e424b5
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(B)(5)
Registration No. 333-104034
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated
March 26, 2003)
$ 500,000,000 5.45% Notes due 2010
$ 750,000,000 5.85% Notes due 2015
$1,000,000,000 6.50% Notes due 2035
We will pay interest on the notes on November 15 and May 15 of
each year beginning on May 15, 2006. The notes due 2010
will bear interest at a rate of 5.45% per year and will
mature on November 15, 2010. The notes due 2015 will bear
interest at a rate of 5.85% per year and will mature on
November 15, 2015. The notes due 2035 will bear interest at
a rate of 6.50% per year and will mature on
November 15, 2035. The notes will be unsecured and will
rank equally with all of our unsecured and unsubordinated
indebtedness. The notes will be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by our wholly-owned cable subsidiaries named in this
prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus.
We may redeem any of the notes at any time by paying the greater
of the principal amount of the notes or a make-whole
amount, plus, in each case, accrued interest. See
Description of the Notes and the Cable
GuaranteesOptional Redemption.
Investing in the notes involves risks that are described in
the Risk Factors section beginning on page 13
of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2004.
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Price to | |
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Underwriters | |
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Proceeds to Us | |
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Investors(1) | |
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Discount | |
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Before Expenses | |
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Per note due 2010
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99.913 |
% |
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0.259 |
% |
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99.654 |
% |
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Total
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$ |
499,565,000 |
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$ |
1,295,000 |
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$ |
498,270,000 |
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Per note due 2015
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99.992 |
% |
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0.149 |
% |
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99.843 |
% |
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Total
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$ |
749,940,000 |
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$ |
1,117,500 |
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$ |
748,822,500 |
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Per note due 2035
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99.751 |
% |
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0.651 |
% |
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99.100 |
% |
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Total
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$ |
997,510,000 |
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$ |
6,510,000 |
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$ |
991,000,000 |
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(1) |
Plus accrued interest, if any, from November 14, 2005, if
settlement occurs after that date. |
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state
securities commission has approved or disapproved of these
securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the
accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The notes will be ready for delivery only through The Depository
Trust Company and its participants, including Euroclear and
Clearstream, in book-entry form on or about November 14,
2005.
Joint Book-Running Managers
Barclays Capital
JPMorgan
UBS Investment Bank
The date of this prospectus supplement is November 8, 2005.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
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Prospectus |
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You should rely only on the information contained or
incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the
accompanying prospectus. We have not, and the underwriters have
not, authorized any other person to provide you with different
information. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not,
and the underwriters are not, making an offer to sell these
securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not
permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in
this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the
documents incorporated by reference is accurate only as of their
respective dates. Our business, financial condition, results of
operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
-i-
(This page has been left blank intentionally.)
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
The Companies
Comcast Corporation
We are involved in:
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Cable through the development, management and
operation of broadband communications networks, including video,
high-speed Internet and phone services, and regional sports and
news networks, |
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Content through our consolidated programming
investments, including our national cable television networks,
E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel,
Outdoor Life Network, G4 and AZN Television (formerly known as
International Channel), and |
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Other business and programming interests primarily
Comcast-Spectacor, our group of businesses that perform live
sporting events and own or manage facilities for sporting
events, concerts and other special events. |
We are the largest cable operator in the United States. As of
September 30, 2005, our consolidated cable operations
served 21.4 million subscribers in 35 states, passed
41.4 million homes, and provided digital cable to
9.4 million subscribers, high-speed Internet to
8.1 million subscribers and phone to 1.2 million
subscribers.
For a description of our business, financial condition, results
of operations and other important information regarding us, see
filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in the
accompanying prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies
of these and our other filings incorporated by reference in the
accompanying prospectus, see Available Information
in the accompanying prospectus.
We are a Pennsylvania corporation incorporated in 2001. Our
principal executive office is located at 1500 Market
Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-2148. Our telephone
number is (215) 665-1700. The address of our web site is
www.comcast.com. The information on our web site is not part of
this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.
Cable Guarantors
Our obligations, including the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest on the notes will be fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by each of Comcast Cable, Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings, Comcast Cable Holdings, Comcast MO
Group and Comcast MO of Delaware. In this prospectus supplement,
we refer to these guarantors as the cable guarantors and to
these guarantees as the cable guarantees.
The cable guarantees will not contain any restrictions on the
ability of any cable guarantor to:
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pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire,
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of that cable
guarantors capital stock; or |
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make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on
or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of that cable
guarantor. |
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Comcast Cable Communications, LLC |
Comcast Cable, which was incorporated in 1981 as a Delaware
corporation, became a Delaware limited liability company in 2003
and is our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary.
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Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Inc. |
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings is a Delaware corporation
(formerly known as AT&T Broadband Corp.) incorporated in
2001 and our wholly-owned subsidiary. As part of the AT&T
Comcast
transaction, AT&T transferred to Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings substantially all of the assets,
liabilities and businesses represented by AT&T Broadband
Group, the integrated broadband business of AT&T.
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Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC |
Comcast Cable Holdings is a Delaware limited liability company
(formerly known as AT&T Broadband, LLC) formed in 1994.
Comcast Cable Holdings is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast
Cable Communications Holdings.
Comcast MO Group is a Delaware corporation (formerly known as
MediaOne Group, Inc.) incorporated in 1999. Comcast MO Group is
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast Cable Communications
Holdings.
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Comcast MO of Delaware, LLC |
Comcast MO of Delaware, which was incorporated in 1996 as a
Delaware corporation, became a Delaware limited liability
company in 2003. Comcast MO of Delaware is an indirect
wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast MO Group.
Each cable guarantors principal place of business is
1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-2148.
S-2
The Offering
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Issuer |
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Comcast Corporation. |
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Securities Offered |
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$500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.45% Notes
due 2010. |
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$750,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.85% Notes
due 2015. |
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$1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
6.50% Notes due 2035. |
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Maturity |
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The notes due in 2010 will mature on November 15, 2010. The
notes due in 2015 will mature on November 15, 2015. The
notes due in 2035 will mature on November 15, 2035. |
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Interest |
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Interest on the notes due in 2010 will accrue at the rate of
5.45% per year, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on
November 15 and May 15, beginning on May 15, 2006.
Interest on the notes due in 2015 will accrue at the rate of
5.85% per year, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on
November 15 and May 15, beginning on May 15, 2006.
Interest on the notes due in 2035 will accrue at the rate of
6.50% per year, payable semi-annually in cash in arrears on
November 15 and May 15, beginning on May 15, 2006. |
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Ranking |
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The notes will be unsecured and will rank equally with all of
our unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. |
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Cable Guarantors |
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Comcast Cable Communications, LLC, Comcast Cable Communications
Holdings, Inc., Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC, Comcast MO Group,
Inc. and Comcast MO of Delaware, LLC. |
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Cable Guarantees |
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The cable guarantors will fully and unconditionally guarantee
the notes, including the payment of principal, premium, if any,
and interest. The cable guarantees will rank equally with all
other general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the
cable guarantors. |
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Optional Redemption |
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We may redeem all or part of the notes at our option at a
redemption price equal to the greater of: |
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100% of the principal amount of the notes being
redeemed; and |
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the Make-Whole Amount, as defined in
Description of the Notes and the Cable
Guarantees Optional Redemption in this
prospectus supplement for the notes being redeemed; plus, in
each case, accrued interest to the redemption date. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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We intend to use the proceeds from this offering, after
deducting fees and expenses related to this offering, for
working capital and general corporate purposes, including for
the repayment of commercial paper obligations. As of
September 30, 2005, our indebtedness, excluding the
derivative component for our indexed debt instruments
(Exchangeable Notes and ZONES) whose
changes in fair value are recorded to investment income (loss),
net, had a weighted average annual interest rate of 7.34% and an
average maturity date in 2015. |
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Book Entry |
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The notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be
represented by global notes deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC
and registered in the name of DTC or its nominees. Beneficial
interests in any of the notes will be shown on, and transfers
will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC or its
nominee, and these beneficial interests may not be exchanged for
certificated notes, except in limited circumstances. See
Description of the Notes and the Cable
Guarantees Book-Entry System in this
prospectus supplement. |
S-3
USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to use the proceeds from this offering, after
deducting fees and expenses related to this offering, for
working capital and general corporate purposes, including for
the repayment of commercial paper obligations. As of
September 30, 2005, our indebtedness, excluding the
derivative component for the Exchangeable Notes and the ZONES
whose changes in fair value are recorded to investment income
(loss), net, had a weighted average annual interest rate of
7.34% and an average maturity date in 2015.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges was as follows for the
respective periods indicated:
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Nine Months Ended | |
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September 30, | |
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Year Ended December 31, | |
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2005 |
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2003 | |
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2.02x
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1.75x |
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1.98 |
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1.33 |
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5.16x |
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(1) |
For the years ended December 31, 2003 and 2002, we had a
$76 million and $490 million deficiency, respectively,
of earnings to fixed charges. |
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed
charges, earnings consist of income (loss) from continuing
operations before income taxes, cumulative effect of accounting
change, minority interest, equity in net (income) losses of
affiliates, fixed charges and distributed income of equity
investees. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, an
estimate of interest within rental expense and preference
security dividends.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES AND THE CABLE GUARANTEES
We are offering $500,000,000 aggregate principal amount of
our 5.45% Notes due 2010, $750,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of our 5.85% Notes due 2015 and
$1,000,000,000 aggregate principal amount of our
6.50% Notes due 2035. The notes due 2010, the notes due
2015 and the notes due 2035 will each be a separate series of
securities issued under an indenture, dated as of
January 7, 2003 among us, the cable guarantors and The Bank
of New York, as trustee. The notes will be our direct unsecured
and unsubordinated obligations and will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by Comcast Cable, Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings, Comcast Cable Holdings, Comcast MO
Group and Comcast MO of Delaware, referred to as the cable
guarantors, as described below. The terms of the notes include
those stated in the indenture and those made part of the
indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended. The indenture provides that we will have the ability
to issue securities with terms different than those of the
notes, to reopen a previous issue of a series of
securities (including the notes) and to issue additional
securities of any series (including the notes). Copies of the
indenture and the form of notes are available from us upon
request.
The following, along with the additional information contained
in the accompanying prospectus under Description of the
Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt Securities and Cable
Guarantees, is a summary of the material provisions of the
indenture, the notes and the cable guarantees. Because this is a
summary, it may not contain all the information that is
important to you. For further information, you should read the
notes and the indenture.
Basic Terms of the Notes
The notes:
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will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt and will be entitled to the benefits of the
cable guarantees described below; |
S-4
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will be issued in an initial aggregate principal amount of
$2,250,000,000, comprised as follows: |
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$500,000,000 initial aggregate amount of 5.45% Notes
due 2010, maturing on November 15, 2010, with interest
payable semiannually on each November 15 and May 15,
beginning May 15, 2006, to holders of record on the
preceding November 1 and May 1; |
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$750,000,000 initial aggregate amount of 5.85% Notes
due 2015, maturing on November 15, 2015, with interest
payable semiannually on each November 15 and May 15,
beginning May 15, 2006, to holders of record on the
preceding November 1 and May 1; |
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$1,000,000,000 initial aggregate amount of 6.50% Notes
due 2035, maturing on November 15, 2035, with interest
payable semiannually on each November 15 and May 15,
beginning May 15, 2006, to holders of record on the
preceding November 1 and May 1; and |
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are issuable in fully registered form, in denominations of
$1,000 and multiples thereof. |
Interest Payments
Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the notes
will accrue from the date of original issuance, or from the most
recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid and
will be payable semiannually on interest payment dates described
for each year.
For more information on payment and transfer procedures for the
notes, see Book-Entry System below.
Cable Guarantees
Our obligations, including the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest, will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed
by each of Comcast Cable, Comcast Cable Communications, Comcast
Cable Holdings, Comcast MO Group and Comcast MO of Delaware.
The cable guarantees will rank equally with all other general
unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the cable guarantors.
The cable guarantees will not contain any restrictions on the
ability of any cable guarantor to (i) pay dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of that cable
guarantors capital stock or (ii) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase
or redeem any debt securities of that cable guarantor.
Optional Redemption
We will have the right at our option to redeem any of the notes
in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to
their maturity, on at least 30 days, but not more than
60 days, prior notice mailed to the registered address of
each holder of the applicable series of notes, at a redemption
price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount of such notes and (ii) the sum of the present values
of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest
thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of
redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual
basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day
months) at, in each case, the Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points
for the 2010 Notes (the 2010 Make-Whole Amount), 20
basis points for the 2015 Notes (the 2015 Make-Whole
Amount) and 25 basis points for the 2035 Notes (the
2035 Make-Whole Amount and, together with the 2010
Make-Whole Amount and the 2015 Make-Whole Amount, the
Make-Whole Amount), plus in each case accrued
interest thereon to the date of redemption.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption
date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent
yield to maturity or interpolated (on a day count basis) of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal
amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
redemption date.
S-5
Comparable Treasury Issue means the United States
Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent
Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity
comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed
that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in
accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to
the remaining term of such notes.
Independent Investment Banker means one of the
Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any
redemption date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the
highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation or
(ii) if the trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.
Reference Treasury Dealer means each of Barclays
Capital Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and UBS
Securities LLC or their affiliates which are primary United
States government securities dealers, and their respective
successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing
shall cease to be a primary United States government securities
dealer in the United States (a Primary Treasury
Dealer), we will substitute therefor another Primary
Treasury Dealer.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation means, with
respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption
date, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and
asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in
case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing
to the trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 pm
New York time on the third business day preceding such
redemption date.
On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue
on the notes or any portion of the notes called for redemption
(unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and
accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will
deposit with the trustee money sufficient to pay the redemption
price of and (unless the redemption date shall be an interest
payment date) accrued interest to the redemption date on the
notes to be redeemed on such date. If less than all of the notes
of any series are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall
be selected by the trustee by such method as the trustee shall
deem fair and appropriate.
No Mandatory Redemption or Sinking Fund
There will be no mandatory redemption prior to maturity or
sinking fund payments for the notes.
Additional Debt
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt we may issue
under the indenture or otherwise.
Book-Entry System
We will initially issue the notes in the form of one or more
global notes (the Global Notes). The Global Notes
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust
Company (DTC) and registered in the name of DTC or
its nominee. Except as set forth below, the Global Notes may be
transferred, in whole and not in part, only to DTC or another
nominee of DTC. A holder may hold beneficial interests in the
Global Notes directly through DTC if such holder has an account
with DTC or indirectly through organizations which have accounts
with DTC, including Euroclear and Clearstream.
DTC has advised us as follows: DTC is a limited purpose trust
company organized under the laws of the State of New York, 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. DTC was created to hold
securities of institutions that have accounts with DTC
(participants) and to facilitate the clearance and
settlement of securities
S-6
transactions among its participants in such securities through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities
certificates. DTCs participants include securities brokers
and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and
certain other organizations. Access to DTCs book-entry
system is also available to others such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies (collectively, the indirect
participants) that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a participant, whether directly or indirectly.
We expect that pursuant to procedures established by DTC, upon
the deposit of the Global Notes with DTC, DTC will credit on its
book entry registration and transfer system the principal amount
of notes represented by such Global Notes to the accounts of
participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global
Notes will be limited to participants or persons that may hold
interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in the Global Notes will be shown on and the transfer
of those ownership interests will be effected only through,
records maintained by DTC (with respect to participants
interests), the participants and the indirect participants (with
respect to the owners of beneficial interests in the Global Note
other than participants). All interests in a Global Note
deposited with DTC are subject to the procedures and
requirements of DTC.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form. Such limits and laws may impair
the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in the
Global Notes.
So long as DTC (or its nominee) is the registered holder and
owner of a Global Note, DTC (or such nominee) will be considered
the sole legal owner and holder of the notes evidenced by such
Global Note for all purposes of such notes and the indenture.
Except as set forth below under Certificated
Notes, as an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global
Note, you will not be entitled to have the notes represented by
such Global Note registered in your name, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated notes and
will not be considered to be the owner or holder of any notes
under such Global Note. We understand that under existing
industry practice, in the event an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Note desires to take any action that DTC,
as the holder of such Global Note, is entitled to take, DTC
would authorize the participants to take such action, and the
participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through
such participants to take such action or would otherwise act
upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
We will make payments of principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the notes represented by the Global Notes registered
in the name of and held by DTC or its nominee to DTC or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner and holder
of the Global Notes.
We expect that DTC (or its nominee), upon receipt of any payment
of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Global
Notes will credit the accounts of their relevant participants or
account holders, as applicable, with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the
principal amount of the applicable Global Note as shown on the
records of DTC (or its nominee). We also expect that payments by
participants or indirect participants or account holders, as
applicable, to owners of beneficial interests in the Global
Notes held through such participants or indirect participants or
account holders will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices and will be the responsibility of such
participants or indirect participants or account holders, as
applicable. We 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 Notes
for any notes or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests or for
any other aspect of the relationship between DTC and its
participants or indirect participants, or the relationship
between such participants or indirect participants, and the
owners of beneficial interests in the Global Notes owning
through such participants.
All amounts payable under the notes will be payable in
U.S. dollars, except as may otherwise be agreed between any
applicable securities clearing system and any holders. Payments
will be subject in all cases to any fiscal or other laws and
regulations (including any regulations of any applicable
securities clearing system) applicable thereto. None of the
trustee, us, the cable guarantors or any of our or their
S-7
respective agents shall be liable to any holder of a Global Note
or other person for any commissions, costs, losses or expenses
in relation to or resulting from any currency conversion or
rounding effected in connection therewith. Investors may be
subject to foreign exchange risks that may have important
economic and tax consequences to them.
Subject to certain conditions, the notes represented by the
Global Notes are exchangeable for certificated notes in
definitive form of like tenor in denominations of $1,000
principal amount and multiples thereof if:
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(1) |
DTC provides notification that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as depositary for the Global Notes or DTC ceases to be
a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in
either case, a successor is not appointed within 90 days; |
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(2) |
we in our discretion at any time determine not to have all the
notes represented by the Global Notes; or |
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(3) |
a default entitling the holders of the applicable notes to
accelerate the maturity thereof has occurred and is continuing. |
Any note that is exchangeable as above is exchangeable for
certificated notes issuable in authorized denominations and
registered in such names as DTC shall direct. Subject to the
foregoing, a Global Note is not exchangeable, except for a
Global Note of the same aggregate denomination to be registered
in the name of DTC (or its nominee).
The indenture requires payments to be made in respect of the
applicable notes represented by the Global Notes (including
principal, premium and interest) by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the accounts specified by the holder thereof
or, if no such account is specified, by mailing a check to such
holders registered address.
Payments (including principal, premium and interest) and
transfers with respect to notes in certificated form may be
executed at the office or agency maintained for such purpose
within the City and State of New York (initially the office of
the paying agent maintained for such purpose) or, at our option,
by check mailed to the holders thereof at the respective
addresses set forth in the register of holders of the applicable
notes, provided that all payments (including principal, premium
and interest) on notes in certificated form, for which the
holders thereof have given wire transfer instructions, will be
required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof. No
service charge will be made for any registration of transfer,
but payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental
charge payable in connection with that registration may be
required.
S-8
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES FOR
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following are the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences of ownership and disposition of the notes. This
discussion only applies to notes that meet all of the following
conditions:
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they are purchased by those initial holders who purchase notes
at the issue price, which will equal the first price
to the public (not including bond houses, brokers or similar
persons or organizations acting in the capacity of underwriters,
placement agents or wholesalers) at which a substantial amount
of the notes is sold for money; |
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they are held as capital assets; and |
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they are beneficially owned by Non-U.S. Holders (as defined
below). |
This discussion does not describe all of the tax consequences
that may be relevant to holders in light of their particular
circumstances or to holders subject to special rules, such as:
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certain financial institutions; |
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insurance companies; |
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dealers in securities or foreign currencies; |
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persons holding notes as part of a hedge, straddle or other
integrated transaction; or |
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partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. |
This summary is based on the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended to the date hereof, administrative pronouncements,
judicial decisions and final, temporary and proposed Treasury
Regulations, changes to any of which subsequent to the date of
this prospectus supplement may affect the tax consequences
described herein. Persons considering the purchase of notes are
urged to consult their tax advisers with regard to the
application of the U.S. federal income tax laws to their
particular situations as well as any tax consequences arising
under the laws of any state, local or foreign taxing
jurisdiction.
As used herein, the term Non-U.S. Holder means
a beneficial owner of a note that is, for U.S. federal
income tax purposes:
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an individual who is classified as a nonresident for
U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
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a foreign corporation; or |
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a foreign estate or trust. |
Non-U.S. Holder does not include a holder who
is an individual present in the United States for 183 days
or more in the taxable year of disposition. Such a holder is
urged to consult his or her own tax advisor regarding the
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the sale, exchange
or other disposition of a note.
Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding:
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payments of principal, interest and premium on the notes by us
or any paying agent to any Non-U.S. Holder will not be
subject to U.S. federal withholding tax, provided that, in
the case of interest not effectively connected with the conduct
of a trade or business in the United States, |
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the 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 and is not a
controlled foreign corporation related, directly or indirectly,
to us through stock ownership; and |
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the certification requirement described below has been fulfilled
with respect to the beneficial owner, as discussed below; |
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a Non-U.S. Holder of a note will not be subject to
U.S. federal income tax on gain realized on the sale,
exchange or other disposition of such note, unless the gain is
effectively connected with the |
S-9
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conduct by the holder of a trade or business in the United
States, subject to an applicable income tax treaty providing
otherwise. |
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Certification Requirement |
Interest not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade
or business in the United States will not be exempt from
withholding tax unless the beneficial owner of that note
certifies on Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, under
penalties of perjury, that it is not a U.S. person.
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Effectively Connected Income |
If a Non-U.S. Holder of a note is engaged in a trade or
business in the United States, and if interest on or gain with
respect to the note is effectively connected with the conduct of
this trade or business, the Non-U.S. Holder, although
exempt from the withholding tax discussed in the preceding
paragraph, will generally be taxed in the same manner as a
U.S. person, subject to an applicable income tax treaty
providing otherwise, except that the holder will be required to
provide to us a properly executed Internal Revenue Service
Form W-8ECI in order to claim an exemption from withholding
tax with respect to interest. These holders should consult their
own tax advisors with respect to other U.S. tax
consequences of the ownership and disposition of notes including
the possible imposition of a 30% branch profits tax.
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Backup Withholding and Information Reporting |
Information returns will be filed with the U.S. Internal
Revenue Service in connection with payments on the notes. Unless
the Non-U.S. Holder complies with certification procedures
to establish that it is not a U.S. person, information
returns may be filed with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service
in connection with the proceeds from a sale or other disposition
and the Non-U.S. Holder may be subject to U.S. backup
withholding tax on payments on the notes or on the proceeds from
a sale or other disposition of the notes. The certification
procedures required to claim the exemption from withholding tax
on interest described above will satisfy the certification
requirements necessary to avoid the backup withholding tax as
well. The amount of any backup withholding from a payment to a
Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the
Non-U.S. Holders U.S. federal income tax
liability and may entitle the Non-U.S. Holder to a refund,
provided that the required information is furnished to the
Internal Revenue Service.
S-10
UNDERWRITING
We intend to offer the notes through the underwriters named
below. Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an
underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the
underwriters and the underwriters severally have agreed to
purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes listed
opposite their names below.
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Underwriter |
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2010 Notes | |
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2015 Notes | |
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2035 Notes | |
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Barclays Capital Inc.
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$ |
166,667,000 |
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$ |
250,000,000 |
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$ |
333,333,000 |
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J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
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$ |
166,666,000 |
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$ |
250,000,000 |
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$ |
333,334,000 |
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UBS Securities LLC
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$ |
166,667,000 |
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$ |
250,000,000 |
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$ |
333,333,000 |
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Total
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$ |
500,000,000 |
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$ |
750,000,000 |
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$ |
1,000,000,000 |
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The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes sold
pursuant to the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are
purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting
agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the
nondefaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting
agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, or to contribute to payments the underwriters
may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale,
when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to
approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the
validity of the notes, and other conditions contained in the
underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters
of officers certificates and legal opinions. The
underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify
offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Each underwriter has represented, warranted and agreed that:
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(a) in relation to each Member State of the European
Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive
(each, a Relevant Member State), with effect from
and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is
implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant
Implementation Date), it has not made and will not make an
offer of notes to the public in that Relevant Member State prior
to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the notes
which has been approved by the competent authority in that
Relevant Member State or, where appropriate, approved in another
Relevant Member State and notified to the competent authority in
that Relevant Member State, all in accordance with the
Prospectus Directive, except that it may, with effect from and
including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of
notes to the public in that Relevant Member State at any time: |
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(i) to legal entities which are authorized or regulated to
operate in the financial markets or, if not so authorized or
regulated, whose corporate purpose is solely to invest in
securities; |
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(ii) to any legal entity which has two or more of
(1) an average of at least 250 employees during the last
financial year; (2) a total balance sheet of more than
43,000,000 and
(3) an annual net turnover of more than
50,000,000, as
shown in its last annual or consolidated accounts; or |
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(iii) in any other circumstances which do not require the
publication by the Issuer of a prospectus pursuant to
Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive. |
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an
offer of notes to the public in relation to any notes in
any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form
and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the
offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to
decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be
varied in that Member State by any means implementing the
Prospectus Directive in that Member State, and the expression
Prospectus Directive
S-11
means Directive 2003/7l/EC and includes any relevant
implementing measure in each Relevant Member State.
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(b) it has only communicated or caused to be communicated
and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an
invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity
(within the meaning of Section 21 of the U.K. Financial
Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) received by it
in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in
circumstances in which Section 21(1) of FSMA does not apply
to the Issuer or the cable guarantors; and |
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(c) it has complied with and will comply with all
applicable provisions of FSMA with respect to anything done by
it in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the
United Kingdom. |
Commissions and Discounts
The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to
offer the notes to the public at the respective public offering
prices on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and to
dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of
0.159% of the principal amount of the 2010 Notes, not in
excess of 0.119% of the principal amount of the 2015 Notes
and not in excess of 0.401% of the principal amount of the
2035 Notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may
reallow, a discount not in excess of 0.095% of the
principal amount of the 2010 Notes, not in excess of
0.050% of the principal amount of the 2015 Notes and not in
excess of 0.250% of the principal amount of the 2035 Notes
to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the public
offering prices, concessions and discounts may be changed.
The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting
discount, are estimated to be $150,000 and are payable by us.
New Issue of Notes
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established
trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of the
notes on any national securities exchange or for quotation of
the notes on any automated dealer quotation system. We have been
advised by the underwriters that they presently intend to make a
market in the notes after completion of the offering. However,
they are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any
market-making activities at any time without any notice. We
cannot assure the liquidity of the trading market for the notes
or that an active public market for the notes will develop. If
an active public trading market for the notes does not develop,
the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely
affected.
Price Stabilization and Short Positions
In connection with the offering, the underwriters are permitted
to engage in transactions that stabilize the market price of the
notes. These stabilization transactions consist of bids or
purchases to peg, fix or maintain the price of the notes. If the
underwriters create a short position in the notes in connection
with the offering, that is, if they sell more notes than are on
the cover page of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters
may reduce that short position by purchasing notes in the open
market. Purchases of a security to stabilize the price or to
reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to
be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters makes any representation
or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect
that the transactions described above may have on the price of
the notes. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters
makes any representation that the underwriters will engage in
these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced,
will not be discontinued without notice.
Other Relationships
The underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may
in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial
dealings in the ordinary course of business with us. They have
received customary fees and commissions for these transactions.
S-12
Stephen B. Burke, our Executive Vice President and Chief
Operating Officer and the President of Comcast Cable and Comcast
Cable Communications Holdings, is a member of the board of
directors of JPMorgan Chase & Co., an affiliate of
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
LEGAL MATTERS
Various legal matters relating to the offering will be passed
upon for us by Arthur R. Block, Esquire, Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of Comcast Corporation, Thomas R. Nathan,
Esquire, Senior Vice President of the cable guarantors, and by
Davis Polk & Wardwell, Menlo Park, California. Cahill
Gordon & Reindel
llp, New York, New
York, is representing the underwriters.
S-13
(This page has been left blank intentionally)
PROSPECTUS
Issued March 26, 2003
$7,000,000,000
The
following are types of securities that we may offer and sell
under this prospectus:
Unsecured
senior debt securities
Unsecured
subordinated debt securities
Warrants
Purchase
contracts
Units
Preferred
Stock
Depositary
shares
Class A
Common Stock
Class A
Special Common Stock
If
indicated in the relevant prospectus supplement, the securities
may be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by a number of our
wholly-owned cable subsidiaries named in this prospectus.
Our
Class A Common Stock and Class A Special Common Stock
are quoted on The Nasdaq National Market System under the ticker
symbols CMCSA and CMCSK. On
March 24, 2003, the reported last sale prices on The Nasdaq
National Market System for our Class A Common Stock and our
Class A Special Common Stock were $28.61 and $27.50.
We
will describe in a prospectus supplement, which must accompany
this prospectus, the securities we are offering and selling, as
well as the specific terms of the securities. Those terms may
include:
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Maturity |
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Interest rate |
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Sinking fund terms |
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Currency of payments |
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Dividends |
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Redemption terms |
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Listing on a securities
exchange |
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Amount payable at maturity |
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Conversion or exchange
rights |
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Liquidation amount |
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Subsidiary guarantees |
Investing
in the securities involves risks that are described under the
caption Risk Factors beginning on page 3.
The
Securities and Exchange Commission and state securities
regulators have not approved or disapproved of these securities,
or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
We
may offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms
determined at the time of offering. We may sell the securities
directly to you, through agents we select, or through
underwriters and dealers we select. If we use agents,
underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name
them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.
The date of this prospectus is March 26, 2003
Table of Contents
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PAGE | |
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Summary
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1 |
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Risk Factors
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3 |
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Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
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Use of Proceeds
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Dividend Policy
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Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred
Dividends
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12 |
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Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement of Operations
of Comcast Corporation
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13 |
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Description of the Senior Debt Securities, Subordinated Debt
Securities and Cable Guarantees
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16 |
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Description of Warrants
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29 |
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Description of Purchase Contracts
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30 |
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Description of Units
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30 |
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Global Securities
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31 |
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Description of Preferred Stock
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32 |
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Description of Depositary Shares
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33 |
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Description of Common Stock
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35 |
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Description of Shareholder Rights Plan
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38 |
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Plan of Distribution
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41 |
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Legal Matters
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41 |
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Experts
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42 |
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Available Information
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42 |
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Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference
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43 |
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We refer to Comcast Corporation in this prospectus as
Comcast or we, us,
our or comparable terms and to Comcast Holdings
Corporation as Comcast Holdings. We refer to Comcast
Cable Communications, Inc., Comcast Cable Communications
Holdings, Inc., Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC, Comcast MO Group,
Inc. and Comcast MO of Delaware, Inc. collectively as the
Cable Guarantors.
i
SUMMARY
THE COMPANIES
Comcast Corporation
We were incorporated in 2001 under the name AT&T Comcast
Corporation to effect the acquisition of the broadband business
of AT&T Corp, which we refer to as Broadband.
The acquisition, which we refer to as the Broadband
acquisition, was consummated on November 18, 2002. On
November 18, 2002, we changed our name to Comcast
Corporation.
We are involved in three principal lines of business:
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Cablethrough the development, management and operation of
broadband communications networks, including video, high-speed
Internet and phone service, |
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Commercethrough QVC, our electronic retailing subsidiary,
and |
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Contentthrough our consolidated programming investments,
including, Comcast Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, Comcast
SportsNet Mid-Atlantic, Cable Sports Southeast, E! Entertainment
Television, Style, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4,
and through our other programming investments. |
As a result of the Broadband acquisition, we are the largest
cable operator in the United States. We have deployed digital
cable and high-speed Internet service to the substantial
majority of our cable systems. As of December 31, 2002, our
consolidated cable operations served 21.3 million
subscribers in 41 states, passed 39.1 million homes, and
provided digital cable to more than 6.6 million
subscribers, high-speed Internet to more than 3.6 million
subscribers and phone service to more than 1.4 million
subscribers. The Broadband acquisition contributed approximately
60% of these subscribers, 64% of these homes passed, 66% of the
digital cable subscribers, 58% of the high-speed Internet
subscribers and 97% of the phone subscribers. We expect to make
substantial capital expenditures over the next two years to
complete the upgrade and rebuild of the newly acquired cable
systems.
Through QVC, we market a wide variety of products directly to
consumers primarily on merchandise-focused television programs.
As of December 31, 2002, QVC was available, on a full and
part-time basis, to 85.9 million homes in the United
States, 11.4 million homes in the United Kingdom,
25.8 million homes in Germany and 8.4 million homes in
Japan.
For a description of our business, financial condition, results
of operations and other important information regarding us, see
our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in this
prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies of these and
our other filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus,
see Available Information.
We are a Pennsylvania corporation incorporated in 2001. Our
principal executive office is located at 1500 Market Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-2148. Our telephone number is
(215) 665-1700. The address of our web site is
www.comcast.com. The information on our web site is not
part of this prospectus.
Cable Guarantors
Our obligations, including the payment of principal, premium, if
any, and interest, on the debt securities will be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by each of Comcast Cable, Comcast
Cable Communications Holdings, Comcast Cable Holdings, Comcast
MO Group and Comcast MO of Delaware. In this prospectus, we
refer to these guarantors as the cable guarantors and to these
guarantees as the cable guarantees. If indicated in the relevant
prospectus supplement, our obligations under the other
securities we are offering and selling may be fully and
unconditionally guaranteed by specified cable guarantors.
1
The cable guarantees will not contain any restrictions on the
ability of any cable guarantor to:
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pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire,
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of that cable
guarantors capital stock; or |
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make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on
or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of that cable
guarantor. |
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Comcast Cable Communications, Inc. |
Comcast Cable is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1981 and
our indirect wholly-owned subsidiary. As of December 31,
2002, Comcast Cable served approximately 8.5 million
subscribers.
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Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Inc. |
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings is a Delaware corporation
incorporated in 2001 and our wholly-owned subsidiary. As of
December 31, 2002, Comcast Cable Communications Holdings
served approximately 12.8 million subscribers.
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Comcast Cable Holdings, LLC |
Comcast Cable Holdings is a Delaware limited liability company
formed in 1994. Comcast Cable Holdings is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Comcast Cable Communications Holdings.
Comcast MO Group is a Delaware corporation incorporated in 1999.
Comcast MO Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings.
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Comcast MO of Delaware, Inc. |
Comcast MO of Delaware is a Delaware Corporation incorporated in
1996. Comcast MO of Delaware is an indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Comcast MO Group.
Each cable guarantors principal place of business is
1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102-2148.
2
RISK FACTORS
Risks Relating to the Broadband Acquisition
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We may fail to realize the anticipated benefits of the
Broadband acquisition. |
The Broadband acquisition combined two companies that have
previously operated separately. We expect to realize cost
savings and other financial and operating benefits as a result
of the Broadband acquisition. However, we cannot predict with
certainty when these cost savings and benefits will occur, or
the extent to which they actually will be achieved. There are a
large number of systems that must be integrated, including
management information, purchasing, accounting and finance,
sales, billing, payroll and benefits, and regulatory compliance.
The integration of Comcast Cable and Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings will also require substantial attention
from management. The diversion of management attention and any
difficulties associated with integrating Comcast Cable and
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings could have a material
adverse effect on our operating results.
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We will have to abide by restrictions to preserve the tax
treatment of the Broadband acquisition. |
In order to preserve the treatment of the Broadband acquisition
as tax-free, our ability to redeem stock or issue equity
securities will be limited through December 2004. As of
December 31, 2002, we had the ability to issue at least
250 million shares of our common stock without affecting
the tax treatment of the Broadband acquisition. These
restrictions may limit our ability to issue equity securities to
satisfy our financing needs or to acquire businesses or assets.
We and our subsidiaries have
significant debt and debt-like obligations and may not maintain
investment-grade credit ratings.
We and our subsidiaries have a significant amount of debt and
debt-like obligations. Our credit rating and the credit ratings
of our subsidiaries may in the future be lower than the current
or historical credit ratings of Comcast Holdings, Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings and their respective subsidiaries. In
addition, it is possible that we or any of our subsidiaries that
issue debt may not obtain or maintain an investment-grade credit
rating. Differences in credit ratings would affect the interest
rates charged on financings, as well as the amounts of
indebtedness, types of financing structures and debt markets
that may be available to us and our subsidiaries. A downgrade in
our or any of our subsidiaries existing credit ratings or
failure by us and our subsidiaries to maintain investment-grade
credit ratings could have a material adverse effect on our
operating results, our ability to obtain additional financing,
and on the value of our common stock.
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Atypical governance arrangements may make it more
difficult for our shareholders to act. |
In connection with the Broadband acquisition, we implemented a
number of governance arrangements that are atypical for a large,
publicly held corporation. A number of these arrangements relate
to the election of our Board. The term of our Board will not
expire until our 2004 annual meeting of shareholders. Since our
shareholders will not have the right to call special meetings of
shareholders or act by written consent and our directors may be
removed only for cause, our shareholders will not be able to
replace our initial Board members prior to that meeting. After
our 2004 annual meeting of shareholders, our directors will be
elected annually. Even then, however, it will be difficult for
one of our shareholders, other than BRCC Holdings LLC, to elect
a slate of directors of its own choosing to our Board.
Brian L. Roberts, our President and Chief Executive
Officer, through his control of BRCC Holdings LLC, holds a
331/3%
nondilutable voting interest in our stock. In addition, we
adopted a shareholder rights plan upon completion of the
Broadband acquisition that prevents any holder of our stock,
other than any holder of our Class B common stock or any of
such holders affiliates, from acquiring our stock
representing more than 10% of the voting power with respect to
us without the approval of our Board.
In addition to the governance arrangements relating to our
Board, a number of governance arrangements will make it
difficult to replace our senior management. Upon completion of
the Broadband
3
acquisition, C. Michael Armstrong, Chairman of the Board
and CEO of AT&T, became our Chairman of the Board and
Brian L. Roberts, President of Comcast Holdings, became our
President and CEO. After the 2005 annual meeting of our
shareholders, Brian L. Roberts will also be our Chairman of
the Board. Prior to the sixth anniversary of our 2004 annual
meeting of shareholders, unless Brian L. Roberts ceases to
be our Chairman of the Board or CEO prior to such time, our
Chairman of the Board and CEO will be able to be removed only
with the approval of at least 75% of our entire Board. This
supermajority removal requirement makes it unlikely that
C. Michael Armstrong or Brian L. Roberts will be
removed from their management positions. Mr. Armstrong has
notified us that as of May 7, 2003, the date of our 2003
annual shareholders meeting, he will exercise his election to
become non-executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Our principal shareholder
has considerable influence over our operations.
Brian L. Roberts has significant control over our
operations through his control of BRCC Holdings LLC, which as a
result of its ownership of outstanding shares of our
Class B common stock holds a nondilutable
331/3%
of the combined voting power of our stock and also has separate
approval rights over certain material transactions involving us.
In addition, Brian L. Roberts is our President and CEO and
will, together with our Chairman of the Board, comprise the
Office of the Chairman, our principal executive deliberative
body.
The performance of Broadband
prior to the Broadband acquisition may not be representative of
the results of Comcast Cable Communications Holdings without the
other AT&T businesses and therefore is not a reliable
indicator of its future results.
Broadband was a fully integrated business unit of AT&T, and
as a result the financial information of Broadband incorporated
by reference in this prospectus was derived from the
consolidated financial statements and accounting records of
AT&T and reflects certain assumptions and allocations. The
financial position, results of operations and cash flows of
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings without the other AT&T
businesses could differ from those that would have resulted had
its business operated with the other AT&T businesses.
Risks Relating to Our Business
Our actual financial
position and results of operations may differ significantly and
adversely from the pro forma amounts included in this
prospectus.
Our actual financial position and results of operations may
differ, perhaps significantly and adversely, from the pro forma
information included in this prospectus due to a variety of
factors, including access to additional information and changes
in value not currently identified.
In addition, in many cases each of Comcast Holdings and
Broadband had long-term agreements, in some cases with the same
counterparties, for the same services and products, such as
programming, billing services and interactive programming
guides. It is not clear, in the case of certain services and
products, whether each of the existing agreements continues to
apply only to the operations to which they have historically
applied or whether instead one of the two contracts will apply
to the operations of both companies and the other contract will
be terminated. Since these contracts often differ significantly
in their terms, resolution of these contractual issues could
cause our actual financial position and results of operations to
differ significantly and adversely from those reflected in the
pro forma financial information incorporated by reference in
this prospectus.
Programming costs are
increasing and we may not have the ability to pass these
increases on to our subscribers, which would materially
adversely affect our cash flow and operating margins.
Programming costs are expected to be our largest single expense
item in the foreseeable future. In recent years, the cable and
satellite video industries have experienced a rapid increase in
the cost of programming, particularly sports programming. This
increase is expected to continue, and we may not be
4
able to pass programming cost increases on to our subscribers.
The inability to pass these programming cost increases on to our
subscribers would have a material adverse impact on our
operating results. In addition, as we upgrade the channel
capacity of our systems and add programming to our basic,
expanded basic and digital programming tiers, we may face
increased programming costs, which, in conjunction with the
additional market constraints on our ability to pass programming
costs on to our subscribers, may reduce operating margins.
We also expect to be subject to increasing financial and other
demands by broadcasters to obtain the required consent for the
retransmission of broadcast programming to our subscribers. We
cannot predict the financial impact of these negotiations or the
effect on our subscribers should we be required to stop offering
this programming.
We face a wide range of
competition in areas served by our cable systems, which could
adversely affect our future results of operations.
Our cable communications systems compete with a number of
different sources which provide news, information and
entertainment programming to consumers. We compete directly with
program distributors and other companies that use satellites,
build competing cable systems in the same communities we serve
or otherwise provide programming and other communications
services to our subscribers and potential subscribers. In
addition, federal law now allows local telephone companies to
provide directly to subscribers a wide variety of services that
are competitive with cable communications services. Some local
telephone companies provide, or have announced plans to provide,
video services within and outside their telephone service areas
through a variety of methods, including broadband cable
networks. Additionally, we will be subject to competition from
telecommunications providers and Internet service providers,
known as ISPs, in connection with offerings of new and advanced
services, including telecommunications and Internet services.
This competition may materially adversely affect our business
and operations in the future. In addition, any increase in
vacancy rates in multi-dwelling units has historically adversely
impacted subscriber levels and is expected to do so in the
future. Subscriber levels also have historically demonstrated
seasonal fluctuations, particularly in markets that include
major universities.
We have substantial capital
requirements which may require us to obtain additional financing
that may be difficult to obtain.
Our future capital expenditures may exceed, perhaps
significantly, our net cash provided by operating activities.
This may require us to obtain additional financing. We may not
be able to obtain or to obtain on favorable terms the capital
necessary to fund the substantial capital expenditures described
below that are required by our strategy and business plan. A
failure to obtain necessary capital or to obtain necessary
capital on favorable terms could have a material adverse effect
on us and result in the delay, change or abandonment of our
development or expansion plans.
We anticipate that we will upgrade a significant portion of our
broadband systems over the coming years and make other capital
investments, including with respect to our advanced services.
During 2003, we expect to incur approximately $4.2 billion
of capital expenditures in our cable, commerce and content
businesses, including approximately $4 billion for our
cable operations. We are expected to incur substantial capital
expenditures in the years subsequent to 2003. However, the
actual amount of the funds required for capital expenditures
cannot be determined with precision at this time. Capital is
expected to be used to upgrade and rebuild network systems to
expand bandwidth capacity and add two-way capability so that our
systems may offer advanced services. In addition, capital
expenditures are expected to be used to acquire equipment, such
as set-top boxes, cable modems and telephone equipment, and to
pay for installation costs for additional video and advanced
services customers. There can be no assurance that these amounts
will be sufficient to accomplish the planned system upgrades,
equipment acquisitions and expansion.
5
Some of our subsidiaries may
be subject to long-term exclusive agreements that may limit
their future operating flexibility and materially adversely
affect our financial results.
Some of the entities that became our subsidiaries following the
Broadband acquisition may be subject to long-term agreements
relating to significant aspects of their operations, including
long-term agreements for video programming, audio programming,
electronic program guides, billing and other services. The
price, terms and conditions of these agreements may not reflect
current market terms and if one or more of these arrangements
were to continue to apply to any of our subsidiaries, they may
materially adversely impact our financial performance.
Comcast Cable Holdings, and Broadbands subsidiary,
Satellite Services, Inc., are parties to an affiliation term
sheet with Starz Encore Group LLC, an affiliate of Liberty
Media, which extends to 2022 and provided for annual fixed price
payments, subject to adjustment for various factors including
inflation, and purported to require Broadband to pay two-thirds
of Starz Encore Groups programming costs above levels
designated in the term sheet. Excess programming costs that may
be payable by us in future years are not presently estimable,
and could be significant.
By letter dated May 29, 2001, Broadband disputed the
enforceability of the excess programming pass-through provisions
of the Starz Encore term sheet and questioned the validity of
the term sheet as a whole. Broadband also has raised certain
issues concerning the uncertainty of the provisions of the term
sheet and the contractual interpretation and application of
certain of its provisions to, among other things, the
acquisition and disposition of cable systems. In July 2001,
Starz Encore Group filed a lawsuit in Colorado state court
seeking payment of alleged 2001 excess programming costs and a
declaration that the term sheet is a binding and enforceable
contract. In October 2001, Broadband and Starz Encore agreed to
delay any further proceedings in the litigation until
August 31, 2002 to allow the parties time to continue
negotiations toward a potential business resolution of this
dispute. As part of this standstill agreement, Broadband and
Starz Encore settled Starz Encores claim for the 2001
excess programming costs, and Broadband agreed to continue to
make the standard monthly payments due under the term sheet,
with a full reservation of rights with respect to these
payments. In connection with the standstill agreement, the court
granted a stay on October 30, 2001. The terms of the stay
order allowed either party to petition the court to lift the
stay after April 30, 2002 and to proceed with the
litigation. Broadband and Starz Encore agreed to extend the
standstill agreement to and including January 31, 2003,
with a requirement that the parties attempt to mediate the
dispute. A mediation session held in January 2003 did not result
in any resolution of the matter.
On November 18, 2002, we filed suit against Starz Encore
Group in the United States District Court for the Eastern
District of Pennsylvania. We seek a declaratory judgment that,
pursuant to our rights under a March 17, 1999 contract with
a predecessor of Starz Encore, upon the completion of the
Broadband acquisition, that contract now provides the terms
under which Starz Encore Group programming is acquired and
transmitted by our cable systems. In January 2003, Starz Encore
Group filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that
claims asserted by us raised issues of state law that the United
States District Court should decline to decide. We have
responded contesting these assertions. The motion has been
submitted to the Court for decision.
On January 31, 2003, Starz Encore filed an amended
complaint that adds us and Comcast Holdings as defendants and
adds new claims against us, Comcast Holdings and Broadband
asserting alleged breaches of, and interference with, the
standstill agreement relating to the lawsuit filed by us and
Comcast Holdings in federal District Court in Pennsylvania and
to the defendants position that, since the completion of
the Broadband acquisition, the March 17, 1999 contract
provides the terms under which Starz Encore programming is
acquired and transmitted by our cable systems.
On March 3, 2003, Starz Encore filed a motion for leave to
file a second amended complaint that would add allegations that
Broadband has breached certain joint-marketing obligations under
the term sheet and that we and Comcast Holdings have breached
certain joint-marketing obligations under the March 17,
1999 contract and other agreements. We, Comcast Holdings and
Broadband intend to oppose Starz Encores motion for leave
to file a second amended complaint and, in light of Starz
Encores pending
6
motion for leave to amend, have sought an extension of time from
the Court to respond to Starz Encores amended complaint.
An entity formerly attributed to Broadband, which is now our
subsidiary, is party to a master agreement that may not expire
until December 31, 2012, under which it purchases certain
billing services from CSG Systems, Inc. The master agreement
requires monthly payments, subject to adjustment for inflation.
The master agreement also contains a most favored nation
provision that may affect the amounts paid thereunder. In the
event that either the arbitration or this litigation or the
settlement thereof results in the termination of the master
agreement, Comcast Cable Communications Holdings may incur
significant costs in connection with its replacement of these
customer care and billing services and may experience temporary
disruptions to its operations.
On May 10, 2002, Broadband filed a demand for arbitration
against CSG before the American Arbitration Association
asserting, among other things, the right to terminate the master
agreement and seeking damages under the most favored nation
provision or otherwise. On May 31, 2002, CSG answered
Broadbands arbitration demand and asserted various
counterclaims, including for breach of the master agreement, a
declaration that we are now bound by the master agreement to use
CSG as our exclusive provider for certain billing and customer
care services, tortious interference with prospective
contractual relations, and civil conspiracy. A hearing in the
arbitration is scheduled to commence on May 5, 2003.
On June 21, 2002, CSG filed a lawsuit against Comcast
Holdings in federal court in Denver, Colorado asserting claims
related to the master agreement and the pending arbitration. On
November 4, 2002, CSG withdrew its complaint against
Comcast Holdings without prejudice. On November 15, 2002,
we initiated a lawsuit against CSG in federal court in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania asserting that cable systems owned by
Comcast Holdings are not required to use CSG as a billing
service or customer care provider pursuant to the master
agreement, and that the former Broadband cable systems we now
own may be added to a billing service agreement between us and
CSG. CSG moved to dismiss or stay the lawsuit on the ground that
the issues raised by the complaint could be wholly or
substantially determined by the above-mentioned arbitration. By
an order dated February 10, 2003, the Court stayed the
lawsuit until further notice.
On January 8, 2003, Liberty Digital, Inc. filed a complaint
in Colorado state court against us and Comcast Cable Holdings,
LLC (formerly AT&T Broadband LLC and Tele-Communications,
Inc.), our wholly-owned subsidiary. The complaint alleges that
Comcast Cable Holdings breached a 1997 contribution
agreement between Liberty Digital and Comcast Cable
Holdings and that we tortiously interfered with that agreement.
The complaint alleges that this purported agreement obligates
Comcast Cable Holdings to pay fees to Liberty Digital totaling
$18 million (increasing at CPI) per year through 2017. We
and Comcast Cable Holdings filed our answer to the complaint on
March 5, 2003, in which we denied the essential allegations
of the complaint and asserted various affirmative defenses.
We are subject to regulation
by federal, state and local governments which may impose costs
and restrictions.
Federal, state and local governments extensively regulate the
cable industry. We expect that legislative enactments, courts
actions and regulatory proceedings will continue to clarify and
in some cases change the rights and obligations of cable
companies and other entities under the Communications Act of
1934, as amended, and other laws, possibly in ways that we have
not foreseen. The results of these legislative, judicial and
administrative actions may materially affect our business
operations. Local authorities grant us franchises that permit us
to operate our cable systems. We will have to renew or
renegotiate these franchises from time to time. Local
franchising authorities often demand concessions or other
commitments as a condition to renewal or transfer, which
concessions or other commitments could be costly to us in the
future.
7
We are subject to additional
regulatory burdens in connection with the provision of
telecommunications services, which could cause us to incur
additional costs.
We are subject to risks associated with the regulation of our
telecommunications services by the Federal Communications
Commission, or FCC, and state public utilities commissions, or
PUCs. Telecommunications companies generally are subject to
significant regulation. This regulation could materially
adversely affect our business operations.
We may face increased
competition because of technological advances and new regulatory
requirements, which could adversely affect our future results of
operations.
Numerous companies, including telephone companies, have
introduced Digital Subscriber Line technology, known as DSL,
which provides Internet access to subscribers at data
transmission speeds substantially greater than that of
conventional analog modems. We expect other advances in
communications technology, as well as changes in the
marketplace, to occur in the future. Other new technologies and
services may develop and may compete with services that cable
systems offer. The success of these ongoing and future
developments could have a negative impact on our business
operations. Moreover, in recent years, Congress has enacted
legislation and the FCC has adopted regulatory policies intended
to provide a favorable operating environment for existing
competitors and for potential new competitors to our cable
systems.
Ever since high-speed cable Internet service was introduced,
some local governments and various competitors sought to impose
regulatory requirements on how we deal with third-party Internet
service providers, or ISPs. Thus far, only a few local
governments have imposed such requirements, and the courts have
invalidated all of them. Likewise, the FCC has refused to treat
our service as a common carrier telecommunications
service, but has instead classified it as an
interstate information service, which has
historically meant that no regulations apply. Nonetheless, the
FCCs decision remains subject to judicial review, and a
decision by a federal appellate court is expected later this
year.
In addition, the FCC itself is still considering whether it
should impose any regulatory requirements and also whether local
franchising authorities should be permitted to impose fees or
other requirements, such as service quality or customer service
standards. A few franchising authorities have sued us seeking
payment of franchise fees on high-speed Internet service
revenues. Further, a number of software and content providers
and electronic retailers are now urging the FCC to adopt certain
nondiscrimination principles that purport to be
intended to allow Internet customers access to the Internet
content of their choosing (something we already provide). We
cannot now predict whether these or similar regulations will be
adopted and, if so, what effects, if any, they would have on our
business.
A number of cable operators have reached agreements to provide
unaffiliated ISPs access to their cable systems in the absence
of regulatory requirements. We reached access
agreements with several national and regional third-party ISPs.
In addition, in connection with the restructuring of TWE, we
will enter into a three-year non-exclusive access agreement with
AOL Time Warner. We also have agreed to offer Microsoft an
access agreement on terms no less favorable than those provided
to other ISPs with respect to specified cable systems. We cannot
provide any assurance, however, that regulatory authorities will
not impose open access or similar requirements on us
as part of an industry-wide requirement. These requirements
could adversely affect our results of operations.
We, through Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings, have substantial economic interests in
joint ventures in which we have limited management
rights.
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings is a partner in several
large joint ventures, such as TWE, Texas Cable Partners and
Kansas City Cable Partners, in which it has a substantial
economic interest but does not have substantial control with
regard to management policies or the selection of management.
These joint ventures may be managed in a manner contrary to our
best interests, and the value of our investment in these joint
ventures, through Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, may be
affected by management policies that are determined without our
input or over our objections. Comcast Cable
8
Communications Holdings has cable partnerships with each of AOL
Time Warner, Insight Communications, Adelphia Communications,
Midcontinent and US Cable. Materially adverse financial or other
developments with respect to a partner could adversely impact
the applicable partnership.
We, through Comcast Holdings
and Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, face risks arising
from their and AT&Ts relationship with At Home
Corporation.
Litigation has been filed against us as a result of our alleged
conduct with respect to our investment in and distribution
relationship with At Home Corporation. At Home was a provider of
high-speed Internet access and content services which filed for
bankruptcy protection in September 2001. Filed actions are:
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class action lawsuits against us, Brian L. Roberts (our
President and Chief Executive Officer and a director), AT&T
(the former controlling shareholder of At Home and also a former
distributor of the At Home service) and other corporate and
individual defendants in the Superior Court of San Mateo County,
California, alleging breaches of fiduciary duty on the part of
us and the other defendants in connection with transactions
agreed to in March 2000 among At Home, us, AT&T and Cox
Communications, Inc., an investor in At Home and a former
distributor of the At Home service; |
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class action lawsuits against Comcast Cable Communications,
Inc., AT&T and others in the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York, alleging securities law
violations and common law fraud in connection with disclosures
made by At Home in 2001; and |
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a lawsuit brought in the United States District Court for the
District of Delaware in the name of At Home by certain At Home
bondholders against us, Brian L. Roberts, Cox and others,
alleging breaches of fiduciary duty relating to the March 2000
transactions and seeking recovery of alleged short-swing profits
of at least $600 million pursuant to Section 16(b) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 purported to have arisen in
connection with certain transactions relating to At Home stock
effected pursuant to the March 2000 agreements. |
The actions in San Mateo County, California have been stayed by
the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of
California, the court in which At Home filed for bankruptcy, as
violating the automatic bankruptcy stay. In the Southern
District of New York actions, the court ordered the actions
consolidated into a single action. An amended consolidated class
action complaint was filed on November 8, 2002. All of the
defendants served motions to dismiss on February 11, 2003.
Under the terms of the Broadband acquisition, we are
contractually liable for 50% of any liabilities of AT&T
relating to At Home, including any resulting from any pending or
threatened litigation. AT&T will be liable for the other 50%
of these liabilities. In addition to the action against AT&T
described above, where we are also a defendant, there are two
additional actions brought by At Homes bondholders
liquidating trust against AT&T, not naming us:
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a lawsuit filed against AT&T and certain of its senior
officers in Santa Clara, California state court alleging various
breaches of fiduciary duties, misappropriation of trade secrets
and other causes of action in connection with the transactions
in March 2000 described above, and prior and subsequent alleged
conduct on the part of the defendants, and |
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an action filed against AT&T in the District Court for the
Northern District of California, alleging that AT&T
infringes an At Home patent by using its broadband distribution
and high-speed Internet backbone networks and equipment. |
AT&T moved to dismiss the Santa Clara action on the grounds
that California is an inconvenient forum, but the court denied
AT&Ts motion. AT&T also moved to transfer the
Northern District of California action to the Southern District
of New York as being a more convenient venue. AT&Ts
motion is pending.
9
We deny any wrongdoing in connection with the claims which have
been made directly against us, our subsidiaries and
Brian L. Roberts, and intend to defend all of these claims
vigorously. In managements opinion, the final disposition
of these claims is not expected to have a material adverse
effect on our consolidated financial position, but could
possibly be material to our consolidated results of operations
of any one period. Further, no assurance can be given that any
adverse outcome would not be material to our consolidated
financial position.
Management is continuing to evaluate this litigation and is
unable to currently determine what impact, if any, that our 50%
share of the At Home potential liabilities would have on our
consolidated financial position or results of operations. No
assurance can be given that any adverse outcome would not be
material.
Our indentures do not
restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, which
could make our debt securities more risky in the future.
As of December 31, 2002, our consolidated indebtedness was
approximately $34.9 billion, of which $34.2 billion
was issued by our subsidiaries and was senior to debt
obligations at Comcast Corporation. As of December 31,
2002, our consolidated stockholders equity was
approximately $38.3 billion. The indentures that govern the
terms of our debt do not restrict our ability or our
subsidiaries ability to incur additional indebtedness. The
degree to which we incur additional debt could have important
consequences to holders of the securities, including:
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limiting our ability to obtain any necessary financing in the
future for working capital, capital expenditures, debt service
requirements or other purposes; |
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requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows
from operations to the payment of indebtedness and not for other
purposes, such as working capital and capital expenditures; |
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limiting our flexibility to plan for, or react to, changes in
our businesses; |
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making us more indebted than some of our competitors, which may
place us at a competitive disadvantage; and |
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making us more vulnerable to a downturn in our businesses. |
The securities we are
offering may not develop an active public market, which could
depress the resale price of the securities.
The securities we are offering, other than our Class A
Common Stock and Class A Special Common Stock, will be new
issues of securities for which there is currently no trading
market. We cannot predict whether an active trading market for
the securities will develop or be sustained. If an active
trading market were to develop, the securities could trade at
prices that may be lower than the initial offering price of the
securities.
10
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Our businesses may be affected by, among other things:
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changes in laws and regulations; |
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changes in the competitive environment; |
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changes in technology; |
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industry consolidation and mergers; |
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franchise-related matters; |
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market conditions that may adversely affect the availability of
debt and equity financing for working capital, capital
expenditures or other purposes; |
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demand for the programming content we distribute or the
willingness of other video program distributors to carry our
content; and |
general economic
conditions.
In this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by
reference, we state our expectations of future events and our
future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify
those so-called forward-looking statements by words
such as may, will, should,
expects, plans, anticipates,
believes, estimates,
predicts, potential, or
continue or the negative of those words and other
comparable words. You should be aware that those statements are
only our predictions. Actual events or results may differ
materially. In evaluating those statements, you should
specifically consider various factors, including the risks
outlined under Risk Factors above. Those factors may
cause our actual results to differ materially from any of our
forward-looking statements.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the
securities for working capital and general corporate purposes.
We may also invest the proceeds in certificates of deposit,
United States government securities or certain other
interest-bearing securities. If we decide to use the net
proceeds from a particular offering of securities for a specific
purpose, we will describe that in the related prospectus
supplement.
DIVIDEND POLICY
We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the
foreseeable future.
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |
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2002 | |
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2001 | |
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Comcast(a)
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1.20x |
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2.20x |
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5.93x |
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3.30x |
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5.37x |
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(a) |
We became the parent of Comcast Holdings and Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings on November 18, 2002 in connection
with the consummation of the merger of Comcast Holdings and
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings with our subsidiaries.
Because Comcast Holdings is our predecessor, our historical
ratios are the same as Comcast Holdings historical ratios.
For purposes of our ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
consist of income (loss) from continuing operations before
income taxes, cumulative effect of accounting change, minority
interest, equity in net (income) losses of affiliates and fixed
charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense. |
11
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
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For the Years Ended December 31, | |
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2002 | |
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Comcast(b)
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1.20x |
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2.20x |
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5.77x |
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3.20x |
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5.12x |
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(b) |
For purposes of calculating our ratios of earnings to combined
fixed charges and preferred dividends, earnings consist of
income (loss) from continuing operations before income
taxes, cumulative effect of accounting change, minority
interest, equity in net (income) losses of affiliate and
combined fixed charges and preferred dividends. Combined fixed
charges and preferred dividends consist of interest expense and
preferred dividends. |
12
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS OF COMCAST CORPORATION
The following Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement
of Operations of Comcast for the year ended December 31,
2002 gives effect to the Broadband acquisition. The pro forma
financial statement accounts for the Broadband acquisition under
the purchase method of accounting. The consideration to complete
the Broadband acquisition was $50,780 million, consisting
of $25,495 million of Comcast common stock and options,
$24,860 million of assumed debt and $425 million of
transaction costs directly related to the acquisition.
The estimated fair value of certain assets and liabilities are
based on preliminary valuations and are subject to adjustment as
additional information is obtained. Our estimates have and will
continue to change as final reports from valuation specialists
are obtained and additional information becomes available
regarding assets acquired and liabilities assumed. Changes in
the amounts assigned to acquisition related assets and
liabilities may affect the results of operations in future
periods.
Management believes that the assumptions used provide a
reasonable basis on which to present the unaudited pro forma
financial data. Both Comcast Holdings and AT&T Broadband
Group have completed other acquisitions and dispositions that
are not significant, individually or in the aggregate, and,
accordingly, have not been included in the accompanying
unaudited pro forma financial data. The unaudited pro forma
financial data may not be indicative of the results that would
have occurred if the Broadband acquisition had been in effect on
the dates indicated or which may be obtained in the future.
The unaudited pro forma financial data should be read in
conjunction with the historical consolidated financial
statements and accompanying notes thereto for Comcast, and the
historical combined financial statements and accompanying notes
thereto for AT&T Broadband Group incorporated by reference
in this prospectus.
13
COMCAST CORPORATION
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED STATEMENT OF
OPERATIONS
For the Year Ended December 31, 2002
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Historical | |
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Pro Forma | |
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Comcast(a) | |
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Broadband(a) | |
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Adjustments(b) | |
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Comcast | |
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| |
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(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts) | |
Revenues
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Service revenues
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$ |
8,079 |
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$ |
8,693 |
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$ |
(41 |
) |
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$ |
16,731 |
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Net sales from electronic retailing
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4,381 |
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4,381 |
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|
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12,460 |
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8,693 |
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(41 |
) |
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21,112 |
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Costs and Expenses
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Operating (excluding depreciation)
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3,511 |
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4,612 |
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(27 |
) |
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8,096 |
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Cost of goods sold from electronic retailing (excluding
depreciation)
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2,793 |
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2,793 |
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Selling, general and administrative
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2,465 |
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2,411 |
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(10 |
) |
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4,866 |
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Depreciation
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1,775 |
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2,414 |
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(814 |
) |
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3,375 |
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Amortization
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257 |
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188 |
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954 |
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1,399 |
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Goodwill and franchise impairment charges(c)
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16,525 |
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16,525 |
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Asset impairment, restructuring and other charges
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56 |
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56 |
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|
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10,801 |
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26,206 |
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103 |
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37,110 |
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Operating income (loss)
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1,659 |
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(17,513 |
) |
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(144 |
) |
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(15,998 |
) |
Other income (expense)
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|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
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Interest expense
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(884 |
) |
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|
(1,306 |
) |
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(5 |
) |
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(2,195 |
) |
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Investment expense
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(605 |
) |
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(1,263 |
) |
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(1,868 |
) |
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Equity in net losses of affiliates
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(103 |
) |
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|
(1,005 |
) |
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(1,108 |
) |
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Other income
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3 |
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439 |
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442 |
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|
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|
|
|
|
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|
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|
(1,589 |
) |
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|
(2,130 |
) |
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|
(1,010 |
) |
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|
(4,729 |
) |
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Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes,
minority interest, extraordinary items and cumulative effect of
accounting change
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70 |
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(19,643 |
) |
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(1,154 |
) |
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(20,727 |
) |
Income tax (expense) benefit
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(134 |
) |
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5,776 |
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443 |
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6,085 |
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Loss from continuing operations before minority interest,
extraordinary items and cumulative effect of accounting
change
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(64 |
) |
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(13,867 |
) |
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(711 |
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(14,642 |
) |
Net loss related to equity investments
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|
(619 |
) |
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619 |
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Minority interest expense
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|
(212 |
) |
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|
(256 |
) |
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155 |
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|
(313 |
) |
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Loss from continuing operations before extraordinary items
and cumulative effect of accounting change
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$ |
(276 |
) |
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$ |
(14,742 |
) |
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$ |
63 |
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$ |
(14,955 |
) |
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Loss per share from continuing operations basic
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$ |
(0.25 |
) |
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|
|
|
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$ |
(6.51 |
) |
Loss per share from continuing operations assuming
dilution
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$ |
(0.25 |
) |
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$ |
(6.51 |
) |
Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
basic
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1,110 |
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1,189 |
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2,299 |
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Weighted average number of common shares outstanding
assuming dilution
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1,110 |
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1,189 |
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2,299 |
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See Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Condensed Statement of
Operations
14
COMCAST CORPORATION
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED CONDENSED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
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(a) |
Comcast results include the results of Broadband for the period
from November 19, 2002 through December 31, 2002.
Historical Broadband results represent Broadbands results
for the period from January 1, 2002 through
November 18, 2002. Both the Comcast results and the
Historical Broadband results exclude the cable systems serving
approximately 317,000 subscribers that have been sold to
Bresnan Broadband Holdings and treated as discontinued
operations as of the acquisition date. |
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(b) |
Adjustments reflect the elimination of intercompany transactions
between Comcast Holdings and Broadband, the change in
depreciation and amortization expense as a result of recording
the related balance sheet amounts at their fair value, the
change in interest expense to reflect the effective interest
rates for the new borrowings and the fair value of assumed debt,
the reclassification of equity in net losses of affiliates to
conform to our presentation, the related tax effects of the
above adjustments, and the shares issued in the transaction. |
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(c) |
The Broadband historical amounts include a $16.5 billion
charge incurred in second quarter of 2002 related to the
impairment of franchise rights and goodwill. This charge was
directly related to the transaction and was based upon the value
of Comcast Holdings shares to be exchanged in the
transaction as compared to the net book value of Broadband at
the time of the impairment test. |
15
DESCRIPTION OF THE SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES,
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES AND CABLE GUARANTEES
Our debt securities, consisting of notes, debentures or other
evidences of indebtedness, may be issued from time to time in
one or more series:
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in the case of senior debt securities, under a senior indenture
dated January 7, 2003, as amended, entered into among us,
the cable guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee; and |
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in the case of subordinated debt securities, under a
subordinated indenture to be entered into among us, the cable
guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee. |
The senior indenture, as amended, is included, and the
subordinated indenture will be substantially in the form
included, as exhibits to the registration statement of which
this prospectus is a part.
Because the following is only a summary of the indentures and
the debt securities, it does not contain all information that
you may find useful. For further information about the
indentures and the debt securities, you should read the
indentures. As used in this Section of the prospectus and under
the captions Description of Warrants,
Description of Common Stock, Description of
Purchase Contracts and Description of Units,
the terms we, us and our
mean Comcast Corporation only, and not subsidiaries of Comcast
Corporation.
General
The senior debt securities will constitute our unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations and the subordinated debt securities
will constitute our unsecured and subordinated obligations. A
detailed description of the subordination provisions is provided
below under the caption Certain Terms of the Subordinated
Debt Securities Subordination. In general, however,
if we declare bankruptcy, holders of the senior debt securities
will be paid in full before the holders of subordinated debt
securities will receive anything. The debt securities will be
fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the cable guarantors, as
described below.
We are a holding company and conduct all of our operations
through subsidiaries. Consequently, our ability to pay our
obligations, including our obligation to pay interest on the
debt securities, to repay the principal amount of the debt
securities at maturity or upon redemption or to buy back the
debt securities will depend upon our subsidiaries earnings
and their distributing those earnings to us and upon our
subsidiaries repaying investments and advances we have made to
them. Our subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal entities
and, except for the cable guarantors with respect to the cable
guarantees, have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay
any amounts due on the debt securities or to make funds
available to us to do so. Our subsidiaries ability to pay
dividends or make other payments or advances to us will depend
upon their operating results and will be subject to applicable
laws and contractual restrictions. Our indentures will not limit
our subsidiaries ability to enter into other agreements
that prohibit or restrict dividends or other payments or
advances to us.
You should look in the applicable prospectus supplement for the
following terms of the debt securities being offered:
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the designation of the debt securities; |
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the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities; |
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the percentage of their principal amount (i.e. price) at which
the debt securities will be issued; |
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the date or dates on which the debt securities will mature and
the right, if any, to extend such date or dates; |
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the rate or rates, if any, per year, at which the debt
securities will bear interest, or the method of determining such
rate or rates; |
16
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the date or dates from which such interest will accrue, the
interest payment dates on which such interest will be payable or
the manner of determination of such interest payment dates and
the record dates for the determination of holders to whom
interest is payable on any interest payment dates; |
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the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and
the duration of that extension; |
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provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund,
if any; |
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the period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices
of which, and the terms and conditions upon which the debt
securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option
or at your option; |
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the form of the debt securities; |
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any provisions for payment of additional amounts for taxes and
any provision for redemption, if we must pay such additional
amounts in respect of any debt security; |
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the terms and conditions, if any, upon which we may have to
repay the debt securities early at your option and the price or
prices in the currency or currency unit in which the debt
securities are payable; |
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the currency, currencies or currency units for which you may
purchase the debt securities and the currency, currencies or
currency units in which principal and interest, if any, on the
debt securities may be payable; |
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the terms and conditions, if any, pursuant to which the debt
securities may be converted or exchanged for the cash value of
other securities issued by us or by a third party; and |
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any other terms of the debt securities, including any additional
events of default or covenants provided for with respect to the
debt securities, and any terms which may be required by or
advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
You may present debt securities for exchange and for transfer in
the manner, at the places and subject to the restrictions set
forth in the debt securities and the prospectus supplement. We
will provide you those services without charge, although you may
have to pay any tax or other governmental charge payable in
connection with any exchange or transfer, as set forth in the
indenture.
Debt securities will bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating
rate. Debt securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate
that at the time of issuance is below the prevailing market rate
may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount.
Special United States federal income tax considerations
applicable to any such discounted debt securities or to certain
debt securities issued at par which are treated as having been
issued at a discount for United States federal income tax
purposes will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.
We may issue debt securities with the principal amount payable
on any principal payment date, or the amount of interest payable
on any interest payment date, to be determined by reference to
one or more currency exchange rates, securities or baskets of
securities, commodity prices or indices. You may receive a
payment of principal on any principal payment date, or a payment
of interest on any interest payment date, that is greater than
or less than the amount of principal or interest otherwise
payable on such dates, depending upon the value on such dates of
the applicable currency, security or basket of securities,
commodity or index. Information as to the methods for
determining the amount of principal or interest payable on any
date, the currencies, securities or baskets of securities,
commodities or indices to which the amount payable on such date
is linked and certain additional tax considerations will be set
forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
17
Certain Terms of the Senior Debt Securities
Our obligations under the senior debt securities, including the
payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, will be
fully and unconditionally guaranteed by each of the cable
guarantors. The cable guarantees will rank equally with all
other general unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the
cable guarantors.
The cable guarantees will not contain any restrictions on the
ability of any cable guarantor to:
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pay dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire,
or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of that cable
guarantors capital stock or |
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make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on
or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities of that cable
guarantor. |
We and the cable guarantors have agreed to some restrictions on
our activities for the benefit of holders of all series of
senior debt securities issued under the senior indenture. The
restrictive covenants summarized below will apply, unless the
covenants are waived or amended, so long as any of the senior
debt securities are outstanding.
The senior indenture does not contain any financial covenants
other than those summarized below and does not restrict us or
our subsidiaries from paying dividends or incurring additional
debt. In addition, the senior indenture will not protect holders
of notes issued under it in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction or a change in control.
Limitation on Liens Securing Indebtedness. Neither we nor
any cable guarantor shall create, incur or assume any Lien
(other than any Permitted Lien) on such persons assets,
including the Capital Stock of such persons wholly-owned
subsidiaries to secure the payment of our Indebtedness or
that of any cable guarantor, unless we secure the outstanding
senior debt securities or cable guarantee, as the case may be,
equally and ratably with (or prior to) all Indebtedness secured
by such Lien, so long as such Indebtedness shall be so secured.
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. Neither we
nor any cable guarantor shall enter into any Sale and Leaseback
Transaction involving any of such persons assets,
including the Capital Stock of such persons wholly-owned
subsidiaries.
The restriction in the foregoing paragraph shall not apply to
any Sale and Leaseback Transaction if:
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the lease is for a period not in excess of three years,
including renewal of rights; |
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the lease secures or relates to industrial revenue or similar
financing; |
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the transaction is solely between us and a cable guarantor or
between or among cable guarantors; or |
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we or the applicable cable guarantor, within 270 days after
the sale is completed, applies an amount equal to or greater
than (a) the net proceeds of the sale of the assets or part
thereof leased or (b) the fair market value of the assets
or part thereof leased (as determined in good faith by our Board
of Directors) either to: |
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o |
the retirement (or open market
purchase) of senior debt securities, our other long-term
Indebtedness ranking on a parity with or senior to the senior
debt securities or long-term Indebtedness of a cable guarantor;
or
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o |
the purchase by us or any cable
guarantor of other property, plant or equipment related to our
business or the business of any cable guarantor having a value
at least equal to the value of the assets or part thereof leased.
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18
This provision and the provision described under
Limitation on Liens Securing Indebtedness do
not apply to any of our subsidiaries other than the cable
guarantors.
Capitalized Lease means, as applied to any
person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal, or
mixed) of which the discounted present value of the rental
obligations of such person as lessee, in conformity with GAAP,
is required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such
person; and Capitalized Lease Obligation is defined
to mean the rental obligations, as aforesaid, under such lease.
Capital Stock means, with respect to any
person, any and all shares, interests, participations, or other
equivalents (however designated, whether voting or non-voting)
of such persons capital stock or other ownership
interests, whether now outstanding or issued after the date of
hereof, including, without limitation, all common stock and
preferred stock.
Currency Agreement means any foreign exchange
contract, currency swap agreement, or other similar agreement or
arrangement designed to protect against the fluctuation in
currency values.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States of America as in effect as of
the date of determination, including, without limitation, those
set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as approved by a significant segment of the
accounting profession. All ratios and computations contained in
the senior indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis.
Guarantee means any obligation, contingent or
otherwise, of any person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any
Indebtedness or other obligation of any other person and,
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any
obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such
person:
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to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase
or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such
other person (whether arising by virtue of partnership
arrangements, or by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets,
goods, securities, or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain
financial statement conditions or otherwise); or |
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entered into for purposes of assuring in any other manner the
obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect
thereof (in whole or in part); |
provided that the term Guarantee shall not include
endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of
business.
The term Guarantee used as a verb has a
corresponding meaning.
Indebtedness means, with respect to any
person at any date of determination (without duplication):
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all indebtedness of such person for borrowed money; |
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all obligations of such person evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes, or other similar instruments; |
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all obligations of such person in respect of letters of credit
or other similar instruments (including reimbursement
obligations with respect thereto); |
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all obligations of such person to pay the deferred and unpaid
purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary
course of business); |
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all obligations of such person as lessee under Capitalized
Leases; |
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all Indebtedness of other persons secured by a Lien on any asset
of such person, whether or not such Indebtedness is assumed by
such person; provided that the amount of such Indebtedness shall
be the lesser of: |
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o |
the fair market value of such
asset at such date of determination; and
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19
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o |
the amount of such Indebtedness;
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all Indebtedness of other persons Guaranteed by such person to
the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by such person; |
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to the extent not otherwise included in this definition,
obligations under Currency Agreements and Interest Rate
Agreements. |
The amount of Indebtedness of any person at any date shall be
the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional
obligations as described above and, with respect to contingent
obligations, the maximum liability upon the occurrence of the
contingency giving rise to the obligation; provided:
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that the amount outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness
issued with original issue discount is the face amount of such
Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion of the
original issue discount of such Indebtedness at such time as
determined in conformity with GAAP; and |
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that Indebtedness shall not include any liability for federal,
state, local, or other taxes. |
Interest Rate Agreements means any
obligations of any person pursuant to any interest rate swaps,
caps, collars, and similar arrangements providing protection
against fluctuations in interest rates. For purposes of the
senior indenture, the amount of such obligations shall be the
amount determined in respect thereof as of the end of the then
most recently ended fiscal quarter of such person, based on the
assumption that such obligation had terminated at the end of
such fiscal quarter, and in making such determination, if any
agreement relating to such obligation provides for the netting
of amounts payable by and to such person thereunder or if any
such agreement provides for the simultaneous payment of amounts
by and to such person, then in each such case, the amount of
such obligations shall be the net amount so determined, plus any
premium due upon default by such person.
Lien means, with respect to any asset, any
mortgage, lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance
of any kind, or any other type of preferential arrangement that
has the practical effect of creating a security interest, in
respect of such asset. For the purposes of the senior indenture,
we or any cable guarantor shall be deemed to own subject to a
Lien any asset acquired or held subject to the interest of a
vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital
lease or other title retention agreement relating to such asset.
Permitted Liens means:
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any Lien on any asset incurred prior to the date of the senior
indenture; |
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any Lien on any assets acquired after the date of the senior
indenture (including by way of merger or consolidation) by us or
any cable guarantor, which Lien is created, incurred or assumed
contemporaneously with such acquisition, or within 270 days
thereafter, to secure or provide for the payment or financing of
any part of the purchase price thereof, or any Lien upon any
assets acquired after the date of the senior indenture existing
at the time of such acquisition (whether or not assumed by us or
any cable guarantor), provided that any such Lien shall attach
only to the assets so acquired; |
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any Lien on any assets in favor of us or any cable guarantor; |
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any Lien on assets incurred in connection with the issuance of
tax-exempt governmental obligations (including, without
limitation, industrial revenue bonds and similar financing); |
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any Lien granted by any cable guarantor on assets to the extent
limitations on the incurrence of such Liens are prohibited by
any agreement to which such cable guarantor is subject as of the
date of the senior indenture; and |
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any renewal of or substitution for any Lien permitted by any of
the preceding bullet points, including any Lien securing
reborrowing of amounts previously secured within 270 days
of the repayment thereof, provided that no such renewal or
substitution shall extend to any assets other than the assets
covered by the Lien being renewed or substituted. |
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Sale and Leaseback Transaction means any
direct or indirect arrangement with any person or to which any
such person is a party, providing for the leasing to us or a
cable guarantor of any property, whether owned by us or such
cable guarantor at the date of the original issuance of the debt
securities or later acquired, which has been or is to be sold or
transferred by us or such cable guarantor to such person or to
any other person by whom funds have been or are to be advanced
on the security of such property.
Financial Information. We will file, whether or not
required to do so under applicable law, with the trustee, within
15 days after being required to file the same under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, copies of the annual reports
and the information, documents and other reports to be filed
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934. We intend to file all such reports, information and
documents with the SEC, whether or not required by
Section 13 or 15(d), and will send copies to the trustee
within such 15-day period.
Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets. The senior
indenture restricts our ability to consolidate with, merge with
or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease, or otherwise dispose
of all or substantially all of our property and assets as an
entirety or substantially an entirety in one transaction or a
series of related transactions to any person (other than a
consolidation with or merger with or into or a sale, conveyance,
transfer, lease or other disposition to a wholly-owned
subsidiary with a positive net worth; provided that, in
connection with any merger of us and a wholly-owned subsidiary,
no consideration other than common stock in the surviving person
shall be issued or distributed to our stockholders) or permit
any person to merge with or into such party unless:
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we are the continuing person or the person formed by such
consolidation or into which such party is merged or that
acquired or leased such property and assets shall be a
corporation or limited liability company organized and validly
existing under the laws of the United States of America or any
jurisdiction thereof and shall expressly assume, by a
supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee,
all of our obligations on all of the senior debt securities and
under the senior indenture; |
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immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no default
or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and |
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we deliver to the trustee an officers certificate and
opinion of counsel, in each case stating that such
consolidation, merger, or transfer and such supplemental
indenture complies with this provision and that all conditions
precedent provided for in the senior indenture and notes
relating to such transaction have been complied with; |
provided, however, that the foregoing limitations will
not apply if, in the good faith determination of our board of
directors set forth in a board resolution, the principal purpose
of such transaction is to change the state of incorporation of
such party; and provided further that any such transaction shall
not have as one of its purposes the evasion of the foregoing
limitations.
Upon any express assumption of our obligations as described
above, we will be released and discharged from all obligations
and covenants under the senior indenture and all the senior debt
securities.
The senior indenture and the cable guarantees do not limit the
ability of any cable guarantor to consolidate with or merge into
or sell all or substantially all its assets. Upon the sale or
disposition of any cable guarantor (whether by merger,
consolidation, the sale of its capital stock or the sale of all
or substantially all of its assets) to any person, that cable
guarantor will be deemed released from all its obligations under
the senior indenture and its cable guarantee.
For purposes of this section, the term Obligor shall
mean each of us, Comcast Cable, Comcast Cable Communications
Holdings, Comcast Cable Holdings, Comcast MO Group and Comcast
MO of Delaware, in each case excluding such entitys
subsidiaries.
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An event of default for a series of senior debt securities is
defined under the senior indenture as being:
(1) a default by any Obligor in the payment of principal or
premium on the senior debt securities of such series when the
same becomes due and payable whether at maturity, upon
acceleration, redemption or otherwise;
(2) a default by any Obligor in the payment of interest on
the senior debt securities of such series when the same becomes
due and payable, if that default continues for a period of
30 days;
(3) default by any Obligor in the performance of or breach
by any Obligor of any of its other covenants or agreements in
the senior indenture applicable to all the senior debt
securities or applicable to the senior debt securities of any
series and that default or breach continues for a period of 30
consecutive days after written notice is received from the
trustee or from the holders of 25% or more in aggregate
principal amount of the senior debt securities of all affected
series;
(4) any cable guarantee is not (or is claimed by any cable
guarantor not to be) in full force and effect;
(5) a court having jurisdiction enters a decree or order
for:
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relief in respect of any Obligor in an involuntary case under
any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law now
or hereafter in effect; |
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appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
trustee, sequestrator or similar official of any Obligor for any
substantial part of such partys property and assets; or |
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the winding up or liquidation of any Obligors affairs |
and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for
a period of 180 consecutive days; or
(6) any Obligor:
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commences a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or
consent to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary
case under any such law; |
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consents to the appointment of or taking possession by a
receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee,
sequestrator, or similar official of such party or for any
substantial part of such partys property; or |
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effects any general assignment for the benefit of creditors. |
A default under any Obligors other indebtedness is not a
default under the senior indenture.
If an event of default other than an event of default specified
in clauses (5) and (6) above occurs with respect to an
issue of senior debt securities and is continuing under the
senior indenture, then, and in each and every such case, either
the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of such senior debt securities then outstanding
under the senior indenture by written notice to us and to the
trustee, if such notice is given by the holders, may, and the
trustee at the request of such holders shall, declare the
principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, on such senior
debt securities to be immediately due and payable. The amount
due upon acceleration shall include only the original issue
price of the senior debt securities and accrued to the date of
acceleration and accrued interest, if any. Upon a declaration of
acceleration, such principal amount of and accrued interest, if
any, on such senior debt securities shall be immediately due and
payable. If an event of default specified in clauses (5)
and (6) above occurs with respect to any Obligor, the
principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, on each issue
of senior debt securities then outstanding shall be and become
immediately due and payable without any notice or other action
on the part of the trustee or any holder.
Upon certain conditions such declarations may be rescinded and
annulled and past defaults may be waived by the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of an issue of senior
debt securities that has been accelerated. Furthermore, subject
to various provisions in the senior indenture, the holders of at
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least a majority in aggregate principal amount of an issue of
senior debt securities by notice to the trustee may waive an
existing default or event of default with respect to such senior
debt securities and its consequences, except a default in the
payment of principal of or interest on such senior debt
securities or in respect of a covenant or provision of the
senior indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holders of each such senior debt securities. Upon
any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any
event of default with respect to such senior debt securities
shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the
senior indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or event of default or impair any
right consequent thereto. For information as to the waiver of
defaults, see Modification and Waiver.
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount
of an issue of senior debt securities may direct the time,
method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power
conferred on the trustee with respect to such senior debt
securities. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or the senior indenture, that
may involve the trustee in personal liability, or that the
trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to
the rights of holders of such issue of senior debt securities
not joining in the giving of such direction and may take any
other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any
such direction received from holders of such issue of senior
debt securities. A holder may not pursue any remedy with respect
to the senior indenture or any series of senior debt securities
unless:
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the holder gives the trustee written notice of a continuing
event of default; |
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the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
such series of senior debt securities make a written request to
the trustee to pursue the remedy in respect of such event of
default; |
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the requesting holder or holders offer the trustee indemnity
satisfactory to the trustee against any costs, liability, or
expense; |
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the trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days
after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and |
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during such 60-day period, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of such series of senior debt
securities do not give the trustee a direction that is
inconsistent with the request. |
These limitations, however, do not apply to the right of any
holder of a senior debt security to receive payment of the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such senior debt
security, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such
payment, on or after the due date for the senior debt
securities, which right shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of the holder.
The senior indenture requires certain of our officers to
certify, on or before a date not more than 120 days after
the end of each fiscal year, as to their knowledge of our
compliance with all conditions and covenants under the senior
indenture, such compliance to be determined without regard to
any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the
senior indenture.
The senior indenture provides that, except as otherwise provided
in this paragraph, we may discharge our obligations with respect
to an issue of senior debt securities and the senior indenture
with respect to that series of senior debt securities if:
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the senior debt securities of the affected series previously
authenticated and delivered with certain exceptions, have been
delivered to the trustee for cancellation and we have paid all
sums payable under the senior indenture; or |
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the senior debt securities of the affected series mature within
one year or all of them are to be called for redemption within
one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for
giving the notice of redemption and: |
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we irrevocably deposit in trust
with the trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the
holders of the senior debt securities of the affected series,
for that purpose, money or U.S. government obligations or a
combination thereof sufficient (unless such funds consist solely
of money, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent public accountants expressed in a written
certification thereof delivered to the trustee), without
consideration of any reinvestment and after payment of all
federal, state and local taxes or other charges and assessments
in respect thereof payable by the trustee, to pay principal of
and interest on the senior debt securities of the affected
series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay
all other sums payable by it under the senior indenture; and
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we deliver to the trustee an
officers certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each
case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the
senior indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of
the senior indenture with respect to the senior debt securities
of the affected series have been complied with.
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With respect to all senior debt securities which have been
delivered to the trustee for cancellation and for which have
been paid all sums payable by us under the senior indenture,
only our obligations to compensate and indemnify the trustee and
our right to recover excess money held by the trustee under the
senior indenture shall survive. With respect to senior debt
securities which mature within one year or are to be called for
redemption within one year under redemption arrangements deemed
appropriate by the trustee, only our obligations with respect to
the issue of defeased senior debt securities to execute and
deliver such senior debt securities for authentication, to set
the terms of such senior debt securities, to maintain an office
or agency in respect of such senior debt securities, to have
moneys held for payment in trust, to register the transfer or
exchange of such senior debt securities, to deliver such senior
debt securities for replacement or cancellation, to compensate
and indemnify the trustee and to appoint a successor trustee,
and our right to recover excess money held by the trustee shall
survive until such senior debt securities are no longer
outstanding. Thereafter, only our obligations to compensate and
indemnify the trustee, and our right to recover excess money
held by the trustee shall survive.
The senior indenture also provides that, except as otherwise
provided in this paragraph, we:
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will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and
all obligations in respect of a series of senior debt
securities, and the provisions of the senior indenture and the
cable guarantees will no longer be in effect with respect to
those senior debt securities (legal defeasance); and |
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may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition of the
senior indenture described above under Certain
Covenants and such omission shall be deemed not to be an
event of default under the third clause of the first paragraph
of Events of Default with respect to that
series of senior debt securities (covenant
defeasance); |
provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
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we have irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee as trust
funds solely for the benefit of the holders of the senior debt
securities of such series, for payment of the principal of and
interest on the senior debt securities of such series, money or
U.S. government obligations or a combination thereof sufficient
(unless such funds consist solely of money, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the
trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment and after
payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges
and assessments in respect thereof payable by the trustee, to
pay and discharge the principal of and accrued interest on the
senior debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier
redemption (irrevocably provided for under arrangements
satisfactory to the trustee), as the case may be; |
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such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, the senior indenture, the cable
guarantees or any other material agreement or instrument to
which we are a party or by which we are bound; |
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no default or event of default with respect to the senior debt
securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing
on the date of such deposit; |
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we shall have delivered to the trustee: |
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either an opinion of counsel that
the holders of the senior debt securities of such series will
not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
purposes as a result of our exercising our option under this
provision of the senior indenture and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such deposit and
defeasance had not occurred (which opinion, in the case of a
legal defeasance, shall be based upon a change in law) or a
ruling directed to the trustee received from the Internal
Revenue Service to the same effect; and
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an opinion of counsel that the
holders of the senior debt securities of such series have a
valid security interest in the trust funds subject to no prior
liens under the Uniform Commercial Code; and
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we have delivered to the trustee an officers certificate
and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all
conditions precedent provided for in the senior indenture
relating to the defeasance contemplated of the senior debt
securities of such series have been complied with. |
Subsequent to legal defeasance under the first bullet point
above, our obligations with respect to the issue of defeased
senior debt securities to execute and deliver such senior debt
securities for authentication, to set the terms of such senior
debt securities, to maintain an office or agency in respect of
such senior debt securities, to have moneys held for payment in
trust, to register the transfer or exchange of such senior debt
securities, to deliver such senior debt securities for
replacement or cancellation, to compensate and indemnify the
trustee and to appoint a successor trustee, and our right to
recover excess money held by the trustee shall survive until
such senior debt securities are no longer outstanding. After
such senior debt securities are no longer outstanding, in the
case of legal defeasance under the first bullet point above,
only our obligations to compensate and indemnify the trustee and
our right to recover excess money held by the trustee shall
survive.
We and the trustee may amend or supplement the senior indenture
or the senior debt securities without notice to or the consent
of any holder:
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to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency in the senior
indenture; provided that such amendments or supplements shall
not adversely affect the interests of the holders in any
material respect; |
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to comply with the provisions described under
Certain Covenants Consolidation,
Merger and Sale of Assets; |
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to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with
the qualification of the senior indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act; |
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to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
hereunder by a successor trustee; |
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to establish the form or forms or terms of the senior debt
securities as permitted by the senior indenture; |
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to provide for uncertificated notes and to make all appropriate
changes for such purpose; |
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to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of
any holder; |
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to add to its covenants such new covenants, restrictions,
conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, and
to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
default in any such additional covenants, restrictions,
conditions or provisions an event of default; or |
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to make any change so long as no senior debt securities are
outstanding. |
Subject to certain conditions, without prior notice to any
holder of senior debt securities, modifications and amendments
of the senior indenture may be made by us and the trustee with
respect to any series of senior debt securities with the written
consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
affected series of senior debt securities, and our compliance
with any provision of the senior indenture with respect to any
series of senior debt securities may be waived by written notice
to the trustee by the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the affected series of senior debt securities outstanding;
provided, however, that each affected holder must consent to any
modification, amendment or waiver that:
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changes the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
installment of interest on, the senior debt securities of the
affected series; |
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reduces the principal amount of, or premium, if any, or interest
on, the senior debt securities of the affected series; |
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changes the place or currency of payment of principal of, or
premium, if any, or interest on, the senior debt securities of
the affected series; |
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changes the provisions for calculating the optional redemption
price, including the definitions relating thereto; |
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changes the provisions relating to the waiver of past defaults
or changes or impairs the right of holders to receive payment or
to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment of the
senior debt securities of the affected series on or after the
due date therefor; |
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reduces the above-stated percentage of outstanding senior debt
securities of the affected series the consent of whose holders
is necessary to modify or amend or to waive certain provisions
of or defaults under the senior indenture; |
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waives a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on the senior debt securities; or |
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modifies any of the provisions of this paragraph, except to
increase any required percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the holder of each senior debt security of the series
affected by the modification. |
It is not necessary for the consent of the holders under the
senior indenture to approve the particular form of any note
amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if
such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment,
supplement or waiver under the senior indenture becomes
effective, notice must be given to the holders affected thereby
briefly describing the amendment, supplement, or waiver.
Supplemental indentures will be mailed to holders upon request.
Any failure to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall
not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any
such supplemental indenture or waiver.
No Personal Liability of
Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers, Directors, or
Employees
The senior indenture provides that no recourse shall be had
under or upon any obligation, covenant, or agreement of ours or
the cable guarantors in the senior indenture or any supplemental
indenture, or in any of the senior debt securities or because of
the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, against
any incorporator, stockholder, officer, director, employee of
ours or any cable guarantor or of any successor person thereof
under any law, statute or constitutional provision or by the
enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable
proceeding or otherwise. Each holder, by accepting the senior
debt securities, waives and releases all such liability.
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Concerning the
Trustee
The senior indenture provides that, except during the
continuance of a default, the trustee will not be liable, except
for the performance of such duties as are specifically set forth
in the senior indenture. If an event of default has occurred and
is continuing, the trustee will exercise such rights and powers
vested in it under the senior indenture and will use the same
degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person
would exercise under the circumstances in the conduct of such
persons own affairs.
Governing Law
The senior indenture and the debt securities will be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the
State of New York.
The Trustees
We may have normal banking relationships with the trustee under
the senior indenture in the ordinary course of business.
Certain Terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities
Other than the terms of the subordinated indenture and
subordinated debt securities relating to subordination, or
otherwise as described in the prospectus supplement relating to
a particular series of subordinated debt securities, the terms
of the subordinated indenture and subordinated debt securities
are identical in all material respects to the terms of the
senior indenture and senior debt securities.
Subordination
The indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities
is subordinate to the prior payment in full of all our Senior
Indebtedness, as defined in the subordinated indenture. During
the continuance beyond any applicable grace period of any
default in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any
other payment due on any of our Senior Indebtedness, we may not
make any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or
interest on the subordinated debt securities. In addition, upon
any distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up,
liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of,
or premium, if any, and interest on the subordinated debt
securities is to be subordinated to the extent provided in the
subordinated indenture in right of payment to the prior payment
in full of all our Senior Indebtedness. Because of this
subordination, if we dissolve or otherwise liquidate, holders of
our subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than
holders of our Senior Indebtedness. The subordination provisions
do not prevent the occurrence of an event of default under the
subordinated indenture.
The subordination provisions also apply in the same way to each
cable guarantor with respect to the Senior Indebtedness of such
cable guarantor.
The term Senior Indebtedness of a person means with
respect to such person the principal of, premium, if any,
interest on, and any other payment due pursuant to any of the
following, whether outstanding today or incurred by that person
in the future:
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all of the indebtedness of that person for money borrowed,
including any indebtedness secured by a mortgage or other lien
which is (1) given to secure all or part of the purchase
price of property subject to the mortgage or lien, whether given
to the vendor of that property or to another lender, or
(2) existing on property at the time that person acquires
it; |
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all of the indebtedness of that person evidenced by notes,
debentures, bonds or other securities sold by that person for
money; |
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all of the lease obligations which are capitalized on the books
of that person in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles; |
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all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the first
two bullet points above and all lease obligations of others of
the kind described in the third bullet point above that the
person, in any manner, assume or guarantee or that the person in
effect guarantees through an agreement to purchase, whether that
agreement is contingent or otherwise; and |
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all renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the
kinds described in the first, second or fourth bullet point
above and all renewals or extensions of leases of the kinds
described in the third or fourth bullet point above; |
unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness,
lease, renewal, extension or refunding, the instrument or lease
creating or evidencing it or the assumption or guarantee
relating to it expressly provides that such indebtedness, lease,
renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in right of
payment to the subordinated debt securities. Our senior debt
securities, and any unsubordinated guarantee obligations of ours
or any cable guarantor to which we and the cable guarantors are
a party, including our and the cable guarantors guarantees of
each others debt securities and other indebtedness for
borrowed money, constitute Senior Indebtedness for purposes of
the subordinated debt indenture.
Convertible Debt Securities
The terms, if any, on which debt securities being offered may be
exchanged for or converted into other debt securities or shares
of preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or Class A
Special Common Stock or other securities or rights of ours
(including rights to receive payments in cash or securities
based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified
commodities, currencies or indices) or securities of other
issuers or any combination of the foregoing will be set forth in
the prospectus supplement for such debt securities being offered.
Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, the
following provisions will apply to debt securities being offered
that may be exchanged for or converted into capital stock:
The holder of any debt securities convertible into capital stock
will have the right exercisable at any time during the time
period specified in the prospectus supplement, unless previously
redeemed by us, to convert such debt securities into shares of
capital stock, which may include preferred stock, Class A
Common Stock or Class A Special Common Stock, as specified
in the prospectus supplement, at the conversion rate for each
$1,000 principal amount of debt securities set forth in the
prospectus supplement, subject to adjustment.
The holder of a convertible debt security may convert a portion
thereof which is $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000. In
the case of debt securities called for redemption, conversion
rights will expire at the close of business on the business day
prior to the date fixed for the redemption as may be specified
in the prospectus supplement, except that in the case of
redemption at the option of the debt security holder, if
applicable, such right will terminate upon receipt of written
notice of the exercise of such option.
Unless the terms of the specific debt securities being offered
provide otherwise, in certain events, the conversion rate will
be subject to adjustment as set forth in the indentures. Such
events include:
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the issuance of shares of any class of capital stock of ours as
a dividend on the class of capital stock into which the debt
securities of such series are convertible; |
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subdivisions, combinations and reclassifications of the class of
capital stock into which debt securities of such series are
convertible; |
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the issuance to all holders of the class of capital stock into
which debt securities of such series are convertible of rights
or warrants entitling the debt security holders (for a period
not exceeding 45 days) to subscribe for or purchase shares
of such class of capital stock at a price per share less than
the current market price per share of such class of capital
stock; |
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the distribution to all holders of the class of capital stock
into which debt securities of such series are convertible of
evidences of indebtedness of ours or of assets or subscription
rights or warrants (other than those referred to above); and |
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distributions of cash in excess of certain threshold amounts. |
In the case of cash dividends in excess of threshold amounts, we
may, at our option, choose to set aside the amount of such
distribution in cash for distribution to the holder upon
conversion rather than adjust the conversion rate; we do not
intend to pay interest on the cash set aside.
No adjustment of the conversion rate will be required unless an
adjustment would require a cumulative increase or decrease of at
least 1% in such rate. Fractional shares of capital stock will
not be issued upon conversion but, in lieu thereof, we will pay
a cash adjustment. Convertible debt securities surrendered for
conversion between the record date for an interest payment, if
any, and the interest payment date, except convertible debt
securities called for redemption on a redemption date during
such period, must be accompanied by payment of an amount equal
to the interest thereon which the registered holder is to
receive.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
General
We may issue warrants to purchase securities or other securities
or rights of ours, including rights to receive payment in cash
or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more
specified commodities, currencies or indices, or securities of
other issuers or any combination of the foregoing. Warrants may
be issued independently or together with any securities and may
be attached to or separate from such securities. Each series of
warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be
entered into between us and a warrant agent. The following sets
forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants
offered hereby. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable
warrant agreement are set forth in the applicable prospectus
supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following
terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is
being delivered:
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the title of such warrants; |
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the aggregate number of such warrants; |
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the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued; |
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the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in
which the price of such warrants may be payable; |
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the securities or other rights, including rights to receive
payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price
of one or more specified commodities, currencies or indices, or
securities of other issuers or any combination of the foregoing,
purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
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the price at which and the currency or currencies, including
composite currencies, in which the securities purchasable upon
exercise of such warrants may be purchased; |
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the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall
commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
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if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants
which may be exercised at any one time; |
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if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with
which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants
issued with each such security; |
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if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the
related securities will be separately transferable; |
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information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
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if applicable, a discussion of certain United States Federal
income tax considerations; |
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if applicable, the identity of any of our cable subsidiaries
guaranteeing our obligations with respect to such warrants; and |
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any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures
and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such
warrants. |
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:
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our securities or securities of an entity unaffiliated or
affiliated with us, a basket of such securities, an index or
indices of such securities or any combination of the above as
specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
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currencies or composite currencies; or |
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commodities. |
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to
purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on
specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a
specified purchase price, all as set forth in the applicable
prospectus supplement. We must, however, satisfy our
obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by
delivering the cash value thereof or, in the case of underlying
currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set
forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable
prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the
holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or
commodities, any acceleration, cancellation or termination
provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a
purchase contract and, if applicable, the identity of any of our
cable subsidiaries guaranteeing our obligations with respect to
such purchase contracts.
Purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their
obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued.
Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the
relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness.
Accordingly, the pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued
under one of the indentures.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, units will
consist of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt
securities, preferred stock, Class A Common Stock or
Class A Special Common Stock or any combination thereof.
Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for:
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all terms of the units and of the purchase contracts, warrants,
debt securities, shares of preferred stock, shares of
Class A Common Stock or shares of Class A Special
Common Stock, or any combination thereof, comprising the units,
including whether and under what circumstances the securities
comprising the units may or may not be traded separately; |
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a description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the
units; |
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if applicable, a description of any guarantee by any of our
subsidiaries of our obligations under the units; and |
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a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement,
transfer or exchange of the units. |
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GLOBAL SECURITIES
We may issue the debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts
and units of any series in the form of one or more fully
registered global securities that will be deposited with a
depositary or with a nominee for a depositary identified in the
prospectus supplement relating to such series and registered in
the name of the depositary or its nominee. In that case, one or
more global securities will be issued in a denomination or
aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate
principal or face amount of outstanding registered securities of
the series to be represented by such global securities. Unless
and until the depositary exchanges a global security in whole
for securities in definitive registered form, the global
security may not be transferred except as a whole by the
depositary to a nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the
depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the
depositary or by the depositary or any of its nominees to a
successor of the depositary or a nominee of such successor.
The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to
any portion of a series of securities to be represented by a
global security will be described in the prospectus supplement
relating to such series. We anticipate that the following
provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be
limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for
such global security known as participants or
persons that may hold interests through such participants. Upon
the issuance of a global security, the depositary for such
global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the participants accounts with the
respective principal or face amounts of the securities
represented by such global security beneficially owned by such
participants. The accounts to be credited shall be designated by
any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the
distribution of such securities. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such global security will be shown on, and the
transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only
through, records maintained by the depositary for such global
security (with respect to interests of participants) and on the
records of participants (with respect to interests of persons
holding through participants). The laws of some states may
require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such limits and
such laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or pledge
beneficial interests in global securities.
So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of such global security, such depositary
or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or holder of the securities represented by such global
security for all purposes under the applicable indenture,
warrant agreement, purchase contract or unit agreement. Except
as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global
security will not be entitled to have the securities represented
by such global security registered in their names, will not
receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form and will not be considered the
owners or holders thereof under the applicable indenture,
warrant agreement, purchase contract or unit agreement.
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a
global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary
for such global security and, if such person is not a
participant, on the procedures of the participant through which
such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a
holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement,
purchase contract or unit agreement. We understand that under
existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders
or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security
desires to give or take any action which a holder is entitled to
give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement,
purchase contract or unit agreement, the depositary for such
global security would authorize the participants holding the
relevant beneficial interests to give or take such action, and
such participants would authorize beneficial owners owning
through such participants to give or take such action or would
otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding
through them.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt
securities, and any payments to holders with respect to
warrants, purchase contracts or units represented by a global
security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee
will be made to such depositary or its nominee, as the case may
be, as the registered owner of such global security. None of us,
the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any of our
other agents, agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant
agents or unit agents will
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have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests in such global security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial
ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any securities represented by
a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal,
premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities
or commodities to holders in respect of such global security,
will immediately credit participants accounts in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in such
global security as shown on the records of such depositary. We
also expect that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in such global security held through such
participants will be governed by standing customer instructions
and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities
held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered
in street name, and will be the responsibility of
such participants.
If the depositary for any securities represented by a global
security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as
depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and we do not appoint a
successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 within 90 days, we will
issue such securities in definitive form in exchange for such
global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole
discretion determine not to have any of the securities of a
series represented by one or more global securities and, in such
event, will issue securities of such series in definitive form
in exchange for all of the global security or securities
representing such securities. Any securities issued in
definitive form in exchange for a global security will be
registered in such name or names as the depositary shall
instruct the relevant trustee, warrant agent or other relevant
agent of ours. We expect that such instructions will be based
upon directions received by the depositary from participants
with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such global
security.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
Our board of directors is authorized to issue in one or more
series up to a maximum of 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
without par value. The shares can be issued with such
designations, preferences, qualifications, privileges,
limitations, restrictions, options, conversion or exchange
rights and other special or relative rights as the board of
directors shall from time to time fix by resolution. The
dividend, voting, conversion, exchange, repurchase and
redemption rights, if applicable, the liquidation preference,
and other specific terms of each series of the preferred stock
will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following
terms to the extent that they may apply to an issuance of
preferred stock in respect of which this prospectus is being
delivered:
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the specific designation, number of shares, seniority and
purchase price; |
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any liquidation preference per share; |
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any date of maturity; |
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any redemption, repayment or sinking fund provisions; |
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any dividend rate or rates and the dates on which any such
dividends will be payable (or the method by which such rates or
dates will be determined); |
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any voting rights; |
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if other than the currency of the United States of America, the
currency or currencies including composite currencies in which
such preferred stock is denominated and/or in which payments
will or may be payable; |
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the method by which amounts in respect of such preferred stock
may be calculated and any commodities, currencies or indices, or
value, rate or price, relevant to such calculation; |
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whether the preferred stock is convertible or exchangeable and,
if so, the securities or rights into which such preferred stock
is convertible or exchangeable, and the terms and conditions upon |
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which such conversions or exchanges will be effected including
the initial conversion or exchange prices or rates, the
conversion or exchange period and any other related provisions; |
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the place or places where dividends and other payments on the
preferred stock will be payable; and |
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any additional voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption and
other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and
restrictions. |
As described under Description of Depositary Shares,
we may, at our option, elect to offer depositary shares
evidenced by depositary receipts, each representing an interest
(to be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to the
particular series of the preferred stock) in a share of the
particular series of the preferred stock issued and deposited
with a bank or trust company selected by us as the depositary.
All shares of preferred stock offered hereby, or issuable upon
conversion, exchange or exercise of securities, will, when
issued, be fully paid and non-assessable. We have been advised
that the preferred stock will be exempt from existing
Pennsylvania personal property tax.
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
The description set forth below and in any prospectus supplement
of certain provisions of the deposit agreement and of the
depositary shares and depositary receipts does not purport to be
complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the form of deposit agreement and form of
depositary receipts relating to each series of the preferred
stock.
General
We may, at our option, elect to have shares of preferred stock
be represented by depositary shares. The shares of any series of
the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be
deposited under a separate deposit agreement between us and a
bank or trust company selected by us as the depositary. The
prospectus supplement relating to a series of depositary shares
will set forth the name and address of the depositary. Subject
to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a
depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the
applicable interest in the number of shares of preferred stock
underlying such depositary share, to all the rights and
preferences of the preferred stock underlying such depositary
share, including dividend, voting, redemption, conversion,
exchange and liquidation rights.
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts
issued pursuant to the deposit agreement, each of which will
represent the applicable interest in a number of shares of a
particular series of the preferred stock described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, a
holder of depositary shares is not entitled to receive the
shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash
distributions received in respect of the preferred stock to the
record holders of depositary shares representing such preferred
stock in proportion to the numbers of such depositary shares
owned by such holders on the relevant record date.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the
depositary will distribute property received by it to the record
holders of depositary shares entitled thereto or the depositary
may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the
net proceeds from such sale to such holders. The deposit
agreement also contains provisions relating to the manner in
which any subscription or similar rights offered by us to
holders of preferred stock shall be made available to holders of
depositary shares.
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Conversion and Exchange
If any preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is
subject to provisions relating to its conversion or exchange as
set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, each
record holder of depositary shares will have the right or
obligation to convert or exchange such depositary shares
pursuant to the terms thereof.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject
to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the
proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the
redemption, in whole or in part, of the preferred stock held by
the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will
be equal to the aggregate redemption price payable with respect
to the number of shares of preferred stock underlying the
depositary shares. Whenever we redeem preferred stock from the
depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption
date a proportionate number of depositary shares representing
the shares of preferred stock that were redeemed. If less than
all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary
shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata as may
be determined by us.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so
called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding
and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will
cease, except the right to receive the redemption price payable
upon such redemption. Any funds deposited by us with the
depositary for any depositary shares which the holders thereof
fail to redeem shall be returned to us after a period of two
years from the date such funds are so deposited.
Voting
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting or action in lieu of any
meeting at which the holders of any shares of preferred stock
underlying the depositary shares are entitled to vote, the
depositary will mail the information contained in such notice to
the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such
preferred stock. Each record holder of such depositary shares on
the record date (which will be the same date as the record date
for the preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the
depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to
the number of shares of preferred stock underlying such
holders depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor,
insofar as practicable, to vote the number of shares of
preferred stock underlying such depositary shares in accordance
with such instructions, and we will agree to take all action
which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to
enable the depositary to do so.
Amendment of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares
and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be
amended by agreement between us and the depositary, provided,
however, that any amendment which materially and adversely
alters the rights of the existing holders of depositary shares
will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by
at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental
charges that arise solely from the existence of the depositary
arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in
connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and
any exchange or redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of
depositary shares will pay all other transfer and other taxes
and governmental charges, and, in addition, such other charges
as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for
their accounts.
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Miscellaneous
We, or at our option, the depositary, will forward to the
holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from
us which we are required to furnish to the holders of preferred
stock.
Neither the depositary nor we will be liable if either of us is
prevented or delayed by law or any circumstances beyond our
control in performing our obligations under the deposit
agreement. Our obligations and those of the depositary under the
deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith
of our duties thereunder and we and the depositary will not be
obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect
of any depositary share or preferred stock unless satisfactory
indemnity has been furnished. We and the depositary may rely
upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or information
provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit,
holders of depositary shares or other persons believed to be
competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary; Termination of the
Deposit Agreement
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice
of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the
depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon
the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of
such appointment. Such successor depositary will be appointed by
us within 60 days after delivery of the notice of
resignation or removal. The deposit agreement may be terminated
at our direction or by the depositary if a period of
90 days shall have expired after the depositary has
delivered to us written notice of its election to resign and a
successor depositary shall not have been appointed. Upon
termination of the deposit agreement, the depositary will
discontinue the transfer of depositary receipts, will suspend
the distribution of dividends to the holders thereof, and will
not give any further notices (other than notice of such
termination) or perform any further acts under the deposit
agreement except that the depositary will continue to deliver
preferred stock certificates, together with such dividends and
distributions and the net proceeds of any sales of rights,
preferences, privileges or other property in exchange for
depositary receipts surrendered. Upon our request, the
depositary shall deliver all books, records, certificates
evidencing preferred stock, depositary receipts and other
documents relating to the subject matter of the depositary
agreement to us.
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
The statements made under this caption include summaries of
certain provisions contained in our articles of incorporation
and by-laws. These statements do not purport to be complete and
are qualified in their entirety by reference to such articles of
incorporation and by-laws.
We have three classes of common stock outstanding: Class A
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share; Class A Special
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share; and Class B Common
Stock, $0.01 par value per share. There are currently authorized
7.5 billion shares of Class A Common Stock,
7.5 billion shares of Class A Special Common Stock and
75 million shares of Class B Common Stock. At the
close of business on December 31, 2002 there were
outstanding 1.355 billion shares of Class A Common
Stock, 883.3 million shares of Class A Special Common
Stock and 9.4 million shares of Class B Common Stock.
Dividends
Subject to the preferential rights of any preferred stock then
outstanding, Holders of our Class A Common Stock,
Class A Special Common Stock, and Class B Common Stock
are entitled to receive, from time to time, when, as and if
declared, in the discretion of our Board, such cash dividends as
our Board may from time to time determine, out of such funds as
are legally available therefore, in proportion to the number of
shares held by them, respectively, without regard to class.
Holders of our Class A Common Stock, Class A Special
Common Stock, and Class B Common Stock will also be
entitled to receive, from time to time, when, as and if declared
by our Board, such dividends of our stock or other property as
our Board may determine, out of such funds as are legally
available therefore. However, stock dividends on, or stock
splits of, any class of common stock will not be
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paid or issued unless paid or issued on all classes of our
common stock, in which case they will be paid or issued only in
shares of that class; provided, however, that stock dividends
on, or stock splits of, our Class B Common Stock may also
be paid or issued in shares of our Class A Special Common
Stock.
We do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock for the
foreseeable future.
Voting Rights
Except as required by law, holders of our Class A Special
Common Stock are not be entitled to vote. When holders of our
Class A Special Common Stock are entitled to vote by
applicable law, each share of our Class A Special Common
Stock has the same number of votes as each share of our
Class A Common Stock.
On all matters submitted for a vote of holders of all classes of
our voting stock, holders of our Class A Common Stock in
the aggregate hold
662/3%
of the aggregate voting power of our capital stock as of
completion of the Broadband acquisition.
Each share of our Class A Common Stock has the number of
votes equal to a quotient the numerator of which is the excess
of (1) the Total Number of Votes (as defined below in this
paragraph) over (2) the sum of (A) the Total Number of
B Votes (as defined below in this paragraph) and
(B) the Total Number of Other Votes (as defined below in
this paragraph) and the denominator of which is the number of
outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock. Total
Number of Votes on any record date is equal to a quotient
the numerator of which is the Total Number of B Votes on
such record date and the denominator of which is the
B Voting Percentage (as defined below in this paragraph) on
such record date. Total Number of B Votes on
any record date is equal to the product of (1) 15 and
(2) the number of outstanding shares of our Class B
Common Stock on such record date. Total Number of Other
Votes on any record date means the aggregate number of
votes to which holders of all classes of our capital stock other
than holders of our Class A Common Stock and our
Class B Common Stock are entitled to cast on such record
date in an election of directors. B Voting
Percentage on any record date means the portion (expressed
as a percentage) of the total number of votes to which all
holders of our Class B Common Stock are entitled to cast on
such record date in an election of directors. Initially, the
B Voting Percentage will be
331/3%,
subject to reduction as described below.
If the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock or our
Class B Common Stock outstanding is reduced for any reason
(e.g., by repurchase or, in the case of our Class B
Common Stock only, conversion), the aggregate voting power of
the applicable class of our capital stock will be
proportionately reduced. If additional shares of our
Class A Common Stock or our Class B Common Stock are
issued, the relative aggregate voting power of the two classes
of our common stock will change (based on the principle that
each share of our Class B Common Stock will be entitled to
15 times the vote of each share of our Class A Common
Stock) to the extent such issuance is disproportionate as
between the relative number of shares of the two classes
outstanding prior to the issuance, but the combined aggregate
voting power of the two classes of stock will remain constant at
approximately
3847/100%
(except to the extent there has been a reduction in the
aggregate voting power of either class of stock as described in
the preceding sentence).
Subject to the next sentence, on all matters submitted for a
vote of holders of one or more classes of our voting stock,
holders of our Class B Common Stock in the aggregate will
hold
331/3%
of the aggregate voting power of our capital stock, regardless
of the number of shares of our Class A Common Stock or any
other class of our capital stock outstanding at any time. If the
number of shares of our Class B Common Stock outstanding is
reduced for any reason (e.g., by repurchase or conversion), the
aggregate voting power of our Class B Common Stock will be
proportionately reduced.
Each share of our Class B Common Stock has 15 votes.
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Approval Rights
Except as required by law, holders of Class A Special
Common Stock and Class A Common Stock have no specific
approval rights over any corporate actions.
Holders of our Class B Common Stock have an approval right
over (1) any merger of us with another company or any other
transaction, in each case that requires our shareholders
approval under applicable law, or any other transaction that
would result in any person or group owning shares representing
in excess of 10% of the aggregate voting power of the resulting
or surviving corporation, or any issuance of securities (other
than pursuant to director or officer stock option or purchase
plans) requiring our shareholders approval under the rules
and regulations of any stock exchange or quotation system;
(2) any issuance of our Class B Common Stock or any
securities exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into
our Class B Common Stock; and (3) charter or bylaw
amendments (such as a charter amendment to opt in to any of the
Pennsylvania antitakeover statutes) and other actions (such as
the adoption, amendment or redemption of a shareholder rights
plan) that limit the rights of holders of our Class B
Common Stock or any subsequent transferee of our Class B
Common Stock to transfer, vote or otherwise exercise rights with
respect to our capital stock.
Principal Shareholder
Brian L. Roberts, our President and CEO, through his
control of BRCC Holdings LLC and certain trusts, which own all
outstanding shares of our Class B Common Stock, holds a
nondilutable
331/3%
of the combined voting power of our stock and also has separate
approval rights over certain material transactions involving us,
as described above under Approval Rights. The
Class B Common Stock is convertible on a share-for-share
basis into Class A Common Stock or Class A Special
Common Stock. As of December 31, 2002, if BRCC Holdings
LLC, the trusts and Mr. Roberts were to convert the
Class B Common Stock which they are deemed to beneficially
own into Class A Common Stock, Mr. Roberts would
beneficially own 9,445,731 shares of Class A Common Stock,
which is approximately 0.7% of the Class A Common Stock
that would be outstanding after the conversion.
Conversion of Class B Common Stock
The Class B Common Stock is convertible share for share
into either the Class A Common Stock or the Class A
Special Common Stock.
Preference on Liquidation
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up,
either voluntary or involuntary, the holders of Class A
Special Common Stock, Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock are entitled to receive, subject to any liquidation
preference of any preferred stock then outstanding, our
remaining assets, if any, in proportion to the number of shares
held by them without regard to class.
Mergers, Consolidations, Etc.
Our charter provides that if in a transaction such as a merger,
consolidation, share exchange or recapitalization holders of
each class of our common stock outstanding do not receive the
same consideration for each of their shares of our common stock
(i.e., the same amount of cash or the same number of shares of
each class of stock issued in the transaction in proportion to
the number of shares of our common stock held by them,
respectively, without regard to class), holders of each such
class of our common stock will receive mirror
securities (i.e., shares of a class of stock having
substantially equivalent rights as the applicable class of our
common stock).
Miscellaneous
The holders of Class A Common Stock, Class A Special
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock do not have any
preemptive rights. All shares of Class A Common Stock,
Class A Special Common Stock
37
and Class B Common Stock presently outstanding are, and all
shares of the Class A Common Stock and Class A Special
Common Stock offered hereby, or issuable upon conversion,
exchange or exercise of securities offered hereby, will, when
issued, be, fully paid and non-assessable. We have been advised
that the Class A Common Stock and Class A Special
Common Stock are exempt from existing Pennsylvania personal
property tax.
The transfer agent and registrar for our Class A Special
Common Stock and Class A Common Stock is Equiserve,
525 Washington Blvd., Jersey City, New Jersey 07310. Their
telephone number is (888) 883-8903.
DESCRIPTION OF SHAREHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
The following description of the material terms of a rights
agreement with respect to a shareholder rights plan which we
entered into in connection with the completion of the Broadband
acquisition is qualified by reference to the terms of the rights
agreement, which is included as an exhibit to the registration
statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The Rights. Pursuant to the rights agreement, our
board declared on November 18, 2002 a dividend of one
preferred stock purchase right (the Rights) for each
outstanding share of our Class A Common Stock, Class A
Special Common Stock, and Class B Common Stock payable to
holders of record on November 18, 2002. Shares of Common
Stock issued after the record date and prior to the Distribution
Date will be issued with a Right attached so that all shares of
Common Stock outstanding prior to the Distribution Date will
have Rights attached. 2.5 million shares of Preferred Stock
have been reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights.
Rights holders have no rights as a shareholder of the Company,
including the right to vote or to receive dividends.
The rights agreement includes antidilution provisions designed
to prevent efforts to diminish the effectiveness of the Rights.
The transferability and exercisability of the Rights will depend
on whether a Distribution Date has occurred. A
Distribution Date generally means the earlier of (1) the
close of business on the tenth day after a public announcement
that any person or group has become an Acquiring
Person and (2) the close of business on the tenth
business day after the date of the commencement of a tender or
exchange offer by any person that could result in such person
becoming an Acquiring Person. An Acquiring Person generally
means any person or group (other than any holder of our
Class B common stock or any of such holders
affiliates) who becomes the beneficial owner of our voting
capital stock that represents 10% or more of the total number of
votes that holders of our capital stock are entitled to cast
with respect to any matter presented for a shareholder vote.
Transferability. Prior to the Distribution Date,
(1) the Rights will be evidenced by the certificates of the
relevant underlying common stock and the registered holders of
the common stock shall be deemed the registered holders of the
associated Rights and (2) the Rights will be transferable
only in connection with transfers of shares of the underlying
common stock. After the Distribution Date, the rights agent will
mail separate certificates evidencing the Rights to each holder
of the relevant underlying common stock as of the close of
business on the Distribution Date. Thereafter, the Rights will
be transferable separately from the common stock.
Exercisability. The Rights will not be exercisable
prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, but
prior to the occurrence of an event described below under
Flip In Feature or
Flip Over Feature, each Right will
be exercisable to purchase for $125 one one-thousandth of a
share of our Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock.
Flip In Feature. If any person becomes
an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, except for the
Acquiring Person or certain affiliated persons, will have the
right to acquire, instead of one one-thousandth of a share of
our Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, a
number of shares of our
38
Class A common stock, in each case having a market value
equal to twice the exercise price of the Right. For example, if
an initial purchase price of $125 were in effect on the date
that the flip in feature of the Rights were exercised, any
holder of a Right, except for the person that has become an
Acquiring Person or certain affiliated persons, could exercise
his or her Right by paying to us $125 in order to receive shares
of our Class A common stock having a value equal to $250.
Exchange Feature. At any time after a
person becomes an Acquiring Person (but before any person
becomes the beneficial owner of our voting capital stock
representing 50% or more of the total number of votes which
holders of our capital stock are entitled to cast with respect
to any matter presented for a shareholder vote), our Board may
exchange all or some of the Rights, except for those held by any
Acquiring Person or certain affiliated persons, for our
Class A common stock at an exchange ratio of one share of
our Class A common stock for each Right. Use of this
exchange feature means that eligible Rights holders would not
have to pay cash before receiving shares of our Class A
common stock.
Flip Over Feature. If, after a person
becomes an Acquiring Person, (1) we are involved in a
merger or other business combination in which we are not the
surviving corporation or any of our common stock is exchanged
for other securities or assets or (2) we and/or one or more
of our subsidiaries sell or transfer assets or earning power
aggregating 50% or more of the assets or earning power of us
and/or our subsidiaries, then each Right will entitle the
holder, except for any Acquiring Person or certain affiliated
persons, to purchase a number of shares of common stock of the
other party to the transaction having a value equal to twice the
exercise price of the Right.
Redemption of Rights. Our Board may redeem all of
the Rights at a price of $0.001 per Right at any time prior to
the time that any person becomes an Acquiring Person. The right
to exercise will terminate upon redemption, and at that time,
holders of the Rights will have the right to receive only the
redemption price for each Right they hold.
Amendment of Rights. For so long as the Rights are
redeemable, the rights agreement may be amended in any respect.
At any time when the Rights are no longer redeemable, the rights
agreement may be amended in any respect that does not adversely
affect Rights holders (other than any Acquiring Person and
certain affiliated persons), cause the rights agreement to
become amendable except as set forth in this sentence or cause
the Rights again to become redeemable.
Expiration of Rights. If not previously exercised
or redeemed, the Rights will expire on November 18, 2012,
unless earlier exchanged.
Anti-Takeover Effects. The Rights have certain
anti-takeover effects. The Rights may cause substantial dilution
to a person that attempts to acquire us without a condition to
such an offer that a substantial number of the Rights be
acquired or that the Rights be redeemed or declared invalid. The
Rights should not interfere with any merger or other business
combination approved by our Board since the Rights may be
redeemed by us as described above.
Taxation. While the dividend of the Rights will
not be taxable to stockholders or to us, stockholders or we may,
depending upon the circumstances, recognize taxable income in
the event that the Rights become exercisable as set forth above.
Series A Preferred Stock. In connection with
the creation of the Rights, our Board authorized the issuance of
shares of our preferred stock designated as our Series A
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock. We will design the
dividend, liquidation, voting and redemption features of our
Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock so that
the value of one-thousandth of a share of our Series A
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock approximates the value
of one share of our Class A common stock. Shares of our
Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock will be
purchasable only after the Rights have become exercisable. The
rights of our Series A Participating Cumulative Preferred
Stock as to dividends, liquidation and voting, and in the event
of mergers or consolidations, are protected by customary
antidilution provisions.
39
The Cross Guarantees
To simplify our capital structure, effective with the
acquisition of Broadband, we, Comcast Cable, Comcast Cable
Communications Holdings, Comcast Cable Holdings and Comcast MO
Group each fully and unconditionally guaranteed each
others debt securities and other indebtedness for borrowed
money. In March 2003, we obtained the consent of holders of
$1.7 billion of the outstanding debt securities of Comcast
MO of Delaware to an amendment of their debt securities which
allowed Comcast MO of Delaware to become a guarantor and have
its debt securities guaranteed. At the time the amendment became
effective, we and the other cable guarantors fully and
unconditionally guaranteed these debt securities of Comcast MO
of Delaware, and Comcast MO of Delaware fully and
unconditionally guaranteed our debt securities and the debt
securities of the other cable guarantors, including the
$3.0 billion of debt securities we have issued this year
and amounts outstanding under the new credit facilities incurred
in connection with the Broadband acquisition.
Comcast Holdings is not a guarantor, and none of its debt
securities are guaranteed.
The following table presents as of December 31, 2002 for
each of Comcast, Comcast Cable, Comcast Cable Communications
Holdings, Comcast Cable Holdings, Comcast MO Group and
Comcast MO of Delaware, their pro forma payment obligations for
principal, excluding obligations of their subsidiaries and
excluding interest but including principal accreted under
discount obligations, under debt securities and other
indebtedness for borrowed money that is subject to the cross
guarantees. For purposes of the table, amounts set forth
opposite guaranteed debt securities only include
amounts with respect to the person who is the primary obligor
and not with respect to amounts for which that person may be
secondarily liable as guarantor. The table presents for us the
pro forma effect of our issuance of $3 billion of debt
securities this year (consisting of $600 million aggregate
principal amount of our 5.85% Notes due 2010 and
$900 million aggregate principal amount of our 6.05% Notes
due 2015 issued on January 10, 2003, and $750 million
aggregate principal amount of our 5.50% Notes due 2008 and
$750 million aggregate principal amount of our 7.05% Notes
due 2033 issued on March 14, 2003), and payment of
$3 billion of net proceeds from the issuance and sale of
these notes, to reduce our borrowings under the new credit
facilities incurred in connection with the Broadband acquisition.
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Payments Due by Period | |
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| |
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Payment | |
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After 5 | |
Guaranteed debt |
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Total | |
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Year 1 | |
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Years 2-3 | |
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Years 4-5 | |
|
Years | |
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| |
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| |
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| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
(In millions, unaudited) | |
Comcast
|
|
$ |
3,680.0 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
680.0 |
|
|
$ |
|
|
|
$ |
3,000.0 |
|
Comcast Cable
|
|
|
7,897.3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,810.3 |
|
|
|
1,488.4 |
|
|
|
4,598.6 |
|
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings
|
|
|
6,755.1 |
|
|
|
750.0 |
|
|
|
2,500.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3,505.1 |
|
Comcast Cable Holdings
|
|
|
6,208.2 |
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|
|
1,464.2 |
|
|
|
1,131.4 |
|
|
|
419.2 |
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|
|
3,193.4 |
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Comcast MO Group
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|
|
292.9 |
|
|
|
1.3 |
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|
|
30.6 |
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|
|
61.7 |
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|
|
199.3 |
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Comcast MO of Delaware
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|
|
1,914.0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
301.2 |
|
|
|
654.1 |
|
|
|
958.7 |
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Total
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$ |
26,747.5 |
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|
$ |
2,215.5 |
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$ |
6,453.5 |
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$ |
2,623.4 |
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$ |
15,455.1 |
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40
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities being offered hereby in four ways:
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directly to purchasers; |
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through agents; |
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through underwriters; and |
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through dealers. |
We may directly solicit offers to purchase securities, or we may
designate agents to solicit such offers. We will, in the
prospectus supplement relating to such offering, name any agent
that could be viewed as an underwriter under the Securities Act
of 1933 and describe any commissions we or our trust
subsidiaries must pay. Any such agent will be acting on a best
efforts basis for the period of its appointment or, if indicated
in the applicable prospectus supplement, on a firm commitment
basis. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of,
engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the
ordinary course of business.
If any underwriters are utilized in the sale of the securities
in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will enter
into an underwriting agreement with them at the time of sale to
them, and we will set forth in the prospectus supplement
relating to such offering their names and the terms of our
agreement with them.
If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect
of which the prospectus is delivered, we will sell such
securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then
resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be
determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
Remarketing firms, agents, underwriters and dealers may be
entitled under agreements which they may enter into with us to
indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, and may
be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services
for us in the ordinary course of business.
In order to facilitate the offering of the securities, any
underwriters may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain
or otherwise affect the price of the securities or any other
securities the prices of which may be used to determine payments
on such securities. Specifically, any underwriters may overallot
in connection with the offering, creating a short position for
their own accounts. In addition, to cover overallotments or to
stabilize the price of the securities or of any such other
securities, the underwriters may bid for, and purchase, the
securities or any such other securities in the open market.
Finally, in any offering of the securities through a syndicate
of underwriters, the underwriting syndicate may reclaim selling
concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for
distributing the securities in the offering if the syndicate
repurchases previously distributed securities in transactions to
cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions
or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain
the market price of the securities above independent market
levels. Any such underwriters are not required to engage in
these activities, and may end any of these activities at any
time.
Any underwriter, agent or dealer utilized in the initial
offering of securities will not confirm sales to accounts over
which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior
specific written approval of its customer.
LEGAL MATTERS
As to matters governed by Pennsylvania law, Arthur R.
Block, Esquire, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of Comcast, and as to matters governed by New York and
Delaware law, Davis Polk & Wardwell, will pass upon the
validity of the securities on our behalf and on behalf of the
cable guarantors, although we may use other counsel, including
our employees, to do so. Unless otherwise indicated in the
accompanying prospectus supplement, Cahill Gordon &
Reindel will represent the underwriters.
41
EXPERTS
Comcast
The financial statements and the related financial statement
schedule incorporated in this prospectus by reference from
Comcasts Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 2002, have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated
in their reports (which report on the financial statements
expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory
paragraph related to the adoption of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities, as amended,
effective January 1, 2001 and Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 142, Goodwill and Other
Intangible Assets, effective January 1, 2002), which
are incorporated herein by reference, and have been so
incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firm given
upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
AT&T Broadband Group
The audited historical combined financial statements of AT&T
Broadband Group incorporated in this prospectus by reference to
Comcasts Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated
November 18, 2002 filed on December 16, 2002, have
been so incorporated in reliance on the report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on
the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
We, along with the cable guarantors, have filed this prospectus
as part of a combined registration statement on Form S-3
with the SEC. The registration statement contains exhibits and
other information that are not contained in this prospectus. In
particular, the registration statement includes as exhibits
forms of our underwriting agreements, copies of our senior
indenture and subordinated indenture, forms of our senior debt
security and subordinated debt security, a form of preferred
security, a form of unit agreement, a form of purchase contract
agreement, a form of pledge agreement, a form of warrant
agreement for warrants sold separately, a form of warrant for
warrants sold separately, a form of warrant agreement for
warrants sold attached to securities, a form of warrant for
warrants sold attached to securities, a form of deposit
agreement and a form of depositary share. Our descriptions in
this prospectus of the provisions of documents filed as an
exhibit to the registration statement or otherwise filed with
the SEC are only summaries of the documents material
terms. If you want a complete description of the content of the
documents, you should obtain the documents by following the
procedures described below.
Comcast Cable Communications Holdings, Comcast Cable, Comcast
Cable Holdings, Comcast MO Group and Comcast MO of Delaware do
not currently file information with the SEC. We file annual,
quarterly and special reports and other information with the
SEC. Although the cable guarantors would normally be required to
file information with the SEC on an ongoing basis, we expect
that the cable guarantors will be exempt from this filing
obligation for as long as we continue to file our information
with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the
SECs public reference room located at 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC
at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public
reference rooms. Our SEC filings, including the complete
registration statement and all of the exhibits to it are
available through the SECs web site at
http://www.sec.gov.
You should rely only on the information contained in this
prospectus, in the accompanying prospectus supplement and in
material we file with the SEC and incorporate by reference
herein. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
information that is different. We are offering to sell, and
seeking offers to buy, the securities described in the
prospectus only where offers and sales are permitted. The
information contained in this prospectus, the prospectus
supplement and our filings with the SEC is accurate only as of
its date, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus
and the prospectus supplement or of any sale of the securities.
42
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the
information we file with them, which means that we can disclose
important information to you by referring you directly to those
documents. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be part of this prospectus. In addition,
information we file with the SEC in the future will
automatically update and supersede information contained in this
prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set
forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC.
Comcast SEC Filings (File No. 000-50093)
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Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2002, filed on March 20, 2003. |
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Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed on January 10,
2003, February 5, 2003 and March 6, 2003. |
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The description of our capital stock incorporated in our Current
Report on Form 8-K12G3 and Registration Statement on
Form 8-A12G, each filed on November 18, 2002, as the
same may be amended from time to time. |
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Exhibits 99.6 and 99.7 to the Current Report on
Form 8-K/ A dated November 18, 2002 filed on
December 16, 2002. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional
documents that we may file with the SEC under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 until we sell all of the securities we are
offering. Any statements contained in a previously filed
document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this
prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also
incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that
statement.
We will provide free copies of any of those documents, if you
write or telephone us at: 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania 19102-2148, (215) 665-1700.
43
$ 500,000,000 5.45% Notes due 2010
$ 750,000,000 5.85% Notes due 2015
$1,000,000,000 6.50% Notes due 2035
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Joint Book-Running Managers
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Barclays Capital |
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JPMorgan |
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UBS Investment Bank |
November 8, 2005