XML 34 R8.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.0.8
Basis of Presentation
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2014
Basis of Presentation [Abstract]  
Basis of Presentation

2. Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) and, in our opinion, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations, financial position and cash flows as of the balance sheet dates presented and for the periods presented. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules. We believe that the disclosures made are adequate to keep the information presented from being misleading. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.

 

The December 31, 2013 balance sheet has been derived from the audited consolidated financial statements at that date. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements included in our latest Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC.

 

Investments in Affiliates

 

Ownership interests in Telesat and XTAR, LLC (“XTAR”) are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. Income and losses of affiliates are recorded based on our beneficial interest. Our equity in net income or loss also reflects amortization of profits eliminated, to the extent of our economic interest in Telesat and XTAR, on satellites we constructed for them while we owned SS/L and on Loral’s sale to Telesat in April 2011 of its portion of the payload on the ViaSat-1 satellite and related assets. Equity in losses of affiliates is not recognized after the carrying value of an investment, including advances and loans, has been reduced to zero, unless guarantees or other funding obligations exist. The Company monitors its equity method investments for factors indicating other-than-temporary impairment. An impairment loss would be recognized when there has been a loss in value of the affiliate that is other-than-temporary.

 

Use of Estimates in Preparation of Financial Statements

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the amount of income (loss) reported for the period. Actual results could differ from estimates.

 

Significant estimates also included the allowances for doubtful accounts, the realization of deferred tax assets, uncertain tax positions, the fair value of liabilities indemnified and our pension liabilities.

 

Concentration of Credit Risk

 

Financial instruments which potentially subject us to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents and receivables. Our cash and cash equivalents are maintained with high-credit-quality financial institutions. The Land Note is guaranteed by Royal Bank of Canada. As a result, management believes that its potential credit risks are minimal.

 

Fair Value Measurements

 

U.S. GAAP defines fair value as the price that would be received for an asset or the exit price that would be paid to transfer a liability in the principal or most advantageous market in an orderly transaction between market participants. U.S. GAAP also establishes a fair value hierarchy that gives the highest priority to observable inputs and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs. The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are described below:

 

Level 1: Inputs represent a fair value that is derived from unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities traded in active markets at the measurement date.

 

Level 2: Inputs represent a fair value that is derived from quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities, and pricing inputs, other than quoted prices in active markets included in Level 1, which are either directly or indirectly observable as of the reporting date.

Level 3: Inputs are generally unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are therefore determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models, and similar techniques.

 

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value

 

The following table presents our assets and liabilities measured at fair value at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013 (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

March 31, 2014

 

December 31, 2013

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash equivalents:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Money market funds

$

3,417 

 

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

3,216 

 

$

         —

 

$

         —

Note receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Land Note

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

33,667 

 

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

101,000 

Liabilities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Indemnifications:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Sale of SS/L

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

14,368 

 

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

10,897 

Globalstar do Brasil S.A.

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

1,294 

 

$

         —

 

$

         —

 

$

1,320 

 

The carrying amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying amount of the Land Note approximates fair value because the stated interest rate is consistent with current market rates. The fair value of indemnifications related to the sale of SS/L was originally estimated using Monte Carlo simulation based on the potential probability weighted cash flows that would be a guarantor’s responsibility in an arm’s length transaction. The increase in the liability from December 31, 2013 to March 31, 2014 represents receipt of the final payment from SS/L for its share of litigation costs related to the ViaSat Suit, partially offset by litigation costs paid.  The fair value of indemnifications related to Globalstar do Brasil S.A. (“GdB”) was estimated using expected value analysis. The Company does not have any non-financial assets or non-financial liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value as of March 31, 2014.

 

We review the carrying values of our equity method investments when events and circumstances warrant and consider all available evidence in evaluating when declines in fair value are other than temporary. The fair values of our investments are determined based on valuation techniques using the best information available and may include quoted market prices, market comparables and discounted cash flow projections. An impairment charge is recorded when the carrying amount of the investment exceeds its current fair value and is determined to be other than temporary.

 

Discontinued Operations

 

Adjustments to amounts previously reported in discontinued operations that are directly related to the Sale are classified as discontinued operations in the statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.  

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In April 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-08, Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.  ASU No. 2014-08 changes the criteria for determining which disposals can be presented as discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. Under the new guidance, only those disposals that represent a strategic shift that has (or will have) a major effect on an entity’s operations and financial results will be reported as discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements. Also, disposal of an equity method investment that meets the definition of a discontinued operation is to be reported in discontinued operations under the new guidance. The guidance, effective for the Company on January 1, 2015, is not expected to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.   

 

 

In July 2013, the FASB issued ASU 2013-11, Income Taxes (Topic 740):  Presentation of an Unrecognized Tax Benefit When a Net Operating Loss Carryforward, a Similar Tax Loss, or a Tax Credit Carryforward Exists. This new standard requires the netting of unrecognized tax benefits (“UTBs”) against available deferred tax assets for losses and other carryforward benefits that would be available to offset the liability for uncertain tax positions rather than presenting the UTB on a gross basis. The guidance, effective for the Company on January 1, 2014, did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated financial statements as the Company had already adopted this methodology.

 

In March 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-05, Foreign Currency Matters (Topic 830) -  Parent’s Accounting for the Cumulative Translation Adjustment upon Derecognition of Certain Subsidiaries or Groups of Assets within a Foreign Entity or of an Investment in a Foreign Entity. ASU No. 2013-05 clarifies that the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income only when a reporting entity ceases to have a controlling financial interest in a subsidiary or a business within a foreign entity. Further, for an equity method investment that is a foreign entity, a pro rata portion of the cumulative translation adjustment should be released into net income upon a partial sale of such an equity method investment. The guidance, effective for the Company on January 1, 2014, did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

In February 2013, the FASB issued ASU No. 2013-04, Liabilities (Topic 405) – Obligations Resulting from Joint and Several Liability Arrangements for Which the Total Amount of the Obligation is Fixed at the Reporting Date.  ASU No. 2013-04 provides guidance for the recognition, measurement, and disclosure of obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements. The guidance requires an entity to measure obligations resulting from joint and several liability arrangements for which the total amount of the obligation is fixed at the reporting date, as the sum of: (a) the amount the reporting entity agreed to pay on the basis of its arrangement with its co-obligors, and (b) any additional amount the reporting entity expects to pay on behalf of its co-obligors. The guidance, effective for the Company on January 1, 2014, did not have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Additional Cash Flow Information

 

The following represents non-cash activities and supplemental information to the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows (in thousands):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,

 

2014

 

2013

Non-cash operating items:

 

 

 

 

 

Equity in net loss of affiliates

$

2,169 

 

$

7,281 

Deferred taxes

 

9,404 

 

 

1,977 

Depreciation and amortization

 

10 

 

 

Stock-based compensation

 

         —

 

 

263 

Amortization of prior service credit and actuarial loss

 

103 

 

 

1,501 

Net non-cash operating items – continuing operations

$

11,686 

 

$

11,026 

Supplemental information:

 

 

 

 

 

Interest paid – continuing operations

$

 

$

Tax payments, net of refunds – continuing operations

$

55 

 

$

86 

Tax payments – discontinued operations

$

         —

 

$

35,118 

0