Variable Interest Entities |
12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2016 | |
| Variable Interest Entity, Measure of Activity [Abstract] | |
| Variable Interest Entities |
Variable Interest Entities
New Markets Tax Credit Entities
We have entered into several arrangements under the NMTC program with US Bancorp to help fund a project that extended terrestrial broadband service for the first time to rural Northwestern Alaska communities via a high capacity hybrid fiber optic and microwave network (“TERRA-NW”). The NMTC program was provided for in the Community Renewal Tax Relief Act of 2000 (the “Act”) to induce capital investment in qualified lower income communities. The Act permits taxpayers to claim credits against their federal income taxes for up to 39% of qualified investments in the equity of community development entities (“CDEs”). CDEs are privately managed investment institutions that are certified to make qualified low-income community investments.
On August 30, 2011, we entered into the first arrangement (“NMTC #1”). In connection with the NMTC #1 transaction, we loaned $58.3 million to TIF, a special purpose entity created to effect the financing arrangement, at 1% interest due August 30, 2041. Simultaneously, US Bancorp invested $22.4 million in TIF. TIF then contributed US Bancorp’s contribution and the loan proceeds to certain CDEs. The CDEs, in turn, loaned the $76.8 million in funds less payment of placement fees, at interest rates varying from 1% to 3.96%, to our wholly owned subsidiary, Unicom, Inc. ("Unicom") as partial financing for TERRA-NW.
On October 3, 2012, we entered into the second arrangement (“NMTC #2”). In connection with the NMTC #2 transaction we loaned $37.7 million to TIF 2 and TIF 2-USB, special purpose entities created to effect the financing arrangement, at 1% interest due October 2, 2042. Simultaneously, US Bancorp invested $17.5 million in TIF 2 and TIF 2-USB. TIF 2 and TIF 2-USB then contributed US Bancorp’s contributions and the loan proceeds to certain CDEs. The CDEs, in turn, loaned the $55.2 million in funds less payment of placement fees, at interest rates varying from 0.7099% to 0.7693%, to Unicom, as partial financing for TERRA-NW.
On December 11, 2012, we entered into the third arrangement (“NMTC #3”). In connection with the NMTC #3 transaction we loaned $8.2 million to TIF 3, a special purpose entity created to effect the financing arrangement, at 1% interest due December 10, 2042. Simultaneously, US Bancorp invested $3.8 million in TIF 3. TIF 3 then contributed US Bancorp’s contributions and the loan proceeds to a CDE. The CDE, in turn, loaned the $12.0 million in funds less payment of placement fees, at an interest rate of 1.35%, to Unicom, as partial financing for TERRA-NW.
US Bancorp is the sole investor in TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and TIF 3, and as such, is entitled to substantially all of the benefits derived from the NMTCs. All of the loan proceeds to Unicom, net of syndication and arrangement fees, were restricted for use on TERRA-NW. Restricted cash of $0.9 million and $1.1 million was held by Unicom at December 31, 2016 and 2015, respectively, and is included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. We completed construction of TERRA-NW and placed the final phase into service in 2014.
These transactions include put/call provisions whereby we may be obligated or entitled to repurchase US Bancorp’s interests in TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and/or TIF 3. We believe that US Bancorp will exercise the put options in August 2018, October 2019 and December 2019, at the end of the compliance periods for NMTC #1, NMTC #2 and NMTC #3, respectively. The NMTCs are subject to 100% recapture for a period of seven years as provided in the Internal Revenue Code. We are required to be in compliance with various regulations and contractual provisions that apply to the NMTC arrangements. Non-compliance with applicable requirements could result in projected tax benefits not being realized by US Bancorp. We have agreed to indemnify US Bancorp for any loss or recapture of NMTCs until such time as our obligation to deliver tax benefits is relieved. There have been no credit recaptures as of December 31, 2016. The value attributed to the put/calls is nominal.
We have determined that TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and TIF 3 are VIEs. The consolidated financial statements of TIF, TIF 2, TIF 2-USB and TIF 3 include the CDEs discussed above. The ongoing activities of the VIEs – collecting and remitting interest and fees and NMTC compliance – were all considered in the initial design and are not expected to significantly affect economic performance throughout the life of the VIEs. Management considered the contractual arrangements that obligate us to deliver tax benefits and provide various other guarantees to US Bancorp; US Bancorp’s lack of a material interest in the underlying economics of the project; and the fact that we are obligated to absorb losses of the VIEs. We concluded that we are the primary beneficiary of each and consolidated the VIEs in accordance with the accounting standard for consolidation.
US Bancorp’s contributions, net of syndication fees and other direct costs incurred in structuring the NMTC arrangements, are included in Non-controlling Interests on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Incremental costs to maintain the structure during the compliance period are recognized as incurred to selling, general and administrative expense.
The assets and liabilities of our consolidated VIEs were $140.9 million and $104.2 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2016 and 2015.
The assets of the VIEs serve as the sole source of repayment for the debt issued by these entities. US Bank does not have recourse to us or our other assets, with the exception of customary representations and indemnities we have provided. We are not required and do not currently intend to provide additional financial support to these VIEs. While these subsidiaries are included in our consolidated financial statements, these subsidiaries are separate legal entities and their assets are legally owned by them and not available to our creditors.
Equity Method Investment
We owned a 40.8% interest in a next generation carrier-class communications services firm that we accounted for using the equity method and due to a reconsideration event determined that the entity was a VIE. During the second quarter of 2015, it became apparent that we would not recover the carrying value of our investment. We determined that the fair value of the equity investment was $0 and subsequently wrote-off the entire value of our investment resulting in an impairment loss of $12.6 million for the year ended December 31, 2015 that is recorded in Other Income (Expense) in our Consolidated Statement of Operations. The fair value determination was based upon market information obtained during the second quarter of 2015, the estimated liquidation value of the entity's assets and the amount of senior secured debt at the valuation date. The entity has subsequently closed its operations and is in the process of selling its assets. We do not have a contractual obligation to provide additional financing and we have no exposure to loss related to our involvement with the VIE.
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