AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-1
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 28, 2004
Registration No. 333-114298


SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549


Amendment No. 1

to
Form S-1
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


Valor Communications Group, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)


         
Delaware   4813   20-0792300
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

201 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 200

Irving, Texas 75062
(972) 373-1000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR., ESQ.

Senior Vice President,
Chief Legal Officer & Secretary
Valor Communications Group, Inc.
201 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 200
Irving, Texas 75062
(972) 373-1000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)


Copies to:

     
Joshua N. Korff, Esq.
Kirkland & Ellis LLP
Citigroup Center
153 East 53rd Street
New York, New York 10022
(212) 446-4800
  David J. Goldschmidt, Esq.
Richard L. Muglia, Esq.
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
Four Times Square
New York, New York 10036
(212) 735-3000


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

(continued on next page)


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

             


Proposed Maximum
Title of Each Class Aggregate Offering Amount of
of Securities to be Registered Price(1) Registration Fee(1)

Income Deposit Securities (IDSs)(2)
           

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share(3)
           

    % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019(4)
           

Subsidiary Guarantees of % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019(5)
           

Total
  $875,000,000   $ 110,863 (6)


(1)  Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
(2)  The IDSs represent                 underlying shares of the Class A common stock and $        aggregate principal amount of underlying       % senior subordinated notes of Valor Communications Group, Inc. (“Valor”). Includes                 IDSs subject to the underwriters’ over-allotment option and an indeterminate number of IDSs of the same series which may be received by holders of IDSs in the future on one or more occasions in replacement of the IDSs being offered hereby in the event of a subsequent issuance of IDSs, upon an automatic exchange of portions of the senior subordinated notes for identical portions of such additional notes as discussed in note (4) below.
 
(3)  Represents                  shares of Valor’s Class A common stock included in the IDSs described above.
 
(4)  Includes $        million aggregate principal amount of Valor’s       % senior subordinated notes included in the IDSs described above and $         million principal amount of senior subordinated notes of the same series that will be issued separately (not in the form of IDSs). Also includes an indeterminate principal amount of notes of the same series as the senior subordinated notes, which will be received by holders of senior subordinated notes in the future on one or more occasions in the event of a subsequent issuance of IDSs, upon an automatic exchange of portions of the senior subordinated notes for identical portions of such additional notes.
 
(5)  Each of the subsidiary guarantors listed in the Table of Additional Registrants on the next page will guarantee the senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs and the senior subordinated notes of the same series that will be issued separately from the IDSs. Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, no separate fee for the guarantees is payable.
 
(6)  Previously paid.

The Registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to such Section 8(a), may determine.

 


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(continued from previous page)

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.     o

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the Securities Act of 1933 registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.     o

If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box.     o


Table of Contents

Table of Additional Registrant Guarantors

                     
Address Including Zip Code,
State or Other Telephone Number
Jurisdiction of I.R.S. Employer Including Area Code of
Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor as Incorporation or Identification Registrant Guarantor’s
Specified in its Charter Organization Number Principal Executive Offices




Valor Telecommunications, LLC
    Delaware       52-2171586     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications of Texas, LP
    Texas       52-2194219     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Equipment, LP
    Texas       75-2884400     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Services, LP
    Texas       75-2884846     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Investments, LLC
    Delaware       47-0902124     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
    Delaware       75-2884398     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications LD, LP
    Delaware       75-2884847     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Southwest Enhanced Network Services, LP
    Delaware       75-2885419     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Western Access Services, LLC
    Delaware       20-0081823     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Western Access Services of Arizona, LLC
    Delaware       20-0081863     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Western Access Services of Arkansas, LLC
    Delaware       20-0081902     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000


Table of Contents

                     
Address Including Zip Code,
State or Other Telephone Number
Jurisdiction of I.R.S. Employer Including Area Code of
Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor as Incorporation or Identification Registrant Guarantor’s
Specified in its Charter Organization Number Principal Executive Offices




Western Access Services of Colorado, LLC
    Delaware       20-0081934     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Western Access Services of Oklahoma, LLC
    Delaware       20-0081944     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Western Access Services of New Mexico, LLC
    Delaware       20-0081922     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Western Access Services of Texas, LP
    Delaware       20-0081952     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Corporate Group, LP
    Texas       75-2895493     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC
    Delaware       52-2194218     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC
    Delaware       75-2950066     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Valor Telecommunications Enterprises II, LLC
    Delaware       75-2950064     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Communications Corporation
    Texas       74-2197091     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Communications Management, LLC
    Delaware       30-0135974     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Communications Enterprises, LLC
    Delaware       32-0047694     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Advanced Tel-Com Systems, LP
    Texas       74-2228603     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000


Table of Contents

                     
Address Including Zip Code,
State or Other Telephone Number
Jurisdiction of I.R.S. Employer Including Area Code of
Exact Name of Registrant Guarantor as Incorporation or Identification Registrant Guarantor’s
Specified in its Charter Organization Number Principal Executive Offices




Kerrville Telephone, LP
    Texas       74-0724580     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Cellular, LP
    Texas       74-2513782     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
KCC TelCom, LP
    Texas       74-2955898     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Cellular Management, LLC
    Delaware       51-0411886     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Cellular Holdings, LLC
    Delaware       51-0411889     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Mobile Holdings, Inc.
    Texas       74-3008924     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway,
Suite 200
Irving, TX 75062
(972) 373-1000
Kerrville Wireless Holdings, LP
    Texas       74-3012850     201 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 200 Irving, TX 75062 (972) 373-1000


Table of Contents

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed without notice. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

Subject to Completion, Dated May 28, 2004

Income Deposit Securities (IDSs)

representing
Shares of Class A Common Stock and
$               million        % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019 and
$                     million           % Senior Subordinated Notes due 2019

Valor Communications Group, Inc. LOGO

We are selling                      IDSs in the United States and Canada representing                      shares of our Class A common stock and $           million aggregate principal amount of our      % senior subordinated notes due 2019. Each IDS initially represents:

  •  one share of our Class A common stock; and
  •  a      % senior subordinated note with a $           million principal amount.

                                We are also selling $               million aggregate principal amount of our        % senior subordinated notes separately (not in the form of IDSs). The completion of the offering of separate senior subordinated notes is a condition to our sale of IDSs. In addition, as part of our reorganization described elsewhere in this prospectus, we are issuing                      IDSs representing                      shares of our Class A common stock and $           million aggregate principal amount of our      % senior subordinated notes to our existing equity holders, including management, in exchange for the interests they hold in our subsidiaries, see “Detailed Transaction Steps” on page 94.

This is the initial public offering of our IDSs and senior subordinated notes. We anticipate that the public offering price of the IDSs will be between $                     and $                     per IDS and the public offering price of the senior subordinated notes will be        % of their stated principal amount.

Holders of IDSs may separate the IDSs into the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby at any time after the earlier of 45 days from the closing of this offering or the occurrence of a change of control. Similarly, any holder of shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes may, at any time, unless the IDSs have automatically separated, combine the applicable number of shares of Class A common stock and principal amount of senior subordinated notes to form IDSs.

Upon a subsequent issuance by us of IDSs or senior subordinated notes of the same series (not in the form of IDSs), a portion of your senior subordinated notes may be automatically exchanged for an identical principal amount of the senior subordinated notes issued in such subsequent issuance, and in that event your IDSs will be replaced with new IDSs. For more information regarding these automatic exchanges and the effect they may have on your investment, see “Description of IDSs— Procedures Relating to Subsequent Issuance” on page 99 and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences— United States Holders— Senior Subordinated Notes— Additional Issuances” on page 150.

We have applied to list the IDSs on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VCG.” In addition, we intend to list the IDSs on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VLR.un” and our shares of Class A common stock under the symbol “VLR.”

Investing in our IDSs and our senior subordinated notes involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

                                 
Per
IDS Total Per Note Total




Public offering price(1)
  $       $           %   $    
Underwriting discount
  $       $           %   $    
Proceeds to Valor Communications Group, Inc. (before expenses)(2)
  $       $           %   $    

(1)  The offering price in Canada is payable in Canadian dollars and is the approximate equivalent of the U.S. dollar offering price based on the noon buying rate on the date of this prospectus as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
 
(2)  Approximately $        million of these proceeds will be paid to our existing equity holders. The table above does not reflect                 IDSs being issued to our existing equity holders in exchange for their interests in our subsidiaries.

Certain holders of IDSs have granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to                     additional IDSs to cover over-allotments.

The underwriters expect to deliver the IDSs and the senior subordinated notes on or about                     , 2004.

Joint Book-Running Lead Managers

CIBC World Markets Merrill Lynch & Co. Lehman Brothers
Banc of America Securities LLC JPMorgan

                    , 2004


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    F-1  
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 CERTIFICATE OF FORMATION
 SECOND AMENDED & RESTATED LIMITED LIABILITY
 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY OPERATING AGREEMENT
 LIMITED PARTNERSHIP OPERATING AGREEMENT
 INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN
 SAVINGS PLAN
 PENSION PLAN
 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 AMENDMENT ONE TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 AMENDMENT ONE TO EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT
 RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 PRO FORMA RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 CONSENT/REPORT ON SCHEDULE OF DELOITTE & TOUCHE
 CONSENT OF HOULIHAN LOKEY HOWARD & ZULCIN

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Summary

The following is a summary of the principal features of this offering of IDSs and senior subordinated notes and should be read together with the more detailed information and financial data and statements contained elsewhere in this prospectus.

Our Company

Overview

We are one of the largest providers of telecommunications services in rural communities in the southwestern United States and, based on the number of telephone lines we have in service, the seventh largest independent local telephone company in the country. We operate approximately 550,000 telephone access lines in primarily rural areas of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas. We believe that in many of our markets we are the only service provider that offers customers an integrated package of local and long distance voice, high-speed data and Internet access, and enhanced services such as voicemail and caller identification. For the year ended December 31, 2003, we generated revenues of $497.3 million.

We formed our company in 2000 in connection with the acquisition of select telephone assets from GTE Southwest Corporation, which is now part of Verizon, and have since acquired the local telephone company serving Kerrville, Texas. The rural telephone businesses that we own have been operating in the markets we serve for over 75 years. Since our inception, we have invested substantial resources to improve and expand our network infrastructure to provide high quality telecommunications services and superior customer care. This capital investment, in combination with a focused selling effort, has contributed to an increase in our revenue of $72.4 million, or 17.0%, from 2001 to 2003. We believe that we are well positioned for future revenue and cash flow growth through both expanded service offerings and acquisitions.

We operate our business through telephone company subsidiaries that qualify as rural local exchange carriers under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Like many rural telephone companies, our business is characterized by stable operating results, revenue and cash flow and a relatively favorable regulatory environment, which includes support payments from the state and federal Universal Service Fund. In 2003, 24.1% of our revenues were attributable to such support payments. We have historically experienced less competition than regional Bell operating companies because of the low customer density and high residential component of our customer base. Since our customer base is located in areas that are generally less densely populated than areas served by other rural telephone companies, we believe that we are more insulated from competitive pressures than many other local telecommunications providers.

Our Strengths

Ability to Generate Consistent Cash Flows. We have increased our operating cash flow in each year since our inception by growing revenues, reducing expenses and optimizing our capital expenditures. In addition, a steady demand for telecommunications services and public policies that support universal, affordable local telephone service have generally enabled rural telephone companies to attain predictable and stable cash flow from operations.

Leading Market Position. We maintain our position as the leading provider of telecommunications in the markets we serve by providing reliable customer service, offering a full range of voice and data services and maintaining a strong local presence in the communities we serve. In addition, we generally face less competition than other industry participants because competitive entry into our markets is less attractive due to the low population density and primarily residential customer base.

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Scalable, State-of-the-Art Network Infrastructure. Our investment of more than $300 million since our inception in 2000 to improve and expand our network infrastructure has enabled us to provide additional services to our customers, improve the overall quality of our network and position our company for future cash flow growth.

Wide Array of Integrated Services. We believe that we are the only telecommunications service provider in many of the markets we serve that can provide an integrated package of local, long distance, high-speed data and Internet access as well as a variety of enhanced services such as voicemail and caller identification.

Experienced and Proven Management Team. Our highly experienced senior management team has an average of over 20 years of experience in the local telecommunications industry, including managing the expansion of public telecommunications companies through both internal growth and integration of acquisitions.

Business Strategy

Increase Penetration of Higher Margin Services. We intend to capitalize on our ability to cross-sell higher margin enhanced voice and data services as a bundled package which we believe represents a significant opportunity for us to continue to increase our revenue per customer.

Provide Superior Service and Customer Care. We seek to build long-term customer relationships by providing personalized customer care through three call centers, while also automating many of our customer service functions to enable our customers to interact with our company 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Improve Operating Efficiency and Profitability. We strive for greater efficiencies and improved profit margins by consolidating corporate functions, negotiating favorable terms with our suppliers and contractors and focusing capital expenditures on projects that exceed our internal rate of return thresholds.

Pursue Selective Strategic Acquisitions. We believe that there are numerous opportunities to acquire telecommunications assets that are accretive and that we possess the management team, network infrastructure and labor force that can identify, acquire, integrate and successfully support significant growth through acquisitions.

New Credit Facility

Concurrently with the closing of this offering, we will enter into a $          million new senior secured credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions, including Banc of America Securities LLC and CIBC World Markets Corp., as joint lead arrangers and joint book-managers. CIBC is also acting as a joint book-running lead manager of this offering. Throughout this prospectus, we refer to this credit facility as the “new credit facility.” We expect that the new credit facility will be comprised of a senior secured revolving credit facility in a total principal amount of up to $           million, which we refer to as the “new revolver,” and a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $           million, which we refer to as the “new term loan.” We expect that the new revolving credit facility and the new term loan will each have an approximately five-year maturity with no amortization of principal prior to maturity. The senior subordinated notes will rank junior to the new credit facility and will be guaranteed by all of Valor’s subsidiaries. The closing of this offering is conditioned upon the closing of the new credit facility. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness—New Credit Facility.” As a result of the borrowings we expect to make initially under the new credit facility and the issuance of senior subordinated notes in this offering, we anticipate that upon the consummation of the offering we will have approximately $          of total debt outstanding.

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Our Reorganization

All the equity interests in Valor Telecommunications, LLC, or VTC, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, or VTS, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, or VTS II, are currently held by affiliates of Welsh, Carson Anderson & Stowe, affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners, and affiliates of Citicorp Venture Capital, to whom we refer to collectively as our “equity sponsors,” our management and employees, and a group of individuals. We refer to these persons and entities collectively throughout this prospectus as our “existing equity holders.”

As discussed in “Detailed Transactions Steps” on page 94 immediately prior to and in connection with this offering we will consummate a reorganization pursuant to which our existing equity holders will contribute all their equity interests in VTC, VTS and VTS II to Valor Communications Group, Inc., or Valor, in exchange for                     IDSs,                      shares of Class B common stock and $ million in cash in the aggregate. Following our reorganization, Valor will exist as a holding company with no direct operations and each of VTC, VTS and VTS II will be either a direct or an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Valor. Valor’s principal assets are the direct and indirect equity interests of its subsidiaries, all of which will be pledged to the creditors under the new credit facility as described above.

Following our reorganization our management will collectively hold an aggregate of            IDSs and will be eligible to receive                     over time under an incentive compensation plan that shall be designed to align the interests of management with those of the IDS holders. In addition, affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners and affiliates of Citicorp Venture Capital, or CVC, will beneficially own      %,      % and      %, respectively of our common stock. Therefore, Welsh Carson, Vestar and CVC together will be able to exert substantial influence over our company.

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Our Corporate Structure After This Offering

The following chart reflects our capital structure immediately after the offering:

(FLOW CHART)


(1)  Certain Valor Operating Entities and Kerville Operating Entities will also be borrowers under our new credit facility. We, Valor Telecommunications, LLC and certain of our operating subsidiaries will guarantee the obligations of these borrowers under the new credit facility.

We incorporated in Delaware in March 2004. Our principal executive offices are located at 201 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75062 and our telephone number is (972) 373-1000. Our website address is www.valortelecom.com. Information included or referred to on our website is not a part of this prospectus.

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General Information About This Prospectus

Throughout this prospectus, unless otherwise noted, we have assumed that our reorganization will be consummated and that the underwriters’ over-allotment exercise will not be exercised.

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to the “offering” refer collectively to the offering of:

  •   an aggregate of           IDSs to the public;
 
  •   an aggregate of           IDSs to our existing equity holders; and
 
  •   $           million aggregate principal amount of our        % senior subordinated notes to the public separately (not in the form of IDSs).

Furthermore, unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to “senior subordinated notes” refer to both senior subordinated notes underlying IDSs as well as senior subordinated notes issued separately (not in the form of IDSs).

Risk Factors

You should carefully consider the information under the heading “Risk Factors” and all other information in this prospectus before investing in the IDSs (including the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs) or in our senior subordinated notes.

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The Offering

Summary of the IDSs and the Senior Subordinated Notes

We are offering                     IDSs at an assumed initial public offering price of $           per IDS (comprised of $                    allocated to each subordinated note and $                    allocated to each share of Class A common stock), which represents the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus. We are also offering $                    million aggregate principal amount of our           % senior subordinated notes separately (not in the form of IDSs) at an initial public offering price of             % of the stated principal amount for each note. As described below, assuming we make our scheduled interest payments and pay dividends in the amount contemplated by our initial dividend policy, holders of IDSs will receive in the aggregate approximately $          per year in dividends and interest on the Class A common stock and notes represented by each IDS, and holders of our notes will receive $          per year in interest per note. Dividend payments, however, are not mandatory or guaranteed, and our board of directors may, in its discretion, amend or repeal or deviate from our initial dividend policy or otherwise decide not to declare one or more dividends or to declare dividends in different amounts. In addition, our ability to pay dividends will be restricted if we do not meet certain financial tests as set forth in the new credit facilities and the indenture governing the notes. See “Risk Factors — We are subject to restrictive debt covenants that impose operating and financial restrictions on our operations and could limit our ability to grow our business.” Further, our ability to pay dividends is restricted by Delaware law. See “Initial Dividend Policy and Restrictions.” Holders of our common stock do not have any legal right to receive or require the payment of dividends.

Our sale of IDSs will be conditioned upon the consummation of our separate offering of senior subordinated notes. In addition, no purchaser, including our existing equity investors, or any affiliate of such purchaser, is entitled to purchase both IDSs and senior subordinated notes in the offering. Furthermore, as part of our reorganization described elsewhere in this prospectus, we are issuing                     IDSs to our existing equity holders, including management, in exchange for the interests they hold in our subsidiaries, see “Detailed Transaction Steps” on page 94.

 
What are IDSs?

IDSs are securities comprised of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes.

Each IDS initially represents:

  •  one share of our Class A common stock; and
 
  •  a      % senior subordinated note with a $          principal amount.

The ratio of Class A common stock to principal amount of senior subordinated notes represented by an IDS is subject to change in the event of a stock split, recombination or reclassification of our Class A common stock. For example, if we effect a two-for-one stock split, from and after the effective date of the stock split, each IDS will represent two shares of Class A common stock and the same principal amount of senior subordinated notes as it previously represented. Likewise, if we effect a recombination or reclassification of our Class A common stock, each IDS will thereafter represent the appropriate number of shares of Class A common stock on a recombined or reclassified basis, as applicable, and the same principal amount of senior subordinated notes as it previously represented.

To our knowledge, no statutory, judicial or administrative authority, including the Internal Revenue Service, has directly addressed the tax consequences of the IDS structure or the subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes.

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What payments can I expect to receive as a holder of IDSs?

Assuming we make our scheduled interest payments on the senior subordinated notes and pay dividends in the amount contemplated by our anticipated dividend policy, you will receive in the aggregate approximately $           per year in interest on the senior subordinated notes and dividends on the Class A common stock represented by each IDS. We expect to make interest and dividend payments on the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December of each year to holders of record on the fifth day of each such month or the immediately preceding business day.

Subject to certain restrictions, we may choose to defer interest payments on our senior subordinated notes. In addition, our Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, decides whether or not we will pay dividends and determines the amount of any such dividend payment on the shares of our common stock.

You will be entitled to receive quarterly interest payments at an annual rate of      % of the aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated notes represented by your IDSs or approximately $           per IDS per year, subject to our right, if we are not otherwise in default under the indenture, for an aggregate period not to exceed eight quarters prior to 2009, and up to four occasions after                     , 2009 for a period of up to two quarters per occasion, to defer interest payments on our senior subordinated notes. For a detailed description of these circumstances, see “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes—Interest Deferral.”

You will also receive quarterly dividends on the shares of our Class A common stock represented by your IDSs, if and to the extent dividends are declared by our board of directors and permitted by applicable law and the terms of the new credit facility, the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes and any of our other then outstanding indebtedness. Specifically, the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes restricts our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock as described under “Dividend Policy.” In addition, the new credit facility restricts our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock as described under “Dividend Policy” and “Description of Certain Indebtedness—New Credit Facility.” Upon the closing of this offering, our board of directors is expected to adopt a dividend policy which contemplates that, subject to applicable law and the terms of our then existing indebtedness, annual dividends will be approximately $           per share of our Class A common stock for the first year following the consummation of this offering. However, our board of directors may, in its discretion, modify or repeal this dividend policy. We cannot assure you that we will pay dividends at this level in the future or at all.

 
Will my rights as a holder of IDSs be any different than the rights of a beneficial owner of separately held Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes?

No. As a holder of IDSs you are the beneficial owner of the Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by your IDSs. As such, through your broker or other financial institution and The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, you will have exactly the same rights, privileges and preferences, including voting rights, rights to receive distributions, rights and preferences in the event of a default under the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes, ranking upon bankruptcy and rights to receive communications and notices as a beneficial owner of separately held Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes, as applicable, would have through its broker or other financial institution and DTC.

 
Will the terms of the notes represented by IDSs be the same as the notes sold separately (not in the form of IDSs)?

Yes. The terms of the notes sold separately (not in the form of IDSs) will be identical in all respects to the notes represented by IDSs and will be part of the same series of notes issued under the same indenture. Accordingly, holders of notes sold separately and holders of notes represented by IDSs will vote

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together as a single class, in proportion to the aggregate principal amount of notes they hold, on all matters on which they were eligible to vote under the indenture.

  May purchasers of the senior subordinated notes being offered separately (and not in the form of IDSs) also purchase IDSs in this offering?

No. Prior to the closing of this offering, each person purchasing separate notes in this offering will be required to represent to us in writing that:

  •  Neither such purchaser nor any entity, investment fund or account over which such purchaser exercises investment control is purchasing IDSs in this offering or owns or has the contractual right to acquire our equity securities; and
 
  •  there is no plan or pre-arrangement by which,

  •  such purchaser will acquire any IDSs or our company equity, or
 
  •  separate notes being acquired by such purchaser will be transferred to any holder of the IDSs or company equity.
 
Will the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs be separately listed on an exchange?

We will apply to list the shares of our Class A common stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol VLR. We cannot assure you that our Class A common stock will trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange or any other exchange or that our senior subordinated notes will trade separately from the IDSs on any exchange. We currently do not expect an active trading market for our Class A common stock or senior subordinated notes to develop. However, we will use reasonable efforts to list our Class A common stock for separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange if a sufficient number of shares of our Class A common stock are held separately to meet the minimum requirements for separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange for at least 30 consecutive trading days. The shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes offered hereby will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, unless they are held by “affiliates” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

 
In what form will IDSs and the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs be issued?

The IDSs and the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs will be issued in book-entry form only. This means that you will not be a registered holder of IDSs or the securities represented by the IDSs and you will not receive a certificate for your IDSs or the securities represented by your IDSs. You must rely on your broker or other financial institution that will maintain your book-entry position to receive the benefits and exercise the rights of a holder of IDSs.

 
Can I separate my IDSs into shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes or recombine shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes to form IDSs?

Yes. Holders of IDSs, whether purchased in this offering or in a subsequent offering of IDSs of the same series, may, at any time after the earlier of 45 days from the date of the closing of this offering or the occurrence of a change of control, through their broker or other financial institution, separate the IDSs into the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby. Any holder of shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes, whether represented by IDSs purchased in this offering or a subsequent offering and separated, or purchased separately in the secondary market, may, at any time, through his or her broker or other financial institution, combine the applicable number of shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes to form IDSs unless the IDSs have previously been automatically separated. Separation and recombination of IDSs will occur

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promptly in accordance with The Depository Trust Company’s procedures and upon receipt of instructions from your broker and may involve transaction fees charged by your broker and/or other financial intermediaries. Trading in the IDSs will not be suspended as a result of any such separation or recombination of IDSs. See “Description of IDSs—Book-Entry Settlement and Clearance—Separation and Combination.”
 
Will my IDSs automatically separate into shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes upon the occurrence of certain events?

Yes. Separation of all of the IDSs will occur automatically 90 days following the acceleration of the maturity of the senior subordinated notes for any reason, upon the continuance of a payment default on the senior subordinated notes for 90 days, upon the occurrence of any redemption, whether in whole or in part, of the senior subordinated notes or upon the maturity of the senior subordinated notes. Following any such automatic separation, shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes may be no longer be combined to form IDSs.

 
What will happen if we issue additional IDSs or senior subordinated notes of the same series in the future?

Subsequently issued IDSs or senior subordinated notes will have terms that are identical to those of the IDSs and senior subordinated notes, respectively, sold in this offering, except that:

  •   if additional IDSs are issued 45 days or more from the closing of this offering, they will be immediately separable; and
 
  •   if additional IDSs are issued less than 45 days from the closing of this offering, they will be separable on and after the same date the IDSs issued in this offering may separate.

If we issue senior subordinated notes (whether or not in the form of IDSs) in the future and these senior subordinated notes are sold with original issue discount, or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, holders of our senior subordinated notes outstanding prior to such issuance and purchasers of the newly issued notes will automatically exchange among themselves a portion of the senior subordinated notes they hold so that immediately following such automatic exchange, each holder will own a pro rata portion of the new notes and the old notes. The aggregate amount of new notes and old notes held by any holder prior to the exchange will be the same as such holder holds subsequent to the exchange. This exchange will be effected automatically, without any action by the holders, through the facilities of DTC. DTC has advised us that the implementation of this automatic exchange may cause a delay in the settlement of trades of up to 24 hours. See “—Description of IDSs—Procedures Relating to Subsequent Issuances.”

Other than potential tax and bankruptcy implications and subject to market perception, we do not believe that the automatic exchange will affect the economic attributes of your investment in our IDSs or senior subordinated notes. The tax and bankruptcy implications of an automatic exchange are summarized below and described in more detail in “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the IDSs, the Shares of Class A Common Stock, and Senior Subordinated Notes Represented by the IDSs, the Senior Subordinated Notes Offered Separately (not in the form of IDSs), and our New Credit Facility” and “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—United States Holders—Senior Subordinated Notes—Additional Issuances.”

This automatic exchange should not impair the rights any holder might otherwise have to assert a claim under applicable securities laws, against us or the underwriters, with respect to the full amount of senior subordinated notes purchased by such holder.

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What will be the United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in the IDSs?

The United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of IDSs or senior subordinated notes in this offering are not entirely clear.

Treatment of Purchase of IDSs.  Our counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, is of the opinion that the purchase of IDSs in this offering should be treated for United States federal tax purposes as the purchase of shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes, rather than as the purchase of a single integrated security, and, by purchasing IDSs, you will agree to such treatment. We have not received an opinion of counsel as to the tax consequence of an additional issuance of IDSs of the same series in the future. You must allocate the purchase price of the IDSs between those shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes in proportion to their respective initial fair market values, which will establish your initial tax basis in each component of the IDSs. The value attributed to the shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs have been established based on the fair market value of such shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes. We will report the initial fair market value of each share of Class A common stock as $          and the initial fair market value of each $          principal amount of senior subordinated notes as $          , and by purchasing IDSs, you will agree to such allocation.

Treatment of Senior Subordinated Notes.  Our counsel is of the opinion that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. If the senior subordinated notes were treated as equity rather than as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, then the stated interest on the senior subordinated notes could be treated as a dividend, and interest on the senior subordinated notes would not be deductible by us for United States federal income tax purposes, which could significantly reduce our future cash flow. In addition, payments on the senior subordinated notes to foreign holders would be subject to United States federal withholding tax at rates up to 30%. Payments to foreign holders would not be grossed-up on account of any such taxes.

For a more complete discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations in connection with an investment in IDSs or senior subordinated notes, see “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

 
What will be the United States federal income tax consequences of a subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes?

The United States federal income tax consequences to you of the subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID (or any issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter), are not entirely clear.

Exchange of Senior Subordinated Notes.  The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes and the agreements with DTC will provide that, in the event that there is a subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID, and in connection with each issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter, including an issuance of senior subordinated notes upon an exchange of shares of Class B common stock, each holder of IDSs or separately held senior subordinated notes, as the case may be, agrees that a portion of such holder’s senior subordinated notes will be exchanged for a portion of the senior subordinated notes acquired by the holders of such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes, as described above. As a result of these exchanges, the OID associated with the issuance of the new senior subordinated notes effectively will be spread among all holders of senior subordinated notes on a pro rata basis, which may adversely affect your tax treatment, as described below. OID is generally the excess, if any, of the stated redemption price at maturity of a note over its issue price. If the difference is de minimus as defined in the Code and the Treasury regulations relating to OID, then there is no OID.

Due to the lack of applicable authority, it is unclear whether the exchange of senior subordinated notes for subsequently issued senior subordinated notes will result in a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes, and it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, might successfully assert that such an exchange should be treated as a taxable exchange. In such case, a holder would recognize

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any gain realized on such exchange, but a loss realized might be disallowed. If the exchange of senior subordinated notes is treated as a taxable exchange, then your initial tax basis in the senior subordinated notes deemed to have been received in the exchange would be the fair market value of such senior subordinated notes on the date of the deemed exchange (adjusted to reflect any disallowed loss), and your holding period for such senior subordinated notes would begin on the day after the deemed exchange.

Reporting of OID. Regardless of whether the exchange of senior subordinated notes is treated as a taxable event, such exchange could result in holders having to include OID in taxable income prior to the receipt of cash. Following any subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID (or any issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter) and resulting exchange, we (and our agents) will report any OID on the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes ratably among all holders of IDSs and separately held senior subordinated notes, and each holder of IDSs and separately held senior subordinated notes will, by purchasing IDSs or senior subordinated notes, agree to report OID in a manner consistent with this approach. However, we cannot assure you that the IRS will not assert that any OID should be reported only by the persons that initially acquired such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes (and their transferees) and they may challenge a holder’s reporting of OID on its tax returns.

We will immediately file a Current Report on Form 8-K (or any other applicable form) to announce and quantify any changes in the ratio of IDS components or changes in original issue discount attributed to the senior subordinated notes.

Because a subsequent issuance will affect the senior subordinated notes in the same manner, regardless of whether the senior subordinated notes are held as part of IDSs or separately, the combination of senior subordinated notes and shares of Class A common stock to form IDSs, or the separation of IDSs into their component parts, should not affect your tax treatment.

Because there is no statutory, judicial or administrative authority directly addressing the tax treatment of the IDSs or instruments similar to the IDSs, we urge you to consult your own tax advisor concerning the tax consequences of an investment in the IDSs or senior subordinated notes. For additional information, see “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

 
What is the initial and prospective accounting treatment of the IDSs?

There is no explicit guidance under generally accepted accounting principles regarding the accounting and reporting for unit securities comprised of common stock and notes like the IDSs. Any accounting followed by us for the IDSs may be subject to future scrutiny and challenge. Authoritative accounting bodies such as the FASB, EITF or SEC may issue future guidance, rules or interpretations which may require us to adjust our accounting for our IDSs. For our interpretation of the accounting treatment based on existing guidance available, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis—Critical Accounting Policies (Income Taxes and IDSs, Class B common stock and preferred stock).”

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Summary of the Capital Stock

 
Issuer Valor Communications Group, Inc.
 
Common stock We have            shares of authorized Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share,            shares of authorized Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and            shares of authorized Class C common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock are identical in all respects, except that only Class A common stock is eligible to be included in IDSs and each class carries different dividend rights, as more fully described in “Dividend Policy” and “Description of Capital Stock—Common Stock—Dividends.” In addition, we have entered into an agreement with our equity sponsors that provides that following the second anniversary of the consummation of this offering, at the option of our equity sponsors, upon any subsequent sale of any shares of Class B common stock, we will exchange with the purchasers of such shares, one IDS for each share of Class B common stock, subject to compliance with law and applicable agreements more fully described in “Related Party Transactions—Equity Sponsors— Investor Rights Agreement.” Furthermore, our bylaws provide that we may only issue additional shares of Class A common stock and IDSs pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Unless the context otherwise requires, references to our “common stock” throughout this prospectus refer to our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock.
 
Shares of Class A common stock represented by IDSs being offered to the public:
 
     by Valor                     shares.
 
     by our existing equity holders                     shares if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full (which shares shall be offered from the shares of Class A common stock represented by IDSs that we are issuing to our existing equity holders in this offering).
 
Shares of Class A common stock represented by IDSs being issued to our existing equity holders                     shares.
 
Shares of common stock to
be outstanding following
the offering
                    shares of Class A common stock and            shares of Class B common stock. No shares of Class C common stock will be outstanding following the consummation of this offering.
 
Voting rights Each outstanding share of our common stock will carry one vote per share and all classes of common stock will vote as a single class on all matters presented to the stockholders for a vote. Our existing equity investors, through their ownership of shares of Class A common stock and Class B common stock, will own           % of the voting power of our common stock outstanding immediately following the offering.
 
Dividends You will receive dividends on the shares of our common stock if and to the extent dividends are declared by our board of directors and permitted by applicable law and the terms of our then outstanding

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indebtedness. Specifically, the senior subordinated notes indenture and the new credit facility both restrict our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock, as described in detail under “Dividend Policy.” Upon the closing of this offering, our board of directors is expected to adopt a dividend policy which contemplates that, subject to applicable law and the terms of our then existing indebtedness, annual dividends will be approximately $           per share of our Class A common stock for the first year following the consummation of this offering. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains dividend provisions with respect to our Class B common stock that are intended to replicate the yield on our IDS units. Any time a dividend is paid to holders of Class A common stock, holders of Class B common stock will be paid a dividend equal to the amount per share paid to holders of Class A common stock. In addition to any such dividend, shares of our Class B common stock accrue dividends at a rate of           % per annum on a deemed issuance price of $                    per share, as more fully described in “Description of Capital Stock — Common Stock — Dividends.” Following the consummation of this offering, no shares of Class C common stock will be outstanding and therefore we have not established a dividend policy with respect to shares of Class C common stock. Our board of directors may, in its discretion, modify or repeal this dividend policy. We cannot assure that we will pay dividends at this level or at all in the future.
 
Dividend payment dates If declared, dividends on our Class A common stock and Class B common stock will be paid quarterly on the fifteenth day of each March, June, September and December of each year to holders of record on the fifth day of such month or the immediately preceding business day. To the extent not previously paid, the           % dividend that accrues on shares of Class B common stock will be paid at such time when such shares of Class B Common stock are exchanged for IDSs.
 
Listing We have applied to list the IDSs on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VCG.” In addition, we intend to apply to list the IDSs on the Toronto Exchange under the trading symbol “VLR.un” and our shares of Class A common stock under the symbol “VLR.” We cannot assure you that our Class A common stock will trade separately from the IDSs on the Toronto Stock Exchange or any other exchange and we currently do not expect an active trading market for our Class A common stock to develop. However, we will use reasonable efforts to list our Class A common stock for separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange if a sufficient number of shares of our Class A common stock are held separately to meet the minimum requirements for separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange for at least 30 consecutive trading days. Our Class A common stock will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act, unless held by “affiliates” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act.

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Summary of the Senior Subordinated Notes

 
Issuer Valor Communications Group, Inc.
 
Senior subordinated notes represented by IDSs being offered to the public:
 
     by Valor $          million aggregate principal amount of           % senior subordinated notes.
 
     by our existing equity holders $          million aggregate principal amount of           % senior subordinated notes if the underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase IDSs is exercised in full (which notes shall be offered from the notes represented by IDSs that we are issuing to our existing equity holders in this offering).
 
Senior subordinated notes represented by IDSs being issued to our existing equity holders $          million aggregate principal amount of           % senior subordinated notes.
 
Senior subordinated notes being offered to the public separately (and not in the form of IDSs) $          million aggregate principal amount of           % senior subordinated notes.
 
Senior subordinated notes to be outstanding following
the offering
$          million aggregate principal amount of           % senior subordinated notes.
 
Interest rate           % per year.
 
Interest payment dates Interest will be paid quarterly in arrears on the fifteenth day of March, June, September and December of each year, commencing                     , 2004, to holders of record on the fifth day of each such month or the immediately preceding business day.
 
Interest deferral Prior to                     , 2009, we may, subject to certain restrictions, defer interest payments on our senior subordinated notes on one or more occasions for up to an aggregate period of eight quarters. In addition, after                     , 2009 we may, subject to certain restrictions, defer interest payments on our senior subordinated notes on up to four occasions for no more than two quarters on each occasion; provided that at the end of any interest deferral period following                     , 2009, we may not defer interest unless and until all deferred interest and accrued interest thereon is paid in full.
 
During any interest deferral period and so long as any deferred interest or interest on deferred interest remains outstanding, we will not be permitted to declare or pay dividends on the common stock.
 
For a detailed description of the interest deferral provisions of the indenture, see “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes— Interest Deferral.”
 
In the event that interest payments on the senior subordinated notes are deferred, you would be required to continue to include the yield on the senior subordinated notes in your income for United States federal

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income tax purposes as it accrues, even if you do not receive any cash interest payments.
 
Maturity date The senior subordinated notes will mature on                     , 2019.
 
Optional redemption We may not redeem the senior subordinated notes prior                     , 2011.

On and after                     , 2011 and prior to                     , 2016, we may redeem for cash all or part of the senior subordinated notes upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days notice by mail to the owners of senior subordinated notes, at the redemption prices set forth under “Description of Notes—Optional Redemption.” After                     , 2016, we may redeem all or any part of the senior subordinated notes upon not less than 30 or more than 60 days notice by mail to the holders of senior subordinated notes at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed. In addition, if at any time we receive an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel that all or a substantial portion of the interest on the senior subordinated notes will not be deductible by us for United States federal income tax purposes, we may redeem the senior subordinated notes, in whole but not in part, at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed. If we redeem the senior subordinated notes in whole or in part, the senior subordinated notes and Class A common stock represented by each IDS will be automatically separated and cannot thereafter be recombined.
 
Change of control Upon the occurrence of a change of control, as defined under “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes— Change of Control,” each holder of senior subordinated notes will have the right to require us to repurchase that holder’s senior subordinated notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the senior subordinated notes being repurchased, plus any accrued but unpaid interest to but not including the repurchase date. If senior subordinated notes are held in the form of IDSs, in order to exercise that right, a holder of IDSs must separate its IDSs into the shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby and hold the senior subordinated notes separately.
 
Guarantees of senior subordinated notes The senior subordinated notes will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed, on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, jointly and severally, by each of our direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries existing on the closing of this offering and each of our future wholly-owned domestic restricted subsidiaries that has total assets of more than $500,000. The guarantees will be subordinated to the guarantees issued by the subsidiary guarantors under the new credit facility.
 
Ranking of senior subordinated notes and guarantees Valor is a holding company and derives all of its operating income and cash flow from its subsidiaries. The senior subordinated notes will be our and any guarantor’s unsecured senior subordinated indebtedness, will be subordinated in right of payment to all our and any guarantor’s existing and future senior indebtedness, including our borrowings and all guarantees of the subsidiary guarantors under the new credit facility. The senior subordinated notes and guarantees will rank pari passu in right of payment with all of our and any guarantor’s existing

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and future senior subordinated indebtedness and trade payables, except for such indebtedness and trade payables that are statutorily or contractually subordinated. The senior subordinated notes will also be effectively subordinated to any of our and any guarantor’s secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing the indebtedness.
 
The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes will permit Valor and the subsidiary guarantors to incur additional indebtedness, including senior indebtedness, subject to specified limitations. On a pro forma basis as of March 31, 2004:
 
      •  Valor would have had no senior or pari passu indebtedness outstanding except for its guarantee under the new credit facility, as described below; and
 
      •  VTC would have had $          million aggregate principal amount of senior secured indebtedness outstanding under the new credit facility plus approximately $                                                    million of letters of credit, which would have been guaranteed on a senior secured basis by the subsidiary guarantors, and approximately $                                                    million of capital leases.
 
Restrictive covenants The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes will contain covenants with respect to us and our restricted subsidiaries that will restrict:
 
      •  the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of preferred stock and certain redeemable capital stock;
 
      •  the payment of dividends on, and redemption of, capital stock;
 
      •  a number of other restricted payments, including investments;
 
      •  specified sales of assets;
 
      •  specified transactions with affiliates;
 
      •  the creation of a number of liens; and
 
      •  consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets.
 
The limitations and prohibitions described above are subject to a number of other important qualifications and exceptions described under “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes—Certain Covenants.”
 
Listing We do not anticipate that our senior subordinated notes will be listed separately on any exchange.
 
Representation Letter None of the senior subordinated notes sold separately (not in the form of IDSs) in this offering, which we refer to as the “separate notes” may be purchased, directly or indirectly, by persons who are also (1) purchasing IDSs in this offering or (2) holders of Class B common stock following our recapitalization. Furthermore, prior to the closing of this offering, each person purchasing separate senior subordinated notes in this offering will be asked to make certain representations to us in connection with these restrictions. See “Underwriting.”

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Summary Consolidated Financial Information

Valor is a holding company and has no direct operations. Valor was formed for the sole purpose of reorganizing our corporate structure and consummating this offering. Valor’s principle assets are the direct and indirect equity interests of its subsidiaries. As a result, we have not provided separate historical financial results for Valor and present only the historical consolidated financial results of Valor Telecommunications, LLC. The following table sets forth our summary consolidated financial information derived from our audited consolidated financial statements for each of the years ended December 31, 2001 through December 31, 2003, and our unaudited consolidated financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004.

The information in the table below is only a summary and should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the related notes, our unaudited consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2004 and for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” all as included elsewhere in this prospectus.

                                         
Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,


2001 2002(1) 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Statement of operations data:
                                       
Operating revenues
  $ 424,916     $ 479,883     $ 497,334     $ 122,119     $ 125,852  
Operating income
    103,298       159,251       182,273       46,019       45,516  
Net (loss) income(2)
    (53,355 )     16,302       58,233       12,159       15,614  
Cash flow data from continuing operations:
                                       
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 100,301     $ 150,383     $ 166,065     $ 41,485     $ 50,109  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (106,614 )     (216,773 )     (66,299 )     (14,178 )     (16,723 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    8,117       71,015       (99,465 )     (26,484 )     (31,041 )
Other data:
                                       
Capital expenditures
  $ 107,869     $ 89,527     $ 69,850     $ 14,486     $ 16,654  
Acquisition of Kerrville Communications Corporation(3)
  $     $ 128,135     $     $     $  
Depreciation and amortization(4)
  $ 110,843     $ 73,273     $ 81,638     $ 19,950     $ 20,827  
Adjusted EBITDA(5)
  $ 215,141     $ 240,595     $ 262,707     $ 64,609     $ 66,872  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(6)
          1.2x       1.5x       1.4x       1.6x  
Deficiency in the coverage of earnings to fixed charges(6)
  $ 47,024                          
Total access lines(7)
    551,599       571,308       556,745       568,933       557,278  
                         
March 31, 2004

Pro Forma
Actual Adjustments As Adjusted(8)



(Dollars in thousands)
Balance sheet data:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,750     $       $    
Net property, plant and equipment
  $ 765,430     $       $    
Total assets
  $ 2,026,191     $       $    
Long-term debt (including current maturities)
  $ 1,430,196     $       $    
Redeemable preferred interests
  $ 370,231     $       $    
Total common owners’ equity
  $ 65,476     $       $    

(1) We acquired all the outstanding common stock, preferred stock and common stock equivalents of Kerrville Communications Corporation (“KCC”) on January 31, 2002 and have included the assets, liabilities and results of operations of KCC from that date.

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(2) Net (loss) income reported on the table above is after the effect of minority interest of $(3,595), $615 and $3,568 in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively, relating to individual investors’ interests in our subsidiaries.
(3) Reflects the purchase price for our acquisition of KCC, net of cash acquired.
(4) In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”, effective January 1, 2002, we discontinued the amortization of goodwill. Amortization expense associated with goodwill was $53,900 for the year ended December 31, 2001.
(5) Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes, is calculated as net (loss) income, as adjusted for the following items:

  •  Income tax expense;
  •  Interest expense;
  •  Depreciation and amortization;
  •  Minority interest;
  •  Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements;
  •  Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships;
  •  Other income and expense, net;
•  Loss on discontinued operations;
•  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle;
•  Management fees paid to equity sponsors; and
•  Other non-recurring items, as defined in the indenture.

  We consider Adjusted EBITDA an important indicator to investors in IDSs because it provides information related to our ability to provide cash flows to service debt, pay dividends and fund capital expenditures. We present this discussion of Adjusted EBITDA because covenants in the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes contain ratios based on this measure. As such, the summary historical financial information presented above includes our historical Adjusted EBITDA. For example, our ability to incur additional debt and make restricted payments requires a ratio of total leverage to Adjusted EBITDA of 5.75 to 1.00, except that we may incur certain debt and make certain restricted payments without regard to the ratio. Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered a substitute for, operating income (loss), net income (loss), and other measures of financial performance reported in accordance with GAAP. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA should not be used as a substitute for the Company’s various cash flow measures (e.g., operating, investing and financing cash flows), which are discussed in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
                                           
Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Calculation of Adjusted EBITDA:
                                       
Net (loss) income
  $ (53,355 )   $ 16,302     $ 58,233     $ 12,159     $ 15,614  
Adjustments:
                                       
 
Income tax expense(a)
          1,649       2,478       758       567  
 
Interest expense
    133,156       127,365       119,185       31,926       27,730  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    110,843       73,273       81,638       19,950       20,827  
 
Minority interest
    (3,595 )     615       3,568       770       1,518  
 
Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements
    14,292       12,348       2,113       1,229       342  
 
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
          (2,757 )     (3,258 )     (783 )     (325 )
 
Other income and expense, net
    (358 )     268       62       (40 )     70  
 
Loss (income) on discontinued operations
    8,443       3,461       (108 )            
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    4,715                          
 
Management fees paid to equity sponsors
    1,000       1,000       1,000       250       250  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total adjustments
    268,496       217,222       206,678       54,060       50,979  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Other non-recurring items, as defined in the indenture:
                                       
 
Termination benefits associated with workforce reduction
          1,768                   279  
 
MCI bankruptcy
          4,998       (3,386 )     (1,610 )      
 
Transaction fees for acquisitions not consummated
          305       1,182              
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total other non-recurring items, as defined in the indenture
          7,071       (2,204 )     (1,610 )     279  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 215,141     $ 240,595     $ 262,707     $ 64,609     $ 66,872  
     
     
     
     
     
 
  (a) Relates to the federal income tax expense of Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, the holding company of the operating entities relating to our KCC business, which has elected to be taxed as a corporation.

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Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31


2001 2002(1) 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA:
                                       
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 100,301     $ 150,383     $ 166,065     $ 41,485     $ 50,109  
Adjustments:
                                       
 
Interest expense
    133,156       127,365       119,185       31,926       27,730  
 
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    (5,735 )     (6,801 )     (8,105 )     (1,803 )     (2,019 )
 
Non-cash interest expense
    (29,025 )     (32,612 )     (17,788 )     (8,894 )      
 
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable
    (11,378 )     (11,393 )     (3,298 )     (209 )     (1,769 )
 
Changes in working capital
    29,923       (3,291 )     (33 )     1,530       (8,507 )
 
Other, net
    (2,743 )     7,049       5,795       1,233       285  
 
Income tax expense
          1,649       2,478       758       567  
 
Deferred income taxes
          (93 )     (450 )     (17 )     (123 )
 
Other income and expense, net
    (358 )     268       62       (40 )     70  
 
Management fees paid to equity sponsors
    1,000       1,000       1,000       250       250  
Other non-recurring items, as defined in the indenture:
                                       
 
Termination benefits associated with workforce reduction
          1,768                   279  
 
MCI bankruptcy
          4,998       (3,386 )     (1,610 )      
 
Transaction fees for acquisitions not consummated
          305       1,182              
     
     
     
     
     
 
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ 215,141     $ 240,595     $ 262,707     $ 64,609     $ 66,872  
     
     
     
     
     
 

(6)  For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as pretax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interest, less earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships and interest capitalized plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income from unconsolidated cellular partnerships. Fixed charges include interest costs, both expensed and capitalized, on all indebtedness, amortization of deferred financing costs and one-third of the rental expense on operating leases, representing the portion of rental expense we consider to be attributable to interest. Where earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges, the deficiency is reported in the table above.
(7)  We calculate our access lines in service by counting the number of working communication facilities that provide local service that terminate in a central office or to a customers premise. Non-revenue producing lines provisioned for company official use and for test purposes are included in our total access line counts. There were 11,305, 11,258 and 11,703 non-revenue producing lines included in our total access line count at December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 which represented 2.1%, 2.0% and 2.0% of our total access line counts, respectively, and 10,943 and 11,668 non-revenue producing lines included in our total access line count at March 31, 2003 and 2004 which represented 1.9% and 2.1% of our total access line count, respectively.
(8)  The pro forma as adjusted balance sheet data have been prepared assuming the closing of this offering, the repurchase of 100% of our senior subordinated notes and completion of the bank refinancing, including payment of related fees and expenses. The pro forma as adjusted balance sheet data give effect to those transactions as if they had occurred on March 31, 2004. As described in “Risk Factors” and further described in “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences,” we plan to account for the issuance of the IDSs as representing shares of common stock and senior subordinated notes. We will deduct the interest expense on the senior subordinated notes from taxable income for income tax purposes and report the full benefit of the income tax deduction in our consolidated financial statements. We cannot assure you that the Internal Revenue Service will not seek to challenge the treatment of these senior subordinated notes as debt and the amount of interest expense deducted. If the Internal Revenue Service were to challenge this treatment successfully, we would have to provide an additional liability for the previously recorded benefit for the interest deductions.

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Risk Factors

Before you invest in the IDSs (including the shares of our Class A common stock and our senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs) or the senior subordinated notes, you should carefully consider the various risks of the investment, including those described below, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, financial condition or operating results could be adversely affected.

Risks Relating to the IDSs, the Shares of Class A Common Stock and Senior Subordinated Notes Represented by the IDSs, the Senior Subordinated Notes Offered Separately (not in the Form of IDSs), and our New Credit Facility

Our substantial indebtedness could restrict our ability to pay interest and principal on the senior subordinated notes and to pay dividends with respect to shares of our Class A common stock represented by the IDSs and impact our financing options and liquidity position.

Upon the consummation of this offering, we will have approximately $          million of total debt outstanding, $          million of which will rank senior to the senior subordinated notes. The degree to which we are leveraged on a consolidated basis could have important consequences to the holders of the IDSs and of separate senior subordinated notes, including:

  •   it may be more difficult to satisfy our obligations under the senior subordinated notes and to pay dividends on our Class A common stock;
 
  •   our ability to obtain additional financing in the future for working capital, capital expenditures or acquisitions may be limited;
 
  •   we may be unable to refinance our indebtedness on terms acceptable to us or at all;
 
  •   a significant portion of our cash flow from operations is likely to be dedicated to the payment of the principal of and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing funds available for other corporate purposes; and
 
  •   our substantial indebtedness may make us more vulnerable to economic downturns and limit our ability to withstand competitive pressures.

We may be able to incur substantially more debt, which could exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness described above.

While our new credit facility will contain total leverage, senior leverage and interest coverage covenants and the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes will contain incurrence covenants that will restrict our ability to incur debt as described under “Description of Certain Indebtedness— New Credit Facility,” and “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes— Additional Notes,” as long as we meet these financial covenants we will be allowed to incur additional indebtedness, including senior subordinated notes with terms identical to the senior subordinated notes offered hereby.

The terms of our new credit facility restrict our ability to pay interest on our senior subordinated notes and dividends on shares of our common stock and we may amend these terms or enter into new agreements that are more restrictive.

Our new credit facility contains significant restrictions on our ability to pay interest on the senior subordinated notes and dividends on shares of common stock based on meeting our interest coverage ratio and senior leverage ratio and compliance with other conditions. As a result of general economic conditions, conditions in the lending markets, the results of our business or for any other reason, we may elect or be required to amend or refinance our new credit facility, at or prior to maturity, or enter into additional agreements for senior indebtedness. Regardless of any protection you have in the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes, any such amendment, refinancing or additional indebtedness may contain covenants that could limit in a significant manner our ability to make interest payments and pay dividends to you.

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We are subject to restrictive debt covenants that impose operating and financial restrictions on our operations and could limit our ability to grow our business.

The agreements governing our indebtedness impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us. These restrictions prohibit or limit, among other things:

  •   the incurrence of additional indebtedness and the issuance of preferred stock and certain redeemable capital stock;
 
  •   a number of other restricted payments, including investments and acquisitions;
 
  •   specified sales of assets;
 
  •   specified transactions with affiliates;
 
  •   the creation of a number of liens;
 
  •   consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets; and
 
  •   our ability to change the nature of our business.

These restrictions could limit our ability to obtain future financing, make acquisitions, withstand downturns in our business or take advantage of business opportunities.

If we fail to comply with the restrictive debt covenants in the agreements governing our indebtedness, our senior lenders may accelerate the payment of indebtedness outstanding under our new credit facility which is senior to the senior subordinated notes.

The terms of the new credit facility include several restrictive covenants that prohibit us from prepaying our other indebtedness, including the senior subordinated notes, while indebtedness under the new credit facility is outstanding. The new credit facility also requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy financial condition tests. Our ability to comply with the ratios or tests may be affected by events beyond our control, including prevailing economic, financial and industry conditions. See the information under “Description of Certain Indebtedness” for a fuller description of these restrictions and covenants.

A breach of any of these covenants, ratios or tests could result in a default under the new credit facility and/or the indenture. Events of default under the new credit facility would prohibit us from making payments on the senior subordinated notes in cash, including payment of interest when due. In addition, upon the occurrence of an event of default under the new credit facility, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under the new credit facility, together with accrued interest, to be immediately due and payable. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders could proceed against the security granted to them to secure that indebtedness. If the lenders accelerate the payment of the indebtedness, our assets may not be sufficient to repay in full this indebtedness and our other indebtedness, including the senior subordinated notes.

We are a holding company with no operations, and unless we receive dividends and other payments, advances and transfers of funds from our subsidiaries, we will be unable to meet our debt service and other obligations.

We are a holding company and conduct all of our operations through our subsidiaries. We currently have no significant assets other than equity interests in our subsidiaries. As a result, we will rely on dividends and other payments or distributions from our subsidiaries to meet our debt service obligations and enable us to pay dividends. The ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or distributions to us will depend on their respective operating results and may be restricted by, among other things, the laws of their jurisdiction of organization (which may limit the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends), agreements of those subsidiaries, the terms of the new credit facility (under which the equity interests of our subsidiaries will be pledged), and the covenants of any future outstanding indebtedness we or our subsidiaries incur.

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You may not receive interest payments on your senior subordinated notes on the regularly scheduled payment dates as we may defer the payment of interest to you for a significant period of time, subject to restrictions set forth in the indenture.

Prior to                     , 2009, we may, subject to restrictions set forth in the indenture, defer interest payments on our senior subordinated notes on one or more occasions for up to an aggregate period of eight quarters. In addition, after                     , 2009, we may, subject to certain restrictions, defer interest payments on our senior subordinated notes on up to four occasions for up to an aggregate period of two consecutive quarters on each occasion. For any interest deferred during the first five years, we are not obligated to pay any deferred interest until                     , 2009, so you may be owed a substantial amount of deferred interest that will not be due and payable until such time. For any interest deferred after                     , 2009, however, we are obligated to pay all of the interest deferred on any prior occasion, together with any accrued interest thereon, before we may again defer interest payments.

You may not receive the level of dividends provided for in the dividend policy that our board of directors is expected to adopt upon the closing of this offering or any dividends at all.

Our board of directors may, in its discretion, amend or repeal the dividend policy it is expected to adopt upon the closing of this offering. Our board of directors may decrease the level of dividends provided for in this dividend policy or entirely discontinue the payment of dividends. The amount of future dividends with respect to shares of our capital stock, if any, will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, business opportunities, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. In addition, the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes and the new credit facility each contain significant restrictions which could affect your receipt of dividends, because among other things, if we defer interest on the senior subordinated notes, we may not pay dividends until we have paid all deferred interest and accrued interest thereon.

Furthermore, if the senior subordinated notes were treated as equity rather than as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, then the stated interest on the senior subordinated notes could be treated as a dividend and would not be deductible by us for United States federal income tax purposes. Our inability to deduct interest on the senior subordinated notes could materially increase our taxable income and, thus, our United States federal and applicable state income tax liability. If this were to occur, our after-tax cash flow available for dividend and interest payments would be reduced.

You will be immediately diluted by $           per share of Class A common stock if you purchase IDSs in this offering.

If you purchase IDSs in this offering, based on the book value of the assets and liabilities reflected on our balance sheet, you will experience an immediate dilution of $           per share of Class A common stock represented by the IDSs which exceeds the entire price allocated to each share of Class A common stock represented by the IDSs in this offering because there will be a net tangible book deficit for each share of Class A common stock outstanding immediately after this offering. Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2004, after giving effect to this offering, was approximately $          million, or $           per share of Class A common stock.

Our interest expense may increase significantly and could cause our net income and distributable cash to decline significantly.

The new credit facility will be subject to periodic renewal or must otherwise be refinanced. We may not be able to renew or refinance the new credit facility, or if renewed or refinanced, the renewal or refinancing may occur on less favorable terms, including higher interest rates. Borrowings under the revolving facility will be made at a floating rate of interest. In the event of an increase in the base reference interest rates, our interest expense will increase and could have a material adverse effect on our ability to make cash dividend payments to our shareholders. Our ability to continue to expand our business will, to a large extent, be dependent upon our ability to borrow funds under our new credit facility and to obtain other

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third party financing, including through the sale of IDSs or other securities. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available to us on favorable terms or at all.

If we are unable to generate sufficient funds from operations we will be unable to pay our indebtedness at maturity or upon the exercise by holders of their rights upon a change of control.

Because a significant portion of our cash flow from operations will be dedicated to servicing our debt requirements and making capital expenditures to maintain the quality of our physical plant, we may not have sufficient funds from operations to repay the principal amount of our indebtedness at maturity or in case you exercise your right to require us to purchase your notes upon a change of control. In addition, we currently expect to distribute a significant portion of any remaining cash earnings to our stockholders in the form of quarterly dividends. Moreover, prior to the maturity of our senior subordinated notes, we will not be required to make any payments of principal on our senior subordinated notes. We may, therefore, need to refinance our debt or raise additional capital to meet our obligations. These alternatives may not be available to us when needed or on satisfactory terms due to prevailing market conditions, a decline in our business or restrictions contained in our senior debt obligations.

We may pay a significant portion of our free cash flow to stockholders in the form of dividends thereby reducing the amounts available to us to satisfy our obligations on the senior subordinated notes.

Our new credit facility and the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes permit us to pay a significant portion of our free cash flow to stockholders in the form of dividends, subject to certain limitations. Following completion of this offering, we intend to pay quarterly dividends. Any amounts paid by us in the form of dividends will not be available in the future to satisfy our obligations under the senior subordinated notes. The limitations on our ability to pay dividends are more fully described in “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes—Certain Covenants” and “Description of Certain Indebtedness—New Credit Facility.”

If the realizable value of our assets is insufficient to satisfy claims, you could lose all or part of your investment upon a liquidation of our company.

At March 31, 2004, our assets included goodwill of $1,057 million and deferred financing costs of $52 million. Combined, these items represent approximately 54.8% of our total consolidated assets. The value of these assets will continue to depend significantly upon the success of our business as a going concern and the growth in cash flows. As a result, in the event of a default under our new credit facility or on our senior subordinated notes or any bankruptcy or dissolution of our company, the realizable value of these assets may be substantially lower and may be insufficient to satisfy the claims of our creditors.

Deferral of interest payments would have adverse tax consequences for you.

If we defer interest payments on the senior subordinated notes, you will be required to recognize interest income for United States federal income tax purposes in respect of the senior subordinated notes before you receive any cash payment of this interest. In addition, we will not pay you this cash if you sell the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes, as the case may be, before the end of any deferral period or before the record date relating to interest payments that are to be paid.

Deferral of interest payments may also adversely affect the trading price of the senior subordinated notes.

The IDSs or the senior subordinated notes may trade at a price that does not fully reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest on the senior subordinated notes if we defer interest payments. In addition, the requirement that we defer payments of interest on the senior subordinated notes under certain circumstances may mean that the market price for the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes may be more volatile than other securities that do not have this requirement.

Because of the subordinated nature of the notes, holders of our senior subordinated notes may not be entitled to be paid in full, if at all, in a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding.

As a result of the subordinated nature of our notes and related guarantees, upon any distribution to our creditors or the creditors of the subsidiary guarantors in bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar

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proceeding relating to us or the subsidiary guarantors or our or their property, the holders of our senior indebtedness and senior indebtedness of the subsidiary guarantors will be entitled to be paid in full in cash before any payment may be made with respect to our senior subordinated notes or the subsidiary guarantees. Holders of our senior subordinated notes would participate with all other holders of unsecured indebtedness of ours or the subsidiary guarantors that are similarly subordinated in the assets remaining after we and the subsidiary guarantors have paid all senior indebtedness. However, because of the existence of the subordination provisions, including the requirement that holders of the senior subordinated notes pay over distributions to holders of senior indebtedness, holders of the senior subordinated notes may receive less, ratably, than our other unsecured creditors, including trade creditors. In any of these cases, we and the subsidiary guarantors may not have sufficient funds to pay all of our creditors. Holders of our senior subordinated notes may, therefore, receive less, ratably, than the holders of our senior indebtedness.

On a pro forma basis as of March 31, 2004, our senior subordinated notes and the associated subsidiary guarantees would have ranked junior, on a consolidated basis, to $           million of outstanding senior secured indebtedness plus approximately $100,000 of letters of credit and the subsidiary guarantees would have ranked junior to no senior unsecured debt and pari passu with approximately $           million of outstanding indebtedness of ours and the subsidiary guarantors. In addition, as of March 31, 2004, on a pro forma basis, we would have had the ability to borrow up to an additional amount of $           million under the new credit facility (less amounts reserved for letters of credit), which would have ranked senior in right of payment to our senior subordinated notes.

Holders of our senior subordinated notes will be structurally subordinated to the debt of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. Our partially owned domestic subsidiaries will not be guarantors of our senior subordinated notes. As a result, no payments are required to be made to us from the assets of these subsidiaries.

In the event of a bankruptcy, liquidation or reorganization or similar proceeding of any of the non-guarantor subsidiaries, holders of their indebtedness, including their trade creditors, would generally be entitled to payment of their claims from the assets of those subsidiaries before any assets are made available for distribution to us for payment to you.

In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency, the senior subordinated notes and guarantees could be adversely affected by principles of equitable subordination or recharacterization.

In the event of bankruptcy or insolvency, a party in interest may seek to subordinate the senior subordinated notes or the guarantees under the principles of equitable subordination or to recharacterize the senior subordinated notes as equity. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of such proceedings. In the event a court subordinates the senior subordinated notes or guarantees or recharacterizes the senior subordinated notes as equity, we cannot assure you that you would recover any amounts owed on the senior subordinated notes or the guarantees and you may be required to return any payments made to you within six years before the bankruptcy on account of the senior subordinated notes. In addition, should the court equitably subordinate the senior subordinated notes or the guarantees or recharacterize the senior subordinated notes as equity, you may not be able to enforce the guarantees.

If the guarantees of the senior subordinated notes by our subsidiaries were determined to be unenforceable, holders of the senior subordinated notes may be unable to recover their investment in the event of a bankruptcy or liquidation proceeding.

Under federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee or any payment by a guarantor could be voided, or claims in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all other debt of the guarantor, if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time that it assumed the guarantee received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for issuing the guarantee and was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of issuing the guarantee and the application of the proceeds of the guarantee.

Generally, a person would be considered insolvent if, at the time it incurred the debt:

  •   the sum of its debts, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the fair saleable value of its assets;

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  •   the present fair saleable value of its assets was less than the amount that would be required to pay its probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent liabilities, as they become absolute and mature; or
 
  •   it could not pay its debts as they become due.

The proceeds of the offering will be used to purchase a portion of the equity interests of our subsidiaries from their existing equity holders and to redeem notes issued by our subsidiaries, which may subject the senior subordinated note holders to the claim that we did not receive fair consideration for the senior subordinated notes. In the event that we meet any of the financial condition fraudulent transfer tests described above at the time of or as a result of this offering, a court could view the issuance of our senior subordinated notes with the distribution to our subsidiaries’ shareholders and the payment of our subsidiaries’ notes as a single integrated offering, and therefore conclude that we did not receive fair value for the offering. In such a case, a court could conclude that the obligations represented by the senior subordinated notes are void, unenforceable or subordinate to the claims of other creditors.

In addition, the guarantee of our senior subordinated notes by any subsidiary guarantor could be subject to the claim that since the guarantee was incurred for the benefit of Valor and only indirectly for the benefit of the subsidiary guarantor, the obligations of the subsidiary guarantor were incurred for less than fair consideration. If such a claim were successful and it was proven that the subsidiary guarantor was insolvent at the time the guarantee was issued, a court could void the obligations of the subsidiary guarantor under the guarantee or subordinate these obligations to the subsidiary guarantor’s other debt or take action detrimental to holders of the senior subordinated notes. If the guarantee of any subsidiary guarantor were voided, our senior subordinated notes would be effectively subordinated to the indebtedness and other credit obligations of that subsidiary guarantor.

The United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of IDSs and senior subordinated notes are unclear.

No statutory, judicial or administrative authority has directly addressed the treatment of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes, or instruments similar to the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes, for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result, the United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of IDSs and senior subordinated notes are unclear. We will receive an opinion from our counsel, Kirkland & Ellis, LLP, to the effect that an IDS should be treated as a unit representing a share of common stock and senior subordinated notes, and that the senior subordinated notes should be classified as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. However, the IRS or the courts may take the position that the IDSs are a single security classified as equity, or that the senior subordinated notes are properly classified as equity for United States federal income tax purposes, which could adversely affect the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss in respect of your investment in IDSs or senior subordinated notes, and materially increase our taxable income and, thus, our United States federal and applicable state income tax liability. This would reduce our after-tax cash flow and materially and adversely impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments on the senior subordinated notes and the common stock. Foreign holders could be subject to withholding or estate taxes with regard to the senior subordinated notes in the same manner as they will be with regard to the common stock. Payments to foreign holders would not be grossed-up for any such taxes. Further, we have not received any opinion of counsel as to the treatment of senior subordinated notes that we may issue in any subsequent issuance, including in connection with an exchange of Class B common stock for IDSs and any subsequently issued senior subordinated notes may be treated as equity for United States federal income tax purposes. Apart from the exchanges of Class B common stock for IDSs, subsequent issuances of senior subordinated notes underlying IDSs will be made at the determination of our board of directors. For discussion of these tax-related risks, see “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

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The allocation of the purchase price of the IDSs may not be respected, which may lead to you having to include original issue discount in your income even if you have not received the cash attributable to that income.

The purchase price of each IDS must be allocated for tax purposes between the share of common stock and senior subordinated notes comprising the IDS in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of purchase. It is possible that the IRS will successfully challenge our allocation. If the allocation of the purchase price to the senior subordinated notes were determined to be too high, then it is possible that the senior subordinated notes would be treated as having been issued with OID, and you generally would be required to include the OID in income in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to that income. If, on the other hand, the allocation of purchase price to the senior subordinated notes were determined to be too low, then it is possible that the senior subordinated notes would be treated as having been issued with amortizable bond premium, and you would generally be able to elect to amortize such bond premium over the term of the senior subordinated notes.

Because of the deferral of interest provisions, the senior subordinated notes may be treated as issued with OID.

Under applicable Treasury regulations, a “remote” contingency that stated interest will not be timely paid is disregarded in determining whether a debt instrument is issued with OID. Although there is no authority directly on point, based on our financial forecasts, we believe that the likelihood of deferral of interest payments on the senior subordinated notes is remote within the meaning of the Treasury regulations. Based on the foregoing, although the matter is not free from doubt because of the lack of direct authority, the senior subordinated notes should not be considered to be issued with OID at the time of their original issuance. If deferral of any payment of interest were determined not to be “remote,” then the senior subordinated notes would be treated as issued with OID at the time of issuance. In such case, all stated interest on the senior subordinated notes would be treated as OID, with the consequence that all holders would be required to include the yield on the senior subordinated notes in income as it accrued on a constant yield basis, possibly in advance of their receipt of the associated cash and regardless of their method of tax accounting.

Subsequent issuances of senior subordinated notes may cause you to recognize taxable gain and/or original issue discount.

The United States federal income tax consequences to you of the subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID (or any issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter) are unclear. In the future, we may issue senior subordinated notes underlying IDSs in exchange for shares of our Class B common stock. The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes and the agreements with DTC will provide that, in the event that there is a subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID, and in connection with each issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter and any other issuance of senior subordinated notes that require a new CUSIP number, each holder of senior subordinated notes or IDSs, as the case may be, agrees that a portion of such holder’s senior subordinated notes will be automatically exchanged for a portion of the senior subordinated notes acquired by the holders of such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes. The aggregate stated principal amount of senior subordinated notes owned by you and each other holder will not change as a result of such subsequent issuance and exchange. Due to the lack of applicable authority, it is unclear whether an exchange of senior subordinated notes for subsequently issued senior subordinated notes will result in a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes, and it is possible that the IRS might successfully assert that such an exchange should be treated as a taxable exchange. In such case, you would recognize any gain realized on the exchange, but a loss realized might be disallowed. For a more complete description of the tax consequences of a subsequent issuance, see “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences— Senior Subordinated Notes— Additional Issuances.”

Regardless of whether the exchange is treated as a taxable event, such exchange may result in an increase in the amount of OID, if any, that you are required to accrue with respect to senior subordinated notes. Following any subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID or any issuance of senior

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subordinated notes thereafter and resulting exchange, we and our agents will report any OID on any subsequently issued senior subordinated notes ratably among all holders of senior subordinated notes and IDSs, and each holder of senior subordinated notes and IDSs will, by purchasing senior subordinated notes or IDSs, as the case may be, agree to report OID in a manner consistent with this approach. Consequently, you may be required to report OID as a result of a subsequent issuance, even though you purchased senior subordinated notes having no OID. This will generally result in you reporting more interest income over the term of the senior subordinated notes than you would have reported had no such subsequent issuance and exchange occurred. However, the IRS may assert that any OID should be reported only to the persons that initially acquired such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes and their transferees. In such case, the IRS might further assert that, unless a holder can establish that it is not such a person or a transferee thereof, all of the senior subordinated notes held by such holder will have OID. Any of these assertions by the IRS could create significant uncertainties in the pricing of IDSs and senior subordinated notes and could adversely affect the market for IDSs and senior subordinated notes.

If we subsequently issue senior subordinated notes with significant OID, then we may be unable to deduct all the interest on the senior subordinated notes.

It is possible that the senior subordinated notes that we issue in a subsequent issuance will be issued at a discount to their face value and, accordingly, may have “significant OID” and thus be classified as “applicable high yield discount obligations.” If any such senior subordinated notes were so treated, then a portion of the OID on such notes could be nondeductible by us and the remainder would be deductible only when paid. This treatment would have the effect of increasing our taxable income and may adversely affect our cash flow available for interest payments and distributions to our shareholders.

A subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes or an allocation of IDS purchase price that results in OID may reduce the amount you can recover upon an acceleration of the payment of principal due on the senior subordinated notes or in the event of our bankruptcy.

Under New York and federal bankruptcy law, holders of subsequently issued senior subordinated notes having original issue discount may not be able to collect the portion of the principal face amount of such senior subordinated notes that represents unamortized original issue discount as of the acceleration or filing date, as the case may be, in the event of an acceleration of the senior subordinated notes or in the event of our bankruptcy prior to the maturity date of the senior subordinated notes. As a result, a treatment of the senior subordinated notes as having been issued with OID or an automatic exchange that results in a holder receiving a senior subordinated note with original issue discount could have the effect of ultimately reducing the amount such holder can recover from us in the event of an acceleration or bankruptcy.

Before this offering, there has not been a public market for our IDSs, shares of our Class A common stock or senior subordinated notes. The price of the IDSs, shares of our Class A common stock or senior subordinated notes may fluctuate substantially, which could negatively affect the value of your investment.

None of the IDSs, the shares of our Class A common stock or the senior subordinated notes has a public market history. In addition, there has not been an established market in the United States or in Canada for securities similar to the IDSs. We cannot assure you that an active trading market for the IDSs will develop in the future, and we currently do not expect that an active trading market for the shares of our Class A common stock will develop until the senior subordinated notes are redeemed or mature. If the senior subordinated notes represented by your IDSs are redeemed or mature, the IDSs will automatically separate and you will then hold the shares of our Class A common stock. We will not apply to list our shares of Class A common stock for separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange or any other exchange other than the Toronto Stock Exchange until the number of shares held separately and not represented by IDSs is sufficient to satisfy applicable requirements for separate trading on such exchange. The Class A common stock may not be approved for listing at such time. We do not intend to list our senior subordinated notes on any securities exchange.

The initial public offering price of the IDSs has been determined by negotiations among us, the existing equity holders and the representatives of the underwriters and may not be indicative of the market price of

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the IDSs after the offering. Factors such as quarterly variations in our financial results, announcements by us or others, developments affecting us, our clients and our suppliers, general interest rate levels and general market volatility could cause the market price of the IDSs to fluctuate significantly.

The limited liquidity of the trading market for the senior subordinated notes sold separately (not represented by IDSs) may adversely affect the trading price of the separate senior subordinated notes.

We are separately selling (not represented by IDSs) $           million aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated notes, representing approximately 10% of the total outstanding senior subordinated notes. While the senior subordinated notes sold separately (not represented by IDSs) are part of the same series of notes as, and are identical to, the senior subordinated notes represented by IDSs at the time of the issuance of the separate senior subordinated notes, the senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs will not be separable for at least 45 days and will not be separately tradeable until separated. As a result, the initial trading market for the senior subordinated notes sold separately (not represented by IDSs) will be very limited. Even after holders of the IDSs are permitted to separate their IDSs, a sufficient number of holders of IDSs may not separate their IDSs into shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes to create a sizable and more liquid trading market for the senior subordinated notes not represented by IDSs. Therefore, a liquid market for the senior subordinated notes may not develop, which may adversely affect the ability of the holders of the separate senior subordinated notes to sell any of their separate senior subordinated notes and the price at which these holders would be able to sell any of the senior subordinated notes sold separately.

Future sales or the possibility of future sales of a substantial amount of IDSs, shares of our common stock or our senior subordinated notes may depress the price of the IDSs and the shares of our common stock and our senior subordinated notes.

Future sales or the availability for sale of substantial amounts of IDSs or shares of our common stock or a significant principal amount of our senior subordinated notes in the public market could adversely affect the prevailing market price of the IDSs and the shares of our common stock and senior subordinated notes and could impair our ability to raise capital through future sales of our securities.

We may issue shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes, which may be in the form of IDSs, or other securities from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. In the event any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of shares of our Class A common stock and the aggregate principal amount of senior subordinated notes, which may be in the form of IDSs, or the number or aggregate principal amount, as the case may be, of other securities that we may issue may in turn be significant. In addition, we may also grant registration rights covering those IDSs, shares of our common stock, senior subordinated notes or other securities in connection with any such acquisitions and investments. Any or all of these occurrences could depress the trading prices of our securities.

Regulatory Risks

We received 24.1% of our 2003 revenues from the Texas and federal Universal Service Funds and any adverse regulatory developments with respect to these funds could curtail our profitability.

We receive Texas and federal Universal Service Fund, or USF, revenues to support the high cost of providing affordable telecommunications services in rural markets. Such support payments constituted 24.1% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 and 23.9% of our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004. Of these support payments, in the year ended December 31, 2003, $103.1 million, or 20.7% of our revenues, and in the three months ended March 31, 2004, $25.5 million, or 20.2% of our revenues, were received from the Texas USF. In addition, we are required to make contributions to the Texas USF and federal USF each year. Current state and federal regulations allow us to recover these costs by including a surcharge on our customers’ bills. Furthermore, we incur no incremental costs associated with the support payments we receive or the contributions we are required to make. Thus, if Texas and/or federal regulations changed and we were unable to receive support, such support was reduced, or we are unable to recover the amounts we contribute to the Texas USF and federal

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USF from our customers, our earnings would be directly and adversely affected. For a more detailed discussion of the regulations affecting our company, see “Regulation.”

The rules governing USF could be altered or amended as a result of regulatory, legislative or judicial action and impact the amount of USF support that we receive and our ability to recover our USF contributions by assessing surcharges on our customers’ bills. For example, the enabling statute for the Texas USF will become subject to review and renewal in late 2005 and may be modified. It is not possible to predict at this time whether state or federal regulators, Congress or state legislatures will order modification to those rules or statutes, or the ultimate impact any such modification might have on us.

In addition, the Texas USF rules provide that the Texas Public Utility Commission must open an investigation within 90 days after any changes are made to the federal USF. Therefore, changes to the federal USF may prompt similar or conforming changes to the Texas USF. The outcome of any of these legislative or regulatory changes could affect the amount of Texas USF support that we receive, and could have an adverse effect on our business, revenue or profitability.

Reductions in the amount of network access revenue that we receive could negatively impact our results of operations.

In the year ended December 31, 2003, we derived $132.0 million, or 26.6% of our revenues, and in the three months ended March 31, 2004, we derived $33.0 million, or 26.3% of our revenues, from network access charges. Our network access revenue consists of (1) usage sensitive fees we charge to long distance companies for access to our network in connection with the completion of interstate and intrastate long distance calls, (2) fees charged for use of dedicated circuits and (3) end user fees, which are monthly flat-rate charges assessed on access lines. Federal and state regulatory commissions set these access charges, and they could change the amount of the charges or the manner in which they are charged at any time. The FCC is currently examining proposals to revise interstate access charges and other intercarrier compensation. Also, as people in our markets decide to use Internet, wireless or cable television providers for their local or long distance calling needs, rather than using our wireline network, the reduction in the number of access lines or minutes of use over our network could reduce the amount of access revenue we collect. As penetration rates for these technologies increase in rural markets, our revenues could decline. In addition, if our customers take advantage of favorable calling plans offered by wireless carriers for their long distance calling needs, it could reduce the number of long distance calls made over our network, thereby decreasing our access revenue. Furthermore, disputes are pending as to whether providers of Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP technology, which allow customers to make voice calls over the Internet or using Internet Protocol, are subject to FCC or state regulations that would require them to pay network charges. With the emergence of VoIP technology, the FCC and state commissions are considering the status of VoIP and other Internet services and there can be no assurance that the FCC and state regulators will require such providers to pay access charges. Any or all of these developments could reduce the amount of access revenue that we receive which could negatively impact our revenues and profitability.

The introduction of new competitors or the better positioning of existing competitors due to regulatory changes could cause us to lose customers and impede our ability to attract new customers.

Changes in regulations that open our markets to more competitors offering substitute services could impact our profitability because of increases in the costs of attracting and retaining customers and decreases in revenues due to lost customers and the need to offer competitive prices. We face competition from current and potential market entrants, including:

  •   domestic and international long distance providers seeking to enter, reenter or expand entry into the local telecommunications marketplace;
 
  •   other domestic and international competitive telecommunications providers, wireless carriers, resellers, cable television companies and electric utilities; and
 
  •   providers of broadband and Internet services.

Regulatory requirements designed to facilitate the introduction of competition, the applicability of different regulatory requirements between our competitors and us, or decisions by legislators or regulators to exempt

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certain providers or technologies from the same level of regulation that we face, could adversely impact our market position and our ability to offer competitive alternatives.

In November 2003, the FCC ordered us and other local exchange carries to allow to adopt wireline-to-wireless local number portability. This may help wireless carriers compete against us because if customers switch from traditional local telephone service to wireless service, they can now transfer their local telephone number to their wireless provider. In addition, federal and state regulators and courts are addressing many aspects of our obligations to provide unbundled network elements and discounted wholesale rates to competitors.

New regulations and changes in existing regulations may force us to incur significant expenses.

Our business may also be impacted by legislation and regulation that impose new or greater obligations related to assisting law enforcement, bolstering homeland security, minimizing environmental impacts or addressing other issues that impact our business. For example, existing provisions of the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA, and FCC regulations implementing CALEA require telecommunications carriers to ensure that their equipment, facilities, and services are able to facilitate authorized electronic surveillance. We cannot predict whether and when the FCC might modify its CALEA rules or any other rules or what compliance with new rules might cost. Similarly, we cannot predict whether or when federal or state legislators or regulators might impose new security, environmental or other obligations on our business.

For a more thorough discussion of the regulation of our company and how that regulation may affect our business, see “Regulation.”

Certain transactions related to the enforceability of the guarantees of the senior subordinated notes by certain of our subsidiaries may require FCC or state regulatory commission approval, which may not be granted or which may be subject to delays or conditions that could affect your ability to enforce the guarantees.

In the event that it becomes necessary to enforce the guarantees of the senior subordinated notes, approvals may be required for certain of our subsidiaries that are subject to federal or state regulatory authority, including approval for the transfer of control of various radio licenses held by our operating subsidiaries or the transfer of control over or sale of the assets of our operating subsidiaries. Such approvals may not be obtained, in which case such guarantees would be unenforceable, or may be subject to delays or conditions that could affect your ability to enforce the guarantees.

Risks Relating to Our Business

We provide services to our customers over access lines and if we continue to lose access lines our revenues and earnings may decrease.

Our business generates revenue by delivering voice and data services over access lines. We have experienced net access line loss over the past few years, and during the year ended December 31, 2003, the number of access lines we serve declined by 2.6% due to challenging economic conditions and increased competition. We may continue to experience net access line loss in our markets for an unforeseen period of time. Our inability to retain access lines could adversely affect our revenue and earnings.

Rapid and significant changes in technology in the telecommunications industry could adversely affect our ability to compete effectively in the markets in which we operate.

The rapid introduction and development of enhanced or alternative services that are more cost effective, more efficient or more technologically advanced than the services we offer is a significant source of potential competition in the telecommunications industry. Technological developments may reduce the competitiveness of our networks, make our service offerings less attractive or require expensive and time-consuming capital improvements. If we fail to adapt successfully to technological changes or fail to obtain timely access to important new technologies, we could lose customers and have difficulty attracting new customers or selling new services to our existing customers.

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We cannot predict the impact of technological changes on our competitive position, profitability or industry. Wireless and cable technologies that have emerged in recent years provide certain advantages over traditional wireline voice and data services. The mobility afforded by wireless voice services and its competitive pricing appeal to many customers. The ability of cable television providers to offer voice, video and data services as an integrated package provides an attractive alternative to traditional voice services from local exchange carriers. In addition, as the emerging VoIP services develop, some customers may be able to bypass network access charges. Increased penetration rates for these technologies in our markets could cause our revenues to decline.

The competitive nature of the telecommunications industry could adversely affect our revenues, results of operations and profitability.

The telecommunications industry is very competitive. Increased competition could lead to price reductions, declining sales volumes, loss of market share, higher marketing costs and reduced operating margins. Significant and potentially larger competitors could enter our markets at any time, including local service providers, cable television companies and wireless telecommunications providers.

For a more thorough discussion of the competition that may affect our business, see “Business— Competition.”

Weak economic conditions may decrease demand for our services.

We are sensitive to economic conditions and downturns in the economy. Downturns in the economies in the markets we serve could cause our existing customers to reduce their purchases of our basic and enhanced services and make it difficult for us to obtain new customers.

We depend on a few key vendors and suppliers to conduct our business and any disruption in our relationship with any one or more of them could adversely affect our results of operations.

We rely on vendors and suppliers to support many of our administrative functions and to enable us to provide long distance services. For example, we currently outsource much of our operational support services to ALLTEL, including our billing and customer care services. Transitioning these support services to another provider could take a significant period of time and involve substantial costs. In addition, we have resale agreements with MCI and Sprint to provide our long distance transmission services. Replacing these resale agreements could be difficult as there are a limited number of national long distance providers. Any disruptions in our relationship with these third party providers could have an adverse effect on our business and operations.

Recent difficulties in the telecommunications industry could negatively impact our revenues and results of operations.

We originate and terminate long distance phone calls on our networks for other interexchange carriers, some of which are our largest customers in terms of revenues. In the year ended December 31, 2003 and the three months ended March 31, 2004, we generated 17.5% and 17.2%, respectively, of our total revenues from originating and terminating phone calls for interexchange carriers. Several of these interexchange carriers have declared bankruptcy during the past two years or are experiencing substantial financial difficulties. MCI WorldCom (now MCI), which declared bankruptcy in 2002, is one of the major interexchange carriers with which we conduct business. We recorded a net $1.6 million charge due to MCI’s failure to pay amounts owed to us. Further bankruptcies or disruptions in the businesses of these interexchange carriers could have an adverse effect on our financial results and cash flows.

Following the consummation of this offering, our equity sponsors will collectively be able to exercise substantial influence over matters requiring stockholder approval and their interests may diverge from the interests of the holders of the IDSs.

Following the consummation of this offering, affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, or WCAS, affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners, or Vestar, and affiliates of Citicorp Venture Capital, or CVC, will beneficially own        %,        % and        %, respectively, of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock

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as part of the IDSs, and        %,        % and        %, respectively, of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock. As a result, WCAS, Vestar and CVC collectively exercise substantial influence over matters requiring stockholder approval, including decisions about our capital structure. In addition, WCAS has two designees and Vestar has one designee serving on our board of directors. The interests of our equity sponsors may conflict with your interests as a holder of the IDSs.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws and several other factors could limit another party’s ability to acquire us and deprive our investors of the opportunity to obtain a takeover premium for their securities.

A number of provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws will make it difficult for another company to acquire us and for you to receive any related takeover premium on our securities. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders may not act by written consent and that only our board of directors may call a special meeting. In addition, stockholders are required to provide us with advance notice if they wish to nominate any persons for election to our board of directors or if they intend to propose any matters for consideration at an annual stockholders meeting. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation authorizes the issuance of preferred stock without stockholder approval and upon such terms as the board of directors may determine. The rights of the holders of shares of our common stock will be subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of holders of any class or series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future.

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Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Some of the statements under “Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business,” “Regulation” and elsewhere in this prospectus may include forward-looking statements which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements which include the words “may,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “predicts,” “potential,” “continue,” “future,” “estimates,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate” and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements for purposes of the federal securities laws or otherwise.

All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. We believe that these factors include the following:

  •   our high degree of leverage and significant debt service obligations;
 
  •   our ability to amend our new credit facility in ways that restrict our right to pay dividends on our common stock and interest on our senior subordinated notes;
 
  •   any adverse changes in government regulation;
 
  •   the risk that the senior subordinated notes represented by IDSs will not be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes;
 
  •   the risk that we may not be able to retain existing customers or obtain new customers;
 
  •   the risk of technological innovations outpacing our ability to adapt or replace our equipment to offer comparable services;
 
  •   the risk of increased competition in the markets we serve; and
 
  •   the risk of weaker economic conditions within the United States.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

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Use of Proceeds

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $          million after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will use these net proceeds, together with $          million of borrowings under our new credit facility as follows:

  •  $           million to repay all outstanding amounts owed under our existing senior credit facilities; and
 
  •  $           million to repurchase all our outstanding 10% senior subordinated notes due 2010 held primarily by our equity sponsors.

All remaining proceeds will be paid to the existing equity holders as part of the consideration for their contribution to us of their equity interests in our subsidiaries.

Of the                     IDSs offered by this prospectus,                     IDSs in the aggregate, having an aggregate implied value of $          million based on an assumed initial public offering price of $          , will be issued to our existing equity holders as part of the consideration for their contribution to us of their equity interests in our subsidiaries. This amount is not included in our net proceeds from this offering described above.

If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, the underwriters will purchase an aggregate of                     IDSs from our existing equity holders for resale to the public. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of IDSs by our existing equity holders.

We have set forth our estimate of the sources and uses of funds required to effect the transactions contemplated hereby in the table below. See “Detailed Transaction Steps” for more information. The estimated sources and uses are based on an assumed initial public offering price of $           per IDS and           % of the stated principal amount of the senior subordinated notes being sold separately (not in the form of IDSs). Actual amounts will vary from the amounts shown below.

               
Sources Uses


New credit facility(1)
  $   Repayment of existing indebtedness   $
IDSs sold hereby
      Fees and expenses(2)    
Senior subordinated notes sold separately hereby, net of discount
      Proceeds to existing equity holders(3)    
 
Total sources of funds
  $     Total uses of funds   $
   
     
(1) Represents a $                term loan. No amounts will be drawn on the new revolver in connection with the contemplated transactions.
(2)  Includes an estimated $        million payable to the underwriters of our IDS offering, approximately $                                    million payable to the lenders under our new credit facility, approximately $                                    million in the aggregate payable to affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe and affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners in professional fees and expenses associated with our redemption of existing indebtedness.
(3)  The proceeds to our equity holders shown on the table above does not include IDSs that we are issuing to them in this offering in connection with our reorganization.

The existing senior credit facilities that will be repaid consist of both the revolving facility and term loan facility under our existing senior credit facility for Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC and our existing senior credit facility for Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC. The term loans under both the Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC senior credit facilities are comprised of tranches that have maturity dates ranging from June 30, 2007 through October 31, 2013. Amounts outstanding under the revolvers under the Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC and the Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC senior credit facilities will mature on June 30, 2007 and July 31, 2010, respectively. As of March 31, 2004, amounts outstanding under the revolver and the term loan bore interest at a weighted average annual rate of 6.2%.

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Initial Dividend Policy and Restrictions

Upon the closing of this offering, our board of directors is expected to adopt a dividend policy with respect to our shares of Class A common stock pursuant to which, in the event and to the extent we have any cash that is available for distribution to the holders of shares of our Class A common stock as of the fifth day or the immediately preceding business day, of each March, June, September and December of each year and subject to applicable law, as described below, and the terms of the new credit facility, the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes and any other then outstanding indebtedness of ours, our board of directors will declare cash dividends on our Class A common stock. The initial annual dividend level is expected to be $          per share of Class A common stock for the first year. We will pay those dividends on or about the fifteenth day of each March, June, September and December of each year.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains dividend provisions with respect to our shares of Class B common stock which are intended to replicate the initial yield on our IDS units. Any time a dividend is paid to holders of Class A common stock, holders of Class B common stock will be paid a dividend equal to the amount per share paid to holders of Class A common stock. In addition to any such dividend, shares of our Class B common stock will accrue dividends at a level of           % per annum on the deemed issuance price of $          per share for the first year; provided that during the continuation of any event of default under the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes, dividends will accrue at a rate of           % per annum. Such dividends will accrue, and to the extent not paid, accumulate, whether or not declared and whether or not we have funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Such dividends will be paid, if declared by the board, on the fifteenth day of each March, June, September and December of each year, or, to the extent not previously paid, at such time as such shares of Class B common stock are exchanged for IDSs; provided, that such dividends may only be paid to the extent allowable under applicable law, the terms of our new credit facility, any other then existing indebtedness and the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes.

Upon the closing of the offering no shares of our Class C common stock will be outstanding and we do not anticipate that we will issue shares of Class C common stock or declare dividends thereon in the near future.

If we have any remaining cash after the payment of dividends as contemplated above, our board of directors will, in its sole discretion, decide to use that cash to fund capital expenditures or acquisitions, repay indebtedness, pay additional dividends in equal amounts per share to holders of the shares of Class A and Class B common stock or for general corporate purposes.

If we do not have enough available cash in any quarter to pay the amount of dividends to the holders of the shares of Class A and Class B common stock as contemplated above, we will first pay any unpaid dividends that have been accruing on the shares of Class B common stock and then pay any additional amounts in equal amounts per share to holders of the shares of Class A and Class B common stock.

The indenture governing our senior subordinated notes restricts our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock as follows:

  •   we may not pay dividends if such payment together with all other restricted payments we made since the date of this offering will exceed 100% of our excess cash (as defined below) for the period beginning on the first day of the first fiscal quarter following this offering and ending on the last day of our then most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available as the time such dividend is declared and paid. “Excess cash” shall mean with respect to any period, Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the indenture, minus the sum of (i) cash interest expense (ii) deferred interest, if any, (iii) cash income tax expense, (iv) capital expenditures, (v) any non-recurring fees, expenses or charges deducted in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, as defined in the indenture, that represent cash payments and (vi) any mandatory prepayment that results in a permanent reduction of the principal amount of senior indebtedness prior to its scheduled maturity, in each case, for such period;

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  •   we may not pay any dividends if not permitted under any of our senior indebtedness;
 
  •   we may not pay any dividends while interest on the senior subordinated notes is being deferred or, after the end of any interest deferral, so long as any deferred interest has not been paid in full; and
 
  •   we may not pay any dividends if a default or event of default under the indenture has occurred and is continuing.

See “Description of Notes—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments” for a complete description of these restrictions.

The new credit facility restricts our ability to declare and pay dividends on our common stock if and for so long as we do not meet the interest coverage ratio and senior leverage ratio tests specified in the new credit facility. If we fail to achieve any of these ratios for any quarter but resume compliance in a subsequent quarter and satisfy the other conditions specified in the new credit facility (including timely delivery of applicable financial statements), we may resume the payment of dividends. The new credit facility permits us to use up to 100% of the distributable cash, as defined in the new credit facility to fund dividends on our shares of common stock.

Our board of directors may, in its discretion, amend or repeal this dividend policy. Our board of directors may decrease the level of dividends provided for in this dividend policy or discontinue entirely the payment of dividends. We have not paid dividends in the past.

Future dividends with respect to shares of our capital stock, if any, will depend on, among other things, our results of operations, cash requirements, financial condition, contractual restrictions, provisions of applicable law and other factors that our board of directors may deem relevant. Under Delaware law, our board of directors may declare dividends only to the extent of our “surplus” (which is defined as total assets at fair market value minus total liabilities, minus statutory capital), or if there is no surplus, out of our net profits for the then current and/or immediately preceding fiscal years.

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Capitalization

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of March 31, 2004:

  •   on an actual basis; and
 
  •   on a pro forma as adjusted basis as if this offering, including the use of proceeds from this offering, the repayment of all outstanding borrowings under our existing credit facilities and our reorganization had occurred on that date and that we had entered into the new credit facility on that date.
                               
As of March 31, 2004

Pro Forma
Actual Adjustments as Adjusted



(In thousands)
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 3,750                  
     
                 
Long-term debt, including current portion
                       
 
Current maturities of long-term debt(1)
    39,705                  
 
Existing credit facilities (long-term portion)(1)
    1,073,876                  
 
Existing senior subordinated notes
    314,257                  
 
Capital leases
    2,358                  
 
New credit facility
                     
 
   % senior subordinated notes
                     
     
                 
   
Total long-term debt
    1,390,491                  
     
                 
Redeemable preferred interests(2)
    370,231                  
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share(3)
                     
     
                 
Stockholders’ equity
                       
 
Class A common interests, no par or stated value
    64,633                  
 
Class B common interests, no par or stated value
                     
 
Class C interests, no par or stated value
    46,000                  
 
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                     
 
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                     
 
Class C common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                     
 
Additional paid-in capital
                     
 
Accumulated deficit(4)
    (37,752 )                
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (7,371 )                
 
Treasury stock
    (34 )                
     
                 
   
Total common owners’ equity
    65,476                  
     
                 
     
Total capitalization
  $ 1,869,653                  
     
                 

(1)  In connection with the repayment of existing indebtedness, we will be required to write-off approximately $            in deferred financing costs.
 
(2)  As a result of our existing equity holders’ contribution of their redeemable preferred interests in VTC, VTS and VTS II to Valor, we will record an expense of approximately $                       resulting from the excess of the fair value of the IDSs, Class B common stock and cash received over the carrying amount of the redeemable preferred interests.
 
(3)  Following the second anniversary of the consummation of this offering, at the option of the holders of Class B common stock, upon any subsequent sale of any shares of Class B common stock, we will exchange with the purchasers of such shares, one IDS for each share of Class B common stock, subject to compliance with law and applicable agreements more fully described in “Related Party Transactions—Equity Sponsors— Investor Rights Agreement.” Accordingly, the portion of the Class B common stock convertible into senior subordinated debt has been classified as mezzanine equity.
 
(4)  In connection with the reorganization, management will receive        in exchange for their outstanding equity interests resulting in compensation expense to us of approximately $                .

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Dilution

Dilution is the amount by which the portion of the offering price paid by the purchasers of the IDSs to be sold in the offering that is allocated to our shares of Class A common stock represented by the IDSs exceeds the net tangible book value or deficiency per share of our Class A common stock after the offering. Net tangible book value or deficiency per share of our Class A common stock is determined at any date by subtracting our total liabilities from our total assets less our intangible assets and dividing the difference by the number of shares of Class A common stock deemed to be outstanding at that date.

Our net tangible book value as of March 31, 2004 was approximately $           million, or $           per share of Class A common stock. After giving effect to our receipt and intended use of approximately $           million of estimated net proceeds (after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses) from our sale of IDSs and separate senior subordinated notes in this offering based on an assumed initial public offering price of $           per IDS (the midpoint of the range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) and           % of the stated principal amount of the senior subordinated notes being sold separately, and assuming all of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock are exchanged for IDSs, our pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value as of March 31, 2004 would have been approximately $           million, or $           per share of Class A common stock. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of $           per share of our Class A common stock to existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $           per share of our Class A common stock to new investors purchasing IDSs in this offering.

The following table illustrates this substantial and immediate dilution to new investors:

         
Per Share of
Common Stock

Portion of the assumed initial public price of $      per IDS allocated to one share of Class A common stock
  $    
Net tangible book value per share as of March 31, 2004
       
Increase per share attributable to cash payments made by investors in this offering
       
     
 
Pro forma as adjusted net tangible book value after this offering
  $    
     
 
Dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors
  $    
     
 

The following table sets forth on a pro forma basis as of March 31, 2004, assuming no exercise of the over-allotment option:

  •   the total number of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock to be owned by the existing equity holders and the total number of shares of our Class A common stock to be owned by the new investors, as represented by the IDSs to be sold in this offering;
 
  •   the total consideration to be paid by the existing equity holders and to be paid by the new investors purchasing IDSs in this offering; and
 
  •   the average price per share of existing Class A common stock and Class B common stock to be paid by existing equity holders (cash and stock) and the average price per share of Class A common stock to be paid by new investors purchasing IDSs in this offering:
                                           
Average
Shares of Class A(1) Price Per
Common Stock Share of
Purchased Total Consideration Class A


Common
Number Percent Amount Percent Stock





Existing equity holders
              %   $           %   $    
New investors
              %               %        
     
     
     
     
         
 
Total
            100.0 %   $         100.0 %        
     
     
     
     
         


  (1)  Assumes exchange of all shares of outstanding Class B common stock held existing equity investors for IDS.

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Selected Historical Financial Information

Valor is a holding company and has no direct operations. Valor was formed for the sole purpose of reorganizing our corporate structure and consummating this offering. Valor’s principle assets are the direct and indirect equity interests of its subsidiaries. As a result, we have not provided separate historical financial results for Valor and present only the historical consolidated financial results of Valor Telecommunications, LLC. The selected historical consolidated financial information set forth below as of and for the period ended December 31, 2000, as well as the selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the year ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The selected historical consolidated financial information as of and for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 is unaudited, has been prepared on the same basis as the audited statements, and in the opinion of management, contains all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of our operating results for such period and our financial condition at such date. The financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 is not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other interim period or any future fiscal year. In addition, as described in more detail in “Business,” we acquired, at the time of our formation, select telephone assets from GTE Southwest Corporation. We refer to these properties as the “Acquired Businesses” and we believe the Acquired Businesses to be the predecessor of our company, prior to formation in 2000. This is because the Acquired Businesses, with the exception of our Kerrville business that was acquired by us in 2002, effectively include nearly all the businesses currently operated by us, and do not include any businesses that have been discontinued or sold. Accordingly, the selected historical financial information below includes the combined accounts of the Acquired Businesses as of and for the year ended December 31, 1999, as well as the combined accounts as of and for the period ended August 31, 2000. The combined accounts do not include any purchase accounting adjustments that occurred as a result of our acquisition of the Acquired Businesses in 2000.

The information in the following table should be read together with our audited consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 and the related notes, our unaudited consolidated financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” all as included elsewhere in this prospectus.

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Predecessor Company(1)

Three Months
Period Period Ended
Year Ended Ended Ended Year Ended December 31, March 31,
December 31, August 31, December 31,

1999 2000 2000(2) 2001 2002(3) 2003 2003 2004








(Dollars in thousands,  
except per owner unit data) (Dollars in thousands, except per owner unit data)
Statement of Operations Data:
                                                               
Operating revenues
  $ 367,724     $ 260,933     $ 148,784     $ 424,916     $ 479,883     $ 497,334     $ 122,119     $ 125,852  
Operating expenses
    282,719       178,948       164,172       321,618       320,632       315,061       76,100       80,336  
Operating income (loss)
    85,005       81,985       (15,388 )     103,298       159,251       182,273       46,019       45,516  
Net income (loss) from continuing operations
    57,434       50,678       (71,909 )     (44,912 )     19,763       58,125       12,159       15,614  
Earnings per owners’ unit:
                                                               
Basic and diluted (loss) income from continuing operations:(4)
                                                               
 
Class A and B common interests
    n/a       n/a     $ (1.05 )   $ (0.58 )   $ 0.22     $ 0.73     $ 0.15     $ 0.20  
 
Class C interests
    n/a       n/a     $     $     $ 0.09     $ 0.15     $ 0.04     $ 0.03  
Basic and diluted net (loss) income:
                                                               
 
Class A and B common interests
    n/a       n/a     $ (1.05 )   $ (0.77 )   $ 0.17     $ 0.73     $ 0.15     $ 0.20  
 
Class C interests
    n/a       n/a     $     $     $ 0.09     $ 0.15     $ 0.04     $ 0.03  
Cash Flow Data:
                                                               
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 154,279     $ 119,557     $ 16,197     $ 100,301     $ 150,383     $ 166,065     $ 41,485     $ 50,109  
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (85,109 )   $ (56,018 )   $ (1,821,699 )   $ (106,614 )   $ (216,773 )   $ (66,299 )   $ (14,178 )   $ (16,723 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  $ (69,170 )   $ (63,539 )   $ 1,811,613     $ 8,117     $ 71,015     $ (99,465 )   $ (26,484 )   $ (31,041 )
                                                                 
Predecessor Company(1)

Three Months
Period Period Ended
Year Ended Ended Ended Year Ended December 31, March 31,
December 31, August 31, December 31,

1999 2000 2000(2) 2001 2002(3) 2003 2003 2004








(Dollars in thousands) (Dollars in thousands)
Other Data:
                                                               
Capital expenditures
  $ 85,109     $ 56,018     $ 36,918     $ 107,869     $ 89,527     $ 69,850     $ 14,486     $ 16,654  
Acquisition of Kerrville Communications Corporation(5)
                          $ 128,135                    
Depreciation and amortization(6)
  $ 97,111     $ 64,103     $ 40,327     $ 110,843     $ 73,273     $ 81,638     $ 19,950     $ 20,827  
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(7)
    n/a       n/a                   1.2 x     1.5 x     1.4 x     1.6 x
Deficiency in the coverage of earnings to fixed charges(7)
    n/a       n/a     $ 71,909     $ 47,024                          

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Predecessor Company(1)

As of As of As
As of As of December 31, December 31, March 31,
December 31, August 31,


1999 2000 2000(2) 2001 2002 2003 2004







(Dollars in thousands) (Dollars in thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
                                                       
Total assets
  $ 573,681     $ 567,073     $ 1,935,695     $ 1,913,057     $ 2,062,404     $ 2,039,043     $ 2,026,191  
Long-term debt (including current maturities)
              $ 1,440,643     $ 1,469,420     $ 1,544,285     $ 1,463,973     $ 1,430,196  
Redeemable preferred interests
              $ 370,231     $ 370,231     $ 370,231     $ 370,231     $ 370,231  

(1)  The selected historical financial information presented for the Predecessor Company above was derived from unaudited financial statements prepared on a carve-out basis by GTE Southwest Corporation (the “Carve-Out Financial Statements”). This information reflects the results of operations and financial position of the Acquired Businesses for the year ended December 31, 1999 and for the period beginning January 1, 2000 through our acquisition date of these businesses. We acquired GTE’s business in Oklahoma on July 1, 2000 and GTE’s businesses in Texas, New Mexico and Arkansas on September 1, 2000.
 
(2)  Our consolidated financial statements for the period ended December 31, 2000 include the results of operations for the businesses we acquired from GTE in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas beginning on the date of acquisition, as well as certain start-up costs that we incurred prior to commencing operations.
 
(3)  We acquired all the outstanding common stock, preferred stock and common stock equivalents of Kerrville Communications Corporation (“KCC”) on January 31, 2002 and have included the assets, liabilities and results of operations of KCC from that date.
 
(4)  Per unit data is not applicable with respect to periods covered by our Predecessor’s Carve-Out Financial Statements.
 
(5)  Reflects the purchase price for our acquisition of KCC, net of cash acquired. Excludes $1,724,119 we paid to purchase predecessor businesses in 2000.
 
(6)  In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” effective January 1, 2002, we discontinued the amortization of goodwill. Amortization expense associated with goodwill was $20,529 for the period ended December 31, 2000 and $53,900 for the year ended December 31, 2001.
 
(7)  Ratio of earnings to fixed charges is not applicable with respect to periods covered by our Predecessor’s Carve-Out Financial Statements. For purposes of determining the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings are defined as pretax income from continuing operations before adjustment for minority interest, less earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships and interest capitalized plus fixed charges, amortization of capitalized interest and distributed income from unconsolidated cellular partnerships. Fixed charges include interest costs, both expensed and capitalized, on all indebtedness, amortization of deferred financing costs and one-third of the rental expense on operating leases, representing the portion of rental expense we consider to be attributable to interest. Where earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges, the deficiency is reported in the table above.

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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition

and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes which appear elsewhere in this prospectus. It contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Please see “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” for more information. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this prospectus, particularly under the headings “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Overview

We are one of the largest providers of telecommunications services in rural communities in the southwestern United States and the seventh largest independent telephone company in the country. We operate approximately 550,000 telephone access lines in primarily rural areas of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas. We believe that in many of our markets we are the only service provider that offers customers an integrated package of local and long distance voice, high-speed data and Internet access as well as a variety of enhanced services such as voicemail and caller identification. We generated revenues of $497.3 million in the year ended December 31, 2003 and $125.9 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004.

We formed our company in connection with the acquisition in 2000 of select telephone assets from GTE Southwest Corporation, which is now part of Verizon. Our formation was orchestrated by our equity sponsors Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, or WCAS, Vestar Capital Partners and Citicorp Venture Capital, Anne K. Bingaman and our management. Ms. Bingaman, along with Bob Mathew and Michael Page, formed a predecessor to our company and later joined with our equity sponsors, led by WCAS, to negotiate and finance the acquisition of the telephone assets from GTE. Ms. Bingaman, Mr. Mathew, Mr. Page and WCAS were assisted in these efforts by twelve prominent business persons from the Southwestern United States who have local, statewide and national public service experience and decades of successful private business experience. They are Toney Anaya, Ernesto M. Chavarria, John C. Corella, William E. Garcia, Edward J. Lujan, Manuel Lujan, Jr., Ronald E. Montoya, M. Ann Padilla, Andrew Ramirez, Henry M. Rivera, Edward L. Romero and J. Ben Trujillo. Ms. Bingaman served as our Chairman since 1999 and was our first Chief Executive Officer. Once the negotiation of the terms of the acquisition from GTE was completed, Ms. Bingaman and WCAS recruited our management team, including Kenneth R. Cole, our first chief operating officer. Together, these groups and individuals were instrumental in helping us complete the transactions with GTE and successfully launch our initial operations.

The rural telephone businesses that we own have been operating in the markets we serve for over 75 years. Since our inception, we have acquired the local telephone company serving Kerrville, Texas and we have invested substantial resources to improve and expand our network infrastructure to provide high quality telecommunications services and superior customer care. We believe that we are well positioned for future revenue and cash flow growth through both expanded service offerings and acquisitions.

Access lines are an important element of our business. Historically, rural telephone companies have experienced consistent growth in access lines because of positive demographic trends, insulated rural local economies and little competition. Recently, however, many rural telephone companies have experienced a loss of access lines due to challenging economic conditions, increased competition from wireless providers, competitive local exchange carriers and in some cases, cable television operators. We have not been immune to these conditions. We have experienced modest net losses in access lines due primarily to poor economic conditions and increased competition. Access line losses may also increase if cable television operators begin to offer telephony service in our markets.

Despite our net losses of access lines, we have generated growth in our revenues each year since our inception in 2000. We have accomplished this by providing our customers with services not previously available in most of our markets such as enhanced voice services and data services, including digital

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subscriber lines, or DSL, and through acquisitions. We are continuing to add access lines through plant improvements, bundling services, win-back programs, increased community involvement and a variety of other programs.

We are subject to regulation primarily by federal and state government agencies. At the federal level, the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, has jurisdiction over interstate and international telecommunications services. State telecommunications regulators exercise jurisdiction over intrastate telecommunications services. We operate under price cap regulation at the federal level and at the state level in Texas and New Mexico. We are regulated as a rural telephone company in Oklahoma. We are regulated on a rate of return basis in Arkansas. For a more extensive discussion of regulatory matters, see “Risk Factors—Regulatory Matters” and “Regulation.”

Reorganization

Immediately prior to and in connection with the consummation of this offering, we will reorganize our corporate structure. Our existing equity holders currently own equity interests in Valor Telecommunications, LLC, or VTC, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, or VTS, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, or VTS II. As part of this reorganization, our existing equity holders will contribute their equity interests in VTC, VTS and VTS II to us in exchange for                     IDSs,                     shares of Class B common stock and $          in cash from the proceeds of this offering. As a result of this reorganization, each of VTC, VTS and VTS II will be either a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Valor Communications Group, Inc. See “Detailed Transaction Steps” on page 94.

Impact of Our Reorganization and this Offering on Our Results of Operations and Liquidity

Results of Operations. As a result of the significant amount of debt that we will have outstanding through both new credit facility, the senior subordinated note portion of the outstanding IDSs and the senior subordinated notes sold separately (not in the form of IDS), our interest expense will likely increase. Any such increase would be permanent throughout the term of the senior subordinated notes as it is anticipated that our new credit facility will provide that we only pay interest, and no principal, throughout the term of the agreement. We will be required to refinance the new credit facility upon its maturity and if interest rates are higher at the time we are required to refinance the new credit facility, it will likely cause interest expense to increase further.

Additionally, we will be required to record a substantial number of one-time expenses related to this reorganization and offering including the following:

  •   $          in compensation expense associated with management’s exchange of all of their equity interests in Valor Telecommunications, LLC for an aggregate of           ;
 
  •   $          in interest expense from the write-off of deferred financing costs associated with our existing indebtedness;
 
  •   $          in expenses associated with our reorganization, redemption of existing indebtedness and other professional fees;
 
  •   $5.0 million in compensation expense associated with the payment made to our former CEO upon the termination of his previous employment agreement;
 
  •   $          in compensation expense for cash transaction bonuses paid to members of our senior management team upon the consummation of this offering; and
 
  •   $          in expenses associated with our agreement to repurchase minority interests in our wholly-owned subsidiaries Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company from a group of the individual investors.

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We will incur higher expenses as a public company after the consummation of this offering. These expenses will include additional accounting and finance expenses, audit fees, legal fees and increased premiums for director and officer liability insurance coverage. We estimate that these additional expenses will be approximately $2.5 million annually.

We will likely implement an additional incentive plan for management that will be designed to align the interests of management with those of the IDS holders. The provisions of this plan will likely require us to record additional compensation expense.

Liquidity. We expect that upon the closing of this offering our Board of Directors will adopt a dividend policy which contemplates that, subject to applicable law and terms of our then existing indebtedness, initial annual dividends will be approximately $           per share of our Class A common stock and $           per share of our Class B common stock. We expect the aggregate annual impact of this dividend policy to be $          . The cash requirements of the expected dividend policy are in addition to the increase in our indebtedness and related debt service requirements discussed above in Results of Operations. We expect that the cash requirements discussed here and above in Results of Operations will be funded through cash flow generated from the operations of our business. We will also have access to a Revolving Credit Facility of $100 million to supplement our liquidity position as needed.

Although we believe that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes in accordance with the opinion of our tax counsel, this conclusion cannot be assured. If all or a portion of the senior subordinated notes were treated as equity rather than debt for United States federal income tax purposes, then a corresponding portion of the interest on the senior subordinated notes would not be deductible by us for United States federal income tax purposes. In addition we would be subject to liability for United States withholding taxes on interest payments to non-United States holders if such payments were determined to be dividends. Our inability to deduct interest on the senior subordinated notes could materially increase our taxable income and, thus, our United States federal and applicable state income tax liability. Our liability for income taxes (and withholding taxes) if the senior subordinated notes were determined to be equity for income tax purposes would materially reduce our after-tax cash flow and would materially and adversely impact our ability to make dividend and/or interest payments.

Regulatory Matters

We operate in a regulated industry, and the majority of our revenues comes from the provision of regulated telecommunications services, including state and federal support for the provision of telephone services in high-cost rural areas. To further the public policy of providing universal and comparable telecommunications services throughout the United States, state and federal regulatory bodies have historically given support to rural telephone companies to offset the high costs of providing telecommunications services in rural areas. Operating in this regulated industry means that we are also generally subject to certification, service quality, rate regulation, tariff filing and other ongoing regulatory requirements by state and federal regulators.

State Regulation. We operate in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas and each state has its own regulatory framework for intrastate services.

In Texas, most of our operations are subject to price caps on our basic telecommunications services, while we maintain pricing flexibility on some non-basic services. While the Texas regulatory structure under which we operate will become subject to review and renewal in late 2005, we do not expect a material change in the benefits we have under current regulation. In addition, we currently have a petition pending in Texas that requests the implementation of a surcharge for expanded local calling that would compensate us for our costs and lost revenues associated with replacing long distance routes between selected towns with flat rated local service. If granted, the petition would generate additional revenues and increased earnings.

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In New Mexico, we operate under an Alternative Form of Regulation Plan that is specific to our company. The Plan was adopted in 2000 and will expire on March 31, 2006. During its term, the Plan provides for a freeze on the prices of our intrastate telecommunications services, requires us to invest $83 million in capital in New Mexico, provides for a streamlined tariff approval process and prescribes quality of service standards, including penalties for failure to meet certain service levels. Under the Plan, we will be able to increase our prices for optional services by 10% if we meet the quality service standards in 2005.

Recently enacted legislation mandates that the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission adopt rules tailored to the size and market demographics of local exchange carriers like our company that have between 50,000 and 375,000 access lines and flexible rules that allow pricing freedoms on retail services. It also mandates the streamlining of rules governing the introduction and withdrawal of tariffs and the packaging and bundling of services. Therefore, we will not have to renegotiate and renew our current Plan.

In Oklahoma, legislation was enacted in May 2004 that will regulate us a rural telephone company thereby allowing us significant pricing freedom for our basic services and reducing our costs of regulation.

We also operate under rate of return regulation in the provision of intrastate telecommunications services in Arkansas. We operate approximately 17,000 access lines in Texarkana, Arkansas, which is our only market in Arkansas. Pursuant to an agreement with the Arkansas Public Service Commission, our Arkansas tariffs mirror the prices charged for retail services in our Texas tariffs.

Federal Regulation. Most of our interstate access revenues are regulated pursuant to the FCC’s price cap rules. Generally, these rules establish an upper limit for access prices, but allow annual formula-based adjustments and limited pricing flexibility. In 2000, the FCC adopted the Coalition for Affordable Local and Long Distance Service, or CALLS plan, an integrated interstate access reform and universal service framework for price cap local exchange carriers. The CALLS plan allowed subscriber line charges billed to end users to rise, but forced substantial decreases in access charges billed to long distance carriers. The CALLS plan will expire in mid-2005, unless extended by the FCC. The FCC is currently considering whether to make substantial changes in the manner in which local exchange carriers can charge for access to their networks. It has proposed that current intercarrier compensation for all types of telecommunications traffic be collected only from the end user customers of the carriers. We do not know whether the FCC will adopt this proposal or what impact its adoption would have on our business.

Universal Service Fund

In furtherance of public policy, we receive Universal Service Fund, or USF, revenues from the State of Texas and the federal government to support the high cost of providing telecommunications services in rural markets.

Texas Universal Service Fund. The Texas Universal Service Fund, or the Texas USF, supports eligible telecommunications providers that serve high cost markets. We received $103.1 million from the Texas USF in 2003, representing 20.7% of total revenues for that year and we received $25.5 million from the Texas USF during the three months ended March 31, 2004, representing 20.3% of total revenues for that period. Texas USF is promulgated under a statute that will become subject to review and renewal in late 2005. We expect that the Texas Legislature will renew the statute or replace it with a similar regulation that will not materially change the benefits we receive under the current regulatory structure.

Federal Universal Service Fund. The federal USF revenue we receive helps to offset interstate access charges, defrays the high fixed switching costs in areas with fewer than 50,000 access lines and provides support where our average cost per line exceeds 115% of the national average cost per line. In 2003, we received $16.7 million, or 3.4% of our total revenues, in federal USF support and in the three months ended March 31, 2004, we received $4.6 million, or 3.7% of our total revenues, in federal USF support. Currently, significant policy debate is occurring at the FCC and in Congress over whether universal service support should be available as a means to foster competitive entry in rural telecommunications markets, rather than its historic purpose to offset the high cost to serve the country’s rural areas. Several parties

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have raised objections to the size of the universal service fund and the types of services eligible for support and the sources of contribution to the USF. The outcome of any of these proceedings or other legislative or regulatory changes could affect the amount of federal universal service support that we receive, and could have an adverse effect on our business, revenue or profitability.

Critical Accounting Policies and Use of Estimates

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles that are generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. Management continually evaluates its estimates and judgments including those related to revenue recognition, allowance for doubtful accounts, pension and postretirement benefits, accounting for goodwill and intangible assets, and estimated useful lives of property, plant and equipment. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We believe that of our significant accounting policies, the following may involve a higher degree of judgment and complexity (See Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements for a complete discussion of our significant accounting policies.):

Revenue Recognition. Revenue is recognized when evidence of an arrangement between our customer and us exists, the earnings process is complete and collectibility is reasonably assured. The prices for most services are filed in tariffs with the appropriate regulatory bodies that exercise jurisdiction over the various services.

Basic local services, enhanced calling features such as caller identification, special access circuits, long distance flat rate calling plans, and most data services are billed one month in advance. Revenue for these services is recognized in the month services are rendered. The portion of advance-billed revenue associated with services that will be delivered in a subsequent period is deferred and recorded as a current liability under “Advance billings and customer deposits” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Amounts billed to customers for activating service are deferred and recognized over the average life of the customer. The costs associated with activating such services are deferred and are recognized as an operating expense over the same period. Costs in excess of revenues are recognized as an operating expense in the period of activation.

Revenues for providing usage based services, such as per-minute long distance service and access charges billed to long distance companies for originating and terminating long distance calls on our network, are billed in arrears. Revenues for these services are recognized in the month services are rendered.

Universal Service revenues are government-sponsored support received in association with providing service in mostly rural, high-cost areas. These revenues are typically based on information provided by us and are calculated by the government agency responsible for administering the support program and are recognized in the month the service is performed.

Allowance for doubtful accounts. In evaluating the collectibility of accounts receivable, we assess a number of factors, including a specific customer’s or carrier’s ability to meet its financial obligations, the length of time the receivable has been past due and historical collection experience. Based on these assessments, we record both specific and general reserves for uncollectible accounts receivable to the amount we ultimately expect to collect from customers and carriers. If circumstances change or economic conditions worsen such that our past collection experience is no longer relevant, our estimate of the recoverability of accounts receivable could be further reduced from the levels reflected in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Pension and postretirement benefits. The amounts recognized in the financial statements related to pension and postretirement benefits are determined on an actuarial basis utilizing several critical assumptions.

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A significant assumption used in determining our pension and postretirement benefit expense is the expected long-term rate of return on plan assets. In 2003, we used an expected long-term rate of return of 8.5%. We continue to believe that 8.5% is an appropriate rate of return for our plan assets given our investment strategy and will continue to use this assumption for 2004. The projected portfolio mix of the plan assets is developed in consideration of the expected duration of related plan obligations and as such is more heavily weighted toward equity investments, including public and private equity positions. Our investment policy is to invest 55-75% of the pension assets in equity funds with the remainder being invested in fixed income funds and cash equivalents. The expected return on plan assets is determined by applying the expected long-term rate of return to the market-related value of plan assets. The actual return on our equity portfolio has been significantly below expected return levels due to overall equity market conditions in 2001 and 2002.

Another significant estimate is the discount rate used in the annual actuarial valuation of pension and postretirement benefit plan obligations. In determining the appropriate discount rate at year-end, we considered the current yields on high quality corporate fixed-income investments with maturities corresponding to the expected duration of the benefit obligations. As of December 31, 2003, we reduced the discount rate by 45 basis points to 6.05%.

We expect to contribute $4.7 million to our pension plan and $0.6 million to our other postretirement benefits plan in 2004.

Goodwill and Intangible Assets. During 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB, issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” or SFAS 142, which requires that effective January 1, 2002, goodwill recorded in business combinations cease amortizing. SFAS 142 requires that goodwill be reviewed for impairment using fair value measurement techniques. Specifically, goodwill impairment is determined using a two-step process. The first step of the goodwill impairment test is used to identify potential impairment by comparing the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value, including goodwill. If the fair value of a reporting unit exceeds its carrying amount, goodwill of the reporting unit is considered not impaired and the second step of the impairment test is unnecessary. If the fair value of the reporting unit is less than the carrying value, the second step of the goodwill impairment test calculation is performed to measure the amount of the impairment charge. The second step of the goodwill impairment test compares the implied fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill with its carrying value. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined in the same manner as the amount of goodwill recognized in a business combination. That is, the fair value of the reporting unit is allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of that unit (including any unrecognized intangible assets) as if the reporting unit had been acquired in a business combination and the fair value of the reporting unit was the purchase price paid to acquire the reporting unit. If the implied fair value of goodwill is less than its carrying value, goodwill must be written down to its implied fair value.

Determining the fair value of a reporting unit under the first step of the goodwill impairment test and determining the fair value of individual assets and liabilities of a reporting unit (including unrecognized intangible assets) under the second step of the goodwill impairment test is judgmental in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions. These estimates and assumptions could have a significant impact on whether or not an impairment charge is recognized and also the magnitude of any such charge. We perform internal valuation analyses and consider other market information that is publicly available. Estimates of fair value are primarily determined using discounted cash flows. This approach uses significant estimates and assumptions including projected future cash flows (including timing) and the selection of a discount rate that reflects the risk inherent in future cash flows.

Upon completion of our initial assessment in May 2002, and our annual assessments in the third quarters of 2002 and 2003, we determined that no write-down in the carrying value of goodwill was required.

Useful Life of Property, Plant and Equipment. We estimate the useful lives of property, plant and equipment in order to determine the amount of depreciation expense to be recorded during any reporting period. The majority of our telecommunications plant, property and equipment is depreciated using the

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group method, which develops a depreciation rate based on the average useful life of a specific group of assets, rather than the individual asset as would be utilized under the unit method. The estimated life of the group is based on historical experience with similar assets as well as taking into account anticipated technological or other changes. If technological changes were to occur more rapidly than anticipated or in a different form than anticipated, the useful lives assigned to these assets may need to be shortened, resulting in the recognition of increased depreciation expense in future periods. Likewise, if the anticipated technological or other changes occur more slowly than anticipated, the life of the group could be extended based on the life assigned to new assets added to the group. This could result in a reduction of depreciation expense in future periods. We review these types of assets for impairment when events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable over the remaining lives of the assets. In assessing impairment, we follow the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” or SFAS 144, utilizing cash flows which take into account management’s estimates of future operations.

Redeemable Preferred Interests and Phantom Stock Units. We are required to make an estimate of the fair value of our Redeemable Preferred Interests in order to determine the carrying value of the liability at the balance sheet date. In addition, we are required to make an estimate of the fair value of our Phantom Stock Units in order to determine the appropriate related compensation expense. We estimate the fair value of these items by initially determining an overall enterprise value and allocating the enterprise value to the various preferred and common equity components that impact the determination of the fair value of the Redeemable Preferred Interests and the Phantom Stock Units. The enterprise value is estimated through a combination of a discounted cash flow analysis and an enterprise comparability analysis to publicly traded companies in the same industry classification. We expect that after the reorganization of our corporate structure, we will not be required to make an estimate of fair value of these items because both the Redeemable Preferred Interests and the Phantom Stock Units will be exchanged for IDSs and Class B common stock.

Income Taxes. We intend to treat our issuance of the IDSs in this offering as an issuance of separate securities — shares of class A common stock and senior subordinated notes — and to allocate the proceeds received for each IDS unit between the Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of issuance. As discussed below, based on the opinion of our tax counsel, we are of the view that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes and we intend to claim a deduction for interest expense of approximately $          in respect of the senior subordinated notes each year against our taxable income for United States federal income tax purposes. There can be no assurance that our classification of the senior subordinated notes as debt (or the amount of interest expense deducted) will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained if challenged, although to date we have neither been informed by the IRS that it believes that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as equity rather than debt for United States federal income tax purposes, nor have we sought a ruling from the IRS that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as debt. If our treatment of the senior subordinated notes as debt is put at risk in the future as a result of a future ruling by the IRS, including by an adverse ruling with respect to IDSs issued by another company or by an adverse ruling with respect to our own IDSs requiring the senior subordinated notes to be treated as equity for income tax purposes, we may need to consider the effect of such developments on the determination of our future tax provisions and obligations. In the event that the senior subordinated notes are required to be treated as equity for income tax purpose, then the cumulative interest expense associated with the senior subordinated notes would not be deductible from taxable income and we would be required to recognize additional tax expense and establish a related income tax liability. The additional tax due to the federal and state authorities would be based on our taxable income or loss for each of the years that we claim the interest expense deduction, would adversely affect our financial position, cash flow, and liquidity and could affect our ability to make interest or dividend payments on the senior subordinated notes and the shares of common stock represented by the IDSs, and our ability to continue as a going concern. We do not currently intend to record a liability for a potential disallowance of this interest expense deduction. In addition, non-United States holders of our IDSs units could be subject to withholding taxes on payments of

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interest that are treated by the IRS or the courts as dividends on equity; this could subject us to additional liability for withholding taxes that we did not collect on such payments.

As discussed below in “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences—United States Holders—Senior Subordinated Notes—Characterization,” the classification of an instrument as debt or equity for United States federal income tax purposes is not clearly defined by statute and is based on facts and circumstances developed in the case law. In light of the representations and determinations described in the section referred to above and their relevance to several of the factors analyzed in the case law, and taking into account the facts and circumstances relating to the issuance of the senior subordinated notes (including the separate issuance of senior subordinated notes in this offering), we (and our counsel) are of the view that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. We intend to take this position for all purposes, and therefore our financial statements will not reflect a tax liability related to this position. However, there can be no assurance that this position will be sustained if challenged by the IRS.

IDSs and Class B common stock. Our IDS units contain common stock and senior subordinated debt. In addition, the senior subordinated notes contain the embedded derivate features that may require bifurcation under FASB 133. The embedded derivative features include a call option and a change-of-control put option on the senior subordinated debt. Upon completion of this offering, proceeds from the issuance of the IDSs will be allocated, based upon relative fair value, to Class A common stock and the senior subordinated notes. If it is determined at the time of issuance that any of the embedded derivatives are required to be bifurcated and separately accounted for, a portion of the proceeds from the original issuance will also be allocated to these derivatives equal to the combined fair value of the embedded derivatives that require bifurcation. If a portion of the initial proceeds is allocated to any of the derivatives, the senior subordinated notes will initially be recorded at a discount or premium and accreted or amortized their redemption value as a component of interest expense using the effective interest method. Any such allocation will not effect the tax treatment of the IDSs.

The Class A common stock portion of the IDS unit will be included in stockholders’ equity, net of related transaction costs, and dividends paid on the Class A common stock will be recorded as a reduction to retained earnings when declared by us. The senior subordinated debt portion of the IDS unit will be included in long-term debt, and the related transaction costs will be capitalized as deferred financing costs and amortized to interest expense using the effective interest method. Interest on the senior subordinated notes will be charged to expense as accrued by us. The bifurcated derivatives will be recorded as an asset or a liability and will be marked to market with changes in fair value being recorded in earnings. We intend to determine the fair value of the Class A common stock, the senior subordinated debt and embedded derivatives through the utilization of a third party valuation firm, and the sale of the separate senior subordinated notes with the same terms that are part of this offering.

In connection with the reorganization, we will issue shares of Class B common stock to certain current equity holders, which may, subject to certain conditions, be exchanged for IDSs. The Class B common stock contains dividend features which are intended to replicate the yield on the IDS units. Any time a dividend is paid to the holders of Class A common stock, holders of the Class B common stock will be paid a dividend equal to the same amount per share as paid to the holders of the Class A common stock. In addition to any such dividend, holders of the Class B common stock will accrue dividends at a rate that will replicate the interest payable on the senior subordinated note component of the of IDS unit.

Following the second anniversary of the consummation of this offering, at the option of the holder of the shares, a share of Class B common stock may be exchanged for one IDS (as may be adjusted for stock splits, dividends, combinations or reclassifications), in connection with the sale of shares of Class B common stock. Accordingly, at the date of issuance, based on relative fair values, a pro rata portion of the Class B common stock exchangeable for senior subordinated debt will be classified as mezzanine equity and pro rata portion exchangeable for Class A common stock will be classified as permanent equity. If it is determined at the time of issuance the embedded exchange option is required to be bifurcated and

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separately accounted for, a portion of the proceeds from the original issuance of the Class B common stock will also be allocated to this derivative. If a portion of the initial proceeds is allocated to the derivative, the amount recorded in mezzanine equity will initially be recorded at a discount and accreted to the redemption value using the effective interest method. The bifurcated derivatives will be recorded as liabilities and will be marked to market with changes in fair value being recorded as a component of interest expense.

The dividends paid on the Class B common stock will be deducted from net income in the determination of net income available to Class A common stockholders for determination of earnings per share. At the time the holder exercises its exchange right, the portion of the Class B common stock included in mezzanine equity will be reclassified to debt and the associated interest payments will be included in interest expense.

In connection with the reorganization, management will receive IDSs in exchange for their outstanding equity interests. The resulting compensation expense will be based upon fair value of the IDSs received by management at the date of exchange.

Anticipated presentation of earnings per share. The holders of our Class A and Class B common stock being issued in this offering and in the reorganization are expected to have different rights with respect to the amount of dividends they will be entitled to receive under the dividend policy our Board of Directors is expected to adopt upon the closing of this offering. We intend to give effect to these different rights in the presentation of our earnings per share calculations in our periodic filings subsequent to this offering by applying the two-class method of computing earnings per share as provided for in SFAS 128 “Earnings per Share.” The two-class method is an earnings allocation formula that determines earnings per share for each class of common stock and participating security according to dividends declared (or accumulated) and participation rights in undistributed earnings.

Consolidated Results of Operations

 
Operating Revenues

The following table sets forth our total average revenue per access line:

                                         
Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





Total revenue (in thousands)
  $ 424,916     $ 479,883     $ 497,334     $ 122,119     $ 125,852  
Average access lines
    552,316       574,922       564,027       570,121       557,012  
Average revenue per access line per month
  $ 64.11     $ 69.56     $ 73.48     $ 71.40     $ 75.31  

Local Service—We derive revenues from providing local exchange telephone services to both residential and business customers, including monthly recurring charges from basic service such as local dial-tone and enhanced services such as caller identification, voicemail and call waiting and non-recurring charges for service activation and reconnection of service.

Data Services—Revenues are derived from monthly recurring charges for DSL, private lines, Internet and other data related services.

Long Distance Services—Revenues are derived from usage charges assessed on long distance and local toll calls and from revenue on flat rate calling plans.

Access Services—Network access revenues include switched access, special access, and end user charges. Switched access represents use sensitive charges to long distance companies for access to our network in connection with the completion of interstate and intrastate long-distance calls. Special access represents

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dedicated circuits, which are typically purchased by long distance companies. End user charges are monthly flat-rate charges assessed on access lines.

Universal Service Fund, or USF—We receive monthly payments from state and federal government-sponsored support associated with providing basic telephone services generally in rural, high cost areas.

Other Services—Other revenues primarily represent sales of customer premise equipment, or CPE, directory advertising, unbundled network elements and billing and collection fees.

The following table sets forth our revenues for the periods shown:

                                         
Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Local service
  $ 132,514     $ 147,130     $ 156,369     $ 39,003     $ 38,844  
Data services
    17,927       20,741       20,990       4,979       5,937  
Long distance services
    14,652       22,961       30,816       6,434       8,762  
Access services
    119,421       133,037       132,047       33,400       33,047  
Universal service fund
    116,305       121,607       119,727       29,938       30,077  
Other services
    24,097       34,407       37,385       8,365       9,185  
     
     
     
     
     
 
    $ 424,916     $ 479,883     $ 497,334     $ 122,119     $ 125,852  
     
     
     
     
     
 

The following table sets forth several key metrics:

                                           
As of December 31, As of March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





Total access lines
    551,599       571,308       556,745       568,933       557,278  
Long distance subscribers
    62,234       130,622       188,526       153,313       197,303  
 
Penetration rate of total access lines
    11 %     23 %     34 %     27 %     35 %
DSL subscribers
    511       3,510       8,779       4,433       10,019  
 
Penetration rate of total access lines
    0 %     1 %     2 %     1 %     2 %
 
      Consolidated Revenues

Our consolidated revenues increased $3.7 million, or 3.0% in the first three months of 2004, as compared to the same period in 2003. In addition, our consolidated revenues increased $17.5 million, or 3.6%, in 2003 and $55 million, or 12.9%, in 2002. Excluding the effect of the KCC acquisition, which occurred in January 2002, revenues increased $29.5 million, or 6.9%, in 2002. Telephone access lines are an important element of our business. The monthly recurring revenue we generate from end users, the amount of traffic that traverses our network and related access charges generated from other carriers, the amount of USF revenue received, and most other revenue streams are directly related to the number of access lines in service. Excluding the effect of the KCC acquisition, we have lost access lines in each of the last two years. We have been able to generate increases in our revenue in each of the last two years by executing a strategy of selling additional services to existing customers and increasing average revenue per line through a combination of new product offerings and bundling of various services. New product offerings include DSL, long distance and other enhanced calling features. The increases in revenue related to this strategy have more than offset the declines in revenue that we have experienced from access line losses. If we continue to lose access lines or if we are unable to continue to successfully execute our strategy, it could slow the rate of our revenue growth or cause our revenue to decline, either of which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

Competition from wireless service providers is intensifying as the coverage of their networks improves and the price of their product offerings continues to become more attractive to consumers in our markets. In addition, as voice over internet protocol, or VoIP, becomes a more viable product, new competitors could

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enter our markets and existing competitors could become more formidable. More specifically, cable television operators in some of our markets already offer a broadband product in the form of a high-speed cable modem. VoIP could allow them to offer telephony services to our customers that would bypass our network altogether. If these cable television operators or any other competitors were to successfully offer a VoIP product in any of our markets, we could lose a significant amount of our access lines and revenues in those markets.

For a more extensive discussion of risks related to loss of access lines, see “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business.”

 
      Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

Local Service Revenues. Local service revenue decreased $0.2 million to $38.8 million in 2004 from $39.0 million in 2003. Revenue from the provision of basic service decreased $0.5 million primarily as a result of access line loss. This access line related loss was partially offset by an increase of $0.3 million from various other items.

Data Services Revenues. Data services revenues increased $1.0 million, or 19%, to $5.9 million in 2004 from $4.9 million in 2003. DSL revenues increased $0.7 million and other data revenue increased $0.3 million. The number of DSL subscribers grew to 10,019 at March 31, 2004. This represents a 126% increase compared to the number of DSL subscribers at March 31, 2003.

Long Distance Services Revenues. Long distance services revenue increased $2.3 million, or 36%, to $8.7 million in 2004 from $6.4 million in 2003. Our flat rate plans and direct-dialed long-distance products increased $1.4 million as a result of adding 44,000 subscribers and $1.3 million as a result of an increase to the monthly recurring rate. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in local toll calling or switching to alternate lower cost service providers and lower calling card revenue of $0.1 million.

Access Services Revenues. Access services revenues decreased $0.4 million, or 1% to $33.0 million in 2004 from $33.4 million in 2003. Switched access revenue decreased $1.0 million, which was primarily attributable to lower access rates. Lower switched access revenue was partially offset by higher special access revenue of $0.3 million and end user revenues of $0.3 million.

USF Revenues. USF Revenues increased $0.2 million to $30.1 million in the first three months of 2004 from $29.9 million in the first three months of 2003. Texas State USF declined $0.3 million in the first three months of 2004 from $25.9 million in the first three months of 2003.

Other Services Revenues. Other services revenue increased $0.8 million, or 10% to $9.2 million in 2004 from $8.4 million in 2003. $0.2 million of this increase was related to the leasing of additional facilities by competitive local telephone companies to service their customers in our markets. The remaining $0.6 million increase was due to other miscellaneous items.

 
Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002

Local Service Revenues. Local service revenue increased $9.3 million, or 6%, to $156.4 million in 2003 from $147.1 million in 2002, despite declining access lines during the period. Revenue from the provision of basic service decreased $2.3 million primarily as a result of access line loss. This access line related loss was more than offset by an increase of $9.0 million in enhanced services, primarily resulting from our bundle strategy. The remainder of the increase was from activation and reconnection charges.

Data Services Revenues. Data services revenues improved 1% in 2003 to $21.0 million from $20.7 million in 2002. DSL revenues increased $1.8 million and other data revenue increased $1.7 million. The number of DSL subscribers grew by 5,269 during the year. The increase in the number of DSL subscribers represents a 150% increase from 2002. We have been able to grow our data services revenue despite the

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loss of substantially all the revenue from one of our large Internet service provider customers. The loss of this customer represented a $3.2 million decrease in revenue during 2003.

Long Distance Services Revenues. Long distance services revenue increased $7.8 million, or 34%, to $30.8 million in 2003 from $23.0 million in 2002. Our flat rate plans and direct-dialed long-distance products increased $10.1 million. This increase was partially offset by a reduction in local toll revenue of $2.3 million, or 37%, compared to the previous year. This results primarily from customers switching to one of our new plans offering toll-free local calling or switching to alternate lower cost service providers.

Access Services Revenues. Access services revenues declined $1.0 million to $132.0 million in 2003 from $133.0 million in 2002. Switched access revenue decreased approximately $4.8 million, which was primarily attributable to lower access rates. Lower switched access revenue was partially offset by higher special access and end user revenues. Special access revenues increased by $1.6 million as the demand for special circuits ordered by interexchange carriers to transport their customers’ voice and data traffic continue to improve. End user revenues increased by $2.2 million, of which $3.8 million was due to an increase in rates, offset by a $1.6 million reduction resulting from a loss in access lines.

USF Revenues. USF revenues declined $1.9 million, or 2%, to $119.7 million in 2003 from $121.6 million in 2002. Texas State USF declined $1.1 million in 2003 compared to 2002 as a result of a loss in access lines.

Other Services Revenues. Other services revenue increased $3.0 million, or 9%, to $37.4 million. $2.4 million of this increase was related to competitive local telephone companies leasing additional facilities to service their customers in our markets. The remaining $0.6 million increase was due primarily to higher directory advertising and other miscellaneous items.

  Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2001

Local Service Revenues. Local service revenue increased $14.6 million, or 11%, to $147.1 million in 2002 from $132.5 million in 2001. Comparing access lines at December 31, 2002 to December 31, 2001, access lines increased 19,709. $4.9 million of the revenue increase and 27,537 of the access line increase was related to our acquisition of Kerrville Communications Corporation, or KCC, in 2002.

Excluding the effects of the KCC acquisition, access lines declined 7,828, or 1.4%, most of which occurred near the end of the year. As a result, this decline had a minimal effect on our 2002 revenues. Revenues excluding the acquisition of KCC increased $9.7 million, or 7.3%. $4.2 million of this increase was related to sales of enhanced services, primarily as a result of our bundled products which we began marketing during 2002. Other increases to local service revenues include $3.4 million in activation and reconnection charges and $2.1 million of other miscellaneous increases.

Data Services Revenues. Data services revenues increased $2.8 million, or 16%, to $20.7 million in 2002 from $17.9 million in 2001. $2.5 million of the increase was related to our acquisition of KCC in 2002. The remaining increase was due substantially to our efforts to increase the number of DSL subscribers in our markets and sales of other data products.

Long Distance Services Revenues. Long distance services revenue increased $8.3 million, or 57%, to $23.0 million in 2002 from $14.7 million in 2001. $1.7 million of the revenue increase and approximately 8,400 of the long distance subscriber increase was related to our acquisition of KCC in 2002.

Excluding the effects of the KCC acquisition, revenue from our flat rate plans and direct-dialed long-distance products increased $8.7 million as a result of the number of long distance subscribers increasing by 96% to 122,257 from 62,234 at the end of 2001. This increase was partially offset by a reduction in local toll revenue of $2.1 million. This reduction in local toll results primarily from customers switching to one of our new plans offering toll-free local calling or switching to alternate lower cost service providers.

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Access Services Revenues. Access services revenues increased $13.6 million, or 11%, to $133.0 million from $119.4 million for 2002 and 2001, respectively. $8.3 million of the revenue increase was attributable to the acquisition of KCC.

Excluding the effects of the KCC acquisition, access services revenues increased $5.3 million in 2002 as compared to 2001. Higher special access revenues contributed $7.9 million of the increase as inter-exchange carriers purchased special circuits to transport their customers’ voice and data traffic and from fulfilling pent-up demand for circuits in our exchanges. Adding to the increases in access services revenue in 2002 were higher subscriber line charges of $3.6 million. These increases were offset by lower switched access revenue. Switched access revenue declined by $6.2 million, or 10%, compared to the previous year.

USF Revenues. USF revenues increased $5.3 million, or 5%, to $121.6 million in 2002 from $116.3 million in 2001. $4.1 million of the increase was related to our acquisition of KCC in 2002. The remaining $1.2 million increase was due primarily to higher net federal USF support, partially offset by lower Texas state USF as a result of our declining access lines in Texas.

Other Services Revenues. Other services revenue increased $10.3 million, or 43%, to $34.4 million in 2002 from $24.1 million in 2001. $4.0 million of the increase was related to our acquisition of KCC in 2002. Equipment sales increased $4.0 million from a mix of sales of large systems to business customers, sales of individual phone sets, and other small items. Other miscellaneous items contributed the remaining increase of $2.3 million.

  Operating Expenses

Cost of Service. Cost of service includes operational costs of owning and operating our facilities, cost of leasing other facilities to interconnect our network, access charges paid to third parties to transport and terminate toll calls, and the cost of sales of customer premise equipment.

Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses represent the cost of billing our customers, operating our call centers, performing sales and marketing activities in support of our efforts to grow revenues, and other general corporate support activities.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization includes depreciation of our communications network and equipment and amortization of goodwill through December 31, 2001. The following table sets forth operating expenses for the periods shown:

                                         
Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Cost of service
  $ 105,357     $ 113,891     $ 106,527     $ 24,887     $ 26,579  
Selling, general and administrative
    105,418       133,468       126,896       31,263       32,930  
Depreciation and amortization
    110,843       73,273       81,638       19,950       20,827  
     
     
     
     
     
 
    $ 321,618     $ 320,632     $ 315,061     $ 76,100     $ 80,336  
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Consolidated Operating Expenses

Our consolidated operating expenses increased by $4.2 million, or 5.6% in the first three months of 2004 as compared to the same period in 2003. This increase was primarily attributable to a $1.7 million increase in our cost of service in part resulting from increased access charges paid to third parties and a $1.6 million increase in our selling, general and administrative expenses.

Our consolidated operating expenses decreased $5.6 million, or 1.7%, in 2003 primarily due to our recovery of previously written off receivables associated with MCI Worldcom’s bankruptcy and improvements in maintenance and operating costs resulting from improvements we have made to our network infrastructure.

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Our consolidated operating expenses were essentially flat in 2002 compared to 2001. There were substantial increases in some categories of operating expenses in 2002 primarily caused by our January 2002 acquisition of KCC, increased bad debt expense we incurred on receivables we wrote off resulting from MCI Worldcom’s 2002 bankruptcy filing, the staffing of personnel in our call centers, and access charges paid to third parties to transport and terminate long distance calls. These expense increases were offset by a reduction of $53.9 million in amortization expense due to the adoption of FASB 142 in 2002. FASB 142 directed companies to annually test goodwill for impairment rather than amortize goodwill systematically to earnings.

There are a number of factors that could cause our operating expenses to increase in the future, including but not limited to:

•  If we were to determine that our goodwill were to become impaired we would be required to write-off the impaired amount under the provisions of FASB 142;
 
•  Our ability to successfully negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement with the Local 6171 and Local 7019 of the Communications Workers of America. The current contracts expire on February 28, 2005 and February 14, 2006;
 
•  Increasing costs of providing healthcare and postretirement benefits to our existing and former employees;
 
•  Increased costs associated with our financial responsibilities under our defined benefit pension plan; and
 
•  The increased presence of competitors in our markets and incremental costs we might incur to retain our existing customers or implement new product offerings.

Our inability to effectively manage any or all of these items could cause our operating expenses to increase in the future and have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

 
Three Months Ended March 31, 2004 Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2003

Cost of Service. Cost of service increased $1.7 million, or 7%, to $26.6 million from $24.9 million. The increase was primarily attributable to higher access charges paid to third parties related to the increase in usage from our growing long distance subscriber base and unlimited long distance plans.

Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $1.6 million, or 5%, to $32.9 million in 2004 from $31.3 million in 2003. In the first quarter of 2003, we recovered $1.6 million of previously written-off receivables related to MCI’s 2002 bankruptcy. This recovery resulted in a reduction of bad debt expense in the three-month period ended March 31, 2003.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $0.9 million, or 4%, to $20.8 million during 2004 as compared to 2003. Higher depreciation expense resulted from our spending on capital projects to improve our network infrastructure.

  Year Ended December 31, 2003 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2002

Cost of Service. Cost of service decreased $7.4 million, or 6%, to $106.5 million from $113.9 million. Costs for external circuits and network capacity declined $5.4 million as a result of efficiencies gained from upgrades we made to our network. Costs to maintain and operate our network declined $6.6 million as a result of the investment we made in our telecommunications infrastructure. Additionally, cost of goods sold for customer premise equipment decreased $2.1 million as sales for this equipment slowed during 2003. These decreases were partially offset by higher access charges of $7.4 million paid to third parties related to the increase in usage from our increasing long distance subscriber base. Other miscellaneous items contributed the remaining decrease of $0.7 million.

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Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $6.6 million, or 5%, to $126.9 million in 2003 from $133.5 million in 2002. We recorded a $5 million charge during 2002 as a result of one of our largest customers, MCI, declaring bankruptcy. In 2003, we sold the receivables related to the charge and negotiated setoff of amounts owed by us to MCI against amounts owed by MCI to us, recovering approximately $3.4 million. The effect of these transactions decreased our expense in 2003 as compared to 2002 by $8.4 million. Offsetting this reduction in expense was an increase of $1.8 million of various other miscellaneous expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $8.4 million, or 11%, to $81.6 million during 2003 as compared to 2002. Higher depreciation expense resulted from our spending on capital projects to improve our network infrastructure.

  Year Ended December 31, 2002 Compared to Year Ended December 31, 2001

Cost of Service. Cost of service increased $8.5 million, or 8%, to $113.9 million in 2002 from $105.4 million in 2001. $5.8 million of the increase was related to our acquisition of KCC in 2002. Of the remaining $2.7 million increase, higher access charges of $4.3 million were paid to third parties related to the increased usage from our increasing long distance subscriber base, and higher cost of goods sold for $2.0 million primarily resulted from large equipment system sales in late 2002. These increases were offset by a reduction of $3.6 million, primarily from lower costs for external circuits and network capacity as a result of efficiencies gained from upgrades we made to our network.

Selling, General and Administrative. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $28.1 million, or 27%, to $133.5 million in 2002 from $105.4 million in 2001. $7.1 million of the increase was from our 2002 acquisition of KCC. Of the remaining $21.0 million, $5.3 million was due principally to headcount increases in our call centers. This was done to eventually shift reliance away from third parties to generate sales and to increase the overall effectiveness of our customer service function. Sales and marketing expense increased $6.4 million as a result of efforts to generate sales of bundle products and long distance. We wrote off approximately $5.0 million of receivables when one of our largest customers, MCI, declared bankruptcy in 2002. Of the remaining $4.3 million increase, $1.4 million was due to a restructuring charge taken in the fourth quarter of 2002 for elimination of 81 positions and $2.9 million was from various other miscellaneous increases.

Depreciation and Amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $37.5 million to $73.3 million in 2002 from $110.8 million in 2001. $53.9 million of this decrease resulted from our adoption of SFAS 142, which required that goodwill no longer be amortized. Excluding the effects of SFAS 142, depreciation and amortization expense increased $16.4 million. $4.1 million of the increase was related to our acquisition of KCC in 2002. The remaining $12.3 million increase in depreciation expense results from our spending on capital projects to improve our network infrastructure.

Interest Expense

The following table sets forth interest expense:

                                         
Three Months Ended
Year Ended December 31, March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Interest expense
  $ 133,156     $ 127,365     $ 119,185     $ 31,926     $ 27,730  

Interest expense decreased $4.2 million to $27.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004 from $31.9 in the three months ended March 31, 2003. Interest expense also decreased $8.2 million to $119.2 million in 2003 from $127.4 million in 2002. In each case our decrease in interest expense was due to lower average principal outstanding on our senior debt.

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Excluding the effects of the borrowings for the KCC acquisition, our interest expense decreased $10.9 million to $122.3 million in 2002 from $133.2 million in 2001, as a result of our paying down debt. This decrease was partially offset by an increase of deferred interest on our subordinated notes and lower capitalized interest as spending for projects declined in 2002 compared to 2001.

Loss on Interest Rate Hedging Arrangements

The following table sets forth our loss on interest rate hedging arrangements:

                                         
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements
    $(14,292 )     $(12,348 )     $(2,113 )     $(1,229 )     $(342 )

The adjustment to mark our hedging arrangements to market value resulted in non-cash income of $2.4 million and $1.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, respectively, and $8.5 million during 2003 and non-cash expense of $2.7 million in 2002 and $9.9 million in 2001. The remaining loss relates to cash settlements during the periods. These hedging arrangements will be terminated and replaced in connection with our reorganization.

Earnings from Unconsolidated Cellular Partnerships and Other Income and Expense

The following table sets forth other income and expense for the periods shown:

                                         
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
    $  –       $2,757       $3,258       $783       $325  
Other income and (expense)
    $358       $ (268 )     $ (62 )     $ 40       $(70 )

Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships are our share of the earnings in the equity interest of the two cellular partnerships acquired in 2002 as part of the KCC acquisition. In 2002, 2003 and three months ended March 31, 2004, we recorded $2.8 million, $3.3 million and $0.3 million, respectively, for these equity earnings. Other income and (expense) represents various other miscellaneous income and expense items, including interest income on our cash balances held at financial institutions.

Income Taxes

The following table sets forth income taxes for the periods shown:

                                         
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Income taxes
    $0       $1,649       $2,478       $758       $567  

The income taxes represent those of Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, which has elected to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. (See Note 2, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” and Note 10, “Income Taxes” of our consolidated financial statements for an expanded discussion of income taxes.)

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Minority Interest

The following table sets forth the minority interest for the periods shown:

                                         
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Minority interest
    $3,595       $(615 )     $(3,568 )     $(770 )     $(1,518 )

Minority interest reflects the share of income and loss of minority shareholders in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC.

Discontinued Operations

The following table sets forth discontinued operations for the periods shown:

                                         
Three Months
Year Ended December 31, Ended March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Discontinued operations
    $(8,443 )     $(3,461 )     $108       $—       $—  

We sold our competitive local exchange carrier in Texas during April 2002 to NTS Communications for $0.2 million. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets,” which was effective for us on January 1, 2002, the revenue, costs and expenses and cash flows of our competitive local exchange business have been excluded from the respective captions in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and have been reported through their respective dates of separation as “Net income (loss) from discontinued operations” and as “Net cash used in discontinued operations.”

In connection with the sale, we recorded a liability of approximately $2.0 million related to certain employee termination benefits and other exit costs such as non-cancelable leases. As of December 31, 2003 and 2002, approximately $0.1 million and $0.4 million, respectively, of the $2.0 million had not been paid. As of March 31, 2004, a de minimis amount remained unpaid. These amounts have been classified as current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income from discontinued operations of $0.1 million in 2003 represents a revision to the estimates we made in 2002 for recording certain employee termination benefits and other exit costs.

Cumulative Effect of Change in Accounting Principle

SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” or SFAS 133, as amended by SFAS No. 137, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133,” and by SFAS No. 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities,” which became effective for our company on January 1, 2001, established accounting and reporting standards that required every derivative instrument be recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at fair value, with changes in fair value reflected in the statement of operations.

We entered into interest rate hedge contracts to adjust the interest rate profile of our debt obligations (see “Interest Rate Risk” below). In addition, our credit arrangements include provisions that require interest rate protection (hedge agreements) for a portion of our variable debt. We entered into interest rate hedging agreements with certain financial institutions to reduce the financial impact of changes in interest rates on our debt. Our interest rate swap and collar agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS 133 and therefore are carried at fair market value and included in “Deferred credits and other liabilities” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The transitional unrealized loss on the interest rate hedging

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arrangements at January 1, 2001 is reflected as the “Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle” on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Changes in the fair market value and settlements are recorded as “Loss on hedging arrangements” each quarter.

Financial Condition and Liquidity

Current Financial Condition. At March 31, 2004, we had net debt of $1,435.9 million and $65.5 million of common owners’ equity, compared to net debt of $1,469.2 million and $49.9 million of common owners’ equity at December 31, 2003, and net debt of $1,544.2 million and $5.6 million of common owners’ deficit at December 31, 2002. Historically, we have used excess cash generated through operations to pay down long-term debt. As a result, we generally maintain a negative working capital balance. We had a negative working capital balance of $46.2 million and $59.3 million at March 31, 2003 and 2004, respectively, and $29.3 million and $46.2 million at December 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively.

As discussed in more detail below, our management believes that our operating cash flows, cash and cash equivalents, and borrowing capacity under our new credit facility will be sufficient to fund our capital and liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.

     Cash Flows

                                         
For the Three Months
For the Years Ended December 31, Ended March 31,


2001 2002 2003 2003 2004





(Dollars in thousands)
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 100,301     $ 150,383     $ 166,065     $ 41,485     $ 50,109  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (106,614 )     (216,773 )     (66,299 )     (14,178 )     (16,723 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    8,117       71,015       (99,465 )     (26,484 )     (31,041 )
Net cash used in discontinued operations
    (8,373 )     (3,662 )     (176 )     (88 )     (9 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
  $ (6,569 )   $ 963     $ 125     $ 737     $ 2,336  
     
     
     
     
     
 

We began making semi-annual cash payments related to our 10% senior subordinated notes in 2003, which is discussed in “Outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes” below.

Net cash provided by continuing operations of $50.1 million in the first three months of 2004, was generated primarily by $15.6 million of income from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude non-cash items of $23.6 million. Net cash provided by continuing operations of $166.1 million in 2003, was generated primarily by $58.1 million of income from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude non-cash items of $102.7 million. The most significant non-cash items in 2003 were depreciation and amortization expense of $81.6 million and non-cash interest expense related items of $17.4 million, which includes amortization of debt issuance costs, unrealized gain on hedging arrangements, and non-cash interest expense on our senior subordinated debt.

Net cash provided by continuing operations of $150.4 million in 2002, was generated primarily by $19.8 million of income from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude non-cash items of $124.8 million. The most significant non-cash items were depreciation and amortization expense of $73.3 million, non-cash interest expense related items of $42.2 million, and $11.4 million of bad debt expense. Cash flows from continuing operations were also favorably impacted by working capital improvements of $3.3 million. The growth in cash flows from continuing operations from 2001 to 2002 relates primarily to the acquisition of KCC in 2002, as well as the unfavorable working capital requirements in 2001.

Net cash provided by continuing operations of $100.3 million in 2001, resulted from a $44.9 million of net loss from continuing operations, adjusted to exclude non-cash items of $168.0 million and working capital requirements of $29.9 million. The most significant non-cash items were depreciation and amortization expense of $110.8 million, non-cash interest expense related items of $49.4 million, and $11.4 million of bad debt expense.

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Cash used in investing activities was $16.7 million for the first three months of 2004, compared to $14.2 million for the three months of 2003, $66.3 million in 2003, $216.8 million in 2002, and $106.6 million in 2001. The investing activities during 2002 include the cash paid of $128.1 million to acquire all the outstanding common stock, preferred stock and common stock equivalents of KCC. Our investing activities consisted primarily of capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment. We fund capital expenditures to deploy new network services, modernize our property, plant and equipment, position our network infrastructure for future growth, and to meet regulatory obligations.

Capital expenditures for the years ended 2001, 2002, 2003 and the first three months of 2004 were $107.9 million, $89.5 million, $69.9 million and $16.7 million, respectively. The decreases in capital spending from 2002 to 2003 and from 2001 to 2002 reflect the completion of certain switch upgrades in 2002, as well as continued improvement in the overall plant condition. For the period from April 1, 2004 to December 31, 2004, we expect capital expenditures to be approximately $                million, and we anticipate that future capital expenditures will be at, or slightly below, current levels. Cash used for capital expenditures was partially offset by distributions of $3.5 million in 2003, and $1.9 million in 2002, received from our equity investment in two wireless partnerships. Future cash distributions from these equity investments are uncertain.

Cash used by financing activities was $31.0 million in the first three months of 2004 and $99.5 million in 2003, compared to cash provided by financing activities of $71.0 million in 2002, and $8.1 million in 2001. These changes are principally due to the net incremental repayments of long-term debt of $33.8 million in the three months ended March 31, 2004 and $100.0 million in 2003, and net incremental borrowings of $39.2 million in 2002, and net incremental repayments of $2.2 million in 2001, respectively. Cash provided by financing activities in 2002 includes the proceeds from partner capital contribution of $46.1 million, which together with the additional borrowings of $82.0 million, was used primarily to acquire all the outstanding common stock, preferred stock and common stock equivalents of KCC.

Historically, we have managed our cash on hand through the use of revolving credit facilities to maximize the amount of debt repayment. Of the total net debt repayments of $100.0 million in 2003, $58.9 million were required principal payments and $41.1 million were optional principal payments.

Outstanding Debt and Existing Financing Arrangements

At December 31, 2003 we had various financing arrangements outstanding with a total borrowing capacity of $           million. Of this total borrowing capacity, $           million was available to fund future contractual obligations and $           million was outstanding as debt (refer to Note 8 to the consolidated financial statements for more details on outstanding debt):

                           
Total Borrowing Unused Outstanding
Capacity Capacity(1) Debt



(Dollars in thousands)
Senior credit facilities
                       
 
Revolver
  $       $       $    
 
Bank term loans
                     
 
Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative, or RTFC, term loans
                     
10% Senior Subordinated Notes
                     
Capitalized leases and other
                     
     
     
     
 
    $       $       $    
     
     
     
 


(1)  Unused capacity is reduced by an outstanding letter of credit in the amount of $0.1 million.

The agreements for the senior credit facilities limit, among other things, additional borrowings, transactions with affiliates, capital expenditures and the payment of dividends and require us to maintain certain financial ratios including debt to cash flow ratios, interest coverage and fixed charge coverage. We expect to replace these facilities with a new senior credit facility that contains substantially similar covenants.

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Outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes

As of March 31, 2004, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC had $314.3 million aggregate principal amount of 10% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2010 outstanding. Until our pro forma fixed charge coverage equals or exceeds one to one, our 10% Senior Subordinated Notes do not pay cash interest, but accrue interest at 12.0% per annum and is converted into additional note principal. During the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, we converted $32.6 million and $17.8 million, respectively, of interest into additional note principal. During 2003, we began making cash interest payments on our 10% Senior Subordinated Notes.

All our outstanding senior subordinated notes are held by our equity sponsors, and we will repay all our outstanding senior subordinated notes as part of our reorganization. We will repay the equity sponsors for our outstanding senior subordinated notes in cash with the proceeds of this offering and borrowings under our new credit facility.

New Credit Facility

We intend to enter into a $          million new senior secured credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions. We expect that the new credit facility will be comprised of a senior secured revolving credit facility of up to $           million, which we refer to as the “new revolver,” and a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $           million, which we refer to as the “new term loan.” We expect that the new revolver and the new term loan will each have an approximately five-year maturity with no amortization of principal prior to maturity. We expect that the new credit facility will have several provisions similar to credit facilities of this nature, including but not limited to: interest rate and fees, mandatory prepayments, voluntary prepayments, affirmative and negative covenants, restrictions on collateral and events of default. See “Description of Certain Indebtedness— New Credit Facility”.

Contractual and Other Obligations

In addition to the above financing arrangements, we have commitments under certain contractual arrangements to make future payments for goods and services. These commitments secure the future rights to various assets and services to be used in the normal course of operations. For example, we are contractually committed to make certain minimum lease payments for the use of property under operating lease agreements. In accordance with current accounting rules, the future rights and obligations pertaining to such firm commitments are not reflected as assets or liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet. The following table summarizes our contractual and other obligations at December 31, 2003, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on liquidity and cash flow in future periods:

Payments Due by Period(1)

                                         
2004 2005-2006 2007-2008 Thereafter Total





(Dollars in thousands)
Contractual obligations(2)
  $ 50,786     $ 72,204     $ 713     $     $ 123,703  
Long-term debt obligations(3)
  $ 154,074     $ 306,511     $ 686,909     $ 867,307     $ 2,014,801  
Capital lease obligations(4)
  $ 1,777     $ 2,551     $ 397     $     $ 4,725  
Operating lease obligations(5)
  $ 2,257     $ 4,400     $ 3,644     $ 2,873     $ 13,174  
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 208,894     $ 385,666     $ 691,663     $ 870,180     $ 2,156,403  
     
     
     
     
     
 

(1) The table above does not include an estimate for income taxes, obligations to preferred equity holders, cash contributions to our pension plan and cash contributions to our post-retirement medical plan which we are required to make but not required to include above.
(2) Our contractual obligations represent our required capital investment in New Mexico, officers’ salaries under employment agreements, capital expenditure commitments and payments to third party service providers.
(3) The long-term debt obligations represent our cash debt service obligations, including both principal and interest.

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(4) The capital lease obligations represent our future rental payments for vehicles leased under five year terms.
(5) Operating lease obligations represent the future minimum rental payments required under the operating leases that have initial or remaining non-cancelable lease terms in excess of one year as of December 31, 2003.

On April 9, 2004, we entered into an agreement with our former Chief Executive Officer, or CEO. In conjunction with his retirement and the restructuring of his prior employment agreement, we paid our former CEO a transition bonus of $5 million on April 15, 2004 and further agreed to pay him a $1.5 million cash payment if the proposed offering of IDSs is consummated on or before April 9, 2005. (See Note 11 “Subsequent Events” to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.)

On April 20, 2004, we entered into an agreement with a group of the individual investors who owned direct equity interests in the company’s wholly owned subsidiaries. This agreement provides for us to repurchase all of outstanding equity interests of this group of individual investors for $18,646,305 in cash. We made this cash payment to the group of individual investors on April 20, 2004. (See Note 11 “Subsequent Events” to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.)

Other than the transactions described above, there have been no material changes outside of the ordinary course of business to our contractual and other obligations as of March 31, 2004.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

Except as noted in the table above under Contractual obligations and Operating lease obligations, we have no material off-balance sheet obligations.

Risk Management

Interest Rate Risk. We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our long-term debt obligations. To manage our interest rate risk exposure and fulfill a requirement of our credit facility, we entered into two agreements with investment grade financial institutions in 2000, an interest rate swap and an interest rate collar. Each of these agreements covered a notional amount of $100 million. As a further hedge against interest rate exposure, we elected a fixed rate option for some of our senior debt during the year ended December 31, 2003.

The fair value of our fixed-rate long-term debt is sensitive to changes in interest rates. Interest rate changes would result in gains or losses in the market value of the debt due to differences between the market interest rates and rates at the incurrence of the obligation.

Inflation. Historically, we have mitigated the effects of increased costs by recovering certain costs applicable to our regulated telephone operations through the ratemaking process over time. Possible future regulatory changes may alter our ability to recover increased costs in our regulated operations. As inflation raises the operating expenses in our non-regulated lines of business, we will attempt to recover rising costs by raising prices for our services.

Derivatives. Except for the interest rate swap and interest rate collar agreements described above, we generally do not use derivative financial instruments.

Following our reorganization and the consummation of this offering, we anticipate that we will employ similar methods to reduce our exposure to interest rate fluctuations and inflation.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for

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Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” The provisions of this Statement are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. We adopted this statement on January 1, 2003. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (FIN) No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others—an Interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57, and 107 and Rescission of FIN No. 34” was issued in November 2002 and became effective for disclosures made in December 31, 2002 financial statements. The interpretation requires expanded disclosures of guarantees. In addition, the interpretation requires recording the fair value of guarantees upon issuance or modification after January 1, 2003. While we have various guarantees included in contracts in the normal course of business, these guarantees do not represent significant commitments or contingent liabilities related to the indebtedness of others.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (ARB 51)”, which clarifies the consolidation accounting guidance in ARB 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements,” as it applies to certain entities in which equity investors who do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entities to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Such entities are known as variable interest entities (VIEs). FIN No. 46 requires that the primary beneficiary of a VIE consolidates the VIE. FIN No. 46 also requires new disclosures for significant relationships with VIEs, whether or not consolidation accounting is used or anticipated. In December 2003, the FASB revised and re-released FIN No. 46 as “FIN No. 46(R).” The provisions of FIN No. 46(R) are effective for periods ending after March 15, 2004. However, we have elected to adopt FIN No. 46(R) as of December 31, 2003. The adoption of FIN No. 46(R) did not have a material impact on our financial position or the results of operations.

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150 “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” This Statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability because that financial instrument embodies an obligation of the issuer. This Statement is effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2003. We have included the redeemable preferred interests as part of total liabilities as of December 31, 2002 and 2003.

In January 2004, FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 106-1, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” was issued. FSP No. 106-1 permits the deferral of recognizing the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act) in the accounting for post-retirement health care plan under SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” and in providing disclosures related to the plan required by SFAS No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” The deferral of the accounting for the Act continues to apply until authoritative guidance is issued on the accounting for the federal subsidy provided by the Act or until certain other events requiring plan remeasurement. We have elected the deferral provided by this FSP and are evaluating the magnitude of the potential favorable impact of this FSP on our results of operations and financial position. See Note 11 to our financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for further discussion of postretirement benefits.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on our long-term debt obligations. We estimate our market risk using sensitivity analysis. Market risk is defined as the potential change in the fair value of a fixed-rate debt obligation due to a hypothetical adverse change in interest rates and the potential change in interest expense on variable rate long-term debt obligations due to changes in market interest

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rates. Fair value on long-term debt obligations is determined based on a discounted cash flow analysis, using the rates and maturities of these obligations compared to terms and rates currently available in the long-term markets. The potential change in interest expense is determined by calculating the effect of the hypothetical rate increase on our variable rate debt for the year and does not assume changes in our financial structure.

The results of the sensitivity analysis used to estimate market risk are presented below, although the actual results may differ from these estimates.

At December 31, 2003, the fair value of our fixed rate long-term debt was estimated to be $700.1 million based on the overall weighted average rate of our fixed rate long-term debt of 7.7% and an overall weighted maturity of 5.8 years, compared to terms and rates currently available in long-term financing markets. Market risk is estimated as the potential loss in fair value of our long-term debt resulting from a hypothetical increase of 10% in interest rates. Such an increase in interest rates would result in approximately $18.3 million decrease in the fair value of our long-term debt. At December 31, 2003, we had approximately $564.8 million of variable rate debt. If market interest rates increase 100 basis points in 2004 over the rates in effect at December 31, 2003, interest expense would increase $4.9 million.

To manage our interest rate risk exposure and fulfill a requirement of our credit facility, we entered into two agreements with investment grade financial institutions in 2000, an interest rate swap and an interest rate collar. Each of these agreements covers a notional amount of $100 million and effectively converts this portion of our variable rate debt to fixed rate debt. Our interest rate swap and collar agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133; therefore, they are carried at fair market value and are included in “Deferred credits and other liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. We do not hold or issue derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

With respect to these hedges, market risk is estimated as the potential loss in the fair value of the hedge resulting from a hypothetical 10% change in the forward rates used to determine the fair value. A hypothetical 10% decrease in the forward rates would result in a $0.1 million decrease in the fair value of our swap agreement. A hypothetical 10% decrease in the forward rates would result in a $0.1 million decrease in the fair value of our collar agreement.

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Business

Overview

We are one of the largest providers of telecommunications services in rural communities in the southwestern United States and, based on the number of telephone lines we have in service, the seventh largest independent local telephone company in the country. We operate approximately 550,000 telephone access lines in primarily rural areas of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas. The geographic concentration of our assets has enabled us to create operational efficiencies. We believe that in many of our markets we are the only service provider that offers customers an integrated package of local and long distance voice, high-speed data and Internet access, and enhanced services such as voicemail, call waiting, caller identification and call forwarding. For the year ended December 31, 2003, we generated revenues of $497.3 million.

We offer a wide range of telecommunications services to residential, business and government customers. Our services include: local exchange telephone services, which covers basic dial-tone service as well as enhanced services, such as caller identification, voicemail and call waiting; long distance services; and data services, such as providing digital subscriber lines. We also provide access services that enable inter-exchange carriers to complete interstate and intrastate long distance calls. In addition to the services we provide, we received 24.1% of our 2003 revenue from Universal Service Fund, or USF, payments from the State of Texas and the federal government to support the high cost of providing local telephone service in rural areas.

We formed our company in 2000 in connection with the acquisition of select telephone assets from GTE Southwest Corporation, which is now part of Verizon. In January 2002, we acquired the local telephone company serving Kerrville, Texas from BA Capital Company and individual shareholders. The rural telephone businesses that we own have been operating in the markets we serve for over 75 years.

Since our inception, we have invested substantial resources to improve and expand our network infrastructure to provide high quality telecommunications services and superior customer care. This capital investment, in combination with a focused selling effort, has contributed to an increase in our revenue of $72.4 million, or 17% from 2001 through 2003. We believe that we are well positioned for future revenue and cash flow growth through both expanded service offerings and acquisitions.

We operate our business through telephone company subsidiaries that qualify as rural local exchange carriers under the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Like many rural telephone companies, our business is characterized by stable operating results, revenue and cash flow and a relatively favorable regulatory environment. In addition, we are entitled to exemptions from certain interconnection regulatory requirements. We have historically experienced less competition than regional Bell operating companies because of the low customer density and high residential component of our customer base. In Texas, where our largest customer base is located, we serve an average of 9.23 access lines per square mile, which is approximately half the national average of access lines per square mile served by other rural telephone companies. Since a majority of our customer base is located in areas that are less densely populated than areas served by other rural telephone companies, we believe that we are more insulated from competitive pressures than many other local telecommunications providers.

Our company culture values and promotes diversity among our employees and in our supplier base. We have made a strong commitment to ensuring inclusion of minority, women-owned, veteran-owned and disabled-owned enterprises in our contracts as an intelligent business strategy in view of the markets we serve. We believe that this commitment to diversity has created value for our company by increasing customer loyalty, enhancing recruitment and promotion of highly qualified employees, and helping to grow our revenue base.

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Our Strengths

We believe that our key strengths will enable us to continue to experience stable and growing streams of revenue and cash flows. Our principal strengths include:

Ability to Generate Consistent Cash Flows. We have increased our operating cash flow in each year since our inception. We have accomplished this by growing revenues through providing additional services to our customers, reducing expenses by improving operating efficiencies and negotiating favorable terms with our suppliers and contractors and optimizing our capital expenditures. Historically, we have been able to increase our cash flow by using excess cash to repay outstanding indebtedness and reduce our interest expense. Furthermore, rural telephone companies in general have been able to attain predictable and stable cash flow from operations due to a steady demand for telecommunications services in rural areas and public policies that support universal, affordable local telephone service.

Leading Market Position. In the markets we serve, we are the leading provider of telecommunications services. We generally face less competition from wireless providers, cable television operators and other local exchange carriers than other industry participants because competitive entry into our markets is less attractive due to the generally lower population density and primarily residential customer base. In addition, access line loss has generally been less for rural telephone companies than other industry participants due to several reasons, including fewer competitive alternatives and incomplete wireless coverage. With a lower rate of line loss, we are not required to expend as much to replace customers as some other industry participants. Furthermore, our customer base is located in areas that are generally less densely populated than areas served by other rural telephone companies, which helps insulate us from competitive pressures. These factors allow us to focus on offering additional services and provide opportunities to increase revenue per customer. We reinforce our market position by providing reliable customer service, offering a full range of voice and data services and maintaining a strong local presence in the communities we serve.

Scalable, State-of-the-Art Network Infrastructure. We invested more than $300 million since our inception in 2000 to improve and expand our network infrastructure. These initiatives have enabled us to provide additional services to our customers and improve the overall quality of our network, as demonstrated by reductions in trouble reports and service outages and our surpassing all applicable statewide regulatory service quality measures in 2003. In all our markets we have implemented a technologically advanced switching network that has the capacity to accommodate future technologies. While our competitors do offer some voice and data services in some of our markets, many providers of potentially competing platforms in our markets operate on older analog equipment and are less able to provide a reliable, high grade of voice and data services to our customers. The rural nature of our markets creates substantial costs to transport voice and Internet connectivity to central network connection points. By implementing our state-of-the-art networks, we have been able to minimize these costs and service our markets in a cost effective manner. We believe that our prior capital investment in our network, combined with our focus on the quality of our service, leaves us well positioned for future cash flow growth.

Wide Array of Integrated Services. We believe that we are the only telecommunications service provider in many of the markets we serve that has the ability to provide an integrated package of local, long distance, high-speed data and Internet access as well as a variety of enhanced services such as voicemail and caller identification. By offering a bundled package of services we have improved our long distance and enhanced services penetration, resulting in increased revenue and higher margins.

Experienced and proven management team. We have a highly experienced senior management team that has an average of over 20 years of experience in the local telecommunications industry. Our senior executives have a solid track record of managing the expansion of public telecommunications companies through both internal growth and integration of acquisitions. Our operating results demonstrate that our management team can successfully generate revenue and decrease costs while integrating and consolidating an expanding business in an evolving, regulated and increasingly competitive industry. Our management team has instilled a corporate culture that focuses on revenue opportunities, reducing costs and providing

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quality service. We reinforce this culture and these objectives through specifically targeted incentive bonus and employee recognition programs that motivate our employees to seek opportunities to expand our customer base, augment subscriptions for services and reduce costs. In addition, we measure performance at all levels for the purposes of these incentive programs by employing a wide range of performance tracking metrics. Upon completion of our reorganization, members of our management team will hold a significant investment in IDSs.

Business Strategy

Our business strategy is to be the leading provider of telecommunications services to the rural communities that we serve. We strive to grow our revenues, control our expenses and deploy our capital in a manner that maximizes our earnings and free cash flow. In order to achieve this goal, we have formulated the following strategy:

Increase Penetration of Higher Margin Services. We intend to capitalize on our ability to offer higher margin enhanced calling and data services as a bundled package. We have been aggressively marketing enhanced services to our customers, and we have witnessed an increasing demand for data services. The wide array of enhanced services such as voicemail and caller identification, generally produce higher margins than basic telephone service. We also offer dial-up Internet access and DSL broadband services, as well as satellite television services through a resale arrangement with a satellite operator. We believe there is significant opportunity to continue to increase our revenue per customer by cross-selling data services and enhanced services as a bundled package.

Provide Superior Service and Customer Care. We seek to build long-term customer relationships by offering a wide range of telecommunications services and consistent customer support. We believe that our service-driven customer relationship strategy leads to high levels of customer satisfaction and will lead to an increase in demand for enhanced and ancillary services. We currently provide personalized customer care through three call centers that support our business and residential customers. These call centers are located in the rural areas we serve and are staffed with customer representatives with knowledge of our local markets. We recently installed an interactive voice response system that has automated many of our customer service functions and expanded our customers’ ability to interact with our company 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Customers can now receive answers to many frequently asked questions without having to speak with a customer care representative. In addition, in 2003 we surpassed all applicable statewide service quality standards imposed by the regulators in all of the states in which we operate. In each year since 2001, we have experienced a substantial year-over-year improvement in our service quality.

Improve Operating Efficiency and Profitability. We strive for greater efficiencies and improved profit margins by consolidating corporate functions, negotiating favorable terms with our suppliers and contractors and focusing capital expenditures on projects that exceed our internal rate of return thresholds. Our investment in customer service and focus on implementing a high level of customer support has substantially reduced the number of customer service calls that we receive since 2001, with a resulting reduction in related cash operating costs. These initiatives have led to increases in our profitability. In addition, our capital investments have provided us with a state-of-the-art scalable network that has resulted in a significantly decreased number of service outages and significantly reduced the number of overtime calls that our service technicians had to make since 2001. We also seek to increase our profitability by using all our excess cash to pay down the principal balance of our long-term indebtedness, and thus reducing interest expense. We consider this an important strategy because we will have approximately $           million of total debt upon the completion of this offering. This strategy generally leads to negative working capital, which as of March 31, 2004 was $59.3 million.

Pursue Selective Strategic Acquisitions. We believe that a key to the long-term growth of our business will be the successful acquisition of telecommunications assets to increase the size of our business and capitalize on the state-of-the-art network that we have built. We believe that our network infrastructure and labor force can support significant growth through strategic acquisitions. Selective acquisitions can

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drive growth by increasing revenue and improving profit margins through cost synergies and by expanding service offerings. Our management team has a solid track record of evaluating, purchasing and successfully integrating rural telephone company assets. We seek to acquire companies that could generate significant internal rates of return on investment and will be accretive to cash flows, as well as increase penetration, broaden our target areas and add to our offering of services.

Industry Overview

The U.S. local telephone industry is composed of a few large, well-known companies, including the regional Bell operating companies and numerous small and mid-sized independent telephone companies. Rural telephone companies are independent telephone companies that typically operate in sparsely populated rural areas where competition has been limited due to the generally unfavorable economics of constructing and operating such competitive systems. To ensure that affordable universal telephone service is available in these remote areas, rural telephone companies may receive various support mechanisms provided by both state and federal government regulation.

Federal and state regulations promoting the widespread availability of telephone service have allowed rural telephone companies to invest in their networks while keeping prices affordable for customers. This policy commitment was reaffirmed and expanded by the universal service provisions of the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996. In light of the high cost per access line of installing lines and switches and providing telephone service in sparsely populated areas, a system of cost recovery mechanisms has been established to, among other things, keep customer telephone charges at a reasonable level and yet allow owners of such telephone companies to earn a fair return on their investment. These cost recovery mechanisms, which are less available to larger telephone companies, have resulted in robust telecommunications networks in many rural areas.

The passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 substantially changed the regulatory structure applicable to the telecommunications industry, with a stated goal of stimulating competition for telecommunications services, including local telephone service, long distance service and enhanced services. In recent years, the telecommunications industry has undergone significant structural change. Many of the largest service providers have achieved growth through acquisitions and mergers while an increasing number of competitive providers have restructured or entered bankruptcy to obtain protection from their creditors. Since 2001, capital in the form of public financing was generally difficult to obtain for new entrants and competitive providers. Capital constraints have caused a number of competitive providers to change their business plans, resulting in consolidation. Despite these changes, the demand for all types of telecommunications services, particularly data services, has not diminished, and companies increasingly bundle services and provide integrated offerings for end-user customers.

Families or small groups of individuals own many rural telephone companies. We believe that the owners of many of these rural telephone companies may be interested in selling such companies as the growing technical, administrative and regulatory complexities of the local telephone business challenge the capabilities of the existing management. In addition, a number of large telephone companies are selling many of their rural telephone assets to focus their attention on their major metropolitan operations that generate the bulk of their revenue. As a result, we believe that we may have opportunities to acquire additional rural telephone assets.

Our Services

We offer a wide range of high quality telecommunications and related services to residential, business and government customers and transport services to end users and other data and voice carriers. We locally manage our service offerings to serve the needs of each community effectively and efficiently. We are committed to a high standard of service and have dedicated sales and customer service representatives with local market knowledge positioned in each of the states in which we operate. Based on our understanding of our local customers’ needs, we offer bundled services that are designed to simplify the

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customer’s selection and use of our services. Offering bundled services allows us to capitalize on our network infrastructure by offering a full suite of integrated communications services in voice, high-speed data, fiber transport, Internet access and long distance services, as well as enhanced services, such as voicemail and caller identification, all on one bill.

We also generate revenue through the provision of network access to interexchange carriers for origination and termination of interstate and intrastate long distance phone calls, the receipt of government-sponsored universal service fund support, and from the sale of other services, such as customer premise equipment and directory advertising.

The following chart summarizes each component of our revenue sources (percentages are based on revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004):

               
Percent of
Revenue Source Revenue Description



Local Services
    30.9%     We derive revenue from providing local exchange telephone services to both residential and business customers, including monthly recurring charges from basic services such as local dial tone and enhanced services such as caller identification, voicemail and call waiting.
Data Services
    4.7%     We receive revenues from monthly recurring charges for services, including DSL, special access, private lines, Internet and other data related services.
Long Distance Services
    6.9%     We receive revenues for intrastate and interstate long distance services provided to our retail users by reselling the services of wholesale long distance carriers.
Access Services
    26.3%     We receive network access charges from inter-exchange carriers in connection with the completion of interstate and intrastate long-distance calls and for special access services, including dedicated circuits purchased by long distance telephone companies.
Universal Service Fund:
          We receive Universal Service Fund, or USF, payments from
 
Texas
    20.2%     the State of Texas and from the federal government to support
 
Federal
    3.7%     the high cost of providing local telephone service in rural locations. The funds are allocated and distributed to us from pools of funds generated by surcharges on telecommunications services.
Other Services
    7.3%     We generate revenues from selling telecommunications equipment, selling advertisements in directories and for billing and collecting long distance fees for other carriers, and other miscellaneous services.

You should refer to the section “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for more information.

Local Calling Services. Local calling services include basic local lines, private lines and switched data services as well as enhanced services such as voicemail and caller identification. We provide local calling services to residential, business and government customers, generally for a fixed monthly charge. In the markets we serve, the amount that we can charge a customer for local service is determined by the appropriate state regulatory authorities pursuant to the laws and regulations of the particular state. We also generate revenue from non-recurring services, such as service activation and reconnection of service.

Data Services. We provide Internet access services to approximately 10,000 dial-up Internet subscribers. Our dial-up Internet service provides customers, primarily residential customers, with a local dial-up number they can use to establish a connection to the Internet over their existing phone lines for a flat,

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monthly fee. We also provide high speed Internet access with our DSL products to 8,779 customers for a monthly fee. Currently, our network is capable of providing DSL service to 35% of our customers at downstream speeds of up to 1.5 MB per second. Our Internet access services also enable customers to establish an email account and to send and receive email.

Long Distance Services. We generate revenue from the provision of long distance calling services either based on usage or pursuant to flat-rate calling plans. These services include traditional switched and dedicated long distance, toll free calling, international, calling card and operator services.

Access Services. Long distance carriers pay us network access charges when our local customers make or receive long distance telephone calls. Since toll calls are generally billed to the customer originating the call, a mechanism is required to compensate each rural telephone company, regional Bell operating company or long distance carrier providing services relating to the call. Services include switched access, charges that depend on call volume, and special access, involving dedicated circuits for which long distance telephone companies pay a flat fee. We bill access charges to long distance companies and other customers for the use of our facilities to access the customer, as described below. In addition, end users are charged a monthly flat-rate fee assessed on access lines.

      Intrastate Access. We generate intrastate access revenue when an intrastate long distance call involving a long distance carrier is originated by or terminated with a customer in our exchange to or from a customer in another exchange in the same state. The long distance carrier pays us an intrastate access payment for either terminating or originating the call. We record the details of the call through our carrier access billing system and receive the access payment from the long distance carrier. When one of our customers originates the call, we typically provide billing and collection for the long distance carrier through a billing and collection agreement. The access charge for our intrastate service is regulated and approved by the state regulatory authority.

      Interstate Access. We generate interstate access revenue when an interstate long distance call is originated by or terminated with a customer in our exchange to or from a customer in another state. We bill interstate access charges in the same manner as we bill intrastate access charges, however, the interstate access charge is regulated and approved by the FCC instead of the state regulatory authority.

 
Universal Service Fund

      Texas USF. The Texas Universal Service Fund commenced payments in January 2000, pursuant to rules enacted by the Public Utility Commission of Texas, or TPUC, in 1998. It was designed to offer competitively neutral assistance so that telecommunications companies could provide basic local telecommunications services at affordable rates to customers in high cost-rural areas and to qualifying low-income and disabled customers. By order of the TPUC, the Texas USF pays eligible carriers servicing areas identified as high cost, on a per-line basis. Customers of telecommunications services in Texas fund the Texas USF through monthly surcharges on their bills.

We receive disbursements from the Texas USF in the amounts specified in the order establishing the fund payments to our predecessor, GTE Southwest, Inc. In 2003, we received $103.1 million from the Texas USF, representing 20.7% of total revenues for that year, and in the first three months of 2004, we received $25.5 million, or 20.3%, of our total revenues, from the Texas USF. The receipt of funds is dependent on the number of eligible access lines served by the company, and therefore is impacted by economic and competitive factors. If a line is removed from service, state universal service funding for that line is discontinued.

The TPUC’s rules provide for a review of the Texas USF every three years. The TPUC recently completed this review, the first since the fund was established. The TPUC received comments from interested parties regarding changes to the fund, and upon review, the TPUC staff has recommended no changes to the fund at this time. The TPUC will undertake its next review in late 2005. The regulation under which the Texas USF is promulgated will become subject to review and renewal in late 2005. We

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expect that the Texas Legislature will renew the regulation or replace it with a regulation that does not materially change the benefits we receive under the current regulatory structure.

      Federal USF Revenue. The federal USF supplements the amount of local service revenue that we receive to ensure that basic local service rates for customers in high cost rural areas are comparable to rates charged in lower cost urban and suburban areas. The federal USF, which is funded by monthly fees paid by long distance carriers and local telephone companies, distributes funds to us on a monthly basis based upon our embedded costs for providing local service. Federal USF payments represented approximately 3.4% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 and 3.6% of our revenues for the three months ended March 31, 2004. This mostly reflects the changes in the universal service support as a result of the CALLS plan that moved the implicit support from access charges and made it explicit. See “Regulation—Promotion of Universal Service.”

Other Services. Our other services consist primarily of the sale of customer premises equipment, directory advertising, unbundled network elements, billing and collection fees, and other ancillary services.

Sales and Marketing

Our marketing approach emphasizes customer-oriented sales, marketing and service with a local presence. We market our products primarily through our customer service representatives, direct sales representatives, local retail stores and outsourced telemarketing supported by direct mail, bill inserts, newspaper advertising, website promotions, public relations activities and sponsorship of community events. We have established relationships with local government officials and business leaders, and we offer to deploy DSL service if a community can guarantee that a minimum number of customers will use our services for one year. In our largest operating areas, we maintain retail business offices that allow our customers the opportunity to pay their bills directly or meet personally with our customer service and sales representatives to purchase additional services or, in some locations, customer premise equipment. Our customer service and sales representatives are well trained and earn incentive compensation to promote sales of services that meet the unique needs of our customers.

We, or our predecessors, have been serving our established markets for over 75 years. Our sales force makes direct calls to prospective and existing business customers and conducts analyses of business customers’ usage histories and service needs, and demonstrates how our service package will improve a customer’s communications capabilities and costs. Our network engineers work closely with our various sales groups to design service products and applications, such as high-speed data and wholesale transport services, for our customers. Our technicians survey customer premises to assess building entry, power and space requirements and coordinate delivery, installation and testing of equipment.

To foster long-term relationships with our subscribers, we have undertaken many initiatives to provide superior customer service to our subscribers. We operate three call centers located in the rural areas that we serve with customer service representatives who are knowledgeable about the local market. In addition, we have automated many of our customer service functions so our customers can receive answers to many frequently asked questions regarding their telecommunications services 24 hours a day without speaking to a customer service representative.

Network Architecture and Technology

Our network consists of central office hosts and remote sites with advanced digital switches, primarily manufactured by Nortel, Lucent and Siemens, generally operating with the most current software. The outside plant consists of transport and distribution delivery networks connecting our host central office with remote central offices and ultimately with our customers. As of March 31, 2004, we maintained over 46,000 route miles of copper plant. Our network also includes approximately 3,700 route miles of local and long-haul fiber optic cable predominantly based in the four state area we serve. We own fiber optic cable, which has been deployed throughout our current network and is the primary transport technology between

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our host and remote central offices and interconnection points with other incumbent carriers. We also lease fiber optic capacity from other major carriers.

In our markets, DSL-enabled integrated access technology is being deployed to provide significant broadband capacity to our customers. We continue to remove any network impediments to ensure we can offer DSL service to as many customers as possible, however, we only equip central offices with DSL enabling equipment to the extent a demonstrated customer demand exists. As of March 31, 2004, we had invested approximately $4.5 million to deploy DSL technology, reaching over 196,000 potential broadband customers.

Rapid and significant changes in technology are expected in the communications industry. Our future success will depend, in part, on our ability to anticipate and adapt to technological changes. We believe that our network architecture enables us to respond efficiently to these technological changes.

We offer facilities-based services in each of our markets. Our fully integrated telecommunications network is comprised primarily of asynchronous transport mode, or ATM, core switches, capable of handling both voice and data, and time division modulation, or TDM, digital central office switches in our four regions of operation. We currently own or lease all of our network facilities and have not booked any revenues from swaps of indefeasible rights to use, or IRUs.

Our network operations center located in Texarkana, Texas monitors all our networks, transport and ATM elements, digital switching systems and Internet services infrastructure devices 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Information Technology and Support Systems

We have a full suite of proven operational support systems, or OSS, and customer care/billing systems that allow us to meet or exceed our customers’ expectations. Our OSS and billing systems include automated provisioning and service activation systems, mechanized line record and trouble reporting systems, inter-company provisioning and trading partner electronic data exchange systems. The bulk of these OSS and billing services are provided through the use of systems contracted or leased from ALLTEL. We employ an Internet service provider provisioning system and helpdesk database software to assist new data customers and to communicate with them when necessary. Our approach to OSS and billing systems focuses on implementing best-of-class applications that allow consistent communication and coordination throughout our entire organization. Our objective is to improve profitability by reducing individual company costs through the sharing of best practices, centralization or standardization of functions and processes, and deployment of technologies and systems that provide for greater efficiencies and profitability.

Competition

While the telecommunications industry as a whole is extremely competitive, competition has been comparatively limited for rural telephone companies because they have historically operated in markets with:

  •   low population densities;
 
  •   significant distance to competitive urban areas;
 
  •   relatively low business customer base;
 
  •   limited competitive commercially viable substitution alternatives; and
 
  •   reduced interconnection, resell or unbundled network element platform requirements.

These factors render uneconomic most business plans for developing a facilities-based network to compete against a rural telephone company. Nonetheless, we have experienced moderate competition from rural telephone cooperatives, edging out from the territories where they are incumbent carriers, as well as from

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wireless providers and other intermodal competitors, including cable television operators. In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where we operate approximately 64,000 access lines, Cox Communications, or Cox, a cable television operator, has requested interconnection with our network. Cox has adopted an existing Valor interconnection agreement which may indicate that Cox, which currently provides broadband services in Broken Arrow, may intend to enter into this market and offer voice telecommunications services. The interconnection agreement is pending state regulatory approval in Oklahoma. In addition, future technological changes could negatively impact our competitive position. For example, as Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, develops, some wholesale customers may be able to bypass network access charges.

Properties

Our corporate headquarters are located in Irving, Texas. We lease over 67,000 square feet of office space for our headquarters in Irving pursuant to a lease that will expire in August 2010. In addition, we lease an aggregate of over 100,000 square feet with respect to three call centers in New Mexico and Texas pursuant to leases that expire at various times between June 2005 and April 2010. We own all of the other properties that are material to our business. Our other properties include maintenance facilities, rolling stock, central office and remote switching platforms and transport and distribution network facilities in the states in which we operate our business. Our administrative and maintenance facilities are generally located in or near the rural communities we serve and our central offices are often within the administrative building and outlying customer service centers. Auxiliary battery or other non-utility power sources are at each central office to provide uninterrupted service in the event of an electrical power failure. Mobile generators are located near our central offices in the event of a major power outage that continues for a long period of time. Transport and distribution network facilities include fiber optic backbone and copper wire distribution facilities, which connect customers to remote switch locations or to the central office and to points of presence or interconnection with the incumbent long distance carrier. These facilities are located on land pursuant to permits, easements, rights of way or other agreements.

Employees

As of March 31, 2004, our work force consisted of 1,469 full time employees. Approximately 984 of our employees are subject to collective bargaining agreements with the Communications Workers of America, or CWA. Most of our union employees work in our call centers and in technical positions related to the operation of our network and provision of service to our customers. Our labor agreement with the CWA, which covers our non-Kerrville employees, was renegotiated during 2002 for a three-year period that ends in February 2005. Our labor agreement with the CWA relating to employees of our Kerrville operations was renegotiated in 2003 and will expire in 2006. We believe that our relations with our employees are good.

Legal Proceedings

We are involved in various claims, legal actions and regulatory proceedings arising in the ordinary course of our business. In the opinion of our management, the resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

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Regulation

The following summary of the regulatory environment in which our business operates does not describe all present and proposed federal, state and local legislation and regulations affecting the telecommunications industry. Some legislation and regulations are currently the subject of judicial proceedings, legislative hearings and administrative proposals that could change the manner in which this industry operates. We cannot predict the outcome of any of these matters or their potential impact on our business. Regulation in the telecommunications industry is subject to rapid change, and any such change may have an adverse effect on us in the future. See “Risk Factors—“Regulatory Risks” and “Risks Relating to Our Business.”

Overview

The telecommunications services we provide and from which we derive a large majority of our revenue are subject to federal, state and local regulation. At the federal level, the FCC generally exercises jurisdiction over our facilities and services used to provide, originate, or terminate interstate or international communications. State regulators in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas exercise jurisdiction over our facilities and services used to provide, originate or terminate intrastate communications. Local governments often regulate the public rights-of-way necessary to install and operate our networks and, in some of our states, local governments may require us to enter into franchise agreements that compensate the local government for use of their rights-of-way. State and federal regulators share responsibility for implementing and enforcing the policies of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 intended to foster competition in local telecommunications services. We believe that the competition we have experienced to date in our markets has not been substantial as compared to that experienced by other local exchange carriers. Competition in our markets may increase in the future as a result of the Telecommunications Act and subsequent decisions by regulators implementing the Telecommunications Act.

Promotion of Universal Service

The universal service fund, or USF, payments we receive from the Texas and federal USF Funds are intended to support the high cost of our operations in rural markets. Texas USF support payments represented approximately 20.7% of our revenues for the year ended December 31, 2003 and 20.3% of our revenues in the three months ended March 31, 2004. In 2003, we received $16.7 million, or 3.4% of our total revenues, in federal USF support and in the first three months of 2004, we received $4.6 million, or 3.6% of our total revenues, in federal USF support. We also collect charges from our customers to support these funds.

The purpose of the TUSF is to implement a competitively neutral mechanism to assist telecommunications providers in providing basic local telecommunications services at reasonable prices to customers in high cost rural areas and to qualifying low-income and disabled customers. By order of the TPUC, the Texas USF pays eligible carriers serving areas identified as high cost, on a per-line basis. Texas USF support payments are based on actual lines in service and therefore are subject to reduction if customers discontinue service or migrate from our lines to a competitive carrier.

All customers of telecommunications services in Texas fund the Texas USF through the payment of a monthly surcharge on their bills. AT&T has challenged the TPUC rule that makes all telecommunications services offered in Texas subject to surcharge to support the Texas USF. AT&T contends that only intrastate services should be subject to surcharge to support the Texas USF. Following a lower court decision in favor of AT&T, this matter is pending decision in the appellate courts. We do not believe that the outcome of this appeal will impact the amount of Texas USF we receive.

The rules governing the Texas USF provide for a review of the Texas USF every three years starting in 1999. In September 2002, the TPUC undertook its first review. Interested parties provided the TPUC with comments on whether there should be changes made to the Texas USF. In September 2003, the TPUC staff recommended no changes be made to the Texas USF at this time. The TPUC will undertake its next review of the rules in September 2005. In addition, the Texas USF rules provide that the TPUC must open an investigation within 90 days after any changes are made to the federal USF. We do not expect

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any material change in the Texas USF methodology or the manner in which the amount of support we receive is calculated under our current Texas regulations.

The Texas regulatory structure under which we operate, including the enabling statute for the Texas USF, will become subject to legislative review and renewal in late 2005. The current Texas USF rules will not expire with their enabling statute in 2005, but if the enabling statute changes as part of the 2005 review, the TPUC would have to amend the Texas USF rules to comply with the statute. We believe that there is strong support of the Texas USF in its current form from a variety of constituents, and we do not believe it is likely that there will be any material change in the current USF enabling statute during the Legislative review period. However, such changes are possible and may be adverse to our revenues.

The federal USF revenue we receive helps to offset interstate access charges, defrays the high fixed switching costs in areas with fewer than 50,000 access lines and provides support where our average cost per line exceeds 115% of the national average cost per line. The amount of support we receive may be limited by the national cap on the federal USF adopted by the FCC. Funding for the federal USF comes from surcharges on interstate and international telecommunications services. Providers pass these charges through to their customers on the customers’ monthly bills. In May 2001, the FCC adopted a proposal to reform universal service support for rural areas. The FCC has indicated that, for the period after July 1, 2006, it will develop a comprehensive plan for high-cost support mechanisms for rural and non-rural carriers that may rely on a different cost methodology than currently is applied. We are unable to predict whether and to what extent we would be eligible to receive any federal high-cost support under such a plan. However, the federal high cost support we receive today is only one component of the federal USF support that we receive and constitutes less than one percent of our total revenues.

Federal USF payments are only available to carriers that are designated as eligible telecommunications carriers, by a state regulatory body. Competitive providers that have been granted eligible telephone carrier status are eligible to receive the same amount of universal service support per customer as the local exchange carrier serving the same area. Under current federal rules, the payment of federal universal service funds to a competitor qualifying as an eligible telephone carrier in an area served by an local exchange carrier is not intended to reduce significantly any federal universal support payable to the local exchange carrier. The FCC, however, could promulgate rules that reduce universal service support for local exchange carriers under such conditions. Currently, five competitive carriers have received eligible telephone carrier designation in our markets in Texas and New Mexico and draw support.

The FCC has requested comment on the standards for eligible telephone carrier designations, as well as whether and how it might limit USF support payments in markets where competitive eligible telephone carriers have been designated. A federal-state joint board recently made recommendations to the FCC on these issues, including creating tighter standards for eligible telephone carrier designation and limiting federal USF support to only one primary line per location. The FCC has until February 27, 2005 to act on these recommendations. We cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings. In addition, Congress may address universal service issues in legislation, but we cannot predict the occurrence, timing or effects of such legislation.

State Regulation

We operate in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas, and we are certified in those states to provide local telecommunications services.

Intrastate Rate Regulation. State regulators in our states regulate the prices we charge for intrastate services, including our prices for local, intrastate long distance and intrastate access services paid by providers of intrastate long distance services. In Texas, most of our intrastate operations are subject to price caps, while regulators in Arkansas employ rate-of-return regulation to set our prices and we are regulated as a rural telephone company in Oklahoma. Our subsidiaries in New Mexico operate under an alternative regulation plan whereby prices are fixed through the term of the plan, which expires in 2006. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Regulatory Matters—State Regulation.”

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New Mexico Investment. In New Mexico, we operate under an Alternative Form of Regulation Plan, or Plan. Adopted in 2000, the Plan provides for a freeze on the prices of our intrastate telecommunications services during the term of the Plan, requires us to invest $83 million in capital in New Mexico during the term of the plan, provides for streamlined tariff approval process and prescribes quality of service standards, including penalties for failure to meet certain service levels. This Plan expires on March 31, 2006. As of March 31, 2004, we have invested approximately $50.9 million of the $83 million capital investment commitment. At this time, we believe that we can substantially complete our investment commitment by the end of the Plan within our current projected capital expenditures.

Service Quality. State regulators impose service quality reporting obligations on us and require us to adhere to prescribed service quality standards. These standards measure the performance of various parts of our business. If we fail to meet these standards, regulators may impose fines or penalties, require us to issue credits to customers, require incremental capital investment, impose stricter reporting and oversight standards, subject us to third-party audits or take other actions that may impact our revenues or increase our costs.

Competition. State regulators have a number of duties in implementing the Telecommunications Act of 1996, including mediating or arbitrating disputed issues in interconnection agreements, setting the prices of unbundled network elements, and designating eligible telephone carriers.

Acquisitions. Our state regulators may review sales, acquisitions or transfers of control directly involving local exchange carriers certified to provide intrastate telecommunications services within our states. Therefore, if we seek to acquire companies that provide intrastate telecommunications services, or engage in other activities by which a change in control occurs, we may have to report or seek approval of state regulators in connection with such activities. State regulators may deny, delay or impose conditions on such transactions.

Compliance. Our state regulators also have the authority to condition, modify, cancel, terminate or revoke operating authority for failure to comply with applicable laws or rules, regulations, and policies of the state regulatory agency. Fines or other penalties may be imposed for such violations.

Federal Regulation

We must comply with the Communications Act of 1934, as amended, and FCC rules which require, among other things, that we offer interstate services at just and reasonable prices and on non-discriminatory terms and conditions. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 significantly changed and is expected to continue to change the telecommunications industry.

Rural Telephone Company. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 prescribes different regulatory requirements for local exchange carriers that meet the definition of a rural telephone company. We have certified as a rural telephone company in each of the states in which we operate. A wireless carrier has challenged our certification at the FCC on two occasions, and these challenges have been pending since 2000 and 2003. We do not believe that the challenges have merit, and we do not expect the FCC to conclude we fail to meet the rural telephone company definition.

Interconnection. A central aim of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 was to open local telecommunications marketplaces to competition while enhancing universal service. Pursuant to the Telecommunications Act, most local exchange carriers have obligations to open their networks to competitors, including:

  •   negotiate in good faith with any carrier requesting interconnection;
 
  •   provide interconnection for the transmission and routing of telecommunications at any technically feasible point in its network on just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory rates, terms and conditions;
 
  •   provide access to unbundled network elements, such as local loops, switches and trunks, or combinations of unbundled network elements at nondiscriminatory, cost-based rates;
 
  •   offer retail local telephone services to resellers at discounted wholesale rates; and

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  •   provide physical collocation, which allows a competitor to install and maintain its network termination equipment in an local exchange carrier’s central office, or to obtain functionally equivalent forms of interconnection.

Competitors are required to compensate local exchange carriers for the cost of providing these services.

Because we qualify as a rural local exchange carrier, or rural telephone company, under the Telecommunications Act, we may rely on a statutory exemption from these additional interconnection requirements until we receive a bona fide request for interconnection and the applicable state regulator lifts the exemption. To lift the exemption, the state regulator must find that competitive entry would not impose an undue economic burden on us, is technically feasible and will not harm universal service. We have agreed not to exercise the rural exemption in Oklahoma, where we were classified as a non-rural carrier prior to July 1, 2003. In Texas and New Mexico, we agreed to continue providing interconnection to those competitive carriers that had interconnections agreements with GTE at the time we acquired the GTE properties and we continue to provide interconnection to these carriers today. Notwithstanding these agreements, we may request suspension or modification of certain interconnection requirements in all states, including Oklahoma, by petition to the state regulator and upon the demonstration of certain statutory factors.

Since the passage of the Telecommunications Act, we have experienced a modest amount of competition from small rural telephone companies serving adjacent markets, other competitive local carriers, resellers and wireless service providers. Many of these competitors were already providing competitive services in our markets when we acquired the business in 2000. As of March 31, 2004, we had 31 interconnection agreements with 19 competitive local exchange carriers and 33 resale agreements with 22 resellers. Many of these competitors have agreements in more than one of our states, and not all of these competitors currently offer competitive local services in our markets.

In Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, Cox Communications, the cable television provider, has requested interconnection with our network. Cox adopted an existing Valor interconnection agreement which may indicate that Cox, which currently provides broadband services in Broken Arrow, may intend to offer voice telecommunications services there as well. Approval of the adopted interconnection agreement is pending decision of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.

In its Triennial Review order released in August 2003, the FCC eliminated some of the obligations imposed on local exchange carriers under prior rules, and redefined some of the standards used to determine what parts of its network an local exchange carrier must make available to competitors. The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit recently overturned significant aspects of the Triennial Review Order. Further appellate and FCC proceedings are expected.

In addition, the FCC is reexamining its pricing standard for unbundled network elements and may reconsider other aspects of its new rules. Congress may consider legislation that may modify some aspects of the Telecommunications Act or these rules. We cannot predict the outcome of any of these proceedings or of any action taken by our state regulatory commissions pursuant to the new rules.

The FCC recently ruled that we and other local exchange carriers must port our telephone numbers to requesting wireless carriers, so-called wireline-to-wireless local number portability, or LNP. Local exchange carriers operating in the country’s largest urban areas were required to make LNP capability available to wireless carriers by November 24, 2003. We have LNP available to wireless carriers in our Broken Arrow exchange, which is part of the Tulsa metropolitan area. Since deploying LNP, we have had only a few requests to port one of our numbers to a wireless carrier. Rural telephone companies serving rural areas have to make LNP available to wireless carriers on May 24, 2004 or six months after a bona fide request from a wireless carrier. The FCC still has under consideration a number of technical and cost recovery issues associated with deployment of LNP.

We have received bona fide requests for LNP in some of our exchanges. We estimate that upgrading our switches to provide LNP will cost approximately $3.2 million in capital expenditures. We have filed petitions before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, and the Texas Public Utility Commission, requesting that these regulators suspend our obligation to deploy

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LNP until at least March 31, 2005 in order to provide time for the FCC to issue orders on the open technical and cost recovery issues and we have stipulated implementation timetables in Oklahoma and Texas, but have not entered into any final agreement that has been approved by the appropriate regulatory body in either state. In New Mexico, we are awaiting a decision from the hearing examiner from whom we requested a one year delay.

End-User and Access Charges. The FCC regulates the prices that we charge for the use of our local telephone facilities in originating or terminating interstate telecommunications services. The FCC has structured these prices as a combination of flat monthly charges paid by the end-users and usage sensitive charges or flat rated facilities charges paid by long distance carriers, also referred to as access charges. The FCC regulates the levels of interstate access charges we charge by imposing price caps on those charges. In 2000, the FCC adopted an integrated interstate access reform and universal service framework for price cap local telephone companies called the CALLS Plan, which allowed end user rates to rise, but forced substantial decreases in access charges billed to long distance carriers. The CALLS Plan will expire in mid-2005 unless extended by the FCC.

The CALLS Plan provides for a “low-end adjustment” to increase prices to achieve a 10.25% annual return, if needed, to address a situation where a local telephone company’s earnings drops below 10.25%. In essence, this is a protection against unreasonably low earnings. We requested and were granted low-end adjustment relief pursuant to FCC rules for our Texas study area in 2001, 2002 and 2003, and we expect to request and obtain such relief in our 2004 annual tariff filing. We also obtained a waiver in 2002 that delayed a price decrease in access charges until July 2004. We currently have pending a petition for reconsideration of an order denying our request to make the 2002 waiver permanent.

The FCC has made, and is continuing to consider, various changes to the existing access charge price structure. The FCC has sought comment on how it should change inter-carrier compensation, including interstate access charges, reciprocal compensation for local calling between competitors, and intrastate access charges. Specifically, the FCC proposed to adopt for all inter-carrier compensation a “bill and keep” mechanism in which carriers would exchange traffic at no charge to each other, and recover their costs from their own end users. Carrier charges would be limited to compensation for transporting traffic to another carrier’s network. If implementation of such a proposal raises the prices paid by end users to the point where the prices are unaffordable, the FCC proposed that a universal service mechanism would be used to compensate a carrier for costs in excess of what could be recovered through affordable rates. The FCC stated that the proposed mechanism would not be adopted until after expiration of the CALLS plan. This matter has been pending at the FCC for three years. It is not known what kind of changes, if any, the FCC will adopt pursuant to this rulemaking, but the FCC could significantly alter inter-carrier compensation as early as 2005.

Interstate Long Distance Services. The FCC does not actively regulate the prices, terms or facilities of our interstate long distance services. However, we must comply with the general requirement that our prices and terms be just, reasonable and nondiscriminatory. Also, we must comply with FCC rules regarding unauthorized switching of a customer’s long distance service provider, or slamming; the FCC has recently levied substantial fines on some carriers for slamming. In addition, our long distance carrier must post the prices, terms and conditions of its interstate service on its Internet web site and engage in other public disclosure activities.

Acquisitions. The FCC generally must approve in advance most transfers of control and assignments of operating authorizations by FCC-regulated entities. Therefore, if we seek to acquire companies that hold FCC authorizations, in most instances we will be required to seek approval from the FCC prior to completing those acquisitions. The FCC may deny, delay or impose conditions on such transactions.

Compliance and Penalties. The FCC has the authority to condition, modify, cancel, terminate or revoke operating authority for failure to comply with applicable federal laws or rules, regulations and policies of the FCC. Fines or other penalties also may be imposed for such violations.

Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act. Under the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA, and related federal statutes, we are required to provide law enforcement

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officials with call content and call identifying information under a valid electronic surveillance warrant and to reserve a sufficient number of circuits for use by law enforcement officials in executing court-authorized electronic surveillance. We believe we are in compliance with those laws and regulations.

Local Government Authorizations

We may be required to obtain permits from municipal authorities for street opening and construction or operating franchises to install and expand fiber optic facilities in certain rural communities. Some of these franchises may require the payment of franchise fees. We have obtained such municipal franchises in some parts of Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arkansas.

Potential Internet Regulatory Obligations

In connection with our Internet access offerings, we could become subject to laws and regulations as they are adopted or applied to the Internet. To date, the FCC has treated Internet service providers, or ISPs, as enhanced service providers, rather than common carriers, and therefore ISPs are exempt from most federal and state regulation, including the requirement to pay access charges or contribute to the federal USF. As Internet services expand, federal, state and local governments may adopt rules and regulations, or apply existing laws and regulations to the Internet. The FCC is currently reviewing the appropriate regulatory framework governing broadband access to the Internet through telephone and cable television operators’ communications networks. At this time, we cannot estimate what regulatory changes may occur as a result of the FCC’s review, or what impact any such changes would have on our operations or revenues.

In February 2004, the FCC determined that a particular entirely Internet-based Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP, service is an information service and exempt from such regulatory obligations. Also in February 2004, the FCC launched a comprehensive rulemaking to determine the appropriate types of regulation, including such matters as intercarrier compensation and contributions to USF, to which ISPs offering or enabling different types of services, including VoIP, should be subject. We cannot predict the outcome of these proceedings or the effect of FCC decisions in this area on our business.

Environmental Regulations

Our operations are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations governing the use, storage, disposal of, and exposure to hazardous materials, the release of pollutants into the environment and the remediation of contamination. As an owner or operator of property, we could be subject to environmental laws that impose liability for the entire cost of cleanup at contaminated sites, regardless of fault or the lawfulness of the activity that resulted in contamination. We believe, however, that our operations are in substantial compliance with applicable environmental laws and regulations.

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Management

Executive Officers and Directors

The following table sets forth information with respect to our executive officers and directors and other key employees of Valor as of March 31, 2004.

             
Name Age Position



Anthony J. de Nicola
    39     Chairman, Director
Kenneth R. Cole
    56     Vice Chairman
John J. Mueller
    47     Chief Executive Officer and President
John A. Butler
    42     Executive Vice President—Chief Financial Officer
William M. Ojile, Jr. 
    43     Senior Vice President—Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
W. Grant Raney
    43     Senior Vice President—Operations, Engineering and Customer Service
Cynthia B. Nash
    39     Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer
Keith D. Terreri
    39     Vice President—Treasury and Corporate Development
Julie Burnett
    49     Vice President—Marketing
Cynthia T. Cruz
    44     Vice President—Corporate Communications
Randal S. Dumas
    34     Vice President—Accounting and Controller
Ben Muro
    57     Vice President—Human Resources
Sanjay Swani
    37     Director
Todd Khoury
    38     Director

Anthony J. de Nicola has served as a director of our company since February 2004 and as Chairman since April 2004. Mr. de Nicola is currently a general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, which is one of our existing equity holders. He joined Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in 1994 and focuses on investments in the information business services and communications industries. Before joining Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, he worked for four years in the private equity group at William Blair & Company. Previously, Mr. de Nicola worked at Goldman Sachs & Co. in the Mergers and Acquisitions Department.

Kenneth R. Cole has served as our Vice Chairman since April 2004. Prior to then, Mr. Cole served as our Chief Executive Officer from January 2002 to April 2004. Mr. Cole joined our company at its inception in January 2000 as President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Cole had a 26-year career at CenturyTel, Inc., culminating in his service as Chief Operating Officer from May 1999 to January 2000.

John J. Mueller has served as our Chief Executive Officer and President since April 2004 and was previously our President and Chief Operating Officer since November 2002. Mr. Mueller joined us in April 2002 as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Mueller spent 23 years at Cincinnati Bell Inc. including serving as General Manager—Consumer Markets from February 1999 to May 1999, President—Business Units from May 1999 to November 1999 and President of the Cincinnati Bell Telephone Company from November 1999 to October 2001.

John A. Butler has served as our Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer since joining us in March 2000. Before joining our company, Mr. Butler served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Commonwealth Telephone Enterprises, Inc. starting in 1998. Prior to 1998, he was a director at First Union Capital Markets (Wachovia) in the Media and Communications Group. Mr. Butler has over 18 years of experience in the finance and telecommunications industries. Mr. Butler began his career at Arthur Andersen & Co. and is a licensed, certified public accountant.

William M. Ojile, Jr. has served as our Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary since November 2000. Before joining our company, Mr. Ojile worked at U.S. WEST, Inc. for approximately 12 years, serving as Regional Executive Director—Public Policy from January 1998 to July 2000, and,

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after the merger between U.S. WEST and Qwest Communications International in July 2000, as Corporate Counsel for Qwest Communications International from July 2000 to November 2000.

W. Grant Raney has served as our Senior Vice President—Operations and Engineering since January 2001. In February 2000, Mr. Raney joined our company as Vice President—Operations. Prior to joining our company, from March 1999 to February 2000, Mr. Raney was Division Vice President at Spectra Communications Group, a partnership of CenturyTel, Inc. Starting March 1979 at CenturyTel, Mr. Raney has gained 25 years of experience in the telecommunications industry in a variety of roles of increasing responsibility.

Cynthia B. Nash has served as our Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer since January 2004. In April 2002, Ms. Nash joined our company as our Vice President and Chief Technology Officer. Before joining our company, Ms. Nash held various positions of increasing responsibility with CenturyTel, Inc., including Vice President of Information Technology from January 2001 to April 2002, Director of the Program Management Office and Customer Care from September 2000 to January 2001, Director of Applications Development from December 1999 to September 2000 and Director of Telco Applications from September 1997 to December 1999. Ms. Nash has over 17 years of experience in the telecommunications industry.

Keith D. Terreri has served as our Vice President—Treasury and Corporate Department since July 2001. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Terreri was Vice President and Treasurer of RCN Corporation from December 1999 to June 2001 and Director of Finance from January 1998 to December 1999. Mr. Terreri has over 6 years experience in the telecommunications industry. Mr. Terreri began his career at Deloitte & Touche LLP and is a certified public accountant.

Julie Burnett has served as our Vice President—Marketing since May 2002. Prior to that, she served as our Vice President—Long Distance and Emerging Markets starting in April 2000. Prior to joining our company, Ms. Burnett worked at CenturyTel, Inc. starting in 1979, where, from November 1999 until joining our company, she was Vice President—Long Distance Operations.

Cynthia T. Cruz has served as our Vice President—Corporate Communications since June 2000. Prior to joining our company, Ms. Cruz was Senior Manager, Public Affairs, for Levi Strauss & Company from 1998 to 2000.

Randal S. Dumas has served as our Vice President—Controller since July 2003. He joined our company in January 2001 as Director—Accounting, and he added the responsibility of Controller in June 2002. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Dumas worked for Citizens Communications starting in 1994, where he was Revenue Accounting Manager from January 1997 to January 2000, Director of General Accounting from January to June 2000 and Director of Financial Operations from June 2000 until January 2001. Mr. Dumas is a certified public accountant.

Ben Muro has served as our Vice President—Human Resources since February 2000. Prior to joining our company, Mr. Muro was Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Parkland Health and Hospital System in Dallas from March 1991 to February 2000.

Sanjay Swani has served as a director of our company since February 2004. Mr. Swani is currently a general partner of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, which is one of our existing equity holders. He joined Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe in 1999 and focuses on investments in the information business services and communications industries. Previously, he was a director of Fox Paine & Company, a San Francisco-based private equity firm. Mr. Swani also spent four years in the Mergers, Acquisitions & Restructuring Department and two years in the Debt Capital Markets Department of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co.

Todd Khoury has served as a director of our company since February 2004. Mr. Khoury is currently a managing director of Vestar Capital Partners, which is one of our existing equity holders. Prior to joining Vestar in 1993, Mr. Khoury joined Vestar in 1993. Previously, he was a member of the Corporate Finance Group of Salomon Brothers Inc.

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Our board of directors will consist of at least           members. Within one year of the consummation of this offering, a majority of our board of directors will be independent. The term of office for each director will be until his successor is elected or appointed, with elections for each directorship being held annually.

Board Committees

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to establish an audit committee, a nominating committee, a compensation committee and a pension committee. Each committee will consist of three persons, at least one of whom is not an employee of, and has no business relationships with, Valor. Within one year of the consummation of this offering, all the members of our audit committee, nominating committee and compensation committee will be “independent” as defined by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange.

The audit committee will be responsible for reviewing our internal accounting procedures and consulting with and reviewing the services provided by our independent accountants. The nominating committee will evaluate the qualifications of potential nominees to our board of directors and make recommendations to the board as to which candidates should be nominated for election to our board of directors. The compensation committee will be responsible for reviewing and recommending to the board of directors the compensation and benefits of all our officers and directors, including stock compensation and loans and establishing and reviewing general policies relating to the compensation and benefits of our employees. The pension committee will be responsible for reviewing the quality of services provided by our pension and savings plan advisors and administrators.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

The current compensation of our executive officers was determined by the compensation committee of Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC. Prior to the consummation of this offering, we plan to form a compensation committee of our board of directors to oversee executive compensation issues. We anticipate that no member of our compensation committee will serve as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of an entity that has one or more executive officers serving as a member of our board of directors or compensation committee.

Director Compensation

Non-employee members of our board of directors will receive compensation for their services as directors of $                    per meeting of the board of directors that they attend. Directors will also be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses for attending board and committee meetings.

Limitations on Directors’ Liability and Indemnification

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation limits the liability of directors to the maximum extent permitted by Delaware law. Delaware law provides that directors of a corporation will not be personally liable for monetary damages for breach of their fiduciary duties as directors, except liability for:

  •   any breach of their duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders;
 
  •   acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
 
  •   unlawful payments of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; or
 
  •   any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The limitation of liability does not apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws and does not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers and may indemnify our employees and other agents to the fullest extent permitted by law. We believe that indemnification under our amended and restated certificate of incorporation covers at least

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negligence and gross negligence on the part of indemnified parties. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation also permit us to secure insurance on behalf of any officer, director, employee or other agent for any liability arising out of his or her actions in his or her capacity as an officer, director, employee or other agent.

The limited liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their fiduciary duty and may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and officers, even though a derivative action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. A stockholder’s investment in us may be adversely affected to the extent we pay the costs of settlement or damage awards against our directors and officers under these indemnification provisions.

At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees in which indemnification is sought, nor are we aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted for directors, officers and controlling persons of us pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

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Executive Compensation

Summary Compensation Table. The following table sets forth the compensation earned, awarded or paid for services rendered to us in all capacities for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, by our Chief Executive Officer and our four next most highly compensated executive officers who earned more than $100,000 in salary and bonus during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, to whom we refer in this prospectus collectively as the named executive officers:

Summary Compensation Table

                                           
Long-Term
Annual Compensation Compensation


Securities
Underlying All Other
Fiscal Year Salary Bonus Options(2) Compensation





Kenneth R. Cole
    2003     $ 525,000     $ 800,000           $ 30,761 (3)
 
Vice Chairman(1)
                                       
John J. Mueller
    2003     $ 325,000     $ 550,000           $ 28,238 (4)
 
Chief Executive Officer and President
                                       
John A. Butler
    2003     $ 284,625     $ 482,000       200,000     $ 22,004 (5)
 
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
                                       
W. Grant Raney
    2003     $ 232,875     $ 279,279       150,000     $ 18,580 (6)
 
Senior Vice President of Operations, Engineering and Customer Service
                                       
William M. Ojile, Jr. 
    2003     $ 207,000     $ 225,138           $ 22,169 (7)
 
Senior Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
                                       


(1) Mr. Cole served as our Chief Executive Officer from January 2002 through April 2004.
(2)  Represents options to purchase equity interests of Valor Telecommunications Southwest LLC, or VTS, under VTS’s 2000 Equity Incentive Non-Qualifying Option Plan. To the extent that the value of the option exceeds the strike price, these options may be exchanged for             as part of our reorganization.
(3) Consists of $20,003 of insurance premiums ($7,365 for medical insurance; $7,623 for life insurance; and $5,015 for Long-Term Disability), $1,758 for related medical exams, and a $9,000 company contribution to our 401(k) plan.
(4) Consists of $16,905 of insurance premiums ($8,046 for medical insurance; $1,649 for life insurance; and $7,210 for Long-Term Disability), $2,333 for related medical exams, and a $9,000 company contribution to our 401(k) plan.
(5) Consists of $10,839 of insurance premiums ($7,364 for medical insurance; $1,260 for life insurance; and $2,215 for Long-Term Disability), $2,165 for related medical exams, and a $9,000 company contribution to our 401(k) plan.
(6) Consists of $7,141 of insurance premiums ($5,064 for medical insurance; $1,033 for life insurance; and $1,044 for Long-Term Disability), $2,439 for related medical exams, and a $9,000 company contribution to our 401(k) plan.
(7) Consists of $10,710 of insurance premiums ($8,043 for medical insurance; $808 for life insurance; and $1,859 for Long-Term Disability), $2,459 for related medical exams, and a $9,000 company contribution to our 401(k) plan.

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Employment and Severance Agreements

We have entered into employment, confidentiality and non-competition agreements with Messrs. Cole, Mueller, Butler, Ojile and Raney, the material terms of which are discussed below. We also have agreements with other key employees at the director level and above that provide for an agreement not to compete with us for a maximum period of up to twelve months, in return for the payment of severance benefits for involuntary termination without cause.

Agreement with Kenneth R. Cole. We entered into an agreement with Kenneth C. Cole that will remain in effect until March 31, 2007 pursuant to which Mr. Cole will receive an annual base salary of $300,000, medical and other benefits. Mr. Cole shall devote at least 25% of his professional time, efforts and attention to the duties outlined in the agreement, including serving as Vice Chairman of our company.

In connection with this offering, we entered into a letter agreement with Mr. Cole on April 9, 2004 pursuant to which Mr. Cole received a one-time transition bonus of $5.0 million. Furthermore, Mr. Cole shall also receive a one-time cash payment of $1.5 million if we consummate this offering on or before April 9, 2005.

Agreement with John J. Mueller. We entered into an employment agreement with John J. Mueller on April 9, 2004 that will remain in effect until the later of March 31, 2007 or the second anniversary of the completion of this offering and can be renewed for successive one year periods thereafter. Mr. Mueller currently receives an annual base salary of $500,000, an annual incentive bonus and medical and other benefits. Mr. Mueller’s annual bonus is targeted to be one times his base salary for the appropriate year. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Mr. Mueller received a bonus of $550,000.

If we terminate Mr. Mueller’s employment without cause or if he resigns for “Good Reason,” as such term is defined in his employment agreement, he will be entitled to receive severance benefits consisting of his annual base salary and continued medical and other benefits for one year following the date of his termination, plus the full amount of his target bonus for the year in which his employment terminates and life insurance and medical benefits for various periods. Mr. Mueller’s employment agreement provides that he will be restricted from engaging in competitive activities for one year after the termination of his employment although this restriction may be extended for an additional twelve months under certain circumstances.

Agreement with John A. Butler. We entered into an employment agreement with John A. Butler in 2000. The agreement provides for automatic one-year extensions of the employment term unless either party provides written notice of its intention not to review the agreement within 90 days of the expiration of the then current term. Mr. Butler currently receives an annual base salary of $315,000, an annual incentive bonus and medical and other benefits. Mr. Butler’s annual bonus is targeted to be one-half his base salary for the appropriate year. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Mr. Butler received a bonus of $482,000.

If we terminate Mr. Butler’s employment without cause or if he resigns for “Good Reason,” as such term is defined in his employment agreement, he will be entitled to receive severance benefits consisting of his annual base salary and continued medical and other benefits for one year following the date of his termination, plus the pro rata portion of the annual bonus he would have received had he been employed by our company for the full fiscal year. Mr. Butler’s employment agreement provides that he will be restricted from engaging in competitive activities for one year after the termination of his employment. Mr. Butler may not solicit employees for one year following termination of his employment with our company.

Agreement with William M. Ojile, Jr. We entered into an employment agreement with William M. Ojile in 2000. The agreement provides for automatic one-year extensions of the employment term unless either party provides written notice of its intention not to review the agreement within 90 days of the expiration of the then current term. Mr. Ojile currently receives an annual base salary of $250,000, an annual incentive bonus and medical and other benefits. Mr. Ojile’s annual bonus is targeted to be one-half his base salary for the appropriate year. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Mr. Ojile received a bonus of $225,138.

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If we terminate Mr. Ojile’s employment without cause or if he resigns for “Good Reason,” as such term is defined in his employment agreement, he will be entitled to receive severance benefits consisting of his annual base salary and continued medical and other benefits for one year following the date of his termination, plus the pro rata portion of the annual bonus he would have received had he been employed by our company for the full fiscal year. Mr. Ojile’s employment agreement provides that he will be restricted from engaging in competitive activities for one year after the termination of his employment. Mr. Ojile may not solicit employees for one year following termination of his employment with our company.

Agreement with W. Grant Raney. We entered into an employment agreement with W. Grant Raney in 2000. The agreement provides for automatic one-year extensions of the employment term unless either party provides written notice of its intention not to review the agreement within 90 days of the expiration of the then current term. Mr. Raney currently receives an annual base salary of $257,000, an annual incentive bonus and medical and other benefits. Mr. Raney’s annual bonus is targeted to be one-half his base salary for the appropriate year. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Mr. Raney received a bonus of $279,279.

Under certain circumstances, the termination of Mr. Raney’s employment with our company will entitle him to receive severance benefits consisting of his annual base salary and continued medical and other benefits for one year following the date of his termination, plus the pro rata portion of the annual bonus he would have received had he been employed by our company for the full fiscal year. Mr. Raney’s employment agreement provides that he will be restricted from engaging in competitive activities for one year after the termination of his employment. Mr. Raney may not solicit employees for one year following termination of his employment with our company.

Transaction Bonus

Upon the consummation of this offering, we will award                     to members of our senior management team in recognition of their efforts in connection with our reorganization and this offering. The awards will be as follows: Kenneth R. Cole, $1.5 million; John J. Mueller, $1.0 million; John A. Butler,                ; William M. Ojile,                ; W. Grant Raney,                ;  Cynthia B. Nash and an aggregate of           to other members of our management team. See “Related Party Transactions.”

Bonus and Incentive Plans

Long-Term Incentive Plan. Our officers, other senior executives and other key employees to be identified by the compensation committee of our board of directors will be eligible to participate in the Long-Term Incentive Plan, or the LTIP. The purpose of the LTIP will be to attract, retain, motivate and reward executives and key employees by making a significant portion of their incentive compensation directly dependent upon achieving key strategic, financial and operational objectives that are critical to our ongoing growth and profitability. The LTIP will be administered by our compensation committee, which shall also have the power to amend or terminate the LTIP at any time.

The LTIP will provide for cash payments out of an incentive pool that may be earned by and paid to selected participants based on the achievement, over multiple-year performance periods, of objective performance goals established by our compensation committee and based on certain minimum and maximum target amounts that a participant may earn through the allocation of the incentive pool, as well as require that the participants remain employed with us for some period of time in order to vest in such amounts. The performance goals will have the effect of aligning the interests of management with those of the holders of IDSs.

We intend for the LTIP to be a performance-based compensation arrangement within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code, in order to ensure the full deductibility of all payments made under the LTIP to our executive officers and other key employees whose compensation could otherwise be subject to the limitations on deductibility under Section 162(m).

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Annual Incentive Compensation Plan. We maintain an incentive compensation plan whereby certain management and supervisory personnel qualify for incentive payments if our company and executives both meet or exceed certain financial performance targets.

Individual awards are paid to participants in lump sum payments within 60 days following the end of the fiscal year, subject to withholding of applicable federal, state and local taxes. Individual awards are paid annually but we may choose to make semi-annual payments if we are meeting or exceeding financial objectives and the outlook for the remaining half of the year is favorable. Participants may also qualify for a separate mid-year award at our management’s discretion. Our chief executive officer, in consultation with the board of directors, may adjust or eliminate any incentive payment that would otherwise be earned under the incentive compensation plan based on such factors as they may determine in their sole discretion. Our chief executive officer, in consultation with the board of directors, may also amend or cancel the bonus plan at any time for any reason.

In January 2004, our chief executive officer, with the approval of our compensation committee, authorized bonus amounts for fiscal year 2003 for members of our management team eligible to participate in the incentive compensation plan that qualified for payment.

Savings Plan. We sponsor the Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC Savings Plan, a tax qualified plan in which our eligible employees may participate. Subject to certain limitations, participants in our 401(k) plan may elect to make pre-tax contributions up to 16% of their annual base salary each year. At our discretion, we make matching contributions equal to a percentage of a participant’s contributions. Matching contributions fully vest after two years of employment with our company.

Pension Plan. We also sponsor the Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC Pension Plan, a defined benefit plan, in which qualified employees may participate. This plan is offered only to union employees and is not available for management. Former employees of GTE Southwest Corporation, or GTE, who participated in the pension plan of GTE and became our employees upon our acquisition of assets from GTE also participate in our pension plan. We contribute the full cost of the pension plan to a pension trust fund. The average annual compensation and accredited service determines the amount of payments an employee receives under the pension plan.

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Principal and Selling Stockholders

The following table shows information regarding the beneficial ownership of shares of our Class A common stock and Class B common stock immediately prior to completion of this offering and shows the number of and percentage owned by:

  •   each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our capital stock;
 
  •   each person who will sell IDSs in the offering if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option;
 
  •   each member of our board of directors;
 
  •   each of our named executive officers;
 
  •   each of our nominees to our board of directors; and
 
  •   all members of our board of directors and our executive officers as a group.

Both prior to and after completion of this offering, there will be no shares of Class C common stock outstanding. Except as indicated in the footnotes to this table (1) each person has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares attributable to such person and (2) each person’s address is c/o Valor Communications Group, Inc., 201 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 200, Irving, Texas 75062.

                                                                                 
Shares Beneficially Owned Following this
Shares Beneficially Owned Offering(2)


Shares Offered
Class A Class B Hereby(2) Class A Class B





Number Percent(1) Number Percent(1) Class A Class B Number Percent(3) Number Percent(3)










Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe(4)
                                                                               
Vestar Capital Partners(5)
                                                                               
Citicorp Venture Capital(6)
                                                                               
Kenneth R. Cole
                                                                               
John J. Mueller
                                                                               
John A. Butler
                                                                               
William M. Ojile, Jr.
                                                                               
W. Grant Raney
                                                                               
Anthony J. de Nicola(7)
                                                                               
Sanjay Swani(7)
                                                                               
Todd Khoury(8)
                                                                               
All directors and executive officers as a group (9 persons)
                                                                               

(1)  The respective percentages of beneficial ownership are based on                  shares of Class A common stock and                  shares of Class B common stock outstanding immediately prior to the completion of the offering.
 
(2)  The selling stockholders shall sell shares of common stock in connection with this offering only to the extent the underwriters exercise the over-allotment.
 
(3)  The respective percentages of beneficial ownership are based on                  shares of Class A common stock and                  shares of Class B common stock as of the completion of this offering.
 
(4)  Shares are held by the following affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe: SCD Sharing Partnership, LP, SCE Sharing Partnership, L.P. and WCA Management Corporation. Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. WCAS VIII Associates LLC, a limited liability company and affiliate of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, exercises voting and investment control over the shares held by SCD Sharing Partnership, LP as general partner Voting and investment control over the shares held by WCAS VIII Associates LLC. is determined by an affirmative vote of two thirds of its managing members. The shareholders of WCA Management Corporation exercise voting and investment control over the shares held by WCA Management Corporation. As members of WCAS VIII Associates LLC, Mr. de Nicola and Mr. Swani may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares held by WCAS VIII Associates LLC. Mr. de Nicola and Mr. Swani disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe is 320 Park Avenue, Suite 2500, New York, NY 10022.
 
(5)  Shares are held by the following affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners: Vestar Capital Partners III, L.P., Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. and Vestar/ Valor LLC. Vestar Capital Partners disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. Vestar Capital Partners III, L.P. is a limited partnership, the general partner of which is Vestar Associates III, L.P. As general partner of Vestar Associates III, L.P., Vestar Associates Corporation III, a corporation affiliated with Vestar Capital Partners, exercises voting and investment control over shares held by Vestar Capital Partners III, L.P. Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. is a limited partnership, the general partner of which is Vestar Associates IV, L.P. As general partner of Vestar Associates  IV, L.P., Vestar Associates Corporation IV, a corporation and affiliate of Vestar Capital Partners, exercises voting and investment control over shares held by Vestar Capital Partners IV, L.P. Vestar/ Valor LLC is a limited liability company, the managing

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  member of which is Vestar Capital Partners IV, LP. As general partner of Vestar Associates IV, LP, Vestar Associates Corporation IVexercises voting and investment control over the shares held by Vestar/ Valor LLC. The address of Vestar Capital Partners is 245 Park Avenue, 41st Floor, New York, NY 10167.

(6)  Shares are held by the following affiliates of Citicorp Venture Capital: Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd and CCT Partners VI, L.P. Citicorp Venture Capital disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares. The address of Citicorp Venture Capital is 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022.
 
(7)  As members of WCAS VIII Associates LLC, Mr. de Nicola and Mr. Swani may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares held by WCAS VIII Associates LLC. Mr. de Nicola and Mr. Swani disclaim beneficial ownership of such shares and any shares held by affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe.
 
(8)  As a member of Vestar Associates Corporation III, Mr. Khoury may be deemed to share beneficial ownership of the shares held by Vestar Associates Corporation III. Mr. Khoury disclaims beneficial ownership of such shares and any shares held by affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners.

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Related Party Transactions

Equity Sponsors

Repurchase of Existing Subordinated Notes with Proceeds from this Offering. On July 1, 2000 and September 1, 2000 we issued senior subordinated notes to our existing equity investors in order to finance the acquisition of our business from GTE Southwestern Corporation (now Verizon). The notes mature on August 31, 2010 and accrue interest at a rate of 10.0% per annum. Upon the consummation of this offering, we will repay the $314.3 aggregate amount of principal and interest outstanding on the subordinated notes held by affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe, or WCAS, Vestar Capital Partners, or Vestar, and Citicorp Venture Capital, or CVC. In connection with the repayment of the subordinated notes, WCAS will receive $           million, Vestar will receive $           million and CVC will receive $           million of the proceeds from this offering. Anthony J. de Nicola and Sanjay Swani, two members of our board of directors, may receive or be deemed to have received a portion of WCAS proceeds by virtue of their affiliation with WCAS. In addition, Todd N. Khoury, a member of our board of directors, may receive or be deemed to have received a portion of the Vestar proceeds by virtue of his affiliation with Vestar.

Management Fees. Pursuant to the limited liability company operating agreement of our subsidiary, Valor Telecommunications, LLC, or VTC, each of WCAS and Vestar provides management services to us. In return for these services we paid management fees of $571,430 to an affiliate of WCAS in each of 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003, and $428,570 to an affiliate of Vestar in each of fiscal 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. For the first three months of 2004, we accrued an aggregate of $250,000 of management fees payable to WCAS and Vestar. We will cease paying these fees upon the closing of the offering. We also paid a transaction fee of $714,288 to an affiliate of WCAS and a $535,713 transaction fee to an affiliate of Vestar in connection with our acquisition of Kerville Communications Corporation in 2002. In addition, we will pay $          in the aggregate to affiliates of WCAS and to affiliates of Vestar in professional fees and expenses associated with our redemption of existing indebtedness.

Investor Rights Agreement. We will enter into an investor rights agreement with our existing equity investors which, subject to the following conditions, allows them to cause us to exchange with a transferee of their shares of Class B common stock, such Class B common stock for IDSs:

  •   we must be permitted by the indenture to issue the additional notes to be included in such IDSs, which requires, among other things, that:

  •   no event of default or deferral of interest on the senior subordinated notes has occurred and is continuing;
 
  •   we have obtained a solvency opinion from an independent appraisal firm; and
 
  •   our board of directors has determined that such new notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes;

  •   such transaction must comply with applicable laws, including, without limitation, securities laws, laws relating to redemption of equity and laws relating to the issuance of debt;
 
  •   such issuance of IDSs must occur pursuant to an effective registration statement;
 
  •   such transaction must not conflict with or cause a default under any material financing agreements; and
 
  •   we must have received at least 30 but not more than 60 days notice of such transaction.

In addition to the conditions above, we will only be required to effect conversions of the Class B common stock at intervals of six months beginning with the second anniversary of the date of the recapitalization, unless           % of the holders of the Class B common stock request a conversion with respect to           % of

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their shares of Class B common stock. In the event of such  request, we will provide notice to all the holders of the Class B common stock of our receipt of such request through a release to any appropriate and customary news agency and, subject to the conditions above, effect the conversion within            days of such request. See “Related Party Transactions.”

In the event that the IDSs are automatically separated as a result of the continuance of a payment default on the senior subordinated notes for 90 days, or the redemption or maturity of any senior subordinated notes, at such time we will amend our bylaws to delete the restriction that we may only issue shares of Class A common stock in offerings registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission and each share of Class B common stock will automatically be exchanged for one share of Class A common stock and one senior subordinated note.

In addition, the investor rights agreement will contain the following registration rights:

  •  our existing equity investors will collectively have demand registration rights relating to the IDSs into which shares of our Class B common stock may be exchanged, as well as the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs subject to the requirement that the securities covered by each demand registration have an aggregate public offering price of at least $           million if registered pursuant to a long-form registration statement, or $      million if registered pursuant to a short-form registration statement; provided that an existing equity investor must beneficially own more than twenty percent of our outstanding shares of Class A common stock, senior subordinated notes, or IDSs, as the case may be, to initiate a demand for registration; provided, further, that an existing equity investor may exercise a demand right for less than an aggregate public offering price of $                     million if registered pursuant to a long-form registration statement, or $                        million if registered pursuant to a short-form registration statement; if such proposed offering is for all of the remaining shares of Class A common stock, senior subordinated notes or IDSs held by the existing equity investor; and
 
  •  the existing equity investors and certain other existing equity investors will have the right to include in our future public offerings of securities the shares of our Class A common stock, senior subordinated notes or IDSs held by each of them as well as the IDSs into which shares of Class B common stock may be exchanged.

The existing equity investors may only require the listing of the Class A common stock in connection with an exercise of their demand registration rights with respect to their Class A common stock once our Class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. If the existing equity investors exercise their demand registration rights, we will file a registration statement or prospectus and undertake an offering in the United States and Canada, as requested by the equity sponsors. The registration rights are transferable by the existing equity investors and certain other existing equity investors.

We have agreed to pay all costs and expenses in connection with each such registration, except underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold, and to indemnify the equity sponsors and certain other existing equity investors that have included securities in such offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and any Canadian securities laws.

Furthermore, we have agreed not to repurchase any shares of Class B common stock prior to the second anniversary of the consummation of this offering.

Securityholders Agreement. We will also enter into a securityholders agreement with WCAS, Vestar and certain of their affiliates which will contain the following registration rights:

  •  WCAS and Vestar will have demand registration rights relating to the IDSs and the shares of our Class A common stock that they receive pursuant to our reorganization, subject to the requirement that the securities covered by each demand registration have an aggregate public offering price of at least $  million if registered pursuant to a long-form registration statement, or $     million if

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  registered pursuant to a short-form registration statement; provided that the entities comprising WCAS and Vestar that initiate a demand for registration must hold a majority of the shares of Class A common stock or IDSs held by all such WCAS or Vestar entities, as the case may be, to initiate a demand for registration; provided, further, that WCAS or Vestar may exercise a demand right for less than an aggregate public offering price of $  million if registered pursuant to a long-form registration statement, or $      million if registered pursuant to a short-form registration statement, if such proposed offering is for all of the remaining shares of Class A common stock or IDSs held by WCAS or Vestar; provided, further, that WCAS can request up to three registrations that are registered pursuant to a long-form registration statement and Vestar can request up to two registrations that are registered pursuant to a long-form registration statement; and
 
  •  WCAS and Vestar will have the right to include in our future public offerings of securities the shares of our Class A common stocks senior subordinated notes or IDSs held by each of them as well as the IDS into which shares of Class B common stock may be exchanged.

WCAS and Vestar may only require the listing of the Class A common stock in connection with an exercise of their demand registration rights with respect to their Class A common stock once our class A common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. If WCAS or Vestar exercise their demand registration rights, we will file a registration statement or prospectus and undertake an offering in the United States and Canada, as requested by WCAS or Vestar. The registration rights are transferable by WCAS and Vestar.

We have agreed to pay all costs and expenses in connection with each such registration, except underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the securities sold, and to indemnify WCAS and Vestar that have included securities in such offering against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act and any Canadian securities laws.

Pursuant to the Securityholders Agreement, WCAS and Vestar will agree to vote for each other’s designees to our board of directors (to the extent permitted by law and the rules of any securities exchange, system or market on which our securities are then listed), and to vote such that both WCAS and Vestar have at least one designee on each of our committees.

Management

Transaction Bonus. Upon the consummation of this offering, we will award            million to members of our senior management team in recognition of their efforts in connection with our reorganization and this offering. The awards will be as follows: Kenneth R. Cole, $1.5 million; John J. Mueller, $1.0 million; John A. Butler,                ; William M. Ojile,                ; W. Grant Raney,                ; Cynthia B. Nash,                and an aggregate of           to other members of our management team. The transaction bonuses will be paid from our excess cash and not from the proceeds of this offering. The excess cash that we will use to pay the transaction bonuses shall come, however, from a reduction in cash paid to our existing equity investors in connection with the contribution of their existing equity interests in return for IDSs, shares of Class B common stock and cash in connection with the reorganization.

Reorganization

In connection with our reorganization we will:

  •  repurchase the senior subordinated notes held by our equity sponsors; and
 
  •  issue IDSs and/or issue Class B common stock and pay cash to our equity sponsors and certain of members of our management in exchange for their equity interests in our subsidiaries.

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As a result, our equity sponsors and our officers will receive the following number of IDSs and amount of proceeds from our offering of IDSs:

                         
Exchange of
Equity Interests
Repayment of
Related Party Subordinated Notes Cash IDSs




Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe
  $       $            
Vestar Capital Partners
                       
Citicorp Venture Partners
                       
Kenneth R. Cole
                       
John J. Mueller
                       
John A. Butler
                       
William M. Ojile, Jr. 
                       
W. Grant Raney
                       
Cynthia B. Nash
                       

Indemnification and Insurance

For a description of our limitation on liability and indemnification of, and provision of insurance covering, our directors and executive officers, see “Management—Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors.”

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Detailed Transaction Steps

Immediately prior to and in connection with the consummation of this offering, we will reorganize our enterprise structure. All the equity interests in our subsidiaries Valor Telecommunications, LLC, or VTC, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, or VTS, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, or VTS II, are currently held by the following individuals and entities to whom we refer to collectively as our “existing equity holders”:

  •   affiliates of Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe; affiliates of Vestar Capital Partners; and affiliates of Citicorp Venture Capital, to whom we refer collectively as our “equity sponsors”;
 
 
  •   a group of individuals who assisted us in forming our company, to whom we refer collectively as our “founders”; and
 
 
  •   our management and employees.

Our existing equity investors currently own equity interests in Valor Telecommunications, LLC, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC. The equity interests in Valor Telecommunications, LLC are held by certain of our founders, our management through Delaware limited liability company and our equity sponsors both directly and indirectly through various entities. The equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC are held by Valor Telecommunications, LLC, our management, our equity sponsors, both directly and indirectly through various entities, and an individual investor. The equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC are held by Valor Telecommunications, LLC. Valor Communications Group, Inc. is currently a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valor Telecommunications, LLC.

Immediately prior to the consummation of this offering, the following transactions will take place:

1. Our founders, our management and our equity sponsors will contribute directly or indirectly their equity interests in Valor Telecommunications, LLC to Valor Communications Group, Inc. in exchange for an aggregate of     IDSs,                     shares of Class B common stock and $                    in cash from the proceeds of this offering.
 
2.  Our equity sponsors and our founders who hold equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC will contribute their equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC to Valor Communications Group, Inc. in exchange for an aggregate of     IDSs,                      shares of Class B common stock and $          in cash from the proceeds of this offering.
 
3.  To the extent that the value of the equity interests exceeds the exercise price, our former employees who hold equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC in the form of options to purchase Class B common units of Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC shall receive                     in exchange for their equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC. Such options shall be cancelled upon their surrender.
 
4.  To the extent that the value of the equity interests exceeds the exercise price, our current employees who hold options to purchase Class B common units of Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC will receive           in exchange for their equity interests in Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC. Such options shall be cancelled upon their surrender.
 
5.  The stock of Valor Communications Group, Inc. held by Valor Telecommunications, LLC will be retired.

As a result of our founders’, our managements’, and our equity sponsors’ contribution of their redeemable preferred interests in VTC and Valor Telecommunications Southwest LLC to Valor, we will record a change to accumulated deficit of approximately $          , resulting from the excess of the fair value of the IDSs, Class B common stock and cash received over the carrying amount of the redeemable preferred interests. In addition, as a result of our management exchanging their equity interests for                      we will record approximately $          in compensation expense. As a result of this reorganization, each of Valor Telecommunications, LLC, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of Valor Communications Group, Inc.

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Description of Certain Indebtedness

New Credit Facility

Our subsidiaries Valor Telecommunications, LLC, or VTC, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, or VTS II, intend to enter into a $           new senior secured credit facility with a syndicate of financial institutions, to be arranged by Banc of America Securities LLC and CIBC World Markets Corp as joint lead arrangers and joint book-managers.

Each of VTC’s and VTS II’s respective subsidiaries, other than certain of their subsidiaries which they may acquire or organize after the date hereof, will also be co-borrowers under the new credit facility. We will guaranty the obligations of VTC and VTS II and their subsidiaries under the new credit facility.

We expect that the new credit facility will be comprised of a senior secured revolving credit facility of up to $           million, which we refer to as the “new revolver,” and a senior secured term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of $           million, which we refer to as the “new term loan.”

We expect that the new revolver and the new term loan will each have an approximately five-year maturity with no amortization of principal prior to maturity.

We expect that the new credit facility will have several features similar to credit facilities of this nature, including but not limited to:

Interest Rate and Fees. We expect that borrowings will bear interest, at our option, for the new revolver facility and the new term facility at either (a) the Eurodollar Rate plus an applicable margin or (b) the Base Rate plus an applicable margin, as such terms will be defined in the new credit facility.

We also expect the new revolver will provide payment to the lenders of a commitment fee on any unused commitments equal to      % per annum.

Mandatory Prepayments. We expect that the new credit facility will require us to prepay outstanding loans under the new senior notes with, subject to certain conditions and exceptions,        % of the cash proceeds received by us from any loss, damage, destruction or condemnation of or any sale, transfer or other disposition of any assets,        % of the net cash proceeds from the incurrence of any indebtedness by us, and        % of any Distributable Cash during any Dividend Suspension Period, and        % of Available Cash during any Interest Deferral Period, as such terms are defined in the new credit facility.

Voluntary Prepayments. We expect that the new credit facility will provide for voluntary commitment reductions and prepayments of the new revolver and new senior notes, respectively, subject to certain conditions and restrictions.

Covenants. We expect that the new credit facility will require that we meet certain financial tests, including, without limitation, the following tests: a maximum total leverage ratio, a maximum senior leverage ratio and a minimum interest coverage ratio.

We also expect that our new credit facility will contain customary covenants and restrictions, including, among others, limitations or prohibitions on declaring and paying dividends and other distributions, redeeming and repurchasing our other indebtedness, loans and investments, additional indebtedness, liens, recapitalizations, mergers, acquisitions and asset sales and transactions with affiliates.

Collateral. We expect to give to the administrative agent on behalf of each lender a security interest in collateral consisting of, without limitation, a pledge of our intercompany debt, 100% of the capital stock of our wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries and a security interest in substantially all our other personal property. VTC, VTS II and each of their respective subsidiaries which is a co-borrower under the new credit facility will also give the administrative agent a security interest in all of such persons’ collateral of such types.

Events of Default. We expect that our new credit facility will specify certain customary events of default.

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Description of IDSs

General

We are selling                 IDSs in this offering. Each IDS initially represents:

  •   one share of our Class A common stock; and
 
  •   a        % senior subordinated note with a $          principal amount.

The IDSs will be governed by a global IDS certificate, which includes provisions with respect to the separation and adjustment of the components underlying the IDSs. The Class A common stock represented by the IDSs will be governed by our certificate of incorporation and the senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs will be governed by the Indenture. All securities are represented by a global certificate.

The ratio of Class A common stock to principal amount of senior subordinated notes represented by an IDS is subject to change in the event of a stock split, recombination or reclassification of our common stock. For example, if we elect to effect a two-for-one stock split, from and after the effective date of the stock split, each IDS will represent two shares of Class A common stock and the same principal amount of senior subordinated notes as it previously represented. Likewise, if we effect a recombination or reclassification of our Class A common stock, each IDS will thereafter represent the appropriate number of shares of Class A common stock on a recombined or reclassified basis, as applicable, and the same principal amount of senior subordinated notes as it previously represented. Immediately following the occurrence of any such event, we will file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K or any other applicable form, disclosing the changes in the ratio of Class A common stock to principal amount of senior subordinated notes as a result of such event.

Holders of IDSs are at all times the beneficial owners of the Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented by such IDSs and, through their broker or other financial institution and DTC, will each have exactly the same rights, privileges and preferences, including voting rights, rights to receive distributions, rights and preferences in the event of a default under the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes, ranking upon bankruptcy and rights to receive communications and notices as a beneficial owner of separately held Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes, as applicable, would have through its broker or other financial institution and DTC.

The IDSs will be available in book-entry form only. As discussed below under “Book-Entry Settlement and Clearance,” a nominee of the book-entry clearing system will be the sole registered holder of the IDSs. That means you will not be a registered holder of IDSs or be entitled to receive a certificate evidencing your IDSs. You must rely on the procedures used by your broker or other financial institution that will maintain your book-entry position to receive the benefits and exercise the rights of a holder of IDSs that are described below. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

Voluntary Separation and Combination

Holders of IDSs, whether purchased in this offering or in a subsequent offering of IDSs of the same series may, at any time after the earlier of 45 days from the date of the closing of this offering or the occurrence of a change of control, through their broker or other financial institution, separate the IDSs into the shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby. Unless the IDSs have been previously automatically separated as described below, any holder of shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes may, at any time, through his or her broker or other financial institution, combine the applicable number of shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes to form IDSs.

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If a sufficient number of shares of our Class A common stock are held separately to meet the minimum requirements for separate trading on the New York Stock Exchange for at least 30 consecutive trading days, we have agreed that we will use reasonable efforts to cause the Class A common stock to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange, in addition to the Class A common stock being listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, provided that the Class A common stock would meet the applicable exchange or quotation system listing standards.

Automatic Separation

Upon the occurrence of any of the following, all outstanding IDSs will be automatically separated into the shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby:

  •   a payment default on the senior subordinated notes continues for 90 days;
 
  •   the acceleration of the maturity date of the senior subordinated notes; provided such acceleration remains in effect and is not waived by the holders of the senior subordinated notes for 90 days;
 
  •   exercise by us of our right to redeem all or a portion of the senior subordinated notes, which may be represented by IDSs at the time of such redemption;
 
  •   the stated maturity date on which principal on the senior subordinated notes becomes due and payable; or
 
  •   if DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as securities depository with respect to the IDSs or ceases to be a registered clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and we are unable to find a successor depositary.

Following the automatic separation of the IDSs, shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes may no longer be combined to form IDSs.

Book-Entry Settlement and Clearance

The Depository Trust Company, known as DTC, will act as securities depository for the IDSs, and the senior subordinated notes and shares of Class A common stock represented by the IDSs, or the “securities.” The senior subordinated notes and the shares of our Class A common stock represented by the IDSs will be represented by one or more global notes and global stock certificates. The global notes and global stock certificates will be issued in fully-registered form in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. As the IDSs and senior subordinated notes sold separately are represented by global securities, you will only have beneficial interest through a DTC participant, subject to the operations and procedures of DTC. Therefore, the only securityholder recognized by us will be Cede & Co.

Book-Entry Procedures. If you intend to purchase IDSs in the manner provided by this prospectus you must do so through the DTC system or through its participants. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other indirect participants such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. The participant that you purchase through will receive a credit for the applicable security on DTC’s records. Your ownership interest as a purchaser of the applicable security, who we refer to as a “beneficial owner,” will be recorded on the participant’s records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of their purchase and sale transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the DTC participant through which the beneficial owner entered into their purchase and sale transactions.

All interests in the securities will be subject to the operations and procedures of DTC. We provide the following summary of DTC’s operations solely for your convenience. The operations and procedures of DTC may be changed at any time. We are not responsible for those procedures and operations.

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DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State of New York, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York State Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code and a “clearing agency” registered under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between its participants through electronic book-entry changes to the accounts of its participants. DTC’s participants include securities brokers and dealers, including the underwriters, banks and trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. Indirect access to DTC’s system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies. These indirect participants clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules that apply to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all securities deposited by direct participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts such securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Transfers of ownership interests in the securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the applicable security except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the securities is discontinued.

Separation and Combination. Holders of IDSs may, at any time after 45 days from the date of original issuance, through their broker or other financial institution, separate their IDSs into the shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby. Similarly, unless the IDSs have previously been automatically separated as described below, any holder of shares of our Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes may, at any time after 45 days from the date of original issuance, through their broker or other financial institution, combine the applicable number of shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes to form IDSs.

In addition, all outstanding IDSs will be automatically separated into the shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby upon the occurrence of the following:

     •  a payment default on the senior subordinated notes continues for 90 days;
 
     •  the acceleration of the maturity date of the senior subordinated notes; provided such acceleration remains in effect and is not waived by the holders of the senior subordinated notes for 90 days;
 
     •  exercise by us of our right to redeem all or a portion of the senior subordinated notes, which may be represented by IDSs at the time of such redemption;
 
     •  the stated maturity date on which principal on the senior subordinated notes becomes due and payable; or
 
     •  if DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as securities depository with respect to the IDSs or ceases to be a registered clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and we are unable to find a successor depositary.

Following the automatic separation of the IDSs, shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes may no longer be combined to form IDSs.

Any voluntary or automatic separation of IDSs and any subsequent combination of IDSs from senior subordinated notes and Class A common stock are to be accomplished by entries made by the DTC participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. In any such case, the participant’s account through which a separation or combination is effected will be credited and debited for the applicable securities on DTC’s records. Depending on the arrangements between a holder and his or her brokerage firm, and the

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brokerage arrangements with the DTC participant, the transaction fee for any voluntary separation or recombination may be passed directly on to the holder.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy to participants as soon as possible after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the securities are credited on the record date.

We and the transfer agent and registrar will make any payments on the securities to DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the payment date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such participant and not of DTC, us or the transfer agent and registrar, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

We or the transfer agent and registrar will be responsible for the payment of all amounts to DTC. DTC will be responsible for the disbursement of those payments to its participants, and the participants will be responsible for disbursements of those payments to beneficial owners.

DTC may discontinue providing its service as securities depository with respect to the IDSs, the shares of our Class A common stock or our senior subordinated notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to us or the transfer agent and registrar. If DTC discontinues providing its service as securities depository with respect to the IDSs and we are unable to obtain a successor securities depository, you will automatically take a position in the component securities. If DTC discontinues providing its service as securities depository with respect to the shares of our Class A common stock and/or our senior subordinated notes and we are unable to obtain a successor securities depository, we will print and deliver to you certificates for the securities that have been discontinued and you will automatically take a position in any securities still subject to the depository arrangement.

Also, in case we decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depository) we will print and deliver to you certificates for the various certificates of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes you may own.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, including DTC.

Except for actions taken by DTC in accordance with our instructions, neither we nor the trustee nor the underwriters will have any responsibility or obligation to participants, or the persons for whom they act as nominees, with respect to:

  •   the accuracy of the records of DTC, its nominee or any participant or any record of beneficial ownership interest in the securities on DTC’s books, or
 
 
  •   any payments, or the providing of notice, to participants or beneficial owners.

Procedures Relating to Subsequent Issuances. The indenture governing our senior subordinated notes permits the subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes having terms identical to the senior subordinated notes represented by the IDSs. If we determine that such new senior subordinated notes need to have a new CUSIP number, each holder of senior subordinated notes or IDSs agrees that a portion of such holder’s senior subordinated notes will be automatically exchanged, for a portion of the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes.

If such new senior subordinated notes are issued with OID, they will require a new CUSIP number.

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Consequently, following each such subsequent issuance and exchange, each holder of senior subordinated notes or IDSs will own an indivisible unit composed of senior subordinated notes of each separate issuance in the same proportion as each other holder. Immediately following any exchange resulting from a subsequent offering, a new CUSIP number will be assigned to represent an inseparable unit consisting of the senior subordinated notes outstanding prior to the subsequent issuance and the senior subordinated notes issued in the subsequent issuance.

Accordingly, the following will occur upon a subsequent issuance of IDSs and exchange of senior subordinated notes:

  •   immediately following any exchange resulting from a subsequent offering, the IDSs will consist of an inseparable unit representing the proportionate principal amounts of each issuance of senior subordinated notes (but with the same aggregate principal amount as the senior subordinated note or inseparable unit represented by the IDSs immediately prior to such subsequent issuance and exchange) and the Class A common stock;
 
  •   all accounts of DTC participants with a position in the securities will be updated to reflect the new CUSIP numbers; and
 
  •   in the event of any voluntary or automatic separation of IDSs following any such automatic exchange, holders will receive the Class A common stock and the indivisible senior subordinated notes unit.

Other than potential tax and bankruptcy implications and subject to market perception, we do not believe that the automatic exchange will affect the economic attributes of your investment in our IDSs or senior subordinated notes. The tax and bankruptcy implications of an automatic exchange are described in more detail in “Risk Factors— Risks Relating to the IDSs, the Shares of Class A Common Stock, and Senior Subordinated Notes Represented by the IDSs, the Senior Subordinated Notes Offered Separately (not in the form of IDSs), and our New Credit Facility.”

Subsequently issued IDSs or senior subordinated notes will have terms that are identical to those of the IDSs and senior subordinated notes, respectively, sold in this offering, except that:

  •   if additional IDSs are issued 45 days or more from the closing of this offering, they will be immediately separable; and
 
  •   if additional IDSs are issued less than 45 days from the closing of this offering, they will be separable on and after the same date the IDSs issued in this offering may separate.

There will be no change to the voluntary separation provision of the IDS in the event of a subsequent issuance. Notwithstanding any future automatic exchange, in the event of subsequent IDS issuances, any investor in this offering will be entitled to pursue claims under applicable securities laws against us and our agents, including the underwriters, with respect to the full amount of notes purchased in this offering.

Most subsequent issuances of senior subordinated notes, including subsequent issuances of senior subordinated notes which have OID and all subsequent issuances six months after the date of this offering, may require trades on the New York Stock Exchange to settle up to 24 hours after the date such trades would settle absent such subsequent issuance or settle for cash, consistent with such exchange’s practices for the date of such issuance. The New York Stock Exchange has informed us that they will broadcast any such alternate settlement procedures in advance of any relevant trading day, consistent with their established procedures. Based upon these discussions, we do not believe that any settlement delays or cash settlement procedures, if any, associated with subsequent issuances will have a significant impact on the IDS trading market. Immediately following any subsequent issuance, we will file with the SEC a Current Report on Form 8-K or any other applicable form, disclosing the changes, if any, to the OID attributable to your senior subordinated notes as a result of such subsequent issuance.

IDS Transfer Agent

The                     is the IDS transfer agent.

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Description of Capital Stock

General

The following is a description of terms of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws, the forms of which have been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part and which will become effective prior to the offering contemplated by this prospectus.

Authorized Capitalization

Our authorized capital stock consists of:

  •                  shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share;
 
  •                  shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share;
 
  •                  shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.01 per share; and
 
  •                  shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share.

After this offering there will be                      shares of our Class A common stock,                      shares of our Class B common stock, no shares of our Class C common stock and no shares of our preferred stock outstanding.

Common stock

Except as described below, shares of our Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common stock are identical in all respects. There are currently no shares of our Class C common stock outstanding, and following the completion of this offering, no shares of our Class C common stock will be outstanding. All outstanding shares of common stock are, and all shares of common stock to be outstanding upon completion of this offering will be, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

Dividends. Holders of shares of our Class A common stock and Class C common stock will be entitled to receive such dividends and other distributions in cash, stock or property of ours as may be declared by our board of directors from time to time out of our assets or funds legally available for dividends or other distributions. See “Dividend Policy” for a complete description of the dividends we expect to declare on our shares of common stock.

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains dividend provisions with respect to our shares of Class B common stock which are intended to replicate the yield on our IDS units. Any time a dividend is paid to holders of Class A common stock, holders of Class B common stock will be paid a dividend equal to the same amount per share as paid to holders of Class A common stock. In addition to any such dividend, holders of shares of our Class B common stock will accrue dividends at a rate of      % per annum on a deemed issuance price per share which will be equal to the public offering price of the IDSs; provided that during the continuation of any event of default under the indenture governing the senior subordinated notes, dividends will accrue at a rate of      % per annum. Such dividends will accrue, and to the extent not paid, accumulate, whether or not declared and whether or not we have funds legally available for the payment of dividends. Such dividends will be paid, if declared by the board, on the fifteenth day of each March, June, September and December of each year, to the extent not previously paid, at such time as such shares of Class B common stock are exchanged for IDSs; provided that such dividends may only be paid to the extent allowable under applicable law, the terms of our new credit facility and the indenture governing our senior subordinated notes.

Combination with Senior Subordinated Notes to Form IDSs. Only shares of our Class A common stock may be combined with senior subordinated notes to form IDSs. Our bylaws provide that we may only

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issue additional shares of our Class A common stock and IDSs pursuant to a registration statement that has been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Exchange. We have entered into an agreement with our existing equity investors which, subject to the following conditions, allows them to cause us to exchange with a transferee of their shares of Class B common stock, such Class B common stock for IDSs:

  •  we must be permitted by the indenture to issue the additional notes to be included in such IDSs, which requires, among other things, that:

  •  no event of default or deferral of interest on the senior subordinated notes has occurred and is continuing;
 
  •  we have obtained a solvency opinion from an independent appraisal firm; and
 
  •  our board of directors has determined that such new notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes;

  •  such transaction must comply with applicable laws, including, without limitation, securities laws, laws relating to redemption of equity and laws relating to the issuance of debt;
 
  •  such issuance of IDSs must occur pursuant to an effective registration statement;
 
  •  such transaction must not conflict with or cause a default under any material financing agreements; and
 
  •  we must have received at least 30 but not more than 60 days notice of such transaction.

In addition to the conditions above, we will only be required to effect conversions of the Class B common stock at intervals of six months beginning with the second anniversary of the date of the recapitalization, unless           % of the holders of the Class B common stock request a conversion with respect to           % of their shares of Class B common stock. In the event of such           request, we will provide notice to all the holders of the Class B common stock of our receipt of such request through a release to any appropriate and customary news agency and, subject to the conditions above, effect the conversion within            days of such request. See “Related Party Transactions.”

Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of shares of our common stock will be entitled to share equally in our assets remaining after payment of all debts and other liabilities, subject to the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock.

Voting Rights. Shares of our common stock carry one vote per share, with all classes of common stock voting together as a single class. Our bylaws provide that the presence of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at a stockholders meeting shall constitute a quorum. When a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of shares present in person or by proxy is required to take action, unless otherwise specified by law or our certificate of incorporation, and except for the election of directors, which is determined by a plurality vote. Holders of shares of our common stock have no cumulative voting rights.

Other Rights. Holders of shares of our common stock have no preemptive rights. The holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that we may designate and issue in the future.

Preferred stock

Our board of directors has the authority to issue shares of preferred stock from time to time on terms that it may determine, to divide shares of preferred stock into one or more series and to fix the designations, voting powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of each series, to the fullest extent permitted by the General

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Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, or DGCL. The issuance of shares of preferred stock could have the effect of decreasing the market price of the IDSs and our shares of common stock, impeding or delaying a possible takeover and adversely affecting the voting and other rights of the holders of shares of our common stock.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Law and Charter and Bylaw Provisions

Provisions of Delaware law and our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws could make it more difficult to acquire us by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, or to remove incumbent officers and directors. These provisions, summarized below, are expected to discourage types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with us. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure us outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover or acquisition proposals because, among other things, negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Delaware Anti-Takeover Statute. We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, an anti-takeover statute. In general, Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested stockholder, unless (with certain exceptions) the “business combination” or the transaction in which the person became an interested stockholder is approved in a prescribed manner. Generally, a “business combination” includes a merger, asset or stock sale, or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to the interested stockholder. Generally, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns (or within three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, did own) 15% or more of a corporation’s voting stock. The existence of this provision would be expected to have an anti-takeover effect with respect to transactions not approved in advance by the board of directors, including discouraging attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares of common stock held by stockholders.

No Cumulative Voting. The DGCL provides that stockholders are denied the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors unless our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation does not expressly provide for cumulative voting.

No Stockholder Action by Written Consent; Calling of Special Meeting of Stockholders. Our organizational documents prohibit stockholder action by written consent. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our board of directors.

Advance Notice Requirements for Stockholder Proposals and Director Nominations. Our by-laws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before or to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual meeting of stockholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice regarding (1) a stockholder’s proposal must be delivered or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 60 days not more than 90 days prior to the meeting or (2) a director nomination must be delivered or mailed and received at our principal executive offices not less than 60 nor more than 90 days in advance of the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders; provided that if less than 70 days notice or prior public announcement of the date of the meeting is given, notice regarding stockholder nominations for the election of directors or notice of other stockholder proposals must be received by our corporate secretary by the later of 10 days following the day on which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of the date of the special meeting was made. Our by-laws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a stockholder’s notice. These provisions may impede stockholders’ ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of stockholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of stockholders.

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Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors. The DGCL authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties as directors. Our organizational documents include provisions that eliminate, to the extent allowable under the DGCL, the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director. Our organizational documents also provide that we must indemnify and advance reasonable expenses to our directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL. We will also be expressly authorized to carry directors’ and officers’ insurance for our directors, officers and certain employees for some liabilities.

The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and by-laws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our stockholders. In addition, your investment may be adversely affected to the extent that, in a class action or direct suit, we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions.

There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.

Removal of Directors. Our organizational documents provide that directors may be removed only for cause by the affirmative vote of at least a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote.

Authorized but Unissued Shares. Our authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock will be available for future issuance without your approval. We may use additional shares for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock could render more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

Supermajority Provisions. The DGCL provides generally that the affirmative vote of a majority in voting power of the outstanding shares entitled to vote is required to amend a corporation’s certificate of incorporation, unless the certificate of incorporation or by-laws require a greater percentage. Our organizational documents provide that the following provisions in the certificate of incorporation or by-laws may be amended only by a vote of two-thirds or more in voting power of all the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote:

  •   the prohibition on stockholder action by written consent;
 
  •   the ability to call a special meeting of stockholders being vested solely in our board of directors and the chairman of our board of directors;
 
  •   the provisions relating to advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and directors nominations;
 
  •   the provisions relating to the removal of directors;
 
  •   the limitation on the liability of our directors to us and our stockholders and the obligation to indemnify and advance reasonable expenses to the directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL;
 
  •   the provisions granting authority to our board of directors to amend or repeal our by-laws without a stockholder vote, as described in more detail in the next succeeding paragraph; and
 
  •   the supermajority voting requirements listed above.

In addition, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation grants our board of directors the authority to amend and repeal our by-laws without a stockholder vote in any manner not inconsistent with

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the laws of the State of Delaware or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation. Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that these provisions in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation may be amended only by a vote of two-thirds or more in voting power of all the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote.

Listing

We have applied to list the IDSs on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VCG.” We will apply to list the IDSs on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VLR.un” and our shares of Class A common stock under the symbol “VLR.”

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for the Class A common stock is                          .

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Description of Senior Subordinated Notes

The following is a description of the material terms of the Indenture under which our senior subordinated notes will be issued, a copy of the form of which has been filed with the Commission as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. It does not purport to be complete and we urge you to read the Indenture, a copy of which will be available upon request from the Company. This description is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms therein and those terms made a part thereof by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We refer to Valor Communications Group, Inc. as the “Company” in this “—Description of Senior Subordinated Notes” section. Capitalized terms used in this “Description of Senior Subordinated Notes” section and not otherwise defined have the meanings set forth in “—Certain Definitions” hereafter.

General

The Notes are to be issued under an indenture, to be dated as of                     , 2004 (the “Indenture”), among us, the subsidiary guarantors and                          , as Trustee (the “Trustee”).

The Notes will be issued only in fully-registered form, without coupons, represented by one or more global notes which will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC. See “—Description of IDSs—Book—Entry Settlement and Clearance.”

None of the Notes sold separately (not in the form of IDSs) in the offering may be purchased, directly or indirectly, by persons who are also (1) purchasing IDSs in this offering or (2) holders of Class B common stock following our recapitalization. Furthermore, prior to the closing of the offering, each person purchasing separate Notes in the offering will be asked to make certain representations to the Company in connection with these restrictions. See “Underwriting.”

Maturity and Interest

 
Maturity

The Notes will be unsecured senior subordinated obligations of the Company and will mature on                     , 2019.

Within 30 days prior to the maturity or redemption of the Notes, the Company will use its reasonable efforts to list or quote the outstanding shares of its Class A common stock on the securities exchange(s) or automated securities quotation system(s), if any, on which the IDSs then are listed or quoted, in addition to any other securities exchange on which the Class A common stock is then listed.

Interest

The Notes will bear interest at a rate per year of      % from                     , 2004 or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or provided for, payable quarterly in arrears on the 15th day of March, June, September and December of each year, to Holders of record at the close of business on the 5th day of each such month or the immediately preceding Business Day commencing                     , 2004, provided that if any such day is not a Business Day, interest shall be paid on the next Business Day.

Interest Deferral

Prior to                     , 2009, the Company will be permitted, at its election, to defer interest payments on the Notes on one or more occasions for not more than eight quarters in the aggregate; provided that:

  •   at the end of each occasion, the Company will be obligated to resume quarterly payments of interest on the Notes including interest on deferred interest; and

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  •   no later than                     , 2009, the Company must pay in full all deferred interest, together with accrued interest thereon.

After                     , 2009 the Company will be permitted, at its election, to defer interest payments on the Notes on up to four occasions with respect to up to two quarters per occasion; provided that:

  •   the company may not defer interest on any occasion after                     , 2009 unless and until all interest deferred on any prior occasion, together with accrued interest thereon, has been paid in full;
 
  •   at the end of each occasion, the Company will be obligated to resume quarterly payments of interest on the Notes including interest on deferred interest; and
 
  •   no later than                     , 2019, the Company must pay all deferred interest, together with accrued interest thereon.

On each occasion that the Company elects to defer interest, it will be required to deliver to the Trustee a copy of a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors to the effect that, based upon a good-faith determination of the Company’s Board of Directors, such interest deferral is reasonably necessary for bona-fide cash management purposes, or to reduce the likelihood of or avoid a default under any Designated Senior Indebtedness. However, no interest deferral may be commenced, and any on-going deferral shall cease, if:

  •   a default in payment of principal or premium, if any, on the Notes has occurred and is continuing;
 
  •   an Event of Default with respect to payment of interest on the Notes has occurred and is continuing; or
 
  •   another Event of Default with respect to the Notes has occurred and is continuing and the Notes have been accelerated as a result of the occurrence of such Event of Default.

Deferred interest on the Notes will bear interest at the same rate as the stated rate of interest applicable to the Notes, compounded quarterly, until paid in full.

During any period that interest is being deferred and so long as any deferred interest or interest on deferred interest remains outstanding, the Company will not be permitted to make any payment of dividends on its capital stock or make any distribution to holders of capital stock, or make certain other Restricted Payments. See “—Certain Covenants—Limitation on Restricted Payments—Dividend Suspension.”

Additional Notes

The Indenture will permit issuances of additional senior subordinated notes having identical terms and conditions to the Notes offered hereby (other than issuance date) (the “Additional Notes”):

  •   in connection with the exchange of shares of Class B common stock of the Company outstanding on the Issue Date;
 
  •   for other purposes, so long as the Incurrence of Indebtedness evidenced by such Additional Notes is permitted under the covenant described under “—Certain Covenants—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock.”

Any Additional Notes will vote on all matters with the Notes offered hereby. The Additional Notes will be deemed to have the same accrued current period interest, deferred interest and defaults as the Notes issued in this offering and will be deemed to have expended Payment Blockage Periods and interest deferral periods to the same extent as the Notes issued in this offering.

The Indenture will provide that, in the event there is a subsequent issuance of Additional Notes that requires a new CUSIP number, which would be required if such additional notes were issued with OID, each Holder of the Notes or the IDSs (as the case may be) agrees that a portion of such Holder’s Notes (whether held directly in book-entry form or held as part of IDSs) will be exchanged, without any further

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action of such Holder, for a portion of the Additional Notes purchased by the Holders of such Additional Notes, such that, following any such additional issuance and exchange, each Holder of the Notes or the IDSs (as the case may be) owns an indivisible unit composed of the Notes and Additional Notes of each issuance in the same proportion as each other Holder, and the records of DTC and the Trustee will be revised to reflect each such exchange without any further action of such Holder. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes owned by each Holder will not change as a result of such exchange. Any Additional Notes will be guaranteed by the Guarantors on the same basis as the Notes. A subsequent issuance of Additional Notes following a prior issuance of Additional Notes which have a new CUSIP number, shall also be treated as such an exchange. See “Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences— United States Holders— Senior Subordinated Notes— Additional Issuances.”

There is a possibility that holders of Additional Notes having original issue discount may not be able to collect the unamortized portion of the original issue discount in the event of an acceleration of the senior subordinated notes or bankruptcy of the Company as described under “Risk Factors— Risks Relating to the IDSs, the Shares of Class A Common Stock and Senior Subordinated Notes Represented by the IDSs, the Senior Subordinated Notes Offered Separately (and not in the Form of IDS), and our New Credit Facility.” Subsequent issuances of senior subordinated notes may cause you to recognize taxable gain and/or original issue discount and may reduce your recovery in the event of bankruptcy.” Any such automatic exchange should not impair the rights any holder would otherwise have to assert a claim against us or the underwriters, with respect to the full amount of Notes purchased by such holder.

As a condition to the Company’s issuance of Additional Notes, the Board of Directors shall determine in good faith that the Additional Notes should be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. In addition, the Company shall not issue Additional Notes unless it delivers to the Trustee prior to or simultaneously with such issuance an opinion of an independent advisor to the effect that, after giving effect to the Incurrence of the Indebtedness evidenced by such Additional Notes and related Guarantees, the Company and the Guarantors are solvent.

Optional Redemption

The Company may not redeem the Notes at its option prior to                     , 2011.

On or after                     , 2011 and before                     , 2016, the Company may redeem the Notes, at its option, at any time in whole and from time to time in part, for cash at the redemption prices, expressed as percentages of principal amount, set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest, on the notes redeemed, to the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on                     of the years indicated below:

         
Year Percentage


2011
      %
2012
      %
2013
      %
2014
      %
2015
      %
2016 and thereafter
    100.000 %

In addition, the Company may, at its option, redeem all, but not less than all, of the Notes at any time upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, if for United States federal income tax purposes the Company is not, or would not be, in the opinion of nationally recognized tax counsel, permitted to deduct all or a substantial portion of the interest payable on the Notes from its income.

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Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the date of redemption to each holder of the Notes to be redeemed. Unless we default in payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on such Notes or the portions called for redemption so long as the Company has deposited with the Trustee funds (in U.S. Dollars) sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

In the case of any partial redemption, selection of the Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with the applicable legal and regulatory requirements). If any Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption relating to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof called for redemption, so long as the Company has deposited with the depositary funds sufficient to pay the principal of, plus accrued and unpaid interest (including any deferred interest and accrued interest thereon) on, the Notes to be redeemed.

A full or partial redemption of the Notes will result in an automatic separation of the IDSs. See “—Description of IDSs—Automatic Separation.”

Ranking

The Indebtedness evidenced by the Notes will:

  •   be unsecured senior subordinated Indebtedness of the Company;
 
  •   be subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company, including the Credit Facilities;
 
  •   rank pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness and trade payables of the Company, except for the impact of the contractual subordination provided in the Indenture which may have the effect of causing the Notes to receive less, ratably, than other creditors that are not subject to contractual subordination, and except for statutory priorities provided under the U.S. federal bankruptcy code or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws dealing with creditors rights generally; and
 
  •   rank senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company.

The Notes will also be effectively subordinated to any Secured Indebtedness of the Company to the extent of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness. However, payment from the money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in any defeasance trust described under “—Defeasance” below is not subordinated to any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions described herein.

The indebtedness evidenced by each Guarantee will:

  •   be unsecured senior subordinated indebtedness of the applicable Guarantor;
 
  •   be subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full in cash of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor, including the Senior Indebtedness of each Guarantor represented by such Guarantor’s guarantee of the Credit Facilities;
 
  •   rank pari passu in right of payment with all existing and future Pari Passu Indebtedness and trade payables of such Guarantor, except for the impact of the contractual subordination provided in the Indenture which may have the effect of causing the Notes to receive less, ratably, than other creditors that are not subject to contractual subordination, and except for statutory priorities provided under the U.S. federal bankruptcy code or other applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and other laws dealing with creditors rights generally; and

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  •   rank senior in right of payment to all existing and future Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

The Guarantees will also be effectively subordinated to any Secured Indebtedness of the applicable Guarantor to the extent of the value of the assets securing such Indebtedness.

As of March 31, 2004, on a pro forma basis:

  •   the Company would have had $           million in Senior Indebtedness outstanding;
 
  •   the Company would have had no Pari Passu Indebtedness outstanding other than the Notes;
 
  •   the Guarantors would have had $           million in Senior Indebtedness outstanding under the Credit Facilities, all of which would have been Secured Indebtedness; and
 
  •   the Guarantors would have had no Pari Passu Indebtedness outstanding other than the Guarantees and approximately $           million of trade payables outstanding.

Although the Indenture will contain limitations on the amount of additional Indebtedness which the Company, the Guarantors and the Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries may Incur, under certain circumstances the amount of such Indebtedness could be substantial and, in any case, such Indebtedness may be Senior Indebtedness or Secured Indebtedness. See “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” below.

As a holding company, the Company has no operations and, therefore, is dependent on the cash flow of its subsidiaries and other entities to meet its own obligations, including the payment of interest and principal obligations on the Notes when due. As of March 31, 2003, on a pro forma basis, the total liabilities of the Company’s subsidiaries were approximately $                    million, including trade payables. Although the Indenture will limit the Incurrence of Indebtedness by and the issuance of Preferred Stock of certain of the Company’s subsidiaries, such limitation is subject to a number of significant qualifications.

Only Senior Indebtedness or Secured Indebtedness of the Company or a Guarantor will rank senior to the Notes or the relevant Guarantee in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture. The Notes and each Guarantee will in all respects rank pari passu with all other Pari Passu Indebtedness of the Company and the relevant Guarantor, respectively.

The Company may not pay principal of, premium (if any) or interest on, the Notes or make any deposit pursuant to the provisions described under “—Defeasance” below and may not otherwise purchase, redeem or otherwise retire any Notes (collectively, “pay the Notes”) if:

  •   a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Designated Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing or any other amount owing in respect of any Designated Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due; or
 
  •   any other default on any Designated Senior Indebtedness occurs and results in such Designated Senior Indebtedness becoming due or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable in accordance with its terms, unless, in either case, the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded or such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full.

Notwithstanding the foregoing:

  •   Holders may receive and retain (a) Permitted Junior Securities and (b) payments made from the trust described under “—Defeasance” below so long as, on the date or dates the respective amounts were paid into the trust, such payments were made with respect to the Notes without violating the subordination provisions described herein or any other material agreement binding on the Company, including the Credit Facilities; and
 
  •   the Company may pay the Notes if the Company and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representative of each series of the Designated Senior Indebtedness with

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  respect to which either of the events set forth in the immediately preceding sentence has occurred and is continuing.

During the continuance of any default (other than a default described in the second preceding sentence) with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or upon the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Company may not pay the Notes for a period (a “Payment Blockage Period”) commencing upon the receipt by the Trustee, with a copy to the Company, of written notice (a “Blockage Notice”) of such default from the Representative of such defaulted Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and ending on the earliest to occur of the following events:

  •   179 days shall have elapsed since the receipt of such Blockage Notice;
 
  •   such Payment Blockage Period is terminated by written notice to the Trustee and the Company from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice;
 
  •   the repayment in full of such defaulted Designated Senior Indebtedness; or
 
  •   the default giving rise to such Blockage Notice is no longer continuing.

Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in the first sentence of this paragraph and in the succeeding paragraph), unless the holders of such defaulted Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders have accelerated the maturity of such defaulted Designated Senior Indebtedness, the Company may resume payments on the Notes after the end of such Payment Blockage Period. In no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360 consecutive day period. For purposes of this provision, no default or event of default that existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days.

Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Company upon a total or partial liquidation or dissolution or bankruptcy reorganization of, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property or an assignment for the benefit of its creditors or any marshalling of the Company’s assets or liabilities, the holders of Senior Indebtedness will be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all the Senior Indebtedness before the Noteholders are entitled to receive any payment. Until the Senior Indebtedness is paid in full in cash, any payment or distribution to which Noteholders would be entitled but for the subordination provisions of the Indenture will be made to holders of the Senior Indebtedness as their interests may appear. However, the Holders of Notes may receive and retain Permitted Junior Securities, and payments made from the trust described under “—Defeasance” so long as, on the date or dates the respective amounts were paid into the trust, such payments were made with respect to the Notes without violating the subordination provisions described herein or any other material agreement binding on the Company, including the Credit Agreement. If a distribution is made to Noteholders that due to the subordination provisions of the Indenture should not have been made to them, such Noteholders are required to hold it in trust for the holders of Senior Indebtedness and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

After the occurrence of an Event of Default, the Company or the Trustee shall promptly notify the holders of each series of Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their respective Representative) of such occurrence. If any Designated Senior Indebtedness is outstanding, the Company may not make any payments then due on the Notes until five Business Days after the holders or the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness receive notice of such occurrence and, thereafter, may pay the Notes only if the subordination provisions of the Indenture otherwise permit payment at that time.

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By reason of such subordination provisions contained in the Indenture, in the event of insolvency, creditors of the Company who are holders of Senior Indebtedness may recover more, ratably, than the Noteholders and, because of the obligation on the part of the Noteholders to turn over distributions to the holders of Senior Indebtedness to the extent required to pay Senior Indebtedness in full, trade creditors of the Company and Guarantors may recover more, ratably, than the Noteholders.

The Indenture will contain identical subordination provisions relating to each Guarantor’s obligations under its Guarantee.

Guarantees

Each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness under any Senior Credit Document on the Issue Date and certain future Restricted Subsidiaries (as described below), will jointly and severally irrevocably and fully and unconditionally guarantee on an unsecured senior subordinated basis (as described under “—Ranking” above) the performance and punctual payment when due, whether at Stated Maturity, by acceleration or otherwise, of all obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes, whether for payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes, expenses, indemnification or otherwise (all such obligations guaranteed by such Guarantors being herein called the “Guaranteed Obligations”). Such Guarantors will agree to pay, in addition to the amount stated above, any and all expenses (including reasonable counsel fees and expenses) Incurred by the Trustee or the Holders in enforcing any rights under the Guarantees. Each Guarantee will be limited in amount to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by the applicable Guarantor after giving effect to all of its other contingent and fixed liabilities (including without limitation all of its obligations under or with respect to the Credit Agreement) without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. After the Issue Date, the Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary that guarantees any Indebtedness under any Senior Credit Document (other than any Restricted Subsidiary organized outside of the United States of America or that has Tangible Assets of less than $0.5 million) to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary will guarantee, payment of the Notes on an unsecured senior subordinated basis. See “Certain Covenants—Future Guarantors” below.

Each Guarantee is a continuing guarantee and shall, until released in accordance with the next succeeding paragraph:

  •   remain in full force and effect until payment in full of all the Guaranteed Obligations;
 
  •   be binding upon each such Guarantor and its successors; and
 
  •   inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Trustee, the Holders and their successors, transferees and assigns.

The Guarantee of a Guarantor will be released:

  •   in connection with any transaction permitted by the Indenture after which the Guarantor ceases to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that the sale or other disposition, if any, complies with the “Asset Sale” provisions of the Indenture; or
 
  •   upon satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of the Notes as provided below under “—Defeasance” and “—Satisfaction and Discharge.”

Change of Control

Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder will have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any part of such Holder’s Notes of any series at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of

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repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

In the event that at the time of such Change of Control the terms of any Senior Lender Indebtedness restrict or prohibit the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this covenant, then prior to the mailing of the notice to Holders provided for in the immediately following paragraph but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall:

  •   repay in full all Senior Lender Indebtedness or offer to repay in full all Senior Lender Indebtedness and repay the Senior Lender Indebtedness of each lender who has accepted such offer; or
 
  •   obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing the Senior Lender Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Notes as provided for in the immediately following paragraph.

Within 30 days following any Change of Control, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described under “—Optional Redemption,” the Company shall mail a notice (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

  •   that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder’s Notes at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date of repurchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on a record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);
 
  •   the circumstances and relevant facts and financial information regarding such Change of Control;
 
  •   whether the agreements then governing the Senior Lender Indebtedness will permit the repurchase of the Notes;
 
  •   the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and
 
  •   the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this covenant, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Notes purchased.

The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer upon a Change of Control if a third party makes the Change of Control Offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements set forth in the Indenture applicable to a Change of Control Offer made by the Company and purchases all Notes validly tendered and not withdrawn under such Change of Control Offer.

The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Notes pursuant to this covenant. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Indenture by virtue thereof.

The definition of Change of Control includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease or transfer of “all or substantially all” the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a developing body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a Holder of Notes to require the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of a sale, lease or transfer of less than all of the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to another Person or group may be uncertain.

Covenants Relating to IDSs

Combination of Notes and Class A Common Stock into IDSs. The Indenture will provide that as long as any Notes are outstanding, any Holder of Notes and shares of Class A common stock may, at any time and from time to time, combine these securities to form IDSs unless the IDSs have previously been

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automatically separated as a result of the continuance of a payment default on the Notes for 90 days, or the redemption or maturity of any Notes.

Certain Covenants

The Indenture will contain the following material covenants:

Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock. The Indenture will provide that (i) the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, Incur any Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue any shares of Disqualified Stock and (ii) the Company will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary may Incur Indebtedness (including Acquired Indebtedness) or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any Guarantor may issue shares of Preferred Stock if the Leverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness is Incurred or such Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is issued would have been no more than 5.75 to 1.0 determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been Incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock had been issued, as the case may be, and the application of proceeds therefrom had occurred at the beginning of such four-quarter period.

The foregoing limitations will not apply to:

  (a) the Incurrence by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness under the Credit Facilities and the issuance and creation of letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances thereunder (with letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances being deemed to have a principal amount equal to the face amount thereof) up to an aggregate principal amount of the greater of the Borrowing Base or $890 million then classified as having been Incurred pursuant to this clause (a) outstanding at any one time;
 
  (b) the Incurrence by the Company and the Guarantors of Indebtedness represented by the Notes (not including any Additional Notes) and the Guarantees, as applicable;
 
  (c) Indebtedness existing on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clauses (a) and (b));
 
  (d)  Indebtedness (including Capitalized Lease Obligations) Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment (whether through the direct purchase of assets or the Capital Stock of any Person owning such assets) in an aggregate principal amount which, when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness then outstanding and Incurred pursuant to this clause (d) and all Refinancing Indebtedness (as defined below) Incurred to refund, refinance or replace any Indebtedness classified as having been Incurred pursuant to this clause (d), does not exceed the greater of 2.5% of Tangible Assets at the time of Incurrence or $25 million;
 
  (e) Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries constituting reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit issued in the ordinary course of business, including without limitation letters of credit in respect of workers’ compensation claims, health, disability or other employee benefits or property, casualty or liability insurance or self-insurance, or with respect to agreements to provide services, or other Indebtedness with respect to reimbursement type obligations regarding workers’ compensation claims; provided, however, that upon the drawing of such letters of credit, such obligations are reimbursed within 30 days following such drawing;

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  (f) Indebtedness arising from agreements of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary providing for indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case, Incurred in connection with the acquisition or disposition of any business, assets or a Subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture, other than guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred by any Person acquiring all or any portion of such business, assets or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;
 
  (g) Indebtedness of the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that any such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;
 
  (h) shares of Preferred Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary issued to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any such Restricted Subsidiary ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such shares of Preferred Stock (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an issuance of shares of Preferred Stock;
 
  (i) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company; provided that (i) any such Indebtedness is made pursuant to an intercompany note and (ii) if a Guarantor Incurs such Indebtedness to a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor such Indebtedness is subordinated in right of payment to the Guarantee of such Guarantor; provided further that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock or any other event which results in any Restricted Subsidiary lending such Indebtedness ceasing to be a Restricted Subsidiary or any other subsequent transfer of any such Indebtedness (except to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) shall be deemed, in each case, to be an Incurrence of such Indebtedness;
 
  (j) Hedging Obligations that are incurred not for speculative purposes (1) for the purpose of fixing or hedging interest rate risk with respect to any Indebtedness that is permitted by the terms of the Indenture to be outstanding, (2) for the purpose of fixing or hedging currency exchange rate risk with respect to any currency exchanges or (3) for the purpose of fixing or hedging commodity price risk with respect to any commodity purchases;
 
  (k) obligations in respect of performance, bid and surety bonds and completion guarantees provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (l) Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock of the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary and Preferred Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary not otherwise permitted hereunder in an aggregate principal amount, which when aggregated with the principal amount or liquidation preference of all other Indebtedness and Disqualified Stock then outstanding and classified as having been Incurred pursuant to this clause (1), does not exceed $75 million at any one time outstanding; provided, however, that Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries, which when aggregated with the principal amount of all other Indebtedness of Foreign Subsidiaries then outstanding and classified as having been Incurred pursuant to this clause (1), does not exceed $25 million (or the equivalent thereof in any other currency) at any one time outstanding (it being understood that any Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (1) shall cease to be deemed Incurred or outstanding for purposes of this clause (1) but shall be deemed to be Incurred for purposes of the first paragraph of this covenant from and after the first date on which the Company could have Incurred such Indebtedness under the first paragraph of this covenant without reliance upon this clause (1));

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  (m) any guarantee by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness or other obligations of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries so long as the Incurrence of such Indebtedness Incurred by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is permitted under the terms of the Indenture; provided that if such Indebtedness is by its express terms subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, any such guarantee of any Guarantor with respect to such Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee with respect to the Notes substantially to the same extent as such Indebtedness is subordinated to the Notes or the Guarantee of such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable;
 
  (n) the Incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of Indebtedness which serves to refund or refinance any Indebtedness Incurred as permitted under the first paragraph of this covenant and clauses (b) and (c) above, or any Indebtedness issued to so refund or refinance such Indebtedness (subject to the following proviso, “Refinancing Indebtedness”); provided, however, that such Refinancing Indebtedness:

         (i) has a Weighted Average Life to Maturity at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred which is not less than the remaining Weighted Average Life to Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced;
 
         (ii) has a Stated Maturity which is no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being refunded or refinanced;
 
         (iii) to the extent such Refinancing Indebtedness refinances Indebtedness pari passu with the Notes or the Guarantees, is pari passu with the Notes or the Guarantees, as applicable;
 
         (iv) is Incurred in an aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if issued with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding of the Indebtedness being refinanced plus premium and fees Incurred in connection with such refinancing; and
 
         (v) shall not include Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that is not a Guarantor that refinances Indebtedness of the Company;

and provided further that subclauses (i), (ii), (iii), and (v) of this clause (n) will not apply to any refunding or refinancing of any Senior Indebtedness;

  (o) Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock of Persons that are acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or merged into a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; provided, however, that such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock is not Incurred in contemplation of such acquisition or merger or to provide all or a portion of the funds or credit support required to consummate such acquisition or merger; provided further, however, that after giving effect to such acquisition and the Incurrence of such Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock or Preferred Stock either (i) the Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of this covenant or (ii) the Leverage Ratio would be less than immediately prior to such acquisition;
 
  (p)  the Incurrence by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness to finance, in whole or in part, an acquisition of a business or assets consummated within 30 days of such Incurrence; provided, that after giving effect to such acquisition and the Incurrence of such Indebtedness the Leverage Ratio would be less than immediately prior to such acquisition; and

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  (q) Indebtedness represented by the issuance of Additional Notes in connection with the exchange of shares of Class B common stock of the Company outstanding on the Issue Date.

For purposes of determining compliance with this covenant, in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the categories of permitted Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (q) above or is entitled to be Incurred pursuant to the first paragraph of this covenant, the Company shall, in its sole discretion, classify or reclassify such item of Indebtedness in any manner that complies with this covenant and such item of Indebtedness will be treated as having been Incurred pursuant to only one of such clauses or pursuant to the first paragraph hereof. In addition, the Company may, at any time, change the classification of an item of Indebtedness (or any portion thereof) to any other clause or to the first paragraph hereof; provided that the Company or Restricted Subsidiary would be permitted to incur such item of Indebtedness (or portion thereof) pursuant to such other clause or the first paragraph hereof, as the case may be, at such time of reclassification. Accrual of interest, the accretion of accreted value and the payment of interest in the form of additional Indebtedness will not be deemed to be an Incurrence of Indebtedness for purposes of this covenant. Our ratio of Net Debt on a pro forma basis (assuming the transaction took place on March 31, 2004) to historical Adjusted EBITDA for the last twelve months ended March 31, 2004 would have been           to           .

Limitation on Restricted Payments. The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly:

  (i) declare or pay any dividend or make any distribution or payment on account of the Company’s or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries’ Equity Interests, including any payment made in connection with any merger or consolidation involving the Company (other than (A) dividends or distributions by the Company payable in Equity Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or (B) dividends or distributions by a Restricted Subsidiary so long as, in the case of any dividend or distribution payable on or in respect of any class or series of securities issued by a Restricted Subsidiary other than a Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary receives at least its pro rata share of such dividend or distribution in accordance with its Equity Interests in such class or series of securities);
 
  (ii) purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  (iii) make any principal payment on, cause a defeasance of, or purchase, repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire or retire for value, prior to any scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment, any Indebtedness which is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee; or
 
  (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other actions set forth in this clause (iv) and in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above being collectively referred to as “Restricted Payments”),

unless, at the time of such Restricted Payment:

  (a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof;
 
  (b)  (x) no Dividend Suspension Period shall have occurred and be continuing, (y) no Interest Deferral Period shall have occurred and be continuing and (z) no interest deferred during a prior Interest Deferral Period (including interest thereon) remains unpaid;
 
  (c) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate amount of all other Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries after the Issue Date (including, without duplication, Restricted Payments permitted by clauses (1), (5) and (7) (to the extent of $25 million in the case of clause (7)) of the next succeeding paragraph, but excluding all

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  other Restricted Payments permitted by the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum of, without duplication:

         (i) 100% of Excess Cash of the Company for the period (taken as one accounting period) from the fiscal quarter that first begins after the Issue Date to the end of the Company’s most recently ended fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are available at the time of such Restricted Payment, plus
 
         (ii) 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company since the Issue Date from (a) the issue or sale of Equity Interests of the Company (excluding Refunding Capital Stock (as defined below), Designated Preferred Stock, Excluded Contributions and Disqualified Stock), including Equity Interests issued upon conversion of Indebtedness, Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock or upon exercise of warrants or options (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and (b) property, other than cash, converted to cash within 30 days of its receipt, plus
 
         (iii) 100% of the aggregate amount of contributions to the capital of the Company since the Issue Date received in cash or in property other than cash, converted to cash within 30 days of its receipt (other than Excluded Contributions, Refunding Capital Stock, Designated Preferred Stock and Disqualified Stock), plus
 
         (iv) 100% of the aggregate amount of cash or property other than cash converted to cash within 30 days of its receipt, in each case received from (A) the sale or other disposition (other than to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) of or on account of Restricted Investments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and from repurchases and redemptions of such Restricted Investments from the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries by any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and from payments of interest on and repayments of loans or advances which constituted Restricted Investments, (B) the sale (other than to the Company or a Subsidiary) of the Capital Stock of an Unrestricted Subsidiary or (C) a distribution or dividend from an Unrestricted Subsidiary, plus
 
         (v)  in the event any Unrestricted Subsidiary has been redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary or has been merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, 100% of the aggregate net cash proceeds received by the Company (x) at the time of such redesignation, combination or transfer, or (y) with respect to assets other than cash, converted to cash within 30 days of its receipt.

The foregoing provisions will not prohibit:

  (1) the payment of any dividend or distribution within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at the date of declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the Indenture;
 
  (2) (a) the repurchase, retirement or other acquisition of any Equity Interests (“Retired Capital Stock”) or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company in exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Equity Interests of the Company or contributions to the equity capital of the Company (other than any Disqualified Stock or any Equity Interests sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) (collectively, including any such contributions, “Refunding Capital Stock”) or the sale of Subordinated Indebtedness and (b) the declaration and payment of accrued dividends on the Retired Capital Stock out of the

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  proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to an employee stock ownership plan or any trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) of Refunding Capital Stock or the sale of Subordinated Indebtedness;
 
  (3)  the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Disqualified Stock of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries issued or incurred in accordance with the covenant entitled “—Limitation on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
 
  (4) the declaration and payment of dividends or distributions to holders of any class or series of Designated Preferred Stock issued after the Issue Date; provided, however, that (A) for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available immediately preceding the date of issuance of such Designated Preferred Stock, after giving effect to such issuance (and the payment of dividends or distributions) on a pro forma basis, the Company would have had a Leverage Ratio of not greater than 5.75 to 1.00 and (B) the aggregate amount of dividends declared and paid pursuant to this clause (4) does not exceed the net cash proceeds received by the Company from the sale of Designated Preferred Stock issued after the Issue Date;
 
  (5) Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause (5) that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed $25 million (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
 
  (6) Investments that are made with Excluded Contributions;
 
  (7) other Restricted Payments in an aggregate amount not to exceed $           million;
 
  (8) dividends or distributions solely in the form of Equity Interests or repurchases of Equity Interests which may be deemed to occur upon exchange or exercise of other outstanding Equity Interests; and
 
  (9) the exchange of Class B common stock outstanding on the Issue Date for Class A common stock and Notes;

provided, however, that at the time of, and after giving effect to, any Restricted Payment permitted under clauses (5), (7), and (9), no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing or would occur as a consequence thereof. For the twelve-month period ended March 31, 2004, the Company’s Interest Coverage Ratio would have been           to           and the Company’s Excess Cash would have been                     . The Interest Coverage Ratio and Excess Cash were calculated using historical Adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004 and consolidated interest expense on a pro forma basis for the twelve months ended March 31, 2004 assuming the transaction took place on April 1, 2004.

As of the Issue Date, all of the Company’s Subsidiaries will be Restricted Subsidiaries. The Company will not permit any Unrestricted Subsidiary to become a Restricted Subsidiary except pursuant to the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary.” For purposes of designating any Restricted Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary, all outstanding Investments by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (except to the extent repaid) in the Subsidiary so designated will be deemed to be Restricted Payments in an amount determined as set forth in the last sentence of the definition of “Investments.” Such designation will only be permitted if a Restricted Payment in such amount would be permitted at such time and if such Subsidiary otherwise meets the definition of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

Anti-Layering. The Company will not incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is contractually subordinate or junior in right of payment to any Senior Indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to the Notes. No Guarantor will incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness that is contractually

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subordinate or junior in right of payment to the Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor and senior in right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee. This does not apply to distinctions between categories of Indebtedness that exist by reason of any Liens or Guarantees securing or in favor of some but not all of such Indebtedness or securing such Indebtedness with greater or lesser priority or with different collateral.

Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Subsidiaries. The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or consensual restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to:

  (a) (i) pay dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (1) on its Capital Stock or (2) with respect to any other interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (ii) pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  (b) make loans or advances to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; or
 
  (c) sell, lease or transfer any of its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;

except in each case for such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of:

  (1) contractual encumbrances or restrictions in effect on the Issue Date, including pursuant to the Credit Facilities and the other Senior Credit Documents;
 
  (2) the Indenture and the Notes;
 
  (3) applicable law or any applicable rule, regulation or order;
 
  (4) any agreement or other instrument relating to Indebtedness of a Person acquired by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary which was in existence at the time of such acquisition (but not created in contemplation thereof or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;
 
  (5) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition;
 
  (6) Secured Indebtedness otherwise permitted to be Incurred pursuant to the covenants described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” and “—Liens” that limit the right of the debtor to dispose of the assets securing such Indebtedness;
 
  (7) restrictions on cash or other deposits or net worth imposed by customers under contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (8) customary provisions in joint venture agreements and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (9) customary provisions contained in leases, agreements to provide services and other similar agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business that impose restrictions of the type described in clause (c) above;

  (10) other Indebtedness of Restricted Subsidiaries permitted to be Incurred subsequent to the Issue Date pursuant to the covenant described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; or

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  (11) any encumbrances or restrictions of the type referred to in clauses (a), (b) and (c) above imposed by any amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings of the contracts, instruments or obligations referred to in clauses (1) through (10) above; provided that such amendments, modifications, restatements, renewals, increases, supplements, refundings, replacements or refinancings are, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors, no more restrictive with respect to such dividend and other payment restrictions than those contained in the dividend or other payment restrictions prior to such amendment, modification, restatement, renewal, increase, supplement, refunding, replacement or refinancing.

Asset Sales. The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, cause or make an Asset Sale, unless:

  •   the Company, or its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, receives consideration at the time of such Asset Sale at least equal to the Fair Market Value (as determined in good faith by the Company) of the assets sold or otherwise disposed of; and
 
  •   except in the case of a Permitted Asset Swap, at least 75% of the consideration therefor received by the Company, or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, is in the form of Cash Equivalents; provided that the amount of the following shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents for the purposes of this provision:

  •   any liabilities (as shown on the Company’s or such Restricted Subsidiary’s most recent balance sheet or in the notes thereto) of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are assumed by the transferee of any such assets;
 
  •   any notes or other obligations or other securities received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from such transferee that are converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into Cash Equivalents within 180 days of the receipt thereof (to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received); and
 
  •   any Designated Noncash Consideration received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in such Asset Sale having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Designated Noncash Consideration received pursuant to this clause (c) that is at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 2.5% of Tangible Assets or $25 million (with the Fair Market Value of each item of Designated Noncash Consideration being measured at the time received and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value).

Within 365 days after the Company’s or any Restricted Subsidiary’s receipt of the Net Proceeds of any Asset Sale, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may apply the Net Proceeds from such Asset Sale, at its option to:

  •   repay Obligations under the Credit Facilities or other Senior Indebtedness or Pari Passu Indebtedness (provided that if the Company shall so reduce Obligations under Pari Passu Indebtedness, it will equally and ratably reduce Obligations under the Notes by making an offer (in accordance with the procedures set forth below for an Asset Sale Offer) to all Holders to purchase at a purchase price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, the pro rata principal amount of Notes) or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary, in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  •   make an investment in any one or more businesses, capital expenditures or acquisitions of other assets in each case used or useful in a Similar Business; and/or
 
  •   make an investment in properties or assets that replace the properties and assets that are the subject of such Asset Sale.

Pending the application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary may invest such Net Proceeds in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities. The Indenture will provide that

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any Net Proceeds from any Asset Sale that are not applied as provided and within the time period set forth in the first sentence of this paragraph will be deemed to constitute “Excess Proceeds.” When the aggregate amount of Excess Proceeds exceeds $25 million, the Company shall make an offer to all Holders of Notes (an “Asset Sale Offer”) to purchase the maximum principal amount of Notes that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds at an offer price in cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but not including the date fixed for the closing of such offer, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indenture. The Company will commence an Asset Sale Offer with respect to Excess Proceeds within thirty Business Days after the date that Excess Proceeds exceed $25 million by mailing the notice required pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, with a copy to the Trustee. To the extent that the aggregate amount of Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less than the Excess Proceeds, the Company may use any remaining Excess Proceeds for general corporate purposes. If the aggregate principal amount of Notes surrendered by Holders thereof exceeds the amount of Excess Proceeds, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be purchased in the manner described below. Upon completion of any such Asset Sale Offer, the amount of Excess Proceeds shall be reset at zero.

The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations to the extent such laws or regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the provisions of the Indenture, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations described in the Indenture by virtue thereof.

If more Notes are tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer than the Company is required to purchase, selection of such Notes for purchase will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which such Notes are listed, or if such Notes are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate (and in such manner as complies with applicable legal requirements).

Notices of an Asset Sale Offer shall be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the purchase date to each Holder of Notes at such Holder’s registered address. If any Note is to be purchased in part only, any notice of purchase that relates to such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof that has been or is to be purchased.

A new Note in principal amount equal to the unpurchased portion of any Note purchased in part will be issued in the name of the Holder thereof upon cancellation of the original Note. On and after the purchase date unless the Company defaults in payment of the purchase price, interest shall cease to accrue on Notes or portions thereof purchased.

Transactions with Affiliates. The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, make any payment to, or sell, lease, transfer or otherwise dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or assets from, or enter into or make or amend any transaction or series of transactions, contract, agreement, understanding, loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate of the Company (each of the foregoing, an “Affiliate Transaction”) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25 million, unless:

  •   such Affiliate Transaction is on terms that are not materially less favorable to the Company or the relevant Restricted Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable transaction by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary with an unrelated Person; and
 
  •   with respect to any Affiliate Transaction or series of related Affiliate Transactions involving aggregate consideration in excess of $25 million, the Company delivers to the Trustee a resolution adopted by the majority of the Board of Directors of the Company, approving such Affiliate Transaction and set forth in an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with the first bullet point above.

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The foregoing provisions will not apply to the following:

  •   transactions between or among the Company and/or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  •   Permitted Investments and Restricted Payments permitted by the provisions of the Indenture described above under the covenant “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”;
 
  •   the payment of reasonable and customary fees paid to, and indemnity provided on behalf of, officers, directors, employees or consultants of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  •   transactions in which the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, as the case may be, delivers to the Trustee a letter from an Independent Financial Advisor stating that such transaction is fair to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from a financial point of view or meets the requirements of the first bullet point of the preceding paragraph;
 
  •   payments or loans to employees or consultants in the ordinary course of business which are approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the Company (or a committee thereof) in good faith;
 
  •   any agreement as in effect as of the Issue Date or any amendment thereto (so long as any such amendment is not disadvantageous to the holders of the Notes in any material respect) or any transaction contemplated thereby;
 
  •   the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under the terms of, any stockholders agreement (including any registration rights agreement or purchase agreement related thereto) to which it is a party as of the Issue Date and any similar agreements which it may enter into thereafter, provided, however, that the existence of, or the performance by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries of its obligations under any future amendment to any such existing agreement or under any similar agreement entered into after the Issue Date shall only be permitted by this clause to the extent that the terms of any such amendment or new agreement are not otherwise disadvantageous to the Holders of the Notes in any material respect; and
 
  •   transactions with customers, clients, suppliers or purchasers or sellers of goods or services, in each case in the ordinary course of business and otherwise in compliance with the terms of the Indenture, which are fair to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the reasonable determination of the Board of Directors or the senior management of the Company, or are on terms at least as favorable as might reasonably have been obtained at such time from an unaffiliated party.

Liens. The Indenture will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset or property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, that secures any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than Senior Indebtedness) unless the Notes are equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated in right of payment to the Notes) the Indebtedness so secured or until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by a Lien. The preceding sentence will not require the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to secure the Notes if the Lien consists of a Permitted Lien.

The Indenture will provide that no Guarantor will directly or indirectly create, Incur or suffer to exist any Lien on any asset or property of such Guarantor or any income or profits therefrom, or assign or convey any right to receive income therefrom, that secures any Indebtedness of such Guarantor (other than Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor) unless the Guarantee of such Guarantor is equally and ratably secured with (or on a senior basis to, in the case of Indebtedness subordinated on right of payment to such Guarantor’s Guarantee) the Indebtedness so secured or until such time as such Indebtedness is no longer secured by a Lien. The preceding sentence will not require any Guarantor to secure its Guarantee if the Lien consists of a Permitted Lien.

Reports and Other Information. The Indenture will provide that notwithstanding that the Company may not be subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or otherwise

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report on an annual and quarterly basis on forms provided for such annual and quarterly reporting pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, the Company will file with the Commission, documents and reports that are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act within the time periods specified therein; provided, however, the Company shall not be so obligated to file such documents and other reports with the Commission if the Commission does not permit such filing, in which event the Company will make available such information to prospective purchasers of Notes, in addition to providing such information to the Trustee and the Holders, in each case within 15 days after the time the Company would be required to file such information with the Commission if it were subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Future Guarantors. The Indenture will provide that the Company will cause each Restricted Subsidiary organized under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof that has total assets of more than $500,000 and that guarantees any indebtedness under any Senior Credit Document to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will guarantee payment of the Notes. Each Guarantee will be limited to an amount not to exceed the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by that Subsidiary without rendering the Guarantee, as it relates to such Subsidiary, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets

The Indenture will provide that the Company may not consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions, to any Person unless:

  •   the Company is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (the Company or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Company”);
 
  •   the Successor Company (if other than the Company) expressly assumes all the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
 
  •   immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Restricted Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing;
 
  •   immediately after giving pro forma effect to such transaction, as if such transaction had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period, either (A) the Successor Company would be permitted to Incur at least $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio test set forth in the first sentence of the covenant described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” or (B) the Leverage Ratio for the Successor Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be less than or equal to such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such transaction;
 
  •   each Guarantor, unless it is the other party to the transactions described above, shall have by supplemental indenture confirmed that its Guarantee shall apply to the Successor Company’s obligations under the Indenture and the Notes; and
 
  •   the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

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The Successor Company will succeed to, and be substituted for, the Company under the Indenture and the Notes. Notwithstanding the clauses contained in the third and fourth bullet points of the immediately preceding sentence,

  •   any Restricted Subsidiary may consolidate with, merge into or transfer all or part of its properties and assets to the Company or to another Restricted Subsidiary; and
 
  •   the Company may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another state of the United States or changing the form of organization of the Company to a corporation, partnership or limited liability company so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries is not increased thereby.

The Indenture will further provide that, subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture governing release of a Guarantee upon the sale or disposition of a Guarantor, each Guarantor will not, and the Company will not permit a Guarantor to consolidate or merge with or into or wind up into (whether or not such Guarantor is the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related transactions to, any Person unless:

  •   such Guarantor is the surviving corporation or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Guarantor) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made is a corporation, partnership or limited liability company organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, the District of Columbia, or any territory thereof (such Guarantor or such Person, as the case may be, being herein called the “Successor Guarantor”);
 
  •   the Successor Guarantor (if other than such Guarantor) expressly assumes all the obligations of such Guarantor under the Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture or other documents or instruments in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee;
 
  •   immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Guarantor or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Guarantor or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
 
  •   the Guarantor shall have delivered or caused to be delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with the Indenture.

Subject to certain limitations described in the Indenture, the Successor Guarantor will succeed to, and be substituted for, such Guarantor under the Indenture and such Guarantor’s Guarantee. Notwithstanding the clause contained in the third bullet point of the immediately preceding sentence, a Guarantor may merge with an Affiliate incorporated solely for the purpose of reincorporating such Guarantor in another state of the United States or changing the form of organization of the Guarantor to a corporation, partnership or limited liability company so long as the amount of Indebtedness of the Guarantor is not increased thereby.

Defaults

An Event of Default will be defined in the Indenture as:

  (i) a default in any payment of interest on any Note when due, whether or not prohibited by the provisions described under “—Ranking” above, continued for 30 days, subject to the interest deferral provisions contained in the Indenture; provided, however, that a default in any payment of interest on the Note required to be made on                     , 2009 shall immediately constitute an Event of Default (without regard to the length of time for which such default continues);

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  (ii) a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any, of any Note when due at its Stated Maturity, upon optional redemption, upon required repurchase, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment is prohibited by the provisions described under “—Ranking” above;
 
  (iii) the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under the covenant described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” above;
 
  (iv) the failure by the Company to comply for 30 days after notice with any of its obligations under the covenants described under “—Change of Control” above (other than a failure to purchase Notes);
 
  (v) the failure by the Company to comply for 60 days after notice with its other agreements contained in the Notes or the Indenture;
 
  (vi) the failure by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary to pay any Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness owing to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary) within any applicable grace period after final maturity or the acceleration of any such Indebtedness by the holders thereof because of a default if the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $25 million or its foreign currency equivalent (the “cross acceleration provision”);
 
  (vii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company or a Significant Subsidiary (the “bankruptcy provisions”);
 
  (viii) the rendering of any judgment or decree for the payment of money (other than judgments which are covered by enforceable insurance policies issued by solvent carriers) in excess of $25 million or its foreign currency equivalent against the Company or a Significant Subsidiary if (A) an enforcement proceeding thereon is commenced and not discharged or stayed within 60 days thereafter or (B) such judgment or decree remains outstanding for a period of 60 days following such judgment and is not discharged, waived or stayed (the “judgment default provision”);
 
  (ix) any Guarantee ceases to be in full force and effect, except as contemplated by the terms thereof, or any Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Indenture or any Guarantee and the Default continues for 10 Business Days; or
 
  (x) except as expressly permitted by clause (1) under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments,” the Company pays any dividend on shares of the Company’s common stock (A) during the period that any interest is being deferred and so long as any deferred interest and accrued interest thereon has not been paid in full, or (B) when, based on the then-available financial statements presented to the Board of Directors, such dividend would violate the “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” covenant.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

However, a default under clauses (iv) or (v) will not constitute an Event of Default until the Trustee or the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes notify the Company of the default and the Company does not cure such default within the time specified in clauses (iv) and (v) hereof after receipt of such notice.

If an Event of Default (other than a Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes by notice to the Company may declare the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a

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declaration, such principal, premium and interest will become due and payable five Business Days after the Designated Senior Indebtedness has received written notice of any such declaration. If an Event of Default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company occurs, the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all the Notes will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holders. Under certain circumstances, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.

In the event of a declaration of acceleration of the Notes because an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing as a result of the acceleration of any Indebtedness described in the cross acceleration provision, the declaration of acceleration of the Notes shall be automatically annulled if the holders of all Indebtedness described in the cross acceleration provision have rescinded the declaration of acceleration in respect of such Indebtedness within 30 Business Days of the date of such declaration, and if the annulment of the acceleration of the Notes would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, and all existing Events of Default, except non-payment of principal or interest on the Notes that became due solely because of the acceleration of the Notes, have been cured or waived.

Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the Trustee, in case an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity or security against any loss, liability or expense. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Holder may pursue any remedy with respect to the Indenture or the Notes unless:

  •   such Holder has previously given the Trustee notice that an Event of Default is continuing;
 
  •   Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have requested the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
 
  •   such Holders have offered the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against any loss, liability or expense;
 
  •   the Trustee has not complied with such request within 60 days after the receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
 
  •   the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes have not given the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request within such 60-day period.

Subject to certain restrictions, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Notes are given the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. The Trustee, however, may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture or that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of any other Holder or that would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to taking any action under the Indenture, the Trustee will be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

The Indenture will provide that if a Default occurs and is continuing and is actually known to the Trustee, the Trustee must mail to each Holder notice of the Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs or 30 days after it is actually known to a Trust Officer or written notice of it is received by the Trustee. Except in the case of a Default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Note, the Trustee may withhold notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interests of the Noteholders. In addition, the Company is required to deliver, to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a certificate indicating whether the signers thereof know of any Event of Default that occurred during the previous year. The Company also is required to deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written

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notice of any event which would constitute certain Defaults, their status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take in respect thereof.

Amendments and Waivers

Subject to certain exceptions, the Indenture may be amended with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes then outstanding of all series affected by such amendment and any past default or compliance with any provisions may be waived with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of all series affected by such amendment then outstanding. However, without the consent of each Holder of an outstanding Note affected, no amendment may, among other things:

  •   reduce the amount of Notes whose Holders must consent to an amendment;
 
  •   reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Note or amend the Company’s right to defer interest on the Notes in a manner adverse to the Holders;
 
  •   reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Note;
 
  •   reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Note or change the time at which any Note may be redeemed as described under “Optional Redemption” above;
 
  •   make any Note payable in money other than that stated in the Note;
 
  •   make any change to the subordination provisions of the Indenture that adversely affects the rights of any Holder;
 
  •   impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Holder’s Notes on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Holder’s Notes;
 
  •   except in connection with an offer by the Company to purchase all of the Notes (in which case a majority in principal amount of Notes will be sufficient):

  •   make a change to lower the Interest Coverage Ratio threshold for a Dividend Suspension Period or make a change to paragraph (c) under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” that would have the effect of increasing the amounts permitted to be distributed in respect of the Company’s Capital Stock;
 
  •   make any change to the provisions of the indenture that prohibit the payment of dividends while interest is being deferred, while any previously deferred interest remains unpaid, during a Dividend Suspension Period, or during the continuance of any Default or Event of Default; or
 
  •   waive an Event of Default under clause (x) of “Defaults”;

  •   make any change in the amendment provisions which require each Holder’s consent or in the waiver provisions; or
 
  •   modify the Guarantees in any manner adverse to the Holders.

Without the consent of any Holder, the Company and Trustee may amend the Indenture to:

  •   cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;
 
  •   provide for the assumption by a successor corporation, partnership or limited liability company of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture;
 
  •   provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes (provided that the uncertificated Notes are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Notes are described in Section l63(f)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code);
 
  •   add Guarantees with respect to the Notes;
 
  •   secure the Notes;

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  •   add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;
 
  •   make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder, to comply with any requirement of the Commission in connection with the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939; or
 
  •   make certain changes to the Indenture to provide for the issuance of Additional Notes.

However, no amendment may be made to the subordination provisions of the Indenture that adversely affects the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

The consent of the Noteholders is not necessary under the Indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment. It is sufficient if such consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.

After an amendment under the Indenture becomes effective, the Company is required to mail to Noteholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. However, the failure to give such notice to all Noteholders, or any defect therein, will not impair or affect the validity of the amendment.

Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, we will not be permitted to effect any amendment or modification if the effect would be to:

  •   increase the interest rate applicable to the Notes or any deferred interest on the Notes;
 
  •   change to an earlier date the scheduled dates of payment on any component of principal, interest or other amounts on the Notes;
 
  •   increase principal repayments or amortization payments on the Notes;
 
  •   alter the redemption, prepayment or subordination provisions of the Notes;
 
  •   add to or alter the covenants (including, without limitation, the financial covenants), defaults and Events of Defaults set forth in the Indenture in a manner that would make such provisions more onerous or restrictive to the Company; or
 
  •   otherwise increase the obligations of the Company or any Guarantor in respect of the Notes, the deferred interest on the Notes or confer additional rights upon the holders thereof which individually or in the aggregate would be adverse to the Company, any Guarantor or the lenders of the Senior Lender Indebtedness.

Defeasance

The Company at any time may terminate all its obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (“legal defeasance”), except for certain obligations, including those respecting the defeasance trust and obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the Notes, to replace mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes and to maintain a registrar and paying agent in respect of the Notes. The Company at any time may terminate its obligations under the covenants described under “—Certain Covenants” and “—Change of Control,” the operation of the cross acceleration provision, the bankruptcy provisions with respect to Subsidiaries and the judgment default provision described under “—Defaults” above and the limitations contained in the fourth bullet point of the first paragraph under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” above (“covenant defeasance”). If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, each Guarantor will be released from all of its obligations with respect to its Guarantee.

The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in clause (iv), (vi), (vii) with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries or (viii) with respect only to

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Significant Subsidiaries under “—Defaults” above or because of the failure of the Company to comply with the fourth bullet point of the first paragraph under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” above.

In order to exercise either defeasance option, the Company must irrevocably deposit in trust (the “—defeasance trust”) with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on the Notes to redemption or maturity, as the case may be, and must comply with certain other conditions, including:

  •   delivery to the Trustee of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that holders of the Notes will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred (and, in the case of legal defeasance only, such Opinion of Counsel must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or other change in applicable United States federal income tax law); and
 
  •   so long as, on the date or dates the respective amounts were paid into the trust, such payments were made with respect to the Notes without violating the subordination provisions of the Indenture or any other material agreement binding on the Company (except for violations of the Indenture as a result of the borrowing of funds to be applied to such payments), including the Credit Facilities.

Satisfaction and Discharge

The Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to all Notes issued thereunder, when:

  •   either:

  •   all Notes that have been authenticated (except lost, stolen or destroyed Notes that have been replaced or paid and Notes for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
  •   all Notes that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the making of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company or any Guarantor has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, Cash Equivalents, Investment Grade Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the Notes not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium and additional interest, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;

  •   no Event of Default (other than one resulting solely from the borrowing of funds to provide such deposit) shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or shall occur as a result of such deposit and such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor is a party or by which the Company or any Guarantor is bound;
 
  •   the Company or any Guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under the Indenture; and
 
  •   the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under the Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of the Notes at maturity or the redemption date, as the case may be.

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Concerning the Trustee

                                                  is to be the Trustee under the Indenture.

Governing Law

The Indenture will provide that it and the Notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

Certain Definitions

“Acquired Indebtedness” means, with respect to any specified Person:

  •   Indebtedness of any other Person existing at the time such other Person is merged with or into or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary of such specified Person and
 
  •   Indebtedness secured by a Lien encumbering any asset acquired by such specified Person,
 
  •   in each case, other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, in contemplation of, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was otherwise acquired by such Person, or such asset was acquired by such person, as applicable.

“Adjusted EBITDA” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period plus, without duplication:

  •   provision for taxes based on income or profits of such Person for such period deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus
 
  •   Consolidated Interest Expense of such Person for such period to the extent the same was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus
 
  •   Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense of such Person for such period to the extent such Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus
 
  •   any non-recurring fees, expenses or charges deducted in such period in computing Consolidated Net Income, plus
 
  •   any other non-cash charges reducing Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such charge which requires an accrual of, or cash reserve for, anticipated cash charges for any future period).

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization of, a Subsidiary of the Company shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute Adjusted EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the Net Income of such Subsidiary was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income.

“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise.

“Asset Sale” means:

  •   the sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions) of property or assets (including by way of a Sale/ Leaseback Transaction) of the

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  Company or any Restricted Subsidiary not in the ordinary course of business (each referred to in this definition as a “disposition”); or
 
  •   the issuance or sale of Equity Interests of any Restricted Subsidiary (other than to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary) (whether in a single transaction or a series of related transactions), in each case other than:

  •   a disposition of Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities or obsolete or worn out equipment in the ordinary course of business;
 
  •   the disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in a manner permitted pursuant to the provisions described above under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of All or Substantially All Assets” or any disposition that constitutes a Change of Control;
 
  •   any Restricted Payment or Permitted Investment that is permitted to be made, and is made, under the covenant described above under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments”;
 
  •   any disposition of assets with an aggregate Fair Market Value of less than $5 million;
 
  •   any disposition of property or assets by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  •   any exchange of like-kind property pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, for use in a Similar Business;
 
  •   sales of assets received by the Company upon the foreclosure on a Lien;
 
  •   any sale of Equity Interests in, or Indebtedness or other securities of, an Unrestricted Subsidiary;
 
  •   licenses of intellectual property;
 
  •   any disposition of Designated Noncash Compensation; and
 
  •   sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices and sales of equipment upon termination of a contract with a client entered into in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the terms of such contract.

“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

“Borrowing Base” means the product of

  •   Adjusted EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available and
 
  •   three.

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York State are authorized or required by law to close.

“Capitalized Lease Obligation” means, at the time any determination thereof is to be made, the amount of the liability in respect of a capital lease that would at such time be required to be capitalized and reflected as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) in accordance with GAAP.

“Capital Expenditures” means any expenditure required to be classified as a capital expenditure in accordance with GAAP.

“Capital Stock” means:

  •   in the case of a corporation, corporate stock, including, without limitation, corporate stock represented by IDSs and corporate stock outstanding upon the separation of IDSs into the securities represented thereby;
 
  •   in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

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  •   in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership or membership interests (whether general or limited); and
 
  •   any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person.

“Cash Equivalents” means:

  •   U.S. dollars and foreign currency exchanged into U.S. dollars within 180 days;
 
  •   securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof;
 
  •   certificates of deposit, time deposits and eurodollar time deposits with maturities of one year or less from the date of acquisition, bankers’ acceptances with maturities not exceeding one year and overnight bank deposits, in each case with any commercial bank having capital and surplus in excess of $500.0 million and whose long-term debt is rated at least “A” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P;
 
  •   repurchase obligations for underlying securities of the types described in the second and third bullet point above entered into with any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in the third bullet point above;
 
  •   commercial paper issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) rated at least “A-2” or the equivalent thereof by Moody’s or S&P and in each case maturing within one year after the date of acquisition;
 
  •   investment funds investing at least 95% of their assets in securities of the types described in clauses contained in first five bullet points above;
 
  •   readily marketable direct obligations issued by any state of the United States of America or any political subdivision thereof having one of the two highest rating categories obtainable from either Moody’s or S&P; and
 
  •   Indebtedness or preferred stock issued by Persons with a rating of “A” or higher from S&P or “A-2” or higher from Moody’s.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

  •   the sale, lease or transfer, in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to any person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Permitted Holders;
 
  •   the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company;
 
  •   the acquisition by any person or group (as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than the Permitted Holders of a beneficial ownership of more than 50% of the voting power of the voting stock of the Company, by way of purchase, merger or consolidation or otherwise (other than a creation of a holding company that does not involve a change in the beneficial ownership of the Company as a result of such transaction);
 
  •   the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person into the Company with the effect that immediately after such transaction the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to such transaction hold, directly or indirectly, less than 50% of the total voting power of all securities generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, managers, or trustees of the Person surviving such merger or consolidation, in each case other than creation of a holding company that does not involve a change in the beneficial ownership of the Company as a result of such transaction; or
 
  •   the first day on which a majority of the members of the Board of Directors of the Company are not Continuing Directors. In order to exercise this repurchase right, a Holder must separate its IDSs into the shares of Class A common stock and Notes represented thereby.

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“Company” means Valor Communications Group, Inc. until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained in the Indenture and required by the Trust Indenture Act, each other obligor on the Notes.

“Consolidated Depreciation and Amortization Expense” means with respect to any Person for any period, the total amount of depreciation and amortization expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Interest Expense” means, with respect to any Person for any period, consolidated interest expense of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, to the extent such expense was deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, determined on a consolidated basis and otherwise determined in accordance with GAAP, plus, to the extent not included in such consolidated interest expense, and to the extent Incurred by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication, (a) interest expense attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale/ Leaseback Transaction and/or Capitalized Lease Obligations, (b) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost, (c) capitalized interest, (d) non-cash interest expense, (e) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptance financing, (f) net costs associated with Hedging Obligations (including amortization of fees), (g) interest Incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations, (h) interest in respect of Indebtedness of any other Person to the extent such Indebtedness is guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, but only to the extent that such interest is actually paid by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and (i) the earned discount or yield with respect to the sale of receivables.

“Consolidated Net Income” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Restricted Subsidiaries for such period, on a consolidated basis; provided, however, that:

  •   any net after-tax extraordinary gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) shall be excluded;
 
  •   any increase in amortization or depreciation resulting from purchase accounting in relation to any acquisition that is consummated after the Issue Date, net of taxes, shall be excluded;
 
  •   the Net Income for such period shall not include the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles during such period;
 
  •   any net after-tax income or loss from discontinued operations and any net after-tax gains or losses on disposal of discontinued operations shall be excluded;
 
  •   any net after-tax gains or losses (less all fees and expenses relating thereto) attributable to asset dispositions other than in the ordinary course of business (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors) shall be excluded; and
 
  •   the Net Income for such period of any Person that is not a Subsidiary of such Person, or is an Unrestricted Subsidiary, or that is accounted for by the equity method of accounting, shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends or distributions or other payments paid in cash (or to the extent converted into cash) to the referent Person or a Restricted Subsidiary thereof in respect of such period.

“Continuing Directors” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the Company’s Board of Directors who:

  •   was a member of the Company’s Board of Directors on the date of the Indenture; or
 
  •   was nominated for election or elected to the Board of Directors with the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of the Company’s Board of Directors at the time of the nomination or election.

“Credit Agreement” means the credit agreement to be dated as of                     , 2004, as amended, restated, supplemented, waived, replaced, restructured, repaid, increased, refunded, refinanced or otherwise modified

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from time to time (whether or not terminated and whether with the original lenders or otherwise), among the Company, the Subsidiaries of the Company named therein, the financial institutions from time to time a party thereto and the administrative agent, fronting bank and swingline lender, including any successor or replacement facility extending the maturity thereof or otherwise restructuring all or any portion of the Indebtedness under such agreement or increasing the amount of available borrowings thereunder (except to the extent that any such amendment, restatement, supplement, waiver, replacement, refunding, refinancing or other modification thereto would be prohibited by the terms of the Indenture, unless otherwise agreed to by the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of Notes at the time outstanding).

“Credit Facilities” means, one or more debt facilities (including, without limitation, the Credit Agreement and indentures or debt securities) or commercial paper facilities, in each case with banks or other institutional lenders providing for revolving credit loans, term debt, receivables financing (including through the sale of receivables to such lenders or to special purpose entities formed to borrow from such lenders against such receivables) or letters of credit, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time, including any refunding, replacement or refinancing thereof through the issuance of debt securities.

“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

“Designated Noncash Consideration” means the Fair Market Value of noncash consideration received by the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with an Asset Sale that is so designated as Designated Noncash Consideration pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, setting forth the basis of such valuation, less the amount of Cash Equivalents received in connection with a subsequent sale of such Designated Noncash Consideration.

“Designated Preferred Stock” means Preferred Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock) that is issued (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) and is so designated as Designated Preferred Stock, pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate, on the issuance date thereof, the proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (c) of the covenant described under “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

“Designated Senior Indebtedness” means (i) the Senior Lender Indebtedness and (ii) any other Senior Indebtedness of the Company with a principal amount in excess of $25 million and designated by the Company as Designated Senior Indebtedness.

“Disqualified Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is redeemable or exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event;

  •   matures or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise;
 
  •   is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock; or
 
  •   is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each case prior to the first anniversary of the maturity date of the Notes;

provided, however, that only the portion of Capital Stock which so matures or is mandatorily redeemable, is so convertible or exchangeable or is so redeemable at the option of the holder thereof prior to such dates shall be deemed to be Disqualified Stock; provided further, however, that if such Capital Stock is issued to any employee or to any plan for the benefit of employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries or by any such plan to such employees, such Capital Stock shall not constitute Disqualified Stock solely because it may be required to be repurchased by the Company in order to satisfy applicable statutory or regulatory obligations or as a result of such employee’s termination, death or disability. Notwithstanding the third bullet point of this definition, any Capital Stock that would constitute Disqualified Stock solely because

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the holders thereof have the right to require the Company to repurchase such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of a change of control or an asset sale shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the terms of such Capital Stock provide that the Company may not repurchase or redeem any such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions unless such repurchase or redemption complies with the covenant described above under the caption “—Certain Covenants—Restricted Payments.”

“Dividend Suspension Period” means any period for which the Interest Coverage Ratio of the Company for the most recently ended four full fiscal quarters for which internal financial statements are available is less than 1.80 to 1.00.

“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).

“Excess Cash” shall mean, with respect to any period, Adjusted EBITDA minus the sum of:

  •   cash interest expense;
 
  •   deferred interest, if any, not otherwise included in the clause contained in the first bullet point;
 
  •   cash income tax expense;
 
  •   Capital Expenditures (except to the extent financed with an incurrence of Indebtedness);
 
  •   any item included in the clause contained in the fourth bullet point under the definition of Adjusted EBITDA that represents a cash payment; and
 
  •   any mandatory pre-payment that results in a permanent reduction of the principal amount (or commitments under a revolving facility) of Designated Senior Indebtedness prior to its scheduled maturity (to the extent not otherwise included in (i) or (ii) above); provided that if Senior Indebtedness (other than under a revolving facility) is Incurred in such period that replaces Designated Senior Indebtedness previously prepaid, which prepayment resulted in a reduction to Excess Cash pursuant to this clause (vi) then Excess Cash shall be increased by the amount of such previous reduction.

“Excluded Contributions” means the net proceeds received by the Company after the Issue Date from (i) contributions to its common equity capital and (ii) the sale (other than to a Subsidiary of the Company or to any Company or Subsidiary management equity plan or stock incentive plan or any other management or employee benefit plan or agreement) of Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock and Designated Preferred Stock) of the Company, in each case designated as Excluded Contributions pursuant to an Officers’ Certificate executed by an Officer of the Company, the proceeds of which are excluded from the calculation set forth in clause (c) of the first paragraph of the “— Limitation on Restricted Payments” covenant.

“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between a willing seller and a willing and able buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are in effect on the Issue Date. For the purposes of the Indenture, the term “consolidated” with respect to any Person shall mean such Person consolidated with its Restricted Subsidiaries, and shall not include any Unrestricted Subsidiary, but the interest of such Person in an Unrestricted Subsidiary will be accounted for as an Investment.

“guarantee” means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of

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credit and reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any Indebtedness or other obligations.

“Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Indenture and the Notes by any Person in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.

“Guarantor” means any Person that Incurs a Guarantee; provided that upon the release or discharge of such Person from its Guarantee in accordance with the Indenture, such Person ceases to be a Guarantor.

“Hedging Obligations” means, with respect to any Person, the obligations of such Person under:

  •   (i) currency exchange, interest rate or commodity swap agreements, currency exchange, interest rate or commodity cap agreements and currency exchange, interest rate or commodity collar agreements; and
 
  •   (ii) other agreements or arrangements designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in currency exchange, interest rates or commodity prices.

“Holder” or “Noteholder” means the Person in whose name a Note is registered on the Registrar’s books.

“IDS” means the Company’s Income Deposit Securities, whether currently outstanding or as may be issued from time to time.

“Incur” means issue, assume, guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; provided, however, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such person at the time it becomes a Subsidiary.

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person:

  •   the principal and premium (if any) of any indebtedness of such Person, whether or not contingent:

  •   in respect of borrowed money;
 
  •   evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit or bankers’ acceptances (or, without duplication, reimbursement agreements in respect thereof);
 
  •   representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any property, except any such balance that constitutes a trade payable or similar obligation to a trade creditor or an accrued expense;
 
  •   in respect of Capitalized Lease Obligations; or
 
  •   representing any Hedging Obligations,

if and to the extent that any of the foregoing Indebtedness (other than letters of credit and Hedging Obligations) would appear as a liability on a balance sheet (excluding the footnotes thereto) of such Person prepared in accordance with GAAP;

  •   to the extent not otherwise included, any obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, on the Indebtedness of another Person (other than by endorsement of negotiable instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business); and
 
  •   to the extent not otherwise included, Indebtedness of another Person secured by a Lien on any asset owned by such Person (whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by such Person); provided, however, that the amount of such Indebtedness will be the lesser of (a) the Fair Market Value of such asset at such date of determination and (b) the amount of such Indebtedness of such other Person; provided, further, that any obligation of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of (i) minimum guaranteed commissions, or other similar payments, to clients, minimum returns to clients or stop loss limits in favor of clients or indemnification obligations to clients, in each case pursuant to contracts to provide services to clients entered into in the ordinary course of business, and (ii) account credits to participants under the LTIP or any successor or similar compensation plan, shall be deemed not to constitute Indebtedness.

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“Independent Financial Advisor” means an accounting, appraisal or investment banking firm or consultant to Persons engaged in a similar business of nationally recognized standing that is, in the good faith determination of the Company, qualified to perform the task for which it has been engaged.

“Interest Coverage Ratio” for any period means the ratio of (A) Adjusted EBITDA to (B) Consolidated Interest Expense less the sum of non-cash interest expense amortization of deferred transaction costs for the twelve-month period ended on the last day of any fiscal quarter.

“Investment Grade Securities” means:

  •   securities issued or directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government or any agency or instrumentality thereof (other than Cash Equivalents);
 
  •   debt securities or debt instruments with a rating of BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody’s or the equivalent of such rating by such rating organization, or if no rating of S&P or Moody’s then exists, the equivalent of such rating by any other nationally recognized securities rating agency, but excluding any debt securities or instruments constituting loans or advances among the Company and its Subsidiaries; and
 
  •   investments in any fund that invests exclusively in investments of the type described in the clauses contained in the immediately preceding two bullet points which fund may also hold cash.

“Investments” means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the form of loans (including guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding accounts receivable, trade credit and advances to customers and commission, travel and similar advances to officers, employees and consultants made in the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for consideration (including agreements providing for the adjustment of purchase price) of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities issued by any other Person and investments that are required by GAAP to be classified on the balance sheet of the Company in the same manner as the other investments included in this definition to the extent such transactions involve the transfer of cash or other property.

For purposes of the definition of “Unrestricted Subsidiary” and the covenant described under “— Limitation on Restricted Payments”:

  •   “Investments” shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of a Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent “Investment” in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to (x) the Company’s “Investment” in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (y) the portion (proportionate to the Company’s equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the Fair Market Value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and
 
  •   any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its Fair Market Value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

“Issue Date” means the first date on which any Notes are authenticated.

“Leverage Ratio” means, with respect to any Person for any period, the ratio of Net Debt of such Person at the end of such period to the Adjusted EBITDA of such Person for such period. In the event that the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries Incurs or redeems any Indebtedness or issues or redeems Preferred Stock subsequent to the end of the period for which the Leverage Ratio is being calculated but prior to the event for which the calculation of the Leverage Ratio is made (the “Calculation Date”), then the Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect to such Incurrence or redemption of Indebtedness, or such issuance or redemption of Preferred Stock, as if the same had occurred at the end of the applicable four-quarter period.

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For purposes of making the computation referred to above, Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, mergers, consolidations and discontinued operations (as determined in accordance with GAAP), in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that have been made by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries during the four-quarter reference period or subsequent to such reference period and on or prior to or simultaneously with the Calculation Date shall be calculated on a pro forma basis assuming that all such Investments, acquisitions, dispositions, discontinued operations, mergers and consolidations (and the reduction of any associated interest coverage obligations and the change in Adjusted EBITDA resulting therefrom) had occurred on the first day of the four-quarter reference period. If since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Investment, acquisition or disposition, have discontinued any operation, or have engaged in merger or consolidation, in each case with respect to an operating unit of a business, that would have required adjustment pursuant to this definition, then the Leverage Ratio shall be calculated giving pro forma effect thereto for such period as if such Investment, acquisition, disposition, discontinued operation, merger or consolidation had occurred at the beginning of the applicable four-quarter period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to any transaction, the pro forma calculations shall be made in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting officer of the Company. Any such pro forma calculation may include adjustments appropriate, in the reasonable determination of the Company as set forth in an Officers’ Certificate, to reflect operating expense reductions reasonably expected to result from any acquisition or merger.

“Lien” means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent statutes) of any jurisdiction); provided that in no event shall an operating lease be deemed to constitute a Lien.

“LTIP” means any long-term incentive or similar compensation plan maintained by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.

“Net Debt” means, with respect to the Company, on a consolidated basis at any time, the actual outstanding amount of funded indebtedness, plus, without duplication, the principal component of all Capitalized Lease Obligations and, without duplication, other Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries at such time, less (i) any early termination payments that would be owed to the Company and its Subsidiaries if all outstanding Hedging Obligations were terminated, and (ii) the amount of cash and Cash Equivalents of the Company and its Subsidiaries on the balance sheet as of the date of determination.

“Net Income” means, with respect to any Person, the net income (loss) of such Person, determined in accordance with GAAP and before any reduction in respect of Preferred Stock dividends or other dividends.

“Net Proceeds” means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale (including, without limitation, any cash received in respect of or upon the sale or other disposition of any Designated Noncash Consideration received in any Asset Sale and any cash payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise, but only as and when received, but excluding the assumption by the acquiring person of Indebtedness relating to the disposed assets or other considerations received in any other noncash form), net of the direct costs relating to such Asset Sale and the sale or disposition of such Designated Noncash Consideration (including, without limitation, legal, accounting and investment banking fees, and brokerage and sales commissions), and any relocation expenses Incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or

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payable as a result thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and any tax sharing arrangements related thereto), amounts required to be applied to the repayment of principal, premium (if any) and interest on Indebtedness required (other than pursuant to the clause in the first bullet point of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Asset Sales”) to be paid as a result of such transaction, and any deduction of appropriate amounts to be provided by the Company as a reserve in accordance with GAAP against any liabilities associated with the asset disposed of in such transaction and retained by the Company after such sale or other disposition thereof, including, without limitation, pension and other post-employment benefit liabilities and liabilities related to environmental matters or against any indemnification obligations associated with such transaction.

“Notes” means the           % senior subordinated notes of the Company, including any additional Notes unless expressly provided otherwise.

“Obligations” means any principal, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements (including, without limitation, reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit and bankers’ acceptances), damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness; provided that Obligations with respect to the Notes shall not include fees or indemnifications in favor of the Trustee and other third parties other than the Holders of the Notes.

“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by two Officers of the Company, one of whom must be the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer, the treasurer or the principal accounting officer of the Company that meets the requirements set forth in the Indenture.

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.

“Pari Passu Indebtedness” means:

  •   with respect to the Company, the Notes and any other Indebtedness of the Company, other than Senior Indebtedness, Secured Indebtedness or Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company; and
 
  •   with respect to any Guarantor, its Guarantee and any other Indebtedness of such Guarantor, other than Senior Indebtedness, Secured Indebtedness and Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor.

“Permitted Asset Swap” means any one or more transactions in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary exchanges assets for consideration consisting of:

  •   assets used or useful in a Similar Business; and
 
  •   any cash or Cash Equivalents, provided that such cash or Cash Equivalents will be considered Net Proceeds from an Asset Sale.

“Permitted Holders” means Welsh, Carson Anderson & Stowe and Vestar Capital Partners and their respective Affiliates.

“Permitted Investments” means:

  •   any Investment in the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  •   any Investment in Cash Equivalents or Investment Grade Securities;
 
  •   any Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of the Company in a Person that is primarily engaged in a Similar Business if as a result of such Investment (a) such Person becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or (b) such Person, in one transaction or a series of related transactions, is merged, consolidated or amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

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  •   any Investment in securities or other assets not constituting Cash Equivalents and received in connection with an Asset Sale made pursuant to the provisions of “—Asset Sales” or any other disposition of assets not constituting an Asset Sale;
 
  •   any Investment existing on the Issue Date;
 
  •   advances to employees not in excess of $10 million outstanding at any one time in the aggregate;
 
  •   any Investment acquired by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (a) in exchange for any other Investment or accounts receivable held by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary in connection with or as a result of a bankruptcy, workout, reorganization or recapitalization of the issuer of such other Investment or accounts receivable or (b) as a result of a foreclosure by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries with respect to any secured Investment or other transfer of title with respect to any secured Investment in default;
 
  •   Hedging Obligations;
 
  •   additional Investments having an aggregate Fair Market Value, taken together with all other Investments made pursuant to this clause that are at that time outstanding, not to exceed the greater of 2.5% of Tangible Assets or $25 million at the time of such Investment (with the Fair Market Value of each Investment being measured at the time made and without giving effect to subsequent changes in value);
 
  •   loans and advances to officers, directors and employees for business-related travel expenses, moving expenses and other similar expenses, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business, and account credits and payments to participants under the LTIP or any successor or similar compensation plan;
 
  •   Investments the payment for which consists of Equity Interests of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock); provided, however, that such Equity Interests will not increase the amount available for Restricted Payments under clause (c) of the “—Limitation on Restricted Payments” covenant;
 
  •   any transaction to the extent it constitutes an Investment that is permitted by and made in accordance with the provisions of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Transactions with Affiliates” (except transactions described in the clauses contained in the second, third and fourth bullet points of such paragraph);
 
  •   Investments consisting of the licensing or contribution of intellectual property pursuant to joint marketing arrangements with other Persons;
 
  •   Guarantees issued in accordance with “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
 
  •   any Investment by Restricted Subsidiaries in other Restricted Subsidiaries and Investments by Subsidiaries that are not Restricted Subsidiaries in other Subsidiaries that are not Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  •   Investments consisting of purchases and acquisitions of inventory, supplies, materials and equipment or purchases of contract rights or licenses or leases of intellectual property, in each case in the ordinary course of business.

“Permitted Junior Securities” shall mean debt or equity securities of the Company or any successor corporation issued pursuant to a plan of reorganization or readjustment of the Company that are subordinated to the payment of all then-outstanding Senior Indebtedness of the Company at least to the same extent that the Notes are subordinated to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company on the Issue Date, so long as to the extent that any Senior Indebtedness of the Company outstanding on the date of consummation of any such plan of reorganization or readjustment is not paid in full in cash on such date, either (a) the holders of any such Senior Indebtedness not so paid in full in cash have consented to the terms of such plan of reorganization or readjustment or (b) such holders receive

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securities which constitute Senior Indebtedness and which have been determined by the relevant court to constitute satisfaction in full in cash of any Senior Indebtedness not paid in full in cash.

“Permitted Liens” means, with respect to any Person:

  (a) pledges or deposits by such Person under workmen’s compensation laws, unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation, or good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders, contracts (other than for the payment of Indebtedness) or leases to which such Person is a party, or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of such Person or deposits of cash or United States government bonds to secure surety or appeal bonds to which such Person is a party, or deposits as security for contested taxes or import duties or for the payment of rent, in each case Incurred in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (b) Liens imposed by law, such as carriers’, warehousemen’s and mechanics’ Liens, in each case for sums not yet due or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or other Liens arising out of judgments or awards against such Person with respect to which such Person shall then be proceeding with an appeal or other proceedings for review;
 
  (c) Liens for taxes, assessments or other governmental charges not yet due or payable or subject to penalties for nonpayment or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
 
  (d) Liens in favor of issuers of performance and surety bonds or bid bonds or completion guarantees or with respect to other regulatory requirements or letters of credit issued pursuant to the request of and for the account of such Person in the ordinary course of its business;
 
  (e) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or reservations of, or rights of others for, licenses, rights-of-way, sewers, electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar purposes, or zoning or other restrictions as to the use of real properties or Liens incidental to the conduct of the business of such Person or to the ownership of its properties which were not Incurred in connection with Indebtedness and which do not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of said properties or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of such Person;

  (f) Liens securing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred pursuant to clause (d) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;

  (g) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted pursuant to clause (a) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;
 
  (h) Liens existing on the Issue Date;

  (i) Liens on property or shares of stock of a Person at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary; provided, however, such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such other Person becoming such a Subsidiary; provided further, however, that such Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;
 
  (j) Liens on property at the time the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary acquired the property, including any acquisition by means of a merger or consolidation with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; provided further, however, that such Liens are not created or Incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of, such acquisition; provided further, however, that the Liens may not extend to any other property owned by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary;

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  (k) Liens securing Indebtedness or other obligations of a Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary permitted to be incurred in accordance with the covenant described under “—Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”;

  (l) Liens securing Hedging Obligations so long as the related Indebtedness is, and is permitted to be under the Indenture, secured by a Lien on the same property securing such Hedging Obligations;

  (m) Liens on specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of any Person securing such Person’s obligations in respect of bankers’ acceptances, issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase, shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods;

  (n) leases and subleases of real property which do not materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of the business of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries;
 
  (o) Liens arising from Uniform Commercial Code financing statement filings regarding operating leases entered into by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business;
 
  (p) Liens in favor of the Company;
 
  (q) Liens on equipment of the Company granted in the ordinary course of business to the Company’s client at which such equipment is located;

  (r) Liens encumbering deposits made in the ordinary course of business to secure obligations arising from statutory, regulatory, contractual or warranty requirements, including rights of offset and set-off;
 
  (s) Liens on the Equity Interests of Unrestricted Subsidiaries securing obligations of Unrestricted Subsidiaries not otherwise prohibited by the Indenture;

  (t) Liens to secure Indebtedness permitted by clause (1) of the second paragraph of the covenant described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock”; and

  (u) Liens to secure any refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, refundings, extensions, renewals or replacements) as a whole, or in part, of any Indebtedness secured by any Lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (1) and (t); provided, however, that (x) such new Lien shall be limited to all or part of the same property that secured the original Lien (plus improvements on such property) and (y) the Indebtedness secured by such Lien at such time is not increased to any amount greater than the sum of (A) the outstanding principal amount or, if greater, committed amount of the Indebtedness described under clauses (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (1) or (t) at the time the original Lien became a Permitted Lien under the Indenture and (B) an amount necessary to pay any fees and expenses, including premiums, related to such refinancing, refunding, extension, renewal or replacement.

“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, business trust, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or any other entity.

“Preferred Stock” means any Equity Interest with preferential right of payment of dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, or winding up.

“Representative” means the trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior Indebtedness.

“Restricted Investment” means an Investment other than a Permitted Investment.

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“Restricted Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary of the Company other than an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

“Sale/ Leaseback Transaction” means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person, other than leases between the Company and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or between Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

“Secured Indebtedness” means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary secured by a Lien.

“S&P” means Standard and Poor’s, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

“Senior Credit Documents” means the collective reference to the Credit Facilities, the notes issued pursuant thereto and the guarantees thereof, and the collateral documents relating thereto.

“Senior Indebtedness” with respect to the Company or any Guarantor means the Senior Lender Indebtedness and all other Indebtedness of the Company or such Guarantor, including principal, interest thereon (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company at the rate specified in the applicable Senior Indebtedness, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceeding) and other amounts (including make-whole payments, fees, expenses, reimbursement obligations under letters of credit and indemnities) owing in respect thereof, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such obligations are not superior, or are subordinated, in right of payment to the Notes or such Guarantor’s Guarantee, as applicable; provided, however, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include, as applicable:

  •   any obligation of the Company to any Subsidiary of the Company or of such Guarantor to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company;
 
  •   any liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company or such Guarantor;
 
  •   any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities);
 
  •   any Indebtedness or obligation of the Company or such Guarantor which is Pari Passu Indebtedness;
 
  •   any obligations with respect to any Capital Stock; and
 
  •   any Indebtedness Incurred in violation of the Indenture.

“Senior Lender Indebtedness” means any and all amounts payable under or in respect of the Credit Facilities, the Senior Credit Documents with respect thereto and any Refinancing Indebtedness with respect thereto, as amended from time to time, including principal, premium (if any), interest (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company or any Guarantor, as applicable, whether or not a claim for post-filing interest is allowed in such proceedings), fees, charges, expenses, reimbursement obligations, guarantees and all other amounts payable thereunder or in respect thereof.

“Significant Subsidiary” means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a “Significant Subsidiary” of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

“Similar Business” means a business, the majority of whose revenues are derived from providing telecommunications services.

“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency beyond the control of the issuer unless such contingency has occurred).

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“Subordinated Indebtedness” means, any Indebtedness of the Company or any Guarantor, the instrument under which such Indebtedness is incurred expressly provides that it is subordinated in right of payment to the Notes or any Guarantee.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person:

  •   any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership, joint venture or limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time of determination owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof; and
 
  •   any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company of which (x) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise and (y) such Person or any Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

“Tangible Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, purchased technology, unamortized debt discount and other like intangible assets, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company.

“Total Assets” means the total consolidated assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as shown on the most recent balance sheet of the Company.

“Trustee” means the party named as such in the Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor, and if at any time there is more than one such party, “Trustee” as used with respect to the securities of any series shall mean the trustee with respect to securities of that series.

“Trust Officer” means:

  •   any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant secretary, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the Persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject; and
 
  •   who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of the Indenture.

“Unrestricted Subsidiary” means:

  •   any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner provided below; and
 
  •   any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Equity Interests or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; provided, however, that the Subsidiary to be so designated and its Subsidiaries do not at the time of designation have and do not thereafter Incur any Indebtedness pursuant

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to which the lender has recourse to any of the assets of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries; provided further, however, that either:

  •   the Subsidiary to be so designated has total consolidated assets of $1,000 or less; or
 
  •   if such Subsidiary has consolidated assets greater than $1,000, then such designation would be permitted under the covenant entitled “—Limitation on Restricted Payments.”

The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that immediately after giving effect to such designation:

  •   the Company could incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness pursuant to the Leverage Ratio test described under “—Limitations on Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Disqualified Stock and Preferred Stock” or (2) the Leverage Ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be lower than such ratio for the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior to such designation, in each case on a pro forma basis taking into account such designation and
 
  •   no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers’ Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

“U.S. Government Obligations” means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuer’s option.

“Voting Stock” of any Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

“Weighted Average Life to Maturity” means, when applied to any Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock, as the case may be, at any date, the quotient obtained by dividing:

  •   the sum of the products of the number of years from the date of determination to the date of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Disqualified Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment, by
 
  •   the sum of all such payments.

“Wholly Owned Restricted Subsidiary” is any Wholly Owned Subsidiary that is a Restricted Subsidiary.

“Wholly Owned Subsidiary” of any Person means a Subsidiary of such Person 100% of the outstanding Capital Stock or other ownership interests of which (other than directors’ qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by such Person and/or by one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries of such Person.

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IDSs Eligible For Future Sale

Future sales or the availability for sale of substantial amounts of IDSs or shares of our common stock or a significant principal amount of our senior subordinated notes in the public market could adversely affect prevailing market prices and could impair our ability to raise capital through future sales of our securities. Upon completion of this offering, we will have            IDSs outstanding, in respect of                      shares of our Class A common stock in the aggregate and $           million aggregate principal amount of our senior subordinated notes. All of these IDSs and securities represented thereby will be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act or securities legislation in all the provinces of Canada, unless the IDSs or securities represented thereby are owned by “affiliates” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Upon completion of this offering, the existing equity holders will own, as part of the IDSs, shares of Class A common stock representing an aggregate           % ownership interest in us after the offering, or           % if the underwriters’ over-allotment option is exercised in full. In addition, our equity sponsors will hold            shares of Class B common stock, which following the second anniversary of the consummation of this offering may be exchanged, subject to certain conditions, for           IDSs in connection with the sale of such Class B common stock. The existing equity holders will have demand and piggyback registration rights for their shares of Class A common stock, which may be sold in the form of IDSs as well as for their shares of Class B common stock and the IDSs for which they may be exchanged. In addition, certain members of management will have piggyback registration rights for their IDSs. See “Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights.” Collectively, our existing equity holders will be issued                      IDSs in this offering. Registration rights may not be exercised during the lock-up period.

We may issue shares of our common stock or senior subordinated notes, which may be in the form of IDSs, or other securities from time to time as consideration for future acquisitions and investments. In the event any such acquisition or investment is significant, the number of shares of our common stock or senior subordinated notes, which may be in the form of IDSs, or other securities that we may issue may in turn be significant. In addition, we may also grant registration rights covering those shares of our common stock or senior subordinated notes and IDSs, if applicable, or other securities in connection with any such acquisitions and investments.

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Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following discussion, insofar as it relates to matters of United States federal income tax law (and, to the extent specified, United States federal estate tax law) or legal conclusions with respect thereto, constitutes the opinion of our counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, as to the material United States federal income tax considerations to a United States holder or, as the case may be, a non-United States holder, in each case as defined below, arising from the purchase, ownership and disposition of IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock. That opinion is based in part on facts described in this prospectus and on various other factual assumptions, representations and determinations. Any alteration of such facts could adversely affect such opinion. This discussion is based on the provisions of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority, published administrative positions of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) and other applicable authorities, all as in effect on the date of this prospectus, and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly on a retroactive basis. No statutory, administrative or judicial authority directly addresses the treatment of IDSs or instruments similar to IDSs for United States federal income tax purposes, and we have not sought any ruling from the IRS with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in the following discussion. As a result, we cannot assure you that the IRS or the courts will agree with the tax consequences described herein. A different treatment from that discussed below could adversely affect the amount, timing and character of income and gain realized by a holder in respect of an investment in IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock. In the case of non-United States holders, a different treatment could subject such holders to the same United States federal withholding tax or estate tax consequences with respect to the senior subordinated notes as they will be subject to with respect to the Class A common stock. Payments to non-United States holders will not be grossed up for or in respect of any such tax. In addition, a different treatment could result in our losing all or part of the deduction for interest that we pay on the senior subordinated notes.

This discussion deals only with holders that purchase IDSs or senior subordinated notes at their original issuance at their original issue price and that will hold IDSs, senior subordinated notes and Class A common stock as “capital assets” (within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code). This summary does not purport to deal with all aspects of United States federal income taxation that might be relevant to particular holders, in light of their personal investment circumstances or status, such as banks, insurance companies, certain other financial institutions, tax-exempt organizations, S corporations, partnerships or other pass-through entities, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, dealers or traders in securities or currencies, and taxpayers subject to the alternative minimum tax. This discussion also does not address IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock held as part of a hedge, straddle, integrated, synthetic security or conversion transaction, or situations in which the “functional currency” of a United States holder (as defined below) is not the United States dollar. This discussion does not address the tax treatment of senior subordinated notes that we may issue in any subsequent issuance, including in connection with an exchange of Class B common stock for IDSs; the classification of subsequently issued senior subordinated notes as debt or equity for United States federal income tax purposes will depend on the facts and circumstances at the time of the subsequent issuance and thereafter. Moreover, except to the extent specified with respect to United States federal estate tax, the effect of any applicable United States federal estate or gift, state, local or non-United States tax laws is not discussed.

The following discussion is not a substitute for careful tax planning and advice. Investors considering the purchase of IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock should consult their own tax advisors with respect to the application of the United States federal income tax laws to their particular situations, as well as any tax consequences arising under the estate or gift tax laws or the laws of any state, local or non-United States taxing jurisdiction or under any applicable tax treaty.

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The term “United States holder” means a holder of IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:

        (1) An individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
 
        (2) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof;
 
        (3) an estate or trust, the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.

The term “non-United States holder” means a holder of IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock that is, for United States federal income tax purposes:

        (1) a nonresident alien individual;
 
        (2) a foreign corporation; or
 
        (3) a foreign estate or trust.

In the case of a holder of IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock that is classified as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes, the tax treatment of the IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock to a partner of the partnership generally will depend upon the tax status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If you are a partner of a partnership holding IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock, then you should consult your own tax advisors.

United States Holders

 
IDSs
 
Allocation of Purchase Price

It is the opinion of our counsel, Kirkland & Ellis LLP, that your acquisition of an IDS should be treated for United States federal income tax purposes as an acquisition of separate securities, the share of our Class A common stock and the senior subordinated note represented by the IDS, rather than as a purchase of a single integrated security, and, by purchasing the IDS, you will agree to that treatment. However, there is no authority that directly addresses the tax treatment of securities with terms substantially similar to the terms of the IDSs (that is, securities structured as a unit consisting of senior subordinated notes and common stock). In light of the absence of direct authority, neither we nor our counsel can conclude with certainty that the IDSs should be so treated. If that treatment is not respected, then the acquisition of IDSs may be treated as an acquisition only of our stock, in which case the senior subordinated notes would be treated in effect as stock rather than as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. See “—Senior Subordinated Notes—Characterization.” The remainder of this discussion assumes that the acquisition of IDSs will be treated as an acquisition of shares of our Class A common stock and the senior subordinated notes, rather than as a purchase of a single integrated security.

The purchase price of each IDS will be allocated between the share of Class A common stock and the senior subordinated note comprising the IDS in proportion to their respective fair market values at the time of purchase. This allocation will establish your initial tax basis in each of the share of Class A common stock and the senior subordinated note. We will report the initial fair market value of each share of Class A common stock as $          and the initial fair market value of each $          principal amount of senior subordinated notes as $          , and by purchasing an IDS, you will agree to that allocation. If this allocation is not respected by the IRS or the courts, then it is possible that the senior subordinated notes will be treated as having been issued with original issue discount or amortizable bond premium. You generally would have to include original issue discount in income in advance of the receipt of cash attributable to that income, and would be able to elect to amortize bond premium over the remaining term of the senior subordinated notes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the allocation of the purchase price of the IDSs described above will be respected.

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Separation and Combination

If you separate your IDSs into the shares of Class A common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby or combine the applicable number of shares of Class A common stock and principal amount of senior subordinated notes to form IDSs, then you will not recognize gain or loss upon the separation or recombination. You will continue to take into account items of income or deduction otherwise includible or deductible with respect to the shares of Class A common stock and the senior subordinated notes, and your tax basis in and holding period with respect to the shares of Class A common stock and the senior subordinated notes will not be affected by the separation or recombination.

 
Senior Subordinated Notes
 
Characterization

Our counsel is of the opinion that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as separate from the Class A common stock and as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, and based upon that opinion, we believe that the senior subordinated notes should be so treated. In addition, the lead underwriters have received an opinion from their counsel, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, to the effect that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as separate from the Class A common stock and as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. These opinions are based on certain representations and determinations, which are discussed in more detail in the following paragraphs. These opinions are not binding on the IRS or the courts, which could disagree. We will treat the senior subordinated notes as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, and, by acquiring senior subordinated notes, directly or in the form of an IDS, you agree likewise to treat the senior subordinated notes as our indebtedness for all purposes.

The determination as to whether an instrument is treated as debt or as equity for United States federal income tax purposes is based on all of the facts and circumstances. There is no clear statutory definition of debt and the characterization of an instrument as debt or as equity is governed by principles developed in the case law, which analyzes numerous factors that are intended to identify the formal characteristics of, and the economic substance of, the holder’s interest in the issuer. Our determination that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as separate from the Class A common stock and as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, and the opinions of counsel to this effect referred to above, rely upon certain representations and determinations made by us, the lead underwriters and Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Financial Advisors, Inc., as an independent appraisal firm. The representations and determinations by us and/or the independent appraisal firm will include representations and determinations substantially to the effect that:

  •   the term, interest rate and other material provisions of the senior subordinated notes, including, inter alia, restrictions on incurrence of debt and payment of dividends, are commercially reasonable and are substantially similar to those terms to which an unrelated third party lender not otherwise owning equity in Valor, bargaining at arm’s length with Valor, would reasonably agree;
 
  •   taking this offering and our reorganization into account, on a pro forma basis, the aggregate amount of our indebtedness in relation to the aggregate fair market value of our equity is commercially reasonable under the circumstances and is comparable to similarly situated corporate bond issuers;
 
  •   taking this offering and our reorganization into account, on a pro forma basis, the ratio of (i) the sum of all of our outstanding indebtedness to (ii) the fair market value of our equity does not exceed approximately                     to 1; and
 
  •   based on our detailed financial forecasts (and assuming without verifying that those forecasts are correct), Valor should be able to repay the principal amount of the senior subordinated notes at their maturity and it is likely that such repayment would be made with accumulated cash and/or by refinancing with short term (five years or less) unsubordinated debt, or a combination thereof.

In light of the representations and determinations described above and their relevance to several of the factors analyzed in the case law, and taking into account the facts and circumstances relating to the issuance of the

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senior subordinated notes (including the separate issuance of senior subordinated notes in this offering), we (and our counsel) are of the view that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as separate from the Class A common stock and as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. However, there is no authority that directly addresses the tax treatment of instruments with terms substantially similar to the senior subordinated notes or offered under circumstances such as this offering (that is, senior subordinated notes offered as a unit with common stock). In light of this absence of direct authority, neither we nor our counsel can conclude with certainty that the senior subordinated notes will be treated as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. The consequences to United States holders and non-United States holders described below assume that the senior subordinated notes will be respected as debt. However, no ruling on this issue has been requested from the IRS and, thus, there can be no assurance that the classification of the senior subordinated notes as debt will not be challenged by the IRS or will be sustained if challenged.

If the senior subordinated notes were treated as equity rather than as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, then stated interest paid on the senior subordinated notes generally would be treated as a dividend to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under United States federal income tax principles, but those dividends likely would not qualify for the special 15% rate described below. We would not be permitted to deduct interest on the senior subordinated notes for United States federal income tax purposes. In addition, as discussed below under “—Non-United States Holders—Class A Common Stock,” non-United States holders could be subject to withholding or estate taxes with respect to the senior subordinated notes in the same manner as they will be with respect to the Class A common stock. Our inability to deduct interest on the senior subordinated notes could materially increase our taxable income and, thus, our United States federal income tax liability. This would reduce our after-tax cash flow and could materially and adversely impact our ability to make interest and dividend payments on the senior subordinated notes and the Class A common stock.

 
Payments of Interest; Deferral of Interest

Subject to the discussion of deferred interest immediately below, stated interest on the senior subordinated notes will be taxable to you as ordinary income, at the time it is paid or accrued in accordance with your method of accounting for United States federal income tax purposes.

Under applicable Treasury regulations, a “remote” contingency that stated interest will not be timely paid will be ignored in determining whether a debt instrument is issued with original issue discount, referred to as OID. Although there is no authority that directly describes when a contingency such as the interest deferral option described in “Description of the Senior Subordinated Notes—Terms of the Notes—Interest Deferral” should be considered “remote”, based on our financial forecasts, we believe that the likelihood of deferral of interest payments on the senior subordinated notes is remote within the meaning of the Treasury regulations relating to OID. Based on the foregoing, our counsel believes that although the matter is not free from doubt because of the lack of direct authority, the option to defer interest should not cause the senior subordinated notes to be considered to be issued with OID at the time of their original issuance.

Under the Treasury regulations, if the option to defer any payment of interest on the senior subordinated notes were determined not to be a “remote” contingency, or if any payment of interest actually were deferred, then the senior subordinated notes would be treated as issued with OID at the time of issuance or at the time of such occurrence, as the case may be. At such time, all stated interest on the senior subordinated notes thereafter would be treated as OID as long as the senior subordinated notes remained outstanding. In such event:

  •   you would be required to include the yield on the senior subordinated notes in income as OID on an economic accrual basis over the term of the senior subordinated notes, possibly before the receipt of the cash attributable to the OID, and without regard to your overall method of tax accounting;
 
  •   actual payments of stated interest would not be reported as taxable income;
 
  •   any amount of OID included in your gross income (whether or not during a deferral period) with respect to the senior subordinated notes would increase your tax basis in the senior subordinated notes; and

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  •   the amount of payments in respect of such accrued OID would reduce your tax basis in the senior subordinated notes.

Consequently, during a deferral period, a United States holder would be required to continue to include OID in gross income as it accrued, even though we would not make any actual cash payments on the senior subordinated notes.

No rulings or other interpretations have been issued by the IRS that address the meaning of the term “remote” as used in the Treasury regulations relating to OID, and it is possible that the IRS could take a position contrary to our position. Accordingly, our counsel is unable to opine with certainty to this issue.

 
Sale, Exchange or Retirement

Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of an IDS, you will be treated as having sold, exchanged, retired or disposed of the senior subordinated note that constitutes a portion of the IDS. Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a senior subordinated note, you will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the portion of the proceeds allocable to, or received for, the senior subordinated note (less amounts received in respect of accrued and unpaid interest, which will be treated as a payment of interest for United States federal income tax purposes) and your adjusted tax basis in the senior subordinated note. As described above under “—United States Holders—IDSs—Allocation of Purchase Price,” your tax basis in the senior subordinated note generally will be the portion of the purchase price of your IDS allocable to the senior subordinated note or your purchase price of the note, as the case may be. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the IDSs for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 
Additional Issuances

The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes will permit us, from time to time, to issue additional senior subordinated notes having terms that are substantially identical to those of the senior subordinated notes offered hereby. Such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes may be issued with OID if they are issued at a discount to their face value (for example, as a result of changes in prevailing interest rates). The United States federal income tax consequences to you of the subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID (or any issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter) are unclear. The indenture governing the senior subordinated notes and the agreements with DTC will provide that, in the event that there is a subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes having terms substantially identical to the senior subordinated notes offered hereby, each holder of senior subordinated notes or IDSs, as the case may be, agrees that a portion of such holder’s senior subordinated notes will be automatically exchanged for a portion of the senior subordinated notes acquired by the holders of such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes. Consequently, immediately following each such subsequent issuance and exchange, each holder of subsequently issued senior subordinated notes, held either as part of IDSs or separately, and each holder of existing senior subordinated notes or IDSs, as the case may be, will own an inseparable unit composed of notes of each separate issuance in the same proportion as each other holder. Because a subsequent issuance will affect the senior subordinated notes in the same manner, regardless of whether those senior subordinated notes are held as part of IDSs or separately, the combination of senior subordinated notes and shares of Class A common stock to form IDSs, or the separation of IDSs, should not affect your tax treatment.

The aggregate stated principal amount of senior subordinated notes owned by each holder will not change as a result of such subsequent issuance and exchange. However, under applicable law, it is possible that the holders of subsequently issued senior subordinated notes (to the extent issued with OID) will not be entitled to a claim for the portion of their principal amount that represents unaccrued OID in the event of an acceleration of the senior subordinated notes or a bankruptcy proceeding occurring prior to the maturity of the senior subordinated notes. Whether the receipt of subsequently issued senior subordinated notes in exchange for previously issued senior subordinated notes in this automatic exchange constitutes a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes depends on whether the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes are viewed as differing materially from the senior subordinated notes exchanged. Due to

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a lack of applicable guidance, it is unclear whether the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes would be viewed as differing materially from the previously issued senior subordinated notes for this purpose and, accordingly, our counsel is unable to opine as to this issue. Consequently, it is unclear whether an exchange of senior subordinated notes for subsequently issued senior subordinated notes results in a taxable exchange for United States federal income tax purposes, and it is possible that the IRS might successfully assert that such an exchange should be treated as a taxable exchange.

If the IRS successfully asserted that an automatic exchange following a subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes is a taxable exchange, then an exchanging holder generally would recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the fair market value of the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes received and such holder’s adjusted tax basis in the senior subordinated notes exchanged. See “—Senior Subordinated Notes—Sale, Exchange or Retirement.” It is also possible that the IRS might successfully assert that any such loss should be disallowed under the wash sale rules, in which case the holder’s basis in the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes would be increased to reflect the amount of the disallowed loss. In the case of a taxable exchange, a holder’s initial tax basis in the subsequently issued senior subordinated notes received in the exchange would be the fair market value of such senior subordinated notes on the date of exchange (adjusted to reflect any disallowed loss) and a holder’s holding period in such senior subordinated notes would begin on the day after such exchange.

Regardless of whether the exchange is treated as a taxable event, such exchange may result in an increase in the amount of OID, if any, that you are required to accrue with respect to senior subordinated notes. Following any subsequent issuance of senior subordinated notes with OID (or any issuance of senior subordinated notes thereafter) and resulting exchange, we (and our agents) will report any OID on any subsequently issued senior subordinated notes ratably among all holders of senior subordinated notes and IDSs, and each holder of senior subordinated notes and IDSs will, by purchasing senior subordinated notes or IDSs, as the case may be, agree to report OID in a manner consistent with this approach. Consequently, holders that acquire senior subordinated notes in this offering may be required to report OID as a result of a subsequent issuance (even though they purchased senior subordinated notes having no OID). This will generally result in such holders reporting more interest income over the term of the senior subordinated notes than they would have reported had no such subsequent issuance and exchange occurred, and any such additional interest income will be reflected as an increase in the tax basis of the senior subordinated notes, which will generally result in a capital loss (or reduced capital gain) upon a sale, exchange or retirement of the senior subordinated notes. However, the IRS may assert that any OID should be reported only to the persons that initially acquired such subsequently issued senior subordinated notes (and their transferees). In such case, the IRS might further assert that, unless a holder can establish that it is not such a person (or a transferee thereof), all of the senior subordinated notes held by such holder will have OID. Any of these assertions by the IRS could create significant uncertainties in the pricing of IDSs and senior subordinated notes and could adversely affect the market for IDSs and senior subordinated notes.

It is possible that senior subordinated notes that we issue in a subsequent issuance will be issued at a discount to their face value and, accordingly, may have “significant OID” and thus be classified as “applicable high yield discount obligations.” If any senior subordinated notes were so classified, then a portion of the OID on those senior subordinated notes could be nondeductible by us and the remainder would be deductible only when paid. This treatment would have the effect of increasing our taxable income and may adversely affect our cash flow available for interest payments and distributions to our equityholders.

Due to the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the United States federal income tax treatment of subsequent issuances and exchanges of senior subordinated notes, prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the applicable tax consequences to them in light of their particular circumstances.

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     Class A Common Stock

 
Dividends

The gross amount of dividends paid to you on our Class A common stock will be treated as dividend income to you, to the extent paid out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under United States federal income tax principles). To the extent, if any, that the amounts of dividends paid to you on a share of our Class A common stock exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, the excess will be treated first as a tax-free return of your tax basis in the shares of Class A common stock and thereafter as capital gain. Pursuant to recently enacted legislation, if you are an individual, then dividends that we pay to you through 2008 will be subject to tax at long-term capital gain rates (up to 15%), provided that certain holding period and other requirements are satisfied.

 
      Sale or Exchange

Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an IDS, you will be treated as having sold, exchanged or disposed of the share of Class A common stock constituting a portion of the IDS. Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a share of our Class A common stock (other than, in some circumstances, a sale of shares to us), you will recognize gain or loss in an amount equal to the difference between the portion of the proceeds allocable to your share of Class A common stock and your tax basis in the share of Class A common stock. As described above under “—United States Holders— IDSs— Allocation of Purchase Price,” your tax basis in the share of Class A common stock generally will be the portion of the purchase price of your IDS allocable to the share of Class A common stock. Such gain or loss will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if you have held the Class A common stock for more than one year. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

 
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax

In general, we, our paying agents and certain other intermediaries must report certain information to the IRS with respect to payments of principal and interest on the senior subordinated notes, payments of dividends on the Class A common stock, and payments of the proceeds of the sale of senior subordinated notes, Class A common stock or IDSs to certain non-corporate United States holders. The payor (which may be us or an intermediary) will be required to impose backup withholding tax, currently at a rate of 28%, if (i) the payee fails to furnish a taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) to the payor or otherwise to establish an exemption from backup withholding tax, (ii) the IRS notifies the payor that the TIN furnished by the payee is incorrect, (iii) there has been a notified payee underreporting described in Section 3406(c) of the Code or (iv) the payee has not certified under penalties of perjury that it has furnished a correct TIN and that the IRS has not notified the payee that it is subject to backup withholding tax under the Code. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding tax rules from a payment to a United States holder will be allowed as a credit against that holder’s United States federal income tax liability and may entitle the holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

Non-United States Holders

The following discussion applies only to non-United States holders, and assumes that no item of income, gain, deduction or loss derived by the non-United States holder in respect of the senior subordinated notes, Class A common stock or IDSs at any time is effectively connected with the conduct of a United States trade or business. Special rules may apply to certain non-United States holders, such as:

  •   United States expatriates,
 
  •   controlled foreign corporations,
 
  •   passive foreign investment companies,
 
  •   foreign personal holding companies,
 
  •   corporations that accumulate earnings to avoid United States federal income tax,
 
  •   investors in pass-through entities that are subject to special treatment under the Code, and
 
  •   non-United States holders that are engaged in the conduct of a United States trade or business.

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Such non-United States holders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the United States federal, state, local and other tax consequences that may be relevant to them.

 
Senior Subordinated Notes
 
Characterization

As discussed above under “—United States Holders— Senior Subordinated Notes— Characterization,” we believe that the senior subordinated notes should be treated as separate from the Class A common stock and as debt for United States federal income tax purposes. However, no ruling on this issue has been requested from the IRS and thus there can be no assurance that this position will be sustained if challenged by the IRS. If the senior subordinated notes were treated as equity rather than as debt for United States federal income tax purposes, then the senior subordinated notes would be treated in the same manner as shares of Class A common stock are treated, as described below under “—Non-United States Holders— Class A Common Stock— Dividends,” and, in particular, payments of interest on the senior subordinated notes would be subject to United States federal withholding tax at rates up to 30%. Payments to non-United States holders will not be grossed-up on account of any such taxes. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the characterization of the senior subordinated notes as debt for United States federal income tax purposes will be respected.

     Stated Interest

Generally, subject to the discussion of backup withholding tax below, interest paid on the senior subordinated notes to a non-United States holder will be exempt from United States withholding tax under the “portfolio interest exemption;” provided that (i) the holder does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote, (ii) the holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related to us actually or constructively through stock ownership, (iii) the holder is not a bank that acquired the senior subordinated notes in consideration for an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of business and (iv) either (a) the holder provides an applicable IRS Form W-8 (or a suitable substitute form) signed under penalties of perjury that includes its name and address and certifies as to its non-United States status in compliance with applicable law and regulations or (b) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers’ securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business holds the senior subordinated notes and provides a statement to us or our agent under penalties of perjury in which it certifies that an applicable Form W-8 (or a suitable substitute) has been received by it from the non-United States holder or qualifying intermediary and furnishes a copy to us or our agent. The statement requirement referred to in the preceding sentence may be satisfied with other documentary evidence in the case of a senior subordinated note held in an offshore account or through certain foreign intermediaries.

     Sale, Exchange or Retirement

Upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of an IDS, you will be treated as having sold, exchanged, retired or disposed of the senior subordinated note that constitutes a portion of the IDS. Any gain realized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of senior subordinated notes generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax, unless you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of such sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition and certain other conditions are met.

 
      United States Federal Estate Tax

Senior subordinated notes beneficially owned by an individual who at the time of death is a non-United States holder should not be subject to United States federal estate tax, provided that any payment of interest to such individual on the notes would be eligible for exemption from the United States federal withholding tax under the rules described above under “—Non-United States Holders— Senior Subordinated Notes— Stated Interest” without regard to the statement requirement described therein.

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Class A Common Stock
 
Dividends

Dividends paid to you generally will be subject to withholding of United States federal income tax at a 30% rate or such lower rate as may be specified by an applicable income tax treaty. If you wish to claim the benefit of an applicable treaty rate for dividends (and to avoid backup withholding tax as discussed below), you will be required to:

  •   complete the applicable IRS Form W-8 (or suitable substitute form) and certify, under penalties of perjury, that you are not a United States person, or
 
  •   if the shares of our Class A common stock are held through certain foreign intermediaries, satisfy the relevant certification requirements of applicable Treasury regulations.

Special certification and other requirements apply to certain non-United States holders that are entities rather than individuals. If you are eligible for a reduced rate of United States withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty, you may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

 
      Sale or Exchange

Upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of an IDS, you will be treated as having sold, exchanged or disposed of the share of Class A common stock constituting a portion of the IDS. You generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax with respect to gain recognized on a sale or other disposition of shares of our Class A common stock, unless:

  •   if you are an individual, you are present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the sale or other disposition and certain other conditions are met, or
 
  •   we are or have been a United States real property holding corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

We believe that we are not, and we do not anticipate becoming, a United States real property holding corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

 
United States Federal Estate Tax

Shares of our Class A common stock held by an individual non-United States holder at the time of death will be included in such holder’s gross estate for United States federal estate tax purposes, unless an applicable estate tax treaty provides otherwise.

 
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding Tax

The amount of interest and dividends paid to you and the amount of tax, if any, withheld with respect to such payments will be reported annually to the IRS. Copies of the information returns reporting such interest, dividends and withholding of tax may also be made available to the tax authorities in the country in which you reside under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty. Backup withholding tax may be required with respect to payments made by us or any paying agent to you, unless the statement described in “Non-United States Holders— Senior Subordinated Notes— Stated Interest” has been received (and we or the paying agent do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person).

Information reporting and, depending on the circumstances, backup withholding tax will apply to the proceeds of a sale of IDSs, senior subordinated notes or Class A common stock within the United States or conducted through United States-related financial intermediaries unless the statement described in “Non-United States Holders— Senior Subordinated Notes— Stated Interest” has been received (and we or the paying agent do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a United States person) or you otherwise establish an exemption. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding tax rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your United States federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

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Certain ERISA Considerations

The following summarizes certain considerations associated with the purchase of the IDSs by (i) employee benefit plans (such as pension and profit sharing plans) that are subject to Title I of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), (ii) plans, individual retirement accounts (“IRAs”) and other arrangements that are subject to Section 4975 of the Code or provisions under any federal, state, local, non-U.S. or other laws or regulations that are similar to such provisions of the Code or ERISA (collectively, “Similar Laws”), and (iii) entities whose underlying assets are considered to include “plan assets” of such plans, accounts and arrangements (e.g. certain insurance company accounts) (each, a “Plan”).

 
General Fiduciary Matters

ERISA and the Code impose duties on persons who are fiduciaries or other interested parties of a Plan subject to Title I of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code and prohibit certain transactions involving the assets of a Plan and its fiduciaries or other interested parties.

  •   Under ERISA and the Code, any person who exercises any discretionary authority or control over the administration of a Plan or the management or disposition of its assets, or who renders investment advice for a fee or other compensation to the ERISA Plan, is generally considered to be a fiduciary of the Plan.
 
  •   In considering an investment in the IDSs or the separate senior subordinated notes of a portion of the assets of any Plan, its fiduciary should determine whether the investment is in accordance with the documents and instruments governing the Plan and the applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code or any Similar Law relating to a fiduciary’s duties to the Plan.
 
  •   These provisions include without limitation, the prudence, diversification, delegation of control and prohibited transaction provisions of ERISA, the Code and any other applicable Similar Laws.
 
Prohibited Transaction Issues

Section 406 of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code prohibit ERISA Plans from engaging in specified “prohibited transactions” with persons or entities who are “parties in interest,” within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA, or “disqualified persons,” within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code, unless an exemption is available.

  •   A party in interest or disqualified person who engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to excise taxes and other penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.
 
  •   In addition, a fiduciary of an ERISA Plan that engages in a non-exempt prohibited transaction may be subject to penalties and liabilities under ERISA and the Code.

Whether or not our underlying assets are deemed to include “plan assets,” as described below, the acquisition and/or holding of the IDSs or the separate senior subordinated notes by a Plan with respect to which we, the underwriter, the trustee or the guarantor is considered a party in interest or a disqualified person could be a direct or indirect prohibited transaction under Section 406 of ERISA and/or Section 4975 of the Code, unless the investment is acquired and held in accordance with an applicable statutory, class or individual prohibited transaction exemption. In this regard, the U.S. Department of Labor (the “DOL”) has issued prohibited transaction class exemptions, or “PTCEs,” that may apply to the acquisition and holding of the IDSs or the separate senior subordinated notes.

  •   These class exemptions include, without limitation, (i) PTCE 84-14 (respecting transactions determined by independent qualified professional asset managers or “QPAMs”), (ii) PTCE 90-1 (respecting insurance company pooled separate accounts), (iii) PTCE 91-38 (respecting bank collective investment funds), PTCE 95-60 respecting insurance company general accounts and (iv) PTCE 96-23 (respecting transactions determined by in-house asset managers or “INHAMs”), although we cannot assure you that any or all of the conditions of any such exemptions would be satisfied by a particular purchaser of the IDSs.

Because of the foregoing, the IDSs or the separate senior subordinated notes should not be purchased or held by any person investing “plan assets” of any Plan, unless such purchase and holding will not

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constitute a non-exempt prohibited transaction under ERISA and the Code or similar violation of any applicable Similar Laws.
 
Plan Asset Issues

ERISA and the Code do not define “plan assets.” However, regulations promulgated under ERISA by the DOL (the “Plan Asset Regulations”) generally provide that when a Plan acquires an equity interest in an entity that is an “operating company,” or the equity interest is a “publicly-offered security”, such equity interest will be deemed a “plan asset,” but the underlying assets of the entity will not be deemed “plan assets.”

  •   The Plan Asset Regulations define an “equity interest” as any interest in an entity that is not treated as indebtedness under applicable local law and which has no substantial equity features. Therefore, we anticipate that shares of our common stock would be considered an equity interest and our notes should be treated as indebtedness.
 
  •   Under the Plan Asset Regulations, an “operating company” is defined as “an entity that is primarily engaged, directly or through a majority owned subsidiary or subsidiaries, in the production or sale of a product or service other than the investment of capital.” We believe that we are an “operating company” for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations, although no assurance can be given in this regard.

Alternatively, under the Plan Asset Regulations, a “publicly offered security” is a security that is (a) “freely transferable,” (b) part of a class of securities that is “widely held,” and (c)(i) sold to the Plan as part of an offering of securities to the public pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the class of securities to which such security is a part is registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the issuer during which the offering of such securities to the public has occurred, or (ii) is part of a class of securities that is registered under Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act.

  •   We intend to affect such a registration under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

The Plan Asset Regulations provide that a security is “widely held” only if it is part of a class of securities that is owned by 100 or more investors independent of the issuer and one another. A security will not fail to be “widely held” because the number of independent investors falls below 100 subsequent to the initial offering thereof as a result of events beyond the control of the issuer.

  •   It is anticipated that the IDSs and the separate senior subordinated notes will be “widely held” within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations, although no assurance can be given in this regard.

The Plan Asset Regulations provide that whether a security is “freely transferable” is a factual question to be determined on the basis of all the relevant facts and circumstances.

  •   It is anticipated that the IDSs and the separate senior subordinated notes will be “freely transferable” within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations, although no assurance can be given in this regard.
 
Plan Asset Consequences

If we cease to be an operating company for purposes of the Plan Asset Regulations and the IDSs or the separate senior subordinated notes cease to be publicly-offered securities within the meaning of the Plan Asset Regulations, our assets could be deemed to be “plan assets” under ERISA, unless, at such time, another exemption is available under the Plan Asset Regulations. This would result, among other things, in (i) the application of the prudence and other fiduciary responsibility standards of ERISA to investments made by us, and (ii) the possibility that certain transactions in which we might seek to engage could constitute “prohibited transactions” under ERISA and the Code.

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Underwriting

We and the selling securityholders will enter into an underwriting agreement, dated                     , 2004, with the underwriters named in the table below. CIBC World Markets Corp., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and Lehman Brothers Inc. are acting as representatives of the underwriters (the “U.S. Representatives”). We will also enter into an underwriting agreement with a number of Canadian underwriters, dated                     , 2004. CIBC World Markets Inc. and Merrill Lynch Canada Inc. are acting as representatives of the Canadian underwriters (the “Canadian Representatives”, and together with the U.S. Representatives, the “Representatives”). Subject to the terms and conditions described in the underwriting agreements, we and, to the extent that the U.S. Representatives exercise the over-allotment option, the selling securityholders will agree to sell to the underwriters in the United States and Canada and the underwriters severally will agree to purchase from us and the selling securityholders, the number of IDSs listed opposite their names below. In addition, subject to the terms and conditions described in the underwriting agreement, the U.S. Representatives severally will also agree to purchase $           million aggregate principal amount of our           % senior subordinated notes due 2019 (not in the form of IDSs). (References to underwriters in the table below include, where applicable, in respect of the Canadian offering, the respective affiliated Canadian underwriter.)

                                   
Number of Number of
IDSs IDSs
under under Total Senior
U.S. Canadian Number of Subordinated
Underwriters Offering Offering IDSs Notes





CIBC World Markets Corp. 
                               
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
                               
Lehman Brothers Inc. 
                               
Banc of America Securities LLC
                               
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. 
                               
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
                               
     
     
     
     
 

The offering of the IDSs is conditioned upon the offering of our           % senior subordinated notes due 2019 (not in the form of IDSs). Under the underwriting agreements, we and the selling securityholders, will agree to sell and the underwriters will agree to purchase the IDSs offered under this offering at a price of $          and the U.S. Representatives will agree to purchase the senior subordinated notes offered under this offering at a price of $          , in each case payable in cash to us and the selling securityholders, as the case may be, against delivery.

None of the senior subordinated notes sold separately (not in the form of IDSs) in this offering, which we refer to in this section as the “separate notes” may be purchased, directly or indirectly, by persons who are also (1) purchasing IDSs in this offering or (2) holders of Class B common stock following our recapitalization.

Furthermore, prior to the closing of this offering, each person purchasing separate notes in this offering will be required to represent to us that:

  (a)  Neither such purchaser nor any entity, investment fund or account over which such purchaser exercises investment control is purchasing IDSs in this offering or owns or has the contractual right to acquire our equity securities (including securities which are convertible, exchangeable or exercisable into or for our equity or our equity-linked securities, which we refer to collectively as our company equity); and
 
  (b)  there is no plan or pre-arrangement by which

  •  such purchaser will acquire any IDSs or our company equity, or

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  •  separate notes being acquired by such purchaser will be transferred to any holder of the IDSs or company equity.

Under the underwriting agreements, the underwriters will agree to purchase all the IDSs and the U.S. Representatives will agree to purchase all the senior subordinated notes sold separately if any of the IDSs or senior subordinated notes sold separately thereunder are purchased. If an underwriter defaults in its commitment to purchase the IDSs or senior subordinated notes sold separately, the commitments of non-defaulting underwriters thereunder may be increased or the applicable underwriting agreement may be terminated, depending on the circumstances. The selling stockholders will not be selling any IDSs through the underwriting agreement with the Canadian underwriters.

The IDSs and senior subordinated notes sold separately should be ready for delivery on or about                     , 2004, but in any event no later than                     , 2004 against payment in immediately available funds. The underwriters are offering the IDSs and senior subordinated notes sold separately in their respective jurisdictions subject to various parallel conditions and may reject all or part of any order. The underwriting agreements provide that the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the IDSs or senior subordinated notes sold separately in this offering are subject to approval of legal matters by counsel and to other conditions. The U.S. Representatives have advised us that the U.S. underwriters propose to offer the IDSs and the senior subordinated notes sold separately, respectively, directly to the public at the public offering price that appears on the cover page of this prospectus. The Canadian Representatives have advised us that the Canadian underwriters propose to offer IDSs directly to the public at the public offering price that appears on the cover page of the Canadian prospectus. In addition, the Representatives may offer some of the IDSs to other securities dealers at such price less a concession of $           per IDS (or C$           per IDS, in the case of the Canadian offering). The underwriters may also allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in excess of $           per IDS (or C$           per IDS, in the case of the Canadian offering) to other dealers. In addition, the U.S. Representatives may offer some of the senior subordinated notes sold separately to other securities dealers at the price that appears on the cover page of this prospectus less a concession of $           per senior subordinated note and such dealers may reallow a concession not in excess of $           per senior subordinated note.

After the IDSs and the senior subordinated notes sold separately are released for sale to the public, the Representatives may change the offering price and other selling terms at various times. The IDSs and senior subordinated notes sold separately are being offered in the United States in U.S. dollars and the IDSs are being offered in Canada in Canadian dollars, at the same offering price and underwriting discounts and commissions calculated based on the noon buying rate on the date of this prospectus as quoted by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

The selling securityholders have granted the U.S. underwriters an over-allotment option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to                     additional IDSs at the public offering price that appears on the cover page of this prospectus, less the underwriting discount. No over-allotment option has been granted to the Canadian underwriters or in connection with the senior subordinated notes sold separately. The U.S. underwriters may exercise the option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, in connection with the U.S. offering. The U.S. underwriters have severally agreed that, to the extent the over-allotment option is exercised, they will each purchase a number of additional IDSs proportionate to the U.S. underwriters’ initial amount reflected in the foregoing table.

Pursuant to both the underwriting agreements and the agreement between the U.S. underwriters and the Canadian underwriters relating to the two offerings, each of the U.S. underwriters has agreed that, as part of the distribution of the IDSs offered by this prospectus and subject to certain exceptions, it will not offer, sell and deliver IDSs to investors in Canada, and each of the Canadian underwriters has agreed that it will not sell or deliver IDSs in the United States or to any U.S. persons. For such purposes, “United States” means the United States, its territories, possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction, and “U.S. persons” means (a) any individual who is a resident of the United States or (b) any corporation, partnership or other entity organized in or under the laws of the Unites States or any political subdivision

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thereof and whose office most directly involved with the purchase is located in the United States. Subject to applicable law, the underwriters may offer the IDSs outside of the United States and Canada.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts and commissions that we and the selling securityholders will pay to the underwriters in connection with the offerings. These amounts are shown assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional IDSs:

                                                         
Canadian
U.S. Offering Offering


Senior Subordinated
IDS Offering Notes Offering


Total Total
without with Full
Exercise Exercise
of Over- of Over- Per Senior
Allotment Allotment Subordinated
Underwriting Discount to be Paid by Per IDS Option Option Note Total Per IDS Total








Valor Communications Group, Inc. 
  $       $       $       $       $       C$       C$    
Selling Securityholders
                                                       
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Total
  $       $       $       $       $       C$       C$    
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

We estimate that our total expenses of this offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $               .

We and the selling security holders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

We, our executive officers and all significant existing equity investors will agree to a 180-day “lock up,” subject to certain exceptions, with respect to all IDSs and shares of our common stock, including securities that are convertible into such securities and securities that are exchangeable or exercisable for such securities, which we may issue or they own prior to this offering or purchase in or after this offering, as the case may be. This means that for a period of 180 days following the date of this prospectus, we and such persons may not offer, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of these securities or request or demand that we file a registration statement related to any of these securities without the prior written consent of the Representatives. This lock up shall not apply to IDSs or shares of common stock to be sold by the selling securityholders in the offering, or transferred to affiliates or as a gift or gifts to a holder’s immediate family or to a trust the beneficiary of which is exclusively the undersigned and/or a member or members of the holder’s immediate family, provided that any donee thereof agrees in writing to be bound by the terms of the lock up.

The Representatives have informed us that they do not expect discretionary sales by the underwriters to exceed 5% of the IDSs offered by both offerings.

There is no established trading market for the shares of our common stock, the senior subordinated notes or the IDSs. The offering price for the IDSs and the offering price of the senior subordinated notes sold separately will be determined by us and the U.S. Representatives based, in each case, on the following factors:

  •   prevailing market and general economic conditions;
 
  •   our financial information;
 
  •   our history and prospects;
 
  •   the history of and prospects for the industry in which we compete;
 
  •   an assessment of our management, our past and present operations, and the prospects for, and timing of, our future revenues; and
 
  •   the above factors in relation to market values and various valuation measures of other companies engaged in activities similar to ours.

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We have applied to list the IDSs on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VCG” and will apply to list the IDSs on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VLR.un” We will apply to list our shares of class A common stock on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbol “VLR.” The U.S. Representatives have advised us that they intend to make a market in the senior subordinated notes as permitted by applicable law.

Rules of the SEC may limit the ability of (i) the underwriters to bid for or purchase IDSs and (ii) the U.S. Representatives to bid for or purchase the senior subordinated notes sold separately, before the distribution of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable, is completed. However, the U.S. underwriters or the U.S. Representatives, as applicable, may engage in the following activities in accordance with the rules:

  •   Stabilizing transactions: The Representatives may make bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, so long as stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum.
 
  •   Over-allotment and syndicate covering transactions: The U.S. underwriters may sell more IDSs in connection with this offering than the number of IDSs that they have committed to purchase. This over-allotment creates a short position for the underwriters. This short sales position may involve either “covered” short sales or “naked” short sales. Covered short sales are short sales made in an amount not greater than the U.S. underwriters’ over-allotment option to purchase additional IDSs in this offering described above. The U.S. underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their over-allotment option or by purchasing IDSs in the open market. To determine how they will close the covered short position, the U.S. underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of IDSs available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase IDSs through the over-allotment option. Naked short sales are short sales in excess of the over-allotment option to purchase additional IDSs. The U.S. underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing IDSs in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the U.S. underwriters are concerned that, in the open market after pricing, there may be downward pressure on the price of the IDSs that could adversely affect investors who purchase IDSs in this offering.
 
  •   Penalty bids: If the U.S. Representatives purchase IDSs in the open market in a stabilizing transaction or syndicate covering transaction, they may reclaim a selling concession from the U.S. underwriters and selling group members who sold those IDSs as part of the U.S. offering. If the U.S. Representatives purchase senior subordinated notes in the open market in a stabilizing transaction or syndicate covering transaction, they may reclaim a selling concession from the U.S. Representatives and selling group members who sold those senior subordinated notes as part of the U.S. offering.

In accordance with policy statements of the L’Agence nationale d’encadrement du secteur Financier and the Ontario Securities Commission, the Canadian underwriters may not, throughout the period of distribution, bid for or purchase the IDSs. Such restriction is subject to certain exceptions, provided that the bid or purchase was not engaged in for the purpose of creating actual or apparent active trading in, or raising the price of the IDSs, including: (1) a bid or purchase permitted under the by-laws and rules of the Toronto Stock Exchange relating to market stabilization and passive market activities; and (2) a bid or purchase made for and on behalf of a customer where the order was not solicited during the period of the distribution. Under the first mentioned exemption, in connection with this offering, the Canadian underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which stabilize or maintain the market price of the IDSs at a level other than that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.

Similar to other purchase transactions, the purchases by the U.S. underwriters to cover their short sales or to stabilize the market price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable, or the imposition of penalty bids may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable, or preventing or mitigating a decline in the

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market price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable. As a result, the price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable, may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable, if it discourages resales of such securities.

Neither we nor the relevant underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of the IDSs or the senior subordinated notes sold separately, as applicable. If such transactions are commenced, they may be discontinued without notice at any time. These transactions with respect to the IDSs may occur on the New York Stock Exchange, the Toronto Stock Exchange or otherwise.

We were advised by the U.S. Representatives that they currently intend to make a market in the senior subordinated notes sold separately and, upon the separation of the IDSs, in the notes and the Class A common stock, subject to customary practice and applicable legal and regulatory requirements and limitations. However, the U.S. Representatives are not obligated to do so and may discontinue such activities, if commenced, at any time and without notice. Moreover, if and to the extent that the U.S. Representatives make any market for such securities, there can be no assurance that such market would provide sufficient liquidity for any holder of any such securities.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the websites maintained by one or more of the U.S. underwriters. The U.S. Representatives may agree to allocate a number of IDSs to U.S. underwriters for sale to their online brokerage account holders. The U.S. Representatives will allocate IDSs to U.S. underwriters that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

An automatic exchange of portions of our senior subordinated notes that are currently outstanding for portions of senior subordinated notes that we may issue in the future, as described elsewhere in this prospectus should not impair the rights any holder would otherwise have to assert a claim against us, the selling securityholders or the underwriters, with respect to the full amount of notes purchased by such holder.

Banc of America Securities LLC and CIBC World Markets Corp. are the joint lead arrangers and joint book-managers of the new credit facility and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Lehman Brothers Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC are acting as co-documentation agents of the new credit facility. In addition, Banc of America Securities LLC acted as the collateral agent and administrative agent and CIBC World Markets Corp. acted as syndication agent under our existing senior credit facilities. The underwriters have provided, and may continue to provide, from time to time investment banking, commercial banking, advisory and other services to us and the existing equity investors for customary fees and expenses in the ordinary course of their business.

Legal Matters

The validity of the issuance of the IDSs offered hereby and the shares of our common stock and senior subordinated notes represented thereby, the validity of the separate issuance of senior subordinated notes not in the form of IDSs and the validity of the issuance of the subsidiary guarantees by the Delaware subsidiary guarantors, will be passed upon for us by Kirkland & Ellis LLP, New York, New York. The validity of the issuance of the subsidiary guarantees by the Texas subsidiary guarantors will be passed upon for us by Cynthia Ayers, Esq., Senior Attorney for Valor. Certain legal matters relating to this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York.

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Experts

The financial statements as of December 31, 2002 and 2003 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2003 included in this prospectus and the related financial statement schedule included elsewhere in the registration statement have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports appearing herein (which reports express an unqualified opinion and include an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” as of January 1, 2002 and SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, as of January 1, 2001) and have been so included in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

Where Can You Find More Information

We have filed a Registration Statement on Form S-1 with the SEC regarding this offering. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, and you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits to read that information. As a result of the effectiveness of the registration statement, we are subject to the informational reporting requirements of the Exchange Act of 1934 and, under that Act, we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the Commission. You may read and copy the registration statement, the related exhibits and the reports, proxy statements and other information we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference facilities maintained by the SEC at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can also request copies of those documents, upon payment of a duplicating fee, by writing to the SEC. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference rooms. The SEC also maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file with the SEC. The site’s Internet address is www.sec.gov.

Upon completion of this offering, Valor will become subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and, in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, will file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These periodic reports, proxy statements and other information will be available for inspection and copying at the regional offices, public reference facilities and web site of the SEC referred to above.

You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:

VALOR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.

201 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 200
Irving, Texas 75062
(972) 373-1000

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC*

Index to Financial Statements
         
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    F-2  
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2002 and 2003
    F-3  
Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003
    F-4  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003
    F-5  
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Common Owners’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003
    F-6  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    F-7  
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2003 and March 31, 2004 (unaudited)
    F-30  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 (unaudited)
    F-31  
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 (unaudited)
    F-32  
Unaudited Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
    F-33  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
    P-1  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2004
    P-2  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2004
    P-3  
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended December 31, 2003
    P-4  


Valor Communications Group, Inc. (Valor) is a holding company that has not commenced operations and has no assets or liabilities. Financial statements for Valor have not been included for that reason. Upon commencing operations, Valor’s principle assets will be the direct and indirect equity interests of its subsidiary, Valor Telecommunications, LLC (VTC).

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of

Valor Telecommunications, LLC
Irving, TX

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Valor Telecommunications, LLC and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2002 and 2003 and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), changes in common owners’ equity, and cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2002 and 2003, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the three years ended December 31, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, effective January 1, 2002, the Company changed its method of accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets to conform to Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” and effective January 1, 2001, the Company changed its method of accounting for derivative financial instruments to conform to SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Dallas, Texas

March 2, 2004

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)
                             
Pro Forma
2002 2003 2003



(unaudited)
Assets        
Current assets
                       
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,289     $ 1,414          
 
Accounts receivable:
                       
   
Customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,997 and $2,672, respectively
    31,501       26,550          
   
Carriers and other, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $793 and $652, respectively
    36,294       34,223          
 
Materials and supplies, at average cost
    1,990       1,922          
 
Other current assets
    7,893       9,052          
     
     
     
 
   
Total current assets
    78,967       73,161          
     
     
     
 
Net property, plant and equipment
    779,758       769,570          
Investments and other assets
                       
 
Goodwill
    1,057,007       1,057,007          
 
Other
    146,672       139,305          
     
     
     
 
   
Total other assets
    1,203,679       1,196,312          
     
     
     
 
   
Total assets
  $ 2,062,404     $ 2,039,043          
     
     
     
 
Liabilities and Equity        
Current liabilities
                       
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 25,152     $ 37,318          
 
Accounts payable
    21,126       14,458          
 
Notes payable
    1,175       6,687          
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
                       
   
Taxes
    12,843       11,983          
   
Salaries and benefits
    11,891       14,372          
   
Interest
    3,591       3,190          
   
Other
    15,684       14,405          
 
Advance billings and customer deposits
    16,820       16,958          
     
     
     
 
   
Total current liabilities
    108,282       119,371          
     
     
     
 
Long-term debt
    1,519,133       1,426,655          
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    49,032       48,072          
Redeemable preferred interests
    370,231       370,231          
     
     
     
 
   
Total liabilities
    2,046,678       1,964,329          
     
     
     
 
Minority interests
    21,284       24,852          
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 12)
                       
Common owners’ equity
                       
 
Class A common interests, no par or stated value, 500,000,000 interests authorized, 65,568,694 issued and 65,534,944 outstanding
    64,633       64,633          
 
Class B common interests, no par or stated value, 5,184,255 interests authorized, 5,056,755 issued and outstanding
                   
 
Class C interests, no par or stated value, 50,000,000 interests authorized, 46,000,000 issued and outstanding
    46,000       46,000          
 
Treasury stock
    (34 )     (34 )        
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (4,558 )     (7,371 )        
 
Accumulated deficit
    (111,599 )     (53,366 )        
     
     
     
 
   
Total common owners’ equity
    (5,558 )     49,862          
     
     
     
 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 2,062,404     $ 2,039,043          
     
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss

(Dollars in thousands, except per owner unit amounts)
                             
Years Ended December 31,

2001 2002 2003



Operating revenues
  $ 424,916     $ 479,883     $ 497,334  
     
     
     
 
Operating expenses
                       
 
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)
    105,357       113,891       106,527  
 
Selling, general and administrative
    105,418       133,468       126,896  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    110,843       73,273       81,638  
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    321,618       320,632       315,061  
     
     
     
 
Operating income
    103,298       159,251       182,273  
Other income (expense)
                       
 
Interest expense
    (133,156 )     (127,365 )     (119,185 )
 
Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements
    (14,292 )     (12,348 )     (2,113 )
 
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
          2,757       3,258  
 
Other income and expense, net
    358       (268 )     (62 )
     
     
     
 
   
Total other income (expense)
    (147,090 )     (137,224 )     (118,102 )
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (43,792 )     22,027       64,171  
Income tax expense
          1,649       2,478  
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before minority interest and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (43,792 )     20,378       61,693  
Minority interest
    3,595       (615 )     (3,568 )
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (40,197 )     19,763       58,125  
Discontinued operations
    (8,443 )     (3,461 )     108  
     
     
     
 
Income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (48,640 )     16,302       58,233  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (4,715 )            
     
     
     
 
Net (loss) income
    (53,355 )     16,302       58,233  
Other comprehensive loss:
                       
Minimum pension liability adjustment
          (4,558 )     (2,813 )
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive (loss) income
  $ (53,355 )   $ 11,744     $ 55,420  
     
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
                       
Basic and diluted (loss) income from continuing operations:
                       
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ (.58 )   $ .22     $ .73  
 
Class C interests
  $     $ .09     $ .15  
Basic and diluted net (loss) income:
                       
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ (.77 )   $ .17     $ .73  
 
Class C interests
  $     $ .09     $ .15  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)
                             
Years Ended December 31,

2001 2002 2003



Operating activities
                       
 
Net (loss) income
  $ (53,355 )   $ 16,302     $ 58,233  
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
                       
 
Depreciation and amortization
    110,843       73,273       81,638  
 
Deferred income taxes
          93       450  
 
Loss (income) from discontinued operations
    8,443       3,461       (108 )
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    4,715              
 
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    5,735       6,801       8,105  
 
Non-cash interest expense
    29,025       32,612       17,788  
 
Non-cash unrealized loss (gain) on interest rate hedging arrangements
    9,892       2,748       (8,487 )
 
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
          (2,757 )     (3,258 )
 
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable
    11,378       11,393       3,298  
 
Minority interest
    (3,595 )     615       3,568  
 
Changes in current assets and current liabilities:
                       
   
Accounts receivable
    206       (5,147 )     3,786  
   
Accounts payable
    (15,818 )     3,235       (6,668 )
   
Accrued interest
    (17,196 )     (1,466 )     (401 )
   
Other current assets and current liabilities, net
    2,885       6,669       3,316  
 
Other, net
    7,143       2,551       4,805  
     
     
     
 
 
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations
    100,301       150,383       166,065  
     
     
     
 
Investing activities
                       
 
Acquisition, net of cash acquired
          (128,135 )      
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (107,869 )     (89,527 )     (69,850 )
 
Distributions from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
          1,939       3,507  
 
Other, net
    1,255       (1,050 )     44  
     
     
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations
    (106,614 )     (216,773 )     (66,299 )
     
     
     
 
Financing activities
                       
 
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    51,500       116,500       61,500  
 
Repayments of long-term debt
    (53,743 )     (77,304 )     (161,549 )
 
Notes payable, net
    10,197       (11,497 )     1,742  
 
Proceeds from issuance of common interests
          46,000        
 
Proceeds from issuance of minority interests
    163       110        
 
Payments of debt issuance costs
          (2,794 )     (1,158 )
     
     
     
 
 
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities from continuing operations
    8,117       71,015       (99,465 )
     
     
     
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations
    1,804       4,625       301  
Net cash used in discontinued operations (See Note 4)
    (8,373 )     (3,662 )     (176 )
     
     
     
 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (6,569 )     963       125  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    6,895       326       1,289  
     
     
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 326     $ 1,289     $ 1,414  
     
     
     
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow activity:
                       
Cash paid for interest
  $ 126,850     $ 102,895     $ 109,368  
Income taxes paid
          1,780       2,390  
Debt issued for capitalized leases
    1,995       3,057       1,949  
Note payable issued for insurance policies
          2,475       3,770  
Minimum pension liability adjustment
          4,650       3,054  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Consolidated Statements of Changes

In Common Owners’ Equity
For Years Ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003
                                                                                 
Owner Units Owners’ Interests


Accumulated Other Common
Class A Class B Class A Class B Treasury Comprehensive Accumulated Owners’
Common Common Class C Common Common Class C Stock Loss Deficit Equity










(Dollars in thousands)
  65,535       3,984           Balance, January 1, 2001   $ 64,633     $     $     $ (34 )   $     $ (74,546 )   $ (9,947 )
                  Net loss                                   (53,355 )     (53,355 )
 
     
     
         
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
  65,535       3,984           Balance, December 31, 2001   $ 64,633     $     $     $ (34 )   $     $ (127,901 )   $ (63,302 )
        1,073       46,000     Issuance of common interests                 46,000                         46,000  
                  Minimum pension liability, net of tax                             (4,558 )           (4,558 )
                  Net income                                   16,302       16,302  
 
     
     
         
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
  65,535       5,057       46,000     Balance, December 31, 2002   $ 64,633     $     $ 46,000     $ (34 )   $ (4,558 )   $ (111,599 )   $ (5,558 )
                  Minimum pension liability, net of tax                             (2,813 )           (2,813 )
                  Net income                                   58,233       58,233  
 
     
     
         
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
  65,535       5,057       46,000     Balance, December 31, 2003   $ 64,633     $     $ 46,000     $ (34 )   $ (7,371 )   $ (53,366 )   $ 49,862  
 
     
     
         
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(Dollars in thousands except per owner unit amounts)

1.     Background and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Valor Telecommunications, LLC (VTC) and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Company). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The parent of VTC is Valor Communications Group, Inc. (Valor). Valor is a holding company and has no direct operations. Valor’s principle assets are the direct and indirect equity interests of its subsidiaries.

The Company was created in 1999 for the purpose of acquiring three groups of rural local telephone exchange properties clustered in New Mexico, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Texas from GTE Southwest Corporation (GTE). The Company purchased all of the GTE access lines in Oklahoma and New Mexico, and approximately 15% of GTE’s access lines in Texas. A portion of the access lines acquired in Texas is physically located in Texarkana, Arkansas. In addition to local exchange services, the Company also offers long distance and Internet access service through other subsidiaries. On January 31, 2002, the Company acquired Kerrville Communications Corporation, Inc. (KCC), a local telephone company serving Kerrville, Texas, and has included the operating results of KCC in its consolidated results since the date of acquisition.

VTC’s lead equity investor is Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (WCAS), one of the largest private equity firms in the country. Other equity sponsors include Vestar Capital Partners, (Vestar) and Citicorp Venture Capital (CVC) (collectively, the Sponsors). WCAS, Vestar and CVC made their equity investment into VTC, which has as its primary asset, its membership interest in two majority-owned subsidiaries, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC (Southwest) and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC (Southwest II). A group of prominent Hispanic investors made a direct equity investment in Southwest and Southwest II. WCAS and the other Sponsors also made a Senior Subordinated Debt investment in Southwest. See Note 8 for additional information.

The unaudited pro forma balance sheet reflects the impact of the reorganization that will immediately precede the proposed offering of Income Deposit Securities.

2.     Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of Estimates— The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America 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 reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Revenue Recognition— Revenue is recognized when evidence of an arrangement exists, the earnings process is complete and collectibility is reasonably assured. The prices for most services are filed in tariffs with the appropriate regulatory bodies that exercise jurisdiction over the various services.

Basic local services, enhanced calling features such as caller ID, special access circuits, long distance flat rate calling plans, and most data services are billed one month in advance. Revenue for these services is recognized in the month services are rendered. The portion of advance-billed revenue associated with services that will be delivered in a subsequent period is deferred and recorded as a current liability under “Advance billings and customer deposits” in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Amounts billed to customers for activating service are deferred and recognized over the average life of the customer. The costs associated with activating such services are deferred and recognized as an operating

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

expense over the same period. Costs in excess of revenues are recognized as expense in the period in which activation occurs.

Revenues for providing usage based services, such as per-minute long distance service and access charges billed to long distance companies for originating and terminating long distance calls on the Company’s network, are billed in arrears. Revenues for these services are recognized in the month services are rendered.

Universal Service revenues are government-sponsored support received in association with providing service in mostly rural, high-cost areas. These revenues are typically based on information provided by the Company and are calculated by the government agency responsible for administering the support program. Revenues are recognized in the period the service is provided.

Cash and Cash Equivalents— For purposes of reporting cash flows, the Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents. Cash equivalents are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

Property, Plant and Equipment— Telephone property, plant and equipment are recorded at original cost of acquisition or construction and related costs, including payroll and other direct and indirect costs related to construction activity. Major replacements and improvements are capitalized. Repairs are charged to operating expense as incurred. Depreciation on telephone plant is based on the estimated remaining lives of the various classes of depreciable property and is calculated using straight-line composite rates. This method provides for the recovery of the remaining net investment in telephone plant, less salvage value, over the remaining asset lives. The composite depreciation rates range from 2.5% to 33%. Normal retirements are charged to accumulated depreciation, and any gain or loss on dispositions is amortized over the remaining asset lives of the remaining net investment in telephone plant.

Non-telephone property is depreciated on a straight-line basis. When these assets are retired or otherwise disposed of, the related cost and accumulated depreciation are removed and any gains or losses on disposition are recognized in income.

Property, plant and equipment, as well as other long-lived assets, are evaluated for impairment in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144 “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable.

Income Taxes— VTC has elected to be taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. VTC is not an operating entity itself, but is the direct majority interest owner of Southwest and Southwest II. Since VTC has elected partnership tax treatment, there are no federal income taxes to be reflected in the financial statements for this entity’s operations.

Southwest is taxed as a partnership for federal income tax purposes. Therefore, the taxable income or loss from this entity flows directly into the VTC tax return via the Form K-1 received from Southwest. For Southwest, each legal operating entity owned directly or indirectly by Southwest is legally formed as either a limited liability company or a limited partnership.

However, each of these entities is considered a disregarded entity (a division of a corporation) for federal income tax purposes and for state income tax purposes in each state in which the entity operates, except for Texas. Since Southwest has elected partnership tax treatment, there are no federal income taxes to be reflected in the financial statements for this entity.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

Southwest II has elected to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Each legal operating entity owned directly or indirectly by Southwest II is legally formed as either a limited liability company, a limited partnership, or a corporation. However, each of these entities is treated for federal income tax purposes either as a corporation or a disregarded entity. Operations for all entities directly or indirectly owned by Southwest II are included in a consolidated federal income tax return filed by Southwest II.

The financial statement provision for Southwest II’s income taxes includes federal income taxes currently payable and those deferred due to temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities. These differences result from the use of different accounting methods for financial and tax reporting purposes with respect principally to depreciable assets, materials and supplies, revenue recognition, income tax related regulatory liabilities and pension cost.

The Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement for VTC dated January 31, 2002, requires profits and losses to be allocated to the members of VTC based upon specific ordering rules. For the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, tax losses are allocated based on the owner’s respective capital account ratio. This capital account ratio is adjusted to reflect changes in the capital accounts on specific dates due to additional capital contributions, interest transfers, and taxable income or loss allocable to each partner for the applicable time period.

As noted above, in most states VTC will be treated as a partnership for state income tax purposes just as it is for federal income tax purposes. Therefore, for these states, there are no state income taxes to be reflected in the financial statements. However, those operating legal entities which are organized as limited liability companies and have operations in Texas are subject to Texas Franchise Tax on a separate legal entity basis. For the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002, there are no amounts to report as state income tax for Texas Franchise Tax. For the year ended December 31, 2003, Southwest paid state income tax for Texas Franchise Tax in the amount of $3.

Segment Reporting— The Company has two operating segments, rural local exchange carrier, or RLEC, and Other.

As an RLEC, the Company provides regulated telecommunications services to customers in its service areas. These services include local calling services to residential and business customers, as well as providing interexchange carriers (IXC) with call origination and termination services, on both a flat-rate and usage-sensitive basis, allowing them to complete long distance calls for their customers who reside in the Company’s service areas.

In Other, the Company provides unregulated telecommunications services to customers throughout its RLEC service areas. These services include long distance and Internet services. Long distance is provided through resale agreements with national long distance carriers.

The Company has considered the aggregation criteria in SFAS No. 131, “Disclosures about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information” and determined that these operating segments are similar in respect to:

  •   The nature of the services;
 
 
  •   Their processes;
 
 
  •   The type or class of customer for these services;
 
 
  •   The methods used to provide these services; and

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

  •   The nature of the overall regulatory environment.

Based on the above criteria, the Company believes the economic characteristics of the two operating segments, as well as their expected future performance, to be similar, and accordingly, has aggregated the two operating segments into a single reportable segment.

Equity Method Investments— Investments in companies in which the Company owns 20 percent to 50 percent of the voting common stock or otherwise exercises significant influence over operating and financial policies of the company are accounted for under the equity method.

Stock Compensation— The Company accounts for its employee stock compensation plan in accordance with Accounting Principles Board (APB) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” as allowed by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. As permitted by SFAS No. 123, the Company measures compensation using the intrinsic value based method as prescribed by APB Opinion No. 25, but is required to make pro forma disclosures in the footnotes to the financial statements as if the measurement provisions of SFAS No. 123 and SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation-Transition and Disclosure— an Amendment of SFAS No. 123” had been adopted. Under the intrinsic value method, compensation is measured as the difference between the market value of the stock on the grant date, less the amount required to be paid for the stock. The difference, if any, is charged to expense over the vesting period of the options. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income (loss), since options granted under the plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. See Note 15 for additional information. If compensation cost for the options had been determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net income (loss) and per owner unit amounts would have been as follows:

                             
2001 2002 2003



Net (loss) income as reported:
  $ (53,355 )   $ 16,302     $ 58,233  
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method
    (361 )     (417 )     (447 )
Add: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under intrinsic value based method
                       
     
     
     
 
Pro forma net (loss) income
  $ (53,716 )   $ 15,885     $ 57,786  
     
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
                       
 
Basic and diluted net (loss) income as reported:
                       
   
Class A and B common interests
  $ (.77 )   $ .17     $ .73  
   
Class C interests
  $     $ .09     $ .15  
 
Basic and diluted net (loss) income pro forma:
                       
   
Class A and B common interests
  $ (.77 )   $ .17     $ .72  
   
Class C interests
  $     $ .09     $ .15  

Regulatory Accounting— Certain of the Company’s operating subsidiaries, specifically the telephone operations of Southwest II, prepare their financial statements in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 71, “Accounting for the Effects of Certain Types of Regulation”. The provisions of SFAS No. 71 require, among other things, that regulated enterprises reflect rate actions of regulators in their financial statements, when appropriate. These rate actions can provide reasonable assurance of the existence of an asset, reduce or eliminate the value of an asset, or impose a liability on a regulated enterprise. The Company periodically reviews its position as to the applicability of SFAS No. 71 based on the current regulatory and competitive environment.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

Derivative Financial Instruments—Effective January 1, 2001, the Company adopted SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended by SFAS No. 137, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities-Deferral of the Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 133”, and SFAS No. 138, “Accounting for Certain Derivative Instruments and Certain Hedging Activities”. SFAS No. 133, as amended, requires that all derivative instruments, such as interest rate swap and interest rate collar agreements, be recognized on the balance sheet at fair value, regardless of the purpose or intent of holding them. In addition, SFAS No. 133 provides that for derivative instruments that qualify for hedge accounting, changes in the fair value will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities, or firm commitments through earnings or recognized in owners’ equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) until the hedged item is recognized in earnings, depending on whether the derivative is being used to hedge changes in fair value or cash flows. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value will be immediately recognized in earnings.

During 2000, the Company entered into an interest rate swap and interest rate collar agreement, which did not meet the criteria for hedge accounting upon adoption of SFAS No. 133 on January 1, 2001. The transitional unrealized loss of $4,715 is reflected as a “Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle” in the Consolidated Statements of Operations, while all settlements and subsequent adjustments to fair value are recorded in “Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements”. See Note 8 for additional information.

The Company does not have any other derivative financial instruments, nor does it use such instruments for speculative purposes.

Goodwill and Intangibles—In June 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued two new statements, SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations” and SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. SFAS No. 141 requires that the purchase method be used for all business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill no longer be amortized to earnings, but instead be reviewed for impairment. The Company adopted SFAS No. 142, on January 1, 2002. See Note 7 for additional information.

Asset Retirement Obligations—On January 1, 2003, the Company adopted SFAS No. 143, “Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations”. SFAS No. 143 addresses financial accounting and reporting for legal obligations associated with the retirement of tangible long-lived assets and the related asset retirement costs. SFAS No. 143 requires that companies recognize the fair value of a liability for an asset retirement obligation in the period in which it is incurred and capitalize the expected retirement costs as part of the book value of the long-lived asset. The Company generally has had no legal obligation to remove assets and therefore, has not accrued a liability for anticipated removal costs. Removal costs are expensed as they are incurred. The telephone operations of the Company’s subsidiary, Southwest II, are subject to SFAS No. 71 and therefore, have historically included a component for removal costs in excess of the related estimated salvage value even though there is no legal obligation to remove the assets. Notwithstanding the adoption of SFAS No. 143, SFAS No. 71 requires the Company to continue to reflect this accumulated liability for removal costs in excess of salvage value even though there is no legal obligation to remove the assets. As a result, the adoption of SFAS No. 143 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements—In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. This Statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring).” The provisions of this Statement are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The Company adopted this Statement on January 1, 2003. The adoption of this standard did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or the results of operations.

Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation (FIN) No. 45, “Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness of Others—an Interpretation of FASB Statements No. 5, 57, and 107 and Rescission of FIN No. 34” was issued in November 2002 and became effective for disclosures made in December 31, 2002 financial statements. The interpretation requires expanded disclosures of guarantees. In addition, the interpretation requires recording the fair value of guarantees upon issuance or modification after January 1, 2003. While the Company has various guarantees included in contracts in the normal course of business, these guarantees do not represent significant commitments or contingent liabilities related to the indebtedness of others.

In January 2003, the FASB issued FIN No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (ARB 51)”, which clarifies the consolidation accounting guidance in ARB 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements,” as it applies to certain entities in which equity investors who do not have the characteristics of a controlling financial interest or do not have sufficient equity at risk for the entities to finance their activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties. Such entities are known as variable interest entities (VIEs). FIN No. 46 requires that the primary beneficiary of a VIE consolidates the VIE. FIN No. 46 also requires new disclosures for significant relationships with VIEs, whether or not consolidation accounting is used or anticipated. In December 2003, the FASB revised and re-released FIN No. 46 as “FIN No. 46(R).” The provisions of FIN No. 46(R) are effective for periods ending after March 15, 2004. However, the Company has elected to adopt FIN No. 46(R) as of December 31, 2003. The adoption of FIN No. 46(R) did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or the results of operations.

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150 “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity.” This Statement establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. It requires that an issuer classify a financial instrument that is within its scope as a liability because that financial instrument embodies an obligation of the issuer. This Statement is effective for periods beginning after June 15, 2003. The Company has included the redeemable preferred interests as part of total liabilities at December 31, 2002 and 2003.

In January 2004, FASB Staff Position (FSP) No. 106-1, “Accounting and Disclosure Requirements Related to the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003” was issued. FSP No. 106-1 permits the deferral of recognizing the effects of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (the Act) in the accounting for post-retirement health care plan under SFAS No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” and in providing disclosures related to the plan required by SFAS No. 132 (revised 2003), “Employers’ Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits.” The deferral of the accounting for the Act continues to apply until authoritative guidance is issued on the accounting for the federal subsidy provided by the Act or until certain other events requiring plan remeasurement. We have elected the deferral provided by this FSP and are evaluating the magnitude of the potential favorable impact of this FSP on our results of operations and financial position. See Note 11 for further discussion of postretirement benefits.

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

3.     Acquisition

On January 31, 2002, the Company purchased all the outstanding common stock, preferred stock and common stock equivalents of KCC in a transaction accounted for as a purchase business combination. As a result of this acquisition, the Company also acquired a 32% general partner interest in CGKC&H Rural Cellular Limited Partnership (CGKC&H) and CGKC&H #2 Rural Cellular Limited Partnership (CGKC&H #2) which provide wireless telephone service to certain rural service areas in Texas.

The purchase price allocation in accordance with SFAS No. 141, “Business Combinations”, for the January 31, 2002 purchase business combination is as follows:

         
Consideration given—cash paid to former owners
  $ 126,375  
Consideration received—fair value of net tangible assets and identified intangible assets purchased
    (55,712 )
Transaction costs—cash paid for transaction costs
    2,471  
     
 
Goodwill
  $ 73,134  
     
 

The following unaudited financial information assumes that the KCC acquisition that was consummated during the year ended December 31, 2002 had occurred on January 1, 2001. The pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of the operating results that would have occurred if the acquisitions had been consummated as of January 1, 2001 nor is it necessarily indicative of future operating results.

                   
2001 2002


Revenue
  $ 451,948     $ 482,195  
(Loss) income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
    (44,072 )     16,587  
Net (loss) income
    (48,486 )     16,587  
Basic and diluted net (loss) income per owners’ unit:
               
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ (0.77 )   $ 0.17  
 
Class C interests
  $ 0.11     $ 0.10  

4.     Discontinued Operations

As a result of the Company’s sale of its competitive local exchange business in Texas in 2002, the results of such operations have been reflected as discontinued operations in the Company’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 144.

The following table provides the components of the Company’s discontinued operations for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003:

                         
2001 2002 2003



Revenue
  $ 570     $ 563     $  
Net (loss) income
  $ (8,443 )   $ (3,461 )   $ 108  

In connection with the discontinued operations in 2002, the Company recorded a liability of approximately $2,000 related to certain employee termination benefits and other exit costs, including a non-cancelable lease. As of December 31, 2002 and 2003, approximately $400 and $100, respectively, of the $2,000 had not been paid. These amounts have been classified as current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Income from discontinued operations of $108 in 2003 represents a revision to the estimates made in 2002 for recording certain employee termination benefits and other exit costs.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

5.     Other Current Assets

Other current assets consist of the following:

                 
December 31,

2002 2003


Deferred service activation costs
  $ 5,058     $ 5,208  
Other
    2,835       3,844  
     
     
 
Total
  $ 7,893     $ 9,052  
     
     
 

6.     Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of the following:

                         
Weighted
Average December 31,
Life
In Years 2002 2003



Land
        $ 4,723     $ 4,686  
Buildings and leasehold improvements
    29       81,688       83,858  
Central office equipment
    9       269,820       301,737  
Outside communications plant
    18       514,414       540,202  
Furniture, vehicles and other equipment
    6       43,486       50,269  
Construction in progress
          10,380       9,436  
             
     
 
              924,511       990,188  
Less accumulated depreciation
            (144,753 )     (220,618 )
             
     
 
Property, plant and equipment, net
          $ 779,758     $ 769,570  
             
     
 

The above table references the weighted average depreciable life of the Company’s property, plant and equipment. For the majority of its property, plant and equipment, the Company calculates depreciation expense based on its estimate of the useful life of the assets. Certain of the Company’s total property, plant and equipment are accounted for under the requirements of SFAS No. 71. SFAS No. 71 allows the Company to depreciate its assets over useful lives as prescribed by regulatory authorities, which can exceed the actual useful lives of the assets.

Included in the furniture, vehicles and other equipment amount at December 31, 2002 and 2003 is $5,024 and $6,918, respectively, for vehicles under capital leases. The related accumulated depreciation for these leases is $1,039 and $2,389 at December 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively.

Depreciation expense, excluding discontinued operations, was $56,943, $73,273 and $81,638 for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively, and is included in “Depreciation and amortization” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations. Depreciation expense for 2001, 2002 and 2003 includes $128, $911 and $1,350, respectively, related to assets acquired under capital lease obligations.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

7.     Investments and Other Assets

Investments and other assets consist of the following:

                 
December 31,

2002 2003


Goodwill
  $ 1,057,007     $ 1,057,007  
RTFC equity certificates
    61,822       62,318  
Unamortized debt issuance costs
    61,311       54,364  
Investment in cellular partnerships
    18,234       17,986  
Other
    5,305       4,637  
     
     
 
Total
  $ 1,203,679     $ 1,196,312  
     
     
 

The Company’s goodwill represents the excess price paid by the Company in its initial acquisition of the GTE properties and the subsequent acquisition of KCC in 2002, over the fair value of the tangible and intangible assets and liabilities of the local exchange properties in Oklahoma, New Mexico, Arkansas and Texas, on the date of acquisition net of accumulated amortization of $74,429. See Notes 1 and 3 for additional information. In accordance with SFAS No. 142, the goodwill balance is no longer amortized, but instead will be subject to an annual assessment of impairment by applying a fair-value based test at a reporting unit level. The local exchange operating properties form the basis of the Company’s telecommunications businesses under Southwest I and Southwest II and as such are the two reporting units used to evaluate impairment under SFAS No. 142.

The Company will evaluate the carrying value of goodwill in the third quarter of each year. As part of the evaluation, the Company compares the carrying value of the goodwill for each reporting unit with their fair value to determine whether an impairment exists. The Company discounts each reporting unit’s future cash flow projections to determine if the goodwill can be recovered. Cash flow projections, although subject to a degree of uncertainty, are based on each reporting unit’s trend of historical performance and management’s estimate of future performance, giving consideration to existing and anticipated competitive and economic conditions. Upon completion of its initial assessments and its annual assessment in the third quarters of 2002 and 2003, the Company determined that no write-down in the carrying value of the goodwill was required.

The following financial information is presented as if SFAS No. 142 was adopted at the beginning of the year ended January 1, 2001:

                           
2001 2002 2003



Reported net (loss) income
  $ (53,355 )   $ 16,302     $ 58,233  
Goodwill amortization
    53,900              
     
     
     
 
Adjusted net income
  $ 545     $ 16,302     $ 58,233  
     
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
                       
Basic and diluted net (loss) income as reported:
                       
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ (.77 )   $ .17     $ .73  
 
Class C interests
  $     $ .09     $ .15  
Basic and diluted net income adjusted:
                       
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ .01     $ .17     $ .73  
 
Class C interests
  $     $ .09     $ .15  

In accordance with the terms of the Rural Telephone Finance Cooperative (RTFC) loans, the Company was required to purchase an equity certificate in RTFC equal to 10% of the total amount borrowed from

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

the RTFC. RTFC provided a loan to finance the purchase of the equity certificate. The funds invested in this equity certificate will be refunded to the Company upon repayment of the outstanding loan balance. The RTFC certificate is not marketable and is carried at cost. As a member of RTFC, the Company receives non-cash patronage capital certificates based on RTFC earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, the Company recorded patronage capital certificates with a present value of $324 and $430, respectively. These non-cash patronage capital certificates will accrue interest on a monthly basis and will be redeemed for approximately $1,234 and $1,360 in the years 2017 and 2018, respectively.

As a result of amending the terms of its revolving credit facility in 2003, the Company expensed $555 of its debt issuance costs related to the original debt due to the reduced borrowing capacity of the facility upon execution of the amendment. In addition, the Company deferred an additional $1,158 of new debt issuance costs incurred as a result of this same amendment. See Note 8 for additional information. Debt issuance costs are amortized utilizing the effective interest rate method over the term of the related debt.

Investments in cellular partnerships represent the Company’s 32% ownership in both CGKC&H and CGKC&H #2. The Company accounts for its investments using the equity method of accounting. Income taxes on the Company’s equity in earnings of the partnerships are included in the Company’s provision for federal income taxes.

The Company leases telecommunications equipment to customers usually over five-year terms. These long-term receivables are included in “Investments and other assets” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Future minimum rentals to be received under sales-type leases in effect at December 31, 2002 and 2003 are as follows:

                 
Year 2002 2003



2003
  $ 168     $  
2004
    141       198  
2005
    86       130  
2006
    71       107  
2007
    58       92  
2008
          62  
Thereafter
    68       23  
     
     
 
Total minimum lease payments
    592       612  
Less current portion
    (168 )     (198 )
     
     
 
Long-term portion
  $ 424     $ 414  
     
     
 

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

8.     Long-Term Debt

Long-term debt outstanding is as follows:

                 
December 31,

2002 2003


6.2%* Senior Credit Facilities, due in installments through 2013
  $ 1,244,016     $ 1,145,383  
10.0% Senior Subordinated Debt, due 2010
    296,469       314,257  
5.4%* Leases, due in installments through 2008
    3,800       4,333  
     
     
 
Total long-term debt
    1,544,285       1,463,973  
Less current maturities
    (25,152 )     (37,318 )
     
     
 
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities
  $ 1,519,133     $ 1,426,655  
     
     
 

* weighted average interest rate at December 31, 2003

The Senior Credit Facilities consist of revolving credit agreements (collectively, the Revolver) and Tranches A, B, C and D. These Tranches are related borrowings with varying interest rates, due dates and payment schedules. The Senior Credit Facilities are charged interest based upon the following: $553,821 for Tranches A, B and the Revolver are charged interest based upon the applicable Eurodollar rate plus 2.0% to 4.0%, or at applicable base rate plus 0.75% to 3.0%, with the interest rate spread adjusted based upon certain financial ratios; $591,562 for Tranches C and D are charged interest at the RTFC’s current standard long-term variable rate plus 1.18%. As a member of RTFC, the Company receives cash distributions based on RTFC earnings. During the year ended December 31, 2002 and 2003, the Company recorded $2,879 and $3,173, respectively, of cash distributions from the RTFC as a reduction of interest expense.

At December 31, 2002 and 2003, the weighted average interest rate of the Senior Credit Facilities was 6.9% and 6.2%, respectively.

On October 3, 2003, the Company amended the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated August 31, 2000 (the Credit Agreement). Included in the revisions to the Credit Agreement was a reduction of the amount available for borrowings under the Revolver and an increase in permitted investments. In addition, there were revisions related to the use of additional borrowings and the maintenance of certain financial ratios. The amount of borrowing available to the Company under the Revolving credit facility (Revolver) is generally based upon achieving certain levels of operating performance. At December 31, 2003, the Company had an aggregate of $150,900 in available borrowings under the Revolver, for which the Company pays a commitment fee of 0.375% to 0.500% based upon certain financial tests.

Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities are collateralized by the operating assets of Southwest and Southwest II. These agreements limit, among other things, additional borrowings, transactions with affiliates, capital expenditures and the payment of dividends by those operating companies. The agreements also require maintenance of certain financial ratios including debt to cash flow ratios, interest coverage and fixed charge coverage.

The Company is allowed to pay cash interest on the Senior Subordinated Debt at a rate of 10% per year unless prohibited by the terms of the Senior Credit Facilities. The Senior Credit Facilities contain provisions requiring the Company to achieve a pro forma fixed charge coverage equal to or greater than one to one for that particular measurement period prior to paying cash interest on the Senior Subordinated Debt. If the Company is prohibited from paying cash interest, the debt accrues interest at 12.0% and the

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

Company converts this non-cash interest into additional note principal. Once the required pro forma fixed charge is achieved, the interest rate drops to 10% for that particular semi-annual interest period and the Company is allowed to make a cash interest payment. During the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Company converted $29,025, $32,612 and $17,788, respectively, of interest into additional note principal. For the measurement period ending September 30, 2003, the Company achieved the required pro forma fixed charge coverage. As a result, the interest rate on the Senior Subordinated Debt decreased to 10.0% and the semi-annual interest of $15,713 due December 31, 2003 was paid in cash. If the pro forma fixed charge coverage is less than one to one during the measurement period prior to the semi-annual interest payment date, the interest rate returns to 12.0% and the Company is required to convert the interest into additional note principal for that semi-annual period.

The approximate annual debt maturities for the five years subsequent to December 31, 2003 are as follows: $37,318 in 2004; $47,786 in 2005; $64,656 in 2006; $226,596 in 2007; and $292,408 in 2008.

During the year ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, the Company capitalized $3,372, $1,116 and $997, respectively, of interest expense related to construction projects.

During 2000, the Company entered into two interest rate hedge contracts, an interest rate swap and an interest rate collar agreement, to adjust the interest rate profile of its debt obligations. In addition, the Company’s credit arrangements include provisions that require interest rate protection (hedge agreements) for a portion of its variable rate debt. The Company entered into interest rate hedging agreements with certain financial institutions to reduce the financial impact of changes in interest rates on its debt. The Company’s interest rate swap and collar agreement do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133, therefore, they are carried at fair market value and are included in “Deferred credits and other liabilities” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The transitional unrealized loss on the interest rate hedging arrangements at January 1, 2001 is reflected as the “Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle” on the Consolidated Statement of Operations. Changes in the fair market value and settlements are recorded as “Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements” each reporting period.

The swap agreement effectively converts a portion of the Company’s variable-rate debt to fixed-rate debt, thereby reducing the risk of incurring higher interest costs due to rising interest rates. The interest rate collar includes a floor and a cap. For any reset that the three month London InterBank Offered Rate (LIBOR) is less than or equal to 5.43% (Floor Knock-in), the LIBOR that the Company pays for that three month period is 6.76% (Cap). For any reset that the three month LIBOR is greater than 6.76%, but less than 8.25%, the rate that the Company pays is 6.76%.

As a further hedge against rising interest rates, the Company selected fixed rate options available under certain of the Senior Credit Facilities. For the year ended December 31, 2000, the Company fixed $275,000 of the Tranche C debt for a period of five years at the rate of 9.28%. During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company fixed $44,000 under Tranche B for a period of three years at the rate of 8.39%. During the year ended December 31, 2003, the Company fixed $210,000 of the Tranche C debt for three years at a rate of 6.68% and $61,111 of the Tranche D debt for a period of four years at a rate of 6.38%.

The counterparties to the hedge agreements are major financial institutions. These financial institutions have been accorded high ratings by major rating agencies. While the Company may be exposed to credit losses due to non-performance of the counterparties, the Company considers the risk to be remote. The Company does not utilize derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

           
Interest Rate Swap
       
 
Notional amount
    $100,000  
 
Receive rate
    3 month LIBOR  
 
Pay rate
    6.19%  
 
Maturity
    November 9, 2004  
Interest Rate Collar
       
 
Notional amount
    $100,000  
 
Maturity
    November 9, 2004  
 
Cap rate
    6.76%  
 
Cap knock-out rate
    8.25%  
 
Floor knock-in rate
    5.43%  
 
9. Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

Deferred credits and other liabilities were composed of the following:

                 
2002 2003


Accrued pension costs (see Note 11)
  $ 10,230     $ 15,074  
Accrued postretirement medical and life benefit costs (see Note 11)
    10,198       11,205  
Interest rate swap (see Note 8)
    8,159       4,189  
Interest rate collar (see Note 8)
    9,195       4,678  
Deferred revenue
    4,591       3,558  
Deferred federal income taxes (see Note 10)
    4,882       5,354  
Deferred investment tax credit (see Note 10)
    305       259  
Other
    1,472       3,755  
     
     
 
Total
  $ 49,032     $ 48,072  
     
     
 

Deferred revenue represents revenues billed to customers for activating services. This revenue is recognized over the average life of the customers along with the costs associated with activating such services. See Note 2 for additional information.

 
10. Income Taxes

Southwest II has elected to be taxed as a corporation for federal income tax purposes. Each legal operating entity owned directly or indirectly by Southwest II is legally formed as either a limited liability company, a limited partnership, or a corporation. However, each of these entities is treated for federal income tax purposes either as a corporation or a disregarded entity (a division of a corporation). Operations for all entities directly or indirectly owned by Southwest II are included in a consolidated federal income tax return filed by Southwest II. Since Southwest II is the only operating entity organized as a corporation for tax purposes, the income tax expense and the deferred tax liabilities reported in the consolidated results of operations are computed based solely on the Southwest II operations.

The Company accounts for income taxes under SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. The Company records its net deferred income tax liability for all temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, computed based on provisions of the enacted tax law.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

The components of the Company’s net deferred tax liability are as follows at December 31, 2002 and 2003:

                   
December 31,

2002 2003


Deferred tax assets:
               
 
Capitalized costs on self constructed assets
  $ 1,366     $ 1,474  
 
Reserves and accruals
    313       421  
 
Other
    1,913       984  
     
     
 
      3,592       2,879  
     
     
 
Deferred tax liabilities:
               
 
Property and equipment
    6,823       7,466  
 
Other
    1,651       767  
     
     
 
      8,474       8,233  
     
     
 
 
Net deferred tax liability
  $ 4,882     $ 5,354  
     
     
 

Income tax expense for the years ended December 31, was as follows:

                         
2001 2002 2003



Current expense
  $     $ 1,556     $ 2,028  
Deferred expense
          93       450  
     
     
     
 
Total income tax expense
  $     $ 1,649     $ 2,478  
     
     
     
 

There was no income tax expense associated with the discontinued operations.

The differences between the federal income tax statutory rate and the Company’s effective income tax rate is as follows:

                         
2001 2002 2003



Statutory federal income tax rate
    34.0 %     34.0 %     34.0 %
Income not subject to federal income taxes
    (34.0 )     (25.3 )     (29.6 )
Other—net
    0.0       0.5       (0.3 )
     
     
     
 
Effective income tax rate
    0.0 %     9.2 %     4.1 %
     
     
     
 

Prior to 1988, KCC purchased assets that entitled it to an investment tax credit as a reduction against its federal income tax liability. For financial reporting purposes, this credit was deferred and is being amortized to income over the useful lives of the assets acquired. Amortization of deferred amounts was approximately $41 and $46 in 2002 and 2003, respectively.

 
11. Pension and Employee Benefits

The Company sponsors a qualified pension plan and a postretirement benefit plan for the union employees. The pension plan is noncontributory. The Company’s postretirement health care plans are generally contributory and include a limit on the Company’s share of the cost for recent and future retirees. The Company accrues the costs, as determined by an actuary, of the pension and the postretirement benefits over the period from the date of hire until the date the employee becomes fully eligible for benefits.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

The following tables provide a reconciliation of the changes in the plans’ benefit obligations and fair value of plan assets for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003 and a statement of funded status as of December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003:

                                                 
Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits


2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003






Change in Projected Benefit Obligation:
                                               
Benefit obligation at January 1
  $ 33,095     $ 34,541     $ 45,168     $ 7,997     $ 9,188     $ 12,751  
Benefit obligation assumed as part of the KCC acquisition
          3,449                          
Service cost
    1,676       2,363       3,027       210       349       394  
Interest cost
    2,471       2,764       2,883       603       739       882  
Actuarial loss
    2,583       6,058       8,601       407       2,177       1,602  
Effect of special termination benefits
          669                   532        
Benefits paid
    (5,284 )     (4,676 )     (3,697 )     (29 )     (234 )     (243 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Projected benefit obligation at December 31
  $ 34,541     $ 45,168     $ 55,982     $ 9,188     $ 12,751     $ 15,386  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Change in Plan Assets:
                                               
Fair value of plan assets at January 1
  $ 32,273     $ 25,479     $ 21,649     $     $     $  
Plan assets acquired as part of the KCC acquisition
          3,505                          
Actual return on plan assets
    (1,510 )     (2,975 )     4,096                    
Employer contributions
          316       2,700       29       234       243  
Benefits paid
    (5,284 )     (4,676 )     (3,697 )     (29 )     (234 )     (243 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Fair value of plan assets at December 31
  $ 25,479     $ 21,649     $ 24,748     $     $        
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Funded status as of December 31
  $ (9,062 )   $ (23,519 )   $ (31,234 )   $ (9,188 )   $ (12,751 )   $ (15,386 )
Unrecognized net actuarial loss
    6,233       17,939       23,864       378       2,553       4,181  
Adjustment required to recognize additional minimum liability
          (4,650 )     (7,704 )                  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Accrued benefit cost
  $ (2,829 )   $ (10,230 )   $ (15,074 )   $ (8,810 )   $ (10,198 )   $ (11,205 )
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

The accumulated benefit obligation for the pension plan was $23,499, $31,869 and $39,813 as of December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively.

The accrued benefit cost is reflected in “Deferred credits and other liabilities” on the Company’s Consolidated Balance Sheet (see Note 9). The Company’s investment policy is to invest 55-75% of the pension assets in equity funds with the remainder being invested in fixed income funds and cash equivalents. Effective January 1, 2003, the Company selected a new Trustee and Investment Manager for the pension plan.

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

The following table shows the asset allocations at December 31, 2002 and 2003, by asset category:

                 
Asset Category 2002 2003



Broad Market Stock Index Fund
          61 %
International Stock Index Fund
          11  
Bond Index Fund
          28  
Domestic Equity Mutual Funds
    45 %      
International Equity Mutual Funds
    11        
Fixed Income Mutual Funds
    44        
     
     
 
Total
    100 %     100 %
     
     
 

The following table provides an estimate of the benefit payments expected to be paid during the years ended December 31:

                 
Other
Postretirement
Year Pension Benefits Benefits



2004
  $ 1,574     $ 579  
2005
  $ 2,246     $ 703  
2006
  $ 2,953     $ 842  
2007
  $ 3,210     $ 953  
2008
  $ 3,709     $ 1,044  
2009-2013
  $ 28,270     $ 6,544  

The Company expects to contribute $4,694 to its pension plan and $579 to its other postretirement benefits plan in 2004.

The following table provides the components of net periodic benefit cost for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003:

                                                 
Pension Benefits Other Postretirement Benefits


2001 2002 2003 2001 2002 2003






Service cost
  $ 1,676     $ 2,363     $ 3,027     $ 210     $ 349     $ 394  
Interest cost
    2,471       2,764       2,883       603       739       882  
Expected return on plan assets
    (2,724 )     (2,693 )     (2,159 )                  
Amortization of loss
          20       738             31       155  
Special termination benefits
          669                   532        
Early retirement window true-up
                                  (180 )
Settlement loss
    640                                
     
     
     
     
     
     
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 2,063     $ 3,123     $ 4,489     $ 813     $ 1,651     $ 1,251  
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

The weighted-average assumptions used in measuring the Company’s benefit obligations as of December 31, 2002 and 2003, respectively, are as follows:

                                 
Other
Postretirement
Pension Benefits Benefits


2002 2003 2002 2003




Discount rate
    6.50%       6.05%       6.50 %     6.05 %
Expected return on plan assets
    8.50%       8.50%              
Rate of compensation increase
    4.50%       4.50%              

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

The assumed health care cost trend rate is 10.0% and 9.0% in 2003 and 2004, respectively, and is assumed to decrease gradually to an ultimate rate of 5.0% in the year 2008.

A one percentage point change in the assumed health care cost trend rate would have the following effects on the Company’s other postretirement benefits:

                 
1% Increase 1% Decrease


Effect on 2003 service and interest costs
  $ 2     $ (3 )
Effect on postretirement benefit obligations as of December 31, 2003
  $ 30     $ (36 )

The Company also sponsors an employee savings plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plan covers all employees. Under the plan, the Company provides matching contributions based on qualified employee contributions. Matching contributions charged to expense were $1,634, $2,026 and $1,840 during the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively.

12.     Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has operating leases covering primarily buildings and land. Total rental expense was $4,136, $4,020 and $4,578 in 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively. At December 31, 2003, rental commitments under noncancelable leases are as follows:

         
Aggregate
Year Amounts


2004
  $ 2,257  
2005
    2,244  
2006
    2,156  
2007
    1,820  
2008
    1,824  
Thereafter
    2,873  
     
 
Total
  $ 13,174  
     
 

The Company has various commitments for capital expenditures of $35,852 at December 31, 2003, of which $15,803 is related to the 2004 capital budget. Capital expenditures were $107,869, $89,527 and $69,850, for the years ended December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003, respectively. Additionally, the Company has unfulfilled contractual commitments for miscellaneous services at December 31, 2003 of $87,852. These commitments extend through December 31, 2006.

In the normal course of business, there are various legal proceedings outstanding, including both commercial and regulatory litigation. In the opinion of management, these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company.

The Company has a collective bargaining agreement with the Local 6171 and Local 7019 of the Communications Workers of America. This agreement provides for annual or semi-annual wage increases for these employees and an annual incentive compensation bonus depending on performance results. The current contracts will expire on February 28, 2005 and February 14, 2006.

13.     Redeemable Preferred Interests

The Company has two classes of Redeemable Preferred Interests: Class A and Class B. The carrying amount of the Redeemable Preferred Interests equals approximately the amount of cash that would be

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

paid under the conditions specified in the Partnership Agreement if settlement of the Redeemable Preferred Interests had occurred at December 31, 2003 and 2002.

Information about the Redeemable Preferred Interests is as follows:

                   
December 31,

2002 2003


Class A: 500,000,000 interests authorized, 370,231,350 interests outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002
  $ 370,231     $ 370,231  
Class B: 29,305,106 interests authorized, 28,582,606 interests outstanding at December 31, 2003 and 2002
           
     
     
 
 
Total Redeemable Preferred Interests
  $ 370,231     $ 370,231  
     
     
 

In 1999, VTC authorized the issuance of 353,119,750 Class A preferred interests and 22,505,106 Class B preferred interests. On January 1, 2002, the LLC agreement for VTC was amended to reflect total authorized Class A preferred interests of 500,000,000 and total authorized Class B preferred interests of 29,305,106.

The Class A and Class B preferred interests have no stated or par value. 365,733,249 of the Class A preferred interests were issued for aggregate proceeds of $365,542 or approximately $1 per preferred interest. The balance of 4,498,101 Class A preferred interests were issued to the founders of the Company in connection with the Company’s formation in 1999. Additionally, 22,505,106 Class B preferred interests were issued to the founders of the Company in connection with the Company’s formation in 1999. No cash proceeds were received for the issuance of the founder’s interests. No cash proceeds were received by the Company for the issuance of the Class B preferred interests.

Changes in the number of Class B interests outstanding are as follows:

                 
Years Ended December 31,

2002 2003


Interests outstanding, beginning
    22,505,106       28,582,606  
Interests issued pursuant to Valor Telecom Executive Incentive Plan (see Note 15)
    6,077,500        
     
     
 
Total Class B preferred interests outstanding
    28,582,606       28,582,606  
     
     
 

These Class A and Class B Preferred Interests are not entitled to receive dividends and have no voting rights. These interests are redeemable in whole or in part at the option of the Company and all interests may be redeemed by September 3, 2011, subject to the restrictions set forth in the Senior Credit Agreement and the Partnership Agreement, at an amount up to the “Preferred Appreciation Amount” plus the “Class A Preferred Capital Amount” (both defined below). Currently, restrictions in the Senior Credit Agreement prevent any distribution to the holders of the preferred interests in regards to redemption or liquidation.

Upon the occurrence of a liquidation event, the entire net assets of the Company available to be distributed among the holders of common and preferred interests, other than those net assets attributable to Southwest II, shall be distributed first, ratably among the holders of the Class A preferred interests, based on, and up to the maximum amount of the “Class A Preferred Capital Amount” which is defined in the Partnership Agreement as $1.00 per interest. The second order of distribution provides that to the extent there are any net assets remaining after the first order of distribution, there shall be a ratable distribution among the holders of the Class A common interests, based on, and up to the maximum amount of the “Class A Common Capital Amount” which is defined in the Partnership Agreement as $1.00 per interest.

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

Next, to the extent there are any net assets remaining after the second order of distribution, there shall be a ratable allocation among the holders of the Class A preferred interests and the Class B preferred interests, based on, and up to the maximum amount of, the “Preferred Appreciation Amount”. The “Preferred Appreciation Amount”, per preferred interest holder, is defined as an appreciation amount calculated as interest on the “Class A Preferred Capital Amount”, or $1 per interest, at a rate of 20% per year, compounded quarterly.

The sum of the “Preferred Appreciation Amount” and the “Class A Preferred Capital Amount” is $757,855 at December 31, 2003.

14.     Common Owners’ Equity

The outstanding Class A common interests, Class B common interests, and Class C interests have no stated or par value. Each of the Class A common interests and Class C interests are entitled to one vote. Dividends may be paid based on certain restrictions related to the preferred interests. Any dividends must be paid in equal amounts on the Class A and Class B common interests out of proceeds associated with operations from sources other than Southwest II. Dividends paid on the Class C interests must arise from proceeds attributable to the Southwest II operations.

In the event of a liquidation of the Southwest operations, the holders of the Class A common interests are entitled to $1.00 per interest, (or, if less, the amount of the related capital contribution paid for such interest), after the effects of distributions (other than dividends) and share ratably with the Class B common interest holders in the remaining net assets available for distribution.

In the event of a liquidation of the Southwest II operations, the holders of the Class C interests are entitled to $1.00 per interest, (or, if less, the amount of the related capital contribution paid for such interest), after the effects of distributions (other than dividends) and share ratably in the remaining net assets available for distribution.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

15.     Stock Options

Equity Incentive Non-Qualifying Stock Options

In 1999, Southwest (a majority-owned subsidiary of the Company) reserved 9,000,000 Class B common interests for issuance to employees of the Company in accordance with the Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC 2000 Equity Incentive Non-Qualifying Option Agreement (the Plan). The vesting period for these options ranges from immediate to 5 years and the options expire 10 years after the date of grant. The weighted average remaining life of the options outstanding at December 31, 2003 is 6.8 years. The options are granted at the $1.00 stated price of the Class B common interests. The stated price is equivalent to the estimated fair value of the interests.

         
Stock Options Number of Options*


Options outstanding, January 1, 2001
    4,120  
Options granted
    264  
Forfeited options
    (124 )
     
 
Options outstanding, December 31, 2001
    4,260  
Options granted
    862  
Forfeited options
    (405 )
     
 
Options outstanding, December 31, 2002
    4,717  
Options granted
    465  
Forfeited options
    (60 )
     
 
Options outstanding, December 31, 2003.
    5,122  
     
 
Exercisable options at December 31, 2001
    1,538  
     
 
Exercisable options at December 31, 2002
    2,323  
     
 
Exercisable options at December 31, 2003
    3,383  
     
 

* Number of options expressed in thousands.

The fair value for each of the Company’s options was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model and the following weighted average assumptions for 2001, 2002 and 2003:

                         
2001 2002 2003



Dividend yield
    0 %     0 %     0 %
Volatility factor
    0       0       0  
Risk-free interest rate
    5.14 %     5.19 %     4.05 %
Expected life in years
    10       10       10  

In 2000, the Company granted an Equity Incentive Non-Qualifying Stock Option to one of its key executives in the amount of 300,000 Class A Common Interests and 1,700,000 Class A Preferred Interests of VTC. The options vested immediately and was granted at a $1.00 stated price. The stated price is equivalent to the estimated fair value of the interests. This option was exercisable at December 31, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Phantom Stock Units

The Valor Telecom Executive Incentive Plan was implemented on April 1, 2002, and allows for awards of up to 1,200,000 Class B Common Interests and 6,800,000 Class B Preferred Interests (collectively, Phantom Stock Units) to selected executive employees of VTC and its subsidiaries. These interests allow

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

the selected executives to participate in the appreciation on a pro-rata basis with the Class A Preferred Interests and Class A Common Interests held by the Equity Sponsors and Individual Investors. In accordance with Financial Accounting Interpretation No. 28, “Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other Variable Stock Option or Award Plans”, the amount by which the market value of these Phantom Stock Units exceeds the value specified under the plan is charged to compensation expense over the vesting period. Certain of the awards vested 20% immediately and 20% on January 1 for each of the following 4 years. The remaining awards vest evenly over 5 years from the date the award was granted. Unvested units are subject to cancellation upon expiration or termination of employment. For the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2003 the Phantom Stock Units were deemed to have no value and thus no compensation expense was recorded during those periods. VTC issued 1,072,500 Class B Common and 6,077,500 Class B Preferred units to the Executive Incentive Plan in 2002. These units were granted to Executives as follows:

                   
Phantom Stock
Number of Units
in thousands

Class B Class B
Common Preferred


Units outstanding, January 1, 2002
           
Units granted
    1,073       6,078  
Forfeited units
           
     
     
 
Units outstanding, December 31, 2002
    1,073       6,078  
Units granted
           
Forfeited units
           
     
     
 
Units outstanding, December 31, 2003
    1,073       6,078  
     
     
 
 
Vested units at December 31, 2002
    180       1,020  
     
     
 
 
Vested units at December 31, 2003
    395       2,236  
     
     
 
 
16. Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of each class of financial instruments for which it is practicable to estimate that value:

Cash and cash equivalents—The carrying amount approximates fair value because of the short maturity of these instruments.

RTFC equity certificate—It is not practicable to estimate the fair value of this investment because there is no quoted market price

Debt—The fair value of long-term debt was estimated based on the Company’s current incremental borrowing rate for debt of the same remaining maturities.

Interest Rate Swap and Collar Agreement—The Company’s interest rate swap and collar agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting under SFAS No. 133, therefore, they are carried at fair market value.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

The estimated fair value of the Company’s financial instruments is as follows:

                 
Carrying
December 31, 2002 Amount Fair Value



Financial liabilities:
               
Long-term debt, including current maturities
  $ 1,544,285     $ 1,623,474  
Interest rate swap agreement
  $ 8,159     $ 8,159  
Interest rate collar agreement
  $ 9,195     $ 9,195  
                 
Carrying
December 31, 2003 Amount Fair Value



Financial liabilities:
               
Long-term debt, including current maturities
  $ 1,463,973     $ 1,522,847  
Interest rate swap agreement
  $ 4,189     $ 4,189  
Interest rate collar agreement
  $ 4,678     $ 4,678  
 
17. Off Balance Sheet Risk and Concentration of Credit Risk

Certain financial instruments potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk. These financial instruments consist primarily of trade receivables, cash and cash equivalents and derivatives.

The Company places its cash and temporary cash investments with high credit quality financial institutions and limits the amount of credit exposure to any one financial institution. The Company also periodically evaluates the credit worthiness of the institutions with which it invests. The Company does, however, maintain unsecured cash and cash equivalent balances in excess of federally insured limits.

 
18. Related Party Transactions

The Company had the following transactions with related parties:

                         
Year Ended December 31

2001 2002 2003



Issuance of additional note principal in lieu of cash interest payments to the Sponsors for Subordinated Debt
  $ 29,025     $ 32,612     $ 17,788  
Interest paid to the Sponsors for Subordinated Debt
                15,713  
Management fees paid to the Sponsors for advisory services
    1,000       1,000       1,000  
Fees paid to investors for transaction advisory services
          1,300        
Various professional fees paid to certain Sponsors and Individual Investors
    295       282       228  
Revenue earned from wireless affiliates
          472       489  

The Company had the following balances with related parties:

                 
December 31

2002 2003


Senior Subordinated Debt owed to the Sponsors
  $ 296,469     $ 314,257  
Receivable from wireless affiliates for management services and facility leases
    1,000       342  
Payable to the Sponsors for management fees
    500       500  

Under the terms of the CGKC&H partnership agreement, the general partners have designated the Company to act as the operating partner of CGKC&H. The agreement provides that the Company is to be

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred on behalf of CGKC&H. During 2002 and 2003, the Company was reimbursed approximately $987 and $958, respectively, from CGKC&H for these services.

 
19. Restructuring Charges

In December 2002, the Company eliminated 81 positions as a result of a restructuring of the Company’s workforce. The Company recorded $1,768 of expense primarily for termination benefits for employees whose jobs were eliminated. The Company had a subsequent restructuring of December 2003 resulting in the elimination of 15 additional positions. The Company recorded $141 of expense for termination benefits for these 15 employees. As of December 31, 2003, approximately $184 of the obligation for termination benefits remains and the Company expects this amount to be paid in 2004. The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the termination benefits obligation for the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002:

                         
2002 2003 Total
Liability for termination benefits Restructuring Restructuring Restructuring




Termination benefits recorded in 2002
  $ 1,768     $     $ 1,768  
Payments in 2002
    (297 )           (297 )
     
     
     
 
Balance, December 31, 2002
    1,471             1,471  
Termination benefits recorded in 2003
          141       141  
Payments in 2003
    (1,405 )     (23 )     (1,428 )
     
     
     
 
Balance, December 31, 2003
  $ 66     $ 118     $ 184  
     
     
     
 
 
20. Guarantor Subsidiaries

The subordinated notes expected to be issued in connection with Valor’s proposed issuance of income deposit securities will be guaranteed jointly and severally by all of the Valor’s existing subsidiaries (the “guarantor subsidiaries”) and such guarantees will be full and unconditional. Existing subsidiaries include VTC, Southwest including its operating entities, and Southwest II including its operating entities. Valor has no independent assets or operations. Separate financial information has not been presented for the guarantor subsidiaries because the guarantor subsidiaries will effectively comprise all of Valor’s assets and operations.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements—(Continued)

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands)
                     
December 31, March 31,
2003 2004


(unaudited)
Assets
Current assets
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,414     $ 3,750  
 
Accounts receivable:
               
   
Customers, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,672 and $2,879, respectively
    26,550       22,515  
   
Carriers and other, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $652 and $837, respectively
    34,223       30,661  
 
Materials and supplies, at average cost
    1,922       1,683  
 
Other current assets
    9,052       7,635  
     
     
 
   
Total current assets
    73,161       66,244  
     
     
 
Net property, plant and equipment
    769,570       765,430  
Investments and other assets
               
 
Goodwill
    1,057,007       1,057,007  
 
Other
    139,305       137,510  
     
     
 
   
Total other assets
    1,196,312       1,194,517  
     
     
 
   
Total assets
  $ 2,039,043     $ 2,026,191  
     
     
 
 
Liabilities and Equity
Current liabilities
               
 
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 37,318     $ 39,705  
 
Accounts payable
    14,458       13,418  
 
Notes payable
    6,687       9,423  
 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities:
               
   
Taxes
    11,983       8,396  
   
Salaries and benefits
    14,372       12,837  
   
Interest
    3,190       11,004  
   
Other
    14,405       14,047  
 
Advance billings and customer deposits
    16,958       16,678  
     
     
 
   
Total current liabilities
    119,371       125,508  
     
     
 
Long-term debt
    1,426,655       1,390,491  
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    48,072       48,115  
Redeemable preferred interests
    370,231       370,231  
     
     
 
   
Total liabilities
    1,964,329       1,934,345  
     
     
 
Minority interests
    24,852       26,370  
Commitments and contingencies (see Note 8)
               
Common owners’ equity
               
 
Class A common interests, no par or stated value, 500,000,000 interests authorized, 65,568,694 issued and 65,534,944 outstanding
    64,633       64,633  
 
Class B common interests, no par or stated value, 5,184,255 interests authorized, 5,056,755 issued and outstanding
           
 
Class C interests, no par or stated value, 50,000,000 interests authorized, 46,000,000 issued and outstanding
    46,000       46,000  
 
Treasury stock
    (34 )     (34 )
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (7,371 )     (7,371 )
 
Accumulated deficit
    (53,366 )     (37,752 )
     
     
 
   
Total common owners’ equity
    49,862       65,476  
     
     
 
Total liabilities and equity
  $ 2,039,043     $ 2,026,191  
     
     
 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands, except per owner unit amounts)
                     
Three Months Ended

March 31, March 31,
2003 2004


Operating revenues
  $ 122,119     $ 125,852  
     
     
 
Operating expenses
               
 
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)
    24,887       26,579  
 
Selling, general and administrative
    31,263       32,930  
 
Depreciation and amortization
    19,950       20,827  
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    76,100       80,336  
     
     
 
Operating income
    46,019       45,516  
Other income (expense)
               
 
Interest expense
    (31,926 )     (27,730 )
 
Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements
    (1,229 )     (342 )
 
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
    783       325  
 
Other income and expense, net
    40       (70 )
     
     
 
   
Total other income (expense)
    (32,332 )     (27,817 )
     
     
 
Income before income taxes and minority interest
    13,687       17,699  
Income tax expense
    758       567  
     
     
 
Income before minority interest
    12,929       17,132  
Minority interest
    (770 )     (1,518 )
     
     
 
Net income
  $ 12,159     $ 15,614  
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
               
Basic and diluted net income:
               
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ 0.15     $ 0.20  
 
Class C interests
  $ 0.04     $ 0.03  

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (unaudited)

(Dollars in thousands)
                   
Three Months Ended

March 31, March 31,
2003 2004


Operating activities
               
Net income
  $ 12,159     $ 15,614  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    19,950       20,827  
Deferred income taxes
    17       123  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    1,803       2,019  
Non-cash interest expense
    8,894        
Non-cash unrealized gain on interest rate hedging arrangements
    (1,371 )     (2,351 )
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
    (783 )     (325 )
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable
    209       1,769  
Minority interest
    770       1,518  
Changes in current assets and current liabilities
               
 
Accounts receivable
    5,607       5,828  
 
Accounts payable
    (2,730 )     (1,040 )
 
Accrued interest
    7       7,814  
 
Other current assets and current liabilities, net
    (4,414 )     (4,095 )
Other, net
    1,367       2,408  
     
     
 
Net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations
    41,485       50,109  
     
     
 
Investing activities
               
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (14,486 )     (16,654 )
 
Distributions from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
    317        
 
Other, net
    (9 )     (69 )
     
     
 
 
Net cash used in investing activities from continuing operations
    (14,178 )     (16,723 )
     
     
 
Financing activities
               
 
Proceeds from issuance of debt
    3,500        
 
Repayments of debt
    (29,616 )     (33,777 )
 
Notes payable, net
    (368 )     2,736  
     
     
 
 
Net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations
    (26,484 )     (31,041 )
     
     
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations
    823       2,345  
Net cash used in discontinued operations
    (86 )     (9 )
     
     
 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    737       2,336  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    1,289       1,414  
     
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 2,026     $ 3,750  
     
     
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow activity:
               
Cash paid for interest
  $ 24,148     $ 20,864  
Income taxes paid
    210        
Debt issued for capitalized leases
    113        

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

1.     Background and Basis of Presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Valor Telecommunications, LLC (VTC) and its majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Company). All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated. The parent of VTC is Valor Communications Group, Inc. (Valor). Valor is a holding company and has no direct operations. Valor’s principle assets are the direct and indirect equity interest of its subsidiaries.

The Consolidated Financial Statements included herein have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. However, in the opinion of our Management, the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present fairly the financial information in accordance with GAAP. The financial information for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004 has not been audited by independent certified public accountants. The results of operations for the first three months of the year are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that might be expected for the entire year. The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in our S-1, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003.

 
2.  Stock-Based Compensation

The Company accounts for its employee stock compensation plan using the intrinsic value based method in accordance with APB Opinion No. 25 as allowed by SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income, since options granted under the plan had an exercise price equal to the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. If compensation cost for the options had been determined in accordance with SFAS No. 123, the Company’s net income and per owner unit amounts for the three months ended March 31 would have been as follows:

                   
2003 2004


Net income as reported:
  $ 12,159     $ 15,614  
 
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method
    (112 )     (100 )
 
Add: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under intrinsic value based method
           
     
     
 
Pro forma net income
  $ 12,047     $ 15,514  
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
               
Basic and diluted net income as reported:
               
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ 0.15     $ 0.20  
 
Class C interests
  $ 0.04     $ 0.03  
Basic and diluted net income pro forma:
               
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ 0.14     $ 0.20  
 
Class C interests
  $ 0.04     $ 0.03  

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Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

 
3.  Net Property, Plant and Equipment

Net property, plant and equipment is composed of the following:

                 
December 31, March 31,
2003 2004


Gross property, plant and equipment
  $ 990,188     $ 1,006,730  
Accumulated depreciation
    (220,618 )     (241,300 )
     
     
 
Net property, plant and equipment
  $ 769,570     $ 765,430  
     
     
 
 
4.  Investments and Other Assets

Investments and other assets consist of the following:

                 
December 31, March 31,
2003 2004


Goodwill
  $ 1,057,007     $ 1,057,007  
RTFC equity certificates
    62,318       62,344  
Unamortized debt issuance costs
    54,364       52,345  
Investments in cellular partnerships
    17,986       18,311  
Other
    4,637       4,510  
     
     
 
Total
  $ 1,196,312     $ 1,194,517  
     
     
 
 
5.  Deferred Credits and Other Liabilities

Deferred credits and other liabilities were composed of the following:

                 
December 31, March 31,
2003 2004


Accrued pension costs
  $ 15,074     $ 16,397  
Accrued postretirement medical and life benefit costs
    11,205       11,578  
Interest rate swap
    4,189       3,085  
Interest rate collar
    4,678       3,431  
Deferred revenue
    3,558       3,216  
Deferred federal income taxes
    5,354       5,489  
Deferred investment tax credit
    259       248  
Other
    3,755       4,671  
     
     
 
Total
  $ 48,072     $ 48,115  
     
     
 
 
6.  Pension and Postretirement Benefits

The Company sponsors a qualified pension plan and a postretirement benefit plan for the union employees. The pension plan is noncontributory. The Company’s postretirement health care plans are generally contributory and include a limit on the Company’s share of the cost for recent and future retirees. The Company accrues the costs, as determined by an actuary, of the pension and the postretirement benefits over the period from the date of hire until the date the employee becomes fully eligible for benefits.

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

The following tables provide the components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended March 31, 2003 and 2004:

                 
Pension Benefits

2003 2004


Service cost
  $ 705     $ 892  
Interest cost
    671       849  
Expected return on plan assets
    (503 )     (636 )
Amortization of loss
    172       217  
     
     
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 1,045     $ 1,322  
     
     
 
                 
Postretirement
Benefits

2003 2004


Service cost
  $ 90     $ 112  
Interest cost
    201       252  
Amortization of loss
    35       44  
     
     
 
Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 326     $ 408  
     
     
 
 
7.  Restructuring Charges

In January 2004, the Company eliminated 27 positions as a result of a restructuring in the Company’s workforce. The Company recorded $279 of expense primarily for termination benefits for employees whose jobs were eliminated. The following table provides a reconciliation of the changes in the termination benefits obligation for the three months ended March 31, 2004:

         
Liability for
Termination
Benefits

Balance, December 31, 2003
  $ 184  
Additional termination benefits for restructuring recorded in 2004
    279  
Payments in 2004
    (434 )
     
 
Balance, March 31, 2004
  $ 29  
     
 
 
8.  Commitments and Contingencies

In the normal course of business, there are various legal proceedings outstanding, including both commercial and regulatory litigation. In the opinion of management, these proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on the results of operations or financial condition of the Company.

 
9.  Related Party Transactions

The Company had the following transactions with related parties:

                 
Three Months
Ended March 31

2003 2004


Issuance of additional note principal in lieu of cash interest payments to the Sponsors for Subordinated Debt
  $ 8,894     $  
Interest expense due to the Sponsors for Subordinated Debt
          7,856  
Management fee expense due to the Sponsors for advisory services
    250       250  
Various professional fees paid to certain Sponsors and Individual Investors
    59       30  
Revenue earned from wireless affiliates
    120       122  

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

The Company had the following balances with related parties:

                 
December 31, March 31
2003 2004


Senior Subordinated Debt owed to the Sponsors
  $ 314,257     $ 314,257  
Payable to the Sponsors for interest on the Subordinated Debt
          7,856  
Receivable from wireless affiliates for management services and facilities leases
    342       244  
Payable to the Sponsors for management fees
    500       750  
     
     
 

Under the terms of our wireless partnership agreement, the general partners have designated the Company to act as the operating partner. The agreement provides that the Company is to be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred on behalf of the partnership. During 2003 and 2004, the Company was reimbursed approximately $269 and $230, respectively, from the partnership for these services.

 
10.  Guarantor Subsidiaries

The subordinated notes expected to be issued in connection with Valor’s proposed issuance of income deposit securities will be guaranteed by all of the Valor’s existing subsidiaries (the guarantor subsidiaries). Existing subsidiaries include VTC, Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC including its operating entities, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC including its operating entities. Valor has no independent assets or operations. Separate financial information has not been presented for the guarantor subsidiaries because the guarantor subsidiaries will effectively comprise all of Valor’s assets and operations.

 
11.  Subsequent Events

Proposed Offering of Income Deposit Securities (IDSs)

On April 7, 2004, Valor filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the proposed offering of IDSs. In connection with this offering, Valor plans to redeem its outstanding 10% senior subordinated notes due August 31, 2010 and refinance its existing credit facility. Under the proposed offering of IDSs, Valor is the proposed issuer of the new subordinated notes. In addition, all of our existing equity holders will contribute all of their existing equity interests in the Company and each of its subsidiaries in exchange for IDSs, shares of Class B common stock, and cash in the aggregate. There is no guarantee that the offering of the IDSs will occur and the Company may elect not to proceed with the offering or any or all of the related transactions due to changes in the Company’s business or strategic plans, general economic and market conditions or any other factors.

Agreement with former Chief Executive Officer

On April 9, 2004, the Company entered into a new employment agreement with its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The new agreement replaces the existing employment agreement between the Company and the former CEO and is effective through March 31, 2007. Under the new agreement, the former CEO will be employed by the Company on a part-time basis and will serve on its Board of Directors as Vice-Chairman. In conjunction with the termination of the former CEO’s prior employment agreement, the Company paid the former CEO a one-time cash payment of $5 million on April 9, 2004 and further agrees to pay the former CEO a $1.5 million cash payment if the Proposed Offering of IDSs is consummated within 12 months of the effective date of the former CEO’s new employment agreement.

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Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)—(Continued)

Agreement with Individual Investors

On April 20, 2004, the Company entered into an agreement with a group of the individual investors who own direct equity interests in the company’s wholly-owned subsidiaries Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company. This agreement provides for the Company to purchase all of outstanding equity interests of this group of individual investors for $18,646,305 in cash. The Company made this cash payment to the group of individual investors on April 20, 2004. The purchase will be accounted for applying the guidance provided by SFAS No. 141 and by analogy FASB Technical Bulletin 85-6. Accordingly, approximately $17 million will be allocated to expense.

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Table of Contents

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated

Financial Statements

On April 7, 2004, Valor filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission for the proposed offering of IDSs and      % Senior Subordinated notes. In connection with this offering, Valor plans to redeem its outstanding 10% senior subordinated notes due August 31, 2010 and to refinance its existing credit facility. Under the proposed offering of IDSs, Valor is the proposed issuer of the new subordinated notes. In addition, all of our existing equity holders will contribute all of their existing equity interests in the Company and each of its subsidiaries in exchange for                               IDSs,                               shares of Class B common stock, and $                    in cash in the aggregate.

The accompanying unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations give effect to the recapitalization and offering as if they had occurred on March 31, 2004.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations are presented for illustrative purposes only, are subject to a number of estimates, assumptions and uncertainties and do not purport to be indicative of the balance sheet and statement of operations that would have occurred if the transaction had been consummated at the dates indicated.

The unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated balance sheet and the unaudited pro forma condensed consolidated statement of operations should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company.

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Valor Communications Group, Inc

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
                                     
March 31, Pro Forma Pro Forma
2004 Adjustments Adjustments
unaudited Recapitalization Offering Pro Forma




Assets:
                               
 
Current Assets
                               
   
Cash
  $ 3,750                          
   
Accounts receivable, net
    53,176                          
   
Other current assets
    9,318                          
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total current assets
    66,244                          
     
     
     
     
 
 
Net property, plant, and equipment
    765,430                          
 
Goodwill
    1,057,007                          
 
Other
    137,510                          
     
     
     
     
 
Total assets
  $ 2,026,191                          
     
     
     
     
 
Liabilities:
                               
 
Current liabilities:
                               
   
Current maturities of long-term debt
  $ 39,705                          
   
Accounts and notes payable
    22,841                          
   
Accrued liabilities
    46,284                          
   
Advance billing and customer deposits
    16,678                          
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total current liabilities
    125,508                          
     
     
     
     
 
 
 
Existing credit facilities (long-term portion)
    1,076,234                          
 
Existing senior subordinated notes
    314,257                          
 
New credit facility
                               
 
New senior subordinated notes
                               
 
Deferred credits and other liabilities
    48,115                          
 
Redeemable preferred interests
    370,231                          
     
     
     
     
 
Total liabilities
    1,934,345                          
     
     
     
     
 
Minority interests
    26,370                          
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                               
Stockholders’ equity
                               
 
Class A common interests, no par or stated value
    64,633                          
 
Class B common interests, no par or stated value
                             
 
Class C interests, no par or stated value
    46,000                          
 
Class A common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                               
 
Class B common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                               
 
Class C common stock, $0.01 par value per share
                               
 
Additional paid-in capital
                               
 
Accumulated deficit
    (37,752 )                        
 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (7,371 )                        
 
Treasury stock
    (34 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
Total stockholders’ equity
    65,476                          
     
     
     
     
 
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 2,026,191                          
     
     
     
     
 

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Valor Communications Group, Inc

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
                                     
Three months Pro Forma Pro Forma
ended Adjustments Adjustments
March 31, 2004 Recapitalization Offering Pro Forma




Operating revenues
  $ 125,852                          
     
     
     
     
 
Operating expenses
                               
 
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)
    26,579                          
 
Selling, general, and administrative
    32,930                          
 
Depreciation and amortization
    20,827                          
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    80,336                          
     
     
     
     
 
Operating income
    45,516                          
Other income (expense)
                               
 
Interest expense
    (27,730 )                        
 
Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements
    (342 )                        
 
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
    325                          
 
Other income and expense, net
    (70 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total other income (expense)
    (27,817 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
Income before income taxes and minority interest
    17,699                          
Income tax expense
    567                          
     
     
     
     
 
Income before minority interest
    17,132                          
Minority interest
    (1,518 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
Net income
  $ 15,614                          
     
     
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
                               
Basic and diluted net income
                               
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ 0.20                          
 
Class C interests
  $ 0.03                          
 
Class A common stock
  $                            
 
Class B common stock
  $                            

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Valor Communications Group, Inc

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations
                                     
Year Ended Pro Forma Pro Forma
December 31, Adjustments Adjustments
2003 Recapitalization Offering Pro Forma




Operating revenues
  $ 497,334                          
     
     
     
     
 
Operating expenses
                               
 
Cost of service (exclusive of depreciation and amortization shown separately below)
    106,527                          
 
Selling, general, and administrative
    126,896                          
 
Depreciation and amortization
    81,638                          
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total operating expenses
    315,061                          
     
     
     
     
 
Operating income
    182,273                          
Other income (expense)
                               
 
Interest expense
    (119,185 )                        
 
Loss on interest rate hedging arrangements
    (2,113 )                        
 
Earnings from unconsolidated cellular partnerships
    3,258                          
 
Other income and expense, net
    (62 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
   
Total other income (expense)
    (118,102 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and minority interest
    64,171                          
Income tax expense
    2,478                          
     
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations before minority interest
    61,693                          
Minority interest
    (3,568 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
Income from continuing operations
    58,125                          
Discontinued operations
    108                          
     
     
     
     
 
Net income
    58,233                          
Other comprehensive loss:
                               
Minimum pension liability adjustment
    (2,813 )                        
     
     
     
     
 
Comprehensive income
  $ 55,420                          
     
     
     
     
 
Earnings per owners’ unit:
                               
Basic and diluted income from continuing operations:
                               
 
Class A and B common interests
  $ 0.73                          
 
Class C interests
  $ 0.15                          
 
Class A common stock
  $                            
 
Class B common stock
  $                            

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Valor Communications Group, Inc. LOGO

IDSs


PROSPECTUS

                    , 2004

CIBC World Markets

Merrill Lynch & Co.

Lehman Brothers

Banc of America Securities LLC

JPMorgan


Until                     , 2004, all dealers that buy, sell or trade our IDSs, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.


Table of Contents

Valor Telecommunications, LLC

Schedule II — Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

                                           
Additions

Balance at Beginning Charged to costs and Charged to other Balance at end of
Description of period expenses accounts Deductions period






Year ended December 31, 2001
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts — customers
  $ (7,049,640 )   $ (11,078,719 )   $ (1,398,667 )   $ 15,229,114     $ (4,297,912 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts — carriers and other
    (400,000 )     (300,000 )     (100,000 )           (800,000 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ (7,449,640 )   $ (11,378,719 )   $ (1,498,667 )   $ 15,229,114     $ (5,097,912 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
Year ended December 31, 2002
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts — customers
  $ (4,297,912 )   $ (6,064,222 )   $ (52,377 )   $ 6,417,285     $ (3,997,226 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts — carriers and other
    (800,000 )     (5,329,090 )     (200,000 )     5,536,105       (792,985 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ (5,097,912 )   $ (11,393,312 )   $ (252,377 )   $ 11,953,390     $ (4,790,211 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
Year ended December 31, 2003
                                       
Allowance for doubtful accounts — customers
  $ (3,997,226 )   $ (3,160,384 )           $ 4,485,432     $ (2,672,178 )
Allowance for doubtful accounts — carriers and other
    (792,985 )     (137,789 )           278,914       (651,860 )
     
     
     
     
     
 
 
Total
  $ (4,790,211 )   $ (3,298,173 )   $ 0     $ 4,764,346     $ (3,324,038 )
     
     
     
     
     
 

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Part II

Information Not Required in Prospectus

 
Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by Valor Communications Group, Inc. in connection with the offer and sale of the securities being registered. All amounts are estimates except the SEC registration fee and the NASD filing fee.

           
SEC registration fee
  $ 110,863  
NASD filing fee
    30,500  
New York Stock Exchange listing fee
    *  
Toronto Stock Exchange listing fee (IDSs)
    160,500  
Toronto Stock Exchange listing fee (Common Stock)
    160,500  
Transfer agent’s fee
    30,000  
Trustee’s fee
    15,000  
Printing and engraving costs
    *  
Legal fees and expenses
    *  
Accounting fees and expenses
    *  
Miscellaneous
    *  
 
Total
    *  

* To be filed by amendment.

 
Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Delaware. The General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“DGCL”) authorizes corporations to limit or eliminate the personal liability of directors to corporations and their stockholders for monetary damages for breaches of directors’ fiduciary duties. The certificates of incorporation of the Delaware registrants include a provision that eliminates the personal liability of directors for monetary damages for actions taken as a director, except for liability for breach of duty of loyalty; for acts or omissions not in good faith or involving intentional misconduct or knowing violation of law; under Section 174 of the DGCL (unlawful dividends and stock repurchases); or for transactions from which the director derived improper personal benefit.

The certificates of incorporation of the Delaware registrants provide that these registrants must indemnify their directors and officers to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL and must also pay expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon delivery of an undertaking, by or on behalf of an indemnified person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it should be determined ultimately that such person is not entitled to be indemnified under this section or otherwise.

The indemnification rights set forth above shall not be exclusive of any other right which an indemnified person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our by laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

Valor Communications Group, Inc. maintains insurance to protect itself and its directors and, officers and those of its subsidiaries against any such expense, liability or loss, whether or not it would have the power to indemnify them against such expense, liability or loss under applicable law.

Texas. Article 2.02-1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act (the “TBCA”) provides that a director of a Texas corporation may be indemnified against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which he was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant by reason of his position as director or officer, provided that he

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conducted himself in good faith and reasonably believed that, in the case of conduct in his official capacity as a director or officer of the corporation, such conduct was in the corporation’s best interests; and, in all other cases, that such conduct was at least not opposed to the corporation’s best interests. If a director is found liable to the corporation or is found liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the person, the indemnification is limited to reasonable expenses actually incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding and shall not be made in respect of any proceeding in which the person shall have been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation. In the case of a criminal proceeding, a director or officer may be indemnified only if he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. If a director or officer is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in connection with such a proceeding, such indemnification is mandatory.

The TBCA further provides that a corporation may indemnify and advance expenses to an officer, employee or agent of the corporation, and to those who are not or were not officers, employees or agents but who are or were serving at the request of the corporation, to the same extent that it may indemnify and advance expenses to directors.

 
Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities

The registrant was formed in February 2004 and has not issued any securities. Simultaneously with the consummation of the offering of the securities being registered hereby, the registrant will issue an aggregate of            shares of its Class B common stock in connection with its reorganization. This issuance will be made in reliance upon Section 4(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Regulation D promulgated thereunder and will not involve any underwriters, underwriting discounts or commissions, or any public offering. The persons and entities who will receive such securities have represented their intention to acquire these securities for investment only and not with a view to or for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, and appropriate legends will be affixed to any share certificates issued. All recipients have adequate access through their relationship with us to information about us.

 
Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)     Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement.

         
  1 .1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  3 .1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Valor Communications Group, Inc.*
  3 .2   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications, LLC.*
  3 .3   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications of Texas, LP.*
  3 .4   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Equipment, LP.
  3 .5   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Services, LP.
  3 .6   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Investments, LLC.
  3 .7   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.
  3 .8   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications LD, LP.*
  3 .9   Certificate of Formation of Southwest Enhanced Network Services, LP.*
  3 .10   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services, LLC.
  3 .11   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Arizona, LLC.
  3 .12   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Arkansas, LLC.
  3 .13   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Colorado, LLC.
  3 .14   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Oklahoma, LLC.
  3 .15   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of New Mexico, LLC.
  3 .16   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Texas, LP.
  3 .17   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Corporate Group, LP.

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  3 .18   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC.*
  3 .19   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Enterprises II, LLC.*
  3 .20   Certificate of Incorporation of Kerrville Communications Corporation.*
  3 .21   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Communications Management, LLC.*
  3 .22   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Communications Enterprises, LLC.*
  3 .23   Certificate of Formation of Advanced Tel-Com Systems, LP.*
  3 .24   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Telephone, LP.*
  3 .25   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Cellular, LP.*
  3 .26   Certificate of Formation of KCC TelCom, LP.*
  3 .27   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Cellular Management, LLC.*
  3 .28   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Cellular Holdings, LLC.*
  3 .29   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Mobile Holdings, Inc.*
  3 .30   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Wireless Holdings, LP.*
  3 .31   By-Laws of Valor Communications Group, Inc.*
  3 .32   Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Valor Telecommunications, LLC.
  3 .33   Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Valor Telecommunications of Texas, LP.
  3 .34   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Equipment, LP.
  3 .35   Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Services, LP.
  3 .36   Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Investments, LLC.*
  3 .37   Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement.
  3 .38   Limited Partnership Agreement for Valor Telecommunications LD, LP.
  3 .39   Limited Partnership Agreement for Southwest Enhanced Network Services, LP.
  3 .40   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services, LLC.
  3 .41   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Arizona, LLC.
  3 .42   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Arkansas, LLC.
  3 .43   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Colorado, LLC.
  3 .44   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Oklahoma, LLC.
  3 .45   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of New Mexico, LLC.
  3 .46   Limited Partnership Agreement for Western Access Services of Texas, LP.
  3 .47   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Corporate Group, LP.*
  3 .48   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, dated January 31, 2002, by and among the members named therein.*
  3 .49   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Enterprises II, LLC.*
  3 .50   By-laws of Kerrville Communications Corporation.*
  3 .51   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Communications Management, LLC.*

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  3 .52   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Communications Enterprises, LLC.*
  3 .53   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of Advanced Tel-Com Systems, LP.*
  3 .54   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of Kerrville Telephone, LP.*
  3 .55   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of Kerrville Cellular, LP.*
  3 .56   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of KCC TelCom, LP.*
  3 .57   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Cellular Management, LLC.*
  3 .58   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Cellular Holdings, LLC.*
  3 .59   Bylaws of Kerrville Mobile Holdings, Inc.*
  3 .60   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Wireless Holdings, LP.*
  3 .61   Certificate of Formation of Valor Southwest, LLC.*
  3 .62   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC.*
  4 .1   Form of Indenture, among Valor Communications Group, Inc., the guarantors thereto and           , as Trustee.*
  4 .2   Form of Senior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.1).*
  4 .3   Form of Registration Rights Agreement.*
  4 .4   Form of stock certificate for common stock.*
  4 .5   Form of global IDS.*
  5 .1   Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.*
  5 .2   Opinion of Cynthia Ayers, Esq.*
  8 .1   Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.*
  10 .1   Valor Communications Group, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan.*
  10 .2   Valor Communications Group, Inc. 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan.
  10 .3   Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC Savings Plan.
  10 .4   Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC Pension Plan.
  10 .5   Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc. (the “Telecommunications Services Agreement”).†**
  10 .6   Amendment No. 1 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2001, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .7   Amendment No. 2 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2001, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .8   Amendment No. 3 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .9   Amendment No. 4 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .10   Amendment No. 5 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**

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Table of Contents

         
  10 .11   Amendment No. 6 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .12   Amendment No. 7 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .13   Amendment No. 8 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .14   Amendment No. 9 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .15   Amendment No. 10 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .16   Master Services Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1999 by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc. (the “Master Services Agreement”)†**
  10 .17   First Amendment to Master Services Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .18   Second Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .19   Third Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .20   Fourth Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of July 24, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .21   Fifth Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2001, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .22   Sixth Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of January 2001 to the Master Services Agreement by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .23   Seventh Amendment, dated as of April 1, 2002 to the Master Services Agreement, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .24   Eighth Amendment, dated as of April 1, 2002 to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1999 by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**

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  10 .25   Sprint Wholesale Services Data and Private Line Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2003, between Sprint Communications Company L.P. and Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.†**
  10 .26   Wholesale Solutions Switched Services Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2003, by and between Sprint Communications Company L.P. and Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.†**
  10 .27   First Amendment to Wholesale Solutions Switched Services Data and Private Line Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2003, between Sprint Communications Company L.P. and Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.†**
  10 .28   Employment Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and Kenneth R. Cole.
  10 .29   Amendment One to Employment Agreement, dated January 18, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and Kenneth R. Cole.
  10 .30   Employment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002 by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and John J. Mueller.*
  10 .31   Employment Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and John A. Butler.**
  10 .32   Employment Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and William M. Ojile, Jr.**
  10 .33   Amendment One to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and William M. Ojile, Jr.
  10 .34   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and W. Grant Raney.**
  10 .35   Amendment One to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and W. Grant Raney.**
  10 .36   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and John J. Mueller.*
  12 .1   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  12 .2   Pro Forma Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  23 .1   Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP and report on schedule.
  23 .2   Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
  23 .3   Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).*
  23 .4   Consent of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin Financial Advisors, Inc.
  24 .1   Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
  25 .1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of   as Trustee.*

  To be filed by amendment.

**  Filed previously.

  †  A request for confidential treatment was filed for portions of this document. Confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Commission as required by Rule 406.

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(b)     Financial Statement Schedules

 
Item 17. Undertakings

1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to provide to the underwriters at the closing specified in the underwriting agreements, certificates in such denominations and registered in such names as required by the underwriters to permit prompt delivery to each purchaser.
 
2. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification by the registrant against such liabilities, other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding, is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
3. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that

  (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
  (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

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Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR COMMUNICATIONS GROUP, INC.

  By:  /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER
 
  Name: John J. Mueller
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
/s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John Butler
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*

Anthony J. de Nicola
  Chairman and Director
 
*

Kenneth R. Cole
  Vice Chairman and Director
 
*

Sanjay Swani
  Director
 
*

Todd Khoury
  Director
 
*By:   /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
Attorney-in-Fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, LLC

  By:  /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER
 
  Name: John J. Mueller
  Title: Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
/s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer and Manager
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*

Anne K. Bingaman
  Manager
 
*

Anthony J. de Nicola
  Manager
 
*

Sean Traynor
  Manager
 
*

Sanjay Swani
  Manager
 
*

Michael Small
  Manager
 
*

Todd Khoury
  Manager
 
*

Federico Pena
  Manager
 
*By:   /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
Attorney-in-Fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS OF TEXAS, LP

  By:  Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title: Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, LP

  By:  Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title: Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICES, LP

  By:  Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS INVESTMENTS, LLC

  By:  Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISES, LLC

  By:  Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

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Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS LD, LP
 
  By: Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-15


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  SOUTHWEST ENHANCED NETWORK SERVICES, LP
 
  By: Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-16


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES, LLC
 
  By: Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-17


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES OF ARIZONA, LLC
 
  BY: WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES, LLC
  ITS: SOLE MEMBER

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-18


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES OF ARKANSAS, LLC
 
  BY: WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES, LLC
  ITS: SOLE MEMBER

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-19


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES OF COLORADO, LLC
 
  By: Western Access Services, LLC
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-20


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES OF OKLAHOMA, LLC
 
  By: Western Access Services, LLC
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-21


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES OF NEW MEXICO, LLC
 
  By: Western Access Services, LLC
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-22


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  WESTERN ACCESS SERVICES OF TEXAS, LP
 
  By: Western Access Services, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-23


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATE
GROUP, LP
 
  By: Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-24


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOUTHWEST, LP

  By:  /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER
 
  Name: John J. Mueller
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John J. Mueller, John A. Butler and William Ojile Jr. his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities (including his or her capacity as a director and/or officer of Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LP) to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

     
Signature Title


 
/s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
/s/ JOHN A. BUTLER

John A. Butler
  Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
/s/ ANTHONY J. DE NICOLA

Anthony J. de Nicola
  Director
 
/s/ SANJAY SWANI

Sanjay Swani
  Director
 
/s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
  Director
 
/s/ TODD KHOURY

Todd Khoury
  Director

II-25


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOUTHWEST II, LLC

  By:  /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER
 
  Name: John J. Mueller
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
/s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*

Anthony J. de Nicola
  Director
 
*

Sanjay Swani
  Director
 
*

John J. Mueller
  Director
 
*

Todd Khoury
  Director
 
*By:   /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-26


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  VALOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISES II, LLC

  By:  Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-27


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE COMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION

  By:  /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER
 
  Name: John J. Mueller
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Treasurer and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-28


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGEMENT, LLC
 
  By: Kerrville Communications Corporation
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-29


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE COMMUNICATIONS ENTERPRISES, LLC
 
  By: Kerrville Communications Corporation
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-30


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  ADVANCED TEL-COM SYSTEMS, LP
  By: Kerrville Communications Management, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-31


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE TELEPHONE, LP
  By: Kerrville Communications Management, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-32


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE CELLULAR, LP
  By: Kerrville Communications Management, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
 *

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-33


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KCC TELCOM, LP
  By: Kerrville Communications Management, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Treasurer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-34


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE CELLULAR MANAGEMENT, LLC

  By:  Kerrville Cellular, LP
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

         
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By:   /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-35


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE CELLULAR HOLDINGS, LLC

  By:  Kerrville Cellular, LP
  Its: Sole Member

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, Amendment No. 1 to the this Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

     
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By: /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-36


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE MOBILE HOLDINGS, INC.

  By:  /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER
 
  Name: John J. Mueller
  Title:  Chief Executive Officer

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

     
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Treasurer and Director
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By: /s/ JOHN J. MUELLER

John J. Mueller
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-37


Table of Contents

Signatures

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Irving, Texas on May 28, 2004.

  KERRVILLE WIRELESS HOLDINGS, LP

  By:  Kerrville Cellular Management, LLC
  Its: General Partner

  By:  /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.
 
  Name: William M. Ojile, Jr.
  Title:  Secretary

Power of Attorney

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 28, 2004.

     
Signature Title


 
*

John J. Mueller
  Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
 
*

John A. Butler
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
*By: /s/ WILLIAM M. OJILE, JR.

William M. Ojile, Jr.
Attorney-in-Fact
   

II-38


Table of Contents

Exhibit Index

         
Exhibit
No. Description of Exhibit


  1 .1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.*
  3 .1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Valor Communications Group, Inc.*
  3 .2   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications, LLC.*
  3 .3   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications of Texas, LP.*
  3 .4   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Equipment, LP.
  3 .5   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Services, LP.
  3 .6   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Investments, LLC.
  3 .7   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.
  3 .8   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications LD, LP.*
  3 .9   Certificate of Formation of Southwest Enhanced Network Services, LP.*
  3 .10   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services, LLC.
  3 .11   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Arizona, LLC.
  3 .12   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Arkansas, LLC.
  3 .13   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Colorado, LLC.
  3 .14   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Oklahoma, LLC.
  3 .15   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of New Mexico, LLC.
  3 .16   Certificate of Formation of Western Access Services of Texas, LP.
  3 .17   Certificate of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Corporate Group, LP.
  3 .18   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC.*
  3 .19   Certificate of Formation of Valor Telecommunications Enterprises II, LLC.*
  3 .20   Certificate of Incorporation of Kerrville Communications Corporation.*
  3 .21   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Communications Management, LLC.*
  3 .22   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Communications Enterprises, LLC.*
  3 .23   Certificate of Formation of Advanced Tel-Com Systems, LP.*
  3 .24   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Telephone, LP.*
  3 .25   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Cellular, LP.*
  3 .26   Certificate of Formation of KCC TelCom, LP.*
  3 .27   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Cellular Management, LLC.*
  3 .28   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Cellular Holdings, LLC.*
  3 .29   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Mobile Holdings, Inc.*
  3 .30   Certificate of Formation of Kerrville Wireless Holdings, LP.*
  3 .31   By-Laws of Valor Communications Group, Inc.*
  3 .32   Second Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement of Valor Telecommunications, LLC.
  3 .33   Amended and Restated Limited Partnership Agreement of Valor Telecommunications of Texas, LP.
  3 .34   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Equipment, LP.
  3 .35   Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Services, LP.
  3 .36   Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Investments, LLC.*
  3 .37   Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement.
  3 .38   Limited Partnership Agreement for Valor Telecommunications LD, LP.
  3 .39   Limited Partnership Agreement for Southwest Enhanced Network Services, LP.
  3 .40   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services, LLC.
  3 .41   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Arizona, LLC.
  3 .42   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Arkansas, LLC.
  3 .43   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Colorado, LLC.
  3 .44   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of Oklahoma, LLC.
  3 .45   Operating Agreement of Western Access Services of New Mexico, LLC.
  3 .46   Limited Partnership Agreement for Western Access Services of Texas, LP.
  3 .47   Agreement of Limited Partnership of Valor Telecommunications Corporate Group, LP.*


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
No. Description of Exhibit


  3 .48   Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Southwest II, LLC, dated January 31, 2002, by and among the members named therein.*
  3 .49   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Enterprises II, LLC.*
  3 .50   By-laws of Kerrville Communications Corporation.*
  3 .51   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Communications Management, LLC.*
  3 .52   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Communications Enterprises, LLC.*
  3 .53   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of Advanced Tel-Com Systems, LP.*
  3 .54   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of Kerrville Telephone, LP.*
  3 .55   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of Kerrville Cellular, LP.*
  3 .56   Limited Partnership Operating Agreement of KCC TelCom, LP.*
  3 .57   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Cellular Management, LLC.*
  3 .58   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Cellular Holdings, LLC.*
  3 .59   Bylaws of Kerrville Mobile Holdings, Inc.*
  3 .60   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Kerrville Wireless Holdings, LP.*
  3 .61   Certificate of Formation of Valor Southwest, LLC.*
  3 .62   Limited Liability Company Operating Agreement of Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC.*
  4 .1   Form of Indenture, among Valor Communications Group, Inc., the guarantors thereto and           , as Trustee.*
  4 .2   Form of Senior Subordinated Note (included in Exhibit 4.1).*
  4 .3   Form of Registration Rights Agreement.*
  4 .4   Form of stock certificate for common stock.*
  4 .5   Form of global IDS.*
  5 .1   Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.*
  5 .2   Opinion of Cynthia Ayers, Esq.*
  8 .1   Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP.*
  10 .1   Valor Communications Group, Inc. 2004 Long-Term Incentive Plan.*
  10 .2   Valor Communications Group, Inc. 2004 Incentive Compensation Plan.
  10 .3   Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC Savings Plan.
  10 .4   Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC Pension Plan.
  10 .5   Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc. (the “Telecommunications Services Agreement”).†**
  10 .6   Amendment No. 1 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of September 4, 2001, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .7   Amendment No. 2 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of September 18, 2001, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .8   Amendment No. 3 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .9   Amendment No. 4 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of March 5, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .10   Amendment No. 5 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
No. Description of Exhibit


  10 .11   Amendment No. 6 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of March 26, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .12   Amendment No. 7 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of May 8, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .13   Amendment No. 8 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of July 16, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .14   Amendment No. 9 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of November 4, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .15   Amendment No. 10 to the Telecommunications Services Agreement, dated as of December 16, 2003, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and MCI Worldcom Network Services, Inc.†**
  10 .16   Master Services Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1999 by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc. (the “Master Services Agreement”)†**
  10 .17   First Amendment to Master Services Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .18   Second Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of April 1, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .19   Third Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .20   Fourth Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of July 24, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .21   Fifth Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of January 18, 2001, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications, LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .22   Sixth Amendment to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of January 2001 to the Master Services Agreement by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .23   Seventh Amendment, dated as of April 1, 2002 to the Master Services Agreement, by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC (as successor to Valor Telecommunications Southwest, LLC, as successor to dba Communications LLC) and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .24   Eighth Amendment, dated as of April 1, 2002 to the Master Services Agreement, dated as of December 9, 1999 by and between Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC and Alltel Information Services, Inc.†**
  10 .25   Sprint Wholesale Services Data and Private Line Agreement, dated as of February 20, 2003, between Sprint Communications Company L.P. and Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.†**


Table of Contents

         
Exhibit
No. Description of Exhibit


  10 .26   Wholesale Solutions Switched Services Agreement, dated as of August 11, 2003, by and between Sprint Communications Company L.P. and Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.†**
  10 .27   First Amendment to Wholesale Solutions Switched Services Agreement, dated as of October 3, 2003, between Sprint Communications Company L.P. and Valor Telecommunications Enterprises, LLC.†**
  10 .28   Employment Agreement, dated as of June 18, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and Kenneth R. Cole.
  10 .29   Amendment One to Employment Agreement, dated January 18, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and Kenneth R. Cole.
  10 .30   Employment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and John J. Mueller.*
  10 .31   Employment Agreement, dated as of March 20, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and John A. Butler.**
  10 .32   Employment Agreement, dated as of November 13, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and William M. Ojile, Jr.**
  10 .33   Amendment One to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and William M. Ojile, Jr.
  10 .34   Employment Agreement, dated as of February 28, 2000, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and W. Grant Raney.**
  10 .35   Amendment One to Employment Agreement, dated as of January 2, 2002, by and between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and W. Grant Raney.**
  10 .36   Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated April 9, 2004, between Valor Telecommunications, LLC and John J. Mueller.*
  12 .1   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  12 .2   Pro Forma Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  23 .1   Consent and report on schedule of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
  23 .2   Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
  23 .3   Consent of Kirkland & Ellis LLP (included in Exhibit 8.1).*
  23 .4   Consent of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zulcin Financial Advisors, Inc.
  24 .1   Powers of Attorney (included on signature page).
  25 .1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of as Trustee.*

* To be filed by amendment.

**  Filed previously.
 
A request for confidential treatment was filed for portions of this document. Confidential portions have been omitted and filed separately with the Securities and Commission as required by Rule 406.