Prospectus Supplement
Table of Contents

Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)

File No. 333-133343

Prospectus Supplement No. 4

to Prospectus Dated March 16, 2007

Embarq Corporation

LOGO

Shares of Common Stock Issuable in Connection with the

Restricted Stock Units

This prospectus supplement supplements information contained in the prospectus dated March 16, 2007 relating to the offer and sale of shares of our common stock issuable in connection with the restricted stock units issued in connection with our spin-off from Sprint Nextel Corporation and effective as of May 17, 2006, the distribution date for the spin-off, to current and former Sprint Nextel Corporation employees who held Sprint Nextel Corporation restricted stock or restricted stock units at that time and who did not become Embarq employees at the time of the spin-off. This prospectus supplement should be read in conjunction with, and may not be delivered or utilized without, the prospectus and any prior prospectus supplements. This prospectus supplement is qualified by reference to the prospectus and any prior prospectus supplements, except to the extent that the information in this prospectus supplement supersedes the information contained in the prospectus and any prior prospectus supplements.

This prospectus supplement includes our attached Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q dated August 1, 2007.

The securities offered hereby involve risks and uncertainties. These risks are described under the caption “Risk Factors” beginning on page 20 of the Annual Report on Form 10-K which is incorporated by reference into the prospectus, as the same may be updated in prospectus supplements.

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.

The date of this prospectus supplement is August 1, 2007.


Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


 

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

  For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007

OR

 

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

  For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 001-32732

 


Embarq Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   20-2923630

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

5454 W. 110th Street

Overland Park, Kansas

  66211
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (913) 323-4637

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

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file these reports), and (2) has been subject to these filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No   ¨

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

Large accelerated filer   ¨     Accelerated filer   ¨     Non-accelerated filer   x

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

COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING AT JULY 30, 2007:

COMMON STOCK: 152,575,431

 



Table of Contents

EMBARQ CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page
Reference

Part I – Financial Information

  

Item 1.

Financial Statements

  

Consolidated Balance Sheets

   1

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

   2

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

   3

Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

   4

Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

   5

Item 2.

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

   13

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

   25

Item 4T.

Controls and Procedures

   25

Part II – Other Information

  

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

   26

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

   26

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

   26

Item 3.

Defaults Upon Senior Securities

   26

Item 4.

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

   26

Item 5.

Other Information

   27

Item 6.

Exhibits

   27

Signatures

   29


Table of Contents

Part I – Financial Information

Item 1. Financial Statements

EMBARQ CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(millions, except per share data)

 

     As of June 30,
2007
    As of December 31,
2006
 
     (Unaudited)        

Assets

    

Current assets

    

Cash and equivalents

   $ 14     $ 53  

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $54 and $53,

respectively

     656       660  

Inventories, net

     170       179  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     152       131  
                

Total current assets

     992       1,023  

Gross property, plant and equipment

     20,880       20,805  

Accumulated depreciation

     (13,043 )     (12,817 )
                

Net property, plant and equipment

     7,837       7,988  

Goodwill

     27       27  

Other assets

     35       53  
                

Total

   $ 8,891     $ 9,091  
                

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities

    

Current maturities of long-term debt

   $ 54     $ 37  

Accounts payable

     436       503  

Accrued taxes

     146       164  

Payroll and employee benefits

     159       198  

Deferred revenue

     207       211  

Accrued interest

     55       52  

Other current liabilities

     108       99  
                

Total current liabilities

     1,165       1,264  

Noncurrent liabilities

    

Long-term debt

     6,069       6,421  

Deferred income taxes

     1,098       1,039  

Benefit plan obligations

     359       685  

Other noncurrent liabilities

     165       150  
                

Total noncurrent liabilities

     7,691       8,295  

Stockholders’ equity

    

Preferred stock, $.01 par value; 200 shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding

     —         —    

Common stock, $.01 par value; 1,250 shares authorized; 152.5 and 149.7 shares issued and outstanding

     2       1  

Paid-in capital

     (274 )     (414 )

Retained earnings

     470       308  

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

     (163 )     (363 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     35       (468 )
                

Total

   $ 8,891     $ 9,091  
                

See accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

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EMBARQ CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (UNAUDITED)

(millions, except per share data)

 

     Quarters Ended
June 30,
    Year to Date June 30,  
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net Operating Revenues

        

Service revenues

   $ 1,454     $ 1,410     $ 2,912     $ 2,796  

Product revenues

     151       169       282       344  
                                

Total net operating revenues

     1,605       1,579       3,194       3,140  
                                

Operating Expenses

        

Cost of services

     404       367       821       745  

Cost of products

     142       149       269       309  

Selling, general and administrative

     395       403       799       822  

Depreciation

     264       254       534       492  
                                

Total operating expenses

     1,205       1,173       2,423       2,368  
                                

Operating Income

     400       406       771       772  

Interest expense

     111       68       220       87  

Other (income) expense, net

     —         (3 )     —         (8 )
                                

Income Before Income Taxes

     289       341       551       693  

Income tax expense

     113       125       215       263  
                                

Net Income

   $ 176     $ 216     $ 336     $ 430  
                                

Amendments to and remeasurement of other
postretirement benefit plans, net of tax

     (196 )     —         (196 )     —    

Amortization of benefit plan prior service cost and

actuarial losses, net of tax

     (4 )     —         (6 )     —    

Unrealized holding gains on cash flow derivatives,

net of tax

     —         (18 )     —         (39 )

Amortization of cash flow derivatives, net of tax

     1       —         2       —    
                                

Comprehensive Income, Net of Tax

   $ 375     $ 234     $ 536     $ 469  
                                
           (Pro forma)           (Pro forma)  

Earnings per Common Share

        

Basic

   $ 1.16     $ 1.45     $ 2.23     $ 2.89  
                                

Diluted

   $ 1.15     $ 1.44     $ 2.20     $ 2.87  
                                

Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding

        

Basic

     151.8       149.1       151.0       149.1  

Potentially dilutive shares under equity incentive plans

     1.8       0.9       2.0       0.8  
                                

Diluted

     153.6       150.0       153.0       149.9  
                                

See accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

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EMBARQ CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)

(millions)

 

     Year to Date
June 30,
 
     2007     2006  

Operating Activities

    

Net income

   $ 336     $ 430  

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

    

Depreciation

     534       492  

Provision for losses on accounts receivable

     37       24  

Deferred and uncertain income tax provisions

     (52 )     (38 )

Stock-based compensation expense

     30       2  

Net gain on sales of assets

     (7 )     (7 )

Other, net

     22       7  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Accounts receivable

     (26 )     (18 )

Inventories and other current assets

     (30 )     92  

Accounts payable and other current liabilities

     (149 )     149  

Accrued Interest

     3       49  

Noncurrent assets and liabilities, net

     7       (1 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     705       1,181  
                

Investing Activities

    

Capital expenditures

     (371 )     (449 )

Proceeds from construction reimbursements

     5       5  

Proceeds from sales of assets

     18       20  
                

Net cash used by investing activities

     (348 )     (424 )
                

Financing Activities

    

Issuance of long-term debt

     —         1,600  

Principal payments on long-term debt

     (462 )     (2 )

Borrowings under revolving credit agreement

     585       500  

Repayments under revolving credit agreement

     (455 )     (500 )

Net cash paid to Sprint Nextel associated with the spin-off

     —         (2,208 )

Proceeds from common stock issued

     88       —    

Purchase of treasury shares

     (2 )     —    

Dividends paid to stockholders

     (174 )     —    

Dividends paid to Sprint Nextel

     —         (194 )

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

     21       —    

Other, net

     3       (6 )
                

Net cash used by financing activities

     (396 )     (810 )
                

Increase (Decrease) in Cash and Equivalents

     (39 )     (53 )

Cash and Equivalents at Beginning of Period

     53       103  
                

Cash and Equivalents at End of Period

   $ 14     $ 50  
                

See accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

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EMBARQ CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)

(millions)

 

     Preferred
Stock
  

Common

Stock

  

Treasury

Stock

   

Paid-in

Capital

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Income (Loss)

   

Total

Stockholders’

Equity

 

December 31, 2006 balance

   $ —      $ 1    $ —       $ (414 )   $ 308     $ (363 )   $ (468 )

Cumulative effect of adoption of FIN 48, net of tax

     —        —        —         —         1       —         1  
                                                      

January 1, 2007 balance

     —        1      —         (414 )     309       (363 )     (467 )

Net income

     —        —        —         —         336       —         336  

Dividends to shareholders ($1.125 per share)

     —        —        —         —         (175 )     —         (175 )

Common stock issued

     —        1      —         89       —         —         90  

Purchase of treasury stock

     —        —        2       —         —         —         2  

Issuance of treasury stock

     —        —        (2 )     —         —         —         (2 )

Stock-based compensation expense

     —        —        —         30       —         —         30  

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

     —        —        —         21       —         —         21  

Amendments to and remeasurement of other postretirement benefit plans (net of tax)

     —        —        —         —         —         196       196  

Amortization of (net of tax):

                

Benefit plan prior service cost and actuarial losses

     —        —        —         —         —         6       6  

Cash flow derivative

     —        —        —         —         —         (2 )     (2 )
                                                      

June 30, 2007 balance

   $ —      $ 2    $ —       $ (274 )   $ 470     $ (163 )   $ 35  
                                                      

See accompanying Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

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EMBARQ CORPORATION

CONDENSED NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The information in this Form 10-Q has been prepared according to Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules and regulations. The consolidated interim financial statements of Embarq Corporation (Embarq) reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring accruals needed to fairly present Embarq’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States were condensed or omitted. As a result, these consolidated financial statements should be read along with Embarq’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Operating results for the 2007 year to date period do not necessarily represent the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2007.

Note 1. Background and Basis of Presentation

Formation of the Entity and Nature of Operations

Embarq was incorporated in 2005 under the laws of Delaware. Formerly, Embarq was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint Nextel Corporation (Sprint Nextel). In December 2004, Sprint Nextel announced its intention to spin-off its local communications business and product distribution operations from its other businesses in a tax-free transaction. On May 17, 2006, the date of our spin-off, in exchange for, and as a condition to, the transfer of assets and the assumption of liabilities described below, Embarq (1) issued to Sprint Nextel 149.1 million shares of company common stock and (2) issued to Sprint Nextel $4.5 billion of Embarq senior notes and transferred to Sprint Nextel $2.1 billion in cash. In exchange for, and contemporaneously with, the issuance of Embarq’s common stock and transfer of debt and cash, Sprint Nextel transferred the Embarq assets, at historical cost, consisting of Sprint Nextel’s local communications operations, wholesale product distribution operations and consumer and certain business long distance customers located in its local service territories; and Embarq assumed certain liabilities related to its business. The spin-off was completed through a pro rata distribution to Sprint Nextel shareholders consisting of one share of Embarq common stock for every 20 shares of Sprint Nextel voting and non-voting shares owned by Sprint Nextel’s shareholders as of the close of business on May 8, 2006, the record date for the distribution.

Embarq provides, both directly and through its wholesale and sales agency relationships, a suite of communications services, consisting of local and long distance voice services, data services, high-speed Internet access, wireless services and satellite video services to consumer and business customers in its local service territories in 18 states. Through the Telecommunications segment, Embarq offers regulated local communications services as an incumbent local exchange carrier. Embarq also provides access to its local network and wholesale communications services for other carriers, communications equipment for business markets and other communications-related services. Through its Logistics segment, Embarq engages in wholesale product distribution, logistics and configuration services.

As of June 30, 2007, Embarq had approximately 20 thousand active employees. Approximately 35% of these employees were represented by unions that were subject to collective bargaining agreements and approximately 12% have collective bargaining agreements that will expire within one year. Approximately 4% of Embarq’s employees were subject to collective bargaining agreements that expired during the first quarter of 2007 and as of June 30, 2007, renewal negotiations were still in progress. These negotiations are not expected to have a material impact on Embarq’s operations or consolidated financial statements. There were no material changes related to other employee collective bargaining agreements during the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007.

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements reflect Embarq’s consolidated operations as a separate, stand-alone entity following the spin-off, together with the combined historical operations of the entities which comprised the local communications business and product distribution operations of Sprint Nextel before the spin-off. The impacts of the spin-off, as highlighted above, have been reflected in the consolidated financial statements for periods after the spin-off. Accordingly, results before the spin-off are not fully comparable to those after the spin-off.

All entities included in Embarq’s consolidated financial statements were under Sprint Nextel’s common control until the spin-off. There were no significant minority interests. These consolidated financial statements were presented using the historical results of operations and historical basis of assets and liabilities of these businesses. All intercompany transactions between these consolidated entities were eliminated.

 

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The financial information in these consolidated financial statements do not include all the expenses that would have been incurred had Embarq been a separate, stand-alone entity and do not reflect Embarq’s results of operations and cash flows had Embarq been a separate, stand-alone entity through May 17, 2006. Embarq’s management believes that all historical costs of operations were reflected in the consolidated financial statements.

The consolidated financial statements were prepared using accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. These principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Relationship with Sprint Nextel

For the periods before the spin-off, Sprint Nextel provided facilities, information services, marketing and certain corporate and administrative services to its subsidiaries, including Embarq. Sprint Nextel directly assigned, where possible, related costs based on the subsidiaries’ use of these services. Where direct assignment was not possible, or practical, Sprint Nextel used indirect methods, including time studies and headcounts, to allocate shared service costs to its subsidiaries. The services provided by Sprint Nextel to its subsidiaries were generally accounted for based on fully distributed costs, which Embarq believes approximate fair value.

For a period of approximately two years following the spin-off, Sprint Nextel and Embarq will continue to provide one another with many of the services discussed above, at cost, pursuant to transition services agreements. In order to exit these arrangements, both Sprint Nextel and Embarq will arrange to procure these services from third parties or through their own employees. During the second quarter of 2007, Embarq entered into contractual commitments of approximately $130 million to procure, for a five year period, certain services previously provided under the transitional service agreements.

In addition to transition services agreements, Embarq entered into other agreements with Sprint Nextel covering such matters as commercial services, employee matters, intellectual property and tax sharing. A brief summary of each follows:

 

   

Commercial service agreements govern how Embarq and Sprint Nextel will obtain certain services from one another. The pricing in these agreements is based on each company’s market rates. These agreements allow Embarq to brand and market wireless and long distance services and to sell Sprint Nextel branded wireless, long-distance and data services pursuant to an agency agreement. Embarq also provides Sprint Nextel with access circuits, calling name database services and routing of wireless-originated toll free calls.

 

   

The employee matters agreement provides for the allocation of assets, liabilities and responsibilities with respect to certain employee compensation and benefit plans.

 

   

Intellectual property agreements, including a patent agreement, trademark agreement and a software and proprietary rights agreement, collectively transfer ownership of certain intellectual property that was used primarily to support Embarq’s local communications business as well as give Embarq the right to use certain Sprint Nextel intellectual property for a limited period of time.

 

   

The tax sharing agreement governs both Embarq’s and Sprint Nextel’s rights and obligations with respect to taxes for both pre and post distribution periods. Under this agreement, Embarq generally is required to indemnify Sprint Nextel for any taxes attributable to Embarq’s operations for all pre-distribution periods and any tax resulting from the spin-off in certain circumstances. Sprint Nextel generally is required to indemnify Embarq for any taxes attributable to Sprint Nextel’s operations for all pre-distribution periods.

Following the spin-off, Embarq is subject to true-up calculations to account for certain agreed upon matters with Sprint Nextel, including net working capital, capital expenditures, spin-off costs and income taxes. Based on a preliminary calculation of the true-up, Embarq has reflected management’s best estimate of the amount due as accounts payable in the June 30, 2007, Consolidated Balance Sheet. This calculation is preliminary and the ultimate outcome is still subject to further adjustment based on the processes agreed upon in the separation and distribution agreement.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Embarq records property, plant and equipment at historical cost. Embarq follows a straight line, group method of depreciation accounting. The costs of homogeneous units of property are aggregated to form group assets that are depreciated over an average economic useful life established for each group. Estimates and assumptions are used both in establishing the average economic lives and testing for recoverability. Assumptions are based on internal studies of use, industry data on lives, recognition of technological advancements and understanding of business strategy. Assumptions are reevaluated annually. Generally, changes in economic life estimates are effected through changes in the remaining depreciable lives of the applicable group assets and are considered an accounting estimate in accordance SFAS No. 154, Accounting Changes and Error Corrections.

 

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On an annual basis, Embarq performs an analysis of the remaining life depreciation rates. In 2007, depreciation rates for digital switching equipment and digital loop carrier equipment were reduced. For the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, these rate reductions resulted in decreased depreciation expense of $11 million and $23 million, respectively, with a corresponding increase in basic and diluted earnings per share of $0.04 and $0.09, respectively. The depreciation reductions were more than offset by incremental depreciation expense related to assets transferred to Embarq at spin-off, increased depreciation expense related to growth in plant assets and capitalized sales and use tax assessments. For the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006, the 2006 annual depreciation rate study resulted in a decrease in depreciation expense of $7 and $14 million, respectively, and an increase of $0.03 and $0.06 per basic and diluted share, respectively.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, was computed in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 128, Earnings per Share. For purposes of calculating pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006, Embarq assumed that the total common shares issued at spin-off, as well as its related potential dilutive securities, were outstanding for the period from January 1, 2006, through May 17, 2006.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

As of January 1, 2007, Embarq adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation (FIN) 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxesan interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure, and transition. As prescribed by the interpretation, the cumulative effect of applying these provisions was reported as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. Embarq records interest associated with these liabilities as interest expense. Associated penalties are recorded as income tax expense. During the second quarter of 2007, the FASB issued FIN 48-1, Definition of a Settlement in FASB Interpretation 48, which clarified when an uncertain tax position is considered to be settled. See Note 7, Income Taxes, for additional information.

Note 2. Debt and Financial Instruments

Under Embarq’s credit agreement, the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, there were net payments by Embarq of $250 million and $460 million, respectively, on the term facility, and net advances to Embarq of $280 million and $130 million, respectively, on the revolving credit facility. As of June 30, 2007, Embarq’s long-term debt had a carrying value of approximately $6.1 billion and a fair value of approximately $6.2 billion.

Note 3. Restructuring and Severance Actions

In the 2007 first quarter, Embarq incurred a $14 million charge related to severance for about 200 employees in an effort to better align organization resources with the needs of Embarq’s business. Of this amount, $2 million was reflected as costs of services and $12 million as selling, general and administrative expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited). This action resulted in a $13 million charge for the Telecommunications segment and $1 million for the Logistics segment.

In the 2006 first quarter, Embarq completed a restructuring program with the goal of improving its cost structure. The restructuring resulted in a $30 million charge, due to severance for approximately 420 employees. Of this amount, $20 million was reflected as costs of services and $10 million as selling, general and administrative expense in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited). The restructuring resulted in a $26 million charge for the Telecommunications segment and $4 million for the Logistics segment. As of June 30, 2007, severance obligations associated with this action were substantially satisfied.

 

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Note 4. Employee Benefit Plans

Before the spin-off, Embarq participated in Sprint Nextel’s defined benefit pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans. Under these plans, net periodic benefit costs were allocated to Embarq. For the quarter and year to date period ended June 30, 2006, total allocated pension and other postretirement costs were as follows.

 

     Pre Spin-off
    

Quarter Ended

June 30, 2006

  

Year to Date

June 30, 2006

     (millions)

Pension cost

   $ 7    $ 20

Other postretirement benefit cost

   $ 1    $ 2

Following the spin-off, Embarq established its own defined benefit pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans and directly recognizes all costs associated with these plans. The following table reflects the post spin-off components of net periodic benefit cost for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006:

 

     Post Spin-off  
    

Quarter and Year to Date

Period Ended June 30,
2006

 
     Pension
Benefits
   

Other Post-

retirement
Benefits

 
     (millions)  

Service cost

   $ 7     $ 1  

Interest cost

     21       4  

Expected return on plan assets

     (29 )     —    

Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)

     2       (7 )

Amortization of actuarial losses

     6       3  
                

Net cost

   $ 7     $ 1  
                

The net periodic benefit cost for the defined benefit pension plan and other postretirement benefit plans for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007 were as follows:

 

     Quarter Ended
June 30, 2007
    Year to Date June 30,
2007
 
     Pension
Benefits
    Other Post-
retirement
Benefits
    Pension
Benefits
   

Other Post-

retirement
Benefits

 
     (millions)  

Service cost

   $ 14     $ 2     $ 28     $ 4  

Interest cost

     49       9       97       18  

Expected return on plan assets

     (66 )     (1 )     (131 )     (2 )

Amortization of prior service cost (benefit)

     4       (15 )     8       (29 )

Amortization of actuarial losses

     10       4       20       8  
                                

Net cost (benefit)

   $ 11     $ (1 )   $ 22     $ (1 )
                                

During the second quarter of 2007, Embarq amended its other postretirement medical and life insurance plans to eliminate medical coverage and Medicare premium subsidies for Medicare-eligible retirees and Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, effective January 1, 2008. In addition, these amendments capped the maximum amount of life insurance benefits through the company-sponsored plan for qualified retirees at $10,000, effective January 1, 2008, and eliminated company-provided life insurance coverage for retirees who have benefits through a separate subsidiary company-sponsored plan, effective September 1, 2007.

These amendments were accounted for as plan amendments and reduced Embarq’s benefit plan obligation at June 30, 2007, by $301 million, with a corresponding increase in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net of tax. The reduction in the obligation will be amortized to other postretirement benefit cost over the remaining average life of retirees, beginning in July 2007. In re-measuring its other postretirement benefit obligations to reflect these amendments, Embarq utilized updated assumptions as of June 30, 2007; specifically the discount rate was increased to 6.4% from 6.1%.

 

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Note 5. Stock-based Compensation

As part of its compensation programs, Embarq issues stock options and nonvested stock units, otherwise referred to as restricted stock units. Embarq uses the Black-Scholes-Merton model to calculate the fair value of stock options. Effective January 1, 2007, Embarq began using the closing stock price on the date of grant to calculate the fair value of restricted stock units. This change did not materially affect the consolidated financial statements.

2007 Stock-based Compensation Award Grants

On February 21, 2007, approximately 0.3 million restricted stock units were granted to certain employees as part of Embarq’s 2006 short-term incentive program. The total award was based on the achievement of performance objectives under the 2006 short-term incentive program. These awards had a fair value of $55.95 per restricted stock unit and will vest in full on December 31, 2007.

On February 22, 2007, approximately 0.8 million stock options and 0.5 million restricted stock units were granted to executive officers and other employees as part of Embarq’s 2007 long-term incentive program. Approximately 34% of the stock options will vest on February 22, 2008, and 33% will vest on each of February 22, 2009 and 2010. The restricted stock units will vest in equal installments with 50% vesting on each of February 22, 2009 and 2010. These restricted stock units contain performance provisions that could result in an increase in the number and corresponding compensation expense to 200% of the initial number of awards or a reduction in the number of awards and the related compensation expense to zero. The fair value was $11.98 per stock option and $56.43 per restricted stock unit.

In addition, on February 22, 2007, approximately 0.2 million stock options were granted to Embarq’s chief executive officer as a long-term retention award. These options have a fair value of $12.24 per option and will vest in full on February 22, 2011.

The significant assumptions used to calculate the fair value of each stock option award were as follows:

 

     2007 Annual Grant     Retention Award  

Underlying stock price

   $ 56.43     $ 56.43  

Exercise price

   $ 56.43     $ 56.43  

Expected volatility

     24.36 %     24.62 %

Risk-free interest rate

     4.73 %     4.73 %

Expected dividend yield

     3.54 %     3.54 %

Expected term (years)

     6.00       6.25  

Total compensation expense related to these awards was $50.5 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average vesting period of 2.5 years. As of June 30, 2007, approximately $11 million related to these awards has been expensed in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited).

Note 6. Commitments and Contingencies

Sprint Nextel has identified seven former manufactured gas plant sites that may have been owned or operated by entities acquired by Embarq’s subsidiary, Centel Corporation, before the company was acquired by Sprint Nextel. These sites are not currently owned or operated by either Sprint Nextel or Embarq. On three sites, Embarq and the current landowners are working with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) pursuant to administrative consent orders. Expenditures pursuant to the orders are not expected to be material. On five sites, including the three sites where the EPA is involved, Centel Corporation has entered into agreements with other potentially responsible parties to share costs. Further, Sprint Nextel has agreed to indemnify Embarq for most of any eventual liability arising from all seven of these sites.

Various lawsuits, including putative class actions, regulatory proceedings and other claims typical for a business enterprise are pending against or would otherwise impact the entities comprising Embarq, including those for which Embarq has assumed contractual liability in connection with the spin-off. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of each of these proceedings and whether they will be resolved consistent with Embarq’s expectations, Embarq expects that the outcome of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Note 7. Income Taxes

Before spin-off, Embarq’s operations were included in the consolidated federal income tax return and certain unitary or combined state income tax returns of Sprint Nextel. Income taxes before the spin-off, however, were calculated and provided for by Embarq on a separate tax return basis where income taxes were paid to or received from Sprint Nextel. After the spin-off, Embarq became a separate, stand-alone taxable entity.

Embarq records deferred income taxes based on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and their tax basis. Deferred taxes are subject to modification. Management does not expect these modifications, if any, to have a material impact on the current year financial results.

The differences that caused Embarq’s effective income tax rates to vary from the 35% federal statutory rate for income taxes related to continuing operations were as follows:

 

    

Year to Date

June 30,

 
     2007     2006  
     (millions)  

Income tax expense at the federal statutory rate

   193     243  

Effect of:

    

State income taxes, net of federal income tax effect

   22     27  

Other, net

   —       (7 )
            

Income tax expense

   215     263  
            

Effective income tax rate

   39.0 %   38.0 %
            

As of January 1, 2007, Embarq adopted FIN 48 by analyzing uncertain tax positions for tax periods prior and subsequent to spin-off. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits related to these positions was approximately $300 million primarily related to the classification of Universal Service Fund (USF) receipts as taxable income. While the ultimate recognition of USF receipts is highly certain, there is uncertainty about the timing of such recognition. Of the $300 million, approximately $55 million represented uncertain tax positions that could result in a potential future obligation. The remaining $245 million represents refund claims. Due to the uncertainty of these refund claims, Embarq has not recognized the impact to current or deferred taxes in its financial statements. The amount of unrecognized tax benefit that would impact the effective tax rate was $5 million.

As a result, the adoption of FIN 48 resulted in an increase in retained earnings of $1 million and increases in other current and noncurrent liabilities of $57 million related to uncertain tax positions taken in prior years and includes $2 million of interest and penalties. During the second quarter of 2007, the FASB issued FIN 48-1, which clarified when an uncertain tax position is considered to be settled. This interpretation did not materially impact Embarq’s FIN 48 analysis.

Embarq expects it is reasonably possible the liability for uncertain tax positions related to USF will increase by $20 million to $25 million in 2007.

It is reasonably possible that settlements will be made with various tax authorities related to tax positions taken on prior year returns. During 2007, it is reasonably possible the liability related to uncertain tax positions for these matters may be settled, resulting in a $10 million to $20 million decrease in the liability.

For years before 1990, Embarq is generally no longer subject to examination by U.S. federal, state, and local tax authorities, either as a component of Sprint Nextel’s income tax returns or on a stand-alone basis.

The total liability for uncertain tax positions as of June 30, 2007 is $63 million.

Note 8. Segment Information

Embarq has two segments, Telecommunications and Logistics. The Telecommunications segment consists primarily of regulated local communications companies operating in 18 states. This segment provides, both directly and through wholesale and sales agency relationships, local voice and data, high-speed Internet, long distance, wireless, satellite video and other services to customers within Embarq’s local service territories. The Telecommunications segment also provides access to Embarq’s local network and other wholesale communications services to other carriers. The Logistics segment engages in wholesale distribution of communications products and other services to third parties.

Embarq manages its segments to the operating income level. Items such as interest, other income and expense, or income taxes are managed at the consolidated level. The reconciliation for operating income to net income is shown on the face of the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited).

For the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006, Embarq reported operations in two operating segments, Local and Product Distribution. In the 2006 third quarter, Embarq adopted as its operating segments Telecommunications and

 

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Logistics instead of Local and Product Distribution. The presentation of the Logistics segment was changed to align it with management’s view of the business. The primary difference between the Logistics segment and the former Product Distribution segment is that only revenues derived from sales to third parties, along with the related direct and allocated costs of those revenues, are presented. Consequently, segmental results of operations were recast to reflect this change for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006.

The financial information by operating segment for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 was as follows:

 

     Telecommunications    Logistics     Consolidated
     (millions)

Quarter Ended June 30, 2007

       

Voice

   $ 1,071    $ —       $ 1,071

Data

     188      —         188

High-speed Internet

     121      —         121

Wireless

     11      —         11

Other

     63      —         63
                     

Service revenues

   $ 1,454      —       $ 1,454

Product revenues

     28      123       151
                     

Total net operating revenues

   $ 1,482    $ 123     $ 1,605
                     

Operating income

   $ 396    $ 4     $ 400
                     
     Telecommunications    Logistics     Consolidated
     (millions)

Quarter Ended June 30, 2006

       

Voice

   $ 1,073    $ —       $ 1,073

Data

     174      —         174

High-speed Internet

     95      —         95

Other

     68      —         68
                     

Service revenues

     1,410      —         1,410

Product revenues

     31      138       169
                     

Total net operating revenues

   $ 1,441    $ 138     $ 1,579
                     

Related party revenues (included in net operating revenues)

   $ 34    $ 6     $ 40
                     

Operating income (loss)

   $ 409    $ (3 )   $ 406
                     
     Telecommunications    Logistics     Consolidated
     (millions)

Year to Date June 30, 2007

       

Voice

   $ 2,155    $ —       $ 2,155

Data

     377      —         377

High-speed Internet

     237      —         237

Wireless

     20      —         20

Other

     123      —         123
                     

Service revenues

   $ 2,912      —       $ 2,912

Product revenues

     50      232       282
                     

Total net operating revenues

   $ 2,962    $ 232     $ 3,194
                     

Operating income

   $ 770    $ 1     $ 771
                     

 

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Table of Contents
     Telecommunications    Logistics     Consolidated
     (millions)

Year to Date June 30, 2006

       

Voice

   $ 2,117    $ —       $ 2,117

Data

     343      —         343

High-speed Internet

     187      —         187

Other

     149      —         149
                     

Service revenues

     2,796      —         2,796

Product revenues

     54      290       344
                     

Total net operating revenues

   $ 2,850    $ 290     $ 3,140
                     

Related party revenues (included in net operating revenues)

   $ 124    $ 14     $ 138
                     

Operating income (loss)

   $ 782    $ (10 )   $ 772
                     

Note 9. Universal Service Fund

Embarq records federal and state USF surcharges on a gross basis. The total amount of surcharges related to voice, high-speed internet, wireless and long distance recorded in net operating revenues was as follows:

 

     Quarters Ended June 30,    Year to Date June 30,
     2007    2006    2007    2006
     (millions)

Federal and state USF surcharges

   $ 24    $ 26    $ 46    $ 50
                           

Note 10. Supplemental Cash Flow Information and Non-Cash Activities

Embarq’s supplemental cash flow information and non-cash activities for the year to date periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

    

Year to Date

June 30,

 
     2007    2006  
     (millions)  

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

     

Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized

   $ 221    $ 38  

Cash paid for income taxes

   $ 290    $ 118  

Non-cash Activities

     

Capital expenditure accrual

   $ 15    $ —    

Extinguishment of debt

     3      —    

Issuance of treasury stock to the Employee Stock Purchase Plan

     2      —    

Transactions with Sprint Nextel associated with spin-off:

     

Distribution of senior notes

     —        (4,485 )

Transfer of notes receivable

     —        460  

Transfer of property, plant and equipment, net

     —        310  

Transfer of post-retirement and other benefit obligations

     —        (314 )

Transfer of other assets & liabilities, net

     —        71  

Deferred taxes related to assets and liabilities transferred

     —        254  

Note 11. Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements—this standard provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities on the balance sheet by clarifying the definition of fair value and establishing a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. This standard does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early adoption permitted. Embarq does not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

 

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Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and

Results of Operations

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

We make forward-looking statements in this document. These forward-looking statements relate to our outlook or expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses, asset quality or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations, or the impact of legal, regulatory or supervisory matters on our business, results of operations or financial condition. Specifically, forward-looking statements may include:

 

   

statements relating to our plans, intentions, expectations, objectives or goals;

 

   

statements relating to our future economic performance, business prospects, revenue, income and financial condition, and any underlying assumptions relating to those statements; and

 

   

statements preceded by, followed by or that include the words “estimate,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target” or similar expressions.

These statements reflect our management’s judgment based on currently available information and involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. With respect to these forward-looking statements, our management has made assumptions regarding, among other things, customer and network usage, customer growth and retention, pricing, operating costs, technology and the economic and regulatory environment.

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

 

   

the effects of vigorous competition in the markets in which we operate;

 

   

the impact of new, emerging or competing technologies on our business;

 

   

the impact of changes in the legal and regulatory environment, including compliance with regulatory mandates;

 

   

our revenues and operating costs may be different than expected;

 

   

our different capital structure as an independent company, including our access to capital, credit ratings, indebtedness and ability to raise additional financing;

 

   

volatility in the equity market;

 

   

the impact of any adverse change in the ratings assigned to our debt by ratings agencies on the cost of our financing and our ability to raise additional financing if needed;

 

   

the effects of other mergers and consolidations in the industries relevant to our operations and unexpected announcements or developments from others in those industries;

 

   

the costs and business risks associated with providing new services;

 

   

the uncertainties related to our investments in networks, systems and other businesses;

 

   

the uncertainties related to the implementation of our business strategies;

 

   

the impact of equipment failure, hurricanes and other natural disasters, terrorist acts or other breaches of network or information technology security;

 

   

the inability of third parties to perform to our requirements under agreements related to our business operations;

 

   

our ownership of or ability to license technology that may be necessary to expand our product offerings;

 

   

restrictions in our patent agreement with Sprint Nextel;

 

   

unexpected results of litigation filed against our company;

 

   

a determination by the IRS that the spin-off should be treated as a taxable transaction;

 

   

the possible impacts on our business of changes in political or other factors, such as monetary policy, or other external factors over which we have no control;

 

   

other risks referenced in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, including in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, and from time to time in other filings of ours with the SEC.

You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this document. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date of this document or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 

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OVERVIEW

We were incorporated in 2005 under the laws of Delaware. We formerly were a wholly owned subsidiary of Sprint Nextel. In December 2004, Sprint Nextel announced its intention to spin-off its local communications business and product distribution operations from its other businesses in a tax-free transaction. On May 17, 2006, in exchange for, and as a condition to, the transfer of assets and the assumption of liabilities described below, we (1) issued to Sprint Nextel 149.1 million shares of our common stock and (2) issued to Sprint Nextel $4.5 billion of Embarq senior notes and transferred to Sprint Nextel $2.1 billion in cash. In exchange for, and contemporaneously with, the issuance of our common stock and transfer of debt and cash, Sprint Nextel transferred the Embarq assets, at historical cost, consisting of Sprint Nextel’s local communications operations, wholesale product distribution operations and the consumer and certain business long distance customers located in our service territories; and we assumed certain liabilities related to our business. The spin-off was completed through a pro rata distribution to Sprint Nextel shareholders consisting of one share of our common stock for every 20 shares of Sprint Nextel voting and non-voting shares owned by Sprint Nextel’s shareholders as of the close of business on May 8, 2006, the record date for the distribution.

Operations

We provide, both directly and through wholesale and sales agency relationships, a suite of communications services, consisting of local and long distance voice services, data services, high-speed Internet access, wireless services and satellite video services to consumer and business customers in our local service territories in 18 states. Through our Telecommunications segment, we offer regulated local communications services as an incumbent local exchange carrier to roughly 5% of U.S. households, with approximately 6.7 million access lines, as of June 30, 2007. We also provide access to our local network and wholesale communications services for other carriers, communications equipment for business markets and other communications-related services. Through our Logistics segment, we engage in wholesale product distribution, logistics and configuration services.

Our consumer and business strategy is to maximize profitable communications services revenue per customer by providing bundled and integrated voice, data, wireless and video products and services that meet the needs of our consumer and business customers within our local territories. This strategy has four key elements: 1) provide useful products and solutions to attract and retain customers by marketing integrated service offerings, 2) improve the customer experience and perception of service and product offerings, 3) manage our costs and 4) maintain a customer focused culture that promotes high performance and employee satisfaction.

Our wholesale business strategy is structured around increasing the utilization and achieved return of our core network investment by providing a full set of wholesale services to other carriers and wireless providers. Services offered include switched access, special access, intelligent network database, collocation, resale, unbundled network element platforms, high speed data services and billing and collection services. In addition, we offer public pay telephone services along with services to inmates in numerous correctional institutions both inside and outside our traditional local service territories.

For several years, including the current year, we have experienced declines in the number of switched access lines served in our local service territories primarily due to:

 

   

increasing competition from wireless telephone service providers;

 

   

increasing competition from cable operators providing high-speed Internet services, which can be used as a platform to support voice services utilizing voice over Internet protocol, or VoIP, technology;

 

   

the growth of other facilities-based competitors in our markets; and,

 

   

product substitution among our service offerings.

Year over year, switched access lines declined 6.0% as compared to the same period in 2006. We lost 146,000 access lines in the second quarter of 2007, which were 5,000 less than in the second quarter 2006. We expect that the total number of line losses in 2007 will be flat to slightly lower than 2006.

Growth in high-speed Internet has continued to help offset the impact of traditional access line losses. At June 30, 2007, we had a 36% increase in high-speed Internet subscribers as compared to the same period in 2006. Simplified and more attractive offers including fixed monthly pricing guaranteed not to increase for as long as the customer has the same service offering, have been successful.

In the second quarter of 2006, we launched EMBARQ™ branded wireless service. As of June 30, 2007, we had 89 thousand wireless subscribers. We provide this service as a mobile virtual network operator via our relationship with Sprint Nextel. We have differentiated and plan to further differentiate our wireless service offering by integrating our wireline voice and data services with the wireless service, which in turn, complements and enhances the value of our core local service offerings. For example, we offer EMBARQTM One Voicemail, which allows consumers to access messages with either their home landline phone or wireless phone from a single mailbox from either device. Additionally, EMBARQTM Smart ConnectSM

 

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allows business customers’ calls to move seamlessly between our wireless and wireline networks without interrupting those calls. This service provides business customers with greater accessibility, helps reduce wireless costs and improves coverage and call quality. The launch of our wireless service has been and is expected to continue to be initially dilutive to our results of operations due to up-front customer acquisition costs as well as the absence of a substantial customer base generating a level of recurring revenue sufficient to cover acquisition costs.

Video service is also a key element to our bundled offers. We currently offer video and pay per view service through a sales agency relationship with Echostar. This service offering rounds out our lineup of consumer communications and entertainment services. As of June 30, 2007, we had 178 thousand video service subscribers, compared to 131 thousand as of June 30, 2006.

Impact of the Spin-off

In connection with the spin-off, we issued to Sprint Nextel our senior notes and transferred to Sprint Nextel the cash proceeds of new borrowings under our credit agreement, in an aggregate amount of $6.6 billion. We do not expect the change in our capital structure resulting from the spin-off to adversely affect our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to re-invest in our business, meet our debt service requirements and pay dividends to our stockholders.

Also in connection with the spin-off, Sprint Nextel transferred certain customer relationships, assets and liabilities to us, the most notable of which was the transfer of consumer and certain business long distance voice customers in our service territory. The results presented in our consolidated financial statements and throughout the following discussion only reflect these transfers after May 17, 2006. Accordingly, results before the spin-off are not fully comparable to those after spin-off.

Sprint Nextel historically performed many important functions for our operations, including information technology support, treasury, accounting, finance and tax administration, human resources, legal, regulatory, public relations and strategic development functions. Since the spin-off, Sprint Nextel has provided support to us with respect to certain of these functions, including customer bill printing and mailing services, information technology application and support services, data center services and human resources helpdesk services, on a transitional basis and will continue to provide certain of these services for up to two years following the spin-off. As such, we are required to replicate certain facilities, systems, infrastructure and personnel before the termination of these agreements with Sprint Nextel. These initiatives are costly to implement. On a cumulative basis, through June 30, 2007, capital expenditures and other costs associated with developing and implementing our own support functions, including information technology systems and infrastructure have totaled approximately $235 million. For the year to date period ended June 30, 2007, we had incurred approximately $23 million of spin-off related costs, $6 million of which were capitalized. We estimate that we will incur approximately $20 million of additional spin-off related costs for the remainder of 2007.

As mentioned above, before the spin-off, Sprint Nextel provided various services to its subsidiaries, including our company. Sprint Nextel directly assigned costs, where possible, based on actual use of these services. Where direct assignment was not possible or practical, Sprint Nextel used indirect methods, including time studies and headcounts, to allocate shared service costs to its subsidiaries. The services provided by Sprint Nextel to its subsidiaries were generally accounted for based on fully distributed costs, which we believed approximated fair value. The costs allocated are not necessarily indicative of costs that will be charged or incurred in the future.

Business Environment

We operate in an industry that has been and continues to be subject to intense competition and regulatory and legislative change. Given these factors as well as the trend toward consolidation in the industry, we routinely assess the implications of these industry factors on our operations. These assessments, along with regulatory and legislative developments, may impact the future valuation of our long-lived assets and could have a material effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxesan interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109—this Interpretation clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in an enterprise’s financial statements in accordance with SFAS No. 109, Accounting for Income Taxes. This Interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. This Interpretation also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. As prescribed by the interpretation, the cumulative effect of applying these provisions was reported as an adjustment to our opening balance of retained earnings. We record interest associated these liabilities as interest expense. Associated penalties are recorded as income tax expense. During the second quarter of 2007,

 

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the FASB issued FIN 48-1, Definition of a Settlement in FASB Interpretation 48, which clarified when an uncertain tax position is considered to be settled. See Note 7, Income Taxes, in the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for additional information.

Significant New Accounting Pronouncements

SFAS No. 157, Fair Value Measurements—this standard provides enhanced guidance for using fair value to measure assets and liabilities on the balance sheet by clarifying the definition of fair value and establishing a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the information used to develop those assumptions. This standard does not expand the use of fair value in any new circumstances and is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, with early adoption permitted. We do not expect the adoption of this standard to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

     Quarters Ended June 30,     Year to Date June 30,  
     2007    2006     2007    2006  
     (millions)  
Net Operating Revenues           

Telecommunications segment

   $ 1,482    $ 1,441     $ 2,962    $ 2,850  

Logistics segment

     123      138       232      290  
                              

Total net operating revenues

   $ 1,605    $ 1,579     $ 3,194    $ 3,140  
                              
Operating Income (Loss)           

Telecommunications segment

   $ 396    $ 409     $ 770    $ 782  

Logistics segment

     4      (3 )     1      (10 )
                              

Total operating income

   $ 400    $ 406     $ 771    $ 772  
                              
Net Income    $ 176    $ 216     $ 336    $ 430  
                              

Segmental Results of Operations

For the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006, we previously reported two operating segments, Local and Product Distribution. In the 2006 third quarter, we adopted as our operating segments Telecommunications in lieu of Local and Logistics in lieu of Product Distribution. The presentation of the Logistics segment was changed to align it with management’s view of the business. The primary difference between the Logistics segment and the former Product Distribution segment is that only revenues derived from sales to third parties, along with the related direct and allocated costs of those revenues, are presented. Segmental results of operations for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2006, have been recast to reflect this change.

 

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Segmental Results of Operations - Telecommunications

Our Telecommunications segment consists primarily of regulated local phone companies serving approximately 6.7 million access lines in 18 states as of June 30, 2007. We provide, both directly and through wholesale and sales agency relationships, local voice and data, high-speed Internet, long distance, wireless, satellite video and other services to customers within our local service territories. We also provide access to our local network and other wholesale communications services to other carriers.

 

     Quarters Ended June 30,     Difference  

(millions)

   2007   

% of

Revenues

    2006    % of
Revenues
    $ Percent  

Net operating revenues

              

Voice

   $ 1,071    72 %   $ 1,073    74 %   $ (2 )   —   %

Data

     188    13 %     174    12 %     14     8 %

High-speed Internet

     121    8 %     95    7 %     26     27 %

Wireless

     11    1 %     —      —   %     11     NM  

Other

     63    4 %     68    5 %     (5 )   (7 )%
                                        

Service revenues

     1,454    98 %     1,410    98 %     44     3 %

Product revenues

     28    2 %     31    2 %     (3 )   (10 )%
                                        

Total net operating revenues

   $ 1,482    100 %   $ 1,441    100 %   $ 41     3 %

Operating expenses

              

Costs of services

     404    27 %     368    26 %     36     10 %

Costs of products

     33    2 %     23    2 %     10     43 %

Selling, general and administrative

     387    26 %     390    27 %     (3 )   (1 )%

Depreciation

     262    18 %     251    17 %     11     4 %
                                        

Total operating expenses

     1,086    73 %     1,032    72 %     54     5 %
                                        

Operating income

   $ 396    27 %   $ 409    28 %   $ (13 )   (3 )%
                                        

Capital expenditures

   $ 188      $ 265      $ (77 )   (29 )%
                                

Switched access lines (millions)

     6.7        7.1        (0.4 )   (6 )%
                                

Switched access minutes of use (millions)

     7,066        7,743        (677 )   (9 )%
                                

High-speed Internet subscribers (thousands)

     1,156        849        307     36 %
                                

Wireless subscribers (thousands)

     89        5        84     NM  
                                

 

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Table of Contents
     Year to Date June 30,     Difference  

(millions)

   2007    % of
Revenues
    2006    % of
Revenues
    $ Percent  

Net operating revenues

              

Voice

   $ 2,155    73 %   $ 2,117    74 %   $ 38     2 %

Data

     377    13 %     343    12 %     34     10 %

High-speed Internet

     237    8 %     187    7 %     50     27 %

Wireless

     20    —   %     —      —   %     20     NM  

Other

     123    4 %     149    5 %     (26 )   (17 )%
                                        

Service revenues

     2,912    98 %     2,796    98 %     116     4 %

Product revenues

     50    2 %     54    2 %     (4 )   (7 )%
                                        

Total net operating revenues

   $ 2,962    100 %   $ 2,850    100 %   $ 112     4 %

Operating expenses

              

Costs of services

     821    28 %     746    26 %     75     10 %

Costs of products

     63    2 %     46    2 %     17     37 %

Selling, general and administrative

     779    26 %     790    28 %     (11 )   (1 )%

Depreciation

     529    18 %     486    17 %     43     9 %
                                        

Total operating expenses

     2,192    74 %     2,068    73 %     124     6 %
                                        

Operating income

   $ 770    26 %   $ 782    27 %   $ (12 )   (2 )%
                                        

Capital expenditures

   $ 370      $ 448      $ (78 )   (17 )%
                                

Switched access minutes of use (millions)

     14,642        15,901        (1,259 )   (8 )%
                                

Net Operating Revenues

Net operating revenues increased $41 million and $112 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. Variances in individual categories of revenue are discussed below.

Voice

Voice revenues include monthly recurring fees for local service, enhanced calling features and long distance. Additionally, voice revenues include access and other wholesale services to other carriers to enable connectivity to our network as well as USF receipts and customer surcharges. Voice revenues declined $2 million for the quarter to date period and increased $38 million in the year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)  
     Quarter     Year to Date  
     (millions)  

Transfer of long distance customers from Sprint Nextel

   $ 52     $ 160  

Decline in voice revenues primarily due to access line losses

     (49 )     (102 )

Discontinuance of USF surcharges on high-speed Internet services

     (7 )     (14 )

Other

     2       (6 )
                

Total increase (decrease)

   $ (2 )   $ 38  
                

 

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Table of Contents

Data

Data revenues represent data network services sold to business customers and special access services sold to other carriers. Data revenues increased $14 million and $34 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)
     Quarter    Year to Date
     (millions)

Special access revenue

   $ 6    $ 14

Transfer of dedicated IP customers from Sprint Nextel

     4      10

Ethernet and other business data services

     4      10
             

Total increase

   $ 14    $ 34
             

High-speed Internet

The $26 million and $50 million increase in high-speed Internet revenues in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, as compared to the same periods in 2006, was attributable to a 36% increase in subscribers. Simplified and more attractive pricing plans have continued to drive strong subscriber additions, but at a slightly reduced revenue per subscriber. As of June 30, 2007, approximately 36% of our high-speed Internet subscribers were in our three and five megabit speed tiers as compared to approximately 31% in the prior year. This improvement in our overall speed mix has partially offset some of the yield decline resulting from offering more attractive pricing. On an ongoing basis, we expect that high-speed Internet revenue will continue to increase, but at a slightly lower rate.

Wireless

During the second quarter 2006, we began offering wireless communication services. For the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, we generated wireless revenues of $11 million and $20 million, respectively. As of June 30, 2007, we had approximately 89 thousand subscribers to our wireless service.

Other Service

Other service revenues mainly includes professional services, intelligent network database services, billing and collection services and sales of products and services through various sales agency relationships, including our video service offering through Echostar. Other service revenues decreased $5 million and $26 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)  
     Quarter     Year to Date  
     (millions)  

Transfer of customers to Sprint Nextel

   $ (1 )   $ (4 )

Elimination of billing, collection and sales agency revenues due to customer transfers from Sprint Nextel

     (7 )     (19 )

Other

     3       (3 )
                

Total decrease

   $ (5 )   $ (26 )
                

Product Revenues

Product revenues are derived mainly from sales of customer premises equipment, or CPE, which is communications equipment that resides at a business customer’s location for the management of voice and data networks and applications. Sales of high-speed Internet equipment and wireless handsets to our customers also are reflected in product revenues. Product revenues decreased $3 million and $4 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The decrease was due in part to the transfer of certain large CPE customers to Sprint Nextel as part of the spin-off.

Revenue Reserves

Net operating revenues include revenue reserves for pending access disputes with competitive local exchange carriers, wireless carriers and inter-exchange carriers, billing errors and customer disputes and returns on product sales. These reserves require management’s judgment and are based on many factors. Revenue charges associated with establishing these reserves were approximately 1% of net operating revenues for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.

 

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Table of Contents

Costs of Services

Costs of services include costs to operate and maintain the local network including employee-related costs directly supporting the network, costs directly associated with various service offerings, intercarrier compensation (such as access payments and reciprocal compensation), federal and state USF assessments caller name identification and various operating taxes. Cost of services increased $36 million and $75 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)  
     Quarter     Year to Date  
     (millions)  

Transfer of long distance customers from Sprint Nextel

   $ 33     $ 91  

Restructuring charges

     —         (20 )

Severance charges

     1       3  

Reciprocal compensation settlements

     9       18  

Discontinuance of USF requirements on high-speed Internet services

     (7 )     (14 )

Other

     —         (3 )
                

Total increase

   $ 36     $ 75  
                

Costs of Products

Costs of products increased $10 million and $17 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. These cost increases are related to higher product costs associated with wireless handsets and other telecommunications equipment.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative (SGA) costs, includes costs associated with selling and marketing, customer service, information technology, bad debt expense, general corporate costs and all other employee-related costs. These costs decreased $3 million and $11 million for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)  
     Quarter     Year to Date  
     (millions)  

Transfer of long distance customers from Sprint Nextel

   $ 11     $ 35  

Elimination of allocated charges associated with the spin-off

     (17 )     (51 )

Spin-off related costs

     (43 )     (60 )

Increased costs of corporate support functions

     10       23  

Process initiatives

     12       24  

Stock compensation and other benefits costs

     21       13  

Restructuring charges

     —         (6 )

Severance charges

     (2 )     9  

Other

     5       2  
                

Total decrease

   $ (3 )   $ (11 )
                

SGA costs include charges for estimated bad debt expense. The reserve for bad debt requires management’s judgment and is based on many factors. Bad debt expenses were approximately 1% of net operating revenues for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007 and 2006.

 

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Table of Contents

Depreciation

Depreciation expense increased $11 million and $43 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)  
     Quarter     Year to Date  
     (millions)  

Transfer of shared assets from Sprint Nextel

   $ 12     $ 38  

Growth in plant assets

     10       23  

Incremental depreciation resulting from capitalized sales and use tax assessments

     —         5  

Reduced depreciation rates applied to digital switching and digital loop equipment

     (11 )     (23 )
                

Total increase

   $ 11     $ 43  
                

Segmental Results of Operations – Logistics

Through our Logistics segment, we procure, configure, service and distribute equipment, materials and supplies to the communications industry. The products that we offer include outside plant, business communication systems, telephones and accessories and network access equipment from leading manufacturers.

 

     Quarters Ended June 30,     Difference  

(millions)

  

2007

  

% of

Revenues

   

2006

   

% of

Revenues

   

$ Percent

 

Net operating revenues

   $ 123    100 %   $ 138     100 %     (15 )   (11 )%

Operating expenses

             

Costs of products

     109    88 %     125     91 %     (16 )   (13 )%

Selling, general and administrative

     8    7 %     13     9 %     (5 )   (38 )%

Depreciation and amortization

     2    2 %     3     2 %     (1 )   (33 )%
                                         

Total operating expenses

     119    97 %     141     102 %     (22 )   (16 )%
                                         

Operating income (loss)

   $ 4    3 %   $ (3 )   (2 )%   $ 7     NM  
                                         
     Year to Date June 30,     Difference  

(millions)

   2007    % of
Revenues
    2006     % of
Revenues
    $ Percent  

Net operating revenues

   $ 232    100 %   $ 290     100 %     (58 )   (20 )%

Operating expenses

             

Costs of products

     206    89 %     262     90 %     (56 )   (21 )%

Selling, general and administrative

     20    9 %     32     11 %     (12 )   (38 )%

Depreciation and amortization

     5    2 %     6     2 %     (1 )   (17 )%
                                         

Total operating expenses

     231    100 %     300     103 %     (69 )   (23 )%
                                         

Operating income (loss)

   $ 1    —   %   $ (10 )   (3 )%   $ 11     NM  
                                         

Capital expenditures

   $ 1      $ 1       $ —      
                             

 

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Table of Contents

Net Operating Revenues

Revenues from the Logistics segment decreased $15 million and $58 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. The following table lists the major drivers of these changes:

 

     Increase (Decrease)  
     Quarter     Year to Date  
     (millions)  

Exit of enterprise and wireless markets

   $ (1 )   $ (21 )

Loss of large supply contract

     (9 )     (17 )

Other customer spending reductions

     (5 )     (20 )
                

Total decrease

   $ (15 )   $ (58 )
                

Cost of Products

Cost of products includes costs of equipment sold and other operating related taxes. These costs decreased $16 million and $56 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. These cost changes are directly associated with the revenue factors noted above, as well as a reduction of inventory reserves related to previously exited markets.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $5 million and $12 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. This decline was mainly due to a reduction in workforce and other cost reductions associated with the exit of the enterprise and wireless markets in 2006. Additionally, declines in spin-off related costs attributed to the Logistics business and favorable bad debt experience contributed to the overall reduction in selling, general and administrative expense.

Nonoperating Items

 

     Quarters Ended June 30,     Year to Date June 30,  
     2007    2006     2007    2006  
     (millions)  

Interest expense

   $ 111    $ 68     $ 220    $ 87  

Other (income) expense, net

     —        (3 )     —        (8 )

Income tax expense

     113      125       215      263  

Interest Expense

In conjunction with our spin-off from Sprint Nextel, we incurred $6.6 billion of new debt in the form of senior notes and borrowings under our credit agreement. As of the issuance date, the weighted average interest rate on this long-term debt was approximately 6.8%.

Interest expense increased $43 million and $133 million in the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006. This increase is primarily due to the issuance of the long-term debt discussed above, partially offset by the elimination of interest expense on notes previously payable to Sprint Nextel.

Our effective interest rate on long-term debt was 7.2% and 7.1% for the quarters ended June 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. The slightly higher effective interest rate is primarily due to the gradual pay down of spin-off related debt bearing lower effective interest rates. Interest costs on pre spin-off short-term borrowings from Sprint Nextel have been excluded so as not to distort the effective interest rate on long-term debt. See “Liquidity and Capital Resources” below for more information on our financing activities.

Other (Income) Expense, Net

Other income decreased $3 million and $8 million for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006, due primarily to a $3 million gain resulting from the re-designation of a derivative instrument in the first quarter of 2006.

Income Tax Expense

Our effective tax rates for the quarter and year to date periods ended June 30, 2007, were comparable to the same periods in 2006. See Note 7, Income Taxes, of the Condensed Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for information about the differences that cause the effective income tax rates to vary from the federal statutory rate for income taxes.

 

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Table of Contents

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We manage our liquidity and capital resource needs primarily through managing the use of capital and the timing and amount of capital expenditures.

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities of $705 million decreased $476 million in the year to date period ended June 30, 2007, compared to the same period in 2006. Cash received from customers increased by approximately $46 million, which was mainly driven by increased data and high-speed Internet sales and revenue generated by long distance customer transfers from Sprint Nextel at spin-off. These increases were partially offset by access lines loses and Logistics’ product revenue declines. Cash paid to employees and suppliers increased by approximately $181 million due mainly to cost of service increases associated with long distance customer transfers, incremental costs to establish corporate functions and wireless startup costs. Interest payments increased by approximately $183 million attributable to the debt issued in connection with the spin-off. Cash paid for income taxes increased approximately $172 million due to tax refunds received in the 2006 first quarter.

Investing Activities

Net cash used by investing activities totaled $348 million in the year to date period ended June 30, 2007, compared to $424 million in the same period in 2006. Capital expenditures account for the majority of our investing activities. Our capital expenditures are targeted primarily towards increased network capacity and include investments for growth in demand for high-speed Internet and data services and regulatory mandates. Capital expenditures also include capital costs incurred to separate from Sprint Nextel most of which is information technology-related.

Proceeds from sales of assets relate mainly to proceeds received from sales of rural telephone exchanges completed in the first and fourth quarters of 2006. Approximately $15 million of proceeds from the fourth quarter sale were received in the 2007 first quarter.

Financing Activities

Net cash used by financing activities totaled $396 million in the year to date period ended June 30, 2007, compared to $810 million in the same period in 2006. In 2007, we made net cash payments of our long-term debt of $332 million. Dividends of $174 million were declared and paid thus far in 2007.

In connection with the spin-off in 2006, we borrowed $2.1 billion under our credit agreement and paid Sprint Nextel a net amount of $2.2 billion in cash. In addition to us remitting the proceeds from the borrowing to Sprint Nextel, our $308 million advance receivable balance, which was classified as cash, was settled, and Sprint Nextel transferred $200 million of cash to us. Between the spin-off and the end of the 2006 second quarter, we paid down $500 million on our outstanding credit agreement balance. Additionally, we paid $194 million in dividends to our former parent company before spin-off.

Capital Requirements

We currently expect capital expenditures for 2007 to be approximately $865 million including approximately $15 million of spin-off related spending. We continue to review capital expenditure requirements and will adjust spending and capital investment in response to operational needs and customer demand.

Liquidity

We expect that cash from operations will fully fund our 2007 capital requirements.

Our total indebtedness at June 30, 2007, was $6.1 billion, consisting of $4.5 billion in senior notes, $980 million in direct borrowings under our credit agreement and approximately $650 million of other debt. As of June 30, 2007, we had $330 million of direct borrowings under our revolving credit facility and letters of credit outstanding of approximately $29 million, providing for approximately $1.1 billion of availability under the revolving credit facility. Current debt maturities as of June 30, 2007, were $54 million. Annual interest costs on the borrowings outstanding at June 30, 2007, were $436 million.

We are in compliance with all applicable financial covenants associated with our borrowings.

We may also incur additional indebtedness from time to time for general corporate purposes, including working capital requirements and capital expenditures. Regulatory restrictions and the terms of our indebtedness, however, limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, raise capital through our subsidiaries, pledge the stock of our subsidiaries, encumber our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries, or cause our subsidiaries to guarantee our indebtedness.

 

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Table of Contents

Following the spin-off, we were subject to true-up calculations to account for certain agreed upon matters with Sprint Nextel, including net working capital, capital expenditures, spin-off costs and income taxes. We have accrued our best estimate as accounts payable in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2007. This estimate is preliminary and reflects management’s best estimate, however the ultimate outcome is still subject to further adjustment based on the processes agreed upon in the separation and distribution agreement.

We expect to pay regular quarterly dividends. Our ability to fund a regular quarterly dividend will be impacted by our ability to generate cash from operations. The declaration, amount and timing of future dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon many factors, including our financial condition, results of operations, growth prospects, funding requirements, applicable law, and other factors our board of directors deems relevant.

In connection with the spin-off, we established our own pension and other postretirement benefit plans. Our pension plan is funded at a level in excess of current federal minimum requirements. Contributions during 2007 are expected to be approximately $60 to $75 million. Contribution levels will be determined based on future plan asset and liability levels and in accordance with applicable pension funding laws and regulations.

As discussed in Note 4 of our Condensed Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, amendments to certain of our other postretirement benefit plans were approved in the second quarter and are fully effective January 1, 2008. While we expect to make approximately $60 million in contributions during 2007, these amendments are expected to reduce 2008 contribution requirements by approximately $30 million. Additionally, these changes are expected to reduce other postretirement benefit expense by approximately $20 million over the second half of 2007. Beginning in 2008, the annual expense benefit is expected to be $40 million, but will be partially offset by $26 million of amortization related to prior year amendments becoming fully amortized during 2007.

Future Contractual Obligations

Our total purchase obligations and other items as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, has increased from $136 million to $260 million as of June 30, 2007. This increase is primarily due to contracts that will replace certain of our transitional service agreements with Sprint Nextel.

Our adoption of FIN 48 resulted in the recognition of a liability for uncertain tax position. As of June 30, 2007, this liability was $63 million. It is reasonably possible that Embarq may settle approximately $10 million of this liability during the remainder of 2007. The remaining liability has not been assigned to any particular year due to the inherent uncertainty regarding the timing of future cash outflows.

 

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Table of Contents

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We are susceptible to market risks related to changes in interest rates and do not purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments for trading purposes.

We are subject to interest rate risk primarily associated with our borrowings under our credit agreement. From time to time, we may consider entering into swap and other agreements to manage our exposure to interest rate changes on our debt.

Approximately 84% of our outstanding debt at June 30, 2007, is fixed-rate debt. While changes in interest rates impact the fair value of this debt, there is no impact on earnings and cash flows because we intend to hold these obligations to maturity unless market and regulatory conditions favor different treatment.

We perform interest rate sensitivity analyses on our variable-rate debt. These analyses indicate that a 1% point change in interest rates would have an annual pre-tax impact of $10 million on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited) and Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) at June 30, 2007. While earnings and cash flows are impacted as interest rates change, our variable-rate debt is not subject to changes in fair values.

We also perform a sensitivity analysis on the fair market value of our outstanding debt. A 10% decrease in market interest rates would cause an increase of approximately $206 million in fair market value of our outstanding debt at June 30, 2007.

Item 4T. Controls and Procedures

As required by Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and in connection with the preparation of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, carried out an evaluation of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer each concluded that the design and operation of the disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of June 30, 2007, in providing assurance that information required to be disclosed in reports we file or submit is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and in providing reasonable assurance that the information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms.

During the second quarter of 2007, there have been no changes that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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Table of Contents

Part II. – Other Information

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Various lawsuits, including putative class actions, regulatory proceedings and other claims typical for a business enterprise are pending against or would otherwise impact the entities comprising Embarq, including those for which Embarq has assumed contractual liability in connection with the spin-off. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of each of these proceedings and whether they will be resolved consistent with Embarq’s expectations, Embarq expects that the outcome of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on its financial condition or results of operations.

Item 1A. Risk Factors

There have been no material changes to the risk factors, disclosed in Item 1A to Part I in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

 

Quarter Ended June 30, 2007

  

Total Number of

Shares Purchased (1)

  

Average Price

Paid per Share (2)

   Total Number of Shares
Purchased as Part of
Publicly Announced
Plans or Programs
  

Maximum Number (or

Approximate Dollar

Value)
of Shares that May

Yet Be Purchased
Under

the Plan or Program

April 1 through April 30

   —      $ —      —      —  

May 1 through May 31

   —        —      —      —  

June 1 through June 30

   20      62.27    —      —  
                     

Total

   20    $ 62.27    —      —  
                     

(1) Acquisitions of common stock during the second quarter 2007 were pursuant to the terms of our 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and consist of the surrender of restricted stock to pay required minimum tax withholding upon vesting of the restricted stock. The above table does not include shares purchased on the open market by Embarq’s benefit plans pursuant to the reinvestment of cash dividends in Embarq common stock held by the plans’ stock funds.

 

(2) The purchase price of a share of stock used for tax withholding is the amount of withholding paid per share used for that purpose.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities

There were no reportable events during the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

Our annual meeting of shareholders was held on April 26, 2007 in Overland Park, Kansas. Shareholders of record as of March 5, 2007 were entitled to vote at the annual meeting. At the close of business on the record date, there were 150,648,816 shares of our common stock outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting. There were 130,649,459 shares represented at the annual meeting of shareholders.

At the annual meeting, seven directors were elected to serve a term of one year and the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for 2007 was ratified.

 

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The following votes were cast for the election of each director to serve on our board for a term of one year until the 2008 annual meeting or until a successor has been elected and qualified:

 

     For    Withheld

Peter C. Brown

   129,313,388    1,336,072

Steven A. Davis

   129,583,350    1,066,110

Daniel R. Hesse

   128,779,792    1,869,668

John P. Mullen

   129,598,777    1,050,683

William A. Owens

   128,589,567    2,059,893

Dinesh C. Paliwal

   129,530,881    1,118,579

Stephanie M. Shern

   129,515,053    1,134,407

Laurie A. Siegel

   129,538,325    1,111,134

The following votes were cast with respect to the proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the 2007 fiscal year:

 

For

   128,932,476

Against

   892,040

Abstain

   824,942

Item 5. Other Information

There were no reportable events during the quarter ended June 30, 2007.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

2.1*    Separation and Distribution Agreement (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2006).
2.2*    Transition Services Agreement between Embarq Corporation (receiver) and Sprint Nextel Corporation (provider) dated as of January 20, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2006).
2.3*    Transition Services Agreement between Embarq Corporation (provider) and Sprint Nextel Corporation (receiver) dated as of January 20, 2006 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to Amendment No. 3 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 0001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 2006.
2.4*    Tax Sharing Agreement dated as of May 17, 2006 by and among Sprint Nextel Corporation, Embarq Corporation and certain Embarq subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2006).
2.5*    Employee Matters Agreement dated as of May 17, 2006 between Sprint Nextel Corporation and Embarq Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2006).
2.6*    Patent Agreement dated as of May 17, 2006 by and between Sprint Nextel Corporation and Embarq Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.5 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2006).
2.7*    Trademark Assignment and License Agreement dated as of May 17, 2006, by and among Sprint Nextel Corporation, Embarq Corporation and certain Embarq subsidiaries (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2006).
2.8*    Software and Proprietary Information Agreement dated as of May 17, 2006 by and between Embarq Corporation and Sprint Nextel Corporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.4 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2006).

 

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Exhibit

Number

  

Description

3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Amendment No. 4 to the Registration Statement on Form 10 (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2006).
3.2    Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 25, 2006).
4.1    Indenture, dated as of May 17, 2006, by and between Embarq Corporation and J.P. Morgan Trust Company, National Association, a national banking association, as trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 18, 2006).
4.2    6.738% Global Note due 2013 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-32372), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2007).
4.3    7.082% Global Note due 2016 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-32372), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2007).
4.4    7.995% Global Note due 2036 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K (File No. 001-32372), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2007).
4.5    Credit Agreement, dated May 10, 2006, by and among Embarq Corporation (borrower), the banks, financial institutions and other institutional lenders (initial lenders) and issuers of letters of credit (initial issuing banks) and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 11, 2006).
10.1    Executive Severance Plan, including Form of Participation Agreement entered into between Embarq Corporation and the following executive officers: Harrison S. Campbell, William E. Cheek, Richard B. Green and E.J. Holland, Jr. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2007).
10.2    Form of 2007 Award Agreement for Non-Employee Directors (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 001-32732), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 30, 2007).
31.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-14(a).
31.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-14(a).
32.1    Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2    Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, As Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

Our company will furnish to the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, a copy of the instruments defining the rights of holders of long-term debt that does not exceed 10% of the total assets of our company.


* Schedules and/or exhibits not filed will be furnished supplementally to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

 

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SIGNATURES

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

 

EMBARQ CORPORATION

(Registrant)

By   /s/ Gene M. Betts
  Gene M. Betts
  Chief Financial Officer
  (Principal Financial Officer)
By   /s/ Richard B. Green
  Richard B. Green
  Vice President and Controller
  (Chief Accounting Officer)

Dated: August 1, 2007

 

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