Related Party Transactions |
3 Months Ended |
|---|---|
Mar. 31, 2019 | |
| Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |
| Related Party Transactions |
Related Party Transactions
Loan Advances in lieu of Future Payouts from WMS
In February 2019, the Company entered into a demand promissory note with WMS (as an advance against future dividends that WMS may pay the Company) for approximately $7.4 million, bearing interest at 6.5% per annum, and concurrently signed an agreement to waive future dividends or other such distributions by WMS to the Company until such time as the outstanding principal on the demand promissory note has been repaid in full. The outstanding demand promissory note would be reduced dollar-for-dollar by any such distribution amounts waived. The Company may prepay the promissory note at any time without prepayment penalty. The entire principal balance of this promissory note together with all accrued but unpaid interest is due on the earliest to occur of (i) demand by the holder, (ii) December 31, 2020 and (iii) the date of acceleration of the promissory note as a result of the occurrence of an event of default.
Due to Santander
In connection with the EMC Acquisition, the Company acquired a 49% equity interest in Santander. The Company accounts for its interest in Santander using the equity method and includes our share of Santander’s profits or losses in Income from equity method investments in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. During the three months ended March 31, 2019 and 2018, the Company purchased approximately $1.1 million and $1.4 million, respectively, from Santander for their Teleport services and related network operations support services. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 the Company owed Santander approximately $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively, as remaining payments for these services, which is included in Accounts payable and accrued liabilities in the condensed consolidated balance sheets for their teleport services and related network operations support services.
Subscription Receivable with Former Employee
A former employee is party to a Secured Promissory Note dated July 15, 2011, pursuant to which the former employee agreed to pay the Company (as successor to Row 44, Inc., which is a Company subsidiary) a principal sum of approximately $0.4 million, plus interest thereon at a rate of 6% per annum. The former employee granted the Company a security interest in shares of Row 44 held by him (which Row 44 shares were subsequently converted into 223,893 shares of the Company’s common stock) to secure his obligations to repay the loan. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, the balance of the note (with interest) was approximately $0.6 million, which is presented as a subscription receivable. We recognize interest income on the note when earned (using the simple interest method) but have not collected any interest payments since the origination of the note. Interest income recognized by the Company during the three months ended March 31, 2019 and March 31, 2018 was not material. The Company makes ongoing assessments regarding the collectability of this note and the subscription receivable balance, and is currently in litigation with the former employee to recover the loan and to address the former employee’s allegations that we breached related settlement agreements with him in 2014 and 2015.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
When we consummated our business combination in January 2013 with Row 44 and AIA, we entered into an amended and restated registration rights agreement with Par Investment Partners, L.P. (“PAR”), entities affiliated with Putnam Investments, Global Eagle Acquisition LLC (the “Sponsor”) and our then and current Board members, Harry E. Sloan and Jeff Sagansky, who were affiliated with the Sponsor. Under that agreement, we agreed to register the resale of securities held by them (the “registrable securities”) and to sell those registrable securities pursuant to an effective registration statement in a variety of manners, including in underwritten offerings. We also agreed to pay the security holders’ expenses in connection with their exercise of their registration rights.
During 2017, Putnam Investments was a beneficial owner of more than 5% of our outstanding common stock. According to a Schedule 13G/A filed on February 7, 2018, Putnam Investments no longer holds more than 5% of our outstanding common stock, and as such has ceased to be a related party. PAR and Messrs. Sloan and Sagansky continue to be related parties.
In addition, the amended and restated registration rights agreement restricts our ability to grant registration rights to a third party on parity with or senior to those held by the “holders” (as defined under that agreement) without the consent of holders of at least a majority of the “registrable securities” under that agreement. In April 2018, we entered into a consent to the amended and restated registration rights agreement with PAR whereby PAR (as a holder of a majority of registrable securities thereunder) consented to the registration rights that we provided to Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. (“Searchlight”) as part of its investment in us.
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