Sprint Corp (S) SEC Quarterly Report (10-Q) for Q4 2017

Washington, D.C. 20549

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For the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017

or

Commission File number 1-04721

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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

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Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (855) 848-3280

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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 such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes   x     No   o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes   x     No   o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.     o

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

COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING AT JANUARY 31, 2018 :

SPRINT CORPORATION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

SPRINT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

SPRINT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

SPRINT CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

(in millions)

See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements

SPRINT CORPORATION

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEX

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X for interim financial information. All normal recurring adjustments considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Certain disclosures normally included in annual consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP) have been omitted. These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2017 . Unless the context otherwise requires, references to "Sprint," "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" mean Sprint Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries for all periods presented, and references to "Sprint Communications" are to Sprint Communications, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

The preparation of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements requires management of the Company to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements. These estimates are inherently subject to judgment and actual results could differ.

The consolidated financial statements include our accounts, those of our 100% owned subsidiaries, and

subsidiaries we control or in which we have a controlling financial interest. For controlled subsidiaries that are not wholly-owned, the noncontrolling interests are included in "Net income (loss)" and "Total equity". All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.

Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued new authoritative literature, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and has subsequently modified several areas of the standard in order to provide additional clarity and improvements . The new standard will supersede much of the existing authoritative literature for revenue recognition. The standard and related amendments will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year.

Two adoption methods are available for implementation of the standard update related to the recognition of revenue from contracts with customers. Under the full retrospective method, the guidance is applied retrospectively to contracts for each reporting period presented, subject to allowable practical expedients. Under the modified retrospective method, the guidance is applied only to the most current period presented, recognizing the cumulative effect of the change as an adjustment to the beginning balance of retained earnings, and also requires additional disclosures comparing the results to the previous guidance. We will adopt the standard using the modified retrospective method.

We currently anticipate the standard to have a material impact to our consolidated financial statements upon adoption. The ultimate impact on revenue resulting from the application of the new standard will be subject to assessments that are dependent on many variables, including, but not limited to, the terms and mix of the contractual arrangements we have with customers.

We expect the timing of recognition for our sales commission expenses will be materially impacted, as a substantial portion of these costs (which are currently expensed) will be capitalized and expensed over time. We expect to amortize costs related to new service contracts over the expected customer relationship period while costs associated with contract renewals are expected to be amortized over the anticipated length of the service contract. In addition, the deferred contract cost asset will be assessed for impairment on a periodic basis.

For bundled arrangements that include both lease and service elements, we expect the allocation of the customer consideration and the pattern of revenue recognition to be relatively consistent with our current practice.

We are still in the process of evaluating these impacts, and our initial assessments may change due to changes in the terms and mix of the contractual arrangements we have with customers. New products or offerings, or changes to current offerings, may yield significantly different impacts than currently expected.

We are in the process of implementing significant new revenue accounting systems, processes and internal controls over revenue recognition as a result of adopting the new standard.

In July 2015, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Inventory , which simplifies the subsequent measurement of certain inventories by replacing today's lower of cost or market test with a lower of cost and net realizable value test. Net realizable value is the estimated selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal, and transportation. The standard is effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning April 1, 2017, including interim periods within this fiscal year, and the adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Financial Instruments , which amended guidance on the classification and measurement of financial instruments. Under the new guidance, entities will be required to measure equity investments that are not consolidated or accounted for under the equity method at fair value with any changes in fair value recorded in net income, unless the entity has elected the new practicability exception. For financial liabilities measured using the fair value option, entities will be required to separately present in other comprehensive income the portion of the changes in fair value attributable to instrument-specific credit risk. Additionally, the guidance amends certain disclosure requirements associated with the fair value of financial instruments. The standard will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, including interim reporting periods within that fiscal year. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In February 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Leases. The new standard will supersede much of the existing authoritative literature for leases. This guidance requires lessees, among other things, to recognize right-of-use assets and liabilities on their balance sheet for all leases with lease terms longer than twelve months. The standard will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year beginning April 1, 2019, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early application permitted. Entities are required to use modified retrospective application for leases that exist or are entered into after the beginning of the earliest comparative period in the financial statements with the option to elect certain transition reliefs. The Company is currently evaluating the guidance and assessing its overall impact. However, we expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In June 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Financial Instruments - Credit Losses , which requires entities to use a Current Expected Credit Loss impairment model based on expected losses rather than incurred losses. Under this model, an entity would recognize an impairment allowance equal to its current estimate of all contractual cash flows that the entity does not expect to collect from financial assets measured at amortized cost. The entity's estimate would consider relevant information about past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts, which will result in recognition of lifetime expected credit losses. The standard will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning April 1, 2020, including interim reporting periods within that fiscal year, although early adoption is permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Statement of Cash Flows: Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, to address diversity in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are presented and classified in the statement of cash flows. It provides guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. The standard will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted and retrospective application required. The standard will impact the presentation of cash flows related to beneficial interests in securitization transactions, which is the deferred purchase price, resulting in a material reclassification of cash inflows from operating activities to investing activities for prior periods in our consolidated statements of cash flows. The standard will also impact the presentation of cash flows related to separately identifiable cash flows and application of the predominance principal related to direct channel leased devices and will result in a material reclassification of cash outflows from operating activities to investing activities for all periods presented in our consolidated statements of cash flows. In addition, the standard will impact the presentation of cash flows related to debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs and will result in a reclassification of cash outflows from operating activities to financing activities in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 in our consolidated statements of cash flows. There were no debt prepayment or debt extinguishment costs in the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016 . While the Company does expect the impact of this guidance to be material to our cash flow presentation, we continue to evaluate the guidance and quantify the specific impacts.

In October 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Income Taxes , which amended guidance for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Under the new guidance, entities will be required to recognize the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs, thereby eliminating the recognition exception within current guidance. The standard will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, including interim reporting periods within that fiscal year. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Statement of Cash Flows: Restricted Cash, requiring that amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents be included with cash and cash equivalents when reconciling the beginning-of-period and end-of-period total amounts shown on the statement of cash flows. The standard will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, including interim reporting periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted and retrospective application required. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance amending Business Combinations: Clarifying the Definition of a Business , to clarify the definition of a business with the objective of providing a more robust framework to assist management when evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The standard will be effective for the Company for its fiscal year beginning April 1, 2018, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early application permitted. The amendments are to be applied prospectively to business combinations that occur after the effective date.

In January 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Intangibles - Goodwill and Other: Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment , which simplifies the goodwill impairment test by eliminating the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge (Step 2 of the test), but rather to record an impairment charge based on the excess of the carrying value over its fair value. The standard will be effective for the Company's annual goodwill impairment test in the fiscal year beginning April 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2017, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding Derivatives and Hedging , which provided targeted improvements and simplifications to accounting for hedging activities and applies to entities that elect to apply hedge accounting in accordance with current U.S. GAAP. The amendments will be effective for the Company's fiscal year beginning April 1, 2019, and for interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted. The Company does not expect the adoption of this guidance to have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

Certain subscribers have the option to pay for their devices in installments, generally up to a 24 -month period. Short-term installment receivables are recorded in "Accounts and notes receivable, net" and long-term installment receivables are recorded in "Other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets. From October 2015 to February 2017, installment receivables sold to unaffiliated third parties (the Purchasers) were treated as a sale of financial assets and we derecognized these receivables, as well as the related allowances. As a result of our Accounts Receivable Facility (Receivables Facility) being amended in February 2017, all proceeds received from the Purchasers in exchange for our installment receivables are now recorded as borrowings (see Note 8. Long-Term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations) .

The following table summarizes the installment receivables:

The balance and aging of installment receivables on a gross basis by credit category were as follows:

Activity in the deferred interest and allowance for credit losses for the installment receivables was as follows:

The Company carries certain assets and liabilities at fair value. Fair value is defined as an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The three-tier hierarchy for inputs used in measuring fair value, which prioritizes the inputs based on the observability as of the measurement date, is as follows: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities; observable inputs other than the quoted prices in active markets for identical assets and liabilities; and unobservable inputs for which there is little or no market data, which require the Company to develop assumptions of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability.

The carrying amount of cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, and accounts payable approximates fair value. Short-term investments are recorded at amortized cost and the respective carrying amounts approximate fair value primarily using quoted prices in active markets. As of December 31, 2017 , short-term investments consisted of $173 million of commercial paper. As of March 31, 2017 , short-term investments totaled $5.4 billion and consisted of approximately $3.0 billion of time deposits and $2.4 billion of commercial paper. The fair value of marketable equity securities totaling $60

million and $46 million as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 , respectively, are measured on a recurring basis using quoted prices in active markets.

Except for our financing transaction for the Handset Sale-Leaseback (Tranche 2) with Mobile Leasing Solutions, LLC (MLS), which was terminated in October 2017 (see Note 8. Long-Term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations) , current and long-term debt and our other financings are carried at amortized cost. The Company elected to measure the financing obligation with MLS at fair value as a means to better reflect the economic substance of the arrangement and it was the only eligible financial instrument for which we had elected the fair value option.

The fair value of the financing obligation, which was determined at the outset of the arrangement using a discounted cash flow model, was derived by unobservable inputs such as customer churn rates, customer upgrade probabilities, and the likelihood that Sprint will elect the exchange option versus the termination option upon a customer upgrade. Any gains or losses resulting from changes in the fair value of the financing obligation were included in "Other income (expense), net" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 , there was no material change in the fair value of the financing obligation. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we made principal repayments and non-cash adjustments totaling $385 million to MLS, resulting in our principal balance being fully paid. In addition to the financing obligation with MLS, the remaining debt for which estimated fair value is determined based on unobservable inputs primarily represents borrowings under our secured equipment credit facilities, network equipment sale-leaseback, and sales of receivables under our Receivables Facility (see Note 8. Long-Term Debt, Financing and Capital Lease Obligations) . The carrying amounts associated with these borrowings approximate fair value.

The estimated fair value of the majority of our current and long-term debt, excluding our secured equipment credit facilities, sold wireless service, installment billing and future receivables, and borrowings under our network equipment sale-leaseback and Tranche 2 transactions, is determined based on quoted prices in active markets or by using other observable inputs that are derived principally from, or corroborated by, observable market data.

The following table presents carrying amounts and estimated fair values of current and long-term debt and financing obligations:

Property, plant and equipment consists primarily of network equipment and other long-lived assets used to provide service to our subscribers. Non-cash accruals included in property, plant and equipment (excluding leased devices) totaled $428 million and $325 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively.

The following table presents the components of property, plant and equipment and the related accumulated depreciation:

Sprint offers a leasing program to its customers whereby qualified subscribers can lease a device for a contractual period of time. At the end of the lease term, the subscriber has the option to turn in the device, continue leasing the device, or purchase the device. As of December 31, 2017 , substantially all of our device leases were classified as operating leases. Lease revenue associated with devices subject to operating leases, which is included in equipment revenue, was $1.0 billion , $2.9 billion , $887 million and $2.5 billion for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively.

At lease inception, the devices leased through Sprint's direct channels are reclassified from inventory to property, plant and equipment. For those devices leased through indirect channels, Sprint purchases the device to be leased from the retailer at lease inception and reports these purchases as cash outflows for "Capital expenditures - leased devices" in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The devices are then depreciated using the straight-line method to their estimated residual value generally over the term of the lease.

The following table presents leased devices and the related accumulated depreciation:

During the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , there were non-cash transfers to leased devices of approximately $3.7 billion and $2.3 billion , respectively, along with a corresponding decrease in "Device and accessory inventory" for devices leased through our direct channel. Non-cash accruals included in leased devices totaled $306 million and $166 million as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively, for devices purchased from indirect dealers that were leased to our subscribers. Depreciation expense incurred on all leased devices was $990 million and $2.7 billion for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 , respectively, and $837 million and $2.2 billion for the same periods in 2016 , respectively.

During the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , we recorded $123 million , $527 million , $137 million and $368 million , respectively, of loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment, net of recoveries, which is included in "Other, net" within Operating income in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Net losses that resulted from the write-off of leased devices are primarily associated with lease cancellations prior to the scheduled customer lease terms where customers did not return the devices to us were $123 million , $347 million , $109 million , and $340 million for the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively. In addition, during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , losses totaling $180 million were related to $181 million of cell site construction costs that are no longer recoverable as a result of changes in our network plans during the three-month period

ended June 30, 2017 and $5 million of hurricane-related charges during the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, offset by a $6 million gain.

Indefinite-Lived Intangible Assets

Our indefinite-lived intangible assets consist of FCC licenses, which were acquired primarily through FCC auctions and business combinations, certain of our trademarks, and goodwill. At December 31, 2017 , we held 800 MHz, 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz FCC licenses authorizing the use of radio frequency spectrum to deploy our wireless services. As long as the Company acts within the requirements and constraints of the regulatory authorities, the renewal and extension of these licenses is reasonably certain at minimal cost. Accordingly, we have concluded that FCC licenses are indefinite-lived intangible assets. Our Sprint and Boost Mobile trademarks have also been identified as indefinite-lived intangible assets. Goodwill represents the excess of consideration paid over the estimated fair value of net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired in business combinations.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, Sprint and PRWireless PR, Inc. completed a transaction to combine their operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands into a new entity named PRWireless HoldCo, LLC. The companies contributed employees, subscribers, network assets and spectrum to the transaction. Sprint and PRWireless PR, Inc. have an approximate 68% and a 32% preferred economic interest, as well as a 55% and 45% common voting interest in the new entity, respectively. Sprint's ownership represents a controlling financial interest and as a result fully consolidates the entity and presents a noncontrolling interest in its consolidated financial statements. The consideration transferred by Sprint has been preliminarily allocated to assets acquired and liabilities assumed from PRWireless PR, Inc. based on their estimated fair values at the time of the transaction. The preliminary purchase accounting adjustments represent management's current best estimate of fair value but could change as additional information is obtained and evaluated. Beginning total assets and liabilities of the new entity were approximately $390 million and $240 million , respectively. Of these amounts, approximately $270 million and $220 million represent the fair value of the PRWireless PR, Inc. asset and liability contribution, respectively, which have increased the corresponding financial statement line items in the Sprint consolidated balance sheet at December 31, 2017. The acquired assets primarily consist of approximately $150 million of FCC licenses, $35 million of other intangible assets and $85 million of current and fixed assets. The acquired liabilities consist of approximately $170 million of long-term debt and $50 million of other current liabilities.

The following provides the activity of indefinite-lived intangible assets within the consolidated balance sheets:

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Spectrum License Exchanges

In the first quarter of fiscal year 2017, we exchanged certain spectrum licenses with other carriers in non-cash transactions. As a result, we recorded a non-cash gain of $479 million , which represented the difference between the fair value and the net book value of the spectrum transferred to the other carriers. The gain was recorded in "Other, net" within Operating income in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 .

Assessment of Impairment

Our annual impairment testing date for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets is January 1 of each year; however, we test for impairment between our annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that indicate that the asset may be impaired, or in the case of goodwill, that the fair value of the reporting unit is below its carrying amount.

Our stock price at December 31, 2017 of $5.89 was below the net book value per share price of $6.56 . Subsequent to the balance sheet date, the stock price has decreased further to $5.36 at February 2, 2018. The quoted market price of our stock is not the sole consideration of fair value. Other considerations include, but are not limited to, expectations of future results and an estimated control premium.

The determination of fair value requires considerable judgment and is highly sensitive to changes in underlying assumptions. Consequently, there can be no assurance that the estimates and assumptions made for the purposes of the goodwill, spectrum licenses, and Sprint and Boost Mobile trade names impairment tests will prove to be an accurate prediction of the future. Sustained declines in the Company's operating results, number of wireless subscribers, future forecasted cash flows, growth rates and other assumptions, as well as significant, sustained declines in the Company's stock price and related market capitalization could impact the underlying key assumptions and our estimated fair values, potentially leading to a future material impairment of goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Intangible Assets Subject to Amortization

Customer relationships are amortized using the sum-of-the-months' digits method, while all other definite-lived intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets. We reduce the gross carrying value and associated accumulated amortization when specified intangible assets become fully amortized. Amortization expense related to favorable spectrum and tower leases is recognized in "Cost of services" in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

Accounts payable at December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 include liabilities in the amounts of $103 million and $69 million , respectively, for payments issued in excess of associated bank balances but not yet presented for collection.

As of December 31, 2017 , Sprint Corporation, the parent corporation, had $10.5 billion in aggregate principal amount of senior notes outstanding. In addition, as of December 31, 2017 , the outstanding principal amount of the senior notes issued by Sprint Communications and Sprint Capital Corporation, the senior secured notes issued by Sprint Communications, the guaranteed notes issued by Sprint Communications, Sprint Communications' secured term loan and secured revolving bank credit facility, the EDC agreement, the secured equipment credit facilities, the Receivables Facility, and certain other obligations collectively totaled $22.0 billion in principal amount of our long-term debt. Sprint Corporation fully and unconditionally guaranteed such indebtedness, which was issued by 100% owned subsidiaries. Although certain financing agreements restrict the ability of Sprint Communications and its subsidiaries to distribute cash to Sprint Corporation, the ability of the subsidiaries to distribute cash to their respective parents, including to Sprint Communications, is generally not restricted.

Cash interest payments, net of amounts capitalized of $42 million and $32 million during the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively, totaled $1.9 billion during each of the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 .

Notes

As of December 31, 2017 , our outstanding notes consisted of senior notes and guaranteed notes all of which are unsecured, as well as senior secured notes associated with our spectrum financing transaction and senior secured notes issued by Sprint Communications. Cash interest on all of the notes is payable semi-annually in arrears with the exception of the

spectrum financing senior secured notes, which is payable quarterly. As of December 31, 2017 , $27.6 billion aggregate principal amount of the notes was redeemable at the Company's discretion at the then-applicable redemption prices plus accrued interest.

As of December 31, 2017 , $21.4 billion aggregate principal amount of our senior notes, senior secured notes, and guaranteed notes provided holders with the right to require us to repurchase the notes if a change of control triggering event (as defined in the applicable indentures and supplemental indentures) occurs.

On December 1, 2017 the Clearwire Communications LLC exchangeable notes were retired pursuant to the terms of the indenture, which provided that the notes could be tendered at the holder's option or called at our option on or after that date, in each case for 100% of the par value plus accrued interest.

During the three-month period ended June 30, 2017, pursuant to a cash tender offer, Sprint Communications retired $388 million principal amount of its outstanding 8.375% Notes due 2017 and $1.2 billion principal amount of its outstanding 9.000% Guaranteed Notes due 2018. We incurred costs of $129 million , which consisted of call redemption premiums and tender expenses, and removed unamortized premiums of $64 million associated with these retirements resulting in a loss on early extinguishment of debt of $65 million , which is included in "Other income (expense), net" in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). In addition, during the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, Sprint Communications retired the remaining $912 million principal amount of its outstanding 8.375% Notes due August 2017.

Spectrum Financing

In October 2016, Sprint transferred certain directly held and third-party leased spectrum licenses (collectively, Spectrum Portfolio) to wholly-owned bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities (collectively, Spectrum Financing SPEs). The Spectrum Portfolio, which represented approximately 14% of Sprint's total spectrum holdings on a MHz-pops basis, was used as collateral to raise an initial $3.5 billion in senior secured notes bearing interest at 3.36% per annum under a $7.0 billion program that permits Sprint to raise up to an additional $3.5 billion in senior secured notes, subject to certain conditions. The senior secured notes are repayable over a five -year term, with interest-only payments over the first four quarters and amortizing quarterly principal payments thereafter commencing December 2017 through September 2021. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we made scheduled principal repayments of $219 million , resulting in a total principal amount of $3.3 billion outstanding as of December 31, 2017 , of which $875 million was classified as "Current portion of long-term debt, financing and capital lease obligations" in the consolidated balance sheets.

Sprint Communications simultaneously entered into a long-term lease with the Spectrum Financing SPEs for the ongoing use of the Spectrum Portfolio. Sprint Communications is required to make monthly lease payments to the Spectrum Financing SPEs at a market rate. The lease payments, which are guaranteed by certain subsidiaries of Sprint Communications, are sufficient to service the senior secured notes and the lease also constitutes collateral for the senior secured notes. As the Spectrum Financing SPEs are wholly-owned Sprint subsidiaries, these entities are consolidated and all intercompany activity has been eliminated.

Each Spectrum Financing SPE is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the Spectrum Financing SPE, to be satisfied out of the Spectrum Financing SPE's assets prior to any assets of the Spectrum Financing SPE becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the Spectrum Financing SPE are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations owed to other creditors of Sprint until the obligations of the Spectrum Financing SPEs under the spectrum-backed senior secured notes are paid in full.

Credit Facilities

Unsecured Credit Facility Commitment

During the three-month period ended September 30, 2017, Sprint Communications entered into a commitment letter with a group of banks to provide an unsecured credit facility in an aggregate principal amount up to $3.2 billion . Draws on the unsecured credit facility would bear interest at a rate equal to either the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) plus a percentage that varies depending on the days elapsed since the effective date of the facility ( 1.25% to 4.25% per annum), or base rate, as defined in the commitment letter, plus a percentage that varies depending on the days elapsed since the effective date of the facility ( 0.25% to 3.25% per annum). Commitments will be reduced by an amount equal to the proceeds from the sales of certain assets and will terminate upon certain debt issuances or sales of equity securities. Amounts borrowed and

repaid cannot be redrawn and the unsecured credit facility, if executed, will terminate in March 2019. As of December 31, 2017 , the unsecured credit facility had not been executed and thus no amounts have been drawn.

Secured Term Loan and Revolving Bank Credit Facility

On February 3, 2017, we entered into a credit agreement for $6.0 billion , consisting of a $4.0 billion , seven -year secured term loan that matures in February 2024 and a $2.0 billion secured revolving bank credit facility that expires in February 2021. As of December 31, 2017 , approximately $151 million in letters of credit were outstanding under the secured revolving bank credit facility, including the letter of credit required by the Report and Order (see Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies) . As a result of the outstanding letters of credit, which directly reduce the availability of borrowings, the Company had approximately $1.8 billion of borrowing capacity available under the secured revolving bank credit facility as of December 31, 2017 . The bank credit facility requires a ratio (Leverage Ratio) of total indebtedness to trailing four quarters earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization and other non-recurring items, as defined by the bank credit facility (adjusted EBITDA), not to exceed 6.0 to 1.0 through the quarter ending December 31, 2017. After December 31, 2017, the Leverage Ratio declines on a scheduled basis until the ratio becomes fixed at 3.5 to 1.0 for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2020 and each fiscal quarter ending thereafter through expiration of the facility. The term loan has an interest rate equal to LIBOR plus 250 basis points and the secured revolving bank credit facility has an interest rate equal to LIBOR plus a spread that varies depending on the Leverage Ratio.

In consideration of the seven -year secured term loan, we entered into a five -year fixed-for-floating interest rate swap on a $2.0 billion notional amount that has been designated as a cash flow hedge. The effective portion of changes in fair value are recorded in "Other comprehensive income (loss)" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) and the ineffective portion, if any, is recorded in current period earnings in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) as interest expense. The fair value of the interest rate swap was approximately $10 million as of December 31, 2017 , which was recorded as an asset in the consolidated balance sheets.

PRWireless Term Loan

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, Sprint and PRWireless PR, Inc. completed a transaction to combine their operations in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands into a new entity. Prior to the formation of the new entity, PRWireless PR, Inc. had incurred $178 million principal amount of debt under a secured term loan, which became debt of the new entity upon the transaction close. The secured term loan bears interest at 5.25% plus LIBOR and expires in June 2020. Any amounts repaid early may not be drawn again. From the effective date of the transaction through December 31, 2017, PRWireless PR, LLC borrowed an additional $5 million under the secured term loan resulting in $183 million total principal amount outstanding with an additional $20 million remaining available as of December 31, 2017 . Sprint has provided an unsecured guarantee of repayment of the secured term loan obligations. The secured portion of the facility is limited to assets of the new entity as the borrower.

EDC Agreement

As of December 31, 2017 , the EDC agreement provided for security and covenant terms similar to our secured term loan and revolving bank credit facility. However, under the terms of the EDC agreement, repayments of outstanding amounts cannot be redrawn. As of December 31, 2017 , the total principal amount of our borrowings under the EDC facility was $300 million .

Secured Equipment Credit Facilities

Finnvera plc (Finnvera)

The Finnvera secured equipment credit facility provided for the ability to borrow up to $800 million to finance network equipment-related purchases from Nokia Solutions and Networks US LLC, USA. The facility's availability for borrowing expired in October 2017. Such borrowings were contingent upon the amount and timing of network-related purchases made by Sprint. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we drew $160 million and made principal repayments totaling $98 million on the facility, resulting in a total principal amount of $202 million outstanding as of December 31, 2017 .

K-sure

The K-sure secured equipment credit facility provides for the ability to borrow up to $750 million to finance network equipment-related purchases from Samsung Telecommunications America, LLC. The facility can be divided in up to

three consecutive tranches of varying size. In September 2017, we amended the secured equipment credit facility to extend the borrowing availability through December 2018. Such borrowings are contingent upon the amount and timing of network-related purchases made by Sprint. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we made principal repayments totaling $65 million on the facility, resulting in a total principal amount of $194 million outstanding as of December 31, 2017 .

Delcredere | Ducroire (D/D)

The D/D secured equipment credit facility provided for the ability to borrow up to $250 million to finance network equipment-related purchases from Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc. In September 2017, we amended the secured equipment credit facility to restore previously expired commitments of $150 million . During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we drew $150 million and made principal repayments totaling $23 million on the facility, resulting in a total principal amount of $159 million outstanding as of December 31, 2017 .

Borrowings under the Finnvera, K-sure and D/D secured equipment credit facilities are each secured by liens on the respective network equipment purchased pursuant to each facility's credit agreement. In addition, repayments of outstanding amounts borrowed under the secured equipment credit facilities cannot be redrawn. Each of these facilities is fully and unconditionally guaranteed by both Sprint Communications and Sprint Corporation. The secured equipment credit facilities have certain key covenants similar to those in our secured term loan and revolving bank credit facility.

Accounts Receivable Facility

Transaction Overview

Our Receivables Facility provides us the opportunity to sell certain wireless service receivables, installment receivables, and future amounts due from customers who lease certain devices from us to the Purchasers. The maximum funding limit under the Receivables Facility is $4.3 billion . While we have the right to decide how much cash to receive from each sale, the maximum amount of cash available to us varies based on a number of factors and, as of December 31, 2017 , represents approximately 50% of the total amount of the eligible receivables sold to the Purchasers. As of December 31, 2017 , the total amount of borrowings under our Receivables Facility was $3.0 billion and the total amount available to be drawn was $781 million . In February 2017, the Receivables Facility was amended and Sprint gained effective control over the receivables transferred to the Purchasers by obtaining the right, under certain circumstances, to repurchase them. Subsequent to the February 2017 amendment, all proceeds received from the Purchasers in exchange for the transfer of our wireless service and installment receivables are recorded as borrowings and all cash inflows and outflows under the Receivables Facility are reported as financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. In October 2017, the Receivables Facility was amended to, among other things, extend the maturity date to November 2019 and to reallocate the Purchasers' commitments between wireless service, installment and future lease receivables through May 2018 to 26% , 28% and 46% , respectively. After May 2018, the allocation of the Purchasers' commitments between wireless service, installment and future lease receivables will be 26% , 18% and 56% , respectively. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we drew $2.7 billion and repaid $1.7 billion to the Purchasers.

Prior to the February 2017 amendment, wireless service and installment receivables sold to the Purchasers were treated as a sale of financial assets and we derecognized these receivables, as well as the related allowances, and recognized the net proceeds received in cash provided by operating activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. The total proceeds from the sale of these receivables were comprised of a combination of cash and a deferred purchase price (DPP). The DPP was realized by us upon either the ultimate collection of the underlying receivables sold to the Purchasers or upon Sprint's election to receive additional advances in cash from the Purchasers subject to the total availability under the Receivables Facility. The fees associated with these sales were recognized in "Selling, general and administrative" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) through the date of the February 2017 amendment. Subsequent to the February 2017 amendment, the sale of wireless service and installment receivables are reported as financings, which is consistent with our historical treatment for the sale of future lease receivables, and the associated fees are recognized as "Interest expense" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss).

During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016 , we remitted $185 million of funds to the Purchasers because the amount of cash proceeds received by us under the facility exceeded the maximum funding limit, which increased the total amount of the DPP due to Sprint. We also elected to receive $625 million of cash, which decreased the total amount of the DPP due to Sprint. In addition, during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016 , sales of new receivables exceeded cash collections on previously sold receivables such that the DPP increased by $660 million .

Transaction Structure

Sprint contributes certain wireless service, installment and future lease receivables, as well as the associated leased devices, to Sprint's wholly-owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities (SPEs). At Sprint's direction, the SPEs have sold, and will continue to sell, wireless service, installment and future lease receivables to Purchasers or to a bank agent on behalf of the Purchasers. Leased devices will remain with the SPEs, once sales are initiated, and continue to be depreciated over their estimated useful life. As of December 31, 2017 , wireless service and installment receivables contributed to the SPEs and included in "Accounts and notes receivable, net" in the consolidated balance sheets were $3.0 billion and the long-term portion of installment receivables included in "Other assets" in the consolidated balance sheets was $208 million . As of December 31, 2017 , the net book value of devices contributed to the SPEs was approximately $5.6 billion .

Each SPE is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the SPE, to be satisfied out of the SPE's assets prior to any assets in the SPE becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the SPE are not available to pay creditors of Sprint or any of its affiliates (other than any other SPE), although collections from these receivables in excess of amounts required to repay the advances, yield and fees of the Purchasers and other creditors of the SPEs may be remitted to Sprint during and after the term of the Receivables Facility.

Sales of eligible receivables by the SPEs generally occur daily and are settled on a monthly basis. Sprint pays a fee for the drawn and undrawn portions of the Receivables Facility. A subsidiary of Sprint services the receivables in exchange for a monthly servicing fee, and Sprint guarantees the performance of the servicing obligations under the Receivables Facility.

Variable Interest Entity

Sprint determined that certain of the Purchasers, which are multi-seller asset-backed commercial paper conduits (Conduits) are considered variable interest entities because they lack sufficient equity to finance their activities. Sprint's interest in the receivables purchased by the Conduits is not considered a variable interest because Sprint's interest is in assets that represent less than 50% of the total activity of the Conduits.

Financing Obligations

Network Equipment Sale-Leaseback

In April 2016, Sprint sold and leased back certain network equipment to unrelated bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities (collectively, Network LeaseCo). The network equipment acquired by Network LeaseCo, which we consolidate, was used as collateral to raise approximately $2.2 billion in borrowings from external investors, including SoftBank Group Corp. (SoftBank). Principal and interest payments on the borrowings from the external investors were repaid in staggered, unequal payments through January 2018. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we made principal repayments totaling $1.4 billion , resulting in a total principal amount of $454 million outstanding as of December 31, 2017 , which was fully repaid in January 2018.

Network LeaseCo is a variable interest entity for which Sprint is the primary beneficiary. As a result, Sprint is required to consolidate Network LeaseCo and our consolidated financial statements include Network LeaseCo's debt and the related financing cash inflows. The network assets included in the transaction, which had a net book value of approximately $3.0 billion and consisted primarily of equipment located at cell towers, remain on Sprint's consolidated financial statements and continue to be depreciated over their respective estimated useful lives. As of December 31, 2017 , these network assets had a net book value of approximately $1.8 billion .

The proceeds received were reflected as cash provided by financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows and payments made to Network LeaseCo are reflected as principal repayments and interest expense over the respective terms. Sprint has the option to purchase the equipment at the end of the leaseback term for a nominal amount. All intercompany transactions between Network LeaseCo and Sprint are eliminated in our consolidated financial statements.

Handset Sale-Leasebacks

Transaction Structure

Sprint sold certain iPhone ® devices being leased by our customers to MLS, a company formed by a group of equity investors, including SoftBank, and then subsequently leased the devices back. Under the agreements, Sprint generally

maintains the customer leases, continues to collect and record lease revenue from the customer and remits monthly rental payments to MLS during the leaseback periods.

Under the agreements, Sprint contributed the devices and the associated customer leases to wholly-owned consolidated bankruptcy-remote special purpose entities of Sprint (SPE Lessees). The SPE Lessees then sold the devices and transferred certain specified customer lease-end rights and obligations, such as the right to receive the proceeds from customers who elect to purchase the device at the end of the customer lease term, to MLS in exchange for a combination of cash and DPP. Settlement for the DPP occurs after repayment of MLS's senior loan obligations, senior subordinated loan obligations, and a return to MLS's equity holders and can be reduced to the extent that MLS experiences a loss on the device (either not returned or sold at an amount less than the expected residual value of the device), but only to the extent of the device's DPP balance. In the event that MLS sells the devices returned from our customers at a price greater than the expected device residual value, Sprint has the potential to share some of the excess proceeds.

The SPE Lessees retain all rights to the underlying customer leases, such as the right to receive the rental payments during the device leaseback period, other than the aforementioned certain specified customer lease-end rights. Each SPE Lessee is a separate legal entity with its own separate creditors who will be entitled, prior to and upon the liquidation of the SPE Lessee, to be satisfied out of the SPE Lessee's assets prior to any assets in the SPE Lessee becoming available to Sprint. Accordingly, the assets of the SPE Lessee are not available to pay creditors of Sprint or any of its affiliates. The SPE Lessees are obligated to pay the full monthly rental payments under each device lease to MLS regardless of whether our customers make lease payments on the devices leased to them or whether the customer lease is canceled. Sprint has guaranteed to MLS (subject to a cap of 20% of the aggregate cash purchase price) the performance of the agreements and undertakings of the SPE Lessees under the transaction documents.

Handset Sale-Leasebacks Tranche 2 (Tranche 2)

In May 2016, Sprint entered into Tranche 2. We transferred devices with a net book value of approximately $1.3 billion to MLS in exchange for cash proceeds totaling $1.1 billion and a DPP of $186 million . The proceeds were accounted for as a financing. Accordingly, the devices remained in "Property, plant and equipment, net" in the consolidated balance sheets and we continued to depreciate the assets to their estimated residual values over the respective customer lease terms. During the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 , we made principal repayments and non-cash adjustments totaling $385 million to MLS. In October 2017, Sprint terminated Tranche 2 pursuant to its terms and repaid all outstanding amounts.

The proceeds received were reflected as cash provided by financing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows and payments made to MLS were reflected as principal repayments and interest expense. We had elected to account for the financing obligation at fair value. Accordingly, changes in the fair value of the financing obligation were recognized in "Other income (expense), net" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss) over the course of the arrangement.

Handset Sale-Leasebacks Tranche 1 (Tranche 1)

In December 2015, Sprint entered into Tranche 1. We recorded the sale, removed the devices from our balance sheet, and classified the leasebacks as operating leases. The cash proceeds received in the transaction were reflected as cash provided by investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows and payments made to MLS under the leaseback were reflected as "Cost of products" in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income (loss). Rent expense related to MLS totaled $117 million and $494 million during the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2016 and is reflected in cash flows from operations. In December 2016, Sprint terminated Tranche 1 by repurchasing the devices and related customer lease-end rights and obligations from MLS. Additionally, the leaseback was canceled and there are no further rental payments owed to MLS related to Tranche 1.

Tower Financing

During 2008, we sold and subsequently leased back approximately 3,000 cell sites, of which approximately 2,000 remain as of December 31, 2017 . Terms extend through 2021, with renewal options for an additional 20 years. These cell sites continue to be reported as part of our "Property, plant and equipment, net" in our consolidated balance sheets due to our continued involvement with the property sold and the transaction is accounted for as a financing. The financing obligation as of December 31, 2017 is $160 million .

Capital Lease and Other Obligations

In May 2016, Sprint closed on a transaction with Shentel to acquire one of our wholesale partners, NTELOS Holdings Corporation (nTelos). The total consideration for this transaction included $181 million , on a net present value basis, of notes payable to Shentel. Sprint will satisfy its obligations under the notes payable over an expected term of five to six years, of which the remaining obligation is $145 million as of December 31, 2017 . The remainder of our capital lease and other obligations of $334 million as of December 31, 2017 are primarily for the use of wireless network equipment.

Covenants

Certain indentures and other agreements require compliance with various covenants, including covenants that limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to sell all or substantially all of its assets, limit the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to incur indebtedness and liens, and require that we maintain certain financial ratios, each as defined by the terms of the indentures, supplemental indentures and financing arrangements.

As of December 31, 2017 , the Company was in compliance with all restrictive and financial covenants associated with its borrowings. A default under any of our borrowings could trigger defaults under certain of our other debt obligations, which in turn could result in the maturities being accelerated.

Under our secured revolving bank credit facility, we are currently restricted from paying cash dividends because our ratio of total indebtedness to adjusted EBITDA (each as defined in the applicable agreements) exceeds 2.5 to 1.0 .

Severance and exit costs consist of lease exit costs primarily associated with tower and cell sites, access exit costs related to payments that will continue to be made under our backhaul access contracts for which we will no longer be receiving any economic benefit, and severance costs associated with reductions in our work force.

The following provides the activity in the severance and exit costs liability included in "Accounts payable," "Accrued expenses and other current liabilities" and "Other liabilities" within the consolidated balance sheets:

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We continually refine our network strategy and evaluate other potential network initiatives to improve the overall performance of our network. Additionally, major cost cutting initiatives are expected to continue to reduce operating expenses and improve our operating cash flows. As a result of these ongoing activities, we may incur future material charges associated with lease and access exit costs, severance, asset impairments, and accelerated depreciation, among others.

Sprint Corporation is the parent of an affiliated group of corporations which join in the filing of a U.S. federal consolidated income tax return. Additionally, we file income tax returns in each state jurisdiction which imposes an income tax. In certain state jurisdictions, Sprint and its subsidiaries file combined tax returns with certain other SoftBank affiliated entities. State tax expense or benefit has been determined utilizing the separate return approach as if Sprint and its subsidiaries file on a stand-alone basis. We also file income tax returns in a number of foreign jurisdictions; however, our foreign income tax activity is immaterial.

On December 22, 2017, the U.S. Government enacted comprehensive tax legislation commonly referred to as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the Tax Act). The Tax Act makes broad and complex changes to the U.S. tax code, including, but not limited to: (1) reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% ; (2) changing rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017; (3) bonus depreciation that will allow for full expensing of qualified property; (4) creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense; (5) eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax; and (6) new tax rules related to foreign operations.

Section 15 of the Internal Revenue Code stipulates that our fiscal year ending March 31, 2018 will have a blended federal statutory tax rate of 31.5% , which is based on the applicable tax rates before and after the effectiveness of the Tax Act and the number of days in the year. The differences that caused our effective income tax rates to differ from the 31.5% and 35% U.S. federal statutory rate for income taxes for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively, were as follows:

We recognized, as a provisional estimate, a $7.1 billion non-cash tax benefit through income from continuing operations for the re-measurement of deferred tax assets and liabilities due to changes in tax laws included in the Tax Act. This re-measurement of deferred taxes had no impact on cash flows.

The re-measurement was driven by two provisions in the Tax Act. First, as a result of the corporate tax rate reduction from 35% to 21% , we recognized a $5.0 billion non-cash tax benefit through income from continuing operations for the re-measurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities. Secondly, the Tax Act included a provision whereby net operating losses generated in tax years beginning after December 31, 2017 may be carried forward indefinitely. The realization of deferred tax assets, including net operating loss carryforwards, is dependent on the generation of future taxable income sufficient to realize the tax deductions, carryforwards and credits. The provision in the Tax Act, modifying the carryforward period of net operating losses, changed our assessment as to the ability to recognize deferred tax assets on certain deductible temporary differences projected to be realized in tax years with an indefinite-lived carryforward period. In assessing the ability to realize these deferred tax assets, we considered taxable temporary differences from indefinite-lived assets, such as FCC licenses, to be an available source of future taxable income. This source of income was not previously considered because it could not be scheduled to reverse in the same period as the definite-lived deductible temporary differences. As a result of this change in assessment, we recognized a $2.1 billion non-cash tax benefit through income from continuing operations to reduce our valuation allowance.

We believe it is more likely than not that our remaining deferred tax assets, net of the valuation allowance, will be realized based on current income tax laws, including those modified by the Tax Act, and expectations of future taxable income stemming from the reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities.

The sources of the differences that gave rise to the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017, along with the income tax effect of each, were as follows:

On December 22, 2017, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (SAB 118) which addresses income tax accounting implications of the Tax Act. The purpose of SAB 118 was to address any uncertainty or diversity of view in applying ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes in the reporting period in which the Tax Act was enacted. SAB 118 addresses situations where the accounting is incomplete for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act upon issuance of a company's financial statements for the reporting period which include the enactment date. SAB 118 allows for a provisional amount to be recorded if it is a reasonable estimate of the impact of the Tax Act. Additionally, SAB 118 allows for a measurement period to finalize the impacts of the Tax Act, not to extend beyond one year from the date of enactment.

Estimates were used in determining the balance of deferred tax assets and liabilities subject to changes in tax laws included in the Tax Act. In addition, estimates were used in determining the timing of reversals of deferred tax assets and liabilities in assessing the ability to realize certain deferred tax assets, which impacted the valuation allowance adjustment we recorded as part of the effects of the Tax Act. Additional information and analysis is required to accurately determine the deferred tax assets and liabilities effected by the Tax Act as well as determine the reversal pattern of such deferred tax assets and liabilities in assessing the ability to realize deferred tax assets.

In accordance with SAB 118, we recorded, as a provisional estimate, a $7.1 billion non-cash tax benefit through income from continuing operations in the period ended December 31, 2017. This amount is a reasonable estimate of the tax effects of the Tax Act on our financial statements. We will continue to analyze the effects of the Tax Act on the financial statements and operations and record any additional impacts as they are identified during the measurement period provided for in SAB 118.

Income tax benefit of $6.7 billion for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 was primarily attributable to the impact of the Tax Act as previously discussed, partially offset by taxable temporary differences from the tax amortization of FCC licenses and tax expense on pre-tax gains from spectrum license exchanges during the period. We also increased our deferred state income tax liability by $69 million for changes in business activities causing us to become subject to income tax in additional tax jurisdictions. This resulted in a change in the measurement of the carrying value of our deferred tax liability on temporary differences, primarily FCC licenses. Income tax expense of $286 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2016 was primarily attributable to taxable temporary differences from the tax amortization

of FCC licenses and tax expense on pre-tax gains from spectrum license exchanges during the period, partially offset by tax benefits from the reversal of certain state income tax valuation allowance on deferred tax assets. As a result of organizational restructuring, which drove a sustained increase in the profitability of specific legal entities, we revised our estimate regarding the realizability of the involved entities' deferred state tax assets and recorded a state tax benefit of $42 million . Additionally, in conjunction with the Spectrum Financing and resulting change in state taxability footprint, we recognized tax expense of $46 million to increase the deferred tax liability for the temporary differences between the carrying amounts of our FCC licenses for financial statement purposes and their tax bases. FCC licenses are amortized over 15 years for income tax purposes but, because these licenses have an indefinite life, they are not amortized for financial statement reporting purposes. Prior to the Tax Act, these temporary differences could not be scheduled to reverse during the loss carryforward period against our deferred tax assets. As a result, a valuation allowance is recorded against our loss carryforward and other excess deferred tax assets resulting in a net deferred tax expense.

As of December 31, 2017 and March 31, 2017 , we maintained unrecognized tax benefits of $191 million and $190 million , respectively. Cash paid for income taxes, net was $55 million and $34 million for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016 , respectively.

Litigation, Claims and Assessments

In March 2009, a stockholder brought suit, Bennett v. Sprint Nextel Corp. , in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas, alleging that Sprint Communications and three of its former officers violated Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 by failing adequately to disclose certain alleged operational difficulties subsequent to the Sprint-Nextel merger, and by purportedly issuing false and misleading statements regarding the write-down of goodwill. The district court granted final approval of a settlement in August 2015, which did not have a material impact to our financial statements. Five stockholder derivative suits related to this 2009 stockholder suit were filed against Sprint Communications and certain of its present and/or former officers and directors. The first, Murphy v. Forsee , was filed in state court in Kansas on April 8, 2009, was removed to federal court, and was stayed by the court pending resolution of the motion to dismiss the Bennett case; the second, Randolph v. Forsee , was filed on July 15, 2010 in state court in Kansas, was removed to federal court, and was remanded back to state court; the third, Ross-Williams v. Bennett, et al. , was filed in state court in Kansas on February 1, 2011; the fourth, Price v. Forsee, et al., was filed in state court in Kansas on April 15, 2011; and the fifth, Hartleib v. Forsee, et al ., was filed in federal court in Kansas on July 14, 2011. These cases were essentially stayed while the Bennett case was pending, and we have reached an agreement in principle to settle the matters, by agreeing to some governance provisions and by paying plaintiffs' attorneys fees in an immaterial amount. The court approved the settlement but reduced the plaintiffs' attorneys fees; the attorneys fees issue is on appeal.

On April 19, 2012, the New York Attorney General filed a complaint alleging that Sprint Communications has fraudulently failed to collect and pay more than $100 million in New York sales taxes on receipts from its sale of wireless telephone services since July 2005. The complaint also seeks recovery of triple damages under the State False Claims Act, as well as penalties and interest. Sprint Communications moved to dismiss the complaint on June 14, 2012. On July 1, 2013, the court entered an order denying the motion to dismiss in large part, although it did dismiss certain counts or parts of certain counts. Sprint Communications appealed that order and the intermediate appellate court affirmed the order of the trial court. On October 20, 2015, the Court of Appeals of New York affirmed the decision of the appellate court that the tax statute requires us to collect and remit the disputed taxes. Our petition for certiorari to the U.S. Supreme Court on grounds of federal preemption was denied. We have paid the principal amount of tax at issue, under protest, while the suit is pending. The parties are now engaged in discovery in the trial court. We will continue to defend this matter vigorously and we do not expect the resolution of this matter to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Eight related stockholder derivative suits have been filed against Sprint Communications and certain of its current and former officers and directors. Each suit alleges generally that the individual defendants breached their fiduciary duties to Sprint Communications and its stockholders by allegedly permitting, and failing to disclose, the actions alleged in the suit filed by the New York Attorney General. One suit, filed by the Louisiana Municipal Police Employees Retirement System, was dismissed by a federal court. Two suits were filed in state court in Johnson County, Kansas and one of those suits was dismissed as premature; and five suits are pending in federal court in Kansas. The remaining Kansas suits have been stayed

pending resolution of the Attorney General's suit. We do not expect the resolution of these matters to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

Sprint Communications is also a defendant in a complaint filed by several stockholders of Clearwire Corporation (Clearwire) asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty by Sprint Communications, and related claims and otherwise challenging the Clearwire acquisition.  ACP Master, LTD, et al. v. Sprint Nextel Corp., et al. , was filed April 26, 2013, in Chancery Court in Delaware. Plaintiffs in the ACP Master, LTD suit have also filed suit requesting an appraisal of the fair value of their Clearwire stock. Trial of those cases took place in October and November 2016. On July 21, 2017, the Delaware Chancery Court ruled in Sprint's favor in both cases. It found no breach of fiduciary duty, and determined the value of Clearwire shares under the Delaware appraisal statute to be $2.13 per share plus statutory interest. The plaintiffs have filed an appeal.

Sprint is currently involved in numerous court actions alleging that Sprint is infringing various patents. Most of these cases effectively seek only monetary damages. A small number of these cases are brought by companies that sell products and seek injunctive relief as well. These cases have progressed to various degrees and a small number may go to trial if they are not otherwise resolved. Adverse resolution of these cases could require us to pay significant damages, cease certain activities, or cease selling the relevant products and services. In many circumstances, we would be indemnified for monetary losses that we incur with respect to the actions of our suppliers or service providers. We do not expect the resolution of these cases to have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

In October 2013, the FCC Enforcement Bureau began to issue notices of apparent liability (NALs) to other Lifeline providers, imposing fines for intracarrier duplicate accounts identified by the government during its audit function. Those audits also identified a small percentage of potentially duplicative intracarrier accounts related to our Assurance Wireless ® business. No NAL has yet been issued with respect to Sprint and we do not know if one will be issued. Further, we are not able to reasonably estimate the amount of any claim for penalties that might be asserted. However, based on the information currently available, if a claim is asserted by the FCC, Sprint does not believe that any amount ultimately paid would be material to the Company's results of operations or financial position. 

Various other suits, inquiries, proceedings and claims, either asserted or unasserted, including purported class actions typical for a large business enterprise and intellectual property matters, are possible or pending against us or our subsidiaries. As of December 31, 2017 , we have accrued $114 million associated with a state tax matter. If our interpretation of certain laws or regulations, including those related to various federal or state matters such as sales, use or property taxes, or other charges were found to be mistaken, it could result in payments by us. While it is not possible to determine the ultimate disposition of each of these proceedings and whether they will be resolved consistent with our beliefs, we expect that the outcome of such proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations.

During the quarter ended December 31, 2017, Sprint settled several related patent infringement lawsuits and received payments of approximately $350 million , excluding legal fees incurred.

Spectrum Reconfiguration Obligations

In 2004, the FCC adopted a Report and Order that included new rules regarding interference in the 800 MHz band and a comprehensive plan to reconfigure the 800 MHz band. The Report and Order provides for the exchange of a portion of our 800 MHz FCC spectrum licenses, and requires us to fund the cost incurred by public safety systems and other incumbent licensees to reconfigure the 800 MHz spectrum band. Also, in exchange, we received licenses for 10 MHz of nationwide spectrum in the 1.9 GHz band.

The minimum cash obligation is $2.8 billion under the Report and Order. We are, however, obligated to pay the full amount of the costs relating to the reconfiguration plan, even if those costs exceed $2.8 billion . As required under the terms of the Report and Order, a letter of credit has been secured to provide assurance that funds will be available to pay the relocation costs of the incumbent users of the 800 MHz spectrum. The letter of credit was initially $2.5 billion , but has been reduced during the course of the proceeding to $115 million as of December 31, 2017 . Since the inception of the program, we have incurred payments of approximately $3.5 billion directly attributable to our performance under the Report and Order, including approximately $8 million during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017 . When incurred, substantially all costs are accounted for as additions to FCC licenses with the remainder as property, plant and equipment. Based on our expenses to date and on third party administrator's audits, we have exceeded the $2.8 billion minimum cash obligation

required by the FCC. On October 12, 2017, the FCC released a Declaratory Ruling that we have met the minimum cash obligation under the Report and Order and concluded that Sprint will not be required to make any payments to the U.S. Treasury.

Completion of the 800 MHz band reconfiguration was initially required by June 26, 2008 and public safety reconfiguration is nearly complete across the country with the exception of the States of Arizona, California, Texas and New Mexico. The FCC continues to grant the remaining 800 MHz public safety licensees additional time to complete their band reconfigurations which, in turn, delays our access to our 800 MHz replacement channels in these areas. In the areas where band reconfiguration is complete, Sprint has received its replacement spectrum in the 800 MHz band and Sprint is deploying 3G CDMA and 4G LTE on this spectrum in combination with its spectrum in the 1.9 GHz and 2.5 GHz bands.

Basic net income (loss) per common share is calculated by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income (loss) per common share adjusts basic net income (loss) per common share, computed using the treasury stock method, for the effects of potentially dilutive common shares, if the effect is not antidilutive. As of the three-month period ended December 31, 2017, the computation of diluted net income (loss) per common share includes the effect of dilutive securities consisting of approximately 47 million options and restricted stock units, in addition to 13 million shares attributable to warrants, of which 9 million relate to the warrant held by SoftBank. As of the nine-month period ended December 31, 2017, the computation of diluted net income (loss) per common share includes the effect of dilutive securities consisting of approximately 61 million options and restricted stock units, in addition to 21 million shares attributable to warrants, of which 17 million relate to the warrant held by SoftBank. As of both the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2017, outstanding options to purchase shares totaling 6 million were not included in the computation of diluted net income (loss) per common share because to do so would have been antidilutive. Outstanding options and restricted stock units (exclusive of participating securities) that had no effect on our computation of dilutive weighted average number of shares outstanding as their effect would have been antidilutive were approximately 118 million shares as of the three and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2016, in addition to 62 million total shares issuable under warrants, of which 55 million relate to shares issuable under the warrant held by SoftBank. The warrant was issued to SoftBank at the close of the merger with SoftBank and is exercisable at $5.25 per share at the option of SoftBank, in whole or in part, at any time on or prior to July 10, 2018.

Sprint operates two reportable segments: Wireless and Wireline.

We define segment earnings as wireless or wireline operating income (loss) before other segment expenses such as depreciation, amortization, severance, exit costs, goodwill impairments, asset impairments, and other items, if any, solely and directly attributable to the segment representing items of a non-recurring or unusual nature. Expense and income items excluded from segment earnings are managed at the corporate level. Transactions between segments are generally accounted for based on market rates, which we believe approximate fair value. The Company generally re-establishes these rates at the beginning of each fiscal year. Over the past several years, there has been an industry-wide trend of lower rates due to increased competition from other wireline and wireless communications companies, as well as cable and Internet service providers.

Segment financial information is as follows: