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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250723APPLICATION.pdf RECEIVED July 23, 2025 IDAHO PUBLIC July 23, 2025 UTILITIES COMMISSION By Email to SECRETARY(&PUC.IDAHO.GOV FYB-T-25-01 Monica Barrios-Sanchez Secretary Idaho Public Utilities Commission P.O. Box 83720 Boise, ID 83720-0074 Re: Notice of the Indirect Transfer of Control of FyberCom LLC Dear Ms. Barrios-Sanchez: FyberCom LLC dba FyberCom ("FyberCom") and FyberCom Holdco, Inc. ("FyberCom Holdco") hereby provide notice ("Notice") to the Idaho Public Utility Commission ("Commission") of their agreement for FyberCom Holdco to consummate a transaction in which FyberCom Holdco will acquire parent-level, ultimate control of FyberCom ("Transaction"), as well as a financing transaction involving FyberCom that is associated with the Transaction. FyberCom holds a certificate of public convenience and necessity issued ("CPCN") by the Commission. Consummation of the Transaction proposed by this Notice will serve the public interest by providing additional sources of capital to FyberCom, which will enhance FyberCom's ability to maintain, improve, and expand its network and services and to better compete in the telecommunications marketplace in Idaho. The proposed Transaction will result in a change in control of FyberCom at the parent level only. It will not involve the assignment of FyberCom's licenses, assets, or customers, and FyberCom will continue to provide service to its existing customers post-consummation subject to the same rates,terms,and conditions as currently offered. Thus,the Transaction will not affect FyberCom's day-to-day operations and will be imperceptible to FyberCom's customers. For the foregoing reasons, the proposed Transaction will benefit, and not adversely affect, competition in Idaho. L DESCRIPTION OF THE PARTIES A. Transferor/Licensee: FyberCom LLC FyberCom is an Idaho limited liability company headquartered at 3780 N. Yellowstone Hwy., Idaho Falls, ID 83401. Voting control of FyberCom is collectively held by (i) U.S. citizens Jared Stowell (34.6%), Steven McGhie (through Dynamic Networks, L.L.C.) (30.1%), and Vincent Calkins (28.2%) and (ii) Community Trust of Utah (7.2%), a Utah charitable trust. An organizational chart illustrating the current corporate structure of FyberCom is provided in Exhibit A. FyberCom is a provider of broadband internet access services and a reseller of local telecommunication exchange services in Eastern and Southern Idaho. FyberCom's services are used by residential customers and by enterprise customers in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, banking, retail, financial services, technology, and healthcare. On August 5, 2024, the Commission issued a CPCN to FyberCom authorizing the company to provide telecommunications exchange services in Idaho. See FyberCom LLC's Application for a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to Provide Telecommunications Services in Idaho, Case No. FYB-T-24-01, Order No. 36280 (ID PUC Aug. 5, 2024). B. Transferee: FyberCom Holdco, Inc. FyberCom Holdco is a newly formed Delaware corporation,and its address is 437 Madison Avenue, Suite 2802, New York, NY, USA 10022. Upon consummation of the transaction, FyberCom Holdco will be 100% owned by FyberCom Parent, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation. FyberCom Parent, Inc. will be owned 100% by FyberCom Holdings, LP, a newly formed Delaware limited partnership ("Topco"). FyberCom Holdings GP, Inc., a newly formed Delaware corporation, is the general partner of Topco. Upon the closing of the Transaction, the limited partners of Topco will be: (i) Novacap DI I A, L.P., (ii) Novacap DI I Blocker, L.P., (iii) Novacap DI International I Blocker, L.P., (iv)Novacap DI International I B,L.P., (v)Novacap DI International I D, L.P., (vi)Novacap DI U.S. 1, L.P., (vii)NVC DI I Blocker, L.P., and(viii)NVC International Digital Infrastructure I, L.P. (the"Novacap Limited Partners"). Novacap DI I B,L.P. owns Novacap DI I Blocker, L.P., and Novacap DI International I A, L.P. owns Novacap DI International I Blocker, L.P. (collectively with Novacap Limited Partners, the "Novacap Entities"). Novacap Management Inc. has 100% control over the Novacap Entities and is a private equity firm with over 40 years of experience specializing in long-term value creation, with investments across technology, financial services, industrials, and digital infrastructure sectors. In addition,U.S. citizens Vince Calkins, Jared Stowell, and Steven McGhie (through Dynamic Networks, L.L.C.)will retain certain ownership as depicted in Exhibit A. Upon consummation of the Transaction, FyberCom will become an indirect, wholly owned and controlled subsidiary of FyberCom Holdco. II. DESCRIPTION OF THE TRANSACTION On July 15, 2025, FyberCom, FyberCom Holdco, and the current direct and indirect interest holders in FyberCom Jared Stowell, Steven McGhie,Dynamic Networks, L.L.C.,Vincent Calkins, and Community Trust of Utah entered into a Membership Interests Purchase Agreement ("Agreement"). Pursuant to the Agreement, FyberCom Holdco will acquire FyberCom's membership units from FyberCom's current interest holders in a multi-step transaction for a combination of cash and rollover equity. Upon consummation of the Transaction, FyberCom Holdco, as indirectly, ultimately controlled by Novacap Management Inc., will indirectly control FyberCom through a series of intermediate wholly owned and controlled pass-through companies, and FyberCom's current interest holders will hold a minority direct and indirect interest in FyberCom Holdco. Consummation of the Transaction is conditioned on approval of the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") for the transfer of control of certain FCC-issued licenses held by FyberCom, as well as other industry-standard closing conditions. For the Commission's reference,pre-and post-closing organization charts illustrating the current and post-consummation corporate structure of FyberCom are provided as Exhibit A. In connection with the Transaction, FyberCom proposes to enter into a Credit Agreement by and among FyberCom, certain guarantors thereto, the lenders party thereto, the issuing lender, and CoBank, ACB as administrative agent (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement 2 provides for a revolving credit facility with a two-year term in the amount of$15,000,000 (with a potential upsizing of the facility to $40,000,000). The Credit Agreement contains standard affirmative, negative, and financial covenants and is subject to usual and customary closing conditions. The Credit Agreement includes a security interest in favor of the lenders on the real and personal property assets of FyberCom. III. THE TRANSACTION SUPPORTS THE PUBLIC INTEREST The Transaction serves the public interest by providing additional sources of capital to FyberCom,which will enhance FyberCom's ability to maintain,improve, and expand its networks and services to better compete in the Idaho telecommunications market. The change in the ultimate control of FyberCom will occur at the parent level and will not involve any assignment of operating authority, assets,or customers. Moreover,the Transaction will not result in any loss of competitors in the Idaho market. FyberCom is managed by an experienced management and technical team, who will continue to manage its day-to-day operations and businesses following completion of the Transaction. Thus, FyberCom will continue to be operated by highly experienced, well-qualified management and technical personnel. Further, FyberCom will continue to provide competitive and innovative service to its existing customers at the same rates, terms, and conditions, and in the same geographic areas, as currently provided. Any future changes in the rates, terms, or conditions of service will be undertaken pursuant to customer contracts and any applicable Idaho notice and tariff requirements. Thus, the Transaction will not result in the discontinuance, reduction, loss, or impairment of service to any customer. Indeed, the Transaction will have no effect on the day-to-day operations of FyberCom and therefore will be imperceptible to FyberCom's customers. For these reasons, the Transaction will benefit and not adversely affect competition in Idaho because it will not result in a reduction of competitors, additional sources of capital will be available to FyberCom as a result of the Transaction, and customers will continue to have access to the same competitive alternatives they have today. IV. DESIGNATED CONTACTS All correspondence and communications with respect to this Notice should be addressed or directed to as follows: For FyberCom: Jared Stowell, CEO FyberCom 3780 N. Yellowstone Hwy. Idaho Falls, ID 83401 Email:jared@fybercom.net With a copy to: 3 Phillip R. Marchesiello Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP 1800 M Street,N.W., Suite 800N Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: (202) 783-4141 Email: pmarchesiello@wbklaw.com For FyberCom Holdco: Francois Laflamme and Jonathan LaSala FyberCom Holdco, Inc. 3400 de FEclipse, Suite 700 Brossard, Quebec, J4Z OP3 E-mail: flaflamme@novacap.ca and jlasala@novacap.ca With a copy to: Michael Lazarus Jessica Gyllstrom Telecommunications Law Professionals PLLC 1025 Connecticut Avenue,NW Suite 1011 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 789-3120 Email: mlazarus@tlp.law and jyllstrom@tlp.law and to: Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP 800 Square Victoria, Suite 3500, Montreal, Quebec, H3C OB4 Attention: Charles Chevrette and Caitlin Rose E-mail: chevrette@fasken.com and crose@fasken.com and to: Novacap entities c/o Legal Affairs 3400 de FEclipse, Suite 700, Brossard, Quebec, J4Z OP3 Attention: Maxime Charbonneau Email: mcharbonneau@novacap.ca V. CONCLUSION For the reasons stated herein, the Transaction will serve the public interest. 4 Respectfully submitted, Is/Michael Lazarus /s/Phillip R. Marchesiello Michael Lazarus Phillip R. Marchesiello Jessica Gyllstrom Wilkinson Barker Knauer, LLP Telecommunications Law Professionals PLLC 1800 M Street,N.W. 1025 Connecticut Avenue,NW Suite 80ON Suite 1011 Washington, D.C. 20036 Washington, DC 20036 Tel: (202) 783-4141 Tel: (202) 789-3120 pmarchesiello@wbklaw.com mlazarus@tlp.law jyllstrom@tlp.law Counsel for FyberCom LLC Counsel for FyberCom Holdco, Inc. July 23, 2025 5 EXHIBIT A PRE-CLOSING ORGANIZATIONAL DIAGRAMS (If no ownership percentage is listed, the parent wholly owns and controls the subsidiary. Steven McGhie (U.S.) Jared Stowell Dynamic Vincent Calkins Community Trust (U.S.) Networks, L.L.C. (U.S.) of Utah U.S. 34.6% 28.2% 0 30.1% 7.2 0 FyberCom LLC dba FyberCom ("FyberCom") (Idaho) TRANSFEROR/LICENSEE EXHIBIT A POST-CLOSING ORGANIZATIONAL DIAGRAMS (If no ownership percentage is listed, the parent wholly owns and controls the subsidiary) Novacap Management Inc. (Canada) Steven McGhie 100%voting (U.S.) Novacap DI I A,L.P. Novacap DI I Blocker,L.P. Jared Stowell Vincent Dynamic Novacap DI International I Blocker,L.P. Novacap DI International I B,L.P. (U.S.) Calkins Networks, Novacap DI International I D,L.P. 15.5% (U.S.) L.L.C. Novacap DI U.S. I,L.P. voting 12.7% (U.S.) NVC DI I Blocker, L.P. voting 13.9% NVC International Digital Infrastructure I, L.P. voting NVC Digital Infrastructure 1,L.P. NVC Digital Infrastructure I-A,L.P. Novacap DI I B,L.P. Novacap DI International I A, L.P. 12.1% (all Canada) equity 57.9%voting Fybercom Holdings GP,Inc. (Delaware) 14.7% 55%equity equity 13.2%equity FyberCom Holdings,LP (Delaware) FyberCom Parent,Inc. (Delaware) FyberCom Holdco,Inc. (Delaware) TRANSFEREE FyberCom LLC dba FyberCom("FyberCom") (Idaho) TRANSFEROR/LICENSEE