costs.

Sprint's Network Vision initiative remains on schedule and on budget. In the fourth quarter, the company completed field integration testing and launched the first multi-mode base station and first cluster of cell sites, validating improved 3G data performance metrics, such as voice quality, call drops and blocks and improved data speeds. The company expects to bring approximately 12,000 sites on air by the end of 2012 and to complete the majority of its Network Vision roll-out in 2013. In addition, as part of Network Vision Sprint has announced it expects to begin launching 4G LTE by mid-year 2012. In addition to Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Atlanta, Sprint today announced Kansas City and Baltimore will be among the initial six major cities to launch.

The company also raised a substantial portion of the additional cash needed to fund the Network Vision deployment, debt maturities and working capital requirements over the next few years. During the fourth quarter, Sprint raised additional financing of $4 billion and repaid all 2012 maturities prior to scheduled maturity. Sprint's next scheduled debt maturities include $300 million due in May 2013 and $1.5 billion due in October 2013.

Sprint generated $257 million of Free Cash Flow* in the quarter. As of Dec. 31, 2011, the company's total liquidity was approximately $6.7 billion, consisting of $5.6 billion in cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments and $1.1 billion of undrawn borrowing capacity available under its revolving bank credit facility.

In 2011, Sprint's Customer Satisfaction and First Call Resolution scores improved year-over-year for the fourth consecutive year and third parties continued to affirm Sprint's customer experience leadership. In the fourth quarter, Frost & Sullivan awarded Sprint the North American Customer Value Enhancement of the Year Award in the Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Communications market, and Analysys Mason gave Sprint the highest M2M scorecard ranking among North American-based communications service providers. Last month, Sprint received the ATLANTIC ACM Best-in-Class Network Award for Global Wholesale Excellence. Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine's annual 2011 Best of Everything list awarded top honors to Sprint's unlimited data plan, no annual contract offerings from Boost Mobile and payLo by Virgin Mobile. Last week, Virgin Mobile USA received the highest ranking in the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Wireless Customer Care Non-Contract Study - Volume 1, with Boost placing second. Sprint's sustainable efforts also continued to gather accolades. Following Sprint's third place ranking among U.S. companies on Newsweek's 2011 Green Rankings in October, Sprint joined the exclusive World Wildlife Fund's Climate Savers Program - one of only 27 global partners selected since 1999.

Besides adding the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4s to the company's industry-leading line-up of devices, Sprint also launched several other innovative products during the fourth quarter including HTC EVO Design 4G™, the company's 25th 4G device. Sprint also launched the first three Sprint Direct Connect® phones, Kyocera DuraMax, Kyocera DuraCore and Motorola Admiral™, the first Sprint Direct Connect Android™ smartphone. Earlier this year, Sprint announced the initial group of devices that will operate on its 4G LTE network: Galaxy Nexus™, LG Viper™ 4G LTE with eco-friendly features and Sierra Wireless™ Tri-Network Hotspot. Also during the fourth quarter, Sprint unveiled a redesigned website for business, www.sprint.com/business, launched 4G Fixed Business Access, a business solution that turns any area into an instant office, and collaborated on M2M solutions including wireless kiosks to capture health and wellness information remotely.



2


CONSOLIDATED RESULTS 
 
TABLE NO. 1 Selected Unaudited Financial Data (dollars in millions, except per share data)
 
 
Quarter To Date
 
 
 
Year To Date
 
 
Financial Data
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
%
r
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
%
r
Net operating revenues
 
$
8,722

 
$
8,301

 
5 %
 
$
33,679

 
$
32,563

 
3 %
Adjusted OIBDA*
 
$
842

 
$
1,315

 
(36) %
 
$
5,072

 
$
5,633

 
(10) %
Adjusted OIBDA margin*
 
10.8 %

 
17.6 %

 
 
 
16.5 %

 
18.9 %

 
 
Operating (loss) income
 
$
(438
)
 
$
(139
)
 
NM
 
$
108

 
$
(595
)
 
NM
Net loss (1)
 
$
(1,303
)
 
$
(929
)
 
(40) %
 
$
(2,890
)
 
$
(3,465
)
 
17 %
Diluted loss per common share (1)
 
$
(0.43
)
 
$
(0.31
)
 
(39) %
 
$
(0.96
)
 
$
(1.16
)
 
17 %
Capital Expenditures (2)
 
$
900

 
$
608

 
48 %
 
$
2,855

 
$
1,926

 
48 %
Free Cash Flow*
 
$
257

 
$
913

 
(72) %
 
$
429

 
$
2,512

 
(83) %
 
•
Consolidated net operating revenues of $8.7 billion for the quarter were 5 percent higher than in the fourth quarter of 2010 and the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly year-over-year and sequential improvements were primarily due to higher wireless service and equipment revenue offset by a reduction in wireline revenue.
•
Adjusted OIBDA* was $842 million for the quarter, compared to $1.3 billion for the fourth quarter of 2010 and $1.4 billion in the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly year-over-year decline in Adjusted OIBDA* was primarily due to higher equipment net subsidy and sales expense, higher wireless cost of service and lower wireline revenues, partially offset by higher postpaid and prepaid wireless service revenues. Sequentially, quarterly Adjusted OIBDA* declined primarily as a result of higher equipment net subsidy and sales expense, partially offset by higher postpaid wireless service revenues and lower wireless cost of service. Based on internal estimates, including incremental costs associated with iPhone sales, the combined impact of iPhone and Network Vision costs reduced fourth quarter Adjusted OIBDA* of $842 million by approximately $684 million.
•
Capital expenditures(2), excluding capitalized interest of $109 million, were $900 million in the quarter, compared to $608 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $760 million in the third quarter of 2011. Wireless capital expenditures were $774 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $473 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $647 million in the third quarter of 2011. During the quarter, the company invested in data capacity as well as approximately $370 million for our Network Vision plan. Wireline capital expenditures were $34 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $67 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $36 million in the third quarter of 2011. Corporate capital expenditures were $92 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to $68 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $77 million in the third quarter of 2011, primarily related to IT infrastructure to support our Wireless and Wireline businesses.
•
Free Cash Flow* was $257 million for the quarter, compared to $913 million for the fourth quarter of 2010 and negative $273 million for the third quarter of 2011. Free Cash Flow* was reduced on a year-over-year basis primarily due to a reduction in cash flows from operations and higher capital expenditures offset by a one-time reimbursement of $135 million related to FCC licenses. Sequentially, quarterly Free Cash Flow* improved primarily as a result of favorable working capital changes and a one-time reimbursement of $135 million related to FCC licenses.
 



3


WIRELESS RESULTS
 

Wireless Customers

•
The company served more than 55 million customers at the end of the fourth quarter of 2011. This includes 33 million postpaid subscribers (28.7 million on the Sprint platform and 4.3 million on the Nextel platform), 14.8 million prepaid subscribers (12.8 million on the Sprint platform and 2 million on the Nextel platform) and approximately 7.2 million wholesale and affiliate subscribers, all of whom utilize the Sprint platform.
•
For the quarter, the company added 1.6 million net wireless customers, including net additions of 668,000 retail subscribers and net additions of 954,000 wholesale and affiliate subscribers as a result of growth in MVNOs reselling prepaid services.
•
The company gained approximately 161,000 net postpaid subscribers during the quarter compared to a gain of 58,000 in the fourth quarter of 2010.
•
The Sprint platform added approximately 539,000 net postpaid customers during the quarter. The Nextel platform lost 378,000 net postpaid customers in the quarter.
•
The company added 507,000 net prepaid subscribers during the quarter, which includes net additions of 899,000 prepaid Sprint platform customers, offset by losses of 392,000 net prepaid Nextel platform customers.
•
The credit quality of Sprint's end-of-period postpaid customers was approximately 82 percent prime as compared to approximately 83 percent prime at the end of the third quarter of 2011.


Wireless Churn

•
For the quarter, Sprint reported postpaid churn of 1.98 percent, compared to 1.86 percent for the year-ago period and 1.91 percent for the third quarter of 2011. Quarterly postpaid churn increased year-over-year and sequentially due to higher involuntary deactivations which occur when Sprint disconnects a customer due to lack of payment or violations of terms and conditions. This is a temporary increase, the majority of which was associated with pricing actions taken primarily through indirect channels. We tightened our credit standards during the third and fourth quarters to stem further impacts of these types of promotional activities.
•
Approximately 9 percent of postpaid customers upgraded their handsets during the fourth quarter. Upgrades as a percentage of our subscriber base increased sequentially, likely due to the iPhone launch and customers' expectations of the launch, which depressed third quarter upgrades.
•
Prepaid churn for the fourth quarter was 3.68 percent, compared to 4.93 percent for the year-ago period and 4.07 percent for the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly year-over-year and sequential improvements in prepaid churn were primarily a result of improvements in the Virgin Mobile and Boost brands, and growth in the number of Assurance Wireless customers, who on average have lower churn than the remainder of our prepaid subscriber base.
 









4


TABLE NO. 2 Wireless Operating Statistics (Unaudited)
 
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Net Additions (Losses) (in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sprint platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid (a)
 
539

 
265

 
453

 
1,283

 
734

Prepaid (b)
 
899

 
839

 
1,414

 
4,293

 
3,615

Wholesale and affiliate
 
954

 
835

 
393

 
2,697

 
994

Total Sprint platform
 
2,392

 
1,939

 
2,260

 
8,273

 
5,343

Nextel platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid (a)
 
(378
)
 
(309
)
 
(395
)
 
(1,381
)
 
(1,589
)
Prepaid (b)
 
(392
)
 
(354
)
 
(768
)
 
(1,781
)
 
(1,977
)
Total Nextel platform
 
(770
)
 
(663
)
 
(1,163
)
 
(3,162
)
 
(3,566
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total retail postpaid net additions (losses)
 
161

 
(44
)
 
58

 
(98
)
 
(855
)
Total retail prepaid net additions
 
507

 
485

 
646

 
2,512

 
1,638

Total wholesale and affiliate net additions
 
954

 
835

 
393

 
2,697

 
994

Total Wireless Net Additions
 
1,622

 
1,276

 
1,097

 
5,111

 
1,777

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
End of Period Subscribers (in thousands)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sprint platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid (a)
 
28,729

 
28,190

 
27,446

 
28,729

 
27,446

Prepaid (b),(c)
 
12,828

 
11,929

 
8,535

 
12,828

 
8,535

Wholesale and affiliate (c)
 
7,218

 
6,264

 
4,521

 
7,218

 
4,521

Total Sprint platform
 
48,775

 
46,383

 
40,502

 
48,775

 
40,502

Nextel platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid (a)
 
4,285

 
4,663

 
5,666

 
4,285

 
5,666

Prepaid (b)
 
1,961

 
2,353

 
3,742

 
1,961

 
3,742

Total Nextel platform
 
6,246

 
7,016

 
9,408

 
6,246

 
9,408

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total retail postpaid end of period subscribers
 
33,014

 
32,853

 
33,112

 
33,014

 
33,112

Total retail prepaid end of period subscribers (c)
 
14,789

 
14,282

 
12,277

 
14,789

 
12,277

Total wholesale and affiliate end of period subscribers (c)
 
7,218

 
6,264

 
4,521

 
7,218

 
4,521

Total End of Period Subscribers
 
55,021

 
53,399

 
49,910

 
55,021

 
49,910

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
ARPU (d)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sprint platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
$
61.22

 
$
60.20

 
$
57.53

 
$
59.76

 
$
57.01

Prepaid
 
$
25.16

 
$
25.35

 
$
24.16

 
$
25.43

 
$
21.64

Nextel platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
$
41.91

 
$
42.78

 
$
44.74

 
$
43.25

 
$
46.32

Prepaid
 
$
34.91

 
$
35.62

 
$
35.07

 
$
35.17

 
$
35.32

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total retail postpaid ARPU
 
$
58.59

 
$
57.65

 
$
55.26

 
$
57.27

 
$
54.94

Total retail prepaid ARPU
 
$
26.62

 
$
27.19

 
$
27.95

 
$
27.40

 
$
27.76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Churn
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sprint platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
1.99
%
 
1.91
%
 
1.84
%
 
1.85
%
 
1.93
%
Prepaid
 
3.07
%
 
3.43
%
 
3.63
%
 
3.28
%
 
4.30
%
Nextel platform:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
1.89
%
 
1.91
%
 
1.93
%
 
1.92
%
 
2.03
%
Prepaid
 
7.18
%
 
7.02
%
 
7.37
%
 
7.10
%
 
6.73
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total retail postpaid churn
 
1.98
%
 
1.91
%
 
1.86
%
 
1.86
%
 
1.95
%
Total retail prepaid churn
 
3.68
%
 
4.07
%
 
4.93
%
 
4.05
%
 
5.39
%
(a) Postpaid subscribers on the Sprint platform are defined as retail postpaid subscribers on the CDMA network, including subscribers with PowerSource devices, and those utilizing WiMax technology. Postpaid subscribers on the Nextel platform are defined as retail postpaid subscribers on the iDEN network.
(b) Prepaid subscribers on the Sprint platform are defined as retail prepaid subscribers who utilize CDMA technology via our multi-brand offerings. Prepaid subscribers on the Nextel platform are defined as retail prepaid subscribers who utilize iDEN technology via our multi-brand offerings.
(c) End of period subscribers reflect the sale and transfer of 49,000 subscribers which are not included in net additions, in the third quarter 2010, from Sprint platform retail prepaid to Wholesale and affiliate prospectively from the date of sale.
(d) ARPU is calculated by dividing service revenue by the sum of the average number of subscribers in the applicable service category. Changes in average monthly service revenue reflect subscribers for either the postpaid or prepaid service category who change rate plans, the level of voice and data usage, the amount of service credits which are offered to subscribers, plus the net effect of average monthly revenue generated by new subscribers and deactivating subscribers.

5


TABLE NO. 3 Selected Unaudited Financial Data (dollars in millions)
 
 
Quarter To Date
 
 
 
Year To Date
 
 
Financial Data
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
%
r
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
%
r
Net operating revenues
 
$
7,920

 
$
7,360

 
8 %
 
$
30,301

 
$
28,597

 
6 %
Adjusted OIBDA*
 
$
668

 
$
1,046

 
(36) %
 
$
4,267

 
$
4,531

 
(6) %
Adjusted OIBDA margin*
 
9.5 %

 
16.0 %

 
 
 
15.6 %

 
17.5 %

 
 
Capital Expenditures (2)
 
$
774

 
$
473

 
64 %
 
$
2,416

 
$
1,444

 
67 %

Wireless Service Revenues

•
Wireless retail service revenues of $6.9 billion for the quarter represent an increase of more than 7 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2010 and more than 1 percent compared to the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly year-over-year improvement was primarily due to higher postpaid ARPU as well as an increased number of net prepaid subscribers as a result of additional market launches of Assurance WirelessSM and growth of the Virgin Mobile brand, partially offset by lower prepaid ARPU. Sequentially, wireless retail service revenues increased, primarily as a result of higher postpaid ARPU.
•
Wireless postpaid ARPU increased year-over-year from $55.26 to $58.59, the largest year-over-year postpaid ARPU growth in the company's history, while sequentially ARPU increased from $57.65 to $58.59. Quarterly year-over-year and sequential ARPU benefited from higher monthly recurring revenues primarily as a result of the premium data add-on charges for smartphones.
•
Prepaid ARPU of $26.62 for the quarter declined from $27.95 in the fourth quarter of 2010 and from $27.19 in the third quarter of 2011. The decline in both year-over-year and sequential periods is a result of a greater mix of Assurance WirelessSM customers who on average have lower ARPU than the remainder of our prepaid subscriber base, partially offset by improvements in Boost ARPU.
•
Quarterly wholesale, affiliate and other revenues increased by $12 million, compared to the year-ago period, and increased by $10 million sequentially, resulting primarily from growth in MVNOs reselling prepaid services.


Wireless Operating Expenses and Adjusted OIBDA*
 
•
Total wireless net operating expenses were $8.4 billion in the fourth quarter, compared to $7.6 billion in the year-ago period and $7.4 billion in the third quarter of 2011.
•
Wireless equipment net subsidy in the fourth quarter was approximately $1.7 billion (equipment revenue of $910 million, less cost of products of $2.6 billion), compared to almost $1.2 billion in the year-ago period and in the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly year-over-year and sequential increase in net subsidy is primarily due to the launch of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S, which on average carry a higher subsidy rate per handset as compared to other handsets.
•
Wireless cost of service increased approximately 12 percent year-over-year primarily due to higher 4G data usage, Network Vision related expenses and higher service and repair costs as a growing percentage of our customer base is on smartphones. Wireless cost of service declined by nearly 2 percent sequentially, primarily due to seasonally lower data roaming expense and lower service and repair costs.
•
Wireless SG&A expenses increased approximately 3 percent year-over-year and 6 percent sequentially. Quarterly year-over-year SG&A expenses increased primarily due to higher selling and bad debt expenses, partially offset by lower marketing costs. Sequentially, SG&A expenses increased primarily as a result of higher sales and bad debt expenses. Sales expenses year-over-year and sequentially increased primarily due to iPhone point-of sale discounts (subsidy) for devices directly sold by the manufacturer to indirect dealers, in which Sprint does not take device title, as well as higher gross additions. Bad debt expense was $186 million in the fourth quarter of 2011, representing an increase for quarterly year-over-year and sequential periods by $75 million and $22 million, respectively, driven

6


primarily by an increase in the agings of accounts receivable outstanding combined with a higher average write-off per account.
•
Wireless depreciation and amortization expense decreased $179 million year-over-year, primarily due to the absence of amortization for customer relationship intangible assets related to previous acquisitions, which have become fully amortized, as well as a decrease due to the replacement rate of fully depreciated assets, partially offset by a fourth quarter increase related to a reduction in estimated useful lives of certain assets.
•
Wireless Adjusted OIBDA* of $668 million in the fourth quarter of 2011 compares to $1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $1.2 billion in the third quarter of 2011. The quarterly year-over-year decline in Adjusted OIBDA* was primarily due to higher equipment net subsidy and sales expense primarily associated with iPhone sales, and higher cost of service, partially offset by higher postpaid and prepaid wireless service revenues and lower marketing costs. Sequentially, quarterly Adjusted OIBDA* declined primarily as a result of higher equipment net subsidy and sales expense primarily associated with iPhone sales, partially offset by higher postpaid wireless service revenues and lower wireless cost of service.


WIRELINE RESULTS
 
TABLE NO. 4 Selected Unaudited Financial Data (dollars in millions)
 
 
Quarter To Date
 
 
 
Year To Date
 
 
Financial Data
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
%
r
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
%
r
Net operating revenues
 
$
1,054

 
$
1,226

 
(14) %
 
$
4,326

 
$
5,040

 
(14) %
Adjusted OIBDA*
 
$
178

 
$
267

 
(33) %
 
$
800

 
$
1,090

 
(27) %
Adjusted OIBDA margin*
 
16.9 %

 
21.8 %

 
 
 
18.5 %

 
21.6 %

 
 
Capital Expenditures (2)
 
$
34

 
$
67

 
(49) %
 
$
158

 
$
231

 
(32) %
 
•
Wireline revenues of $1.1 billion for the quarter declined 14 percent year-over-year primarily as a result of a reduction in intercompany rate, based on market prices, for voice and IP services sold to the wireless segment and the scheduled migration of wholesale cable VoIP customers off of Sprint's IP platform. Sequentially, fourth quarter wireline revenues declined less than 1 percent.
•
Total wireline net operating expenses were almost $1 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011. Net operating expenses declined approximately 9 percent year-over-year due to lower cost of service from continued declines in voice and cable IP volumes, improvement in SG&A expenses and lower depreciation expenses. Sequentially, fourth quarter net operating expenses increased by less than 1 percent.
•
Wireline Adjusted OIBDA* was $178 million for the quarter, compared to $267 million in the fourth quarter of 2010 and $184 million reported for the third quarter of 2011. Quarterly wireline Adjusted OIBDA* declined year-over-year as a result of lower revenues, partially offset by cost reductions. Sequentially, quarterly wireline Adjusted OIBDA* declined as a result of lower revenues.
   
Forecast

The company expects 2012 Adjusted OIBDA* to be between $3.7 billion and $3.9 billion. Within that Adjusted OIBDA* expectation, we anticipate full year consolidated net service revenue growth of 4 to 6 percent. Sprint expects full year capital expenditures of approximately $6 billion in 2012, excluding capitalized interest.




7


Sprint Nextel Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Millions, except per Share Data)
TABLE NO. 5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Net Operating Revenues
 
$
8,722

 
$
8,333

 
$
8,301

 
$
33,679

 
$
32,563

Net Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services
 
2,788

 
2,835

 
2,557

 
10,958

 
10,527

Cost of products
 
2,631

 
1,776

 
2,011

 
8,057

 
6,965

Selling, general and administrative
 
2,461

 
2,320

 
2,418

 
9,592

 
9,438

Depreciation
 
1,098

 
1,114

 
1,234

 
4,455

 
5,074

Amortization
 
76

 
80

 
152

 
403

 
1,174

Other, net
 
106

 
—

 
68

 
106

 
(20
)
Total net operating expenses
 
9,160

 
8,125

 
8,440

 
33,571

 
33,158

Operating (Loss) Income
 
(438
)
 
208

 
(139
)
 
108

 
(595
)
Interest expense
 
(287
)
 
(236
)
 
(350
)
 
(1,011
)
 
(1,464
)
Equity in losses of unconsolidated investments and other, net (3)
 
(472
)
 
(261
)
 
(445
)
 
(1,733
)
 
(1,240
)
Loss before Income Taxes
 
(1,197
)
 
(289
)
 
(934
)
 
(2,636
)
 
(3,299
)
Income tax expense
 
(106
)
 
(12
)
 
5

 
(254
)
 
(166
)
Net Loss (1)
 
$
(1,303
)
 
$
(301
)
 
$
(929
)
 
$
(2,890
)
 
$
(3,465
)
Basic and Diluted Loss Per Common Share (1)
 
$
(0.43
)
 
$
(0.10
)
 
$
(0.31
)
 
$
(0.96
)
 
$
(1.16
)
Weighted Average Common Shares outstanding
 
2,997

 
2,996

 
2,991

 
2,995

 
2,988

Effective Tax Rate
 
-8.9
 %
 
-4.2
 %
 
0.5
%
 
-9.6
 %
 
-5.0
 %

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED OIBDA* (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 6
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Net Loss (1)
 
$
(1,303
)
 
$
(301
)
 
$
(929
)
 
$
(2,890
)
 
$
(3,465
)
Income tax expense
 
(106
)
 
(12
)
 
5

 
(254
)
 
(166
)
Loss before Income Taxes
 
(1,197
)
 
(289
)
 
(934
)
 
(2,636
)
 
(3,299
)
Depreciation
 
1,098

 
1,114

 
1,234

 
4,455

 
5,074

Amortization
 
76

 
80

 
152

 
403

 
1,174

Interest expense
 
287

 
236

 
350

 
1,011

 
1,464

Equity in losses of unconsolidated investments and other, net (3)
 
472

 
261

 
445

 
1,733

 
1,240

OIBDA*
 
736

 
1,402

 
1,247

 
4,966

 
5,653

Severance and exit costs (4)
 
28

 
—

 
12

 
28

 
8

Gains from asset dispositions and exchanges (5)
 
—

 
—

 
(69
)
 
—

 
(69
)
Asset impairments and abandonments
 
78

 
—

 
125

 
78

 
125

Access costs (6)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(84
)
Adjusted OIBDA*
 
842

 
1,402

 
1,315

 
5,072

 
5,633

Capital expenditures (2)
 
900

 
760

 
608

 
2,855

 
1,926

Adjusted OIBDA* less Capex
 
$
(58
)
 
$
642

 
$
707

 
$
2,217

 
$
3,707

Adjusted OIBDA Margin*
 
10.8
%
 
18.2
%
 
17.6
%
 
16.5
%
 
18.9
%
Selected item:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax asset valuation allowance
 
569

 
121

 
386

 
1,223

 
1,418



8


Sprint Nextel Corporation
WIRELESS STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 7
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Net Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail service revenue
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Postpaid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sprint platform (a)
 
$
5,217

 
$
5,071

 
$
4,685

 
$
20,052

 
$
18,339

Nextel platform (a)
 
563

 
618

 
788

 
2,582

 
3,582

Total postpaid
 
5,780

 
5,689

 
5,473

 
22,634

 
21,921

Prepaid
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Sprint platform (b)
 
929

 
878

 
561

 
3,325

 
1,617

Nextel platform (b)
 
227

 
269

 
434

 
1,170

 
2,139

Total prepaid
 
1,156

 
1,147

 
995

 
4,495

 
3,756

Total retail service revenue
 
6,936

 
6,836

 
6,468

 
27,129

 
25,677

Wholesale, affiliate and other service revenue
 
74

 
64

 
62

 
261

 
217

Equipment revenue
 
910

 
616

 
830

 
2,911

 
2,703

Total net operating revenues
 
7,920

 
7,516

 
7,360

 
30,301

 
28,597

Net Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services
 
2,291

 
2,332

 
2,038

 
8,907

 
8,288

Cost of products
 
2,631

 
1,776

 
2,011

 
8,057

 
6,965

Selling, general and administrative
 
2,330

 
2,194

 
2,265

 
9,070

 
8,813

Depreciation
 
988

 
1,006

 
1,100

 
4,024

 
4,533

Amortization
 
82

 
77

 
149

 
401

 
1,164

Other, net
 
98

 
—

 
64

 
98

 
63

Total net operating expenses
 
8,420

 
7,385

 
7,627

 
30,557

 
29,826

Operating (Loss) Income
 
$
(500
)
 
$
131

 
$
(267
)
 
$
(256
)
 
$
(1,229
)
(a) Postpaid subscribers on the Sprint platform are defined as retail postpaid subscribers on the CDMA network, including subscribers with PowerSource devices, and those utilizing WiMax technology. Postpaid subscribers on the Nextel platform are defined as retail postpaid subscribers on the iDEN network.
(b) Prepaid subscribers on the Sprint platform are defined as retail prepaid subscribers who utilize CDMA technology via our multi-brand offerings. Prepaid subscribers on the Nextel platform are defined as retail prepaid subscribers who utilize iDEN technology via our multi-brand offerings.

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Operating (Loss) Income
 
$
(500
)
 
$
131

 
$
(267
)
 
$
(256
)
 
$
(1,229
)
Severance and exit costs (4)
 
25

 
—

 
12

 
25

 
11

Gains from asset dispositions and exchanges (5)
 
—

 
—

 
(69
)
 
—

 
(69
)
Asset impairments and abandonments
 
73

 
—

 
121

 
73

 
121

Depreciation
 
988

 
1,006

 
1,100

 
4,024

 
4,533

Amortization
 
82

 
77

 
149

 
401

 
1,164

Adjusted OIBDA*
 
668

 
1,214

 
1,046

 
4,267

 
4,531

Capital expenditures (2)
 
774

 
647

 
473

 
2,416

 
1,444

Adjusted OIBDA* less Capex
 
$
(106
)
 
$
567

 
$
573

 
$
1,851

 
$
3,087

Adjusted OIBDA Margin*
 
9.5
%
 
17.6
%
 
16.0
%
 
15.6
%
 
17.5
%



9


Sprint Nextel Corporation
WIRELINE STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 8
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Net Operating Revenues
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Voice
 
$
475

 
$
474

 
$
542

 
$
1,915

 
$
2,249

Data
 
103

 
124

 
123

 
460

 
519

Internet
 
459

 
447

 
535

 
1,878

 
2,175

Other
 
17

 
17

 
26

 
73

 
97

Total net operating revenues
 
1,054

 
1,062

 
1,226

 
4,326

 
5,040

Net Operating Expenses
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cost of services and products
 
748

 
751

 
804

 
3,005

 
3,319

Selling, general and administrative
 
128

 
127

 
155

 
521

 
631

Depreciation
 
109

 
108

 
135

 
431

 
543

Other, net
 
9

 
—

 
4

 
9

 
(83
)
Total net operating expenses
 
994

 
986

 
1,098

 
3,966

 
4,410

Operating Income
 
$
60

 
$
76

 
$
128

 
$
360

 
$
630

NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Operating Income
 
$
60

 
$
76

 
$
128

 
$
360

 
$
630

Severance and exit costs (4)
 
3

 
—

 
—

 
3

 
(3
)
Asset impairments and abandonments
 
6

 
—

 
4

 
6

 
4

Access costs (6)
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(84
)
Depreciation
 
109

 
108

 
135

 
431

 
543

Adjusted OIBDA*
 
178

 
184

 
267

 
800

 
1,090

Capital expenditures (2)
 
34

 
36

 
67

 
158

 
231

Adjusted OIBDA* less Capex
 
$
144

 
$
148

 
$
200

 
$
642

 
$
859

Adjusted OIBDA Margin*
 
16.9
%
 
17.3
%
 
21.8
%
 
18.5
%
 
21.6
%


10


Sprint Nextel Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 9
 
Year to Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Operating Activities
 
 
 
 
Net loss
 
$
(2,890
)
 
$
(3,465
)
Asset impairments
 
78

 
125

Depreciation and amortization
 
4,858

 
6,248

Provision for losses on accounts receivable
 
559

 
430

Share-based compensation expense
 
73

 
70

Deferred income taxes
 
231

 
230

Equity in losses of unconsolidated investments and other, net (3)
 
1,733

 
1,240

Gains from asset dispositions and exchanges
 
—

 
(69
)
Contribution to pension plan
 
(136
)
 
—

Other working capital changes, net
 
(877
)
 
94

Other, net
 
62

 
(88
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
3,691

 
4,815

Investing Activities
 
 
 
 
Capital expenditures
 
(3,130
)
 
(1,935
)
Expenditures relating to FCC licenses
 
(258
)
 
(459
)
Reimbursements relating to FCC licenses (7)
 
135

 
—

Change in short-term investments, net
 
150

 
(195
)
Investment in Clearwire
 
(331
)
 
(58
)
Other, net
 
(9
)
 
91

Net cash used in investing activities
 
(3,443
)
 
(2,556
)
Financing Activities
 
 
 
 
Proceeds from debt and financings
 
4,000

 
—

Debt financing costs
 
(86
)
 
(51
)
Repayments of debt and capital lease obligations
 
(3,906
)
 
(862
)
Other, net
 
18

 
8

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
26

 
(905
)
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
274

 
1,354

Cash and Cash Equivalents, beginning of period
 
5,173

 
3,819

Cash and Cash Equivalents, end of period
 
$
5,447

 
$
5,173


RECONCILIATION TO FREE CASH FLOW* (NON-GAAP) (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 10
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter Ended
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
 
$
1,089

 
$
608

 
$
1,467

 
$
3,691

 
$
4,815

Capital expenditures
 
(909
)
 
(818
)
 
(523
)
 
(3,130
)
 
(1,935
)
Expenditures relating to FCC licenses (7)
 
76

 
(71
)
 
(103
)
 
(123
)
 
(459
)
Other investing activities, net
 
1

 
8

 
72

 
(9
)
 
91

Free Cash Flow*
 
257

 
(273
)
 
913

 
429

 
2,512

Debt financing costs
 
(83
)
 
—

 
—

 
(86
)
 
(51
)
Increase (decrease) in debt and other, net
 
1,749

 
(2
)
 
(107
)
 
94

 
(862
)
Investment in Clearwire
 
(331
)
 
—

 
—

 
(331
)
 
(58
)
Other financing activities, net
 
4

 
5

 
1

 
18

 
8

Net Increase (Decrease) in Cash, Cash Equivalents and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Short-Term Investments
 
$
1,596

 
$
(270
)
 
$
807

 
$
124

 
$
1,549


11


Sprint Nextel Corporation
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 11
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Assets
 
 
 
 
Current assets
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
5,447

 
$
5,173

Short-term investments
 
150

 
300

Accounts and notes receivable, net
 
3,206

 
3,036

Device and accessory inventory
 
913

 
670

Deferred tax assets
 
130

 
185

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
 
491

 
516

Total current assets
 
10,337

 
9,880

Investments and other assets
 
2,609

 
3,856

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
14,009

 
15,214

Goodwill
 
359

 
359

FCC licenses and other
 
20,453

 
20,336

Definite-lived intangible assets, net
 
1,616

 
2,009

Total
 
$
49,383

 
$
51,654

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
 
 
 
 
Current liabilities
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
 
$
2,495

 
$
2,662

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
 
3,996

 
3,573

Current portion of long-term debt, financing and capital lease obligations
 
8

 
1,656

Total current liabilities
 
6,499

 
7,891

Long-term debt, financing and capital lease obligations
 
20,266

 
18,535

Deferred tax liabilities
 
6,986

 
6,802

Other liabilities
 
4,205

 
3,880

Total liabilities
 
37,956

 
37,108

Shareholders' equity
 
 
 
 
Common shares
 
5,992

 
6,016

Paid-in capital
 
46,716

 
46,841

Treasury shares, at cost
 
—

 
(227
)
Accumulated deficit
 
(40,489
)
 
(37,582
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(792
)
 
(502
)
Total shareholders' equity
 
11,427

 
14,546

Total
 
$
49,383

 
$
51,654


NET DEBT* (NON-GAAP) (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 12
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Total Debt
 
$
20,274

 
$
20,191

Less: Cash and cash equivalents
 
(5,447
)
 
(5,173
)
Less: Short-term investments
 
(150
)
 
(300
)
Net Debt*
 
$
14,677

 
$
14,718




12


Sprint Nextel Corporation
SCHEDULE OF DEBT (Unaudited)
(Millions)
TABLE NO. 13
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
December 31,
2011
ISSUER
 COUPON
 MATURITY
 
 PRINCIPAL
Sprint Nextel Corporation
 
 
 
 
Export Development Canada Facility (tranche 2)
5.298%
12/15/2015
 
$
500

6% Notes due 2016
6.000%
12/01/2016
 
2,000

8.375% Notes due 2017
8.375%
08/15/2017
 
1,300

9% Guaranteed Notes due 2018
9.000%
11/15/2018
 
3,000

11.5% Notes due 2021
11.500%
11/15/2021
 
1,000

9.25% Debentures due 2022
9.250%
04/15/2022
 
200

Sprint Nextel Corporation
 
 
 
8,000

Sprint Capital Corporation
 
 
 
 
6.9% Notes due 2019
6.900%
05/01/2019
 
1,729

6.875% Notes due 2028
6.875%
11/15/2028
 
2,475

8.75% Notes due 2032
8.750%
03/15/2032
 
2,000

Sprint Capital Corporation
 
 
 
6,204

Nextel Communications Inc.
 
 
 
 
6.875% Senior Serial Redeemable Notes due 2013
6.875%
10/31/2013
 
1,473

5.95% Senior Serial Redeemable Notes due 2014
5.950%
03/15/2014
 
1,170

7.375% Senior Serial Redeemable Notes due 2015
7.375%
08/01/2015
 
2,137

Nextel Communications Inc.
 
 
 
4,780

iPCS Inc.
 
 
 
 
First Lien Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2013
2.554%
05/01/2013
 
300

Second Lien Senior Secured Floating Rate Notes due 2014
3.679%
05/01/2014
 
181

iPCS Inc.
 
 
 
481

Tower financing obligation
9.500%
01/15/2030
 
698

Capital lease obligations and other
 
2014 - 2022
 
71

TOTAL PRINCIPAL
 
 
 
20,234

Net premiums
 
 
 
40

TOTAL DEBT
 
 
 
$
20,274



13


Sprint Nextel Corporation
RECONCILIATION OF RETAIL POSTPAID NET ADDITIONS (LOSSES)
TO ADJUSTED SPRINT PLATFORM POSTPAID NET ADDITIONS
(Thousands)
TABLE NO. 14
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Quarter To Date
 
 Year To Date
 
 
December 31,
2011
 
September 30,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
 
December 31,
2011
 
December 31,
2010
Retail postpaid net additions (losses)
 
161

 
(44
)
 
58

 
(98
)
 
(855
)
Less: Nextel platform net losses
 
(378
)
 
(309
)
 
(395
)
 
(1,381
)
 
(1,589
)
Sprint platform net additions
 
539

 
265

 
453

 
1,283

 
734

Less adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Nextel PowerSource
 
(33
)
 
(39
)
 
(66
)
 
(178
)
 
(352
)
  Helio
 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
(83
)
Adjusted Sprint platform net additions
 
572

 
304

 
519

 
1,461

 
1,169



14


Sprint Nextel Corporation
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)

(1) Results include pre-tax, non-cash equity in losses of unconsolidated investments and other, net of $.16 per share, $.09 per share and $.58 per share in the fourth and third quarters and year-to-date periods of 2011, respectively, and $.15 per share and $.41 per share in the fourth quarter and year-to-date periods of 2010.
(2) Capital expenditures is an accrual based amount that includes the changes in unpaid capital expenditures and excludes capitalized interest. Cash paid for capital expenditures for each of the quarters in 2011, respectively, includes $99 million, $102 million, $103 million, and $109 million of total capitalized interest and can be found in the condensed consolidated cash flow information on Table No. 9 and the reconciliation to Free Cash Flow* on Table No. 10.
(3) The fourth quarter 2011 includes a non-cash impairment of $135 million to reflect a reduction of our investment in Clearwire to its estimated fair value, and a dilution loss of approximately $27 million associated with the fourth quarter reduction of Sprint's economic interest from 53.5% to 51.5% as a result of Clearwire's fourth quarter 2011 equity offering.
(4) Severance and exit costs are primarily related to work force reductions, lease termination charges, and organizational realignment initiatives.
(5) For the year ended December 31, 2010, gains from asset dispositions and exchanges are primarily due to spectrum exchange transactions.
(6) Favorable developments during the second quarter of 2010 relating to disagreements with local exchange carriers resulted in a reduction in expected access costs of $84 million.
(7) $135 million in reimbursements were received in the fourth quarter of 2011 from the mobile satellite service (MSS) entrants for their pro rata share of our costs of clearing a portion of the 1.9 GHz spectrum related to spectrum reconfiguration under FCC's Report and Order.


15


*FINANCIAL MEASURES
 

Sprint Nextel provides financial measures determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP) and adjusted GAAP (non-GAAP). The non-GAAP financial measures reflect industry conventions, or standard measures of liquidity, profitability or performance commonly used by the investment community for comparability purposes. These measurements should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. We have defined below each of the non-GAAP measures we use, but these measures may not be synonymous to similar measurement terms used by other companies.

Sprint Nextel provides reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures in its financial reporting. Because Sprint Nextel does not predict special items that might occur in the future, and our forecasts are developed at a level of detail different than that used to prepare GAAP-based financial measures, Sprint Nextel does not provide reconciliations to GAAP of its forward-looking financial measures.


The measures used in this release include the following:

OIBDA is operating income/(loss) before depreciation and amortization. Adjusted OIBDA is OIBDA excluding severance, exit costs, and other special items. Adjusted OIBDA Margin represents Adjusted OIBDA divided by non-equipment net operating revenues for Wireless and Adjusted OIBDA divided by net operating revenues for Wireline. We believe that Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA Margin provide useful information to investors because they are an indicator of the strength and performance of our ongoing business operations, including our ability to fund discretionary spending such as capital expenditures, spectrum acquisitions and other investments and our ability to incur and service debt. While depreciation and amortization are considered operating costs under GAAP, these expenses primarily represent non-cash current period costs associated with the use of long-lived tangible and definite-lived intangible assets. Adjusted OIBDA and Adjusted OIBDA Margin are calculations commonly used as a basis for investors, analysts and credit rating agencies to evaluate and compare the periodic and future operating performance and value of companies within the telecommunications industry.

Free Cash Flow is the cash provided by operating activities less the cash used in investing activities other than short-term investments and equity method investments during the period. We believe that Free Cash Flow provides useful information to investors, analysts and our management about the cash generated by our core operations after interest and dividends and our ability to fund scheduled debt maturities and other financing activities, including discretionary refinancing and retirement of debt and purchase or sale of investments.

Net Debt is consolidated debt, including current maturities, less cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments and if any, restricted cash. We believe that Net Debt provides useful information to investors, analysts and credit rating agencies about the capacity of the company to reduce the debt load and improve its capital structure.






16


SAFE HARBOR
 

This news release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the securities laws. The statements in this news release regarding the business outlook, expected performance and forward-looking guidance, as well as other statements that are not historical facts, are forward-looking statements. The words "estimate," "project," "forecast," "intend," "expect," "believe," "target," "providing guidance" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements are estimates and projections reflecting management's judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, customer and network usage, customer growth and retention, pricing, operating costs, the timing of various events and the economic and regulatory environment.

Future performance cannot be assured. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Some factors that could cause actual results to differ include:

•
our ability to attract and retain subscribers;
•
the ability of our competitors to offer products and services at lower prices due to lower cost structures;
•
the effects of vigorous competition in a highly penetrated market, including the impact of competition on the price we are able to charge subscribers for services and equipment we provide and our ability to attract new subscribers and retain existing subscribers; the impact of subsidy costs; the impact of increased purchase commitments; the overall demand for our service offerings, including the impact of decisions of new or existing subscribers between our postpaid and prepaid services offerings and between our two network platforms; and the impact of new, emerging and competing technologies on our business;
•
the ability to generate sufficient cash flow to fully implement our network modernization plan, Network Vision, to improve and enhance our networks and service offerings, improve our operating margins, implement our business strategies and provide competitive new technologies;
•
the effective implementation of Network Vision, including timing, execution, technologies, and costs;
•
our ability to migrate subscribers off the Nextel platform and mitigate related increases in churn;
•
our ability to access additional spectrum, including through spectrum hosting arrangements;
•
changes in available technology and the effects of such changes, including product substitutions and deployment costs;
•
our ability to obtain additional financing on terms acceptable to us, or at all;
•
volatility in the trading price of our common stock, current economic conditions and our ability to access capital;
•
the impact of unrelated parties not meeting our business requirements, including a significant adverse change in the ability or willingness of such parties to provide devices or infrastructure equipment for our networks;
•
the costs and business risks associated with providing new services and entering new geographic markets;
•
the financial performance of Clearwire and its ability to build, operate, and maintain its 4G network, including an LTE network;
•
our ability to access Clearwire's spectrum;
•
the compatibility of Sprint's LTE network with Clearwire's LTE network;
•
the effects of mergers and consolidations and new entrants in the communications industry and unexpected announcements or developments from others in the communications industry;
•
unexpected results of litigation filed against us or our suppliers or vendors;
•
the impact of adverse network performance;
•
the costs or potential customer impacts of compliance with regulatory mandates including, but not limited to, compliance with the FCC's Report and Order to reconfigure the 800 MHz band;
•
equipment failure, natural disasters, terrorist acts or other breaches of network or information technology security;
•
one or more of the markets in which we compete being impacted by changes in political, economic or other factors such as monetary policy, legal and regulatory changes or other external factors over which we have no control; and



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other risks referenced from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Part II, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended Sept. 30, 2011 and, when filed in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2011.

Sprint Nextel believes these forward-looking statements are reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. Sprint Nextel is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this release.

Clearwire's fourth quarter 2011 results from operations have not yet been finalized. As a result, the amount reflected for Sprint's share of Clearwire's results of operations for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2011, is an estimate and, based upon the finalization of Clearwire's results, may need to be revised if our estimate materially differs from Clearwire's actual results. Changes in our estimate, if any, would affect the carrying value of our investment in Clearwire, net loss and basic and diluted loss per common share but would have no effect on Sprint's operating income, OIBDA*, Adjusted OIBDA* or consolidated statement of cash flows.

About Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel offers a comprehensive range of wireless and wireline communications services bringing the freedom of mobility to consumers, businesses and government users. Sprint Nextel served more than 55 million customers at the end of 2011 and is widely recognized for developing, engineering and deploying innovative technologies, including the first wireless 4G service from a national carrier in the United States; offering industry-leading mobile data services, leading prepaid brands including Virgin Mobile USA, Boost Mobile, and Assurance Wireless; instant national and international push-to-talk capabilities; and a global Tier 1 Internet backbone. Newsweek ranked Sprint No. 3 in its 2011 Green Rankings, listing it as one of the nation's greenest companies, the highest of any telecommunications company. You can learn more and visit Sprint at www.sprint.com or www.facebook.com/sprint and www.twitter.com/sprint.



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