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S-8

As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 10, 2020

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-8

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

COMCAST CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Pennsylvania   27-0000798

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

One Comcast Center

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2838

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

COMCAST CORPORATION 2002 RESTRICTED STOCK PLAN

COMCAST CORPORATION 2003 STOCK OPTION PLAN

(Full title of the plan)

Thomas J. Reid, Esq.

Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

Comcast Corporation

One Comcast Center

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2838

(Name and address of agent for service)

(215) 286-1700

(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer      Accelerated filer  
Non-accelerated filer      Smaller reporting company  
     Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of securities

to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered (1) (2)

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share (3)

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price (3)

 

Amount of

registration fee

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share

  387,000,000   $39.375   $15,238,125,000   $1,977,908.63

 

 

(1)

This Registration Statement on Form S-8 (this “Registration Statement”) covers 387,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), of Comcast Corporation (the “Registrant”), 36,000,000 of which are issuable pursuant to the Comcast Corporation 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective April 10, 2020 (the “2002 Restricted Stock Plan”), and 351,000,000 of which are issuable pursuant to the Comcast Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated effective April 10, 2020 (the “2003 Stock Option Plan” and together with the 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, the “Plans”).

(2)

Pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement also covers any additional shares of Common Stock that become issuable under the Plans to prevent dilution resulting from stock splits, stock dividends, or similar transactions.

(3)

Estimated pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act, solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the registration fee, based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of Common Stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on July 9, 2020.

 

 

 


EXPLANATORY NOTE

Registration of Additional Shares under Comcast Corporation 2002 Restricted Stock Plan

Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement is being filed in order to register an additional 36,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant issuable under the 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, which are securities of the same class and relate to the same employee benefit plan as those shares of Common Stock registered on the Registrant’s registration statements on Form S-8 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on November 19, 2002 (Registration No. 333-101295, as amended by post-effective amendment no. 1 filed on December 4, 2002), December 4, 2002 (Registration No. 333-101645), April 8, 2003 (Registration No. 333-104385), March 1, 2005 (Registration No. 333-123059), January 4, 2006 (Registration No. 333-130847), May 16, 2008 (Registration No. 333-150976), August 21, 2009 (Registration No. 333-161468), May 23, 2011 (Registration No. 333-174416), and July 28, 2016 (Registration No. 333-212716), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Registration of Additional Shares under Comcast Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan

Pursuant to General Instruction E of Form S-8, this Registration Statement is also being filed in order to register an additional 351,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the Registrant issuable under the 2003 Stock Option Plan, which are securities of the same class and relate to the same employee benefit plan as those shares of Common Stock registered on the Registrant’s registration statements on Form S-8 previously filed with the Commission on April 8, 2003 (Registration No. 333-104385), May 16, 2008 (Registration No. 333-150976), August 21, 2009 (Registration No. 333-161468), May 23, 2011 (Registration No. 333-174416), and July 28, 2016 (Registration No. 333-212716), all of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Part II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

The following documents filed with the Commission by the Registrant are hereby incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement (other than portions of the documents that are “furnished” rather than filed with the Commission):

 

  (a)

the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, as filed with the Commission on January 30, 2020 (excluding the financial statements of NBCUniversal Media, LLC, and the associated reports of NBCUniversal Media, LLC’s independent registered public accounting firm included in such Annual Report) (the “Annual Report”);

 

  (b)

the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2020, as filed with the Commission on April 30, 2020;

 

  (c)

the Registrant’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on February  20, 2020, March  24, 2020, March  27, 2020, May  28, 2020, June  5, 2020 and June 11, 2020;

 

  (d)

the sections of the Registrant’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for the 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders incorporated by reference in the Annual Report; and

 

  (e)

the description of the Registrant’s Common Stock included under the caption “Amended and Restated Description of our Class A Common Stock” in Item 3.03 of Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on December 15, 2015.

All documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) (other than the documents, or portions thereof, that are “furnished” rather than filed with the Commission) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the date hereof and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered pursuant to this Registration Statement have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, but excluding any financial statements of NBCUniversal Media, LLC, and any associated report of NBCUniversal Media, LLC’s independent registered public accounting firm included in any such documents, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference herein and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statements contained in a previously filed


document incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.

Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

Sections 1741 through 1750 of Subchapter D, Chapter 17, of the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended (“PBCL”), contain provisions for mandatory and discretionary indemnification of a corporation’s directors, officers and other personnel, and related matters.

Under Section 1741 of the PBCL, subject to certain limitations, a corporation has the power to indemnify directors and officers under certain prescribed circumstances against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with an action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than derivative or corporate actions), to which any such officer or director is a party or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such officer or director being a representative of the corporation or serving at the request of the corporation as a representative of another domestic or foreign corporation for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, so long as the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, such officer or director had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

Section 1742 of the PBCL permits indemnification in derivative and corporate actions if the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, except in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the officer or director has been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the proper court determines upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, the officer or director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses that the court deems proper.

Under Section 1743 of the PBCL, indemnification is mandatory to the extent that the officer or director has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action or proceeding referred to in Section 1741 or 1742 of the PBCL.

Section 1744 of the PBCL provides that, unless ordered by a court, any indemnification under Section 1741 or 1742 of the PBCL shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that the officer or director met the applicable standard of conduct, and such determination must be made (i) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum of directors not parties to the action or proceeding, (ii) if a quorum is not obtainable, or if obtainable and a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iii) by the shareholders.

Section 1745 of the PBCL provides that expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any action or proceeding referred to in Subchapter D of Chapter 17 of the PBCL may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. Except as otherwise provided in the corporation’s by-laws, advancement of expenses must be authorized by the board of directors.

Section 1746 of the PBCL provides generally that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by Subchapter D of Chapter 17 of the PBCL shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an officer or director seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in the officer or director’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding that office. In no event may indemnification be made in any case where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness.

Section 1747 of the PBCL grants a corporation the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any director or officer against any liability asserted against the officer or director or incurred by the officer or director in his or her capacity as officer or director, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the officer or director against that liability under Subchapter D of Chapter 17 of the PBCL.


Sections 1748 and 1749 of the PBCL extend the indemnification and advancement of expenses provisions contained in Subchapter D of Chapter 17 of the PBCL to successor corporations in fundamental changes and to officers and directors serving as fiduciaries of employee benefit plans.

Section 1750 of the PBCL provides that the indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, Subchapter D of Chapter 17 of the PBCL shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and personal representatives of such person.

Article Eleventh of the Registrant’s charter provides that no person who is or was a director of the Registrant will be personally liable, as such, for monetary damages (other than under criminal statutes and under laws imposing such liability on directors for the payment of taxes) unless such person’s conduct constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or recklessness. Article Twelfth of the Registrant’s charter extends such protection to any person who is or was an officer of the Registrant.

Article 7 of the Registrant’s by-laws provides that each officer and director of the Registrant will be indemnified and held harmless by the Registrant to the fullest extent permitted by Pennsylvania law against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, taxes, penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such officer or director in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (including, without limitation, an action, suit or proceeding by or in the right of the Registrant), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including any appeal therefrom (a “Proceeding”). No indemnification will be made, however, in any case where the act or failure to act giving rise to the claim for indemnification is determined by a court to have constituted willful misconduct or recklessness, or in connection with a Proceeding (or part of a Proceeding) initiated by an officer or director (except in connection with a Proceeding to enforce a right to indemnification or advancement of expenses), unless the Proceeding (or part of the Proceeding) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The right to indemnification includes the right to have the expenses incurred by such director or officer in participating in any Proceeding paid by the Registrant in advance of the final disposition of the Proceeding automatically and without any action or approval required by the Board of Directors, provided that, if Pennsylvania law requires, the payment of expenses incurred by such director or officer in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding shall only be made upon delivery to the Registrant of an undertaking, by or on behalf of the director or officer, to repay all advanced amounts without interest if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer is not entitled to be so indemnified.

Article 7 of the Registrant’s by-laws also provides that the Registrant may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, for the benefit of any person on behalf of whom insurance is permitted to be purchased by Pennsylvania law against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Registrant would have the power to indemnify such person under Pennsylvania or any other law. The Registrant may also purchase and maintain insurance to insure its indemnification obligations.

In addition, the Registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with all of its directors, to indemnify the directors to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. The Registrant also maintains directors and officers insurance to insure such persons against certain liabilities.

The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed provisions of the PBCL and to the applicable provisions of the Registrant’s charter, by-laws and indemnification agreements.


Item 8. Exhibits.

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

  4.1    Comcast Corporation 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective April  10, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Appendix B to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission on April 24, 2020)
  4.2    Comcast Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated effective April  10, 2020 (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement filed with the Commission on April 24, 2020)
  5.1    Opinion of Blank Rome LLP (regarding validity)
  5.2    Opinion of Blank Rome LLP (regarding ERISA)
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2    Consent of Blank Rome LLP (contained in Exhibits 5.1 and 5.2)
24.1    Power of Attorney (contained in the signature pages hereto)

Item 9. Undertakings.

 

(a)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

  (1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:

 

  (i)

To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

 

  (ii)

To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective Registration Statement; and

 

  (iii)

To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to such information in the Registration Statement;

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-8, and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.

 

  (2)

That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

  (3)

To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.


(b)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c)

Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on July 10, 2020.

 

COMCAST CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Thomas J. Reid

  Name:   Thomas J. Reid
  Title:   Chief Legal Officer and Secretary

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Brian L. Roberts, Michael J. Cavanagh, Daniel C. Murdock and Thomas J. Reid and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments to this Registration Statement (including post-effective amendments), and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Signature    Title   Date

/s/ Brian L. Roberts

  

Chairman and CEO; Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  July 10, 2020
Brian L. Roberts

/s/ Michael J. Cavanagh

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  July 10, 2020
Michael J. Cavanagh

/s/ Daniel C. Murdock

  

Executive Vice President, Chief Accounting

Officer and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

  July 10, 2020
Daniel C. Murdock

/s/ Kenneth J. Bacon

   Director   July 10, 2020
Kenneth J. Bacon     

/s/ Madeline S. Bell

   Director   July 10, 2020
Madeline S. Bell     

/s/ Naomi M. Bergman

   Director   July 10, 2020
Naomi M. Bergman     

/s/ Edward D. Breen

   Director   July 10, 2020
Edward D. Breen     

/s/ Gerald L. Hassell

   Director   July 10, 2020
Gerald L. Hassell     


/s/ Jeffrey A. Honickman

   Director   July 10, 2020
Jeffrey A. Honickman     

/s/ Maritza G. Montiel

   Director   July 10, 2020
Maritza G. Montiel     

/s/ Asuka Nakahara

   Director   July 10, 2020
Asuka Nakahara     

/s/ David C. Novak

   Director   July 10, 2020
David C. Novak     
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

One Logan Square

130 North 18th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998

blankrome.com

 

Phone:    215-569-5500
Fax:    215-569-5555

July 10, 2020

Comcast Corporation

One Comcast Center

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2838

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Comcast Corporation, a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the registration by the Company of 387,000,000 shares (the “Shares”) of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), 36,000,000 of which are issuable pursuant to the Comcast Corporation 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective April 10, 2020 (the “2002 Restricted Stock Plan”), and 351,000,000 of which are issuable pursuant to the Comcast Corporation 2003 Stock Option Plan, as amended and restated effective April 10, 2020 (the “2003 Stock Option Plan” and together with the 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, the “Plans”). This opinion is furnished pursuant to the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K.

Although as counsel to the Company we have advised the Company in connection with a variety of matters referred to us by it, our services are limited to specific matters so referred. Consequently, we do not have knowledge of many transactions in which the Company has engaged or its day-to-day operations.

In rendering this opinion, we have examined the following documents: (i) the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation; (ii) the Company’s Amended and Restated By-Laws; (iii) resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company related to the Plans; (iv) the Registration Statement (including all exhibits thereto); (v) the Plans; and (vi) a certificate from an assistant secretary of the Company. We have not made any independent investigation in rendering this opinion other than the document examination described. We have assumed and relied, as to questions of fact and mixed questions of law and fact, on the truth, completeness, authenticity and due authorization of all certificates, documents and records examined and the genuineness of all signatures.

In rendering this opinion, we have assumed that, at the time of issuance of any Shares, there shall be a sufficient number of duly authorized and unissued shares of the Company’s Common Stock to accommodate the issuance of the Shares.

Our opinion is limited to the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988, as amended.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares, when issued in accordance with the terms of the Plans, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

This opinion is given as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update or supplement this opinion to reflect any facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in laws which may hereafter occur.


This opinion is strictly limited to the matters stated herein and no other or more extensive opinion is intended, implied or to be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated herein.

We consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Sincerely,
/s/ BLANK ROME LLP
BLANK ROME LLP
EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO

One Logan Square

130 North 18th Street | Philadelphia, PA 19103-6998

blankrome.com

 

Phone:    215-569-5500
Fax:    215-569-5555

July 10, 2020

Comcast Corporation

One Comcast Center

Philadelphia, PA 19103-2838

 

  Re:

Comcast Corporation 2002 Restricted Stock Plan

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as counsel to Comcast Corporation, a Pennsylvania Corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration by the Company of 387,000,000 shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), on Form S-8 (the “Registration Statement”) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). Of the total Shares registered, 36,000,000 may be issued pursuant to the Company’s 2002 Restricted Stock Plan, as amended and restated effective April 10, 2020 (the “Restricted Stock Plan”). Unless otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Registration Statement.

As such counsel, we have made such legal and factual examination and inquiries as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion and have made such additional assumptions as are set forth below.

The Restricted Stock Plan document states that the Restricted Stock Plan was established to permit eligible employees and non-employee directors to defer the receipt of compensation otherwise payable to such outside directors and eligible employees in accordance with the terms of the Restricted Stock Plan. The Restricted Stock Plan is unfunded and states that it is maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to outside directors and to a select group of management or highly compensated employees. For the purpose of this opinion, we have assumed that (1) the Restricted Stock Plan was amended and restated, effective as of April 10, 2020 in its current form, and (2) the deferral provisions of the Restricted Stock Plan are maintained primarily for the purpose of providing the opportunity to defer the receipt of shares upon the vesting of awards of restricted stock and restricted stock units and to convert the right to receive shares to the right to receive the cash value of the shares to non-employee directors and a select group of management or highly compensated employees.

By its express terms, the Restricted Stock Plan potentially results in a deferral of income by employees for periods extending to the termination of covered employment or beyond. Accordingly, the Restricted Stock Plan is an “employee pension benefit plan” described in section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”). However, as a plan that is unfunded and maintained primarily for the purpose of providing deferred compensation to outside directors and to a select group of management or highly compensated employees, the Restricted Stock Plan is subject to parts 1 and 5 of Title I of ERISA, but not to any other provisions of ERISA.

The Restricted Stock Plan is not designed or operated with the purpose of satisfying the requirements for qualification under section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Parts 1 and 5 of Title 1 of ERISA do not impose any specific written requirements on non-qualified deferred compensation arrangements such as the Restricted Stock Plan as a condition to compliance with the applicable provisions of ERISA. Further, the operation of the Restricted Stock Plan pursuant to the written provisions of the Restricted Stock Plan will not cause the Restricted Stock Plan to fail to comply with parts 1 or 5 of Title 5 of ERISA.


On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the provisions of the written document constituting the Restricted Stock Plan comply with the requirements of ERISA pertaining to such provisions.

This opinion letter is issued as of the date hereof and is limited to the laws now in effect and in all respects is subject to and may be limited by future legislation, as well as by future case law. We assume no responsibility to keep this opinion current or to supplement it to reflect facts or circumstances which may hereafter come to our attention or any changes in laws which may hereafter occur.

We hereby expressly consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission.

 

Very truly yours,
/s/ Blank Rome LLP
Blank Rome LLP
EX-23.1

Exhibit 23.1

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 of our reports dated January 30, 2020, relating to the financial statements and financial statement schedule of Comcast Corporation, and the effectiveness of Comcast Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting, appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Comcast Corporation for the year ended December 31, 2019.

/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

July 10, 2020