-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, B/rwH7NJBOn9A7vzHNvHZhbqvxJKKq2xHVrtFpZWhPuK6BHeuHbHMmS6FjQly5nK JPNmGjC/F6H82yBedeKWfQ== 0000891020-99-000134.txt : 19990209 0000891020-99-000134.hdr.sgml : 19990209 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000891020-99-000134 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 8-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 19990208 ITEM INFORMATION: FILED AS OF DATE: 19990208 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WESTERN WIRELESS CORP CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000930738 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RADIO TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS [4812] IRS NUMBER: 911638901 STATE OF INCORPORATION: WA FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 8-K SEC ACT: SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-28160 FILM NUMBER: 99523477 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 3650 131 ST AVENUE SE STREET 2: SUITE 400 CITY: BELLEVUE STATE: WA ZIP: 98006 BUSINESS PHONE: 4255868700 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2001 NW SAMMAMISH RD CITY: ISSAQUAH STATE: WA ZIP: 98027 8-K 1 FORM 8-K FOR PERIOD ENDED FEBRUARY 8, 1999 1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report February 8, 1999 WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION ----------------------------------------- (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter) Washington ----------------------------------------- (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) 000-28160 91-1638901 (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.) 3650 131st Avenue SE, Suite 400 Bellevue, WA 98006 ----------------------------------------- (Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (425) 586-8700 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) 2 ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS On February 8, 1999, Western Wireless Corporation issued the following press release: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Investment Community: Media: Ken Prussing John Snyder Western Wireless Corporation The Snyder Buscher Group (425) 586-8072 (206) 652-9704 ken.prussing@wwireless.com jsnyder@sbgir.com WESTERN WIRELESS RECEIVES FAVORABLE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE LETTER RULING - BOARD OF DIRECTORS AUTHORIZES TRANSACTION - BELLEVUE, Wash. (February 8, 1999) -- Western Wireless Corporation (NASDAQ: WWCA), a leading provider of cellular and personal communications services (PCS), announced today it had received a favorable ruling from the Internal Revenue Service regarding the tax free nature of a potential spin off of its 80.1 percent ownership of VoiceStream(R) Wireless Corporation. On February 5, 1999 the Board of Directors of Western Wireless approved such a spin off transaction and authorized the management of the company to effectuate the transaction. Completion of the spin off transaction is subject to conditions including receipt of certain third party consents and the review of filings by the Securities and Exchange Commission. It is anticipated that the spin off transaction will be completed during the second quarter of 1999. "We are excited by the prospect of creating two independent companies as a result of the structural separation, both of which are among the fastest growing wireless businesses in the United States" said John Stanton, chairman and chief executive officer of Western Wireless. "I am extremely proud of the team, who in a few short years have built VoiceStream Wireless from scratch, while at the same time maintaining a leadership position in subscriber and cash flow growth in our domestic Western Wireless cellular business and creating our Western Wireless international business. This split is a testament to the quality of individuals who work for both of these companies. The teams at Western Wireless and VoiceStream Wireless understand that the creation of shareholder value is best done by focusing on taking care of our customers." Based in Bellevue, Wash., Western Wireless Corp. is a leading provider of wireless communications services in the western United States. It currently offers cellular service 3 marketed under the Cellular One(R) name in 17 western states. Marketed under the VoiceStream name, Western Wireless provides PCS service using the globally dominant GSM technology in ten U.S. markets. In conjunction with joint ventures Western Wireless provides VoiceStream PCS service in two additional markets. Western Wireless' combined cellular and PCS licenses, along with its joint ventures, cover 59 percent of the land in the continental United States. ### [Remainder of page intentionally left blank] 4 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 hereunto duly authorized. WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION Dated: February 8, 1999 By /s/ Alan R. Bender -------------------------------------- Alan R. Bender Senior Vice President and General Counsel -----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----