Attachment Attachment 1

This document pretains to ITC-T/C-20110420-00108 for Transfer of Control on a International Telecommunications filing.

IBFS_ITCTC2011042000108_883957

                                        Before the
                   FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C. 20554


In the Matter of                                     )
                                                     )
Smoothstone IP Communications Corporation            ) WC Docket No.
                                                     )   IB File No.
Application for Consent to Transfer Control          )
of a Company Holding International Section           )
214 Authority and Blanket Domestic Section           )
214 Authority Pursuant to Section 214 of the         )
Communications Act of 1934, as Amended               )



           JOINT DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION

       Smoothstone IP Communications Corporation ("Smoothstone") and West

Corporation ("West") (together the "Applicants") hereby respectfully request authority

pursuant to Section 214 of the Communications Act of 1934, as amended (the "Act), 47

U.S.C. §214, and Sections 63.03, 63.04 and 63.24(e) of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 CFR

§§ 63.03, 63.04, 63.24(e), to transfer control of Smoothstone to West. Smoothstone

provides a full range of IP—based Unified Communications services and products to

business customers in forty—three states. West is a leading provider of technology—driven

voice—oriented solutions.

       Pursuant to Section 63.04(b) of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.04(b),

the Applicants are filing a combined application for the proposed transfer of control of

Smoothstone. The Applicants provide below the information required by Section

63.24(e)(2) of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.24(e)(2). Exhibit A provides the

additional information requested by Section 63.04(a)(6) through (a)(12) of the

Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.04(a)(6)—(12).


        The Applicants request streamlined treatment of this Application pursuant to

Sections 63.03 and 63.12 of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. §§ 63.03 and 63.12.

This Application is eligible for streamlined processing pursuant to Section 63.03(b)(2) of

the Commission‘s Rules because (i) the proposed transaction will result in Applicants

(including their affiliates, as that term is defined in Section 3(1) of the Act) having a

market share in the interstate, interexchange market of less than 10 percent; (ii) the

Applicants (including their affiliates) will provide competitive telephone exchange

services or exchange access services exclusively in geographic areas served by a

dominant local exchange carrier that is not a party to the transaction; and (iii) neither

Smoothstone nor West nor any of their affiliates is regulated as dominant with respect to

any service. This Application qualifies for streamlined treatment under Section 63.12(c)

of the Commission‘s Rules because (i) West is not affiliated with a foreign carrier and

will not become affiliated with any foreign carrier as a result ofthe proposed transaction;

(i) West is not affiliated with any dominant U.S. carrier whose international switched or

private line services West or Smoothstone seeks authority to resell, nor will West or

Smoothstone be so affiliated post—close; and (iii) none of the other scenarios outlined in

Section 63.12(c) of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.12, apply.


L.     DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICANTS

       A. Smoothstone

       Smoothstone is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware. Its principal

place of business is 200 Smoothstone Center, 401 S. Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40202.

       Smoothstone provides cutting —edge IP—based solutions, including MPLS—based

application networking, enterprise voice solutions, advanced call handling, contact center


and messaging tools services to multiple—site enterprise customers in forty—three states.

Smoothstone holds blanket domestic Section 214 authority, as well as international

Section 214 authority granted in FCC File No. ITC—214—20110309—00066 to operate as a

global or limited global facilities—based and resale carrier. Smoothstone is not a foreign

carrier and is not affiliated with foreign carriers in any market. Smoothstone has no

affiliates that offer domestic or international telecommunications services.

        Smoothstone‘s primary shareholder is MK Capital SBIC ("MK Capital"), a US

venture capital firm which holds 27% of Smoothstone. MK Capital has two major

shareholders, each of whom owns 40% of the firm.

       B. West

       West is a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware. Its principal place of

business is located at 11808 Miracle Hills Drive, Omaha, NE 68154. Through its

subsidiaries, West provides a broad range of communications and infrastructure

management solutions to business customers throughout the United States and globally.

West‘s services include conferencing, automated services, systems integration and

consultation, sales solutions and public safety infrastructure for use in a variety of

industries, including telecommunications, banking, retail, financial services, technology

and healthcare. West has an indirect subsidiary, Intrado Communications Inc.

("Intrado"), providing 91 1 —related telecommunications services in the United States.

Intrado provides telecommunications services in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania

and Virginia. Another subsidiary, InterCall, Inc., is a private services provider,

delivering advanced audio, event, Web and video conferencing solutions throughout the

United States and in fourteen countries as well as Latin America. No other West


subsidiaries provide telecommunications services in the United States. None of West‘s

subsidiaries are foreign carriers.

        West is primarily owned by Gary L. West, Mary E. West and two investment

funds, the Quadrangle Group Funds and the Thomas H. Lee Funds. The Quadrangle

Group Funds collectively hold an interest ofslightly more than 10 percent in West.

Quadrangle Group is a private investment firm based in New York City with more than

$3 billion in assets under management. Quadrangle Group invests in media and

communications companies through separate private and public investment strategies.

Since its inception in 2000, Quadrangle Group‘s private equity funds have completed

over 20 investments in the communications sector. Of relevance to this filing,

Quadrangle‘s current investments include Hargray Communications Group, an integrated

telecommunications provider serving southeastern South Carolina and northeastern

Georgia. Hargray‘s operations include traditional telephone carrier services, Internet

services, cable television, wireless telephone and a telephone directory publishing

operation.

IL     DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSACTION

       Pursuant to the terms of an Agreement and Plan of Merger ("Agreement") dated

April 11, 2011, by and among West, Goliath Merger Corporation ("Merger Sub"), a

newly formed wholly—owned subsidiary of West, and Smoothstone, Merger Sub will

merge with and into Smoothstone. Smoothstone will be the surviving corporation and

will continue in existence as a wholly—owned subsidiary of West.

       The transaction will be transparent to Smoothstone‘s customers, which will

continue to be served without interruption by Smoothstone after the transaction is


consummated. The operations of West‘s other subsidiaries will not be affected by the

transaction described herein. A corporate structure diagram is appended as Exhibit B.


L       PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT


        The transfer of control of Smoothstone will serve the public interest. The

financial, technical, and managerial resources that West will bring to Smoothstone will

enhance Smoothstone‘s ability to compete in the communications and information

services marketplace. West and its current subsidiaries are established providers of

enterprise solutions for wholesale and business customers and service providers for

public safety operations. Their collective history of providing quality service to

customers demonstrates that West is legally, technically and financially qualified to own

and operate Smoothstone as proposed in the Agreement.

       At the same time, the proposed transaction will have no adverse impact on

Smoothstone‘s existing customers. These customers will continue to receive their

existing services at the same rates, terms and conditions as at present. Any future

changes to the rates, terms and conditions of service will be made consistent with

Commission requirements.

       Furthermore, the proposed transaction does not present any anti—competitive

concerns. The merger of Smoothstone and West will have no adverse effect upon

competition in the markets for local, intrastate toll or domestic interstate

telecommunications services. West‘s subsidiary, Intrado, provides telecommunications

services in Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia. To the extent that

Smoothstone, as an interconnected VoIP provider, provides services to customers in these

states, there is no overlap in services. Intrado delivers 911 services and support while


Smoothstone offers cloud—based unified communications systems to enterprise

customers. As a result, the proposed merger will be complementary, enabling the

expanded West companies to provide a broader range of services to customers.

       In addition, the proposed transaction poses no risk of anticompetitive impact on

the U.S. international telecommunications marketplace.       West does not provide

international telecommunications services and Smoothstone has only recently been

granted international authority. Smoothstone is not a foreign carrier, nor is it affiliated

with a foreign carrier in any market. Smoothstone will not become a foreign carrier or be

affiliated with a foreign carrier as a result of the proposed transaction. Consequently,

there is no anticompetitive overlap of international services or markets.

       Finally, the proposed transaction does not raise any national security or law

enforcement concerns. All of Smoothstone‘s new shareholders will be U.S. citizens or

organized under U.S. law.


IV.  INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 63.24(e) OF THE
COMMISSION‘S RULES


       The Applicants submit the following information pursuant to Section 63.24(e) of

the Commission‘s Rules, including the information requested in Section 63.18:

(a)    Name, address and telephone number of the Applicants:

       Smoothstone IP Communications Corporation (Licensee, Transferor)
       200 Smoothstone Center
       401 S. Fourth Street
       Louisville, KY 40202
       800—773—3037

       West Corporation (Transferee)
       11808 Miracle Hills Drive
       Omaha, NE 68154
       (402) 963—1200


(b)    Smoothstone and West are each Delaware corporations.

 (c)   Correspondence concerning this Application should be sent to:

       For Smoothstone:
       Brad Estes
       Vice President of Finance
       Smoothstone IP Communications Corporation
       200 Smoothstone Center
       401 S. Fourth Street
       Louisville, KY 40202

       For West:
       David C. Mussman
       Executive Vice President — General Counsel
       West Corporation
       11808 Miracle Hills Drive
       Omaha, NE 68154

       with copy to:

       Steven A. Augustino
       Winafred Brantl
       Keruey Drve & WARREN LLP
       3050 K Street, N.W.
       Washington, D.C. 20007
       Tel: (202) 342—8819
       saugustino@kelleydrye.com
       whrant!l@kelleydrye.com

(d)    Smoothstone holds international Section 214 authority, granted in FCC File No.
       ITC—214—20110309—00066, to operate as a global or limited global facilities—based
       and resale carrier. Neither West nor its current subsidiaries holds international
       FCC authority.


(B)   Post—close, Smoothstone will be a wholly—owned subsidiary of West, a Delaware
      corporation. The following individuals or entities hold a 10% or greater interest in
      West and thus will hold a 10% or greater interest in Smoothstone post close:

      Gary L. West
      9746 Ascot Drive
      Omaha, NE 68114
      Citizenship: US
      Principle Business: Communications
      Percent interest held:‘
              11.8% Class A shares
              12.5% Class L shares

      Mary E. West
      9746 Ascot Drive
      Omaha, NE 68114
      Citizenship: US
      Principle Business: Communications
      Percent interest held:
              10.9% Class A shares
              12.5% Class L shares

      Quadrangle Group Funds
      375 Park Avenue, 14th Floor
      New York, NY 10152
      Citizenship: US
      Principle Business: Investment
      Percent interest held:
              11.4% Class A shares
              12.5% Class L shares

      The Thomas H. Lee (THL) Funds
      Total percentage interest held:
              54.6% Class A shares
              60.1% Class L shares




      This includes 750,000 Class A shares of common stock owned by the Gary and Mary
      West Wireless Health Institute (the "Institute"), a nonprofit organization which has
      appointed Mr. West as sole representative and proxy with respect to its shares. Mr. West
      disclaims any beneficial ownership of any shares held by the Institute.


The THL funds beneficial ownership of West is currently as follows:

                                                             %L                %o A
                   Shareholder                            Ownership        Ownership         |

Thomas H. Lee Equity Fund VI, L.P.                             24.9%              22.6%
Thomas H. Lee Parallel Fund VI, L.P.                           16.9%              15.3%
Thomas H. Lee Parallel (DT) Fund VL, L.P.                       2.9%               2.7%
THL Coinvestment Partners, LP.                                  0.0%               0.0%
THL Equity Fund VI Investors (West), LP.                       13.1%              11.9%
Putnam Investments Holdings, LLC                                0.1%               0.1%
Putnam Investments Employees‘ Securities Company
HILLC                                                           0.1%                  0.1%
THL Equity Fund VI Investors (West) HL, L.P.                    2.0%                  1.8%


The THL Funds general partner is THL Equity Advisors VI, LLC whose sole
member is Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. The general partner of Thomas H. Lee
Partners, L.P is Thomas H. Lee Advisors, LLC. Each of the THL Funds entities
listed above is a US citizen, has a principle business of investment and is located
at 100 Federal Street, 35°" Floor, Boston, MA 02110.

The Putnam Funds are co—investment entities of the THL Funds. Putnam
Holdings is the managing member of Putnam Investments Employees Securities
Company IH LLC. Putnam Investments LLC is the managing member of Putnam
Holdings. Each of the Putnam Funds entities listed above is a US citizen, has
principal business of investment and is located ¢/o Putnam Investment, Inc., 1
Post Office Square, Boston, MA 02109.

No limited partner in the Thomas H. Lee fund holds a ten percent or greater
interest in West and, by extension, in Smoothstone.

There will be no interlocking directorates with any foreign carrier following
consummation of the proposed transaction.

The address of Smoothstone post—close is
200 Smoothstone Center
401 S. Fourth Street
Louisville, KY 40202

The address of West post—close is
11808 Miracle Hills Drive
Omaha, NE 681 54.


®     As evidenced by the signature of West‘s representative to this Application, West
      certifies that (a) West is not a foreign carrier and is not affiliated with a foreign
      carrier, and (b) West will not become a foreign carrier or become affiliated with a
      foreign carrier post—close.

)     As evidenced by the signature of West‘s representative to this Application, West
      certifies that it does not seek to provide international telecommunications services
      to any destination country where, post—close, (i) West is a foreign carrier; (ii)
      West controls a foreign carrier; (iii) any entity that owns more than 25 percent of
      West, or that controls West, controls a foreign carrier; or (iv) two or more foreign
      carriers (or parties that control foreign carriers) own, in the aggregate, more than
      25 percent of West and are parties to, or the beneficiaries of, a contractual relation
      affecting the provision or marketing or international basic telecommunications
      services in the United States.

k)    Not applicable.

1     Not applicable.

      Not applicable.

(n)   As evidenced by the signature of West‘s representative to this Application, West
      certifies that it has not agreed to accept special concessions directly or indirectly
      from any foreign carrier with respect to any U.S. international route where the
      foreign carrier possesses market power on the foreign end of the route, and thatit
      will not enter into such agreements in the future.

(0)   As evidenced by the signatures of West‘s and Smoothstone‘s representatives to
      this Application, West and Smoothstone each certify that, pursuant to Sections
      1.2001 through 1.2003 of the Commission‘s Rules, no party to this Application is
      subject to a denial of Federal benefits pursuant to Section 5301 of the Anti—Drug
      Abuse Act of 1988.

(P)   West requests streamlined processing of this Application pursuant to
      Section 63.12 of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.12. This Application
      qualifies for streamlined treatment under Section 63.12(c) ofthe Commission‘s
      Rules because (i) West is not affiliated with a foreign carrier and will not become
      affiliated with any foreign carrier as a result of the proposed transaction; (ii) West
      is not affiliated with any dominant U.S. carrier whose international switched or
      private line services West seeks authority to resell, nor will West become so
      affiliated post—close; and (iii) none of the other scenarios outlined in Section
      63.12(c) of the Commission‘s Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.12, apply.




                                            10


 v.     INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 63.04(b) OF THE
        COMMISSION‘S RULES

        In accordance with the requirements of Section 63.04(b) ofthe Commission‘s

Rules, the additional information required for the domestic Section 214 transfer of

control application is provided in Exhibit A.


VL      CONCLUSION

        Based on the foregoing, the Applicants respectfully submit that the public interest,

convenience, and necessity would be furthered by grant of this Application.

                                                Respectfully submitted,

          West Corporation                            Smoothstone IP
                                                      Communications Corporation




          David J. Treinen                            Jeff M Wellemeyer
          Executive Vice President — Corporate        President and Chairman
          Development and Planning                    Smoothstone IP Communications
          West Corporation                            Corporation
          11808 Miracle Hills Drive                   200 Smoothstone Center
          Omaha, NE 68154                             401 S. Fourth Street
                                                      Louisville, KY 40202
          Steven A. Augustino
          Winafred Brantl
          Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
          3050 K Street, N.W.
          Washington, D.C. 20007
          Tel: (202) 342—8400
          saugustino@kelleydrye.com
          whrantl@kelleydrye.com

          Its Attorneys


Date:    7/25//




                                            11


v.     INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SECTION 63.04(b) OF THE
       COMMISSION‘S RULES

       In accordance with the requirements of Section 63.04(b) of the Commission‘s

Rules, the additional information required for the domestic Section 214 transfer of

control application is provided in Exhibit A.


VL     CONCLUSION

       Based on the foregoing, the Applicants respectfully submit that the public interest,

convenience, and necessity would be furthered by grantof this Application.

                                                Respectfully submitted,

          West Corporation                           _SmoothstoneIP.
                                                      Communications      orporation




          David J. Treinen                            J&’MW
          Executive Vice President — (,orp(ndte,, ~President and Chairman
          Development and Planning        «*        Smoothstone IP Communications
          West Corporation                            Corporation
          11808 Miracle Hills Drive                   200 Smoothstone Center
          Omaha, NE 68154                             401 S. Fourth Street
                                                      Louisville, KY 40202
          Steven A. Augustino
         Winafred Brant]
         Kelley Drye & Warren LLP
         3050 K Street, N.W.
         Washington, D.C. 20007
         Tel: (202) 342—8400
         saugustino@kelleydrye.com
         whrantl@kelleydrye.com

         Its Attorneys


Date: @:,‘[ 14 adtl




                                           11


                          LIST OF EXHIBITS

EXHIBIT A —— Information Required by 47 C.F.R. §63.04

EXHIBIT B — Corporate Structure Diagram{(s)




                                   12


                                          EXHIBIT A

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED BY 47 C.F.R. §63.04

           In accordance with the requirements of Section 63.04(b) of the Commission‘s

Rules, 47 C.F.R. § 63.04, the Applicants provide the following information in support of

its request.

63.04(b)(6):      Description of the Transactions

           The proposed transaction is described in Section II of the Application.

63.04(b)(7):      Description of Geographic Service Area and Services in Each Area

           A description of the geographic service areas and services provided in each areais

included in Section I of the Application.

63.04(b)(8):      Presumption of Non—Dominance and Qualification for Streamlining

           This Application is eligible for streamlined processing pursuant to Section

63.03(b)(2) of the Commission‘s Rules because (1) the proposed transaction will result in

the Applicants (including their affiliates, as that term is defined in Section 3(1) of the

Act) having a market share in the interstate, interexchange market of less than 10 percent;

{2) the Applicants (including their affiliates) will provide competitive telephone exchange

services or exchange access services exclusively in geographic areas served by a

dominant local exchange carrier that is not a party to the transaction; and (3) neither the

Applicants nor any of their affiliates are regulated as dominant with respect to any

service.

63.04(b)(9):      Other Pending Commission Applications Concerning the Proposed
                  Transaction

       None.


63.04(b)(10): Special Considerations

       None.

63.04(b)(11): Waiver Requests (If Any)

       None.

63.04(b)(12): Public Interest Statement

       Consummation of the proposed transaction will serve the public interest for the

reasons detailed in Section IV of the Application.


                EXHIBIT B


Pre— and Post—Merger Organizational Charts


                                     WEsST CORPORATION
                                        Pre—MercEr
                             (including referenced subsidiaries only)


  Gary L. West                           Quadrangle Group Funds                    Thomas H. Lee Funds
11.8% (A)12.5% (L)                         11.4% (A); 12.5% (L)                        54.6 % (A); 60.1% (L)
  Mary E. West
10.9% (A)12.5% (L)




                                            West Corporation




           Intrado Inc.                    Goliath Merger Sub                           InterCaill




            Intrado
      Communications Inc.




                     SmootHstone IP Communications CoRrprOoRaAtiON
                                            PRE—MERGER


                          MK CaPiTAL SBIC, LP                     Other shareholders
                                 (27%)                                  (73%)




                               Smoothstone IP Communications Corp


                                   WEST CORPORATION
                                      Post—MErRcErR
                            (including referenced subsidiaries only)




  Gary L. West                      Quadrangle Group Funds             Thomas H. Lee Funds
11.8% (A)12.5% (L)                     11.4% (A); 12.5% (L)             54.6 % (A); 60.1% (L)
  Mary E. West
10.9% (A)12.5% (L)




                                        West Corporation




           Intrado Inc.                 Smoothstone IP                   InterCall
                                        Communications
                                             Corp



             Intrado
      Communications Inc.



Document Created: 2019-04-19 23:27:01
Document Modified: 2019-04-19 23:27:01

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