OK, I suppose I should really wait until they file, but this story detailing Crest Financial’s planned Petition to Deny in Sprint/Softbank/CLWR appears to be, in my humble opinion, the single dumbest grounds for a Petition to Deny. EVAR. For those just tuning in, Sprint, backed by Softbank, has offered approximately $3/share for the outstanding shares of Clearwire (CLWR). Because some analysts with no understanding of the actual spectrum market think CLWR is sitting on a spectrum pot ‘o gold, Crest is pissed and wants more money. It has already filed a shareholder derivative suit claiming that Sprint leveraged its insider position to buy out Clearwire below fair market value. Given how corporate law has crapped all over minority shareholder rights in recent decades, I am not giving this much hope. Apparently, Crest feels the same way, because they are now taking the fight to the FCC.
According to the story: “In going to the FCC, Crest will argue that the Clearwire deal artificially undervalues the company’s spectrum holdings, Schumacher said. That in turn potentially devalues future revenue for the U.S. government when it auctions off spectrum licenses.” Crest apparently thinks CLWR’s spectrum holdings are worth $30 billion, prompting me to wonder what planet they live on and whether they share it with House Republicans who keep thinking spectrum auctions are automatic pots of gold.
What makes this utterly dumb is the combination of a false factual premise combined with an utter lack of legal grounds, on top of a near zero chance of holding things up politically (unless AT&T or possibly DISH file, which might introduce greater political uncertainty). I would normally confine myself to simply snickering but there is a rather important point to be made here — especially for all those listening to analysts telling broadcasters they can make gajillions in the upcoming incentive auction –about spectrum valuations.
More below . . . .