<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001140361-16-058608.txt : 20160321
<SEC-HEADER>0001140361-16-058608.hdr.sgml : 20160321
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20160321180734
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001140361-16-058608
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20160317
FILED AS OF DATE:		20160321
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20160321

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOVATEL WIRELESS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001022652
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, NEC [3669]
		IRS NUMBER:				860824673
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9645 SCRANTON ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 205
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121
		BUSINESS PHONE:		8583208800

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		9645 SCRANTON ROAD
		STREET 2:		SUITE 205
		CITY:			SAN DIEGO
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			92121

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Continental Insurance, Inc.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001663143
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31659
		FILM NUMBER:		161519583

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		505 HUNTMAR PARK DR., SUITE 325
		CITY:			HERNDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20170
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7038650700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		505 HUNTMAR PARK DR., SUITE 325
		CITY:			HERNDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20170

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			Continental Insurance Group, Ltd.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001663139
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-31659
		FILM NUMBER:		161519584

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		505 HUNTMAR PARK DR., SUITE 325
		CITY:			HERNDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20170
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7038650700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		505 HUNTMAR PARK DR., SUITE 325
		CITY:			HERNDON
		STATE:			VA
		ZIP:			20170
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>doc1.xml
<DESCRIPTION>FORM 4
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2016-03-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001022652</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NOVATEL WIRELESS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MIFI</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001663139</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Continental Insurance Group, Ltd.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>505 HUNTMAR PARK DR., SUITE 325</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERNDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20170</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>1</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText>Member of 10% group</otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001663143</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Continental Insurance, Inc.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>505 HUNTMAR PARK DR., SUITE 325</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>HERNDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>VA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20170</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle></officerTitle>
            <otherText></otherText>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2016-03-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3709094</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>1.59</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>11473799</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Continental General Insurance Company and United Teacher Associates Insurance Company</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable></derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares of common stock were purchased from HC2 Holdings 2, Inc., the indirect 100% shareholder of United Teacher Associates Insurance Company (&quot;UTAIC&quot;) and Continental General Insurance Company (&quot;CGIC&quot;), pursuant that certain securities purchase agreement, dated March 17, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The securities of the Issuer reported herein are held directly by UTAIC, 8,338,270 shares, and CGIC, 3,135,529 shares. UTAIC and CGIC are direct wholly owned subsidiaries of Continental Insurance, Inc., and UTAIC and CGIC are indirect wholly owned subsidiaries of Continental Insurance Group Ltd.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Continental Insurance Group, Ltd. By: /s/ James Corcoran, Executive Chair</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Continental Insurance, Inc. By: /s/ James Corcoran, Executive Chair</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2016-03-21</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
