Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
File No. 333-105006
PROSPECTUS
$1,750,000,000
LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION
.75% EXCHANGEABLE SENIOR DEBENTURES DUE 2023
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(Exchangeable for AOL Time Warner Inc. Common Stock or
the value thereof in cash and/or Liberty Media Corporation Series A Common
Stock)
This prospectus relates to $1,750,000,000 aggregate original principal
amount of our .75% exchangeable senior debentures due 2023, which may be sold
from time to time by the selling security holders named herein.
Initially, each $1,000 original principal amount of debentures is
exchangeable for the market value of 57.4079 shares of common stock of AOL Time
Warner Inc., which we refer to as the reference shares. We may pay this amount,
at our election, by delivery of the reference shares, cash or shares of our
Series A common stock or a combination of the foregoing. The number, issuer and
class of reference shares may change over time as a result of dividends,
reclassifications, mergers and other events described in this prospectus.
The selling security holders may offer and sell the debentures directly to
purchasers or through underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents, who may receive
compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. The
debentures may be sold in one or more transactions at fixed or negotiated prices
or at prices based on prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the debentures by the
selling security holders. We are, however, responsible for the costs of
registering, under the Securities Act of 1933, the offer and sale of the
debentures by the selling security holders.
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INVESTING IN THE DEBENTURES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING
ON PAGE 7.
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this prospectus is October 8, 2003
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Notice to New Hampshire Residents........................... i
Prospectus Summary.......................................... 1
Risk Factors................................................ 7
Cautionary Statements Concerning Forward Looking
Statements................................................ 13
Use of Proceeds............................................. 14
AOL Time Warner Inc. ....................................... 15
Price Range and Dividend History of AOL Common Stock........ 18
Selling Security Holders.................................... 19
Description of the Debentures............................... 26
Description of Our Common Stock............................. 50
Summary of Registration Rights of Selling Securityholders... 53
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations..... 54
Plan of Distribution........................................ 60
Legal Matters............................................... 61
Experts..................................................... 61
Where to Find More Information.............................. 61
NOTICE TO NEW HAMPSHIRE RESIDENTS
NEITHER THE FACT THAT A REGISTRATION STATEMENT OR AN APPLICATION FOR A
LICENSE HAS BEEN FILED UNDER RSA 421-B WITH THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE NOR THE
FACT THAT A SECURITY IS EFFECTIVELY REGISTERED OR A PERSON IS LICENSED IN THE
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE CONSTITUTES A FINDING BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT ANY DOCUMENT FILED UNDER RSA 421-B IS TRUE, COMPLETE
AND NOT MISLEADING. NEITHER ANY SUCH FACT NOR THE FACT THAT AN EXEMPTION OR
EXCEPTION IS AVAILABLE FOR A SECURITY OR A TRANSACTION MEANS THAT THE SECRETARY
OF STATE OF THE STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS PASSED IN ANY WAY UPON THE MERITS OR
QUALIFICATION OF, OR RECOMMENDED OR GIVEN APPROVAL TO, ANY PERSON, SECURITY OR
TRANSACTION. IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE OR CAUSE TO BE MADE TO ANY PROSPECTIVE
PURCHASER, CUSTOMER OR CLIENT ANY REPRESENTATION INCONSISTENT WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary highlights selected information included or
incorporated by reference into this prospectus to help you understand our
company and the debentures. For a more complete understanding of our company and
the debentures, we encourage you to read this entire document, including the
"Risk Factors" section, and all of the documents that we incorporate by
reference into this prospectus. All references to "Liberty," "we," "us" and
words of similar effect refer to Liberty Media Corporation and, unless the
context otherwise requires, its consolidated subsidiaries.
OUR COMPANY
We own interests in a broad range of video programming, broadband
distribution, interactive technology services and communications businesses. We
and our affiliated companies operate in the United States, Europe, South America
and Asia. Our principal assets include interests in Starz Encore Group LLC,
Ascent Media Group, Inc., On Command Corporation, Discovery Communications,
Inc., UnitedGlobalCom, Inc., Jupiter Telecommunications Co., Ltd., QVC, Inc.,
Court Television Network, Game Show Network, AOL Time Warner Inc.,
InterActiveCorp, Sprint PCS Group and The News Corporation Limited.
Our principal executive offices are located at 12300 Liberty Boulevard,
Englewood, Colorado 80112. Our main telephone number is (720) 875-5400.
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TERMS OF THE DEBENTURES
On March 26, 2003 and April 4, 2003, we completed the private placement of
$1,750,000,000 aggregate original principal amount of our .75% Exchangeable
Senior Debentures due 2023. On March 26, 2003, we entered into a registration
rights agreement with the initial purchasers, in which we agreed to file for the
benefit of the holders of the debentures a shelf registration statement covering
public resales of the debentures. This prospectus is part of that shelf
registration statement, and the debentures being offered hereby are those
initially sold by us in the private placement.
Set forth below is a summary description of the terms of the debentures
being offered hereby. We refer you to "Description of the Debentures," beginning
on page 26, for a more complete description of the debentures.
Issuer........................ Liberty Media Corporation.
Securities Offered............ $1,750,000,000 aggregate original principal
amount of .75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures.
Maturity Date................. The debentures will mature on March 30, 2023.
Payment at Maturity........... At maturity, you will be entitled to receive
the adjusted principal amount of your
debentures plus accrued and unpaid interest and
any final period distribution. We may make
payment in reference shares, cash or any
combination thereof.
Interest...................... Interest on the debentures accrue from and
including March 26, 2003 and is payable in cash
at an annual rate of .75% of the original
principal amount of $1,000 per debenture.
Interest is payable semi-annually in arrears on
March 30 and September 30 of each year,
commencing September 30, 2003. To the extent
that such interest payments exceed an
annualized yield of .75% of the adjusted
principal amount from time to time in effect,
the adjusted principal amount will be reduced
so that the yield on the debentures derived
from the semi-annual interest payments remains
at .75%.
Ranking....................... The debentures are our unsecured senior
obligations and rank equally with all of our
existing and future unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations. The debentures are
effectively subordinated to all of our secured
indebtedness to the extent of the value of the
assets securing that indebtedness, and are
effectively subordinated to all liabilities of
our subsidiaries to the extent of the value of
their assets. As of June 30, 2003, we had no
secured indebtedness and our consolidated
subsidiaries had outstanding approximately
$9,938 million of liabilities (of which
approximately $7,433 million was deferred
income taxes), all of which effectively ranks
senior to the debentures.
Reference Shares.............. AOL Time Warner is the initial reference
company, and the initial reference shares are
shares of AOL Time Warner common stock. We may
not elect to substitute another issuer's shares
as the reference shares. The reference shares
can change from the AOL Time Warner common
stock only upon the occurrence of one or more
of the events described below. At the date of
this prospectus, each $1,000 original principal
amount of debentures is exchangeable for the
exchange market value of 57.4079 reference
shares. We may pay this amount by the delivery
of the reference shares, cash
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or shares of our Series A common stock or any
combination of the foregoing.
The reference shares may change over time as to
number, issuer and class of publicly-traded
common equity securities as a result of the
occurrence of any of the following events:
- a stock dividend or distribution of AOL
common stock or other publicly-traded common
equity securities then comprising the
reference shares;
- a combination, subdivision or
reclassification of the AOL common stock or
other publicly-traded common equity
securities then comprising the reference
shares;
- a merger or consolidation involving AOL or
any successor reference company;
- a statutory share exchange whereby the AOL
common stock or other publicly-traded common
equity securities then comprising the
reference shares are exchanged for other
publicly-traded common equity securities;
- a liquidation or dissolution of AOL or any
successor reference company; or
- a tender or exchange offer for 30% or more of
the AOL common stock or class of other
publicly-traded common equity securities then
comprising the reference shares.
When we refer to reference shares in this
prospectus, we mean the number of shares of AOL
Time Warner common stock for which $1,000
original principal amount of debentures may
then be exchanged, unless the reference shares
have changed as described in the immediately
preceding paragraph, in which case we mean the
number and class of publicly traded common
equity securities for which $1,000 original
principal amount of debentures may then be
exchanged.
Exchangeability............... At your option, each debenture can be exchanged
for the exchange market value of the reference
shares attributable to that debenture. Upon
exchange, holders will not be entitled to any
cash payment representing accrued interest.
Instead, accrued interest will be deemed paid
by the exchange market value of the reference
shares received by holders on exchange.
Debentures called for redemption may be
surrendered for exchange until the close of
business on the fourth trading day prior to the
redemption date.
Upon exchange, we may choose to pay the
exchange market value of the reference shares
by delivering the reference shares attributable
to the debentures being exchanged or the value
thereof in cash, shares of our Series A common
stock or a combination of reference shares,
cash and shares of our Series A common stock.
When we refer to the exchange market value of
the reference shares, we mean the weighted
average market price of those shares over the
15 scheduled trading days commencing on the
fourth scheduled trading day following the date
all of the requirements
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for a valid exchange have been satisfied by the
tendering holder. We refer to the date on which
all of those requirements have been satisfied
as the exchange date. We will value our Series
A common stock in the same manner.
If we determine to deliver any consideration
other than reference shares upon an exchange of
debentures, we will provide notice to the
tendering holder of the form of consideration
that we will deliver by 9:30 a.m., New York
City time, on the second trading day after the
exchange date. We will base our determination
as to what consideration we will deliver on a
number of factors, including the trading prices
of the reference shares and our Series A common
stock, our perception of the relative values of
those shares, any commitments we may have in
respect of our holdings of reference shares and
our cash position at that time.
By way of example, if a holder had tendered for
exchange $1,000 original principal amount of
debentures with an exchange date of September
11, 2003, the exchange market value of 57.4079
shares of AOL Time Warner common stock on that
date would have been $901.14. We could have
elected to pay this amount in cash, by delivery
of 57 shares of AOL Time Warner common stock
(and $6.40 in lieu of the .4079 fractional
share interest), by delivery of 87 shares of
our Series A common stock (and $3.21 in lieu of
a .3113 fractional share interest) or in a
combination of the foregoing.
AOL and its Relationship to
the Debentures................ According to its public filings, AOL is a media
and entertainment company, whose businesses
include interactive services, cable systems,
filmed entertainment, television networks,
music and publishing. AOL is subject to ongoing
investigations by the Securities and Exchange
Commission and the Department of Justice and
pending shareholder litigation. For more
information concerning AOL, including the
investigations and pending litigation, please
see the section entitled "AOL Timer Warner
Inc." in this prospectus.
Neither AOL nor any other company other than
Liberty will have any obligations whatsoever
under the debentures. This prospectus relates
solely to an offering of the debentures and
does not relate to any offering of shares of
AOL common stock or any other securities of
AOL.
Additional Distributions...... We will distribute, as an additional
distribution on each debenture, cash,
securities (other than publicly traded common
equity securities) or other property that
correspond to any dividends, distributions or
other payments made in respect of the reference
shares attributable to that debenture. If any
publicly traded common equity securities are
distributed in respect of any reference shares,
those securities will themselves become
reference shares.
Any additional distribution that we pay as a
result of a regular cash dividend on reference
shares will be distributed to you with the next
semi-annual interest payment on the debentures.
All other additional distributions will be paid
or made within 20 business
4
days after the payment or delivery of the
related dividends or distributions on the
reference shares.
As of the date of this prospectus, AOL has
never paid a cash dividend on its common stock.
Adjusted Principal Amount..... The principal amount of the debentures will not
be reduced by any regular cash dividend amount
that we distribute to holders of the
debentures.
The original principal amount of the debentures
will be reduced by the amount of all additional
distributions that we make to holders of the
debentures that are attributable to
extraordinary distributions on or in respect of
the reference shares. The adjusted principal
amount will also be reduced on subsequent
interest payment dates to the extent necessary
so that the annualized yield on the debentures
paid by us (based on the amount of semi-annual
interest paid per debenture and the adjusted
principal amount of a debenture) does not
exceed .75% per annum of the adjusted principal
amount of the debenture as of the next
preceding interest payment date. In no event
will the adjusted principal amount ever be less
than zero. Reductions to the adjusted principal
amount will not affect the amount of the
semi-annual interest payment received by a
holder of debentures, which is based on the
original principal amount. As a result, any
reduction in adjusted principal amount will
necessarily result in a further reduction in
adjusted principal amount on each subsequent
interest payment date (beginning with the
second succeeding interest payment date after
the date of the additional distribution with
respect to which the adjusted principal amount
was so reduced). So long as the original
principal amount is not reduced by the payment
of additional distributions, it will not be
reduced by any semi-annual interest payment.
Redemption at Our Option...... We may redeem the debentures at any time on or
after April 5, 2008 at a redemption price equal
to the adjusted principal amount plus accrued
and unpaid interest and any final period
distribution. We may pay the redemption price,
at our election, in reference shares, cash or
any combination thereof. If we make a partial
redemption, debentures in an aggregate original
principal amount of at least $100 million must
remain outstanding.
Purchase at Your Option....... You may tender your debentures for redemption
on March 30, 2008, March 30, 2013, or March 30,
2018 for payment of the adjusted principal
amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and any
final period distribution. We may elect to pay
the purchase price in reference shares, cash,
shares of our Series A common stock or any
combination thereof.
Covenants..................... The indenture governing the debentures contains
covenants with respect to:
- limitations on liens;
- limitations on sale and leaseback; and
- limitations on certain merger, consolidation
and similar transactions.
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These covenants are subject to a number of
important qualifications and exceptions. See
"Description of the Debentures -- Certain
Covenants."
Use of Proceeds............... We will not receive any of the proceeds from
the secondary sale by the selling security
holders of debentures. This prospectus fulfills
an obligation of ours under a registration
rights agreement that we entered into with the
initial purchasers of the debentures.
Book-entry only............... The debentures have been issued in book-entry
form and are represented by global debentures
deposited with the Bank of New York on behalf
of the Depository Trust Company. Except to the
extent described herein, interests in the
global debentures will be shown in, and
transfers will be effected only through records
maintained by DTC and its participants.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges of Liberty was 25.56 and 19.40 for
the years ended December 31, 2000 and 1998, respectively, and 8.59 for the two
months ended February 28, 1999. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges of
Liberty was less than 1.00 for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, the
years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001 and the ten months ended December 31,
1999; thus earnings available for fixed charges of Liberty were inadequate to
cover fixed charges for these periods. The amount of the coverage deficiency was
$584 million, $3,968 million, $4,722 million, $5,969 million and $2,253 million
for the six months ended June 30, 2003, and 2002, the years ended December 31,
2002 and 2001 and the ten months ended December 31, 1999, respectively. For the
ratio calculations, earnings available for fixed charges consist of earnings
(losses) before income taxes, minority interest and share of losses of
affiliates, plus interest expense (including amortization of capitalized
expenses related to indebtedness), estimates of the interest within rental
expense (one-third of rental expense) and distributed income of equity
affiliates. Fixed charges consist of:
- interest expense (including amortization of capitalized expenses related
to indebtedness); and
- estimates of the interest within rental expense (one-third of rental
expense).
RISK FACTORS
An investment in the debentures involves risks. See "Risk Factors"
beginning on page 7 for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider
before deciding to purchase any debentures.
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RISK FACTORS
An investment in the debentures involves risk. You should carefully
consider the following factors, as well as the other information included in
this prospectus and in the documents we have incorporated by reference before
deciding to purchase the debentures.
FACTORS RELATING TO THE DEBENTURES
THE RETURN TO INVESTORS ON THE DEBENTURES DEPENDS ON THE AOL COMMON STOCK
OR OTHER REFERENCE SHARES. The terms of the debentures differ from those of
ordinary debt securities because:
- the effective yield on the debentures may change depending upon the
dividend policy of AOL or any other reference company and upon the
trading prices of the reference shares during the term of the debentures;
- if a holder exercises the exchange right, each debenture will be
exchangeable, at the option of Liberty, for (1) the reference shares
themselves, (2) the value of the reference shares attributable to such
debenture in cash or shares of our Series A common stock, or (3) a
combination of reference shares, cash and shares of our Series A common
stock; and
- the principal amount of the debentures will be reduced by the amount of
any additional distribution that is made by Liberty following any
extraordinary distribution that may be paid or made on or in respect of
the reference shares.
Accordingly, the return that a holder of the debentures will realize may be
less than that of an ordinary fixed income debt security that may be issued by
us.
We do not have any control over the dividend policy of AOL. As of the date
of this prospectus, AOL has never paid a cash dividend on its common stock. We
cannot assure you that AOL will ever pay a cash dividend on its common stock.
We cannot predict whether the price of the AOL common stock will rise or
fall. Trading prices of the AOL common stock will be influenced by AOL's
operating results and by complex and interrelated political, economic, financial
and other factors that can affect the capital markets generally, the New York
Stock Exchange and the market segments of which AOL is a part.
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND PENDING SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION INVOLVING AOL COULD
NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE VALUE OF THE DEBENTURES. According to public filings of
AOL, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice are
investigating AOL's financial reporting and disclosure practices. AOL has also
disclosed that, as of May 12, 2003, there were approximately 40 putative class
action and shareholder derivative lawsuits alleging violations of federal and
state securities laws as well as purported breaches of fiduciary duties pending
against AOL, certain of its current and former executives, past and present
members of its board of directors and, in certain instances, its America Online
unit. In addition, AOL has disclosed that there are three actions making
allegations of ERISA violations. The complaints purport to be made on behalf of
certain of AOL's shareholders and allege, among other things, that AOL made
material misrepresentations and/or omissions of material facts in violation of
Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and Section
20(a) of the Exchange Act. We are unable to predict the outcome of the SEC and
DOJ investigations and the pending shareholder litigation, and any costs
associated with judgments in or settlements of these matters could adversely
affect AOL's financial condition and results of operations, the value of the
reference shares and, consequently, the value of the debentures.
AOL HAS NO OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE DEBENTURES. AOL is not involved
in the offering of the debentures, and neither AOL nor any other reference
company has any obligations with respect to the debentures, including any
obligation to take our interests or your interests into consideration for any
reason or under any circumstance. Holders of the debentures are not entitled to
any rights with respect to the reference shares other than indirectly pursuant
to the express terms of the debentures or at such time, if any, that the
debentures are tendered for purchase or exchange and we elect to deliver
reference shares in connection therewith.
7
THE NUMBER OF REFERENCE SHARES ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DEBENTURES WILL NOT BE
ADJUSTED FOR SOME DILUTIVE TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING THE REFERENCE SHARES. If
specific dilutive or anti-dilutive events occur with respect to the reference
shares, the number and type of reference shares that will be used to calculate
the amount of cash or number of reference shares or shares of our Series A
common stock you will receive upon maturity, exchange, redemption or purchase of
a debenture, as applicable, will be adjusted to reflect such events. These
adjustments will not take into account various other events, such as offerings
of reference shares by a reference company for cash or business acquisitions by
a reference company with the reference shares, that may adversely affect the
price of the reference shares and may adversely affect the trading price and
market value of the debentures. We cannot assure you that a reference company
will not make offerings of the reference shares or other equity securities or
enter into such business acquisitions in the future.
PURCHASING THE DEBENTURES INVOLVES POTENTIAL ADVERSE TAX CONSEQUENCES.
Before purchasing the debentures, you should recognize that the amount of
interest income required to be included in income by you for each year will be
in excess of the semi-annual interest payments you actually receive. Any gain
recognized by you on the sale or exchange of the debentures will be ordinary
income; any loss will be ordinary loss to the extent of the interest previously
included in income, and thereafter, capital loss. See "Certain United States
Federal Income Tax Considerations."
THE DEBENTURES ARE A RECENT ISSUE OF SECURITIES FOR WHICH THERE IS
CURRENTLY NO ACTIVE TRADING MARKET. The debentures were initially issued in
March 2003 in a private placement and have no public trading market. If a liquid
trading market does not develop or is not maintained, holders of the debentures
may experience difficulty in reselling the debentures or may be unable to sell
them at all. We cannot assure you that an active public market or other market
for the debentures will develop or be maintained. If a market for the debentures
develops, it may be discontinued at any time.
The liquidity of any market for the debentures will depend upon the number
of holders of the debentures, our operating performance, the operating
performance of AOL or any other reference company, the interest of securities
dealers in making a market in the debentures and other factors. A liquid trading
market may not develop for the debentures. Furthermore, the market price for the
debentures may be subject to substantial fluctuations. Factors such as the
following may have a significant effect on the market price of the debentures:
- the market price of the AOL common stock or any other reference shares;
- hedging or arbitrage trading activity that may develop involving the
debentures and the AOL common stock or any other reference shares;
- actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results;
- our perceived business prospects;
- general economic conditions, including prevailing interest rates; and
- the market for similar securities.
FACTORS RELATING TO OUR COMPANY
OUR HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE COULD RESTRICT ACCESS TO FUNDS OF OUR
SUBSIDIARIES THAT MAY BE NEEDED TO SERVICE THE DEBENTURES. Creditors of our
subsidiaries have a claim on their assets that is senior to that of holders of
the debentures. We are a holding company with no significant assets other than
our equity interests in our subsidiaries and business affiliates and cash, cash
equivalents and marketable securities. We are the only company obligated to make
payments under the debentures. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal
entities and they have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any
amounts due under the debentures or to make any funds available for any of those
payments.
All of the liabilities of our subsidiaries effectively rank senior to the
debentures to the extent of the value of the assets of our subsidiaries. A
substantial portion of our consolidated liabilities consists of liabilities
incurred by our subsidiaries. Moreover, the indenture governing the debentures
does not limit the amount of indebtedness that may be incurred by our
subsidiaries in the future. Our rights and those of our creditors, including
holders of the debentures, to participate in the distribution of assets of any
subsidiary upon the
8
latter's liquidation or reorganization will be subject to prior claims of the
subsidiary's creditors, including trade creditors, except to the extent we may
be a creditor with recognized claims against the subsidiary. Where we are a
creditor of a subsidiary, our claims will still be subject to the prior claims
of any secured creditor of that subsidiary and to the claims of any holder of
indebtedness that is senior to our claim. As of June 30, 2003, the aggregate
amount of the total liabilities of our consolidated subsidiaries was
approximately $9,938 million, of which approximately $7,433 million was deferred
income taxes.
WE DEPEND ON A LIMITED NUMBER OF POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS FOR CARRIAGE OF OUR
PROGRAMMING SERVICES. The cable television and direct-to-home satellite
industries are currently undergoing a period of consolidation. As a result, the
number of potential buyers of our programming services and those of our business
affiliates is decreasing. In this more concentrated market, there can be no
assurance that our owned and affiliated program suppliers will be able to obtain
carriage of their programming services by distributors on commercially
reasonable terms or at all.
THE LIQUIDITY AND VALUE OF OUR INTERESTS IN OUR BUSINESS AFFILIATES MAY BE
ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY SHAREHOLDER AGREEMENTS AND SIMILAR AGREEMENTS TO WHICH WE
ARE A PARTY. We own equity interests in a broad range of domestic and
international video programming and communications businesses. A significant
portion of the equity securities we own is held pursuant to shareholder
agreements, partnership agreements and other instruments and agreements that
contain provisions that affect the liquidity, and therefore the realizable
value, of those securities. Most of these agreements subject the transfer of the
stock, partnership or other interests constituting equity securities to consent
rights or rights of first refusal of the other shareholders or partners. In
certain cases, a change in control of our company or of the subsidiary holding
our equity interest will give rise to rights or remedies exercisable by other
shareholders or partners, such as a right to initiate or require the initiation
of buy/sell procedures. Some of our subsidiaries and business affiliates are
parties to loan agreements that restrict changes in ownership of the borrower
without the consent of the lenders. All of these provisions will restrict our
ability to sell those equity securities and may adversely affect the price at
which those securities may be sold. For example, in the event buy/sell
procedures are initiated at a time when we are not in a financial position to
buy the initiating party's interest, we could be forced to sell our interest at
a price based upon the value established by the initiating party, and that price
might be significantly less than what we might otherwise obtain.
WE DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO MANAGE OUR BUSINESS AFFILIATES, WHICH MEANS WE
CANNOT CAUSE THOSE AFFILIATES TO OPERATE IN A MANNER THAT IS FAVORABLE TO
US. We do not have the right to manage the businesses or affairs of any of our
business affiliates in which we have less than a majority voting interest.
Rather, our rights may take the form of representation on the board of directors
or a partners' or similar committee that supervises management or possession of
veto rights over significant or extraordinary actions. The scope of our veto
rights varies from agreement to agreement. Although our board representation and
veto rights may enable us to exercise influence over the management or policies
of an affiliate and enable us to prevent the sale of material assets by a
business affiliate in which we own less than a majority voting interest or
prevent it from paying dividends or making distributions to its shareholders or
partners, they do not enable us to cause these actions to be taken.
OUR BUSINESS IS SUBJECT TO RISKS OF ADVERSE GOVERNMENT
REGULATION. Programming services, cable television systems and satellite
carriers are subject to varying degrees of regulation in the United States by
the Federal Communications Commission and other entities. Such regulation and
legislation are subject to the political process and have been in constant flux
over the past decade. In addition, substantially every foreign country in which
we have, or may in the future make, an investment regulates, in varying degrees,
the distribution and content of programming services and foreign investment in
programming companies and wireline and wireless cable communications, satellite
and telephony services. Further material changes in the law and regulatory
requirements must be anticipated, and there can be no assurance that our
business and the business of our affiliates will not be adversely affected by
future legislation, new regulation or deregulation.
9
WE MAY MAKE SIGNIFICANT CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS TO OUR SUBSIDIARIES
AND BUSINESS AFFILIATES TO COVER THEIR OPERATING LOSSES AND FUND THEIR
DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH, WHICH COULD LIMIT THE AMOUNT OF CASH AVAILABLE TO PAY
OUR OWN FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS OR TO MAKE ACQUISITIONS OR INVESTMENTS. The
development of video programming, communications and technology businesses
involves substantial costs and capital expenditures. As a result, many of our
business affiliates have incurred operating and net losses to date and are
expected to continue to incur significant losses for the foreseeable future. Our
results of operations include our, and our consolidated subsidiaries', share of
the net earnings (losses) of affiliates. Our results of operations included $91
million, $(244) million, $(453) million, $(4,906) million and $(3,485) million
for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, and the years 2002, 2001 and
2000, respectively, attributable to net earnings (losses) of affiliates.
We have assisted, and may in the future assist, our subsidiaries and
business affiliates in their financing activities by guaranteeing bank and other
financial obligations. At June 30, 2003, we had guaranteed various loans, notes
payable, letters of credit and other obligations of certain of our subsidiaries
and business affiliates totaling approximately $966 million.
To the extent we make loans and capital contributions to our subsidiaries
and business affiliates or we are required to expend cash due to a default by a
subsidiary or business affiliate of any obligation we guarantee, there will be
that much less cash available to us with which to pay our own financial
obligations or make acquisitions or investments.
IF WE FAIL TO MEET REQUIRED CAPITAL CALLS TO A SUBSIDIARY OR BUSINESS
AFFILIATE, WE COULD BE FORCED TO SELL OUR INTEREST IN THAT COMPANY, OUR INTEREST
IN THAT COMPANY COULD BE DILUTED OR WE COULD FORFEIT IMPORTANT RIGHTS. We are
parties to shareholder and partnership agreements that provide for possible
capital calls on shareholders and partners. Our failure to meet a capital call,
or other commitment to provide capital or loans to a particular subsidiary or
business affiliate, may have adverse consequences to us. These consequences may
include, among others, the dilution of our equity interest in that company, the
forfeiture of our right to vote or exercise other rights, the right of the other
shareholders or partners to force us to sell our interest at less than fair
value, the forced dissolution of the company to which we have made the
commitment or, in some instances, a breach of contract action for damages
against us. Our ability to meet capital calls or other capital or loan
commitments is subject to our ability to access cash. See "-- We could be unable
in the future to obtain cash in amounts sufficient to service our financial
obligations" below.
THOSE OF OUR BUSINESS AFFILIATES THAT OPERATE OFFSHORE ARE SUBJECT TO
NUMEROUS OPERATIONAL RISKS. A number of our business affiliates operate
primarily in countries other than the United States. Their businesses are thus
subject to the following inherent risks:
- fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
- longer payment cycles for sales in foreign countries that may increase
the uncertainty associated with recoverable accounts;
- difficulties in staffing and managing international operations; and
- political unrest that may result in disruptions of services that are
critical to their businesses.
THE ECONOMIES IN MANY OF THE OPERATING REGIONS OF OUR INTERNATIONAL
BUSINESS AFFILIATES HAVE RECENTLY EXPERIENCED RECESSIONARY CONDITIONS, WHICH HAS
ADVERSELY AFFECTED THE FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THEIR BUSINESSES. The economies
in many of the operating regions of our international business affiliates have
recently experienced moderate to severe recessionary conditions, including
Argentina, Chile, the United Kingdom, Germany and Japan, among others, which has
strained consumer and corporate spending and financial systems and financial
institutions in these areas. As a result, our affiliates have experienced a
reduction in consumer spending and demand for services coupled with an increase
in borrowing costs, which has, in some cases, caused our affiliates to default
on their own indebtedness. We cannot assure you that these economies will
recover in the future or that continued economic weakness will not lead to
further reductions in consumer spending or demand for services. We also cannot
assure you that our affiliates in these regions will be able to obtain
sufficient capital or credit to fund their operations.
10
WE HAVE TAKEN SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENT CHARGES DUE TO OTHER THAN TEMPORARY
DECLINES IN THE MARKET VALUE OF CERTAIN OF OUR AVAILABLE FOR SALE
SECURITIES. We own equity interests in a significant number of publicly traded
companies which we account for as available for sale securities. We are required
by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States to determine,
from time to time, whether a decline in the market value of any of those
investments below our cost for that investment is other than temporary. If we
determine that it is, we are required to write down our cost to a new cost
basis, with the amount of the write-down accounted for as a realized loss in the
determination of net income for the period in which the write-down occurs. We
realized losses of $6,053 million, $4,101 million and $1,463 million for the
years ended December 31, 2002, 2001 and 2000, respectively, and $27 million and
$5,134 million for the six months ended June 30, 2003 and 2002, respectively,
due to other than temporary declines in the fair value of certain of our
available for sale securities, and we may be required to realize further losses
of this nature in future periods. We consider a number of factors in determining
the fair value of an investment and whether any decline in an investment is
other than temporary. As our assessment of fair value and any resulting
impairment losses requires a high degree of judgment and includes significant
estimates and assumptions, the actual amount we may eventually realize for an
investment could differ materially from our assessment of the value of that
investment made in an earlier period.
WE COULD BE UNABLE IN THE FUTURE TO OBTAIN CASH IN AMOUNTS SUFFICIENT TO
SERVICE OUR FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS. Our ability to meet our financial
obligations depends upon our ability to access cash. We are a holding company,
and our sources of cash include our available cash balances, net cash from
operating activities, dividends and interest from our investments, availability
under credit facilities and proceeds from asset sales. We cannot assure you that
we will maintain significant amounts of cash, cash equivalents or marketable
securities in the future.
We obtained from one of our subsidiaries net cash in the form of dividends
in the amount of $8 million, $23 million and $5 million in calendar years 2002,
2001 and 2000, respectively. We did not obtain any cash from our subsidiaries
during the six months ended June 30, 2003. The ability of our operating
subsidiaries to pay dividends or to make other payments or advances to us
depends on their individual operating results and any statutory, regulatory or
contractual restrictions to which they may be or may become subject. Some of our
subsidiaries are subject to loan agreements that restrict sales of assets and
prohibit or limit the payment of dividends or the making of distributions, loans
or advances to shareholders and partners.
We generally do not receive cash, in the form of dividends, loans, advances
or otherwise, from our business affiliates. In this regard, we do not have
sufficient voting control over most of our business affiliates to cause those
companies to pay dividends or make other payments or advances to their partners
or shareholders, including us.
WE ARE SUBJECT TO BANK CREDIT AGREEMENTS THAT CONTAIN RESTRICTIONS ON HOW
WE FINANCE OUR OPERATIONS AND OPERATE OUR BUSINESS, WHICH COULD IMPEDE OUR
ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS THAT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL TO US. Our
subsidiaries are subject to significant financial and operating restrictions
contained in outstanding credit facilities. These restrictions will affect, and
in some cases significantly limit or prohibit, among other things, the ability
of our subsidiaries to:
- borrow more funds;
- pay dividends or make other distributions;
- make investments;
- engage in transactions with affiliates; or
- create liens.
The restrictions contained in these credit agreements could have the
following adverse effects on us, among others:
- we could be unable to obtain additional capital in the future to:
- fund capital expenditures or acquisitions that could improve the value
of our company;
- permit us to meet our loan and capital commitments to our business
affiliates;
- allow us to help fund the operating losses or future development of our
business affiliates; or
11
- allow us to conduct necessary corporate activities;
- we could be unable to access the net cash of our subsidiaries to help
meet our own financial obligations;
- we could be unable to invest in companies in which we would otherwise
invest; and
- we could be unable to obtain lower borrowing costs that are available
from secured lenders or engage in advantageous transactions that monetize
our assets.
In addition, some of the credit agreements to which our subsidiaries are
parties require them to maintain financial ratios, including ratios of total
debt to operating cash flow and operating cash flow to interest expense. If our
subsidiaries fail to comply with the covenant restrictions contained in the
credit agreements, that failure could result in a default that accelerates the
maturity of the indebtedness under those agreements. Such a default could also
result in indebtedness under other credit agreements and certain debt securities
becoming due and payable due to the existence of cross-default or
cross-acceleration provisions of these credit agreements and in the indentures
governing these debt securities.
As of June 30, 2003, the subsidiary of our company that operates the DMX
Music service was not in compliance with three covenants contained in its bank
loan agreement, under which it has $89 million outstanding. Although the
subsidiary and the participating banks have entered into a forbearance agreement
whereby the banks have agreed to forbear from exercising certain default-related
remedies against the subsidiary through March 31, 2004, we cannot assure you
that the subsidiary will be able to regain covenant compliance or refinance the
bank loan or that the banks will not eventually seek to exercise their remedies.
OUR STOCK PRICE MAY DECLINE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF STOCK MARKET
FLUCTUATIONS THAT AFFECT THE PRICES OF THE PUBLIC COMPANIES IN WHICH WE HAVE
OWNERSHIP INTERESTS. The stock market has recently experienced significant
price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market prices of securities
of media and other technology companies. We own equity interests in many media
and technology companies. If market fluctuations cause the stock price of these
companies to decline, our stock price may decline.
OUR STOCK PRICE HAS FLUCTUATED SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST YEAR. During
the past year, the stock market has experienced significant price and volume
fluctuations that have affected the market prices of our stock. In the future,
our stock price may be materially affected by, among other things:
- actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results or those of
the companies in which we invest;
- potential acquisition activity by our company or the companies in which
we invest;
- changes in financial estimates by securities analysts regarding our
company or companies in which we invest; or
- general market conditions.
IT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR A THIRD PARTY TO ACQUIRE US, EVEN IF DOING SO MAY
BE BENEFICIAL TO OUR SHAREHOLDERS. Certain provisions of our restated
certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage, delay or prevent a
change in control of our company that a shareholder may consider favorable.
These provisions include the following:
- authorizing a dual class structure, which entitles the holders of our
Series B common stock to ten votes per share and the holders of our
Series A common stock to one vote per share;
- authorizing the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock that could be
issued by our board of directors to increase the number of outstanding
shares and thwart a takeover attempt;
- classifying our board of directors with staggered three-year terms, which
may lengthen the time required to gain control of our board of directors;
- limiting who may call special meetings of shareholders;
- prohibiting shareholder action by written consent, thereby requiring all
shareholder actions to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders; and
- establishing advance notice requirements for nominations of candidates
for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can
be acted upon by shareholders at shareholder meetings.
12
Our chairman, John C. Malone, holds the power to direct the vote of
approximately 44% of our outstanding voting power, including the power to direct
the vote of approximately 94% of the outstanding shares of our Series B common
stock. Dr. Malone holds a portion of his voting power over our Series B common
stock pursuant to a shareholders agreement with the Estate of Bob Magness, Gary
Magness, the late Kim Magness and certain limited liability companies controlled
by the Magnesses.
Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and our stock option
plan may also discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company
even if such change of control would be in the best interests of our
shareholders.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS CONCERNING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus constitute forward-looking statements
within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. To
the extent that such statements are not recitations of historical fact, such
statements constitute forward-looking statements which, by definition, involve
risks and uncertainties. Where, in any forward-looking statement, we express an
expectation or belief as to future results or events, such expectation or belief
is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis, but there
can be no assurance that the statement of expectation or belief will result or
be achieved or accomplished. The following include some but not all of the
factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from
those anticipated:
- general economic and business conditions and industry trends;
- spending on domestic and foreign television advertising;
- the regulatory and competitive environment of the industries in which we,
and the entities in which we have interests, operate;
- continued consolidation of the broadband distribution industry;
- uncertainties inherent in new business strategies, new product launches
and development plans;
- rapid technological changes;
- the acquisition, development and/or financing of telecommunications
networks and services;
- the development and provision of programming for new television and
telecommunications technologies;
- future financial performance, including availability, terms and
deployment of capital;
- the ability of vendors to deliver required equipment, software and
services;
- the outcome of any pending or threatened litigation;
- availability of qualified personnel;
- changes in, or failure or inability to comply with, government
regulations, including, without limitation, regulations of the Federal
Communications Commission, and adverse outcomes from regulatory
proceedings;
- changes in the nature of key strategic relationships with partners and
joint venturers;
- competitor responses to our products and services, and the products and
services of the entities in which we have interests, and the overall
market acceptance of such products and services; and
- threatened terrorist attacks and ongoing military action, including armed
conflict in the Middle East and other parts of the world.
These forward-looking statements and such risks, uncertainties and other factors
speak only as of the date of this prospectus, and we expressly disclaim any
obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any
forward-looking statement contained herein, to reflect any change in our
expectations with regard thereto, or any other change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based.
13
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of the debentures by
the selling security holders. We have filed, and have caused to become
effective, the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part solely
to satisfy our obligation to register the debentures pursuant to the terms of a
registration rights agreement we entered into with the initial purchasers of the
debentures in March 2003.
14
AOL TIME WARNER INC.
GENERAL
AOL has outstanding two classes of stock: common stock, par value $.01 per
share (which we refer to as AOL common stock), and Series LMCN-V common stock,
par value $.01 per share, which has substantially identical characteristics,
except that the Series LMCN-V common stock is entitled to limited voting rights
and is not subject to redemption by AOL to prevent the loss of any governmental
license or franchise. We hold all of the outstanding shares of Series LMCN-V
common stock. The shares of Series LMCN-V common stock will convert into shares
of AOL common stock, on a one to one basis, upon a transfer of the shares of
Series LMCN-V common stock to a third party.
The AOL common stock will initially comprise the reference shares. As of
the date of this prospectus, 57.4079 reference shares are initially attributable
to each $1,000 original principal amount of debentures. The reference shares
will also include any other publicly traded common equity securities that may be
distributed on or in respect of the AOL common stock, or on or with respect to
any publicly traded common equity security into which any of those securities
may be converted or exchanged. In describing the debentures, we refer to AOL and
any other company which may in the future become an issuer of reference shares
as a reference company.
According to publicly available documents, AOL is a media and entertainment
company whose businesses include interactive services, cable systems, filmed
entertainment, television networks, music and publishing. AOL classifies its
businesses into the following fundamental areas:
- America Online, consisting principally of interactive services such as
the AOL and CompuServe services, Web properties such as Netscape,
Moviefone and MapQuest, instant messaging services such as AOL Instant
Messenger and ICQ, Internet technologies and electronic commerce
services;
- cable, consisting principally of interests in cable television systems,
including Time Warner Cable;
- filmed entertainment, consisting principally of interests in filmed
entertainment and television production, including Warner Bros. and New
Line Cinema;
- networks, consisting principally of interests in cable television and
broadcast network programming, including WTBS Superstation, TNT, Cartoon
Network, CNN News Group, Home Box Office and The WB Television Network;
- music, consisting principally of interests in recorded music, music
publishing, and DVD manufacturing including Warner Music Group and such
labels as Atlantic, Elektra, Rhino, Warner Bros. Records and Warner Music
International; and
- publishing, consisting principally of interests in magazine publishing,
book publishing and direct marketing, including Time, People and Sports
Illustrated magazines, Warner Books and Little, Brown and Company.
AOL is required to file reports and other information with the SEC. Copies
of these reports and other information may be inspected and copied at the SEC
offices specified under "Where to Find More Information" below.
ONGOING INVESTIGATIONS BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND THE
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND PENDING SHAREHOLDER LITIGATION
AOL has disclosed that the Securities and Exchange Commission and the
Department of Justice are conducting investigations into the accounting and
disclosure practices of AOL. In its disclosures, AOL has stated that it
discovered in August 2002 information that provided a basis to reexamine the
accounting for three transactions totaling $49 million in advertising revenue at
AOL's America Online unit. After discovering this information, AOL commenced an
internal review under the direction of AOL's Chief Financial Officer into
advertising transactions at the America Online unit and, as a result of the CFO
review, AOL announced on October 23, 2002 that it intended to adjust the
accounting for certain transactions. The adjustments had an
15
aggregate impact of reducing the advertising and commerce revenues of AOL during
the period from the third quarter of 2000 through the second quarter of 2002 by
$190 million. At that time, AOL announced that it did not then anticipate that
its CFO review would lead to any further restatement by AOL but disclosed that
it could not predict the outcome of the separate SEC and DOJ investigations.
Since AOL's October 2002 announcement, AOL has made the following public
disclosures:
- On January 28, 2003, AOL filed amendments to its Annual Report on Form
10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2001 and its quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2002 and June 30, 2002 that
included restated financial statements reflecting the adjustments
announced on October 23, 2002.
- AOL has continued its CFO review of advertising transactions at AOL's
America Online unit. Based on that review, AOL has not, to date,
announced a determination to make any further restatement.
- As part of ongoing discussions between AOL and the SEC, in the first
quarter of 2003, the staff of the SEC informed AOL that, based on
information supplied by AOL, it was the preliminary view of the SEC staff
that AOL's accounting for two related transactions between America Online
and Bertelsmann, A.G. should be adjusted. According to AOL, these two
transactions involved the following:
- Bertelsmann had the right at two separate times to put a portion of its
interest in AOL Europe to AOL (80% in January 2002 and the remaining
20% in July 2002) at an agreed upon price. AOL also had a call right on
Bertelsmann's interests in AOL Europe at a higher price. If Bertelsmann
exercised its put rights, AOL had the option to pay the put price
either in cash or in AOL's stock or a combination thereof.
- During 2001, AOL sought to persuade Bertelsmann that a contractual
amendment guaranteeing Bertelsmann cash for its interest in AOL Europe
had significant value to Bertelsmann (in an estimated range of
approximately $400-$800 million). In exchange for agreeing to such an
amendment, AOL wanted Bertelsmann to extend and/or expand its
relationship with AOL as a significant purchaser of advertising. AOL
disclosed various reasons why it was preferable for AOL to settle in
cash.
- By separate agreements executed in March and December of 2001, AOL
agreed to settle the put transactions in cash rather than in stock,
without any change to the put prices. Contemporaneously with the
agreements to pay in cash, Bertelsmann agreed to purchase additional
advertising from AOL of $125 million and $275 million, respectively.
The amount of advertising purchased by Bertelsmann pursuant to these
two transactions was recognized by AOL as these advertisements were run
(almost entirely at the America Online unit) during the period from the
first quarter of 2001 through the first quarter of 2003, with the
advertising revenues recognized by AOL totaling $16.3 million, $65.5
million, $39.8 million and $0.5 million, respectively, for the four
quarters ending December 31, 2001, and $80.3 million, $84.4 million,
$51.6 million and $58.0 million, respectively, for the four quarters
ending December 31, 2002, and $2.0 million was recognized in the first
quarter of 2003. The remaining approximately $1.6 million is expected
to be recognized by AOL during the remainder of 2003.
- AOL has stated that it subsequently provided the SEC a written
explanation of the basis for AOL's accounting for these transactions and
the reasons why both AOL and its auditors believed that these
transactions have been accounted for correctly.
- On July 23, 2003, AOL disclosed that the Office of the Chief Accountant
of the SEC has informed AOL of its conclusion that the accounting for the
two related transactions between AOL's America Online unit and
Bertelsmann is incorrect. Specifically, AOL disclosed that in the view of
the Office of the Chief Accountant, AOL should have allocated some
portion of the $400 million paid by Bertelsmann to AOL's America Online
unit for advertising, which was run by AOL and recognized as revenue, as
consideration for AOL's decision to relinquish its option to pay
Bertelsmann in stock for
16
its interest in AOL Europe, and therefore should have been reflected as a
reduction in the purchase price for Bertelsmann's interest in AOL Europe,
rather than as advertising revenue. In addition, AOL disclosed that the
Division of Enforcement of the SEC continues to investigate the facts and
circumstance of the negotiation and performance of the foregoing
agreements with Bertelsmann, including the value of advertising provided
thereunder.
- AOL has stated that based upon its knowledge and understanding of the
facts of the transactions between AOL's America Online unit and
Bertelsmann, AOL and its auditors continue to believe AOL's accounting
for these transactions is appropriate. It is possible, however, that AOL
may learn information as a result of its ongoing review, discussions with
the SEC, and/or the SEC's ongoing investigation that would lead AOL to
reconsider its views of the accounting for these transactions. In light
of the conclusion of the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC that
the accounting for the Bertelsmann transactions is incorrect, it is
likely that the SEC would not declare effective any registration
statement of AOL or its affiliates, such as the potential initial public
offering of Time Warner Cable Inc., until this matter is resolved.
- The SEC staff has also informed AOL that it is continuing to investigate
a range of other transactions principally involving the America Online
unit. AOL has stated that it intends to continue its efforts to cooperate
with both the SEC and the DOJ investigations to resolve these matters.
It is not possible to predict the outcome of the ongoing SEC and DOJ
investigations, and AOL has disclosed that it is possible that further
restatement of AOL's financial statements may be necessary.
In addition, AOL disclosed that as of May 12, 2003, there were
approximately 40 putative class action and shareholder derivative lawsuits
alleging violations of federal and state securities laws as well as purported
breaches of fiduciary duties pending against AOL, certain of its current and
former executives, past and present members of its board of directors and, in
certain instances, America Online. In addition, AOL has disclosed that there are
three actions making allegations of ERISA violations. The complaints purport to
be made on behalf of certain of AOL's shareholders and allege, among other
things, that AOL made material misrepresentations and/or omissions of material
facts in violation of Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, Rule 10b-5 promulgated
thereunder and Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. AOL has stated in its public
filings that it is unable to predict the outcome of the pending shareholder
litigation, it is incurring expenses as a result of the pending shareholder
litigation and any costs associated with judgments in or settlements of these
matters could adversely affect its financial condition and results of
operations.
PUBLIC INFORMATION CONCERNING AOL
This prospectus relates only to the debentures and does not relate to AOL
common stock or any other securities of AOL. AOL has no obligations whatsoever
under the debentures. All disclosures contained in this prospectus regarding AOL
are derived from the publicly available documents referred to in the preceding
paragraph. We have not participated in the preparation of AOL's documents nor
made any due diligence inquiry with respect to the information provided in those
documents. The initial purchasers have not made any due diligence inquiry with
respect to the information provided in AOL's documents in connection with the
offering of the debentures. Neither we nor the initial purchasers represent that
AOL's publicly available documents or any other publicly available information
regarding AOL are accurate or complete.
We can not provide you with any assurance that all events occurring prior
to the date of this prospectus, including events that would affect the accuracy
or completeness of the publicly available documents described in the preceding
paragraph that would affect the trading price of the AOL common stock, and
therefore the trading price of the debentures, have been publicly disclosed.
Subsequent disclosure of any such event or the disclosure of or failure to
disclose material future events concerning AOL could affect the trading price of
the debentures.
We and our affiliates do not make any representation to you as to the
performance of AOL, the AOL common stock or any other securities of AOL.
17
PRICE RANGE AND DIVIDEND HISTORY OF AOL COMMON STOCK
AOL common stock is listed and traded on the NYSE under the symbol "AOL".
The following table sets forth, for the calendar quarters indicated, the range
of high and low sale prices of AOL common stock as reported on the NYSE
Composite Tape since January 11, 2001, the date on which the merger of AOL
Online, Inc. and Time Warner Inc. was consummated.
AOL COMMON STOCK
------------------
HIGH LOW
------- ------
2001:
First quarter (beginning January 11)...................... $ 52.10 31.50
Second quarter............................................ $ 58.51 33.46
Third quarter............................................. $ 53.30 27.40
Fourth quarter............................................ $ 39.21 29.39
2002:
First quarter............................................. $ 32.92 22.10
Second quarter............................................ $ 23.96 12.75
Third quarter............................................. $ 14.80 8.70
Fourth quarter............................................ $ 17.89 10.26
2003:
First quarter............................................. $ 15.65 9.90
Second quarter............................................ $ 16.39 10.80
Third quarter............................................. $ 16.98 14.69
Fourth quarter (through October 7)........................ $ 15.78 15.04
The last reported sale price on the NYSE of one share of AOL common stock
on October 7, 2003 was $15.47.
At the date of this prospectus, AOL has never paid a cash dividend on its
common stock.
18
SELLING SECURITY HOLDERS
We issued and sold the debentures in a private placement that was exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. We understand that the
initial purchasers of the debentures, Bank of America Securities LLC and J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc., subsequently resold the debentures in compliance with
Rule 144A. Prior to the date of this prospectus, the debentures were
transferable in accordance with Rule 144A and were eligible for trading in
Nasdaq's Private Offerings, Resales and Trading Through Automated Linkages
(PORTAL) market. The selling security holders listed below (including their
transferees, pledgees, donees or successors) may offer and sell pursuant to this
prospectus any or all of the debentures owned by them from time to time.
In accordance with the terms of a registration rights agreement that we
entered into with the initial purchasers of the debentures, we have made this
prospectus available to the selling security holders so that they may publicly
resell their debentures.
The following table sets forth information with respect to each selling
security holder and the principal amount of debentures owned by it. The entire
principal amount of the debentures owned by each of the selling security holders
named in the table may be sold pursuant to this prospectus. Because each selling
security holder may sell all or some of its debentures from time to time under
this prospectus, no estimate can be given at this time as to the principal
amount of debentures that will be held by a particular selling security holder
following any sale of debentures by it. In addition, some of the selling
security holders named in the table may have sold, transferred, loaned or
otherwise disposed of all or a portion of their debentures since the date they
last advised us of their holdings, and holders of up to $84,716,000 in aggregate
principal amount of the debentures may not be identified in the table. Hence,
the total principal amount of debentures included in the following table does
not equal the maximum aggregate principal amount of debentures to which this
prospectus relates. Changes in the information concerning the selling security
holders will be set forth in supplements to this prospectus, when and if
necessary. Prior to any use of this prospectus in connection with a sale of any
debentures by a selling security holder not identified in the table below, the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part will be amended by
a post-effective amendment to set forth the name, the aggregate principal amount
of debentures beneficially owned by the selling security holder and the
percentage that those debentures represent of the outstanding debentures.
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
1976 Distribution Trust FBO A.R. Lauder/Zinterhofer......... 13,000 *
2000 Revocable Trust FBO A.R. Lauder/Zinterhofer............ 13,000 *
Advent Convertible Master Cayman L.P........................ 18,042,000 1.0%
Advisory Convertible Arbitrage Fund (I) L.P.(1)............. 1,000,000 *
Akanthos Arbitrage Master Fund, L.P. ....................... 7,500,000 *
Alcon Pharmaceuticals....................................... 682,000 *
Allentown City Firefighters Pension Plan.................... 45,000 *
Allentown City Officers & Employees Pension Fund............ 29,000 *
Allentown City Police Pension Plan.......................... 60,000 *
Allstate Insurance Company(1)............................... 3,400,000 *
Allstate Life Insurance Company(1).......................... 6,000,000 *
Alpha US Sub Fund 4, LLC.................................... 1,038,000 *
AM/CPV CBPV SEC............................................. 630,000 *
American AAdvantage Funds................................... 355,000 *
American Fidelity Assurance Company......................... 850,000 *
American Inventors Life Insurance Co. ...................... 400,000 *
Amerisure Mutual Insurance.................................. 550,000 *
Amerus Life Insurance Company............................... 1,100,000 *
19
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
Arapahoe County Colorado.................................... 108,000 *
Arbitex Master Fund, L.P.(1)................................ 47,000,000 2.7%
Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund (Bermuda) Ltd..... 14,400,000 *
Argent Classic Convertible Arbitrage Fund L.P............... 6,700,000 *
Argent LowLev Convertible Arbitrage Fund LLC................ 6,400,000 *
Argent LowLev Convertible Arbitrage Fund Ltd................ 26,300,000 1.5%
Arlington County Employees Retirement System................ 1,180,000 *
Asante Health............................................... 125,000 *
Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited........ 2,100,000 *
Attorneys Title Insurance Fund.............................. 125,000 *
Aventis Pension Master Trust................................ 320,000 *
Banc of America Securities LLC(2)(3)........................ 2,005,000 *
Bank Austria Cayman Islands, Ltd............................ 5,000,000 *
Bank of America Pension Plan................................ 3,000,000 *
Barclays Global Investors Limited........................... 1,500,000 *
Bay County Pers(1).......................................... 80,000 *
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.(2)................................. 22,500,000 1.3%
Black Diamond Convertible Offshore LDC...................... 3,322,000 *
Black Diamond Offshore Ltd.................................. 1,846,000 *
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Delaware, Inc..................... 160,000 *
BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.(2)................................... 4,500,000 *
Boilermaker -- Blacksmith Pension Trust..................... 1,800,000 *
BPF Horecabedrijf........................................... 380,000 *
British Virgin Islands Social Security Board................ 156,000 *
CALAMOS(R) Convertible Fund CALAMOS(R) Investment Trust..... 17,720,000 1.0%
CALAMOS(R) Convertible Growth and Income Fund -- CALAMOS(R)
Investment Trust.......................................... 17,720,000 1.0%
CALAMOS(R) Convertible Portfolio -- CALAMOS(R) Advisors
Trust..................................................... 200,000 *
CALAMOS(R) Global Convertible Fund -- CALAMOS(R) Investment
Trust..................................................... 500,000 *
California Wellness Foundation, The......................... 500,000 *
Canyon Capital Arbitrage Master Fund, Ltd.(1)............... 4,500,000 *
Canyon Value Realization Fund (Cayman), Ltd.(1)............. 6,150,000 *
Canyon Value Realization Fund, L.P.(1)...................... 2,250,000 *
Canyon Value Realization MAC 18, Ltd. (RMF)(1).............. 900,000 *
CareFirst BlueChoice, Inc................................... 125,000 *
CareFirst of Maryland, Inc.................................. 450,000 *
Castle Convertible Fund, Inc................................ 1,000,000 *
CEMEX Pension Plan.......................................... 150,000 *
CGNU Life Assurance......................................... 2,350,000 *
Cheyne Leveraged Fund LP.................................... 11,599,000 *
Cheyne Fund LP.............................................. 18,114,000 1.0%
Chrysler Corporation Master Retirement Trust................ 3,010,000 *
CIP Limited Duration Company................................ 2,228,000 *
Citicorp Life Insurance Company(1).......................... 39,000 *
Citigroup Global Markets -- formerly Salomon Smith Barney
Inc.(2)(4)................................................ 1,500,000 *
City of Albany Pension Plan................................. 175,000 *
20
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
City of Birmingham Retirement & Relief System............... 1,300,000 *
City of Knoxville Pension System............................ 370,000 *
City of New Orleans......................................... 360,000 *
City University of New York................................. 264,000 *
Cockrell Foundation, The.................................... 150,000 *
Commercial Union Life Fund.................................. 3,000,000 *
Consultim Group Capital Markets Funds....................... 2,000,000 *
Context Convertible Arbitrage Fund, LP(2)................... 1,700,000 *
Context Convertible Arbitrage Offshore, LTD. ............... 2,500,000 *
Continental Assurance Company on behalf of its Separate
Account (E)(1)............................................ 1,800,000 *
Continental Casualty Company(1)............................. 19,200,000 1.1%
Convertible Securities Fund................................. 75,000 *
CQS Convertible & Qualitative Strategies Master Fund
Limited................................................... 5,000,000 *
Credit Suisse First Boston Europe Limited(1)................ 293,190,000 16.8%
Credit Suisse First Boston LLC(2)........................... 6,000,000 *
CS Alternative Strategy Limited............................. 1,100,000 *
Daimler Chrysler Corporation Emp. #1 Pension Plan DTD
4/1/89 ................................................... 6,590,000 *
DBAG London(1).............................................. 120,200,000 6.9%
Deep Rock and Co............................................ 3,500,000 *
Deephaven Domestic Convertible Trading Ltd(1)............... 32,175,000 1.8%
Delaware State Retirement Fund.............................. 2,732,000 *
Delta Air Lines Master Trust................................ 1,750,000 *
Delta Air Lines Master Trust-CV............................. 1,635,000 *
Delta Pilots Disability and Survivorship Trust.............. 500,000 *
Delta Pilots Disability and Survivorship Trust-CV........... 785,000 *
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.(2)............................ 2,450,000 *
Dodeca Fund L.P............................................. 570,000 *
Dorinco Reinsurance Company................................. 1,000,000 *
Double Black Diamond Offshore LDC........................... 9,494,000 *
Dow Chemical Company Employees' Retirement Plan, The........ 3,700,000 *
Dresdner Bank AG(2)......................................... 5,000,000 *
Duckbill and Co............................................. 1,000,000 *
Family Service Life Insurance Co.(1)........................ 300,000 *
F&C Global Convertible...................................... 140,000 *
Farmington Casualty Company................................. 328,000 *
Fondren Foundation, The..................................... 180,000 *
Fore Convertible Master Fund, Ltd........................... 2,900,000 *
Franklin & Marshall College................................. 490,000 *
FreeState Health Plan, Inc. ................................ 55,000 *
Gaia Offshore Master Fund Ltd............................... 12,400,000 *
General Motors Welfare Benefit Trust........................ 2,000,000 *
Genesee County Employees' Retirement System................. 700,000 *
Georgia Municipal Employees................................. 1,422,000 *
GLG Global Convertible Fund................................. 61,000,000 3.5%
GLG Global Convertible Ocits Fund........................... 1,900,000 *
GLG Market Neutral Fund..................................... 55,000,000 3.1%
GMAM Group Pension Trust I.................................. 1,500,000 *
Government of Singapore Investment Corporation PTE LTD. .... 7,500,000 *
21
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
Grable Foundation, The...................................... 157,000 *
Grace Convertible Arbitrage Fund, Ltd.(1)................... 1,500,000 *
Grady Hospital Foundation................................... 234,000 *
Greek Catholic Union of the USA............................. 100,000 *
Group Hospitalization and Medical Services, Inc............. 480,000 *
Guardian Life Insurance Co.(1).............................. 8,700,000 *
Guardian Pension Trust(1)................................... 900,000 *
Guggenheim Portfolio Co. XV, LLC............................ 1,550,000 *
Guggenheim Portfolio Company VIII, LLC...................... 270,000 *
Hamilton Multi-Strategy Master Fund, LP .................... 24,000,000 1.4%
HealthNow New York, Inc..................................... 275,000 *
HFR Convertible Arbitrage Account........................... 1,142,000 *
HSBC Trustee, Zola Managed Trust............................ 500,000 *
IL Annuity and Insurance Company............................ 500,000 *
Independence Blue Cross..................................... 744,000 *
Innovest Finanzdienstle..................................... 1,500,000 *
Jackson County Employees' Retirement System................. 550,000 *
JMG Capital Partners, LP.................................... 37,839,000 2.2%
JMG Triton Offshore Fund, Ltd............................... 55,839,000 3.2%
JP Morgan Securities Inc.(2)................................ 27,610,000 1.6%
John Deere Pension Trust.................................... 2,000,000 *
Kettering Medical Center Funded Depreciation Account........ 100,000 *
Knoxville Utilities Board Retirement System................. 200,000 *
LB Series Fund, Inc., High Yield Portfolio(1)............... 2,200,000 *
LB Series Fund, Inc., Income Portfolio(1)................... 2,400,000 *
Louisiana Workers' Compensation Corporation................. 425,000 *
Lutheran Brotherhood High Yield Fund(1)..................... 1,800,000 *
Lutheran Brotherhood Income Fund(1)......................... 1,600,000 *
Lyxor....................................................... 2,653,000 *
Lyxor/Gaia II Fund Ltd. .................................... 3,200,000 *
Lyxor Master Fund (under management of Arbitex Capital
Limited)(1)............................................... 2,500,000 *
Lyxor Master Fund Ref: Argent/LowLev CB c/o Argent.......... 6,700,000 *
Lyxor Zola Fund Limited(1).................................. 3,500,000 *
Macomb County Employees' Retirement System.................. 400,000 *
Mainstay Convertible Fund(1)................................ 2,460,000 *
Mainstay VP Convertible Fund(1)............................. 1,040,000 *
Man Mac 1 Limited........................................... 237,000 *
Managed Assets Trust........................................ 500,000 *
Mellon HBV Master Multi-Strategy Fund L.P.(1)............... 500,000 *
Merril Lynch Insurance Group(1)............................. 597,000 *
Microsoft Corporation....................................... 2,395,000 *
Mill River Master Fund, L.P.(1) ............................ 1,000,000 *
Motion Picture Industry Health Plan -- Active Member Fund... 330,000 *
Motion Picture Industry Health Plan -- Retiree Member
Fund...................................................... 205,000 *
Municipal Employees......................................... 424,000 *
National Benefit Life Insurance Company(1).................. 23,000 *
Nations Convertible Securities Fund......................... 6,925,000 *
New Orleans Firefighters Pension & Relief Fund.............. 240,000 *
22
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
Nicholas Applegate Capital Management Investment Grade
Convertible Mutual Fund................................... 20,000 *
Nisswa Master Fund Ltd. .................................... 2,000,000 *
NMS Services (Cayman) Inc.(1)............................... 27,500,000 1.6%
Nomura Securities Intl Inc.(2).............................. 37,000,000 2.1%
NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company............................. 525,000 *
Norwich Union Life and Pensions............................. 4,000,000 *
Occidental Petroleum Corporation............................ 460,000 *
OCM Convertible Trust....................................... 4,070,000 *
Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation......................... 322,000 *
Oppenheimer Convertible Securities Fund(1).................. 8,000,000 *
Pacific Life Insurance Company.............................. 1,500,000 *
Park Avenue Life Insurance Co.(1)........................... 100,000 *
Partner Reinsurance Company Ltd............................. 1,050,000 *
Peoples Benefit Life Insurance Company Teamsters............ 13,000,000 *
Phoenix Insurance Company, The.............................. 579,000 *
Physicians' Reciprocal Insurers Account #7.................. 800,000 *
Polaris Vega Fund L.P. ..................................... 2,500,000 *
Policeman and Firemen Retirement System of the City of
Detroit................................................... 1,038,000 *
Port Authority of Allegheny County Retirement and Disability
Allowance Plan for the Employees Represented by Local 85
of the Amalgamated Transit Union.......................... 825,000 *
Primerica Life Insurance Company(1)......................... 904,000 *
Privilege Portfolio SICAV................................... 3,000,000 *
Pro-mutual.................................................. 1,324,000 *
PVF Sterling Global......................................... 3,000,000 *
Qwest Occupational Health Trust............................. 440,000 *
Ramius Capital Group(1)..................................... 1,000,000 *
Ramius, LP(1)............................................... 250,000 *
Ramius Master Fund, Ltd.(1)................................. 7,625,000 *
Ramius Partners II, LP(1)................................... 350,000 *
RBC Alternative Assets, L.P.(1)............................. 200,000 *
RCG Baldwin, LP(1).......................................... 1,000,000 *
RCG Halifax Master Fund, Ltd.(1)............................ 1,500,000 *
RCG Latitude Master Fund, Ltd.(1)........................... 9,275,000 *
RCG Multi Strategy Master Fund, Ltd.(1)..................... 1,400,000 *
Retail Clerks Pension Trust................................. 3,000,000 *
Retail Clerks Pension Trust #2.............................. 1,500,000 *
Sage Capital................................................ 5,300,000 *
Salomon Brothers Asset Management, Inc.(1).................. 62,000,000 3.5%
San Francisco City and County ERS........................... 2,607,000 *
SCI Endowment Care Common Trust Fund -- First Union......... 50,000 *
SCI Endowment Care Common Trust Fund -- National Fiduciary
Services.................................................. 230,000 *
SCI Endowment Care Common Trust Fund -- Sun Trust........... 150,000 *
SEI Private Trust Company................................... 800,000 *
Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company................. 1,400,000 *
Sphinx Convertible Arbitrage Fund SPC....................... 325,000 *
SPT......................................................... 1,800,000 *
St. Albans Partners LTD. ................................... 18,000,000 1.0%
23
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
Standard Fire Insurance Company, The........................ 529,000 *
State Employees' Retirement Fund of the State of Delaware... 1,400,000 *
State of Florida Division of Treasury....................... 11,575,000 *
State of Maryland Retirement Agency......................... 5,659,000 *
State Street Custodian for GE Pension Trust................. 4,270,000 *
Sunrise Partners Limited Partnership(1)..................... 22,000,000 1.3%
SuttonBrook Capital Portfolio, LP........................... 42,500,000 2.4%
Swiss Re Financial Products Corporation..................... 5,741,000 *
Tag Associates.............................................. 225,000 *
TCW Group, Inc. ............................................ 14,400,000 *
TD Securities (USA) Inc.(2)................................. 17,830,000 1.0%
Thrivent Financial for Lutherans(1)......................... 8,500,000 *
Topanga XI(1)............................................... 5,500,000 *
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company, The.................. 394,000 *
Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of Illinois, The...... 356,000 *
Travelers Insurance Company -- Life, The(1)................. 1,652,000 *
Travelers Insurance Company Separate Account TLAC, The(1)... 85,000 *
Travelers Life and Annuity Company, The(1).................. 111,000 *
Travelers Series Trust Convertible Bond Portfolio........... 85,000 *
Trustmark Insurance......................................... 605,000 *
UBS AG LONDON(2)............................................ 31,000 *
UBS Securities LLC(2)....................................... 15,231,000 *
UFJ International plc....................................... 10,000,000 *
Union Carbide Retirement Account............................ 1,500,000 *
Union Investment Privatfonds(1)............................. 300,000 *
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1262 and Employers
Pension Fund.............................................. 800,000 *
Univar USA Inc. Retirement Plan............................. 375,000 *
Van Kampen Harbor Fund(2)................................... 2,000,000 *
Vanguard Convertible Securities Fund, Inc................... 11,180,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the Charitable
Convertible Securities Fund............................... 825,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the Charitable
Income Fund............................................... 250,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the EB Convertible
Securities Fund........................................... 1,230,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the Field Foundation
of Illinois............................................... 70,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the GenCorp
Foundation................................................ 55,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the Key Trust
Convertible Securities Fund............................... 225,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the Key Trust Fixed
Income Fund............................................... 340,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Agent for the Victory
Convertible Securities Fund............................... 810,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for the
California State Auto Assoc ASNF.......................... 45,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for the
California State Auto Assoc Inter-Insurance............... 495,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for the
California State Auto Assoc Retirement Pension............ 75,000 *
24
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DEBENTURES PERCENTAGE OF
THAT MAY BE OUTSTANDING
NAME SOLD ($) DEBENTURES
---- -------------- -------------
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for
CompSource Oklahoma....................................... 450,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for Georgia
Municipal Employees Retirement Trust Fdn.................. 565,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for Health
Foundation of Greater Cincinnati.......................... 210,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for
Potlatch.................................................. 750,000 *
Victory Capital Management as Investment Manager for
Stamford Police Pension Fund.............................. 55,000 *
Wachovia Securities LLC(2).................................. 10,000,000 *
Wachovia Securities International LTD.(1)................... 5,000,000 *
White River Securities L.L.C.(2)............................ 22,500,000 1.3%
Worldwide Transactions Ltd.................................. 338,000 *
Xavex Convertible Arbitrage 2 Fund.......................... 1,400,000 *
Xavex Convertible Arbitrage 5 Fund(1)....................... 1,000,000 *
Xavex-Convertible Arbitrage 10 Fund......................... 1,900,000 *
Yield Strategies Fund I, L.P................................ 10,000,000 *
Yield Strategies Fund II, L.P............................... 11,000,000 *
Zola Partners, L.P.......................................... 1,500,000 *
Zurich Institutional Benchmark Master Fund c/o Argent....... 1,900,000 *
Total....................................................... $1,665,284,000 95.2%
============== =====
------------
* Less than 1%.
(1) The selling security holder is an affiliate of a registered broker-dealer.
(2) The selling security holder is a registered broker-dealer.
(3) Banc of America Securities LLC was an initial purchaser of the debentures
and in the past has performed investment banking services for Liberty and
may continue to perform such services for Liberty in the future.
(4) CitiGroup Global Markets, Inc. (f/k/a Salomon Smith Barney Inc.) has been an
investment advisor and has performed underwriting services for prior Liberty
offerings, and may continue to perform such services for Liberty in the
future.
We prepared the above table based on information supplied to us by the
selling security holders named in the table. Unless otherwise disclosed in the
footnotes to the table, no selling security holder has indicated that it has had
any material relationship with us or our affiliates during the past three years.
The selling security holders listed in the above table may have sold or
transferred, in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act, some or all of their debentures since the date as of which the
information is presented in the above table. We may add the names of other
selling security holders and related information by means of a post-effective
amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
To the extent that any of the selling security holders identified above are
broker-dealers, they are deemed to be, under interpretations of the SEC,
"underwriters" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
With respect to selling security holders that are affiliates of
broker-dealers, such selling security holders have informed us that they
acquired their debentures in the ordinary course of business and, at the time of
the purchase of the debentures, such selling security holders had no agreements
or understandings, directly or indirectly, with any person to distribute the
debentures.
25
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBENTURES
The debentures were issued as a separate series of securities under an
indenture dated as of July 7, 1999, between Liberty and The Bank of New York, as
trustee, as supplemented by a tenth supplemental indenture dated as of March 26,
2003, between Liberty and the trustee. When we refer to the indenture, we mean
the indenture as supplemented by the tenth supplemental indenture. The terms of
the debentures include those stated in the indenture and those terms made part
of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
The following summary of certain provisions of the indenture and the debentures
does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the provisions of the indenture. A copy of the indenture is
available upon request from Liberty. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise
defined in this section have the meanings ascribed to them in the indenture.
GENERAL
The indenture provides that senior debt securities may be issued by Liberty
thereunder from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt securities
that Liberty may issue under the indenture, including the debentures, are
collectively referred to in this section as the "senior debt securities." The
indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt
securities that may be issued under it. Senior debt securities of each series
issued under the indenture, including the debentures, may be reopened at any
time and additional securities of that series may be issued.
The .75% Exchangeable Senior Debentures due 2023 constitute a separate
series of senior debt securities under the indenture. The debentures are
unsecured senior obligations of Liberty and are initially limited to an
aggregate original principal amount of $1,750,000,000. They will mature on March
30, 2023, unless earlier exchanged by the holders, purchased by us at the option
of the holders or redeemed by us. When we refer to a "debenture" in this
section, we are referring to a debenture in the original principal amount of
$1,000.
The indenture does not contain any provision that restricts the ability of
Liberty to incur additional indebtedness. It also does not afford holders of
debentures any protection in the event of a decline in Liberty's credit quality
as a result of a takeover, recapitalization or similar transaction involving
Liberty. Subject to the limitations set forth under "-- Successor Corporation"
below, Liberty may enter into transactions, including a sale of all or
substantially all of its assets, a merger or a consolidation, that could
substantially increase the amount of Liberty's indebtedness or substantially
reduce or eliminate its assets, and which may have an adverse effect on
Liberty's ability to service its indebtedness, including the debentures.
Liberty will make payments of principal, interest and distributions on the
debentures through the trustee to the depositary, as the registered holder of
the debentures. See "-- Form, Denomination and Registration" below. Liberty will
not have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating
to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global
debentures registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee, or for
maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial
ownership interests.
If any payment or distribution on the debentures is to be made on a day
that is not a business day, that payment or distribution will be made on the
next business day, without interest or any other payment being made on account
of the delay. A business day means any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or
legal holiday on which banking institutions or trust companies in The City of
New York are authorized or obligated by law or regulation to close.
If the debentures at some date are reissued in certificated form, Liberty
will make payments of principal, interest and distributions on the debentures to
the registered holders thereof as described in this paragraph. Liberty will make
payments due on the maturity date in immediately available funds upon
presentation and surrender by the holder of a certificated debenture at the
office or agency maintained by Liberty for this purpose in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, which is expected to be the office of the
trustee at 101 Barclay Street, New York, N.Y. 10286. Liberty will pay interest
and additional distributions due on a certificated debenture on any interest
payment date other than the maturity date by check mailed to the address of the
holder entitled to the payment as his address shall appear in the security
register of
26
Liberty. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of $10 million or more in
aggregate original principal amount of certificated debentures will be entitled
to receive such payments, on any interest payment date other than the maturity
date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire
transfer instructions have been received in writing by the trustee not less than
15 calendar days prior to the interest payment date. Any wire transfer
instructions received by the trustee will remain in effect until revoked by the
holder. Any interest and any additional distribution due and not punctually paid
or duly provided for on a certificated debenture on any interest payment date
other than the maturity date will cease to be payable to the holder of that
debenture as of the close of business on the related record date and may either
be paid (l) to the person in whose name the certificated debenture is registered
at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the
defaulted interest and any additional distribution that is fixed by Liberty,
written notice of which will be given to the holders of the debentures not less
than 30 calendar days prior to the special record date, or (2) at any time in
any other lawful manner.
All moneys or in-kind distributions paid or made by Liberty to the trustee
or any paying agent for the payment of principal and interest on any
certificated debenture which remain unclaimed for two years after the payment or
making thereof may be repaid or returned to Liberty and, thereafter, the holder
of the debenture may look only to Liberty for payment.
Each debenture has been issued in book-entry form (a "book-entry
debenture") in minimum denominations of $1,000 original principal amount and
integral multiples thereof. Each book-entry debenture is represented by one or
more global debentures in fully registered form, registered in the name of The
Depository Trust Company, which is referred to in this prospectus as "DTC" or
the "depositary," or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global debentures
are shown on, and transfers thereof are effected only through, records
maintained by DTC and its participants. See "-- Form, Denomination and
Registration."
Book-entry debentures may be transferred or exchanged only through the
depositary. See "-- Form, Denomination and Registration." Registration of
transfer or exchange of certificated debentures will be made at the office or
agency maintained by Liberty for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, currently the office of the trustee at 101 Barclay Street, New
York, New York 10286. Neither Liberty nor the trustee will charge a service
charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debentures, but Liberty
may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in connection with the transfer or exchange (other
than exchanges pursuant to the indenture not involving any transfer).
If any reference shares or shares of our Series A common stock are to be
delivered upon an exchange or payment of any debenture, we will not deliver
fractional securities. Instead, we will pay cash in an amount equal to the
product of the fractional interest times the applicable current market price of
the shares determined for purposes of fixing the number of shares to be
delivered upon such exchange or payment.
RANKING AND HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE
The debentures, which constitute unsecured senior indebtedness of Liberty,
rank equally with Liberty's existing and future unsubordinated unsecured
indebtedness, and senior in right of payment to all subordinated indebtedness of
Liberty. The debentures are effectively subordinated to all secured indebtedness
of Liberty, to the extent of the value of the assets securing that indebtedness,
and to all liabilities of Liberty's subsidiaries to the extent of the value of
the assets of our subsidiaries. As of June 30, 2003, we had no secured
indebtedness and our consolidated subsidiaries had outstanding $9,938 million of
liabilities, all of which effectively rank senior to the debentures. See "Risk
Factors -- Factors Relating to Our Company -- Our holding company structure
could restrict access to funds of our subsidiaries that may be needed to service
the debentures."
Liberty is a holding company and is largely dependent on dividends,
distributions and other payments from its subsidiaries and business affiliates
and other investments to meet its financial obligations, and will be dependent
on those payments to meet its obligations under the debentures. Liberty's
subsidiaries and business affiliates have no obligation, contingent or
otherwise, to pay any amounts due under the debentures or to make any funds
available for any of those payments. See "Risk Factors -- Factors Relating to
Our
27
Company -- We could be unable in the future to obtain a sufficient amount of
cash with which to service our financial obligations."
INTEREST
Liberty will pay interest on the debentures semi-annually on March 30 and
September 30, beginning September 30, 2003, at an annual rate of .75% of the
original principal amount of each debenture. The debentures will begin to accrue
interest from and including March 26, 2003. Interest will be paid to the persons
in whose names the debentures are registered at the close of business on the
March 15 and September 15 preceding the interest payment date. Changes in the
adjusted principal amount will not affect the amount of the semi-annual interest
payments received by holders of the debentures, which is calculated solely on
the original principal amount. See "-- Adjusted Principal Amount" below.
However, to the extent that such interest payments exceed an annualized yield of
..75% of the adjusted principal amount from time to time in effect, the adjusted
principal amount will be reduced. Interest payable at maturity, or upon any
earlier date of purchase by us at your option or redemption, will be payable to
the person to whom principal shall be payable on that date. Interest on the
debentures is calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Until a debenture can be transferred in compliance with Rule 144(k) under
the Securities Act, the interest rate on that debenture is subject to increase
in the event this prospectus becomes unusable by the selling security holders
for more than 30 days in any twelve-month period. Beginning on the 31st day, the
interest rate will increase by one quarter of one percent (0.25%) of the
original principal amount of the debenture for the first 90-day period
thereafter, and will increase by an additional one quarter of one percent of the
original principal amount of the debenture at the beginning of each subsequent
90-day period during which the prospectus remains unusable. However, the maximum
interest rate that may be borne by the debentures is 1.75%. Upon the prospectus
again becoming usable, the interest rate borne by the debentures will return to
the original interest rate of .75%.
EXCHANGE OPTION
The holder of a debenture may at any time, except during the periods
described below under "-- Payment at Stated Maturity" and "-- Optional
Redemption," and except following a holder's irrevocable election to tender
debentures for repurchase described below under "-- Purchase at Your Option,"
exchange the debenture for the exchange market value of the reference shares
attributable to that debenture. Liberty may deliver the reference shares or pay
the exchange market value of the reference shares in cash, shares of our Series
A common stock or a combination of reference shares, cash and shares of our
Series A common stock.
For so long as the debentures are represented by global debentures
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, exchanges may be effected only
through DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program, or ATOP. If the debentures at some
date are reissued in certificated form, the exchange right at that time will be
exercisable as follows:
- by completing and manually signing an exchange notice in the form
available from the exchange agent, which is initially the trustee, and
delivering the exchange notice to the exchange agent at the office it
maintains for this purpose;
- by surrendering the debentures to be exchanged to the exchange agent;
- if required, by furnishing appropriate endorsement and transfer
documents; and
- if required, by paying all transfer or similar taxes.
If an exchange is made during the period between the record date for a
semi-annual interest payment date and such interest payment date, the exchanging
holder will be required to tender funds equal to the interest and any additional
distribution that is payable to the holders of debentures on that interest
payment date.
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We refer to the date on which all of the foregoing requirements for
exchange of a particular debenture are satisfied as the exchange date for that
debenture. Liberty will advise a holder that tenders debentures for exchange of
the form of consideration, expressed in percentages, to be delivered by Liberty
for the exchange market value of the reference shares attributable to the
debentures by 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the second trading day (as
defined below) after the exchange date. Such advice by Liberty shall be
irrevocable. If Liberty fails to timely deliver such advice to an exchanging
holder, the form of consideration to be delivered by Liberty for such exchange
market value shall be solely reference shares.
A holder may withdraw any exchange notice through ATOP by the close of
business on the trading day following the date on which Liberty advises the
holder of the form of consideration that it will pay upon exchange of the
debentures. If the debentures are in certificated form, the exchange notice may
be withdrawn by delivering a written notice of withdrawal to the paying agent by
the close of business on the trading day following the date on which Liberty
provides its advice as to the form of consideration. The notice of withdrawal
shall state:
- the principal amount of the debentures being withdrawn;
- the certificate numbers of the debentures being withdrawn; and
- the original principal amount, if any, of the debentures that remain
subject to the exchange notice.
At the date of this prospectus, the reference shares attributable to each
debenture consist of 57.4079 shares of AOL common stock. If any other publicly
traded common equity securities, including additional shares of AOL common
stock, are issued as a distribution in respect of the AOL common stock or any
other reference shares, or if any reference shares are exchanged for publicly
traded common equity securities of a different issuer in an exchange offer,
merger or other extraordinary transaction, then the reference shares will
include the shares so issued, or be replaced by the shares issued in the
exchange offer, merger or other transaction. See "-- Changes to the Reference
Shares" below.
We will pay the consideration due upon an exchange of debentures as soon as
reasonably practicable after the determination of the exchange market value, but
in no event later than four trading days thereafter. The exchange market value
will be the current market price (as defined below) of the reference shares,
which shall be based upon the 15 scheduled trading days commencing on the fourth
scheduled trading day following the exchange date. If there are fewer than 15
trading days during such 15 scheduled trading day period, then the current
market price of the reference shares shall be calculated based upon the actual
number of trading days during such period.
"Current market price" equals the average of the daily volume weighted
average price ("VWAP") of the relevant security on the principal United States
national or regional securities exchange on which such security is listed or, if
not so listed, on the Nasdaq Stock Market during the prescribed period of
trading days as reported by the BLOOMBERG PROFESSIONAL Service provided by
BLOOMBERG L.P. or, if such service is no longer providing such information, such
other comparable service as we shall specify. To the extent that a relevant
security is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, the VWAP of the relevant
security on the NYSE will be determined based on the Bloomberg function: "TICKER
UN EQUITY AQR" or a successor function on such service. If for whatever reason
VWAP is unavailable for a trading day, then the closing price of the relevant
security on that trading day shall be used in lieu of VWAP for purposes of
determining the current market price of the relevant security. The term "closing
price" is defined under "-- Additional Distributions."
"Trading day" means, with respect to any security the closing price of
which is being determined, a day on which there is trading on the principal
United States national or regional securities exchange or recognized
international securities exchange, in the Nasdaq Stock Market or in the
over-the-counter market used to determine such closing price.
If we elect to pay all or a percentage of the exchange market value of the
reference shares in reference shares, the number of reference shares to be
delivered per debenture will equal the percentage of the exchange market value
to which such election relates of the reference shares attributable to each
debenture.
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If we elect to pay all or a percentage of the exchange market value of the
reference shares attributable to any debentures in shares of our Series A common
stock, the number of shares of our Series A common stock deliverable in payment
of the exchange market value of the reference shares shall be equal to the
number obtained by dividing such exchange market value or percentage thereof by
the current market price of our Series A common stock. The current market price
of our Series A common stock shall be calculated based upon the 15 scheduled
trading days commencing on the fourth scheduled trading day following the
exchange date. If there are fewer than 15 trading days during such 15 scheduled
trading day period, then the current market price of our Series A common stock
shall be calculated based upon the actual number of trading days during such
period.
ADDITIONAL DISTRIBUTIONS
If a reference company pays or makes a dividend or distribution on its
reference shares (other than publicly traded common equity securities that
become reference shares other than in the case of a final distribution), we will
pay or make an additional distribution to holders of the debentures based on
that dividend or distribution. At the date of this prospectus, the reference
shares attributable to each debenture consist of 57.4079 shares of AOL common
stock, and AOL is the initial reference company. The reference shares and the
reference company are subject to change as described under "-- Changes to the
Reference Shares" below.
As of the date of this prospectus, AOL has never paid a cash dividend on
its common stock. We will pay to the holder of each debenture, as an additional
distribution, the amount of any regular cash dividend paid in respect of the
number of reference shares attributable to each debenture. We will pay this
additional distribution on the next semi-annual interest payment date for the
debentures unless the dividend is paid after the record date for such interest
payment, in which case the additional distribution will be payable on the next
subsequent interest payment date. The additional distribution will be paid to
holders of the debentures as of 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the regular
record date for that interest payment date. We will treat as a regular cash
dividend any cash dividend that is paid by a reference company in accordance
with its publicly announced regular common equity dividend policy. We refer to
any dividend or distribution by a reference company on its reference shares that
is not a regular cash dividend as an extraordinary distribution.
Whether and what we pay or make by way of an additional distribution
following an extraordinary distribution by a reference company on its reference
shares will depend on the nature of the extraordinary distribution. If an
extraordinary distribution consists of cash, we will pay to holders of the
debentures, as an additional distribution on each debenture, the amount of the
cash distribution received by a holder of the number of reference shares
attributable to a debenture.
If an extraordinary distribution consists of publicly traded common equity
securities, we will not make an additional distribution to holders of the
debentures. Rather, the number of publicly traded common equity securities
(including fractions thereof) distributed to a holder of the number of reference
shares attributable to a debenture will be treated as reference shares that are
also attributable to that debenture.
If an extraordinary distribution consists of publicly traded securities
other than common equity securities, including options, warrants or similar
rights to acquire reference shares, we will cause to be delivered to the holders
of the debentures, as an additional distribution on each debenture, either those
securities received by a holder of the number of reference shares attributable
to a debenture or cash in an amount equal to the average of the closing prices
of the securities that would have otherwise been delivered on the 15 scheduled
trading days commencing on the trading day after such extraordinary distribution
is made by the applicable reference company. We will not, however, deliver
fractional securities. Instead, we will pay cash in an amount equal to the
product of the fractional interest times such average closing prices.
The closing price of any security on any date of determination means the
closing sale price (or, if no closing sale price is reported, the last reported
sale price) of such security on such date, as reported in the composite
transactions (or comparable system) for the principal United States national or
regional securities exchange on which such security is so listed or a recognized
international securities exchange, or, if such security is not listed on a
principal United States national or regional securities exchange or on a
recognized
30
international securities exchange, as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or,
if such security is not so reported, the last quoted bid price for such security
in the over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or
similar organization. If the closing price of a security cannot be determined by
any of the foregoing methods on a particular trading day, our board of directors
will be entitled to determine the closing price on the basis of those quotations
that it, in good faith, considers appropriate. However, a nationally recognized
investment banking or appraisal firm retained by us will make that determination
if the securities at issue are to be distributed to holders of the debentures
and the aggregate value of those securities is expected to exceed $100,000,000.
If an "ex-dividend" date for a security occurs during the period used in
determining that security's closing price, the closing price of the security on
any day prior to the "ex-dividend" date used in calculating the closing price
shall be reduced by the amount of the dividend. For this purpose, the amount of
a non-cash dividend will be equal to the value of that dividend as determined by
a nationally recognized investment banking firm that we retain for this purpose.
If an extraordinary distribution consists of assets or property other than
cash or publicly traded securities, we will pay to holders of the debentures, as
an additional distribution on each debenture, an amount of cash equal to the
fair market value of the assets or properties distributed to a holder of the
number of reference shares attributable to a debenture. That fair market value
will be determined, in good faith, by our board of directors. However, a
nationally recognized investment banking or appraisal firm retained by us will
make that determination if we expect the aggregate fair market value of the
assets or properties distributed on the number of reference shares attributable
to all of the outstanding debentures to exceed $100,000,000.
We will treat as an extraordinary distribution any consideration that is
distributed in connection with a merger, consolidation, share exchange,
liquidation or dissolution involving a reference company, except that any
reference shares surrendered in exchange for any such consideration shall cease
to be reference shares. See "-- Changes to the Reference Shares" below.
We will make an additional distribution that is attributable to an
extraordinary distribution on the twentieth business day after such
extraordinary distribution is made by the applicable reference company or
successor reference company. The additional distribution will be paid to holders
of the debentures as of a special record date that will be the tenth business
day prior to the date we pay the additional distribution.
Liberty will issue a press release setting forth the amount and
composition, per debenture, of any additional distribution to be made by it that
is attributable to an extraordinary distribution, and will deliver such release
to DTC for dissemination through the DTC broadcast facility for so long as the
debentures are in book entry form. All additional distributions that are paid or
made in respect of any regular cash dividend amount or extraordinary
distributions will be paid or made without any interest or other payment in
respect of such amounts.
ADJUSTED PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
Original Principal Amount. The principal amount of the debentures
initially is equal to their original principal amount, which is $1,000 for each
debenture.
Adjustments to Principal Amount. The principal amount of the debentures
will be reduced to reflect any additional distributions that we make to holders
of the debentures that are attributable to extraordinary distributions made on
the reference shares. No adjustment will be made to the principal amount,
however, for distributions that are paid in respect of any regular cash dividend
amount. Because the principal amount of the debentures is subject to reduction,
we refer to the principal amount of a debenture at any time after the first
reduction, if any, as its adjusted principal amount. In no event will the
adjusted principal amount of a debenture be less than zero.
On any date that we pay or make an additional distribution to the holders
of the debentures that is attributable to an extraordinary distribution on the
reference shares, the original principal amount of each debenture (or, if such
principal amount has previously been reduced, the adjusted principal amount of
the debenture) will be reduced by the amount of the additional distribution or
the cash value thereof determined as set forth under "-- Additional
Distributions" that is paid or made with respect to that debenture.
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Thereafter, the adjusted principal amount will be further reduced on each
successive semi-annual interest payment date beginning on the second semi-annual
interest payment date following the date of such additional distribution to the
extent necessary to cause the semi-annual interest payment on that date to
represent the payment by Liberty, in arrears, of an annualized yield of .75% of
the adjusted principal amount of the debentures. An adjustment for purposes of
ensuring that Liberty does not pay an annualized yield of more than .75% of the
adjusted principal amount of the debentures that is necessitated by the payment
of an additional distribution to holders of the debentures will take effect on
the second succeeding interest payment date after the payment of that
distribution. We will issue a press release, and provide the release to DTC for
dissemination through the DTC broadcast facility for so long as the debentures
are in book entry form, each time an adjustment is made to the adjusted
principal amount of the debentures.
The adjustments described above will not affect the amount of the
semi-annual interest payments received by holders of debentures, which will
continue to be paid at the rate of .75% per annum of the original principal
amount of the debentures.
PAYMENT AT STATED MATURITY
The stated maturity of the debentures is March 30, 2023.
We will pay, for each debenture outstanding on the stated maturity date, an
amount equal to the sum of:
- the adjusted principal amount of the debenture, plus
- any accrued but unpaid interest on the debenture up to the stated
maturity date, plus
- any final period distribution on the debenture.
On a date not less than 22 scheduled trading days prior to the maturity
date, we are required to give notice to all holders at their addresses shown in
the register of the registrar, and beneficial owners as required by applicable
law, stating whether payment on debentures outstanding on the maturity date will
be made in reference shares, cash or any combination of cash and reference
shares, and the percentages or dollar amounts per debenture of each.
Debentures may be surrendered for exchange until the close of business on
the fourth trading day prior to the stated maturity date.
The number of reference shares deliverable upon maturity shall be equal to
the number obtained by dividing the amount payable upon maturity per debenture
or percentage thereof to which the election to deliver securities relates by the
current market price of the reference shares. If we specify that we will pay per
each debenture a particular dollar amount at maturity in reference shares, then
the number of shares that will be deliverable will equal that dollar amount
divided by the current market price of the reference shares, which shall be
calculated based upon the 15 scheduled trading days ending on the fourth
scheduled trading day preceding the stated maturity date. If there are fewer
than 15 trading days during such 15 scheduled trading day period, then the
current market price for the reference shares shall be calculated based upon the
actual number of trading days during such period.
A final period distribution will be made if, as of the stated maturity
date:
- a regular cash dividend or extraordinary distribution has been declared
on any of the reference shares attributable to a debenture;
- the ex-dividend date for that dividend or distribution has occurred; and
- the holders of such reference shares have not yet received the dividend
or distribution.
In the case of a regular cash dividend that has been declared on reference
shares attributable to a debenture as of the stated maturity date but not yet
paid, the final period distribution for each debenture will be equal to the
amount of the regular cash dividend that is payable to a holder of the number of
reference shares attributable to a debenture. This amount will be paid within 5
business days of the payment of the regular cash dividend by the applicable
reference company. In the case of an extraordinary distribution that
32
has been declared on reference shares as of the stated maturity date but not yet
paid or made, the form and amount of the final period distribution will be
determined in the same manner as that for an additional distribution that would
have been attributable to that extraordinary distribution, except that any
publicly traded common equity securities to be distributed on the reference
shares will be part of any final period distribution rather than treated as
additional reference shares. Because any additional distribution we make on a
debenture that is attributable to an extraordinary distribution on the reference
shares is deducted from the adjusted principal amount of that debenture, we will
deduct from any final period distribution that is attributable to an
extraordinary distribution the adjusted principal amount of the debenture, as of
the stated maturity date, as to which such final period distribution is paid. We
will pay or make any final period distribution that is attributable to an
extraordinary distribution on the twentieth business day after the payment of
that extraordinary distribution by the applicable reference company.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The debentures are not redeemable before April 5, 2008. At any time or from
time to time on or after April 5, 2008, Liberty may redeem all or some of the
debentures on no fewer than 22 trading days prior notice. If Liberty chooses to
redeem only some of the debentures, there must remain outstanding, immediately
following any partial redemption, at least $100 million original principal
amount of debentures.
The redemption price in respect of any debentures called for redemption
will equal the adjusted principal amount of the debentures plus any accrued and
unpaid interest and any final period distribution. We may choose to pay the
original or adjusted principal amount, as the case may be, payable upon
redemption in reference shares, cash or any combination thereof. Our redemption
notice must specify the percentages of reference shares and cash that will be
payable in respect of the adjusted principal amount upon redemption. The number
of reference shares deliverable per debenture or percentage thereof upon such
election shall be equal to the number obtained by dividing the adjusted
principal amount of the debenture, or percentage thereof to which the election
relates, by the current market price of the reference shares, which shall be
determined based upon the 15 scheduled trading days ending on the fourth
scheduled trading day preceding the redemption date. If there are fewer than 15
trading days during such 15 scheduled trading day period, then the current
market price of the reference shares shall be calculated based upon the actual
number of trading days during such period.
Definition and Timing of Final Period Distribution. A final period
distribution will be made with respect to each debenture we redeem if, as of the
redemption date:
- a regular cash dividend or extraordinary distribution has been declared
on any of the reference shares attributable to a debenture;
- the ex-dividend date for that dividend or distribution has occurred; and
- the holders of such reference shares have not yet received the dividend
or distribution.
The timing, amount and form of any final period distribution that we make
in connection with a redemption of debentures will be determined in the same
manner as that described under "-- Payment at Stated Maturity" above for any
final distribution we may make in connection with the repayment of debentures
that are outstanding on the stated maturity date.
Exchange. Debentures called for redemption may be surrendered for exchange
until the close of business on the fourth trading day prior to the redemption
date. Any debenture in respect of which an exchange notice is submitted that is
subsequently withdrawn will remain subject to redemption.
Payment of Redemption Price. To the extent that the redemption price is to
be paid in cash, on or prior to the redemption date, we will irrevocably deposit
with the trustee sufficient funds to pay the redemption price for all debentures
being redeemed at that date, other than any final period distribution payable
after the redemption date. Any portion of the redemption price to be paid in
reference shares, and any final period distribution included in the redemption
price which consists of publicly traded common equity securities, will be
payable by delivery of those securities or cash in an amount equal to the
current market price of those
33
securities, which shall be calculated based upon the five scheduled trading days
ending on the trading day next preceding the redemption date. If there are fewer
than five trading days during such five scheduled trading day period, then the
current market price shall be calculated based upon the actual number of trading
days during such period. If the redemption date is not a business day, then the
redemption price will be payable on the next business day, without any interest
or other payment being made in respect of the delay.
Additional distributions to be made after debentures have been called for
redemption and before the redemption date will be payable to the holders as of
the record date for that distribution.
Once a notice of redemption is given and the paying agent holds money or
securities sufficient to pay the redemption amount of the debentures on the
redemption date, then immediately after the redemption date, the debentures will
cease to be outstanding, interest on the debentures called for redemption will
cease to accrue on the debentures and all rights of the holders thereunder will
cease, except for the right of the holders to receive the redemption amount.
If we improperly withhold or refuse to pay the redemption price for the
debentures, interest on the debentures will continue to accrue at an annual rate
of .75% from the original redemption date to the actual date of payment. In this
case, the actual payment date will be considered the redemption date for
purposes of calculating the redemption price. Any final period distribution will
be payable based on the original redemption date scheduled.
PURCHASE AT YOUR OPTION
Holders of the debentures may tender debentures for purchase by us on March
30, 2008, March 30, 2013 or March 30, 2018 for a purchase price per debenture
equal to the adjusted principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest and any
final period distribution. We refer to those dates as purchase dates. In
connection with a purchase at your option, we may elect to pay the adjusted
principal amount in reference shares, cash, shares of our Series A common stock
or any combination thereof. Holders may submit their debentures for purchase by
us to the paying agent at any time from the opening of business on the day that
is 20 business days prior to the purchase date until the close of business on
the fifth business day prior to the purchase date.
On a date not less than 22 scheduled trading days prior to each purchase
date, we are required to give notice to all holders at their addresses shown in
the register of the registrar, and beneficial owners as required by applicable
law, stating, among other things, the procedures that holders must follow to
require us to purchase their debentures. We will also state, no later than 22
scheduled trading days prior to each purchase date, whether we will pay the
purchase price of any debentures submitted to us for repurchase in reference
shares, cash or shares of our Series A common stock, and the percentages or
dollar amount of each.
The number of reference shares or shares of our Series A common stock
deliverable upon purchase by us of the debentures shall be equal to the number
obtained by dividing the purchase price per debenture or portion thereof to
which the election to deliver securities relates by the current market price of
the reference shares or shares of our Series A common stock, as the case may be.
The current market price of the reference shares or shares of our Series A
common stock, as the case may be, shall be calculated based upon the 15
scheduled trading days ending on the fourth trading day preceding the purchase
date. If there are fewer than 15 trading days during such 15 scheduled trading
day period, then the current market price for the reference shares or shares of
our Series A common stock, as the case may be, shall be calculated based upon
the actual number of trading days during such period. We will pay the purchase
price on the purchase date.
The timing, amount and form of any final period distribution that we make
in connection with a purchase of debentures by us at your option will be
determined in the same manner as that described under "-- Payment at Stated
Maturity" above for any final distribution we may make in connection with the
repayment of debentures that are outstanding on the stated maturity date.
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The purchase notice given by each holder electing to require us to purchase
debentures must be given so as to be received by the paying agent no later than
the close of business on the fifth trading day prior to the purchase date, will
be irrevocable and must state:
- the certificate numbers of the holder's debentures to be delivered for
purchase;
- the percentage of the principal amount of the debentures to be purchased;
and
- that the debentures are to be purchased by us pursuant to the applicable
provisions of the debentures.
In compliance with applicable law (including the United States federal
securities laws), we and our affiliates may, at any time, purchase outstanding
debentures by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
In connection with any purchase date, we will comply with the provisions of
Rule 13e-4, Rule 14e-1 and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act
which may then apply.
Our obligation to pay the purchase price for the aggregate principal amount
of the debentures as to which a purchase notice has been delivered is
conditioned upon the holder delivering the debentures, together with necessary
endorsements, to the paying agent at any time after delivery of the purchase
notice. We will cause the purchase price for the debentures to be paid promptly
following the later of the purchase date or the time of delivery of the
debentures.
If the paying agent holds money or securities sufficient to pay the
purchase price of the debentures on the purchase date, then, immediately after
the purchase date, the debentures will cease to be outstanding and interest on
such debentures will cease to accrue, whether or not such debentures are
delivered to the paying agent. After the debentures cease to be outstanding, all
other rights of the holder shall terminate, other than the right to receive the
purchase price upon delivery of the debentures.
We may not purchase any debentures at the option of holders if an event of
default with respect to the debentures, other than a default in the payment of
the purchase price with respect to such debentures, has occurred and is
continuing. The terms of our then-existing borrowing agreements may limit our
ability to purchase debentures.
CHANGES TO THE REFERENCE SHARES
As of the date of this prospectus, AOL is the reference company and one
share of AOL common stock represents one reference share. The reference company
may change over the 20-year term of the debentures, or there may be one or more
additional reference companies. A change in, or the addition of, a reference
company will result in a change in, or the addition to, the reference shares
attributable to the debentures. The reference shares attributable to each
debenture may from time to time include one or more fractions of a reference
share.
The initial reference shares attributable to each debenture are 57.4079
shares of AOL common stock.
The reference shares attributable to each debenture will be affected by the
following events, in the manner described below:
Dividends and Distributions. If a reference company makes a dividend or
distribution on its reference shares consisting of additional reference shares
of the same class, then the number of reference shares attributable to each
debenture will equal the sum of:
- the number of reference shares attributable to each debenture immediately
prior to the dividend or distribution; and
- the number of additional reference shares that a holder of the number of
reference shares attributable to each debenture receives as a result of
the dividend or distribution.
If a reference company makes a distribution on its reference shares
consisting of publicly traded common equity securities of another class of that
reference company or of another issuer, then the reference
35
shares attributable to each debenture will consist (except in the case of such
an extraordinary distribution that gives rise to a final distribution) of the
following:
- the number of reference shares attributable to each debenture immediately
prior to the distribution; and
- the number and type of new common equity securities that a holder of the
number of reference shares attributable to each debenture receives as a
result of the distribution;
and the other issuer shall also be deemed a reference company.
Any change in the reference shares attributable to a debenture that results
from a dividend or distribution by a reference company will be deemed to have
occurred on the date the dividend or distribution is made by the reference
company.
Combinations, Subdivisions and Reclassifications. If a reference company
combines or subdivides its reference shares or issues by reclassification of its
reference shares any shares of any other class of its publicly traded common
equity securities (including any reclassification that is effected in connection
with a merger in which the reference company is the continuing corporation), the
reference shares will be adjusted so that the reference shares of such reference
company attributable to each debenture will become the number and kind of
reference shares that a holder of the reference shares of such reference company
attributable to each debenture immediately prior to the combination, subdivision
or reclassification owns immediately following that action.
Any change in the reference shares attributable to a debenture that results
from a combination, subdivision or reclassification by a reference company will
be deemed to have occurred immediately after the effective time of the
combination, subdivision or reclassification.
Mergers and Consolidations. If a reference company merges or consolidates
with another company where the reference shares are exchanged for other publicly
traded common equity securities, the reference shares will be adjusted so that
the reference shares of such reference company attributable to each debenture
will become the number and kind of publicly traded common equity securities that
a holder of the number of reference shares of such reference company
attributable to each debenture immediately prior to the merger or consolidation
owns immediately following the merger or consolidation. To the extent the
consideration received by the holders of reference shares in a merger or
consolidation consists of cash or assets other than publicly traded common
equity securities, the cash and assets so received will be treated as though
they were part of an extraordinary distribution by the reference company or the
successor reference company, and shall be the object of an additional
distribution by Liberty. See "-- Additional Distributions" above.
If an election is offered to holders of reference shares as to the form of
consideration they may receive in any merger or consolidation, such election
shall be deemed a reference share offer and treated in the manner described
under "-- Tender or Exchange Offer, Elections" below.
Any change in the reference shares attributable to a debenture that results
from a merger or consolidation will be deemed to have occurred immediately after
the effective time of the merger or consolidation.
Statutory Share Exchange. If a reference company participates in a
statutory share exchange with another company where the reference shares are
exchanged for other publicly traded common equity securities, the reference
shares will be adjusted so that the reference shares of such reference company
attributable to each debenture will become the number and kind of publicly
traded common equity securities that a holder of the number of reference shares
of such reference company attributable to each debenture immediately prior to
the share exchange owns immediately following the share exchange. To the extent
the consideration received by the holders of reference shares in a share
exchange consists of cash or assets other than publicly traded common equity
securities, the cash and assets so exchanged will be treated as though they were
part of an extraordinary distribution by the reference company or the successor
reference company, and shall be the object of an additional distribution by
Liberty. See "-- Additional Distributions" above.
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If an election is offered to holders of reference shares as to the form of
consideration they may receive in any statutory exchange, such election shall be
deemed a reference share offer and treated in the manner described under
"-- Tender or Exchange Offer; Elections" below.
Any change in the reference shares attributable to a debenture that results
from a share exchange will be deemed to have occurred immediately after the
effective time of the share exchange.
Liquidation or Dissolution. If a reference company liquidates or
dissolves, the reference shares will be adjusted so that the reference shares of
such reference company attributable to each debenture will become the number and
kind of publicly traded common equity securities, if any, that a holder of the
number of reference shares attributable to each debenture immediately prior to
the liquidation or dissolution owns immediately thereafter. To the extent the
consideration received by the holders of reference shares in a liquidation or
dissolution consists of cash or assets other than publicly traded common equity
securities, the cash and assets so exchanged will be treated as though they were
part of an extraordinary distribution by the reference company, and shall be the
subject of an additional distribution by Liberty. See "-- Additional
Distributions" above.
Any change in the reference shares attributable to a debenture that results
from the liquidation or dissolution of a reference company will be deemed to
have occurred immediately after the effective time of the liquidation or
dissolution.
Tender or Exchange Offer; Elections. The reference shares will be adjusted
in the event of any tender or exchange offer for 30% or more of the outstanding
reference shares of any reference company. In the event of such a tender offer,
or any consolidation, merger or statutory share exchange involving a reference
company in which an election is given to holders of reference shares as to the
consideration to be received in the transaction, a reference share offer shall
be deemed to have been made.
If a reference share offer is made, we will make a reference share offer
adjustment, which consists of the following:
- the number of reference shares, of the type subject to the reference
share offer, that are included in the reference shares attributable to
each debenture, will be reduced proportionately, in accordance with the
following formula:
R = X/N
WHERE:
R = the fraction by which the number of reference shares that are the
subject of the reference share offer and attributable to each
debenture will be reduced.
X = the aggregate number of such reference shares that are surrendered
and accepted in the reference share offer.
N = the aggregate number of reference shares of the class that is subject
to the reference share offer outstanding immediately prior to the
closing of the reference share offer.
- if any portion of the average transaction consideration paid in a
reference share offer consists of publicly traded common equity
securities, then the reference shares attributable to each debenture will
include, immediately after the closing of the reference share offer, for
each reference share of the type subject to the reference share offer
that were included in the reference shares attributable to each debenture
(before the proportionate reduction of such reference shares described
above), the portion of the average transaction consideration that
consists of publicly traded common equity securities.
The term "average transaction consideration" means, as to each reference
share subject to the reference share offer, the quotient derived by dividing (1)
the aggregate amount of consideration actually distributed or paid to all
holders of reference shares that participated in the reference share offer, by
(2) the total number of reference shares outstanding immediately prior to the
closing of the reference share offer of the type entitled to participate in that
reference share offer.
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Any portion of the average transaction consideration that does not consist
of publicly traded common equity securities will be treated as though it were
part of an extraordinary distribution by the reference company and shall be the
object of an additional distribution by Liberty. See "-- Additional
Distributions" above.
Any change in the reference shares attributable to a debenture that results
from a reference share offer will be deemed to have occurred immediately after
the closing of the tender or exchange offer or the effective time of the merger,
consolidation or statutory share exchange involving an election, as the case may
be.
If following any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, exchange
offer or tender offer no reference shares were to remain outstanding, the
maturity of the debentures would not be accelerated and the debentures would
continue to remain outstanding until the stated maturity date, unless the
debentures were earlier redeemed or purchased at your option by us. At the
stated maturity or upon redemption or purchase by us at your option, holders of
the debentures would only be entitled to receive the adjusted principal amount
of the debentures, plus any accrued but unpaid interest.
CALCULATIONS IN RESPECT OF THE DEBENTURES
We will be responsible for making all calculations called for under the
debentures. These calculations include determination of:
- the adjusted principal amount of the debentures;
- the current market price of the reference shares;
- the current market price of shares of our Series A common stock;
- the exchange market value of the reference shares;
- any final period distribution on the debentures;
- the cash value of any property distributed on the reference shares;
- the average transaction consideration in a reference share offer and the
related reference share offer adjustment;
- the number and composition of the reference shares attributable to a
debenture; and
- the amount of accrued interest payable upon redemption or at maturity of
the debentures.
We will make all these calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error,
our calculations will be final and binding on holders of the debentures. We will
provide a schedule of our calculations to the trustee, and the trustee is
entitled to rely upon the accuracy of our calculations without independent
verification.
OUR SERIES A COMMON STOCK
We have the right to pay all or a portion of the consideration payable to
holders of debentures in connection with any exercise of the exchange right, or
any purchase of debentures by us at the option of the holder, by delivery of
shares of our Series A common stock. When we refer to our Series A common stock,
we mean the Series A common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Liberty as it
currently exists, or any other publicly traded common stock of Liberty, or of
any successor entity to Liberty that assumes the debentures and the indenture by
executing and delivering a supplemental indenture in proper form, into which
such Series A common stock may be converted, changed or exchanged pursuant to
any merger, consolidation, reclassification, combination, subdivision, statutory
exchange or similar transaction. For more information regarding our Series A
common stock, see "Description of our Common Stock."
Our right to issue Series A common stock in respect of an exchange or
purchase of debentures, in whole or in part, is subject to our satisfying
various conditions, including:
- the listing of such shares on the principal United States securities
exchange on which our Series A common stock is then listed or, if not so
listed, on Nasdaq;
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- the registration of the shares of our Series A common stock under the
Securities Act, if required; and
- any necessary qualification or registration under applicable state
securities law or the availability of an exemption from such
qualification and registration.
FORM, DENOMINATION AND REGISTRATION
So long as DTC, or its nominee is the registered owner of a global
debenture, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be the sole
holder of the debentures represented by the global debenture for all purposes
under the indenture. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the
beneficial owners of the global debentures representing the debentures will not
be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated debentures and will not
be considered the holders of the debentures for any purpose under the indenture,
and no global debenture representing the book-entry debentures will be
exchangeable or transferable. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on
the procedures of the depositary and, if the beneficial owner is not a
participant of the depositary, then the beneficial owner must rely on the
procedures of the participant through which the beneficial owner owns its
interest in order to exercise any rights of a holder under the global debentures
or the indenture. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain
purchasers of debentures take physical delivery of the debentures in
certificated form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a global debenture representing the debentures.
The global debentures representing the debentures will be exchangeable for
certificated debentures of like tenor and terms and of differing authorized
denominations aggregating a like principal amount, only if:
- the depositary notifies Liberty that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as depositary for the global debentures;
- the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the
Exchange Act;
- Liberty in its sole discretion determines that the global debentures
shall be exchangeable for certificated debentures; or
- there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default under the
indenture with respect to the debentures.
Upon any exchange, the certificated debentures shall be registered in the
names of the beneficial owners of the global debentures representing the
debentures, which names shall be provided by the depositary's relevant
participants (as identified by the depositary) to the trustee.
Information Relating to the Depositary. The following is based on
information furnished by the depositary:
The depositary will act as the depositary for the debentures. The
debentures will be issued as fully registered senior debt securities
registered in the name of Cede & Co., which is the depositary's partnership
nominee. Fully registered global debentures will be issued for the
debentures and will be deposited with the depositary.
The depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the
New York Banking Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the
New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing
corporation" within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code,
and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section
17A of the Exchange Act. The depositary holds debentures that its
participants deposit with the depositary. The depositary also facilitates
the settlement among participants of securities transactions, including
transfers and pledges, in deposited debentures through electronic
computerized book-entry changes to participants' accounts, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of senior debt securities
certificates. Direct participants of the depositary include securities
brokers and dealers, including the initial purchasers of the debentures,
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations. The depositary is owned by a number of its direct
participants, including the initial purchasers of the debentures and by the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the
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National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the depositary's
system is also available to indirect participants, which includes
securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant,
either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the depositary and
its participants are on file with the SEC.
Purchases of debentures under the depositary's system must be made by
or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the
debentures on the depositary's record. The ownership interest of each
beneficial owner, which is the actual purchaser of each debenture,
represented by global debentures, is in turn to be recorded on the direct
and indirect participants' records. Beneficial owners will not receive
written confirmation from the depositary of their purchase, but beneficial
owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of
the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the
direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered
into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the global
debentures representing the debentures are to be accomplished by entries
made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
Beneficial owners of the global debentures representing the debentures will
not receive certificated debentures representing their ownership interests
therein, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the
debentures is discontinued.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global debentures representing
the debentures which are deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary
are registered in the name of the depositary's nominee, Cede & Co. The
deposit of global debentures with, or on behalf of, the depositary and
their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial
ownership. The depositary has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners
of the global debentures representing the debentures; the depositary's
records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose
accounts the debentures are credited, which may or may not be the
beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping
account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by the depositary to
direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and
by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed
by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
Neither the depositary nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with
respect to the global debentures representing the debentures. Under its
usual procedure, the depositary mails an omnibus proxy to Liberty as soon
as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns
Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to
whose accounts the debentures are credited on the applicable record date
(identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).
Principal and/or interest payments and additional distributions on the
global debentures representing the debentures will be made to the
depositary. The depositary's practice is to credit direct participants'
accounts on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective
holdings shown on the depositary's records unless the depositary has reason
to believe that it will not receive payment on the date. Payments by
participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions
and customary practices, as is the case with debentures held for the
accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and
will be the responsibility of the participant and not of the depositary,
the trustee or Liberty, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements
as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal and/or interest
and additional distributions to the depositary is the responsibility of
Liberty or the trustee, disbursement of the payments to direct participants
will be the responsibility of the depositary, and disbursement of the
payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and
indirect participants.
The depositary may discontinue providing its services as securities
depositary with respect to the debentures at any time by giving reasonable
notice to Liberty or the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event
that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, certificated
debentures are required to be printed and delivered.
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Liberty may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry
transfers through the depositary or a successor securities depositary. In
that event, certificated debentures will be printed and delivered.
Trading. Beneficial interests in the global debentures will trade in the
depositary's same-day funds settlement system until maturity or earlier
redemption, and secondary market trading activity in the global debentures will
therefore settle in immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the
rules and operating procedures of the depositary. Transfers between participants
in the depositary will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with the
depositary's rules and operating procedures and will be settled in same-day
funds.
The information in this subsection "-- Form, Denomination and Registration"
concerning the depositary and its book-entry systems has been obtained from
source that Liberty believes to be reliable, but Liberty takes no responsibility
for its accuracy.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
The covenants set forth below are contained in the indenture and are
applicable to Liberty and its Subsidiaries.
Limitation on Liens. Liberty will not, and will not permit any Restricted
Subsidiary to, create, incur or assume any Lien, except for Permitted Liens, on
any Principal Property to secure the payment of Funded Indebtedness of Liberty
or any Restricted Subsidiary if, immediately after the creation, incurrence or
assumption of such Lien, the sum of (A) the aggregate outstanding principal
amount of all Funded Indebtedness of Liberty and the Restricted Subsidiaries
that is secured by Liens (other than Permitted Liens) on any Principal Property
and (B) the Attributable Debt relating to any Sale and Leaseback Transaction
which would otherwise be subject to the provisions of clause 2(A)(i) of the
"Limitation on Sale and Leaseback" covenant would exceed 15% of the Consolidated
Asset Value, unless effective provision is made whereby the debentures (together
with, if Liberty shall so determine, any other Funded Indebtedness ranking
equally with the debentures, whether then existing or thereafter created) are
secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Funded Indebtedness (but
only for so long as such Funded Indebtedness is so secured).
The foregoing limitation on Liens shall not apply to the creation,
incurrence or assumption of the following Liens ("Permitted Liens"):
(1) Any Lien which arises out of a judgment or award against Liberty
or any Restricted Subsidiary with respect to which Liberty or such
Restricted Subsidiary at the time shall be prosecuting an appeal or
proceeding for review (or with respect to which the period within which
such appeal or proceeding for review may be initiated shall not have
expired) and with respect to which it shall have secured a stay of
execution pending such appeal or proceedings for review or with respect to
which Liberty or such Restricted Subsidiary shall have posted a bond and
established adequate reserves (in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles) for the payment of such judgment or award;
(2) Liens on assets or property of a person existing at the time such
person is merged into or consolidated with Liberty or any Restricted
Subsidiary or becomes a Restricted Subsidiary; provided that such Liens
were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger, consolidation
or acquisition and do not secure any property of Liberty or any Restricted
Subsidiary other than the property and assets subject to the Liens prior to
such merger, consolidation or acquisition;
(3) Liens existing on the date of original issuance of the debentures;
(4) Liens securing Funded Indebtedness (including in the form of
Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money indebtedness) incurred for
the purpose of financing the cost (including without limitation the cost of
design, development, site acquisition, construction, integration,
manufacture or acquisition) of real or personal property (tangible or
intangible) which is incurred contemporaneously therewith or within 60 days
thereafter; provided (i) such Liens secure Funded Indebtedness in an amount
not in excess of the cost of such property (plus an amount equal to the
reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the incurrence of
such Funded Indebtedness) and (ii) such Liens do not
41
extend to any property of Liberty or any Restricted Subsidiary other than
the property for which such Funded Indebtedness was incurred;
(5) Liens to secure the performance of statutory obligations, surety
or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature
incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(6) Liens to secure the debentures;
(7) Liens granted in favor of Liberty; and
(8) Any Lien in respect of Funded Indebtedness representing the
extension, refinancing, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions,
refinancings, renewals or replacements) of Funded Indebtedness secured by
Liens referred to in clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6) and (7) above,
provided that the principal of the Funded Indebtedness secured thereby does
not exceed the principal of the Funded Indebtedness secured thereby
immediately prior to such extension, renewal or replacement, plus any
accrued and unpaid interest or capitalized interest payable thereon,
reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith, and the
amount of any prepayment premium necessary to accomplish any refinancing;
provided, that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to
all or a part of the property (or interest therein) subject to the Lien so
extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements and construction on such
property).
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback. Liberty will not, and will not permit
any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction;
provided that Liberty or any Restricted Subsidiary may enter into a Sale and
Leaseback Transaction if:
(1) the gross cash proceeds of the Sale and Leaseback Transaction are
at least equal to the fair market value, as determined in good faith by the
Board of Directors and set forth in a board resolution delivered to the
trustee, of the Principal Property that is the subject of the Sale and
Leaseback Transaction, and
(2) either
(A) Liberty or the Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, either (i)
could have incurred a Lien to secure Funded Indebtedness in an amount
equal to the Attributable Debt relating to such Sale and Leaseback
Transaction pursuant to the "Limitation on Liens" covenant, or (ii)
makes effective provision whereby the debentures (together with, if
Liberty shall so determine, any other Funded Indebtedness ranking
equally with the debentures, whether then existing or thereafter
created) are secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) the
obligations of Liberty or the Restricted Subsidiary under the lease of
the Principal Property that is the subject of the Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, or
(B) within 180 days, Liberty or the Restricted Subsidiary either
(i) applies an amount equal to the fair market value of the Principal
Property that is the subject of the Sale and Leaseback Transaction to
purchase the debentures or to retire other Funded Indebtedness, or (ii)
enters into a bona fide commitment to expend for the acquisition or
improvement of a Principal Property an amount at least equal to the fair
market value of such Principal Property.
Designation of Restricted Subsidiaries. Liberty may designate an
Unrestricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary or designate a Restricted
Subsidiary as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at any time, provided that (1)
immediately after giving effect to such designation, Liberty and its Restricted
Subsidiaries would have been permitted to incur at least $1.00 of additional
Funded Indebtedness secured by a Lien pursuant to the "Limitation on Liens"
covenant, (2) no default or event of default shall have occurred and be
continuing, and (3) an Officers' Certificate with respect to such designation is
delivered to the trustee within 75 days after the end of the fiscal quarter of
Liberty in which such designation is made (or, in the case of a designation made
during the last fiscal quarter of Liberty's fiscal year, within 120 days after
the end of such fiscal year), which Officers' Certificate shall state the
effective date of such designation.
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SUCCESSOR CORPORATION
Liberty may not consolidate with or merge into, or sell, assign, transfer,
lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and
the properties and assets of its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to, any entity
or entities (including limited liability companies) unless (1) the successor
entity or entities, each of which shall be organized under the laws of the
United States or a State thereof, shall assume by supplemental indenture all the
obligations of Liberty under the debentures and the indenture and (2)
immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no
default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing. Thereafter,
all such obligations of Liberty shall terminate.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
The term "event of default" means any one of the following events with
respect to the debentures:
(1) default in the payment of any interest or distributions on any
debenture when the interest or distributions becomes due and payable, and
continuance of the default for a period of 30 days;
(2) default in the payment of the principal of any debenture when the
principal becomes due and payable at their maturity;
(3) failure of Liberty to comply with its obligations to deliver the
requisite consideration in exchange for debentures as described above under
"-- Exchange Option";
(4) failure of Liberty to comply with any of its obligations described
above under "-- Successor Corporation";
(5) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of Liberty in the indenture or the debentures (other than a covenant or
warranty a default in the performance or the breach of which is elsewhere
in the indenture specifically dealt with or which has been expressly
included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of senior debt
securities other than the debentures), and continuance of the default or
breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
certified mail, to Liberty by the trustee or to Liberty and the trustee by
the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding
debentures, a written notice specifying the default or breach and requiring
it to be remedied and stating that the notice is a "Notice of Default"
under the indenture;
(6) if any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or
instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be
secured or evidenced, any Indebtedness of Liberty, whether the Indebtedness
now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall happen and shall result in
Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount (or, if applicable, with an
issue price and accreted original issue discount) in excess of $100 million
becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it
would otherwise become due and payable, and (i) the acceleration shall not
be rescinded or annulled. (ii) such Indebtedness shall not have been paid
or (iii) Liberty shall not have contested such acceleration in good faith
by appropriate proceedings and have obtained and thereafter maintained a
stay of all consequences that would have a material adverse effect on
Liberty, in each case within a period of 30 days after there shall have
been given, by registered or certified mail, to Liberty by the trustee or
to Liberty and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debentures, a written notice specifying the
default or breaches and requiring it to be remedied and stating that the
notice is a "Notice of Default" or other notice as prescribed in the
indenture; provided, however, that if after the expiration of such period,
such event of default shall be remedied or cured by Liberty or be waived by
the holders of such Indebtedness in any manner authorized by such mortgage,
indenture or instrument, then the event of default with respect to the
debentures or by reason thereof shall, without further action by Liberty,
the trustee or any holder of the debentures be deemed cured and not
continuing;
(7) the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of:
(A) a decree or order for relief in respect of Liberty or any
Material Subsidiary in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law and the
decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 60
consecutive days;
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(B) a decree or order adjudging Liberty or any Material Subsidiary
to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking reorganization,
arrangement, adjustment or composition of Liberty or any Material
Subsidiary and the decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect
for a period of 60 consecutive days; or
(C) a final and non-appealable order appointing a custodian,
receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of
Liberty or any Material Subsidiary or of any substantial part of the
property of Liberty or any Material Subsidiary or ordering the winding
up or liquidation of the affairs of Liberty; or
(8) the commencement by Liberty or any Material Subsidiary of a
voluntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding seeking to
be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by Liberty or any Material
Subsidiary to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary
proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings
against it, or the filing by Liberty or any Material Subsidiary of a
petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any
applicable law, or the consent by Liberty or any Material Subsidiary to the
filing of the petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or similar official of
Liberty or any Material Subsidiary or any substantial part of the property
of Liberty or any Material Subsidiary or the making by Liberty or any
Material Subsidiary of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the
taking of corporate action by Liberty or any Material Subsidiary in
furtherance of any such action.
ACCELERATION OF THE DEBENTURES
If an event of default with respect to the debentures outstanding (other
than an event of default specified in clause (7) or (8) above) occurs and is
continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal
amount of the outstanding debentures may declare the principal of all the
debentures to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to Liberty
(and to the trustee if given by the holders), and upon any declaration the
principal or such lesser amount shall become immediately due and payable. If an
event of default specified in clause (7) or (8) above occurs, all unpaid
principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debentures shall become and
be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part
of the trustee or any holder of any debenture.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration or automatic acceleration
with respect to the debentures has been made and before a judgment or decree for
payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of not
less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debentures, by
written notice to Liberty and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration
and its consequences if:
(1) Liberty has paid or deposited with the trustee a sum of money
sufficient to pay all overdue installments of any interest and
distributions on all debentures and additional amounts payable with respect
thereto and the principal of and any premium on the debentures which have
become due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration and interest
on the debentures; and
(2) all events of default with respect to the debentures, other than
the non-payment of the principal of, any premium, interest and
distributions on, and any additional amounts with respect to the debentures
which shall have become due solely by the acceleration, shall have been
cured or waived.
No rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent
thereon.
If the maturity of the debentures is accelerated following an event of
default, the amount payable for each debenture will be determined in the same
manner as the amount payable at stated maturity. See "-- Payment at Stated
Maturity" above.
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CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
The following are certain of the terms defined in the indenture and used
under "-- Certain Covenants" above:
"Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction
means, at the time of determination, the present value of the obligation of
the lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease
included in such Sale and Leaseback Transaction including any period for
which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be
extended. Such present value shall be calculated using a discount rate
equal to the rate of interest implicit in such transaction, determined in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
"Capitalized Lease Obligation" of any person means any obligation of
such person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease with respect to any
property (whether real, personal or mixed) acquired or leased by such
person and used in its business that is required to be accounted for as a
liability on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles and the amount of such Capitalized Lease
Obligation shall be the amount so required to be accounted for as a
liability.
"Closing Price" means, with respect to any security on any date of
determination, the closing sale price (or, if no closing sale price is
reported, the last reported sale price) of such security on the NYSE on
such date or, if such security is not listed for trading on the NYSE on
such date, as reported in the composite transactions (or comparable system)
for the principal United States national or regional securities exchange on
which such security is so listed or a recognized international securities
exchange, or, if such security is not listed on a U.S. national or regional
securities exchange or on a recognized international securities exchange,
as reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or, if such security is not so
reported, the last quoted bid price for such security in the
over-the-counter market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or
similar organization, or, if such bid price is not available, the market
value of such security on such date as determined by a nationally
recognized independent investment banking firm retained for this purpose by
Liberty; provided that, (1) with respect to options, warrants and other
rights to purchase Marketable Securities, the Closing Price shall be the
value based on the Closing Price of the underlying Marketable Security
minus the exercise price and (2) with respect to securities exchangeable
for or convertible into Marketable Securities, the Closing Price shall be
the Closing Price of the exchangeable or convertible security or, if it has
no Closing Price, the fully converted value based upon the Closing Price of
the underlying Marketable Security.
"Consolidated Asset Value" shall mean, with respect to any date of
determination, the sum of:
(A) the amount of cash of Liberty and its Restricted Subsidiaries
on the last day of the preceding month, plus the following assets owned
by Liberty and its Restricted Subsidiaries on the last day of the
preceding month that have the indicated ratings and maturities no
greater than 270 days:
- the aggregate principal amount of certificates of deposit and
bankers' acceptances rated A/2 or P/2 or higher by the Rating
Agencies;
- the aggregate principal amount of participations in loans with
obligors with short-term ratings of A/2 or P/2 or higher by the
Rating Agencies or long-term ratings of Baal or BBB+ or higher by
the Rating Agencies;
- the aggregate principal amount of repurchase agreements of
securities issued by the U.S. government or any agency thereof with
counterparties with short-term ratings of A/2 or P/2 or higher by
the Rating Agencies or long-term ratings of Baal or BBB- or higher
by the Rating Agencies; and
- the aggregate principal amount at maturity of commercial paper
rated A/2 or P/2 or higher by the Rating Agencies;
45
(B) the aggregate value of all Marketable Securities owned by
Liberty and its Restricted Subsidiaries based upon the Closing Price of
each Marketable Security on the last day of the preceding month, or if
such day is not a trading day, on the immediately preceding trading day;
and
(C) the arithmetic mean of the aggregate market values (or the
midpoint of a range of values) of the assets of Liberty and its
Restricted Subsidiaries having a value in excess of $200 million, other
than the assets referred to in clauses (A) and (B) above, as of a date
within 90 days of the date of determination (or to the extent the
research reports referred to below have not been issued within such
90-day period, as of a date within 180 days of the date of
determination) as evidenced either:
- by research reports issued by three nationally recognized
independent investment banking firms selected by Liberty; or
- if three such research reports have not been issued within 180 days
prior to the date of determination, by an appraisal by two
nationally recognized independent investment banking or appraisal
firms retained by Liberty for this purpose.
"Fair market value" means, with respect to any asset or property, the
price which could be negotiated in an arm's-length transaction, for cash,
between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an
informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair market value
shall be determined by the Board of Directors of Liberty acting in good
faith evidenced by a board resolution thereof delivered to the trustee.
"Funded Indebtedness" of any person means, as of the date as of which
the amount thereof is to be determined, without duplication, all
Indebtedness of such person and all Capitalized Lease Obligations of such
person, which by the terms thereof have a final maturity, duration or
payment date more than one year from the date of determination thereof
(including, without limitation, any balance of such Indebtedness or
obligation which was Funded Indebtedness at the time of its creation
maturing within one year from such date of determination) or which has a
final maturity, duration or payment date within one year from such date of
determination but which by its terms may be renewed or extended at the
option of such person for more than one year from such date of
determination, whether or not theretofore renewed or extended; provided,
however, that "Funded Indebtedness" shall not include (1) any Indebtedness
of Liberty or any Subsidiary to Liberty or another Subsidiary, (2) any
guarantee by Liberty or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness of Liberty or
another Subsidiary, provided that such guarantee is not secured by a Lien
on any Principal Property, (3) any guarantee by Liberty or any Subsidiary
of the Indebtedness of any person (including, without limitation, a
business trust), if the obligation of Liberty or such Subsidiary under such
guaranty is limited in amount to the amount of funds held by or on behalf
of such person that are available for the payment of such Indebtedness, (4)
liabilities under interest rate swap, exchange, collar or cap agreements
and all other agreements or arrangements designed to protect against
fluctuations in interest rates or currency exchange rates, and (5)
liabilities under commodity hedge, commodity swap, exchange, collar or cap
agreements, fixed price agreements and all other agreements or arrangements
designed to protect against fluctuations in prices. For purposes of
determining the outstanding principal amount of Funded Indebtedness at any
date, the amount of Indebtedness issued at a price less than the principal
amount at maturity thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in
respect thereof at such date determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.
"Indebtedness" of any person means:
(1) any indebtedness of such person (i) for borrowed money or (ii)
evidenced by a note, debenture or similar instrument (including a
purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of
any property or assets, including securities;
(2) any guarantee by such person of any indebtedness of others
described in the preceding clause (1); and
46
(3) any amendment, renewal, extension or refunding of any such
indebtedness or guarantee.
"Liberty" means Liberty Media Corporation, a Delaware corporation,
until a successor replaces it pursuant to the applicable provisions of the
indenture and thereafter means the successor.
"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest, or other
similar encumbrance.
"Marketable Securities" means any securities listed on a U.S. national
securities exchange or reported by the Nasdaq Stock Market or listed on a
recognized international securities exchange or traded in the
over-the-counter market and quoted by at least two broker-dealers as
reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar organization,
including as Marketable Securities options, warrants and other rights to
purchase, and securities exchangeable for or convertible into, Marketable
Securities.
"Material Subsidiary" means, at any relevant time, any Subsidiary that
meets any of the following conditions:
(1) Liberty's and its other Subsidiaries' investments in and
advances to the Subsidiary exceed 10% of the total consolidated assets
of Liberty and its Subsidiaries;
(2) Liberty's and its other Subsidiaries' proportionate share of
the total assets (after intercompany eliminations) of the Subsidiary
exceeds 10% of the total consolidated assets of Liberty and its
Subsidiaries;
(3) Liberty's and its other Subsidiaries' proportionate share of
the total revenues (after intercompany eliminations) of the Subsidiary
exceeds 10% of the total consolidated revenue of Liberty and its
Subsidiaries; or
(4) Liberty's and its other Subsidiaries' equity in the income from
continuing operations before income taxes, extraordinary items and
cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle of the Subsidiary
exceeds 10% of such income of Liberty and its Subsidiaries; all as
calculated by reference to the then latest fiscal year-end accounts (or
consolidated fiscal year-end accounts, as the case may be) of such
Subsidiary and the then latest audited consolidated fiscal year-end
accounts of Liberty and its Subsidiaries. Based on the 2002 fiscal
year-end accounts, as of the date of this offering memorandum, the only
Material Subsidiaries of Liberty are Starz Encore Group LLC, Ascent
Media Group, Inc. and On Command Corporation.
"Nasdaq Stock Market" means The Nasdaq Stock Market, a subsidiary of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
"Principal Property" means, as of any date of determination, (a) any
cable system or manufacturing or production facility, including land and
buildings and other improvements thereon and equipment located therein,
owned by Liberty or a Restricted Subsidiary and used in the ordinary course
of its business and (b) any executive offices, administrative buildings,
and research and development facilities, including land and buildings and
other improvements thereon and equipment located therein, of Liberty or a
Restricted Subsidiary, other than any such property which, in the good
faith opinion of the Board of Directors, is not of material importance to
the business conducted by Liberty and its Restricted Subsidiaries taken as
a whole.
"Rating Agencies" means (i) Standard & Poor's, a division of The
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and (ii) Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and
(iii) if S&P or Moody's or both shall not make a rating publicly available,
a nationally recognized United States securities rating agency or agencies,
as the case may be, selected by Liberty, which shall be substituted for S&P
or Moody's or both, as the case may be.
"Restricted Subsidiary" means, as of any date of determination, a
corporation a majority of whose voting stock is owned by Liberty and/or one
or more Restricted Subsidiaries, which corporation has been, or is then
being, designated a Restricted Subsidiary in accordance with the
"Designation of Restricted Subsidiaries" covenant, unless and until
designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary in accordance with such covenant.
47
"Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means any arrangement providing for
the leasing to Liberty or a Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property
(except for temporary leases for a term, including renewals, of not more
than three years) which has been or is to be sold by Liberty or such
Restricted Subsidiary to the lessor.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation, association, limited liability
company, partnership or other business entity of which a majority of the
total voting power of the capital stock or other interests (including
partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the incurrence of a
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, or trustees
thereof is at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by (i) Liberty, (ii)
Liberty and one or more of its Subsidiaries or (iii) one or more
Subsidiaries of Liberty-
"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means, as of any date of determination, any
Subsidiary of Liberty that is not a Restricted Subsidiary.
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Modification and amendments of the indenture may be made by Liberty and the
trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debentures, provided, however, that no
modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each
outstanding debenture,
(1) change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or
installment of interest or distributions on, or any additional amounts with
respect to, any debenture;
(2) reduce the principal amount of, or the rate (or modify the
calculation of the rate) of interest or distributions on, or any additional
amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any
debenture;
(3) change the redemption provisions of any debenture or adversely
affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of any debenture;
(4) change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the
principal of, any premium or installment of interest or distributions on
any debenture is payable;
(5) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or after the stated maturity of any debenture (or, in the case
of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment
at the option of any holder, on or after the date for repayment);
(6) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
debentures, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take
certain actions;
(7) reduce the requirements for quorum or, voting by holders of
debentures as provided in the indenture;
(8) modify any of the provisions in the indenture regarding the waiver
of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants by the holders of
debentures except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide
that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived
without the consent of the holder of each debenture affected thereby;
(9) reduce the amount of cash or reference shares or our shares of
Series A common stock deliverable upon exchange of the debentures; or
(10) modify any of the above provisions.
Modifications and amendments of the indenture may be made by Liberty and
the trustee without the consent of the holders of outstanding debentures, for
the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of, and assumption by, another person
of the indenture and the covenants under the indenture and the debentures;
48
(2) to add the covenants under the indenture for the benefit of the
holders of debentures or to surrender any right or power conferred upon
Liberty in the indenture;
(3) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the debentures and to add
to or change any of the provisions of the indenture as shall be necessary
to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by
more than one trustee;
(4) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of
the indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision of the indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to
matters or questions arising under the indenture which shall not adversely
affect the interests of the holders of outstanding debentures in any
material respect;
(5) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to the
debentures;
(6) to secure the debentures;
(7) to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights
of holders of the debentures;
(8) to amend or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or
in any supplemental indenture, provided that no such amendment or
supplement shall materially adversely affect the interests of the holders
of the debentures then outstanding; or
(9) to qualify the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate original principal amount
of the debentures may, on behalf of the holders of all debentures, waive
compliance by Liberty with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate original principal amount of
the outstanding debentures may, on behalf of the holders of all debentures,
waive any past default and its consequences under the indenture with respect to
the debentures, except a default
- in the payment of principal (or premium, if any), or any interest or
distributions on, or any additional amounts with respect to, the
debentures, or
- in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each debenture.
Under the indenture, Liberty is required to furnish the trustee annually a
statement as to performance by Liberty of certain of its obligations under the
indenture and as to any default in the performance. Liberty is also required to
deliver to the trustee, within five calendar days after becoming aware thereof,
written notice of any event of default or any event which after notice or lapse
of time or both would constitute an event of default.
GOVERNING LAW
The indenture and the debentures will be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
REGARDING THE TRUSTEE
The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with Liberty and
its subsidiaries from time to time, provided that if the trustee acquires any
conflicting interest it must eliminate the conflict upon the occurrence of an
event of default, or else resign.
49
DESCRIPTION OF OUR COMMON STOCK
AUTHORIZED CAPITAL STOCK
Our authorized capital stock consists of four billion four hundred fifty
million (4,450,000,000) shares, of which four billion four hundred million
(4,400,000,000) shares are designated common stock, par value $0.01 per share,
and fifty million (50,000,000) shares are designated preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share. Our common stock is divided into two series. We have authorized
four billion (4,000,000,000) shares of Series A common stock and four hundred
million (400,000,000) shares of Series B common stock. As of July 31, 2003, we
had outstanding 2,473,846,455 shares of our Series A common stock and
211,818,776 shares of our Series B common stock, excluding outstanding stock
options and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock.
OUR COMMON STOCK
The holders of our Series A common stock and Series B common have equal
rights, powers and privileges, except as otherwise described below.
VOTING RIGHTS
The holders of our Series A common stock will be entitled to one vote for
each share held, and the holders of our Series B common stock will be entitled
to ten votes for each share held, on all matters voted on by our stockholders,
including elections of directors. Our charter does not provide for cumulative
voting in the election of directors.
DIVIDENDS
Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding series of our
preferred stock created by our board from time to time, the holders of our
common stock will be entitled to such dividends as may be declared from time to
time by our board from funds available therefor. Except as otherwise described
under "-- Distributions," whenever a dividend is paid to the holders of one of
our series of common stock, we shall also pay to the holders of the other series
of our common stock an equal per share dividend.
We do not anticipate paying any dividends on our common stock in the
foreseeable future because we expect to retain our future earnings for use in
the operation and expansion of our business. Our payment and amount of
dividends, however, will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors
and will depend, among other things, upon our results of operations, financial
condition, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors which may be
considered relevant by our board of directors.
CONVERSION
Each share of our Series B common stock is convertible, at the option of
the holder, into one share of our Series A common stock. Our Series A common
stock is not convertible.
DISTRIBUTIONS
Distributions made in shares of our Series A common stock, our Series B
common stock or any other security with respect to our Series A common stock or
Series B common stock may be declared and paid only as follows:
- a share distribution consisting of shares of our Series A common stock
(or securities convertible therefor) to holders of our Series A common
stock and Series B common stock, on an equal per share basis; or
consisting of shares of our Series B common stock (or securities
convertible therefor) to holders of our Series A common stock and Series
B common stock, on an equal per share basis; or consisting of shares of
our Series A common stock (or securities convertible therefor) to holders
of our Series A common stock and, on an equal per share basis, shares of
our Series B common stock (or securities convertible therefore) to
holders of our Series B common stock; and
- a share distribution consisting of shares of any class or series of
securities of us or any other person, other than our Series A common
stock or Series B common stock (or securities convertible therefor),
either on the basis of a distribution of identical securities, on an
equal per share basis, to holders of
50
our Series A common stock and Series B common stock or on the basis of a
distribution of one class or series of securities to holders of our
Series A common stock and another class or series of securities to
holders of our Series B common stock, provided that the securities so
distributed do not differ in any respect other than their relative voting
rights and related differences in designation, conversion and share
distribution provisions, with holders of shares of Series B common stock
receiving the class or series having the higher relative voting rights,
and provided further that if the securities so distributed constitute
capital stock of one of our subsidiaries, such rights shall not differ to
a greater extent than the corresponding differences in voting rights,
designation, conversion and share distribution provisions between our
Series A common stock and Series B common stock, and provided further in
each case that the distribution is otherwise made on an equal per share
basis.
We may not reclassify, subdivide or combine either series of our common stock
without reclassifying, subdividing or combining the other series of our common
stock, on an equal per share basis.
LIQUIDATION AND DISSOLUTION
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment
or provision for payment of our debts and liabilities and subject to the prior
payment in full of any preferential amounts to which our preferred stock holders
may be entitled, the holders of our Series A common stock and Series B common
stock will share equally, on a share for share basis, in our assets remaining
for distribution to our common stockholders.
ANTI-TAKEOVER EFFECTS OF PROVISIONS OF OUR RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
AND BYLAWS
Board of Directors
Our restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that, subject
to any rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock to elect
additional directors, the number of our directors shall not be less than three
and the exact number shall be fixed from time to time by a resolution adopted by
the affirmative vote of 75% of the members of our board then in office. The
members of our board, other than those who may be elected by holders of our
preferred stock, are divided into three classes. Each class consists, as nearly
as possible, of a number of directors equal to one-third of the then authorized
number of board members. The term of office of our Class I directors expires at
the annual meeting of our stockholders in 2005. The term of office of our Class
II directors expires at the annual meeting of our stockholders in 2003. The term
of office of our Class III directors expires at the annual meeting of our
stockholders in 2004. At each annual meeting of our stockholders, the successors
of that class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected
to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of our stockholders
held in the third year following the year of their election. The directors of
each class will hold office until their respective successors are elected and
qualified.
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock, our directors may be
removed from office only for cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of
at least a majority of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock
entitled to vote at an election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock, vacancies on our
board resulting from death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other
cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number
of directors on our board, shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the remaining directors then in office (even though less than a
quorum) or by the sole remaining director. Any director so elected shall hold
office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the
vacancy occurred or to which the new directorship is apportioned, and until that
director's successor shall have been elected and qualified. No decrease in the
number of directors constituting our board shall shorten the term of any
incumbent director, except as may be provided in any certificate of designation
with respect to a series of our preferred stock with respect to any additional
director elected by the holders of the series of our preferred stock.
These provisions would preclude a third party from removing incumbent
directors and simultaneously gaining control of our board by filling the
vacancies created by removal with its own nominees. Under the
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classified board provisions described above, it would take at least two
elections of directors for any individual or group to gain control of our board.
Accordingly, these provisions could discourage a third party from initiating a
proxy contest, making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of
us.
No Stockholder Action By Written Consent; Special Meetings
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, except as
otherwise provided in the terms of any series of preferred stock, any action
required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual meeting or special
meeting of stockholders may not be taken without a meeting and may not be
effected by any consent in writing by such holders. Except as otherwise required
by law and subject to the rights of the holders of any series of our preferred
stock, special meetings of our stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be
called only by our Secretary (1) upon the written request of holders of not less
than 66 2/3% of the total voting power of our outstanding capital stock or (2)
at the request of at least 75% of the members of our board then in office. No
business other than that stated in the notice of special meeting shall be
transacted at any special meeting.
Advance Notice Procedures
Our bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make
nominations of candidates for election as directors or to bring other business
before an annual meeting of our stockholder.
All nominations by stockholders shall be made pursuant to timely notice in
proper written form to our Secretary. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall
be given to our Secretary at our offices: (1) with respect to any election to be
held at an annual meeting of our stockholders which is called for a date that is
within thirty days before or after the anniversary date of the immediately
preceding annual meeting of our stockholders, not less than ninety days in
advance of such meeting nor more than one-hundred twenty days prior to such
anniversary date, and (2) with respect to an election (A) to be held at an
annual meeting of our stockholders which is called for a date that is not thirty
days before or after the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual
meeting of our stockholders or (B) to be held at a special meeting of our
stockholders for election of directors, not later than the close of business on
the tenth day following the day on which notice of such meeting is mailed to our
stockholders or public disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever
occurred first. The public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a
meeting of our stockholders does not commence a new time period (or extend any
time period) for the giving of any such stockholder notice. However, if the
number of directors to be elected to our board at any meeting is increased, and
we do not make a public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or
specifying the size of the increased board at least one hundred days prior to
the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, a
stockholder's notice shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to
nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be
delivered to our Secretary at our offices not later than the close of business
on the tenth day following the day on which we first make the relevant public
announcement.
For other business to be properly requested to be brought before an annual
meeting by one of our stockholders, the stockholder must have given timely
notice of such business in proper written form to our Secretary. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice must be received at our offices (1) in the case of an
annual meeting that is called for a date that is within thirty days before or
after the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of our
stockholders, not less than ninety days nor more than one-hundred twenty days
prior to the meeting, and (2) in the case of an annual meeting that is called
for a date that is not within thirty days before or after the anniversary date
of the immediately preceding annual meeting, not later than the close of
business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the
meeting was communicated to stockholders or public disclosure of the date of the
meeting was made, whichever occurs first. The public announcement of an
adjournment or postponement of a meeting of our stockholders does not commence a
new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of any such
stockholder notice.
52
Amendment
Our restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of our preferred stock, the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our outstanding
capital stock, voting together as a single class, is required to adopt, amend or
repeal any provision of our restated certificate of incorporation or the
addition or insertion of other provisions in the certificate, provided that the
foregoing voting requirement shall not apply to any adoption, amendment, repeal,
addition or insertion (1) as to which the General Corporation Law of Delaware,
as then in effect, does not require the consent of our stockholders or (2) which
at least 75% of the members of our board then in office has approved. Our
restated certificate of incorporation further provides that the affirmative vote
of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our outstanding
capital stock, voting together as a single class, is required to adopt, amend or
repeal any provision of our bylaws, provided that the foregoing voting
requirement shall not apply to any adoption, amendment or repeal approved by the
affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the members of our board then in
office.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. is the transfer agent and registrar for our
common stock.
SUMMARY OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS OF SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
We entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers
pursuant to which we filed with the SEC a shelf registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part. Under the registration rights agreement, we are
required to:
- use our commercially reasonable efforts to keep effective the shelf
registration statement until two years after the issue date or until all
of the debentures covered by the shelf registration statement have been
sold, exchanged or redeemed or otherwise cease to be outstanding; and
- use our commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that:
- the shelf registration statement and any amendment thereto and any
prospectus included therein comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act; and
- the shelf registration statement and any amendment thereto and any
prospectus included therein do not, when the shelf registration
statement or any amendment becomes effective, contain an untrue
statement of a material fact.
If the shelf registration statement is unusable by the holders for any
reason for more than 30 days in the aggregate in any consecutive 12-month
period, then the interest rate borne by the debentures will be increased by
0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the debentures for the first 90-day
period (or portion thereof) beginning on the 31st day that the shelf
registration statement ceased to be usable. This interest rate will be increased
by an additional 0.25% per annum of the principal amount of the debentures at
the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period, provided that the maximum
aggregate increase in the interest rate will in no event exceed one percent (1%)
per annum. Any amounts payable under this paragraph shall also be deemed
"additional interest" for purposes of the registration rights agreement. Upon
the shelf registration statement once again becoming usable, the interest rate
borne by the debentures will be reduced to the original interest rate.
Additional interest shall be computed based on the actual number of days elapsed
in each 90-day period in which the shelf registration statement is unusable.
Liberty shall notify the trustee within three business days of an event
date, which is each and every date on which an event occurs in respect of which
additional interest is required to be paid. Additional interest shall be paid by
depositing with the trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the holders of the
debentures, on or before the applicable semi-annual interest payment date,
immediately available funds in sums sufficient to pay the additional interest
then due. The additional interest due shall be payable on each interest payment
date to the record holder of debentures entitled to receive the interest payment
to be paid on such date as set forth in the indenture. Each obligation to pay
additional interest shall be deemed to accrue from and including the date
following the applicable event date.
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The registration rights agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the
registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, and we refer you
to the registration rights agreement for a complete description of its terms.
See "Where to Find More Information." The registration rights agreement requires
us to pay substantially all of the expenses incident to the registration,
offering and sale of the debentures to the public, other than commissions,
concessions and discounts of underwriters, dealers or agents, but including the
fees and disbursements of one counsel for the selling security holders. We have
agreed to indemnify the selling security holders and any underwriters they may
use against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act.
CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income tax
consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the debentures and
the receipt of any cash or reference shares (and in the case of an exercise of
your right to exchange your debentures or your right to cause Liberty to
purchase your debentures, our Series A common stock) for which the debentures
may be exchanged. This summary is based upon the United States Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (which we refer to as the "Code"), administrative
pronouncements, judicial decisions, and existing and proposed Treasury
Regulations, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of this prospectus
may affect the tax consequences described in this prospectus, possibly with
retroactive effect. This summary deals only with holders that will hold the
debentures and reference shares (and in the case of an exercise of your right to
exchange your debentures or your right to cause Liberty to purchase your
debentures, our Series A common stock) for which the debentures may be exchanged
as "capital assets" within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, and does not
address tax considerations applicable to holders that may be subject to special
tax rules, such as dealers or traders in securities, partnerships or other
pass-through entities, financial institutions, insurance companies, tax-exempt
entities, certain expatriates, holders that hold the debentures as a part of a
hedging, straddle, conversion or other integrated transaction, or U.S. Holders
(as defined below) whose functional currency is not the United States dollar.
This summary does not address the effect of any state, local or foreign tax laws
that may apply, or the application of the federal estate or gift tax or the
alternative minimum tax. This summary assumes that the consideration received
upon maturity, exchange or redemption of the debentures will consist of cash
and/or reference shares (and in the case of an exercise of your right to
exchange your debentures or your right to cause Liberty to purchase your
debentures, our Series A common stock), or any combination thereof.
The discussion set out below is intended only as a summary of certain
United States federal income tax consequences of an investment in the
debentures. Prospective investors are urged to consult their tax advisors as to
the tax consequences of an investment in the debentures, including the
application to their particular situations of the tax considerations discussed
below, as well as the application of state, local or foreign tax laws.
The "issue price" means the first price at which a substantial amount of
the debentures are sold (excluding sales to bond houses, brokers or similar
persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters, placement
agents or wholesalers), which is $985 per debenture.
"U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of the debentures, reference shares
or our Series A common stock, as the case may be, that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States,
(ii) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation, that is organized
under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii)
an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax without
regard to its source or (iv) a trust if a court within the U.S. is able to
exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or
more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the
trust, or if the trust has a valid election in effect to be treated as a U.S.
person.
"Non-U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of the debentures, reference
shares or our Series A common stock, as the case may be, that is not a U.S.
Holder or partnership (which for purposes of this discussion includes any entity
treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes).
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If a partnership holds debentures, reference shares or our Series A common
stock, the tax treatment of a partner generally will depend on the status of the
partner and on the activities of the partnership. Partners of partnerships
holding debentures, reference shares or our Series A common stock should consult
their tax advisors.
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO U.S. HOLDERS
Interest Accrual on the Debentures. For United States federal income tax
purposes, the debentures will be subject to Treasury Regulations relating to
contingent payment debt instruments (which we refer to as the "contingent
payment debt regulations"). Under the contingent payment debt regulations, a
U.S. Holder will be required to accrue interest income on the debentures (in
amounts described in the next paragraph) regardless of whether such U.S. Holder
uses the cash or accrual method of tax accounting. As a result, a U.S. Holder
will be required to include interest in taxable income each year in excess of
the semi-annual interest payments received in that year.
Under the contingent payment debt regulations, for each accrual period
prior to and including the maturity date of the debentures, the amount of
interest that accrues, as original issue discount, on a debenture equals the
product of (a) the adjusted issue price (as defined below) as of the beginning
of the accrual period and (b) the comparable yield (as defined below) (adjusted
for the length of the accrual period). This amount is ratably allocated to each
day in the accrual period and is includable as ordinary interest income by a
U.S. Holder for each day in the accrual period on which the U.S. Holder holds
the debentures.
The "adjusted issue price" means the issue price of the debenture,
increased by any interest previously accrued (determined without regard to any
adjustments to interest accruals described below) and decreased by the amount of
any projected payments (as defined below) with respect to the debenture.
The "comparable yield" means the annual yield we would pay, as of the issue
date, on a fixed-rate debt security with no exchange right or other contingent
payments but with terms and conditions otherwise comparable to those of the
debentures. Amounts treated as interest under the contingent payment debt
regulations are treated as original issue discount for all purposes of the Code.
We have determined that the comparable yield is 5.6%, compounded
semi-annually. Under the contingent payment debt regulations, we are required,
solely for United States federal income tax purposes, to provide holders a
schedule of the projected amounts of payments (which we refer to as "projected
payments") on the debentures. This schedule must produce the comparable yield.
Based on our determination of the comparable yield, the schedule of projected
payments (assuming a principal amount of $1,000 and an issue price of $985 or
with respect to each integral multiple thereof) consists of (a) a payment of
stated interest equal to $3.85 on September 30, 2003, (b) payments of stated
interest equal to $3.75 on all subsequent semi-annual interest payment dates
(excluding the stated semi-annual interest on the debentures payable on the
maturity date) and (c) a payment of a projected amount upon a hypothetical
exchange of the debentures on the latest date on which an exchange could be
permitted (excluding the stated semi-annual interest on the debentures payable
on the maturity date) equal to $2,708.19. For United States federal income tax
purposes, a U.S. Holder is required to use the comparable yield and the schedule
of projected payments in determining its interest accruals and adjustments
thereof in respect of the debentures, unless such U.S. Holder timely discloses
and justifies the use of other estimates to the Internal Revenue Service
("IRS").
The comparable yield and the schedule of projected payments are not
provided for any purpose other than the determination of holders' interest
accruals and adjustments thereof in respect of the debentures for United States
federal income tax purposes and do not constitute a projection or representation
regarding the actual amounts payable on the debentures.
Adjustments to Interest Accruals. If, during any taxable year, the sum of
any actual payments with respect to the debentures for that taxable year
(including additional distributions, extraordinary distributions and the fair
market value of any reference shares or our Series A common stock received by
such holder, plus the fair market value of any other property received, plus the
amount of cash received) exceeds the total amount of projected payments for that
taxable year, the difference will produce a "net positive adjustment" under the
contingent payment debt regulations, which will be treated as additional
interest for the taxable year. If the actual amount received in a taxable year
is less than the amount of projected payments for that
55
taxable year, the difference will produce a "net negative adjustment" under the
contingent payment debt regulations, which will (a) reduce the U.S. Holder's
interest income on the debentures for that taxable year and (b) to the extent of
any excess after the application of (a), give rise to an ordinary loss to the
extent of the U.S. Holder's interest income on the debentures during prior
taxable years (reduced to the extent such interest was offset by prior net
negative adjustments).
Purchase for Premium or Discount. A purchase of a debenture by a U.S.
Holder will cause the new U.S. Holder to have a basis in the debenture equal to
the amount paid for the debenture. A U.S. Holder is required to reasonably
allocate any difference between the adjusted issue price of the debenture and
such U.S. Holder's basis in the debenture to daily portions of interest or
projected payments over the remaining term of debenture. If such basis in the
debenture exceeds the debenture's adjusted issue price, the amount of the
difference allocated to a daily portion of interest or to a projected payment is
treated as a negative adjustment on the date the daily portion accrues or the
payment is made. On the date of the adjustment, the U.S. Holder's adjusted basis
in the debenture is reduced by the amount the U.S. Holder so treats as a
negative adjustment. If the new U.S. Holder's basis in the debenture is less
than the debenture's adjusted issue price, the amount of the difference
allocated to a daily portion of interest or to a projected payment is treated as
a positive adjustment on the date the daily portion accrues or the payment is
made. On the date of the adjustment, the U.S. Holder's adjusted basis in the
debenture is increased by the amount the U.S. Holder so treats as a positive
adjustment.
Sale, Exchange or Other Disposition of the Debentures. Upon the sale,
exchange or retirement of the debentures (including, for instance, an exchange
at the U.S. Holder's option for reference shares or our Series A common stock or
the redemption of the debentures by us) prior to the maturity date, the U.S.
Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount
realized and the U.S. Holder's adjusted basis. A U.S. holder will be treated as
receiving an amount equal to the fair market value of any reference shares or
our Series A common stock received, plus the fair market value of any other
property received, plus the amount of any cash received. The adjusted basis will
be the U.S. Holder's original basis in the debentures, increased by (i) the
interest income previously included by the U.S. Holder with respect to the
debentures (determined without regard to any adjustments to interest accruals
described in the paragraph entitled "Adjustments to Interest Accruals") and (ii)
any discount included in income under the paragraph entitled "Purchase for
Premium or Discount" and decreased by (i) the projected amount of all prior
payments with respect to the debentures and (ii) any adjustment or premium taken
into account under the paragraph entitled "Purchase for Premium or Discount."
Any gain upon sale or exchange of the debentures will be ordinary interest
income; any loss will be ordinary loss to the extent of the interest previously
included in income by the U.S. Holder with respect to the debentures, and
thereafter, capital loss. The distinction between capital loss and ordinary loss
is potentially significant in several respects. For example, limitations apply
to a U.S. Holder's ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income.
Distributions on Reference Shares. The gross amount of any distribution
made by AOL to a U.S. Holder with respect to the reference shares generally will
be includable in the income of a U.S. Holder as dividend income to the extent
that such distribution is paid out of AOL's current or accumulated earnings and
profits as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles. Subject to
certain limitations, United States corporations holding reference shares that
receive dividends thereon generally will be eligible for a dividends-received
deduction equal to 70% of the dividends received. If the amount of any
distribution exceeds AOL's current and accumulated earnings and profits as so
computed, such excess first will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to
the extent of the U.S. Holder's tax basis in its reference shares, and
thereafter as gain from the sale or exchange of property.
Dispositions of Reference Shares. A U.S. Holder generally will recognize
capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the sale or
disposition of reference shares in an amount equal to the difference between the
amount realized on the sale or other disposition and the U.S. Holder's tax basis
in the reference shares. Any such gain or loss will be long-term gain or loss if
the U.S. Holder held the reference shares for more than one year. A U.S. Holder
that received reference shares from Liberty in a disposition of a debenture
either on or before the maturity date will have a basis in the reference shares
equal to the shares'
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fair market value on the date of such disposition of the debenture.
Additionally, the U.S. Holder's holding period in the reference shares will
begin the day after such disposition of the debenture.
Distributions on Our Series A Common Stock. The gross amount of any
distribution made by Liberty to a U.S. Holder with respect to our Series A
common stock generally will be includable in the income of a U.S. Holder as
dividend income to the extent that such distribution is paid out of Liberty's
current or accumulated earnings and profits as determined under U.S. federal
income tax principles. Subject to certain limitations, United States
corporations holding our Series A common stock that receive dividends thereon
generally will be eligible for a dividends-received deduction equal to 70% of
the dividends received. If the amount of any distribution exceeds Liberty's
current and accumulated earnings and profits as so computed, such excess first
will be treated as a tax-free return of capital to the extent of the U.S.
Holder's tax basis in its shares of our Series A common stock, and thereafter as
gain from the sale or exchange of property.
Dispositions of Our Series A Common Stock. A U.S. Holder generally will
recognize capital gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes on the sale
or disposition of our Series A common stock in an amount equal to the difference
between the amount realized on the sale or other disposition and the U.S.
Holder's tax basis in our Series A common stock. Any such gain or loss will be
long-term gain or loss if the U.S. Holder held our Series A common stock for
more than one year. A U.S. Holder that received our Series A common stock from
Liberty in a disposition of a debenture either on or before the maturity date
will have a basis in that Series A common stock equal to that stock's fair
market value on the date of such disposition of the debenture. Additionally, the
U.S. Holder's holding period in our Series A common stock will begin the day
after such disposition of the debenture.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. For each calendar year in
which the debentures are outstanding, we, our agents or a broker may be required
to provide the IRS with certain information, including the holder's name,
address and taxpayer identification number, the aggregate amount of principal
and interest paid to that holder during the calendar year and the amount of tax
withheld, if any. This obligation, however, does not apply with respect to
certain holders, including corporations, qualified pension and profit sharing
trusts and individual retirement accounts. Information reporting requirements,
subject to exceptions, also may apply to the cash proceeds of a sale of the
reference shares or our Series A common stock.
Certain noncorporate holders may be subject to backup withholding on
payments of (i) principal and interest (including original issue discount) on,
or the proceeds of the disposition of, the debentures and (ii) dividends
received on, and the proceeds of the disposition of, the reference shares and
our Series A common stock. In general, backup withholding at a rate of 28% will
apply to "reportable payments" if a U.S. Holder fails to provide a correct
taxpayer identification number or fails to report its full dividend and interest
income. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding their
qualification for exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for
obtaining such an exemption, if applicable.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax; any amounts withheld under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against such
holder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is
furnished to the IRS. The information reporting requirements may apply
regardless of whether backup withholding is required.
TAX CONSEQUENCES TO NON-U.S. HOLDERS
Withholding. Under present United States federal income tax law, and
subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, payments of
principal and interest (including original issue discount) on the debentures by
us or any paying agent to any Non-U.S. Holder, and gain realized on the sale or
exchange of the debentures, reference shares and our Series A common stock by a
Non-U.S. Holder, will be exempt from United States federal income or withholding
tax, provided that:
- such Non-U.S. Holder does not own, actually or constructively, 10 percent
or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock
entitled to vote, is not a controlled foreign corporation related,
directly or indirectly, to us through stock ownership, and is not a bank
receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code;
57
- the statement requirement set forth in Section 871(h) or Section 881(c)
of the Code has been fulfilled with respect to the beneficial owner, as
discussed below;
- such Non-U.S. Holder is not an individual who is present in the United
States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of disposition or who is
subject to special rules applicable to former citizens and residents of
the United States;
- such payments and gain are not effectively connected with the conduct by
such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States; and
- the reference shares and our Series A common stock continue to be
actively traded within the meaning of Section 871(h)(4)(C)(v)(I) of the
Code (which, for these purposes and subject to certain exceptions,
includes trading on the NYSE).
The statement requirement referred to in the preceding paragraph will be
fulfilled if the beneficial owner of a debenture certifies on an appropriate
form (generally IRS Form W-8BEN), under penalties of perjury, that it is not a
United States person and provides its name and address, and (a) the beneficial
owner files that form with the withholding agent or (b) a securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution holding customers' securities
in the ordinary course of its trade or business holds the debentures on behalf
of the beneficial owner, files with the withholding agent a statement that it
has received the Form W-8BEN from the beneficial owner and furnishes the
withholding agent with a copy thereof. With respect to any debentures held by a
foreign partnership, unless the foreign partnership has entered into a
withholding agreement with the IRS, each partner that is a Non-U.S. Holder will
be required to supply this certification in order to avoid withholding with
respect to such partner's share of interest (including original issue discount)
and disposition proceeds paid with respect to the debentures to the foreign
partnership.
Distributions by AOL with respect to reference shares that are treated as
dividends paid, as described above under "-- Tax Consequences to U.S.
Holders -- Distributions on Reference Shares," to a Non-U.S. Holder (excluding
dividends that are effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business
in the United States by such Holder and are taxable as described below) will be
subject to United States federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate
provided under any applicable income tax treaty). Distributions by Liberty with
respect to our Series A common stock that are treated as dividends paid, as
described above under "-- Tax Consequences to U.S. Holders -- Distributions on
Our Series A Common Stock," to a Non-U.S. Holder (excluding dividends that are
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States by such Holder and are taxable as described below) also will be subject
to United States federal withholding tax at a 30% rate (or lower rate provided
under any applicable income tax treaty).
If a Non-U.S. Holder of the debentures, reference shares or our Series A
common stock is engaged in a trade or business in the United States, and if
interest on the debentures, dividends on reference shares or our Series A common
stock, or gain from the sale or exchange of the debentures, reference shares or
our Series A common stock are effectively connected with the conduct of such
trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from the withholding tax
discussed in the preceding paragraphs, will generally be subject to regular
United States federal income tax on such interest, dividends, or gain realized
on the sale or exchange of the debentures, reference shares or our Series A
common stock in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. In lieu of the
certificate described in the preceding paragraph, such a Non-U.S. Holder will be
required to provide to the withholding agent a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI
(or successor form) in order to claim an exemption from withholding tax. In
addition, if such a Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may be subject
to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an
applicable treaty) of its effectively connected earnings and profits for the
taxable year, subject to certain adjustments.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding. A Non-U.S. Holder's receipt
of (i) interest (including original issue discount) on the debentures, (ii)
dividends with respect to reference shares or our Series A common stock or (iii)
cash proceeds from the sale, exchange or other disposition of the debentures,
reference shares or our Series A common stock, may be subject to information
reporting to the IRS as described above under "-- Tax Consequences to U.S.
Holders -- Information Reporting and Backup Withholding." Copies of these
information returns also may be made available under the provisions of a
specific treaty or agreement to
58
the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder resides. Backup
withholding (currently 28%) may apply to "reportable payments" if a Non-U.S.
Holder fails to provide a correct taxpayer identification number and certain
other information, fails to provide a certification of exempt status or fails to
report the holder's full dividend and interest income.
Payment of cash proceeds of the disposition of debentures, reference shares
or our Series A common stock to or through the U.S. office of any broker, U.S.
or foreign, generally will be subject to information reporting and backup
withholding unless the Non-U.S. Holder certifies as to the holder's non-U.S.
status under penalties of perjury or otherwise establishes that the holder
qualifies for an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual
knowledge that the holder is a U.S. Holder or that the conditions of any other
exemption are not in fact satisfied.
Payment of cash proceeds of the disposition of debentures, reference shares
or our Series A common stock to or through a foreign office of a broker
generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding;
however, if such broker has certain connections to the U.S., then information
reporting, but not backup withholding, will apply unless the holder establishes
its non-U.S. status.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax; any amounts withheld under the
backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or credit against the
Non-U.S. Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required
information is furnished to the IRS. The information reporting requirements may
apply regardless of whether backup withholding is required.
59
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We will not receive any of the proceeds from sales of debentures by selling
security holders. The debentures may be sold from time to time:
- directly by any selling holder to one or more purchasers;
- to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers;
- through agents on a best-efforts basis or otherwise; or
- through a combination of such methods of sale.
If debentures are sold through underwriters, brokers and dealers, the
selling security holder will be responsible for underwriting discounts or
agent's commissions.
The debentures may be sold:
- in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be
changed;
- at prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at prices related to
such prevailing prices;
- at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or
- at negotiated prices.
Such sales may be effected in transactions (which may involve crosses or
block transactions):
- on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the
debentures may be listed or quoted at the time of sale;
- in the over-the-counter market;
- in transactions otherwise than on such exchanges or services or in the
over-the-counter market; or
- through the writing of options.
In connection with the sale of the debentures, any selling security holder
may:
- enter into hedging transactions with brokers, dealers or others, which
may in turn engage in short sales of the debentures in the course of
hedging the positions they assume;
- sell short or deliver debentures to close out such short positions; or
- loan or pledge debentures to brokers, dealers or others that may in turn
sell such securities.
Any selling security holder may pledge or grant a security interest in some
or all of the debentures owned by it, and if it defaults in the performance of
its secured obligations, the pledgees or secured party may sell from time to
time the pledged debentures pursuant to the registration statement of which this
prospectus is a part. The selling security holders may also transfer and donate
debentures in other circumstances in which case the transferees, donees,
pledgees or other successors in interest will be the selling security holders
for purposes of this prospectus.
Underwriters, brokers, dealers and agents may receive compensation in the
form of underwriting discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling
security holders or the purchaser of debentures for whom they may act as agent.
The selling security holders and any underwriters, dealers or agents that
participate in the distribution of debentures may be deemed to be "underwriters"
within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of
debentures by them and any discounts, commissions or concessions received by
them might be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act.
There is currently no active public trading market for the debentures. We
do not presently intend to list the debentures on any stock exchange. Therefore,
any trading with respect to the debentures is expected to occur in
over-the-counter markets.
At the time a particular offering or sale of debentures is made, a
prospectus supplement, if required, will be distributed which will set forth the
aggregate amount of debentures offered or sold and the terms of the offering or
sale, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any
discounts,
60
commissions and other terms constituting compensation from the selling security
holders and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or
paid to dealers.
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable,
the debentures can be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only through
registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain jurisdictions
the debentures may not be offered or sold unless they have been registered or
qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or an exemption from registration or
qualification is available and is complied with.
There is no assurance that the selling security holders will sell any of
the debentures. In addition, any debentures covered by this prospectus which
qualify for sale pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A under the Securities Act may
be sold pursuant to Rule 144 or Rule 144A rather than pursuant to this
prospectus.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the debentures will be passed upon for us by Baker Botts
L.L.P., New York, New York.
EXPERTS
The consolidated balance sheets of Liberty Media Corporation and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders' equity, and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2002
have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report, dated
March 17, 2003, of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants,
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.
As discussed in notes 3 and 7 to the consolidated financial statements,
Liberty Media Corporation changed its method of accounting for intangible assets
in 2002 and for derivative financial instruments in 2001.
The consolidated balance sheets of Telewest Communications plc and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 2002 and 2001, and the related consolidated
statements of operations, shareholders' equity and comprehensive income, and
cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31,
2002, have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the report,
dated March 26, 2003, of KPMG Audit Plc, independent chartered accountants,
incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts
in accounting and auditing.
The report of KPMG Audit plc dated March 26, 2003 contains an explanatory
paragraph that states that Telewest Communications plc is undergoing financial
restructuring which raises substantial doubt about its ability to continue as a
going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments that
might result from the outcome of this uncertainty.
As discussed in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, Telewest
Communications plc changed its method of accounting for intangible assets in
2002 and derivative instruments in 2001.
WHERE TO FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration
statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the debentures
that may be sold by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms a part of the
registration statement, does not contain all the information included in the
registration statement and the exhibits thereto. You should refer to the
registration statement, including its exhibits and schedules, for further
information about our company and the securities being offered hereby.
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to "incorporate by
reference" information into this document, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you to other documents. The
information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus,
and is deemed to be part of this document except for any information superseded
by this document or any other document incorporated by reference into this
document. Any statement, including financial statements, contained in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, as amended by
Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December
31, 2002, shall be deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent that a
statement, including financial statements, contained in this prospectus or in
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any other later incorporated document modifies or supersedes that statement. We
incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made
by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Sections 13(a), 13(c),
14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
- Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2002, filed on
March 25, 2003, as amended by Amendment No. 1 to the Annual Report on
Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2002, filed on April 9, 2003.
- Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the three months ended March 31, 2003,
filed on May 14, 2003.
- Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 2003,
filed on August 13, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on March 3, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on April 11, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on May 7, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on July 8, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 10, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K, filed on September 18, 2003, as amended by
Current Report on Form 8-K/A, filed on September 24, 2003.
- Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 23, 2003.
- The description of our capital stock contained in Annex A to our Form 8-A
filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on July 24, 2001, and any
amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or
telephoning the office of:
Investor Relations
Liberty Media Corporation
12300 Liberty Boulevard
Englewood, Colorado 80112
Telephone: (877) 772-1518
Our annual, quarterly and special reports and other information are on file
with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy any document
that we file at the Public Reference Room of the Securities and Exchange
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain
information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the
Securities and Exchange Commission at 1-800-SEC-0330. You may also inspect our
filings at the regional office of the Securities and Exchange Commission located
at Citicorp, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661 or
over the Internet at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at
http://www.sec.gov. Information contained on any website referenced in this
prospectus is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
This prospectus incorporates by reference documents which include
information concerning Ascent Media Group, Inc., On Command Corporation, OpenTV
Corp., Liberty Satellite & Technology, Inc., and UnitedGlobalCom, Inc. among
other public companies. All of these companies file reports and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission in accordance with the
requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act. Information
incorporated by reference into this prospectus concerning those companies has
been derived from the reports and other information filed by them with the
Securities and Exchange Commission. Those reports and other information are not
incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You may read and copy any
reports and other information filed by those companies with the Securities and
Exchange Commission as set forth above.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by
reference into this prospectus or to which we have referred you. We have not
authorized any person to provide you with different information or to make any
representation not contained in this prospectus.
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