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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 25, 2009
Registration No. 333-    
 
 
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Delaware   33-0811062
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
5887 Copley Drive
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 882-6000

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
 
S. Douglas Hutcheson
Chief Executive Officer
Leap Wireless International, Inc.
5887 Copley Drive
San Diego, CA 92111
(858) 882-6000

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
 
Copies to:
Barry M. Clarkson, Esq.
Ann C. Buckingham, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
12636 High Bluff Drive, Suite 400
San Diego, CA 92130
(858) 523-5400
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. þ
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o
     If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. þ
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer þ   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company o
        (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
                             
 
              Proposed     Proposed        
              maximum     maximum        
              offering price     aggregate        
  Title of each class of securities     Amount to be     per unit     offering price     Amount of  
  to be registered     registered     (1)     (2)     registration fee  
 
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 par value per share
    3,782,063     $12.64     $47,805,276.32     $2,668  
 
(1)   This estimate was based on the average of the high and low sales price of our stock reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market on November 19, 2009, which was $12.64.
 
(2)   In accordance with Rule 457(c), the aggregate offering price of our stock is estimated solely for the calculating of the registration fees due for this filing.
Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, the prospectus included in this Registration Statement is a combined prospectus and relates to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-157697) previously filed by the registrant. This Registration Statement, which is a new registration statement, also constitutes a post-effective amendment to Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-157697), and such post-effective amendment shall become effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 462(e) of the Securities Act.
 
 

 


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PROSPECTUS
(LEAP LOGO)
15,537,869 Shares
LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
Common Stock
     This prospectus relates to up to 15,537,869 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, which may be offered for sale from time to time by the selling securityholders named in this prospectus. The shares of common stock may be sold at fixed prices, prevailing market prices at the times of sale, prices related to the prevailing market prices, varying prices determined at the times of sale or negotiated prices. The shares of common stock offered by this prospectus and any prospectus supplement may be offered by the selling securityholders directly to investors or to or through underwriters, dealers or other agents. We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock sold by the selling securityholders. We will bear all expenses of the offering of common stock, except that the selling securityholders will pay any applicable underwriting fees, discounts or commissions and transfer taxes. We have been informed that, as of November 25, 2009, the selling securityholders have no current intention to sell the shares being registered under this prospectus.
     INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. SEE “RISK FACTORS” ON PAGE 4 FOR INFORMATION YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE BUYING ANY SECURITIES.
     Leap common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LEAP.” On November 25, 2009, the last reported sale price of Leap common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market was $14.54 per share.
     Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is November 25, 2009

 


 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
          As used in this prospectus, the terms “we,” “our,” “ours” and “us” refer to Leap Wireless International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Leap, and its wholly owned subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise. Leap is a holding company and conducts operations only through its wholly owned subsidiary Cricket Communications, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or Cricket, and Cricket’s subsidiaries.
          This prospectus is part of a resale registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf ” registration process. Under this process, the selling securityholders may offer and sell, from time to time, an aggregate of up to 15,537,869 shares of Leap common stock under the prospectus. In some cases, the selling securityholders will also be required to provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the selling securityholders and the terms on which they are offering and selling Leap common stock. We may also add, update or change in a prospectus supplement any information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, as well as any post-effective amendments to the registration statement, and all documents incorporated by reference herein, together with the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before you make any investment decision.
          You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any applicable supplement to this prospectus. Neither we nor the selling securityholders have authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any additional information. We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of Leap common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement is accurate only as of the date on their respective covers. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date.
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
          Except for the historical information contained herein, this prospectus contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements reflect management’s current forecast of certain aspects of our future. You can generally identify forward-looking statements by forward-looking words such as “believe,” “think,” “may,” “could,” “will,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “seek,” “plan,” “expect,” “should,” “would” and similar expressions in this prospectus. Such statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated in or implied by our forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, among other things:
    our ability to attract and retain customers in an extremely competitive marketplace;
 
    the duration and severity of the current economic downturn in the United States and changes in economic conditions, including interest rates, consumer credit conditions, consumer debt levels, consumer confidence, unemployment rates, energy costs and other macro-economic factors that could adversely affect demand for the services we provide;
 
    the impact of competitors’ initiatives;
 
    our ability to successfully implement product offerings and execute effectively on our other strategic activities;
 
    our ability to obtain roaming services from other carriers at cost-effective rates;

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    our ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting;
 
    our ability to attract, motivate and retain an experienced workforce;
 
    our ability to comply with the covenants in any credit agreement, indenture or similar instrument governing any of our existing or future indebtedness;
 
    failure of our network or information technology systems to perform according to expectations; and
 
    other factors detailed in the section entitled “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference to our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, any subsequent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, or any Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus.
          All forward-looking statements in this report should be considered in the context of these risk factors. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. In light of these risks and uncertainties, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this report may not occur and actual results could differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, users of this report are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
          We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. You may also access filed documents on our website, www.leapwireless.com. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and you should not consider it a part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
          This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate important business and financial information about us that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, except for any information superseded by information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:
    our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on February 27, 2009;
 
    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on May 11, 2009, August 10, 2009 and November 9, 2009;
 
    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 17, 2009, May 28, 2009, May 28, 2009, May 29, 2009, June 1, 2009, June 8, 2009, September 4, 2009, November 5, 2009 (filed at 4:17 p.m., regarding Items 1.01, 5.02 and 9.01) and November 9, 2009;
 
    our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 10, 2009; and
 
    the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 10 filed with the SEC on July 1, 1998, as amended.
          We are also incorporating by reference additional documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, after the date of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement and prior to the termination of the offering of securities hereby. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed above or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including our compensation committee report and performance graph or any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.
          We will provide at no cost to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon oral or written request of such person, a copy of any or all of the reports or documents that have been incorporated by reference in this prospectus, but not delivered with the prospectus. Requests for such copies should be directed to:
Leap Wireless International, Inc.
Attn: Director of Investor Relations
5887 Copley Drive
San Diego, California 92111
(858) 882-6000
          These documents may also be accessed through our website at www.leapwireless.com or as described above under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.” The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

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THE COMPANY
          We are a wireless communications carrier that offers digital wireless services in the U.S. under the “Cricket®” brand. Our Cricket service offerings provide customers with unlimited wireless services for a flat rate without requiring a fixed-term contract or a credit check.
          Cricket service is offered by Cricket, a wholly owned subsidiary of Leap, and is also offered in Oregon by LCW Wireless Operations, LLC, or LCW Operations, and in the upper Midwest by Denali Spectrum Operations, LLC, or Denali Operations. Cricket owns an indirect 70.7% non-controlling interest in LCW Operations through a 70.7% non-controlling interest in LCW Wireless, LLC, or LCW Wireless, and owns an indirect 82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali Operations through an 82.5% non-controlling interest in Denali Spectrum, LLC, or Denali. LCW Wireless and Denali are designated entities under regulations of the Federal Communications Commission. We consolidate our non-controlling interests in LCW Wireless and Denali in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s authoritative guidance for the consolidation of variable interest entities because these entities are variable interest entities and we will absorb a majority of their expected losses.
          Leap was formed as a Delaware corporation in 1998. Leap’s shares began trading publicly in September 1998 and we launched our innovative Cricket service in March 1999. On April 13, 2003, we filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 in federal bankruptcy court. On August 16, 2004, our plan of reorganization became effective and we emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. On that date, a new board of directors of Leap was appointed, Leap’s previously existing stock, options and warrants were cancelled, and Leap issued 60 million shares of new Leap common stock for distribution to two classes of creditors. On June 29, 2005, Leap common stock became listed for trading on the NASDAQ National Market (now known as the NASDAQ Global Market) under the symbol “LEAP.” Effective July 1, 2006, Leap common stock became listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, also under the symbol “LEAP.” Leap conducts operations through its subsidiaries and has no independent operations or sources of income other than interest income and through dividends, if any, from its subsidiaries.
          Our principal executive offices are located at 5887 Copley Drive, San Diego, California 92111 and our telephone number at that address is (858) 882-6000. Our principal websites are located at www.leapwireless.com and www.mycricket.com. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our websites is not a part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
          Leap is a U.S. registered trademark and the Leap logo is a trademark of Leap. Cricket, Jump, the Cricket “K” and Flex Bucket are U.S. registered trademarks of Cricket. In addition, the following are trademarks or service marks of Cricket: BridgePay, Cricket By Week, Cricket Choice, Cricket Connect, Cricket Nation, Cricket PAYGo and Cricket Wireless Internet Service.
RISK FACTORS
          Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves risks. You should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, any subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K or Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, or any Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus, and all other information contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any applicable prospectus supplement before acquiring any of such securities. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. Please also refer to the section above entitled “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
USE OF PROCEEDS
          We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the shares by the selling securityholders.

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SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
          The following table provides the name of each selling securityholder and the number of shares of our common stock offered by each selling securityholder under this prospectus. The information regarding shares beneficially owned after the offering assumes the sale of all shares offered by the selling securityholders.
          The selling securityholders do not have any position, office or other material relationship with us or any of our affiliates, nor have they had any position, office or material relationship with us or any of our affiliates within the past three years, except (a) for those listed in the footnotes to the following table, under “Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation” included in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 10, 2009, or the Proxy, in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009 and in our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 5, 2009 at 4:17 p.m., and (b) affiliates of the selling securityholders, including those listed in the footnotes to the following table, have the position, office and material relationships described under “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management” included in our Proxy. The number of shares beneficially owned by each stockholder and each stockholder’s percentage ownership prior to the offering is based on their outstanding shares of common stock as of October 30, 2009. The percentage of ownership indicated in the following table is based on 77,402,588 shares of common stock outstanding on October 30, 2009.
          Information with respect to beneficial ownership has been furnished by each selling securityholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. Except as indicated by footnote and subject to community property laws where applicable, to our knowledge, the persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock shown as beneficially owned by them.
                                         
    Beneficial Ownership  
    Number of             Number of        
    Shares             Shares     Percentage of  
    Beneficially     Number of     Beneficially     Shares Beneficially  
    Owned     Shares     Owned     Owned  
    Prior to     Being     After     Before     After  
Selling Securityholders:   Offering     Offered     Offering     Offering     Offering  
MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP (1)(4)
    353,420       353,420       -0-       *       0 %
MHR Capital Partners (100) LP (1)(4)
    42,514       42,514       -0-       *       0 %
MHR Institutional Partners II LP (2)(4)
    3,340,378       3,340,378       -0-       4.32 %     0 %
MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP (2)(4)
    8,415,428       8,415,428       -0-       10.87 %     0 %
MHR Institutional Partners III LP (3)(4)
    3,386,129       3,386,129       -0-       4.37 %     0 %
 
                             
Total
    15,537,869       15,537,869       -0-       20.07 %     0 %
 
*   Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1.0% of the outstanding shares of common stock.
 
(1)   MHR Advisors LLC (“Advisors”) is the general partner of MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP (“Master Account”) and MHR Capital Partners (100) LP (“Capital Partners (100)”), and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of common stock held by Master Account and Capital Partners (100).
 
(2)   MHR Institutional Advisors II LLC (“Institutional Advisors II”) is the general partner of MHR Institutional Partners II LP (“Institutional Partners II”) and MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP (“Institutional Partners IIA”), and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of common stock held by Institutional Partners II and Institutional Partners IIA.
 
(3)   MHR Institutional Advisors III LLC (“Institutional Advisors III”) is the general partner of MHR Institutional Partners III LP (“Institutional Partners III”), and may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of common stock held by Institutional Partners III.
 
(4)   MHR Fund Management LLC (“Fund Management”) has entered into an investment management agreement with Master Account, Capital Partners (100), Institutional Partners II, Institutional Partners IIA and Institutional Partners III and thus may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all of the shares of common stock held by all of these entities. Dr. Mark H. Rachesky (“Dr. Rachesky”) is the managing member of Advisors, Institutional Advisors II, Institutional Advisors III and Fund Management, and in such capacity, he exercises voting control over the Leap common stock held by these selling securityholders and thus may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of all of the shares of common stock held by Master Account, Capital Partners (100), Institutional Partners II, Institutional Partners IIA and Institutional Partners III. Dr. Rachesky also serves as chairman of the board of directors of Leap.

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
          The selling securityholders, or their pledgees, donees, transferees, or any of their successors in interest selling shares received from a named selling securityholder as a gift, partnership distribution or other non-sale-related transfer after the date of this prospectus (all of whom may be selling securityholders), may sell the securities from time to time on any stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the securities are listed, in the over-the-counter market, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise, at fixed prices that may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at prices otherwise negotiated. The selling securityholders may sell the securities by one or more of the following methods, without limitation:
          (a) block trades in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;
          (b) purchases by a broker or dealer as principal and resale by the broker or dealer for its own account pursuant to this prospectus;
          (c) an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of any stock exchange on which the securities are listed;
          (d) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker solicits purchases;
          (e) privately negotiated transactions;
          (f) short sales;
          (g) through the writing of options on the securities, whether or not the options are listed on an options exchange;
          (h) through the distribution of the securities by any selling securityholder to its partners, members or stockholders;
          (i) one or more underwritten offerings on a firm commitment or best efforts basis; and
          (j) any combination of any of these methods of sale.
          The selling securityholders may also transfer the securities by gift. We do not know of any arrangements by the selling securityholders for the sale of any of the securities.
          The selling securityholders may engage brokers and dealers, and any brokers or dealers may arrange for other brokers or dealers to participate in effecting sales of the securities. These brokers, dealers or underwriters may act as principals, or as an agent of a selling securityholder. Broker-dealers may agree with a selling securityholder to sell a specified number of the securities at a stipulated price per security. If the broker-dealer is unable to sell securities acting as agent for a selling securityholder, it may purchase as principal any unsold securities at the stipulated price. Broker-dealers who acquire securities as principals may thereafter resell the securities from time to time in transactions on any stock exchange or automated interdealer quotation system on which the securities are then listed, at prices and on terms then prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the then-current market price or in negotiated transactions. Broker-dealers may use block transactions and sales to and through broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature described above. The selling securityholders may also sell the securities in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, rather than pursuant to this prospectus, regardless of whether the securities are covered by this prospectus.
          From time to time, one or more of the selling securityholders may pledge, hypothecate or grant a security interest in some or all of the securities owned by them. The pledgees, secured parties or persons to whom the securities have been hypothecated will, upon foreclosure in the event of default, be deemed to be selling securityholders. As and when a selling securityholder takes such actions, the number of securities offered under this prospectus on behalf of such selling securityholder will decrease. The plan of distribution for that selling

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securityholder’s securities will otherwise remain unchanged. In addition, a selling securityholder may, from time to time, sell the securities short, and, in those instances, this prospectus may be delivered in connection with the short sales and the securities offered under this prospectus may be used to cover short sales.
          To the extent required under the Securities Act, the aggregate amount of selling securityholders’ securities being offered and the terms of the offering, the names of any agents, brokers, dealers or underwriters and any applicable commission with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents participating in the distribution of the securities may receive compensation in the form of underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions or fees from a selling securityholder and/or purchasers of selling securityholders’ securities for whom they may act (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions).
          The selling securityholders and any underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any discounts, concessions, commissions or fees received by them and any profit on the resale of the securities sold by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions.
          A selling securityholder may enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers, and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with that selling securityholder, including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the securities by those broker-dealers. A selling securityholder may enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the securities offered hereby to the broker-dealers, who may then resell or otherwise transfer those securities. A selling securityholder may also loan or pledge the securities offered hereby to a broker-dealer and the broker-dealer may sell the securities offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged securities offered hereby.
          A selling securityholder may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by the selling securityholder or borrowed from the selling securityholder or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from the selling securityholder in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment).
          The selling securityholders and other persons participating in the sale or distribution of the securities will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities by the selling securityholders and any other person. The anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the selling securityholders and their affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making activities with respect to the particular securities being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. These restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to the securities.
          We have agreed to indemnify in certain circumstances the selling securityholders and any brokers, dealers and agents (who may be deemed to be underwriters), if any, of the securities covered by the registration statement, against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The selling securityholders have agreed to indemnify us in certain circumstances against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
          We agreed to register the securities under the Securities Act, and to keep the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part effective for a specified period of time. We have agreed to pay all expenses in connection with this offering, including the fees and expenses of counsel to the selling securityholders, but not including underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions or fees of the selling securityholders.
          We will not receive any proceeds from sales of any securities by the selling securityholders.
          We cannot assure you that the selling securityholders will sell all or any portion of the securities offered hereby.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
          Leap’s authorized capital stock consists of 160,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
          The following summary of the rights of Leap common stock and preferred stock is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws, copies of which have been publicly filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Common Stock
          As of October 30, 2009, there were 77,402,588 shares of common stock outstanding.
          As of October 30, 2009, Leap had approximately 353 record holders of Leap common stock.
     Voting Rights
          Holders of Leap common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. The holders of common stock are not entitled to cumulative voting rights with respect to the election of directors, which means that the holders of a majority of the shares voted can elect all of the directors then standing for election.
     Dividends
          Subject to limitations under Delaware law and preferences that may apply to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of Leap common stock are entitled to receive ratably such dividends or other distributions, if any, as may be declared by Leap’s board of directors out of funds legally available therefor.
     Liquidation
          In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of Leap common stock are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of liabilities, subject to the liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock.
     Rights and Preferences
          The common stock has no preemptive, conversion or other rights to subscribe for additional securities. There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to Leap common stock. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that Leap may designate and issue in the future.
     Fully Paid and Non-assessable
          All outstanding shares of Leap common stock are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
Preferred Stock
          Leap’s board of directors is authorized, subject to the limits imposed by the Delaware General Corporation Law, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, to fix the rights, preferences and privileges of the shares of each wholly unissued series and any of its qualifications, limitations and restrictions. Leap’s board of directors can also increase or decrease the number of shares of any series, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding, without any further vote or action by Leap’s stockholders.

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          Leap’s board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that adversely affect the voting power or other rights of Leap’s common stockholders. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions, financings and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing our change in control and may cause the market price of Leap common stock to decline or impair the voting and other rights of the holders of Leap common stock. We have no current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock. As of October 30, 2009, Leap had no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement with the Selling Securityholders
          Under an amended and restated registration rights agreement, or Registration Rights Agreement, the selling securityholders have the right to require us to register their shares with the SEC so that those shares may be publicly resold, or to include their shares in any registration statement we file as follows:
     Demand Registration Rights
          Any selling securityholder who is a party to the Registration Rights Agreement and who holds (together with its affiliates who are holders), in the aggregate, a minimum of 2,500,000 shares of the common stock or other securities covered by the Registration Rights Agreement, has the right to demand that we file a registration statement covering the resale of such securities, subject to a maximum of three such demands in the aggregate for all holders, to a maximum of one such demand in any 12-month period for all holders, and to other specified exceptions. The underwriters of any such offering will have the right to limit the number of shares to be offered except that if the limit is imposed, then only shares held by the selling securityholders party to the Registration Rights Agreement will be included in such offering and the number of shares to be included in such offering will be allocated pro rata among such selling securityholders. In addition, while we are in registration, we generally will not be required to take any action to effect a demand registration.
     “Piggyback” Registration Rights
          If we register any securities for public sale, the selling securityholders will have the right to include their shares in the registration statement. The underwriters of any underwritten offering will have the right to limit the number of such shares to be included in the registration statement, except, in any underwritten offering that is not a demand registration, the number of shares held by the selling securityholders cannot be reduced to less than 50% of the total number of securities that are included in such registration statement.
     Shelf Registration Rights
          Not later than December 2, 2009, and thereafter within 60 days following a request of a selling securityholder under the Registration Rights Agreement, we are required to file with the SEC a resale shelf registration statement covering all shares of common stock (or other securities covered by the Registration Rights Agreement) held by the applicable securityholders to be offered to the public on a delayed or continuous basis, subject to specified exceptions. We have previously filed a resale shelf registration statement on Form S-3 on March 4, 2009 (File No. 333-157697) with respect to 11,755,806 shares of common stock held by certain of the selling securityholders, and are filing this resale shelf registration statement on Form S-3 with respect to the remaining 3,782,063 shares of common stock held by the other selling securityholders as of the date of this prospectus. We are required to use reasonable efforts to keep both of these registration statements continuously effective until the securities covered by such registration statements: (i) have been sold pursuant thereto; (ii) have been sold or transferred in accordance with the provisions of Rule 144 (or Rule 145, if applicable); (iii) have been sold or transferred (other than in a transaction under clause (i) or (ii) above) in a transaction in which the transferor’s rights under the Registration Rights Agreement were not assigned to the transferee; (iv) are no longer outstanding; (v) are eligible (including following the satisfaction of any applicable holding period requirements) for sale without registration pursuant to Rule 144 (or Rule 145, if applicable) without restriction (including current public information requirements, volume limitations, manner of sale limitations or notice requirements); or (vi) are not “restricted securities” (as defined under Rule 144) and neither the securityholders thereof nor any of their affiliates are then affiliates of Leap or any of its successors, as the case may be, nor have been an affiliate of Leap or any of its successors, as the case may be, at any time during the then immediately preceding 90 days.

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     Expenses of Registration
          Other than underwriting fees, discounts and commissions, we will pay all reasonable expenses relating to piggyback registrations and all reasonable expenses relating to demand registrations.
Registration Rights Granted to CSM in Connection with LCW Wireless Transaction
          In addition, Leap has reserved five percent of its outstanding shares, which represented 3,870,129 shares of common stock as of October 30, 2009, for potential issuance to CSM Wireless, LLC, or CSM, on the exercise of CSM’s option to put its entire equity interest in LCW Wireless to Cricket. Under the amended and restated limited liability company agreement with CSM and WLPCS Management, LLC, or the LCW LLC Agreement, the purchase price for CSM’s equity interest is calculated on a pro rata basis using either the appraised value of LCW Wireless or a multiple of Leap’s enterprise value divided by its adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, or EBITDA, and applied to LCW Wireless’ adjusted EBITDA to impute an enterprise value and equity value for LCW Wireless. Cricket may satisfy the put price either in cash or in Leap common stock, or a combination thereof, as determined by Cricket in its discretion. If Cricket elects to satisfy its put obligations to CSM with Leap common stock, the obligations of the parties are conditioned upon the block of Leap common stock issuable to CSM not constituting more than five percent of Leap’s outstanding common stock at the time of issuance. Dilution of the outstanding number of shares of Leap common stock could adversely affect prevailing market prices for Leap common stock.
          Effective as of August 31, 2009, CSM exercised this put right. The purchase price for the put will be calculated on a pro rata basis using the appraised value of LCW Wireless, subject to certain adjustments. In September 2009, each of CSM and Cricket appointed an appraiser to conduct an appraisal of LCW Wireless, which appraisals were completed in October 2009. As the two appraisals were not within 10% of one another, a third appraiser is in the process of being selected as required under the LCW LLC Agreement, and the appraisal of this third appraiser will be deemed to be the enterprise value of LCW Wireless. Cricket intends to satisfy the put price in cash and completion of this transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.
          We have agreed to prepare and file a resale shelf registration statement for any shares of Leap common stock that may be issued to CSM upon the exercise of CSM’s option to put its entire equity interest in LCW Wireless to Cricket. See “Note 9 — Arrangements with Variable Interest Entities — Arrangements with LCW Wireless” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2009, for additional information. Such resale shelf registration statement will cover these shares of common stock held by CSM to be offered to the public on a delayed or continuous basis, subject to specified exceptions. We will be required to keep such resale shelf registration statement effective with the SEC until (a) all such shares of common stock registered pursuant to the registration statement have been resold; or (b) all such shares of common stock may be sold or transferred pursuant to Rule 144. Other than underwriting fees, discounts and commissions, the fees and disbursements of counsel retained by CSM and transfer taxes, if any, we will pay all reasonable expenses incident to the registration of such shares.
Convertible Senior Notes
          Leap has also reserved up to 4,761,000 shares of its common stock for issuance upon conversion of its $250 million in aggregate principal amount of convertible senior notes due 2014. Holders may convert their notes into shares of Leap common stock at any time on or prior to the third scheduled trading day prior to the maturity date of the notes, July 15, 2014. If, at the time of conversion, the applicable stock price of Leap common stock is less than or equal to approximately $93.21 per share, the notes will be convertible into 10.7290 shares of Leap common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the notes (referred to as the “base conversion rate”), subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. If, at the time of conversion, the applicable stock price of Leap common stock exceeds approximately $93.21 per share, the conversion rate will be determined pursuant to a formula based on the base conversion rate and an incremental share factor of 8.3150 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the notes, subject to adjustment. At an applicable stock price of approximately $93.21 per share, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon full conversion of the convertible senior notes would be 2,682,250 shares. Upon the occurrence of a “make-whole fundamental change” of Leap under the indenture, under certain circumstances the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable upon full conversion of the convertible senior notes would be 4,761,000 shares.

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Anti-takeover Effects of Delaware Law and Provisions of Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Amended and Restated Bylaws and Indentures
     Delaware Takeover Statute
          We are subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. This statute regulating corporate takeovers prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any business combination with any interested stockholder for three years following the date that the stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
    prior to the date of the transaction, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
 
    the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding (a) shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and (b) shares owned by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
 
    on or subsequent to the date of the transaction, the business combination is approved by the board and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3 % of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
    any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;
 
    any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;
 
    subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder; or
 
    the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.
          In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by the entity or person.
     Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaw Provisions
          Provisions of Leap’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws may have the effect of making it more difficult for a third-party to acquire, or discourage a third-party from attempting to acquire, control of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise. These provisions may also make the removal of incumbent officers and directors more difficult. These provisions are intended to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and to encourage persons seeking to acquire control of Leap to first negotiate with us. These provisions could also limit the price that investors might be willing to pay for shares of Leap common stock. These provisions may make it more difficult for stockholders to take specific corporate actions and could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of Leap. The amendment of any of these anti-takeover provisions would require approval by holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding common stock entitled to vote on such amendment.
          In particular, Leap’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each as amended and restated, provide for the following:

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     No Written Consent of Stockholders
          Any action to be taken by Leap’s stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting and may not be effected by written consent.
     Special Meetings of Stockholders
          Special meetings of Leap’s stockholders may be called only by the chairman of the board of directors, the chief executive officer or president, or a majority of the members of the board of directors.
     Advance Notice Requirement
          Stockholder proposals to be brought before an annual meeting of Leap’s stockholders must comply with advance notice procedures. These advance notice procedures require timely notice and apply in several situations, including stockholder proposals relating to the nominations of persons for election to the board of directors. Generally, to be timely, notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 70 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year.
     Amendment of Bylaws and Certificate of Incorporation
          The approval of not less than 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of Leap’s capital stock entitled to vote is required to amend the provisions of Leap’s amended and restated bylaws by stockholder action, or to amend provisions of Leap’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation described in this section or that are described in “Compensation Discussion And Analysis — Indemnification of Directors and Executive Officers and Limitation on Liability” in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A, filed with the SEC on April 23, 2008. These provisions make it more difficult to circumvent the anti-takeover provisions of Leap’s certificate of incorporation and our bylaws.
     Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock
          Leap’s board of directors is authorized to issue, without further action by the stockholders, up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock with rights and preferences, including voting rights, designated from time to time by the board of directors. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock enables Leap’s board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.
     Indentures
          Under the indentures governing our secured and unsecured senior notes and convertible senior notes, if certain “change of control” events occur, each holder of notes may require us to repurchase all of such holder’s notes at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of secured or unsecured senior notes, or 100% of the principal amount of convertible senior notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest. See “Part I — Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Liquidity and Capital Resources” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2009, for additional information.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
          The transfer agent and registrar for Leap common stock is Mellon Bank Investor Services, LLC.
NASDAQ Global Select Market
          Leap common stock is listed for trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “LEAP.”

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EXPERTS
          The consolidated financial statements of Leap and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Leap for the year ended December 31, 2008 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
          The validity of the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus has been passed upon for us by Latham & Watkins LLP, San Diego, California.
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY AND DISCLOSURE OF COMMISSION POSITION ON
INDEMNIFICATION FOR SECURITIES ACT LIABILITIES
          Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers, and may indemnify our employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.

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(LEAP LOGO)
LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 


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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
          The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than the underwriting discount, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of common stock being registered. All amounts are estimates except for the SEC registration fee:
         
SEC registration fee
  $ 2,668  
Printing and engraving expenses
  $ 3,000 *
Legal fees and expenses
  $ 25,000 *
Accounting fees and expenses
  $ 15,000 *
Miscellaneous
  $ 332 *
 
     
Total
  $ 46,000  
 
     
 
*   Estimated
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
          As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Leap has adopted provisions in its amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws that limit or eliminate the personal liability of Leap’s directors for a breach of their fiduciary duty of care as a director. The duty of care generally requires that, when acting on behalf of the corporation, directors exercise an informed business judgment based on all material information reasonably available to them. Consequently, a director will not be personally liable to Leap or its stockholders for monetary damages or breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability for:
    any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to Leap or its stockholders;
 
    any act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
 
    any act related to unlawful stock repurchases, redemptions or other distributions or payment of dividends; or
 
    any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.
          These limitations of liability do not affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission. Leap’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation also authorizes Leap to indemnify its officers, directors and other agents to the fullest extent permitted under Delaware law.
          As permitted by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, Leap’s amended and restated bylaws provide that:
    Leap may indemnify its directors, officers, and employees to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions;
 
    Leap may advance expenses to its directors, officers and employees in connection with a legal proceeding to the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law, subject to limited exceptions; and
 
    the rights provided in Leap’s amended and restated bylaws are not exclusive.

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          Leap’s amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification provisions described above. In addition, we have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers which may be broader than the specific indemnification provisions contained in the Delaware General Corporation Law. These indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify our officers and directors against liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors or officers, other than liabilities arising from willful misconduct. These indemnification agreements also may require us to advance any expenses incurred by the directors or officers as a result of any proceeding against them as to which they could be indemnified. In addition, we have purchased policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance that insure our directors and officers against the cost of defense, settlement or payment of a judgment in some circumstances. These indemnification provisions and the indemnification agreements may be sufficiently broad to permit indemnification of our officers and directors for liabilities, including reimbursement of expenses incurred, arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.
          Certain of our current and former officers and directors have been named as defendants in multiple lawsuits and several of these defendants have indemnification agreements with us. We are also a defendant in some of these lawsuits. See “Part II — Item 1. Legal Proceedings” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009, filed with the SEC on November 9, 2009, for additional information.
Item 16. Exhibits.
     
Exhibit No.   Description
2.1(1)
  Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003, as modified to reflect all technical amendments subsequently approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
2.2(1)
  Disclosure Statement Accompanying Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003.
2.3(1)
  Order Confirming Debtors’ Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003.
4.1(2)
  Form of Common Stock Certificate, par value $0.0001 per share, of Leap Wireless International, Inc.
4.2(3)
  Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2009, by and among Leap, MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP, MHR Capital Partners (100) LP, MHR Institutional Partners II LP, MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP and MHR Institutional Partners III LP.
5.1*
  Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
23.1*
  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2*
  Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*
  Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
 
*   Filed herewith.
 
(1)   Filed as an exhibit to Leap’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(2)   Filed as an exhibit to Leap’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on May 16, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(3)   Filed as an exhibit to Leap’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 3, 2009, filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 17. Undertakings.
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
          (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
          (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a

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fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and
          (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

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SIGNATURES
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of San Diego, State of California, on November 25, 2009.
         
  LEAP WIRELESS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
 
  By  /s/ S. Douglas Hutcheson
 
 
         S. Douglas Hutcheson   
         Chief Executive Officer, President and Director   
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY
          KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints S. Douglas Hutcheson, Walter Z. Berger and Robert J. Irving, Jr., and each of them acting individually, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution, for him in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this registration statement, including post-effective amendments or any abbreviated registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of each to act alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully for all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
          Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
         
Signature   Title   Date
/s/ S. Douglas Hutcheson
 
S. Douglas Hutcheson
  Chief Executive Officer,
President and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
  November 25, 2009
         
/s/ Walter Z. Berger
 
Walter Z. Berger
  Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)
  November 25, 2009
         
/s/ Jeffrey E. Nachbor
 
Jeffrey E. Nachbor
  Senior Vice President,
Financial Operations and
Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)
  November 25, 2009
         
/s/ John H. Chapple
 
John H. Chapple
  Director    November 25, 2009
         
/s/ John D. Harkey, Jr.
 
John D. Harkey, Jr.
  Director    November 25, 2009
         
/s/ Ronald J. Kramer
 
Ronald J. Kramer
  Director    November 25, 2009
         
/s/ Robert V. LaPenta
 
Robert V. LaPenta
  Director    November 25, 2009
         
/s/ Mark H. Rachesky, MD
 
Mark H. Rachesky, MD
  Director    November 25, 2009

 


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Signature   Title   Date
/s/ William A. Roper, Jr.
 
William A. Roper, Jr.
  Director    November 25, 2009
         
/s/ Michael B. Targoff
 
Michael B. Targoff
  Director    November 25, 2009

 


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
     
Exhibit No.   Description
2.1(1)
  Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003, as modified to reflect all technical amendments subsequently approved by the Bankruptcy Court.
2.2(1)
  Disclosure Statement Accompanying Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003.
2.3(1)
  Order Confirming Debtors’ Fifth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization dated as of July 30, 2003.
4.1(2)
  Form of Common Stock Certificate, par value $0.0001 per share, of Leap Wireless International, Inc.
4.2(3)
  Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2009, by and among Leap, MHR Capital Partners Master Account LP, MHR Capital Partners (100) LP, MHR Institutional Partners II LP, MHR Institutional Partners IIA LP and MHR Institutional Partners III LP.
5.1*
  Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.
23.1*
  Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.
23.2*
  Consent of Latham & Watkins LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1*
  Power of Attorney (included on the signature page hereto).
 
*   Filed herewith.
 
(1)   Filed as an exhibit to Leap’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on February 27, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(2)   Filed as an exhibit to Leap’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, filed with the SEC on May 16, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
(3)   Filed as an exhibit to Leap’s Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 3, 2009, filed with the SEC on September 4, 2009, and incorporated herein by reference.