(Repeats story first published Nov. 5, replaces story number)
* Sprint says Clearwire cash shortage could hurt Sprint
* Sprint could sell Clearwire shares or buy more
* Analysts see Clearwire ultimately getting new funding
* Clearwire down 3.3 percent, Sprint falls 2.4 pct
By Sinead Carew
NEW YORK, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Funding problems at small U.S.
mobile operator Clearwire Corp
Sprint, the No. 4 U.S. mobile provider, owns 54 percent of Clearwire but does not control its operations.
If Clearwire is viewed as its a Sprint subsidiary, a debt default by Clearwire could result in a breach of Sprint's own debt covenants, Sprint said in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
This, Sprint said, "could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, liquidity and results of operations."
Sprint's disclosure highlighted increasing tension between the companies after Clearwire said on Thursday there was substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a going concern due to uncertainty over whether it could raise new funds.
Sprint said it was still in talks with Clearwire about funding but declined to comment beyond the filing.
Clearwire has been in financing negotiations for months
with companies including Sprint and T-Mobile USA, a unit of
Deutsche Telekom
Investors sold shares in both companies on Friday even though several analysts said they expected Clearwire to eventually get new funding.
Analysts said the funding would most likely come from Sprint, which is dependent on Clearwire for its high-speed mobile strategy. [ID:nN05195548]
Sprint, which has struggled for years to staunch subscriber defections, has narrowed subscriber losses since it started offering services using Clearwire's network.
Sprint said in the filing that it "could elect to take certain actions ... which would eliminate the potential for Clearwire to be considered a subsidiary of Sprint."
One way Sprint could do that would be to sell shares in Clearwire. BTIG analyst Walter Piecyk said another option could be for Sprint to take full control of Clearwire, but a Sprint executive said recently that would be too expensive.
COMMITMENT IS CLEAR
Mizuho analyst Michael Nelson said that despite the uncertainty he still expects Clearwire to raise a total of $4 billion in new funding in coming years, including $1 billion in 2011, another $2 billion in 2012 and $1 billion by 2014.
Wells Fargo analyst Jennifer Fritzsche said Sprint's statements about the risks posed by Clearwire's situation gave her greater conviction that Sprint was very motivated to work out some sort of funding agreement with Clearwire despite tension between the companies.
Fritzsche wrote in a research note that Sprint's ability to use Clearwire's mobile network was key to successfully stabilizing its customer losses.
On Thursday, Clearwire said it had incurred more losses in its third-quarter as it pours billions into building its network. The company needs more money to further expand the network and fund its operations.
Clearwire said in its earnings report that it would cut jobs and suspend some projects to save up to $400 million. [ID:nN04236203]
It said it would not go through with some retail marketing initiatives, leading some analysts to believe it could be bowing to pressure Sprint.
Sprint's Chief Financial Officer Robert Brust told investors at a recent conference that Sprint had disagreed with Clearwire over its pursuit of a retail sales strategy, which essentially puts it into direct competition with wholesale customers like Sprint.
Even if Sprint eventually gives Clearwire new funding, some analysts said they were concerned about the increasing complexity of the companies' relationship.
RBC analyst Jonathan Atkin downgraded Clearwire to 'sector perform' from 'outperform', citing its funding uncertainty. He also said its cost-cutting would "detract near term from the company's appeal as a growth play within wireless."
Clearwire shares closed down 24 cents or more than 3 percent at $6.93 on Nasdaq while Sprint stock finished down 10 cents or 2.4 percent at $3.99 on Nasdaq while Sprint stock. (Reporting by Sinead Carew; editing by Dave Zimmerman)