Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Discontinued Operations

v2.3.0.15
Discontinued Operations
 12 Months Ended
Sep. 25, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]  
Note 11 - Discontinued Operations
Note 11. Discontinued Operations
On December 20, 2010, the Company agreed to sell substantially all of its 700 MHz spectrum for $1.9 billion, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including approval by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The agreement terminates on January 13, 2013; however, either party can extend the agreement for another 90 days thereafter if the FCC approval has not been received by then. The agreement followed the Company’s previously announced plan to restructure and evaluate strategic options related to the FLO TV business and network. The FLO TV business and network were shut down on March 27, 2011. Since then, the Company has been working to sell the remaining assets and exit contracts. The 700 MHz spectrum with a carrying value of $746 million that the Company has agreed to sell was classified as held for sale, and all other assets were considered disposed of at September 25, 2011. Accordingly, the results of operations of the FLO TV business were presented as discontinued operations at September 25, 2011. Loss from discontinued operations includes share-based payments and excludes certain general corporate expenses allocated to the FLO TV business during the periods presented. The Company’s consolidated statements of operations for all prior periods presented have been adjusted to conform.
Summarized results from discontinued operations were as follows (in millions):
 
Year Ended
 
September 25, 2011
 
September 26, 2010
 
September 27, 2009
Revenues
$
5

 
$
9

 
$
29

Loss from discontinued operations
(507
)
 
(459
)
 
(327
)
Income tax benefit
194

 
186

 
127

Discontinued operations, net of income taxes
$
(313
)
 
$
(273
)
 
$
(200
)
The carrying amounts of the major classes of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the consolidated balance sheet were as follows (in millions):
 
September 25, 2011
Assets
 
Current assets
$
10

Property, plant and equipment, net
156

Assets held for sale
746

Other assets
1

 
$
913

Liabilities
 
Trade accounts payable
$
2

Payroll and other benefits related liabilities
2

Other current liabilities
75

Other noncurrent liabilities
183

 
$
262


The Company has a significant number of site leases, and the Company has corresponding capital lease assets, capital lease liabilities and asset retirement obligations (Note 9). The capital lease assets, included in property, plant and equipment, net, were considered disposed of at March 27, 2011 when the Company shut down the FLO TV business.
Restructuring and restructuring-related activities under the Company’s plan related to discontinued operations were initiated in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2010 and are expected to be substantially complete by the end of fiscal 2012 as the Company continues to negotiate the exit of certain contracts and removes certain of its equipment from the network sites. During fiscal 2011, the Company recorded $300 million in restructuring-related charges, primarily consisting of asset impairments and accelerated depreciation, and net restructuring charges of $58 million, including $48 million in contract termination costs. Restructuring charges also include certain severance and lease costs. There were no significant restructuring and restructuring-related expenses recognized in fiscal 2010. The Company estimates that it will incur future restructuring and restructuring-related charges of up to $25 million, primarily related to lease exit costs. The Company may also realize certain gains, primarily due to the potential release of liabilities associated with ongoing efforts to exit certain contracts, the amount of which cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. Future cash expenditures are expected to be in the range of $75 million to $115 million.
Changes in the restructuring accrual for fiscal 2011, which is reported as a component of other liabilities, were as follows (in millions):
 
Contract Termination Costs
 
Other Costs
 
Total
Beginning balance of restructuring accrual
$
—

 
$
—

 
$
—

Initial costs
63

 
16

 
79

Adjustments to costs
(2
)
 
(6
)
 
(8
)
Cash payments
(22
)
 
(6
)
 
(28
)
Ending balance of restructuring accrual
$
39

 
$
4

 
$
43