|
Time Warner Cable and Comcast to Acquire Assets of Adelphia Communications NEW YORK and PHILADELPHIA - Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX) and Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq:CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced that they have reached definitive agreements to acquire substantially all the assets of Adelphia Communications Corporation (OTC: ADELQ) for a total of $12.7 billion in cash and 16% of the common stock of Time Warner's cable subsidiary, Time Warner Cable Inc. Time Warner Cable and Comcast also will swap certain cable systems. In addition, Time Warner Cable will redeem Comcast's interests of 17.9% in Time Warner Cable and 4.7% in Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. (TWE) (together an effective 21% economic ownership of Time Warner Cable) in an efficient and mutually beneficial way. These transactions will serve to expand both companies' cable footprints and improve the geographic clusters of their subscribers. Importantly, consumers in areas now served by Adelphia will benefit significantly from the accelerated deployment of video, high-speed data, voice and other advanced services. As a result of these transactions, Time Warner Cable will gain systems passing approximately 7.5 million homes, with approximately 3.5 million basic subscribers. Time Warner Cable will then manage a total of approximately 14.4 million well-clustered basic subscribers. Time Warner will own 84% of Time Warner Cable's common stock, and the cable company will become a publicly traded company at the time of closing. Comcast will emerge from these transactions with approximately 1.8 million additional basic subscribers for a net cash investment of approximately $1.5 billion. Following these transactions, Comcast will serve a total of approximately 23.3 million customers. Comcast's clusters in Washington, D.C., Florida, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania will be enhanced, and Comcast will divest its interests in Time Warner Cable and TWE in transactions designed to be tax-free to all parties. Comcast's attributable subscribers, as calculated under the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, will remain under 30% of the multi-channel video subscribers in the United States. Time Warner Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Dick Parsons said: "I'm very pleased that we're able to take full advantage of this unique opportunity to grow our company at a fair price and move it forward - strategically, operationally and financially. Consistent with our strategy, these transactions will better position us to compete, improve returns and create shareholder value. At Time Warner Cable, we'll gain important scale, enhance our subscriber clusters and accelerate growth. As we plan the smooth integration of these new cable systems, we'll stay focused on meeting all of Time Warner's financial and operational objectives, while evaluating how to best employ our significant remaining capacity to improve shareholder returns. My thanks to Brian Roberts and his Comcast team for being such fine partners in this process that produced beneficial results for both companies." Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Comcast, said: "These transactions underscore our belief that there has never been a better time to be in the cable business. Adding these subscribers, many of whom are in high-growth, geographically desirable areas, will allow us to roll out our new products and services rapidly. Our vision remains to provide customers with more choice and control of their entertainment and communication services, and to generate superior shareholder returns. I would like to thank Dick Parsons and everyone at Time Warner for helping to achieve such a positive outcome for all parties." Terms of Proposed Transactions
Steve Burke, Chief Operating Officer of Comcast, said, "The Adelphia transaction, the various system swaps, and the redemption of our Time Warner Cable interests will allow us to enhance our key clusters. It is truly a perfect fit. We look forward to quickly integrating the 1.8 million additional subscribers just as we did when we acquired AT&T Broadband and its 13 million subscribers in 2002. Most importantly, we look forward to providing all our subscribers, both old and new, with a complete suite of integrated communications and entertainment products." Don Logan, Chairman of Time Warner's Media & Communications Group, said: "We like the cable business. It's the only platform today that can deliver enhanced digital video, high-speed data and voice services to consumers, and we have great confidence in its future. Our newly acquired systems will give us a bigger and better-clustered cable footprint, built around five large clusters, including New York City and Los Angeles. Together with Glenn Britt and the Time Warner Cable team, we'll bring our experience in innovation and proven operating track record to improving and growing the performance of these new systems." Outcome for Time Warner Taking into account the proposed acquisition, swaps and redemptions, on a net basis, Time Warner Cable will gain approximately 3.5 million basic video subscribers. Specifically, Time Warner Cable will add around 3 million Adelphia subscribers and more than 1 million Comcast subscribers, and will give Comcast approximately 750,000 current Time Warner Cable subscribers. It will then manage a total of approximately 14.4 million basic subscribers - 12.9 million consolidated and 1.5 million in 50%-owned continuing joint ventures with Comcast. That will make Time Warner Cable the second-largest multi-channel video provider in the U.S. - ahead of all other cable operators, except for Comcast, and ahead of both major satellite companies. Once these transactions are complete, 85% of Time Warner Cable's managed subscribers will be located in five large clusters, including (in round numbers): 3.1 million in New York, 2.6 million in Texas, 2.4 million in California, 2.3 million in Ohio and 1.9 million in the Carolinas. Time Warner Cable will be the largest cable provider in both New York City and Los Angeles, cities which anchor the country's two largest designated market areas (DMAs). As part of his current duties as Chairman of Time Warner's Media & Communications Group, Mr. Logan will become non-executive Chairman of Time Warner Cable's board of directors. Glenn Britt, who now serves as Time Warner Cable's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, will remain Chief Executive Officer and also will be named President. Mr. Britt said: "We're very excited about this opportunity and look forward to taking over the day-to-day management of these new systems. Over the last few months, we've done extensive due diligence on the Adelphia properties and have a very realistic view of how we can create new value. We expect a smooth integration, and we'll quickly bring greater choice to consumers with our popular enhanced digital video and high-speed data services. We also are well positioned to compete effectively for telephone customers with our new Digital Phone service. We have the technological, managerial and operational expertise that will allow us to drive penetration rates and improve performance." Outcome for Comcast Approvals and Advisors Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers acted as financial advisors to Time Warner. The Blackstone Group acted as financial advisor to Comcast on the Adelphia transaction and assisted on Time Warner. Morgan Stanley acted as financial advisor to Comcast on the Time Warner transaction and assisted on Adelphia. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP is legal advisor to Time Warner. Davis Polk & Wardwell is legal advisor to Comcast. Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP advised Comcast on bankruptcy-related issues. Subscriber Information About Time Warner Inc. About Comcast Corporation Comcast's content networks and investments include E! Entertainment Television, Style Network, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4, AZN Television, TV One and four Comcast SportsNets. The Company also has a majority ownership in Comcast-Spectacor, whose major holdings include the Philadelphia Flyers NHL hockey team, the Philadelphia 76ers NBA basketball team and two large multipurpose arenas in Philadelphia. About Time Warner Cable Inc. Information on Conference Calls Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements herein due to the bankruptcy court approval process, regulatory review and approval process and changes in economic, business, competitive, technological and/or other regulatory factors, as well as other factors affecting the operation of the businesses of Time Warner Inc. and Comcast Corporation. More detailed information about these factors may be found in the respective filings by Time Warner and Comcast with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including their most recent annual reports on Form 10-K. Time Warner and Comcast are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim any such obligation to, update or alter the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Time Warner Corporate Communications
DISTRIBUTION OF PRINCIPAL PROPERTIES To Time Warner From Adelphia From Comcast To Comcast From Adelphia From Time Warner |
|
|||||||||||||||
![]() |
||||||
![]() |
legal & privacy | ![]() |
caution concerning forward-looking statements | © Time Warner 2008. All Rights Reserved. |
||