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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report
November 12, 1999
WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Washington
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
000-28160 91-1638901
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(Commission File Number) (IRS Employer Identification No.)
Suite 400
3650 131st Avenue SE
Bellevue, WA 98006
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (425) 586-8700
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WESTERN WIRELESS COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF TEXAS 7 AND ARKANSAS 11 ASSETS
FROM K.O. COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
LICENSES ADD OVER 20,000 NEW SUBSCRIBERS
Bellevue, Wash. (November 10, 1999) -- Western Wireless Corporation
(NASDAQ: WWCA), a leading provider of wireless communications services,
announced today that it has acquired the Texas 7 and Arkansas 11 assets from
K.O. Communications, Inc. A definitive agreement with K.O. Communications, Inc.
was announced in September of this year.
The acquisition adds two Rural Service Area (RSA) licenses covering
approximately 440,000 persons in Texas and Arkansas to Western Wireless'
geographical footprint. The markets add over 20,000 subscribers to the Western
Wireless subscriber base. The total purchase price was approximately $165
million.
"Western Wireless already has the largest wireless footprint of any company
in the state of Texas and this acquisition further enhances our coverage and
offers a great benefit to our customers. We are also very pleased to offer our
services, for the first time, in the state of Arkansas," said Mikal Thomsen,
President and Chief Operating Officer of Western Wireless. "The markets not
only offer excellent subscriber growth opportunities but also contain
significant stretches of Interstate highway."
Western Wireless Corporation is a leading provider of rural communications
in the western United States. The company owns and operates wireless cellular
phone systems marketed under the Cellular One(R) national brand name in 19
states west of the Mississippi River. Through the 3rd quarter of 1999, Western
Wireless was providing service to 774,000 customers. In addition, Western
Wireless International holds licenses to offer wireless services in 6 countries.
You can learn more about Western Wireless at www.wwireless.com.
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT: MEDIA CONTACT:
Gina Haggerty John Snyder
Western Wireless Corporation Snyder Buscher Group
Phone: 425-586-8671 Phone: 206-652-9704
[email protected]
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
WESTERN WIRELESS CORPORATION
Dated: November 12, 1999
By /s/ Alan R. Bender
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Alan R. Bender
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
