The SEC Filings on this page are provided by EDGAR (www.sec.gov), the Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval System of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). EDGAR performs automated collection, validation, indexing, acceptance, and forwarding of submissions by companies and others who are required by law to file forms with the SEC. The information here is provided for your convenience only. Comcast has no control over the information provided by EDGAR and cannot guarantee the sequence, accuracy, or completeness of any information or data displayed through EDGAR. Accordingly, Comcast does not accept any responsibility for the content or use of any information obtained through EDGAR.
The information in this document represents our understanding of federal income tax laws and regulations, but does not constitute personal tax advice based on your specific situation. It does not purport to be complete or to describe the consequences that may apply to you given your particular taxes. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the applicability of any state, local and foreign tax laws.
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 |
SCHEDULE 13D/A |
Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 |
(Amendment No. 10)* |
ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. |
(Name of Issuer) |
Class A Common Stock, Par Value $0.001 Per Share |
(Title of Class of Securities) |
46205A103 |
(CUSIP Number) |
Elizabeth A. Newell, Assistant Secretary |
NBC Universal, Inc. |
30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10112 |
(212) 664-3307 |
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications) |
May 3, 2007 |
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) |
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of § 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g) check the following box. o | |
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See § 240.13d-7(b) for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. | |
* | The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting persons initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page. |
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be filed for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Exchange Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Exchange Act (however, see the Notes). |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No.
46205A103 |
Page 2 of 18 Pages |
|||||
1 | ||||||||||||
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS | ||||||||||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT I, INC. 13-4078684 | ||||||||||||
2 | ||||||||||||
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | ||||||||||||
(a) x | ||||||||||||
(b) o | ||||||||||||
3 | ||||||||||||
SEC USE ONLY | ||||||||||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
AF | ||||||||||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | |||||||||||
o | ||||||||||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |||||||||||
California | ||||||||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||||||||||
198,035,000* | ||||||||||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
198,035,000* | ||||||||||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |||||||||||
198,035,000* | ||||||||||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
x | ||||||||||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |||||||||||
75.2%** | ||||||||||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
CO |
* | Represents 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 39,607 shares of Preferred Stock by NBC Palm Beach I. Shares of Preferred Stock are not currently convertible and the right to convert is subject to material conditions, including, without limitation, those contained in the Certificate of Designation and the applicable FCC regulations. Based on information provided to the Reporting Persons, CLP beneficially owns (i) 262 shares of 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into 163,960 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 1.6% of the issued and outstanding 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, (ii) 2,724,207 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 4.20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, (iii) 133,333,333 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Series B Convertible Subordinated D ebt, (iv) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrant and (v) 15,455,062 shares of Class A Common Stock and 8,311,639 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Call Right by CM pursuant to the Call Agreement. The Reporting Persons expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock, the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt and the warrant owned by CLP. |
** | Based on 65,377,185 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as reported by the Company in the Master Agreement, and 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 39,607 shares of Preferred Stock by NBC Palm Beach I. |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No.
46205A103 |
Page 4 of 18 Pages |
|||||
1 | ||||||||||||
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS | ||||||||||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT II, INC. 13-4078685 | ||||||||||||
2 | ||||||||||||
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | ||||||||||||
(a) x | ||||||||||||
(b) o | ||||||||||||
3 | ||||||||||||
SEC USE ONLY | ||||||||||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
AF | ||||||||||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | |||||||||||
o | ||||||||||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |||||||||||
California | ||||||||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |||||||||||
0* | ||||||||||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
x | ||||||||||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
CO |
* | Based on information provided to the Reporting Persons, CLP beneficially owns (i) 262 shares of 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into 163,960 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 1.6% of the issued and outstanding 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, (ii) 2,724,207 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 4.20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, (iii) 133,333,333 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt, (iv) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrant and (v) 15,455,062 shares of Class A Common Stock and 8,311,639 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Call Right by CM pursuant to the Call Agreement. The Reporting Persons expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock, the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt and the warrant owned by CLP. |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No.
46205A103 |
Page 6 of 18 Pages |
|||||
1 | ||||||||||||
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS | ||||||||||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. 14-1682529 | ||||||||||||
2 | ||||||||||||
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | ||||||||||||
(a) x | ||||||||||||
(b) o | ||||||||||||
3 | ||||||||||||
SEC USE ONLY | ||||||||||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
WC | ||||||||||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | |||||||||||
o | ||||||||||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |||||||||||
Delaware | ||||||||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |||||||||||
198,035,000* | ||||||||||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
x | ||||||||||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |||||||||||
75.2%** | ||||||||||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
CO |
* | Represents 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 39,607 shares of Preferred Stock by NBC Palm Beach I. Shares of Preferred Stock are not currently convertible or exercisable and the right to convert or exercise is subject to material conditions, including, without limitation, those contained in the Certificate of Designation and the applicable FCC regulations. Based on information provided to the Reporting Persons, CLP beneficially owns (i) 262 shares of 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into 163,960 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 1.6% of the issued and outstanding 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, (ii) 2,724,207 shares of Class A Common Stock, which represents 4.20% of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock, (iii) 133,333,333 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt, (iv) 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrant and (v) 15,455,062 shares of Class A Common Stock and 8,311,639 shares of Class B Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Call Right by CM pursuant to the Call Agreement. The Reporting Persons expressly disclaim beneficial ownership of the shares of 9 ¾ Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, shares of Class A Common Stock, shares of Class B Common Stock, the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt and the warrant owned by CLP. |
** | Based on 65,377,185 shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding as reported by the Company in the Master Agreement and 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon conversion of 39,607 shares of Preferred Stock by NBC Palm Beach I. |
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No.
46205A103 |
Page 8 of 18 Pages |
|||||
1 | ||||||||||||
NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS | ||||||||||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | ||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY HOLDING, INC. 13-3448662 | ||||||||||||
2 | ||||||||||||
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | ||||||||||||
(a) x | ||||||||||||
(b) o | ||||||||||||
3 | ||||||||||||
SEC USE ONLY | ||||||||||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
WC | ||||||||||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | |||||||||||
o | ||||||||||||
6 | CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |||||||||||
Delaware | ||||||||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | ||||||||||
Disclaimed (See 11 below) | ||||||||||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
Disclaimed (See 11 below) | ||||||||||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | |||||||||||
0 | ||||||||||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | |||||||||||
Beneficial ownership of all shares of Class A Common Stock disclaimed by National Broadcasting Company Holding, Inc.* | ||||||||||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
x | ||||||||||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | |||||||||||
Not Applicable (See 11 above) | ||||||||||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
CO |
* | NEITHER THE FILING OF THIS SCHEDULE 13D NOR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS SHALL BE DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE AN ADMISSION THAT NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY HOLDING, INC. IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ANY OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK REFERRED TO HEREIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 13(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, OR FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, AND SUCH BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP IS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. |
8
SCHEDULE 13D
CUSIP No.
46205A103 |
Page 9 of 18 Pages |
|||||
1 | NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS | ||||||||||
I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY) | |||||||||||
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY 14-0689340 | |||||||||||
2 | |||||||||||
CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (See Instructions) | |||||||||||
(a) x | |||||||||||
(b) o | |||||||||||
3 | |||||||||||
SEC USE ONLY | |||||||||||
4 | SOURCE OF FUNDS (See Instructions) | ||||||||||
WC | |||||||||||
5 | CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e) | ||||||||||
o | |||||||||||
6 | |||||||||||
CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION | |||||||||||
New York | |||||||||||
NUMBER OF SHARES BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON WITH |
7 | SOLE VOTING POWER | |||||||||
Disclaimed (See 11 below) | |||||||||||
8 | SHARED VOTING POWER | ||||||||||
0 | |||||||||||
9 | SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||||||||
Disclaimed (See 11 below) | |||||||||||
10 | SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER | ||||||||||
0 | |||||||||||
11 | AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON | ||||||||||
Beneficial ownership of all shares of Class A Common Stock disclaimed by General Electric Company.* | |||||||||||
12 | CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (See Instructions) | ||||||||||
x | |||||||||||
13 | PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11) | ||||||||||
Not Applicable (See 11 above) | |||||||||||
14 | TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (See Instructions) | ||||||||||
CO |
* | NEITHER THE FILING OF THIS SCHEDULE 13D NOR ANY OF ITS CONTENTS SHALL BE DEEMED TO CONSTITUTE AN ADMISSION THAT GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY IS THE BENEFICIAL OWNER OF ANY OF THE CLASS A COMMON STOCK REFERRED TO HEREIN FOR THE PURPOSES OF SECTION 13(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED, OR FOR ANY OTHER PURPOSE, AND SUCH BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP IS EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMED. |
9
This Amendment No. 10 to Schedule 13D (Amendment No. 10) amends the Schedule 13D filed on September 27, 1999 (the Initial Schedule 13D), as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on February 14, 2003, Amendment No. 2 filed on November 9, 2005, Amendment No. 3 filed on January 18, 2007, Amendment No. 4 filed on February 23, 2007, Amendment No. 5 filed on March 15, 2007, Amendment No. 6 filed on March 30, 2007, Amendment No. 7 filed on April 11, 2007, Amendment No. 8 filed on April 12, 2007 and Amendment No. 9 filed on April 30, 2007 (together with the Initial Schedule 13D, the Schedule 13D), which relates to shares of Class A Common Stock (Class A Common Stock), par value $0.001 per share, of ION Media Networks, Inc. (the Company). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings attributed to them in the Schedule 13D. All items or responses not described herein remain as previously reported in the Schedule 13D.
Item 4. Purpose of Transaction.
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and supplemented by adding the following immediately after the last paragraph thereof:
On May 3, 2007, the NBCU Entities, the Company and CM entered into a Master Transaction Agreement (the Master Agreement). The following is a summary of material provisions of the Master Agreement. This description of the Master Agreement, including the summary below, is not complete and is subject to the terms of the Master Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 29 and incorporated herein by reference.
Assignment of the Call Right
As required by the Master Agreement, NBC Palm Beach II assigned to CM, the permitted transferee, all of its rights and obligations under the Call Agreement, among other agreements. Immediately following such assignment, CM exercised the Call Right by delivering a call notice letter to the Paxson Stockholders. The Paxson Stockholders and Paxson Management Corporation intend to file promptly one or more applications with the FCC requesting the FCC consent to CMs acquisition of the 8,311,639 shares of Class B Common Stock and 15,455,062 shares of Class A Common Stock (the Call Shares) from the Paxson Stockholders.
The Tender Offer
In connection with the assignment of the Call Agreement, CM commenced the Tender Offer on May 4, 2007 (the Commencement Date) for any and all of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock at a price per share of $1.46 (the Offer Price).
Delisting and Deregistration
The Master Agreement provides that, following the closing of the Tender Offer, the Company shall, to the extent permitted by law, delist the shares of Class A Common Stock from the American Stock Exchange and deregister such shares under the Exchange Act.
New Classes of Preferred Stock and Commencement Date Exchange
As required by the Master Agreement, the Company has authorized the following new classes of preferred stock (the New Preferred Stock): (i) 12% Series A-1 Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock), (ii) 8% Series A-2 Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series A-2 Preferred Stock), (iii) 12% Series A-3 Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock), (iv) 12% Series B Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series B Convertible Preferred Stock ), (v) 8% Series C Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series C Preferred Stock), (vi) 8% Series C Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock), (vii) 8% Series D Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series D Convertible Preferred Stock), (viii) Series E-1 Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock), (ix) Series E-2 Mandatorily Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the
1
Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Stock), and (x) 8% Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock due 2013, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock). Other than the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, the Company filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on the Commencement Date each class of the New Preferred Stock.
On the Commencement Date, NBC Palm Beach I surrendered and delivered to the Company 21,000 shares of Preferred Stock, representing $210,000,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference, in exchange for 21,000 shares of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock, representing $210,000,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference. NBC Palm Beach I, in turn, transferred such 21,000 shares of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock to CM.
Additional CM Investment.
As required by the Master Agreement, CM has invested, on the Commencement Date, $100,000,000 in the Companys 11% Series B Mandatorily Convertible Subordinated Debt due 2013 of the Company (the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt). Upon the closing or expiration of the Exchange Offer (as defined below), as applicable, CM will invest an additional amount of up to $15,000,000 or such lesser amount as permitted under the Companys existing debt covenants in the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt, not to exceed the amount of expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement.
In addition, CM received a warrant for 100,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock on the Commencement Date. The exercise price for the warrant is $0.75 per share, payable in cash. The term of the warrant is seven years beginning on the date of the closing of the Exchange Offer.
Board Representation
The Master Agreement provides that between the closing of the Tender Offer and the Call Closing, CM will have the right to designate two members of the Board. In addition, in the event that any member of the Board (other than members appointed by the holders of Senior Preferred Stock) ceases for any reason to serve as a director of the Company, CM will have the right to designate a director to fill any such vacancy.
The Reverse Stock Split
Under the Master Agreement, promptly following the closing of the exercise of the Call Right (the Call Closing) the Company is required to combine its outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock into a lesser number of shares of Class A Common Stock (the Reverse Stock Split). The consummation of the Reverse Stock Split is conditioned, among other things, upon (i) the Tender Offer being completed, (ii) the approval of the Reverse Stock Split by the requisite vote of the holders of the Companys common stock outstanding and entitled to vote on the matter, (iii) receipt of FCC approval for CMs acquisition of the Call Shares, (iv) no law, regulation or other requirement of any governmental authority making the Reverse Stock Split illegal being in effect and (v) the Call Closing having occurred. In the Reverse Stock Split, each share of Class A Common Stock issued and outstanding shall be converted into and become such fraction of a fully paid and nonassessable share as shall be determined by the Company, CM and the NBCU Entities such that each holder of shares of Class A Common Stock, other than CM, would be eligible to receive, in respect of all its shares, less than a whole share upon completion of the Reverse Stock Split (the Reverse Stock Split Ratio). However, if CM does not own the greatest number of shares of Class A Common Stock immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split, the applicable Reverse Stock Split Ratio for converting the shares of Class A Common Stock will be such that every holder of shares (including CM) would be entitled to receive, in respect of all its shares, less than a whole share upon completion of the Reverse Stock Split. No fractional shares will be issued in connection with the Reverse Stock Split. Instead, any holder of shares who would otherwise be entitled to receive less than a whole share will be paid in cash the dollar amount (rounded to the nearest cent), without interest, determined by multiplying the number of shares of Class A Common Stock (prior to the Reverse Stock Split) of such holder by $1.46. Immediately prior to the Reverse Stock Split, CM shall make a capital contribution to the Company in the amount necessary to make any payments required to be made to security holders of the Company in connection with the Reverse Stock Split.
Each share of Class B Common Stock issued and outstanding at the time of the Reverse Stock Split will be converted into and become a fractional number of fully paid and nonassessable shares of Class B Common Stock
2
pursuant to the Reverse Stock Split Ratio. Fractional shares of Class B Common Stock will remain outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split and the Company will issue new stock certificates for such fractional shares.
At the time of the Reverse Stock Split, the Company will also take all necessary actions to adjust the Companys stock-based awards under its stock plans so as to give effect to the Reverse Stock Split. In the event the number of shares of Class A Common Stock subject to such stock plans become a fractional share, unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the respective holder, such stock-based awards will be cancelled immediately following the Reverse Stock Split and each holder who will receive a fractional share under the stock plans as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will be paid in cash the dollar amount (rounded to the nearest cent), without interest, determined by multiplying the number of shares of Class A Common Stock subject to such stock plans prior to the Reverse Stock Split by $1.46. Stock-based awards issued on or after November 7, 2005 to any current full-time employee of the Company will nevertheless remain outstanding after the Reverse Stock Split and such holder will not be entitled to receive any cash payments in connection with the Reverse Stock Split.
Under the Master Agreement, a stockholders meeting of the Company shall be held as promptly as practicable following the Call Closing to approve the Reverse Stock Split. At the meeting, CM is required to vote (or cause to be voted) all shares of Class A Common Stock that it and its subsidiaries have the power to vote in favor of the Reverse Stock Split.
Exclusivity
The Master Agreement provides that the Company, its subsidiaries and their respective directors, officers, employees and representatives cannot (i) solicit, initiate, encourage, or take any action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that may reasonably be expected to lead to any transaction that, inter alia, would reasonably be expected to interfere with the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement and the related documents (a Competing Transaction), (ii) negotiate or obtain a proposal or offer for a Competing Transaction, (iii) agree to, approval or endorse any Competing Transaction or (iv) enter into any agreement relating to a Competing Transaction. The Company further agrees promptly to notify the NBCU Entities of the existence of, material terms of, and the identity of the person making, any proposal or contact regarding a Competing Transaction. The Company also undertakes immediately to cease any existing discussions or negotiations regarding a Competing Transaction, and not to release any person from any confidentiality or standstill agreement. However, on certain conditions, the Board may furnish information to or enter into discussions with a person who has made an unsolicited, written, bona fide proposal or offer regarding a Competing Transaction if the Board determines that this is required to comply with its fiduciary obligations.
Except as otherwise provided in the Master Agreement, the Board cannot withdraw or modify the approval or recommendation relating to the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement and the related documents, or approve or recommend any Competing Transaction.
The Company Exchange Offer |
Under the Master Agreement, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Commencement Date, the Company is required to launch an exchange offer (the Exchange Offer) for the outstanding shares of 14¼% Preferred Stock and 9¾% Preferred Stock of the Company (together, the Senior Preferred Stock). A holder cannot validly tender less than all of the Senior Preferred Stock it owns on the Commencement Date.
Under the Exchange Offer, if holders of more than 50% of each class of Senior Preferred Stock tender in the Exchange Offer, then:
| For each tendered share of 14¼% Preferred Stock, the holder will receive $7,000 principal amount of newly issued 11% Series A Mandatorily Convertible Subordinated Debt due 2013 (the Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt) and $1,000 initial liquidation preference of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (which would rank senior to all currently outstanding preferred stock); and |
3
| For each tendered share of 9¾% Preferred Stock, the holder will receive $4,000 principal amount of the Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt and $1,000 initial liquidation preference of Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock. |
If holders of 50% or less of either class of the Senior Preferred Stock tender in the Exchange Offer (a Minority Exchange), then:
| For each tendered share of 14¼% Preferred Stock, the holder will receive $7,500 principal amount of the Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt and $500 initial liquidation preference of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock; and | |
| For each tendered share of 9¾% Preferred Stock, the holder will receive $4,500 principal amount of the Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt and $500 initial liquidation preference of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock. |
The Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt and Series A-1 Convertible Preferred Stock or Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, as the case may be, to be issued to holders of Senior Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer will be convertible into non-voting and newly issued shares of Class D Common Stock of the Company at a conversion price of $0.90 per share, each increasing at their respective interest rate or dividend rate, as the case may be.
CM is required to exchange its entire position of Senior Preferred Stock in the Exchange Offer.
Post-Exchange Offer Transactions |
Contingent Exchange. If at the closing of the Exchange Offer the Company has accepted for exchange less than 90% of the outstanding shares of each class of Senior Preferred Stock owned by holders other than CM, (i) NBC Palm Beach I will, promptly following the closing of the Exchange Offer, be entitled to exchange up to $375,000,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Preferred Stock with the Company for an equal principal amount of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt and (ii) CM will, promptly following the closing of the Exchange Offer, be entitled to exchange up to $95,584,689 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series C Preferred Stock or Series A-2 Preferred Stock, as applicable, with the Company for an equal principal amount of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt. The aggregate stated liquidation preference so exchangeable will be determined pursuant to the methodology set forth in the Master Agreement. The Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt can be convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock at a conversion price of $0.75 per share, increasing at 11% per annum.
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, if the Exchange Offer expires without any shares of Senior Preferred Stock being accepted for exchange by the Company and the conditions to the Contingent Exchange (as defined below) are satisfied, promptly following the expiration of the Exchange Offer, (i) NBC Palm Beach I will be entitled to exchange $375,000,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Preferred Stock with the Company for an aggregate principal amount of $375,000,000 Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt and (ii) CM will be entitled to exchange 9,386.46875 shares of 14¼% Preferred Stock and 262.33603 shares of 9¾% Preferred Stock with the Company for $76,403,430 aggregate principal amount of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt, and to exchange $95,584,689 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series C Preferred Stock or Series A-2 Preferred Stock, as applicable, with the Company for an equal principal amount of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt (the alternative contingent exchange described in this paragraph or the contingent exchange described in the immediately preceding paragraph, as the case may be, the Contingent Exchange).
Exchange of Preferred Stock. Promptly following the closing of the Exchange Offer or immediately prior to the Contingent Exchange, as applicable, NBC Palm Beach I will exchange with the Company all the remaining Preferred Stock it holds for (i) $31,070,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock (ii) the NBCU Option II (as defined below) and (iii) Series D Convertible Preferred Stock with an aggregate stated liquidation preference equal to $21,070,000 less than the total aggregate stated liquidation preference of the Preferred Stock so exchanged. Both of the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock and the Series
4
D Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible, at NBCUs option, into shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock. The conversion price of the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock is $0.75 per share. The conversion price of the Series D Convertible Preferred is $0.75 per share, increasing at 8%.
Exchange of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock. Promptly following the closing of the Exchange Offer or immediately prior to the Contingent Exchange, as applicable, CM will exchange (i) $95,584,689 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock (transferred by NBC Palm Beach I to CM on the Commencement Date) with the Company for $95,584,689 aggregate stated liquidation preference of (a) Series A-2 Preferred Stock or (b) in the case of a Minority Exchange, Series C Preferred Stock and (ii) $114,961,259 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock for $200,000,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Stock convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock. The conversion price of each share of Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Stock will be $0.89 per share.
Transfer of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt. Promptly following the closing of the Exchange Offer or the occurrence of the Contingent Exchange, as applicable, NBC Palm Beach I will transfer to CM notes representing up to $10,000,000 in principal amount of the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt it will receive in the Contingent Exchange. The amount so transferred will be determined in accordance with the methodology described on Schedule 10.12 set forth in the Master Agreement.
Exchange of Series A-2 Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock. Promptly following the Call Closing, CM will be entitled to exchange the Series C Preferred Stock or Series A-2 Preferred Stock, as the case may be, it will receive upon the exchange of the Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock, for Series C Convertible Preferred Stock with an equal aggregate stated liquidation preference. If the Call Closing does not occur before the deadline set forth in the Call Agreement or the FCC approval for CMs acquisition of the Call Shares is denied, NBC Palm Beach I will exchange its Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt, if any, with CM for an equal aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series A-2 Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock, as the case may be, received by CM in the Contingent Exchange. To the extent either of CM or NBC Palm Beach I holds any Series A-2 Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock after such exchange, it will be entitled to exchange with the Company any Series A-2 Preferred Stock for an equal aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock and any Series C Preferred Stock for an equal aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series C Convertible Preferred Stock. Both Series A-3 Convertible Preferred Stock and Series C Convertible Preferred Stock are convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common Stock at a conversion price of $0.75 per share, increasing at their respective dividend rate.
CM Option to Purchase Preferred Stock. If the closing of the Tender Offer has occurred and for any reason (other than as a result of CMs breach of its obligations in connection with the Exchange Offer) neither the closing of the Exchange Offer nor the Contingent Exchange occurs, then (i) CM shall transfer back to NBCU $210,000,000 aggregate stated liquidation preference of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred Stock and (ii) NBCU shall grant to CM an option to purchase Preferred Stock. The aggregate stated liquidation preference of the option so granted will be $150,000,000 multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Class A Common Stock acquired in the Tender Offer and the denominator of which is the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock on the Commencement Date (less (i) 6,122,544 shares of Class A Common Stock, (ii) any shares of Class A Common Stock held by the Paxson Stockholders and (iii) certain shares of Class A Common Stock issued after November 7, 2005 upon conversion of convertible securities). The exercise price of the option will be equal to the number of shares of Class A Common Stock acquired in the Tender Offer multiplied by $1.46. NBCU is entitled to elect to receive shares of Class C Common Stock in lieu of shares of Class A Common Stock if CM elects to pay the exercise price in shares of Class A Common Stock.
Agreements and Additional Transactions Contemplated by the Master Agreement |
Pursuant to the Master Agreement, the following agreements, among other documents, were also entered into on the Commencement Date:
| a Call Agreement between NBC Palm Beach II and CM (NBCU Option I Call Agreement); |
5
| a Call Agreement between the Company and NBC Palm Beach I (NBCU Option II Call Agreement); | |
| a Put/Call Agreement between NBCU and CM (the Put/Call Agreement); | |
| a Stockholders Agreement between the Company, NBCU and CM (the New Stockholders Agreement); | |
| a Registration Rights Agreement between the Company, CM and the NBCU Entities (the Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement); | |
| a Registration Rights Agreement between the Company, CM and NBCU (the New Registration Rights Agreement); and | |
| a side letter between NBCU, CM, Citadel Kensington Global Strategies Fund Ltd., and Citadel Wellington LLC (the Indemnification Side Letter). |
The following is a summary of the material provisions of the documents listed above.
NBCU Option I. Pursuant to the NBCU Option I Call Agreement, on the Commencement Date CM granted to NBC Palm Beach II an irrevocable right to purchase the Call Shares (the NBCU Option I), effective upon the Call Closing. The exercise price of the NBCU Option I is $0.40 per share of Class A Common Stock and $0.40 per share of Class B Common Stock, payable in cash. The NBCU Option I is exercisable at any time during the five-year period beginning on the earlier of the business day following (i) the six-month anniversary of the Call Closing and (ii) the date of deregistration of the shares of Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act. The NBCU Option I will automatically renew in five-year increments. The holder can exercise the NBCU Option I at any time during the term subject to FCC regulations and any other required governmental approvals. Under existing FCC regulations, the NBCU Entities cannot exercise the NBCU Option I. This description of the NBCU Option I Call Agreement is not complete and is subject to the terms of the NBCU Option I Call Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 30 and incorporated herein by reference.
NBCU Option II. Pursuant to the NBCU Option II Call Agreement, on the Commencement Date the Company granted to NBC Palm Beach I an irrevocable right to purchase 26,688,361 shares of Class B Common Stock (the NBCU Option II), effective upon the Call Closing. The exercise price of the NBCU Option II is $0.50 per share of Class B Common Stock, payable in cash. The NBCU Option II is exercisable at any time during the five-year period beginning on the Call Closing and will automatically renew in five-year increments. The holder may exercise the NBCU Option II at any time during the term subject to FCC regulations and any other required governmental approvals. Under existing FCC regulations, the NBCU Entities cannot exercise the NBCU Option II. This description of the NBCU Option II Call Agreement is not complete and is subject to the terms of the NBCU Option II Call Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 31 and incorporated herein by reference.
The Put/Call Agreement. The Put/Call Agreement provides that upon a Trigger Event (defined below), CM will have the right, subject to the receipt of any required FCC approval and other required governmental approvals, to put to NBCU all of the Company securities it owns on the date of the exercise of the put right or the call right (other than the Call Shares), as the case may be, up to certain amount as determined in the Put/Call Agreement. If CM does not exercise the put right, NBCU will have a right to call these securities. A Trigger Event occurs if at any time, either (i) NBCU, (ii) a group comprised of NBCU and a holder of the NBCU Option I, the NBCU Option II or other Company securities transferred by NBCU or (iii) any third party (other than CM and its affiliates) that received the Company securities from NBCU (or its affiliates), acquires securities representing a majority of the voting power of the Company outstanding at such time. In addition, the Put/Call Agreement provides each of CM and NBCU with a right of first offer and right of last offer for the benefit of the other party with respect to the Company securities transferred by the other party to an unaffiliated third party. This description of the Put/Call Agreement is not complete and is subject to the terms of the Put/Call Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 32 and incorporated herein by reference.
New Stockholders Agreement. The New Stockholders Agreement will become effective (with certain sections of the New Stockholders Agreement becoming effective at the Call Closing) upon the earlier of the date on which (i) the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock owned by the CM and its affiliates represents a majority of the shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding or (ii) the Paxson Stockholders no longer beneficially
6
own any Call Shares. Upon the effectiveness of the New Stockholders Agreement, the Amended and Restated Investment Agreement entered into on November 7, 2005 between NBCU and the Company and the Stockholder Agreement entered into on November 7, 2005 among NBCU, the Company and the Paxson Stockholders will terminate; provided, that if the New Stockholders Agreement becomes effective prior to the date the Paxson Stockholders cease to beneficially own any Call Shares, the Stockholder Agreement will remain effective until such date. To the extent that the New Stockholders Agreement becomes effective prior to the termination of the Stockholder Agreement and any of the terms of the New Stockholders Agreement are inconsistent with the rights of the NBCU Entities or the obligations of the Company under the Stockholder Agreement but do not otherwise adversely affect the rights of the Paxson Stockholders under the Stockholder Agreement, the New Stockholders Agreement will govern.
The New Stockholders Agreement provides for the Board to be comprised of 13 directors or such other number of directors as the Board may agree (subject to the approval rights described below). For so long as CM and its affiliates hold the majority of the outstanding voting power of the Company, CM has the right to designate seven directors. If CM and its affiliates hold less than 50% of the outstanding voting shares but more than 20% of the same, CM has the right to designate two directors. If NBCU and its affiliates hold more than 20% of the voting shares, they will be entitled to nominate two directors, and if they hold a majority of such shares, they will have the right to nominate seven directors.
Further, each of NBCU and CM will be entitled to approve certain actions involving the Company until it no longer holds 25% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company on a fully-diluted basis. The following actions involving the Company, among others, require this approval:
the adoption of any shareholder rights plan; | |
a material agreement that would be adverse to either CM or the NBCU Entities; | |
an action that would cause certain media assets to be attributable to CM (or its affiliates) or NBCU (or its affiliates) under | |
FCC regulations; | |
the adoption of the annual operating budget for the Company; | |
amendments to the Companys certificate of incorporation or by-laws; | |
a sale of the primary operating assets of, or a FCC license of, a material Company television station; | |
certain material sales of assets, material acquisitions and material mergers or business combination transactions; | |
certain issuances, splits and reclassifications of stock of the Company; | |
material employment contracts; | |
an increase in the size of the Board; and | |
a bankruptcy filing. |
NBCU and CM will each have a preemptive right with respect to issuance of capital stock by the Company. In addition, NBCU will have a right of first offer on the sale of certain material television stations of the Company.
This description of the New Stockholders Agreement is not complete and is subject to the terms of the New Stockholders Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 33 and incorporated herein by reference.
Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement. The Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement provides for certain registration rights for the benefit of the NBCU Entities, CM and their respective permitted transferees after an initial public offering of a class of equity securities of the Company. The Company is required, upon demand of CM, the NBCU Entities or holders of a majority of the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt to file a shelf registration statement with the SEC (under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) to cover resales of the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt. This description of the Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement is not complete and is subject to the terms of the Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 34 and incorporated herein by reference.
The New Registration Rights Agreement. The New Registration Rights Agreement provides for certain registration rights for the benefit of NBCU and CM after an initial public offering of a class of equity securities of the Company. It will become effective, and the Registration Rights Agreement entered into on September 15, 1999 between the Company and NBCU, as amended on November 7, 2005, will terminate, in each case upon the closing
7
of the Exchange Offer or the occurrence of the Contingent Exchange. Pursuant to the New Registration Rights Agreement, the Company is required, upon proper demand by NBCU, CM or their respective permitted transferees, to register (under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) shares of Class A Common Stock and Class D Common Stock owned by, or issued upon conversion of the Companys convertible securities held by, NBCU, CM or their respective permitted transferees. In addition, NBCU and CM have a right to piggy-back on the Companys registration statement in certain circumstances. This description of the New Registration Rights Agreement is not complete and is subject to the terms of the New Registration Rights Agreement, attached hereto as Exhibit 35 and incorporated herein by reference.
The Indemnification Side Letter. CM, Citadel Wellington LLC (CW), Citadel Kensington Global Strategies Fund Ltd. (CKGS) and the NBCU Entities have entered into an Indemnification Side Letter in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement. The Indemnification Side Letter provides that if CM incurs any losses for which it is entitled to be indemnified by the Company (due to a breach by the Company of certain representations, warranties or covenants in the Master Agreement relating to compliance with Rule 14d-10 of the Exchange Act) for which it is entitled to be indemnified by the Company but for which the Company has failed to indemnify CM, the NBCU Entities are required to, jointly and severally, indemnify CW and CKGS against 50% of such losses that have not been indemnified by the Company, subject to certain limits. In addition, in the event the NBCU Entities are required to retain not less than $250,000,000 aggregated stated liquidation preference of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Master Agreement following the closing of the Exchange Offer or the Contingent Exchange, each of CM and the NBCU Entities will effect any change to the terms of the securities of the Company held or to be held by CM and the NBCU Entities as may be necessary such that the economic substance of the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement regarding CM and the NBCU Entities will not in any manner be adversely affected. This description of the Indemnification Side Letter is not complete and is subject to the terms of the Indemnification Side Letter, attached hereto as Exhibit 36 and incorporated herein by reference.
Except as set forth herein, in the Schedule 13D, and in the exhibits hereto and thereto, the Reporting Persons have no present plans or proposals that would result in or relate to any of the transactions or changes listed in Items 4(a) through 4(j) of the form of Schedule 13D.
Item 5. Interest in Securities of the Issuer.
Item 5 is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:
(a) The responses of the Reporting Persons to Rows (7) through (13) of the cover page of this statement on Amendment No. 10 are incorporated herein by reference. After giving effect to the Master Agreement, NBC Palm Beach I holds 39,607 shares of Preferred Stock convertible into 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The NBCU Entities would hold, in the aggregate, 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock upon conversion of Preferred Stock, which represent beneficial ownership of 75.2% of the outstanding Class A Common Stock of the Company. However, the right to acquire such shares of Class A Common Stock upon conversion is subject to material conditions, including, without limitation, those contained in the Certificate of Designation and the applicable FCC regulations.
As a result of the Master Agreement described in Item 4, the NBCU Entities and CLP may be deemed to be a group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; however, neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor any of its contents will be deemed to constitute an admission that any of the Reporting Persons are the beneficial owners of any shares of equity securities owned by CLP for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose, and such beneficial ownership is expressly disclaimed.
Except as disclosed in this Item 5(a), none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best of their knowledge, any of their directors or executive officers, beneficially owns any shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B Common Stock.
(b) The responses of the Reporting Persons to (i) Rows (7) through (13) of the cover pages of this statement on Amendment No. 10 and (ii) Item 5(a) hereof are incorporated herein by reference. Upon conversion of
8
all of the shares of Preferred Stock, NBC Palm Beach I would have the sole power to dispose of 198,035,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. However, the shares of Preferred Stock are not currently convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock. The right to acquire such shares of Class A Common Stock upon conversion is subject to material conditions, including, without limitation, those contained in the Certificate of Designation and the applicable FCC regulations.
As a result of the Master Agreement described in Item 4, the NBCU Entities and CLP may be deemed to be a group for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; however, neither the filing of this Schedule 13D nor any of its contents will be deemed to constitute an admission that any of the Reporting Persons have the sole or shared power to vote or direct the vote or dispose or direct the disposition of any shares of equity securities owned by CLP for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or for any other purpose, and such sole or shared power to vote or direct the vote or dispose or direct the disposition of such shares of equity securities is expressly disclaimed.
Except as disclosed in this Item 5(b), none of the Reporting Persons, nor to the best of their knowledge, any of their directors or executive officers, presently has the power to vote or to direct the vote or to dispose or direct the disposition of any of the shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities of the Company which they may be deemed to beneficially own.
(c) Except as disclosed in Item 4 hereof, none of the Reporting Persons, nor, to the best of their knowledge, any of their directors or executive officers, has effected any transaction in the Class A Common Stock of the Company during the past 60 days.
(d) Not applicable.
(e) Not applicable.
Neither the filing of this Schedule 13D or any amendment thereto, nor anything contained herein is intended as, or should be construed as, an admission that NBC Holding or GE is the beneficial owner of any shares of Class A Common Stock or other securities of the Company.
Item 7. Materials to be Filed as Exhibits.
Exhibit No. | Description | |
Exhibit 29 | Master Transaction Agreement, dated May 3, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., NBC Universal, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc., and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 30 | NBCU Option I Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among CIG Media LLC and NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. | |
Exhibit 31 | NBCU Option II Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc. and NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc. | |
Exhibit 32 | Put/Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and between CIG Media LLC and NBC Universal, Inc. | |
Exhibit 33 | New Stockholders Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., NBC Universal, Inc. and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 34 | Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc, NBC Universal, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 35 | New Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., NBC Universal, Inc. and CIG Media LLC. |
9
Exhibit 36 | Indemnification Side Letter, dated May 4, 2007, from Citadel Wellington LLC, Citadel Kensington Global Strategies Fund Ltd. and CIG Media LLC to NBC Universal, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. |
10
SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY | ||
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | |
Name: | Lynn A. Calpeter | |
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |
NATIONAL BROADCASTING COMPANY HOLDING, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Name: | Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |
NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Name: | Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |
NBC PALM BEACH Investment I, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Name: | Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |
NBC PALM BEACH Investment II, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Name: | Elizabeth A. Newell | |
Title: | Assistant Secretary | |
Dated: May 7, 2007 |
11
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. | Description | |
Exhibit 29 | Master Transaction Agreement, dated May 3, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., NBC Universal, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc., and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 30 | NBCU Option I Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among CIG Media LLC and NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. | |
Exhibit 31 | NBCU Option II Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc. and NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc. | |
Exhibit 32 | Put/Call Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and between CIG Media LLC and NBC Universal, Inc. | |
Exhibit 33 | New Stockholders Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., NBC Universal, Inc. and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 34 | Series B Subordinated Debt Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc, NBC Universal, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 35 | New Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., NBC Universal, Inc. and CIG Media LLC. | |
Exhibit 36 | Indemnification Side Letter, dated May 4, 2007, from Citadel Wellington LLC, Citadel Kensington Global Strategies Fund Ltd. and CIG Media LLC to NBC Universal, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. |
i
Page
|
|
ARTICLE
I DEFINITIONS |
2
|
SECTION
1.01 Definitions |
2
|
SECTION
1.02 Other Defined Terms |
14
|
SECTION
1.03 Interpretation |
16
|
ARTICLE
II THE PRELIMINARY TRANSACTIONS |
17
|
SECTION
2.01 Confirmation from Senior Lenders, CIG and NBCU |
17
|
SECTION
2.02 Call Right Assignment |
18
|
SECTION
2.03 Delivery of the Documents |
18
|
SECTION
2.04 Filing of New Preferred Stock |
19
|
SECTION
2.05 Exchange of NBCU Series B Preferred and Transfer of Series F
Non-Convertible Preferred |
19
|
SECTION
2.06 Additional Investment by CIG |
19
|
SECTION
2.07 Selection of Investment Banks |
20
|
ARTICLE
III THE TENDER OFFER |
20
|
SECTION
3.01 The Tender Offer |
20
|
SECTION
3.02 Company Action |
22
|
ARTICLE
IV THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT |
23
|
SECTION
4.01 The Reverse Stock Split |
23
|
SECTION
4.02 Company Stock Options |
24
|
SECTION
4.03 Surrender of Shares |
25
|
ARTICLE
V THE EXCHANGE OFFER |
26
|
SECTION
5.01 The Exchange Offer |
26
|
SECTION
5.02 Consent Solicitation |
29
|
SECTION
5.03 Exchange by CIG |
29
|
SECTION
5.04 Contingent Exchange |
29
|
SECTION
5.05 Company Approval |
30
|
ARTICLE
VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY |
30
|
SECTION
6.01 Organization and Qualification |
31
|
SECTION
6.02 Capitalization |
31
|
SECTION
6.03 Authority Relative to the Transaction Agreements |
33
|
SECTION
6.04 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
34
|
SECTION
6.05 Permits; Compliance |
35
|
SECTION
6.06 SEC Filings; Financial Statements |
37
|
SECTION
6.07 Absence of Certain Changes or Events |
39
|
SECTION
6.08 Absence of Litigation |
40
|
SECTION
6.09 Compensation and Benefit Plans; ERISA |
40
|
SECTION
6.10 Labor Matters |
42
|
SECTION
6.11 Taxes |
43
|
SECTION
6.12 Insurance |
43
|
SECTION
6.13 Company Material Contracts |
44
|
SECTION
6.14 Property |
44
|
SECTION
6.15 Intellectual Property |
44
|
SECTION
6.16 Brokers |
45
|
ARTICLE
VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF CIG |
45
|
SECTION
7.01 Corporate Organization |
46
|
SECTION
7.02 Authority Relative to Transaction Agreements |
46
|
SECTION
7.03 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
46
|
SECTION
7.04 Ownership of Company Securities |
47
|
SECTION
7.05 FCC Compliance |
47
|
SECTION
7.06 Financing |
47
|
SECTION
7.07 Brokers |
47
|
ARTICLE
VIII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF NBCU ENTITIES |
47
|
SECTION
8.01 Corporate Organization |
48
|
SECTION
8.02 Authority Relative to Transaction Agreements |
48
|
SECTION
8.03 No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents |
48
|
SECTION
8.04 Ownership of Company Securities |
49
|
SECTION
8.05 Brokers |
49
|
ARTICLE
IX CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE CALL CLOSING |
49
|
SECTION
9.01 Conduct of Business by the Company Pending the Call Closing
|
49
|
ARTICLE
X ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS |
53
|
SECTION
10.01 Stockholders Meetings |
53
|
SECTION
10.02 Proxy Statement |
54
|
SECTION
10.03 Company Board Representation; Section 14(f) |
55
|
SECTION
10.04 Access to Information; Confidentiality |
55
|
SECTION
10.05 No Solicitation of Transactions |
56
|
SECTION
10.06 Directors and Officers Indemnification and
Insurance |
57
|
SECTION
10.07 Notification of Certain Matters |
58
|
SECTION
10.08 Further Action; Reasonable Best Efforts |
58
|
SECTION
10.09 Public Announcements |
59
|
SECTION
10.10 Exchange of NBCU Series B Preferred |
59
|
SECTION
10.11 Exchange of Series F Non-Convertible Preferred |
60
|
SECTION
10.12 Transfer of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt |
60
|
SECTION
10.13 Exchange of Series A-2 Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock
Following the Call Closing |
60
|
SECTION
10.14 Exchange of Series A-2 Preferred Stock or Series C Preferred Stock in
Absence of Call Closing |
61
|
SECTION
10.15 Termination of Certain Existing Agreements |
61
|
SECTION
10.16 Delisting |
62
|
SECTION
10.17 Stockholder Litigation |
62
|
SECTION
10.18 CIG Option to Purchase NBCU Series B Preferred |
62
|
SECTION
10.19 Employment of Certain Company Employees |
63
|
SECTION
10.20 Approval of Compensation Actions |
63
|
SECTION
10.21 Indemnity for Prior Breach of Call Agreement, Escrow Agreement and
Noncompete Agreements |
63
|
SECTION
10.22 Indemnity for Compensation Actions |
64
|
SECTION
10.23 Conduct of the Exchange Offer |
64
|
SECTION
10.24 CUSIP Numbers |
64
|
SECTION
10.25 PMC
Agreement |
64
|
ARTICLE
XI CONDITIONS PRECEDENT |
64
|
SECTION
11.01 Conditions to the Reverse Stock Split |
64
|
SECTION
11.02 Frustration of Closing Conditions |
65
|
ARTICLE
XII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER |
65
|
SECTION
12.01 Termination Prior to the Commencement Date |
65
|
SECTION
12.02 Termination After the Commencement Date |
65
|
SECTION
12.03 Effect of Termination |
65
|
SECTION
12.04 Fees and Expenses |
66
|
SECTION
12.05 Amendment |
66
|
SECTION
12.06 Waiver |
66
|
ARTICLE
XIII GENERAL PROVISIONS |
66
|
SECTION
13.01 Notices |
66
|
SECTION
13.02 Severability |
68
|
SECTION
13.03 Entire Agreement; Assignment |
69
|
SECTION
13.04 Parties in Interest |
69
|
SECTION
13.05 Specific Performance |
69
|
SECTION
13.06 Governing Law |
69
|
SECTION
13.07 Counterparts |
69
|
SECTION
13.08 Waiver of Jury Trial |
70
|
ANNEXES
|
||
Annex
A |
Conditions
to the Tender Offer |
|
Annex
B |
Conditions
to the Exchange Offer |
|
SCHEDULES
|
||
Schedule
5.04 |
Contingent
Exchange Methodology |
|
Schedule
10.12 |
Transfer
of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt |
|
EXHIBITS
|
||
Exhibit
A |
Series A
Convertible Subordinated Debt Indenture |
|
Exhibit
B |
Series B
Convertible Subordinated Debt Indenture |
|
Exhibit
C |
NBCU
Option I |
|
Exhibit
D |
NBCU
Option II |
|
Exhibit
E |
Registration
Rights Agreement for New Securities |
|
Exhibit
F |
Series
A-1 Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
G |
Series
A-2 Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
H |
Series
A-3 Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
I |
Series B
Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
J-1 |
Series C
Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
J-2 |
Series C
Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
K |
Series C
Preferred Stock Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
L |
Series D
Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
M |
Series
E-1 Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
N |
Series
E-2 Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
O |
Series F
Non-Convertible Preferred Certificate of Designation |
|
Exhibit
P |
New
Stockholders Agreement |
|
Exhibit
Q |
Assignment
Agreement |
|
Exhibit
R |
Call
Right Exercise Notice |
|
Exhibit
S |
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation |
|
Exhibit
T |
Proposed
Amendments |
|
Exhibit
U |
Warrant
|
|
Exhibit
V |
Put/Call
Agreement |
|
Exhibit
W |
Certificate
Amendment |
|
Exhibit
X |
Registration
Rights Agreement for Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt |
Definition
|
|
Section
|
2005
Agreements |
Recitals
|
|
2005
SEC Filings
|
8.02
|
|
2006
Balance Sheet
|
6.06(c)
|
|
Adjusted
Company Restricted Stock
|
4.02(c)
|
|
Adjusted
Company Stock Option
|
4.02(b)
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Assignment
Agreement
|
2.02(a)
|
|
Blue
Sky Laws
|
6.04(b)
|
|
Certificate
Amendment
|
6.02(e)
|
|
Certificates
|
4.01(b)
|
|
CIG
|
Preamble
|
|
Class
A Common Stock
|
Recitals
|
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
|
Company
Joint Venture
|
6.02(b)
|
|
Company
Stock Awards
|
6.02(a)
|
|
Compensation
Actions
|
6.07(b)
|
|
Confidentiality
Agreements
|
10.04(b)
|
|
Contingent
Exchange
|
5.04(b)
|
|
Conversion
Shares
|
6.02(e)
|
|
DTV
|
6.05(e)
|
|
Effective
Time
|
4.01(a)
|
|
Equity
Commitment Letter
|
7.06
|
|
Exchange
Offer
|
Recitals
|
|
Exchange
Offer Conditions
|
5.01(b)
|
|
Exchange
Offer Documents
|
5.01(d)
|
|
Exchange
Offer Initial Expiration Date
|
5.01(b)
|
|
Exchange
Offer Schedule TO
|
5.01(d)
|
|
FCC
Application
|
Recitals
|
|
Indemnified
D&Os
|
10.06(a)
|
|
Initial
Stockholders Meeting
|
10.01(a)
|
|
IRS
|
6.09(b)
|
|
Minority
Exchange |
5.01(a)
|
|
NBC
Palm Beach I
|
Preamble
|
|
NBC
Palm Beach II
|
Preamble
|
|
NBCU
|
Preamble
|
|
NBCU
Entities
|
Preamble
|
|
Paxson
Stockholders
|
Recitals
|
|
Paying
Agent
|
4.03(a)
|
|
Permits
|
6.05(a)
|
|
PBGC
|
6.09(d)
|
|
PMC
|
Recitals
|
|
Principal
Amount
|
2.06(b)
|
|
Proposed
Amendments
|
5.02
|
Definition
|
Section
|
|
Proxy
Statement
|
10.02
|
|
Restated
Certificate of Incorporation
|
4.01(a)
|
|
Reverse
Stock Split
|
4.01(a)
|
|
Reverse
Stock Split Ratio
|
4.01(a)
|
|
Schedule
14D-9
|
3.01(b)
|
|
SEC
Reports
|
6.06(a)
|
|
Stockholders
Meeting
|
10.01(b)
|
|
Subsequent
Period
|
3.01(a)
|
|
Tender
Offer
|
Recitals
|
|
Tender
Offer Conditions
|
3.01(a)
|
|
Tender
Offer Documents
|
3.01(b)
|
|
Tender
Offer Expiration Date
|
3.01(a)
|
|
Tender
Offer Initial Expiration Date
|
3.01(a)
|
|
Tender
Offer Schedule TO
|
3.01(b)
|
|
Termination
Date
|
12.02
|
|
Transaction
|
Recitals
|
|
WARN
|
6.10(b)
|
(i) |
Series B
Convertible Subordinated Debt Indenture, |
(ii) |
NBCU
Option I, |
(iii) |
NBCU
Option II, |
(iv) |
Registration
Rights Agreement for New Securities, |
(v) |
New
Stockholders Agreement, |
(vi) |
Assignment
Agreement, |
(vii)
|
Put/Call
Agreement, |
(viii)
|
the
Warrant, and |
(ix)
|
Registration
Rights Agreement for Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt. |
ION
MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Richard Garcia | |
|
||
Name:
Richard Garcia
Title:
Chief Financial Officer |
NBC
UNIVERSAL, INC. |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A Calpeter | |
|
||
Name:
Lynn A Calpeter
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
NBC PALM
BEACH INVESTMENT I, INC. |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A Calpeter | |
|
||
Name:
Lynn A Calpeter
Title:
Vice President and Treasurer |
NBC PALM
BEACH INVESTMENT II, INC. |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | |
|
||
Name:
Lynn A. Calpeter
Title:
Vice President and Treasurer |
CIG
MEDIA LLC |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld | |
|
||
Name:
Matthew Hinerfeld
Title:
Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
1.
|
Overall
Exchange Success Percent shall
be equal to (a) (x) the Total Tendering 14¼% Preferred, plus (y) the
Total Tendering 9¾% Preferred, divided by (b) $639,786,655.
|
2.
|
Actual
Subordinated Debt Basket Available shall
be equal to (a) (x) one, minus (y) the Overall Exchange Success Percent,
multiplied by (b) $470,584,689. |
3.
|
Amount
of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt to be Issued to CIG Pursuant to
Section 5.04(a) shall
be equal to (a) the Actual Subordinated Debt Basket Available, multiplied by
(b) (x) $95,584,689, divided by (y) $470,584,689. |
4.
|
Amount
of Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt to be Issued to NBCU Pursuant to
Section 5.04(a) shall
be equal to (a) the Actual Subordinated Debt Basket Available, multiplied by
(b) (x) $375,000,000, divided by (y) $470,584,689. |
Issuer
|
The
Company. |
Initial
Holders |
Former
holders of 14¼% Preferred and 9¾% Preferred (including
CIG). |
Ranking
|
Junior
to the Senior Debt and pari passu with the Series B Convertible Subordinated
Debt. |
Maturity
|
July
2013. |
Interest
|
11%
annual simple interest coupon, payable quarterly in arrears, in cash, which
amounts shall accrue to the extent not paid in cash. |
Call
|
Series A
Convertible Subordinated Debt shall not be callable prior to
maturity. |
Optional
Conversion |
Series A
Convertible Subordinated Debt shall be convertible at any time, at the
holders option, into shares of Class D Common Stock at a conversion price
of $0.90 per share of Class D Common Stock, increasing at a rate per annum of
11% from the issuance of Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt through the
date of conversion (the Series
A Convertible Subordinated Debt Conversion Price).
|
Mandatory
Conversion |
At any
time following the first anniversary of the issuance date, Series A Convertible
Subordinated Debt shall be converted (the Mandatory
Conversion of Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt)
into shares of Class D Common Stock, at the Series A Convertible Subordinated
Debt Conversion Price, upon the earlier of: (i)
in the event shares of Class A Common Stock or Class D Common Stock are traded
on a national stock exchange, the trading price for fifteen (15) consecutive
trading days of Class A Common Stock or Class D Common Stock on such exchange
is equal to or greater than, (A) in the event the Mandatory Conversion of
Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt occurs after the first anniversary but
prior to the second anniversary of the issuance date, 102% of the Series A
Convertible Subordinated Debt Conversion Price, (B) in the event the Mandatory
Conversion of Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt occurs after the second
anniversary but prior to the third anniversary of the issuance date, 101% of
the Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt Conversion Price, or (C) in the
event the Mandatory Conversion of Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt occurs
after the third anniversary of the issuance date, the Series A Convertible
Subordinated Debt Conversion Price (the price as described in (A), (B) and (C),
as the case may be, the Series
A Convertible Subordinated Debt Mandatory Conversion Trigger
Price),
and (ii)
the issuance by the Company of Common Stock at an issue price per share equal
to or greater than the Series A Convertible Subordinated Debt Mandatory
Conversion Trigger Price with an aggregate consideration of no
less |
than $75,000,000 in such issuance; provided, that if such issuance is made to CIG, NBCU or their respective Affiliates, the designated investment bank shall have provided an opinion in customary form to the Company to the effect that the issue price per share of Common Stock is at or higher than the fair market value of a share of Common Stock. | |
Adjustment
to Conversion Price |
The
conversion prices shall be subject to customary adjustments for stock splits,
dividends, recapitalizations, below market issues and similar
events. |
Transferability
|
Series A
Convertible Subordinated Debt shall be freely transferable, subject to
applicable securities laws. |
Other
Terms |
The
indenture shall contain customary covenants and events of default provisions to
be negotiated by the parties and shall be consistent with the indentures for
the Series B Convertible Subordinated Debt. |
CIG MEDIA LLC | ||
|
|
|
By: |
Citadel Limited
Partnership,
its Manager |
|
By: |
Citadel Investment
Group, L.L.C.,
its General
Partner |
|
By: | /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld | |
Name: Matthew Hinerfeld |
||
Title: Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT II, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | |
Name: Lynn A. Calpeter |
||
Title: Vice President and Treasurer |
(a) |
If to
Palm Beach I, to: |
(b) |
If to
ION, to: |
ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Richard Garcia | |
Name: Richard Garcia |
||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT I, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | |
Name: Lynn A. Calpeter |
||
Title: Vice President and Treasurer |
Definition
|
Section
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Call
Exercise Notice
|
2.2(b)
|
|
Call
Exercise Period
|
2.2(a)
|
|
Call
Right
|
2.2(a)
|
|
Call
Right Closing
|
3(b)(i)
|
|
CIG
|
Preamble
|
|
CIG
Acceptance Period
|
4(a)
|
|
CIG
First Offer
|
5(a)
|
Definition | Section | |
CIG
First Offer Notice
|
5(a)
|
|
CIG Last
Acceptance Period
|
4(b)
|
|
CIG Last
Look Notice
|
5(b)
|
|
CIG Last
Offer
|
5(b)
|
|
Company
|
Recitals
|
|
De
Minimis Acceptance Period
|
5(c)(i)
|
|
De
Minimis First Offer
|
5(c)(i)
|
|
De
Minimis First Offer Notice
|
5(c)(i)
|
|
Master
Agreement
|
Recitals
|
|
NBCU
Acceptance Period
|
5(a)
|
|
NBCU
Designee
|
5(a)
|
|
NBCU
First Offer
|
4(a)
|
|
NBCU
First Offer Notice
|
4(a)
|
|
NBCU
Last Acceptance Period
|
5(b)
|
|
NBCU
Last Look Notice
|
4(b)
|
|
NBCU
Last Offer
|
4(b)
|
|
NBC Palm
Beach I
|
Recitals
|
|
NBC Palm
Beach II
|
Recitals
|
|
NBCU
Option I
|
Recitals
|
|
NBCU
Option II
|
Recitals
|
|
NBCU
|
Preamble
|
|
Put
Exercise Notice
|
2.1(b)
|
|
Put
Exercise Period
|
2.1(a)
|
|
Put
Right
|
2.1(a)
|
|
Put
Right Closing
|
3(a)(i)
|
|
Renewed
Call Exercise Period
|
2.3
|
|
Renewed
Put Exercise Period
|
2.3
|
|
Transferee
|
8
|
CIG MEDIA LLC | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld | |
Name: Matthew Hinerfeld |
||
Title: Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | |
Name: Lynn A. Calpeter |
||
Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Page
|
|||
Section
1. |
Definitions
|
1
|
|
Section
2. |
Methodology
for Calculations; Effective Date |
11
|
|
Section
3. |
Corporate
Governance |
11
|
|
3.1.
|
Board of
Directors |
11
|
|
3.2.
|
Committees
|
13
|
|
3.3.
|
Vacancies;
Resignation; Removal |
14
|
|
3.4.
|
Cooperation
|
15
|
|
3.5.
|
Expenses
|
15
|
|
3.6.
|
Directors
Indemnification |
15
|
|
Section
4. |
Right of
First Offer and Last Offer |
15
|
|
Section
5. |
Approval
of Certain Matters |
16
|
|
Section
6. |
Other
Company Covenants |
18
|
|
Section
7. |
Financial
Statements and Other Reports |
21
|
|
7.1
|
Delivery
of Financial Statements and Other Reports: |
21
|
|
7.2
|
Provision
of Information |
24
|
|
Section
8. |
Transactions
with Affiliates |
24
|
|
Section
9. |
NBCU
Right of First Refusal |
24
|
|
Section
10. |
Company
Equity Issuances |
25
|
|
Section
11. |
Legend
|
26
|
|
Section
12. |
Representations
and Warranties |
27
|
|
Section
13. |
Competitive
Opportunities |
28
|
|
Section
14. |
Duration
of Agreement |
28
|
|
Section
15. |
Further
Assurances |
28
|
|
Section
16. |
Amendment
and Waiver |
29
|
|
Section
17. |
Entire
Agreement |
29
|
|
Section
18. |
Successors
and Assigns |
29
|
|
Section
19. |
Severability
|
29
|
|
Section
20. |
Remedies
|
30
|
|
Section
21. |
Notices
|
30
|
|
Section
22. |
Governing
Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial |
32
|
|
Section
23. |
Construction
|
32
|
|
Section
24. |
Survival
of Representations and Warranties |
32
|
|
Section
25. |
Conflicting
Agreements |
32
|
|
Section
26. |
Counterparts
|
33
|
ION
MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Richard Garcia | |
|
||
Name:Richard
Garcia
Title:
Chief Financial Officer |
CIG
MEDIA LLC |
||
|
|
|
By: | Citadel Limited Partnership, its Portfolio Manager | |
By: | Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner |
/s/ Matthew Hinerfeld | ||
|
||
Name:
Matthew Hinerfeld
Title:
Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
NBC
UNIVERSAL, INC. |
||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | |
|
||
Name:
Lynn A. Calpeter
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Address for Notices: |
with
copies to: |
||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
By: | ||
|
Name: | ||
|
Title: | ||
|
Date: | ||
|
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT is dated as of May 4, 2007 (the Agreement), by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the Company), on the one hand, and NBC Universal, Inc., a Delaware corporation (NBCU), NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., a California corporation (NBC Palm Beach I), NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc., a California corporation (NBC Palm Beach II, and together with NBCU and NBC Palm Beach I, the NBCU Entities), and CIG Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (CIG) (CIG and together with the NBCU Entities, the Purchasers), on the other hand.
This Agreement is entered into in connection with the Master Transaction Agreement by and among the Company and the Purchasers, dated as of May 3, 2007 (the Transaction Agreement), which provides for, among other things, the issuance and sale by the Company of 11% Series B Mandatorily Convertible Senior Subordinated Notes due 2013 (the Notes) to the Purchasers. In order to induce the Purchasers to enter into the Transaction Agreement and certain other agreements, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement for the sole benefit of the Purchasers and their respective affiliates and not for the benefit of any subsequent holder or holders of the Notes (except as set forth in Section 5(d) hereof).
In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings:
Business Day shall mean any day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or required by law to remain closed.
Company shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble and shall also include the Companys successors.
Exchange Act shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.
Holders shall mean (i) the Purchasers, for so long as they own any Transfer Restricted Securities, and (ii) any subsequent holder of Transfer Restricted Securities to the extent that such subsequent holder is entitled to the benefit of the registration rights set forth in this Agreement pursuant to Section 5(d) hereof.
Indenture shall mean the Indenture relating to the Notes dated as of May 3, 2007 among the Company and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and as the same may be amended and supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.
1
Initial Public Offering shall have the meaning set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement for New Securities.
Inspector shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(m) hereof.
Majority Holders shall mean the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities; provided that whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of Transfer Restricted Securities is required hereunder, Transfer Restricted Securities owned directly or indirectly by the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage or amount.
Notes shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Person shall mean an individual, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, corporation, trust or unincorporated organization, or a government or agency or political subdivision thereof.
Prospectus shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, and by all other amendments and supplements to such prospectus, and in each case including any document incorporated by reference therein.
Purchasers shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Registration Expenses shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) all SEC, stock exchange or National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for any Underwriters or Holders in connection with blue sky qualification of any Transfer Restricted Securities), (iii) all expenses of any Persons (other than counsel) in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements or other similar agreements and any other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) all fees and disbursements relating to the qualification of the Indenture under applicable securities laws, (vi) the fees and disbursements of the Trustee and its counsel, (vii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, (viii) the fees and disbursements of counsel for CIG and counsel for the NBC Entities and the fees and disbursements of one counsel for the Holders (which counsel shall be selected by the Majority Holders), in each case, not in excess of $50,000 per single registration and (xi) the fees and disbursements of the independent public accountants of the Company, including the expenses of any special audits or comfort letters required by or incident to the performance of and
-2-
compliance with this Agreement, but excluding underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities by a Holder.
Registration Rights Agreement for New Securities means that certain Registration Rights Agreement, dated May 4, 2007, among the Company, NBCU and CIG, in the form attached as Exhibit E to the Transaction Agreement.
SEC shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Securities Act shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.
Shelf Effectiveness Period shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) hereof.
Shelf Registration shall mean a registration effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.
Shelf Registration Statement shall mean a shelf registration statement of the Company that covers all the Transfer Restricted Securities (and may cover other securities of the Company) on an appropriate form (including, without limitation, Form S-1 or Form S-3) under Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and any document incorporated by reference therein. To the extent the Company is eligible (i) a Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-1 may be refiled at any time on Form S-3, (ii) the Shelf Registration Statement may be filed in the form of an automatic shelf registration statement (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), and (iii) the Shelf Registration Statement may be refiled at any time as an automatic shelf registration statement.
Staff shall mean the staff of the SEC.
Transaction Agreement shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble.
Transfer Restricted Securities: Each Note until the earliest of:
(i) | the date on which such Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement; | |
(ii) | the date on which such Note is transferred in compliance with Rule 144 (or any other similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act or transferable pursuant to paragraph (k) of Rule 144 under the Securities Act (or any other similar provision then in force); |
-3-
(iii) | the date on which such Note ceases to be outstanding (whether as a result of redemption, repurchase and cancellation, conversion or otherwise); or | |
(iv) | the date on which such Note is sold, transferred or otherwise assigned to a Person other than a Holder. |
Trust Indenture Act shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended from time to time.
Trustee shall mean the trustee with respect to the Notes under the Indenture.
Underwriter shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3 hereof.
Underwritten Offering shall mean an offering in which Transfer Restricted Securities are sold to an Underwriter for reoffering to the public.
2. Registration Under the Securities Act.
(a) After the consummation of an Initial Public Offering, upon a written demand (each, Shelf Demand) of CIG (if it then is a Holder), the NBC Entities (if it then is a Holder) or the Majority Holders, the Company shall be required to file, on one and only one occasion, a Shelf Registration Statement with the SEC to cover resales of the Transfer Restricted Securities. In that case, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) file the Shelf Registration Statement as promptly as practicable, but in any event no later than the sixtieth 60th calendar day after receipt of a Shelf Demand, (ii) cause the Shelf Registration Statement to declared effective under the Securities Act as soon as practicable thereafter, but in any event no later than the one hundred twentieth 120th calendar day after the receipt of a Shelf Demand and (iii) maintain the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement during the Shelf Effectiveness Period (defined below).
The Company agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective, supplemented and amended as required by the Securities Act and by the provisions of Section 3 hereof to the extent necessary to ensure that (A) it is available for resales by the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities entitled, subject to the terms and conditions hereof, to the benefit of this Agreement and (B) conforms with the requirements of this Agreement and the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder as announced from time to time, for a period (the Shelf Effectiveness Period) from the date the Shelf Registration Statement becomes effective until the date that the Notes have ceased to be Transfer Restricted Securities.
The Company shall be deemed not have used its commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the Shelf Effectiveness Period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities not being able to offer and sell such securities at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period, unless such action is (x) required by applicable law or otherwise undertaken by the Company in
-4-
good faith and for valid business reasons (not including avoidance of the Companys obligations hereunder), including the acquisition or divestiture of assets, or (y) permitted by the second to the last paragraph of Section 3 hereof.
(b) The Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof. Each Holder shall pay all underwriting discounts and commissions, brokerage commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition of such Holders Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
(c) A Shelf Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof will not be deemed to have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC.
In the event that the Shelf Registration is not declared effective by the date specified in Section 2(a) (the Target Registration Date), the interest rate on the Transfer Restricted Securities will be increased by (i) 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately following the Target Registration Date and (ii) an additional 0.25% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period, in each case until the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, is declared effective by the SEC or the Notes become freely tradable under the Securities Act, at which time the interest rate on the Transfer Restricted Securities will revert to the original interest rate borne by such Transfer Restricted Securities.
If the Shelf Registration Statement, if required hereby, has been declared effective and thereafter either ceases to be effective or the Prospectus contained therein ceases to be usable at any time during the Shelf Effectiveness Period (other than for reasons described in clauses (x) and (y) of the last paragraph of Section 2(a) hereof), and such failure to remain effective or usable exists for more than 60 days (whether or not consecutive) (plus any time required in connection with updating the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act) in any 12-month period, then the interest rate on the Transfer Restricted Securities will be increased by 0.25% per annum for the first 90-day period immediately commencing on the 61st day (whether or not consecutive) in any 12-month period, which rate shall be increased by an additional 0.25% per annum at the beginning of each subsequent 90-day period, and continue thereafter, in each case until the Shelf Registration Statement has again been declared effective or the Prospectus again becomes usable, at which time the interest rate on the Transfer Restricted Securities will revert to the original interest rate borne by such Transfer Restricted Securities.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the maximum aggregate increase in the interest rate borne by the Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to this Section 2(c) shall in no event exceed 0.50% per annum. For the avoidance of doubt, in no event shall the interest rate increase with respect to any other securities of the Company, as a result of this Section 2(c).
(d) Without limiting the remedies available to the Holders, the Company acknowledges that any failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 2(a) hereof may result in material irreparable injury to the Holders for which there is no adequate
-5-
remedy at law, that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the event of any such failure, the Holders may obtain such relief as may be required to specifically enforce the Companys obligations under Section 2(a) hereof.
3. Registration Procedures. In connection with its obligations pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof, the Company shall as expeditiously as reasonably possible:
(a) prepare and file with the SEC the Shelf Registration Statement on the appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (x) shall be selected by the Company, (y) shall be available for the sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (z) shall comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be filed therewith; and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such Registration Statement to become effective and remain effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof; | |
(b) prepare and file with the SEC such amendments, supplements and post-effective amendments to the Shelf Registration Statement as may be necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the applicable period in accordance with Section 2 hereof and cause each Prospectus to be supplemented by any required prospectus supplement and, as so supplemented, to be filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act; and keep each Prospectus current during the period described in Section 4(3) of and Rule 174 under the Securities Act that is applicable to transactions by brokers or dealers with respect to the Transfer Restricted Securities; | |
(c) furnish to CIG, the NBC Entities and Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and their respective counsel (the counsel for Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be selected by Holders of a majority in principal amount of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration) and to each Underwriter of an Underwritten Offering of Transfer Restricted Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus, including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, in order to facilitate the sale or other disposition of the Transfer Restricted Securities thereunder; and the Company consents to the use of such Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law by each of the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and any such Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by and in the manner described in such Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in accordance with applicable law; | |
(d) use its commercially reasonable efforts to register or qualify the Transfer Restricted Securities under all applicable state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by a Registration Statement shall reasonably request in writing by the time the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC; cooperate with the Holders in connection with any filings required to be made with the National Association of Securities Dealers, |
-6-
Inc.; and do any and all other acts and things that may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable each Holder to complete the disposition in each such jurisdiction of the Transfer Restricted Securities owned by such Holder; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction, (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not so subject or (iv) make any change to its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any agreement between it and its stockholders; | |
(e) notify CIG, the NBC Entities and Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and their respective counsel (the counsel for Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities shall be selected by Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities covered by the Shelf Registration) promptly and, if requested by any such Holder or counsel, confirm such advice in writing (i) when the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective and when any post-effective amendment thereto has been filed and becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities authority for amendments and supplements to the Shelf Registration Statement and Prospectus or for additional information after the Shelf Registration Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose, (iv) if, between the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement and the closing of any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities covered thereby, the representations and warranties of the Company contained in any underwriting agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if any, relating to an offering of such Transfer Restricted Securities cease to be true and correct in all material respects or if the Company receives any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Transfer Restricted Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purpose, (v) of the happening of any event during the period the Shelf Registration Statement is effective that makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in such Registration Statement or Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (vi) of any determination by the Company that a post-effective amendment to a Registration Statement would be appropriate; | |
(f) use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement at the earliest possible moment and provide immediate notice to each Holder of the withdrawal of any such order; | |
(g) furnish to each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, without charge, at least one conformed copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective |
-7-
amendment thereto (without any documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto, unless requested); | |
(h) cooperate with the selling Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing Transfer Restricted Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and enable such Transfer Restricted Securities to be issued in such denominations and registered in such names (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture) as the selling Holders may reasonably request at least one Business Day prior to the closing of any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities; | |
(i) upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by Section 3(e)(v) hereof, use its commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with the SEC a supplement or post-effective amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to purchasers of the Transfer Restricted Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall notify the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and such Holders hereby agree to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission; | |
(j) a reasonable time prior to the filing of the Shelf Registration Statement, any Prospectus, any amendment to the Shelf Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to a Prospectus (excluding any document that is to be incorporated by reference into the Shelf Registration Statement or a Prospectus after initial filing of such Registration Statement), provide copies of such document to CIG, the NBC Entities and the Majority Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and their counsel and make such of the representatives of the Company as shall be reasonably requested by CIG, the NBC Entities and the Majority Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities or their counsel available for discussion of such document; and the Company shall not, at any time after initial filing of the Shelf Registration Statement, file any Prospectus, any amendment of or supplement to the Shelf Registration Statement or a Prospectus, (excluding any document that is to be incorporated by reference into the Shelf Registration Statement or a Prospectus), of which CIG, the NBC Entities or the Majority Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities and their counsel shall not have previously been advised and furnished a copy and shall give good faith consideration to their comments thereon; | |
(k) obtain a CUSIP number for all Transfer Restricted Securities not later than the effective date of a Registration Statement; | |
(l) cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act in connection with the registration of the Transfer Restricted Securities; cooperate with the |
-8-
Trustee and the Holders to effect such changes to the Indenture as may be required for the Indenture to be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the Trust Indenture Act; and execute, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Trustee to execute, all documents as may be required to effect such changes and all other forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable the Indenture to be so qualified in a timely manner; | |
(m) in the case of an Underwritten Offering off of the Shelf Registration, make available for inspection during normal business hours upon reasonable notice by a representative of the Holders of the Transfer Restricted Securities (an Inspector), any Underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement, and one firm of attorneys and one firm of accountants designated by the Inspector, in a reasonable manner, all pertinent financial and other records, documents and properties of the Company, and cause the officers, directors and employees of the Company, during normal business hours upon reasonable notice, to supply all information reasonably requested by any such Inspector, Underwriter, attorney or accountant in connection with an Underwritten Offering off of the Shelf Registration Statement; provided that if any such information is identified by the Company as being confidential or proprietary, each Person receiving such information shall take such actions as are reasonably necessary to protect the confidentiality of such information to the extent such action is otherwise not inconsistent with, an impairment of or in derogation of the rights and interests of any Inspector, Holder or Underwriter and shall sign customary confidentiality agreements reasonably requested by the Company prior to the receipt of such information and any Person legally compelled to disclose any such confidential information made available for inspection shall provide the Company with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Company may seek a protection order or any other appropriate remedy; | |
(n) if reasonably requested by any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement, promptly incorporate in a Prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information with respect to such Holder as such Holder reasonably requests to be included therein and make all required filings of such Prospectus supplement or such post-effective amendment as soon as the Company has received notification of the matters to be incorporated in such filing; and | |
(o) in the case of an Underwritten Offering off of the Shelf Registration, enter into such customary agreements and take all such other actions in connection therewith (including those requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold) in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of such Transfer Restricted Securities including, but not limited to, an Underwritten Offering and in such connection, (i) to the extent possible, make such representations and warranties to the Holders and any Underwriters of such Transfer Restricted Securities with respect to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, the Shelf Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference or deemed incorporated |
-9-
by reference, if any, in each case, in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in underwritten offerings and confirm the same if and when requested, (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company (which counsel and opinions, in form, scope and substance, shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Holders and such Underwriters and their respective counsel) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Transfer Restricted Securities, covering the matters customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings, (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain comfort letters from the independent certified public accountants of the Company (and, if necessary, any other certified public accountant of any subsidiary of the Company, or of any business acquired by the Company for which financial statements and financial data are or are required to be included in the Shelf Registration Statement) addressed to each selling Holder and Underwriter of Transfer Restricted Securities, such letters to be in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with underwritten offerings and (iv) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Transfer Restricted Securities being sold or the Underwriters, and which are customarily delivered in underwritten offerings, to evidence the continued validity of the representations and warranties of the Company made pursuant to clause (i) above and to evidence compliance with any customary conditions contained in an underwriting agreement; provided, however, that in the event of an Underwritten Offering off of the Shelf Registration for the benefit of the Purchasers, the Purchasers shall be limited to one opinion of counsel to the Company and one comfort letter. |
With respect to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company may require each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities to furnish to the Company such information regarding such Holder (including, without limitation, a customary selling Holder questionnaire) and the proposed disposition by such Holder of such Transfer Restricted Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably request in writing.
Each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities agrees that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(iii) or 3(e)(v) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement until such Holders receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by Section 3(i) hereof and, if so directed by the Company, such Holder will deliver to the Company all copies in its possession, other than permanent file copies then in such Holders possession, of the Prospectus covering such Transfer Restricted Securities that is current at the time of receipt of such notice.
If the Company shall give any such notice to suspend the disposition of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall extend the period during which such Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Holders shall have received copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions. The Company may
-10-
give any such notice only twice during any 365-day period and any such suspensions shall not exceed 90 calendar days (plus any time required in connection with updating the Shelf Registration Statement in accordance with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act) per year for all extensions.
The Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire to do so may sell such Transfer Restricted Securities in an Underwritten Offering. In any such Underwritten Offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers (the Underwriters) that will administer the offering will be selected by CIG and the NBC Entities with the Companys consent, not to be unreasonably withheld.
4. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder, their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each Person, if any, who controls any Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all out-of-pocket losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Shelf Registration Statement or any Prospectus or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Holder furnished to the Company in writing through any selling Holder expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the other selling Holders, their respective affiliates, the directors of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Shelf Registration Statement and each Person, if any, who controls the Company or any other selling Holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Holder furnished to the Company in writing by such Holder expressly for use in the Shelf Registration Statement and any Prospectus; provided, that the liability of each Holder hereunder shall not exceed the net proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Transfer Restricted Securities covered by such Registration Statement.
(c) If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any Person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such Person (the Indemnified Person) shall promptly notify the Person against whom such indemnification
-11-
may be sought (the Indemnifying Person) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 4 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under this Section 4. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 4 that the Indemnifying Person may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed in writing to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm (x) for any Holder, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control Persons of such Holder shall be designated in writing by CIG, the NBC Entities and the Majority Holders and (y) in all other cases shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment, as required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 4. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request, (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such Indemnified Person shall have given the Indemnifying Person at least 30 days prior written notice of its intention to settle. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably
-12-
satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company from the issuance of the Notes to the Purchasers, on the one hand, and by the Holders from receiving Notes registered under the Securities Act, on the other hand, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Holders on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Holders and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) The Company and the Holders agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Holders were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 4, in no event shall a Holder be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes sold by such Holder exceeds the amount of any damages that such Holder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
(f) The remedies provided for in this Section 4 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies that may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 4 shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Holder, their respective affiliates or any Person controlling any Holder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its affiliates or the
-13-
officers or directors of or any Person controlling the Company and (iii) any sale of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement.
5. General.
(a) No Inconsistent Agreements. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that (i) the rights granted to the Holders hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the rights granted to the holders of any other outstanding securities issued or guaranteed by the Company under any other agreement and (ii) neither the Company has entered into, or on or after the date of this Agreement will enter into, any agreement that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities in this Agreement or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.
(b) Amendments and Waivers. The provisions of this Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company has obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Transfer Restricted Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent; provided that no amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent to any departure from the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall be effective as against any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities unless consented to in writing by such Holder. Any amendments, modifications, supplements, waivers or consents pursuant to this Section 5(b) shall be by a writing executed by each of the parties hereto.
(c) Notices. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company by means of a notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(c), which address initially is, with respect to the Purchasers, the address set forth in the Transaction Agreement; (ii) if to the Company, initially at the Companys address set forth in the Transaction Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(c); and (iii) to such other persons at their respective addresses as provided in the Transaction Agreement and thereafter at such other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5(c). All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next Business Day if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery. Copies of all such notices, demands or other communications shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee, at the address specified in the Indenture.
(d) Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties; provided, however, that the registration rights set forth in this Agreement are for the sole benefit of the Purchasers and not
-14-
for the benefit of any subsequent holder of the Notes unless and to the extent (1) such subsequent holder shall have acquired Notes in the aggregate amount of $25.0 million or more from one or more Holders or their respective affiliates; and (2) the transferors shall have expressly acknowledged, in writing, with a copy to the Company and each other Holder, that the transferee will be deemed a Holder under this Agreement for as long as it shall hold Transfer Restricted Securities. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the registration rights set forth in this Agreement are for the benefit of subsequent holders of the Notes that are affiliates of the Purchasers.
(e) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
(f) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only, are not a part of this Agreement and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.
(g) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(h) Miscellaneous. This Agreement contains the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all oral statements and prior writings with respect thereto. If any term, provision, covenant or restriction contained in this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or unenforceable or against public policy, the remainder of the terms, provisions, covenants and restrictions contained herein shall remain in full force and effect and shall in no way be affected, impaired or invalidated. The Company and the Purchasers shall endeavor in good faith negotiations to replace the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions with valid provisions the economic effect of which comes as close as possible to that of the invalid, void or unenforceable provisions.
-15-
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. | |
By: /s/ Richard Garcia | |
Name: Richard Garcia | |
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
[Registration Rights Agreement: 11% Series B Mandatorily Convertible Senior Subordinated Note]
Confirmed and
accepted as of the date first above written:
NBC UNIVERSAL, INC.
By: /s/ Lynn A.
Calpeter
Name: Lynn A. Calpeter
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT I, INC.
By: /s/ Lynn A.
Calpeter
Name: Lynn A. Calpeter
Title: Vice
President and Treasurer
NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT II, INC.
By: /s/ Lynn A.
Calpeter
Name: Lynn A. Calpeter
Title: Vice
President and Treasurer
CIG MEDIA LLC
By: Citadel Limited Partnership, its Manager
By: Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner
By: /s/ Matthew B.
Hinerfeld
Name: Matthew B. Hinerfeld
Title: Managing Director and Deputy General
Counsel:
[Registration Rights Agreement: 11% Series B Mandatorily Convertible Senior Subordinated Note]
Term
|
Section
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Authorizing
Certificate |
3(a)
|
|
Black-Out
|
5
|
|
CIG
|
Preamble
|
|
Company
|
Preamble
|
|
Conversion
Securities |
11(d)
|
|
Convertible
Subordinated Debt |
Recitals
|
|
Demand
Notice |
3(a)
|
|
Demand
Registration |
3(a)
|
|
Indemnified
Party |
7(c)
|
|
Indemnifying
Party |
7(c)
|
|
Initiating
Holders |
3(c)
|
|
Investors
|
Preamble
|
|
Losses
|
7(a)
|
|
Maximum
Number of Securities |
3(c)
|
|
Master
Transaction Agreement |
Recitals
|
|
NBCU
|
Preamble
|
|
Participating
Demand Holders |
3(b)
|
|
Participating
Notice |
3(b)
|
|
Participating
Piggy-Back Holders |
4(a)
|
|
Piggy-Back
Registration |
4(a)
|
|
Shelf
Registration |
3(d)
|
|
Shelf
Registration Statement |
3(d)
|
|
Special
Counsel |
5(a)
|
|
Suspension
Notice |
5
|
|
Transaction
|
Recitals
|
ION MEDIA NETWORKS, INC. | |||
|
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Richard Garcia | ||
Name:
Richard Garcia |
|||
Title:
Chief Financial Officer |
NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. | |||
|
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter | ||
Name:
Lynn A. Calpeter |
|||
Title:
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
CIG MEDIA LLC | |||
By: |
Citadel
Limited Partnership, its Portfolio Manager |
||
By: |
Citadel
Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner |
||
By: | /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld | ||
Name:
Matthew Hinerfeld |
|||
Title:
Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel |
TO: |
The
Company |
RE: |
The
Registration Rights Agreement (the Agreement)
dated as of May 4, 2007, by
and
among the Company, NBC Universal, Inc. and CIG Media LLC
|
By: | ||
Name: |
||
Title : |
Date: | ||
|
||
Number of Shares of Registrable Securities: ________________ |
EXECUTION VERSION CITADEL KENSINGTON GLOBAL STRATEGIES FUND LTD. CITADEL WELLINGTON LLC CIG MEDIA LLC C/O CITADEL INVESTMENT GROUP, L.L.C. 131 S. DEARBORN STREET, 32ND FLOOR CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60603 May 4, 2007 NBC Universal, Inc. NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc. NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc. 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, New York 10112 Ladies and Gentlemen: Reference is hereby made to the Master Transaction Agreement, dated as of May 4, 2007 (the "Master Agreement"), by and among ION Media Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), NBC Universal, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("NBCU"), NBC Palm Beach Investment I, Inc., a California corporation ("NBC Palm Beach I"), NBC Palm Beach Investment II, Inc., a California corporation ("NBC Palm Beach II" and, together with NBCU and NBC Palm Beach I, the "NBCU Entities"), and CIG Media LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("CIG Media"). All capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to them in the Master Agreement. I. Certain Non-Indemnified Losses. 1. In the event the Company breaches or fails to perform any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained in Sections 6.07(b) or 10.20 of the Master Agreement and CIG Media incurs any Losses for which CIG Media is entitled to be indemnified by the Company pursuant to Section 10.22 of the Master Agreement but for which the Company has not indemnified CIG Media (the "Non-Indemnified Losses"), the NBCU Entities shall, jointly and severally, indemnify Citadel Kensington Global Strategies Fund Ltd., Citadel Wellington LLC and each Person who controls the foregoing (the "Citadel Indemnified Parties"), from and against 50% of the Non-Indemnified Losses. For purposes of this letter agreement, the amount of the Non-Indemnified Losses shall not exceed the aggregate amount that the Citadel Indemnified Parties have invested in CIG Media in order to consummate the Transaction contemplated by Master Agreement, plus any direct Losses actually incurred by any of the Citadel Indemnified Parties as a result of any breach or non-performance by the Company of any representations, warranties or covenants contained in Sections 6.07(b), 10.20 or 10.22 of the Master Agreement. 2. If any Citadel Indemnified Party becomes entitled to indemnification hereunder, it shall give the NBCU Entities prompt notice (the "Indemnification Notice"), in no event later than five Business Days after such Citadel Indemnified Party becomes aware of the Non-Indemnified Losses, which notice shall state the amount of the Non-Indemnified Losses, if known, the method of computation thereof, and reasonably specific details of the breach or non-performance by the Company of the representations, warranties or covenants contained in Sections 6.07(b), 10.20 or 10.22 of the Master Agreement to which the Non-Indemnified Losses are related; provided, however, that the failure to so notify shall not affect the Citadel Indemnified Parties' rights under this letter agreement except to the extent such failure is actually prejudicial to the rights and obligations of the NBCU Entities, and then only to the degree so prejudiced. The Citadel Indemnified Parties and NBCU shall jointly control the defense of any Action with respect to the Non-Indemnified Losses through counsel acceptable to both parties. Either party may elect to participate in the defense of such Action with its own counsel at its own expense. Each of the parties shall cooperate with the other in such defense and, to the extent not privileged, make available to the other, at their sole cost and expense, all witnesses, pertinent records, materials and information in such party's possession or under such party's control relating thereto as is reasonably required in connection with such Action. Neither party shall settle, permit to be settled, pay, or permit to be paid, any part of such Action unless the other party consents in writing to such settlement or payment (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. 3. The NBCU Entities acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this letter agreement are an integral and essential part of the transactions contemplated by the Master Agreement, that CIG Media, in connection with its decision to enter into the Master Agreement, has relied, and is relying, on the NBCU Entities' agreement to pay any amounts pursuant to Paragraph 1 of this letter agreement as and when due to the Citadel Indemnified Parties, and that CIG Media would not have entered into the Master Agreement without the benefit of this letter agreement. 4. The foregoing indemnification provisions set forth in Paragraph 1 of this letter agreement shall constitute the exclusive remedy of Citadel Indemnified Parties as against the NBCU Entities at law or in equity with respect to any breach or non-performance by the Company of any representations, warranties or covenants contained in Sections 6.07(b), 10.20 or 10.22 of the Master Agreement. II. Adjustment of Relative Economics between CIG Media and NBCU Entities. 5. In the event the NBCU Entities are required to retain not less than $250,000,000 aggregated stated liquidation preference of NBCU Series B Preferred pursuant to Section 2.01(b) following the Exchange Offer Closing or the closing of the Contingent Exchange, each of CIG Media and the NBCU Entities shall effect any changes to the terms of the securities of the Company held or to be held by CIG Media and the NBCU Entities as may be necessary such that the economic substance of the Transaction to CIG Media and the NBCU Entities shall not in any manner be adversely affected. III. Miscellaneous. 6. All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be given when (and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt) by 2 delivery in person, by overnight courier, by facsimile or by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid, return receipt requested), to the respective parties at the following addresses (or such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 6): If to the NBCU Entities: NBC Universal, Inc. 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, New York 10112 Attention: General Counsel Tel: 212-664-7024 Fax: 212-664-4733 With a copy to: Shearman & Sterling LLP 599 Lexington Avenue New York, New York 10022 Attention: John A. Marzulli, Jr. Tel: 212-848-8590 Fax: 646-848-8590 If to the Citadel Indemnified Parties and/or CIG Media: Citadel Limited Partnership 131 S. Dearborn Street, 32nd Floor Chicago, Illinois 60603 Attention: Matthew B. Hinerfeld Tel: 312-395-3167 Fax: 312-267-7628 with a copy to: Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP One New York Plaza New York, NY 10004 Attention: Robert Schwenkel Steven Steinman Tel: 212-859-8000 Fax: 212-859-4000 7. If CIG Media becomes entitled to indemnification under Section 10.21 of the Master Agreement, it shall give the NBCU Entities prompt notice, in no event later than five Business Days after CIG becomes aware of the Losses that entitle CIG to indemnification under Section 10.21 of the Master Agreement, which notice shall state the amount of such Losses, if known, the method of computation thereof, and reasonably specific details of the breach or non-performance by the NBCU Entities under the Call Agreement, the Escrow Agreements or the Non-Compete Agreements to which such Losses are related; provided, however, that the failure 3 to so notify shall not affect CIG Media's rights under the Master Agreement except to the extent such failure is actually prejudicial to the rights and obligations of the NBCU Entities, and then only to the degree so prejudiced. 8. This letter agreement may not be amended or modified except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto. This letter agreement and the rights and obligations hereunder (a) shall not be assignable or transferable by any of the NBCU Entities without the prior written consent of CIG Media and the Citadel Indemnified Parties and (b) shall not be assignable or transferable by CIG Media or any of the Citadel Indemnified Parties without the prior written consent of NBCU Entities. Any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this clause shall be null and void and of no effect. Any Citadel Indemnified Party not a party hereto shall be a third party beneficiary of this letter agreement with a direct right of enforcement. 9. This letter agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties to this agreement and delivered to the other parties. 10. This letter agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. The parties hereto submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal and New York State courts located in the Borough of Manhattan of the City of New York in connection with any dispute related to this letter or any of the matters contemplated hereby. 11. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any litigation directly or indirectly arising out of, under or in connection with this letter agreement. Each of the parties hereto (a) certifies that no representative, agent or attorney of any other party has represented, expressly or otherwise, that such other party would not, in the event of litigation, seek to enforce that foregoing waiver and (b) acknowledges that it and the other parties hereto have been induced to enter into this letter agreement by, among other things, the mutual waivers and certifications in this Paragraph 11. 4 Please acknowledge your agreement to and acceptance of the terms of this letter agreement by countersigning and returning the enclosed copy of this letter. Very truly yours, CITADEL KENSINGTON GLOBAL STRATEGIES FUND LTD. By: Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner By: Citadel Limited Partnership, its Portfolio Manager By: /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld ------------------------------------------- Name: Matthew Hinerfeld Title: Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel CITADEL WELLINGTON LLC By: Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner By: Citadel Limited Partnership, its Managing Member By: /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld ------------------------------------------- Name: Matthew Hinerfeld Title: Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel CIG MEDIA LLC By: Citadel Investment Group, L.L.C., its General Partner By: Citadel Limited Partnership, its Portfolio Manager By: /s/ Matthew Hinerfeld ------------------------------------------- Name: Matthew Hinerfeld Title: Managing Director and Deputy General Counsel [Signature Page to Indemnification Side Letter] Agreed to and accepted as of May 4, 2007: NBC UNIVERSAL, INC. By: /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter ---------------------------------- Name: Lynn A. Calpeter Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT I, INC. By: /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter ---------------------------------- Name: Lynn A. Calpeter Title: Vice President and Treasurer NBC PALM BEACH INVESTMENT II, INC. By: /s/ Lynn A. Calpeter ---------------------------------- Name: Lynn A. Calpeter Title: Vice President and Treasurer [Signature Page to Indemnification Side Letter]