UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

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

 

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): March 18, 2011

 

EARTHLINK, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware
(State of Incorporation)

 

001-15605
(Commission File Number)

 

58-2511877
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

1375 Peachtree St., Atlanta, Georgia

 

30309

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(404) 815-0770

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 


 

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report date)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o            Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 8.01  Other Events.

 

On March 18, 2011 EarthLink, Inc. (“EarthLink”) entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) providing for a $30 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”).  EarthLink’s obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by all of EarthLink’s subsidiaries (other than ITC^DeltaCom, Inc. and its subsidiaries), subject to the subsidiaries’ obtaining regulatory approvals to provide such guarantees.  The interest rate on any borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility shall be, at EarthLink’s option, LIBOR plus the Applicable Margin (as defined below) or the Base Rate (defined as the highest of (x) the prime rate, (y) the Federal Funds rate plus 0.50% or (z) the one-month LIBOR rate plus 1.00%) plus the Applicable Margin.  “Applicable Margin” means 2.00% per annum, in the case of LIBOR loans, and 1.00% per annum, in the case of Base Rate Loans.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility terminates, and all amounts outstanding thereunder shall be due and payable in full, on March 16, 2012.  No amounts are currently outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility.

 

EarthLink may seek additional financing in the future in order to facilitate its continued pursuit of its business strategy.  In order to facilitate any financing efforts, EarthLink is making regulatory filings with a number of state public utility commissions.  These filings are necessary for applicable EarthLink subsidiaries to be able to provide guarantees for any future debt financing.

 

Future financings could consist of a combination of notes, term loans and credit facilities.   Proceeds of such financings may be used to refinance or repay debt of EarthLink and its current and future subsidiaries, fund planned capital expenditures and pay dividends.  Proceeds may also be used to fund future acquisitions.  Proceeds also may be available to finance working capital and other general corporate purposes.

 

Any future financing efforts will be subject to capital markets conditions.  There are no assurances that EarthLink will seek such additional financing.  This filing does not constitute an offer to sell, nor shall it constitute the solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities.

 

Cautionary Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

 

This Form 8-K includes “forward-looking” statements (rather than historical facts) that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described. Although we believe that the expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot promise that our expectations will turn out to be correct. Our actual results could be materially different from and worse than our expectations. With respect to such forward-looking statements, we seek the protections afforded by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These risks include, without limitation, the ability to realize expected synergies, cost savings and growth opportunities from the One Communications acquisition; the possibility that the anticipated benefits from the acquisition cannot be fully realized or may take longer or present greater cost to realize than expected; our ability to successfully integrate the operations of One Communications upon its acquisition without detracting from our current operations; and other unforeseen difficulties that may occur. These risks and uncertainties also include (1) that we may not be able to execute our business strategy to transition to a leading IP infrastructure and managed services provider, which could adversely impact our results of operations and cash flows; (2) that we may be unsuccessful in making and integrating acquisitions into our business, which could result in operating difficulties, losses and other adverse consequences; (3) that the continuing effects of adverse economic conditions could harm our business; (4) that if we do not continue to innovate and provide products and services that are useful to individual subscribers and business customers, we may not remain competitive, and our revenues and operating results could suffer; (5) that our failure to implement cost reduction initiatives will adversely affect our results of operations; (6) that we will require a significant amount of cash, which may not be available to us, to service our debt and fund our other liquidity needs; (7) that we face significant competition in the Internet industry that could reduce our profitability; (8) that our consumer business is dependent on the availability of third-party network service providers; (9) that the continued decline of our consumer access subscribers, combined with the change in mix of our consumer

 

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access base from narrowband to broadband, will adversely affect our results of operations; (10) that our commercial and alliance arrangements may not be renewed or may not generate expected benefits, which could adversely affect our results of operations; (11) that privacy concerns relating to our business could damage our reputation and deter current and potential users from using our services; (12) that changes in technology in the Internet access industry could cause a decline in our business; (13) that we face significant competition in the communications industry that could reduce our profitability; (14) that decisions by the Federal Communications Commission relieving ILECs  of certain regulatory requirements, and possible further deregulation in the future, may restrict our ability to provide services and may increase the costs we incur to provide these services; (15) that our wholesale services, including our broadband transport services, will be adversely affected by pricing pressure, network overcapacity, service cancellations and other factors; (16) that our operating performance will suffer if we are not offered competitive rates for the access services we need to provide our long distance services; (17) that we may experience reductions in switched access and reciprocal compensation revenue; (18) that our inability to maintain our network infrastructure, portions of which we do not own, could adversely affect our operating results; (19) that if we are unable to interconnect with AT&T, Verizon and other incumbent carriers on acceptable terms, our ability to offer competitively priced local telephone services will be adversely affected; (20) that we may not be able to compete effectively if we are unable to install additional network equipment or convert our network to more advanced technology; (21) that failure to obtain and maintain necessary permits and rights-of-way could interfere with our network infrastructure and operations; (22) that we may be unable to retain sufficient qualified personnel, and the loss of any of our key executive officers could adversely affect us; (23) that interruption or failure of our network and information systems and other technologies could impair our ability to provide our services, which could damage our reputation and harm our operating results; (24) that our business depends on effective business support systems and processes; (25) that government regulations could adversely affect our business or force us to change our business practices; (26) that our business may suffer if third parties used for customer service and technical support and certain billing services are unable to provide these services or terminate their relationships with us; (27) that we may not be able to protect our intellectual property; (28) that we may be accused of infringing upon the intellectual property rights of third parties, which is costly to defend and could limit our ability to use certain technologies in the future; (29) that if we, or other industry participants, are unable to successfully defend against legal actions, we could face substantial liabilities or suffer harm to our financial and operational prospects; (30) that we may be required to recognize additional impairment charges on our goodwill and intangible assets, which would adversely affect our results of operations and financial position; (31) that we may have to undertake further restructuring plans that would require additional charges, including incurring facility exit and restructuring charges; (32) that we may have exposure to greater than anticipated tax liabilities and the use of our net operating losses and certain other tax attributes could be limited in the future; (33) that we may reduce, or cease payment of, quarterly cash dividends; (34) that our stock price may be volatile; (35) that our indebtedness could adversely affect our financial health and limit our ability to react to changes in our industry; and (36) that provisions of our second restated certificate of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and other elements of our capital structure could limit our share price and delay a change of management.  These risks and uncertainties, as well as other risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ significantly from management’s expectations, are not intended to represent a complete list of all risks and uncertainties inherent in our business, and should be read in conjunction with the more detailed cautionary statements and risk factors included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

EARTHLINK, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Bradley A. Ferguson

 

 

Bradley A. Ferguson

 

 

Executive Vice President,

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

Date: March 22, 2011

 

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