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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006

 

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from              to             

 

Commission File No. 001-15577

 


 

Qwest Communications International Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   84-1339282

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

1801 California Street, Denver, Colorado   80202
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(303) 992-1400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

N/A

(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   x     No   ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check One):

 

Large accelerated filer   x

   Accelerated filer   ¨    Non-accelerated filer   ¨ .

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨     No   x

 

On April 30, 2006, 1,885,989,398 shares of common stock were outstanding.

 



Table of Contents

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

FORM 10-Q

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

Item


        Page

    

Glossary of Terms

   3
     PART I—FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

1.

  

Financial Statements

   5
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations—Three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)

   5
    

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets—March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 (unaudited)

   6
    

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows—Three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 (unaudited)

   7
    

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   8

2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   33

3.

  

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   44

4.

  

Controls and Procedures

   44
     PART II—OTHER INFORMATION     

1.

  

Legal Proceedings

   46

1A.

  

Risk Factors

   46

6.

  

Exhibits

   53
    

Signature Page

   60

 

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GLOSSARY OF TERMS

 

Our industry uses many terms and acronyms that may not be familiar to you. To assist you in reading this document, we have provided below definitions of some of these terms.

 

    Access Lines. Telephone lines reaching from the customer’s premises to a connection with the public switched telephone network. When we refer to our access lines we mean all our mass markets, wholesale and business access lines, including those used by us and our affiliates.

 

    Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM). A broadband, network transport service utilizing data switches that provides a fast, efficient way to move large quantities of information.

 

    Competitive Local Exchange Carriers (CLECs) . Telecommunications providers that compete with us in providing local voice services in our local service area.

 

    Data Integration. Voice and data telecommunications customer premises equipment (CPE) and associated professional services, including network management, the installation and maintenance of data equipment and the building of proprietary fiber-optic broadband networks, for our governmental and business customers.

 

    Frame Relay. A high speed data switching technology primarily used to interconnect multiple local networks.

 

    Incumbent Local Exchange Carrier (ILEC). A traditional telecommunications provider, such as our subsidiary, Qwest Corporation, that, prior to the Telecommunications Act of 1996, had the exclusive right and responsibility for providing local telecommunications services in its local service area.

 

    Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). A telecommunications standard that uses digital transmission technology to support voice, video and data communications applications over regular telephone lines.

 

    Interexchange Carriers (IXCs). Telecommunications providers that provide long-distance services to end-users by handling calls that extend beyond a customer’s local exchange service area.

 

    InterLATA long-distance services. Telecommunications services, including “800” services, that cross LATA boundaries.

 

    Internet Dial Access. Provides ISPs and business customers with a comprehensive, reliable and cost-effective dial-up network infrastructure.

 

    Internet Protocol (IP). Those protocols that facilitate transferring information in packets of data and that enable each packet in a transmission to “tell” the data switches it encounters where it is headed and enables the computers on each end to confirm that message has been accurately transmitted and received.

 

    Internet Service Providers (ISPs). Businesses that provide Internet access to retail customers.

 

    IntraLATA long-distance services. These services include calls that terminate outside a caller’s local calling area but within their LATA, including wide area telecommunications service or “800” services for customers with geographically highly concentrated demand.

 

    Local Access Transport Area (LATA). A geographical area associated with the provision of telecommunications services by local exchange and long distance carriers. There are 163 LATAs in the United States, of which 27 are in our 14 state local service area.

 

    Local Calling Area. A geographical area, usually smaller than a LATA, within which a customer can make telephone calls without incurring long-distance charges. Multiple local calling areas generally make up a LATA.

 

    Private Lines. Direct circuits or channels specifically dedicated to the use of an end-user organization for the purpose of directly connecting two or more sites.

 

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    Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The worldwide voice telephone network that is accessible to every person with a telephone equipped with dial tone.

 

    Unbundled Network Elements (UNEs) . Discrete elements of our network that are sold or leased to competitive telecommunications providers and that may be combined to provide their retail telecommunications services.

 

    Virtual Private Network (VPN). A private network that operates securely within a public network (such as the Internet) by means of encrypting transmissions.

 

    Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). An application that provides real-time, two-way voice capability originating in the Internet protocol over a broadband connection.

 

    Web Hosting. The providing of space, power and bandwidth in data centers for hosting of customers’ Internet equipment as well as related services.

 

    Wide Area Network (WAN). A communications network that covers a wide geographic area, such as a state or country. A WAN typically extends a local area network outside the building, over telephone common carrier lines to link to other local area networks in remote locations, such as branch offices or at-home workers and telecommuters.

 

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
     2006

    2005

 
     (Dollars in millions except
per share amounts, shares in
thousands)
 

Operating revenue

   $ 3,476     $ 3,449  

Operating expenses:

                

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

     1,417       1,439  

Selling, general and administrative

     1,014       1,036  

Depreciation

     588       653  

Capitalized software and other intangible assets amortization

     103       121  
    


 


Total operating expenses

     3,122       3,249  
    


 


Other expense—net:

                

Interest expense—net

     296       381  

Other (income) expense—net

     (28 )     15  

Gain on sale of assets

     —         (257 )
    


 


Total other expense—net

     268       139  
    


 


Income before income taxes

     86       61  

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2       (4 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 88     $ 57  
    


 


Basic income per share

   $ 0.05     $ 0.03  
    


 


Basic weighted average shares outstanding

     1,874,313       1,816,758  
    


 


Diluted income per share

   $ 0.05     $ 0.03  
    


 


Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

     1,911,376       1,822,377  
    


 


 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

 

     March 31,
2006


    December 31,
2005


 
     (Dollars in millions,
shares in thousands)
 
ASSETS                 

Current assets:

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 610     $ 846  

Short-term investments

     130       101  

Accounts receivable (less allowance of $162 and $167, respectively)

     1,541       1,525  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     743       692  
    


 


Total current assets

     3,024       3,164  

Property, plant and equipment—net

     15,273       15,568  

Capitalized software and other intangible assets—net

     971       1,007  

Prepaid pension asset

     1,147       1,165  

Other assets

     711       593  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 21,126     $ 21,497  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT                 

Current liabilities:

                

Current borrowings

   $ 604     $ 512  

Accounts payable

     780       773  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     1,941       2,317  

Deferred revenue and advance billings

     622       633  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     3,947       4,235  

Long-term borrowings (net of unamortized debt discount of $217 and $221, respectively)

     14,834       14,968  

Post-retirement and other post-employment benefit obligations

     3,441       3,459  

Deferred revenue

     514       522  

Other long-term liabilities

     1,450       1,530  
    


 


Total liabilities

     24,186       24,714  

Commitments and contingencies (Note 8)

                

Stockholders’ deficit:

                

Preferred stock—$1.00 par value, 200 million shares authorized; none issued or outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock—$0.01 par value, 5 billion shares authorized; 1,885,896 and 1,867,422 shares issued, respectively

     19       19  

Additional paid-in capital

     43,355       43,290  

Treasury stock—1,101 and 1,062 shares, respectively (including 62 shares in each period held in rabbi trust)

     (17 )     (17 )

Accumulated deficit

     (46,412 )     (46,500 )

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     (5 )     (9 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ deficit

     (3,060 )     (3,217 )
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

   $ 21,126     $ 21,497  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(UNAUDITED)

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
         2006    

        2005    

 
     (Dollars in millions)  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

                

Net income

   $ 88     $ 57  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     691       774  

Provision for bad debts—net

     44       57  

Gain on sale of assets

     —         (257 )

Other non-cash charges—net

     15       1  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable

     (60 )     (66 )

Prepaid and other current assets

     (37 )     11  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (368 )     (178 )

Deferred revenue and advance billings

     (19 )     (32 )

Other non-current assets and liabilities

     (214 )     (24 )
    


 


Cash provided by operating activities

     140       343  
    


 


INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

     (390 )     (313 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

     26       418  

Proceeds from sale of investment securities

     7       630  

Purchase of investment securities

     (36 )     (822 )

Other

     1       1  
    


 


Cash used for investing activities

     (392 )     (86 )
    


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                

Repayments of long-term borrowings, including current maturities

     (41 )     (5 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     57       3  
    


 


Cash provided by (used for) financing activities

     16       (2 )
    


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

                

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

     (236 )     255  

Beginning balance

     846       1,151  
    


 


Ending balance

   $ 610     $ 1,406  
    


 


 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “Qwest,” “we,” “us,” the “Company” and “our” refer to Qwest Communications International Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and references in this report to “QCII” refer to Qwest Communications International Inc. on an unconsolidated, stand-alone basis.

 

Note 1: Basis of Presentation

 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements are unaudited and are prepared in accordance with the instructions for Form 10-Q. In compliance with those instructions, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted.

 

In the opinion of management, these statements include all the adjustments necessary to fairly present our condensed consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows as of March 31, 2006 and for all periods presented. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005 (the “2005 Form 10-K”). The condensed consolidated results of operations and the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the three month period ended March 31, 2006 are not necessarily indicative of the results or cash flows expected for the full year.

 

Use of estimates

 

Our condensed consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. These accounting principles require us to make certain estimates, judgments and assumptions. We believe that the estimates, judgments and assumptions made when accounting for items and matters such as long-term contracts, customer retention patterns, allowance for bad debts, depreciation, amortization, asset valuations, internal labor capitalization rates, recoverability of assets, impairment assessments, employee benefits, taxes, reserves and other provisions and contingencies are reasonable, based on information available at the time they are made. These estimates, judgments and assumptions can affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements, as well as the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the periods presented. We also assess potential losses in relation to threatened or pending legal and tax matters. For matters not related to income taxes, if a loss is considered probable and the amount can be reasonably estimated, we recognize an expense for the estimated loss. In instances where we have the potential to recover a portion of such a loss from a third party, we make a separate assessment of recoverability and reduce the estimated loss if recovery is also deemed probable. For income tax related matters, we record a liability computed at the statutory income tax rate if we determine that (i) we do not believe that we are more likely than not to prevail on an uncertainty related to the timing of recognition for an item, or (ii) we do not believe that it is probable that we will prevail and the uncertainty is not related to the timing of recognition. Actual results could differ from these estimates. See Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies.

 

Certain prior period balances have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation.

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

Property, plant and equipment are shown net of depreciation on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. As of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, accumulated depreciation was $30.8 billion and $30.4 billion, respectively.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Capitalized software and other intangible assets are shown net of amortization on our condensed consolidated balance sheets. Accumulated amortization was $1.4 billion and $1.3 billion as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, respectively.

 

Earnings per share

 

Basic earnings per share excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilution that could occur if outstanding stock options are exercised and convertible debt is converted. The following is a reconciliation of the number of shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share computations:

 

     Three Months Ended March 31,

             2006        

           2005        

     (Dollars in millions except per
share amounts, shares in thousands)

Net income

   $ 88    $ 57
    

  

Basic weighted average common stock outstanding

     1,874,313      1,816,758

Dilutive effect of options with strike prices equal to or less than the average price of our common stock, calculated using the treasury stock method

     25,858      5,619

Dilutive effect of the equity premium on convertible debt at the average price of our common stock

     11,205      —  
    

  

Diluted weighted average common stock outstanding

     1,911,376      1,822,377
    

  

Basic earnings per share

   $ 0.05    $ 0.03
    

  

Diluted earnings per share

   $ 0.05    $ 0.03
    

  

 

Options to purchase 42 million and 103 million shares of our common stock were outstanding during the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively, but have been excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the strike prices of the options exceeded the average price of our common stock during those periods. Options to purchase another 6 million shares of our common stock that were outstanding at March 31, 2006 have also been excluded because the impact would have been antidilutive.

 

Recently adopted accounting pronouncements

 

In May 2005, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”), as part of an effort to conform to international accounting standards, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” (“SFAS No. 154”), which was effective for us beginning on January 1, 2006. SFAS No. 154 requires that all voluntary changes in accounting principles be retrospectively applied to prior financial statements as if that principle had always been used, unless it is impracticable to do so. When it is impracticable to calculate the effects on all prior periods, SFAS No. 154 requires that the new principle be applied to the earliest period practicable. The adoption of SFAS No. 154 has not had a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”), which revises SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” See Note 2 for additional information on this recently adopted accounting pronouncement.

 

Note 2: Stock-Based Compensation

 

Adoption of SFAS No. 123(R)

 

Effective January 1, 2006, we adopted SFAS No. 123(R). Prior to 2006, we accounted for stock awards granted to employees under the intrinsic-value recognition and measurement principles of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”). Under the intrinsic-value method, no compensation expense was recognized for options granted to employees when the strike price of those options equals or exceeds the value of the underlying security on the measurement date. Under APB No. 25, stock-based compensation expense was generally limited to the excess of the stock price on the measurement date over the exercise price, if any, and was recorded as deferred compensation and amortized over the service period during which the stock option award vested. However, SFAS No. 123(R) requires that compensation expense be measured using estimates of the fair value of all stock-based awards.

 

We are applying the “modified prospective method” for recognizing the expense over the remaining vesting period for awards that were outstanding but unvested at January 1, 2006. Under the modified prospective method, we have not adjusted the financial statements for periods ending prior to December 31, 2005. Under the modified prospective method, the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) applies to new awards and to awards modified, repurchased, or cancelled after December 31, 2005, as well as to the unvested portion of awards outstanding as of January 1, 2006.

 

SFAS No. 123(R) also requires us to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense related to stock-based compensation (estimated at 40% for 2006 grants).

 

Compensation cost arising from stock-based awards is recognized as expense using the straight-line method over the vesting period. As of March 31, 2006, there was $67 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to unvested stock-based awards, which we expect to recognize over remaining weighted average vesting terms of 3.0 years. For the three months ended March 31, 2006, our total stock-based compensation expense was $6 million, which includes $4 million of compensation expense for stock options and for stock issued under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan that would not have been recorded as expense under APB No. 25. We have not recorded any income tax benefit related to stock-based compensation in either of the three-month periods ended March 31, 2006 and 2005.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share for the three months ended March 31, 2005 as if our stock-based compensation had been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2005


     (Dollars in millions,
except per share
amounts)

Net income:

      

As reported

   $ 57

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair-value-based method for all awards, net of related tax effects of $0

     17
    

Pro forma net income

   $ 40
    

Net income per share:

      

As reported—basic and diluted

   $ 0.03
    

Pro forma—basic and diluted

   $ 0.02
    

 

Stock Options

 

On June 23, 1997, Qwest adopted the Equity Incentive Plan. This plan was most recently amended and restated on October 4, 2000 and permits the grant of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units and other stock grants. The maximum number of shares of our common stock that may be issued under the Equity Incentive Plan at any time pursuant to awards is equal to 10% of the aggregate number of our common shares issued and outstanding reduced by the aggregate number of options and other awards then outstanding under the Equity Incentive Plan or otherwise. Issued and outstanding shares are determined as of the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on the preceding trading day. Since our merger with U S WEST, Inc., all option grants have been issued from this plan. As of December 31, 2005, the maximum number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan was 187 million, with 137 million shares underlying outstanding options and 50 million shares available for issuance pursuant to new awards.

 

The Compensation and Human Resources Committee of our Board, or its delegate, approves the exercise price for each option. Stock options generally have an exercise price that is at least equal to the fair market value of the common stock on the date the stock option is granted, subject to certain restrictions. Stock option awards generally vest in equal increments over the vesting period of the granted option (generally three to five years). Unless otherwise provided by the Compensation and Human Resources Committee, our Equity Incentive Plan provides that, on a “change in control,” all awards granted under the Equity Incentive Plan will vest immediately. Options that we granted to our employees from June 1999 to September 2002 typically provide for accelerated vesting if the optionee is terminated without cause following a change in control. Since September 2002, options that we grant to our executive officers (vice president level and above) typically provide for accelerated vesting and an extended exercise period upon a change of control and options that we grant to all other employees typically provide for accelerated vesting if the optionee is terminated without cause following a change in control. Options granted subsequent to 2002 have ten-year terms.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Summarized below is the activity of our stock option plans for the three months ended March 31, 2006:

 

    

Number of

Shares


   

Weighted

Average
Exercise

Price


     (in thousands)      

Outstanding December 31, 2005

   134,940     $ 12.23

Granted

   9,683       6.12

Exercised

   (11,254 )     4.30

Canceled or expired

   (1,705 )     17.08
    

     

Outstanding March 31, 2006

   131,664       12.40
    

     

 

The options to purchase 131.7 million shares of Qwest common stock that were outstanding at March 31, 2006 had remaining contractual terms with a weighted average of 6.0 years. The aggregate intrinsic value for those outstanding options that were in the money was $210 million at March 31, 2006. Of those outstanding options to purchase shares of Qwest common stock, 115.5 million were exercisable at March 31, 2006 and had a weighted-average exercise price of $13.43 and remaining contractual terms with a weighted average of 5.6 years. These options, which were both exercisable and in the money, had an aggregate intrinsic value of $181 million.

 

Except for option awards with market-based vesting conditions, we use the Black-Scholes model to estimate the fair value of new stock option grants and establish such fair value at the date of grant. The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options, which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. Additionally, all option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected life of the options and the expected stock price volatility. Because our employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from traded options, and changes in the input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, estimates of the fair value of our stock option awards are subjective. Following are the weighted-average assumptions used and the resulting fair value estimates of options granted in the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 excluding the market-based vesting condition awards described below:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
         2006    

        2005    

 

Risk-free interest rate

   4.2% – 4.7 %   3.6% – 4.2 %

Expected dividend yield

   0.0 %   0.0 %

Expected option life (years)

   5.8     4.6  

Expected stock price volatility

   80.3 %   87.8 %

Weighted-average grant date fair value

   $4.30     $2.74  

 

We believe that the two most significant assumptions used in our estimates of fair value are the expected option life and the expected volatility, both of which we estimate based on historical information. During the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005, options to purchase 11.3 million and 0.3 million shares were exercised with aggregate intrinsic values totaling $24.4 million and $0.4 million, respectively.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Restricted Stock

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2006, 5.8 million shares of restricted stock were granted under the Equity Incentive Plan. Based on prior grants, compensation expense of $2 million was recognized for restricted stock grants in the three months ended March 31, 2005.

 

Except for restricted stock awards with market-based vesting conditions, we use the closing price of our common stock on the date of the award as the fair value for restricted stock awards. Excluding the market-based vesting condition awards described below, the weighted average estimate of fair value for restricted stock awards granted during the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $6.15 per share. A summary of the status of unvested shares of restricted stock as of and during the three months ended March 31, 2006 is as follows:

 

    

Number of

Shares


   

Weighted

Average Grant-
Date

Fair Value


     (in thousands)      

Unvested at December 31, 2005

   1,704     $ 4.19

Granted

   5,831       5.71

Vested

   —          

Forfeited

   (39 )     6.15
    

     

Unvested at March 31, 2006

   7,496       5.36
    

     

 

Employee Stock Purchase Plan

 

We have an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (“ESPP”) under which we are authorized to issue 27 million shares of our common stock to eligible employees. Under the terms of the ESPP, eligible employees may authorize payroll deductions of up to 15% of their base compensation, as defined, to purchase our common stock at a price of 85% of the fair market value of our common stock on the last trading day of the month in which our common stock is purchased. In the three months ended March 31, 2006, approximately 465,000 shares were purchased under this plan at a weighted-average purchase price of $5.46 per share. During the three months ended March 31, 2006, we recognized compensation expense of approximately $450,000 for the difference between the employees’ purchase price and the fair market value of the stock.

 

Market-Based Vesting Condition Awards

 

On February 16, 2006, we granted non-qualified option awards to purchase a total of 3,851,000 shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $6.15 and restricted stock awards totaling 2,407,000 shares of our common stock. These awards include vesting provisions that are tied to the future market value of our common stock, therefore we do not believe our standard valuation models accurately estimate the fair value of these awards. We valued these awards using Monte-Carlo simulations and estimate that the grant date fair value of each option was $3.99 per option and the grant date fair value of each share of restricted stock was $5.07 per share. These estimates were based on the following assumptions:

 

    Risk-free interest rate of 4.5%;

 

    Dividend yield of zero; and

 

    Volatility factor of the expected market price of our common stock of 60%.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

We believe the most significant assumption used in our estimate of fair value is the expected volatility, which we estimated based on historical information.

 

We had not granted market-based vesting condition awards prior to February 16, 2006, and all such awards granted on that date were still outstanding as of March 31, 2006.

 

Note 3: Sale of Property and Equipment

 

In the first quarter of 2005, we closed the sale of our personal communications services, or PCS, licenses and substantially all of our related wireless network assets in our local service area (including cell sites and wireless network infrastructure, site leases, and associated network equipment). We received $418 million for these assets and recorded a gain of $257 million from this sale and dispositions of other wireless assets.

 

Note 4: Borrowings

 

As of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, our borrowings, net of discounts and premiums, consisted of the following:

 

     March 31,
2006


   December 31,
2005


     (Dollars in millions)

Current borrowings:

             

Current portion of long-term borrowings

   $ 582    $ 492

Current portion of capital lease obligations and other

     22      20
    

  

Total current borrowings

   $ 604    $ 512
    

  

Long-term borrowings:

             

Long-term notes

   $ 14,743    $ 14,863

Long-term capital lease obligations and other

     91      105
    

  

Total long-term borrowings

   $ 14,834    $ 14,968
    

  

 

Borrowings classified as current are due and payable within twelve months from March 31, 2006. The balance of our $1.265 billion 3.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 is classified as a long-term borrowing as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 because specified, market-based conversion requirements were not met as of such dates. For example, if our common stock has a closing price above $7.08 per share for twenty or more trading days during certain periods of thirty consecutive trading days, these notes would become available for conversion, and as a result all outstanding notes would be reclassified as a current obligation.

 

Note 5: Restructuring Charges

 

During 2004 and previous years, as part of our ongoing effort to evaluate our operating costs, we established restructuring programs, which included workforce reductions, consolidation of excess facilities, and restructuring of certain business functions. The restructuring reserve balances are included in our condensed consolidated balance sheets in accrued expenses and other current liabilities for the current portion and other long-term liabilities for the long-term portion. The charges and reversals are included in our condensed consolidated statements of operations in selling, general and administrative expense. As of March 31, 2006 and December 31,

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

2005, our restructuring reserve was $423 million and $428 million, respectively. The amount included as current liabilities was $47 million and $62 million, respectively, and the long-term portion was $376 million and $366 million, respectively. In the quarter ended March 31, 2006, $11 million in restructuring provisions was added to the reserve and $15 million of the reserve was utilized.

 

As of March 31, 2006, substantially all of the planned employee reductions associated with the 2004 and prior restructuring plans had been completed. The majority of the remaining restructuring reserve is for real estate exit costs, which we expect to utilize over the remaining terms of the leases.

 

Note 6: Employee Benefits

 

The components of the pension, non-qualified pension and post-retirement benefit expense are as follows:

 

    

Pension

Expense


   

Non-

Qualified
Pension Expense


   Post-Retirement
Expense


 
     Three Months Ended March 31,

 
       2006  

      2005  

      2006  

     2005  

     2006  

      2005  

 
     (Dollars in millions)  

Service cost

   $ 37     $ 39     $ 1    $ 1    $ 3     $ 5  

Interest cost

     120       125       1      1      73       81  

Expected return on plan assets

     (165 )     (174 )     —        —        (32 )     (33 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     (1 )     (1 )     —        —        (21 )     (14 )

Recognized net actuarial loss

     27       17       —        —        10       19  
    


 


 

  

  


 


Net expense included in net income

   $ 18     $ 6     $ 2    $ 2    $ 33     $ 58  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 

The pension, non-qualified pension and post-retirement benefit expense is allocated between cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expense in our condensed consolidated statements of operations. The measurement date used to determine pension, non-qualified pension and other post-retirement healthcare and life insurance benefit measurements for the plans is December 31.

 

Note 7: Segment Information

 

Our three segments are (1) wireline services, (2) wireless services and (3) other services. Our chief operating decision maker (“CODM”) regularly reviews the results of operations at a segment level to evaluate the performance of each segment and allocate capital resources based on segment income as defined below.

 

Segment income consists of each segment’s revenue and direct expenses. Segment revenue is based on the types of products and services offered as described below. Segment expenses include employee-related costs, facility costs, network expenses and other non-employee related costs such as customer support, collections and telephone marketing. We manage indirect administrative services costs such as finance, information technology, real estate, marketing and advertising, human resources and legal centrally; consequently, these costs are included in the other services segment. We evaluate depreciation, amortization, interest expense, interest income and other income (expense) on a total company basis. As a result, these charges are not assigned to any segment.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Our wireline services segment uses our network to provide voice services and data and Internet services to mass markets, business and wholesale customers. Our wireline services include:

 

    Voice services. Voice services revenue includes local voice, long-distance voice and access services. Local voice services revenue includes basic local exchange, switching, enhanced voice, operator and collocation services and certain calling features. Local voice services revenue also includes the provisioning of network transport, billing services and access to our local network on a wholesale basis. Long-distance voice services revenue includes InterLATA and IntraLATA long-distance services. Access services revenue includes fees charged to other data and telecommunications providers to connect their customers and their networks to our network.

 

    Data and Internet services. Data and Internet services revenue includes data services (such as traditional private lines, wholesale private lines, WAN and related equipment), Internet services (such as high-speed Internet, ISDN, web hosting and related equipment) and Data Integration.

 

We offer wireless services and equipment to residential and business customers, providing them the ability to use the same telephone number for their wireless phone as for their home or business phone. By utilizing a third-party network, we sell wireless services, including access to its nationwide PCS wireless network, to mass markets and business customers primarily in the states within our local service area.

 

Our other services revenue is predominantly derived from the sublease of some of our real estate, such as space in our office buildings, warehouses and other properties. Our other services segment expenses include unallocated corporate expenses for functions such as finance, information technology, real estate, legal, marketing and advertising services and human resources, which we centrally manage.

 

Depending on the products or services purchased, a customer may pay an up-front or monthly fee, a usage charge or a combination of these.

 

Other than as already described herein, the accounting principles used are the same as those used in our condensed consolidated financial statements. The revenue shown below for each segment is derived from transactions with external customers. Substantially all of our assets are in our wireline and other segments.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Segment information for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 is summarized in the following table:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
         2006    

        2005    

 
     (Dollars in millions)  

Operating revenue:

                

Wireline services

   $ 3,327     $ 3,312  

Wireless services

     139       126  

Other services

     10       11  
    


 


Total operating revenue

   $ 3,476     $ 3,449  
    


 


Operating expenses:

                

Wireline services

   $ 1,611     $ 1,642  

Wireless services

     141       156  

Other services

     679       677  
    


 


Total segment expenses

   $ 2,431     $ 2,475  
    


 


Segment income (loss):

                

Wireline services

   $ 1,716     $ 1,670  

Wireless services

     (2 )     (30 )

Other services

     (669 )     (666 )
    


 


Total segment income

   $ 1,045     $ 974  
    


 


Capital expenditures:

                

Wireline services

   $ 322     $ 255  

Wireless services

     —         1  

Other services

     68       57  
    


 


Total capital expenditures

   $ 390     $ 313  
    


 


 

The following table reconciles segment income to net income for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


 
         2006    

        2005    

 
     (Dollars in millions)  

Segment income

   $ 1,045     $ 974  

Depreciation

     (588 )     (653 )

Capitalized software and other intangibles amortization

     (103 )     (121 )

Total other expense—net

     (268 )     (139 )

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2       (4 )
    


 


Net income

   $ 88     $ 57  
    


 


 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Set forth below is revenue information for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005 for revenue derived from external customers for our products and services:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


         2006    

       2005    

     (Dollars in millions)

Wireline voice services

   $ 2,236    $ 2,300

Wireline data and Internet services

     1,091      1,012

Wireless services

     139      126

Other services

     10      11
    

  

Total operating revenue

   $ 3,476    $ 3,449
    

  

 

We provide a variety of telecommunications services on a domestic and international basis to business, government, mass markets and wholesale customers; however, our internationally-based customers do not result in a material amount of revenue to us.

 

We do not have any single customer that provides more than ten percent of the total of our revenue derived from external customers.

 

Note 8: Commitments and Contingencies

 

Throughout this note, when we refer to a class action as “putative” it is because a class has been alleged, but not certified in that matter. Until and unless a class has been certified by the court, it has not been established that the named plaintiffs represent the class of plaintiffs they purport to represent. To the extent appropriate, we have provided reserves for each of the matters described below.

 

Settlement of Consolidated Securities Action

 

Twelve putative class actions purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of our publicly traded securities between May 24, 1999 and February 14, 2002 have been consolidated into a consolidated securities action pending in federal district court in Colorado. The first of these actions was filed on July 27, 2001. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that defendants issued false and misleading financial results and made false statements about our business and investments, including making materially false statements in certain of our registration statements. The most recent complaint in this matter seeks unspecified compensatory damages and other relief. However, counsel for plaintiffs indicated that the putative class would seek damages in the tens of billions of dollars. The SPA action described below has also been consolidated with the consolidated securities action.

 

On November 23, 2005, we, certain other defendants, and the putative class representatives entered into and filed with the federal district court in Colorado a Stipulation of Partial Settlement that, if implemented, will settle the consolidated securities action against us and certain other defendants. On January 5, 2006, the federal district court in Colorado issued an order (1) preliminarily approving the proposed settlement, (2) setting a hearing for May 19, 2006 to consider final approval of the proposed settlement, and (3) certifying a class, for settlement purposes only, on behalf of purchasers of our publicly traded securities between May 24, 1999 and July 28, 2002.

 

Under the proposed settlement agreement, we would pay a total of $400 million in cash—$100 million of which was deposited in an escrow account 30 days after preliminary approval of the proposed settlement by the

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

federal district court in Colorado, $100 million of which would be so deposited 30 days after final approval of the settlement by the court, and $200 million of which would be so deposited on January 15, 2007, plus interest at 3.75% per annum on the $200 million between the date of final approval by the court and the date of payment.

 

If approved, the proposed settlement agreement in the consolidated securities action will settle the individual claims of the class representatives and the claims of the class they represent against us and all defendants except Joseph Nacchio, our former chief executive officer, and Robert Woodruff, our former chief financial officer. (The non-class action brought by SPA that is consolidated for certain purposes with the consolidated securities action is not part of the settlement.) As part of the proposed settlement, we would receive $10 million from Arthur Andersen LLP, which would also be released by the class representatives and the class they represent, which will offset $10 million of the $400 million that would be payable by us. No parties admit any wrongdoing as part of the proposed settlement.

 

The proposed settlement agreement is subject to a number of conditions and future contingencies. Among others, it (i) requires final court approval; (ii) provides us with the right to terminate the settlement if class members representing more than a specified amount of alleged securities losses elect to opt out of the settlement; (iii) provides us with the right to terminate the settlement if we do not receive adequate protections for claims relating to substantive liabilities of non-settling defendants; and (iv) is subject to review on appeal even if the district court were finally to approve it. We believe that the contingency relating to the distribution of funds paid by us in connection with our settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, was satisfied on February 28, 2006, when the federal district court in Colorado entered an order approving the request of the SEC for authority to distribute, in accordance with the terms of that order the payments made by us and by certain of our former employees in connection with the settlements entered into between the SEC and us and the SEC and those former employees.

 

A number of parties, including large pension funds, have requested exclusion from the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action. As noted below under “Remaining Securities Actions—Opt-Outs with Previously-Filed Lawsuits,” seven parties that had previously filed individual suits against us have requested exclusion from the proposed settlement, and as noted below under “Remaining Securities Actions—Opt-Outs with Recently-Filed Lawsuits,” some of the parties that have more recently requested exclusion from the proposed settlement have also asserted claims against us. We will vigorously defend against such claims regardless of whether the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action is consummated.

 

Settlement of Consolidated ERISA Action

 

Seven putative class actions purportedly brought on behalf of all participants and beneficiaries of the Qwest Savings and Investment Plan and predecessor plans, or the Plan, from March 7, 1999 until January 12, 2004 have been consolidated into a consolidated action in federal district court in Colorado. Other defendants in this action include current and former directors of Qwest, former officers and employees of Qwest and Deutsche Bank. These suits also purport to seek relief on behalf of the Plan. The first of these actions was filed in March 2002. Plaintiffs assert breach of fiduciary duty claims against us and others under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, alleging, among other things, various improprieties in managing holdings of our stock in the Plan. Plaintiffs seek damages, equitable and declaratory relief, along with attorneys’ fees and costs and restitution. Counsel for plaintiffs indicated that the putative class would seek billions of dollars of damages.

 

On April 26, 2006, we, the other defendants, and the putative class representatives entered into a Stipulation of Settlement that, if implemented, will settle the consolidated ERISA action. Under the proposed settlement

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

agreement, we would pay a total of $33 million in cash no later than 90 days after preliminary approval of the proposed settlement by the federal district court in Colorado. Deutsche Bank would pay a total of $4.5 million in cash to settle the claims against it. No parties admit any wrongdoing as part of the proposed settlement. If the proposed settlement is approved by the court, we will receive certain insurance proceeds as a contribution by individual defendants to this settlement, which will offset $10 million of our $33 million payment. In addition to the $33 million cash settlement, we have also agreed to pay, subject to certain contingencies, the amount (if any) by which the Plan’s recovery from the settlement of the consolidated securities action is less than $20 million. If approved by the district court, the proposed settlement will settle and release the claims of the class against us and all defendants in the consolidated ERISA action. The proposed settlement, which is subject to preliminary and final approval by the district court, is also subject to review on appeal if the district court were finally to approve it.

 

DOJ Investigation and Remaining Securities Actions

 

The Department of Justice, or DOJ, investigation and the securities actions described below present material and significant risks to us. The size, scope and nature of the restatements of our consolidated financial statements for 2001 and 2000, which are described in our previously issued consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2002, or our 2002 Financial Statements, affect the risks presented by this investigation and these actions, as these matters involve, among other things, our prior accounting practices and related disclosures. Plaintiffs in certain of the securities actions have alleged our restatement of items in support of their claims. We can give no assurance as to the impacts on our financial results or financial condition that may ultimately result from all of these matters.

 

We have a reserve recorded in our financial statements for the minimum estimated amount of loss we believe is probable with respect to the remaining securities actions described below as well as any additional actions that may be brought by parties that, as described below under “Additional Opt-Out Parties,” have more recently opted out of the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action. We have recorded our estimate of the minimum liability for these matters because no estimate of probable loss for these matters is a better estimate than any other amount. If the recorded reserve is insufficient to cover these matters, we will need to record additional charges to our consolidated statement of operations in future periods. The amount we have reserved for these matters is our estimate of the lowest end of the possible range of loss. The ultimate outcomes of these matters are still uncertain and the amount of loss we may ultimately incur could be substantially more than the reserve we have provided.

 

We continue to defend against the remaining securities actions described below vigorously and are currently unable to provide any estimate as to the timing of the resolution of these actions. Any settlement of or judgment in one or more of these actions (or any additional actions that may be brought by parties that, as described below under “Additional Opt-Out Parties,” have more recently opted out of the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action) substantially in excess of our recorded reserves could have a significant impact on us, and we can give no assurance that we will have the resources available to pay any such judgment. The magnitude of any settlement or judgment resulting from these actions could materially and adversely affect our ability to meet our debt obligations and our financial condition, potentially impacting our credit ratings, our ability to access capital markets and our compliance with debt covenants. In addition, the magnitude of any such settlement or judgment may cause us to draw down significantly on our cash balances, which might force us to obtain additional financing or explore other methods to generate cash. Such methods could include issuing additional securities or selling assets.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

The terms and conditions of applicable bylaws, certificates or articles of incorporation, agreements or applicable law may obligate us to indemnify our current and former directors, officers and employees with respect to certain liabilities, and we have been advancing legal fees and costs to many current and former directors, officers and employees in connection with the DOJ investigation, securities actions and certain other matters.

 

DOJ Investigation

 

On July 9, 2002, we were informed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado of a criminal investigation of our business. We believe the U.S. Attorney’s Office has investigated various matters that include transactions related to the various adjustments and restatements described in our 2002 Financial Statements, transactions between us and certain of our vendors and certain investments in the securities of those vendors by individuals associated with us, and certain prior disclosures made by us. We are continuing in our efforts to cooperate fully with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in its investigation. However, we cannot predict the outcome of this investigation or the timing of its resolution.

 

Remaining Securities Actions

 

We are a defendant in the securities actions described below. Plaintiffs in these actions have requested exclusion from the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action. Plaintiffs have variously alleged, among other things, that we and the other defendants violated federal and state securities laws, engaged in fraud, civil conspiracy and negligent misrepresentation, and breached fiduciary duties owed to investors and current and former employees by issuing false and misleading financial reports and statements, falsely inflating revenue and decreasing expenses, creating false perceptions of revenue and growth prospects and/or employing improper accounting practices. Other defendants in one or more of these actions include current and former directors of Qwest, former officers and employees of Qwest, Arthur Andersen LLP, certain investment banks and others. Plaintiffs variously seek, among other things, compensatory and punitive damages, restitution, equitable and declaratory relief, pre-judgment interest, costs and attorneys’ fees.

 

Opt-Outs with Previously-Filed Lawsuits. Together, the parties to these lawsuits contend that they have incurred losses resulting from their investments in our securities in excess of $900 million; they have also asserted claims for punitive damages and interest, in addition to claims to recover their alleged losses.

 

Plaintiff(s)


  

Date Filed


  

Court


State of New Jersey (Treasury Department, Division of Investment)    November 27, 2002    New Jersey Superior Court, Mercer County
California State Teachers’ Retirement System    December 10, 2002    Superior Court, State of California, County of San Francisco
State Universities Retirement System of Illinois    January 10, 2003    Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Stichting Pensioenfonds ABP (SPA)    February 9, 2004    Federal District Court in Colorado
A number of New York City pension and retirement funds    September 22, 2004    Federal District Court in Colorado
Shriners Hospital for Children    March 22, 2004    Federal District Court in Colorado
Teachers’ Retirement System of Louisiana    March 30, 2004    Federal District Court in Colorado

 

21


Table of Contents

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

Opt-Outs with Recently-Filed Lawsuits. Together, the parties to these lawsuits contend that they have incurred losses resulting from their investments in our securities of approximately $371 million; they have also asserted claims for punitive damages and interest, in addition to claims to recover their alleged losses.

 

Plaintiff(s)


  

Date Filed


  

Court


New York State Common Retirement Fund    April 18, 2006    United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
San Francisco Employees Retirement System    April 18, 2006    United States District Court for the Northern District of California
Fire and Police Pension Association of Colorado    April 18, 2006    Federal District Court in Colorado
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System    May 1, 2006    United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

 

Additional Opt-Out Parties. Since we announced the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action, a number of additional persons, including large pension funds, have requested to be excluded from the class. Some of these additional opt-out parties have recently filed actions against us, which are included in the summary that appears above under “Opt-Outs with Recently-Filed Lawsuits.” We expect that other parties who have opted out will file actions against us as well if we are unable to resolve those matters amicably. The claims of those persons who requested to be excluded from the class will not be released as a result of the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action, even in the event that the settlement is approved. In the aggregate, the persons who recently requested exclusion from the class, excluding those listed above under “Opt-Outs with Recently-Filed Lawsuits,” contend that they have incurred losses resulting from their investments in our securities of approximately $1.52 billion, which does not include any claims for punitive damages or interest. Due in part to the recent timing of the decisions by these persons to request exclusion from the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action and to the fact that many of the persons who have requested exclusion have not filed lawsuits, it is difficult to evaluate the claims that they have asserted or may assert. We will vigorously defend against any such claims regardless of whether the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action is consummated.

 

Other. A putative class action purportedly brought on behalf of purchasers of our stock between June 28, 2000 and June 27, 2002 and owners of U S WEST, Inc. stock on June 28, 2000 is pending in Colorado in the District Court for the County of Boulder. This action was filed on June 27, 2002. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that we and other defendants issued false and misleading statements and engaged in improper accounting practices in order to accomplish the U S WEST/Qwest merger, to make us appear successful and to inflate the value of our stock. Plaintiffs seek unspecified monetary damages, disgorgement of illegal gains and other relief.

 

KPNQwest Litigation/Investigation

 

A putative class action is pending in the federal district court for the Southern District of New York against us, certain of our former executives who were also on the supervisory board of KPNQwest, N.V. (of which we were a major shareholder), and others. This lawsuit was initially filed on October 4, 2002. The current complaint alleges, on behalf of certain purchasers of KPNQwest securities, that, among other things, defendants engaged in a fraudulent scheme and deceptive course of business in order to inflate KPNQwest’s revenue and the value of KPNQwest securities. Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages and/or rescission as appropriate against defendants, as well as an award of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs. On February 3, 2006, we, certain other defendants and

 

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Table of Contents

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

the putative class representative in this action executed an agreement to settle the case against us and certain other defendants. Under the settlement agreement, we will pay $5.5 million in cash to the settlement fund no later than 30 days following preliminary court approval, and no later than 30 days following final approval by the court, we will issue shares of our stock to the settlement fund then valued at $5.5 million as additional consideration for the settlement. The settlement agreement would settle the individual claims of the putative class representative and the claims of the class he purports to represent against us and all defendants except Koninklijke KPN N.V. a/k/a Royal KPN N.V., Willem Ackermans, Eelco Blok, Joop Drechsel, Martin Pieters, and Rhett Williams. The settlement agreement is subject to a number of conditions and future contingencies. Among others, it (i) requires both preliminary and final court approval; (ii) provides us with the right to terminate the settlement if class members representing more than a specified amount of alleged securities losses elect to opt out of the settlement; (iii) provides us with the right to terminate the settlement if we do not receive adequate protections for claims relating to substantive liabilities of non-settling defendants; and (iv) is subject to review on appeal even if the district court were finally to approve it. Any lawsuits that may be brought by parties opting out of the settlement will be vigorously defended regardless of whether the settlement described herein is consummated. No parties admit wrongdoing as a part of the settlement agreement.

 

On October 31, 2002, Richard and Marcia Grand, co-trustees of the R.M. Grand Revocable Living Trust, dated January 25, 1991, filed a lawsuit in Arizona Superior Court which, as amended, alleges, among other things, that the defendants violated state and federal securities laws and breached their fiduciary duty in connection with investments by plaintiffs in securities of KPNQwest. We are a defendant in this lawsuit along with Qwest B.V. (one of our subsidiaries), Joseph Nacchio and John McMaster, the former President and Chief Executive Officer of KPNQwest. Plaintiffs claim to have lost approximately $10 million in their investments in KPNQwest. The superior court granted defendants’ motion for partial summary judgment with respect to a substantial portion of plaintiffs’ claims. Plaintiffs have appealed that order to the Arizona Court of Appeals.

 

On June 25, 2004, J.C. van Apeldoorn and E.T. Meijer, in their capacities as trustees in the Dutch bankruptcy proceeding for KPNQwest, filed a complaint in the federal district court for the District of New Jersey alleging violations of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and breach of fiduciary duty and mismanagement under Dutch law. We are a defendant in this lawsuit along with Joseph Nacchio, Robert S. Woodruff and John McMaster. Plaintiffs allege, among other things, that defendants’ actions were a cause of the bankruptcy of KPNQwest and they seek damages for the bankruptcy deficit of KPNQwest of approximately $2.4 billion. Plaintiffs also seek treble damages as well as an award of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

On June 17, 2005, Appaloosa Investment Limited Partnership I, Palomino Fund Ltd., and Appaloosa Management L.P. filed a complaint in the federal district court for the Southern District of New York against us, Joseph Nacchio, John McMaster and Koninklijke KPN N.V., or KPN. The complaint alleges that defendants violated federal securities laws in connection with the purchase by plaintiffs of certain KPNQwest debt securities. Plaintiffs seek compensatory damages, as well as an award of plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

Various former lenders to KPNQwest or their assignees, including Citibank, N.A., Deutsche Bank AG London and others, have notified us of their intent to file legal claims in connection with the origination of a credit facility and subsequent borrowings made by KPNQwest of approximately €300 million under that facility. They have indicated that we would be a defendant in this threatened lawsuit along with Joseph Nacchio, John McMaster, Drake Tempest, our former General Counsel, KPN and other former employees of Qwest, KPN or KPNQwest.

 

On August 23, 2005, the Dutch Shareholders Association (Vereniging van Effectenbezitters, or VEB) filed a petition for inquiry with the Enterprise Chamber of the Amsterdam Court of Appeals, located in the Netherlands,

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

with regard to KPNQwest. VEB seeks an inquiry into the policies and course of business at KPNQwest that are alleged to have caused the bankruptcy of KPNQwest in May 2002, and an investigation into alleged mismanagement of KPNQwest by its executive management, supervisory board members, joint venture entities (us and KPN), and KPNQwest’s outside auditors and accountants.

 

Other than the putative class action in which we have entered into a proposed settlement (and for which we have recorded a reserve of $11 million in connection with the proposed settlement), we will continue to defend against the pending KPNQwest litigation matters vigorously and will likewise defend against any claims asserted by KPNQwest’s former lenders if litigation is filed.

 

Regulatory Matter

 

On July 15, 2004, the New Mexico state regulatory commission opened a proceeding to investigate whether we are in compliance with or are likely to meet a commitment that we made in 2001 to invest in communications infrastructure in New Mexico through March 2006 pursuant to an Alternative Form of Regulation plan, or AFOR. The AFOR says, in part, that “Qwest commits to devote a substantial budget to infrastructure investment, with the goal of achieving the purposes of this Plan. Specifically, Qwest will make capital expenditures of not less than $788 million over the term of this Plan. This level of investment is necessary to meet the commitments made in this Plan to increase Qwest’s investment and improve its service quality in New Mexico.” Multiple parties filed comments in that proceeding and variously argued that we should be subject to a range of requirements including an escrow account for capital spending, new investment obligations, and customer credits or price reductions.

 

On April 14, 2005, the Commission issued its Final Order in connection with this investigation. In this Final Order, the Commission ruled that the evidence in the record indicates we will not be in compliance with the investment commitment at the conclusion of the AFOR in March 2006, and if the current trend in our capital expenditures continues, there will be a shortfall of $200 million or more by the end of the AFOR. The Commission also concluded that we have an unconditional commitment to invest $788 million over the life of the AFOR. Finally, the Commission ruled that if we fail to satisfy this investment commitment, any shortfall must be credited or refunded to our New Mexico customers. The Commission also opened an enforcement and implementation docket to review our investments and consider the structure and size of any refunds or credits to be issued to customers. On May 12 and 13, 2005, we filed appeals in federal district court and in the New Mexico State Supreme Court, respectively, challenging the lawfulness of the Commission’s Final Order. On February 24, 2006, the federal district court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss, ruling that, under the Johnson Act, the Final Order was an order affecting rates that should be reviewed by the state court, not the federal court. Qwest has filed a motion for reconsideration.

 

We have vigorously argued, among other things, that the underlying purposes of the investment commitment set forth in the AFOR have been met in that we have met all service quality and service deployment obligations under the AFOR; that, in light of this, we should not be held to a specific amount of investment; and that the Commission has failed to include all eligible investments in the calculation of how much we have actually invested. Nevertheless, we believe it is unlikely the Commission will reverse its determination that we have an unconditional obligation to invest $788 million. In addition, we have argued, and will continue to argue, that customer credits or refunds are an impermissible and illegal form of relief for the Commission to order in the event there is an investment shortfall. On January 30, 2006, Qwest filed with the New Mexico Commission an Offer of Settlement and to Revise AFOR. This Offer proposes to extend the time period for Qwest to complete $788 million in investments to three years following the approval of the Offer. Under the Offer, Qwest has

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

included within the $788 million of total investments a proposal to invest $85 million in projects approved by the Commission. In an order dated February 7, 2006, the Commission rejected the Offer on technical grounds, ruling that it was improper as to form. In this order, the Commission also encouraged Qwest and the other parties to continue settlement negotiations, and we have done so.

 

We believe there is a substantial likelihood that the ultimate outcome of this matter will result in us having to make expenditures or payments beyond those we would otherwise make in the normal course of business. These expenditures or payments could take the form of one or more of the following: penalties, capital investment, basic service rate reductions and customer refunds or credits. At this time, however, we are not able to reasonably estimate the amount of these expenditures or payments and, accordingly, have not reserved any amount for such potential liability. Any final resolution of this matter could be material.

 

Other Matters

 

Several putative class actions relating to the installation of fiber optic cable in certain rights-of-way were filed against us on behalf of landowners on various dates and in various courts in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. For the most part, the complaints challenge our right to install our fiber optic cable in railroad rights-of-way. Complaints in Colorado, Illinois and Texas, also challenge our right to install fiber optic cable in utility and pipeline rights-of-way. The complaints allege that the railroads, utilities and pipeline companies own the right-of-way as an easement that did not include the right to permit us to install our fiber optic cable in the right-of-way without the plaintiffs’ consent. Most actions (California, Colorado, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas) purport to be brought on behalf of state-wide classes in the named plaintiffs’ respective states. Several actions purport to be brought on behalf of multi-state classes. The Illinois state court action purports to be on behalf of landowners in Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Illinois federal court action purports to be on behalf of landowners in Arkansas, California, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana and Oregon. The Indiana action purports to be on behalf of a national class of landowners adjacent to railroad rights-of-way over which our network passes. The complaints seek damages on theories of trespass and unjust enrichment, as well as punitive damages.

 

The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) proposed a tax adjustment for tax years 1994 through 1996. The principal issue involves the allocation of costs between long-term contracts with customers for the installation of conduit or fiber optic cable and additional conduit or fiber optic cable retained by us. The IRS disputes the allocation of the costs between us and third parties. Similar claims have been asserted against us with respect to the 1997 to 1998 and the 1998 to 2001 audit periods. On March 13, 2006, the Tax Court issued a decision, which was favorable to Qwest. The IRS sought rehearing and indicated that, if rehearing is denied, it will appeal the decision to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. The trial for the 1997-1998 tax years has been tentatively scheduled for April or May 2007. If we ultimately were to lose this issue for the tax years 1994 through 1998, we estimate that we would have to pay approximately $57 million in tax plus approximately $45 million in interest pursuant to tax sharing agreements with the Anschutz Company relating to those time periods.

 

We have tax related matters pending against us, certain of which are before the Appeals Office of the IRS. In addition, tax sharing agreements have been executed between us and previous affiliates, and we believe the liabilities, if any, arising from adjustments to previously filed returns would be borne by the affiliated group member determined to have a deficiency under the terms and conditions of such agreements and applicable tax law. We have recognized in our financial statements certain amounts owed to us under one of these agreements;

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

however, generally, we have not provided for liabilities of former affiliated members or for claims they have asserted or may assert against us. We believe we have adequately provided for these tax-related matters. If the recorded reserves for these tax-related matters are insufficient, we may need to record additional amounts in future periods.

 

Note 9: Financial Statements of Guarantors

 

We and two of our subsidiaries, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. (“QCF”) and Qwest Services Corporation (“QSC”), guarantee certain of each other’s registered debt securities. QCII issued a total of $2.575 billion aggregate principal amount of senior notes in February 2004 and June 2005 that are guaranteed by QCF and QSC (the “QCII Guaranteed Notes”). Between December 2002 and April 2003, QSC issued a total of $3.7 billion aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated secured notes (approximately $21 million of which remain outstanding) that are guaranteed by QCF and QCII on a senior unsecured basis (the “QSC Guaranteed Notes”). Each series of QCF’s outstanding notes totaling approximately $3.5 billion in aggregate principal amount (the “QCF Guaranteed Notes”) is guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by QCII. The guarantees are full and unconditional, and joint and several. A significant amount of QCII’s and QSC’s income and cash flow are generated by their subsidiaries. As a result, funds necessary to meet each issuer’s debt service obligations are provided in large part by distributions or advances from their subsidiaries.

 

The following information sets forth our condensed consolidating balance sheets as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005 and our condensed consolidating statements of operations and cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005. The information for QCII, QSC and QCF is presented for each entity on a stand-alone basis, including that entity’s investments in all of its subsidiaries, if any, under the equity method. The condensed consolidating statements of operations and balance sheets include the effects of consolidating adjustments to our subsidiaries’ tax provisions and the related income tax assets and liabilities in the QSC and QCII results. The direct subsidiaries of QCII that are not guarantors of the QCII Guaranteed Notes or the QSC Guaranteed Notes are presented on a combined basis. The subsidiaries of QSC that are not guarantors of the QCII Guaranteed Notes or the QSC Guaranteed Notes are presented on a combined basis. Both QSC and QCF are 100% owned by QCII. Other than as already described herein, the accounting principles used are the same as those used in our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

    QCII(1)

    QSC(2)

    QCF(3)

   

QCII

Subsidiary

Non-Guarantors


   

QSC Subsidiary

Non-Guarantors


    Eliminations

   

QCII

Consolidated


 
    (Dollars in millions)  

Operating revenue

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 3     $ 3,473     $ —       $ 3,476  

Operating revenue—affiliates

    —         337       —         9       30       (376 )     —    

Operating expenses:

                                                       

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

    —         299       —         —         1,407       (289 )     1,417  

Cost of sales—affiliates

    —         39       —         —         21       (60 )     —    

Selling, general and administrative

    12       —         —         12       702       288       1,014  

Selling, general and administrative—affiliates

    —         —         —         —         315       (315 )     —    

Depreciation

    —         1       —         —         587       —         588  

Capitalized software and other intangible assets amortization

    —         —         —         —         103       —         103  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

    12       339       —         12       3,135       (376 )     3,122  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Other expense (income):

                                                       

Interest expense—net

    68       2       64       —         162       —         296  

Interest expense—affiliates

    3       —         103       —         281       (387 )     —    

Interest (income)—affiliates

    —         (103 )     (283 )     (1 )     —         387       —    

Other (income) expense—net

    (1 )     (17 )     —         (1 )     (9 )     —         (28 )

(Income) loss from equity investments in subsidiaries

    (126 )     233       —         —         —         (107 )     —    
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total other (income) expense

    (56 )     115       (116 )     (2 )     434       (107 )     268  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

    44       (117 )     116       2       (66 )     107       86  

Income tax benefit (expense)

    44       169       (44 )     —         (167 )     —         2  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

  $ 88     $ 52     $ 72     $ 2     $ (233 )   $ 107     $ 88  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 



(1) QCII is the issuer of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is a guarantor of the QSC Guaranteed Notes and the QCF Guaranteed Notes.
(2) QSC is a guarantor of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QSC Guaranteed Notes.
(3) QCF is a guarantor of both the QCII Guaranteed Notes and the QSC Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QCF Guaranteed Notes.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005

(UNAUDITED)

 

    QCII(1)

    QSC(2)

    QCF(3)

   

QCII

Subsidiary

Non-Guarantors


   

QSC Subsidiary

Non-Guarantors


    Eliminations

   

QCII

Consolidated


 
    (Dollars in millions)  

Operating revenue

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ 2     $ 3,447     $ —       $ 3,449  

Operating revenue—affiliates

    —         339       —         8       39       (386 )     —    

Operating expenses:

                                                       

Cost of sales (exclusive of depreciation and amortization)

    —         277       —         —         1,431       (269 )     1,439  

Cost of sales—affiliates

    —         47       —         —         25       (72 )     —    

Selling, general and administrative

    34       —         —         8       725       269       1,036  

Selling, general and administrative—affiliates

    —         —         —         —         314       (314 )     —    

Depreciation

    —         1       —         —         652       —         653  

Capitalize software and other intangible assets amortization

    —         —         —         —         121       —         121  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

    34       325       —         8       3,268       (386 )     3,249  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Other expense (income):

                                                       

Interest expense—net

    35       115       69       —         162       —         381  

Interest expense—affiliates

    2       —         259       —         421       (682 )     —    

Interest (income)—affiliates

    (18 )     (243 )     (421 )     —         —         682       —    

Gain on the sale of assets

    —         —         —         —         (257 )     —         (257 )

Other (income) expense—net

    (1 )     (3 )     —         —         19       —         15  

(Income) loss from equity investments in subsidiaries

    (73 )     288       —         —         —         (215 )     —    
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total other (income) expense

    (55 )     157       (93 )     —         345       (215 )     139  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before income taxes

    21       (143 )     93       2       (127 )     215       61  

Income tax benefit (expense)

    36       157       (35 )     (1 )     (161 )     —         (4 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

  $ 57     $ 14     $ 58     $ 1     $ (288 )   $ 215     $ 57  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 



(1) QCII is the issuer of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is a guarantor of the QSC Guaranteed Notes and the QCF Guaranteed Notes.
(2) QSC is a guarantor of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QSC Guaranteed Notes.
(3) QCF is a guarantor of both the QCII Guaranteed Notes and the QSC Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QCF Guaranteed Notes.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

     QCII(1)

    QSC(2)

    QCF(3)

   QCII
Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


  

QSC

Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


    Eliminations

    QCII
Consolidated


 
     (Dollars in millions)  

ASSETS

                                                      

Current assets:

                                                      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ —       $ 332     $ —      $ —      $ 278     $ —       $ 610  

Short-term investments

     —         76       —        —        54       —         130  

Accounts receivable—net

     10       7       —        3      1,521       —         1,541  

Accounts receivable—affiliates

     88       1,011       99      —        14       (1,212 )     —    

Current tax receivable

     46       182       —        —        —         (228 )     —    

Notes receivable—affiliates

     —         5,514       15,405      73      —         (20,992 )     —    

Deferred income taxes

     —         35       6      —        96       (5 )     132  

Prepaid and other assets

     —         85       —        110      381       (2 )     574  

Assets held for sale

     —         —         —        —        37       —         37  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 


Total current assets

     144       7,242       15,510      186      2,381       (22,439 )     3,024  

Property, plant and equipment—net

     —         7       —        —        15,266       —         15,273  

Capitalized software and other intangible assets—net

     41       —         —        —        930       —         971  

Investments in subsidiaries

     1,329       (13,342 )     —        —        —         12,013       —    

Deferred income taxes

     —         1,685       44      11      —         (1,740 )     —    

Prepaid pension assets

     —         92       —        —        1,055       —         1,147  

Other assets

     207       58       14      —        432       —         711  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 


Total assets

   $ 1,721     $ (4,258 )   $ 15,568    $ 197    $ 20,064     $ (12,166 )   $ 21,126  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY

                                                      

Current liabilities:

                                                      

Current borrowings

   $ 6     $ —       $ 485    $ —      $ 113     $ —       $ 604  

Current borrowings—affiliates

     262       —         5,514      —        15,216       (20,992 )     —    

Accounts payable

     5       31       —        —        744       —         780  

Accounts payable—affiliates

     —         43       —        58      378       (479 )     —    

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     363       125       40      54      1,209       —         1,791  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities—affiliates

     —         —         37      —        698       (735 )     —    

Current taxes payable

     —         —         42      2      334       (228 )     150  

Deferred revenue and advance billings and other

     5       —         —        —        622       (5 )     622  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 


Total current liabilities

     641       199       6,118      114      19,314       (22,439 )     3,947  

Long-term borrowings—net

     3,853       22       2,986      —        7,973       —         14,834  

Post-retirement and other post- employment benefit obligations

     —         506       —        —        2,935       —         3,441  

Deferred income taxes

     51       —         4      —        1,790       (1,740 )     105  

Deferred revenue

     —         —         —        —        514       —         514  

Other long-term liabilities

     236       165       —        64      880       —         1,345  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 


Total liabilities

     4,781       892       9,108      178      33,406       (24,179 )     24,186  

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity

     (3,060 )     (5,150 )     6,460      19      (13,342 )     12,013       (3,060 )
    


 


 

  

  


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

   $ 1,721     $ (4,258 )   $ 15,568    $ 197    $ 20,064     $ (12,166 )   $ 21,126  
    


 


 

  

  


 


 



(1) QCII is the issuer of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is a guarantor of the QSC Guaranteed Notes and the QCF Guaranteed Notes.
(2) QSC is a guarantor of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QSC Guaranteed Notes.
(3) QCF is a guarantor of both the QCII Guaranteed Notes and the QSC Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QCF Guaranteed Notes.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

DECEMBER 31, 2005

(UNAUDITED)

 

    QCII(1)

    QSC(2)

    QCF(3)

  QCII
Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


 

QSC

Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


    Eliminations

    QCII
Consolidated


 
    (Dollars in millions)  

ASSETS

                                                   

Current assets:

                                                   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 67     $ 563     $ —     $ —     $ 216     $ —       $ 846  

Short-term investments

    9       77       —       —       15       —         101  

Accounts receivable—net

    —         10       —       3     1,512       —         1,525  

Accounts receivable—affiliates

    43       428       94     —       21       (586 )     —    

Current tax receivable

    34       28       —       —       —         (62 )     —    

Notes receivable—affiliates

    —         4,728       14,568     76     —         (19,372 )     —    

Deferred income taxes

    —         19       —       —       99       —         118  

Prepaid and other assets

    20       38       —       112     375       (8 )     537  

Assets held for sale

    —         —         —       —       37       —         37  
   


 


 

 

 


 


 


Total current assets

    173       5,891       14,662     191     2,275       (20,028 )     3,164  

Property, plant and equipment—net

    —         6       —       —       15,562       —         15,568  

Capitalized software and other intangible assets—net

    41       —         —       —       966       —         1,007  

Investments in subsidiaries

    1,143       (12,112 )     —       —       —         10,969       —    

Deferred income taxes

    —         1,791       22     11     —         (1,824 )     —    

Prepaid pension assets

    —         95       —       —       1,070       —         1,165  

Other assets

    111       58       14     —       410       —         593  
   


 


 

 

 


 


 


Total assets

  $ 1,468     $ (4,271 )   $ 14,698   $ 202   $ 20,283     $ (10,883 )   $ 21,497  
   


 


 

 

 


 


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ (DEFICIT) EQUITY

                                                   

Current liabilities:

                                                   

Current borrowings

  $ 6     $ —       $ 485   $ —     $ 21     $ —       $ 512  

Current borrowings—affiliates

    165       —         4,728     —       14,479       (19,372 )     —    

Accounts payable

    4       38       —       —       731       —         773  

Accounts payable—affiliates

    —         34       —       9     248       (291 )     —    

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

    288       192       98     81     1,539       —         2,198  

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities—affiliates

    —         —         34     30     239       (303 )     —    

Current taxes payable

    —         —         34     2     145       (62 )     119  

Deferred revenue and advance billings

    —         —         —       —       633       —         633  
   


 


 

 

 


 


 


Total current liabilities

    463       264       5,379     122     18,035       (20,028 )     4,235  

Long-term borrowings—net

    3,884       22       2,986     —       8,076       —         14,968  

Post-retirement and other post- employment benefit obligations

    —         506       —       —       2,953       —         3,459  

Deferred income taxes

    33       —         —       —       1,881       (1,824 )     90  

Deferred revenue

    —         —         —       —       522       —         522  

Other long-term liabilities

    305       145       —       62     928       —         1,440  
   


 


 

 

 


 


 


Total liabilities

    4,685       937       8,365     184     32,395       (21,852 )     24,714  

Stockholders’ (deficit) equity

    (3,217 )     (5,208 )     6,333     18     (12,112 )     10,969       (3,217 )
   


 


 

 

 


 


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity (deficit)

  $ 1,468     $ (4,271 )   $ 14,698   $ 202   $ 20,283     $ (10,883 )   $ 21,497  
   


 


 

 

 


 


 



(1) QCII is the issuer of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is a guarantor of the QSC Guaranteed Notes and the QCF Guaranteed Notes.
(2) QSC is a guarantor of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QSC Guaranteed Notes.
(3) QCF is a guarantor of both the QCII Guaranteed Notes and the QSC Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QCF Guaranteed Notes.

 

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Table of Contents

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2006

(UNAUDITED)

 

    QCII(1)

    QSC(2)

    QCF(3)

    QCII
Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


    QSC Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


    Eliminations

    QCII
Consolidated


 
    (Dollars in millions)  

CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  $ (206 )   $ 9     $ 51     $ (3 )   $ 280     $ 9     $ 140  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                                                       

Expenditures for property, plant and equipment and intangible assets

    —         (1 )     —         —         (389 )     —         (390 )

Proceeds from sale of property and equipment

    —         —         —         —         26       —         26  

Proceeds from sale of investment securities

    —         7       —         —         —         —         7  

Purchase of investment securities

    —         (36 )     —         —         —         —         (36 )

Net proceeds from (purchases of) investments managed by QSC

    9       30       —         —         (39 )     —         —    

Net decrease (increase) in short-term affiliate loans

    —         (786 )     (837 )     3       —         1,620       —    

Dividends received from subsidiaries

    —         546       —         —         —         (546 )     —    

Other

    —         —         —         —         1       —         1  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Cash provided by (used for) investing activities

    9       (240 )     (837 )     3       (401 )     1,074       (392 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                                                       

Repayments of long-term borrowings, including current maturities

    (33 )     —         —         —         (8 )     —         (41 )

Net proceeds from (payments of) affiliate borrowings

    97       —         786       —         737       (1,620 )     —    

Proceeds from issuances of common stock

    57       —         —         —         —         —         57  

Dividends paid to parent

    —         —         —         —         (546 )     546       —    

Other

    9       —         —         —         —         (9 )     —    
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Cash provided by (used for) financing activities

    130       —         786       —         183       (1,083 )     16  

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

                                                       

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (67 )     (231 )     —         —         62       —         (236 )

Beginning balance

    67       563       —         —         216       —         846  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Ending balance

  $ —       $ 332     $ —       $ —       $ 278     $ —       $ 610  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 



(1) QCII is the issuer of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is a guarantor of the QSC Guaranteed Notes and the QCF Guaranteed Notes.
(2) QSC is a guarantor of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QSC Guaranteed Notes.
(3) QCF is a guarantor of both the QCII Guaranteed Notes and the QSC Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QCF Guaranteed Notes.

 

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QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW

FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2005

(UNAUDITED)

 

    QCII(1)

    QSC(2)

    QCF(3)

    QCII
Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


    QSC Subsidiary
Non-Guarantors


    Eliminations

    QCII
Consolidated


 
    (Dollars in millions)  

CASH (USED FOR) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES

  $ (28 )   $ 140     $ (35 )   $ (2 )   $ 268     $ —       $ 343  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


INVESTING ACTIVITIES

                                                       

Expenditures for property and equipment and intangible assets

    —         (17 )     —         —         (296 )     —         (313 )

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

    —         —         —         —         418       —         418  

Proceeds from sale of investment securities

    —         630       —         —         —         —         630  

Net proceeds from (purchases of) investments managed by QSC

    1       157       —         —         (158 )     —         —    

Purchase of investment securities

    —         (822 )     —         —         —         —         (822 )

Cash infusion to subsidiaries

    —         (10,000 )     —         —         —         10,000       —    

Net decrease (increase) in short-term affiliate loans

    —         9,199       9,233       2       —         (18,434 )     —    

Dividends received from subsidiaries

    —         762       —         —         —         (762 )     —    

Other

    —         —         —         —         1       —         1  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Cash provided by (used for) investing activities

    1       (91 )     9,233       2       (35 )     (9,196 )     (86 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


FINANCING ACTIVITIES

                                                       

Repayments of long-term borrowings, including current maturities

    —         —         —         —         (5 )     —         (5 )

Net proceeds from (payments of) affiliate borrowings

    23       —         (9,198 )     —         (9,259 )     18,434       —    

Proceeds from issuances of common stock

    3       —         —         —         —         —         3  

Equity infusion from parent

    —         —         —         —         10,000       (10,000 )     —    

Dividends paid to parent

    —         —         —         —         (762 )     762       —    
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Cash provided by (used for) financing activities

    26       —         (9,198 )     —         (26 )     9,196       (2 )
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

                                                       

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

    (1 )     49       —         —         207       —         255  

Beginning balance

    34       608       —         —         509       —         1,151  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 


Ending balance

  $ 33     $ 657     $ —       $ —       $ 716     $ —       $ 1,406  
   


 


 


 


 


 


 



(1) QCII is the issuer of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is a guarantor of the QSC Guaranteed Notes and the QCF Guaranteed Notes.
(2) QSC is a guarantor of the QCII Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QSC Guaranteed Notes.
(3) QCF is a guarantor of both the QCII Guaranteed Notes and the QSC Guaranteed Notes and is the issuer of the QCF Guaranteed Notes.

 

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Table of Contents

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this report to “Qwest,” “we,” “us,” the “Company” and “our” refer to Qwest Communications International Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and references in this report to “QCII” refer to Qwest Communications International Inc. on an unconsolidated, stand-alone basis.

 

Certain statements set forth below under this caption constitute forward-looking statements. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” at the end of this Item 2 for additional factors relating to such statements, and see “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of this report for a discussion of certain risk factors applicable to our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

Business Overview and Presentation

 

We provide local telecommunications and related services, long-distance services and wireless, data and video services within our local service area, which consists of the 14-state region of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. We also provide reliable, scalable and secure broadband data and voice (including long-distance) communications services outside our local service area as well as globally.

 

Our analysis presented below is organized to provide the information we believe will be instructive for understanding the relevant trends going forward. However, this discussion should be read in conjunction with our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report, including the notes thereto. Our operating revenue is generated from our wireline services, wireless services and other services segments. An overview of the segment results is provided in Note 7—Segment Information to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report. The following segment discussions reflect the way we currently report our operating results to our Chief Operating Decision Maker, or CODM, which includes revenue results for each of the customer channels within the wireline services segment: business, mass markets and wholesale. Certain prior year revenue, expense and access line amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentations.

 

Business Trends

 

Our financial results continue to be impacted by several significant trends, which are described below:

 

    Access line losses. Our revenue has been, and we expect it to continue to be, adversely affected by access line losses. Increased competition, including product substitution, continues to be the primary reason for our access line losses. For example, consumers are increasingly substituting cable and wireless telecommunications services for traditional telecommunications services, which has increased the number and type of competitors within our industry and decreased our market share. Product bundling, as described more fully below, has been one of our responses to our declining revenue due to access line losses.

 

    Data and Internet growth. Data and Internet revenue and subscribers continue to grow as customers continue to migrate Internet service to higher speed connections. We continue to expand our availability as well as increase the available speeds in order to meet customer demand. We expect that this trend will continue into the future. We also expect to face continuing competition for these subscribers.

 

    Product bundling. We believe consumers increasingly value the convenience of receiving multiple services from a single provider. As such, we increased our marketing and advertising spending levels in 2005 and 2006 focusing on product bundling and packaging. Product bundles and packages represent combinations of products and services, such as local voice, long-distance, high-speed Internet, video and wireless, and features and services, such as three-way calling and call forwarding related to an access line. As a result of these offerings, we have seen increased sales.

 

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Table of Contents
    Variable expenses. Expenses associated with higher growth products, such as long-distance, high-speed Internet and wireless services, tend to be more variable in nature. While our traditional telecommunications services tend to rely upon our fixed cost structure, the mix of products we expect to sell, combined with regulatory and market pricing forces, will continue to pressure operating expense. In addition, facility costs (described below) do not always change proportionally with revenue fluctuations.

 

    Facility costs. Facility costs are third-party telecommunications expenses we incur to connect our customers to networks or to end-user product platforms not owned by us. We continue to reduce costs in this area from the renegotiation, termination or settlement of various service arrangements, from network optimization initiatives and from regulatory approvals allowing us to provide long-distance services in our local service area using our own network, thereby decreasing our reliance on third-party providers. However, these cost reductions have been partially offset in varying degrees by increased costs from increased long-distance traffic and data and Internet volumes and by new wireless facility costs due to our use of a third-party wireless provider.

 

    Operational efficiencies . We have continued to evaluate our operating structure and focus, and we continue to right-size our workforce in response to changes in the telecommunications industry. Through targeted restructuring plans in prior years, focused improvements in operational efficiency, process improvements through automation and normal employee attrition, we have reduced our workforce and employee-related costs while achieving operational goals.

 

While these trends are important to understanding and evaluating our financial results, the other transactions, events and trends discussed in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of this report may also materially impact our business operations and financial results.

 

Results of Operations

 

Overview

 

We generate revenue from our wireline services, wireless services and other services as described below.

 

    Wireline services. The wireline services segment uses our network to provide voice services and data and Internet services to mass markets, business and wholesale customers. Our wireline services include:

 

    Voice services. Voice services revenue includes local voice, long-distance voice and access services. Local voice services revenue includes basic local exchange, switching, enhanced voice, operator and collocation services and certain calling features. Local voice services revenue also includes the provisioning of network transport, billing services and access to our local network on a wholesale basis. Long-distance voice services revenue includes InterLATA and IntraLATA long-distance services. Access services revenue includes fees charged to other data and telecommunications providers to connect their customers and their networks to our network.

 

    Data and Internet services. Data and Internet services revenue includes data services (such as traditional private lines, wholesale private lines, WAN and related equipment), Internet services (such as high-speed Internet, ISDN, web hosting and related equipment) and Data Integration.

 

    Wireless services. We offer wireless services and equipment to residential and business customers, providing them the ability to use the same telephone number for their wireless phone as for their home or business phone. By utilizing a third-party network, we sell wireless services, including access to its nationwide PCS wireless network, to mass markets and business customers primarily in the states within our local service area.

 

    Other services. Other services revenue is predominantly derived from the sublease of some of our real estate, such as space in our office buildings, warehouses and other properties.

 

Depending on the products or services purchased, a customer may pay an up-front or monthly fee, a usage charge or a combination of these.

 

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Table of Contents

The following table summarizes our results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,


   

Increase/

(Decrease)


    %
Change


 
     2006

   2005

     
    

(Dollars in millions, except per

share amounts)

 

Operating revenue

   $ 3,476    $ 3,449     $ 27     1 %

Operating expenses

     3,122      3,249       (127 )   (4 )%

Other expense—net

     268      139       129     93 %
    

  


 


     

Income before income taxes

     86      61       25     41 %

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2      (4 )     6     nm  
    

  


 


     

Net income

   $ 88    $ 57     $ 31     54 %
    

  


 


     

Basic and diluted income per share

   $ 0.05    $ 0.03     $ 0.02     67 %
    

  


 


     

nm—percentages greater than 200% and comparisons from positive to negative values or to zero values are considered not meaningful.

 

Operating Revenue

 

The following table compares operating revenue by segment including the detail of customer channels within our wireline segment for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Three Months
Ended March 31,


  

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2006

   2005

    
     (Dollars in millions)        

Wireline services revenue:

                            

Voice services:

                            

Local voice services:

                            

Business

   $ 316    $ 323    $ (7 )   (2 )%

Mass markets

     1,028      1,061      (33 )   (3 )%

Wholesale

     176      197      (21 )   (11 )%
    

  

  


     

Total local voice services

     1,520      1,581      (61 )   (4 )%

Long-distance services:

                            

Business

     144      147      (3 )   (2 )%

Mass markets

     155      135      20     15 %

Wholesale

     271      276      (5 )   (2 )%
    

  

  


     

Total long-distance services

     570      558      12     2 %

Access services

     146      161      (15 )   (9 )%
    

  

  


     

Total voice services

     2,236      2,300      (64 )   (3 )%
    

  

  


     

Data and Internet services:

                            

Business

     588      544      44     8 %

Mass markets

     191      143      48     34 %

Wholesale

     312      325      (13 )   (4 )%
    

  

  


     

Total data and Internet services

     1,091      1,012      79     8 %
    

  

  


     

Total wireline services revenue

     3,327      3,312      15     0 %

Wireless services revenue

     139      126      13     10 %

Other services revenue

     10      11      (1 )   (9 )%
    

  

  


     

Total operating revenue

   $ 3,476    $ 3,449    $ 27     1 %
    

  

  


     

 

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Table of Contents

Wireline Services Revenue

 

Voice Services

 

Local voice services. The decrease in business and mass markets local voice services revenue was primarily due to access line losses from competitive pressures, including wireless and cable substitution. In addition, although we are seeing a decline in local services revenue related to our bundle discounts, as more customers take advantage of the bundle we are seeing an increase in revenue on other products as discussed below. We continue to see declines in wholesale access lines, as demand for UNEs decreases.

 

The following table shows our access lines by channel as of March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Access Lines

 
    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


  

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2006

   2005

    
     (in thousands)        

Mass markets

   9,933    10,405    (472 )   (5 )%

Business

   2,946    3,086    (140 )   (5 )%

Wholesale

   1,667    1,848    (181 )   (10 )%
    
  
  

     

Total

   14,546    15,339    (793 )   (5 )%
    
  
  

     

 

Long-distance services. The increase in long distance services revenue was primarily due to increased in-region long-distance subscribers in our mass markets channel, partially due to our bundled offerings, as well as a higher percentage of customers migrating toward our fixed fee-based offerings and increased price.

 

Access services. The decrease in access services revenue was driven by a decrease in wholesale access services revenue primarily due to the mass markets and business access line losses which drove lower minutes of use, as well as a one-time benefit in the three months ended March 31, 2005 due to favorable regulatory rulings.

 

Data and Internet Services

 

The increase in data and Internet services revenue was primarily due to high-speed Internet subscriber growth in our mass markets channel as a result of migration from dial-up connections and expanded service availability. We also experienced increased Data Integration revenue in our business channel partially offset by the termination of our wholesale modem services product in April 2005.

 

Wireless Services Revenue

 

Wireless services revenue increased due to a 6% increase in subscribers and increased rates to new subscribers resulting in higher average revenue per subscriber.

 

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Table of Contents

Operating Expenses

 

The following table provides further detail regarding our operating expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


  

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
         2006    

       2005    

    
     (Dollars in millions)        

Operating expenses:

                            

Cost of sales:

                            

Facility costs

   $ 618    $ 674    $ (56 )   (8 )%

Network expenses

     52      67      (15 )   (22 )%

Employee-related costs

     396      409      (13 )   (3 )%

Other non-employee related costs

     351      289      62     21 %
    

  

  


     

Total cost of sales

     1,417      1,439      (22 )   (2 )%

Selling, general and administrative:

                            

Property and other taxes

     88      99      (11 )   (11 )%

Bad debt

     44      57      (13 )   (23 )%

Restructuring, realignment and severance related costs

     22      15      7     47 %

Employee-related costs

     401      407      (6 )   (1 )%

Other non-employee related costs

     459      458      1     0 %
    

  

  


     

Total selling, general and administrative

     1,014      1,036      (22 )   (2 )%

Depreciation

     588      653      (65 )   (10 )%

Capitalized software and other intangible assets amortization

     103      121      (18 )   (15 )%
    

  

  


     

Total operating expenses

   $ 3,122    $ 3,249    $ (127 )   (4 )%
    

  

  


     

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales includes employee-related costs, such as salaries, wages and benefits directly attributable to products or services, network expenses, facility costs and other non-employee related costs such as real estate, USF charges, call termination fees, materials and supplies, contracted engineering services and the cost of Data Integration sold. Cost of sales decreased by $22 million, or to 40.8% from 41.7% as a percentage of revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2006 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005 as we continue to reduce costs primarily due to the renegotiation, termination or settlement of service arrangements and continued optimization initiatives. Increases in Data Integration revenue caused Data Integration expenses, which are included in non-employee related expenses, to increase.

 

Selling, General and Administrative

 

Selling, general and administrative, or SG&A, expenses include employee-related costs such as salaries, wages and benefits not directly attributable to products or services, severance related costs, sales commissions, bad debt charges and other non-employee related costs such as property taxes, real estate, marketing and advertising, professional service fees and computer systems support. SG&A decreased $22 million, or to 29.2% from 30.0% as a percentage of revenue, for the three months ended March 31, 2006 as compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005. This decrease is a result of our continued focus on reducing costs as described in the “Business Trends” above. Bad debt expense decreased due to a continuing trend of improved collection practices, however we do not expect this trend of decreases in bad debt expense to continue.

 

Combined Pension and Post-Retirement Benefits

 

Our results include the combined cost of our pension, non-qualified pension and post-retirement healthcare and life insurance plans. We recorded expense of $53 million and $66 million for the three months ended

 

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March 31, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The expense is a function of the amount of benefits earned, interest on projected benefit obligations, amortization of costs and credits from prior benefit changes and the expected return on the assets held in the various plans. The expense decreased for the three month period ended March 31, 2006 as compared to the three month period ended March 31, 2005 as a result of a decrease in interest costs due to lower discount rates, an increase in the expected benefit from the federal subsidy on prescription drug benefits, and plan design changes associated with a new union contract. Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in expense due to lower expected return on investments in the benefit trusts caused by asset smoothing and amortization of actuarial losses caused by volatile equity markets and lower discount rates. The combined expense of the benefit plans is allocated to cost of sales and SG&A.

 

Operating Expenses by Segment

 

Segment expenses include employee-related costs, facility costs, network expenses and other non-employee related costs such as customer support, collections and telephone marketing. We manage indirect administrative services costs such as finance, information technology, real estate, legal, marketing and advertising services and human resources centrally; consequently, these costs are included in the other services segment. We evaluate depreciation, amortization, interest expense, interest income, and other income (expense) on a total company basis. As a result, these charges are not assigned to any segment. Similarly, we do not include impairment charges in the segment results. Our CODM regularly reviews the results of operations at a segment level to evaluate the performance of each segment and allocate resources.

 

Wireline Services Segment Expenses

 

The following table sets forth wireline services expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

    

Three Months Ended

March 31,


  

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
         2006    

       2005    

    
     (Dollars in millions)        

Wireline services expenses:

                            

Facility costs

   $ 547    $ 598    $ (51 )   (9 )%

Network expenses

     52      62      (10 )   (16 )%

Bad debt

     28      43      (15 )   (35 )%

Restructuring and severance related costs

     2      6      (4 )   (67 )%

Employee-related costs

     596      604      (8 )   (1 )%

Other non-employee related costs

     386      329      57     17 %
    

  

  


     

Total wireline services expenses

   $ 1,611    $ 1,642    $ (31 )   (2 )%
    

  

  


     

 

Wireline services expenses decreased primarily due to decreased facility costs from the renegotiation, termination or settlement of service arrangements, initiatives to optimize our usage of other ILEC or CLEC services to connect our customers to our network and decreased bad debt expense due to improved collection practices. These decreases were partially offset by increased non-employee related cost associated with Data Integration revenue.

 

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Wireless Services Segment Expenses

 

The following table sets forth wireless services expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


  

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
         2006    

       2005    

    
     (Dollars in millions)        

Wireless services expenses:

                            

Facility costs

   $ 71    $ 76    $ (5 )   (7 )%

Wireless equipment

     30      26      4     15 %

Bad debt

     12      14      (2 )   (14 )%

Employee-related costs

     12      14      (2 )   (14 )%

Other non-employee related costs

     16      26      (10 )   (38 )%
    

  

  


     

Total wireless services expenses

   $ 141    $ 156    $ (15 )   (10 )%
    

  

  


     

 

Wireless services expenses decreased primarily due to decreased costs as we transitioned our wireless network to a third-party vendor and decreased facility costs related to a lower cost per minute.

 

Other Services Segment Expenses

 

Other services expenses include corporate expenses for services such as finance, information technology, real estate, legal, marketing and advertising services and human resources, which we centrally manage and are not assigned to the wireline or wireless services segments. The following table sets forth other services expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2006 and 2005:

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


  

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
         2006    

       2005    

    
     (Dollars in millions)        

Other services expenses:

                            

Property and other taxes

   $ 88    $ 98    $ (10 )   (10 )%

Real estate costs

     110      105      5     5 %

Restructuring, realignment and severance related costs

     20      7      13     186 %

Employee-related costs

     189      198      (9 )   (5 )%

Other non-employee related costs

     272      269      3     1 %
    

  

  


     

Total other services expenses

   $ 679    $ 677    $ 2     0 %
    

  

  


     

 

The increase in other services expenses was primarily attributable to increased restructuring, realignment and severance-related costs offset by property tax reductions, sales and use tax refunds and reduced employee-related costs.

 

Non-Segment Operating Expenses

 

Depreciation and Amortization

 

Depreciation expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $588 million or 10% lower than the same period in the prior year. The primary driver of this decrease was the decreased level of our capital expenditures over a period of time and the changing mix of our investment in property, plant and equipment over that period of time. Absent a significant increase in our capital investment program or a decrease in the estimate of the useful lives of assets, we expect that our year over year depreciation expense will continue to decrease. Amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2006 was $103 million or 15% lower than the same period in the prior year. This reduction reflects the lower capital spending on software related assets since 2001.

 

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Other Consolidated Results

 

Other Expense—Net

 

Other expense—net generally includes interest expense net of capitalized interest, investment write-downs, gains and losses on the sales of investments and fixed assets, gains and losses on early retirement of debt and changes in derivative instrument market values.

 

     Three Months
Ended
March 31,


   

Increase/

(Decrease)


   

Percentage

Change


 
     2006

    2005

     
     (Dollars in millions)        

Interest expense—net

   $ 296     $ 381     $ (85 )   (22 )%

Gain on sale of assets

     —         (257 )     257     nm  

Other (income) expense—net

     (28 )     15       (43 )   nm  
    


 


 


     

Total other expense—net

   $ 268     $ 139     $ 129     93 %
    


 


 


     

nm—percentages greater than 200% and comparisons from positive to negative values or to zero values are considered not meaningful.

 

Interest expense—net. Interest expense decreased primarily due to decreased total long-term borrowings and lower interest rates on certain long-term borrowings as a result of retiring notes totaling $3.4 billion with coupon rates ranging from 13% to 14% during 2005.

 

Gain on sale of assets. In the first quarter of 2005 we closed the sale of all of our PCS licenses and substantially all of our related wireless network assets and recognized a gain of $257 million associated with this and related asset sales.

 

Other (income) expense—net. The increase in other income is primarily due to a one-time expense charge for interest rate swap agreements and a tax penalty accrual in the three months ended March 31, 2005 as well as certain non-recurring items including the recognition of a gain on the abandonment of an indefeasible right of use (IRU) by a customer in the three months ended March 31, 2006.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Near-Term View

 

Our working capital deficit, or the amount by which our current liabilities exceed our current assets, was $923 million as of March 31, 2006 and $1,071 million as of December 31, 2005. Our working capital deficit improved primarily due to the excess of our earnings before depreciation and amortization after our capital expenditures.

 

We believe that our cash on hand together with our short-term investments, our currently undrawn revolver and our cash flows from operations should be sufficient to meet our cash needs through the next twelve months. However, if we become subject to significant judgments, settlements and/or tax payments, as further discussed in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report, we could be required to make significant payments that we may not have the resources to make. The magnitude of any settlements or judgments resulting from these actions could materially and adversely affect our ability to meet our debt obligations and our financial condition, potentially impacting our credit ratings, our ability to access capital markets and our compliance with debt covenants. In addition, the magnitude of any settlements or judgments may cause us to draw down significantly on our cash balances, which might force us to obtain additional financing or explore other methods to generate cash. Such methods could include issuing additional securities or selling assets.

 

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To the extent that our EBITDA (as defined in our debt covenants) is reduced by cash judgments, settlements and/or tax payments, our debt to consolidated EBITDA ratios under certain debt agreements will be adversely affected. This could reduce our liquidity and flexibility due to potential restrictions on drawing on our line of credit and potential restrictions on incurring additional debt under certain provisions of our debt agreements.

 

In addition, our wholly owned subsidiary, Qwest Services Corporation, has a currently undrawn, five-year $850 million revolving credit facility (referred to as the 2005 QSC Credit Facility) that contains various limitations, including a restriction on using any proceeds from the facility to pay settlements or judgments relating to the investigation and securities actions discussed in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

 

The wireline services segment provides over 95% of our total operating revenue with the balance attributed to our wireless services and other services segments and the wireline services segment also provides all of the consolidated cash flows from operations. Cash flows used in operations of our wireless services segment are not expected to be significant in the near term. Cash flows used in operations of our other services segment are significant; however, we expect that the cash flows provided by the wireline services segment will be sufficient to fund these operations in the near term.

 

We expect that our 2006 capital expenditures will be slightly higher than our 2005 levels, with the majority being used in our wireline services segment.

 

Long-Term View

 

We have historically operated with a working capital deficit as a result of our highly leveraged position, and it is likely that we will operate with a working capital deficit in the future. We believe that cash provided by operations and our currently undrawn revolver, combined with our current cash position and continued access to capital markets to refinance our current portion of debt, should allow us to meet our cash requirements for the foreseeable future.

 

We may periodically need to obtain financing in order to meet our debt obligations as they come due. We may also need to obtain additional financing or investigate other methods to generate cash (such as further cost reductions or the sale of assets) if revenue and cash provided by operations decline, if economic conditions weaken, if competitive pressures increase or if we become subject to significant judgments, settlements and/or tax payments as further discussed in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report. In the event of an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters, we could be required to make significant payments that we do not have the resources to make. The magnitude of any settlements or judgments resulting from these actions could materially and adversely affect our ability to meet our debt obligations and our financial condition, potentially impacting our credit ratings, our ability to access capital markets and our compliance with debt covenants. In addition, the magnitude of any settlements or judgments may cause us to draw down significantly on our cash balances, which might force us to obtain additional financing or explore other methods to generate cash. Such methods could include issuing additional securities or selling assets.

 

The 2005 QSC Credit Facility makes available to us $850 million of additional credit subject to certain restrictions as described below, and is currently undrawn. This facility has a cross payment default provision, and this facility and certain other debt issues also have cross acceleration provisions. When present, such provisions could have a greater impact on liquidity than might otherwise arise from a default or acceleration of a single debt instrument. These provisions generally provide that a cross default under these debt instruments could occur if:

 

    we fail to pay any indebtedness when due in an aggregate principal amount greater than $100 million;

 

    any indebtedness is accelerated in an aggregate principal amount greater than $100 million ($25 million in the case of one of the debt instruments); or

 

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    judicial proceedings are commenced to foreclose on any of our assets that secure indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount greater than $100 million.

 

Upon such a cross default, the creditors of a material amount of our debt may elect to declare that a default has occurred under their debt instruments and to accelerate the principal amounts due such creditors. Cross acceleration provisions are similar to cross default provisions, but permit a default in a second debt instrument to be declared only if in addition to a default occurring under the first debt instrument, the indebtedness due under the first debt instrument is actually accelerated. In addition, the 2005 QSC Credit Facility contains various limitations, including a restriction on using any proceeds from the facility to pay settlements or judgments relating to the investigation and securities actions discussed in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

 

Letters of Credit

 

We maintain letter of credit arrangements with various financial institutions for up to $147 million. At March 31, 2006, we had outstanding letters of credit of approximately $133 million.

 

Historical View

 

     Three Months Ended
March 31,


    Increase/
(Decrease)


    %
Change


 
         2006    

        2005    

     
     (Dollars in millions)              

Cash flows:

                              

Provided by operating activities

   $ 140     $ 343     $ (203 )   59 %

Used for investing activities

     (392 )     (86 )     (306 )   nm  

Provided by (used for) financing activities

     16       (2 )     18     nm  
    


 


 


     

(Decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (236 )   $ 255     $ (491 )   nm  
    


 


 


     

nm—percentages greater than 200% and comparisons between positive and negative values or to zero values are considered not meaningful.

 

Operating Activities

 

Our cash generated from operating activities decreased $203 million primarily as a result of a large payment relating to the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action and one additional payroll payment in the three months ended March 31, 2006 when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005.

 

Investing Activities

 

Cash used for investing activities increased $306 million primarily due to the receipt of proceeds from the sale of our wireless assets in our local service area in the three months ended March 31, 2005 of $418 million, as well as increased capital expenditures offset in part by lower net purchases (sales proceeds less purchases) of investment securities in the three months ended March 31, 2006 compared to the three months ended March 31, 2005.

 

Financing Activities

 

Cash provided by financing activities increased primarily due to proceeds from the issuance of common stock from various stock benefit plans including the exercise of stock options offset by the repayment of debt.

 

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Credit Ratings

 

The table below summarizes our long-term debt ratings at March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005:

 

     Moody’s

   S&P

   Fitch

Corporate rating/Sr. Implied rating

   B1    BB-    NR

Qwest Corporation

   Ba3    BB    BB+

Qwest Communications Corporation

   NR    NR    B+

Qwest Capital Funding, Inc.

   B3    B    B+

Qwest Communications International Inc.*

   B2/B3    B    BB/B+

NR = Not rated

* = QCII notes have various ratings

 

Debt ratings by the various rating agencies reflect each agency’s opinion of the ability of the issuers to repay debt obligations as they come due. In general, lower ratings result in higher borrowing costs and/or impaired ability to borrow. A security rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell, or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time by the assigning rating organization.

 

Given our current credit ratings, as noted above, our ability to raise additional capital under acceptable terms and conditions may be negatively impacted.

 

Risk Management

 

We are exposed to market risks arising from changes in interest rates. The objective of our interest rate risk management program is to manage the level and volatility of our interest expense. We may employ derivative financial instruments to manage our interest rate risk exposure. We may also employ financial derivatives to hedge foreign currency exposures associated with particular debt.

 

Approximately $2.0 billion of floating-rate debt was exposed to changes in interest rates as of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005. This exposure is linked to LIBOR. A hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in LIBOR would have been immaterial in the three months ended March 31, 2006. As of March 31, 2006 and December 31, 2005, we had approximately $0.6 billion and $0.5 billion, respectively, of long-term fixed rate debt obligations maturing in the subsequent 12 months. We are exposed to changes in interest rates at any time that we choose to refinance this debt. A hypothetical increase of 100 basis points in the interest rates on any refinancing of the current portion of long-term debt would not have a material effect on our earnings.

 

As of March 31, 2006, we had $562 million invested in money market instruments and $97 million invested in auction rate securities. As interest rates change, so will the interest income derived from these instruments. Assuming that these investment balances were to remain constant, a hypothetical decrease of 100 basis points in money market rates would be immaterial.

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

There were no substantial changes to our off-balance sheet arrangements or contractual commitments in the three months ended March 31, 2006, when compared to the disclosures provided in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.

 

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SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This Form 10-Q contains or incorporates by reference forward-looking statements about our financial condition, results of operations and business. These statements include, among others:

 

    statements concerning the benefits that we expect will result from our business activities and certain transactions we have completed, such as increased revenue, decreased expenses and avoided expenses and expenditures; and

 

    statements of our expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated developments and other matters that are not historical facts.

 

These statements may be made expressly in this document or may be incorporated by reference to other documents we have filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). You can find many of these statements by looking for words such as “may,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “plan,” “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” or similar expressions used in this document or documents incorporated by reference in this document.

 

These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by us in those statements. Some of these risks are described in “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part II of this report. These risk factors should be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that we or persons acting on our behalf may issue. Given these uncertainties, we caution investors not to unduly rely on our forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts’ expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Further, the information about our intentions contained in this document is a statement of our intention as of the date of this document and is based upon, among other things, the existing regulatory environment, industry conditions, market conditions and prices, the economy in general and our assumptions as of such date. We may change our intentions, at any time and without notice, based upon any changes in such factors, in our assumptions or otherwise.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The information under the caption “Risk Management” in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 2 of Part I of this report is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

The effectiveness of our or any system of disclosure controls and procedures is subject to certain limitations, including the exercise of judgment in designing, implementing and evaluating the controls and procedures, the assumptions used in identifying the likelihood of future events, and the inability to eliminate misconduct completely. As a result, there can be no assurance that our disclosure controls and procedures will detect all errors or fraud. By their nature, our or any system of disclosure controls and procedures can provide only reasonable assurance regarding management’s control objectives.

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, we evaluated the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the “Exchange Act”) as of March 31, 2006. On the basis of this review, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are designed, and are effective, to give

 

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reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC and to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, in a manner that allows timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred in the first quarter of 2006 that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II—OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

The information contained in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

Risks Affecting Our Business

 

Increasing competition, including product substitution, continues to cause access line losses, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial performance.

 

We compete in a rapidly evolving and highly competitive market, and we expect competition to continue to intensify. We are facing greater competition in our core local business from cable companies, wireless providers (including ourselves), facilities-based providers using their own networks as well as those leasing parts of our network (UNEs), and resellers. As a reseller of wireless services, we face risks that facility based wireless providers do not have. In addition, regulatory developments over the past few years have generally increased competitive pressures on our business. Due to these and other factors, we continue to lose access lines and are experiencing pressure on profit margins.

 

We seek to distinguish ourselves from our competitors by providing new or expanded services such as in-region long-distance, high-speed Internet, wireless, video and VoIP, bundling of expanded feature-rich products and improving the quality of our customer service. However, we may not be successful in these efforts. We may not have sufficient resources to distinguish our service levels from those of our competitors, and we may not be successful in integrating our product offerings, especially products for which we act as a reseller, such as wireless services and satellite video services. Even if we are successful, these initiatives may not be sufficient to offset our continuing loss of access lines. If these initiatives are unsuccessful or insufficient and our revenue declines significantly without corresponding cost reductions, this will cause a significant deterioration to our results of operations and financial condition and adversely affect our ability to service debt and pay other obligations.

 

Consolidation among participants in the telecommunications industry may allow our competitors to compete more effectively against us, which could adversely affect our operating results and financial performance.

 

The telecommunications industry is experiencing an ongoing trend towards consolidation, and several of our competitors have consolidated, or have announced plans to consolidate, with other telecommunications providers. This trend may result in competitors that are larger and better financed and may afford our competitors increased resources and greater geographical reach, thereby enabling such competitors to compete more effectively against us. We have begun to experience and expect further increased pressures as a result of this trend and in turn have been and may continue to be forced to respond with lower profit margin product offerings and pricing plans in an effort to retain and attract customers. These pressures could adversely affect our operating results and financial performance.

 

Rapid changes in technology and markets could require substantial expenditure of financial and other resources in excess of contemplated levels, and any inability to respond to those changes could reduce our market share.

 

The telecommunications industry is experiencing significant technological changes, and our ability to execute our business plans and compete depends upon our ability to develop and deploy new products and services, such as broadband data, wireless, video and VoIP services. The development and deployment of new products and services could require substantial expenditure of financial and other resources in excess of contemplated levels. If we are not able to develop new products and services to keep pace with technological

 

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advances, or if such products and services are not widely accepted by customers, our ability to compete could be adversely affected and our market share could decline. Any inability to keep up with changes in technology and markets could also adversely affect the trading price of our securities and our ability to service our debt.

 

Third parties may claim we infringe upon their intellectual property rights, and defending against these claims could adversely affect our profit margins and our ability to conduct business.

 

From time to time, we receive notices from third parties claiming we have or are infringing upon their intellectual property rights. We may receive similar notices in the future. Responding to these claims may require us to expend significant time and money defending our use of affected technology, may require us to enter into royalty or licensing agreements on less favorable terms than we could otherwise obtain or may require us to pay damages. If we are required to take one or more of these actions, our profit margins may decline. In addition, in responding to these claims, we may be required to stop selling or redesign one or more of our products or services, which could significantly and adversely affect the way we conduct business.

 

Risks Relating to Legal and Regulatory Matters

 

Any adverse outcome of the investigation currently being conducted by the DOJ or the material litigation pending against us, including the securities actions, could have a material adverse impact on our financial condition and operating results, on the trading price of our debt and equity securities and on our ability to access the capital markets.

 

The DOJ investigation and the remaining securities actions described in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report present material and significant risks to us. In the aggregate, the plaintiffs in the remaining securities actions and persons who have sought exclusion from the class in the consolidated securities action seek billions of dollars in damages, and the outcome of one or more of these matters or the DOJ investigation could have a negative impact on the outcomes of the other actions. Further, the size, scope and nature of the restatements of our consolidated financial statements for 2001 and 2000, which are described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, affect the risks presented by these actions and the DOJ investigation, as these matters involve, among other things, our prior accounting practices and related disclosures. Plaintiffs in certain of the securities actions have alleged our restatement of items in support of their claims. We continue to defend against the remaining securities actions vigorously and are currently unable to provide any estimate as to the timing of their resolution.

 

We can give no assurance as to the impacts on our financial results or financial condition that may ultimately result from all of these matters. We have a recorded reserve in our financial statements for the minimum estimated amount of loss we believe is probable with respect to the remaining securities actions described in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report, as well as to any additional actions that may be brought by parties that, as described under “Additional Opt-Out Parties” in Note 8, have more recently requested to be excluded from the proposed settlement of the consolidated securities action. However, the ultimate outcomes of these matters are still uncertain and the amount of loss we ultimately incur could be substantially more than the reserves we have provided. If the recorded reserves are insufficient, we will need to record additional charges to our consolidated statement of operations in future periods. In addition, any settlement of or judgment in one or more of these actions substantially in excess of our recorded reserves could have a significant impact on us, and we can give no assurance that we will have the resources available to pay any such judgment. The magnitude of any settlement or judgment resulting from these matters could materially and adversely affect our ability to meet our debt obligations and our financial condition, potentially impacting our credit ratings, our ability to access capital markets and our compliance with debt covenants. In addition, the magnitude of any settlement or judgment may cause us to draw down significantly on our cash balances, which might force us to obtain additional financing or explore other methods to generate cash. Such methods could include issuing additional securities or selling assets.

 

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Further, there exist other material proceedings pending against us as described in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report, which, depending on their outcome, may have a material adverse effect on our financial position. Thus, we can give no assurances as to the impacts on our financial results or financial condition as a result of these matters.

 

Current or future civil or criminal actions against our former officers and employees could reduce investor confidence and cause the trading price for our securities to decline.

 

As a result of our past accounting issues, investor confidence in us has suffered and could suffer further. Although we have consummated a settlement with the SEC concerning its investigation of us, in March 2005, the SEC filed suit against our former chief executive officer, Joseph Nacchio, two of our former chief financial officers, Robert Woodruff and Robin Szeliga, and other former officers and employees. In December 2005, a criminal indictment was filed against Mr. Nacchio charging him with 42 counts of insider trading. In July 2005, Ms. Szeliga pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of insider trading. In December 2005, Marc Weisberg, a former Qwest executive, pleaded guilty to a criminal charge of wire fraud. Other former officers or employees have entered into settlements with the SEC involving civil fraud or other claims in which they neither admitted nor denied the allegations against them.

 

A trial could take place in the pending SEC lawsuit against Mr. Nacchio and others and in connection with the criminal charges against Mr. Nacchio. Evidence introduced at such trials and in other matters may result in further scrutiny by governmental authorities and others. The existence of this heightened scrutiny could adversely affect investor confidence and cause the trading price for our securities to decline.

 

We operate in a highly regulated industry, and are therefore exposed to restrictions on our manner of doing business and a variety of claims relating to such regulation.

 

Our operations are subject to significant federal regulation, including the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, regulations thereunder. We are also subject to the applicable laws and regulations of various states, including regulation by public utility commissions, or PUCs, and other state agencies. Federal laws and FCC regulations generally apply to regulated interstate telecommunications (including international telecommunications that originate or terminate in the United States), while state regulatory authorities generally have jurisdiction over regulated telecommunications services that are intrastate in nature. The local competition aspects of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 are subject to FCC rulemaking, but the state regulatory authorities play a significant role in implementing those FCC rules. Generally, we must obtain and maintain certificates of authority from regulatory bodies in most states where we offer regulated services and must obtain prior regulatory approval of rates, terms and conditions for our intrastate services, where required. Our businesses are subject to numerous, and often quite detailed, requirements under federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations. Accordingly, we cannot ensure that we are always in compliance with all these requirements at any single point in time. The agencies responsible for the enforcement of these laws, rules and regulations may initiate inquiries or actions based on their own perceptions of our conduct, or based on customer complaints.

 

Regulation of the telecommunications industry is changing rapidly, and the regulatory environment varies substantially from state to state. Recently a number of state legislatures and state PUCs adopted reduced or modified forms of regulation for retail services. This is generally beneficial to us because it reduces regulatory costs and regulatory filing and reporting requirements. These changes also generally allow more flexibility for new product introduction and enhance our ability to respond to competition. At the same time, some of the changes, occurring at both the state and federal level, may have the potential effect of reducing some regulatory protections, including having FCC-approved tariffs that include rates, terms and conditions. These changes may necessitate the need for customer-specific contracts to address matters previously covered in our tariffs. Despite these regulatory changes, a substantial portion of our local voice services revenue remains subject to FCC and state PUC pricing regulation, which could expose us to unanticipated price declines. There can be no assurance

 

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that future regulatory, judicial or legislative activities will not have a material adverse effect on our operations, or that regulators or third parties will not raise material issues with regard to our compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations.

 

All of our operations are also subject to a variety of environmental, safety, health and other governmental regulations. We monitor our compliance with federal, state and local regulations governing the discharge and disposal of hazardous and environmentally sensitive materials, including the emission of electromagnetic radiation. Although we believe that we are in compliance with such regulations, any such discharge, disposal or emission might expose us to claims or actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results.

 

Risks Affecting Our Liquidity

 

Our high debt levels pose risks to our viability and may make us more vulnerable to adverse economic and competitive conditions, as well as other adverse developments.

 

We are highly leveraged. As of March 31, 2006, our total debt was approximately $15.4 billion. Approximately $2.8 billion of our debt obligations comes due over the next three years. In addition, holders of our $1.265 billion 3.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 may elect to convert the principal of their notes into cash if specified, market-based conversion requirements are met in the future. We do not anticipate holders would make such an election, however, because we believe it would likely result in adverse economic consequences to such holders. While we currently believe we will have the financial resources to meet our obligations when they come due, we cannot anticipate what our future condition will be. We may have unexpected costs and liabilities and we may have limited access to financing.

 

We may periodically need to obtain financing in order to meet our debt obligations as they come due. We may also need to obtain additional financing or investigate other methods to generate cash (such as further cost reductions or the sale of assets) if revenue and cash provided by operations decline, if economic conditions weaken, if competitive pressures increase or if we become subject to significant judgments, settlements and/or tax payments as further discussed in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report and in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources” in Item 2 of Part I of this report. We can give no assurance that such additional financing will be available on terms that are acceptable. Also, we may be impacted by factors relating to or affecting our liquidity and capital resources due to perception in the market, impacts on our credit ratings or provisions in our financing agreements that may restrict our flexibility under certain conditions.

 

In addition, QSC’s five-year $850 million revolving credit facility (referred to as the 2005 QSC Credit Facility), which is currently undrawn, has a cross payment default provision, and the 2005 QSC Credit Facility and certain of our other debt issues have cross acceleration provisions. When present, such provisions could have a wider impact on liquidity than might otherwise arise from a default or acceleration of a single debt instrument. Any such event could adversely affect our ability to conduct business or access the capital markets and could adversely impact our credit ratings. In addition, the 2005 QSC Credit Facility contains various limitations, including a restriction on using any proceeds from the facility to pay settlements or judgments relating to the DOJ investigation and securities actions discussed in Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report.

 

Our high debt levels could adversely impact our credit ratings. Additionally, the degree to which we are leveraged may have other important limiting consequences, including the following:

 

    placing us at a competitive disadvantage as compared with our less leveraged competitors;

 

    making us more vulnerable to downturns in general economic conditions or in any of our businesses;

 

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    limiting our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and the industry in which we operate; and

 

    impairing our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures or general corporate purposes.

 

We may be unable to significantly reduce the substantial capital requirements or operating expenses necessary to continue to operate our business, which may in turn affect our operating results.

 

The industry in which we operate is capital intensive, and as such we anticipate that our capital requirements will continue to be significant in the coming years. Although we have reduced our capital expenditures and operating expenses over the past few years, we may be unable to further significantly reduce these costs, even if revenue is decreasing. While we believe that our current level of capital expenditures will meet both our maintenance and our core growth requirements going forward, this may not be the case if circumstances underlying our expectations change.

 

Declines in the value of qualified pension plan assets, or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding, could require us to provide significant amounts of funding for our qualified pension plan.

 

While we do not expect to be required to make material cash contributions to our qualified defined benefit pension plan in the near term based upon current actuarial analyses and forecasts, a significant decline in the value of qualified pension plan assets in the future or unfavorable changes in laws or regulations that govern pension plan funding could materially change the timing and amount of required pension funding. As a result, we may be required to fund our qualified defined benefit pension plan with cash from operations, perhaps by a material amount. Also, recognition of an additional minimum liability caused by changes in pension plan assets or measurement of the accumulated benefit obligation could have a material impact on our consolidated balance sheet. As an example, if our accumulated benefit obligation exceeds pension plan assets in the future, the impact would be to eliminate our prepaid pension asset, which was $1.165 billion as of December 31, 2005, and record a pension liability for the amount that our accumulated benefit obligation exceeds pension plan assets with a corresponding charge to other comprehensive loss, thereby increasing stockholders’ deficit. Alternatively, we could make a voluntary contribution to the plan so that the qualified pension plan assets exceed the accumulated benefit obligation. As of December 31, 2005, our qualified pension plan assets exceed our accumulated benefit obligation by $596 million.

 

Our debt agreements allow us to incur significantly more debt, which could exacerbate the other risks described herein.

 

The terms of our debt instruments permit us to incur additional indebtedness. Such additional debt may be necessary for many reasons, including to adequately respond to competition, to comply with regulatory requirements related to our service obligations or for financial reasons alone. Incremental borrowings or borrowings at maturity on terms that impose additional financial risks to our various efforts to improve our financial condition and results of operations could exacerbate the other risks described herein.

 

If we pursue and are involved in any business combinations, our financial condition could be adversely affected.

 

On a regular and ongoing basis, we review and evaluate other businesses and opportunities for business combinations that would be strategically beneficial. As a result, we may be involved in negotiations or discussions that, if they were to result in a transaction, could have a material effect on our financial condition (including short-term or long-term liquidity) or short-term or long-term results of operations.

 

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Should we make an error in judgment when identifying an acquisition candidate, or should we fail to successfully integrate acquired operations, we will likely fail to realize the benefits we intended to derive from the acquisition and may suffer other adverse consequences. Acquisitions involve a number of other risks, including:

 

    incurrence of substantial transaction costs;

 

    diversion of management’s attention from operating our existing business;

 

    charges to earnings in the event of any write-down or write-off of goodwill recorded in connection with acquisitions;

 

    depletion of our cash resources or incurrence of additional indebtedness to fund acquisitions;

 

    an adverse impact on our tax position; and

 

    assumption of liabilities of an acquired business (including unforeseen liabilities).

 

We can give no assurance that we will be able to successfully complete and integrate strategic acquisitions.

 

Other Risks Relating to Qwest

 

If conditions or assumptions differ from the judgments, assumptions or estimates used in our critical accounting policies, the accuracy of our financial statements and related disclosures could be affected.

 

The preparation of financial statements and related disclosures in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP, requires management to make judgments, assumptions and estimates that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Our critical accounting policies, which are described in our 2005 Form 10-K, describe those significant accounting policies and methods used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements that are considered “critical” because they require judgments, assumptions and estimates that materially impact our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures. As a result, if future events differ significantly from the judgments, assumptions and estimates in our critical accounting policies, such events or assumptions could have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

Taxing authorities may determine we owe additional taxes relating to various matters, which could adversely affect our financial results.

 

As a significant taxpayer, we are subject to frequent and regular audits from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, as well as from state and local tax authorities. These audits could subject us to risks due to adverse positions that may be taken by these tax authorities. Please see Note 8—Commitments and Contingencies to our condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 of Part I of this report for examples of legal proceedings involving some of these adverse positions. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2004, Qwest received notices of proposed adjustments on several significant issues for the 1998-2001 audit cycle. Certain of these proposed adjustments are before the Appeals Office of the IRS. There is no assurance that we and the IRS will achieve settlements on these issues or that, if we do achieve settlements, the terms will be favorable to us. Additionally, the IRS is reviewing Qwest’s tax treatment of the sale of its DEX directory publishing business in the 2002-2003 audit cycle.

 

Because prior to 1999 Qwest was a member of affiliated groups filing consolidated U.S. federal income tax returns, we could be severally liable for tax examinations and adjustments not directly applicable to current members of the Qwest affiliated group. Tax sharing agreements have been executed between us and previous affiliates, and we believe the liabilities, if any, arising from adjustments to tax liability would be borne by the affiliated group member determined to have a deficiency under the terms and conditions of such agreements and applicable tax law. We have recognized in our financial statements certain amounts owed to us under one of these agreements; however, generally, we have not provided for liabilities of former affiliated members or for claims they have asserted or may assert against us.

 

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While we believe our tax reserves adequately provide for the associated tax contingencies, Qwest’s tax audits and examinations may result in tax liabilities that differ materially from those we have recorded in our consolidated financial statements. Also, the ultimate outcomes of all of these matters are uncertain, and we can give no assurance as to whether an adverse result from one or more of them will have a material effect on our financial results, including potentially offsetting a significant portion of our existing net operating losses.

 

If we fail to extend or renegotiate our collective bargaining agreements with our labor unions as they expire from time to time, or if our unionized employees were to engage in a strike or other work stoppage, our business and operating results could be materially harmed.

 

We are a party to collective bargaining agreements with our labor unions, which represent a significant number of our employees. In August 2005, we reached agreements with the Communications Workers of America and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers on three-year labor agreements. Each of these agreements was ratified by union members and expires on August 16, 2008. Although we believe that our relations with our employees are satisfactory, no assurance can be given that we will be able to successfully extend or renegotiate our collective bargaining agreements as they expire from time to time. The impact of future negotiations, including changes in wages and benefit levels, could have a material impact on our financial results. Also, if we fail to extend or renegotiate our collective bargaining agreements, if disputes with our unions arise, or if our unionized workers engage in a strike or other work stoppage, we could incur higher ongoing labor costs or experience a significant disruption of operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our business.

 

The trading price of our securities could be volatile.

 

In recent years, the capital markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations. The overall market and the trading price of our securities may fluctuate greatly. The trading price of our securities may be significantly affected by various factors, including:

 

    quarterly fluctuations in our operating results;

 

    changes in investors’ and analysts’ perception of the business risks and conditions of our business;

 

    broader market fluctuations;

 

    general economic or political conditions;

 

    acquisitions and financings including the issuance of substantial number of shares of our common stock as consideration in acquisitions;

 

    sale of a substantial number of shares held by the existing shareholders in the public market, including shares issued upon exercise of outstanding options or upon the conversion of our convertible notes; and

 

    general conditions in the telecommunications industry.

 

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ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibits filed for Qwest through the filing of this Form 10-Q:

 

Exhibits identified in parentheses below are on file with the SEC and are incorporated herein by reference. All other exhibits are provided as part of this electronic submission.

 

Exhibit
Number


  

Description


(2.1)    Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 18, 1999 between U S WEST, Inc. and Qwest Communications International Inc. (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Form S-4/A filed on August 13, 1999, File No. 333-81149).
(3.1)    Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Qwest Communications International Inc. (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A, filed September 17, 1999, File No. 333-81149).
(3.2)    Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Qwest Communications International Inc. (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(3.3)    Amended and Restated Bylaws of Qwest Communications International Inc., adopted as of July 1, 2002 and amended as of May 25, 2004 (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(4.1)    Indenture, dated as of April 15, 1990, by and between Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company and The First National Bank of Chicago (incorporated by reference to Qwest Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-03040).
(4.2)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 16, 1991, by and between U S WEST Communications, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago (incorporated by reference to Qwest Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-03040).
(4.3)    Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (including form of Qwest Communications International Inc.’s 8.29% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 and 8.29% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2008 as an exhibit thereto) (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 000-22609).
(4.4)    Indenture, dated as of November 4, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (including form of Qwest Communications International Inc.’s 7.50% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 and 7.50% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2008 as an exhibit thereto) (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 2, 1999, File No. 333-71603).
(4.5)    Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (including form of Qwest Communications International Inc.’s 7.25% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 and 7.25% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2008 as an exhibit thereto) (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, filed February 2, 1999, File No. 333-71603).
(4.6)    Indenture, dated as of June 23, 1997, between LCI International, Inc. and First Trust National Association, as trustee, providing for the issuance of Senior Debt Securities, including Resolutions of the Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors establishing the terms of the 7.25% Senior Notes due June 15, 2007 (incorporated by reference to LCI’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated June 23, 1997, File No. 001-12683).

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


(4.7)    Indenture, dated as of June 29, 1998, by and among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., U S WEST, Inc., and The First National Bank of Chicago (now known as Bank One Trust Company, N. A.), as trustee (incorporated by reference to U S WEST’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November 18, 1998, File No. 001-14087).
(4.8)    Indenture, dated as of October 15, 1999, by and between Qwest Corporation and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Qwest Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, File No. 001-03040).
(4.9)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2000, by and among U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc., U S WEST, Inc., Qwest Communications International Inc., and Bank One Trust Company, as trustee (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2000, File No. 001-15577).
(4.10)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of February 16, 2001, to the Indenture, dated as of January 29, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (including form of Qwest Communications International Inc.’s 8.29% Senior Discount Notes due 2008 and 8.29% Series B Senior Discount Notes due 2008 as an exhibit thereto) (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2001, File No. 001-15577).
(4.11)    Officer’s Certificate of Qwest Corporation, dated March 12, 2002 (including forms of 8  7 / 8 % notes due March 15, 2012) (incorporated by reference to Qwest Corporation’s Form S-4, File No. 333-115119).
(4.12)    Indenture, dated as of December 26, 2002, between Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and Bank One Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 10, 2003, File No. 001-15577).
(4.13)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 26, 2002, by and among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), supplementing the Indenture, dated as of November 4, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as originally filed on March 11, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(4.14)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 26, 2002, by and among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (formerly known as Bankers Trust Company), supplementing the Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as originally filed on March 11, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(4.15)    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2003, by and among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and Bank One Trust Company, N.A. (as successor in interest to Bankers Trust Company), supplementing the Indenture, dated as of November 4, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as originally filed on March 11, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(4.16)    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2003, by and among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and Bank One Trust Company, N.A. (as successor in interest to Bankers Trust Company), supplementing the Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1998, with Bankers Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Qwest’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as originally filed on March 11, 2004, File No. 001-15577).

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


(4.17)    Indenture, dated as of February 5, 2004, among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003, as originally filed on March 11, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(4.18)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 19, 2004, by and between Qwest Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(4.19)    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated November 23, 2004, by and between Qwest Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 23, 2004, File No. 001-03040).
(4.20)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 17, 2005, among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(4.21)    Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 17, 2005, by and between Qwest Corporation and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(4.22)    Second Supplemental Indenture, dated June 23, 2005, among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(4.23)    Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2005, by and between Qwest Communications International Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(4.24)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 8, 2005, by and between Qwest Communications International Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 14, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(4.25)    First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 16, 2005, by and among Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, N.A. as successor to Bank One Trust Company, N.A. (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 21, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(10.1)    Equity Incentive Plan, as amended, including forms of option and restricted stock agreements (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2005 and Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
10.2    Additional forms of option and restricted stock agreements used under Equity Incentive Plan, as amended.*
(10.3)    Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s 2003 Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders).*
(10.4)    Nonqualified Employee Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-15577).*

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


(10.5)    Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, File No. 000-22609).*
(10.6)    Equity Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, File No. 000-22609).*
(10.7)    Deferred Compensation Plan for Nonemployee Directors, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 16, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.8)    Qwest Savings & Investment Plan, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Form S-8 filed on January 15, 2004, File No. 333-11923).*
(10.9)    2006 Qwest Management Bonus Plan Summary (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed December 16, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.10)    Summary Sheet Describing the Compensation Package for Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Non-employee Directors (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.11)    Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of April 18, 1999, with Anschutz Company and Anschutz Family Investment Company LLC (incorporated by reference to Qwest’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed April 28, 1999, File No. 000-22609).
(10.12)    Employee Matters Agreement between MediaOne Group and U S WEST, dated June 5, 1998 (incorporated by reference to U S WEST’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated June 26, 1998, File No. 001-14087).
(10.13)    Tax Sharing Agreement between MediaOne Group and U S WEST, dated June 5, 1998 (incorporated by reference to U S WEST’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A, dated June 26, 1998, File No. 001-14087).
(10.14)    Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 19, 2004, among Qwest Corporation and the initial purchasers listed therein (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).
(10.15)    Registration Rights Agreement, dated November 23, 2004, by and among Qwest Corporation and the initial purchasers listed therein (incorporated by reference to Qwest Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 18, 2004, File No. 001-03040).
(10.16)    Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 17, 2005, among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and the initial purchasers listed therein (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(10.17)    Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 17, 2005, by and among Qwest Corporation and the initial purchasers listed therein (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(10.18)    Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 23, 2005, among Qwest Communications International Inc., Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Capital Funding, Inc. and the initial purchasers listed therein (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 23, 2005, File No. 001-15577).

 

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Exhibit
Number


  

Description


(10.19)    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 19, 2004, by and between Richard C. Notebaert and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.20)    Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated October 21, 2005, by and between Richard C. Notebaert and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.21)    Form of Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Richard C. Notebaert (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 16, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.22)    Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2006, by and between Richard C. Notebaert and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 17, 2006, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.23)    Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2006, by and between Richard C. Notebaert and Qwest Communications International Inc. (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 17, 2006, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.24)    Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement, dated February 14, 2006, by and between Qwest Business Resources, Inc. and Richard C. Notebaert (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(10.25)    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 19, 2004, by and between Oren G. Shaffer and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.26)    Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated October 21, 2005, by and between Oren G. Shaffer and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 24, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.27)    Form of Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Oren G. Shaffer (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 16, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.28)    Amendment to Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2006, by and between Oren G. Shaffer and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 17, 2006, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.29)    Agreement, dated as of February 16, 2006, by and between Oren G. Shaffer and Qwest Communications International Inc. (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on February 17, 2006, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.30)    Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement, dated February 14, 2006, by and between Qwest Business Resources, Inc. and Oren G. Shaffer (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, File No. 001-15577).

 

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Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


  

Description


(10.31)    Retention Agreement, dated May 8, 2002, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Richard N. Baer (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.32)    Severance Agreement, dated July 21, 2003, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Richard N. Baer (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.33)    Severance Agreement, dated April 4, 2005, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Thomas E. Richards (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.34)    Letter Agreement, dated August 20, 2003, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Paula Kruger (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.35)    Severance Agreement, dated September 8, 2003, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Paula Kruger (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.36)    Letter Agreement, dated August 19, 2004, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and Paula Kruger (incorporated by reference to Qwest’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.37)    Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated August 19, 2004 by and between Barry K. Allen and Qwest Services Corporation (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.38)    Aircraft Time Sharing Agreement, dated February 14, 2006, by and between Qwest Business Resources, Inc. and Barry Allen (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
(10.39)    Letter Agreement, dated March 27, 2003, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and John W. Richardson (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Registration Statement on Form S-4, File No. 333-115115).*
(10.40)    Severance Agreement, dated as of July 28, 2003, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and John W. Richardson (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, File No. 001-15577).*
10.41    Amendment to Severance Agreement, dated as of March 14, 2006, by and between Qwest Services Corporation and John W. Richardson.*
(10.42)    Form of Amendment to Severance Agreement between Qwest Services Corporation and each of Richard N. Baer, Paula Kruger and Thomas E. Richards (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on December 16, 2005, File No. 001-15577).*
(10.43)    Private Label PCS Services Agreement between Sprint Spectrum L.P. and Qwest Wireless LLC dated August 3, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2004, File No. 1-15577).†
(10.44)    Stipulation of Partial Settlement, dated as of November 21, 2005, by and among Qwest Communications International Inc., the other settling defendants, and the Lead Plaintiffs in In re Qwest Communications International Inc. Securities Litigation on behalf of themselves and each of the class members (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 6, 2005, File No. 001-15577).
12    Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.

 

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Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number


  

Description


31.1    Chief Executive Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2    Chief Financial Officer Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
99.1    Quarterly Operating Revenue.
99.2    Quarterly Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
(99.3)    Credit Agreement, dated as of October 21, 2005, among Qwest Services Corporation, Qwest Communications International Inc., the Lenders party thereto from time to time, and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as Administrative Agent and Issuing Lender (incorporated by reference to Qwest Communications International Inc.’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005, File No. 001-15577).

(    ) Previously filed.
* Executive Compensation Plans and Arrangements.
Confidential treatment has been granted by the SEC for certain provisions. Omitted material for which confidential treatment has been requested has been filed separately with the SEC.

 

In accordance with Item 601(b)(4)(iii)(A) of Regulation S-K, copies of certain instruments defining the rights of holders of certain of our long-term debt are not filed herewith. Pursuant to this regulation, we hereby agree to furnish a copy of any such instrument to the SEC upon request.

 

59


Table of Contents

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.

 

Q WEST C OMMUNICATIONS I NTERNATIONAL I NC .

By:

 

/ S /    J OHN W. R ICHARDSON


   

John W. Richardson

Senior Vice President and Controller

(Chief Accounting Officer and Duly Authorized Officer)

 

May 3, 2006

 

60

EXHIBIT 10.2

 

NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION AGREEMENT

 

This Option Agreement (the “Agreement”) is made as of the      day of                     , between Qwest Communications International Inc., a Delaware Corporation, and (the “Optionee”).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company desires to afford the Optionee the opportunity to purchase shares of Company Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Shares”).

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in connection with the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS: CONFLICTS.

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall govern and control. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any agreement between Optionee and U S WEST, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern and control. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any employment agreement between Company and Optionee (other than an agreement between the Optionee and U S WEST, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries), such employment agreement shall govern.

 

2. GRANT OF OPTIONS.

 

The Company hereby grants to the Optionee the right and option (the “Option” or “Options”) to purchase up to, but not exceeding in the aggregate,                      Common Shares, on the terms and conditions herein set forth.

 

3. PURCHASE PRICE.

 

The purchase price of each Common Share covered by the Option shall be                      (the “Purchase Price”).

 

4. TERM OF OPTIONS.

 

The term of the Option shall be ten (10) years from the date hereof, subject to earlier termination as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

 

5. VESTING OF OPTIONS.

 

The Option, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations contained herein, shall vest and become exercisable with respect to the Common Shares in installments of     % one year from the date hereof and in additional installments of     % on each subsequent anniversary thereafter; provided that with respect to each such installment, the Optionee has remained in continuous employment with the Company from the date hereof through the date such installment is designated to vest.

 

Notwithstanding the vesting schedule set forth above, the Options will vest and become immediately exercisable in the event of the Optionee’s death or Disability and under the circumstances described in Section 7 below.


6. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT.

 

  (a) Termination of Employment for Reasons other than Death, Disability, Retirement or Cause. In the event the Optionee’s employment with the Company terminates for reasons other than Optionee’s death, Disability, Retirement or Cause, the Option shall remain exercisable for a period of up to 90 calendar days after the date of Optionee’s termination of employment (but not beyond the term of the Option), to the extent vested and exercisable on the date of Optionee’s termination of employment.

 

  (b) Termination of Employment Because Optionee Dies, Becomes Disabled or Retires. In the event Optionee’s employment with the Company terminates because Optionee dies, becomes Disabled (as defined in the Plan) or Retires, the Option shall remain exercisable for two years after Optionee’s termination of employment (but not beyond the term of the Option), to the extent vested and exercisable at the time Optionee’s employment terminated. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “Retire” and “Retirement” shall mean that, at the time of Optionee’s termination of employment, Optionee meets one of the following age and service combinations:

 

     Age at Retirement

     Term of Employment
(as defined in the
Qwest Pension Plan)


Combination 1

   Any Age      at least 30 years

Combination 2

   50-54      at least 25 years

Combination 3

   55-59      at least 20 years

Combination 4

   60-64      at least 15 years

Combination 5

   65 and older      at least 10 years

 

  (c) Termination of Employment for Cause. In the event Optionee’s employment with the Company is terminated by the Company for Cause, the Option shall be forfeited as of the date of such termination, whether or not otherwise vested or exercisable on such date. For purposes of this Agreement, “cause” shall mean:

 

(1) Commission of an act deemed by the Company in its sole discretion to be an act of dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation or other act of moral turpitude that would reflect negatively upon Qwest or compromise the effective performance of Optionee’s duties;

 

(2) Unlawful conduct that would reflect negatively upon Qwest or compromise the effective performance of Optionee’s duties, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion;

 

(3) Conviction of (or pleading nolo contendere to) any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

 

(4) Continued failure to substantially perform Optionee’s duties to the satisfaction of his or her supervisor (other than such failure resulting from Optionee’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after the delivery of written notice to Optionee specifically identifying the manner in which Optionee has failed to substantially perform his or her duties and Optionee has been afforded a reasonable opportunity to substantially perform his or her duties; or

 

(5) A willful violation of the Qwest Code of Conduct or other Qwest policies that would reflect negatively upon Qwest or compromise the effective performance of Optionee’s duties, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

  (d) Unvested Options Forfeited Upon Termination of Employment. Any portion of the Option that has not vested as of the date Optionee’s employment terminates shall be forfeited immediately upon termination of Optionee’s employment with the Company.

 

7. CHANGE OF CONTROL.

 

Subject to the conflict provisions in Paragraph 1 of this Agreement, in the event there is a both a Change in Control, and a subsequent termination of Optionee’s employment by the Company for a reason other than Cause

 

2


in a two-year period after the date of such Change of Control, the Option shall vest in full and become immediately exercisable on the date of such termination, and shall remain vested and exercisable during the remaining term thereof.

 

8. FORFEITURE OF OPTION.

 

  (a) Performance for Competitors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Optionee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Option, if, Optionee accepts employment with a Competitor (as defined herein) or during the [12][18] month period beginning on the date of Optionee’s termination of employment, Optionee owns more than 2% of the common stock of, or is employed by, advises, represents or assists in any other way any Competitor and if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Optionee are, or could be, detrimental to the Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Competitor” means a person or entity that competes with, or intends to compete with, the Company with respect to any product sold or service performed by the Company in any state or country in which the Company sells such products or performs such services. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Optionee is an attorney, Optionee may, subject to the applicable rules of ethics and the nondisclosure provisions herein, perform services solely in his or her capacity as an outside attorney on behalf of any person or entity, even if such person or entity competes with Qwest or sells goods or services similar to those Qwest sells.

 

  (b) Non-solicitation of Employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Optionee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Option, if, during the one-year period beginning on the date of Optionee’s termination or employment, Optionee induces any employee of Qwest to leave Qwest’s employment, and if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Optionee are detrimental to the Company.

 

  (c)

Nondisclosure. Optionee will not disclose outside of the Company or to any person within the Company who does not have a legitimate business need to know, any Confidential Information (as defined below) during Optionee’s employment with the Company. Optionee will not disclose to anyone or make any use of any Confidential Information of the Company after Optionee’s employment with the Company ends for any reason, except as required by law after timely notice is given by Optionee to the Company. This agreement not to disclose or use Confidential Information means, among other things, that Optionee, for a period of [12][18] months beginning on the effective date of the termination of Optionee’s employment with the Company or any other Qwest entity for any reason, may not take or perform a job whose responsibilities would likely lead Optionee to disclose or use Confidential Information. Optionee acknowledges and agrees that the assumption and performance of such responsibilities, in that situation, would likely result in the disclosure or use of Confidential Information and would likely result in irreparable injury to the Company. Moreover, during Optionee’s employment with the Company, Optionee shall not disclose or use for the benefit of the Company, himself or any other person or entity any confidential or trade secret information belonging to any former employer or other person or entity to which Optionee owes a duty of confidence or nondisclosure of such information. If a court determines that this provision is too broad, Optionee and Company agree that the court shall modify the provision to the extent (but not more than is) necessary to make the provision enforceable. “Confidential Information” means any oral or written information not generally known outside of the Company, including without limitation, trade secrets, intellectual property, software and documentation, customer information (including, without limitation, customer lists), company policies, practices and codes of conduct, internal analyses, analyses of competitive products, strategies, merger and acquisition plans, marketing plans, corporate financial information, information related to negotiations with third parties, information protected by the Company’s privileges (such as the attorney-client privilege), internal audit reports, contracts and sales proposals, training materials, employment and personnel records, performance evaluations, and other sensitive information. This agreement does not relieve Optionee of any obligations Optionee has to the Company under law. If Optionee fails to comply with the provisions of this paragraph 8(c), Optionee shall

 

3


 

immediately forfeit all rights under the Option if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Optionee are, or were, detrimental to the Company. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent or limit Optionee’s ability to provide truthful responses to legitimate inquiries from governmental agencies.

 

  (d) Post-termination finding of Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Optionee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Award and shall repay to Company all proceeds from the vesting or lapsing of the Award occurring after Optionee’s termination of employment, if, within the two-year period beginning on Optionee’s termination date, the Committee determines that Optionee, while employed by the Company, engaged in conduct constituting Cause. Consistent with applicable law, any repayments shall include an interest factor equal to the applicable federal short term interest rate pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 1274. Interest shall begin to accrue on the 31st day after Optionee (or, if applicable, Optionee’s estate or beneficiary) received the Company’s written notification of its determination that such Cause exists or existed, and shall continue to accrue until complete repayment is made to the Company. This provision shall not be effective after a Change in Control.

 

9. TRANSFERABILITY OF OPTION.

 

Except to the extent permitted by the Committee in accordance with the provisions of the Plan, the Optionee may not voluntarily or involuntarily pledge, hypothecate, assign, sell or otherwise transfer the Option except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and during the Optionee’s lifetime, the Option shall be exercisable only by the Optionee.

 

10. NO RIGHTS AS A SHAREHOLDER.

 

The Optionee shall have no rights as a shareholder with respect to any Common Shares until the date of issuance to the Optionee of a certificate evidencing such Common Shares. No adjustments, other than as provided in Article IV of the Plan, shall be made for dividends (ordinary or extraordinary, whether in cash, securities or other property) or distributions for which the record date is prior to the date the certificate for such Common Shares is issued.

 

11. REGISTRATION: GOVERNMENTAL APPROVAL.

 

The Option granted hereunder is subject to the requirement that, if at any time the Company determines, in its discretion, that the listing, registration, or qualifications of Common Shares issuable upon exercise of the Option is required by any securities exchange or under any state or Federal law, rule or regulation, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body or other person is necessary or desirable as a condition of, or in connection with, the issuance of Common Shares, no Common Shares shall be issued, in whole or in part, unless such listing, registration, qualification, consent or approval has been effected or obtained free of any conditions or with such conditions as are acceptable to the Committee.

 

12. METHOD OF EXERCISING OPTION.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Option may be exercised by contacting the stock broker designated by the Company from time to time and following such broker’s instructions. Alternatively, if Optionee wishes to use his or her personal stock broker, Optionee may provide written notice to the Company, Attention: Manager, Stock Administration. Such notice shall state the election to exercise the Option and the number of Common Shares in respect of which the Option is being exercised, shall be signed by the person or persons so exercising the Option and shall be accompanied by payment in full of the Purchase Price for such Common shares.

 

4


Payment of such Purchase Price shall be made in United States dollars by certified check or bank cashier’s check payable to the order of the Company or by wire transfer to such account as may be specified by the Company for this purpose. Subject to such procedures and rules as may be adopted from time to time by the Committee, the Optionee may also pay such Purchase Price by (i) tendering to the Company Common Shares with an aggregate Fair Market Value on the date of exercise equal to such Purchase Price provided that such Common Shares must have been held by the Optionee for more than six (6) months, (ii) delivery to the Company of a copy of irrevocable instructions to a stockbroker to sell Common Shares or to authorize a loan from the stockbroker to the Optionee and to deliver promptly to the Company an amount sufficient to pay such Purchase Price, or (iii) any combination of the methods of payment described in clauses (i) and (ii) and in the preceding sentence. The certificate for Common Shares as to which the Option shall have been so exercised shall be registered in the name of the person or persons so exercising the Option. All Common Shares purchased upon the exercise of the Option as provided herein shall be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

The Company’s Insider Trading Policy 110 requires that all Insiders must pre-clear with the Law Department all proposed transactions in Qwest Securities, including, but not limited to, exercises of options prior to effecting such transaction.

 

13. INCOME TAX WITHHOLDING.

 

The Company may make such provisions and take such steps as it may deem reasonably necessary or appropriate for the withholding of all federal, state, local and other taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to the exercise of the Option and the issuance of the Common Shares, including, but not limited to, deducting the amount of any such withholding taxes from any other amount then or thereafter payable to the Optionee, or requiring the Optionee, or the beneficiary or legal representative of the Optionee, to pay to the Company the amount required to be withheld or to execute such documents as the Company deems necessary or desirable to enable it to satisfy its withholding obligations.

 

14. COMMITTEE DISCRETION.

 

Any decision, interpretation or other action made or taken in good faith by the Committee arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the Plan or the Option shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Company, Optionee and any respective heir, executor, administrator, successor or assign.

 

15. NON-QUALIFIED STOCK OPTION.

 

The Option granted hereunder is not intended to be an “incentive stock option” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code.

 

16. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY.

 

By signing this Agreement, Optionee voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waives any right he or she may have to a jury trial for all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to Optionee’s employment with Company. The Company also hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waives any right it might otherwise have to a jury trial for all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to Optionee’s employment with the Company.

 

17. GOVERNING LAW.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any state. Any action to enforce this Agreement shall be brought in Colorado state or federal district court and the parties waive any objection to the jurisdiction or venue of such courts.

 

5


18. HEADINGS.

 

Headings are for the convenience of the parties and are not deemed to be part of this Agreement.

 

19. EXECUTION.

 

This Agreement is voidable by the Company if the Optionee does not execute the Agreement within 30 days of execution by the Company.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the date and year first written above.

 

         QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

 


   By:  

 


Date        EVP-Chief Human Resources Officer
         OPTIONEE:

 


      

 


Date

        

 

6


RESTRICTED STOCK AGREEMENT

 

This Restricted Stock Agreement (“Agreement”) is made as of the      day of                     , 200   , between Qwest Communications International Inc., a Delaware corporation, and                      (the “Grantee”).

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), the Company desires to grant shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) to the Grantee subject to the restrictions and on the terms and conditions specified below.

 

NOW THEREFORE, in connection with the mutual covenants hereinafter set forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and adequacy of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:

 

1. DEFINITIONS: CONFLICTS.

 

Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given thereto in the Plan. The terms and provisions of the Plan are incorporated herein by reference. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and provisions of the Plan and the terms and provisions of this Agreement, the terms and provisions of the Plan shall govern and control. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any agreement between Grantee and U S WEST, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries, the terms and conditions of this Agreement shall govern and control. In the event of a conflict or inconsistency between the terms and conditions of this Agreement and any employment agreement between Company and Grantee (other than an agreement between the Grantee and U S WEST, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries), such employment agreement shall govern.

 

2. GRANT OF RESTRICTED STOCK.

 

The Company hereby grants to the Grantee                      shares (the “Shares”) of Common Stock (the “Restricted Stock”), effective as of                      (the “Transfer Date”). After the Grantee becomes the holder of record with respect to the Restricted Stock, the Grantee shall be treated as the beneficial owner of the Restricted Stock and shall have the right to receive all amounts, including cash and property of any kind, distributed with respect to the Restricted Stock.

 

3. RESTRICTIONS.

 

The Grantee shall not sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, pledge, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any of the Shares for the period commencing on the Transfer Date and ending on the Expiration Date (as defined in Section 4 below), except as otherwise provided in Section 4 or Section 5 or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement or the terms of the Plan.

 

If any transfer of Shares is made or attempted to be made contrary to the terms of this Agreement, the Company shall have the right to acquire for its own account, without the payment of any consideration therefor, such Shares from the owner thereof or his transferee, at any time before or after such prohibited transfer. In addition to any other legal or equitable remedies it may have, the Company may enforce its rights to specific performance to the extent permitted by law and may exercise such other equitable remedies then available to it. The Company may refuse for any purpose to recognize any transferee who receives Shares contrary to the provisions of this Agreement as a stockholder of the Company and may retain and/or recover all dividends on such Shares that were paid or payable subsequent to the date on which the prohibited transfer was made or attempted.

 

4. VESTING; LAPSE OF RESTRICTIONS.

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, the Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest in installments of     % one year from the date hereof and in additional installments of     % on each subsequent anniversary thereafter; provided that, with respect to each installment, the Grantee has remained in continuous employment with the Company from the date hereof through the date such installment is designed to vest.


The Restricted Stock shall be fully vested and this Agreement shall terminate on the last installment date described above (the “Expiration Date”). Shares that have become vested and as to which the restrictions have lapsed shall be referred to as Vested Shares. Shares that have not become vested and as to which the restrictions have not lapsed shall be referred to as Unvested Shares.

 

Notwithstanding the vesting schedule set forth above, the Unvested Shares will become Vested Shares in the event of the Grantee’s death or Disability.

 

The Grantee may, at Grantee’s discretion and subject to the policies of the Company, sell, assign, transfer by gift or otherwise, hypothecate, or otherwise dispose of, by operation of law or otherwise, any of the Vested Shares not withheld by the Company for tax withholding purposes pursuant to Section 9.

 

5. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT; FORFEITURE OF UNVESTED SHARES.

 

In the event the Grantee’s employment with the Company is terminated for any reason other than due to death or Disability, all Unvested Shares shall be forfeited and the Grantee shall immediately transfer and assign to the Company, without the requirement of consideration, all Unvested Shares, which shall promptly be tendered to the Company by the delivery of certificates, if any, for such Unvested Shares, duly endorsed in blank by the Grantee or the Grantee’s representative or with stock powers attached thereto duly endorsed, at the Company’s principal offices, all in form suitable for the transfer of such Shares to the Company without the payment of any consideration therefor by the Company. After the time at which any such Shares are required to be delivered to the Company for transfer to the Company, the Company shall not pay any dividend to the Grantee on account of such Shares or permit the Grantee to exercise any of the privileges or rights of a stockholder with respect to such Shares, but shall, in so far as permitted by law, treat the Company as the owner of such Shares.

 

6. ADJUSTMENT OF THE SHARES.

 

Upon the occurrence of an event described in Article IV of the Plan, the Shares shall be adjusted in accordance with Article IV.

 

7. FORFEITURE OF UNVESTED SHARES.

 

  (a) Performance for Competitors. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Grantee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Restricted Stock Award, if, Grantee accepts employment with a Competitor (as defined herein) or during the [12][18] month period beginning on the date of Grantee’s termination of employment, Grantee owns more than 2% of the common stock of, or is employed by, advises, represents or assists in any other way any Competitor and if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Grantee are, or could be, detrimental to the Company. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Competitor” means a person or entity that competes with, or intends to compete with the Company with respect to any product sold or service performed by the Company in any state or country in which the Company sells such products or performs such services, and if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Grantee are detrimental to the Company. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if Grantee is an attorney, Grantee may, subject to the applicable rules of ethics and the nondisclosure provisions herein, perform services solely in his or her capacity as an outside attorney on behalf of any person or entity, even if such person or entity competes with Qwest or sells goods or services similar to those Qwest sells.

 

  (b) Non-solicitation of Employees. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Grantee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Restricted Stock Award, if, during the one-year period beginning on the date of Grantee’s termination or employment, Grantee induces any employee of Qwest to leave Qwest’s employment, and if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Grantee are detrimental to the Company.

 

2


  (c) Nondisclosure. Grantee will not disclose outside of the Company or to any person within the Company who does not have a legitimate business need to know, any Confidential Information (as defined below) during Grantee’s employment with the Company. Grantee will not disclose to anyone or make any use of any Confidential Information of the Company after Grantee’s employment with the Company ends for any reason, except as required by law after timely notice is given by Grantee to the Company. This agreement not to disclose or use Confidential Information means, among other things, that Grantee, for a period of [12][18] months beginning on the effective date of the termination of Grantee’s employment with the Company or any other Qwest entity for any reason, may not take or perform a job whose responsibilities would likely lead Grantee to disclose or use Confidential Information. Grantee acknowledges and agrees that the assumption and performance of such responsibilities, in that situation, would likely result in the disclosure or use of Confidential Information and would likely result in irreparable injury to the Company. Moreover, during Grantee’s employment with the Company, Grantee shall not disclose or use for the benefit of the Company, himself or any other person or entity any confidential or trade secret information belonging to any former employer or other person or entity to which Grantee owes a duty of confidence or nondisclosure of such information. If a court determines that this provision is too broad, Grantee and Company agree that the court shall modify the provision to the extent (but not more than is) necessary to make the provision enforceable. “Confidential Information” is any oral or written information not generally known outside of the Company, including without limitation, trade secrets, intellectual property, software and documentation, customer information (including, without limitation, customer lists), company policies, practices and codes of conduct, internal analyses, analyses of competitive products, strategies, merger and acquisition plans, marketing plans, corporate financial information, information related to negotiations with third parties, information protected by the Company’s privileges (such as the attorney-client privilege), internal audit reports, contracts and sales proposals, training materials, employment and personnel records, performance evaluations, and other sensitive information. This agreement does not relieve Grantee of any obligations Grantee has to the Company under law. If Grantee fails to comply with the provisions of this paragraph 7(c), Grantee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Restricted Stock Award if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines that such actions by Grantee are, or were, detrimental to the Company. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent or limit Grantee’s ability to provide truthful responses to legitimate inquiries from governmental agencies.

 

  (d) Post-termination finding of Cause. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Grantee shall immediately forfeit all rights under the Restricted Stock Award and shall repay to Company all proceeds from the vesting or lapsing of the Award occurring after Grantee’s termination of employment, if, within the two-year period beginning on Grantee’s termination date, the Company determines that Grantee, while employed by Company, engaged in conduct constituting Cause (as defined by any employment agreement between Company and Grantee, or if there is no employment agreement, as defined by the Plan). Consistent with applicable law, any repayments shall include an interest factor equal to the applicable federal short term interest rate pursuant to Internal Revenue Code section 1274. Interest shall begin to accrue on the 31st day after Grantee (or, if applicable, Grantee’s estate or beneficiary) received Company’s written notification of its determination that such Cause exists or existed, and shall continue to accrue until complete repayment is made to Company. This provision shall not be effective after a Change in Control (as defined in Section 5.4(b) of the Plan).

 

8. ENFORCEMENT OF RESTRICTIONS.

 

If a certificate or certificates representing Shares is issued, it shall bear the following legend:

 

“The Shares of stock represented by this Certificate are subject to all of the terms of a Restricted Stock Agreement between Qwest Communications International Inc. and the registered owner of this Certificate (the “Agreement”) and to the terms of the Qwest Communications International Inc. Equity Incentive Plan. Copies of the Agreement and the Plan are on file at the office of the Company. The Agreement, among other

 

3


things, limits the right of the Owner to transfer the Shares represented hereby and provide in certain circumstances that all or a portion of the Shares must be returned to the Company.”

 

The Company may, in its sole discretion, require the Grantee to keep the certificate, if any, representing the Unvested Shares, duly endorsed, in the custody of the Company while the Unvested Shares are subject to the restrictions contained in Section 2. The Company may, in its sole discretion, require that the certificate, if any, representing the Unvested Shares, duly endorsed, be held in the custody of a third party while the Unvested Shares are subject to the restrictions contained in Section 3.

 

The Company’s Insider Trading Policy 110 requires that all Insiders must pre-clear with the Law Department all proposed transactions in Qwest Securities prior to transaction.

 

9. TAX WITHHOLDING.

 

Notwithstanding any Plan provision to the contrary, upon the vesting of any portion of the Shares, the Company shall withhold from the Vested Shares a number of Shares having a value equal to the minimum amount required to be withheld under applicable federal, state and local income and other tax laws (collectively, “Withholding Taxes”). In such case, the value of the Shares to be withheld shall be based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on the date the amount of the Withholding Taxes is determined (the “Tax Date”).

 

10. BINDING EFFECT.

 

This Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, executors, administrators and successors of the parties hereto.

 

11. WAIVER OF RIGHT TO JURY.

 

By signing this Agreement, Grantee voluntarily, knowingly and intelligently waives any right he or she may have to a jury trial for all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to Grantee’s employment with Company. The Company also hereby voluntarily, knowingly, and intelligently waives any right it might otherwise have to a jury trial for all claims relating to this Agreement and any other claim relating to Grantee’s employment with the Company.

 

12. GOVERNING LAW.

 

This Agreement shall be construed and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to the conflict of laws provisions of any state. Any action to enforce this Agreement shall be brought in Colorado state or federal district court and the parties waive any objection to the jurisdiction or venue of such courts.

 

13. HEADINGS.

 

Headings are for the convenience of the parties and are not deemed to be part of this Agreement.

 

14. EXECUTION.

 

This Agreement is voidable by the Company if the Grantee does not execute the Agreement within thirty (30) days of execution by the Company.

 

4


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the dates set forth opposite their signatures to be effective as of the date and year first written above.

 

         QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.
Date:  

 


   By:   

 


              EVP – Chief Human Resources Officer
         GRANTEE:
Date:  

 


  

 


 

5

Exhibit 10.41

 

AMENDMENT TO SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

 

This Amendment to Severance Agreement (“Agreement”), which is effective as of the date executed by both parties (the “Effective Date”), is by and between John W. Richardson (“Executive”), and his employer, Qwest Services Corporation, its parent, subsidiaries, successors or affiliates (“Company”):

 

WHEREAS, Executive may be considered to be a “specified employee” under Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code (“Section 409A”) and Company and Executive wish to amend the Severance Agreement previously entered into between Executive and Company (“Severance Agreement”), as set forth below in order to comply with Section 409A. Company and Executive also agree to amend certain other provisions as set forth herein.

 

Therefore, the Severance Agreement is amended as set forth herein. All other terms and conditions of the Severance Agreement are unchanged by this Amendment and remain in full force and effect, including but not limited to the requirement that Executive execute the Waiver and Release Agreement (attached to his or her Severance Agreement as Attachment A) as a condition of receiving severance benefits. Executive and Company agree that sufficient consideration has been provided to support this Amendment.

 

The Severance Agreement is amended as follows:

 

  1. Paragraph 3(a), entitled “Termination for Cause” is amended in its entirety and shall be replaced with:

 

a. Termination for Cause . The Company may, in its sole discretion, immediately terminate this Agreement and Executive’s employment for Cause by giving notice to Executive. If Executive’s employment is terminated for Cause pursuant to this paragraph 3.a., Executive shall not be entitled to any severance payment or any other post-employment obligation provided under this Agreement. Any one or more of the following events shall, for purposes of this Agreement, constitute Cause:

 

        (1) Commission of an act deemed by the Company in its sole discretion to be an act of dishonesty, fraud, misrepresentation or other act of moral turpitude that would reflect negatively upon Qwest or compromise the effective performance of Executive’s duties;

 

        (2) Unlawful conduct that would reflect negatively upon Qwest or compromise the effective performance of Executive’s duties, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion;

 

        (3) Conviction of (or pleading nolo contendere to) any felony or a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

 

        (4) Continued failure to substantially perform Executive’s duties to the satisfaction of his or her supervisor (other than such failure resulting from Executive’s incapacity due to physical or mental illness) after the delivery of written notice to Executive specifically identifying the manner in which Executive has failed to substantially perform his or her duties and Executive has been afforded a reasonable opportunity to substantially perform his or her duties; or

 

        (5) A willful, violation of the Qwest Code of Conduct or other Qwest policies that would reflect negatively upon Qwest or compromise the effective performance of Executive’s duties, as determined by the Company in its sole discretion.

 

For two years following a Change in Control, a termination for Cause shall require the approval of the Board of Directors.

 

  2. Paragraph 15, entitled “Complete Agreement” is amended in its entirety and replaced with:

 

15. COMPLETE AGREEMENT . This Agreement contains the entire understanding of the parties with respect to the matters addressed in this Agreement, and supersedes all prior representations, understandings and agreements of the parties with respect to the matters addressed in this Agreement, including, but not limited to,


AMENDMENT TO SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Page 2 of 3

 

any and all prior agreements for the payment of severance benefits. The parties acknowledge that no promises or representations have been made to induce Company or Executive to sign this Agreement other than as expressly set forth in this Agreement, and that each party has signed this Agreement as a free and voluntary act. No term or provision of this Agreement may be modified or extinguished, in whole or in part, except by a writing which is dated and signed by both Executive and the Chief Human Resources Officer of Company.

 

  3. A new paragraph 22 is added as follows:

 

22. COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 409A OF THE CODE . Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in the event that any payment or the provision of any benefit provided under this Agreement constitutes a “deferred compensation plan” within the meaning of Section 409A of the Code and any related guidance or regulations (including proposed regulations) (collectively “Section 409A”), the following provisions shall apply:

 

a. Separation from Service. No payment or provision of benefits shall be made upon a “termination of employment” unless such termination of employment also constitutes a “separation from service” under Section 409A (“Separation from Service”).

 

b. 6-Month Delay. If Executive is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Section 409A, then the payment or provision of benefits shall be made as set forth below; provided, however, no such payment or provision shall be made before the date that is six months after Executive’s Separation from Service (or, if earlier, the date of Executive’s death) (the “6-Month Delay”). The determination of whether Executive is a “specified employee” shall be made in accordance with Section 409A using an identification date of December 31.

 

(1) Payment of Cash Benefits. Any cash payment hereunder to Executive, including, but not limited to the Standard Severance Amount, shall be paid according to the following provisions:

 

(A) the Standard Severance Amount shall be paid out as follows:

 

(i) a lump sum payment equal to one-half of the Standard Severance Amount will be paid as soon as administratively practicable following the 6-Month Delay;

 

(ii) the remainder of the Standard Severance Amount will be paid, in substantially equal installments, through the Company’s regular management payroll processes for 6 months beginning on the first regular payroll period following the payroll period in which the payment under paragraph 22(b)(1)(A)(i) is made; and

 

(iii) if, at the end of the 12-month period following termination, Executive has not breached or threatened to breach any part of this Agreement, Executive also will receive a lump-sum payment equal to Executive’s highest annual target bonus in effect during the 12 months preceding the termination of Executive’s employment, minus any applicable or legally-required withholdings.

 

(B) Any other 409A arrangement which provide cash benefits that are payable before the 6-Month Delay shall be paid as follows:

 

(i) a lump sum payment equal to one-third of the total cash benefit will be paid as soon as administratively feasible following the Six-Month Delay; and


AMENDMENT TO SEVERANCE AGREEMENT

Page 3 of 3

 

(ii) the remainder of the total cash benefit will be paid, in equal installments, through the Company’s regular management payroll processes for 12 months beginning on the first regular payroll period the payroll period in which the payment under paragraph 22(b)(1)(B)(i) is made.

 

(2) Payment of Noncash Benefits. The payment for any noncash benefits, including, but not limited to, any applicable premium payments related to such noncash benefits, shall be made by Executive during the 6-Month Delay, and Executive shall be reimbursed by the Company for such payments as soon as administratively practicable following the expiration of the Six Month Delay. Executive shall be solely liable for all timely payments and elections as may be necessary to retain such noncash benefits, and the Company shall not be liable to Executive, any dependent and/or qualified beneficiary for any loss of any kind, including the loss of noncash benefits relating to Executive’s failure to timely make any payments or elections as required under the applicable benefit plan or this paragraph 22. By signing this Agreement, Executive acknowledges this provision and the ramifications, including the potential loss of benefits, of the failure to comply with this provision.

 

c. Modification. The payment or provision of benefits under any other arrangement under this Agreement that is subject to Section 409A may be modified or amended in order to comply with Section 409A.

 

     QWEST SERVICES CORP.:     
By:               

/s/ Teresa A. Taylor


  

3-3-06


     Teresa A. Taylor    Date
     EVP – Chief Human Resources Officer     
     Executive:     
By:   

/s/ John W. Richardson


  

3-14-06


     John W. Richardson    Date
     SVP – Controller     

Exhibit 12

 

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

CALCULATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)

(UNAUDITED)

 

    

Three Months
Ended
March 31,

2006


    Years Ended December 31,

 
       2005

    2004

    2003

    2002

    2001

 

Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, discontinued operations and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

   $ 86       (760 )   $ (1,706 )   $ (1,832 )   $ (20,115 )   $ (7,362 )

Add: estimated fixed charges

     333       1,648       1,678       1,936       1,998       1,856  

Add: estimated amortization of capitalized interest

     3       14       13       14       15       15  

Less: interest capitalized

     (3 )     (13 )     (12 )     (19 )     (41 )     (187 )
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total earnings available for fixed charges

     419       889       (27 )     99       (18,143 )     (5,678 )

Estimate of interest factor on rentals

     34       152       135       160       168       232  

Interest expense, including amortization of premiums, discounts and debt issuance costs

     296       1,483       1,531       1,757       1,789       1,437  

Interest capitalized

     3       13       12       19       41       187  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Total fixed charges

   $ 333     $ 1,648     $ 1,678     $ 1,936     $ 1,998     $ 1,856  
    


 


 


 


 


 


Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     1.3       nm       nm       nm       nm       nm  

Additional pre-tax income needed for earnings to cover total fixed charges

     —       $ 759     $ 1,705     $ 1,837     $ 20,141     $ 7,534  
    


 


 


 


 


 



nm—percentages greater than 200% and comparisons from positive to negative values or to zero values are considered not meaningful.

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 

I, Richard C. Notebaert, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Qwest Communications International Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 3, 2006

/ S /    R ICHARD C. N OTEBAERT


Richard C. Notebaert

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER

 

I, Oren G. Shaffer, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Qwest Communications International Inc.;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

  a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

  b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

 

  c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

  d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

  b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

Date: May 3, 2006

/ S /    O REN G. S HAFFER


Oren G. Shaffer

Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32

 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER CERTIFICATION

 

Each of the undersigned hereby certifies, for the purposes of section 1350 of chapter 63 of title 18 of the United States Code, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, in his capacity as an officer of Qwest Communications International Inc. (“Qwest”), that, to his knowledge, the Quarterly Report of Qwest on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and that the information contained in such report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operation of Qwest. This written statement is being furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to such Form 10-Q. A signed original of this statement has been provided to Qwest and will be retained by Qwest and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.

 

Dated: May 3, 2006   By:  

/ S /    R ICHARD C. N OTEBAERT


       

Richard C. Notebaert

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Dated: May 3, 2006   By:  

/ S /    O REN G. S HAFFER


       

Oren G. Shaffer

Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer

EXHIBIT 99.1

 

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

QUARTERLY OPERATING REVENUE

(Dollars in millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     2006

   2005

   2004

     Q1

   Q4

   Q3

   Q2

   Q1

   Q4

   Q3

   Q2

   Q1

Business:

                                                              

Wireline services revenue:

                                                              

Local voice

   $ 316    $ 315    $ 325    $ 323    $ 323    $ 325    $ 332    $ 328    $ 340

Long-distance

     144      139      140      146      147      136      159      153      157

Access services

     1      1      1      1      1      1      1      1      1
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total voice services

     461      455      466      470      471      462      492      482      498

Data and Internet

     588      590      628      565      544      563      548      554      552
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total business wireline services

     1,049      1,045      1,094      1,035      1,015      1,025      1,040      1,036      1,050
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Mass markets:

                                                              

Wireline services revenue:

                                                              

Local voice

     1,028      1,030      1,036      1,058      1,061      1,072      1,078      1,099      1,151

Long-distance

     155      152      141      133      135      133      115      103      101

Access services

     1      2      2      2      2      4      2      2      2
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total voice services

     1,184      1,184      1,179      1,193      1,198      1,209      1,195      1,204      1,254

Data and Internet

     191      172      159      147      143      130      110      112      108
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total mass markets wireline services

     1,375      1,356      1,338      1,340      1,341      1,339      1,305      1,316      1,362
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Wholesale:

                                                              

Wireline services revenue:

                                                              

Local voice

     176      181      183      194      197      189      199      206      195

Long-distance

     271      276      278      268      276      277      276      236      242

Access services

     144      159      156      179      158      157      166      176      176
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total voice services

     591      616      617      641      631      623      641      618      613

Data and Internet

     312      316      312      313      325      316      322      333      316
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total wholesale wireline services

     903      932      929      954      956      939      963      951      929
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total wireline services revenue

     3,327      3,333      3,361      3,329      3,312      3,303      3,308      3,303      3,341

Wireless services revenue

     139      138      131      132      126      124      133      130      127

Other services revenue

     10      9      12      9      11      10      8      9      13
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Total operating revenue

   $ 3,476    $ 3,480    $ 3,504    $ 3,470    $ 3,449    $ 3,437    $ 3,449    $ 3,442    $ 3,481
    

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

EXHIBIT 99.2

 

QWEST COMMUNICATIONS INTERNATIONAL INC.

QUARTERLY CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Dollars in millions)

(Unaudited)

 

     2006

    2005

    2004

 
     Q1

    Q4

    Q3

    Q2

    Q1

    Q4

    Q3

    Q2

    Q1

 

Operating revenue

   $ 3,476     $ 3,480     $ 3,504     $ 3,470     $ 3,449     $ 3,437     $ 3,449     $ 3,442     $ 3,481  

Operating expenses:

                                                                        

Cost of sales

                                                                        

Facility costs

     618       649       692       677       674       648       745       676       659  

Network expenses

     52       69       72       59       67       66       73       66       57  

Employee-related costs

     396       387       404       387       409       389       429       437       450  

Other non-employee related costs

     351       346       344       311       289       299       301       307       288  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total cost of sales

     1,417       1,451       1,512       1,434       1,439       1,402       1,548       1,486       1,454  

Selling, general and administrative:

                                                                        

Property and other taxes

     88       43       100       111       99       78       112       115       81  

Bad debt

     44       36       27       53       57       49       39       13       93  

Restructuring, realignment and severance related costs

     22       74       26       (1 )     15       59       5       132       15  

Employee-related costs

     401       405       401       410       407       413       413       434       469  

Other non-employee related costs

     459       492       462       472       458       471       692       792       496  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total selling, general and administrative

     1,014       1,050       1,016       1,045       1,036       1,070       1,261       1,486       1,154  

Depreciation and amortization

     691       758       768       765       774       783       779       784       777  

Asset impairment charges

     —         —         —         —         —         36       34       43       —    
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total operating expenses

     3,122       3,259       3,296       3,244       3,249       3,291       3,622       3,799       3,385  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Other expense—net

                                                                        

Interest expense—net

     296       338       384       380       381       366       374       394       397  

Other expense (income)—net

     (28 )     392       (31 )     13       (242 )     (54 )     40       (111 )     12  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Total other expense—net

     268       730       353       393       139       312       414       283       409  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change—net

     86       (509 )     (145 )     (167 )     61       (166 )     (587 )     (640 )     (313 )

Income tax benefit (expense)

     2       3       1       3       (4 )     27       18       (136 )     3  
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Income (loss) before cumulative effect of accounting change—net

     88       (506 )     (144 )     (164 )     57       (139 )     (569 )     (776 )     (310 )

Cumulative effect of accounting changes—net

     —         (22 )     —         —         —                 —         —         —    
    


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


Net income (loss)

   $ 88     $ (528 )   $ (144 )   $ (164 )   $ 57     $ (139 )   $ (569 )   $ (776 )   $ (310 )