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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 21, 2000
SCHEDULE 14A
(RULE 14A-101)
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Filed by the Registrant /X/
Filed by a Party Other than the Registrant / /
Check the appropriate box:
/X/ Preliminary Proxy Statement
/ / Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14a-6(e)(2))
/ / Definitive Proxy Statement
/ / Definitive Additional Materials
/ / Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment of Filing Fee (check the appropriate box):
/X/ No fee required.
/ / Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11.
(1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
(5) Total fee paid:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act
Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the form or schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount previously paid:
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(2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3) Filing Party:
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(4) Date Filed:
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PRELIMINARY PROXY STATEMENT -- APRIL 21, 2000
PROXY STATEMENT
NOTICE OF 2000
ANNUAL MEETING
AND PROXY STATEMENT
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
212 556-1234
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229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 556-1234
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April , 2000
To Our Stockholders:
Our 2000 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be held on , May , at
10:00 A.M., local time, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 214 West
43rd Street, New York, NY 10036.
The accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting and Proxy Statement set forth
the business intended to be transacted. At this Meeting, we will ask you, as a
holder of shares of our common stock, to elect directors, amend and extend our
1991 Executive Stock Incentive and 1991 Executive Cash Bonus Plans, reapprove
certain performance criteria used to determine executive compensation, extend
our Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan, ratify the selection of our
auditors and consider and approve matters related to the "tracking stock
proposals" described below. All proposals are described in the accompanying
Proxy Statement. Time will be made available for a discussion of these items as
well as for other questions about the business affairs of the Company. As usual,
all stockholders will be sent a report of the meeting.
Judith P. Sulzberger will be retiring from our Board of Directors next
month and is not a nominee for election at this year's Annual Meeting. She has
served on our Board since 1974. We are grateful for her contribution to the
success of the Company, and we wish her well.
We are delighted to have two exceptionally strong new nominees for
election to our Board of Directors this year, Jacqueline H. Dryfoos and
David E. Liddle. Ms. Dryfoos, a fourth generation member of the Ochs-Sulzberger
family, brings a deep understanding of THE NEW YORK TIMES and our Company, their
role in our society and the importance of renewal to keep our Company vital for
the future. Dr. Liddle's background in developing technologies for interaction
between people and computers has given him a great ability to articulate
technological trends and directions, which are instrumental to our strategy.
The "tracking stock proposals" consist of an amendment to our certificate
of incorporation that will allow us to issue a new class of common stock,
designated Class C, which we call "Digital stock," and the adoption of a new
stock incentive plan for Digital stock. Digital stock is intended to track the
performance of New York Times Digital, our Internet business division (the
"Digital group"). As a result of the issuance of the Digital stock, we intend
our existing Class A common stock and Class B common stock to track the
performance of our traditional publishing and broadcasting operations (referred
to as the "NYT group"). The NYT group will also include a retained interest in
the Digital group. We refer to Class A and Class B common stock as "NYT stock."
If the tracking stock proposals are approved at the Annual Meeting, we
currently plan to offer for cash to the public (including employees and
directors of the Company and our existing holders of Class B common stock),
shares of Digital stock intended to represent a minority of the equity
attributed to Digital. We intend to apply to list the Digital stock on the New
York Stock Exchange. The terms and the timing of the offering will depend on
market conditions and have not been finalized.
We are proceeding with the tracking stock proposals primarily for the
following reasons:
- The tracking stock will permit the market to review separate information
about the NYT group and the Digital group and to separately value NYT
stock and Digital stock. This should encourage investors and analysts to
focus more attention on the NYT group and the Digital
<PAGE>
group. We believe this may result in greater market recognition of the
value of the NYT group and the Digital group.
- The tracking stock will allow investors to invest in Digital stock,
Class A common stock (which is the class of the Company's stock that is
publicly traded) or both depending on their particular investment
objectives.
- The tracking stock will allow us to issue stock options exercisable for
publicly traded Digital stock, thereby providing more focused incentives
to the Digital group's officers, employees and consultants.
- The tracking stock will provide us with greater flexibility to raise
capital and respond to strategic opportunities (including acquisitions),
because it will allow us to issue either Digital stock or Class A common
stock as appropriate under the circumstances.
- The tracking stock will allow us to realize some of the value of the
Digital group while preserving the financial, tax, operational, strategic
and other benefits of being a single consolidated entity.
Our Board of Directors has carefully considered and unanimously approved
the tracking stock proposals and recommends that you vote for such proposals. We
describe the tracking stock proposals in more detail in the accompanying Proxy
Statement, which you should carefully read in its entirety before voting. We
have attached for your convenience as Annex I, in a "Q and A" format, a summary
of certain questions you may have about the tracking stock proposals and our
answers to these questions.
It is important that your shares be represented at the Annual Meeting,
whether or not you are personally able to attend. Registered stockholders can
vote their shares by using a toll-free telephone number or the Internet.
Instructions for using these convenient services are set forth on the enclosed
proxy card. Of course, you may still vote your shares by marking your votes on
the enclosed proxy card, signing and dating it, and mailing it in the return
envelope as promptly as possible. Your cooperation in this regard will be very
much appreciated.
Sincerely yours,
ARTHUR SULZBERGER, JR.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
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229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 556-1234
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
To be held May , 2000
TO THE HOLDERS OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK OF
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY:
The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of The New York Times Company will be
held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on , May , 2000, at the Ford Center for
the Performing Arts, 214 West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036, for the following
purposes:
1. To elect a Board of 15 members;
2. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve amendments to the
Company's 1991 Executive Stock Incentive Plan (the "NYT Stock Plan") and
1991 Executive Cash Bonus Plan (the "NYT Cash Plan," and collectively
with the NYT Stock Plan, the "NYT Plans") to extend the terms of the NYT
Plans from December 31, 2000, to December 31, 2010, and increase the
maximum payout potential for any annual performance award or long-term
performance award to $3,000,000;
3. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the NYT
Stock Plan to authorize an additional 20,000,000 shares of Class A
common stock for issuance thereunder pursuant to the exercise of stock
options;
4. To consider and act upon a proposal to reapprove the material terms of
the performance goals used for annual performance awards and long-term
performance awards under the NYT Plans;
5. To consider and act upon a proposal to approve an amendment to the
Company's Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the "Directors'
Plan") to extend the term of such plan from April 16, 2001, to
December 31, 2010;
6. To consider and act upon a proposal to ratify the selection of
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as auditors for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2000;
7. To consider and act upon a proposal to amend and restate the Company's
certificate of incorporation so that it reads in its entirety
substantially as set forth in Annex II to the accompanying Proxy
Statement to:
- increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from
300,847,158 to 550,847,158;
- authorize the board of directors to issue three classes of common
stock: Class A common stock, Class B common stock and Class C common
stock; and
- specify the terms and provisions applicable to the Class C common
stock, and amend the terms and provisions applicable to the outstanding
Class A common stock and Class B common stock;
8. To consider and act upon a proposal to adopt the New York Times Digital
Stock Incentive Plan, in the form substantially as set forth in Annex
III (the "Digital Plan"), in connection with the creation of the
Class C common stock; and
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9. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
Holders of the Class A and Class B common stock as of the close of
business on April 6, 2000, are entitled to notice of and to attend this meeting
as set forth in the Proxy Statement. Class A stockholders are entitled to vote
for the election of five of the 15 directors. Class A and Class B stockholders,
voting together as a single class, are entitled to vote on the proposal to amend
the NYT Plans, the proposal to amend the NYT Stock Plan, the proposal to
reapprove the material terms of the performance goals for annual and long-term
performance awards under the NYT Plans, the proposal to amend the Directors'
Plan, the proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors
for the 2000 fiscal year and the proposal to adopt the Digital Plan. Holders of
the Class A and Class B common stock, voting as separate classes, are entitled
to vote on the proposal to amend and restate the Company's certificate of
incorporation. Class B stockholders are entitled to vote for the election of ten
of the 15 directors and on all other matters presented to the meeting.
New York, NY
April , 2000
By Order of the Board of Directors
LAURA J. CORWIN
VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE VOTE AS PROMPTLY
AS POSSIBLE BY TELEPHONE, ON THE INTERNET OR BY COMPLETING AND RETURNING THE
ENCLOSED PROXY CARD. THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR THE PURPOSE OF INSURING A QUORUM AT
THE MEETING.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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SOLICITATION OF PROXIES..................................... 1
VOTING SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY............................ 2
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY..................................... 3
Overview of The New York Times Company.................. 3
Digital Stock and NYT Stock............................. 4
The Digital Group....................................... 4
Venture Capital Investment.............................. 5
Annual Meeting.......................................... 5
Tracking Stock Proposals................................ 6
Consolidating Statements of Income...................... 15
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS........... 17
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS... 23
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION......................... 23
GENERAL INFORMATION......................................... 25
Principal Holders of Common Stock....................... 25
Security Ownership of Management........................ 27
Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting
Compliance.............................................. 30
The 1997 Trust.......................................... 30
PROPOSAL NUMBER 1--ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.................... 32
Class A Directors....................................... 32
Class B Directors....................................... 34
Interest of Directors in Certain Transactions of the
Company................................................. 37
Certain Information about the Board of Directors........ 37
Compensation of Directors; Liability and Reimbursement
Insurance............................................... 39
Compensation of Executive Officers...................... 40
PROPOSAL NUMBER 2--APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO 1991
EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE AND 1991 EXECUTIVE CASH BONUS
PLANS....................................................... 49
Purpose of Amendments................................... 49
Summary of NYT Plans.................................... 49
Material Changes Effected by the NYT Plans Amendments... 51
New Benefits............................................ 51
Federal Income Tax Consequences......................... 52
Amendments; Non-Exclusivity............................. 53
Recommendation and Vote Required........................ 54
PROPOSAL NUMBER 3--APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 1991 EXECUTIVE
STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN........................................ 55
Purpose of Amendment.................................... 55
NYT Stock Plan.......................................... 55
Material Changes Effected by the NYT Stock Plan
Amendment............................................... 55
Recommendation and Vote Required........................ 55
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PROPOSAL NUMBER 4--REAPPROVAL OF MATERIAL TERMS OF
PERFORMANCE GOALS FOR ANNUAL AND LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE
AWARDS UNDER 1991 EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE AND 1991
EXECUTIVE
CASH BONUS PLANS............................................ 56
Purpose of Proposal..................................... 56
Recommendation and Vote Required........................ 57
PROPOSAL NUMBER 5--AMENDMENT OF NON-EMPLOYEE
DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN................................ 58
The Directors' Plan..................................... 58
General Provisions of Directors' Plan................... 58
Federal Income Tax Consequences......................... 59
Recommendation and Vote Required........................ 59
PROPOSAL NUMBER 6--SELECTION OF AUDITORS.................... 60
PROPOSAL NUMBER 7--AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION............................................ 61
In General.............................................. 61
Background and Reasons for the Tracking Stock
Proposals............................................... 62
Interest of Ochs/Sulzberger Family in the Offering...... 64
Venture Capital Investment.............................. 65
The NYT Group........................................... 67
Selected Financial Data of the Digital Group............ 67
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations of
the Digital Group..................................... 69
Business of the Digital Group........................... 77
Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations................ 93
Description of Capital Stock............................ 98
Relevant Provisions of New York Law..................... 116
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers
and Directors........................................... 117
Material United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations.......................................... 118
Recommendation and Vote Required........................ 119
PROPOSAL NUMBER 8--ADOPTION OF NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL STOCK
INCENTIVE PLAN.............................................. 120
General................................................. 120
Digital Plan Summary.................................... 120
New Benefits............................................ 122
Federal Income Tax Consequences......................... 123
Amendments; Non-Exclusivity............................. 124
Recommendation and Vote Required........................ 124
OTHER MATTERS............................................... 125
Discretionary Authority to Vote Proxy................... 125
Annual Report; Annual Report on Form 10-K............... 125
Submission of Stockholder Proposals..................... 125
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ANNEX I. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS.... I-1
ANNEX II. AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION........... II-1
ANNEX III. NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN................. III-1
ANNEX IV. ILLUSTRATION OF CERTAIN TERMS............................... IV-1
ANNEX V. ILLUSTRATION OF VOTING RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF DIGITAL STOCK... V-1
ANNEX VI. FINANCIAL INFORMATION--THE DIGITAL GROUP.................... VI-1
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<PAGE>
1
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
PROXY STATEMENT
ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY , 2000
SOLICITATION OF PROXIES
The board of directors is soliciting the enclosed proxy for use at the
Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held May , 2000, and at any adjournment
or adjournments thereof. Each valid proxy received in time will be voted at the
meeting, and, if a choice is specified, it will be voted in accordance with such
specification. If no choice is specified, the shares will be voted as
recommended by the directors. We are sending this Proxy Statement and the
proxies solicited hereby to our stockholders beginning on or about April ,
2000. We will bear the cost of soliciting proxies, including the reimbursement
to banks and brokers for reasonable expenses of sending proxy materials to their
principals. We have engaged Georgeson & Company Inc. to assist in the
solicitation of proxies from brokers, banks, institutions and other fiduciaries
by mail, telephone and facsimile for a fee of $12,000, plus out-of-pocket
expenses. In addition, officers of The New York Times Company may solicit
proxies in person or by mail, telephone or facsimile.
At the Annual Meeting, stockholders will be asked to consider and approve:
- the election of directors;
- amendments to our 1991 Executive Stock Incentive Plan (the "NYT Stock
Plan") and 1991 Executive Cash Bonus Plan (the "NYT Cash Plan," and
collectively with the NYT Stock Plan, the "NYT Plans");
- an additional amendment to the NYT Stock Plan;
- the reapproval of the material terms of the performance goals used for
annual and long-term performance awards under the NYT Plans;
- an amendment to our Non-Employee Directors' Stock Option Plan (the
"Directors' Plan");
- ratification of the selection of our auditors; and
- the "tracking stock proposals" described below.
The tracking stock proposals consist of a proposed amendment and
restatement of our certificate of incorporation that will allow us to issue a
new class of common stock which will be called Class C, or Digital, common
stock. Digital stock is intended to track the performance of New York Times
Digital, our Internet business division (these operations are collectively
referred to herein as the "Digital group"). As a result of the issuance of the
Digital stock, we intend our existing classes of common stock, Class A stock and
Class B stock (collectively, the "NYT stock"), to track the performance of our
traditional newspaper, broadcasting and magazine operations (these operations
are collectively referred to herein as the "NYT group"). The NYT group also
includes a retained interest in the Digital group. We sometimes refer to each of
the Digital group or the NYT group as a "group" in this Proxy Statement. The
tracking stock proposals also include approval of a New York Times Digital Stock
Incentive Plan (the "Digital Plan"), which provides for the grant of options for
Digital stock.
BY VOTING FOR EITHER OR BOTH OF THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS AT THE ANNUAL
MEETING, STOCKHOLDERS MAY BE FORFEITING THEIR RIGHTS TO CHALLENGE THE TRACKING
STOCK PROPOSALS IN THE FUTURE.
SEE "RISK FACTORS RELATING TO TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS" BEGINNING ON
PAGE 17 FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION RELATING TO AN EVALUATION OF THE TRACKING STOCK
PROPOSALS.
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2
This year registered stockholders can again simplify their voting and save
us expense by calling 1-877-PRX-VOTE (1-877-779-8683) or voting via the Internet
at http://www.eproxyvote.com/nyt. Telephone and Internet voting is available
24 hours a day. Telephone and Internet voting information is provided on the
proxy card. Control Numbers, located to the right of stockholders' names and
addresses on the lower right of their proxy cards, are designed to verify
stockholders' identities and allow them to vote their shares and confirm that
their voting instructions have been properly recorded. We have been advised by
our counsel that the procedures which have been put in place are consistent with
the requirements of applicable state law.
If a bank or broker holds a stockholder's shares, the stockholder should
follow the voting instructions on the form he or she receives. The availability
of telephone or Internet voting will depend on the bank's or broker's voting
processes.
If stockholders do not choose to vote by telephone or Internet, they may
return their proxy cards, properly signed, and their shares will be voted in
accordance with their instructions. If stockholders vote by telephone or the
Internet, they should not return their proxy cards by mail.
Stockholders may revoke their proxies at any time before they are voted at
the meeting by executing a later-voted proxy by telephone, the Internet or mail
or by voting by ballot at the meeting.
In future years, the Company may decide to send its proxy statement,
annual report and proxy card via the Internet instead of by mail to stockholders
who elect to receive these documents in this manner. Stockholders who vote their
proxies this year via the Internet will be asked to complete a form indicating
whether they would like to take part in this paperless process in future years.
VOTING SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company has two classes of outstanding voting securities, the Class A
common stock, 10 cents par value, and the Class B common stock, 10 cents par
value. As of April 6, 2000, there were outstanding 170,208,418 shares of
Class A stock and 847,158 shares of Class B stock. Only holders of record of the
Class A or Class B stock at the close of business on April 6, 2000, may vote at
the meeting.
Each share of stock is entitled to one vote. The Class A stockholders have
limited voting rights and may vote for the election of five of the 15 directors.
The Class A and Class B stockholders, voting together as a single class, may
vote on the proposal to amend the NYT Plans, the proposal to amend the NYT Stock
Plan, the proposal to reapprove the material terms of the performance goals for
annual and long-term performance awards under the NYT Plans, the proposal to
amend the Directors' Plan, the proposal to adopt the Digital Plan and the
proposal to ratify the selection of Deloitte & Touche LLP as auditors for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2000. The Class A and Class B stockholders,
voting as separate classes, may vote on the amendment and restatement of our
certificate of incorporation. The Class B stockholders may vote for the election
of ten of the 15 directors and on all other matters presented to the meeting.
Abstentions will have the same effect as negative votes on proposals 2-7
and will have no effect on proposal 8. If a broker which is the record holder of
certain shares indicates on a form of proxy that it does not have discretionary
authority to vote such shares on a proposal, or if shares are voted in other
circumstances in which proxy authority is defective or has been withheld with
respect to such proposal, these non-voted shares will be counted for quorum
purposes but will have the same effect as a negative vote on proposals 2-7 and
will have no effect on proposal 8.
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3
PROXY STATEMENT SUMMARY
THIS SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS THE MATTERS TO BE ACTED UPON AT OUR ANNUAL
MEETING, INCLUDING KEY ASPECTS OF THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS. IT IS NOT A
SUBSTITUTE FOR THE MORE DETAILED INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE REST OF THIS PROXY
STATEMENT. FOR A MORE COMPREHENSIVE DESCRIPTION OF SUCH MATTERS, INCLUDING THE
TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS, YOU SHOULD READ THE REST OF THIS PROXY STATEMENT
CAREFULLY. IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT:
- "WE," "US," "OUR," THE "TIMES COMPANY" OR THE "COMPANY" REFER TO THE NEW
YORK TIMES COMPANY AND, UNLESS THE CONTEXT OTHERWISE REQUIRES, ITS
SUBSIDIARIES.
- FOR PURPOSES OF THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS, THE "DIGITAL GROUP" REFERS
TO NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL, WHICH IS THE INTERNET BUSINESS DIVISION OF THE
TIMES COMPANY. THE DIGITAL GROUP IS PRESENTLY COMPRISED OF THE ASSETS,
LIABILITIES AND BUSINESSES OF THE TIMES COMPANY RELATED TO A NETWORK OF
SIX OWNED AND OPERATED WEBSITES. THESE WEBSITES HAVE BEEN OPERATED BY THE
TIMES COMPANY SINCE THEIR INCEPTION. THE DIGITAL GROUP WAS ORGANIZED IN
JULY 1999. IT IS A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY AND NOT A SEPARATE LEGAL
ENTITY.
- FOR PURPOSES OF THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS, THE "NYT GROUP" REFERS TO
THE NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST AND MAGAZINE OPERATIONS OF THE TIMES COMPANY AND
OUR FOREST PRODUCTS INVESTMENTS, AS WELL AS CERTAIN OTHER ASSETS AND
LIABILITIES OF THE TIMES COMPANY NOT ALLOCATED TO THE DIGITAL GROUP.
SEVERAL OF THE NEWSPAPERS AND BROADCAST STATIONS INCLUDED IN THE NYT
GROUP OPERATE WEBSITES PERTAINING TO THEIR OPERATIONS. THESE WEBSITES ARE
INCLUDED IN THE NYT GROUP. THE NYT GROUP ALSO INCLUDES A RETAINED
INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP. THE NYT GROUP IS A DIVISION OF THE TIMES
COMPANY AND NOT A SEPARATE LEGAL ENTITY.
OVERVIEW OF THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
We are a diversified media company, including newspapers, television and
radio stations, magazines, electronic information and publishing and forest
products investments. Our businesses include:
- NEWSPAPERS. THE NEW YORK TIMES; New England newspapers comprised of THE
BOSTON GLOBE, a daily newspaper, the BOSTON SUNDAY GLOBE and the
TELEGRAM & GAZETTE, a daily newspaper in Worcester, Massachusetts;
regional newspapers comprised of 18 other daily and three non-daily
newspapers in Alabama, California, Florida, Louisiana, North Carolina and
South Carolina; newspaper distributors in the New York City and Boston
metropolitan areas; various newspaper online products; news, photo and
graphics services and news and features syndication; TIMESFAX; THE NEW
YORK TIMES INDEX; and licensing of electronic databases and microform,
CD-ROM products, and the trademarks and copyrights of THE NEW YORK TIMES
and THE BOSTON GLOBE. On February 17, 2000, the Company made a decision
to offer for sale seven of the regional newspapers.
- BROADCASTING. Television stations WTKR in Norfolk, Virginia; WREG in
Memphis, Tennessee; KFOR in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; WNEP in Scranton,
Pennsylvania; WHO in Des Moines, Iowa; WHNT in Huntsville, Alabama; WQAD
in Moline, Illinois; and KFSM in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Radio stations
WQXR(FM) and WQEW(AM) in New York City.
- MAGAZINES. GOLF DIGEST; GOLF DIGEST WOMAN; GOLF WORLD; and GOLF SHOP
OPERATIONS.
- FOREST PRODUCTS INVESTMENTS AND OTHER JOINT VENTURES. Minority equity
interests in a Canadian newsprint company and a supercalendered paper
(glossy paper used in magazines) manufacturing partnership in Maine, and
a 50% interest in the INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE.
<PAGE>
4
Our principal executive offices are located at 229 West 43rd Street, New
York, New York 10036. Our telephone number is (212) 556-1234.
DIGITAL STOCK AND NYT STOCK
We intend our Class C stock, which we call our Digital stock, to track the
performance of the Digital group. We intend our Class A stock and Class B stock,
which we call our NYT stock, to track the performance of the NYT group. The NYT
stock is also intended to reflect a retained interest in the Digital group which
is currently 100%. The retained interest will decline to reflect the initial
issuance of Digital stock in the offering (as defined below under "Tracking
Stock Proposals--Offering of Tracking Stock") as well as other issuances. From a
financial reporting standpoint, we have separated the Digital group, our
Internet business division, from the NYT group, which includes the rest of our
businesses. Neither the Digital group nor the NYT group is a separate legal
entity. Holders of NYT stock and Digital stock are common stockholders of the
Times Company and have no direct claim to the specific assets of a group. All
holders of the Company's common stock, which consists of the Digital stock and
the NYT stock, will have an interest in the residual net assets of the Company.
However, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains
provisions that are intended to tie the economic value of the Digital stock and
the NYT stock to the performance and value of the respective tracked operations.
These provisions are substantially the same as those used by other public
companies that have issued tracking stock in recent years. We believe that the
experience of these companies is that the tracking stock so structured does tend
to track the performance of the unit in question.
Although we intend the Digital stock to track the performance of the
Digital group and the NYT stock to track the performance of NYT group, we can
offer no assurance that the market price of the respective classes of stock will
in fact reflect the performance of the group of assets comprising the Digital
group and the NYT group. Our board of directors, or the capital stock committee
acting on its behalf, may modify, suspend, rescind or add to policies pertaining
to inter-group relationships and allocations, although in so doing, the board or
committee must act in a manner consistent with its fiduciary duties to all
stockholders. Since the board or the committee may, consistent with its
fiduciary duties, reallocate assets, liabilities, revenues or expenses among the
NYT group and the Digital group, there is a risk that market valuations of the
NYT stock or the Digital stock may not reflect the performance of the respective
group as then constituted.
THE DIGITAL GROUP
The Digital group is a leading online provider of quality news,
information and community through its network of branded websites, the flagship
of which is NYTimes.com. The Digital group targets what it refers to as the
"quality audience," a worldwide audience of highly educated and affluent
individuals who are united by shared values and interests.
We believe that the content provided on, and the rates of usage
experienced by, the Digital group's websites make them attractive to advertisers
and e-commerce merchants from whom we earn revenue. The Digital group's websites
recorded in excess of 138 million page views in December 1999. In that month,
NYTimes.com had approximately 90.7 million page views, and, according to Media
Metrix, the average NYTimes.com user spent 36.4 minutes on the site. NYTimes.com
has over 10 million unique registered users, and is currently adding
approximately 300,000 new registered users per month (registration is free of
charge; to avoid double counting, these figures exclude multiple registrations
from the same e-mail address). NYToday.com, a daily guide to life in New York
City, and The New York Times Learning Network, a key Internet resource for
teachers, parents and students, are
<PAGE>
5
each brand extensions created by NYTimes.com. Boston.com was one of the most
visited regional portals in the United States in the fourth quarter of 1999,
according to Media Metrix. GolfDigest.com and WineToday.com, two special
interest sites, offer news and features designed to attract users in the
lucrative golf and wine markets. The Digital group's proprietary ABUZZ
technology, deployed on abuzz.com, with links to each of the websites across the
Digital group's network, facilitates interaction and fosters community among
users.
VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
On March 21, 2000, we completed the sale of $40.0 million aggregate
principal amount of 7% convertible subordinated notes of the Times Company due
March 21, 2003. The proceeds of the sale and the indebtedness has been
attributed to the Digital group. The investors consisted of two related funds
managed by Flatiron Partners ("Flatiron"), Chase Equity Associates, L.P.
("Chase") and three related funds managed by Highland Capital Partners
("Highland"). After the consummation of an initial public offering of Digital
stock, these notes will be convertible, at the election of Flatiron, Chase and
Highland, into shares of Digital stock intended to represent approximately
6 2/3% of the pre-offering equity of the Digital group. If there is no offering,
the notes will not be convertible into any class of the Company's stock. In
connection with this investment, we have appointed Jerry Colonna, a principal of
Flatiron Partners, and Dan Nova, managing general partner of Highland Capital
Partners, to the Digital group's advisory board.
The other members of the Digital group's advisory board are Red Burns,
chair of the Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University; Mark
Walsh, CEO of VerticalNet, Inc.; Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., chairman of the Times
Company and publisher of THE NEW YORK TIMES; Russell T. Lewis, president and CEO
of the Times Company; and Howell Raines, editorial page editor of THE NEW YORK
TIMES. The advisory board will consult with the Digital group's management
regarding the Digital group's business and various strategic initiatives, but
does not have any of the powers, duties or responsibilities of a committee of
the board of directors. See "Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of
Certificate of Incorporation--Venture Capital Investment."
ANNUAL MEETING
DATE, TIME AND PLACE: 10:00 a.m., New York time, on , May ,
2000, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 214 West 43rd Street, New
York, New York 10036
RECORD DATE: April 6, 2000
PROPOSALS AND VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROPOSAL VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
-------- --------------------------
<S> <C>
Election of Directors Requires a plurality vote of the holders of the
shares of existing Class A stock and Class B
stock, voting as separate classes, with the
holders of Class A stock voting for the election
of five of the 15 directors and the holders of
Class B stock voting for the election of ten of
the 15 directors
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PROPOSAL VOTE REQUIRED FOR APPROVAL
-------- --------------------------
<S> <C>
Approval of Amendments to the NYT Plans to extend Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
their terms until December 31, 2010, and increase a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
the maximum payout potential for any annual or of Class A stock and Class B stock, voting
long-term performance award to $3,000,000 together as a single class
Approval of an Amendment to the NYT Stock Plan to Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
authorize an additional 20,000,000 shares of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
Class A stock for stock options of Class A stock and Class B stock, voting
together as a single class
Reapproval of material terms of performance goals Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
for annual and long-term performance awards under a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
the NYT Plans of Class A stock and Class B stock, voting
together as a single class
Approval of an Amendment to the Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
Directors' Plan to extend its term to December 31, a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
2010 of Class A stock and Class B stock, voting
together as a single class
Ratification of Selection of Auditors Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the shares of Class A stock and
Class B stock represented at the Annual Meeting,
voting together as a single class
Approval of the Amendment and Restatement of the Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
Certificate of Incorporation a majority of the issued and outstanding shares
of Class A stock and the affirmative vote of the
holders of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares of Class B stock, voting as
separate classes
Adoption of the Digital Plan Requires the affirmative vote of the holders of
a majority of the votes cast at the meeting by
the holders of shares of Class A stock and
Class B stock, voting together as a single class
</TABLE>
BOARD RECOMMENDATION: The board of directors has carefully considered and
unanimously approved the proposals and recommends that you vote FOR each of
them.
TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS
GENERAL. If you approve the tracking stock proposals, your shares of
Class A or Class B stock will be reclassified into shares of NYT stock of the
same class. You will not hold Digital stock unless you purchase shares in the
offering or thereafter in the market.
We are proceeding with the tracking stock proposals primarily for the
following reasons:
- The tracking stock will permit the market to review separate information
about the NYT group and the Digital group and to separately value NYT
stock and Digital stock. This should encourage investors and analysts to
focus more attention on the NYT group and the Digital
<PAGE>
7
group. We believe this may result in greater market recognition of the
value of the NYT group and the Digital group.
- The tracking stock will allow investors to invest in Digital stock,
Class A stock (which is the class of NYT stock that is publicly traded)
or both classes depending on their particular investment objectives.
- The tracking stock will allow us to issue stock options exercisable for
publicly traded Digital stock, thereby providing more focused incentives
to the Digital group's officers, employees and consultants.
- The tracking stock will provide us with greater flexibility to raise
capital and respond to strategic opportunities (including acquisitions),
because it will allow us to issue either Digital stock or Class A stock,
as appropriate under the circumstances.
- The tracking stock will allow us to realize some of the value of the
Digital group while preserving the financial, tax, operational, strategic
and other benefits of being a single consolidated entity.
For your convenience we have attached as Annex I certain questions you may
have about the tracking stock proposals and our answers to these questions.
OFFERING OF TRACKING STOCK. We currently plan to offer for cash to the
public (including certain of our existing holders of Class B stock, who have
statutory pre-emptive rights, certain members of the Ochs/Sulzberger family as
described below, employees of the NYT group and directors of the Company),
shares of Digital stock intended to represent a minority of the equity
attributed to the Digital group at the completion of the offering. We call this
the "offering." This would leave the NYT group immediately after the offering
with a retained interest (i.e., the NYT group's interest in the Digital group)
intended to represent the remainder of the equity attributed to the Digital
group.
The terms and the timing of the offering will depend on market conditions
and have not been finalized as of the date of this proxy statement. We do not
currently expect to finalize these matters prior to the Annual Meeting. We are
nonetheless proceeding with the vote on the tracking stock proposals so that we
will be able to proceed quickly with the offering when and if market conditions
permit. There is no assurance that we will complete the offering and we could
decide to issue Digital stock in another manner.
Assuming we complete the offering, we currently plan to allocate the net
proceeds of the offering to Digital, and the Digital group will use the net
proceeds for general corporate purposes, including promotion and advertising,
domestic and international expansion and strategic alliances, investments and
acquisitions (although we have no current plans for such alliances, investments
or acquisitions).
Included in the shares of Digital stock that will be offered at the
initial public offering price are shares to be offered to a trust, the
beneficiaries of which are members of the Ochs/Sulzberger family (the "1997
Trust"), or to the grantors of this trust (collectively, the "Ochs/Sulzberger
Offerees"). The Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees will be offered shares of Digital stock
in an amount equal to the lesser of (i) shares with an aggregate initial
offering price of $33.0 million and (ii) shares intended to represent 3.3% of
the equity attributable to the Digital group immediately after the offering.
Members of the Finance Committee of the Company's board of directors (with
Judith P. Sulzberger not participating) considered this matter and recommended
to the board that the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees be allowed to participate in the
offering and purchase such shares of Digital stock at the initial public
offering price
<PAGE>
8
and subject to certain other terms and conditions. See "General Information--The
1997 Trust" for a description of the trust and the grantors and
"Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of Incorporation--Interest
of Ochs/Sulzberger Family in the Offering" for a more detailed description of
the terms of the participation of the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees in the offering
and the consideration by the Finance Committee of this purchase and certain
other matters.
TERMS OF EXISTING COMMON STOCK COMPARED WITH TERMS OF NYT STOCK AND
DIGITAL STOCK. The following table compares certain terms of our existing
common stock to the proposed terms of NYT stock and Digital stock. This
comparison is not complete and should be read together with the more detailed
information contained in the rest of this Proxy Statement. In particular, see
"Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Description of Capital Stock."
<PAGE>
9
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXISTING
COMMON STOCK NYT STOCK DIGITAL STOCK
<S> <C> <C> <C>
BASIC INVESTMENT Our existing common stock We intend NYT stock to reflect We intend Digital stock to
CHARACTERISTICS: is intended to reflect the performance of the NYT group, reflect the performance of the
the performance of all the businesses--other than those Digital group, our Internet
our businesses. comprising the Digital group--of business division.
The New York Times Company and
its subsidiaries. The NYT group
includes a 100% retained interest
in the Digital group, which
interest will decline to reflect
the initial issuance of Digital
stock to the public as well as
future issuances, including
exercises of options granted
under the Digital Plan and the
exchange of certain outstanding
securities for Digital stock.
We cannot assure you that the We cannot assure you that the
market value of NYT stock will in market value of Digital stock
fact reflect the performance of will in fact reflect the
the NYT group as we intend. performance of the Digital group
Holders of NYT stock will as we intend. Holders of Digital
continue to be common stock will continue to be common
stockholders of The New York stockholders of The New York
Times Company and, as such, will Times Company and, as such, will
be subject to all risks be subject to all risks
associated with an investment in associated with an investment in
The New York Times Company and The New York Times Company and
all our businesses, assets and all our businesses, assets and
liabilities. liabilities.
ISSUANCE: Our existing common stock Before we issue Digital stock, We currently plan to offer to the
is already outstanding. each outstanding share of public, for cash, shares of
existing common stock will Digital stock intended to
automatically be reclassified represent a minority of the
into a share of new Class A stock equity attributed to the Digital
or new Class B stock, as the case group. The terms and timing of
may be. the offering will depend on
market conditions and have not
been finalized.
RETAINED INTEREST If, as currently planned, we
AFTER INITIAL issue to the public, for cash,
OFFERING OF DIGITAL shares of Digital stock intended
STOCK: to represent a minority of the
equity attributed to the Digital
group, this would leave the NYT
group with a retained interest in
the Digital group representing
the remainder of the equity
attributed to the Digital group.
When appropriate, we will adjust
this retained interest to reflect
issuances or repurchases of
Digital stock, capital
contributions to, or returns of
capital from, the Digital group
and certain other events,
including exercises of options
granted under the Digital Plan
and the exchange or conversion of
certain outstanding securities
for Digital stock. As a result,
the percentage represented by the
retained interest may decline
below 50%.
AUTHORIZED COMMON We are currently The tracking stock proposals will authorize us to issue three
STOCK: authorized to issue two classes of common stock--Class A and Class B (or "NYT") stock and
classes of common stock. Class C (or "Digital") stock.
We are currently The tracking stock proposal will increase the number of authorized
authorized to issue up to shares of common stock to 550,847,158 shares, consisting of:
300,000,000 shares of 300,000,000 Class A shares; 847,158 Class B shares; and 250,000,000
Class A stock and 847,158 Class C shares.
shares of Class B stock.
The tracking stock
proposals will not alter
the number of authorized
shares of Class A stock
and Class B stock.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
10
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXISTING
COMMON STOCK NYT STOCK DIGITAL STOCK
<S> <C> <C> <C>
OUTSTANDING COMMON 170,208,418 shares of The tracking stock proposals will Once the tracking stock proposals
STOCK Class A stock and 847,158 not affect the number of are implemented, we intend to
shares of Class B stock outstanding shares of Class A issue shares of Digital stock in
were outstanding on stock and Class B stock. Such the offering. These shares, any
April 6, 2000. These shares, and the shares of Digital other shares we may issue and the
shares count against the stock then outstanding, will shares of NYT stock then
total number of shares we count against the total number of outstanding, will count against
are authorized to issue. shares of common stock we are the total number of shares of
authorized to issue. common stock we are authorized to
issue. Shares of Digital stock
issuable in respect of the NYT
group's retained interest in the
Digital group will not be
considered outstanding.
VOTING RIGHTS: The holders of Class A No change. The holders of Digital stock will
stock have limited voting vote with the holders of Class A
rights, which entitle stock on all matters on which the
them to vote as follows: Class A stock votes. Each share
- for the election of 30% of Digital stock will have a
of the board of number of votes equal to the
directors; average market value of a share
- together with the of Digital stock divided by the
holders of Class B stock, average market value of a share
as a single class, on of Class A stock over a specified
ratification of the 20 trading day period prior to
selection of our the date of the vote; provided
independent auditors; that the holders of Digital stock
on certain acquisitions as a class may have no more than
involving related 40% of the total votes to be cast
parties or the by the holders of Digital stock
issuances of stock; and and Class A stock together.
the reservation of The Digital stock will also have
stock for options to be such voting rights as required by
granted to officers, law.
directors or employees;
and
- otherwise as required
by the New York Business
Corporation Law, which
generally would require
a separate vote of
holders of shares of
any class of our common
stock on any proposed
merger or amendment to
our certificate of
incorporation that
would adversely affect
the holders of the
class in specified
ways.
The holders of Class B No change.
stock are entitled to
vote as follows:
- for the election of 70%
of the board of
directors; and
- all other matters to
the exclusion of all
other classes of our
common stock.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
11
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXISTING
COMMON STOCK NYT STOCK DIGITAL STOCK
<S> <C> <C> <C>
DIVIDENDS: We currently pay We do not intend to change our We do not expect to pay any
dividends on a quarterly dividend policy with respect to dividends on Digital stock for
basis of $.105 per share NYT stock, which remains subject the foreseeable future.
of Class A stock and to the board's discretion and
Class B stock. statutory limitations.
We are permitted to pay The total of the amounts paid as We will be permitted to pay
dividends out of the dividends on NYT stock cannot dividends on Digital stock out of
assets of the Company exceed the lesser of (i) the the assets of the Company legally
legally available for the amount legally available for the available for the payment of
payment of dividends payment by the Company of dividends under New York law, and
under New York law. dividends under New York law and transfer corresponding amounts to
(ii) the "available dividend the NYT group in respect of its
amount" for the NYT group. The retained interest in the Digital
available dividend amount for the group, but the total of the
NYT group is based on the amount amount paid as dividends on
of assets that would be legally Digital stock, and the
available for the payment of corresponding amount transferred
dividends under New York law if to the NYT group in respect of
the NYT group were a separate New its retained interest in the
York corporation. Digital group, cannot exceed the
"available dividend amount" for
the Digital group. The available
dividend amount for the Digital
group is based on the amount of
assets that would be legally
available for the payment of
dividends under New York law if
the Digital group were a separate
New York corporation and the NYT
group's retained interest in the
Digital group was represented by
outstanding common stock.
MANDATORY DIVIDEND, None. If we dispose of all or If we dispose of all or
REDEMPTION OR substantially all (defined to be substantially all (defined to be
EXCHANGE ON 80% or more) the assets of the 80% or more) the assets of the
DISPOSITION OF NYT group on a then- current fair Digital group on a then- current
ASSETS: value basis and the disposition fair value basis and the
is not an "exempt disposition," disposition is not an "exempt
as defined in our amended and disposition," as defined in our
restated certificate of amended and restated certificate
incorporation, we must choose one of incorporation, we must choose
of the following alternatives: one of the following
alternatives:
- pay a dividend to holders of - pay a dividend to holders of
NYT stock in an amount equal to Digital stock in an amount
their proportionate interest in equal to their proportionate
the net proceeds of such interest in the net proceeds of
disposition; such disposition;
- redeem from holders of NYT - redeem from holders of Digital
stock, for an amount equal to stock, for an amount equal to
their proportionate interest in their proportionate interest in
the net proceeds of such the net proceeds of such
disposition, outstanding shares disposition, outstanding shares
of NYT stock; or of Digital stock; or
- issue Digital stock in exchange - issue Class A stock in exchange
for all the outstanding NYT stock for all the outstanding Digital
at a 10% premium (based on the stock at a 10% premium (based
average market value of the on the average market value of
Class A stock as compared to Digital stock as compared to
the average market value of the average market value of the
Digital stock over a specified Class A stock over a specified
20 trading day period ending 20 trading day period ending
before the exchange). before the exchange).
At any time within one year after At any time within one year after
completing a special dividend or completing a special dividend or
partial redemption referred to partial redemption referred to
above, we will have the right to above, we will have the right to
issue Digital stock in exchange issue Class A stock in exchange
for outstanding NYT stock at a for outstanding Digital stock at
10% premium (based on the average a 10% premium (based on the
market value of the Class A stock average market value of Digital
as compared to the average market stock as compared to the average
value of Digital stock over a market value of the Class A stock
specified 20 trading day period over a specified 20 trading day
ending before the date on which period ending before the date on
we mail the notice of exchange to which we mail the notice of
holders of NYT stock). exchange to holders of Digital
stock).
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
12
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXISTING
COMMON STOCK NYT STOCK DIGITAL STOCK
<S> <C> <C> <C>
EXCHANGE OF COMMON None. None. We will at any time on or after
STOCK AT OUR January 1, 2003, have the right
OPTION: to issue shares of Class A stock
in exchange for all outstanding
shares of Digital stock at a 15%
premium per share. To determine
the exchange rate that will
result in an exchange at the 15%
premium per share, we will value
a share of Class A stock and a
share of Digital stock based on
their average market values over
a specified 20 trading day period
ending before the exchange. No
premium will be payable if we
make the exchange at any time
after the aggregate market value
of the outstanding Digital stock
exceeds the aggregate market
value of the outstanding NYT
stock for any consecutive 20
trading day period. We will
assume the conversion of the
Class B stock into Class A stock
for purposes of the calculation.
If we receive an opinion of tax
counsel to the effect that
changes in the federal tax laws
or interpretations thereof make
it more likely than not that we
would be subject to tax upon the
issuance of shares of Class A,
Class B or Digital stock (or that
any such stock would not be
treated as capital stock of The
New York Times Company), this
exchange can occur at any time.
EXCHANGE OF COMMON None. None. We will have the right at any
STOCK FOR COMMON time to exchange common stock of
STOCK OF A a subsidiary for Digital stock so
SUBSIDIARY IN long as all the assets and
CONNECTION WITH A liabilities of Digital are held
SPIN-OFF: directly or indirectly by the
subsidiary. In exchange for their
Digital stock, holders will
receive a class of common stock
in such subsidiary that possesses
voting rights with respect to the
subsidiary that are generally
comparable to the voting rights
that Digital stock has with
respect to the Company, except
that such stock will have a fixed
one vote per share on matters on
which it is entitled to vote.
These shares will represent the
same proportionate interest in
that subsidiary that the Digital
stock is deemed to represent in
the Digital group at the time of
the exchange. We will distribute
the remaining shares of this
subsidiary to the holders of
Class A stock and Class B stock,
with holders of Class A stock
receiving shares of the same
class as the shares issued to the
holders of Digital stock and the
holders of Class B stock
receiving shares of a separate
class of common stock of the
subsidiary that possesses voting
rights with respect to the
subsidiary that are generally
comparable to the voting rights
that Class B stock has with
respect to the Company. See
"Proposal 7--Amendment and
Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Interest of
Ochs/Sulzberger Family in the
Offering."
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
13
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXISTING
COMMON STOCK NYT STOCK DIGITAL STOCK
<S> <C> <C> <C>
LIQUIDATION: Upon a liquidation of the Upon a liquidation of the Company, holders of NYT stock and Digital
Company, holders of stock will be entitled to receive the net assets of the Company, if
existing common stock are any, remaining for distribution to stockholders (after payment or
entitled to receive the provision for all liabilities of the Company and payment of the
net assets of the liquidation preference payable to any holders of preferred stock).
Company, if any, Amounts due upon liquidation in respect of shares of NYT stock and
remaining for Digital stock will be distributed pro rata in accordance with the
distribution to average market value of NYT stock (valuing the Class B stock at the
stockholders (after market value of the Class A stock) and Digital stock over a
payment or provision for specified 20 trading day period prior to the liquidation.
all liabilities of the
Company and payment of
the liquidation
preference payable to any
holders of preferred
stock).
STOCK EXCHANGE The Class A stock is No change. We intend to apply to list the
LISTINGS: listed on the New York Digital stock on the New York
Stock Exchange under the Stock Exchange in connection with
symbol "NYT." the offering.
</TABLE>
INTER-GROUP RELATIONSHIP AND ALLOCATIONS: Our board of directors has
adopted tracking stock policies with respect to the ongoing relationship between
the Digital group and the NYT group, and the allocation of our businesses,
assets and liabilities. Although we have no present intention to do so, we may
modify, suspend, rescind or add to the tracking stock policies in the sole
discretion of our board of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on
its behalf, without the approval of our stockholders. The board of directors, or
the capital stock committee, may also adopt additional policies depending upon
the circumstances. In the future, the board of directors, or the capital stock
committee, will allocate businesses, assets or liabilities to the Digital group,
or dispose of or transfer businesses, assets or liabilities from the Digital
group, in accordance with these tracking stock policies.
The tracking stock policies also contain provisions that set general
parameters for:
- loans, asset transfers and commercial transactions between the Digital
group and the NYT group; and
- specified extraordinary transactions, including issuances and repurchases
of Digital stock.
CAPITAL STOCK COMMITTEE: The board of directors has, effective upon the
first issuance of Digital stock, established a committee of the board of
directors known as the capital stock committee. This committee will initially
consist of Henry B. Schacht, Chairman, John F. Akers, Raul E. Cesan and Michael
Golden. Although all our directors are legally obligated to serve the interests
of all our stockholders, we intend that at least fifty percent of the directors
on the capital stock committee will be directors who have been elected by the
holders of Class A stock and, after its issuance, Digital stock, voting
together. The board of directors has delegated to the capital stock committee
the authority to, and the capital stock committee will, interpret, make
determinations under, and oversee the implementation of the tracking stock
policies and otherwise make decisions in areas that may have disparate impacts
on holders of NYT stock and Digital stock. Any such decision will be made by the
capital stock committee in good faith and in a manner consistent with its
fiduciary duties to us and to all of our common stockholders after giving fair
consideration to the potentially divergent interests and all other relevant
interests of the holders of the separate classes of our common stock, including
the holders of Digital stock.
NO APPRAISAL RIGHTS. Under the New York Business Corporation Law, you
will not have appraisal rights in connection with the tracking stock proposals.
<PAGE>
14
MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS OF TRACKING
STOCK. We believe that neither you nor the Company will recognize any income,
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the reclassification
of our existing common stock into NYT stock or the issuance of Digital stock.
There are, however, no court decisions or other authorities bearing directly on
similar transactions and the Internal Revenue Service has announced that it will
not issue advance rulings on the federal income tax consequences relating to
tracking stock. For a more detailed description of federal income tax
considerations, see "Proposal 7-Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations."
<PAGE>
15
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF INCOME
The following schedule presents selected financial information of the NYT
group and the Digital group. This information should be read together with the
consolidated financial statements and Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operation of the Company incorporated herein
by reference and the combined financial statements and Management's Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation of the Digital
group included herein. We have presented this information because it provides
information on the relative operating results of the NYT group and the Digital
group. The information presented below for the NYT group excludes its retained
interest in the Digital group which is currently 100%. This retained interest
will decline to reflect issuances of Digital stock.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 26, 1999 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 27, 1998
------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------
THE NEW THE NEW
THE NYT THE DIGITAL ELIMINA- YORK TIMES THE NYT THE DIGITAL ELIMINA- YORK TIMES
GROUP GROUP TIONS COMPANY GROUP GROUP TIONS COMPANY
---------- ----------- -------- ---------- ---------- ----------- -------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUE
External non-
internet revenues.. $3,100,118 $ -- $ -- $3,100,118 $2,919,237 $ -- $ -- $2,919,237
External internet
revenues........... 3,712 26,799 -- 30,511 3,294 14,174 -- 17,468
Inter-group license
fee revenue........ 5,000 -- (5,000) -- 5,000 -- (5,000) --
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
TOTAL................ 3,108,830 26,799 (5,000) 3,130,629 2,927,531 14,174 (5,000) 2,936,705
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Production costs:
External expenses.. 1,363,515 15,325 -- 1,378,840 1,372,862 8,358 -- 1,381,220
Inter-group license
fee expense...... -- 5,000 (5,000) -- -- 5,000 (5,000) --
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses:
External expenses.. 1,146,300 34,207 -- 1,180,507 1,019,758 20,507 -- 1,040,265
Inter-group
allocated
expenses......... (2,313) 2,313 -- -- (1,476) 1,476 -- --
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
TOTAL................ 2,507,502 56,845 (5,000) 2,559,347 2,391,144 35,341 (5,000) 2,421,485
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
OPERATING PROFIT
(LOSS)............. 601,328 (30,046) -- 571,282 536,387 (21,167) -- 515,220
Income from joint
ventures........... 17,900 -- -- 17,900 21,014 -- -- 21,014
Interest expense,
net................ 50,704 14 -- 50,718 43,333 -- -- 43,333
Net gain on
disposition of
assets............. -- -- -- -- 12,619 -- -- 12,619
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
extraordinary
item............... 568,524 (30,060) -- 538,464 526,687 (21,167) -- 505,520
Income taxes
(benefit).......... 240,972 (12,685) -- 228,287 228,733 (9,843) -- 218,890
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary
item............... 327,552 (17,375) -- 310,177 297,954 (11,324) -- 286,630
Extraordinary item,
net of tax......... -- -- -- -- (7,716) -- -- (7,716)
---------- -------- ------ ---------- ---------- -------- ------ ----------
NET INCOME (LOSS).... $ 327,552 $(17,375) $ -- $ 310,177 $ 290,238 $(11,324) $ -- $ 278,914
========== ======== ====== ========== ========== ======== ====== ==========
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 28, 1997
------------------------------------------------
THE NEW
THE NYT THE DIGITAL ELIMINA- YORK TIMES
GROUP GROUP TIONS COMPANY
---------- ----------- -------- ----------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUE
External non-
internet revenues.. $2,855,319 $ -- $ -- $2,855,319
External internet
revenues........... 973 10,126 -- 11,099
Inter-group license
fee revenue........ 5,000 -- (5,000) --
---------- -------- ------ ----------
TOTAL................ 2,861,292 10,126 (5,000) 2,866,418
---------- -------- ------ ----------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Production costs:
External expenses.. 1,283,614 6,846 -- 1,290,460
Inter-group license
fee expense...... -- 5,000 (5,000) --
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses:
External expenses.. 1,112,510 8,346 -- 1,120,856
Inter-group
allocated
expenses......... (1,003) 1,003 -- --
---------- -------- ------ ----------
TOTAL................ 2,395,121 21,195 (5,000) 2,411,316
---------- -------- ------ ----------
OPERATING PROFIT
(LOSS)............. 466,171 (11,069) -- 455,102
Income from joint
ventures........... 13,990 -- -- 13,990
Interest expense,
net................ 42,115 -- -- 42,115
Net gain on
disposition of
assets............. 10,388 -- -- 10,388
---------- -------- ------ ----------
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
extraordinary
item............... 448,434 (11,069) -- 437,365
Income taxes
(benefit).......... 180,255 (5,191) -- 175,064
---------- -------- ------ ----------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary
item............... 268,179 (5,878) -- 262,301
Extraordinary item,
net of tax......... -- -- -- --
---------- -------- ------ ----------
NET INCOME (LOSS).... $ 268,179 $ (5,878) $ -- $ 262,301
========== ======== ====== ==========
</TABLE>
The financial information presented above reflects the businesses of the
Digital group and the NYT group including the allocation of revenue and expenses
between the Digital group and the NYT group in accordance with the Company's
allocation policies. The allocations consist of the following: a) classified
advertising revenue from the NYT group to the Digital group for displaying
classified advertising from NYT group publications on the Digital group's
websites, b) license fees charged by the NYT group to the Digital group for the
use of the trademarks and copyrights of the NYT group, and c) an allocation of
corporate expenses for general and administrative services and shared processing
<PAGE>
16
services. Additionally, the income tax benefit relating to the operations of the
Digital group which could be utilized on a consolidated basis were allocated to
the Digital group. The Company believes that these allocations were made on a
reasonable basis.
The Company has provided all necessary funding for the operations and
investments of the Digital group since inception and such funding has been
accounted for as capital contributions from the NYT group. Accordingly, no
interest charges from the NYT group have been reflected in the accompanying
combined financial statements.
<PAGE>
17
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE RISK FACTORS DESCRIBED BELOW, AS WELL AS
THE OTHER INFORMATION INCLUDED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT, BEFORE YOU DECIDE HOW TO
VOTE ON THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS.
WE DO NOT KNOW HOW THE ISSUANCE OF DIGITAL STOCK WILL AFFECT THE MARKET
PRICE OF OUR CLASS A STOCK.
We cannot assure you that the market value of Digital stock and Class A
stock will reflect the performance of the Digital group and the NYT group as we
intend. In addition, we cannot predict the price at which Class A stock will
trade following the issuance of Digital stock. The market value of Class A stock
may not equal or exceed its current market value. Some of the terms of the NYT
stock and the Digital stock may adversely affect the trading price of the
Class A stock. Examples include:
- the right of the board of directors to issue Class A stock in exchange
for Digital stock; and
- the discretion of the board of directors, or the capital stock committee
acting on its behalf, in making determinations relating to a variety of
matters affecting the rights of the holders of the NYT stock and the
Digital stock, such as dividends, cash management and allocation matters.
In addition, the complexities presented by the terms of tracking stock and
the potential difficulties investors may have in understanding these terms may
adversely affect the market value of the Class A stock. In particular, investors
may have difficulty understanding the mandatory dividend, redemption or exchange
that will occur if we dispose of all or substantially all the assets of the
Digital group and the impact this will have on the NYT group, and the relative
voting rights of the Class A stock and the Digital stock.
Subsequent issuances of Digital stock may adversely affect the market
value of the Class A stock.
HOLDERS OF NYT STOCK AND DIGITAL STOCK WILL BE COMMON STOCKHOLDERS OF THE
COMPANY AND WILL BE SUBJECT TO RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE
COMPANY AS A WHOLE.
Financial results of the Digital group could affect the NYT group's
results of operations, financial position and borrowing costs. If the Company
borrows significant amounts for use by the Digital group, the Company's ability
to borrow money for use by the NYT group may be limited. In addition, the
Company will remain liable for the indebtedness and other obligations of each of
the Digital group and the NYT group. This could affect the market value of the
NYT stock. In addition, net losses of either group, if any should occur in the
future, and any dividends or distributions on, or repurchases of, either group's
common stock, will reduce the assets of the Company legally available for
dividends on the other group's common stock.
HOLDERS OF NYT STOCK OR DIGITAL STOCK WILL NOT HAVE ANY LEGAL RIGHTS
RELATED TO SPECIFIC ASSETS OF THE NYT GROUP OR THE DIGITAL GROUP.
Even though from a financial reporting standpoint we have allocated our
consolidated assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and cash flow between the
NYT group and the Digital group, that allocation will not change the legal title
to any assets or responsibility for any liabilities and will not affect the
rights of any of our creditors. Further, in any liquidation, holders of NYT
stock and Digital stock will not have any legal rights related to specific
assets of either the NYT group or the Digital group, but will receive a share of
the net assets of the Company based on the relative market values of
<PAGE>
18
NYT stock and Digital stock rather than on any assessment of the actual value of
the NYT group or the Digital group.
THERE WILL BE CONFLICTS OF INTEREST INVOLVING THE NYT GROUP AND THE DIGITAL
GROUP AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS COULD MAKE DECISIONS AFFECTING THE NYT
GROUP AND THE DIGITAL GROUP DIFFERENTLY.
The extensive relationship between the NYT group and the Digital group
will create inherent conflicts between the interests of holders of NYT stock and
Digital stock. The board of directors of the Company, or the capital stock
committee of the board acting on its behalf, will make operational and financial
decisions and implement policies that may affect the businesses of the NYT group
and the Digital group and the classes of common stock of the Company
differently, potentially favoring one business or class of common stock at the
expense of the other. Examples include decisions regarding:
- future allocations of assets, liabilities, revenues, expenses, cash flows
and the tax consequences of operations;
- the allocation of business opportunities, resources and personnel;
- the manner of accounting for a transfer of funds between the NYT group
and the Digital group either as a revolving credit advance or a long-term
loan, or as analogous to a contribution to or return of capital;
- the allocation of funds for capital expenditures;
- the payment of dividends on NYT stock and Digital stock;
- the repurchase of NYT stock and Digital stock;
- the allocation of proceeds from the issuance, and the costs of
repurchases of Digital stock either to the Digital group or to the NYT
group in respect of its retained interest in the Digital group;
- the allocation of any issuances of debt or preferred stock of the Company
between the NYT group and the Digital group;
- the position we take with respect to various regulatory issues;
- the allocation of consideration received upon a sale or merger of the
Company between holders of NYT stock and Digital stock;
- the redemption of Digital stock in exchange for Class A stock or in
exchange for the stock of a subsidiary;
- the sale of assets of either the NYT group or the Digital group; and
- other transactions between the NYT group and the Digital group.
The tracking stock policies provide that material matters involving
potentially divergent interests will be resolved in a manner that the board of
directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, determines to be
in our best interest and in the best interests of all of our common stockholders
after giving fair consideration to the potentially divergent interests and all
other relevant interests of the holders of the separate classes of our common
stock, including the holders of NYT stock. The tracking stock policies may, at
any time without the approval of our stockholders, be modified, suspended or
rescinded, and additional policies may be adopted, or exceptions made to such
policies in connection with particular facts and circumstances, all as the board
of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, consistent
with its fiduciary duties to the Times Company and all our common stockholders,
may determine. For a more comprehensive description of these policies, see "
Proposal 7-Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Inter-Group
<PAGE>
19
Relationship and Allocations." Nevertheless, the board of directors, or the
capital stock committee acting on its behalf, could take actions that benefit or
appear to benefit the Digital group at the expense of the NYT group.
We expect that our directors will own disproportionate amounts, in both
percentage and value terms, of NYT stock and Digital stock. This disparity in
ownership interests may create or appear to create potential conflicts of
interest when these directors are faced with decisions that could have different
implications for the different classes of common stock.
PRINCIPLES OF LAW MAY PROTECT DECISIONS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS THAT HAVE
A DISPARATE IMPACT UPON HOLDERS OF DIGITAL STOCK AND NYT STOCK.
Principles of law established in cases involving differing treatment of
two classes of common stock issued by companies incorporated outside New York
generally provide that a board of directors owes an equal duty to all common
stockholders regardless of class and does not have separate or additional duties
to either group of stockholders. We are not aware of any legislative or judicial
precedent involving the fiduciary duties of directors of a New York corporation
with multiple classes of common stock with separate rights related to specified
operations of the corporation. However, under principles of law known as the
"business judgment rule," you may not be able to challenge decisions that have a
disparate impact upon holders of NYT stock or Digital stock, so long as the
board of directors can show that it:
- was disinterested and adequately informed with respect to such decisions;
and
- acted in good faith and in the belief that it was acting in the best
interests of all of our stockholders.
OUR POLICIES REGARDING THE INTER-GROUP RELATIONSHIP ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Our board of directors has adopted the tracking stock policies governing
the relationship between the NYT group and the Digital group and other tracking
stock matters. The board of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on
its behalf, may, acting in good faith consistent with its fiduciary duties,
modify, rescind or add to any of the policies in a manner that is
disadvantageous to holders of NYT stock. The board's discretion to change these
policies makes it riskier to be a holder of NYT stock than a holder of ordinary
common stock. For a description of these policies, see
"Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations."
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS MAY DECLARE MORE OR LESS DIVIDENDS ON ONE GROUP'S
COMMON STOCK THAN IF THAT GROUP WERE A SEPARATE COMPANY.
We may pay dividends on the NYT stock and the Digital stock in the
respective amounts that equal the lesser of the amount legally available for the
Company as a whole and the amount that would be legally available for the NYT
group or the Digital group, as the case may be, if it were a separate
corporation. Subject to the foregoing, our board of directors has the authority
to declare and pay dividends on the NYT stock and the Digital stock in any
amount. Our board of directors could, in its sole discretion, declare and pay
dividends exclusively on the NYT stock, exclusively on the Digital stock or on
both, in equal or unequal amounts. The performance of one group may cause our
board of directors to pay more or less dividends on the common stock relating to
the other group than if that other group were a stand-alone company. Our board
of directors will not be required to consider the amount of dividends previously
declared on each class of common stock, the respective voting or liquidation
rights of each class or any other factor. In addition, net losses of either the
NYT group or
<PAGE>
20
the Digital group, and any dividends or distributions on, or repurchases of,
either class, will reduce the assets of the Company legally available for
dividends on all classes of common stock.
HOLDERS OF NYT STOCK COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY AN EXCHANGE OF THE
DIGITAL STOCK.
At any time after January 1, 2003, or the earlier occurrence of certain
tax-related events, our board of directors, or the capital stock committee
acting on its behalf, in its sole discretion and without stockholder approval,
could determine to redeem shares of Digital stock in exchange for shares of
Class A stock at a 15% premium. No premium will be payable if the exchange is
made after the aggregate market value of the outstanding Digital stock has
exceeded the aggregate market value of the outstanding NYT stock for a specified
period, assuming the conversion of Class B stock into Class A stock for purposes
of the calculation. In addition, if we sell all or substantially all of the
assets of the Digital group, we are required to take certain steps which may
include the exchange of all outstanding shares of Digital stock for Class A
stock at a 10% premium. Since we could determine to effect an exchange in either
of the foregoing circumstances at a time when either or both of Class A stock or
Digital stock may be considered to be overvalued or undervalued, any such
exchange could be disadvantageous to holders of NYT stock. If we issue Class A
stock in exchange for Digital stock, the then current holders of Class A stock
will be diluted. See "Proposal 7-Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Description of Digital Stock--Exchange of Digital Stock for Class
A Stock."
THE ISSUANCE OF DIGITAL STOCK WILL DILUTE THE VOTING RIGHTS OF THE CLASS A
STOCKHOLDERS.
The holders of Digital stock and Class A stock will vote together on those
matters on which they are entitled to vote. As a result, the issuance of Digital
stock in the offering or otherwise will reduce the voting power of Class A
stockholders as a group. Each share of Digital stock will have a number of votes
equal to the average market value of a share of Digital stock divided by the
average market value of a share of Class A stock over a specified 20 trading day
period prior to the date of the vote, provided that holders of Digital stock as
a class may cast no more than 40% of the total votes to be cast by holders of
Digital stock and Class A stock combined. Therefore, when holders of Class A
stock and Digital stock vote together as a single class, the holders of Class A
stock, as a group, will be in a position to control the outcome of the vote even
if the matter involves a conflict of interest between the holders of Class A
stock and holders of Digital stock.
As an example of the relative voting rights, assume that 15.0 million
shares of Digital stock are issued and outstanding, with an average market value
during the specified period of $25. Further assume that 175.0 million shares of
Class A stock are issued and outstanding, with an average market value during
the specified period of $50. Each share of Digital stock would be entitled to
one half of one vote, and all Digital stock would be entitled to 7.5 million
votes. Each share of Class A stock would be entitled to one vote per share and
all Class A stock would be entitled to 175.0 million votes. As a result, the
holders of Class A stock, as a class, would be entitled to cast 95.9% of the
total vote and holders of the Digital stock would be entitled to cast 4.1%.
WE MAY EXCHANGE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF A SUBSIDIARY FOR SHARES OF
DIGITAL STOCK IN CONNECTION WITH A SPIN-OFF OF THE SUBSIDIARY WITHOUT YOUR
APPROVAL.
We will have the right, at any time, to exchange common stock of a
subsidiary of the Company for Digital stock so long as the assets and
liabilities of the Digital group are held directly or indirectly by the
subsidiary. In such event, holders of Digital stock will receive shares of a
class of common stock in the subsidiary that possesses voting rights with
respect to the subsidiary that are generally comparable to the voting rights
that Digital stock has with respect to the Company, except that such
<PAGE>
21
stock will have a fixed one vote per share on matters on which it is entitled to
vote. These shares will represent the same proportionate interest in that
subsidiary that the Digital stock is deemed to represent in the Digital group at
the time of the exchange. The Company will distribute the remaining shares of
the subsidiary to the holders of NYT stock, with the holders of Class A stock
receiving shares of the same class as the shares issued to the holders of
Digital stock and the holders of Class B stock receiving shares of a separate
class of common stock of the subsidiary that possesses voting rights with
respect to the subsidiary that are generally comparable to the voting rights
that Class B stock has with respect to the Company. Thus, the holders of the
Class B stock will control this company upon completion of the spin-off. The
1997 Trust, a trust for the benefit of the Ochs/Sulzberger family, currently
holds approximately 87% of our Class B stock. See "Proposal 7--Amendment and
Restatement of Certificate of Incorporation--Interest of Ochs/Sulzberger Family
in the Offering." In addition, depending on the circumstances at the time, an
exchange of stock of a subsidiary of the Company for Digital stock and the
distribution of the remaining stock of the subsidiary to the holders of NYT
stock could be taxable to holders of Digital stock and NYT stock and to the
Company for United States federal income tax purposes.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS HAS DISCRETION TO ALLOCATE PROCEEDS UPON ISSUANCES
OR COSTS OF REPURCHASES OF DIGITAL STOCK TO THE DIGITAL GROUP OR THE NYT
GROUP.
The board of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its
behalf, will determine whether to allocate the proceeds of issuances, or the
costs of repurchases, of Digital stock to NYT in respect of its retained
interest in Digital or to the equity of Digital. To the extent the board of
directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, attributes an
issuance or a repurchase of Digital stock to the NYT group in respect of its
retained interest in the Digital group, this retained interest will be adjusted
accordingly. The market value of NYT stock may be adversely affected in the
event that a repurchase of Digital stock is allocated to the NYT group at a time
when the Digital stock is perceived to be overvalued, or in the event that an
issuance of Digital stock is allocated to the NYT group at a time when the
Digital stock is perceived to be undervalued. For a more complete description of
how the board of directors will allocate cash between the NYT group and the
Digital group, see "Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations."
EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY WILL HAVE A REDUCED INTEREST IN THE
DIGITAL GROUP.
It is intended that holders of NYT stock will participate in the ownership
of the Digital group through the NYT group's retained interest in Digital, which
will decrease as a result of the issuance of Digital stock in the offering or
otherwise. The price at which the Digital stock will be sold to the public in
the offering will be determined by negotiations with the underwriters. Holders
of NYT stock will suffer an immediate loss in value to the extent, if any, that
the offering price is below the inherent value of Digital stock. The price at
which any shares of Digital stock may be sold in the future may not reflect
accurately the value of Digital stock, and thus holders of NYT stock may not
appropriately benefit from such issuances. In addition, there can be no
assurance that the market value of the NYT stock will reflect accurately the
retained interest in the Digital group.
THE COST OF MAINTAINING SEPARATE GROUPS MAY EXCEED THE COSTS ASSOCIATED
WITH OPERATING THE COMPANY AS A SINGLE ENTITY.
The costs associated with implementing the tracking stock proposal and the
ongoing cost of operating the NYT group and the Digital group as separate groups
may exceed the costs associated with operating our company as it currently
exists. In particular, the issuance of the Digital stock will
<PAGE>
22
result in a complex capital structure and additional stock exchange and SEC
reporting requirements with respect to each group.
WE MAY DECIDE NOT TO OFFER PUBLICLY DIGITAL STOCK.
This proxy statement describes our plans for an offering of Digital stock.
Such an offering is subject to various conditions and uncertainties, so we
cannot assure you that it will be completed or that Digital stock will not be
issued in another manner. Even if an offering occurs, there can be no certainty
regarding the amount of proceeds we would realize.
CLINTON ADMINISTRATION LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS COULD RESULT IN THE EXCHANGE
OF CLASS A STOCK FOR DIGITAL STOCK PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 2003.
Legislative proposals made by the Clinton Administration in February 1999
and February 2000 relate to the issuance of stock similar to Digital stock. The
February 1999 proposal would impose a corporate-level tax on the issuance of
tracking stock. The February 2000 proposal would provide that if a corporation
issues tracking stock to a stockholder in respect of, or in exchange for, the
stockholder's stock in the corporation, then the stockholder will be treated as
having received a taxable distribution of property. Both provisions are proposed
to be effective for tracking stock issued on or after the date of enactment. No
tax legislation has subsequently been enacted incorporating either of these
proposals. We cannot predict whether either proposal will be enacted or, if
enacted, whether it will be in the form proposed. If either Clinton
Administration proposal or a similar proposal is enacted, then we or our
stockholders could be subject to tax on an issuance of Digital stock on or after
the date of enactment. We may issue Class A stock in exchange for Digital stock
at any time at a 15% premium or no premium, depending on the relative market
values of the outstanding Digital stock and NYT stock, if, based on the opinion
of our tax counsel, as a result of the enactment of legislative changes or
administrative proposals or changes, it is more likely than not that we or our
stockholders will be subject to tax upon issuance of Digital stock or NYT stock
or that any such stock will not be treated as stock of The New York Times
Company. If we issue Class A stock in exchange for Digital stock, it could occur
at a time when the Class A stock may be considered undervalued or the Digital
stock may be considered overvalued. See "Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement
of Certificate of Incorporation--Description of Capital Stock--Exchange of
Digital Stock for Class A Stock."
<PAGE>
23
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some of the information in this Proxy Statement may constitute
forward-looking statements which involve various risks and uncertainties. These
statements discuss future expectations, contain projections of results of
operations or of financial condition or state other "forward-looking"
information. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ
materially from those in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of
factors that could cause actual results to differ, please see the discussion
under "Risk Factors Relating to Tracking Stock Proposals" contained in this
Proxy Statement and in other information contained in our publicly available
filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We file reports, proxy statements, and other information with the SEC.
Such reports, proxy statements, and other information concerning The New York
Times Company can be read and copied at the SEC's Public Reference Room at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. The SEC
maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy
and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file
electronically with the SEC, including The New York Times Company. The Class A
stock of The New York Times Company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
Reports and other information concerning us can also be inspected at the office
of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
The information contained on our websites is not part of this Proxy Statement.
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC respecting the
proposed public offering of Digital stock. This registration statement has not
yet become effective. The registration statement can be obtained from the SEC as
indicated above.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this
Proxy Statement. This means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information
incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this Proxy Statement, except
for any information superseded by information in this Proxy Statement. This
Proxy Statement incorporates by reference the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the
Company for the year ended December 26, 1999, that we have previously filed with
the SEC. This document contains important information about the Company and its
finances.
We are also incorporating by reference additional documents that we file
with the SEC between the date of this Proxy Statement and the date of the Annual
Meeting of our stockholders.
You can obtain any of the incorporated documents by contacting us or the
SEC. We will send you the documents incorporated by reference without charge,
excluding exhibits to the information that is incorporated by reference, unless
we have specifically incorporated by reference the exhibit in this document.
Stockholders may obtain documents incorporated by reference in this
document by requesting them in writing or by telephone from the appropriate
party at the following address:
The New York Times Company
229 West 43rd Street
New York, New York 10036
(212) 556-1234
Attention: Corporate Secretary
<PAGE>
24
If you would like to request documents from us, including any documents we
may subsequently file with the SEC prior to the Annual Meeting, please do so by
May , 2000, so that you will receive them before the Annual Meeting.
YOU SHOULD RELY ONLY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY
REFERENCE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT TO VOTE ON THE PROPOSALS. WE HAVE NOT
AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH INFORMATION THAT IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT IS
CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT. THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS DATED APRIL , 2000.
YOU SHOULD NOT ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT IS
ACCURATE AS OF ANY DATE OTHER THAN SUCH DATE, AND THE MAILING OF THIS PROXY
STATEMENT TO STOCKHOLDERS SHALL NOT CREATE ANY IMPLICATION TO THE CONTRARY.
<PAGE>
25
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL INFORMATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRINCIPAL HOLDERS OF COMMON STOCK
The following table sets forth the only persons who, to the knowledge of
management, owned beneficially on April 6, 2000, more than 5% of the outstanding
shares of either Class A or Class B stock:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND ADDRESS SHARES (%)
- ----------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
CLASS A CLASS B
------------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1997 Trust(1,2)................................ 2,138,810 (1.3%) 738,810 (87.2%)
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Lynn G. Dolnick(1,2,3)......................... 2,181,807 (1.3%) 739,928 (87.3%)
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Marian S. Heiskell(1,2,4,5).................... 11,795,288 (6.9%) 741,780 (87.6%)
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Ruth S. Holmberg(1,2,4,6)...................... 13,098,683 (7.7%) 741,180 (87.5%)
100 East 10th Street
Chattanooga, TN 37402
Judith P. Sulzberger(1,2,4,7).................. 13,213,083 (7.7%) 741,180 (87.5%)
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger(1,2,4,8)................ 15,019,972 (8.7%) 742,380 (87.6%)
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
Benjamin B. Taylor(9).......................... 8,668,925 (5.1%) 0
Globe Voting Trust
c/o Bingham Dana & Gould
150 Federal Street
Boston, MA 02110
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
1. Each of Dr. Dolnick, Mrs. Heiskell, Mrs. Holmberg, Dr. Sulzberger and
Mr. Sulzberger, as trustees of the 1997 Trust (as defined and described
below in the "The 1997 Trust"), share voting and investment power with
respect to the shares owned by the 1997 Trust. Thus, under SEC regulations,
each may be deemed a beneficial owner of the shares held by the 1997 Trust.
Such shares are therefore included in the amounts listed in this table for
each of them. As a result of this presentation, there are substantial
duplications in the number of shares and percentages shown in the table. By
virtue of their being co-trustees of the 1997 Trust, Dr. Dolnick,
Mrs. Heiskell, Mrs. Holmberg, Dr. Sulzberger and Mr. Sulzberger could be
deemed to comprise a "group" within the meaning of SEC regulations. Such
group is the beneficial owner in the aggregate of 29,982,885 shares of
Class A stock, representing approximately 17.5% of the outstanding shares of
Class A stock, which shares include 751,208 shares issuable upon the
conversion of 751,208 shares of Class B stock and 792,956 shares of Class A
stock which could be acquired within 60 days upon the exercise of options
granted under the Company's stock option plans.
(FOOTNOTES CONTINUE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
<PAGE>
26
(FOOTNOTES CONTINUED FROM PRECEDING PAGE)
2. Class B stock is convertible into Class A stock on a share-for-share basis.
Ownership of Class B stock is therefore deemed to be beneficial ownership of
Class A stock under SEC regulations. For purposes of the table of Class A
ownership, it has been assumed that each person listed therein as holding
Class B stock has converted into Class A stock all shares of Class B stock
of which that person is deemed the beneficial owner. Thus all shares of
Class B stock held by the 1997 Trust and by Dr. Dolnick, Mrs. Heiskell,
Mrs. Holmberg, Dr. Sulzberger and Mr. Sulzberger have been included in the
calculation of the total amount of Class A stock owned by each such person
as well as in the calculation of the total amount of Class B stock owned by
each such person. As a result of this presentation, there are substantial
duplications in the number of shares and percentages shown in the table.
3. In addition to the amounts of Class A and Class B stock described in notes 1
and 2, the holdings reported for Dr. Dolnick include (a) 13,258 shares of
Class A stock and 1,118 shares of Class B stock held jointly with her
husband, (b) 231 shares of Class A stock held by the Golden Family
Charitable Fund, Inc., as to which Dr. Dolnick has sole voting and no
investment power and (c) 28,390 shares of Class A stock held by two trusts
of which Dr. Dolnick is the sole trustee. These trusts were created by
Dr. Dolnick's brother, Michael Golden, for the benefit of his daughters.
Dr. Dolnick disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares.
4. The holdings of Class A stock reported for Mrs. Heiskell, Mrs. Holmberg,
Dr. Sulzberger and Mr. Sulzberger include a total of 5,260,300 shares of
Class A stock held in approximately equal amounts by four limited
partnerships. Each individual has established one such limited partnership
for estate planning purposes. The limited partnerships are managed, and
thus, under SEC rules, beneficial ownership of these shares is held, by a
limited liability company. Because control of this company is shared equally
by its members, Mrs. Heiskell, Mrs. Holmberg, Dr. Sulzberger and
Mr. Sulzberger, the shares held by all four limited partnerships are
included in the table as owned by each of them. The holdings of Class A
stock reported for Mrs. Heiskell, Mrs. Holmberg, Mr. Sulzberger and
Dr. Sulzberger also include 329,936 shares of Class A stock held by The
Sulzberger Foundation, Inc., a private foundation of which they are officers
and directors. As a result of this presentation, there are substantial
duplications in the number of shares and percentages shown in the table for
these individuals.
5. In addition to the amounts of Class A and Class B stock described in notes
1, 2 and 4, the holdings reported for Mrs. Heiskell include 4,055,272 shares
of Class A stock and 2,970 shares of Class B stock held directly, and 8,000
shares of Class A stock which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to
options granted under the Directors' Plan.
6. In addition to the amounts of Class A and Class B stock described in notes
1, 2 and 4, the holdings reported for Mrs. Holmberg include 5,345,187 shares
of Class A stock and 2,370 shares of Class B stock held directly, 12,000
shares of Class A stock which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to
options granted under the Directors' Plan, and 10,080 shares of Class A
stock held by three trusts created by Mr. Holmberg for his children.
Mrs. Holmberg is a trustee of these trusts.
7. In addition to the amounts of Class A and Class B stock described in notes
1, 2 and 4, the holdings reported by Dr. Sulzberger include 5,461,667 shares
of Class A stock and 2,370 shares of Class B stock held directly, and 20,000
shares of Class A stock which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to
options granted under the Directors' Plan.
8. In addition to the amounts of Class A and Class B stock described in notes
1, 2 and 4, the holdings reported for Mr. Sulzberger include 5,034,400
shares of Class A stock and 3,570 shares of Class B stock held directly,
1,500,000 shares of Class A stock held by a trust created by Mrs. Heiskell
of which Mr. Sulzberger is the trustee, and 752,956 shares of Class A stock
which
(FOOTNOTES CONTINUE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
<PAGE>
27
(FOOTNOTES CONTINUED FROM PRECEDING PAGE)
could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options granted under the
Company's Executive Incentive Compensation Plan, the NYT Plans and the
Directors' Plan. The holdings of Class A stock reported for Mr. Sulzberger
exclude 4,150 shares of Class A stock owned by his wife as her separate
property.
9. Mr. Taylor, as a trustee of the Globe Voting Trust, a voting trust holding
shares of Class A stock issued when the Company acquired Affiliated
Publications, Inc. the former parent of THE BOSTON GLOBE ("API") in 1993,
shares voting power with respect to the 8,252,053 shares of Class A stock
held by the Globe Voting Trust, and thus under SEC rules is deemed to
beneficially own those shares. Except as set forth below, Mr. Taylor has no
economic interest in these shares and no beneficial interest in the Globe
Voting Trust. The holdings reported for Mr. Taylor include the following
533,530 shares in which Mr. Taylor has an economic interest: (a) 11,034
shares held directly, (b) 291,466 shares held through ownership of units in
the Globe Voting Trust by a trust of which Mr. Taylor is a co-trustee and
sole beneficiary, (c) 75,000 shares held through ownership of units in the
Globe Voting Trust by a trust of which Mr. Taylor's wife is a co-trustee and
his descendants are the sole beneficiaries, (d) 8,550 shares held through
ownership of units in the Globe Voting Trust by Mr. Taylor as custodian for
the benefit of his children, (e) 2,676 shares held through ownership of
units in the Globe Voting Trust by a trust of which Mr. Taylor's wife is a
co-trustee and sole beneficiary, and (f) 144,804 shares could be acquired
within 60 days pursuant to options granted under the NYT Plans (of which
10,563 options have been transferred to the trust of which Mr. Taylor's wife
is a co-trustee and his descendants are the sole beneficiaries) or pursuant
to options granted under stock option plans of API (these options were
converted into options to purchase Class A stock upon the acquisition of API
by the Company). The holdings reported for Mr. Taylor also include 261,034
shares of Class A stock held through two trusts (other than the Globe Voting
Trust) of which Mr. Taylor is co-trustee. Mr. Taylor has no economic
interest in these shares and is not a beneficiary of either trust with
respect to such shares. Because Mr. Taylor shares the power to vote and, in
some cases, to dispose or direct the disposition of these shares, SEC rules
require the inclusion of such shares in the table as beneficially owned by
Mr. Taylor.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
The following table shows the beneficial ownership, reported to the
Company as of April 6, 2000 of Class A and Class B stock, including shares as to
which a right to acquire ownership exists (by the exercise of stock options or
the conversion of Class B stock into Class A stock) within the meaning of
Rule 13d-3(d)(1) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of each
director, each nominee for election as director, the chief executive officer and
the four other most highly compensated executive officers of the Company during
1999 and all directors, nominees and executive officers of the Company, as a
group. A portion of the shares reported below are held by the 1997 Trust, whose
trustees share voting and, in some cases, investment power with respect thereto.
See "The 1997 Trust."
<PAGE>
28
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES (%)
--------------------------------------------
CLASS A CLASS B
-------------------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
John F. Akers(1)...................................... 32,030 (*) 0
Director
Brenda C. Barnes(2)................................... 12,450 (*) 0
Director
Raul E. Cesan(3)...................................... 29,000 (*) 0
Director
Jacqueline H. Dryfoos(4,5)............................ 151,073 (*) 600 (*)
Nominee for Director
Richard L. Gelb(1).................................... 42,000 (*) 0
Director
Michael Golden(4,6)................................... 171,209 (*) 1,120 (*)
Vice Chairman, Senior Vice President and Director
Robert A. Lawrence(7)................................. 53,996 (*) 0
Director
Russell T. Lewis(8)................................... 98,838 (*) 0
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
David E. Liddle....................................... 0 (*) 0
Nominee for Director
Ellen R. Marram(2).................................... 12,000 (*) 0
Director
John M. O'Brien(9).................................... 81,944 (*) 0
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Charles H. Price II(1)................................ 26,000 (*) 0
Director
Janet L. Robinson(10)................................. 133,702 (*) 0
President and General Manager of THE NEW YORK TIMES
Henry B. Schacht(3)................................... 14,000 (*) 0
Director
Donald M. Stewart(11)................................. 22,440 (*) 0
Director
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger(4,12).......................... 15,019,972 (8.7%) 742,380 (87.6%)
Chairman Emeritus and Director
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.(4,13).......................... 297,047 (*) 960 (*)
Chairman of the Board and Publisher of THE NEW YORK
TIMES
Judith P. Sulzberger(4,12)............................ 13,213,083 (7.7%) 741,180 (87.5%)
Director
All Directors, Nominees and Executive Officers(4)
(28 individuals)...................................... 21,981,724 (12.7%) 747,430 (88.2%)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
* Less than 1%.
(FOOTNOTES CONTINUE ON FOLLOWING PAGE)
<PAGE>
29
(FOOTNOTES CONTINUED FROM PRECEDING PAGE)
1. The amount reported for this director includes 24,000 shares of Class A
stock which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the
Directors' Plan.
2. The amount reported for this director includes 8,000 shares of Class A stock
which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the
Directors' Plan.
3. The amount reported for this director includes 4,000 shares of Class A stock
which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the
Directors' Plan.
4. Class B stock is convertible into Class A stock on a share-for-share basis.
Ownership of Class B stock is therefore deemed to be beneficial ownership of
Class A stock under SEC regulations. For purposes of the presentation of
ownership of Class A stock in this table, it has been assumed that each
director, nominee and executive officer has converted into Class A stock all
shares of Class B stock of which that person is deemed the beneficial owner.
Thus all shares of Class B stock held by the directors, nominees and
executive officers, including shares held by the 1997 Trust, have been
included in the calculation of the total amount of Class A stock owned by
such persons as well as in the calculation of the total amount of Class B
stock owned by such persons.
5. The amount reported for Ms. Dryfoos includes 2,025 shares of Class A stock
held directly; 148,448 shares held by trusts of which Ms. Dryfoos is a
trustee; and 600 shares which could be acquired upon conversion of
Ms. Dryfoos's 600 shares of Class B stock.
6. The amount reported for Mr. Golden includes 34,469 shares of Class A stock
held directly; 135,620 shares which could be acquired within 60 days
pursuant to options under the NYT Stock Plan (of which 28,305 options have
been transferred to a family limited partnership); and 1,120 shares which
could be acquired upon conversion of Mr. Golden's 1,120 shares of Class B
stock. The holdings of Class A stock reported for Mr. Golden exclude 700
shares held by Mr. Golden's wife.
7. The amount reported for Mr. Lawrence includes 18,000 shares of Class A stock
which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the
Directors' Plan.
8. The amount reported for Mr. Lewis includes 96,847 shares of Class A stock
which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the NYT
Stock Plan (of which 29,673 options have been transferred to his two
children).
9. The amount reported for Mr. O'Brien includes 74,561 shares of Class A stock
which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the NYT
Stock Plan.
10. The amount reported for Ms. Robinson includes 129,223 shares of Class A
stock which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the
NYT Stock Plan.
11. The amount reported for Dr. Stewart includes 16,000 shares of Class A stock
which could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the
Directors' Plan.
12. See "Principal Holders of Common Stock" and "The 1997 Trust" for a
discussion of this director's holdings.
13. The amount reported for Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. includes 35,308 shares of
Class A stock held directly; 18,680 shares held by trusts of which
Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. is a trustee, which were created by Mr. Sulzberger,
Jr.'s cousin for the benefit of the latter's children and of which
Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. disclaims beneficial ownership; 242,099 shares which
could be acquired within 60 days pursuant to options under the NYT Stock
Plan (of which 110,196 options have been transferred to a family limited
partnership); and 960 shares which could be acquired upon conversion of
Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s 960 shares of Class B stock. The holdings of Class A
stock reported for Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. exclude 21,870 shares held by
Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s wife as custodian for their minor children.
<PAGE>
30
SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE
The Company's directors and executive officers and the beneficial holders
of more than 10% of the Class A stock are required to file reports with the SEC
of changes in their ownership of Company stock. Based on its review of such
reports, the Company believes that all such filing requirements were met during
1999, except that Richard M. Gilman, an executive officer, filed his initial
Form 3 report late.
THE 1997 TRUST
Mrs. Heiskell, Mrs. Holmberg, Dr. Sulzberger and Mr. Sulzberger (the
"grantors") (see "Principal Holders of Common Stock") have executed an indenture
creating a trust (the "1997 Trust") for the benefit of each of the grantors and
his or her family. The grantors transferred to the 1997 Trust shares of Class A
and Class B stock previously held by four separate trusts (the "1986 Trusts"),
one for the benefit of each of the grantors and his or her family. The 1986
Trusts were terminated by unanimous vote by the trustees thereof on June 24,
1997, and on July 11, 1997, the assets of each 1986 Trust were transferred back
to its grantor. The 1997 Trust currently holds 738,810 shares of Class B stock
and 1,400,000 shares of Class A stock. The four grantors and Lynn G. Dolnick,
daughter of Mrs. Holmberg, are the initial trustees of the 1997 Trust.
The 1997 Trust will continue in existence until the expiration of
21 years after the death of the survivor of all descendants of the mother of the
grantors, Mrs. Iphigene Ochs Sulzberger ("Mrs. Sulzberger"), living on June 24,
1997. The Indenture of Trust is subject to the terms and provisions of a
shareholders agreement (the "Shareholders Agreement") among the grantors, their
children and the Company, which restricts the transfer of Class B stock held by
the 1997 Trust by requiring, prior to any sale or transfer, the offering of
those shares among the other family stockholders (including the 1997 Trust) and
then to the Company at the Class A stock market price then prevailing (or if the
Company is the purchaser, at the option of the selling stockholder, in exchange
for Class A stock on a share-for-share basis). The Shareholders Agreement
provides for the conversion of such shares into Class A stock if the purchase
rights are not exercised by the family stockholders (including the 1997 Trust)
or the Company and such shares of Class A stock are to be transferred to a
person or persons other than family stockholders or the Company. There are
certain exceptions for gifts and other transfers within the family of Adolph S.
Ochs provided that the recipients become parties to the Shareholders Agreement.
In addition, the Shareholders Agreement provides that if the Company is a
party to a merger (other than a merger solely to change the Company's
jurisdiction of incorporation), consolidation or plan of liquidation in which
the Class B stock is exchanged for cash, stock, securities or any other property
of the Company or of any other corporation or entity, each signing stockholder
will convert his or her shares of Class B stock into Class A stock prior to the
effective date of such transaction so that a holder of such shares will receive
the same cash, stock or other consideration that a holder of Class A stock would
receive in such a transaction. Except for the foregoing, each signing
stockholder has agreed not to convert any shares of Class B stock received from
a trust created under the will of Adolph S. Ochs into Class A stock. The
Shareholders Agreement will terminate upon the expiration of 21 years after the
death of the survivor of all descendants of Mrs. Sulzberger living on August 5,
1986.
The trustees of the 1997 Trust, subject to the limited exceptions
described below, are directed to retain the Class B stock held in the 1997 Trust
and not to sell, distribute or convert such shares into Class A stock and to
vote such Class B stock against any merger, sale of assets or other transaction
pursuant to which control of THE NEW YORK TIMES passes from the trustees unless
they unanimously
<PAGE>
31
determine that the primary objective of the 1997 Trust, which is to maintain the
editorial independence and integrity of THE NEW YORK TIMES and to continue it as
an independent newspaper, entirely fearless, free of ulterior influence and
unselfishly devoted to the public welfare, can be achieved better by the sale,
distribution or conversion of such stock or by the implementation of such
transaction. If upon such determination any Class B stock is distributed to the
beneficiaries of the 1997 Trust, it must be distributed only to descendants of
Mrs. Sulzberger, subject to the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement.
Similarly, any sale by the 1997 Trust of Class B stock upon such determination
can be made only in compliance with the Shareholders Agreement.
The trustees of the 1997 Trust are granted various powers and rights,
including among others: (i) to vote all of the shares of Class A and Class B
stock held by the 1997 Trust; and (ii) to amend certain provisions of the Trust
Indenture, but not the provisions relating to retaining the Class B stock or the
manner in which such shares may be distributed, sold or converted. The trustees
act by the affirmative vote of four trustees, except that prior to any sale or
distribution of Class B stock outside of the 1997 Trust, any conversion of
Class B stock or a vote to approve a merger, sale of assets or other transaction
pursuant to which control of THE NEW YORK TIMES passes from the trustees, the
trustees must unanimously determine that the primary purpose of the 1997 Trust
as described above is best achieved by such sale or distribution, conversion or
other transaction. Unanimity is also required for the amendment of those
provisions of the Trust Indenture which may be amended. None of the grantors may
be removed as trustee of the 1997 Trust unless the remaining four trustees
determine that such individual is physically or mentally incapable of performing
adequately as a trustee. A trustee who is not one of the grantors may be removed
by the unanimous agreement of the other four trustees. A trustee who is not a
grantor shall serve for a term of five years. When a vacancy in the position of
trustee occurs, a new trustee shall be elected by the beneficiaries of the 1997
Trust.
Upon the termination of the 1997 Trust at the end of the stated term
thereof, the shares of Class A and Class B stock held by such trust will be
distributed to the descendants then living of Mrs. Sulzberger.
See "Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Interest of Ochs/Sulzberger Family in the Offering."
<PAGE>
32
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 1
ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The persons named as proxies intend (unless authority is withheld) to vote
for the election as directors of the persons hereinafter named (the "Nominees"),
upon their nomination for such office at the Annual Meeting. Directors so
elected will hold office until the next Annual Meeting and until their
successors are elected and qualified.
The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides that Class A
stockholders have the right to vote for the election of 30% of the Board of
Directors, or the nearest larger whole number, if such percentage is not a whole
number. Accordingly, the Class A stockholders will elect five of the 15
directors, and Class B stockholders will elect ten directors. Directors are
elected by a plurality of the votes cast.
The five Nominees for election as directors by the Class A stockholders
are Raul E. Cesan, Robert A. Lawrence, Charles H. Price II, Henry B. Schacht and
Donald M. Stewart. The ten Nominees for election as directors by the Class B
stockholders are John F. Akers, Brenda C. Barnes, Jacqueline H. Dryfoos, Richard
L. Gelb, Michael Golden, Russell T. Lewis, David E. Liddle, Ellen R. Marram,
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger and Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. All of the Nominees other than
Ms. Dryfoos and Dr. Liddle are currently directors of the Company and were
elected at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on April 15, 1999, for which
proxies were solicited. Michael Golden, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. and Jacqueline H.
Dryfoos are cousins. Arthur Sulzberger, Jr. is the son of Arthur Ochs
Sulzberger. In accordance with our policy with respect to the retirement of
directors, Judith P. Sulzberger, currently a director, is not standing for
election at this year's Annual Meeting.
If any of the Nominees should become unavailable for election, all
uninstructed proxies will be voted for the election of such other person or
persons as may be designated by the board of directors, but the board of
directors has no reason to anticipate that this will occur. The following
information is furnished with respect to each of the Nominees and is based on
information submitted by the person named:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, AND OTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
CLASS A DIRECTORS
RAUL E. CESAN
[LOGO] President and Chief Operating Officer of Schering-Plough
Corporation, from 1998
Executive Vice President of Schering-Plough Corporation and
President of Schering-Plough Pharmaceuticals (from 1994 to
1998), President of Schering Laboratories (from 1992 to
1994), President of Schering-Plough International (from 1988
to 1992)
Director of Schering-Plough Corporation
Director Since: 1999
Committee Memberships: Audit and Finance
Age: 52
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
33
<TABLE>
ROBERT A. LAWRENCE
[LOGO] Director of various corporations and not-for-profit entities
Partner, Saltonstall & Co. (family trust and investment
office), from 1984 to 1996
Director of Fifty Associates (a real estate investment
trust)
Director Since: 1993
Committee Memberships: Nominating (Chairman), Compensation
and Employee Retirement Income Security Act ("ERISA")
Age: 73
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, AND OTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
THE HONORABLE CHARLES H. PRICE II
[LOGO] Director of various corporations and not-for-profit entities
Chairman, Mercantile Bank of Kansas City, from 1992 to 1996,
and Director, Mercantile Bancorp (bank holding company),
from 1992 to 1996
Director of Texaco Inc. and U.S. Industries, Inc.
United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland from 1983 to 1989
Director Since: 1989
Committee Memberships: Compensation and ERISA
Age: 69
HENRY B. SCHACHT
[LOGO] Director and Senior Advisor, E.M. Warburg, Pincus & Co.,
L.L.C., from 1999
Senior Advisor (from 1998 to 1999), Chairman (from 1996 to
1998) and Chief Executive Officer (from 1996 to 1997),
Lucent Technologies Inc.
Chairman (from 1977 to 1995) and Chief Executive Officer
(from 1973 to 1994), Cummins Engine Company, Inc.
Director of Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa), Chase
Manhattan Corporation and The Chase Manhattan Bank, Cummins
Engine Company, Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Knoll, Inc. and
Lucent Technologies Inc.
Director Since: 1999
Committee Memberships: Finance and ERISA
Age: 65
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
34
<TABLE>
DONALD M. STEWART
[LOGO] President and Chief Executive Designate (June 2000), The
Chicago Community Trust
Senior Program Officer and Special Advisor to the President,
Carnegie Corporation of New York, from 1999 to May 2000
President of The College Board (association of high schools
and colleges, sponsor of Scholastic Assessment Tests and
other academic activities), from 1987 to 1999
Director of Principal Financial Group (Bankers Life of Iowa
Insurance Company) and Campbell Soup Company
Director Since: 1986
Committee Memberships: ERISA (Chairman), Audit and
Nominating
Age: 61
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, AND OTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
CLASS B DIRECTORS
JOHN F. AKERS
[LOGO] Director of various corporations
Chairman (from 1986 to 1993), Director (from 1983 to 1993),
Chief Executive Officer (from 1985 to 1993), and President
(from 1983 to 1989), International Business Machines
Corporation
Director of PepsiCo, Inc., Springs Industries, Inc., Lehman
Brothers Holdings, Inc., Hallmark Cards, Inc. and W.R. Grace
& Co.
Director Since: 1985
Committee Memberships: Finance (Chairman), Compensation and
Nominating
Age: 65
BRENDA C. BARNES
[LOGO] Director of various corporations
Interim President and Chief Operating Officer,
Starwood Hotels & Resorts, November 1999 to March 2000
President and Chief Executive Officer (from 1996 to 1997)
and Chief Operating Officer (from 1993 to 1996), Pepsi-Cola
North America; President (1992), Pepsi-Cola South
Director of Sears, Roebuck and Co., Avon Products, Inc.,
LucasArts Entertainment Company L.L.C. and LucasDigital Ltd.
Director Since: 1998
Committee Memberships: Finance and Compensation
Age: 46
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
35
<TABLE>
JACQUELINE H. DRYFOOS
[LOGO] Psychotherapist
Private Practice (from 1981)
Institute of Contemporary Psychotherapy (from 1986)
Age: 56
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, AND OTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
RICHARD L. GELB
[LOGO] Consultant and Director of various corporations and
not-for-profit entities
Chairman Emeritus (from 1995), Chairman (from 1976 to 1995),
President (from 1967 to 1976), Chief Executive Officer (from
1972 to 1994) and Director (from 1960), Bristol-Myers Squibb
Company (a diversified worldwide health and personal care
company)
Director Since: 1974
Committee Memberships: Compensation (Chairman), Finance and
Nominating
Age: 75
MICHAEL GOLDEN
[LOGO] Vice Chairman and Senior Vice President of the Company, from
1997
Vice President, Operations Development, of the Company (from
1996 to 1997); Executive Vice President, NYT Sports/Leisure
Magazines and Vice President and Publisher, TENNIS magazine
(from 1995 to 1996) and Executive Vice President and General
Manager (from 1994 to 1995) and Senior Vice President and
General Manager (from 1993 to 1994), NYT Women's Magazines
Director Since: 1997
Age: 50
RUSSELL T. LEWIS
[LOGO] President (from 1996) and Chief Executive Officer (from
1997) of the Company
Chief Operating Officer of the Company (from 1996 to 1997),
President and General Manager (from 1993 to 1996), Deputy
General Manager (from 1991 to 1993), Senior Vice President,
Production (from 1988 to 1991) and Senior Vice President,
Circulation (from 1984 to 1988), THE NEW YORK TIMES
Director Since: 1997
Age: 52
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
36
<TABLE>
DAVID E. LIDDLE
[LOGO] Partner, U.S. Venture Partners (from 2000)
Chairman (1999), President (from 1992 to 1999) and
Co-Founder of Interval Research Corporation
Vice President, Personal Systems, International Business
Machines Corporation (1991)
President and Chief Executive Officer, Metaphor Computer
Systems (from 1982 to 1991)
Age: 55
<CAPTION>
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAME, PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION, AND OTHER INFORMATION
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C> <S>
ELLEN R. MARRAM
[LOGO] President and Chief Operating Officer of efdex, Inc. (the
Electronic Food & Drink Exchange), from 1999
President (from 1993 to 1998) and Chief Executive Officer
(from 1997 to 1998), Tropicana Beverage Group, and Executive
Vice President, The Seagram Company Ltd. and Joseph E.
Seagram & Sons Inc., from 1993 to 1998
Senior Vice President, Nabisco Foods Group, and President
and Chief Executive Officer, Nabisco Biscuit Company, from
1988 to 1993
Director of Ford Motor Company
Director Since: 1998
Committee Memberships: Audit (Chairman) and Nominating
Age: 53
ARTHUR OCHS SULZBERGER
[LOGO] Chairman Emeritus, from 1997
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, from
1973 to 1997; Publisher, THE NEW YORK TIMES, from 1963 to
1992
Director Since: 1959
Committee Membership: Nominating
Age: 74
ARTHUR SULZBERGER, JR.
[LOGO] Chairman of the Company, from 1997, and Publisher, THE NEW
YORK TIMES, from 1992
Deputy Publisher (from 1988 to 1992) and Assistant Publisher
(from 1987 to 1988), THE NEW YORK TIMES
Director Since: 1997
Committee Membership: Nominating
Age: 48
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
37
INTEREST OF DIRECTORS IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS OF THE COMPANY
1. In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its subsidiaries
from time to time engage in transactions with other corporations or financial
institutions whose officers or directors are also directors of the Company. Such
transactions are conducted on an arm's length basis and may not come to the
attention of our directors or officers or of the other corporations or financial
institutions involved.
2. During 1999, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., Arthur Ochs Sulzberger's son, was
employed as Chairman of the Company and Publisher of THE NEW YORK TIMES; Michael
Golden, Ruth S. Holmberg's son, was employed as Vice Chairman and Senior Vice
President of the Company; Stephen Golden, Mrs. Holmberg's son, was employed as
Vice President, Forest Products, Health, Safety and Environmental Affairs, of
the Company and President of our Forest Product Group (until June 30, 1999, at
which time he commenced a leave of absence); Daniel Cohen, Judith P.
Sulzberger's son, was employed as Senior Vice President, Advertising, in the
Advertising Department of THE NEW YORK TIMES (until March 21, 1999, at which
time he resigned and became a television programming consultant to the Company
for one year); and Susan W. Dryfoos, Marian S. Heiskell's daughter, was employed
as Director, Times History Productions. For 1999, the Company paid Mr. Stephen
Golden an aggregate of $473,400 and Ms. Dryfoos an aggregate of $185,600. For
1999 and the portion of 2000 through March 21, 2000, Mr. Cohen will receive an
aggregate of $617,300. See "Compensation of Executive Officers" for a
description of Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s and Mr. Michael Golden's compensation.
3. See "Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Interest of Ochs/Sulzberger Family in the Offering" for a
description of the participation of the 1997 Trust or the grantors thereof in
the offering of Digital stock and the inclusion of a provision in the amended
and restated certificate of incorporation regarding the effect of a spin-off of
the Digital group by the Company as a separate entity.
CERTAIN INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
We have standing Audit, Compensation, ERISA, Finance and Nominating
Committees. Effective upon the offering of Digital stock, we will have a Capital
Stock Committee. See "Proposal 7--Amendment and Restatement of Certificate of
Incorporation--Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations--Capital Stock
Committee."
During 1999, the board of directors had six meetings. In addition, its
standing committees, Audit, Compensation, ERISA, Finance and Nominating, held a
total of 16 meetings. All our directors attended 75% or more of the total
meetings of the board and committees of the board of which they are members.
<PAGE>
38
In summary, the functions performed by these committees, their number of
meetings and memberships are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME OF COMMITTEE AND MEMBERS FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE MEETINGS IN 1999
<S> <C> <C>
AUDIT - selects our independent auditors, subject 3
Ellen R. Marram, Chairman to ratification by the stockholders
Raul E. Cesan - reviews the scope and results of the annual
Donald M. Stewart audit
- approves the services to be performed by
the independent auditors
- reviews the independence of the auditors
- reviews the performance and fees of the
independent auditors
- reviews the adequacy of the system of
internal accounting controls
- reviews the scope and results of internal
auditing procedures
COMPENSATION - adopts and oversees the administration of 3
Richard L. Gelb, Chairman compensation plans for our executive
John F. Akers officers and senior management
Brenda C. Barnes - determines awards granted senior management
Robert A. Lawrence under such plans
Charles H. Price II - approves remuneration arrangements for
senior management, including all our
executive officers
- reviews the reasonableness of all such
compensation
ERISA - appoints the member of our employee 2
Donald M. Stewart, Chairman benefits committee
Robert A. Lawrence - appoints and reviews the performance of the
Charles H. Price II trustees and investment managers of our
Henry B. Schacht pension plans and related trusts
FINANCE - reviews our financial policies, including, 5
John F. Akers, Chairman without limitation, dividend policy,
Brenda C. Barnes repurchase of our stock, short- and
Raul E. Cesan long-term financing, material acquisitions
Richard L. Gelb and dispositions and capital expenditures
Henry B. Schacht
Judith P. Sulzberger
NOMINATING - screens and recommends candidates to fill 3
Robert A. Lawrence, Chairman vacancies on the board of directors
John F. Akers
Richard L. Gelb
Ellen R. Marram
Donald M. Stewart
Arthur Ochs Sulzberger
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
39
Stockholders wishing to recommend director candidates for consideration by
the Nominating Committee may do so by writing to our Secretary, giving the
recommended nominee's name, biographical data and qualifications, accompanied by
the written consent of the recommended nominee.
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS; LIABILITY AND REIMBURSEMENT INSURANCE
Under our By-Laws, the directors do not receive a salary for their
services, but may receive an annual retainer and a fixed sum for attendance at
board and committee meetings. Pursuant to resolutions of the board, non-employee
directors receive an annual retainer of $25,000, payable in quarterly
installments of $6,250 and a fee of $1,000 for attendance at each board and
committee meeting. In addition, they are paid their expenses of attendance. For
1999, the Company paid an aggregate of approximately $473,043 in the form of
retainers, meeting fees and expenses of attendance (including amounts deferred
at the election of the directors). In addition, in 1991 each non-employee
director began receiving options annually to purchase 1,000 shares of our
Class A stock pursuant to our Directors' Plan. In 1997, the annual grant was
increased to options for 2,000 shares. As a result of the two-for-one stock
split effected on June 17, 1998, the annual grant currently is options for 4,000
shares. Such options, which are granted each year on the date of our annual
stockholders meeting with an exercise price equal to the market value of the
Class A stock on such date, become exercisable on the date of the next
succeeding annual meeting and remain exercisable for ten years from the date of
grant. The tracking stock proposals to be considered at the Annual Meeting
include a proposal to approve the Digital Plan, a new stock option plan for
Digital stock. Under the terms of such plan, non-employee directors will
annually receive options to purchase shares of Digital stock under substantially
the same terms as the Directors' Plan.
Each director may participate in our Matching Gifts Program, pursuant to
which we will match 150% of charitable contributions made by such directors to
colleges, schools, cultural or environmental organizations, up to a maximum
company contribution of $4,500 per person per year.
We maintain life insurance on the life of each director who is not also an
employee of the Company in the amount of $100,000. The income required by the
Internal Revenue Service to be imputed in 1999 to non-employee directors because
of the life insurance coverage was $4,264 in the aggregate. We also maintain
life insurance in the amount of $25,000 on the life of each non-employee
director who retired after 1991.
We purchased combined insurance including directors and officers'
liability insurance, effective December 21, 1998, for a period of three years.
The aggregate limit for the combined insurance is $200 million for the
three-year term and the total cost to us is $2,990,000. If the $200 million
limit of liability is exhausted in covering claims not involving directors and
officers' liability, there is a separate $50 million side limit available for
directors and officers' liability. The insurance carriers are Continental
Casualty Company, Great Lakes (UK) PLC, Gulf Insurance Company, Reliance
Insurance Company, Federal Insurance Company, Liberty Mutual Insurance Company,
St. Paul Fire & Marine Insurance Company and Starr Excess Liability Insurance
Company Ltd.
<PAGE>
40
COMPENSATION OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The following tables and discussion summarize the compensation for the
fiscal year ended December 26, 1999, of our chief executive officer and each of
our four other most highly compensated executive officers.
SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LONG-TERM
COMPENSATION
----------------
ANNUAL COMPENSATION AWARDS
--------------------------------------------------- ----------------
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F) (G)
OTHER
ANNUAL ALL OTHER
SALARY BONUS COMPENSATION STOCK OPTIONS COMPENSATION
NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION YEAR ($)(1) ($) ($)(2) (#)(3) ($)(4)
- ------------------------------ -------- --------- --------- ---------------- ---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.(5)..... 1999 598,000 837,200 5,124 150,000 3,500
Chairman of the Board and 1998 575,000 530,319 2,335 150,000 3,500
Publisher of THE NEW YORK 1997 485,833 510,200 0 151,680(5) 3,500
TIMES
Russell T. Lewis.............. 1999 845,000 1,183,000 16,434 150,000 4,800
President and Chief 1998 570,000 503,100 11,807 150,000 4,800
Executive Officer 1997 497,500 665,800 6,888 118,694 4,800
Michael Golden................ 1999 380,000 456,000 5,124 80,000 4,800
Vice Chairman and Senior 1998 366,000 255,420 351 80,000 4,800
Vice President 1997 282,667 198,166 1,097 69,028 4,800
John M. O'Brien............... 1999 422,000 506,400 16,434 80,000 4,800
Senior Vice President and 1998 392,700 307,943 8,399 80,000 4,800
Chief Financial Officer 1997 374,000 353,400 6,888 54,562 6,545
Janet L. Robinson(6).......... 1999 454,667 454,668 8,838 80,000 4,800
President & General Manager, 1998 395,100 233,244 0 70,000 4,800
THE NEW YORK TIMES
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
1. Salaries are generally set and paid on a calendar year basis.
2. Amounts shown in column (e) represent tax payment reimbursements.
3. Adjusted for June 1998 two-for-one stock split.
4. Amounts shown in column (g) represent amounts contributed by us as 50%
matching contributions for the first 6% of earnings contributed by or on
behalf of the named individuals to our Supplemental Retirement and
Investment Plan.
5. At Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s request, 31,400 of his 1997 options were canceled
in connection with a restructuring of executive compensation and the grant
of Long-Term Performance Awards.
6. Ms. Robinson became an executive officer of the Company in 1998. Amounts
shown for 1998 include all compensation earned in 1998.
<PAGE>
41
OPTION GRANTS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
GRANT DATE
INDIVIDUAL GRANTS(1)(#) VALUE(2)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)
% OF TOTAL
OPTIONS
OPTIONS GRANTED TO EXERCISE OR
GRANTED EMPLOYEES IN BASE PRICE EXPIRATION GRANT DATE
NAME (#) FISCAL YEAR ($/SH) DATE PRESENT VALUE ($)
---- -------- ------------ ----------- ---------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr........ 150,000 2.87 47.2813 12/16/2009 2,234,850
Russell T. Lewis............. 150,000 2.87 47.2813 12/16/2009 2,234,850
Michael Golden............... 80,000 1.53 47.2813 12/16/2009 1,191,920
John M. O'Brien.............. 80,000 1.53 47.2813 12/16/2009 1,191,920
Janet L. Robinson............ 80,000 1.53 47.2813 12/16/2009 1,191,920
</TABLE>
- ------------------------
1. The options granted to the named individuals in 1999 become exercisable in
installments of 25% of the original grant on each of the first through
fourth anniversaries of the grant date. All options are for Class A stock
and have an exercise price equal to the market value of the stock on the
grant date.
2. In accordance with the rules of the SEC, "Grant Date Value" has been
calculated using the Black-Scholes model of option valuation, adjusted to
reflect an option term of 4.63 years, which represents the weighted average
(by number of options) over the past 10 years of the length of time between
the grant date of options under the Company's plans and their exercise date
for all option exercises by the named executive officers and six others who
were named executive officers during that period. The model also assumes:
(a) an interest rate of 6.21% that represents the interest rate on a U.S.
Treasury Bond with a maturity date corresponding to that of the adjusted
option term of 4.63 years; (b) volatility of 28.1% calculated using weekly
stock prices for the 4.63 years (241 weeks) prior to the grant date; and
(c) dividends at the rate of $.42 per share, which was the annualized rate
of dividends on a share of Class A stock as of the grant date. Based on this
model, the calculated value of the options on the December 16, 1999, grant
date was determined to be $14.90 per option.
<PAGE>
42
AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR, AND FY-END OPTION
VALUES(1)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(A) (B) (C-1) (C-2) (D) (E)
VALUE OF
NUMBER OF UNEXERCISED
UNEXERCISED IN-THE-MONEY
OPTIONS AT OPTIONS AT
SHARES AGGREGATE ANNUALIZED FY-END (#) FY-END ($)
ACQUIRED VALUE VALUE EXERCISABLE/ EXERCISABLE/
NAME ON EXERCISE (#) REALIZED ($)(3) REALIZED ($)(3) UNEXERCISABLE(4) UNEXERCISABLE(5)
---- --------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------- -------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr............ 0 N/A N/A 242,099/342,669 5,826,582/2,788,315
Russell T. Lewis................. 104,166 2,496,404 753,839 96,847/346,261 1,343,611/2,898,671
Michael Golden................... 0 N/A N/A 135,620/180,038 3,413,123/1,379,319
John M. O'Brien.................. 13,892 330,370 75,649 95,870/180,922 2,096,555/1,499,290
Janet L. Robinson................ 80,942 1,792,975 339,548 129,223/174,271 2,984,512/1,615,509
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
1. All options are for Class A stock.
2. Market value of underlying securities at exercise minus the exercise price.
3. Aggregate Value Realized upon exercise (column c-1) divided by the number of
years executive held applicable option before exercise.
4. Options granted to these executives under our 1991 Executive Stock Incentive
Plan become exercisable in four equal installments over a period of four
years from the date of grant.
5. Market value of underlying securities at December 26, 1999 ($46.875), minus
the option exercise price.
LONG-TERM INCENTIVE PLAN AWARDS IN LAST FISCAL YEAR
In 1998, the Company began a new long-term performance award program for
senior executives. A grant is made each year in December for the three-year
cycle commencing in the following January. The actual amount paid at the end of
each of the cycles to the executive officers named below will range from the
threshold to the maximum amount, or be $0, depending on the total return to
holders of Class A stock relative to the total return to holders of stock in the
companies comprising the "peer group" described under "Performance Presentation"
during such three-year periods.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ESTIMATED FUTURE PAYOUTS UNDER NON-STOCK
----------------------------------------
PRICE-BASED PLANS
-----------------
(A) (B) (C) (D) (E) (F)
PERFORMANCE OR
OTHER
NUMBER OF SHARES, PERIOD UNTIL
UNITS OR OTHER MATURATION OR MAXIMUM
NAME RIGHTS (#) PAYOUT THRESHOLD ($ AMT) TARGET ($ AMT) ($ AMT)
- ---- ----------------- --------------------------- ------------------- -------------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr....... 1 3 years (2000-2002) 100,000 400,000 700,000
Russell T. Lewis............ 1 3 years (2000-2002) 100,000 400,000 700,000
Michael Golden.............. 1 3 years (2000-2002) 50,000 200,000 350,000
John M. O'Brien............. 1 3 years (2000-2002) 50,000 200,000 350,000
Janet L. Robinson........... 1 3 years (2000-2002) 50,000 200,000 350,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
43
PENSION PLAN TABLE
The following table shows the annual estimated benefits payable under our
defined benefit retirement plans upon retirement to employees in specified
covered compensation and years of credited service classifications. The maximum
annual benefit payable under the plans which cover the executive officers is 50%
of average annual covered compensation for the five highest paid consecutive
years out of the most recent 10 years. The maximum annual benefit is payable
with 20 years of credited service and is prorated for less than 20 years. The
amount of estimated annual benefit is based upon the assumption that the
nonqualified supplemental executive retirement plan will continue in force in
its present form.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HIGHEST ESTIMATED ANNUAL PENSION FOR
FIVE-YEAR REPRESENTATIVE YEARS OF CREDITED SERVICE
AVERAGE ANNUAL ------------------------------------------
COMPENSATION 10 15 20
- -------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
$ 500,000 $125,000 $187,500 $250,000
750,000 187,500 281,250 375,000
1,000,000 250,000 375,000 500,000
1,250,000 312,500 468,750 625,000
1,500,000 375,000 562,500 750,000
1,750,000 437,500 656,250 875,000
</TABLE>
The benefits described in the table above are calculated on a
straight-life annuity basis and are not subject to any reduction for Social
Security or other offset amounts.
For named executive officers, annual covered compensation for 1999 is the
sum of (i) the amount shown for 1999 in column (c) of the Summary Compensation
Table above, (ii) the annual bonus earned for 1998 and (iii) any portion of a
bonus earned for 1999 which was paid in 1999. Annual covered compensation for
1999 was $1,128,319 for Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., $1,348,100 for Russell T. Lewis,
$635,420 for Michael Golden, $649,943 for John M. O'Brien and $687,911 for Janet
L. Robinson.
The named executive officers had the following full years of credited
service as of December 26, 1999: Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.: 21; Russell T. Lewis:
28; Michael Golden: 15; John M. O'Brien: 36; and Janet L. Robinson: 16.
<PAGE>
44
PERFORMANCE PRESENTATION
The following graph shows the annual cumulative total stockholder return
for the five years ending December 31, 1999, on an assumed investment of $100 on
December 31, 1994, in the Company, the Standard & Poor's S&P 500 Stock Index and
an index of a peer group of communications companies. The peer group returns are
weighted by market capitalization at the beginning of each year. The peer group
is comprised of the common stocks of the Company and the following other
communications companies: Dow Jones & Company, Inc., Gannett Co., Inc., Knight
Ridder, Media General, Inc., The Times Mirror Company, Tribune Company and The
Washington Post Company. Stockholder return is measured by dividing (a) the sum
of (i) the cumulative amount of dividends declared for the measurement period,
assuming monthly reinvestment of dividends and (ii) the difference between the
issuer's share price at the end and the beginning of the measurement period by
(b) the share price at the beginning of the measurement period.
STOCK PERFORMANCE COMPARISON BETWEEN S&P 500, THE NEW YORK TIMES
COMPANY'S CLASS A STOCK AND PEER GROUP COMMON STOCK
EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
12/31/94 12/31/95 12/31/96 12/31/97 12/31/98 12/31/99
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
NYTimes 100 138 $169 $226 $290 $351
Peer Group 100 137 $179 $315 $335 $479
S&P 500 100 128 $157 $244 $255 $336
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
45
COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT
The Compensation Committee has furnished the following report on executive
compensation for inclusion in this Proxy Statement:
To the Stockholders of The New York Times Company:
COMPENSATION POLICIES AND PURPOSES
In order to effectively serve the interests of the Company and its
stockholders, compensation for the Company's executive officers, including
the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer, is designed to create
incentives for high levels of individual and Company performance and to
reward such performance. "At risk" compensation focuses on the Company's
financial targets, its performance relative to peer companies and the
performance of its Class A stock; it is designed to align the interests of
executives with those of stockholders. Annual bonuses are paid only if
financial targets are achieved. Long-term bonuses are paid only if
performance targets relative to certain peer companies are met. Both sets
of targets are set by the Committee in advance and in conjunction with its
review of the Company's strategic and operating plans. The Committee grants
stock options as part of executive compensation because it views stock
options as a means of motivating superior performance and directly linking
the interests of executives with those of stockholders. Stock options
produce value for executives only if the Company's stock price increases
over the option price, which is set at the market price on the date of
grant.
COMPENSATION STRUCTURE
In 1998, the Committee structured 1999 compensation for executive
officers to consist of salary, an annual bonus potential and stock options.
It also set potential long-term performance awards for the three-year
period 1999-2001 for most executive officers, including Arthur Sulzberger,
Jr. and Russell T. Lewis. A substantial portion of total potential cash
compensation for executive officers depended on annual bonus potentials and
thus was tied to Company performance. The more responsible the executive
officer's position, the greater the portion of this "at risk" compensation.
COMMITTEE PROCEDURES
The Committee consists solely of outside, non-employee directors of
the Company.
Prior to the Committee's determination of 1999 salaries and annual
bonus potentials for the Company's executive officers, management reported
to the Committee on its review of survey data assembled and analyzed by
outside compensation consultants. Management analyzed total actual annual
cash compensation and long-term awards for comparable executive positions
at United States companies with revenues comparable to the Company.
Management also reviewed similar data from media companies, including those
companies in the peer group described under "Performance Presentation" in
this proxy statement. The companies surveyed had annual revenues ranging
from approximately $922 million to $17 billion, with an average of
$5 billion and a median of $2.5 billion. The consultants' analyses took
into account the effect of revenue size on the compensation practices of
individual companies. The data was used to set target annual cash
compensation for executive officers slightly above the mid-range of
companies
<PAGE>
46
surveyed and to allocate a significant portion of such compensation to
performance-based annual bonus potentials.
SALARIES
Salaries for executive officers are generally reviewed annually and
were set for 1999 in late 1998. Salary increases, including increases for
the named executive officers, were based on a review of the competitive
data described above. The 1999 salaries for the Company's executive
officers were generally within the mid-range of practices for companies
surveyed, taking into account the Company's revenue size. In setting
compensation for individual executive officers, the Committee considered
individual performance and responsibilities, the performance of the
executive's operating unit, where applicable, and the performance of the
Company as a whole. The Committee believes these salaries are appropriate
in light of salaries paid for comparable positions at other companies and
the individual performance and responsibilities of the executives.
Prior to setting salaries for Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. and Mr. Lewis, the
Committee reviewed data assembled by outside compensation consultants
concerning the compensation for similar positions at other companies of
comparable size. The Committee set Mr. Lewis's 1999 salary slightly above
the median of base salaries for such positions. At Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s
request, the Committee continued to set his 1999 salary significantly below
the median of base salaries for comparable positions at other companies.
For 2000, the Committee increased both Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s and
Mr. Lewis's base salaries to $870,000, an amount which is slightly above
the median for base salaries for their comparable positions at other
companies.
ANNUAL BONUSES
Annual bonus potentials for 1999 were set for executive officers in
late 1998 as percentages of salaries. The more responsible the executive
officer's position, the higher the percentage. The amounts actually paid
depended principally on the level of achievement of performance against
financial targets which were set by the Committee at the same time in 1998
and, to a lesser extent, on an individual's performance and contribution to
other operating unit and corporate goals. These targets were largely based
on operating earnings of the Company or of the person's operating unit and
were generally exceeded for 1999.
The 1997 earnings per share and operating unit targets and the 1999
earnings per share targets, which were used to determine annual bonuses for
Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. and Mr. Lewis, were substantially exceeded. As a
result, bonus payouts were made at the maximum amounts permitted under the
plan for those years. In 1998 the earnings per share targets set for their
annual bonuses were exceeded slightly, resulting in bonus payouts in
amounts less than the maximum amounts permitted for that year. Annual
bonuses for 1999 represented approximately 58.3% of each of their total
cash compensation for 1999.
LONG-TERM COMPENSATION
The number of stock options granted to each executive officer in 1999
depended on the degree of responsibility of the executive officer's
position. The number was based on a review of survey data supplied by
outside compensation consultants of stock option grants and other long-term
compensation paid to executives at comparable salary and responsibility
levels at other companies surveyed to analyze salary and annual bonus
compensation. In granting options, the
<PAGE>
47
Company's goals are to attract, retain and motivate the highest caliber of
executives by offering a competitive combination of annual and long-term
compensation and to link a significant portion of executives' total
compensation to the interests of stockholders. To implement these goals,
the Company's grants were generally made slightly above the mid-range for
option grants made by media companies in the survey. All stock options have
an exercise price equal to the average of the highest and lowest market
price of the Class A stock reported on the date of grant. In order to
assure the retention of high level executives and to tie the compensation
of those executives to the creation of long-term value for stockholders,
the Committee provided that these stock options become exercisable in equal
portions over a four-year period. In making option grants in 1999, the
Committee did not consider the number of options previously granted that
remain outstanding.
Long-term performance award potentials for the three year period
1999-2001 were set in late 1998 and those for 2000-2002 were set in late
1999. Amounts actually paid will generally depend on the total return to
Class A stockholders relative to the total return to stockholders of the
companies comprising the "peer group" described under "Performance
Presentation." The amount of the potential award increases with an increase
in the scope of the executive's responsibility. These amounts were set
based on a review of the survey data described in the preceding paragraph.
The amounts of the potential awards were designed to set total long-term
compensation slightly above the mid-range of total long-term compensation
in the survey.
TAX
The Internal Revenue Code has set certain limitations on the
deductibility of compensation paid to a public company's five most highly
compensated executive officers. In 1995, and again in 1998 and 1999,
stockholders of the Company approved amendments to the Company's 1991
Executive Cash Bonus Plan and 1991 Executive Stock Incentive Plan (the "NYT
Plans") to ensure that compensation paid by the Company to executive
officers pursuant to these plans would be deductible by the Company for
federal income tax purposes. All compensation paid to the Company's
executive officers in 1999 was deductible by the Company in accordance with
such provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. To ensure the continued
deductibility of compensation paid to the Company's executive officers, the
Committee has recommended the reapproval of the material terms of the
performance goals for annual and long-term performance awards under the NYT
Plans and the approval of certain amendments to the NYT Plans.
COMPENSATION OF THE CHAIRMAN AND COMPENSATION OF PRESIDENT AND CHIEF
EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The Committee based 1999 compensation for Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. and
Mr. Lewis on several different factors and criteria. The Committee believes
that it structured Mr. Sulzberger, Jr.'s and Mr. Lewis's 1999 compensation
package to include a significant amount of "at risk" compensation that
provides incentives tying the amount of their compensation to the Company's
performance. Stock options produce value in direct proportion to the value
realized by all stockholders from price appreciation; annual bonuses are
based on the achievement of specified financial performance targets; and
long-term bonuses (first granted in 1998 and payable commencing in 2001)
will be payable based upon the relative performance of the Company's stock
and the stock of the companies described under "Performance Presentation."
Thus, 1999 compensation was based to a large degree on three types of
performance measures, which taken together, closely link Company
performance and Messrs. Sulzberger, Jr.'s and Lewis's
<PAGE>
48
compensation. Other important factors the Committee considered in the
determination of compensation for Mr. Sulzberger, Jr. and Mr. Lewis include
their roles in focusing and refining the Company's Internet strategies and
long-term strategies for THE NEW YORK TIMES and THE BOSTON GLOBE and in
continuing to develop strong management succession and development
programs.
Richard L. Gelb, CHAIRMAN
John F. Akers
Brenda C. Barnes
Robert A. Lawrence
Charles H. Price II
<PAGE>
49
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 2
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS TO 1991 EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE
AND 1991 EXECUTIVE CASH BONUS PLANS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENTS
We are proposing amendments (the "NYT Plans Amendments") to the NYT Stock
Plan and the NYT Cash Plan (collectively, the "NYT Plans") for approval by the
holders of the Class A and Class B stock, voting together as one class. The
board of directors, acting on the recommendation of the Compensation Committee,
has approved the NYT Plans Amendments subject to such stockholder approval.
The NYT Plans Amendments will (i) extend the terms of the NYT Plans from
December 31, 2000, to December 31, 2010, and (ii) increase the maximum payout
potential for any annual performance award or long-term performance award to
$3,000,000. An additional amendment being proposed for the NYT Stock Plan is
described in Proposal 3.
SUMMARY OF NYT PLANS
AWARDS. Under the NYT Plans, the Compensation Committee may authorize
incentive compensation awards to executives and other key employees. The
aggregate amount of awards under the NYT Plans is limited to 4% of Income Before
Income Taxes (as defined in the NYT Plans and subject to adjustments for
extraordinary events), with unused amounts being available in subsequent years.
All executive directors and 11 additional executive officers (14 individuals)
and six additional employees are eligible to receive awards.
The Compensation Committee may make awards of cash or Class A stock, which
may be delivered immediately, in installments or on a deferred date, and which
may be subject to vesting requirements and other conditions. Awards under the
NYT Cash Plan may be paid only in cash. Awards under the NYT Stock Plan may be
in stock, stock equivalents or cash. The maximum number of shares of the
Class A stock available under the NYT Stock Plan for awards, which is unaffected
by the proposed NYT Plans Amendments, is 2,000,000 shares (of which 1,933,040
remained available for future awards as of April 6, 2000) subject to adjustment
in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or certain other
events.
The NYT Plans provide for awards in the following forms:
- CASH AWARD. An award payable in cash.
- STOCK GRANTS. A grant of shares of our Class A stock.
- RESTRICTED STOCK. A grant of shares of our Class A stock, which shares
are subject to forfeiture if the recipient leaves the employ of the
Company, other than upon death, disability or retirement, during the
restricted period specified in the award (which must be at least one
year).
- RETIREMENT UNITS. Upon the award of retirement units, the participant's
retirement unit account, which we maintain, is credited with that number
of shares of Class A stock determined by dividing the dollar amount of
such award by the market value of a share on the date of award. Upon a
participant's death, retirement or termination of employment, the
retirement unit account matures and the participant receives, in ten
approximately equal
<PAGE>
50
annual installments (subject to the discretion of the Compensation
Committee to accelerate or defer distribution), shares of Class A stock
equal in the aggregate to the number of retirement units credited to such
participant's retirement unit account.
- PERFORMANCE AWARDS. These awards entitle the participant to receive
Class A stock, options or cash in an amount which depends upon our
financial performance during a stated period of more than one year.
- ANNUAL PERFORMANCE AWARDS AND LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE AWARDS. Annual
performance awards are available each year only to NYT Plans participants
who are designated by the Compensation Committee as likely to be officers
whose compensation is required to be disclosed in the proxy statement for
such year and whose annual salary and bonus for such year are expected to
exceed $1,000,000. Long-term performance awards are available each year
only to certain key business leaders and senior management of the Company
as determined in the discretion of the Compensation Committee. Annual and
long-term performance awards are payable based upon the achievement of
targets established by the Compensation Committee under one of more
performance goals, that is, the attainment of a target or targets based
on one or more of the following: (i) increase in stockholder value;
(ii) earnings per share; (iii) net income; (iv) return on assets;
(v) return on stockholders' equity; (vi) cash flow of the Company or a
division, subsidiary or group thereof; (vii) operating profit or
operating margins of the Company or a division, subsidiary or group
thereof; (viii) improved use of capital and/or assets by the Company or a
division, subsidiary or group thereof; or (ix) revenue growth of the
Company or a division, subsidiary or a group thereof. Annual performance
awards are based on the attainment of annual targets; long-term
performance awards are based on the attainment of targets over a period
in excess of one year. Currently, no participant may receive an annual
performance award or a long-term performance award with a maximum payout
potential in excess of $1,500,000. Awards are payable in shares of
Class A stock, restricted stock, retirement units, cash, or any
combination thereof, as specified by the Compensation Committee.
OPTIONS. The NYT Stock Plan provides for the granting of stock options.
Options may be either "incentive stock options" as defined in Section 422 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") or "non-qualified stock
options" which do not meet the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. All
executive officers and employee directors and approximately 850 additional
employees are eligible for option grants. The maximum number of shares of
Class A stock that may be issued pursuant to options is 40,000,000 (of which
6,224,445 remained available for future grants as of April 6, 2000), subject to
adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification or
certain other events. The NYT Stock Plan was adopted in 1991 prior to the
two-for-one stock split effective on June 17, 1998. The NYT Stock Plan
originally authorized the issuance of 10,000,000 shares of Class A stock upon
the exercise of options. In 1996, the stockholders approved the issuance of an
additional 10,000,000. Pursuant to the stock split, such 20,000,000 authorized
shares were adjusted to 40,000,000. The NYT Stock Plan limits the number of
shares with respect to which options may be granted to any key employee during a
calendar year to 400,000 (similarly subject to adjustment).
The exercise price of an option granted pursuant to the NYT Stock Plan is
the market value of the Class A stock at the time the option is granted (except
as noted below with respect to incentive stock options). As of April 6, 2000,
the market value of the Class A stock was $42.2813 per share (determined as
provided in the NYT Stock Plan based on trading on such day on the New York
Stock Exchange). The option price (plus any withholding tax) must be paid in
full when the option is
<PAGE>
51
exercised. Payment of the purchase price may be made (i) in cash, (ii) by
delivering shares of previously acquired Class A stock, or (iii) in such other
forms as the Compensation Committee may determine, all subject to such rules as
the Compensation Committee may adopt. In determining the number of shares of
Class A stock necessary to be delivered to us, such shares are valued at the
market value at the time of exercise.
Each option (except as noted below with respect to incentive stock
options) must be exercised within ten years from the date granted. An option may
not be exercised within one year of the grant (except in the case of retirement,
death or disability). Thereafter, options become exercisable in such
installments, if any, as specified by the Compensation Committee at the time of
grant. Upon termination of active employment by reason of disability or
retirement, or upon an optionee's death, all options generally vest and remain
in effect until their expiration. Upon termination of employment for any other
reason, the optionee may exercise all exercisable options for one year after
such termination (but not beyond the original expiration date).
With respect to incentive stock options, if the aggregate fair market
value (determined as of the date the option is granted) of the shares for which
any optionee may for the first time exercise incentive stock options in any
calendar year exceeds $100,000, such excess incentive stock options are treated
as non-qualified stock options. In the case of incentive stock options that are
granted to an employee who owns, or is deemed by reason of the attribution rules
under Section 425(d) of the Code to own, more than 10% of the combined voting
power of all classes of our stock, the exercise price of such options must be at
least 110% of the fair market value at the time the options are granted, and
such options must be exercised within five years from the date granted.
The Code provides that an incentive stock option may only be granted
within the ten year period following adoption of a plan. Approval of the NYT
Plans Amendments will be deemed the adoption of a new plan allowing us to grant
incentive stock options for a period of ten years from the date of such
approval.
MATERIAL CHANGES EFFECTED BY THE NYT PLANS AMENDMENTS
The NYT Plans Amendments will effect the following material changes to the
NYT Plans:
- The term of each NYT Plan will be extended from December 31, 2000, to
December 31, 2010, and
- The maximum payout potential for any annual performance award or
long-term performance award will increase from $1,500,000 to $3,000,000.
NEW BENEFITS
The options and awards that will be granted in the future under the NYT
Plans are not currently determinable. The following table sets forth information
respecting options granted and awards paid for 1999 under the NYT Plans for the
executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, all executive
officers as a group, all other employees receiving options as a group
<PAGE>
52
and all other employees receiving awards as a group. Non-executive directors are
ineligible for participation in the NYT Plans. See "Compensation of Executive
Officers."
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION AWARDS OPTIONS
- ----------------- ----------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.
Chairman of the Board and Publisher
of THE NEW YORK TIMES................................... $ 837,200 150,000
Russell T. Lewis
President and Chief Executive Officer................... $ 1,183,000 150,000
Michael Golden
Vice Chairman and Senior Vice President................. $ 456,000 80,000
John M. O'Brien
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer....... $ 506,400 80,000
Janet L. Robinson
President and General Manager,
THE NEW YORK TIMES...................................... $ 454,668 80,000
All executive officers, as a group (15 persons)........... $ 5,446,941 833,000
All other employees receiving options, as a group
(848 persons)............................................. N/A 4,424,554
All other employees receiving awards, as a group
(652 persons)............................................. $27,833,952 N/A
</TABLE>
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
CASH AWARDS. The amount of the award will be taxable to the participant
as ordinary income in the year or years in which the award is paid. We are
usually entitled to a deduction in the same amount.
STOCK AWARDS. In the case of an award made in Class A stock, an amount
equal to the fair market value of the stock on the date of award under the NYT
Stock Plan will be taxable to the participant as ordinary income in the year or
years in which the award is paid or made available to the participant. We are
usually entitled to a deduction in the corresponding amount.
RESTRICTED STOCK. The grant of restricted stock will not result in income
to the participant or in a deduction for us for federal income tax purposes,
since the shares are subject to restrictions constituting a "substantial risk of
forfeiture" as defined in the Code. Unless the participant elects to be taxed at
the time he or she receives the shares, such participant will generally realize
taxable compensation income when the restrictions lapse. The amount of such
income will be the fair market value of the shares on the date of such lapse of
restrictions (or on the date of grant if the participant elects to be taxed at
that time). Dividends paid on the shares during the restricted period will also
be taxable compensation income to the participant when received by the
participant. We will be entitled to a tax deduction to the extent, and at the
time, that the participant realizes compensation income.
RETIREMENT UNITS. The distribution of Class A stock (and any cash
distributions) upon the maturing of a retirement unit account will be taxable to
the participant as ordinary income and deductible by us in the year distributed,
based upon the fair market value on the date of distribution.
<PAGE>
53
OPTIONS. The grant of a non-qualified stock option or an incentive stock
option will not result in income for the participant or in a deduction for us.
The exercise of a non-qualified stock option will generally result in
compensation income for the participant and a deduction for us, in each case
measured by the difference between the option price and the fair market value of
the shares at the time of exercise.
The exercise of an incentive stock option will not result in income to the
participant if the participant (a) does not dispose of the shares within two
years after the date of grant or one year after exercise and (b) is an employee
of the Company from the date of the grant at least until three months before the
exercise or until one year before the exercise in the event of permanent and
total disability. If these requirements are met, the basis of the shares upon
later disposition, in the case of an exercise for cash, will be the option
price. Any gain will be taxed to the participant as long-term capital gain and
we will not be entitled to a deduction. The excess of the market value of the
shares on the exercise date over the option price is an item of tax preference,
potentially subject to the alternative minimum tax. If the participant disposes
of the shares prior to the expiration of either of the holding periods in
(a) above, the participant will recognize compensation income and we will be
entitled to a deduction equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the
shares on the exercise date minus the option price, or (ii) the amount realized
on the disposition minus the option price. Any gain in excess of the
compensation income portion will be treated as long-term or short-term capital
gain. If an optionee ceases to be our employee and exercises his option after
the expiration of the period described in (b) above, the option will be deemed a
non-qualified stock option for tax purposes.
WITHHOLDING. When required by applicable law, we will withhold or collect
from the participant all amounts required to satisfy applicable withholding
taxes with respect to awards. Amounts due on the distribution of stock or the
exercise of an option must be paid by the participant. In lieu of cash, the
participant may elect to provide such required amount by delivering to us
previously acquired shares having a fair market value equal to such amount.
SECTION 162(M). A publicly held corporation, such as the Company, must
satisfy certain conditions in order to retain its federal income tax deduction
for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 per year paid to its chief executive
officer or any of the four other executive officers whose compensation is
required to be disclosed in its annual proxy statement. The provisions of the
NYT Plans insure that all incentive compensation paid by us can be deducted for
federal income tax purposes under Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations
issued thereunder by the Internal Revenue Service.
The discussion set forth above does not purport to be a complete analysis
of all potential tax effects relevant to recipients of awards or options, or to
us. It is based on federal income tax law, regulations and rulings as of the
date of this Proxy Statement, which are subject to change at any time.
AMENDMENTS; NON-EXCLUSIVITY
The board may, in its discretion, amend the NYT Plans at any time;
provided, however, that no amendment that would materially affect the maximum
permitted annual accrual for awards under the NYT Plans may be made unless such
amendment is approved by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Class A and B stock entitled to vote on such amendment, voting as a single
class. In addition, the board may make no change that would prevent incentive
stock options granted under the NYT Stock Plan from being incentive stock
options without the consent of the optionees concerned, and the board may not
make any amendment to the NYT Stock Plan that (1) changes the class of persons
eligible for incentive stock options, (2) increases the total number of shares
for which
<PAGE>
54
options may be granted, or (3) increases the total number of shares authorized
for stock awards, without the approval of the holders of a majority of the
outstanding shares of Class A and Class B stock entitled to vote thereon, voting
together as one class.
Participation in the NYT Plans is not exclusive and does not prevent any
participant from participating in any other compensation plan of the Company or
from receiving any other compensation from us.
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the following resolution
which will be presented to the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the Amendments to the 1991 Executive Stock Incentive
Plan and the 1991 Executive Cash Bonus Plan described in Proposal 2 in The
New York Times Company's 2000 Proxy Statement, be, and the same hereby are,
ratified, confirmed and approved.
The approval of the NYT Plans Amendments will be voted on as one proposal.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Class A and Class B stock entitled to vote thereon, in person or by proxy,
voting together as a single class, is required for approval of this resolution.
As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a
vote against the proposal.
<PAGE>
55
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 3
APPROVAL OF AMENDMENT TO 1991 EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT
We are proposing an amendment (the "NYT Stock Plan Amendment") to the NYT
Stock Plan for approval by the holders of the Class A and Class B stock, voting
together as one class. The board of directors, acting on the recommendation of
the Compensation Committee, has approved the amendment described in this
Proposal 3 subject to such stockholder approval.
The NYT Stock Plan Amendment will authorize an additional 20,000,000
shares of Class A stock that may be issued under the NYT Stock Plan pursuant to
the exercise of stock options.
Our board of directors believes the increased authorization should provide
sufficient shares for NYT Stock Plan awards for several years and make unlikely
the need to request additional shares in the near future.
NYT STOCK PLAN
For information about the NYT Stock Plan, see "Proposal 2--Approval of
Amendments to 1991 Executive Stock Incentive and 1991 Executive Cash Bonus
Plans."
The main goal of the NYT Stock Plan is to provide incentives for officers
and key employees by granting them options in order to stimulate their personal
and active interest in the Company's development and financial success and
induce them to remain in the employ of the Company.
MATERIAL CHANGES EFFECTED BY THE NYT STOCK PLAN AMENDMENT
The NYT Stock Plan Amendment will effect the following change to the NYT
Stock Plan:
- The maximum number of shares of Class A stock that may be issued pursuant
to options will be increased by 20,000,000. As a result, 26,224,445
shares will be available for future option grants.
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the following resolution
which will be presented to the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the amendment to the 1991 Executive Stock Incentive
Plan described in Proposal 3 in the New York Times Company's 2000 Proxy
Statement, be, and the same hereby is, ratified, confirmed and approved.
The approval of the NYT Stock Plan Amendment described in Proposal 3 will
be voted on as one proposal. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares of Class A and Class B stock entitled to vote thereon,
in person or by proxy, voting together as a single class, is required for
approval of this resolution. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will
have the same effect as a vote against the proposal.
<PAGE>
56
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 4
REAPPROVAL OF MATERIAL TERMS OF PERFORMANCE GOALS FOR ANNUAL AND
LONG-TERM PERFORMANCE AWARDS UNDER 1991 EXECUTIVE STOCK INCENTIVE
AND 1991 EXECUTIVE CASH BONUS PLANS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PURPOSE OF PROPOSAL
Section 162(m) of the Code limits to $1,000,000 the deductibility by a
publicly-held corporation of compensation paid in a taxable year to an
individual who, on the last day of the taxable year, was (i) the chief executive
officer or (ii) among the four other highest compensated executive officers
whose compensation is required to be reported in the Summary Compensation Table.
Qualified performance-based compensation is not subject to the deduction limit
if certain conditions are met. The Compensation Committee has taken the steps
necessary to satisfy those conditions in order to preserve the deductibility of
executive compensation to the fullest extent possible consistent with its other
compensation objectives and overall compensation philosophy. One of the
conditions is stockholder approval of the material terms of the performance
goals under the Company's performance-based compensation plans.
In 1995, stockholders of the Company approved the material terms of the
performance goals for annual performance awards under the NYT Plans. In 1998,
stockholders of the Company approved (i) the material terms of the performance
goals for long-term performance awards under the NYT Plans and (ii) amendments
to the NYT Plans relating to the performance goals for annual performance
awards. Amendments to the NYT Plans relating to the performance goals for annual
and long-term performance awards were also approved by the stockholders in 1999.
The material terms of the performance goals for annual and long-term
performance awards under the NYT Plans include (i) the class of employees
eligible to receive performance awards under the NYT Plans; (ii) the maximum
payout of a performance award that can be provided to any employee under the NYT
Plans during a specified period; and (iii) the types of targets or business
criteria on which the payout of annual and long-term performance awards are
based.
Annual performance awards are available each year only to individuals
designated by the Compensation Committee as likely to be officers whose
compensation is required to be disclosed in the proxy statement for such year
and whose annual salary and bonus for such year are expected to exceed
$1,000,000. Long-term performance awards are available each year to certain key
business leaders and senior management of the Company as determined in the
discretion of the Compensation Committee. No eligible participant may receive an
annual performance award or a long-term performance award with a maximum payout
potential in excess of $1,500,000 ($3,000,000 subject to approval of Proposal
Number 2). The Compensation Committee may (and currently expects to) provide for
awards with a maximum payout potential of less than such dollar limit for any
particular year. In addition, the amount of any actual payout of an annual or
long-term performance award is affected by the extent to which the targets
specified by the Compensation Committee for the particular year are attained.
The Committee retains the discretion to pay less than the target award in any
year.
For purposes of annual performance awards, the NYT Plans currently provide
for payouts based on the attainment of an annual target or targets measured by
one or more of the following business criteria: (i) increase in stockholder
value; (ii) earnings per share; (iii) net income; (iv) return on assets;
(v) return on stockholders' equity; (vi) cash flow of the Company or a division,
subsidiary or group thereof; (vii) operating profit or operating margins of the
Company or a division, subsidiary or group
<PAGE>
57
thereof; (viii) the improved use of capital and/or assets of the Company or a
division, subsidiary or group thereof; or (ix) revenue growth of the Company or
a division, subsidiary or group thereof. Long-term performance awards are paid
out based on the attainment over a period in excess of one year of a target or
targets measured by one or more of the same business criteria.
Stockholder reapproval of the material terms of performance goals must be
obtained at least every five years for performance-based plans such as our NYT
Plans which have targets or goals that the Compensation Committee has authority
to change. Because the material terms of the performance goals in the NYT Plans
were last approved in their entirety by stockholders in 1995, the Company is
seeking reapproval of all such material terms by stockholders at the 2000 Annual
Meeting.
This Proposal 4 seeks stockholder reapproval of the material terms of the
performance goals for annual and long-term performance awards under the NYT
Plans as described above, which will carry these standards through the next five
years of the NYT Plans. If these material terms are not approved by the
stockholders, no further annual or long-term performance awards will be made
under the NYT Plans; however, the Compensation Committee will retain the right
to pay each affected officer otherwise eligible for such awards annual and
long-term bonuses based on such criteria as may be established by the Committee.
In such event, a portion of such bonuses may not be deductible by the Company
for federal income tax purposes.
For more information about the NYT Plans, see "Proposal 2--Approval of
Amendments to 1991 Executive Stock Incentive and 1991 Executive Cash Bonus
Plans."
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the following resolution
which will be presented at the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the material terms of the performance goals for annual
and long-term performance awards contained in the 1991 Executive Stock
Incentive and 1991 Executive Cash Bonus Plans and described in Proposal 4
in The New York Times Company's 2000 Proxy Statement be, and the same
hereby are, re-affirmed, re-ratified, re-confirmed and reapproved.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Class A and Class B stock entitled to vote thereon, in person or by
proxy, voting together as a single class, is required for reapproval of the
material terms of the performance goals for annual and long-term performance
awards. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect
as a vote against the proposal.
<PAGE>
58
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 5
AMENDMENT OF NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS' STOCK OPTION PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE DIRECTORS' PLAN
On April 16, 1991, the Class A and Class B stockholders voting together as
one class approved the Directors' Plan for our non-employee directors. The
Directors' Plan will terminate on April 16, 2001. We are proposing an amendment
(the "Directors' Plan Amendment") to extend the term until December 31, 2010.
The board of directors has approved the Directors' Plan Amendment, subject to
approval by the holders of the Class A and Class B stock, voting together as one
class.
GENERAL PROVISIONS OF DIRECTORS' PLAN
The purpose of the Directors' Plan is to maintain our ability to attract
and retain the services of experienced and highly qualified non-employee
directors and to increase their proprietary interest in our continued success.
The Directors' Plan provides annual grants of stock options on the date of
our Annual Meeting to each individual who is elected to the board of directors
at such meeting, provided such individual is not also an employee of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries. All the directors except Messrs. Sulzberger, Jr.,
Lewis and Golden, who are employees of the Company, are now eligible for option
grants.
Each annual grant permits the holder, for a period of ten years from the
date of grant, to purchase from us 4,000 shares of our Class A stock (subject to
adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and certain other
events as provided in the Directors' Plan) at the fair market value of such
shares on the date the option was granted. Each option becomes exercisable one
term-year after the date of the grant (defined to be the period from one Annual
Meeting to the next), provided the holder continues to be a director on such
date. In the event a non-employee director terminates service on the board by
reason of death or retirement (defined to be retirement at age 65 or thereafter
or by reason of disability), the total number of option shares becomes
immediately exercisable and continues to be exercisable for the remaining term
of the option.
In the event a non-employee director terminates service on the board other
than by reason of death or retirement, such person's options (to the extent
exercisable upon such termination) expire one year from the date of termination
of service, provided that in no event may an option be exercised beyond its
original expiration date.
In the event of death of a non-employee director after terminating service
on the board, any outstanding options expire at the later of the expiration date
determined at the time the non-employee director terminated service or one year
from the date of death, provided that in no event may an option be exercised
beyond its original expiration date.
As of April 6, 2000, an aggregate of 220,000 shares of Class A stock
(subject to adjustment for stock splits, stock dividends, reclassification and
certain other events as provided in the Directors' Plan) remains available under
the Directors' Plan for future grants (out of an original authorization of
500,000, adjusted to account for the June 17, 1998, two-for-one stock split).
Shares subject to options which terminate or expire unexercised will be
available for future options grants.
The Directors' Plan is administered by the board of directors, who are
authorized to interpret the Directors' Plan but have no authority with respect
to the selection of directors to receive options,
<PAGE>
59
the number of shares subject to the Directors' Plan or to each grant thereunder,
or the option price for shares subject to options. The board may amend the
Directors' Plan as it shall deem advisable but may not, without further approval
of the stockholders, increase the maximum number of shares as to which options
may be granted under the Directors' Plan or increase the number of shares
subject to an outstanding option, change the option price provided in the
Directors' Plan, extend the period during which options may be granted or
exercised, or change the class of persons eligible to receive options.
Adjustments will be made in the number and kind of shares subject to the
Directors' Plan and the number and kind of shares subject to outstanding and
subsequent option grants and in the purchase price of outstanding options, in
each case to reflect changes in our Class A stock through changes in the
corporate structure or capitalization such as through a merger, stock split or
stock dividend.
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The options under the Directors' Plan are nonstatutory options not
intended to qualify as incentive stock options under Section 422 of the Code.
The grant of options will not result in taxable income to the non-employee
director or a tax deduction to us. The exercise of an option by a non-employee
director will result in taxable ordinary income to the non-employee director and
a corresponding deduction for us, in each case equal to the difference between
the fair market value on the date the option was exercised and the fair market
value on the date the option was granted (the option price).
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED
The outside directors of the Company, who will receive grants of options
under the Directors' Plan, have an interest in the adoption of the Directors'
Plan Amendment. The board of directors believes its adoption is in our best
interests and our stockholders and recommends a vote FOR the following
resolution which will be presented to the meeting:
RESOLVED, that the Amendment of the Non-Employee Directors' Stock
Option Plan described in Proposal 5 in The New York Times Company's 2000
Proxy Statement, be, and the same hereby is, ratified, confirmed and
approved.
A vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Class A
and Class B stock entitled to vote thereon, in person or by proxy, voting
together as one class, if required for approval of this resolution. As a result,
abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same effect as a vote against the
proposal.
<PAGE>
60
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 6
SELECTION OF AUDITORS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We have an Audit Committee of the board of directors, whose members are
appointed annually by the board. The Audit Committee currently consists of Ellen
R. Marram, Chairman, Raul E. Cesan and Donald M. Stewart, none of whom is an
employee of the Company.
The Audit Committee has selected the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP,
independent auditors, as our auditors for the fiscal year ending December 31,
2000, subject to ratification of such selection by our Class A and Class B
stockholders voting together as one class. Deloitte & Touche LLP has audited our
financial statements for many years.
We have been informed by Deloitte & Touche LLP that such firm has no
direct financial interest nor any material indirect financial interest in us or
any of our affiliated companies. Deloitte & Touche LLP has not had any
connection during the past five years with us or any of our affiliated companies
in the capacity of promoter, underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer or
employee.
A representative of Deloitte & Touche LLP will be present at the Annual
Meeting and will be afforded the opportunity to make a statement if he decides
to do so. Such representative will also be available to respond to appropriate
questions from stockholders at the Annual Meeting.
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the following resolution
which will be presented to the meeting:
RESOLVED, that the selection, by the Audit Committee of the board of
directors, of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as auditors of
The New York Times Company for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2000, is
hereby ratified, confirmed and approved.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of
Class A and Class B stock represented at the Annual Meeting, in person or by
proxy, voting together as one class, is required for approval of this
resolution. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same
effect as a vote against the proposal.
<PAGE>
61
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 7
AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IN GENERAL
At the Annual Meeting, we will ask you to consider and approve the
amendment and restatement of our certificate of incorporation described in this
Proxy Statement. The amended and restated certificate of incorporation will:
- Increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 300,847,158
to 550,847,158;
- Authorize the board of directors to issue three classes of common stock:
Class A and Class B (or "NYT") stock, which are intended to reflect the
performance of the NYT group, and Class C (or "Digital") stock, which is
intended to reflect the performance of the Digital group; and
- Specify the terms and provisions applicable to the Class C stock, and
amend the terms and provisions applicable to the outstanding Class A
stock and Class B stock.
We currently plan to offer for cash to the public (including certain
existing holders of Class B stock, who have statutory pre-emptive rights, the
Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees, employees of the NYT group and directors of the
Company), shares of Digital stock intended to represent a minority of the equity
attributable to the Digital group. This would leave the NYT group immediately
after the offering with a retained interest (I.E., the NYT group's interest in
the Digital group) intended to represent the remainder of the equity
attributable to the Digital group.
We currently plan to allocate the net proceeds from the offering to the
Digital group in a manner analogous to a primary offering of common stock, and
the Digital group will use such proceeds for general corporate purposes,
including promotion and advertising, domestic and international expansion and
strategic alliances, investments and acquisitions (although we have no current
plans for such alliances, investments or acquisitions). Pending the Digital
group's need for the proceeds, we intend to make them available to the NYT
group, which will use the funds to repay commercial paper. This will be treated
as an inter-group cash advance from the Digital group to the NYT group and will
bear interest at a rate equivalent to the Company's short-term borrowing rate.
We will make available to the Digital group funds up to the amount of this
advance from the NYT group as they are needed. While the ultimate authority
regarding the inter-group cash advances will remain with the Company's board of
directors, the board intends to rely on the management of the Digital group to
determine when funds are needed by the Digital group. See "--Inter-Group
Relationship and Allocations--Allocations, Cash Management and Other Inter-Group
Matters--Treasury and Cash Management Policies" for information about future
funding of the Digital group and cash transfers between the NYT group and the
Digital group.
The terms and the timing of the offering will depend on market conditions
and have not been finalized as of the date of this Proxy Statement. We do not
currently expect to finalize these matters prior to the Annual Meeting. We are
nonetheless proceeding with the vote on the tracking stock proposals so that we
will be able to proceed quickly with the offering when and if market conditions
permit. We could choose not to make the offering at all, depending on the
circumstances at the time. The board of directors and the underwriters for the
offering will determine the terms of the offering based upon:
- prevailing market and other conditions, both generally and for Internet
businesses;
<PAGE>
62
- the financial condition, results of operations and prospects of the
Digital group; and
- such other factors as they deem appropriate at the time of the offering.
In addition to or instead of the offering, we reserve the right to
distribute Digital stock to our stockholders (although we have no current plans
to do so), or to issue Digital stock in another manner.
We will file an amended and restated certificate of incorporation,
substantially in the form of Annex II to this Proxy Statement, effecting the
foregoing before we issue any shares of Digital stock.
BACKGROUND AND REASONS FOR THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS
We continually review each of our businesses and the Company as a whole to
determine the best way to realize its inherent value. As a result of this review
process, we recently began to evaluate our Internet strategy. We concluded that
we could best pursue our strategy by creating the Digital group, a separate
division comprised solely of Internet operations. To finance the Digital group,
we considered a direct public offering of stock of a subsidiary to which we
would contribute the Digital group and an offering of tracking stock of the
Company intended to reflect the performance of the Digital group.
Upon management's recommendation, on January 20, 2000, the board of
directors carefully considered the tracking stock proposals described in this
Proxy Statement, determined that the proposals are in the best interests of the
Company and its stockholders, unanimously approved the proposals and resolved to
recommend that you vote for the proposals.
In arriving at its determination and recommendation, the board of
directors considered the following:
- The tracking stock will permit the market to review separate information
about the NYT group and the Digital group and separately value NYT stock
and Digital stock. This should encourage investors and analysts to focus
more attention on the NYT group and the Digital group. We believe this
may result in greater market recognition of the value of the NYT group
and the Digital group.
- The tracking stock will allow investors to invest in Digital stock,
Class A stock (which is the class of NYT stock that is publicly traded)
or both, depending on their particular investment objectives.
- The tracking stock will allow us to issue stock options exercisable for
publicly traded Digital stock, thereby providing more focused incentives
to the Digital group's officers, employees and consultants.
- The tracking stock will provide us with greater flexibility to raise
capital and respond to strategic opportunities (including acquisitions),
because it will allow us to issue either Digital stock or Class A stock,
as appropriate under the circumstances. In determining whether to issue
Class A stock or Digital stock, our present intent would be to issue
Digital stock to raise capital or effect acquisitions for the Digital
group and to issue Class A stock to raise capital or effect acquisitions
for the NYT group.
- The tracking stock will allow us to realize some of the value of the
Digital group while preserving the financial, tax, operational, strategic
and other benefits of being a single consolidated entity.
<PAGE>
63
The board of directors also evaluated the potential negative aspects of
the tracking stock proposals, including the following:
- the uncertainty as to the amount of net proceeds we may realize in the
offering;
- the tracking stock proposals will require a complex capital structure and
additional reporting requirements with respect to the NYT group and the
Digital group;
- the tracking stock proposals will expand the responsibility of the board
of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, to
oversee the interests of common stockholders;
- the potential diverging or conflicting interests between the holders of
NYT stock and the holders of Digital stock and issues that the board of
directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, may face
in resolving any conflicts; and
- the costs associated with implementing the tracking stock proposals and
the ongoing cost of operating separate groups will exceed the costs
associated with operating the Company as it currently exists and the
uncertainty of forecasts of these costs.
The board also considered that under the terms of our amended and restated
certificate of incorporation, in two limited circumstances, we may elect to
redeem the Digital stock in exchange for Class A stock at a premium to market
value. These provisions, including the amount and calculation of the applicable
premium, are described in detail under "Description of Capital Stock--Mandatory
Dividends, Redemption, or Exchange on Disposition or Substantially All of the
Assets of the Digital Group or the NYT Group" and "Description of Capital
Stock--Exchange of Digital Stock for Class A Stock." These provisions are
intended for the protection of the holders of Digital stock since a decision by
us to redeem Digital stock may be made without the consent of these holders.
Provisions similar to these, with comparable premiums, are included in the
certificates of incorporation of other public companies that have issued
tracking stock. Accordingly, we believe these provisions are necessary in order
for us to be able to successfully market the Digital stock in the offering,
which we believe to be in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders. Thus, notwithstanding the potential dilutive effect to the holders
of Class A stock in the event the board elects to redeem the Digital stock for
Class A stock under these provisions, we believe them to be in the best
interests of the Company and all its stockholders.
The board of directors determined that the positive aspects of the
tracking stock proposals outweighed the negative aspects. Certain of the
above-mentioned benefits could also have been achieved, and certain negative
aspects mitigated, to a degree through a public offering of the stock of a
subsidiary to which we would contribute the Digital group. A subsidiary public
offering would permit the market to review separate financial information for
the groups and would provide the flexibility of a separate publicly traded
security representing our Internet operations. In addition, a subsidiary public
offering would not have required the complex capital structure proposed to
effect the tracking stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the board determined
that a tracking stock offering would be more advantageous to the Company and its
stockholders. In making this determination, the board concluded that tracking
stock will enable us to realize some of the value of the Digital group while
preserving the benefits of being a single consolidated entity. These include
financial benefits in that each of the NYT group and the Digital group will be
able to borrow and incur trade debt based on the credit rating on the overall
consolidated Times Company; and tax benefits in that the operating losses we
anticipate being generated by the Digital group will reduce the federal income
taxes payable by the Times Company as a whole. These benefits would not
necessarily be available in the case of a subsidiary public offering even if we
continued to control the subsidiary after the offering. See "--Business of the
<PAGE>
64
Digital Group--The Digital Group's Advantage--Relationship with the NYT Group"
for a description of certain other synergies. In view of all of the foregoing,
the board concluded that the tracking stock proposals are in the best interests
of the Company and its stockholders.
INTEREST OF OCHS/SULZBERGER FAMILY IN THE OFFERING
Included in the offered shares of Digital stock are shares that will be
offered to the Ochs/ Sulzberger family. The shares will be offered to either the
1997 Trust or, at their election, the four grantors of this trust, Marian S.
Heiskell, Ruth S. Holmberg, Arthur Ochs Sulzberger and Judith P. Sulzberger
(collectively, the "Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees"). See "General Information--The
1997 Trust" for information about the 1997 Trust and the grantors. The
Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees will be offered shares of Digital stock in an amount
equal to the lesser of (i) shares with the aggregate initial offering price of
$33.0 million or (ii) shares of Digital stock representing 3.3% of the equity
attributable to the Digital group immediately after the offering. The 1997 Trust
holds approximately 1.2% of our Class A stock and approximately 87.2% of our
Class B stock. Members of the Ochs/Sulzberger family hold, in the aggregate,
approximately 18% of our Class A stock.
After representatives of the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees advised the Company
of their interest in purchasing shares of Digital stock in the offering at the
initial offering price, the board of directors of the Company asked the Finance
Committee (with Judith P. Sulzberger not participating) to consider the matter.
Each member of the Finance Committee is a non-employee director and none of the
members, other than Dr. Sulzberger, is a member of the Ochs/Sulzberger family.
The Finance Committee engaged independent legal counsel to advise it and met
with members of management, representatives of the Ochs/Sulzberger family, and
the Company's counsel and the proposed underwriters of the Digital stock
offering. After careful consideration, the committee recommended to the board,
and the board (with Michael Golden, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., Arthur Ochs
Sulzberger and Judith P. Sulzberger not participating) approved the offering of
Digital stock in the offering to the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees at the initial
public offering price and subject to the terms described below.
In so acting, the committee and the board considered several factors,
including the following:
- The Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees will vote all shares of Class B stock held
by them in favor of the tracking stock proposals, thus assuring approval
of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation by the Class B
stockholders.
- A condition of the sale to the Ochs/Sulzberger offerees will be the
agreement by them (and certain other members of the family) to : (i)
waive the preemptive rights of the Class B stock held by them in
connection with the offering and in connection with subsequent issuances
of Digital stock; and (ii) not sell or transfer (other than intra-family
transfers) shares of Digital stock purchased in the offering for a period
of three years subsequent to the offering, except with the approval of
the Finance Committee (without any member of the Ochs/Sulzberger family
on such committee participating).
- The view of the Company's management and representatives of the proposed
underwriters that the purchase by the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees would
assist the offering by demonstrating the family's monetary support of the
Digital group and its prospects.
- The terms of the proposed offering to the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees would
be described in this proxy statement and that the offering would not go
forward unless the holders of the Class A stock, voting as a separate
class, approve the amendment and restatement of the Company's certificate
of incorporation.
<PAGE>
65
The Finance Committee (with Dr. Sulzberger not participating) also
considered the provision of the proposed amended and restated certificate of
incorporation whereby the Company will have the right at any time to exchange
common stock of a subsidiary for Digital stock so long as the assets and
liabilities of the Digital group are held directly or indirectly by the
subsidiary. In such an exchange, holders of Digital stock would receive a class
of common stock of such subsidiary that possesses voting rights with respect to
the subsidiary that are generally comparable to the voting rights that Digital
stock has with respect to the Company except that it would have a fixed one vote
per share on matters on which it votes. These shares will represent the same
proportionate interest in that subsidiary that the Digital stock is deemed to
represent in the Digital group at the time of the exchange. The Company will
distribute the remaining shares of the subsidiary to the holders of Class A
stock and Class B stock, with holders of Class A stock receiving shares of the
same class as the shares issued to the holders of Digital stock and the holders
of Class B stock receiving shares of a separate class of common stock of the
subsidiary that possesses voting rights with respect to the subsidiary that are
generally comparable to the voting rights that Class B stock has with respect to
the Company. As a result, the holders of Class B stock would control this
separate subsidiary. The 1997 Trust currently holds approximately 87.2% of the
Class B stock.
Because of the family's Class B holdings, the Company's board of directors
asked the Finance Committee, with Dr. Sulzberger not participating, to consider
this proposed provision. After careful consideration, the Finance Committee
recommended to the board, and the board, with members of the Ochs/Sulzberger
family not participating, approved the inclusion of this provision in the
amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be voted on pursuant to
Proposal 7.
Among factors considered by the Committee was that the 1997 Trust
currently has voting control of the Company, including the Digital group, and
without the proposed provisions such control would pass from the trust upon a
spin off of the Digital group as a separate, independent company. The Committee
also noted that the Ochs/Sulzberger Offerees will vote their Class B stock in
favor of the tracking stock proposals, thus assuring approval of the amended and
restated certificate of incorporation by the Class B stockholders. See
"--Description of Capital Stock--Exchange for Stock of a Subsidiary in
Connection with a Spin-off" for a description of this provision of the amended
and restated certificate of incorporation.
VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
On March 21, 2000, we completed the sale of an aggregate of $40.0 million
of 7% convertible subordinated notes (the "Notes") of the Times Company due
March 21, 2003. The proceeds of the sale and the indebtedness has been
attributed to the Digital group. The investors consisted of two related funds
managed by Flatiron Partners ("Flatiron"), Chase Equity Associates, L.P.
("Chase") and three related funds managed by Highland Capital Partners
("Highland").
After the consummation of an initial public offering of Digital stock, the
Notes will be convertible, at the election of Flatiron, Chase and Highland, into
shares of Digital stock intended to represent approximately 6 2/3% of the
pre-offering equity of the Digital group. If there is no offering, the Notes
will not be convertible into any class of the Company's stock. We have agreed to
give Flatiron, Chase and Highland piggyback and demand registration rights for
shares of Digital stock issued upon conversion of the Notes.
Interest accrues daily on the unpaid principal amount of these Notes at
7.0% per year, compounded quarterly. The Notes may be prepaid, in whole or in
part, without premium or penalty, at any time after the day which is 180 days
after the consummation of the offering in the event that the
<PAGE>
66
market value of the Digital stock shall have exceeded 150% of the conversion
price for a period of 20 consecutive trading days.
In connection with this investment, we have appointed Jerry Colonna, a
principal of Flatiron Partners, and Dan Nova, managing general partner of
Highland Capital Partners, to the Digital group's advisory board. The other
members of the Digital group's advisory board are Red Burns, chair of the
Interactive Telecommunications Program at New York University; Mark Walsh, CEO
of VerticalNet, Inc.; Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., chairman of the Times Company and
publisher of THE NEW YORK TIMES; Russell T. Lewis, president and CEO of the
Times Company; and Howell Raines, editorial page editor of THE NEW YORK TIMES.
The advisory board will consult with the Digital group's management regarding
the Digital group's business and various strategic initiatives, but does not
have any of the powers, duties or responsibilities of a committee of the board
of directors.
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67
THE NYT GROUP
A description of the business of the Company, including those businesses
constituting the NYT group, together with consolidated financial statements,
management's discussion and analysis of the financial condition of the Company
and other information, is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 26, 1999, and which is incorporated herein by reference.
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE DIGITAL GROUP
The following selected financial data is qualified by reference to, and
should be read in conjunction with, the Digital group's combined financial
statements and the related notes, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations of the Digital Group", the Times
Company's consolidated financial statements and the related notes, "Selected
Financial Data" of the Times Company and "Management's Discussion and Analysis
of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" of the Times Company appearing
elsewhere or incorporated by reference in this Proxy Statement. The selected
statement of operations data for the fiscal years ended December 26, 1999,
December 27, 1998, and December 28, 1997, and the balance sheet data as of
December 26, 1999, and December 27, 1998, have been derived from the combined
financial statements of the Digital group that have been audited by Deloitte &
Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports which are included
in this Proxy Statement. The selected statement of operations data for the
fiscal year ended December 29, 1996, and the balance sheet data as of
December 28, 1997, and December 29, 1996, have been derived from audited
combined financial statements of the Digital group not included in this Proxy
Statement. The selected financial data as of and for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1995, have been derived from unaudited combined financial
statements as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1995, which were
prepared on the same basis as the Digital group's audited financial statements
and, in the opinion of management, include all material adjustments, consisting
only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary to present the financial
position and results for the period presented.
<PAGE>
68
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 29, DECEMBER 31,
1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenue:
Advertising................................... $ 25,136 $ 11,227 $ 6,114 $ 3,559 $ 5
Other......................................... 1,663 2,947 4,012 2,512 96
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Total......................................... 26,799 14,174 10,126 6,071 101
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Costs and expenses:
Content and development....................... 20,325 13,358 11,846 9,706 6,277
Sales and marketing........................... 15,827 8,232 3,466 2,119 610
General and administrative.................... 16,107 12,554 5,411 3,869 4,565
Depreciation and amortization................. 4,586 1,197 472 378 59
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Total......................................... 56,845 35,341 21,195 16,072 11,511
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Operating loss.................................. (30,046) (21,167) (11,069) (10,001) (11,410)
Interest expense, net........................... 14 -- -- -- --
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Loss before income taxes........................ (30,060) (21,167) (11,069) (10,001) (11,410)
Income tax benefit.............................. 12,685 9,843 5,191 4,640 5,340
-------- -------- ------- ------- -------
Net loss........................................ $(17,375) $(11,324) $(5,878) $(5,361) $(6,070)
======== ======== ======= ======= =======
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AT PERIOD END):
Cash and cash
equivalents................................... $ 184 $ 41 $ 39 $ 1,070 $ 299
Working capital (deficit)....................... (2,978) (1,879) (962) (839) (1,087)
Total assets.................................... 48,725 5,918 3,876 2,944 1,454
Total liabilities............................... 14,293 4,671 2,710 2,544 1,400
Divisional net worth............................ 34,432 1,247 1,166 400 54
OTHER DATA:
Capital expenditures............................ $ 5,474 $ 2,796 $ 930 $ 441 $ 1,100
Net cash used in operating activities........... (15,087) (8,607) (6,745) (4,495) (4,725)
Net cash used in investing activities........... (5,349) (2,796) (930) (441) (1,100)
Net cash provided by financing activities....... 20,579 11,405 6,644 5,707 6,124
EBITDA (1)...................................... (25,460) (19,970) (10,597) (9,623) (11,351)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
(1) "EBITDA" is defined as net loss before net interest expense, income tax
benefit, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because it
is a widely accepted indicator of funds available to a business, although it
is not a measure of liquidity or of financial performance under generally
accepted accounting principles. We believe that EBITDA, while providing
useful information, should not be considered in isolation or as an
alternative to net income or cash flows as determined under generally
accepted accounting principles. EBITDA, as presented here, may differ from
similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
<PAGE>
69
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF THE DIGITAL GROUP
INVESTORS SHOULD READ THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE
COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF THE DIGITAL GROUP AND THE RELATED NOTES, WHICH
APPEAR ELSEWHERE IN THIS PROXY STATEMENT AND THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS OF THE TIMES COMPANY AND THE RELATED NOTES INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
HEREIN.
OVERVIEW
From a financial reporting standpoint, we have separated the Digital
group, our Internet business division, from the NYT group, which includes the
rest of our businesses. We intend Digital stock to track the performance of the
Digital group. We intend NYT stock to track the performance of the NYT group.
The operations of the Digital group, with the exception of Abuzz
Technologies, Inc. ("Abuzz Technologies"), which was acquired in July 1999, have
been wholly-owned by the Times Company since their inception. From 1995 until
the creation of the Digital group in July 1999, each website was accounted for
separately but managed as part of the related print publication. The Digital
group's network of websites consists of the following:
- NYTimes.com, launched in January 1996, currently has more than
10 million unique registered users and had 90.7 million page views during
December 1999;
- boston.com, launched in October 1995, had 43.0 million page views during
December 1999;
- NYToday.com, launched in June 1998, had 3.7 million page views during
December 1999;
- WineToday.com, launched in July 1998, had 0.7 million page views during
December 1999;
- GolfDigest.com, launched as a preview edition in December 1999, had
0.6 million page views during that month; and
- abuzz.com was launched in January 2000.
The financial statements of the Digital group contained elsewhere in this
Proxy Statement include allocations for administrative and other expenses
incurred by the NYT group for services rendered to the Digital group. While we
believe such allocations to be reasonable, they are not necessarily indicative
of, and it is not practical for us to estimate, the levels of expenses that
would have resulted had the Digital group been operating as an independent
company. The Digital group has also relied upon the NYT group to provide
financing for its operations since inception. Therefore, the Digital group's
financial position and cash flows to date are not necessarily indicative of the
financial position and cash flows that would have resulted had the Digital group
been operating as an independent company. However, management believes that the
level of expenses would not have been materially different if these services had
been provided by third parties.
The provision of services and other matters between the Digital group and
the NYT group, including the right to use the NYT group's trademarks and content
on the Internet, will be in accordance with license, services and tax sharing
arrangements, which are described in "Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations."
These arrangements were not in place prior to January 1, 2000. Nevertheless, in
order to prepare financial statements that include charges and benefits of the
types provided for under these arrangements, the financial statements for all
periods included in this Proxy
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70
Statement reflect charges and benefits that would have applied if these
inter-group arrangements had been in effect during the periods presented.
We intend, for so long as the Digital stock remains outstanding, to
include in filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, by the
Times Company combined financial statements of the Digital group as of the same
dates and for the same periods as the consolidated financial statements of the
Times Company included in the filings. These financial statements will be
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and in the
case of annual financial statements, will be audited. These financial statements
are not legally required under current law or SEC regulations.
REVENUE
The Digital group's revenue consists primarily of advertising revenue,
which includes banner and classified advertising, and other revenue, which
includes archive sales, subscription fees and direct marketing and other
e-commerce arrangements. For each of the periods covered by the financial
statements of the Digital group included in this Proxy Statement, barter revenue
was less than 1% of revenue. Advertising is the Digital group's most significant
source of revenue, and we expect that it will continue to be the principal
source for the foreseeable future. Advertising revenue is derived principally
from arrangements with the Digital group's customers that provide for a
guaranteed number of impressions. The Digital group recognizes revenue upon the
delivery of a single page view, or "impression", of an advertisement.
Advertising rates vary depending primarily on the total number of impressions
purchased, the length of the advertiser's commitment, the location of the
advertisement, the type of advertising, and the use of targeting to an
advertiser-defined subset of the Digital group's users. Advertisers also
purchase sponsorship advertising, the pricing of which is not based on number of
impressions but rather on exclusive placement on a particular area of a website.
The Digital group recognizes sponsorship revenue as earned, generally over the
contract period, and defers recognition of sponsorship revenue if significant
obligations remain outstanding after the contract period. E-commerce revenue
includes the Digital group's commissions on sales made by e-commerce merchants
to users of Digital websites. For the periods covered by the financial
statements of the Digital group included in this Proxy Statement, e-commerce
revenue was derived principally from one retailer.
COSTS AND EXPENSES
CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES. Content and development expenses
include compensation and other expenses incurred to produce and edit content, as
well as applications and systems maintenance expenses for the Digital group's
websites. The NYT group provides a significant portion of the Digital group's
editorial content for which the Digital group pays the NYT group a license fee.
The license arrangement provides for an annual fee equal to 10% of the first
$100.0 million of revenue and a declining percentage of incremental revenue,
with a minimum annual payment of $5.0 million. The license fee is included in
content and development expenses. For additional information about the license
arrangement, see "--Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations."
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES. Sales and marketing expenses consist of
compensation of sales and marketing personnel, research, advertising and
promotion expenses.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses
include compensation of administrative personnel and other expenses such as
rent, benefits, and allocations of corporate and other expenses from the NYT
group. The NYT group provides corporate support services to the Digital group.
Charges for services that are of the same type that are provided to units of the
NYT
<PAGE>
71
group are determined on the same basis for the Digital group as for these units.
Under the services arrangement, the Digital group may obtain services from third
party vendors in the future should its management determine that to be
advantageous. The results of operations for 2000, 2001 and 2002 will include
noncash compensation expenses of $2.2 million, $0.5 million and $0.1 million
related to the issuance in 1999 of stock options to Digital group employees with
exercise prices below fair market value.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSES. Depreciation and amortization
expenses consist principally of depreciation of fixed assets used by the Digital
group to operate its business. In July 1999, the Digital group began to record
amortization expense related to the acquisition of Abuzz Technologies. The
acquisition resulted in goodwill of $23.8 million and intangible assets acquired
of $7.7 million, both of which are being amortized over five years.
INTEREST
The Times Company has provided all necessary funding for the operations
and investments of the Digital group since inception and such funding has been
accounted for as capital contributions from the NYT group. Accordingly, no
interest charges from the NYT group have been reflected in the accompanying
combined financial statements. After the offering, the Digital group anticipates
receiving interest income from the NYT group in respect of the net proceeds of
the offering, which will be made available to the NYT group in the form of an
advance. The Times Company's short-term interest rate will be used in
calculating interest income and expense related to this advance.
INCOME TAX BENEFIT
The operating results of the Digital group are included in the
consolidated federal income tax returns of the Times Company. Beginning
January 1, 2000, the Digital group will be reimbursed quarterly for any tax
benefits resulting from the inclusion of the Digital group in the Times
Company's consolidated tax returns to the extent the Times Company is deemed
able to utilize them under the tax sharing arrangement. The Digital group will
be charged quarterly for any tax liability of the Times Company resulting from
the Digital group's inclusion in those returns. Prior to January 1, 2000, the
Times Company's tax allocation policy provided that the consolidated tax
provision, and related tax payments or refunds, are allocated between the
Digital group and the NYT group based principally upon financial income, taxable
income, credits and other amounts directly related to the respective group. Tax
benefits that cannot be utilized by the group generating such attributes, but
can be utilized on a consolidated basis, are allocated to the group that
generated such benefits. As a result, the allocated amounts of taxes payable or
refundable are not necessarily comparable to those that would have resulted if
the Digital group and the NYT group had filed separate tax returns. See
"--Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations" for additional information about
tax sharing.
<PAGE>
72
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following table sets forth certain of the Digital group's financial
results for the fiscal years ended December 26, 1999, December 27, 1998, and
December 28, 1997.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:
Revenue:
Advertising............................................... $ 25,136 $ 11,227 $ 6,114
Other..................................................... 1,663 2,947 4,012
-------- -------- --------
Total..................................................... 26,799 14,174 10,126
-------- -------- --------
Costs and expenses:
Content and development................................... 20,325 13,358 11,846
Sales and marketing....................................... 15,827 8,232 3,466
General and administrative................................ 16,107 12,554 5,411
Depreciation and amortization............................. 4,586 1,197 472
-------- -------- --------
Total..................................................... 56,845 35,341 21,195
-------- -------- --------
Operating loss.............................................. (30,046) (21,167) (11,069)
Interest expense, net....................................... 14 -- --
-------- -------- --------
Loss before income taxes.................................... (30,060) (21,167) (11,069)
Income tax benefit.......................................... 12,685 9,843 5,191
-------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................... $(17,375) $(11,324) $ (5,878)
======== ======== ========
OTHER DATA:
Capital expenditures........................................ $ 5,474 $ 2,796 $ 930
Net cash used in operating activities....................... (15,087) (8,607) (6,745)
Net cash used in investing activities....................... (5,349) (2,796) (930)
Net cash provided by financing activities................... 20,579 11,405 6,644
EBITDA (1).................................................. (25,460) (19,970) (10,597)
</TABLE>
- ------------------------------
(1) "EBITDA" is defined as net loss before net interest expense, income tax
benefit, and depreciation and amortization. EBITDA is presented because it
is a widely accepted indicator of funds available to a business, although it
is not a measure of liquidity or of financial performance under generally
accepted accounting principles. We believe that EBITDA, while providing
useful information, should not be considered in isolation or as an
alternative to net income or cash flows as determined under generally
accepted accounting principles. EBITDA, as presented here, may differ from
similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
The following table sets forth the foregoing amounts as a percentage of
revenue.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
1999 1998 1997
------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue:
Advertising............................................... 94% 79% 60%
Other..................................................... 6 21 40
-------- -------- --------
Total..................................................... 100 100 100
-------- -------- --------
Costs and expenses:
Content and development................................... 76 94 117
Sales and marketing....................................... 59 58 34
General and administrative................................ 60 89 53
Depreciation and amortization............................. 17 8 5
-------- -------- --------
Total..................................................... 212 249 209
-------- -------- --------
Operating loss.............................................. (112) (149) (109)
Interest expense, net....................................... -- -- --
-------- -------- --------
Loss before income taxes.................................... (112) (149) (109)
Income tax benefit.......................................... 47 69 51
-------- -------- --------
Net loss.................................................... (65)% (80)% (58)%
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
73
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 26, 1999, COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 27, 1998
REVENUE
Revenue was $26.8 million for fiscal 1999, compared to $14.2 million for
fiscal 1998. The $12.6 million increase was primarily due to higher banner and
sponsorship advertising volume. Advertising revenue accounted for 94% of the
Digital group's total revenue for fiscal 1999, compared to 79% of revenue for
fiscal 1998. Advertising revenue for fiscal 1999, increased 124% from fiscal
1998 due to increased advertising volume. Advertising rates were not increased
during this period. Other revenue was 6% of total revenue for fiscal 1999,
compared to 21% of total revenue for fiscal 1998. Other revenue for fiscal 1999
decreased 44% from fiscal 1998 primarily due to the discontinuation of
NYTimes.com's international subscription fees in July 1998, and changes in the
terms of the Digital group's contract with AOL in March 1999 which eliminated a
$1.0 million annual license fee. Prior to March 1, 1999, the Digital group
received a license fee for granting AOL the right to distribute the Digital
group's proprietary content on the AOL network. Currently, the Digital group
publishes news articles on co-branded webpages which can be accessed by users in
the AOL Network and which contain advertisements sold by the Digital group.
COSTS AND EXPENSES
CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES. Content and development expenses were
$20.3 million, or 76% of revenue, for fiscal 1999, compared to $13.4 million, or
94% of revenue, for fiscal 1998. The $6.9 million increase was primarily due to
increased compensation and related expenses of approximately $6.0 million, a
portion of which resulted from the acquisition of Abuzz Technologies in July
1999, and increased systems and product development expenses of approximately
$0.6 million. Content and development expenses included $5.0 million of fees,
the minimum license fee to the NYT group, for both fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998.
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES. Sales and marketing expenses were
$15.8 million, or 59% of revenue, for fiscal 1999, compared to $8.2 million, or
58% of revenue, for fiscal 1998. The $7.6 million increase resulted primarily
from increased sales staff and compensation expenses of approximately
$5.1 million and increased promotion expenses of approximately $1.6 million.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses
were $16.1 million, or 60% of revenue, for fiscal 1999, compared to
$12.6 million, or 89% of revenue, for fiscal 1998. The $3.5 million increase was
primarily due to increased compensation and benefits expense, a portion of which
resulted from the acquisition of Abuzz Technologies in July 1999. General and
administrative expenses for fiscal 1999 included approximately $2.3 million of
allocated expenses from the NYT group, compared to $1.5 million for fiscal 1998.
These expenses are allocated by the NYT group for services provided to the
Digital group.
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSES. Depreciation and amortization
expenses were $4.6 million, or 17% of revenue, for fiscal 1999, compared to
$1.2 million, or 8% of revenue, for fiscal 1998. The $3.4 million increase was
primarily due to the amortization expense related to the acquisition of Abuzz
Technologies in July 1999.
OPERATING LOSSES
Operating losses were $30.0 million for fiscal 1999, compared to
$21.2 million for fiscal 1998. The $8.8 million increase in operating losses was
the result of increases in all categories of costs and expenses, which were
partially offset by higher revenue.
<PAGE>
74
INCOME TAX BENEFIT
Income tax benefit was $12.7 million for fiscal 1999, compared to
$9.8 million for fiscal 1998. The $2.9 million increase resulted from increased
operating losses.
NET LOSSES
Net losses were $17.4 million for fiscal 1999, compared to $11.3 million
for fiscal 1998. The $6.1 million increase in net losses was due to increased
operating losses, for the reasons discussed above, which were partially offset
by the increased income tax benefit.
EBITDA
EBITDA was $(25.5) million for fiscal 1999, compared to $(20.0) million
for fiscal 1998. This change resulted from increases in costs and expenses,
partially offset by higher revenue.
FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 27, 1998, COMPARED TO FISCAL YEAR ENDED
DECEMBER 28, 1997
REVENUE
Revenue was $14.2 million for fiscal 1998, compared to $10.1 million for
fiscal 1997. The $4.1 million increase was primarily due to higher banner and
sponsorship advertising volume. Advertising revenue accounted for 79% of the
Digital group's total revenue for fiscal 1998 and 60% for fiscal 1997.
Advertising revenue for fiscal 1998 increased 84% from fiscal 1997 due to
increased advertising volume. Advertising rates were not increased during this
period. Other revenue was 21% of total revenue for fiscal 1998 and 40% for
fiscal 1997. Other revenue for fiscal 1998 declined 27% from fiscal 1997,
primarily due to a $1.0 million decrease in the license fee received by the
Digital group under its contract with AOL, and the discontinuation of
NYTimes.com's international subscription fees in July 1998, partially offset by
increased revenue from one retailer.
COSTS AND EXPENSES
CONTENT AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES. Content and development expenses were
$13.4 million, or 94% of revenue, for fiscal 1998, compared to $11.8 million, or
117% of revenue, for fiscal 1997. The $1.6 million increase was primarily due to
increased compensation expenses of approximately $0.9 million. Content and
development expenses included $5.0 million of fees, the minimum license fee to
the NYT group, for both fiscal 1998 and fiscal 1997.
SALES AND MARKETING EXPENSES. Sales and marketing expenses were
$8.2 million, or 58% of revenue, for fiscal 1998, compared to $3.5 million, or
34% of revenue, for fiscal 1997. The $4.7 million increase was primarily due to
increased sales force compensation costs of approximately $2.6 million related
to an increased number of sales and sales support staff, and approximately $2.0
million of promotion expenses, including approximately $1.0 million for the
launch of NYToday.com and approximately $0.7 million for the introduction of
Yellow Pages on boston.com.
GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses
were $12.6 million, or 89% of revenue, for fiscal 1998, compared to
$5.4 million, or 53% of revenue, for fiscal 1997. The $7.2 million increase was
primarily due to approximately $4.9 million of expenses for the launch of
NYToday.com, including a one-time charge of approximately $0.8 million in
connection with vacating NYToday.com's office space in order to consolidate New
York operations in one location. General and administrative expenses for fiscal
1998 also included approximately $1.5 million of allocated expenses from the NYT
group, compared to approximately $1.0 million for fiscal 1997. These expenses
are allocated by the NYT group for services provided to the Digital group.
<PAGE>
75
DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION EXPENSES. Depreciation and amortization
expenses were $1.2 million, or 8% of revenue, for fiscal 1998, compared to
$0.5 million, or 5% of revenue, for fiscal 1997. The $0.7 million increase was
primarily due to an approximately $0.5 million write-off of leasehold
improvements at the vacated NYToday.com office space.
OPERATING LOSSES
Operating losses were $21.2 million for fiscal 1998, compared to $11.1
million for fiscal 1997. The $10.1 million increase in operating losses was the
result of increases in all categories of costs and expenses and a decrease in
other revenue, which were partially offset by higher advertising revenue.
INCOME TAX BENEFIT
Income tax benefit was $9.8 million for fiscal 1998, compared to
$5.2 million for fiscal 1997. The $4.6 million increase resulted from increased
operating losses.
NET LOSSES
Net losses for fiscal 1998 were $11.3 million, compared to $5.9 million
for fiscal 1997. The $5.4 million increase in net losses was due to increased
operating losses, for the reasons discussed above, partially offset by the
increased income tax benefit.
EBITDA
EBITDA was $(20.0) million for fiscal 1998, compared to $(10.6) million
for fiscal 1997. This change was primarily due to increased costs and expenses,
partially offset by increased revenue.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
The Digital group currently relies upon the Times Company for financing
capital expenditures and cash required for operations. The NYT group funds the
Digital group's cash disbursement accounts and sweeps the Digital group's cash
receipts accounts on a daily basis. Cash generated by the NYT group and the
Digital group has been and will continue to be managed centrally by the NYT
group. As the group responsible for the Times Company's centralized,
consolidated treasury function, the NYT group has a wide degree of discretion
over the investment of surplus cash, and the issuance and repayment of
short-term and long-term debt of the Times Company. The Digital group's
liquidity could be adversely affected by the investment decisions made by the
NYT group.
The Times Company will make the $40 million in proceeds received upon the
sale of the convertible subordinated notes and the net proceeds of the offering
available to the Digital group as they are needed. Pending the Digital group's
need for such funds, the Times Company has made the note proceeds and will make
the offering proceeds available to the NYT group to repay outstanding debt. The
Digital group will accrue interest income at the Times Company's short-term
interest rate based on the amount of proceeds still available to the Digital
group. After all proceeds from the sale of the convertible subordinated notes
and of the offering have been expended, the Digital group's access to cash for
future needs will be subject to the policies described under "--Inter-Group
Relationship and Allocations." Under these policies, management of the Times
Company could determine to fund the needs of the Digital group from the NYT
group, or from borrowings from or the issuance of securities to third parties.
Although the NYT group has no obligation to provide funds to the Digital group
and the decision to do so is within the discretion of the Times Company's board
of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, it is our
present intention that the NYT group will
<PAGE>
76
continue to fund, if needed, the operations and cash flow needs of the Digital
group through fiscal 2000.
We have no current plans to effect a further offering of shares of Digital
stock to the public after the initial public offering of Digital stock. However,
we will continue to evaluate this in light of circumstances as they develop.
Net cash used in operating activities was $15.1 million for fiscal 1999,
compared to $8.6 million for fiscal 1998. The $6.5 million increase was
primarily due to increased operating losses. Net cash used in investing
activities was $5.3 million for fiscal 1999, compared to $2.8 million for fiscal
1998. The $2.5 million increase was primarily due to higher capital
expenditures. Net cash provided by financing activities was $20.6 million for
fiscal 1999, compared to $11.4 million for fiscal 1998. The $9.2 million
increase is primarily due to financing from the NYT group.
Capital expenditures for fiscal 1999, were $5.5 million. The Digital group
expects capital expenditures to be between $20 million and $30 million in 2000.
Principal planned capital projects include consolidating substantially all of
Digital's technical infrastructure at one facility, providing sufficient
capacity for current and projected user growth at its websites, and moving and
expansion of the Digital group's headquarters in New York City. The amount and
timing of capital expenditures will be within the discretion of management of
the Digital group and it is ultimately up to the board of directors of the Times
Company, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, to decide how to
finance these expenditures.
The Digital group's future cash requirements will depend on numerous
factors, including:
- the rate of market acceptance and growth of the Digital group's online
offerings;
- the ability of the Digital group to expand its customer base;
- the cost of upgrades and purchases of new equipment; and
- the level of expenditures for sales, marketing and advertising.
SEASONALITY AND CYCLICAL FLUCTUATIONS
For the periods covered by the financial statements of the Digital group
included in this Proxy Statement, the Digital group's revenue has not been
subject to seasonal fluctuations primarily due to rapid growth in revenue. In
traditional media businesses, advertisers generally place fewer advertisements
during the first and third calendar quarters of each year. We expect this
pattern to affect the Digital group in the future. In addition, expenditures by
advertisers tend to vary in cycles that reflect overall economic conditions as
well as budgeting and buying patterns.
YEAR 2000
The Digital group has completed implementation of its year 2000
remediation plan on a timely basis, and such remediation plan as implemented
addresses all mission critical systems. We are not aware of any adverse effects
of year 2000 issues on the Digital group, including its systems and operations.
<PAGE>
77
BUSINESS OF THE DIGITAL GROUP
INDUSTRY BACKGROUND
The Internet is a significant global communications medium, enabling
millions of people to share information and conduct business electronically, and
providing advertisers and merchants with an attractive means of marketing and
selling their products and services. International Data Corporation, a leading
industry research company, estimates that the number of Internet users worldwide
will grow from approximately 196 million at the end of 1999 to approximately
502 million at the end of 2003, a compound annual growth rate of approximately
27%. Major factors driving this growth include the increasing number of personal
computers in homes and offices, the ease, speed and lower cost of Internet
access and improvements in network infrastructure.
As the Internet grows, its value to advertisers and merchants can be
expected to increase as a result of:
- the attractive demographic profile of Internet users;
- the interactive nature of the medium;
- the ability to direct offerings to targeted user groups;
- the ability to efficiently measure the success of targeted advertising;
and
- the escalating value of goods and services sold online.
ADVERTISING AND COMMERCE
We believe the Internet has the potential to allow advertisers to build
valuable customer relationships through targeted advertising and sales
campaigns. Forrester Research, a leading industry research company, estimates
worldwide advertising spending on the Internet exceeded $3.3 billion in 1999 and
will reach more than $33.0 billion by 2003, a compound annual growth rate of
approximately 86%. We believe advertisers will continue to pay a premium for
targeted access to affluent users, and that sources of this access are currently
limited.
The Internet also provides an efficient means for merchants to sell their
products and services directly to consumers. Internet transactions are expected
to increase as online transaction processing technology improves, consumers
become more accustomed to purchasing online and fulfillment systems become more
reliable. International Data Corporation estimates that the total value of
products and services sold over the Internet will increase from approximately
$111.4 billion in 1999 to approximately $1.3 trillion in 2003, a compound annual
growth rate of approximately 85%. We expect merchants will also pay a premium
for targeted access to affluent users.
CONTENT
We expect people increasingly to rely on the Internet as an important
source of news and information. The Internet provides an efficient medium for
the delivery of continuously updated original content and, we believe, is
becoming an important means by which individuals share opinions and ideas.
Although content providers can reach large audiences through traditional media,
their distribution is often limited by geography and they do not provide for
interaction among the information providers and members of the audience. By
comparison, the Internet allows users to rapidly access, search and interact
with a rich repository of content, regardless of location. The Internet also
permits users to interact with each other and with the information provider. As
a result, numerous
<PAGE>
78
traditional information sources, such as newspapers, magazines and broadcasters,
are turning to the Internet to meet their audiences' demand for timely and
relevant information and for interactivity.
UTILITY
International Data Corporation estimates that on average 4.2 million new
web pages will be added to the Internet every day during 2000. As the Internet
grows, people using conventional search and directory products are finding that
locating a useful and authoritative source of information is increasingly
difficult. While better and faster search engines begin to address this
difficulty, we believe the promise of the Internet will only be fulfilled
through the emergence of branded destinations that are authoritative and trusted
sources of relevant information, products and services. We also believe that
more direct and personal means of interacting will improve the utility of these
sources. In this regard, a new class of applications has emerged that allows
Internet users to tap the subjective knowledge of the online community thereby
encouraging greater usage. This will, in turn, make the Internet more useful to
consumers and valuable to advertisers and e-commerce merchants.
THE DIGITAL GROUP'S ADVANTAGE
The Digital group is a leading online provider of quality news, information
and community through its network of branded websites, the flagship of which is
NYTimes.com. The Digital group targets what it refers to as the quality
audience, a worldwide audience of highly educated and affluent individuals who
are united by shared values and interests.
We believe that the content provided on and the rates of usage experienced
by, the Digital group's websites make them attractive to advertisers and
e-commerce merchants from whom we earn revenue. The Digital group's websites
attracted in excess of 138 million page views in December 1999. In that month,
NYTimes.com had approximately 90.7 million page views, and, according to Media
Metrix, the average NYTimes.com user spent 36.4 minutes on the site. NYTimes.com
has over 10 million unique registered users, and is currently adding
approximately 300,000 new registered users per month (registration is free of
charge; to avoid double counting, these figures exclude multiple registrations
from the same e-mail address). NYToday.com, a daily guide to life in New York
City, and The New York Times Learning Network, a key Internet resource for
teachers, parents and students, are each brand extensions created by
NYTimes.com. Boston.com was one of the most visited regional portals in the
United States in the fourth quarter of 1999, according to Media Metrix.
GolfDigest.com and WineToday.com, two special interest sites, offer news and
features designed to attract users in the lucrative golf and wine markets. The
Digital group's proprietary ABUZZ technology, deployed on abuzz.com and on each
of the websites across the network, facilitates interaction and fosters
community among users.
QUALITY AUDIENCE
The Digital group directs its Internet offerings to what we refer to as
the quality audience. Drawing upon extensive research conducted by THE NEW YORK
TIMES to understand its potential audience, we define the quality audience by a
set of behavioral attributes. These include a respect for knowledge and lifelong
learning, a global perspective on news and finance, a curiosity about science
and technology, a love of travel and an appreciation for culture and the arts.
This audience has an affinity for other like-minded individuals based not on
geography but on shared values and interests. This research estimates that
40 million adults in the United States share these attributes, and we believe
there are significantly more worldwide. While the Digital group targets the
quality audience in
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79
the United States and abroad, we believe the Digital group's websites appeal to
a much broader audience.
Although the quality audience is not defined by rigid demographic
criteria, its members tend to be affluent and highly educated. For example,
according to data contained in @plan's Winter 2000 Release, a NYTimes.com
registered user is 65% more likely than the average United States Internet user
to have an annual income in excess of $150,000 and 62% more likely to have a
post-graduate degree. The Digital group offers advertisers and e-commerce
merchants the ability to precisely target advertiser-defined subsets of this
quality audience.
QUALITY BRANDS
The Digital group brings to the Internet established and powerful brands
that are leaders in their respective categories and target demographics. Our
brands, THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE BOSTON GLOBE and GOLF DIGEST, have been built
through decades of investment and promotion, and each will continue to be
supported by the NYT group's reporters, editors and infrastructure. The Digital
group is building and extending these print brands into well-recognized Internet
brands.
The powerful draw of the Digital group's brands is demonstrated by its
flagship website, NYTimes.com. THE NEW YORK TIMES is among the best-known and
most widely respected news and information brands in the world. THE NEW YORK
TIMES has won 79 Pulitzer Prizes, far more than any other publication. We
believe no other publication can match the quality audience which turns to THE
NEW YORK TIMES daily for information. With limited promotion by the Digital
group, the powerful NEW YORK TIMES brand has attracted over 10 million unique
registered users to NYTimes.com, with new registrations currently approximating
300,000 users per month.
QUALITY CONTENT
The Digital group believes that the most effective way to attract and
retain the quality audience is to offer dynamic, quality content, adapted and
customized for Internet use. The Digital group draws upon the extensive content
creating capabilities of the NYT group for quality news and information over a
wide range of general and special interest areas. For example, the THE NEW YORK
TIMES's newsroom employs approximately 1,300 full-time editors, reporters and
other staff, and THE BOSTON GLOBE's newsroom employs approximately 525. The
Digital Group also has the right to offer on the Internet the extensive text and
photo archives of the NYT group's publications.
The Digital group's newsrooms are staffed with 82 full-time employees who
edit and customize this content for its online audience. The Digital group
exploits the flexibility of the Internet to enhance the material with additional
text and photos, as well as video and audio content, and updates breaking news
throughout the day. For example, in special interest areas, such as golf and
wine, prominent personalities and leading experts generate original content and
interact with users.
QUALITY NETWORK
The Digital group is using its valuable assets to build and sustain a
quality network. These assets include not only respected brands and content, but
sophisticated technologies that can lead the quality audience to coalesce into a
true online community. We believe the ABUZZ technology, a natural language
question and answer service and profiling application designed to connect users
with questions to users likely to have answers to those questions, will be an
important unifying element of the Digital group's network of owned and
affiliated websites and its quality audience. In addition, the Digital group
intends to deploy a toolbar that will enable users to easily navigate across its
network of websites
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80
and an instant messenger product that will enable users to communicate with each
other and to receive news updates in subject areas of their choosing. By
facilitating user interaction across the websites, these applications will
foster the community building potential of the quality network. This in turn
should enhance the Digital group's ability to collect more detailed information
in its database and to offer more precise targeting opportunities to advertisers
and e-commerce merchants.
The Digital group intends to expand its current network of websites by
entering into relationships with third party websites whose content complements
the Digital group's owned and operated websites. The Digital group believes that
offering access to complementary sites will better serve the quality audience
and result in increased traffic and advertising opportunities for the Digital
group's owned and operated websites.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NYT GROUP
The Digital group benefits from its relationship with the NYT group in
many ways beyond having Internet rights to the NYT group's powerful print brands
and quality content. Augmenting the Digital group's own 88 person full-time
sales force are the large and successful advertising sales forces of the NYT
group's publications. The NYT group's sales forces receive commissions for sales
of the Digital group's online advertising inventory. The NYT group has
established strong relationships with high-end advertisers who are increasingly
turning to the Internet for advertising opportunities. The classified
advertising operations of THE NEW YORK TIMES and THE BOSTON GLOBE provide the
Digital group with additional content and revenue opportunities.
The NYT group has provided the Digital group with $30 million in credits
for advertising in the NYT group's publications to be used by the Digital group
as consideration to effect strategic alliances, investments and acquisitions.
As a division of the Times Company, the Digital group benefits from the
greater purchasing power of the Times Company, and will not need to make
significant investments in building its own treasury, accounting, human resource
and legal capabilities.
THE DIGITAL GROUP'S STRATEGY
The Digital group's objective is to be the Internet's quality network by
attracting and retaining the quality audience, serving more of the information
needs of this audience and fostering community building within it. We believe
that the Digital group will continue to be a preferred means for advertisers and
merchants to reach this audience.
The Digital group's strategy to achieve this objective includes the
following key elements:
EXPAND ITS USER BASE
INCREASE ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION. The Digital group intends to launch
an extensive media campaign promoting its brands. Despite limited promotion by
the Digital group, its websites recorded more than 138 million page views in
December 1999. We expect that an aggressive marketing and distribution program
will result in greater penetration of the quality audience and an increased user
base.
POSITION THE BRANDS. The Digital group intends to differentiate its
online brands by emphasizing the distinctive and enhanced elements of its online
offerings to potential users. For example, NYTimes.com will emphasize its
greatly expanded continuous news presence and special features like the daily
"Political Points" live webcast featuring political campaign news and interviews
provided in
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81
combination with ABC News. GolfDigest.com will build its brand on the
personalization capabilities of its newly redesigned website.
EXTEND EXISTING BRANDS. The Digital group intends to continue to develop
valuable Internet brands from its current portfolio as well as from other the
NYT group's assets. Boston.com, NYToday.com, and WineToday.com were all new
brands developed specifically for the Internet by leveraging existing the NYT
group's assets.
DEEPEN THE USER RELATIONSHIP
ADAPT THE NYT GROUP CONTENT FOR INTERNET USERS. The Digital group intends
to use the capabilities of the Internet to adapt and improve the NYT group's
content to better serve the needs of the quality audience. In this way, the
Digital group strives to increase the usage of its websites by its users. The
Digital group is making significant investments that will strengthen its ability
to edit, supplement and enhance the content, as well as to generate original
material. For example, NYTimes.com intends to expand its coverage in its popular
technology, business and books categories. The Digital group intends to offer
users the ability to personalize the manner in which they access the content of
the websites.
BUILD COMMUNITY. The Digital group intends to continue to offer
applications designed to facilitate interaction and build community among its
users. The ABUZZ application connects users with questions to users likely to
have answers, resulting in valuable content that is made available to all users
of the Digital group's websites. By allowing the Digital group users to share
information with one another, ABUZZ helps bind the Digital group's audience
together. In addition, the Digital group intends to expand its forums, which
will allow users to post comments in response to articles and features, and to
introduce applications to enable users to easily navigate its network,
communicate with each other and receive news updates in subject areas of their
choosing. These applications deepen the relationship users have with the Digital
group and with one another, encouraging them to spend more time on the Digital
group's websites.
BUILD STRATEGIC ALLIANCES AND EXPLORE ACQUISITIONS. The Digital group
intends to pursue strategic alliances and possible acquisitions of entities
offering high quality content or applications which will enhance its quality
network. Alliances, such as the Digital group's joint newsroom with
TheStreet.com and its joint production of the "Political Points" live webcast
with ABC News, provide an efficient means for the Digital group to quickly and
effectively expand the breadth and depth of its network offerings, thereby
lengthening the time users spend on the network's websites. The Digital group
intends to use its $30 million advertising credit from the NYT group, together
with a portion of the net proceeds of the offering, as consideration to effect
strategic alliances, investments and acquisitions.
REALIZE THE VALUE OF THE NETWORK
INCREASE VALUE OF ADVERTISING INVENTORY. The Digital group seeks to
deliver advertisements to a more highly targeted audience. As the Digital
group's audience increases in size and spends more time on the Digital group's
quality network, the Digital group will have greater opportunities to assemble
more detailed demographic and usage information in its database and offer even
more precise targeting opportunities to advertisers and e-commerce merchants.
The Digital group intends to enhance its targeting capabilities through
continued investment in sophisticated technology. Furthermore, we believe that
as the Digital group increases the breadth of its sites' subject areas, such as
wine, books, golf and travel, the sale of targeted advertising will increase.
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DIVERSIFY REVENUE STREAMS. The Digital group offers advertisers and
merchants many diverse ways of accessing its audience. The Digital group intends
to complement traditional advertising revenue with revenue from e-mail based
permission marketing; commissions on merchants' e-commerce sales; broader
e-commerce relationships, such as WineToday.com's relationship with
Wineshopper.com; and online classified advertising. The Digital group also
believes there may be opportunities to expand the online sales of the NYT
group's archived text and photos as well as various other products.
MAXIMIZE VALUE OF RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NYT GROUP. The Digital group
intends to take steps to further benefit from its relationship with the NYT
group. The Digital group will continue to offer incentives to the NYT group's
advertising sales force to sell online advertising, promote the Digital group's
brands in the NYT group's publications and explore opportunities to build
valuable online brands from the NYT group's existing assets.
THE DIGITAL GROUP'S BUSINESS MODEL
Access to the Digital group's websites is offered free of charge. The
Digital group's business model is based on the following revenue streams:
HIGH VALUE TARGETED ADVERTISING AND SPONSORSHIPS
Advertising opportunities range from simple static banners that appear at
the top and bottom of a web page to more complex advertisements that use
animation and allow users to interact with the advertisements. Sponsorship
opportunities include branding efforts, promotions, direct response campaigns
and links to commercial sites. With its custom targeting and advertisement
delivery solutions, the Digital group is able to target advertising on
NYTimes.com based on demographics such as age, gender, geographic location,
interests and avocations, and prior activity on NYTimes.com. A limited degree of
targeting based on usage and voluntary registration is also offered by the
Digital group's other websites.
E-COMMERCE AFFILIATIONS
The Digital group's websites offer valuable positioning placements for
e-commerce merchants. The Digital group receives fees for these links and
advertisements, and generally receives a share of the revenue from sales to
users of the Digital group sites. We believe that the Digital group's special
interest areas across the network, such as wine, golf, books and travel, will
continue to be particularly attractive to e-commerce merchants.
CLASSIFIEDS
The Digital group has the exclusive online distribution rights for the
classified listings of THE NEW YORK TIMES and THE BOSTON GLOBE, as well as all
direct and ancillary revenue attributed to the placement of classifieds online.
The Digital group benefits from the sophisticated classified systems in place at
both newspapers. When classified advertisers place an order with either of the
newspapers, they are given the opportunity to place their listings online for an
additional charge. In addition, THE NEW YORK TIMES's call center has the ability
to take online-only classified listings. The Digital group is also benefitting
from the productive classified advertising sales teams and the extensive
classified advertising agency relationships that exist at both THE NEW YORK
TIMES and THE BOSTON GLOBE. The print sales teams can offer an array of valuable
online classified products and services to their existing client base. To
motivate the print sales teams to make online classified sales, the Digital
group pays commissions on these sales.
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E-MAIL BASED PERMISSION MARKETING
Advertisers pay the Digital group to deliver their messages directly
through e-mail. We believe e-mail marketing delivers high response rates and
high returns on investment for direct marketers. Through its database marketing
model, the Digital group is positioned to benefit from the rapid growth of
direct marketing on the Internet, a category we expect to become a significant
portion of Internet advertisement spending. At the point of registration on
NYTimes.com, users are asked if they would like to receive editorial messages
from the Digital group and marketing messages from NYTimes.com's advertisers.
Approximately 58% of NYTimes.com's registered users agree to receive editorial
messages, which contain advertising, and approximately 21% agree to receive
advertisers' messages. The Digital group protects the privacy of its users and
does not provide their e-mail addresses to advertisers. Users will not receive
editorial or marketing messages unless they so choose.
ARCHIVE SALES
The Digital group manages the NYT group's existing business of selling
electronic access to the text archives of THE NEW YORK TIMES and THE BOSTON
GLOBE in the business market through resellers such as Lexis/Nexis and Dow Jones
Business Information Services. The Digital group receives a management fee from
the NYT group equal to 5% of these archive sales. In addition, the Digital group
receives revenue from its own sale and delivery of electronic access to the NYT
group's extensive text and photo archives.
OTHER
The Digital group also earns revenue from several other sources, including
the sale of branded products online and subscription fees for NYTimes.com's
crossword puzzles.
THE DIGITAL NETWORK WEBSITES
The following describes the Digital group's websites.
<TABLE>
<C> <S>
Exclusive Internet access to the complete contents of THE
[LOGO] NEW YORK TIMES, plus enhanced features, regularly updated
breaking news and The New York Times Learning Network
Information concerning life in New York City, including
[LOGO] neighborhood news, classifieds and entertainment and
restaurant reviews and listings
Information concerning Boston and New England and
[LOGO] featuring exclusive Internet access to the complete
contents of THE BOSTON GLOBE
News and information about wine, including a searchable
[LOGO] database containing expert tastings of over 5,000 wines
from around the world
News, features and instructional information for golfers
[LOGO] featuring exclusive Internet access to the complete
contents of GOLF DIGEST, GOLF WORLD and GOLF DIGEST WOMAN
Community-building question and answer website featuring
[LOGO] the ABUZZ technology
</TABLE>
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RECENT DIGITAL WEBSITE STATISTICS
The following table presents the page views, visits and average minutes
per visit for each of the Digital group's websites for the periods indicated. A
"page view" represents a user accessing a single page of a website. A "visit"
represents a user accessing the website regardless of the number of page views.
The "average minutes per visitor" represents the average total number of minutes
spent on the site during the period by each visitor. The data on page views and
visits have been developed by the Digital group. The data on average minutes per
visitor have been provided by Media Metrix for NYTimes.com and boston.com, but
are not available for the Digital group's other websites.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SEPTEMBER 1999 OCTOBER 1999 NOVEMBER 1999 DECEMBER 1999
-------------- ------------ ------------- -------------
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT MINUTES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Page views
NYTimes.com........................... 92,368 90,689 91,630 90,731
NYToday.com........................... 3,991 4,237 3,872 3,704
boston.com............................ 37,092 37,966 34,641 43,000
WineToday.com......................... 384 665 555 690
GolfDigest.com........................ 542 551 577 578
------- ------- ------- -------
Total............................. 134,377 134,108 131,275 138,703
======= ======= ======= =======
Visits
NYTimes.com........................... 13,318 15,233 14,683 14,428
NYToday.com........................... 563 585 785 940
boston.com............................ 5,429 5,685 5,535 5,769
WineToday.com......................... 142 190 160 174
GolfDigest.com........................ 143 151 156 170
------- ------- ------- -------
Total............................. 19,595 21,844 21,319 21,481
======= ======= ======= =======
Average minutes per visitor
NYTimes.com........................... 19.4 21.6 23.1 36.4
boston.com............................ 11.2 10.2 12.1 8.0
</TABLE>
NYTIMES.COM
With over 10 million unique registered users, NYTimes.com has the largest
registered database of any news and information service on the Internet.
NYTimes.com contains the complete daily and Sunday contents of THE NEW YORK
TIMES, as well as news updates throughout the day and additional high quality
material, particularly in the areas of technology and books. NYTimes.com takes
full advantage of the online medium, enhancing important news articles with
audio or video and providing other web-exclusive features. In the books section,
users can enjoy audio interviews with and readings by dozens of authors, browse
the first chapters of hundreds of books, and read virtually any book review
printed by THE NEW YORK TIMES in the last two decades. In the technology
section, a team of columnists and reporters creates a technology report that
appears exclusively on NYTimes.com.
Users can download articles of interest from the vast archives of THE NEW
YORK TIMES for a fee. NYTimes.com also includes The New York Times Learning
Network, a key Internet resource for teachers, parents and students in grades
3-12. Major advertisers on the site, and the percentage of the site's fiscal
1999 revenue provided by these advertisers, include Hewlett-Packard (3.8%),
Compaq (3.4%), IBM (2.0%), Microsoft (1.8%), and Ford (1.4%). These advertisers,
like most advertisers on the Digital group's websites, purchase advertising
under agreements that run for a limited time and can be terminated by the
advertiser with little notice and no penalty.
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85
NYTimes.com is offered free of charge to registered users. To register, a
user must provide the Digital group with his or her age range, gender, zip code
and e-mail address. In addition, users are asked whether they choose to receive
by e-mail editorial messages from the Digital group and marketing messages from
advertisers and are asked (but not required) to provide their annual net income
range. In addition, the Decision Support System collects further data regarding
a user upon each visit to the website. See "Decision Support System" for a more
detailed description of the Decision Support System. Within clearly articulated
privacy constraints, the Digital group utilizes this information to offer
advertisers and e-commerce merchants the opportunity to specifically target
selected sub-groups of the user base. For example, an advertiser may wish to
limit its message to residents of specific zip codes, specific age groups or
other groups. Approximately 75% of advertisers use targeted advertising
capabilities.
According to data contained in @plan's Winter 2000 Release, compared to
the average United States Internet user, a NYTimes.com user is:
- 65% more likely to earn in excess of $150,000 per year;
- 62% more likely to have a post-graduate degree;
- 39% more likely to have purchased online in the last 30 days; and
- 48% more likely to have been online every day in the last 30 days.
NYTODAY.COM
NYToday.com is a daily guide to life in New York City that is of interest
to both residents and visitors. The website's focus is arts and entertainment,
restaurants, classifieds and neighborhood news and information. The Digital
group is expanding the site to emphasize news and features about the city and
region, and offer an expanded real estate section.
The site currently features a searchable database of over five years of
restaurant reviews from THE NEW YORK TIMES, plus more than 1,500 restaurant
write-ups by THE NEW YORK TIMES's current and former critics Ruth Reichl,
William Grimes and Eric Asimov that appear exclusively on NYToday.com, with new
restaurants added monthly. The movies, theater, television, nightlife, art and
sports sections offer previews of hundreds of events each week, along with
reviews and features by THE NEW YORK TIMES's critics and reporters. News from
THE NEW YORK TIMES about the entire New York region appears daily. A hotel guide
offers reviews of approximately 250 hotels in the city, while the Getaways
section features content from the THE NEW YORK TIMES's Travel section and an
extensive database on travel in the Mid-Atlantic region and New England.
The Real Estate, Automotive and Help Wanted Classifieds from THE NEW YORK
TIMES, along with online-only classifieds, run on NYToday.com. Advertisers can
buy banner and other forms of display ads, as well as listings in the site's
Marketplace section to promote sales and special events. NYToday.com offers
users online shopping and home-delivery services through partnerships with
providers. The ABUZZ application has been available on this site since
September 1999 allowing users to interact with each other. Major advertisers on
the site, and the percentage of the site's fiscal 1999 revenue, include J&R
Music (6.8%), and real estate brokers Brown Harris Stevens (1.6%) and Douglas
Elliman.com (1.0%). These advertisers, like most advertisers on the Digital
group's websites, purchase advertising under agreements that run for a limited
time and can be terminated by the advertiser with little notice and no penalty.
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86
According to data contained in @plan's Winter 2000 Release, compared to
the average United States Internet user, a NYToday.com's user is:
- 30% more likely to earn in excess of $150,000 per year;
- 29% more likely to have a post-graduate degree;
- 37% more likely to have purchased online in the last 30 days; and
- 72% more likely to have been online every day in the last 30 days.
BOSTON.COM
Boston.com is a regional portal for New England anchored by the complete
daily content of THE BOSTON GLOBE. Boston.com is updated continuously throughout
the day with breaking news, and current traffic and weather reports. Launched in
October 1995, the site presents comprehensive information about arts,
entertainment, travel and shopping in New England. The site also features
exclusive content from other respected New England media and institutions,
including BOSTON MAGAZINE, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, and New England Cable
News.
According to Media Metrix, boston.com was one of the most visited regional
portals in the United States in the third quarter of 1999 and had a reach during
that quarter of nearly 21%. For this purpose, reach is defined by Media Metrix
as the percentage of Internet users in the Boston market that viewed the site in
any given month during a specified quarter.
Boston.com enhances its offerings with features such as local auctions and
an MP3 site where more than 400 local bands have uploaded clips of their music.
The ABUZZ application has been available on the site since September 1999,
allowing users to interact with each other. The most recent addition to
boston.com's content offerings is Digitalmass.com, a site dedicated to coverage
of New England's vibrant Internet industry.
The site includes online classifieds from THE BOSTON GLOBE and exclusive
online listings in the automotive, real estate and help wanted areas. Help
Wanted listings from THE BOSTON GLOBE are posted on boston.com for an additional
fee paid by the advertiser. In addition, boston.com sells online-only postings.
Boston.com offers customizable sponsorship packages with options such as
fixed positioning in targeted sections, banner advertisements, e-mail
advertising and contests. Major advertisers on the site, and the percentage of
the site's fiscal 1999 revenue provided by these advertisers, include
FleetBoston (3.9%), AltaVista (2.7%), Fidelity Investments (2.1%) and
Travelscape.com (1.9%). These advertisers, like most advertisers on the Digital
group's websites, purchase advertising under agreements that run for a limited
time and can be terminated by the advertiser with little notice and no penalty.
According to data contained in @plan's Winter 2000 Release, compared to
the average United States Internet user, a boston.com user is:
- 14% more likely to earn in excess of $150,000 per year;
- 33% more likely to have a post-graduate degree;
- 39% more likely to have purchased online in the last 30 days; and
- 39% more likely to have been online every day in the last 30 days.
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87
WINETODAY.COM
WineToday.com, an international wine site, is published in Santa Rosa,
California, in the heart of the Northern California wine country. Founded in
1998 by THE PRESS DEMOCRAT, a regional newspaper published by the NYT group, the
site features consumer and industry news from wine regions around the world,
stories on wineries and industry personalities, a database of more than 1,400
wineries, expert tastings of more than 5,000 domestic and foreign wines and a
listing of almost 1,000 wine events. The site also features prominent wine
writers, including THE NEW YORK TIMES's Frank Prial, wine author Oz Clarke and
Italian wine authority Burton Anderson. Users of this site can read reviews of
wine and wineries and search for wines using a number of qualifications,
including price, star rating, varietal and specific taste attributes.
WineToday.com also features WineSleuth, which sends e-mail to 5,000 registrants
who want to be notified when certain wines have been tasted and reviewed.
WineToday.com provides advertising and e-commerce opportunities for wine,
wine related items, luxury goods, food and travel. Commencing in the second
quarter of 2000, users will be able to buy many of the wines reviewed on the
site through a strategic partnership with WineShopper.com, a business which
relies on state-licensed wine wholesalers to deliver wines throughout the United
States. Although currently WineToday.com is available without mandatory
registration, the website has a voluntary registration process which has
collected more than 20,000 unique user profiles. The ABUZZ application has been
offered on this site since September 1999, allowing registered users to ask and
answer questions of their fellow wine enthusiasts. Major advertisers on the
site, and the percentage of the site's fiscal 1999 revenue provided by these
advertisers, include Wine.com (16.8%), WineBins.com (8.4%) and Veuve Clicquot
(2.3%). These advertisers, like most advertisers in the Digital group's
websites, purchase advertising under agreements that run for a limited time and
can be terminated by the advertiser with little notice and no penalty.
GOLFDIGEST.COM
GolfDigest.com seeks to become the Internet's premier golf destination.
GOLF DIGEST, the NYT group's related print publication, had an average 1999
circulation of approximately 1,550,000, the largest of any golf magazine in the
world. GolfDigest.com is focused on helping golfers to improve their game and
golf enthusiasts to enjoy the sport through integrated content, community and
commerce. Articles and features follow professional golf events, provide golf
tutorials, discuss equipment innovations and provide other information of
interest to the golf enthusiast. The site publishes the complete contents from
GOLF DIGEST, GOLF WORLD, and GOLF DIGEST WOMAN magazines. The site also includes
original material created by GolfDigest.com, user generated content from chats
and forums and licensed third-party content. Tool-oriented content will be
highlighted by GOLF DIGEST's famous 'Places to Play' Golf Course Guide's
directory of 7,000 courses indexed in a searchable database.
The site provides advertising and e-commerce opportunities for golf
equipment or golf travel. The site intends to partner with leading Internet
retailers in the golf industry for brand-name equipment and apparel sales.
Additionally, GolfDigest.com intends to employ incentive-based registration as a
means to build relationships with its users. The site is designed to be custom
fit to each golfer's game. Advanced content customization and product placement
engines work in tandem to deliver content and products based upon a golfer's
ability, special interests, trouble shots and geography.
GolfDigest.com was fully redesigned and publicly relaunched in February
2000.
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88
ABUZZ.COM
Abuzz.com, launched on January 19, 2000, is a sophisticated natural
language question and answer website targeted at the quality audience. Users can
ask questions in a variety of subject areas, which are then automatically routed
to other users who the software determines will be best able to answer them.
Questions and answers are archived and can be accessed by all users. Abuzz.com
contains links to the Digital group's other websites and serves as a central
repository for the archived questions and answers from the ABUZZ application on
those other sites. We believe new users will be attracted to abuzz.com by the
opportunity to ask and answer questions of fellow users, to tap the subjective
knowledge of the Digital group's audience and to research the archives of
previously asked and answered questions.
ABUZZ TECHNOLOGIES
The Times Company acquired Abuzz Technologies, Inc., a Cambridge,
Massachusetts-based software development company, in July 1999 for approximately
$5.0 million in cash and shares of common stock in a subsidiary of the Times
Company having a value of approximately $25.0 million. Through Abuzz
Technologies, the Digital group has developed innovative software applications
that enable users of its websites to interact with each other. ABUZZ is a
natural language question and answer service and profiling application designed
to enable groups of people to manage and share knowledge not previously captured
in written form. With its proprietary natural language processing and adaptive
profiling technology, ABUZZ improves the process of asking and answering
questions on the Internet and brings people with shared interests together.
ABUZZ connects users with questions to other users who will likely be able to
answer those questions. All questions and answers are routed through e-mail, the
most widely used form of communication on the Internet.
The ABUZZ application operates as follows:
- ABUZZ users who wish to answer questions complete a profile that ABUZZ
uses to determine which queries to route to them;
- a user posts a question within specified subject matter circles on
abuzz.com;
- using a process that we refer to as adaptive routing, ABUZZ sends the
question by e-mail to one or more registered users who ABUZZ determines
are most likely able to answer the question;
- all responders send answers directly by e-mail to the user who posted the
question;
- the user who posted the question can provide feedback to abuzz.com on the
quality and utility of the responses; and
- all questions and the answers are archived on abuzz.com and can be
accessed by all users.
Using a technique known as adaptive profiling, ABUZZ updates the profiles
in its database based on the feedback that it receives from the persons sending
the queries and from the responders. Through this profiling system, ABUZZ
continually learns about its users and the knowledge they possess. The more
users interact with each other, the better ABUZZ becomes at routing the right
questions to the right people. The Digital group believes this interaction among
its users will prove to be an appealing and low cost source of content to
further attract users to its websites and keep them using the sites for larger
periods. In addition, throughout the user's interaction with the application,
the Digital group obtains information about the user that further enhances the
Digital group's user database.
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89
In September 1999, the first release of ABUZZ was deployed on
WineToday.com, The New York Times Learning Network, NYToday.com and boston.com.
Each site had a single application of the ABUZZ software for its own audience
base. In January 2000, the second release of ABUZZ was deployed on a stand-alone
website, abuzz.com, and throughout the network. The third release, currently
scheduled for Summer 2000, will enable users to interact with each other in
ABUZZ directly from content pages on the Digital group's websites.
DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM
NYTimes.com requires users to complete a simple one-time registration form
that asks for general demographic information, such as his or her age range,
gender, zip code and e-mail address. Some of the questionnaire is optional and
the Digital group keeps all of the data confidential. These demographic data are
collected and maintained by a proprietary system known as the Decision Support
System which allows advertisers to deliver their messages to advertiser-defined
user groups. When a user returns to NYTimes.com, the visit is recorded by
Decision Support System. This system is distinct from pure cookie-based tracking
in that the tracking relies on authentication tied to a user ID and password. By
capturing information on its own servers, NYTimes.com has highly reliable data
on every user of every page. It is able to add these data to the demographic
information it has from the registration process. Decision Support System
collects and stores data on each user's:
- content behavior, including sections and pages viewed and time spent on
each;
- transactions; and
- exposure to advertising and responses.
For privacy purposes, all information is reported to advertisers in an
aggregate form. The Digital group never reports individual personal data.
Using the Decision Support System system, an advertiser with NYTimes.com
can measure the response to its campaign, 24 hours-a-day and seven days-a-week,
against various dimensions, including creative, demographic, advertisement
position relative to content and user behavior. This real time understanding of
user response to a campaign provides the opportunity to maximize the efficiency
of the interactive medium and to adjust advertising campaigns as they continue
to run.
THE DIGITAL GROUP'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NYT GROUP
The Digital group derives many benefits from its relationship with the NYT
group, including the ability to use THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE BOSTON GLOBE and
GOLF DIGEST brands; use content from the NYT group's publications; exploit
cross-marketing and promotional opportunities; and take advantage of the Times
Company's purchasing power in obtaining goods and services.
We have implemented arrangements to permit the cross selling of
advertising by both the NYT group and the Digital group advertising staffs. The
advertising commission structure is designed to encourage the NYT group's print
advertising sales teams to sell online advertising products to their clients. In
addition, the Digital group and the NYT group have agreed to cross-promote each
other's publications and websites at deeply discounted rates.
We have also implemented arrangements regarding licensing, services and
tax sharing between the Digital group and the NYT group. These arrangements,
including the authority to change, amend or renew their terms, will be within
the sole control of our board of directors, or the capital stock committee
acting on its behalf. Any dispute over these arrangements will be resolved by
our board of
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90
directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, rather than
through court proceedings or arbitration.
The Times Company's minority equity interests in TheStreet.com, Classified
Ventures, Inc., CareerPath.com, Inc. and Ovation, Inc. have been allocated to
the NYT group. The minority interest in WineShopper.com has been allocated to
the Digital group.
See "--Inter-Group Relationship and Allocations" for a more detailed
description of the license agreement, services agreement, tax sharing agreement
and other inter-group arrangements.
TECHNOLOGY AND OPERATING SYSTEMS
The Digital group's strategy is to fully exploit available technology and
to expand and complement the content of print periodicals and newspapers.
Accomplishing this will enable the Digital group to maximize the user's
experience on the Internet and the value to advertisers and e-commerce merchants
of the Digital group's websites.
The Digital group has developed an expandable operations infrastructure
using open standard hardware and software systems. The Digital group's network
of sites is hosted on its servers which are co-located at Global Center, Inc. in
New York City, at GTE in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at NaviSite, Inc. in Andover,
Massachusetts and at Digital Nation in Reston, Virginia. The sites currently
located at Digital Nation will be relocated to Global Center, Inc. in New York
City. These data centers are designed to minimize failures by utilizing
redundant equipment and connectivity paths.
NEWS AND INFORMATION GATHERING
Each of NYTimes.com, NYToday.com, boston.com, WineToday.com and
GolfDigest.com operates its own newsroom, under the overall supervision of the
Digital group. Content for the websites is obtained from THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE
BOSTON GLOBE, GOLF DIGEST and other publications of the NYT group. In addition,
each website generates its own content and obtains additional content from third
party providers. The Digital group newsrooms utilize 82 full-time employees to
produce, edit and publish content.
NYTimes.com has entered into a joint venture with TheStreet.com under
which the two operate a joint newsroom which provides continuously updated
financial news throughout the day. The newsroom is under the direction of an
editor selected by THE NEW YORK TIMES. The joint venture also provides for the
linking of NYTimes.com and TheStreet.com. Political Points, a daily live webcast
featuring political campaign news and interviews, appears on NYTimes.com and
abcnews.com.
ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING
NYTimes.com, NYToday.com and boston.com have dedicated advertising sales
people to sell advertising and e-commerce opportunities. Designated members of
the NYTimes.com sales force sell advertising inventory on GolfDigest.com,
WineToday.com and abuzz.com. In total, the Digital group employs 88 full-time
advertising sales people in offices in New York City, Boston, Trumbull,
Connecticut and Santa Rosa, California. The Digital group intends to open
domestic sales offices in San Francisco and Chicago and a European sales office
in either London or Paris in the near future.
The Digital group has developed extensive sales and marketing programs
designed to assist advertisers in reaching their audiences through distinctive
and customizable programs. The Digital group sells display advertising in
multiple formats, such as banners, sponsorship representations, buttons, text
and graphical links and e-mail sponsorships, that allow users to link directly
to the
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advertiser's own websites or to special promotional micro-sites created by the
Digital group on behalf of its advertisers. In addition, advertising can be
purchased on select sites or across the Digital group's entire network of sites.
The Digital group believes that its focused and well-trained sales and marketing
organization is important in attaining and maintaining premium advertising
pricing and maximizing revenue.
During the twelve months ended December 1999, no advertiser accounted for
more than 5% of the Digital group's revenue.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
The NYT group takes all appropriate steps to protect the trademarks and
copyrights which it has licensed to the Digital group pursuant to the license
agreement, including registering the trademarks with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office and registering the copyrights with the United States
Copyright Office.
The Digital group takes all appropriate steps to protect its own
trademarks, including registering these trademarks with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office. In June 1999, Abuzz Technologies filed patent applications
with the United States Patent and Trademark Office covering certain of the ABUZZ
software. These applications, which were assigned to the Digital group in
connection with its July 1999 acquisition of Abuzz Technologies, remain pending.
The Digital group has no other patents or pending patent applications.
The Digital group posts copyright notices on all of its websites. The
Digital group intends to register its websites under rules recently issued by
the United States Copyright Office.
COMPETITION
Competition among Internet sites is intense and is expected to increase
significantly in the future. The market for Internet content providers is
rapidly evolving and barriers to entry are low, enabling newcomers to launch
competitive sites at relatively low cost.
The Digital group competes with both traditional media and with two
distinctly different sets of Internet businesses. The first category consists of
those who, like the Digital group, have positioned their brands to attract an
educated, affluent audience. The second category includes those companies that
compete for broader audiences.
In particular, the Digital group competes with the following types of
companies:
- websites offering general news and information, such as abcnews.com,
washingtonpost.com, msnbc.com, cnn.com and usatoday.com, many of which
are supported by print or broadcast news franchises;
- websites offering regional and local information, such as citysearch.com
and digitalcities.com;
- websites in the wine and golf categories, such as golfmagazine.com,
winespectator.com and wine.com, many of which are supported by print
franchises;
- websites offering classified advertisements, such as monster.com and
autoweb.com;
- websites offering question and answer applications, such as about.com and
askjeeves.com;
- mass-market Internet content aggregators, such as AOL, Microsoft and
Yahoo!;
- Internet directories, search engines and other sites that offer original
editorial content; and
- companies in the print, broadcast and cable industries.
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The primary competitive factors in attracting users are quality,
reliability, brand recognition and the depth, breadth and presentation of
content. The primary competitive factors in attracting advertisers are user
demographics and volume, the ability to deliver interactive and focused
advertising and cost effectiveness.
The Digital group's success will depend on its ability to build the
quality network that will attract and retain a large and loyal user base, and to
offer access to such users to advertisers and e-commerce merchants. The Digital
group's ability to successfully compete could be adversely affected by laws
regulating, or consumer dissatisfaction with, the collection of demographic data
regarding users.
FACILITIES
The Digital group's headquarters are located in New York City in leased
office space. This facility also serves as the headquarters of NYTimes.com and
NYToday.com. WineToday.com leases office space in Santa Rosa, California,
boston.com leases office space in Boston, Massachusetts, and Abuzz Technologies
leases office space in Cambridge, Massachusetts. GolfDigest.com leases office
space in Trumbull, Connecticut from GOLF DIGEST magazine. The Digital group
believes that its facilities are adequate for its current operations and that
such space or suitable alternative space will continue to be available on
reasonable commercial terms in the foreseeable future.
EMPLOYEES
As of December 31, 1999, the Digital group had 321 full-time employees,
including 92 in web design and content development, 88 in advertising sales, 23
in marketing, 70 in technical development and operations and 48 in
administration. The Digital group also uses independent contractors, freelance
content providers and temporary employees. Reporters and producers of
NYTimes.com and NYToday.com are represented by the Newspaper Guild of New York.
The Digital group's contract with the Guild extends through March 31, 2003. The
Digital group considers its relationship with the Guild and with its employees
to be good.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no legal proceedings to which the Times Company is a party
pertaining to the business and operations of the Digital group, other than
ordinary routine litigation that is incidental to the business of the Digital
group and is not material to the business or financial statements of the Times
Company or the Digital group.
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93
INTER-GROUP RELATIONSHIP AND ALLOCATIONS
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE NYT GROUP AND THE DIGITAL GROUP
As a result of the Digital group's extensive business relationships with
the NYT group, conflicts of interest will likely develop between the Digital
group and the NYT group. In some cases decisions may favor the Digital group to
the detriment of the NYT group. The Digital group and the NYT group engage in a
variety of transactions in the ordinary course of their respective businesses
and currently operate subject to the inter-group arrangements described below.
An independent third party has not been retained to evaluate transactions
between the NYT group and the Digital group. The terms of such arrangements
might not be as favorable to one group as such group could obtain from an
unrelated third party.
LICENSE, TAX SHARING AND SERVICES
We have implemented the following inter-group arrangements pertaining to
the licensing of the trademarks and copyrights of the NYT group to the Digital
group, the allocation of tax benefits and liabilities and the provision of
services. These arrangements, including the authority to change, amend or renew
their terms, will be within the sole control of our board of directors, or the
capital stock committee acting on its behalf. Further, any dispute over the
interpretation of these arrangements will be resolved by our board of directors,
or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, rather than through court
proceedings or arbitration. Nonetheless, it is our present intention that the
NYT group and the Digital group will operate under these inter-group
arrangements in the same manner that they would perform obligations under
contracts entered into with third parties.
LICENSE ARRANGEMENT
Licensing arrangements consist of a 10-year license from the NYT group to
the Digital group to use the trademarks and copyrights owned by the NYT group's
publications including THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE BOSTON GLOBE and GOLF DIGEST. As
currently structured, the Digital group pays the NYT group an annual license fee
equal to the greater of $5.0 million or the sum of:
- 10% of the first $100 million of the Digital group's revenue;
- 8% of the next $50 million of the Digital group's revenue;
- 6% of the next $50 million of the Digital group's revenue; and
- 5% of the Digital group's revenue above $200 million.
The Digital group has the exclusive use of the NYT group's trademarks and
copyrights on the Internet except for:
- the NYT group customer service sites;
- the NYT group content republished in print publications by clients of the
NYT group News Service which may appear on websites of those clients; and
- Internet offerings that are developed by the NYT group and which the
Digital group elects not to pursue.
The Digital group has the right to the trademarks and content of the NYT
group's regional newspapers and broadcast properties. At the current time,
however, the Digital group has elected not to exploit these Internet rights.
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94
Upon the expiration of the 10 year term, our board of directors, or the
capital stock committee acting on its behalf, will determine whether to renew
the license arrangement and on what terms.
TAX SHARING
The Digital group's results are included in the consolidated federal
income tax returns of the Times Company. Our tax sharing arrangement provides
that the Digital group will include its operating results in any state, city or
local combined or similar income or franchise tax return to be filed by the
Times Company. The Digital group is reimbursed quarterly for any tax benefits
resulting from the inclusion of the Digital group in its consolidated federal
income tax returns and any such state, city or local combined or similar
returns, to the extent the Times Company is deemed able to utilize them. The
Digital group will be charged quarterly for any tax liability of the Times
Company resulting from the Digital group's inclusion in those returns.
SERVICES
The NYT group provides corporate support services to the Digital group,
and these services are charged to the Digital group based on the cost of
providing these services. Where the services provided to the Digital group are
identical to those provided to units of the NYT group, such as the payroll
processing services provided by the NYT group's Shared Services Center, the
Digital group's charges are allocated on the same basis as all the units of the
NYT group. We have authorized management of the Digital group to obtain services
from third party vendors should it determine that to be advantageous.
ALLOCATIONS, CASH MANAGEMENT AND OTHER INTER-GROUP MATTERS
In connection with the issuance of Digital stock, we have adopted and
intend to follow the tracking stock policies described below.
POLICIES MAY BE MODIFIED OR RESCINDED AT ANY TIME
Although we have no present intention to do so, the tracking stock
policies may, at any time without the approval of our stockholders, be modified,
suspended or rescinded, and additional policies may be adopted, or exceptions
made to such policies in connection with particular facts and circumstances, all
as the board of directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf,
may determine, consistent with its fiduciary duties to the Times Company and all
of our common stockholders.
ALLOCATION OF BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES AND OPERATIONS
The tracking stock policies provide that, to the extent not covered by the
license arrangement, any business conducted or proposed to be conducted by the
Times Company that the board of directors, or the capital stock committee acting
on its behalf, determines to be a commercial Internet business, will be
allocated to the Digital group. To the extent any business or asset relating to
the Digital group is acquired by the Times Company, the board of directors will
arrange for an allocation of the same to the Digital group as soon as reasonably
practicable at a price equivalent to the fair market value of such business or
asset. These provisions of the tracking stock policies will not preclude the
formation of commercially reasonable arrangements between the NYT group and the
Digital group for sales agency, resale, or any other arrangement with respect to
businesses conducted by either the NYT group or the Digital group. Except as
provided above, the board of directors may allocate
<PAGE>
95
business opportunities and operations to the NYT group or the Digital group as
it considers in the best interests of the Times Company and all our
stockholders.
TREASURY AND CASH MANAGEMENT POLICIES
The Times Company has provided all necessary funding for the operations
and investments of the Digital group since its inception and such funding has
been accounted for as capital contributions from the NYT group. Accordingly, no
interest charges from the NYT group have been reflected in the accompanying
combined financial statements. Surplus cash, transferred from the Digital group,
has been accounted for as a return of capital.
We will manage most treasury activities on a centralized, consolidated
basis. These activities will include the investment of surplus cash, the
issuance, repayment and repurchase of short-term and long-term debt and the
issuance and repurchase of NYT stock and Digital stock. The Digital group will
remit its cash receipts to the NYT group, and the NYT group will generally fund
each group's cash disbursements, on a daily basis.
After the date on which the Digital stock is first issued, the following
will apply:
- We will attribute each future incurrence or issuance of external debt or
preferred stock, and the proceeds thereof, to the NYT group, except in
cases where the board of directors determines otherwise. The board of
directors, or the capital stock committee acting on its behalf, may
determine from time to time to attribute an incurrence or issuance of
debt or preferred stock, and the proceeds thereof, to the Digital group
to the extent that the Times Company incurs or issues the debt or
preferred stock for the benefit of the Digital group, but the board of
directors will not be required to do so.
- We will attribute each future issuance of NYT stock, and the proceeds
thereof, to the NYT group. We may attribute any future issuance of
Digital stock, and the proceeds thereof, to the Digital group or the NYT
group in respect of its retained interest in the Digital group.
- Dividends on NYT stock will be charged against the NYT group, and
dividends on Digital stock will be charged against the Digital group. At
the time of any dividend on Digital stock while the number of shares
issuable with respect to the retained interest is greater than zero, we
will attribute to the NYT group in proportion to its retained interest a
corresponding amount in respect of the number of shares issuable with
respect to the retained interest.
- Repurchases of NYT stock will be charged against the NYT group.
Repurchases of Digital stock may be charged either against the Digital
group or the NYT group as determined by the board of directors in its
sole discretion. If a repurchase of Digital stock is charged against the
NYT group, the number of shares issuable with respect to the NYT group's
retained interest in the Digital group will be increased by the number of
shares so repurchased.
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96
- Whenever the Digital group holds cash (including the net proceeds of the
offering), the Digital group will normally transfer that cash to the NYT
group. Conversely, whenever the Digital group has a cash need, the NYT
group will normally fund that cash need. However, the board of directors
will retain ultimate authority at all times to determine, in its sole
discretion, whether to provide any particular funds to either group and
will not be obligated to do so.
- We will account for all cash transfers from one group to or for the
account of the other group, other than transfers in return for assets or
services rendered or transfers in respect of the number of shares
issuable with respect to the retained interest that correspond to
dividends paid on Digital stock, as inter-group short-term loans unless:
- The board of directors determines that a given transfer or type of
transfer should be accounted for as a long-term loan;
- The board of directors determines that a given transfer or type of
transfer should be accounted for as a capital contribution by the NYT
group to the Digital group increasing the number of shares issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group;
or
- The board of directors determines that a given transfer or type of
transfer should be accounted for as a return of capital by the Digital
group to the NYT group reducing the number of shares issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group.
There are no specific criteria to determine when we will account
for a cash transfer as a long-term loan, a capital contribution by
the NYT group to the Digital group or a return of capital by the
Digital group to the NYT group rather than an inter-group
revolving credit advance. The board of directors, or the capital
stock committee acting on its behalf, will make such a
determination in the exercise of its business judgment at the time
of such transfer based upon all relevant circumstances. Factors
that the board of directors may consider include the current and
projected capital structure of the NYT group and the Digital
group; the financing needs and objectives of the recipient group;
the availability, cost and time associated with alternative
financing sources; and prevailing interest rates and general
economic conditions.
- Cash transfers accounted for as inter-group short-term loans will bear
interest at the rate at which the Times Company could borrow such funds.
In addition, any cash transfers accounted for as a long-term loan will
have interest rates, amortization, maturity, redemption and other terms
that reflect the then-prevailing terms on which the Times Company could
borrow such funds.
- Any cash transfer from the NYT group to the Digital group, or for its
account, accounted for as a capital contribution will correspondingly
increase the Digital group's equity account and the number of shares
issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital
group by such number of shares of Digital stock that is equal to the
amount of the cash transfer divided by the market value of the Digital
stock on the day prior to such transfer. See Annex IV to this Proxy
Statement, "Illustration of Certain Terms--Capital Transfers of Cash or
Other Assets between the NYT Group and the Digital Group," for an
illustration of this.
- Any cash transfer from the Digital group to the NYT group, or for its
account, accounted for as a return of capital will correspondingly reduce
the Digital group's equity account and the
<PAGE>
97
number of shares issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained
interest in the Digital group by such number of shares of Digital stock
that is equal to the amount of the cash transfer divided by the market
value of the Digital stock on the day prior to such transfer. See
Annex IV to this Proxy Statement, "Illustration of Certain Terms--Capital
Transfers of Cash or Other Assets between the NYT Group and the Digital
Group," for an illustration of this.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GROUPS
All material commercial transactions between the NYT group and the Digital
group will be on terms comparable to those that could be obtained from an
unrelated third party in an arm's-length negotiation and shall be subject to the
review and approval of the capital stock committee. The tracking stock policies
do not require that we obtain an independent appraisal of the fairness of these
transactions.
CAPITAL STOCK COMMITTEE
The board of directors has, effective upon the first issuance of Digital
stock, established a committee of the board of directors known as the capital
stock committee.
This committee will initially consist of Henry B. Schacht, Chairman, John
F. Akers, Raul E.Cesan and Michael Golden. Although all our directors are
legally obligated to serve the interests of all our stockholders, we intend that
fifty percent of the directors on the capital stock committee will be directors
who had been elected by the holders of Class A stock and, after its issuance,
the Digital stock, voting together. The board of directors has delegated to the
capital stock committee the authority to, and the capital stock committee will,
interpret, make determinations under, and oversee the implementation of, the
tracking stock policies, including inter-group arrangements. All material
commercial transactions between the NYT group and the Digital group, including
any transaction that results in a change in the NYT group's retained interest in
the Digital group, will be on terms comparable to those that could be obtained
from an unrelated third party in an arm's-length negotiation, and will be
subject to the review and approval of the capital stock committee. In making any
and all determinations, the board of directors, or the capital stock committee
acting on its behalf, will act in good faith and in a manner consistent with its
fiduciary duties to us and to all our common stockholders after giving fair
consideration to the potentially divergent interests and all other relevant
interests of the holders of the separate classes of our common stock, including
the holders of Digital stock. The board of directors has also provided the
capital stock committee with the authority to engage the services of
accountants, investment bankers, appraisers, attorneys and other service
providers to assist it in discharging its duties.
The capital stock committee will have and may exercise such powers,
authority and responsibilities as the board of directors may delegate in
connection with the adoption of general policies governing the relationship
between the business groups or otherwise, including:
- the business and financial relationships between the NYT group and the
Digital group;
- dividends in respect of, and transactions in, shares of NYT stock or
Digital stock; and
- any other matters arising in connection with the relationships or
transactions between the NYT group and the Digital group.
<PAGE>
98
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
GENERAL
Our current certificate of incorporation authorizes us to issue
300,000,000 shares of Class A stock, par value $0.10 per share; 847,158 shares
of Class B stock, par value $0.10 per share; and 200,000 shares of serial
preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share. As of April 6, 2000, we had issued
and outstanding 170,208,418 shares of Class A stock, 847,158 shares of Class B
stock and no shares of serial preferred stock.
Before the first issuance of Digital stock, we will file an amended and
restated certificate of incorporation, substantially in the form of Annex II to
the Proxy Statement, which will amend and restate our current certificate of
incorporation. This amended and restated certificate of incorporation will:
- increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from 300,847,158
to 550,847,158;
- authorize the board of directors to issue common stock in three classes:
- 300,000,000 shares of Class A stock;
- 847,158 shares of Class B stock; and
- 250,000,000 shares of Class C stock, par value $0.10 per share; and
- specify the terms and provisions applicable to the Class C stock, and
amend the terms and provisions applicable to the outstanding Class A
stock and Class B stock.
In this Proxy Statement, we refer to Class A stock and Class B stock as
"NYT stock" and Class C stock as "Digital stock."
We have allocated all our consolidated assets, liabilities, revenue,
expenses and cash flow between the NYT group and the Digital group. The Digital
group and the NYT group are each sometimes referred to as a group of the Times
Company. In the future, we will publish separate financial statements of the
Digital group as well as consolidated financial statements of the Times Company.
Before the first issuance of Digial stock, the board of directors will
designate the initial number of shares issuable with respect to the NYT group's
retained interest in the Digital group. See "--The NYT Group's Retained Interest
in the Digital Group" and "--Number of Shares of Digital Stock Issuable with
Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group" for
additional information about the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital
group and the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group.
The board of directors will have the authority in its sole discretion to
issue authorized but unissued shares of our capital stock from time to time for
any proper corporate purpose. The board of directors will have the authority to
do so without stockholder approval, except as provided by New York law or the
rules and regulations of any securities exchange or automated quotation system
on which any class of outstanding common stock may then be listed.
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99
TERMS USED IN AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
The following terms used in this Proxy Statement have the meanings
specified in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and are set
forth below:
ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ASSETS OF THE DIGITAL GROUP means a
portion of such assets that represents at least 80% of the then-current fair
value of the assets of the Digital group.
DIGITAL GROUP means:
- the Internet business division of the Times Company, including all of the
businesses, assets and liabilities of the Times Company and its
subsidiaries that the board of directors has allocated to the Digital
group, as of the date on which our amended and restated certificate of
incorporation becomes effective under New York law. We call the date our
amended and restated certificate of incorporation becomes effective, the
"effective date";
- any assets or liabilities acquired or incurred by the Times Company or
any of its subsidiaries after the effective date in the ordinary course
of business and attributable to the Digital group;
- any businesses, assets or liabilities acquired or incurred by the Times
Company or any of its subsidiaries after the effective date and allocated
to the Digital group; and
- the rights and obligations of the Digital group under any inter-group
debt deemed to be owed to or by the Digital group, as such rights and
obligations are defined in accordance with the tracking stock policies.
The Times Company may re-allocate assets from one group to the other group in
return for other assets or services rendered by that other group in the ordinary
course of business or in accordance with policies established by the board of
directors from time to time. If the Times Company transfers cash, other assets
or securities to holders of shares of Digital stock as a dividend or other
distribution on shares of Digital stock, other than a dividend or distribution
payable in shares of Digital stock, or as payment in a redemption of shares of
Digital stock effected as a result of a Digital group disposition, then the
board of directors shall re-allocate from the Digital group to the NYT group
cash or other assets having a fair value equal to the aggregate fair value of
the cash, other assets or securities so transferred TIMES a fraction, the
numerator of which shall equal the number of shares of Digital stock issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group on the
record date for such dividend or distribution, or on the date of such
redemption, and the denominator of which shall equal the number of shares of
Digital stock outstanding on such date.
This last amount can also be expressed as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE
WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S
(FAIR VALUE OF CASH, ASSETS OR SECURITIES X RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP)
TRANSFERRED) ------------------------------------------
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK
OUTSTANDING)
</TABLE>
EXEMPT DISPOSITION means any of the following:
- a disposition in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Times Company and the distribution of assets to
stockholders;
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- a disposition to any person or entity controlled by the Times Company, as
determined by the board of directors in its sole discretion;
- a disposition for which the Times Company receives consideration
primarily consisting of equity securities, including, without limitation:
- capital stock of any kind;
- interests in a general or limited partnership;
- interests in a limited liability company; or
- debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of the above,
or options or warrants to acquire any of the above,
in each case without regard to the voting power or other management or
governance rights associated therewith, of an entity which is primarily
engaged or proposes to engage primarily in one or more businesses similar
or complementary to the businesses conducted by the Digital group prior
to the disposition, as determined by the board of directors in its sole
discretion;
- a dividend, out of the Digital group's assets, to holders of Digital
stock, and a transfer of a corresponding amount to the NYT group in
respect of its retained interest in the Digital group; and
- any other disposition, if:
- at the time of the disposition there are no shares of NYT stock
outstanding;
- at the time of the disposition there are no shares of Digital stock
outstanding; or
- before the 30th trading day following the disposition we have mailed a
notice stating that we are exercising our right to exchange all of the
outstanding shares of Digital stock for newly issued shares of Class A
stock as contemplated under "--Exchange of Digital Stock for Class A
Stock" below.
FAIR VALUE means:
- in the case of cash, the amount thereof;
- in the case of capital stock that has been publicly traded for a period
of at least 15 months, the market value thereof; and
- in the case of other assets or securities, the fair market value thereof
as the board of directors shall determine in good faith.
MARKET VALUE of a share of any class of capital stock on any trading day
generally means the average of the high and low reported sale prices of a share
of such class on such trading day, subject to certain exceptions described in
our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.
The NET PROCEEDS of a disposition of any assets of a group means the
positive amount, if any, remaining from the gross proceeds of such disposition
after any payment of, or reasonable provision for:
- any taxes payable by the Times Company in respect of such disposition;
- any taxes payable by the Times Company in respect of any resulting
dividend or redemption;
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- any transaction costs, including, without limitation, any legal,
investment banking and accounting fees and expenses; and
- any liabilities, contingent or otherwise, of, attributed to or related
to, such group, including, without limitation, any liabilities for
deferred taxes, any indemnity or guarantee obligations which are
outstanding or incurred in connection with the disposition or otherwise,
any liabilities for future purchase price adjustments and any obligations
with respect to outstanding securities, other than common stock,
attributed to such group, as determined in good faith by the board of
directors.
NOTIONAL SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK DEEMED OUTSTANDING means the number of
shares of Digital stock outstanding plus the number of shares of Digital stock
issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group.
NYT GROUP means:
- all of the businesses, assets and liabilities of the Times Company and
its subsidiaries, other than the businesses, assets and liabilities that
are part of the Digital group;
- the rights and obligations of the NYT group under any inter-group debt
deemed to be owed to or by the NYT group, as such rights and obligations
are defined in accordance with the tracking stock policies; and
- a proportionate interest in the Digital group, after giving effect to any
options, preferred stock, other securities or debt issued or incurred by
the Times Company and attributed to the Digital group, equal to the
retained interest percentage.
The Times Company may re-allocate assets from one group to the other group in
return for other assets or services rendered by that other group in the ordinary
course of business or in accordance with policies established by the board of
directors from time to time. If the Times Company transfers cash, other assets
or securities to holders of shares of Digital stock as a dividend or other
distribution on shares of Digital stock, other than a dividend or distribution
payable in shares of Digital stock, or as payment in a redemption of shares of
Digital stock effected as a result of a Digital group disposition, then the
board of directors shall re-allocate from the Digital group to the NYT group
cash or other assets having a fair value equal to the aggregate fair value of
the cash, other assets or securities so transferred TIMES a fraction, the
numerator of which shall equal the number of shares of Digital stock issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group on the
record date for such dividend or distribution, or on the date of such
redemption, and the denominator of which shall equal the number of shares of
Digital stock outstanding on that date.
This last amount can also be expressed as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE
WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S
(FAIR VALUE OF CASH, ASSETS OR SECURITIES X RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP)
TRANSFERRED) ------------------------------------------
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK
OUTSTANDING)
</TABLE>
PROPORTIONATE INTEREST OF HOLDERS OF DIGITAL STOCK IN THE NET PROCEEDS OF
A DIGITAL GROUP DISPOSITION, OR IN THE OUTSTANDING SHARES OF COMMON STOCK OF ANY
SUBSIDIARIES HOLDING THE DIGITAL GROUP'S ASSETS AND LIABILITIES, MEANS
- the amount of such net proceeds, or the number of such shares, TIMES
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- the number of shares of Digital stock outstanding, DIVIDED by
- the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding.
This amount can also be expressed as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK
OUTSTANDING)
(NET PROCEEDS OR NUMBER OF SHARES) X ------------------------------------------
(NUMBER OF NOTIONAL SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK
DEEMED OUTSTANDING)
</TABLE>
PUBLICLY TRADED with respect to any security means:
- registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act, or any
successor provision of law; and
- listed for trading on the NYSE, or any other national securities exchange
registered under Section 6 of the Securities Exchange Act, or any
successor provision of law; or
- listed on the Nasdaq National Market, or any successor market system.
TRADING DAY means each weekday on which the relevant security or, if there
are two relevant securities, each relevant security, is traded on the principal
national securities exchange on which it is listed or admitted to trading or on
the Nasdaq National Market or, if such security is not listed or admitted to
trading on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National
Market, traded in the principal over-the-counter market in which it trades.
VOTING RIGHTS
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that
the holders of Class A stock and Digital stock have limited voting rights. They
will be entitled to vote, as a single class, for the election of 30% of our
board of directors. They may also vote, together with the other common
stockholders of The Times, on:
- ratification of the selection of our independent auditors;
- reservation of any shares of capital stock of the Times Company for
options granted or to be granted to officers, directors or employees of
the Times Company;
- the acquisition of the stock or assets of any other company in the
following circumstances:
- if any officer, director or holder of 10% or more of any class of
voting securities of the Times Company has an interest, directly or
indirectly, in the company or assets to be acquired or in the
consideration to be paid in the transaction;
- if the transaction involves the issuance of Class A stock or Class B
stock or securities convertible into any of them, or any combination
thereof, and if the aggregate number of shares of Class A stock or
Class B stock to be so issued together with the Class A stock or
Class B stock which could be issued upon conversion of such securities
approximates, in the reasonable judgment of the board of directors, 20%
or more of the aggregate number of shares of Class A stock and Class B
stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction;
- if the transaction involves the issuance of Digital stock or securities
convertible into Digital stock, or any combination thereof, and if the
aggregate number of shares of Digital stock to
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be so issued together with the shares of Digital stock which could be
issued upon conversion of such securities approximates, in the
reasonable judgment of the board of directors, 20% or more of the
aggregate number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding
immediately prior to such transaction;
- if the transaction involves the issuance of Class A stock or Class B
stock and any additional consideration, and if the value of the
aggregate consideration so to be issued, including the value of any
Class A stock or Class B stock which may be issuable in the future in
accordance with the terms of the transaction, has in the reasonable
judgment of the board of directors a combined fair value of
approximately 20% or more of the aggregate market value of shares of
Class A stock and Class B stock outstanding immediately prior to such
transaction; or
- if the transaction involves the issuance of Digital stock and any
additional consideration, and if the value of the aggregate
consideration so to be issued, including the value of any Digital stock
which may be issuable in the future in accordance with the terms of the
transaction, has in the reasonable judgment of the board of directors a
combined fair value of approximately 20% or more of the aggregate
market value of the notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding
immediately prior to such transaction.
The holders of Class B stock will be entitled to vote, with one vote per
share, for the election of 70% of our board of directors, voting separately and
as a class, and on all other matters to the exclusion of all other classes of
our common stock.
On all such matters for which the holders of Class A stock and Digital
stock vote together, and for which no separate class vote is required by New
York law:
- each outstanding share of Class A stock will entitle the holder to one
vote; and
- each outstanding share of Digital stock will entitle the holder to a
number of votes, calculated to the nearest five decimal places, equal to
the average market value of a share of Digital stock divided by the
average market value of a share of Class A stock during the 20
consecutive trading day period ending on, and including, the fifth
trading day before the applicable record date, provided, however, that in
the event that the foregoing calculation results in the holders of
Digital stock holding in excess of 40% of the total voting power of all
outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock, the vote of each
share of Digital stock shall be reduced such that all outstanding shares
of Digital stock represent 40% of the total voting power of all
outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock.
For illustrations showing how to calculate the number of votes that the
holders of shares of Digital stock would be entitled to cast under different
hypothetical scenarios, see Annex V to this Proxy Statement, "Illustration of
Voting Rights of Holders of Digital Stock."
Therefore, when holders of Class A stock and Digital stock vote together
as a single class, the holders of Class A stock, as a group, will be in a
position to control the outcome of the vote even if the matter involves a
conflict of interest between the holders of Class A stock and holders of Digital
stock.
<PAGE>
104
The New York Business Corporation Law requires a separate vote of holders
of shares of common stock of any series on any proposed amendment to our
certificate of incorporation if such holders will be adversely affected by a
proposed amendment that would:
- exclude or limit their right to vote on any matter, except as such right
may be limited by new shares then being authorized whether of an existing
or new class or series;
- change their shares by reducing the par value thereof;
- change their shares into a different number of shares of the same class
or into the same or a different number of shares of any one or more other
classes or series thereof;
- either change or abolish the designation of their shares, or any of their
relative rights, preferences, and limitations, including any provisions
as to undeclared dividends on their shares, whether or not cumulative or
accrued, including any provisions as to the redemption of their shares or
any sinking fund related thereto, and including any provisions as to
their preemptive rights;
- provide that their shares may be converted into shares of any other class
or any other series of the same class, or alter the terms and conditions
upon which their shares are convertible, or change the underlying shares
which are issuable upon conversion of such shares; or
- subordinate their rights by authorizing shares having preferences which
would be superior to their rights in any respect.
After Digital stock is issued, we will set forth the number of outstanding
shares of Class A stock, Class B stock and Digital stock in our annual and
quarterly reports filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act, and disclose in
any Proxy Statement for a stockholders meeting the number of outstanding shares
and per share voting rights of Class A stock, Class B stock and Digital stock.
DIVIDENDS
We do not expect to pay dividends on Digital stock for the foreseeable
future. We currently continue to pay quarterly dividends on NYT stock. We will
be permitted to pay dividends on:
- NYT stock out of assets of the Times Company legally available for the
payment of dividends under New York law, but the total amounts paid as
dividends on NYT stock cannot exceed the Available Dividend Amount for
the NYT group; and
- Digital stock out of the assets of the Times Company legally available
for the payment of dividends under New York law, and transfer
corresponding amounts to the NYT group in respect of its retained
interest in the Digital group. However, the total amounts paid as
dividends on Digital stock and the corresponding amounts transferred to
the NYT group in respect of its retained interest in the Digital group
cannot exceed the Available Dividend Amount for the Digital group.
The "Available Dividend Amount for the NYT group" at any time is the
amount that would then be legally available for the payment of dividends on NYT
stock under New York law if:
- the NYT group and the Digital group were each a separate New York
corporation;
- the NYT group had outstanding:
- a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, equal to
the number of shares of NYT stock that are then outstanding; and
<PAGE>
105
- a number of shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, equal
to the number of shares of serial preferred stock of the Times Company
that have been attributed to the NYT group and are then outstanding;
- the assumptions about the Digital group set forth in the definition of
"Available Dividend Amount for the Digital group" below were true; and
- the NYT group owned a number of shares of Digital stock equal to the
number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group.
Similarly, the "Available Dividend Amount for the Digital group" at any
time is the amount that would then be legally available for the payment of
dividends on Digital's common stock under New York law if the Digital group were
a separate New York corporation having outstanding:
- a number of shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, equal to
the number of shares of Digital stock that are then outstanding plus the
number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group; and
- a number of shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, equal
to the number of shares of serial preferred stock of the Times Company
that have been attributed to the Digital group and are then outstanding,
if any.
The amount legally available for the payment of dividends on common stock
of a corporation under New York law is generally limited to:
- the total assets of the corporation less its total liabilities, LESS
- the aggregate par value of the outstanding shares of its common and
preferred stock.
As mentioned above, these restrictions will form the basis for calculating
the Available Dividend Amounts for the NYT group and the Digital group. These
restrictions will also form the basis for calculating the aggregate amount of
dividends that the Times Company as a whole can pay on its common stock,
regardless of class. Thus, net losses of either group, and any dividends and
distributions on, or repurchases of, any class of common stock, will reduce the
assets legally available for dividends on all classes of common stock.
Subject to the foregoing limitations and to any other limitations set
forth in any future series of preferred stock or in any agreements binding on
the Times Company from time to time, we will have the right to pay dividends on
any, all or none of the classes of common stock in equal or unequal amounts,
notwithstanding the performance of any group, the amount of assets available for
dividends on any class, the amount of prior dividends paid on any class, the
respective voting rights of each class or any other factor.
At the time of any dividend on the outstanding shares of Digital stock,
including any dividend paid as a result of a disposition of all or substantially
all of the assets of the Digital group, but excluding any dividend payable in
shares of Digital stock, we will credit to the NYT group, and charge against the
Digital group, a corresponding amount in respect of the NYT group's retained
interest in the Digital group. Specifically, the corresponding amount will
equal:
- the aggregate amount of such dividend TIMES
- a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Digital
stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Digital stock then outstanding.
<PAGE>
106
This amount can also be expressed as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO
(AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF DIVIDEND) X THE NYT GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP)
----------------------------------------------------------
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK OUTSTANDING)
</TABLE>
Upon any dividend payable in Digital stock, appropriate adjustment will be
made in the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest.
MANDATORY DIVIDENDS, REDEMPTION, OR EXCHANGE ON DISPOSITION OF ALL OR
SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ASSETS OF THE DIGITAL GROUP OR THE NYT GROUP
If we dispose of all or substantially all of the assets of the Digital
group, to one or more persons or entities, in one transaction or a series of
related transactions, and this disposition is not an exempt disposition as
defined above, we would be required, by the 85th trading day after the
consummation of this disposition, to choose one of the following three
alternatives:
- declare and pay a dividend to the holders of Digital stock in cash,
securities, other than common stock of the Times Company, or other
property, or a combination thereof, in an amount having a fair value
equal to their proportionate interest in the net proceeds of the
disposition;
- redeem from holders of Digital stock, for cash, securities, other than
common stock of the Times Company, or other property, or a combination
thereof, in an amount having a fair value equal to their proportionate
interest in the net proceeds of such disposition, all the outstanding
shares of the Digital stock, or, if the Digital group continues after
such disposition to own any material assets other than the proceeds of
such disposition, a number of shares of Digital stock having an aggregate
average market value, during the 20 consecutive trading day period
beginning on the 16th trading day immediately following the date on which
the disposition is consummated, equal to such fair value; or
- issue shares of Class A stock in exchange for all of the outstanding
shares of Digital stock at a 10% premium, based on the average market
value of Class A stock as compared to the average market value of Digital
stock during the 20 consecutive trading day period beginning on the 16th
trading day immediately following the date on which the disposition is
consummated.
In connection with any special dividend on, or redemption of less than
all, Digital stock, as described above, we will credit to the NYT group, and
charge against the Digital group, a corresponding amount in respect of the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group. Specifically, the corresponding
amount will equal:
- the aggregate amount of such dividend or redemption TIMES
- a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Digital
stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group and the denominator of which is the number of shares of
Digital stock then outstanding.
This amount can also be represented by the following:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO
(AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF DIVIDEND) X THE NYT GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP)
----------------------------------------------------------
(NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK OUTSTANDING)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
107
In addition, in connection with any redemption of Digital stock as
described above, we will decrease the number of shares of Digital stock issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group by the
same proportion as the proportionate decrease in outstanding shares of the
Digital group caused by such redemption.
At any time within one year after completing any dividend or partial
redemption of the sort referred to above, we will have the right to issue shares
of Class A stock in exchange for outstanding shares of Digital stock at a 10%
premium. The exchange ratio that will result in a 10% premium will be calculated
based on the average market value of Class A stock as compared to the average
market value of the Digital stock during the 20 consecutive trading day period
ending on the 5th trading day immediately preceding the date on which the Times
Company mails the notice of exchange to holders of Digital stock. In determining
whether to effect any such exchange following such a dividend or partial
redemption, we would, in addition to other matters, consider:
- whether the remaining assets of the Digital group continue to constitute
a viable business;
- the number of shares of Digital stock remaining issued and outstanding;
- the per share market price of Digital stock; and
- the ongoing cost of continuing to have a separate class of Digital stock
outstanding.
Upon the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the NYT group, the
holders of NYT stock would have comparable rights to receive a dividend, to have
their shares redeemed or to receive Digital stock in exchange for their shares
at our discretion on terms substantially similar to the terms as described
above.
EXCHANGE OF DIGITAL STOCK FOR CLASS A STOCK
We will have the right, at any time on or after January 1, 2003, to issue
shares of Class A stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of Digital stock
at a 15% premium. The exchange ratio that will result in a 15% premium will be
calculated based on the average market value of Class A stock as compared to the
average market value of Digital stock during a 20 consecutive trading day period
ending on the fifth trading day immediately preceding the date on which the
Times Company mails the notice of exchange to the holders of Digital stock. No
premium will be payable if we make the exchange at any time after the aggregate
market value of the outstanding Digital stock shall have exceeded for any period
of 20 consecutive trading days the aggregate market value of the outstanding NYT
stock, assuming the conversion of Class B stock into Class A stock for purposes
of the calculation. Prior to January 1, 2003, we can issue shares of Class A
stock in exchange for all outstanding shares of Digital stock at the applicable
premium if, as result of the enactment of legislative changes or administrative
proposals or changes, we or our stockholders would, based on the legal opinion
of our tax counsel, more likely than not be subject to tax upon issuance of
Digital stock or NYT stock (including upon the issuance of shares of one class
of stock in respect of, or in exchange for, shares of another class of stock) or
if Digital stock or NYT stock more likely than not would not be treated as stock
of The New York Times Company.
<PAGE>
108
EXCHANGE FOR STOCK OF A SUBSIDIARY IN CONNECTION WITH A SPIN-OFF
We will have the right, at any time, to exchange stock of a subsidiary of
the Times Company for Digital stock so long as all the assets and liabilities of
the Digital group are held directly or indirectly by the subsidiary. In such
event, holders of Digital stock will receive a class of common stock in the
subsidiary that possesses voting rights with respect to the subsidiary that are
generally comparable to the voting rights that Digital stock has with respect to
the Times Company, except that such stock will have a fixed one vote per share
on matters on which it is entitled to vote. Those shares will represent the same
proportionate interest in that subsidiary that the Digital stock was deemed to
represent in the Digital group at the time of the exchange. We will distribute
the remaining shares of the subsidiary to the holders of Class A stock and
Class B stock, with the holders of Class A stock receiving shares of the same
class as the shares issued to the holders of Digital stock and the holders of
Class B stock receiving shares of a separate class of common stock of the
subsidiary that possesses voting rights with respect to the subsidiary that are
generally comparable to the voting rights that Class B stock has with respect to
the Times Company. Depending on the circumstances at the time, an exchange of
stock of a subsidiary of the Times Company for Digital stock could be taxable to
holders of Digital stock and to the Times Company for United States federal
income tax purposes.
The 1997 Trust, a trust for the benefit of the Ochs/Sulzberger family,
currently holds approximately 87% of our Class B stock. As a result, upon the
completion of the spin-off described above, such trust would control the
spun-off corporation.
GENERAL DIVIDEND, EXCHANGE AND REDEMPTION PROVISIONS
If we complete a disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Digital group, other than an exempt disposition, we would be required, not
more than the 10 trading days after the consummation of such disposition, to
issue a press release specifying:
- the net proceeds of such disposition;
- the number of shares of Digital stock then outstanding;
- the number of shares of Digital stock issuable upon conversion, exchange
or exercise of any convertible or exchangeable securities, options or
warrants and the conversion, exchange or exercise prices thereof; and
- the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group.
Not more than 40 trading days after such consummation, we would be
required to announce by press release which of the actions specified in the
first paragraph under "--Mandatory Dividend, Redemption, or Exchange on
Disposition of All or Substantially All of the Assets of the Digital Group or
the NYT Group" we have determined to take, and upon making that announcement,
that determination would become irrevocable. In addition, we would be required,
not more than 40 trading days after such consummation and not less than 10
trading days before the applicable payment date, redemption date or exchange
date, to send a notice by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to holders of
Digital stock at their addresses as they appear on our transfer books.
If we determine to undertake a special dividend, we would be required to
specify in the notice:
- the record date for such dividend;
<PAGE>
109
- the payment date of such dividend, which cannot be more than 85 trading
days after such consummation; and
- the aggregate amount and type of property to paid in such dividend and
the approximate per share amount thereof.
If we determine to undertake a redemption, we would be required to specify
in the notice:
- the date of redemption, which cannot be more than 85 trading days after
such consummation;
- the aggregate amount and type of property to be paid as a redemption
price and the approximate per share amount thereof;
- if less than all shares of Digital stock are to be redeemed, the number
of shares to be redeemed; and
- the place or places where certificates for shares of Digital stock,
properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, unless we waive such
requirement, should be surrendered in return for delivery of the cash,
securities or other property to be paid by the Times Company in such
redemption.
If we determine to undertake an exchange, we would be required to specify
in the notice:
- the date of exchange, which cannot be more than 85 trading days after
such consummation;
- the number of shares of Class A stock to be issued in exchange for each
outstanding share of Digital stock; and
- the place or places where certificates for shares of Digital stock,
properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, unless we waive such
requirement, should be surrendered in return for delivery of the Class A
stock to be delivered by the Times Company in such exchange.
If we determine to complete any exchange described under "--Exchange of
Digital Stock for Class A Stock" or "--Exchange for Stock of a Subsidiary in
Connection with a Spin-off", we would be required, between 10 and 30 trading
days before the exchange date, to send a notice by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, to holders of Digital stock at their addresses as they appear on our
transfer books, specifying:
- the exchange date and the other terms of the exchange; and
- the place or places where certificates for shares of Digital stock,
properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, unless we waive such
requirement, should be surrendered for delivery of the Class A stock or
the stock of the subsidiary, as the case may be, to be delivered by the
Times Company in such exchange.
Neither the failure to mail any required notice to any particular holder
nor any defect therein would affect the sufficiency thereof with respect to any
other holder or the validity of any dividend, redemption or exchange.
If we are redeeming less than all of the outstanding shares of Digital
stock, we would redeem such shares pro rata or by lot or by such other method as
the board of directors determines to be equitable.
No holder of Digital stock being exchanged or redeemed will be entitled to
receive any cash, securities or other property to be distributed in such
exchange or redemption until such holder surrenders certificates for such
shares, properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, at such place as we
<PAGE>
110
specify, unless we waive such requirement. As soon as practicable after our
receipt of certificates for such shares, we would deliver to the person for
whose account such shares were so surrendered, or to the nominee or nominees of
such person, the cash, securities or other property to which such person is
entitled, together with any fractional payment referred to below, in each case
without interest. If less than all of the shares of Digital stock represented by
any one certificate were to be exchanged or redeemed, we would also issue and
deliver a new certificate for the shares of Digital stock not exchanged or
redeemed.
We would not be required to issue or deliver fractional shares of any
capital stock or any other fractional securities to any holder of Digital stock
upon any exchange, redemption, dividend or other distribution described above.
If more than one share of Digital stock were held at the same time by the same
holder, we may aggregate the number of shares of any capital stock that would be
issuable or any other securities that would be distributable to such holder upon
any such exchange, redemption, dividend or other distribution. If there are
fractional shares of any capital stock or any other fractional securities
remaining to be issued or distributed to any holder, we would, if such
fractional shares or securities were not issued or distributed to such holder,
pay cash in respect of such fractional shares or securities in an amount equal
to the fair value thereof, without interest.
From and after the date set for any exchange or redemption, all rights of
a holder of shares of Digital stock that were exchanged or redeemed would cease
except for the right, upon surrender of the certificates representing such
shares, to receive the cash, securities or other property for which such shares
were exchanged or redeemed, together with any fractional payment as provided
above, in each case without interest, and, if such holder was a holder of record
as of the close of business on the record date for a dividend not yet paid, the
right to receive such dividend. A holder of shares of Digital stock being
exchanged would not be entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution
with respect to shares of Class A stock or stock of a subsidiary, as the case
may be, until after the shares being exchanged are surrendered as contemplated
above. Upon such surrender, we would pay to the holder the amount of any
dividends or other distributions, without interest, which theretofore became
payable with respect to a record date occurring after the exchange, but which
were not paid by reason of the foregoing, with respect to the number of whole
shares of Class A stock or stock of a subsidiary, as the case may be,
represented by the certificate or certificates issued upon such surrender. From
and after the date set for any exchange, we would, however, be entitled to treat
the certificates for shares of Digital stock being exchanged that were not yet
surrendered for exchange as evidencing the ownership of the number of whole
shares of Class A stock or stock of a subsidiary, as the case may be, for which
the shares of Digital stock should have been exchanged, notwithstanding the
failure to surrender such certificates.
We would pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar issue or transfer
taxes that might be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of any shares of
capital stock and/or other securities on any exchange or redemption described
herein. We would not, however, be required to pay any tax that might be payable
in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of any shares of
capital stock and/or other securities in a name other than that in which the
shares so exchanged or redeemed were registered, and no such issue or delivery
will be made unless and until the person requesting such issue pays to the Times
Company the amount of any such tax or establishes to our satisfaction that such
tax has been paid.
We may, subject to applicable law, establish such other rules,
requirements and procedures to facilitate any dividend, redemption or exchange
contemplated as described above as the board of directors may determine to be
appropriate under the circumstances.
<PAGE>
111
LIQUIDATION
Upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
of the Times Company, holders of NYT stock and Digital stock will be entitled to
receive their proportionate interest in the net assets of the Times Company, if
any, remaining for distribution to common stockholders after:
- payment of or provision for all liabilities, including contingent
liabilities, of the Times Company; and
- payment of the liquidation preference payable to holders of our
outstanding serial preferred stock, if any.
Such distributions will be made PRO RATA in accordance with the average
market value of a share of NYT stock, valuing Class A stock and Class B stock at
the market value of Class A stock, and the average market value of a share of
Digital stock during the 20 consecutive trading day period ending on, and
including, the 5th trading day before the date of the first public announcement
of:
- a voluntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up by the Times Company;
or
- the institution of any proceeding for the involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the Times Company.
The liquidation formula is intended to provide liquidation rights for each
series of common stock proportionate to the respective market values at the time
of any liquidation.
Neither the merger nor consolidation of the Times Company with any other
entity, nor a sale, transfer or lease of all or any part of the assets of the
Times Company, would alone be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or winding-up
for these purposes.
THE NYT GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP
In this Proxy Statement, we call the percentage interest in the Digital
group intended to be represented at any time by the outstanding shares of
Digital stock the outstanding interest percentage, and we call the remaining
percentage interest in the Digital group intended to be represented at any time
by the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group the retained interest
percentage. At any time, the outstanding interest percentage equals the number
of shares of Digital stock outstanding divided by the number of notional shares
of Digital stock deemed outstanding, expressed as a percentage. The outstanding
interest percentage can also be expressed as follows:
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK OUTSTANDING
-------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF NOTIONAL SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK DEEMED OUTSTANDING
The retained interest percentage equals the number of shares of Digital
stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital
group divided by the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed
outstanding, expressed as a percentage. The retained interest percentage can
also be expressed as follows:
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S
RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP
----------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF NOTIONAL SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK DEEMED OUTSTANDING
<PAGE>
112
The sum of the outstanding interest percentage and the retained interest
percentage always equals 100%. Thus:
OUTSTANDING INTEREST PERCENTAGE + RETAINED INTEREST PERCENTAGE = 100%
At the time that we file the amended and restated certificate of
incorporation, the retained interest percentage will be 100% and the outstanding
interest percentage will be 0%.
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S
RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP
At the time of the first issuance of Digital stock, the board of directors
will determine the initial number of shares issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group. Under the terms of the amended
and restated certificate of incorporation, these shares of Digital stock are the
authorized shares that are issuable in respect of the NYT group's retained
interest. In the offering, we will attribute the net proceeds to the equity of
the Digital group. The issuance of the shares in the offering will have no
effect on the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group, but will increase the notional
shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding.
ATTRIBUTION OF ISSUANCES OF DIGITAL STOCK
Whenever we decide to issue shares of Digital stock, we will determine, in
our sole discretion, whether to attribute that issuance, and the proceeds
thereof:
- to the NYT group in respect of its retained interest in the Digital
group, in a manner analogous to a secondary offering of common stock of a
subsidiary owned by a corporate parent; or
- to the Digital group, in a manner analogous to a primary offering of
common stock by the Digital group.
If we issue any shares of Digital stock and attribute that issuance, and
the proceeds thereof, to the NYT group in respect of its retained interest in
the Digital group, the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect
to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group would be reduced by
the number of shares so issued, the number of outstanding shares of Digital
stock would be increased by the same amount, the number of notional shares of
Digital stock deemed outstanding would remain unchanged, the retained interest
percentage would be reduced and the outstanding interest percentage would be
correspondingly increased. If we instead attribute that issuance and the
proceeds thereof to the Digital group, the number of shares of Digital stock
issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
would remain unchanged, the number of outstanding shares of Digital stock and
the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding would be
increased by the number of shares so issued, the retained interest percentage
would be reduced and the outstanding interest percentage would be
correspondingly increased.
Our board of directors has determined that the following issuances of
Digital stock will be attributed in the manner specified:
- The former stockholders of Abuzz Technologies that hold shares of the
subsidiary of the Times Company that acquired Abuzz Technologies will
have the right to exchange their shares of the capital stock of the
subsidiary for shares of Digital stock. This issuance will be
<PAGE>
113
attributable to the NYT group and will reduce the NYT group's retained
interest in the Digital group.
- The issuance of shares of Digital stock upon the conversion of the Times
Company's 7% convertible subordinated notes will be attributed to the
Digital group in a manner analogous to a primary offering of common stock
by the Digital group.
- Holders of options to acquire shares of Abuzz Technologies that were
fully vested at the time of the acquisition of Abuzz Technologies
acquired fully vested options to acquire shares of the Times Company
subsidiary that acquired Abuzz Technologies. Upon completion of the
offering, these options will automatically convert to options to acquire
shares of Digital stock. The issuance of Digital stock upon the exercise
of these options will be attributable to the NYT group and will reduce
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group.
- Except as provided above, shares of Digital stock issued under the
Digital stock incentive plan will be attributed to the Digital group in a
manner analogous to a primary offering of common stock by the Digital
group.
ISSUANCES OF DIGITAL STOCK AS DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE NYT GROUP OR DIGITAL
STOCK
We reserve the right to issue shares of Digital stock as a distribution on
NYT stock, although we do not currently intend to do so. If we did so, we would
attribute that distribution to the NYT group in respect of its retained interest
in the Digital group. As a result, the number of shares of Digital stock
issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
would be reduced by the number of shares of Digital stock so distributed, the
number of outstanding shares of Digital stock would be increased by the same
amount, the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding would
remain unchanged, the retained interest percentage would be reduced and the
outstanding interest percentage would be correspondingly increased. If instead
we issued shares of Digital stock as a distribution on Digital stock, we would
attribute that distribution to the Digital group, in which case we would
proportionately increase the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group. As a result,
the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's
retained interest in the Digital group and the number of notional shares of
Digital stock deemed outstanding would each be increased by the same percentage
as the number of outstanding shares of Digital stock is increased and the
retained interest percentage and outstanding interest percentage would remain
unchanged.
REPURCHASES OF DIGITAL STOCK
If we decide to repurchase shares of Digital stock, we would determine, in
our sole discretion, whether to attribute that repurchase and the cost thereof
to the NYT group, in a manner analogous to a purchase of common stock of a
subsidiary by a corporate parent, or to the Digital group, in a manner analogous
to an issuer repurchase. If we repurchase shares of Digital stock and attribute
that repurchase and the cost thereof to the NYT group, the number of shares of
Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group would be increased by the number of shares so purchased, the
number of outstanding shares of Digital stock would be decreased by the same
amount, the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding would
remain unchanged, the retained interest percentage would be increased and the
outstanding interest percentage would be correspondingly decreased. If we
instead attribute that repurchase and the cost thereof to the Digital group, the
number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's
retained interest in the Digital group would remain unchanged, the number of
outstanding shares of Digital stock and
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the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding would be
decreased by the number of shares so repurchased, the retained interest
percentage would be increased and the outstanding interest percentage would be
correspondingly decreased.
TRANSFERS OF CASH OR OTHER PROPERTY BETWEEN THE NYT GROUP AND THE DIGITAL
GROUP
We may, in our sole discretion, determine to transfer cash or other
property from the Digital group to the NYT group in return for a decrease in the
NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group, in a manner analogous to a
repurchase of stock of a subsidiary held by a parent, or to transfer cash or
other property from the NYT group to the Digital group in return for an increase
in the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group, in a manner analogous
to a purchase of additional stock of a subsidiary by a parent. If we determine
to transfer cash or other property from the Digital group to the NYT group in
return for a decrease in the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group,
the number of shares issuable of Digital stock with respect to the NYT group's
retained interest in the Digital group and the number of notional shares of
Digital stock deemed outstanding, would each be decreased by an amount equal to
the fair value of such cash or other property divided by the market value of a
share of Digital stock on the day of transfer, the number of outstanding shares
of Digital stock would remain unchanged, the retained interest percentage would
be decreased and the outstanding interest percentage would be correspondingly
increased.
If we instead determine to transfer cash or other property from the NYT
group to the Digital group in return for an increase in the NYT group's retained
interest in the Digital group, the number of shares of Digital stock issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group and the
number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding would each be
increased by an amount equal to the fair value of such cash or other property
divided by the market value of a share of Digital stock on the day of transfer,
the number of outstanding shares of Digital stock would remain unchanged, the
retained interest percentage would be increased and the outstanding interest
percentage would be correspondingly decreased.
We may not attribute issuances of Digital stock to the NYT group, transfer
cash or other property of the Digital group to the NYT group in return for a
decrease in its retained interest in the Digital group or take any other action
to the extent that doing so would cause the number of shares of Digital stock
issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
to decrease below zero.
For illustrations showing how to calculate the retained interest
percentage, the outstanding interest percentage, the number of shares of Digital
stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital
group and the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding
after giving effect to certain hypothetical dividends, issuances, repurchases
and transfers, see Annex IV to this Proxy Statement, "Illustration of Certain
Terms".
EFFECTIVENESS OF VARIOUS TERMS
The terms described under "--Voting Rights", "--Dividends", "--Mandatory
Dividend, Redemption, or Exchange on Disposition of All or Substantially All of
the Assets of the Digital Group or the NYT Group", "--Exchange of Digital Stock
for Class A Stock", "--Exchange for Stock of a Subsidiary in Connection with a
Spin-off", and "--Liquidation" above apply only when there are shares of both
NYT stock and Digital stock outstanding.
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OTHER PROVISIONS OF THE AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND
BY-LAWS
PREFERRED STOCK
The amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like our current
certificate, will provide that the board of directors may issue shares of serial
preferred stock in one or more series from time to time. The board of directors
has the authority to fix by resolution or resolutions the relative rights,
preferences, limitations, restrictions and designations, of the shares of each
series of preferred stock, including without limitation, the following:
- the group (the NYT group or the Digital group) to which the serial
preferred stock will be attributed;
- the number of shares included in such series;
- the distinctive serial designation of such series which shall distinguish
it from other series;
- the dividend rate or rates payable to holders of the shares of such
series;
- whether dividends on the shares of such series shall be cumulative and,
if so, the date from which dividends shall accumulate, and the quarterly
dates on which dividends, if declared, shall be payable;
- the obligation, if any, of the Times Company to purchase or redeem shares
of such series pursuant to a sinking fund or otherwise and the price or
prices at which, the period or periods within which and the terms and
conditions upon which the shares of such series shall be redeemed or
purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
- the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which and the
terms and conditions upon which the shares of such series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Times Company or at
the option of the holder or holders thereof or upon the happening of a
specified event or events;
- whether the holders of the shares of such series shall be entitled to
receive, upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Times Company, an amount equal to the dividends
accumulated and unpaid on the shares, whether or not earned or declared,
and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of the shares of
such series;
- whether the holders of the shares of such series shall be subject to the
operation of a purchase, retirement or sinking fund and, if so, whether
such fund shall be cumulative or noncumulative, the conditions and manner
in which such fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the
shares of such series for retirement or to other corporate purposes, and
the terms and provisions that apply to the operation of the purchase,
retirement or sinking fund;
- whether or not the shares of such series shall be convertible or
exchangeable, at any time or times at the option of the holder or holders
thereof or at the option of the Times Company or upon the happening of a
specified event or events, into shares of any other class or classes or
any other series of the same or any other class or classes of stock of
the Times Company and the price or prices or rate or rates of exchange or
conversion and any adjustments applicable thereto; and
- whether or not holders of the shares of such series shall have voting
rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and if so the
terms of such voting rights.
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Section 804(a)(2) of the New York Business Corporation Law automatically
gives holders of the outstanding shares of a class the option to vote as a class
on amendments to change the number of authorized shares of such class.
OPTIONAL CONVERSION OF CLASS B STOCK INTO CLASS A STOCK
The amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like our current
certificate, will provide that the holders of shares of Class B stock have the
option to convert such stock into shares of Class A stock, on a share-for-share
basis, at any time. Shares of Class B stock that are surrendered for conversion
are canceled and may not be reissued.
PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS
The amended and restated certificate of incorporation, like our current
certificate, will provide that, except for the holders of Class B stock, no
holder of any share of any class of stock of the Times Company, including the
Digital stock, will have any preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional
shares of capital stock or securities that we may issue in the future. See
"--Interest of Ochs/Sulzberger Family in the Offering."
NUMBER OF DIRECTORS; FILLING VACANCIES
The number of members of the board of directors will be fixed from time to
time by resolution of a majority of the board of directors. No decrease in the
number of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Vacancies, whether arising through death, resignation, an increase in the
number of directors, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by a majority
vote of the remaining directors, although less than a quorum.
A director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the unexpired term in
respect of which such vacancy occurred.
RELEVANT PROVISIONS OF NEW YORK LAW
The Times Company is subject to the business combination provisions of
Section 912 of the New York Business Corporation Law. In general, such
provisions prohibit a publicly-held New York corporation from engaging in
various business combination transactions with any interested shareholder for a
period of five years after the date of the transaction in which the person
became an interested shareholder unless:
- the business combination transaction, or the transaction in which the
interested shareholder became an interested shareholder, is approved by
the board of directors prior to the purchase;
- the combination was approved by the board of directors prior to the
shareholder's stock acquisition date;
- the combination was approved by the disinterested shareholders at a
meeting called no earlier than five years after the interested
shareholder's stock acquisition date; or
- the price paid to all the shareholders meets statutory criteria.
A business combination is defined to include various transactions between
the corporation and its interested stockholder, including mergers,
consolidations, transfers of assets, whether by sale, lease, exchange, mortgage,
pledge, transfer or otherwise, certain share issuances, liquidation or
dissolution,
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117
certain reclassifications of securities and other transactions resulting in
financial benefit to a stockholder. In general, an interested stockholder is a
person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns or, within five years,
did own, 20% or more of a corporation's voting stock. The statute could prohibit
or delay mergers or other takeovers or change in control attempts with respect
to the Times Company and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire the
Times Company.
LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
The New York Business Corporation Law provides that a corporation has the
power to indemnify certain persons, including its officers and directors, under
stated circumstances and subject to certain limitations in connection with
services performed in good faith for the corporation.
Our by-laws provide that the Times Company indemnify to the full extent
permitted by law any person made or threatened to be made a party to any civil
or criminal action or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person or such
person's testator or intestate is or was a director or officer of the Times
Company, or serves or served at the request of the Times Company any other
enterprise as a director, officer or employee. Our by-laws provide that any
judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement, taxes or penalties and expenses,
including attorneys' fees, incurred by any such person in defending any such
action, suit or proceeding will be paid or reimbursed by the Times Company to
the full extent permitted by law, except that such person is not entitled to be
indemnified by the Times Company if a judgment or other final adjudication
establishes that such person's acts were committed in bad faith or were the
result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either case, were material to
the cause of action so adjudicated, or that such person personally gained in
fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally
entitled.
Our by-laws provide that such right to indemnification is not intended to
limit any right to indemnification to which any officer or director would be
entitled by law in the absence of such by-law provision, nor shall it be deemed
exclusive of any other rights such a person may have under law, any provision of
our certificate of incorporation or by-laws, any agreement approved by the board
of directors, or a resolution of stockholders or directors.
As permitted by the New York Business Corporation Law, our certificate of
incorporation provides, and our amended and restated certificate will provide,
that directors of the Times Company are not personally liable for damages for
any breach of duty as a director unless a judgment or other final adjudication
adverse to such director establishes that his or her actions were in bad faith
or involved intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he or
she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he
or she was not legally entitled or that his or her acts violated Section 719 of
the New York Business Corporation Law or for any act or omission prior to the
effectiveness of this provision.
We maintain directors' and officers' liability insurance which insures
against liabilities that our directors or officers may incur in such capacities.
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MATERIAL UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a summary of the material United States federal income
tax considerations relevant to the proposal to amend our certificate of
incorporation.
The discussion below is based upon the provisions of the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and regulations, rulings and judicial
decisions thereunder as of the date hereof; these authorities are subject to
change, perhaps with retroactive effect. In particular, the United States
Congress could enact legislation, or the Treasury Department could issue
regulations or other guidance, including, without limitation, regulations issued
under the broad grant of authority under Section 337(d) of the Internal Revenue
Code, that affect the treatment of tracking stock, such as the NYT stock and the
Digital stock. Any such change, which might or might not be retroactive, could
alter the tax consequences discussed below.
BECAUSE UNITED STATES TAX CONSEQUENCES MAY DIFFER FROM ONE HOLDER TO THE
NEXT, THE DISCUSSION SET OUT BELOW DOES NOT PURPORT TO DESCRIBE ALL OF THE TAX
CONSIDERATIONS THAT MAY BE RELEVANT TO YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR PARTICULAR
SITUATION. IN ADDITION, THE DISCUSSION BELOW DOES NOT ADDRESS MATTERS OF STATE,
LOCAL OR FOREIGN TAX LAW. THE STATEMENTS OF UNITED STATES TAX LAW BELOW ARE
BASED ON THE LAWS AND INTERPRETATIONS THEREOF IN FORCE AS OF THE DATE OF THIS
PROXY STATEMENT, AND ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGES.
We believe that both NYT stock and Digital stock will be treated as common
stock of The New York Times Company for United States federal income tax
purposes. Accordingly, we believe that neither we nor you will recognize any
income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result
of the reclassification of Class A stock and Class B stock into NYT stock or as
a result of the issuance of Digital stock.
We have not sought any ruling from the Internal Revenue Service in
connection with the reclassification of Class A stock and Class B stock or the
issuance of Digital stock. The Internal Revenue Service has announced that it
will not issue advance rulings on the classification of an instrument, such as
NYT stock and Digital stock, that has certain voting and liquidation rights in
the issuing corporation, but that has dividend rights that are determined by
reference to the earnings of a segregated portion of the issuing corporation's
assets, including assets held by a subsidiary. In addition, there are no court
decisions or other authorities that bear directly on the classification for tax
purposes of instruments with characteristics similar to those of NYT stock and
Digital stock. Accordingly, it is possible that the Internal Revenue Service
could assert, among other things, that the issuance of Digital stock will result
in a substantial taxable gain to us and that a court could agree with that
assertion.
Legislative proposals made by the Clinton Administration in February 1999
and February 2000 relate to the issuance of stock similar to Digital stock. The
February 1999 proposal would impose a corporate-level tax on the issuance of
tracking stock. The February 2000 proposal would provide that if a corporation
issues tracking stock to a stockholder in respect of, or in exchange for, the
stockholder's stock in the corporation, then the stockholder will be treated as
having received a taxable distribution of property. Both provisions are proposed
to be effective for tracking stock issued on or after the date of enactment. No
tax legislation has subsequently been enacted incorporating either of these
proposals. We cannot predict whether either proposal will be enacted or, if
enacted, whether it will be in the form proposed. If either Clinton
Administration proposal or a similar proposal is enacted, then we or our
stockholders could be subject to tax on an issuance of Digital stock on or after
the date of enactment. We may issue Class A stock in exchange for Digital stock
at any time at a 15% premium or no premium, depending on the relative market
values of the outstanding Digital stock and NYT stock, if, based on the opinion
of our tax counsel, as a result of the enactment of legislative changes or
administrative proposals or changes, it is more likely than not that we or our
stockholders will be
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subject to tax upon issuance of Digital stock or NYT stock or that any such
stock will not be treated as stock of The New York Times Company. Under current
law, such an exchange should qualify as a tax-free recapitalization, such that
no gain or loss will be recognized by us or by holders of the stock to be
exchanged. See "--Description of Capital Stock--Exchange of Digital Stock for
Class A Stock."
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the following resolution
which will be presented to the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation
substantially in the form annexed to The New York Times Company's 2000
Proxy Statement, be, and the same hereby is, ratified, confirmed and
approved.
The approval of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation will
be voted on by the holders of Class A stock and Class B stock, as separate
classes. The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Class A stock and of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Class B stock, in person or by proxy, is required for approval of this
resolution. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will have the same
effect as a vote against the proposal.
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROPOSAL NUMBER 8
ADOPTION OF NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GENERAL
The tracking stock proposals also include a proposal to approve the
Digital Plan. The board of directors adopted the Digital Plan on January 20,
2000, subject to stockholder approval, to enable the Company to attract and
retain employees and service providers and enable such persons to align their
interests with the interests of the holders of Digital stock. The Digital Plan
will not become effective until we first issue Digital stock in the offering or
otherwise.
The Digital stock share amounts described below in connection with the
Digital Plan are based on an assumed 85,000,000 notional shares of Digital stock
deemed outstanding (which number excludes any shares that may be issued in the
offering). To the extent that the actual number of notional shares of Digital
stock deemed outstanding immediately prior to the first issuance of Digital
stock is different, proportionate adjustments will be made to the number of
shares specified in the various provisions of the Digital Plan discussed below.
DIGITAL PLAN SUMMARY
The following is a brief description of the material features of the plan.
Such description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of
the Digital Plan annexed hereto as Annex III.
LIMITS. The maximum number of shares of Digital stock that may be issued
pursuant to the Digital Plan is 20,000,000, subject to adjustment in the event
of a stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, exchange of Class A stock
for Digital stock or certain other events.
DIGITAL OPTIONS. The terms of the Digital Plan provide for grants of
stock options ("Digital Options") to purchase shares of Digital stock to
employees of, or service providers to, the Company who have principal
responsibility for, or who contribute substantially to, the management
efficiency, achievement or financial success of the Digital group, currently
including approximately 320 employees of the Digital group, members of the
Digital group advisory board, 13 members of senior management of the Company and
13 additional employees of the NYT group. Digital Options may be either
"incentive stock options" as defined in Section 422 of the Code or
"non-qualified stock options" which do not meet the requirements of Section 422
of the Code. The Digital Plan limits the number of shares with respect to which
Digital Options may be granted to a plan participant during a calendar year to
4,000,000 (subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend,
reclassification, exchange of Class A stock for Digital stock or certain other
events).
The exercise price of a Digital Option granted pursuant to the Digital
Plan will be the market value of the Digital stock at the time the Digital
Option is granted (except as noted below with respect to Roll-Over Options and
incentive stock options). The option price (plus any withholding tax) must be
paid in full when the Digital Option is exercised. Payment of the purchase price
may be made (i) in cash, (ii) by delivering shares of previously acquired
Digital stock, or (iii) in such other forms as the compensation committee may
determine, all subject to such rules as the compensation committee may adopt. In
determining the number of shares of Digital stock necessary to be delivered to
us, such shares are valued at the market value at the time of exercise.
Each Digital Option (except as noted below with respect to roll-over
options and incentive stock options) must be exercised within ten years from the
date granted. A Digital Option becomes
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exercisable in such installments, if any, as specified at the time of grant.
Upon termination of active employment all unvested options (and if the
termination is for cause, all vested options as well) terminate. If the
termination is due to disability or retirement, or upon an optionee's death, all
vested options remain in effect for twelve months (but not beyond the original
expiration date). Upon termination of employment for any other reason other than
cause, the optionee may exercise all vested Digital Options for ten days after
such termination (but not beyond the original expiration date).
With respect to incentive stock options, if the aggregate fair market
value (determined as of the date the Digital Option is granted) of the shares
for which any optionee may for the first time exercise incentive stock options
in any calendar year exceeds $100,000, such excess incentive stock options are
treated as non-qualified stock options. In the case of incentive stock options
that are granted to an employee who owns, or is deemed by reason of the
attribution rules under Section 425(d) of the Code to own, more than 10% of the
combined voting power of all classes of our stock, the exercise price of such
Digital Options must be at least 110% of the fair market value at the time the
Digital Options are granted, and such Digital Options must be exercised within
five years from the date granted.
NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTORS. Each non-employee director of the Company will
receive options ("Director Digital Options") for 2,600 shares of Digital stock
each year (subject to adjustment in the event of a stock split, stock dividend,
reclassification, exchange of Class A stock for Digital stock or certain other
events). The Director Digital Options will be granted as of the day of the
Company's Annual Meeting to each non-employee director elected at such meeting.
Such options shall become exercisable on the date of the next succeeding Annual
Meeting provided the holder continues to be a director on such date, and remain
in effect until the tenth anniversary of grant. The option price must be paid in
full when the Director Digital Option is exercised. Payment of the purchase
price may be made (i) in cash, (ii) by delivering shares of previously acquired
Digital stock (valued at the market value at the time of exercise) or (iii) in
such other forms as the Compensation Committee may determine, all subject to
such rules as the Compensation Committee may adopt.
In the event a non-employee director terminates service on the board by
reason of death or retirement (defined to be retirement at age 65 or thereafter
or by reason of disability), the total number of option shares will become
immediately exercisable and will continue to be exercisable for the remaining
term of the option. In the event a non-employee director terminates service on
the board (other than by reason of death or retirement), such person's options
to the extent exercisable upon such termination shall expire one year from the
date of termination of service, provided that in no event may an option be
exercised beyond its original expiration date. In the event of the death of a
non-employee director after terminating service on the board, any outstanding
options shall expire at the later of the expiration date determined at the time
the non-employee director terminated service or one year from the date of death,
provided that in no event may an option be exercised beyond its original
expiration date.
ROLL-OVER OPTIONS. In connection with the Digital group's acquisition of
Abuzz Technologies in July 1999, the holders of options to acquire shares of
Abuzz Technologies received options to acquire shares of the Company's
subsidiary that acquired Abuzz Technologies. The exercise price was determined
by reference to the original exercise price of the Abuzz Technologies options
and the value of the Digital group at that time. Through April 6, 2000, this
subsidiary has also granted additional options to employees of and service
providers to the Digital group, employees of the NYT group and non-employee
directors of the Company. Until the first issuance of Digital stock, this
subsidiary may continue to grant options to such classes of individuals. Upon
the first issuance of Digital stock, all options granted by this subsidiary and
then outstanding will by their terms become non-qualified
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options under the Digital Plan, subject to the 20,000,000 share limit set forth
in the Digital Plan (the "Roll-Over Options"). As of April 6, 2000, options
outstanding under this subsidiary plan would have by their terms become
non-qualified options to acquire an aggregate of 10,775,615 shares of Digital
stock under the Digital Plan (the "Roll-Over Options"). The weighted average
exercise price would have been $5.53 per share of Digital stock. Of these
options, 3,613,030 with a weighted average exercise price of $4.34 per share
would have become exercisable during 2000; 2,721,835 with a weighted average
exercise price of $6.11 per share will become exercisable during 2001; and
4,440,750 with a weighted average exercise price of $6.19 per share would have
become exercisable during 2002 or subsequent periods.
When the exercise price of an option is less than the deemed fair market
value at the date of grant for options, compensation expense is recorded.
Accordingly, for the fiscal year ended December 26, 1999, the Digital group had
compensation expense as it relates to certain of the options granted by the
Company's subsidiary, of $2,048,000 for the difference between the exercise
price and the deemed fair market value of the underlying shares. For further
information about the compensation expense related to these options, see Annex
VI, "Financial Information--The Digital Group" to this Proxy Statement.
RESTRICTED STOCK. The terms of the Digital Plan also provides for grants
of shares of Digital stock in the form of restricted awards. Restricted stock
refers to the award of shares that are subject to forfeiture if the recipient
leaves the employ of the Times Company, with some exceptions, prior to the
expiration of vesting periods (which must be at least one year) that are
specified at the time of the grant. The shares may not be sold, pledged, or
otherwise transferred until the applicable restricted period of the award has
lapsed. No more than 100,000 shares (subject to adjustment in the event of a
stock split, stock dividend, reclassification, exchange of Class A stock for
Digital stock or certain other events) of Digital stock may be granted as
restricted stock.
ADMINISTRATION. The Digital Plan will be administered by our compensation
committee. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Digital Plan, the
compensation committee is authorized to interpret the Digital Plan, construe
terms, adopt rules and regulations, prescribe forms, make all determinations
under the Digital Plan and, subject to such terms and conditions as they may
establish, delegate authority to officers and managers of the Company or the
Digital group.
NEW BENEFITS
The Digital Plan will only become effective after we first issue Digital
stock. Currently, we do not intend to issue any Digital stock until the
consummation of the offering, the timing of which has not yet been finalized. As
a result, the Digital Options that will be granted in the future under the
Digital Plan are not currently determinable. The following table sets forth
information respecting Digital Options that would have been granted as
"Roll-Over Options" as of April 6, 2000 to all
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executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table, all executive
officers as a group, all non-employee directors as a group and all employees as
a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NAME AND POSITION OPTIONS
- ----------------- -------
<S> <C>
Arthur Sulzberger, Jr.
Chairman of the Board and Publisher of THE NEW YORK
TIMES..................................................... 100,000
Russell T. Lewis
President and Chief Executive Officer..................... 100,000
Michael Golden
Vice Chairman and Senior Vice President................... 50,000
John M. O'Brien
Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer......... 50,000
Janet L. Robinson
President and General Manager, THE NEW YORK TIMES......... 50,000
All executive officers of the Company,
as a group (15 persons)................................... 2,490,000
All non-employee directors of the Company, as a group (11
persons).................................................. 28,600
All other employees of the Company,
as a group (490 persons).................................. 8,086,115
</TABLE>
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
OPTIONS. The grant of a non-qualified stock option or an incentive stock
option will not result in income for the participant or in a deduction for us.
The exercise of a non-qualified stock option will generally result in
compensation income for the participant and a deduction for us, in each case
measured by the difference between the option price and the fair market value of
the shares at the time of exercise.
The exercise of an incentive stock option will not result in income to the
participant if the participant (a) does not dispose of the shares within two
years after the date of grant or one year after exercise and (b) is an employee
of the Company from the date of the grant at least until three months before the
exercise or until one year before the exercise in the event of permanent and
total disability. If these requirements are met, the basis of the shares upon
later disposition, in the case of an exercise for cash, will be the option
price. Any gain will be taxed to the participant as long-term capital gain and
we will not be entitled to a deduction. The excess of the market value of the
shares on the exercise date over the option price is an item of tax preference,
potentially subject to the alternative minimum tax. If the participant disposes
of the shares prior to the expiration of either of the holding periods in
(a) above, the participant will recognize compensation income and we will be
entitled to a deduction equal to the lesser of (i) the fair market value of the
shares on the exercise date minus the option price, or (ii) the amount realized
on the disposition minus the option price. Any gain in excess of the
compensation income portion will be treated as long-term or short-term capital
gain. If an optionee ceases to be our employee and exercises his option after
the expiration of the period described in (b) above, the Digital Option will be
deemed a non-qualified stock option for tax purposes.
RESTRICTED STOCK. The grant of restricted stock will not result in income
to the participant or in a deduction for us for federal income tax purposes,
since the shares are subject to restrictions constituting a "substantial risk of
forfeiture" as defined in the Code. Unless the participant elects to be taxed at
the time he or she receives the shares, such participant will generally realize
taxable
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124
compensation income when the restrictions lapse. The amount of such income will
be the fair market value of the shares on the date of such lapse of restrictions
(or on the date of grant if the participant elects to be taxed at that time).
Dividends paid on the shares during the restricted period will also be taxable
compensation income to the participant when received by the participant. We will
be entitled to a tax deduction to the extent, and at the time, that the
participant realizes compensation income.
WITHHOLDING. When required by applicable law, withholding taxes due on
the exercise of a Digital Option must be paid by the participant. In lieu of
cash, the participant may elect to provide such required amount by delivering to
us previously acquired shares having a fair market value equal to such amount.
SECTION 162(M). A publicly held corporation, such as the Company, must
satisfy certain conditions in order to retain its federal income tax deduction
for compensation in excess of $1,000,000 per year paid to its chief executive
officer or any of the four other executive officers whose compensation is
required to be disclosed in its annual proxy statement. The provisions of the
Digital Plan insures that the incentive compensation paid by us in connection
with options can be deducted for federal income tax purposes under
Section 162(m) of the Code and the regulations issued thereunder by the Internal
Revenue Service. However, compensation realized pursuant to restricted stock is
not exempt from the provisions of Section 162(m) of the Code. If annual
non-exempt compensation, including restricted stock, to any of the individuals
described above exceeds $1,000,000 such excess amount would not be deductible by
the Company.
The discussion set forth above does not purport to be a complete analysis
of all potential tax effects relevant to the Digital Plan. It is based on
federal income tax law, regulations and rulings as of the date of this Proxy
Statement, which are subject to change at any time.
AMENDMENTS; NON-EXCLUSIVITY
The board may, in its discretion, amend the Digital Plan at any time;
provided, however, that no amendment that would change the class of persons
eligible to receive Digital Options or Digital Director Options, or increase the
number of shares of Digital stock reserved for issuance under the Digital Plan,
may be made unless such amendment is approved by the holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares of Digital stock or NYT stock entitled to vote on such
amendment, voting as a single class.
Participation in the Digital Plan is not exclusive and does not prevent
any participant from participating in any other compensation plan of the Digital
group or the Company or from receiving any other compensation from us.
RECOMMENDATION AND VOTE REQUIRED
The board of directors recommends a vote FOR the following resolution
which will be presented to the Annual Meeting:
RESOLVED, that the New York Times Digital Stock Incentive Plan,
substantially in the form annexed to The New York Times Company's 2000
Proxy Statement, be, and the same hereby is, ratified, confirmed and
approved.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of Class A and Class B stock cast at the Annual Meeting, in person or by
proxy, voting together as a single class, is required for approval of this
resolution. As a result, abstentions and broker non-votes will have no effect on
the proposal.
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OTHER MATTERS
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DISCRETIONARY AUTHORITY TO VOTE PROXY
Management does not know of any other matters to be considered at the
Annual Meeting. If any other matters do properly come before the meeting, the
proxy will be voted in respect thereof in accordance with the best judgment of
the persons authorized therein, and the discretionary authority to do so is
included in the proxy.
ANNUAL REPORT; ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
The Annual Report of the Company for the year 1999 accompanies this proxy
statement. Our 1999 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as filed with the SEC, which
includes audited financial statements, is included in our Annual Report.
Stockholders who would like an additional copy of our 1999 Annual Report
on Form 10-K may obtain it, free of charge, upon request to the Secretary of the
Company.
SUBMISSION OF STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
Stockholders who intend to present proposals at the 2001 Annual Meeting
under SEC Rule 14a-8 must insure that such proposals are received by the
Secretary of the Company not later than , 2000. Such proposals must meet
the requirements of the SEC to be eligible for inclusion in the Company's 2001
proxy materials. In order for a proposal submitted outside of Rule 14a-8 to be
considered "timely" within the meaning of SEC Rule 14a-4(c), such proposal must
be received prior to , 2001.
By order of the Board of Directors
LAURA J. CORWIN
VICE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY
New York, NY
April , 2000
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ANNEX I. QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT OUR TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS
Q1: WHY AM I RECEIVING THIS PROXY STATEMENT? WHAT ARE THE "TRACKING STOCK
PROPOSALS"?
A: We are sending you this Proxy Statement in connection with the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders to be held at 10:00 a.m., local time, on
, May , 2000, at the Ford Center for the Performing Arts, 214
West 43rd Street, New York, NY 10036. At the Annual Meeting we will ask
you to consider and approve the "tracking stock proposals" described in
this Proxy Statement. The tracking stock proposals would allow us to
amend and restate our certificate of incorporation to:
- Increase the number of authorized shares of common stock from
300,847,158 to 550,847,158;
- Authorize the board of directors to issue three classes of common
stock: Class A and Class B (or "NYT") stock, which are intended to
reflect the performance of the NYT group and Class C (or "Digital")
stock, which is intended to reflect the performance of the Digital
group; and
- Specify the terms and provisions applicable to the Class C stock,
and amend the terms and provisions applicable to the outstanding
Class A stock and Class B stock.
The tracking stock proposals also include a new stock incentive plan for
the Digital group.
Q2: WHAT IS "TRACKING STOCK"?
A: "Tracking stock" is a type of common stock that the issuing company
intends to reflect (or "track") the performance of a particular
business. As mentioned above, we propose creating a class of tracking
stock, to be designated as "Digital stock," to track our Digital
operations, and to reclassify the existing Class A stock and Class B
stock, referred to as "NYT stock," to track our other operations. The
NYT group will also include a retained interest in the Digital group. We
cannot assure you that the market value of NYT stock will in fact
reflect the performance of the NYT group or that the market value of
Digital stock will reflect the performance of the Digital group as we
intend. Neither the Digital group nor the NYT group is a separate legal
entity. Holders of NYT stock and holders of Digital stock will be common
stockholders of The New York Times Company and, as such, will be subject
to all risks associated with an investment in us and all of our
businesses, assets and liabilities. Holders of NYT stock and Digital
stock have no rights to any specific assets of the NYT group or the
Digital group, but all holders will have an interest in the residual net
assets of the Company.
Q3: HOW WILL YOU INITIALLY ISSUE DIGITAL STOCK? HOW MANY SHARES WILL YOU
INITIALLY ISSUE AND WHEN?
A: We currently plan to offer to the public (including certain existing
holders of Class B stock, who have statutory pre-emptive rights, certain
members of the Ochs/Sulzberger family, employees of the NYT group and
directors of the Company), for cash, shares of Digital stock intended to
represent a minority of the equity attributed to the Digital group. The
net proceeds from that offering will be attributed to the Digital group
and used by it for general corporate purposes, including promotion and
advertising, domestic and international expansion and strategic
alliances, investments and acquisitions (although we have no current
plans for such alliances, investments or acquisitions). The terms and
timing of the offering have not been finalized. In addition, we could
choose to conduct the
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offering at a later time, or not to make the offering at all, depending
on the circumstances at the time, or we could choose to issue Digital
stock in another manner.
Q4: HOW WILL YOU IMPLEMENT THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS AND RE-CLASSIFY MY
COMMON STOCK?
A: We will implement the tracking stock proposals by filing an amendment
to our certificate of incorporation, which amendment will authorize the
Digital stock and re-classify our existing common stock. We will not do
so until we first issue Digital stock.
Q5: WHAT HAPPENS TO MY COMMON STOCK WHEN YOU IMPLEMENT THE TRACKING STOCK
PROPOSALS? DO I NEED TO TURN IN MY STOCK CERTIFICATES?
A: Upon the filing of the amendment to the certificate of incorporation
implementing the tracking stock proposals, your shares automatically
will be re-classified into an equal number of shares of Class A stock or
Class B stock, as the case may be, and your existing stock certificates
will automatically represent shares of the new stock. SINCE THE
RE-CLASSIFICATION IS AUTOMATIC, YOU DO NOT NEED TO SEND IN YOUR STOCK
CERTIFICATES OR MAKE ANY NOTATIONS REFLECTING THE CHANGE.
Q6: WHY ARE YOU SEEKING APPROVAL FOR THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS?
A: Primarily for the following reasons:
- the proposals when implemented will permit the market to review
separate information about the NYT group and the Digital group and
to separately value NYT stock and Digital stock. This should
encourage investors and analysts to focus more attention on NYT and
Digital. We believe this may result in greater market recognition
of the value of NYT and Digital;
- the proposals when implemented will allow investors to invest in
Digital stock, Class A stock (the class of NYT stock that is
publicly traded) or both classes, depending on their particular
investment objectives;
- the proposals when implemented will allow us to issue stock options
exercisable for publicly traded Digital stock, thereby providing
more focused incentives to Digital management, consultants and
employees;
- the proposals when implemented will provide us with greater
flexibility to raise capital and respond to strategic opportunities
(including acquisitions) because they will allow us to issue either
Digital stock or Class A stock as appropriate under the
circumstances; and
- the proposals when implemented will allow us to realize some of the
value of the Digital group while preserving the financial, tax,
operational, strategic and other benefits of being a single
consolidated entity.
Q7: WILL THE CLASS A STOCK CONTINUE TO BE LISTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK
EXCHANGE? HOW ABOUT THE DIGITAL STOCK?
A: Our existing Class A stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbol "NYT." We intend to apply to list the Digital
stock on the New York Stock Exchange in connection with the offering.
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Q8: WHAT VOTING RIGHTS WILL I HAVE?
A: The voting rights of the Class A stock and the Class B stock as
specified in the current certificate of incorporation will remain
unchanged; however, the holders of Digital stock will have the right to
vote together as a class with the holders of Class A stock on those
matters on which the holders of Class A stock are entitled to vote. The
Class A stock is generally entitled to elect 30% of the board of
directors and to vote, together with the Class B stock, to approve
certain acquisitions involving related parties or the issuances of
stock, the reservation of shares for option plans and to approve the
appointment of our independent auditors. Each share of Digital stock
will entitle its holder, for any particular vote, to a number of votes
(or fraction thereof) equal to the market value of a share of Digital
stock divided by the market value of a share of Class A stock or such
lesser number (or fraction thereof) such that the Digital stock, as a
whole, can cast no more than 40% of the votes cast by the holders of
Class A stock and Digital stock in any election.
Q9: WHAT ARE THE U.S. FEDERAL TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS?
A: We believe that neither you nor The New York Times Company will
recognize any income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a
result of the re-classification of our existing common stock into NYT
stock or the issuance of Digital stock. There are, however, no court
decisions bearing directly on similar transactions and the Internal
Revenue Service has announced that it will not issue advance rulings on
the federal income tax consequences of such transactions.
Q10: DO YOU INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS?
A: We do not expect to pay any dividends on Digital stock for the
foreseeable future. We do not expect to change our dividend policy with
respect to our Class A stock and Class B stock as a result of the
tracking stock proposals.
Q11: WHAT DOES THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMEND?
A: The board of directors has carefully considered and unanimously
approved the tracking stock proposals described in the proxy statement
and recommends that you vote FOR the amended and restated certificate of
incorporation and FOR adoption of the new Digital Stock Incentive Plan.
Q12: WHAT VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE TRACKING STOCK PROPOSALS?
A: Our certificate of incorporation and the laws of the State of New York
permit us (1) to effect the amendment to the certificate of
incorporation if we obtain the affirmative vote of (a) holders of shares
of our existing Class A stock and (b) holders of shares of our existing
Class B stock, representing a majority of the votes of all outstanding
shares of each class, voting as separate classes, entitled to vote
thereon; and (2) to adopt the Digital Stock Incentive Plan and reserve
shares for options granted thereunder if we obtain the affirmative vote
of (a) holders of shares of our existing Class A stock and (b) holders
of shares of our existing Class B stock, representing a majority of the
votes of both classes cast at the meeting of stockholders, voting
together as a single class, entitled to vote thereon.
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ANNEX II.
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
Amended and Restated
on
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CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
FIRST
The name of the Corporation is The New York Times Company.
SECOND
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity
for which corporations may be organized under the Business Corporation Law of
the State of New York. The Corporation is not formed to engage in any act or
activity requiring the consent or approval of any official, department, board,
agency or other body without such approval or consent first being obtained.
THIRD
The Capital Stock consists of 551,047,158 shares, of which 200,000 shares of
the par value of One Dollar ($1) each shall be Serial Preferred Stock;
300,000,000 shares of the par value of Ten Cents (10 CENTS) each shall be
Class A Common Stock; 847,158 shares of the par value of Ten Cents (10 CENTS)
each shall be Class B Common Stock; 250,000,000 shares of the par value of Ten
Cents (10 CENTS) each shall be Class C Common Stock.
FOURTH
The designations, preferences, privileges and voting powers of the shares of
each class and the restrictions or qualifications thereof are as follows:
1. SERIAL PREFERRED STOCK.
(a) Subject to applicable provisions of law and to the provisions of this
Certificate of Incorporation, authority is hereby expressly granted to and
vested in the Board of Directors, to the extent permitted by and upon compliance
with the provisions set forth in the law of the State of New York, to issue the
Serial Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series, each series to
be attributable to such Group (as defined in Article FOURTH) and to have such
relative rights, preferences, limitations or restrictions, and bear such
designations, as shall be determined and stated prior to the issuance of any
shares of any such series in and by a resolution or resolutions of the Board of
Directors authorizing the issuance of such series, including without limitation:
(1) The number of shares to constitute such series and the distinctive
designation thereof;
(2) The dividend rate or rates to which the shares of such series shall
be entitled and whether dividends shall be cumulative and, if so, the date
from which dividends shall accumulate, and the quarterly dates on which
dividends, if declared, shall be payable;
(3) Whether the shares of such series shall be redeemable, the
limitations and restrictions in respect of such redemptions, the manner of
selecting shares of such series for redemption if less than all shares are
to be redeemed, and the amount per share, including the premium, if any,
which the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to receive upon
the redemption thereof, which amount may vary at different redemption dates
and may be different in respect of shares
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redeemed through the operation of any retirement or sinking fund and in
respect of shares otherwise redeemed;
(4) Whether the holders of shares of such series shall be entitled to
receive, in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, an amount equal to the
dividends accumulated and unpaid thereon, whether or not earned or declared,
but without interest;
(5) Whether the shares of such series shall be subject to the operation
of a purchase, retirement or sinking fund and, if so, whether such fund
shall be cumulative or noncumulative, the extent to and the manner in which
such fund shall be applied to the purchase or redemption of the shares of
such series for retirement or to other corporate purposes, and the terms and
provisions in respect of the operation thereof;
(6) Whether the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or
exchangeable for, shares of stock of any other class or series thereof or of
any other series of the same class, and if so convertible or exchangeable,
the price or prices or the rate or rates of conversion or exchange and the
method, if any, of adjusting the same;
(7) The voting powers, if any, of the shares of such series in addition
to the voting powers provided by law;
(8) Any other rights, preferences, limitations or restrictions not
inconsistent with law or the provisions of this Certificate of
Incorporation.
(b) All shares of any one series of Serial Preferred Stock shall be
identical with each other in all respects, except that in respect of any series
entitled to cumulative dividends, shares of such series issued at different
times may differ as to the dates from which such dividends shall be cumulative.
(c) The shares of Serial Preferred Stock shall be issued for a
consideration of at least One Hundred Dollars ($100) per share, and the stated
capital allocable to each such issued share be at least One Hundred Dollars
($100).
2. VOTING RIGHTS.
(a) The holders of the Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock shall
be entitled to vote in the election of 30% of the Board of Directors proposed to
be elected at any meeting of stockholders held for that purpose (or the nearest
larger whole number if such percentage is not a whole number), voting together
and not as separate classes; and the holders of the Class B Common Stock shall
be entitled to vote in the election of the balance of the Board of Directors
proposed to be elected at any such meeting, voting separately and as a class. In
such elections, (i) holders of Class A Common Stock shall be entitled to one
vote per share of Class A Common Stock held, (ii) holders of Class B Common
Stock shall be entitled to one vote per share of Class B Common Stock held, and
(iii) holders of Class C Common Stock shall be entitled to a number of votes per
share of Class C Common Stock held (calculated to five decimal places) equal to
the average Market Value (as hereinafter defined) of a share of Class C Common
Stock divided by the average Market Value of a share of Class A Common Stock
during the 20 consecutive Trading Day (as hereinafter defined) period ending on
(and including) the 5th Trading Day before the applicable record date; provided,
however, that, in the event that the foregoing calculation results in the
holders of Class C Common Stock holding in excess of 40% of the total voting
power of all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common
Stock, the vote of each share of Class C Common Stock shall be reduced to the
highest vote (calculated to five decimal places) such that all outstanding
shares of Class C Common
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Stock in the aggregate represent no more than 40% of the total voting power of
all outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock (number
of votes per share determined pursuant to this clause (iii) being herein
referred to as the "Class C Per Share Vote Amount").
(b) The holders of the Class A Common Stock, the holders of the Class B
Common Stock and (to the extent determined by the Board of Directors in
determining the rights of any series of Serial Preferred Stock issued pursuant
to Section 1 hereof) the holders of the shares of any series of Serial Preferred
Stock shall be entitled to one vote per share and the holders of Class C Common
Stock shall be entitled to the Class C Per Share Vote Amount per share, voting
together and not as separate classes, upon:
(1) The matters specifically set forth in Section 2(e) of this Article
FOURTH; and
(2) Any proposal submitted to a vote of stockholders in connection with
the ratification of the selection of independent auditors of the Company.
(c) Authorization by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of
stockholders by holders of Class A Common Stock and by holders of Class B Common
Stock, voting separately, shall be required for the redemption of Class C Common
Stock pursuant to Section 9 of this Article FOURTH.
(d) Except as provided in Sections 1, 2(a), 2(b), 2(c) and, 2(e) of this
Article FOURTH and as otherwise required by the laws of the State of New York,
the entire voting power shall be vested solely and exclusively in the holders of
Class B Common Stock, the holders of Class B Common Stock to be entitled to one
vote for each one share thereof held upon all matters requiring a vote of
stockholders of the Corporation and the holders of the Class A Common Stock and
Class C Common Stock shall have no voting power, and shall not have the right to
participate in any meeting of stockholders or to have notice thereof.
(e) Authorization by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of
stockholders by the holders of shares entitled to vote thereon shall be required
for any one or more of the following actions, unless the Corporation shall,
prior to any such action, receive in writing the consent of any stock exchange
or automated quotation system upon which the Class A Common Stock or Class C
Common Stock may be listed or quoted to such action without authorization of
stockholders, or unless at the time of such action no shares of stock of the
Corporation are listed upon any stock exchange:
(1) Reservation of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation for
options granted or to be granted to officers, directors or employees of the
Corporation;
(2) The acquisition of the stock or assets of any other company in the
following circumstances:
(i) If any officer, director or holder of 10% or more of any
class of voting securities of the Corporation has an interest,
directly or indirectly, in the company or assets to be acquired or in
the consideration to be paid in the transaction;
(ii) If the transaction involves the issuance of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock or securities (other than
Class C Common Stock) convertible into or exchangeable for any of
them, or any combination thereof, and if the aggregate number of
shares of Class A or Class B Common Stock so to be issued together
with the Class A or Class B Common Stock which could be issued upon
conversion or exchange of such securities approximates (in the
reasonable judgment of the Board of Directors) 20% or
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more of the aggregate number of shares of Class A Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such
transaction;
(iii) If the transaction involves the issuance of Class C
Common Stock or securities (other than Class A Common Stock or
Class B Common Stock) convertible into or exchangeable for Class C
Common Stock, or any combination thereof, and if the aggregate number
of shares of Class C Common Stock so to be issued together with the
shares of Class C Common Stock which could be issued upon conversion
of such securities approximates (in the reasonable judgment of the
Board of Directors) 20% or more of the aggregate number of shares of
Class C Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such
transactions plus the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock
Issuable With Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the
Digital Group (as hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such
transaction;
(iv) If the transaction involves the issuance of Class A
Common Stock or Class B Common Stock and any additional
consideration, and if the value of the aggregate consideration so to
be issued (including the value of any Class A or Class B Common Stock
which may be issuable in the future in accordance with the terms of
the transaction) has in the reasonable judgment of the Board of
Directors a combined fair value of approximately 20% or more of the
aggregate Market Value of shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction; or
(v) If the transaction involves the issuance of Class C Common
Stock and any additional consideration, and if the value of the
aggregate consideration so to be issued (including the value of any
Class C Common Stock which may be issuable in the future in
accordance with the terms of the transaction) has in the reasonable
judgment of the Board of Directors a combined fair value of
approximately 20% or more of the aggregate Market Value of the shares
of Class C Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to such
transaction plus the Market Value of a share of Class C Common Stock
times the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable With
Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group
immediately prior to such transaction.
3. PREEMPTIVE RIGHTS. Except for the holders of Class B Common Stock, no
holder of any share of any class or series of stock of the Corporation shall
have any preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of
any class or any notes, debentures, bonds or any other securities of the
Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized and whether or not convertible
into, or evidencing or carrying options, warrants or rights to purchase, shares
of any class or any notes, debentures, bonds or any other securities now or
hereafter authorized, and whether the same shall be issued for cash, services or
property, or by way of dividend or otherwise.
4. REDEMPTION OF COMMON STOCK. Whenever any shares of Class A Common
Stock, Class B Common Stock (subject to Section 7 of this Article FOURTH) or
Class C Common Stock of the Corporation shall have been redeemed, purchased or
otherwise reacquired, the Board of Directors shall be authorized either to
eliminate such shares from the authorized number of shares of the Corporation or
to restore such shares to the status of authorized but unissued shares.
5. DIVIDENDS. Subject to any preferences and relative, participating,
optional or other special rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock of
the Corporation and any qualifications or restrictions on any class of Common
Stock created thereby, dividends may be declared and paid upon
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any class of Common Stock, upon the terms with respect to each such class, and
subject to the limitations provided for below in this Section 5, as the Board of
Directors may determine.
(a) Dividends on any class of Common Stock may be declared and paid only out
of the lesser of (1) the funds of the Corporation legally available therefor and
(2) the Available Dividend Amount (as hereinafter defined) for the Group to
which such class of Common Stock relates. (For purposes of this Certificate of
Incorporation Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock relate to the NYT
Group and Class C Common Stock relates to the Digital Group.)
(b) The Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of Section 5(a), may
at any time declare and pay dividends exclusively on the Class A and Class B
Common Stock or on the Class C Common Stock, or on the Class A and B Common
Stock and the Class C Common Stock, in equal or unequal amounts, notwithstanding
the amount of dividends previously declared on any class, the respective voting
or liquidation rights of any class or any other factor; provided, however, that
subject to the provisions of Section 5(c), if dividends are declared on the
Class A or the Class B Common Stock, dividends in an equal amount per share must
be declared simultaneously on each of the Class A and the Class B Common Stock.
(c) Except as permitted by Sections 6-9, the Board of Directors may declare
and pay dividends or distributions of shares of any class or series of Common
Stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares
of any class or series of Common Stock) on shares of a class of Common Stock or
on shares of a class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation only as
follows:
(1) dividends or distributions of shares of a class or series of Common
Stock (or securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for shares of a class or series of Common Stock) on shares of
the same class or series of Common Stock;
(2) dividends or distributions of Class A or Class B Common Stock (or
securities that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for
shares of Class A or Class B Common Stock) on shares of preferred stock
attributed to the NYT Group (as hereinafter defined);
(3) dividends or distributions of Class C Common Stock (or securities
that are convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of
Class C Common Stock) on shares of preferred stock attributed to the Digital
Group; and
(4) dividends or distributions of shares of Class C Common Stock on
shares of Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock or on shares of
preferred stock attributed to the NYT Group, but only if the sum of (1) the
number of shares of Class C Common Stock to be so issued (or the number of
such shares which would be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of
any securities to be so issued) and (2) the number of shares of Class C
Common Stock which are issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any
securities then outstanding that are attributed to the NYT Group is less
than or equal to the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable with
Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group.
For purposes of this Section 5(c), any outstanding securities that are
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any other securities which
are themselves convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any class or
series of Common Stock (or other securities that are so convertible,
exchangeable or exercisable) shall be deemed to have been converted, exchanged
or exercised in full for such securities.
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6. MANDATORY DIVIDEND, REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE ON DISPOSITION OF ALL OR
SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ASSETS OF A GROUP.
(a) In the event of a Disposition (as hereinafter defined) (other than an
Exempt Disposition (as hereinafter defined)), the Corporation shall, on or prior
to the 85th Trading Day after the Disposition Date (as hereinafter defined),
provided that the funds of the Corporation are legally available therefor,
either:
(1) declare and pay a dividend to holders of the class or classes of
Common Stock that relates to the Group that consummated such Disposition (in
cash, securities (other than Common Stock) or other property or a
combination thereof), subject to the limitations on dividends set forth
under Section 5 of this Article FOURTH, in an aggregate amount having a Fair
Value (as hereinafter defined) (determined as of the Disposition Date) equal
to the product of the Outstanding Interest Fraction (as hereinafter defined)
with respect to such Group (determined as of the record date for such
dividend) and the Fair Value (determined as of the Disposition Date) of the
Net Proceeds (as hereinafter defined) of such Disposition;
(2) redeem from holders of the class or classes of Common Stock that
relates to the Group that consummated such Disposition, in exchange for
cash, securities (other than Common Stock) or other property (or a
combination thereof) in an amount equal to the product of the Outstanding
Interest Fraction with respect to such Group (determined as of the
redemption date) and the Fair Value (determined as of the Disposition Date)
of the Net Proceeds of such Disposition, all of the outstanding shares of
such class or classes of Common Stock (unless such Disposition involves less
than all, of the assets attributed to such Group, in which case, a number of
shares of such class or classes of Common Stock (rounded, if necessary, to a
whole number and in the case of NYT, pro rata among the Class A Common Stock
and the Class B Common Stock based on the number of shares of each issued
and outstanding on the redemption date) having an aggregate average Market
Value, during the 20 consecutive Trading Day period beginning on (and
including) the 16th Trading Day immediately following the Disposition Date,
equal to such amount); or
(3) issue, in exchange for each outstanding share of the class or
classes of Common Stock that relates to the Group that consummated such
Disposition, a number of shares (calculated to five decimal places) of
Class A Common Stock in the case of a Disposition involving the Digital
Group, or Class C Common Stock in the case of a Disposition involving NYT,
in either case having an aggregate average Market Value equal to 110% of the
average Market Value of a share of the class or classes of Common Stock that
relates to that Group during the 20 consecutive Trading Day period beginning
on (and including) the 16th Trading Day immediately following the
Disposition Date.
(b) At any time within one year after completing any dividend or partial
redemption pursuant to Section 6(a)(1) or 6(a)(2), the Corporation may issue, in
exchange for each remaining outstanding share of the class or classes of Common
Stock that relates to the Group that consummated the applicable Disposition, a
number of shares (calculated to five decimal places) of Class A Common Stock in
the case of a Disposition involving Digital, or Class C Common Stock in the case
of a Disposition involving NYT, in either case having an aggregate average
Market Value equal to 110% of the average Market Value of a share of the class
or classes of Common Stock that relates to that Group during the 20 consecutive
Trading Day period ending on (and including) the 5th Trading Day immediately
preceding the date on which the Corporation mails the notice of exchange to
holders of the relevant series.
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(c) For purposes of this Section 6, if a Group consummates a Disposition in
a series of related transactions, such Disposition shall not be deemed to have
been completed until consummation of the last of such transactions.
7. CONVERSION OF CLASS B COMMON STOCK FOR CLASS A COMMON STOCK AT THE
OPTION OF THE CLASS B COMMON STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) Each share of Class B Common Stock may at any time be converted, at the
option of the holder thereof, into one fully paid and non-assessable (except to
the extent provided in Section 630 of the Business Corporation Law) share of
Class A Common Stock. Such right shall be exercised by the surrender of the
certificate representing such share of Class B Common Stock to be converted at
the office of the transfer agent of the Corporation (the "Transfer Agent")
during normal business hours accompanied by a written notice of the election by
the holder thereof to convert and (if so required by the Corporation or the
Transfer Agent) an instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the
Corporation and to the Transfer Agent, duly executed by such holder or his duly
authorized attorney, and funds in the amount of any applicable transfer tax
(unless provision satisfactory to the Corporation is otherwise made therefor),
if required pursuant to Section 7(c).
(b) As promptly as practicable after the surrender for conversion of a
certificate representing shares of Class B Common Stock in the manner provided
in Section 7(a) and the payment in cash of any amount required by the provisions
of Sections 7(a) and (c), the Corporation will deliver or cause to be delivered
at the office of the Transfer Agent to or upon the written order of the holder
of such certificate, a certificate or certificates representing the number of
fully paid and non-assessable (except to the extent provided in Section 630 of
the Business Corporation Law) shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon such
conversion, issued in such name or names as such holder may direct. Such
conversion shall be deemed to have been made immediately prior to the close of
business on the date of the surrender of the certificate representing shares of
Class B Common Stock, and all rights of the holder of such shares of Class B
Common Stock as such holder shall cease at such time and the person or persons
in whose name or names the certificate or certificates representing the shares
of Class A Common Stock are to be issued shall be treated for all purposes as
having become the record holder or holders of such shares of Class A Common
Stock at such time; provided, however, that any such surrender and payment on
any date when the stock transfer books of the Corporation shall be closed shall
constitute the person or persons in whose name or names the certificate or
certificates representing shares of Class A Common Stock are to be issued as the
record holder or holders thereof for all purposes immediately prior to the close
of business on the next succeeding day on which such stock transfer books are
open.
(c) The issuance of certificates for shares of Class A Common Stock upon
conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock shall be made without charge for
any stamp or other similar tax in respect of such issuance. However, if any such
certificate is to be issued in a name other than that of the holder of the share
or shares of Class B Common Stock converted, the person or persons requesting
the issuance thereof shall pay to the Corporation the amount of any tax which
may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in such issuance, or shall
establish to the satisfaction of the Corporation that such tax has been paid.
(d) When shares of Class B Common Stock have been converted, they shall be
canceled and not reissued.
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8. OPTIONAL EXCHANGE OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK FOR CLASS C COMMON STOCK.
(a) Subject to Section 8(b), at any time on or after January 1, 2003, the
Board of Directors may declare that each outstanding share of Class C Common
Stock shall be exchanged, as of the exchange date described below, for a number
of fully paid and non-assessable (except to the extent provided in Section 630
of the Business Corporation Law) shares (calculated to five decimal places) of
Class A Common Stock having an aggregate average Market Value equal to the
Redemption Percentage of the aggregate average Market Value of an outstanding
share of Class C Common Stock during the 20 consecutive Trading Day period
ending on (and including) the 5th Trading Day immediately preceding the date on
which the Corporation mails the notice of exchange to holders of the Class C
Common Stock.
(b) If a Tax Event (as hereinafter defined) has occurred, the Board of
Directors may, at any time, before, on or after January 1, 2003, declare the
exchange pursuant to Section 8(a). "Tax Event" means the receipt by the
Corporation of an opinion of tax counsel experienced in such matters, who shall
not be an employee of the Corporation or any of its affiliates, to the effect
that, as a result of any amendment to, or change in, the laws (or any
regulations thereunder) of the United States (including any announced proposed
change by an administrative agency in such regulations), or as a result or any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, it is more likely than not
that for United States federal income tax purposes (1) the Corporation or its
subsidiaries, or any of its successors or its stockholders is, or at any time in
the future will be, subject to tax upon the issuance of shares of either
Class A or Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock (including upon the
issuance of shares of one class of stock in respect of, or in exchange for,
shares of another class of stock) or (2) any of the Class A Common Stock,
Class B Common Stock or Class C Common Stock is not, or at any time in the
future will not be, treated solely as stock of the Corporation. For purposes of
rendering such opinion, tax counsel shall assume that any administrative
proposals will be adopted as proposed. However, in the event a change in law is
proposed, tax counsel shall render an opinion only in the event of enactment.
9. REDEMPTION IN EXCHANGE FOR STOCK OF A SUBSIDIARY.
(a) At any time at which all of the assets and liabilities included in
Digital are held directly or indirectly by a Subsidiary of the Corporation that
(i) holds no other material assets or liabilities and (ii) has a capitalization
consisting of Digital Subsidiary Class A Common Stock and Digital Subsidiary
Class B Common Stock (the "Digital Subsidiary"), the Board of Directors may,
subject to the availability of assets of the Corporation legally available
therefor, redeem, on a pro rata basis, as of the exchange date described below,
all of the outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock in exchange for an
aggregate number of outstanding fully paid and non-assessable (except as
provided by applicable law) shares of Digital Subisdiary Class A Common Stock
equal to the product of the Outstanding Interest Fraction with respect to
Digital (determined as of the exchange date) and the aggregate number of shares
of all classes or series of common stock of such Digital Subsidiary as will be
outstanding immediately following such exchange.
(b) In effecting such a redemption under this Section 9, the Corporation
shall concurrently distribute the remaining stock of the Digital Subsidiary to
its then existing Class A and Class B stockholders, with the holders of Class A
Common Stock receiving shares of Digital Subsidiary Class A Common Stock and the
holders of Class B Common Stock receiving shares of Digital Subsidiary Class B
Common Stock (based on the relative number of the then outstanding shares of
Class A and B Common Stock).
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10. GENERAL DIVIDEND, EXCHANGE AND REDEMPTION PROVISIONS.
(a) If the Corporation completes a Disposition (other than an Exempt
Disposition), the Corporation shall, not later than the 10th Trading Day after
the applicable Disposition Date, issue a press release specifying (w) the Net
Proceeds of such Disposition, (x) the number of shares of the class or classes
of Common Stock related to the Group that consummates such Disposition then
outstanding, (y) the number of shares of such class or classes of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any convertible or
exchangeable securities, options or warrants and the range of conversion,
exchange or exercise prices thereof and (z) if the Group is the Digital Group,
the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT
Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group. The Corporation shall, not more
than 40 Trading Days after such consummation, announce by press release which of
the actions specified in Section 6(a) of this Article FOURTH it has determined
to take, and upon making that announcement, that determination will be
irrevocable. In addition, the Corporation shall, not more than 40 Trading Days
after such consummation and not less than 10 Trading Days before the applicable
payment date, redemption date or exchange date, send a notice by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, to holders of the relevant series of Common Stock at
their addresses as they appear on the transfer books of the Corporation,
specifying:
(1) if the Corporation has determined to declare a dividend as
contemplated by Section 6(a)(1) of this Article FOURTH, (i) the record date
for such dividend, (ii) the payment date of such dividend (which cannot be
more than 85 Trading Days after such Disposition Date), (iii) the Net
Proceeds of such Disposition and (iv) the type of property to be paid in
such dividend and the approximate per share amount thereof;
(2) if the Corporation has determined to undertake a redemption as
contemplated by Section 6(a)(2) of this Article FOURTH, (i) the date of
redemption (which cannot be more than 85 Trading Days after such Disposition
Date), (ii) the Net Proceeds of such Disposition, (iii) the type of property
to be paid as a redemption price and the approximate per share amount
thereof, (iv) if less than all shares of the relevant class or classes of
Common Stock are to be redeemed, the approximate number of shares to be
redeemed and (v) the place or places where certificates for shares of such
class or classes of Common Stock, properly endorsed or assigned for transfer
(unless the Corporation waives such requirement), should be surrendered in
return for delivery of the cash, securities or other property to be paid by
the Corporation in such redemption; and
(3) if the Corporation has determined to undertake an exchange as
contemplated by Section 6(a)(3) of this Article FOURTH, (i) the date of
exchange (which cannot be more than 85 Trading Days after such Disposition
Date), (ii) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock or Class C Common
Stock, as the case may be, to be issued in exchange for each outstanding
share of the class or classes of Common Stock being redeemed and (iii) the
place or places where certificates for shares of such class or classes of
Common Stock, properly endorsed or assigned for transfer (unless the
Corporation waives such requirement), should be surrendered in return for
delivery of the Common Stock to be issued by the Corporation in such
exchange.
(b) If the Corporation has determined to complete an exchange of Class A
Common Stock for Class C Common Stock described in Section 8 or 9 of this
Article FOURTH, the Corporation shall, not less than 10 Trading Days and not
more than 30 Trading Days before the exchange date, send a notice by first-class
mail, postage prepaid, to holders of the Class C Common Stock at their addresses
as they appear on the transfer books of the Corporation, specifying (x) the
exchange date and the other terms of the exchange and (y) the place or places
where certificates for shares of Class C Common Stock,
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<PAGE>
properly endorsed or assigned for transfer (unless the Corporation waives such
requirement), should be surrendered for delivery of the stock to be issued or
delivered by the Corporation in such exchange.
(c) Neither the failure to mail any notice required by this Section 10 to
any particular holder nor any defect therein shall affect the sufficiency
thereof with respect to any other holder or the validity of any dividend,
redemption or exchange contemplated hereby.
(d) If the Corporation is redeeming less than all of the outstanding shares
of a class of Common Stock pursuant to Section 6 of this Article FOURTH, the
Corporation shall redeem such shares of such class pro rata or by lot or by such
other method as the Board of Directors determines to be equitable.
(e) No holder of shares of a class of Common Stock being exchanged or
redeemed shall be entitled to receive any cash, securities or other property to
be distributed in such exchange or redemption until such holder surrenders
certificates for such shares, properly endorsed or assigned for transfer, at
such place as the Corporation shall specify (unless the Corporation waives such
requirement). As soon as practicable after the Corporation's receipt of
certificates for such shares, the Corporation shall deliver to the person for
whose account such shares were so surrendered, or to the nominee or nominees of
such person, the cash, securities or other property to which such person shall
be entitled, together with any fractional payment referred to below, in each
case without interest. If less than all of the shares of Common Stock
represented by any one certificate is exchanged or redeemed, the Corporation
shall also issue and deliver a new certificate for the shares of such Common
Stock not exchanged or redeemed.
(f) The Corporation shall not be required to issue or deliver fractional
shares of any capital stock or any other fractional securities to any holder of
Common Stock upon any exchange, redemption, dividend or other distribution
described above. If more than one share of Common Stock shall be held at the
same time by the same holder, the Corporation may aggregate the number of shares
of any capital stock that would be issuable or any other securities that would
be distributable to such holder upon any such exchange, redemption, dividend or
other distribution. If there are fractional shares of any capital stock or any
other fractional securities remaining to be issued or distributed to any holder,
the Corporation shall, if such fractional shares or securities are not issued or
distributed to such holder, pay cash in respect of such fractional shares or
securities in an amount equal to the Fair Value thereof (without interest).
(g) From and after the date set for any exchange or redemption contemplated
by Section 6, 8 or 9, all rights of a holder of shares of Common Stock being
exchanged or redeemed shall cease, except for the right, upon surrender of the
certificates theretofore representing such shares, to receive the cash,
securities or other property for which such shares were exchanged or redeemed,
together with any fractional payment as provided above, in each case without
interest (and, if such holder was a holder of record as of the close of business
on the record date for a dividend not yet paid, the right to receive such
dividend). A holder of shares of Common Stock being exchanged shall not be
entitled to receive any dividend or other distribution with respect to shares of
the other series of Common Stock until after certificates theretofore
representing the shares being exchanged are surrendered as contemplated above.
Upon such surrender, the Corporation shall pay to the holder the amount of
any dividends or other distributions (without interest) which theretofore became
payable with respect to a record date occurring after the exchange, but which
were not paid by reason of the foregoing, with respect to the number of whole
shares of the other series of Common Stock represented by the certificate or
certificates issued upon such surrender. From and after the date set for any
exchange, the Corporation
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<PAGE>
shall, however, be entitled to treat the certificates for shares of a series of
Common Stock being exchanged that were not yet surrendered for exchange as
evidencing the ownership of the number of whole shares of the other series of
Common Stock for which the shares of such Common Stock should have been
exchanged, notwithstanding the failure to surrender such certificates.
(h) The Corporation shall pay any and all documentary, stamp or similar
issue or transfer taxes that might be payable in respect of the issue or
delivery of any shares of capital stock and/or other securities on any exchange
or redemption contemplated by Section 6, 8 or 9; provided, however, that the
Corporation shall not be required to pay any tax that might be payable in
respect of any transfer involved in the issue or delivery of any shares of
capital stock and/or other securities in a name other than that in which the
shares so exchanged or redeemed were registered, and no such issue or delivery
will be made unless and until the person requesting such issue pays to the
Corporation the amount of any such tax, or establishes to the satisfaction of
the Corporation that such tax has been paid.
(i) The Corporation may, subject to applicable law, establish such other
rules, requirements and procedures to facilitate any dividend, redemption or
exchange contemplated by Section 6, 8 or 9 as the Board of Directors may
determine to be appropriate under the circumstances.
11. LIQUIDATION RIGHTS. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation, holders of each class
or series of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive their proportionate
interests in the net assets of the Corporation, if any, remaining for
distribution to stockholders, after payment of or provision for all liabilities,
including contingent liabilities, of the Corporation and payment of the
liquidation preference payable to any holders of the Corporation's Serial
Preferred Stock, if any such stock is outstanding, as hereinafter provided. No
shareholder will have any claim with respect to any particular asset of the
Corporation. Each share of each class of Common Stock will be entitled to a
share of net liquidation proceeds in proportion to the respective liquidation
units per share of such class. Each share of Class A Common Stock and Class B
Common Stock shall have one liquidation unit and each share of Class C Common
Stock shall have a number of liquidation units (including a fraction of one
liquidation unit) equal to the quotient (rounded to five decimal places) of the
average Market Value of one share of such Class C Common Stock during the 20
consecutive Trading Day period ending on, and including, the 5th Trading Day
before the date of the first public announcement of (1) a voluntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation or (2) the institution of any
proceeding for the involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
Corporation, divided by the average Market Value of one share of Class A Common
Stock during such 20 Trading Day period; provided, however, that if at the
beginning of this period there are no shares of Class A Common Stock or Class B
Common Stock issued and outstanding, each share of Class C Common Stock shall
have one liquidation unit. Neither the merger nor consolidation of the
Corporation with any other entity, nor a sale, transfer or lease of all or any
part of the assets of the Corporation, alone, shall be deemed a liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up for purposes of this Section 11.
12. ADJUSTMENTS TO NUMBER OF SHARES OF CLASS C COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE WITH
RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP. The Number
of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's
Retained Interest in the Digital Group, as in effect from time to time, shall,
automatically without action by the Board of Directors or any other person, be:
(a) adjusted in proportion to any changes in the number of outstanding
shares of the Class C Common Stock caused by subdivisions (by stock split,
reclassification or otherwise) or combinations (by reverse stock split,
reclassification or otherwise) of shares of Class C Common Stock or by dividends
or
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<PAGE>
other distributions of shares of Class C Common Stock on shares of Class C
Common Stock (and, in each such case, rounded, if necessary, to the nearest
whole number);
(b) decreased by (i) if the Corporation issues any shares of Class C Common
Stock and the Board of Directors attributes that issuance (and the proceeds
thereof) to the NYT Group, the number of shares of Class C Common Stock so
issued, and (ii) if the Board of Directors re-allocates to the NYT Group any
cash or other assets theretofore allocated to the Digital Group in connection
with a redemption of shares of Class C Common Stock (as required pursuant to
clause (ii) of the proviso to the definition of the NYT Group below) or in
return for a decrease in the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable
with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group, the
number (rounded, if necessary, to a whole number) equal to (x) the aggregate
Fair Value of such cash or other assets divided by (y) the Market Value of one
share of Class C Common Stock, in each case, as of the date of such
re-allocation; and
(c) increased by (i) if the Corporation repurchases any shares of Class C
Common Stock and the Board of Directors attributes that repurchase (and the
consideration therefor) to the NYT Group, the number of shares of Class C Common
Stock so repurchased and (ii) if the Board of Directors re-allocates to the
Digital Group any cash or other assets theretofore allocated to the NYT Group in
return for an increase in the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable
with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group, the
number (rounded, if necessary, to a whole number) equal to (x) the Fair Value of
such cash or other assets divided by (y) the Market Value of one share of the
Class C Common Stock, in each case, as of the date of such re-allocation.
Neither the Corporation nor the Board of Directors shall take any action
that would, as a result of any of the foregoing adjustments, reduce the Number
of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's
Retained Interest in the Digital Group to below zero. Subject to the preceding
sentence, the Board of Directors may attribute the issuance of any shares of
Class C Common Stock (and the proceeds therefrom) or the repurchase of any
shares of Class C Common Stock (and the consideration therefor) to the NYT Group
or to the Digital Group, as the Board of Directors determines in its sole
discretion; provided, however, that the Board of Directors must attribute to the
NYT Group the issuance of any shares of Class C Common Stock that are issued
(1) as a dividend or other distribution on, or as consideration for the
repurchase of, shares of Class A or Class B Common Stock or (2) as consideration
to acquire any assets or to satisfy any liabilities attributed to the NYT Group.
13. ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS. As used in this Article FOURTH, the following
terms shall have the following meanings (with terms defined in singular having
comparable meaning when used in the plural and vice versa), unless the context
otherwise requires:
"ALL OR SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE ASSETS" of any Group means, with respect to
any Disposition, a portion of such assets that represents at least 80% of the
Fair Value (determined as of the Disposition Date) of the gross assets of such
Group.
"AVAILABLE DIVIDEND AMOUNT" means:
For the NYT Group, on any day on which dividends are paid on shares of
Class A Common Stock and Class B Common Stock, the amount that would,
immediately prior to the payment of such dividends, be legally available for the
payment of dividends on shares of Common Stock of the NYT Group under New York
law, if (a) the NYT Group and the Digital Group were each a single, separate New
York corporation, (b) the NYT Group had outstanding (i) a number of shares of
common stock, par value $0.10 per share, equal to the number of shares of
Class A Common Stock and Class B
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Common Stock that are then outstanding and (ii) a number of shares of preferred
stock, par value $1 per share, equal to the number of shares of Serial Preferred
Stock that have been attributed to the NYT Group and are then outstanding,
(c) the assumptions about the Digital Group set forth in the next paragraph were
true and (d) the NYT Group owned a number of shares of Common Stock of the
Digital Group equal to the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable
with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group.
For the Digital Group, on any day on which dividends are paid on shares of
the Class C Common Stock, the amount that would, immediately prior to the
payment of such dividends, be legally available for the payment of dividends on
shares of Common Stock of the Digital Group under New York law, if the Digital
Group were a single, separate New York corporation having outstanding (a) a
number of shares of common stock, par value $0.10 per share, equal to the number
of shares of Class C Common Stock that are then outstanding plus the Number of
Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained
Interest in the Digital Group and (b) a number of shares of preferred stock, par
value $1 per share, equal to the number of shares of Serial Preferred Stock that
have been attributed to the Digital Group and are then outstanding.
"COMMON STOCK" means any Class A Common Stock, Class B Common Stock or
Class C Common Stock.
"DIGITAL GROUP" means (a) the Internet business division of the Corporation,
including all of the businesses, assets and liabilities of the Corporation and
its Subsidiaries allocated to the Digital Group as of the Effective Date,
(b) any assets or liabilities acquired or incurred by the Corporation or any of
its Subsidiaries after the Effective Date in the ordinary course of business and
attributable to the Digital Group, (c) any businesses, assets or liabilities
acquired or incurred by the Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries after the
Effective Date and allocated to the Digital Group and (d) the rights and
obligations of the Digital Group under any inter-group debt deemed to be owed to
or by the Digital Group (as such rights and obligations are defined in
accordance with policies established from time to time by the Board of
Directors); provided, however, that: (i) the Corporation may re-allocate assets
from one Group to the other Group in return for other assets or services
rendered by that other Group in the ordinary course of business or in accordance
with policies established by the Board of Directors from time to time, and
(ii) if the Corporation transfers cash, other assets or securities to holders of
shares of Class C Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution on shares of
Class C Common Stock (other than a dividend or distribution payable in shares of
Class C Common Stock), or as payment in a redemption required by Section 6 of
this Article FOURTH, then the Board of Directors shall re-allocate from the
Digital Group to the NYT Group cash or other assets having a Fair Value equal to
the aggregate Fair Value of the cash, other assets or securities so transferred
multiplied by the Retained Interest Amount as of the record date for such
dividend or distribution, or on the date of such redemption, as the case may be.
"DIGITAL SUBSIDIARY CLASS A COMMON STOCK" means a class of common stock of
the Digital Subsidiary that has voting rights with respect to the Digital
Subsidiary that are identical in all material respects to the voting rights with
respect to the Corporation of the Corporation's Class A Common Stock.
"DIGITAL SUBSIDIARY CLASS B COMMON STOCK" means a class of common stock of
the Digital Subsidiary that has voting rights with respect to the Digital
Subsidiary that are identical in all material respects to the voting rights with
respect to the Corporation of the Corporation's Class B Common Stock.
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<PAGE>
"DISPOSITION" means a sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition
(whether by merger, consolidation, sale or otherwise) of All or Substantially
All of the Assets of a Group to one or more Persons, in one transaction or a
series of related transactions.
"DISPOSITION DATE" means, with respect to any Disposition, the date of
consummation of such Disposition.
"EFFECTIVE DATE" means the date on which the amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation authorizing Class C Common Stock first becomes
effective under New York law.
"EXEMPT DISPOSITION" means any of the following:
(a) a Disposition in connection with the liquidation, dissolution or
winding-up of the Corporation and the distribution of assets to stockholders;
(b) a Disposition to any Person controlled by the Corporation (as determined
by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion);
(c) a Disposition by any Group for which the Corporation (or a wholly-owned
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries) receives consideration primarily consisting of
equity securities (including, without limitation, capital stock of any kind,
interests in a general or limited partnership, interests in a limited liability
company or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or options or
warrants to acquire, any of the foregoing, in each case without regard to the
voting power or other management or governance rights associated therewith) of
an entity that is primarily engaged or proposes to engage primarily in one or
more businesses similar or complementary to businesses conducted by such Group
prior to the Disposition, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion;
(d) a dividend, out of the Digital Group's assets, to holders of Class C
Common Stock and a re-allocation of a corresponding amount of the Digital
Group's assets to the NYT Group as required pursuant to clause (ii) of the
proviso to the definition of the NYT Group;
(e) a dividend, out of the NYT Group's assets, to holders of Class A Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock; and
(f) any other Disposition, if (i) at the time of the Disposition, there are
no shares of any class of Common Stock outstanding other than the class or
classes of Common Stock relating to the Group that consummated such Disposition,
(ii) at the time of the Disposition, there are no shares of the class or classes
of Common Stock relating to the Group that consummated such Disposition
outstanding or (iii) in the case of the Digital Group, before the 40th Trading
Day following the Disposition, the Corporation has mailed a notice stating that
it is exercising its right to exchange all of the outstanding shares of Class C
Common Stock for newly issued shares of Class A Common Stock as contemplated
under Section 8.
"FAIR VALUE" means (a) in the case of cash, the amount thereof, (b) in the
case of capital stock that has been Publicly Traded for a period of at least
15 months, the Market Value thereof as of the date of determination or, if that
date is not a Trading Day, the most recent Trading Date prior thereto and
(c) in the case of other assets or securities or capital stock that has not been
Publicly Traded for at least 15 months, the fair market value thereof as the
Board of Directors shall determine in good faith (which determination shall be
conclusive and binding on all stockholders).
"GROUP" means the NYT Group or the Digital Group.
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"MARKET VALUE" of a share of any class or series of capital stock on any
Trading Day means the average of the high and low reported sales prices of such
class or series on such Trading Day or, in case no such reported sale takes
place on such Trading Day, the average of the reported closing bid and asked
prices regular way of a share of such class or series on such Trading Day, in
either case as reported on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") Composite Tape
or, if the shares of such class or series are not listed or admitted to trading
on the NYSE on such Trading Day, on the principal national securities exchange
on which the shares of such class or series are listed or admitted to trading
or, if not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange on
such Trading Day, on The Nasdaq National Market System of the Nasdaq Stock
Market ("Nasdaq NMS") or, if the shares of such class or series are not listed
or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange or quoted on the
Nasdaq NMS on such Trading Day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices
of a share of such class or series in the over-the-counter market on such
Trading Day as furnished by any NYSE member firm selected from time to time by
the Corporation or, if such closing bid and asked prices are not made available
by any such NYSE member firm on such Trading Day, the fair market value of a
share of such class or series as the Board of Directors shall determine in good
faith (which determination shall be conclusive and binding on all stockholders);
provided, that, for purposes of determining the Market Value of a share of
Class B Common Stock, such share shall be deemed to have the same Market Value
on such day as a share of Class A Common Stock; and provided further, that, for
purposes of determining the average Market Value of a share of any class or
series of capital stock for any period, (a) the "Market Value" of a share of any
class or series of capital stock on any day prior to any "ex-dividend" date or
any similar date occurring during such period for any dividend or distribution
(other than any dividend or distribution contemplated by clause (b)(ii) of this
definition) paid or to be paid with respect to such capital stock shall be
reduced by the Fair Value of the per share amount of such dividend or
distribution and (b) the "Market Value" of a share of any class or series of
capital stock on any day prior to (i) the effective date of any subdivision (by
stock split or otherwise) or combination (by reverse stock split or otherwise)
of outstanding shares of such class or series of capital stock occurring during
such period or (ii) any "ex-dividend" date or any similar date occurring during
such period for any dividend or distribution with respect to such class or
series of capital stock to be made in shares of such class or series of capital
stock shall be appropriately adjusted, as determined by the Board of Directors,
to reflect such subdivision, combination, dividend or distribution; and provided
further, if (x) the Corporation repurchases outstanding shares of Class C Common
Stock and the Board of Directors attributes that repurchase (and the
consideration therefor) to the Digital Group and (y) the Board of Directors
determines to re-allocate to the NYT Group cash or other assets theretofore
allocated to the Digital Group in order to avoid a change in the Retained
Interest Fraction, the "Market Value" of a share of Class C Common Stock used to
compute the corresponding reduction in the Number of Shares of Class C Common
Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital
Group will equal the Fair Value of the consideration paid per share of Class C
Common Stock so repurchased; and provided further, if the Corporation redeems a
portion of the outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock (and the Board of
Directors re-allocates to the NYT Group cash or other assets theretofore
allocated to the Digital Group in the manner required by clause (ii) of the
proviso to the definition of the NYT Group), the "Market Value" of a share of
Class C Common Stock used to compute the corresponding reduction in the Number
of Shares of Class C Common Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's
Retained Interest in the Digital Group will equal the Fair Value of the
consideration paid per share of Class C Common Stock so redeemed.
"NET PROCEEDS" of a Disposition of any of the assets of a Group means the
positive amount, if any, remaining from the gross proceeds of such Disposition
after any payment of, or reasonable
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provision (as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, which
determination will be conclusive and binding on all stockholders) for, (a) any
taxes payable by the Corporation or any subsidiary or affiliate thereof in
respect of such Disposition or which would have been payable but for the
utilization of tax benefits attributable to the Group not the subject of the
Disposition, (b) any taxes payable by the Corporation in respect of any
resulting dividend or redemption or which would have been payable but for the
utilization of tax benefits attributable to the Group not the subject of the
Disposition, (c) any transaction costs, including, without limitation, any
legal, investment banking and accounting fees and expenses and (d) any
liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of, attributed to or related to, such
Group, including, without limitation, any liabilities for deferred taxes or any
indemnity or guarantee obligations which are outstanding or incurred in
connection with the Disposition or otherwise, any liabilities for future
purchase price adjustments and any obligations with respect to outstanding
securities (other than Common Stock) attributed to such Group as determined in
good faith by the Board of Directors.
"NUMBER OF SHARES OF CLASS C COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT
GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP" means, initially the number the
Board of Directors designates prior to the time the Corporation first issues
shares of Class C Common Stock as the number of shares of Class C Common Stock
that could be issued by the Corporation for the account of the NYT Group in
respect of its Retained Interest in the Digital Group, as authorized by Article
THIRD; provided, however, that such number as in effect from time to time shall
be adjusted as required by Section 12 of this Article FOURTH.
"NYT Group" means (a) all of the businesses, assets and liabilities of the
Corporation and its Subsidiaries, other than the businesses, assets and
liabilities that are part of the Digital Group, (b) the rights and obligations
of the NYT Group under any inter-group debt deemed to be owed to or by the NYT
Group (as such rights and obligations are defined in accordance with policies
established from time to time by the Board of Directors) and (c) a proportionate
interest in the Digital Group (after giving effect to any options, Preferred
Stock, other securities or debt issued or incurred by the Corporation and
attributed to the Digital Group) equal to the Retained Interest Fraction;
provided, however, that: (i) the Corporation may re-allocate assets from one
Group to another Group in return for other assets or services rendered by that
other Group in the ordinary course of business or in accordance with policies
established by the Board of Directors from time to time, and (ii) if the
Corporation transfers cash, other assets or securities to holders of shares of
Class C Common Stock as a dividend or other distribution on shares of such class
(other than a dividend or distribution payable in shares of Class C Common
Stock), or as payment in a redemption required by Section 6 of this Article
FOURTH, then the Board of Directors shall re-allocate from the Digital Group to
the NYT Group cash or other assets having a Fair Value equal to the aggregate
Fair Value of the cash, other assets or securities so transferred times the
Retained Interest Amount as of the record date for such dividend or
distribution, or on the date of such redemption, as the case may be.
"OUTSTANDING INTEREST FRACTION" means (i) with respect to the NYT Group, at
any time of determination, 1 and (ii) with respect to the Digital Group, at any
time of determination, a fraction the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding on such date and the denominator of
which shall be the sum of the number of shares of Class C Common Stock
outstanding on such date and the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock
Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group.
II-17
<PAGE>
"PERSON" shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization, government or agency or political subdivision
thereof, or other entity, whether acting in an individual, fiduciary or other
capacity.
"PUBLICLY TRADED" with respect to any security means (a) registered under
Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (or any successor
provision of law), and (b) listed for trading on the NYSE (or any other national
securities exchange registered under Section 7 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (or any successor provision of law)), or listed on the Nasdaq
NMS (or any successor market system).
"REDEMPTION PERCENTAGE" means 115%, provided that if for any period of 20
consecutive Trading Days the Market Value of the outstanding Class C Common
Stock exceeds the total Market Value of the outstanding Class A Common Stock
(assuming for purposes of the calculation the conversion of all outstanding
Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock), the Redemption Percentage shall
at all times thereafter be 100%.
"RETAINED INTEREST AMOUNT" means, at any time of determination, a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock
Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group
and the denominator of which shall be the number of shares of Class C Common
Stock outstanding on such date.
"RETAINED INTEREST FRACTION" means, at any time of determination, a fraction
the numerator of which shall be the Number of Shares of Class C Common Stock
Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest in the Digital Group
and the denominator of which shall be the sum of the number of shares of
Class C Common Stock outstanding on such date and the Number of Shares of
Class C Common Stock Issuable with Respect to the NYT Group's Retained Interest
in the Digital Group.
"SUBSIDIARY" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any corporation,
limited liability company or partnership 50% or more of whose outstanding voting
securities or membership or partnership interests, as the case may be, are
directly or indirectly owned by such Person.
"TRADING DAY" means each weekday on which the relevant security (or, if
there are two relevant securities, each relevant security) is traded on the
principal national securities exchange on which it is listed or admitted to
trading or on the Nasdaq NMS or, if such security is not listed or admitted to
trading on a national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq NMS, traded in
the principal over-the-counter market in which it trades.
14. EFFECTIVENESS OF CERTAIN SECTIONS. The terms of Sections 5(a), 5(b),
5(c), 6, 8, 9, 10, 12 and 13 of this Article FOURTH shall apply only when there
are shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding.
FIFTH
The amount with which said Corporation shall commence business is the sum of
Seven Hundred Dollars ($700).
SIXTH
The Secretary of State is designated as agent for the service of process.
The principal office of the Corporation shall be located in the City of New
York, County of New York and State of New York, and the address to which the
Secretary of State shall mail a copy of
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process in any action or proceeding against the Corporation which may be served
on him is 229 West 43rd Street, New York, N.Y.
SEVENTH
The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual.
EIGHTH
The number of directors of the Corporation shall be not less than three nor
more than eighteen, each of whom shall hold at least one share of Capital Stock.
NINTH
No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation
or its stockholders for damages for any breach of duty as a director; provided
that this Article NINTH shall neither eliminate nor limit liability: (a) if a
judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such director establishes that
his or her acts or omissions were in bad faith or involved intentional
misconduct or a knowing violation of law or that he or she personally gained in
fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally
entitled or that his or her acts violated Section 719 of the Business
Corporation Law; or (b) for any act or omission prior to the effectiveness of
this Article NINTH. Any repeal of or modification to the provisions of this
Article NINTH shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director
of the Corporation existing pursuant to this Article NINTH immediately prior to
such repeal or modification.
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ANNEX III.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
III-1
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
--------
<C> <S> <C> <C>
1. NAME AND GENERAL PURPOSE................................................. 1
2. DEFINITIONS.............................................................. 1
3. ADMINISTRATION........................................................... 4
(a) AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE.................................. 4
(b) MANNER OF EXERCISE OF COMMITTEE AUTHORITY................... 4
(c) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY..................................... 5
(d) ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES..................................... 5
4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN................................................ 5
(a) OVERALL NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY............. 5
(b) APPLICATION OF LIMITATION................................... 5
(c) AVAILABILITY OF SHARES NOT ISSUED UNDER OPTIONS............. 5
(d) RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.....................................
5. ELIGIBILITY.............................................................. 6
6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF OPTION................................................. 6
(a) GENERAL..................................................... 6
(b) AWARD OPTIONS............................................... 6
(c) TERMS APPLICABLE TO DIRECTOR OPTIONS........................ 9
7. RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS.................................................. 10
8. GENERAL PROVISIONS....................................................... 11
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS................ 11
(b) LIMITS ON TRANSFERABILITY................................... 12
(c) ADJUSTMENTS................................................. 12
(d) WITHHOLDING................................................. 12
(e) CHANGES TO THE PLAN AND AWARDS.............................. 13
(f) LIMITATION ON RIGHTS CONFERRED UNDER PLAN................... 13
(g) NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN.................................. 13
(h) FRACTIONAL SHARES........................................... 13
(i) COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(M)......................... 14
(j) COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT.............. 14
(k) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY..................................... 14
(l) GOVERNING LAW............................................... 14
(m) EXPIRATION DATE............................................. 14
(n) TRANSITION.................................................. 14
</TABLE>
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. NAME AND GENERAL PURPOSE.
The purpose of this New York Times Digital Stock Incentive Plan (the
"Plan") of The New York Times Company, a corporation organized under the laws of
the State of New York (the "Company"), is to assist the Company in attracting,
retaining, motivating, and rewarding directors of the Company, and employees of,
and service providers to, the Company's Internet business division (the "Digital
Group"), enabling such individuals to acquire or increase an interest in the
Company's Class C Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, which is designed to
track the performance of the Digital Group ("Digital Common Stock") in order to
strengthen the mutuality of interests between such individuals and holders of
Digital Common Stock. Adoption of the Plan and the grant of Options (as defined
below) and Restricted Stock (as defined below) in accordance with the terms of
the Plan has been determined by the Board of Directors of the Company (the
"Board") to be in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders.
2. DEFINITIONS.
For purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall be defined as set
forth below and the terms defined in Section 1 hereof shall have the meanings
set forth therein:
(a) "Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person.
For the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with its
correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control
with"), as used with respect to any Person, shall mean the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership
of securities, by contract or otherwise.
(b) "Award Option" means an Option granted to an Eligible Person pursuant to
Section 6(b) hereof.
(c) "Beneficiary" means the individual, individuals, trust or trusts which
have been designated by a Participant in his or her most recent written
beneficiary designation filed with the Committee to which Options or
other rights are transferred upon such Participant's death if and to the
extent permitted under Section 8(b) hereof. If, upon a Participant's
death, there is no designated Beneficiary or surviving designated
Beneficiary, then the term Beneficiary means the Participant's estate.
(d) "Cause" means any of the following: (i) commission of any act of fraud,
dishonesty or misconduct with respect to the business of the Company or
any of its Affiliates, (ii) willful and material failure to perform
reasonable duties and responsibilities consistent with the Participant's
position, or willful misconduct or gross negligence in connection with
the performance of such duties, (iii) indictment for, or conviction of,
any felony or crime or an offence involving moral turpitude,
(iv) chronic alcohol abuse or illegal drug abuse, (v) commission of any
material, intentional act injurious to the interest of the Company or any
of its Affiliates, or (vi) breach of any material provision of any
applicable employment or consulting agreement and failure to cure such
breach within the period, if any, specified therein. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any Participant is party to an employment or
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consulting agreement governing the terms of his or her employment or
consultancy with the Company or any of its Affiliates, and such agreement
includes a definition of "cause," then for purposes hereof, "Cause" shall
include the meaning ascribed thereto in such agreement.
(e) "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, including regulations thereunder and successor provisions and
regulations thereto.
(f) "Committee" means the Compensation Committee of the Company or such
other committee of the Board, if any, designated by the Board to
administer the Plan. If the Board elects to administer the Plan,
references herein to the "Committee" shall be deemed to include
references to the "Board" and the functions of the Committee specified in
the Plan shall be exercised by the Board.
(g) "Company" means The New York Times Company (or any successor
corporation), and, unless the context otherwise requires, (i) any
corporations in which it possesses directly or indirectly more than 50%
of the combined voting power of all classes of stock (the "subsidiaries")
and (ii) any entities in which it owns directly or indirectly 40% or more
of the equity interests (the "affiliated entities").
(h) "Director Option" means an Option granted to a Non-Employee Director
pursuant to Section 6(c).
(i) "Disability" or "Disabled" means a Participant's total disability as
defined under the Company's long-term disability plan, whether or not the
Participant is covered by such plan, as determined by the Committee.
(j) "Effective Date" means the date the Company files an amendment to its
Certificate of Incorporation authorizing the issuance of Digital Common
Stock with the New York Secretary of State.
(k) "Eligible Person" means an employee of, or service provider to, the
Company who has principal responsibility for, or who contributes
substantially to, the management efficiency, achievement or financial
success of the Digital Group. An employee on authorized leave of absence
may be considered as still in the employ of the Company, any of its
subsidiaries, or any of its affiliated entities, as the case may be, for
purposes of eligibility for participation in the Plan. In addition, an
individual who has been offered employment by, or agreed to serve as a
service provider to, the Digital Group is eligible to be granted Award
Options or Restricted Stock.
(l) "Fair Market Value" means the arithmetic mean of the highest and lowest
sales prices of the Stock as reported by the New York Stock Exchange
("NYSE") (or such other national securities exchange on which the Stock
may be listed at the time of determination, and if the Stock is listed on
more than one exchange, then on the one located in New York or if the
Stock is listed only on the National Association of Securities Dealers
Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ"), then on such system) on the
trading date immediately prior to the date on which the Stock is to be
valued hereunder. If no sale shall have been made on the NYSE, such other
exchange or the NASDAQ on such date or if the Stock is not then listed on
any exchange or on the NASDAQ, Fair Market Value shall be determined by
the Committee.
(m) "Immediate Family" means, the Participant's spouse, parents, children
(including adopted children and step-children), grandchildren (including
adopted children and step-children) and the spouses of such parents,
children and grandchildren.
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(n) "Non-Employee Director" means a member of the Board who is not, at the
time of determination, employed by the Company.
(o) "Option" means a right, granted to a Participant hereunder, to purchase
Stock at a specified price during specified time periods. Options shall
consist of "Incentive Stock Options" as defined under Section 422(b) of
the Code and Non-Qualified Stock Options (i.e., options that do not
qualify as incentive stock options). Options consist of Award Options
granted to Eligible Persons under Section 6(b) and Director Options
granted to Non-Employee Directors under Section 6(c)
(p) "Participant" means an Eligible Person or a Non-Employee Director.
(q) "Person" means any individual, partnership, corporation, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated organization, joint venture,
government (or agency or political subdivision thereof) or any other
entity of any kind.
(r) "Restricted Stock" means shares of Stock granted to an Eligible Person
pursuant to Section 7 hereof.
(s) "Retirement" or "Retires" means an employee's termination of employment
with The Times, any of its subsidiaries, or any of its affiliated
entities due to the employee having (i) attained the age of 55 and
(ii) provided at least 5 years of service to the Company.
(t) "Retirement from the Board" means retirement from the Board at the age
of 65 or thereafter or resignation from the Board by reason of
disability.
(u) "Stock" means the Company's Class C Common Stock, par value $0.10 per
share, and such other securities as may be substituted for the Stock
pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof.
3. ADMINISTRATION.
(a) AUTHORITY OF THE COMMITTEE. The Plan shall be administered by the
Committee except to the extent the Board elects to administer the Plan.
The Committee shall have full and final authority, in each case subject
to and consistent with the provisions of the Plan: to select Eligible
Persons or classes thereof to become Participants; to grant Award Options
and Restricted Stock; to determine the type, number and other terms and
conditions of, and all other matters relating to, Award Options and
Restricted Stock; and rules and regulations for the administration of the
Plan; to construe and interpret the Plan and Options and correct defects,
supply omissions or reconcile inconsistencies therein; and to make all
other decisions and determinations as the Committee may deem necessary or
advisable for the administration of the Plan.
(b) MANNER OF EXERCISE OF COMMITTEE AUTHORITY. Any action of the Committee
shall be final, conclusive and binding on all Persons, including the
Company and its stockholders, Participants, Beneficiaries, transferees
under Section 8(b) hereof and other Persons claiming rights from or
through a Participant. The express grant of any specific power to the
Committee, and the taking of any action by the Committee, shall not be
construed as limiting any power or authority of the Committee. The
Committee may delegate to officers or managers of the Company or
committees thereof, the authority, subject to such terms as the Committee
shall determine, to perform such functions, including the granting of
Award Options and Restricted Stock and administrative functions, as the
Committee may determine. The Committee may appoint agents to assist it in
administering the Plan.
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<PAGE>
(c) LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. The Committee and each member thereof shall be
entitled to, in good faith, rely or act upon any report or other
information furnished to him or her by any officer or employee of the
Company, the Company's independent auditors, consultants or any other
agents assisting in the administration of the Plan. Members of the
Committee and any officer or employee of the Company acting at the
direction or on behalf of the Committee shall not be personally liable
for any action or determination taken or made in good faith with respect
to the Plan, and shall, to the extent permitted by law, be fully
indemnified and protected by the Company with respect to any such action
or determination.
(d) ADMINISTRATION EXPENSES. The entire expense of administering the Plan
shall be borne by the Company.
4. STOCK SUBJECT TO THE PLAN.
(a) OVERALL NUMBER OF SHARES AVAILABLE FOR DELIVERY.Subject to adjustment as
provided in Section 8(c) hereof, the total number of shares of Stock
reserved and available for delivery in connection with awards under the
Plan shall be an aggregate of 20,000,000 shares of Stock (plus the number
of shares of Stock that become available in accordance with Section 4(c)
hereof after the Effective Date); provided, however, that total number of
shares of Stock that may be granted as Restricted Stock may not exceed
100,000 (subject to adjustment as provided in Section 8(c) hereof).
Shares of Stock delivered under the Plan shall be from the authorized but
unissued shares of Stock, shares of Stock in the treasury of the Company,
or any combination thereof.
(b) APPLICATION OF LIMITATION. No Option or Restricted Stock may be granted
if the number of shares of Stock to be delivered in connection with such
award exceeds the number of shares of Stock remaining available under the
Plan minus the number of shares of Stock issuable in settlement of or
relating to then-outstanding Options. The Committee may adopt reasonable
counting procedures to ensure appropriate counting, avoid double counting
(as, for example, in the case of tandem or substitute awards of Options)
and make adjustments if the number of shares of Stock actually delivered
differs from the number of shares previously counted in connection with
an award of Options.
(c) AVAILABILITY OF SHARES NOT ISSUED UNDER OPTIONS. Shares of Stock subject
to an Option that is canceled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash or
otherwise terminated without a delivery of shares to the Participant will
again be available for awards under the Plan, except that if any such
shares could not again be available for awards granted to a particular
Participant under any applicable law or regulation, such shares shall be
available exclusively for Options or Restricted Stock granted to
Participants who are not subject to such limitation.
(d) RESTRICTED STOCK AWARDS. Shares of Stock granted as Restricted Stock
that are forfeited will again be available for awards under the Plan
(including awards of Restricted Stock).
5. ELIGIBILITY.
Grants of Options and Restricted Stock may be made under the Plan only to
Eligible Persons in accordance with Sections 6(b) and Section 7, respectively,
and grants of Options are made under the Plan to Non-Employee Directors in
accordance with Section 6(c).
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<PAGE>
6. SPECIFIC TERMS OF OPTION.
(a) GENERAL. Options may be granted on the terms and conditions set forth in
this Section 6. In addition, the Committee may impose on any Option or
the exercise thereof, at the date of grant or exercise or thereafter
(subject to Section 8(e)), such additional terms and conditions, not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan, as the Committee shall
determine, including terms requiring forfeiture of Options in the event
of termination of employment or service by the Participant and terms
permitting a Participant to make elections relating to his or her
Options. The Committee shall retain full power and discretion to
accelerate, waive or modify, at any time, any term or condition of an
Option that is not mandatory under the Plan.
(b) AWARD OPTIONS. The Committee is authorized to grant Award Options to
Eligible Persons on the following terms and conditions:
(i) EXERCISE PRICE. The exercise price per each share of Stock
purchasable under an Award Option shall be determined by the
Committee (subject to Section 6(b)(viii)); provided that such
exercise price shall be not less than the Fair Market Value of a
share of Stock on the date of grant of such Award Option except as
provided under Section 6(b)(vii) hereof.
(ii) PAYMENT OF EXERCISE PRICE. Payment of the exercise price
may be made, without limitation, (i) in cash, (ii) by delivering a
properly executed exercise notice to the Company together with a copy
of irrevocable instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the
Company the amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the purchase price
therefor (or by otherwise arranging, in a manner satisfactory to the
Company, for a broker to promptly pay the purchase price to the
Company), (iii) by delivering to the Company shares of Stock
previously owned by the Participant, or (iv) any combination of the
foregoing forms, all subject to the approval of the Committee and to
such rules as the Committee may adopt. In determining the number of
shares of Stock necessary to be delivered to the Company, such Stock
shall be valued at Fair Market Value.
(iii) LIMITATION ON GRANTS IN A CALENDAR YEAR. During any
calendar year, no Participant may be granted Award Options
exercisable for more than 4,000,000 shares of Stock, subject to
adjustment as provided in Section 8(c) hereof.
(iv) RESTRICTIONS ON EXERCISABILITY. An Award Option shall be
exercisable in such installments, if any, as the Committee may
specify, and (subject to Section 8(b)) shall be exercisable during
the Participant's lifetime only by the Participant (or, if the
Participant is Disabled, by any authorized representative).
(v) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT OR SERVICE RELATIONSHIP. In the
event (the "Termination Date") a Participant ceases to be an employee
of, or service provider to, the Company for any reason (including
death, Disability or Retirement), except as otherwise provided by the
Committee, all of his or her Award Options that are unvested at the
Termination Date shall immediately be forfeited. Except as otherwise
provided by the Committee, in the event a Participant's employment or
service relationship with the Company ceases because:
(A) the Participant dies or becomes Disabled or Retires,
the Participant (or his or her successor or authorized
representative) shall have the right to exercise all or any
part of his or her vested Award Options within twelve months
after the
III-7
<PAGE>
employment or service relationship termination date (but in no
event later than the maximum term of the Award Options);
(B) the Participant is terminated for Cause, all vested
Award Options granted to such Participant shall immediately be
forfeited;
(C) the Participant is terminated without Cause, the
Participant (or his or her successor or authorized
representative) shall have the right to exercise all or any
part of his or her vested Award Options within three months
after the employment or service relationship termination date
(but in no event later than the maximum term of the Award
Options);
(D) the Participant voluntarily terminates his or her
relationship with the Company and its Affiliates (e.g.,
resigns), the Participant (or his or her successor or
authorized representative) shall have the right to exercise all
or any part of his or her vested Award Options within 10 days
after the employment or service relationship termination date
(but in no event later than the maximum term of the Award
Options).
(vi) TERM OF AWARD OPTIONS. The term of each Award Option shall
be for such period as may be determined by the Committee (subject to
Section 6(b)(viii)); provided that in no event shall the term of any
Award Option exceed a period of ten years from the date such Award
Option is granted.
(vii) Award Options granted under the Plan may, in the
discretion of the Committee, be granted either alone or in addition
to, in tandem with, or in substitution or exchange for, any other
award granted at any time under another plan of the Company, or any
other right of a Participant to receive payment from the Company. If
an Award Option is granted in substitution or exchange for another
award, the Committee shall require the surrender of such other award
in consideration for the grant of the new Award Option. In addition,
Award Options may be granted in lieu of cash compensation, including
in lieu of cash amounts payable under other plans of the Company, in
which event the exercise price of the Award Option shall be equal to
the Fair Market Value of the underlying Stock minus the value of the
cash compensation surrendered.
(viii) INCENTIVE STOCK AWARD OPTIONS. If the Committee
determines to grant Incentive Stock Options to any Eligible Person,
the following additional provisions shall apply to such Award
Options:
(A) If the Participant owns or is deemed to be the owner
of, by reason of the attribution rules under Section 425(d) of
the Code, more than 10% of the combined voting power of all
classes of the stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company the option exercise price of such Incentive Stock
Option shall be no less than 110% of the Fair Market Value of
the Stock on the date the Award Option is granted.
(B) If the aggregate Fair Market Value of the Stock
(determined as of the date of grant) for which any optionee may
for the first time exercise Incentive Stock Options in any
calendar year under the Plan and any other stock option plan of
the Company, considered in the aggregate, exceeds $100,000,
such excess Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as
Non-Qualified Stock Options.
III-8
<PAGE>
(C) If a Participant owns or is deemed to be the owner
of, by reason of the attribution rules of Section 425(d) of the
Code, more than 10% of the combined voting power of all classes
of stock of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, the
term of the Incentive Stock Options shall be no more than five
years from the date of grant.
(D) If the Participant sells the Stock received upon
exercise of an Incentive Stock Option within two years of the
grant date or within one year of the exercise date, the
Participant shall notify the Company concurrently with such
sale.
(c) TERMS APPLICABLE TO DIRECTOR OPTIONS. Director Options shall be granted
to Non-Employee Directors on the following terms or conditions:
(i) Each year beginning in 2001, as of the date of the Annual
Meeting of Stockholders of the Company, each Non-Employee Director
who has been elected or re-elected or who is continuing as a member
of the Board as of the adjournment of the Annual Meeting, shall
automatically receive a Director Option for 2,600 shares of Stock.
(ii) The exercise price per share of stock purchasable under a
Director Option shall be the Fair Market Value as of the date of
grant.
(iii) No Director Option shall be exercisable before the
Non-Employee Director has served one "term-year" as a member of the
Board from the date the Director Option was granted (except as
provided in Section 6(c)(vi)(B) below). As used herein, "term-year"
means the period from one Annual Meeting to the subsequent Annual
Meeting.
(iv) Each Director Option shall terminate on the tenth
anniversary of the grant.
(v) Payment of the exercise price may be made, without
limitation, (i) in cash, (ii) by delivering a properly executed
exercise notice to the Company together with a copy of irrevocable
instructions to a broker to deliver promptly to the Company the
amount of sale or loan proceeds to pay the exercise price of such
Option (or by otherwise arranging, in a manner satisfactory to the
Company, for a broker to promptly pay the purchase price to the
Company), (iii) by delivering to the Company shares of Stock
previously owned by the Participant, or (iv) any combination of the
foregoing forms, all subject to the approval of the Committee and to
such rules as the Committee may adopt. In determining the number of
shares of Stock necessary to be delivered to the Company, such Stock
shall be valued at Fair Market Value.
(vi) No Director Option or any part of a Director Option shall
be exercisable: unless the person exercising the Director Option has
been, at all times during the period beginning with the date of grant
of the Option and ending on the date of such exercise, a Non-Employee
Director of the Company, except that
(A) if such a person shall cease to be such a
Non-Employee Director by reason of Retirement from the Board or
death while holding a Director Option (whether or not
exercisable) that has not expired, such person, or in the case
of death (either while a Non-Employee Director or after
Retirement), his or her executors, administrators, heirs,
legatees or distributes, as the case may be, may, at any time
until the expiration of such Director Option exercise the
Director Option with respect to any shares of Stock as to which
such person had not exercised the
III-9
<PAGE>
Director Option on the date the person ceased to be such a
Non-Employee Director; or
(B) if such a person shall cease to be a Non-Employee
Director for reasons other than Retirement from the Board or
death while holding a Director Option then exercisable that has
not expired, such person, at any time within one year after the
date he or she ceases to be such a Non-Employee Director (but
in no event after the Director Option has expired under the
provisions of Section 6(c)(iv)), may exercise the Director
Option with respect to any shares of Stock as to which such
person could have but had not exercised the Director Option on
the date the person ceased to be such a Non-Employee Director;
or
(C) if any person who has ceased to be a Non-Employee
Director for reasons other than death or Retirement from the
Board shall die holding a Director Option, such persons
executors, administrators, heirs, legatees or distributes, as
the case may be, may, at any time within one year after the
date of death (but in no event after the Director Option has
expired under the provisions of Section 6(c)(iv) above),
exercise the Director Option with respect to any shares as to
which the decedent could have exercised the Director Option at
the time of death.
7. RESTRICTED STOCK.
(a) GRANTS. The Committee may designate the Eligible Persons who shall
receive Restricted Stock. Shares awarded under this part of the Plan,
while subject to the restrictions hereinafter set forth, are referred to
as "Restricted Stock."
(b) TERMS. Any grant of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the following
terms and conditions to any other terms and conditions not inconsistent
with the Plan as shall be prescribed by the Committee in its sole
discretion:
(i) DELIVERY OF RESTRICTED STOCK. The Company shall transfer
shares to each participant to whom an award of Restricted Stock has
been made equal to the number of shares of Restricted Stock specified
in the award, and hold the certificates representing such shares of
Restricted Stock for the Participant for the period of time during
which such shares shall remain subject to the restrictions set forth
in the award (the "Restricted Period"). Shares of Restricted Stock
may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged, hypothecated or
otherwise encumbered by a Participant during the Restricted Period,
except as hereinafter provided. Except for the restrictions set forth
herein and unless otherwise determined by the Committee, a
Participant shall have all the rights of a stockholder with respect
to the shares of Restricted Stock comprising his or her award,
including, but not limited to, the right to vote and the right to
receive dividends (which if in shares of Stock shall be Restricted
Stock under the same terms and conditions).
(ii) LAPSE OF RESTRICTED PERIOD. The Restricted Period shall
commence upon the date of the award (which unless otherwise specified
by the Committee shall be the date the Restricted Stock is
transferred to the Participant) and, unless sooner terminated as
otherwise provided herein, shall continue for such period of time as
specified by the Committee in the award, which shall in no event be
less than one year, and thereafter shall lapse in such installments,
if any, as provided by the Committee in the award.
III-10
<PAGE>
(iii) LEGEND. Each certificate issued in respect of shares of
Restricted Stock transferred or issued to a Participant under an
award shall be registered in the name of the Participant and shall
bear the following (or a similar) legend:
"THIS CERTIFICATE AND THE SHARES OF STOCK REPRESENTED HEREBY ARE
SUBJECT TO THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN THE NEW YORK TIMES
DIGITAL STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN (THE "PLAN") APPLICABLE TO RESTRICTED
STOCK, AND MAY NOT BE SOLD, PLEDGED, TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED,
HYPOTHECATED, OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF OR ENCUMBERED IN ANY MANNER
DURING THE RESTRICTED PERIOD. COPIES OF SUCH PLAN ARE ON FILE WITH
THE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY."
(iv) DEATH OR DISABILITY. Unless the Committee shall otherwise
determine in the award, if a Participant ceases to be employed by the
Company by reason of death or Disability, the Restricted Period
covering all shares of Restricted Stock transferred or issued to such
Participant under the Plan shall immediately lapse.
(v) RETIREMENT. Unless the Committee shall otherwise determine
in the award, the Restricted Period covering all shares of Restricted
Stock transferred to a Participant under the Plan shall immediately
lapse upon such Participant's Retirement, whether early or not.
(vi) TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. Unless the Committee shall
otherwise determine in the award or otherwise determine at or after
the date of grant, if a Participant ceases to be employed by the
Company other than due to a condition described in clauses (iv) and
(v) above, all shares of Restricted Stock owned by such Participant
for which the Restricted Period has not lapsed shall revert back to
the Company upon such termination. Authorized leave of absence or
absence in military service shall constitute employment for the
purposes hereof. Whether absence in government service may constitute
employment for the purposes of the Plan shall be conclusively
determined by the Committee.
(vii) WAIVER OF FORFEITURE PROVISIONS. The Committee, in its
sole and absolute discretion, may waive the forfeiture provisions in
respect of all or some of the Restricted Stock awarded to a
Participant.
(viii) ISSUANCE OF NEW CERTIFICATES. Upon the lapse of the
Restricted Period with respect to any shares of Restricted Stock,
such shares shall no longer be subject to the restrictions imposed in
the award and shall no longer be considered Restricted Stock for the
purposes of the award and the Plan, and the Company shall issue new
share certificates respecting such shares registered in the name of
the Participant without the legend described above in exchange for
those previously issued.
8. GENERAL PROVISIONS.
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS. The Company may, to the
extent deemed necessary or advisable by the Committee, postpone the
issuance or delivery of Stock or payment of other benefits under any
award until completion of such registration or qualification of such
Stock or other required action under any foreign, federal or state law,
rule or regulation, listing or other required action with respect to any
stock exchange or automated quotation system upon which the Stock or
other securities of the Company are
III-11
<PAGE>
listed or quoted, or compliance with any other obligation of the Company,
as the Committee may consider appropriate, and may require any
Participant to make such representations, furnish such information and
comply with or be subject to such other conditions as it may consider
appropriate in connection with the issuance or delivery of Stock or
payment of other benefits in compliance with applicable laws, rules, and
regulations, listing requirements, or other obligations. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Plan, the Company shall not be obligated to
issue any shares of Stock or grant any Option with respect thereto,
unless it is advised by counsel of its selection that it may do so
without violation of the applicable Federal and State laws pertaining to
the issuance of securities, and may require any stock so issued to bear a
legend, may give its transfer agent instructions, and may take such other
steps, as in its judgment are reasonably required to prevent any such
violation. In the event any Option is exercised by the executors,
administrators, heirs, legatees or distributes of the estate of a
deceased optionee or by the guardian or legal representative of a
disabled optionee, the Company shall be under no obligation to issue
Stock unless and until the Company is satisfied that the person or
persons exercising the Option are the duly appointed legal
representatives of the deceased optionees estate or the proper legatees
or distributes thereof or the duly appointed guardian or legal
representative of the disabled optionee.
(b) LIMITS ON TRANSFERABILITY. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee
pursuant to this Section 8(b), no Option or other right or interest of a
Participant under the Plan shall be pledged, hypothecated or otherwise
encumbered or subject to any lien, obligation or liability of such
Participant to any party (other than the Company), or assigned or
transferred by such Participant otherwise than by will or the laws of
descent and distribution or to a Beneficiary upon the death of a
Participant, and such Options or rights that may be exercisable shall be
exercised during the lifetime of the Participant only by the Participant
or his or her authorized representative. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
rights and benefits hereunder shall pass by will or the laws of descent
and distribution in the following order: (i) to Beneficiaries; if none,
then (ii) to a legal representative of the Participant; if none, then
(iii) to the persons entitled thereto as determined by a court of
competent jurisdiction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Committee may
determine that Options granted to a Participant (or a specified group of
Participants) may be transferred by the Participant to one or more
members of the Participant's Immediate Family, to a partnership or
limited liability company whose only partners or members are members of
the Participant's Immediate Family, or to a trust established by the
Participant for the benefit of one or more members of the Participant's
Immediate Family. A Beneficiary, transferee, or other Person claiming any
rights under the Plan from or through any Participant may not further
transfer an Option and shall be subject to all terms and conditions of
the Plan and the Option applicable to such Participant, except as
otherwise determined by the Committee, and to any additional terms and
conditions deemed necessary or appropriate by the Committee.
(c) ADJUSTMENTS. In the event that any dividend or other distribution
(whether in the form of cash, Stock, or other property),
recapitalization, forward or reverse split, reorganization, merger,
consolidation, spin-off, combination, repurchase, exchange of Class A
Common Stock on the capital stock of a subsidiary of The Times for
Class C Common Stock, exchange of Class A Common Stock for Class C Common
Stock at the option of The Times, other share exchange, liquidation,
dissolution or other similar corporate transaction or event affects the
Stock such that an adjustment is determined by the Committee to be
appropriate under the Plan, then the Committee shall, in such manner as
it may deem equitable, adjust any or all of (A) the
III-12
<PAGE>
number and kind of shares of Stock which may be delivered or granted in
connection with Options granted thereafter, (B) the number and kind of
shares of Stock subject to or deliverable in respect of outstanding
Options and (C) the exercise price relating to any Option and/or make
provision for payment of cash or other property in respect of any
outstanding Option.
(d) WITHHOLDING. If at any time specified herein for the making of any
delivery of any Stock to any Participant or Beneficiary, any law or
regulation of any governmental authority having jurisdiction in the
premises shall require the Company to withhold, or to make any deduction
for, any taxes or take any other action in connection with the payment or
delivery then to be made, such payment or delivery shall be deferred
until such withholding or deduction shall have been provided for by the
Participant or Beneficiary, or other appropriate action shall have been
taken. The Participant or Beneficiary may satisfy the obligation for such
withholding or deduction in whole or in part by electing to deliver
shares of Stock already owned having a Fair Market Value equal to the
amount to be withheld or deducted.
(e) CHANGES TO THE PLAN AND AWARDS. The Board in its discretion, from time
to time, may amend, suspend or terminate any or all of the provisions of
this Plan, without the consent of the optionee concerned, provided that:
(i) the Board may not make any amendment which
(1) changes the class of persons eligible for Options or
Restricted Stock, or (2) increases the total number of shares
for which Options or Restricted Stock may be granted under
Section 4(a) hereof, without the authorization of a majority of
the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders by the holders of
shares entitled to vote thereon, voting as one class; and
(ii) the Board may not make any change that would prevent
Incentive Stock Options granted under the Plan from being
Incentive Stock Options without the consent of the optionee
concerned.
(f) LIMITATION ON RIGHTS CONFERRED UNDER PLAN. Neither the Plan nor any
action taken hereunder shall be construed as (i) giving any Eligible
Person the right to continue as an Eligible Person or in the employ or
service of the Company, (ii) interfering in any way with the right of the
Company to terminate any Eligible Person's employment or service at any
time, (iii) giving an Eligible Person any claim to be granted any Option
or Restricted Stock under the Plan or to be treated uniformly with other
Participants and employees, or (iv) conferring on a Participant any of
the rights of a shareholder of the Company unless and until the
Participant is duly issued or transferred shares of Stock under an award
of Restricted Stock or in accordance with the terms of an Option.
(g) NONEXCLUSIVITY OF THE PLAN. Neither the adoption of the Plan by the
Board nor its submission to the stockholders of the Company for approval
shall be construed as creating any limitations on the power of the Board
or a committee thereof to adopt such other incentive arrangements as it
may deem desirable.
(h) FRACTIONAL SHARES. No fractional shares of Stock shall be issued or
delivered pursuant to any Option. The Committee shall determine whether
cash or other property shall be issued or paid in lieu of such fractional
shares or whether such fractional shares or any rights thereto shall be
forfeited or otherwise eliminated.
III-13
<PAGE>
(i) COMPLIANCE WITH CODE SECTION 162(M). It is the intent of the Company
that Award Options shall constitute "qualified performance-based
compensation" within the meaning of Section 162(m) of the Code.
Accordingly, if any provision of the Plan relating to such an award does
not comply or is inconsistent with the requirements of Section 162(m) of
the Code, such provision shall be construed or deemed amended to the
extent necessary to conform to such requirements, and no provision shall
be deemed to confer upon the Committee or any other person discretion to
increase the amount of compensation otherwise payable in connection with
any such award upon attainment of the performance objectives.
(j) COMPLIANCE WITH SECTION 16 OF THE EXCHANGE ACT. It is the intent of the
Company that transactions involving Options or Restricted Stock granted
under the Plan be entitled to the exemption from Section 16 of the
Exchange Act provided by Rule 16b-3, that any ambiguities or
inconsistencies in construction of the Plan be interpreted to give effect
to such intention and that if any provision of the Plan is found not to
be in compliance with Rule 16b-3, such provision shall be deemed null and
void to the extent required to permit any such transaction to comply with
Rule 16b-3. The Committee may adopt rules and regulations under, and
amend, the Plan in furtherance of the intent of the foregoing.
(k) LIMITATION ON LIABILITY. No member of the Board or of the Committee
shall be liable for any act or action, whether of commission or omission,
taken by any other member or by any officer, agent or employee, nor for
anything done or omitted to be done by such Director except in
circumstances involving actual bad faith.
(l) GOVERNING LAW. The validity, construction and effect of the Plan and any
rules and regulations under the Plan shall be determined in accordance
with New York law, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of
laws, and applicable federal law.
(m) EXPIRATION DATE. No Options or Restricted Stock may be granted under the
Plan after December 31, 2010, or such earlier expiration date as may be
designated by resolution of the Board.
(n) TRANSITION. Upon the effectiveness of this Plan, all options to purchase
Class A-2 Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Times Company
Digital, Inc. ("TCD Inc.") granted pursuant to the Times Company
Digital, Inc. 1999 Stock Option Plan ("Plan Options") and all options to
purchase Class A-1 Common Stock, par value $0.01, of TCD Inc. pursuant to
option agreements ("Special Options") shall, without any further action
by the holders of such options, be converted into Award Options or
Director Options hereunder under the same terms as are applicable to such
Plan Options and Special Options (subject to Section 8(c)). The
Committee, or its delegees, shall be authorized to take all appropriate
action to effect the foregoing conversion.
III-14
<PAGE>
ANNEX IV.
ILLUSTRATION OF CERTAIN TERMS
The following illustrations show how to calculate the retained interest
percentage, the outstanding interest percentage, the number of shares of Digital
stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital
group and the number of notional shares of Digital stock deemed outstanding
after giving effect to certain hypothetical dividends, issuances, repurchases
and transfers, in each case based on the assumptions set forth herein. In these
illustrations, the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group is initially assumed to
be 100. Unless otherwise specified, each illustration below should be read
independently as if none of the other transactions referred to had occurred.
Actual calculations may be slightly different due to rounding.
At any given time, the percentage interest in the Digital group intended
to be represented by the outstanding shares of Digital stock (I.E., the
outstanding interest percentage) is equal to:
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK OUTSTANDING
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK OUTSTANDING + NUMBER OF SHARES OF
DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE
DIGITAL GROUP
and the remaining percentage interest in the Digital group intended to be
represented by the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group (I.E., the
retained interest percentage) is equal to:
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S
RETAINED
INTEREST IN THE DIGITAL GROUP
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NUMBER OF SHARES OF DIGITAL STOCK OUTSTANDING + NUMBER OF SHARES OF
DIGITAL STOCK ISSUABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE NYT GROUP'S RETAINED INTEREST IN THE
DIGITAL GROUP
The sum of the outstanding interest percentage and the retained interest
percentage will always equal 100%. In our example, before the first issuance,
the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's
retained interest in the Digital group is 100, the retained interest percentage
is 100% and the outstanding interest percentage is 0%.
THE OFFERING
The following illustration reflects an assumed issuance by the Times
Company of 15 shares of Digital stock in the offering. Assume the issuance is
attributed to the Digital group as an increase in its equity, with the net
proceeds credited solely to the Digital group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 0
Newly issued shares of Digital stock for account of the
Digital group............................................. 15
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after the offering.................................. 15
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group (100) would remain
unchanged.
IV-1
<PAGE>
- As a result, the issued and outstanding shares (15) would represent an
outstanding interest percentage of about 13%, calculated as follows:
15
--------------
15 + 100
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be about 87%.
- In this case, in the event of any dividend or other distribution paid on
the outstanding shares of Digital stock (other than a dividend or other
distribution payable in shares of Digital stock), the NYT group would be
credited, and the Digital group would be charged, with an amount equal to
667% (representing the ratio of the number of shares of Digital stock
issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital
group (100) to the total number of shares of Digital stock issued and
outstanding following the offering (15)) of the aggregate amount of such
dividend or distribution.
ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS OF DIGITAL STOCK
The following illustrations reflect an assumed issuance of an additional
15 shares of Digital stock after the assumed initial issuance of 15 shares
attributed to the Digital group as an increase in its equity.
ADDITIONAL OFFERING FOR ACCOUNT OF THE NYT GROUP
Assume the issuance is attributed to the NYT group in respect of the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group, with the net proceeds credited
solely to the NYT group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Newly issued shares of Digital stock for account of the NYT
group..................................................... 15
--
Total shares issued and outstanding after additional
offering............................................ 30
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group would decrease by the
number of shares of Digital stock issued for the account of the NYT
group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to the additional offering.......................... 100
Newly issued shares of Digital stock for account of the NYT
group..................................................... 15
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after the additional offering........... 85
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares of Digital stock
(30) would in the aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage
of about 26%, calculated as follows:
30
--------------
30 + 85
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be reduced to about
74%.
- In this case, in the event of any dividend or other distribution paid on
Digital stock (other than a dividend or other distribution payable in
shares of Digital stock), the NYT group
IV-2
<PAGE>
would be credited, and the Digital group would be charged, with an amount
equal to 283% (representing the ratio of the number of shares of Digital
stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group (85) to the total number of shares of Digital stock issued
and outstanding following the additional offering (30)) of the aggregate
amount of such dividend or distribution.
ADDITIONAL OFFERING FOR ACCOUNT OF THE DIGITAL GROUP
Assume the issuance is attributed to the Digital group as an increase in
its equity, with the net proceeds credited solely to the Digital group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Newly issued shares of Digital stock for account of the
Digital group............................................. 15
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after additional offering........................... 30
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group (100) would remain
unchanged.
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (30) would in the
aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage of about 23%,
calculated as follows:
30
--------------
30 + 100
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be reduced to about
77%.
- In this case, in the event of any dividend or other distribution paid on
Digital stock (other than a dividend or other distribution payable in
shares of Digital stock), the NYT group would be credited, and the
Digital group would be charged, with an amount equal to 333%
(representing the ratio of the number of shares of Digital stock issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
(100) to the total number of shares of Digital stock issued and
outstanding following the additional offering (30)) of the aggregate
amount of such dividend or distribution.
OFFERINGS OF CONVERTIBLE SECURITIES
If we were to issue any securities convertible into or exercisable for
shares of Digital stock, the outstanding interest percentage and the retained
interest percentage would be unchanged at the time of such issuance. If any
shares of Digital stock were subsequently issued upon conversion or exercise of
such securities, however, the outstanding interest percentage and the retained
interest percentage would be affected as shown above under "Additional Offering
for Account of the NYT Group", if such securities were attributed to the NYT
group, or under "Additional Offering for Account of the Digital Group", if such
securities were attributed to the Digital group.
REPURCHASES OF DIGITAL STOCK
The following illustrations reflect an assumed repurchase by the Times
Company of 5 shares of Digital stock after the assumed initial issuance of 15
shares of Digital stock attributed to the Digital group as an increase in its
equity.
IV-3
<PAGE>
REPURCHASE FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE NYT GROUP
Assume the repurchase is attributed to the NYT group as an increase in its
retained interest in the Digital group, with the cost charged solely against the
NYT group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Shares of Digital stock repurchased for account of the NYT
group..................................................... 5
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after repurchase.................................... 10
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group would be increased by the
number of any shares of Digital stock repurchased for the account of the
NYT group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to repurchase....................................... 100
Number of shares of Digital stock repurchased for the
account of the NYT group.................................. 5
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after repurchase........................ 105
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (10) would in the
aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage of about 9%,
calculated as follows:
10
--------------
10 + 105
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be increased to about
91%.
REPURCHASE FOR ACCOUNT OF THE DIGITAL GROUP WITHOUT PARTICIPATION BY THE
NYT GROUP
Assume the repurchase is attributed to the Digital group, with the cost
being charged solely against the Digital group. Further assume that the board of
directors does not determine to transfer assets from the Digital group to the
NYT group to hold the outstanding interest percentage and retained interest
percentage constant.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Shares of Digital stock repurchased for account of the
Digital group............................................. 5
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after repurchase...................................... 10
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group (100) would remain
unchanged.
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (10) would in the
aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage of about 9%,
calculated as follows:
10
--------------
10 + 100
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be increased to about 91%.
IV-4
<PAGE>
REPURCHASE FOR ACCOUNT OF THE DIGITAL GROUP WITH PARTICIPATION BY THE NYT
GROUP
Assume the repurchase is attributed to the Digital group, with the cost
being charged solely against the Digital group. Further assume that the
repurchase is made in connection with a tender offer for 5, or 33%, of the then
outstanding shares at a price of $20 per share, and that the board of directors
determines to transfer cash or other assets from the Digital group to the NYT
group to hold the outstanding interest percentage and retained interest
percentage constant.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Shares of Digital stock repurchased for account of the
Digital group............................................. 5
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after repurchase...................................... 10
==
</TABLE>
- In order to hold constant the outstanding interest percentage and
retained interest percentage, the board of directors could determine that
the market value of a share of Digital stock in this context is $20 and
transfer from the Digital group to the NYT group an amount of cash or
other assets equal to 667% (representing the ratio of the number of
shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained
interest in the Digital group (100) to the total number of shares of
Digital stock issued and outstanding (15), in each case immediately prior
to the repurchase) of the aggregate amount of the cash paid in the tender
offer to holders of outstanding shares of Digital stock ($100), or $667.
- In that case, the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect
to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group (100) would
decrease by the amount of cash so transferred ($667) divided by the
market value per share of Digital stock ($20).
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to transfer......................................... 100
Adjustment in respect of the NYT group's retained interest
to reflect transfer to the NYT group of funds theretofore
allocated to the Digital group............................ 33
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after transfer.......................... 67
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (10) would in the
aggregate continue to represent an outstanding interest percentage of
about 13%, calculated as follows:
10
--------------
10 + 67
The retained interest percentage would accordingly continue to be about
87%.
- Assuming that the board of directors transferred only half of the $667
amount, or $333.50, from the Digital group to the NYT group, the number
of shares of Digital stock issuable with
IV-5
<PAGE>
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
(100) would decrease by the amount of cash so transferred divided by the
market value per share of Digital stock ($20).
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to transfer......................................... 100
Adjustment in respect of the NYT group's retained interest
to reflect transfer to the NYT group of cash theretofore
allocated to the Digital group............................ 17
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after transfer.......................... 83
===
</TABLE>
- In that case, as a result, the total shares issued and outstanding shares
(10) would in the aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage
of about 11%, calculated as follows:
10
--------------
10 + 83
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be increased to about
89%.
DIGITAL STOCK DIVIDENDS
The following illustrations reflect assumed dividends of Digital stock on
outstanding shares of NYT stock and outstanding shares of Digital stock,
respectively, after the assumed initial issuance of 15 shares of Digital stock
attributable to the Digital group as an increase in its equity.
DIGITAL STOCK DIVIDEND ON NYT STOCK
Assume 1,000 shares of NYT stock are outstanding and the Times Company
declares a dividend of 1/20 of a share of Digital stock on each outstanding
share of NYT stock (payable equally on each of the Class A and Class B shares).
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Newly issued shares of Digital stock for account of the NYT
group..................................................... 50
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after dividend........................................ 65
==
</TABLE>
- Any dividend of shares of Digital stock to the holders of shares of NYT
stock would be treated as a reduction in the number of shares of Digital
Stock issuable with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to dividend......................................... 100
Number of shares of Digital stock distributed on outstanding
shares of NYT stock for account of the NYT group.......... 50
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after dividend.......................... 50
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (65) would in the
aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage of about 57%,
calculated as follows:
65
--------------
65 + 50
IV-6
<PAGE>
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be reduced to about
43%. Note, however, that after the dividend, the holders of shares of NYT stock
would also hold 50 shares of Digital stock, which would be intended to represent
about 43% interest in the value attributable to the Digital group.
DIGITAL STOCK DIVIDEND ON DIGITAL STOCK
Assume the Times Company declares a dividend of 1/5 of a share of Digital
stock on each outstanding share of Digital stock.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Newly issued shares of Digital stock for account of the
Digital group............................................. 3
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after dividend........................................ 18
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group would reflect the stock
dividend payable in shares of Digital stock to holders of shares of
Digital stock. That is, the number of shares of Digital stock issuable
with respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
would be increased by a number equal to 667% (representing the ratio of
the number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group (100) to the number of
shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding (15), in each case
immediately prior to such dividend) of the aggregate number of shares
issued in connection with such dividend (3), or 20.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to dividend......................................... 100
Adjustment in respect of the NYT group's retained interest
to reflect shares distributed on outstanding shares of
Digital stock............................................. 20
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after dividend.......................... 120
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (18) would in the
aggregate continue to represent an outstanding interest percentage of
about 13%, calculated as follows:
18
--------------
18+ 120
The retained interest percentage would accordingly continue to be about 87%.
CAPITAL TRANSFERS OF CASH OR OTHER ASSETS BETWEEN THE NYT GROUP AND THE DIGITAL
GROUP
CAPITAL CONTRIBUTION OF CASH OR OTHER ASSETS FROM THE NYT GROUP TO THE
DIGITAL GROUP
The following illustration reflects the assumed contribution by the NYT
group to the Digital group, after the assumed initial issuance of 15 shares of
Digital stock attributable to the Digital group as an increase in its equity, of
$40 of assets allocated to the NYT group at a time when the market value of the
Digital stock is $20 per share.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Newly issued shares of Digital stock........................ 0
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after contribution.................................... 15
==
</TABLE>
IV-7
<PAGE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group would be increased to
reflect the contribution to the Digital group of assets theretofore
allocated to the NYT group by a number equal to the value of the assets
contributed ($40) divided by the market value of Digital stock at that
time ($20), or 2 shares.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to contribution..................................... 100
Increase to reflect contribution to the Digital group of
assets allocated to the NYT group......................... 2
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after contribution...................... 102
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (15) would in the
aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage of a little less
than 13%, calculated as follows:
15
--------------
15 + 102
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be increased to a
little more than 87%.
RETURN OF CAPITAL TRANSFER OF CASH OR OTHER ASSETS FROM THE DIGITAL GROUP
TO THE NYT GROUP
The following illustration reflects the assumed transfer by the Digital
group to the NYT group, after the assumed initial issuance of 15 shares of
Digital stock attributable to the Digital group as an increase in its equity, of
$40 of assets allocated to the Digital group on a date on which the market value
of Digital stock is $20 per share.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Shares of Digital stock previously issued and outstanding... 15
Newly issued shares of Digital stock........................ 0
--
Total shares of Digital stock issued and outstanding
after contribution.................................... 15
==
</TABLE>
- The number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to the NYT
group's retained interest in the Digital group would be decreased to
reflect the transfer to the NYT group of assets theretofore allocated to
the Digital group by a number equal to the value of the assets
transferred ($40) divided by the market value of Digital stock at that
time ($20), or 2 shares.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with respect to
the NYT group's retained interest in the Digital group
prior to transfer......................................... 100
Decrease to reflect transfer to the NYT group of assets
allocated to the Digital group............................ 2
---
Number of shares of Digital stock issuable with
respect to the NYT group's retained interest in the
Digital group after transfer.......................... 98
===
</TABLE>
- As a result, the total issued and outstanding shares (15) would in the
aggregate represent an outstanding interest percentage of a little more
than 13%, calculated as follows:
15
--------------
15 + 98
The retained interest percentage would accordingly be decreased to a
little less than 87%.
IV-8
<PAGE>
ANNEX V
ILLUSTRATION OF VOTING RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF DIGITAL STOCK
The following illustrations show how to calculate the voting rights of the
Digital stock under various hypothetical scenarios. The illustrations assume
40 shares of Digital stock and 100 shares of Class A stock are issued and
outstanding.
VOTING RIGHTS OF DIGITAL STOCK BASED ONLY ON RELATIVE MARKET VALUES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Assumed average market value of a share of Class A stock
during the specified 20 trading day period................ $50
Assumed average market value of a share of Digital stock
during the specified 20 trading day period................ $25
</TABLE>
Each share of Class A stock will entitle the holder to cast one vote. Each
share of Digital stock will entitle the holder to cast 0.5 votes, calculated as
follows:
$25
--------------
$50
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A stock would
be entitled to cast in the aggregate 100 votes (100 shares TIMES 1 vote
per share) and the holders of Digital stock would be entitled to cast in
the aggregate 20 votes (40 shares TIMES 0.5 votes per share).
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A stock would
in the aggregate possess about 83% of the total voting power of all
outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock, calculated as
follows:
100
--------------
120
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Digital stock would
in the aggregate possess about 17% of the total voting power of all
outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock, calculated as
follows:
20
--------------
120
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Assumed average market value of a share of Class A stock
during the specified 20 trading day period................ $50
Assumed average market value of a share of Digital stock
during the specified 20 trading day period................ $75
</TABLE>
Each share of Class A stock will entitle the holder to cast one vote. Each
share of Digital stock will entitle the holder to cast 1.5 votes, calculated as
follows:
$75
--------------
$50
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A stock would
be entitled to cast in the aggregate 100 votes (100 shares TIMES 1 vote
per share) and the holders of Digital stock would be entitled to cast in
the aggregate 60 votes (40 shares TIMES 1.5 vote per share).
V-1
<PAGE>
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A stock would
in the aggregate possess about 63% of the total voting power of all
outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock, calculated as
follows:
100
--------------
160
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Digital stock would
in the aggregate possess about 37% of the total voting power of all
outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock, calculated as
follows:
60
--------------
160
VOTING RIGHTS OF DIGITAL STOCK CAPPED AT 40% OF TOTAL VOTES
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Assumed average market value of a share of Class A stock
during the specified 20 trading day period................ $ 50
Assumed average market value of a share of Digital stock
during the specified 20 trading day period................ $100
</TABLE>
Each share of Class A stock will entitle the holder to cast one vote.
Based on the relative average market value alone, each share of Digital stock
would entitle the holder to cast two votes, calculated as follows:
$100
--------------
$50
However, because the holders of Digital stock may not possess in excess of
40% of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of Class A stock and
Digital stock, the vote of each share of Digital stock is reduced such that all
outstanding shares of Digital stock represent 40% of the total voting power of
all outstanding shares of Class A stock and Digital stock.
- As a result, the holders of the outstanding shares of Class A stock and
Digital stock would together be entitled to cast in the aggregate
167 votes, which is calculated by dividing the aggregate number of votes
that the holders of the Class A stock are entitled to cast (100) by the
aggregate voting power of the Class A stock (60%).
- As a result, each share of Digital stock would entitle the holder to cast
1.675 votes, which is calculated by dividing the aggregate number of
votes the holders of the Digital stock are entitled to cast (67) by the
number of shares of Digital stock that are outstanding (40), or:
67
--------------
40
V-2
<PAGE>
ANNEX VI--FINANCIAL INFORMATION--THE DIGITAL GROUP
NEW YORK TIMES DIGITAL
(A DIVISION OF THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY)
INDEX TO COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
--------
<S> <C>
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 26, 1999, DECEMBER 27, 1998, AND
DECEMBER 28, 1997
Independent Auditors' Report................................ VI-2
Combined Statements of Operations........................... VI-3
Combined Balance Sheets..................................... VI-4
Combined Statements of Cash Flows........................... VI-5
Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.................. VI-6
</TABLE>
Note: The combined financial statements for the Digital group are being
presented to supply additional disclosures to investors regarding the Digital
group. Even though from a financial reporting standpoint we have allocated all
of our consolidated assets, liabilities, revenue, expenses and cash flows
between the Digital group and the NYT group, that allocation has not changed the
legal title to any assets or responsibility for any liabilities and will not
affect the rights of any of our creditors. Further, in any liquidation, holders
of Digital stock will not have any rights to any specific assets of the Digital
group, but will receive a share of the net assets of the Times Company based on
the relative market values of Digital stock and NYT stock, rather than on any
assessment of the actual value of the Digital group or the NYT group. We intend
for our Digital stock to reflect the performance of the Digital group, but there
is no assurance that it will do so. Holders of Digital stock will be common
stockholders of the Times Company and will be subject to risks associated with
an investment in the Times Company as a whole.
VI-1
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
AND STOCKHOLDERS OF
THE NEW YORK TIMES COMPANY
We have audited the accompanying combined balance sheets of New York Times
Digital (the "Digital group") (a division of The New York Times Company (the
"Times Company") as described in Note 1) as of December 26, 1999 and
December 27, 1998, and the related combined statements of operations and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 1999. These
combined financial statements are the responsibility of the Times Company's
management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these combined
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. These standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such combined financial statements present fairly, in all
material respects, the combined financial position of the Digital group at
December 26, 1999 and December 27, 1998, and the results of its operations and
its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 26, 1999
in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
As discussed in Note 1, the combined financial statements of the Digital
group should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial
statements of the Times Company.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
New York, New York
March 3, 2000
(April 3, 2000 as to Note 14)
VI-2
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUE
Advertising............................................. $ 25,136 $ 11,227 $ 6,114
Other................................................... 1,663 2,947 4,012
-------- -------- --------
Total................................................... 26,799 14,174 10,126
-------- -------- --------
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Content and development................................. 20,325 13,358 11,846
Sales and marketing..................................... 15,827 8,232 3,466
General and administrative.............................. 16,107 12,554 5,411
Depreciation and amortization........................... 4,586 1,197 472
-------- -------- --------
Total................................................... 56,845 35,341 21,195
-------- -------- --------
OPERATING LOSS.......................................... (30,046) (21,167) (11,069)
Interest expense, net................................... 14 -- --
-------- -------- --------
Loss before income taxes................................ (30,060) (21,167) (11,069)
Income tax benefit...................................... 12,685 9,843 5,191
-------- -------- --------
NET LOSS................................................ $(17,375) $(11,324) $ (5,878)
======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
VI-3
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998
- -------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents................................... $ 184 $ 41
Accounts receivable, net.................................... 7,695 852
Deferred income taxes....................................... 1,207 1,419
Other current assets........................................ 472 480
------- --------
Total current assets........................................ 9,558 2,792
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET................................. 9,795 2,673
INTANGIBLE ASSETS ACQUIRED, NET............................. 28,884 --
MISCELLANEOUS ASSETS........................................ 488 453
------- --------
Total....................................................... $48,725 $ 5,918
======= ========
LIABILITIES AND DIVISIONAL NET WORTH
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable............................................ $ 7,417 $ 1,111
Accrued expenses............................................ 3,449 3,263
Deferred income............................................. 688 297
Current portion of capital lease obligations................ 982 --
------- --------
Total current liabilities................................... 12,536 4,671
------- --------
OTHER LIABILITIES--Capital lease obligations................ 1,757 --
------- --------
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
DIVISIONAL NET WORTH
Funds allocated from the NYT group.......................... 80,440 29,880
Accumulated losses.......................................... (46,008) (28,633)
------- --------
Total divisional net worth.................................. 34,432 1,247
------- --------
Total....................................................... $48,725 $ 5,918
======= ========
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
VI-4
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net loss.................................................... $(17,375) $(11,324) $(5,878)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in
operating activities
Depreciation and amortization............................. 4,586 1,197 472
Deferred income taxes..................................... (1,409) (1,155) (184)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Accounts receivable--net................................ (6,843) 69 (408)
Other current assets.................................... 101 42 (483)
Accounts payable........................................ 5,909 471 119
Accrued expenses........................................ 6 1,571 (326)
Other--net.............................................. (62) 522 (57)
-------- -------- -------
Net cash used in operating activities....................... (15,087) (8,607) (6,745)
-------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Additions to property and equipment......................... (5,474) (2,796) (930)
Other....................................................... 125 -- --
-------- -------- -------
Net cash used in investing activities....................... (5,349) (2,796) (930)
-------- -------- -------
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Funds allocated from the NYT group.......................... 21,016 11,405 6,644
Other....................................................... (437) -- --
-------- -------- -------
Net cash provided by financing activities................... 20,579 11,405 6,644
-------- -------- -------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents........ 143 2 (1,031)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year...... 41 39 1,070
-------- -------- -------
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year............ $ 184 $ 41 $ 39
======== ======== =======
NONCASH INVESTING AND FINANCING TRANSACTIONS:
Contribution of Abuzz Technologies, Inc. net assets
Fair value of assets...................................... $ 32,167 $ -- $ --
Liabilities assumed....................................... (2,623) -- --
-------- -------- -------
Net assets................................................ $ 29,544 $ -- $ --
======== ======== =======
Capital lease assets and obligations incurred............... $ 2,890 $ -- $ --
======== ======== =======
</TABLE>
See Notes to the Combined Financial Statements.
VI-5
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. ORGANIZATION AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
On January 20, 2000, the board of directors of The New York Times Company
(the "Times Company") authorized, subject to stockholder approval, the issuance
of a new class of stock, Class C common stock of the Times Company. The Class C
common stock of the Times Company is intended to reflect the separate
performance of New York Times Digital, which is the Internet business division
of the Times Company (the "Digital group"). The Times Company's other businesses
and its retained interest in the Digital group are referred to as the "NYT
group". The Class C common stock of the Times Company is referred to as "Digital
stock". The Class A and Class B common stock of the Times Company is referred to
as "NYT stock".
The Digital group's operations, with the exception of Abuzz Technologies,
Inc. ("Abuzz Technologies"), which was acquired in July 1999 (see Note 4), have
been wholly-owned by the Times Company since their inception. From 1995 until
the creation of the Digital group in July 1999, each of the Digital group's
websites was accounted for separately but managed as part of the related print
publication. The Digital group's operations include NYTimes.com, NYToday.com,
boston.com, WineToday.com, abuzz.com and GolfDigest.com (beginning January
1999). The Digital group also has rights and obligations under various
arrangements such as the license arrangements concerning the NYT group's
trademarks and content (See Note 3). The Digital group will also include such
other related assets and liabilities of the Times Company as the capital stock
committee of the board of directors of the Times Company may deem appropriate in
the future.
The provision of services and other matters, such as licensing of the NYT
group's trademarks and content, tax sharing and cash management policies between
the Digital group and the NYT group will be governed by inter-group arrangements
and policies, which are described in Note 3, Related Party Transactions. These
were not in place prior to January 1, 2000. Nevertheless, in order to prepare
financial statements that include charges and benefits of the types provided for
under these arrangements and policies, the financial statements for all previous
periods herein reflect charges and benefits that would have applied if these
inter-group arrangements and policies had been in effect during the periods
presented.
The combined financial statements of the Digital group provide financial
information regarding the underlying businesses of the Digital group. Even
though the Times Company has allocated certain assets, liabilities, revenue,
expenses and cash flows to the Digital group, that allocation will not change
the legal title to any assets or responsibility for any liabilities and will not
affect the rights of creditors. Holders of Digital stock will be common
stockholders of the Times Company and will be subject to all the risks
associated with an investment in the Times Company and all its businesses,
assets and liabilities. Material financial events which may occur at the Times
Company may affect the Digital group's results of operations or financial
position. Accordingly, the Digital group's combined financial statements should
be read in conjunction with the Times Company's consolidated financial
statements.
The Times Company's management has advised the Digital group's management
that its present intention is to have the NYT group continue to fund, if needed,
the operations and cash flow needs of the Digital group through fiscal 2000.
VI-6
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
PRINCIPLES OF COMBINATION
The combined financial statements include all the accounts of the Digital
group. All significant intra-divisional transactions have been eliminated in
combination.
FISCAL YEAR
The Digital group's fiscal year ends on the last Sunday in December.
Fiscal years in the three year period ended December 26, 1999, each contain 52
weeks.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Digital group considers all highly-liquid instruments with original
maturities of three months or less to be cash equivalents.
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment is stated at cost and depreciation is computed by
the straight-line method over estimated service lives of the assets ranging from
three to ten years. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line
method over the service life of the improvement or the life of the related
lease, whichever is shorter.
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Cost in excess of net assets acquired is primarily the excess of cost over
the fair market value of tangible net assets acquired. Each quarter the Digital
group evaluates whether there has been a permanent impairment in any of its
intangible assets, including goodwill. An impairment in value is deemed to have
occurred when the undiscounted future operating cash flows generated by the
acquired businesses are not sufficient to recover the carrying values of the
intangible assets. If it is deemed that an impairment in value may have
occurred, the excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired and
intangible assets will be written down by the extent that the carrying amount of
the assets exceed the fair value. The excess costs are being amortized by the
straight-line method over five years. Other intangible assets acquired consist
of patents, trademarks and an assembled work force, which are being amortized by
the straight-line method over five years.
REVENUE RECOGNITION
ADVERTISING REVENUE
The Digital group's revenue is derived principally from the sale of
advertising. Advertising revenue, net of agency commissions, is recognized in
the period in which the advertisement is displayed, provided that no significant
obligations remain and collection of the resulting receivable is probable. The
Digital group's obligations with respect to advertising typically include a
minimum number of "impressions", or the number of times that an advertisement
appears in pages viewed by
VI-7
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
users of the Digital group's websites. Amounts received in advance of providing
advertisements are deferred until such time as these advertisements are
displayed on the Internet site.
Sponsorship revenue is derived principally from contracts in which the
Digital group commits to provide sponsors enhanced promotional opportunities
beyond traditional banner advertising. The pricing of sponsorship revenue is not
based on the number of impressions, but rather the premium placement on a
particular area of a website for a specified contract period ranging from three
to 24 months. The Digital group recognizes sponsorship revenue as earned,
generally over the contract period, provided that no significant obligations
remain outstanding. To the extent that committed obligations are not met, the
Digital group defers recognition of the corresponding revenue until the
obligations are met.
Revenue from barter transactions is recognized during the period in which
the advertisements are displayed. Barter transactions are recorded at the lower
of estimated fair value of the goods or services received or the estimated fair
value of the advertisements given. For each of the periods covered by these
financial statements, barter revenue was less than 1% of revenue.
OTHER REVENUE
Revenue from subscription based fees and services is recognized evenly
over the term of the contract. Revenue from international subscriptions ceased
in July 1998.
Certain of the Digital group's agreements provide that it receives
commissions from e-commerce transactions. Some of these agreements provide for
the Digital group to receive minimum guaranteed revenue. Revenue is recognized
by the Digital group when notification from the merchant is received that the
transaction is complete or ratably over the contract period in cases where the
minimum guaranteed revenue will exceed earned revenue.
The Digital group has also earned revenue from the licensing of the
content of its websites. Licensing revenue is recognized ratably over the life
of the license agreement.
INCOME TAXES
The Digital group uses the asset and liability approach for financial
accounting and reporting of deferred income taxes.
EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per share for the Digital group has been omitted from the
combined statements of operations since Digital stock is a class of stock of the
Times Company and is not part of the capital structure of the Digital group.
After the public issuance of Digital stock, the consolidated financial
statements of the Times Company will present basic and diluted earnings per
share for NYT stock and Digital stock using the two-class method. The two-class
method is an earnings allocation formula that determines the earnings
VI-8
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
per share for NYT stock and Digital stock according to participation rights in
undistributed earnings. The combined financial statements of the Digital group
will not present earnings per share since Digital stock is a class of stock of
Times Company and is not part of the capital structure of the Digital group.
Basic earnings per share for the NYT stock will be calculated by dividing
NYT group earnings (including its retained interest in the Digital group
earnings) by the weighted average number of shares of NYT stock outstanding.
Diluted earnings per share will be calculated similarly, except that it will
include the dilutive effect of the assumed exercise of securities, including the
effects of shares issuable under the Times Company's incentive plans, exclusive
of options granted for Digital stock.
Basic earnings per share for the Digital stock will be calculated by
dividing Digital group earnings (excluding the NYT group's retained interest in
the Digital group earnings) by the weighted average number of shares of Digital
stock outstanding. Diluted earnings per share will be calculated similarly,
except that it will include the dilutive effect of the assumed conversion of
securities and exercise of the shares issued under the New York Times Digital
stock incentive plan.
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Carrying amounts of the Digital group's financial instruments, including
cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued
expenses, approximate fair value because of their short-term nature.
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements. Actual
results could differ from these estimates.
COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Comprehensive income includes all changes in equity (net assets) during a
period from non-owner sources. To date, the Digital group has not had any
transactions, other than net loss, that are required to be reported in
comprehensive income.
CERTAIN RISKS AND CONCENTRATIONS
The Digital group operates in an industry which is characterized by rapid
technological advances, changes in customer requirements and evolving regulatory
requirements and industry standards. Any failure by the Digital group to
anticipate or to respond adequately to technological changes in its industry,
changes in customer requirements or changes in regulatory requirements or
industry standards, could have a material adverse affect on the Digital group's
business and operating results.
For the year ended December 26, 1999, 1% of the Digital group's revenue
was derived from non-U.S. sources, compared to 5% for the year ended
December 27, 1998, and 12% for the year ended
VI-9
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
December 28, 1997. This revenue consisted primarily of international
subscription fees. The Digital group ceased charging these fees in July 1998.
The Digital group performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers and
generally does not require collateral, although the Digital group does provide
for potential credit losses.
Two customers represented approximately 18% of the Digital group's revenue
in the year ended December 27, 1998, compared to 29% for the year ended
December 28, 1997. Beginnning in February 1999, the Digital group no longer
receives revenue from one of these customers, which had represented 9% of total
revenue in the year ended December 27, 1998, and 23% of total revenue in the
year ended December 28, 1997. No one customer represented more than 10% of the
Digital group's revenue in the year ended December 26, 1999.
3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The Digital group's combined financial statements reflect the application
of certain cash management and allocation policies as well as other related
party transactions summarized below. The capital stock committee may rescind,
modify or add to any of these policies. Management believes that these
allocations were made on a reasonable basis. The allocations are not necessarily
indicative of the level of expenses that might have been incurred if the Digital
group had contracted directly with third parties. However, management believes
that the level of expenses would not have been materially different if such
services had been provided by third parties.
ADVERTISING
The Digital group has advertised its websites in various publications of
the NYT group and has also provided advertising to certain publications of the
NYT group. Prior to January 2000, it was not the policy of the NYT group and the
Digital group to charge one another for these advertisements.
Furthermore, the Digital group was allocated revenue from the NYT group
for displaying classified advertising from certain NYT group publications on its
websites. The amount of revenue allocated was based upon a fixed percentage of
the NYT group's classified advertising revenue. The percentage was based on the
estimated incremental value of displaying classified advertising on the Digital
group's websites. The Digital group was allocated revenue of $1,359,000 for the
year ended December 26, 1999, $2,136,000 for the year ended December 27, 1998,
and $1,672,000 for the year ended December 28, 1997, related to these classified
advertisements. This revenue is recorded as part of advertising revenue in the
combined statements of operations. In September 1999, the allocation of a
portion of the revenue related to help wanted advertisements displayed on the
Digital group websites ceased. This allocation was replaced with direct billings
by the Digital group to its customers.
LICENSE FEE
The NYT group charges the Digital group an annual license fee, under a
license arrangement expiring December 31, 2009, for the Internet use of the
trademarks and copyrights owned by the NYT
VI-10
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
group's properties, including THE NEW YORK TIMES, THE BOSTON GLOBE and GOLF
DIGEST. During the term of the license arrangement, the Digital group may under
certain circumstances extend the coverage of the license to other available NYT
group properties. The NYT group charges the Digital group an annual license fee
equal to: the greater of $5,000,000 or the sum of 10% of the first $100,000,000
of the Digital group's revenue; 8% of the next $50,000,000 of the Digital
group's revenue; 6% of the next $50,000,000 of the Digital group's revenue and
5% of the Digital group's revenue above $200,000,000.
The license arrangement between the Digital group and the NYT group was
not in place prior to January 1, 2000. However, in order to prepare financial
statements that include charges of the type provided for under this arrangement,
a license fee of $5,000,000 has been included in the accompanying combined
statement of operations within content and development expenses in each year
presented.
ALLOCATED CORPORATE EXPENSES
The NYT group allocates the cost of certain corporate general and
administrative services (including legal, treasury and accounting expenses) and
shared processing services. The allocation of corporate costs are based
primarily upon the Digital group's revenue relative to the NYT group's revenue.
Shared processing costs are based on the NYT group's estimate of expenses
related to the services provided to the Digital group. These allocation
methodologies are consistent with those applied to the business units of the NYT
group. The services arrangement between the Digital group and the NYT group was
not in place prior to January 1, 2000. However, in order to prepare financial
statements that include charges of the type provided for under this arrangement,
the expenses for such services performed have been included in the accompanying
combined statements of operations within general and administrative expenses
based upon the allocation methods described above.
The allocation of expenses to the Digital group were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS ENDED
------------------------------------------
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Corporate general and administrative services........... $ 558 $ 456 $ 301
Shared processing services.............................. 1,755 1,020 702
------ ------ ------
Total................................................... $2,313 $1,476 $1,003
====== ====== ======
</TABLE>
TAXES
Federal and state income taxes, which are determined on a consolidated
basis, are allocated to the Digital group (and reflected in its financial
statements) in accordance with the Times Company's tax allocation policy. In
general, this policy provides that the consolidated tax provision (and related
tax payments or refunds) are allocated between the Digital group and the NYT
group based principally upon financial income, taxable income, credits and other
amounts directly related to the respective group. Tax benefits that cannot be
utilized by the group generating such attributes, but can be utilized
VI-11
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
3. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (CONTINUED)
on a consolidated basis, are allocated to the group that generated such
benefits. As a result, the allocated amounts of taxes payable or refundable are
not necessarily comparable to those that would have resulted if the Digital
group and the NYT group had filed separate tax returns.
TREASURY ACTIVITIES
The Times Company has provided all necessary funding for the operations
and investments of the Digital group since inception and such funding has been
accounted for as capital contributions from the NYT group. Accordingly, no
interest charges from the NYT group have been reflected in the accompanying
combined financial statements. Surplus cash, transferred from the Digital group,
has been accounted for as a return of capital.
Subsequent to the public issuance of Digital stock, cash transfers will be
accounted for as inter-group short-term loans, unless designated as a long-term
loan or as a capital contribution by the Times Company's board of directors, or
the capital stock committee acting on its behalf. Cash transfers designated as
loans will bear interest at the appropriate Times Company interest rate.
4. CONTRIBUTION OF ABUZZ TECHNOLOGIES NET ASSETS
On July 22, 1999, pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger, a
subsidiary of the NYT group ("Acquisition Subsidiary"), acquired all of the
stock of Abuzz Technologies. On July 22, 1999, the NYT group contributed the net
assets of Abuzz Technologies to the Digital group. The $29,544,000 of net assets
contributed included other intangible assets of $7,700,000, which consist
primarily of patents, tradenames and assembled work force which are being
amortized by the straight-line method over five years, and goodwill of
$23,809,000, which is being amortized by the straight-line method over five
years. Abuzz Technologies' operations have been included in the Digital group's
combined financial statements subsequent to July 22, 1999, the date of
contribution. Upon issuance of Digital stock to the public, holders of
Acquisition Subsidiary Class A-1 common stock may exchange any or all of their
Acquisition Subsidiary shares for shares of Digital stock at an exchange ratio
intended to represent the same percentage of ownership in the Digital group
prior to public issuance, as they held in Acquisition Subsidiary. In the event
that the Times Company has not issued Digital stock to the public by
December 31, 2000, the holders of Acquisition Subsidiary's Class A-1 common
stock will have the right to require Acquisition Subsidiary to redeem their
shares for an amount no less than $25,000,000 in the aggregate as described in
Acquisition Subsidiary's certificate of incorporation. This is a liability of
the NYT group and has not been reflected on the accompanying combined balance
sheet as of December 26, 1999.
Pro forma operating results for the year ended December 26, 1999, had the
acquisition occurred on December 28, 1998, are as follows: revenue of
$26,998,000 and net loss of $(21,251,000). Pro forma operating results for the
year ended December 27, 1998, had the acquisition occurred on December 29, 1997,
are as follows: revenue of $14,471,000 and net loss of $(15,685,000). The above
unaudited pro forma results are not necessarily indicative of the combined
results that would have occurred had the
VI-12
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
4. CONTRIBUTION OF ABUZZ TECHNOLOGIES NET ASSETS (CONTINUED)
acquisition taken place as of the beginning of the periods provided, nor
necessarily indicative of results that may be achieved in the future.
5. ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
Accounts receivable is comprised of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998
- -------------- ------------- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Accounts receivable......................................... $8,396 $881
Less allowance for doubtful accounts and credits............ (701) (29)
------ ----
$7,695 $852
====== ====
</TABLE>
Prior to July 1999, the NYT group maintained the billing, cash collections
and collection efforts for certain of the Digital group's websites. As the
accounts receivable were recorded as part of the NYT group's accounts
receivable, the Digital group reflected those accounts receivable as a reduction
in the net funds allocated from the NYT group. Subsequent to July 1999, these
accounts receivable balances are recorded in "Accounts Receivable, net" on the
accompanying combined balance sheet as of December 26, 1999.
6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
Property and equipment is comprised of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998
- -------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Leasehold improvements...................................... $ 827 $ 1,567
Furniture, fixtures and computer equipment.................. 9,850 3,141
Construction in progress.................................... 2,553 414
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization.............. (3,435) (2,449)
------- -------
Property and equipment--net................................. $ 9,795 $ 2,673
======= =======
</TABLE>
VI-13
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS ACQUIRED
Intangible assets acquired is comprised of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998
- -------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Goodwill.................................................... $23,809 $ --
Other intangible assets..................................... 7,700 --
Less accumulated amortization............................... (2,625) --
------- -------
Intangible assets acquired--net............................. $28,884 $ --
======= =======
</TABLE>
8. ACCRUED EXPENSES
Accrued expenses is comprised of the following:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998
- -------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Accrued bonuses............................................. $2,430 $ 801
Payroll, benefits and related costs......................... 552 395
Office relocation liabilities............................... 48 802
Other accrued liabilities................................... 419 1,265
------ ------
Total....................................................... $3,449 $3,263
====== ======
</TABLE>
VI-14
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
9. INCOME TAXES
Income tax benefits and related assets and liabilities attributable to the
Digital group are determined in accordance with the Times Company's tax
allocation policy (see Note 3).
The components of income tax benefits are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998 1997
- -------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current tax benefit
Federal............................................... $ 7,852 $5,374 $3,051
State, local, foreign................................. 3,424 3,314 1,956
------- ------ ------
Total current benefit................................... 11,276 8,688 5,007
------- ------ ------
Deferred tax benefit
Federal............................................... 433 718 111
State, local, foreign................................. 976 437 73
------- ------ ------
Total deferred benefit.................................. 1,409 1,155 184
------- ------ ------
Income tax benefit...................................... $12,685 $9,843 $5,191
======= ====== ======
</TABLE>
Reconciliation of the U.S. federal statutory tax rate to the Digital
group's effective tax rate on loss before income taxes is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27, DECEMBER 28,
1999 1998 1997
------------------- ------------------- -------------------
% OF % OF % OF
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) AMOUNT PRETAX AMOUNT PRETAX AMOUNT PRETAX
- ---------------------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Income tax benefit at federal statutory rate...... $10,521 35.0% $7,408 35.0% $3,874 35.0%
State and local income tax benefit--net........... 2,860 9.5 2,435 11.5 1,317 11.9
Amortization of nondeductible intangible assets
acquired........................................ (696) (2.3) -- -- -- --
------- ---- ------ ---- ------ ----
Income tax benefit at the effective rate.......... $12,685 42.2% $9,843 46.5% $5,191 46.9%
======= ==== ====== ==== ====== ====
</TABLE>
VI-15
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
9. INCOME TAXES (CONTINUED)
The following is a summary of the components of the deferred tax accounts
at December 26, 1999, and December 27, 1998:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 27,
(IN THOUSANDS) 1999 1998
- -------------- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C>
Deferred tax assets
Federal and state net operating loss carryforwards........ $2,486 $ --
Capitalized lease obligation.............................. 1,252 --
Property and equipment.................................... -- 1,172
Deferred compensation..................................... 347 216
Accounts receivable allowances............................ 365 15
Other..................................................... 557 16
------ ------
Total deferred tax assets................................... 5,007 1,419
Valuation allowance......................................... -- --
------ ------
Total deferred tax assets................................... 5,007 1,419
------ ------
Deferred tax liabilities
Intangible assets acquired................................ 3,256 --
Property and equipment.................................... 544 --
------ ------
Total deferred tax liabilities.............................. 3,800 --
------ ------
Net deferred tax assets..................................... $1,207 $1,419
====== ======
</TABLE>
Net operating loss carryforwards expire as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FEDERAL NET STATE NET
OPERATING OPERATING
YEAR OF EXPIRATION LOSSES LOSSES
- ------------------ ----------- ---------
<S> <C> <C>
2003.................................................... $ -- $ 933
2004.................................................... -- 3,000
2018.................................................... 933 --
2019.................................................... 3,000 5,279
------ ------
$3,933 $9,212
====== ======
</TABLE>
The federal net operating loss carryforwards were acquired in connection
with the acquisition of Abuzz Technologies by the NYT group. These benefits were
contributed to the Digital group in connection with the contribution of the net
assets of Abuzz Technologies on July 22, 1999 (See Note 4). Certain annual
limitations apply to these benefits and as such they could not be utilized in
1999.
VI-16
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
10. DIVISIONAL NET WORTH
The following represents the change in the Digital group's divisional net
worth for the period from December 29, 1996, through December 26, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FUNDS
ALLOCATED FROM ACCUMULATED
(IN THOUSANDS) THE NYT GROUP LOSSES TOTAL
- -------------- -------------- ------------ --------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at December 29, 1996................................ $11,831 $(11,431) $ 400
Net loss.................................................... (5,878) (5,878)
Funds allocated from the NYT group.......................... 6,644 6,644
------- -------- --------
Balance at December 28, 1997................................ 18,475 (17,309) 1,166
Net loss.................................................... (11,324) (11,324)
Funds allocated from the NYT group.......................... 11,405 11,405
------- -------- --------
Balance at December 27, 1998................................ 29,880 (28,633) 1,247
Net loss.................................................... (17,375) (17,375)
Funds allocated from the NYT group.......................... 50,560 50,560
------- -------- --------
Balance at December 26, 1999................................ $80,440 $(46,008) $ 34,432
======= ======== ========
</TABLE>
11. STOCK OPTIONS
ISSUANCE OF STOCK OPTIONS
In 1999, Acquisition Subsidiary, a subsidiary of the NYT group, adopted a
stock option plan (the "plan") that provides for the grant of options to
purchase shares of Acquisition Subsidiary's common stock, principally to
employees of and service providers to the Digital group. Acquisition Subsidiary
has reserved 15,000,000 shares of its Class A-2 common stock for issuance under
the plan. With certain exceptions, such options generally vest over four years
as follows: 25% on the first anniversary of the grant date and 12.5% every six
months thereafter. With the exception of certain grants, the option price was
equal to the fair market value at the date of the grant.
Furthermore, in connection with the acquisition of Abuzz Technologies in
July 1999, the holders of unvested options to acquire shares of Abuzz
Technologies received options to acquire 380,000 shares of Acquisition
Subsidiary's Class A-2 common stock (the "Abuzz Rollover Options") with similar
terms and conditions. The average exercise price of these options is $0.19 which
is below the deemed fair market value of $5.86 per share. These options vest
ratably over a two-year period.
VI-17
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
11. STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
Changes in Acquisition Subsidiary's stock options for the period July 22,
1999 to December 26, 1999, were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
1999
----------------------------
NUMBER OF WEIGHTED AVERAGE
(SHARES IN THOUSANDS) OPTIONS EXERCISE PRICE
- --------------------- --------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Options outstanding beginning of period..................... -- --
Granted..................................................... 9,297 $5.19
Exercised................................................... (1) 0.17
Forfeited................................................... (520) 5.61
-----
Options outstanding end of year............................. 8,776 $5.17
===== =====
Options exercisable end of year............................. 728 $0.17
===== =====
</TABLE>
The following table summarizes information about Acquisition Subsidiary's
outstanding stock options at December 26, 1999:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
(IN THOUSANDS) OPTIONS OUTSTANDING OPTIONS EXERCISABLE
- --------------------- ------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------------
WEIGHTED AVERAGE
NUMBER REMAINING CONTRACTUAL WEIGHTED REMAINING NUMBER WEIGHTED AVERAGE
EXERCISE PRICE RANGES OF OPTIONS LIFE EXERCISE PRICE OF OPTIONS EXERCISE PRICE
- --------------------- ---------- --------------------- ------------------ ---------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
$0.17--$0.19......... 1,084 9 years $ 0.18 728 $0.17
$5.86--$7.03......... 7,692 10 years 5.87 -- --
----- ---
8,776 $ 5.17 728 $0.17
===== ====== === =====
</TABLE>
Under Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock
Options, therefore no compensation expense is recorded when the exercise price
equals the deemed fair market value at the date of grant for options issued to
employees. During the period July 22, 1999, to December 26, 1999, Acquisition
Subsidiary granted 2,450,000 options for shares at $5.86 per share which was
below the fair market value of $7.03 per share. The Digital group has been
allocated compensation expense for 1999 of $2,048,000 related to these options
and the Abuzz Rollover Options. This amount represents a portion, based on the
vesting periods of these options, of the difference between the exercise price
and the deemed fair value of the underlying shares. This allocation has been
made because these options were issued to employees of the Digital group. Future
compensation expense related to these options will be allocated to the Digital
group as follows: 2000--$2,212,000; 2001--$473,000; and 2002--$111,000 as the
options vest over their respective vesting periods.
The weighted average fair value of stock option grants in 1999 was $2.16.
The weighted average value was estimated at the date of grant using the Black
Scholes Option Valuation model and the following assumptions: risk-free interest
rate--6.19%; Expected life--4 years and Expected volatility and dividend yield
of zero.
VI-18
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
11. STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
Upon the issuance of Digital stock, each option for shares of Acquisition
Subsidiary Class A-1 and A-2 common stock will automatically convert into an
option to purchase shares of Digital stock at the same exchange ratio used to
convert Acquisition Subsidiary's common stock into Digital stock. The exchange
ratio used to convert Acquisition Subsidiary's common stock into shares of
Digital stock is intended to give holders of Acquisition Subsidiary common stock
the same percentage of Digital stock prior to the public issuance, as they held
in Acquisition Subsidiary.
12. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS
PENSION AND EMPLOYEE SAVINGS PLAN
Certain employees of the Digital group are eligible for participation in
the Times Company's noncontributory defined benefits plan. The Digital group's
allocated cost was negligible for all periods presented.
Beginning in July 1999, new employees of the Digital group are not
eligible to participate in the pension plan of the Times Company. All prior
employees of the Digital group or those transferred from the NYT group earned
benefits through December 31, 1999. All employees of the Digital group will be
eligible to participate in a separate 401(k) plan of the Digital group.
The NYT group also contributed to a multi-employer pension plan on behalf
of the Digital group, for which no benefit information for each contributing
employee is available. The cost of this plan was approximately $176,000 in 1999,
$152,000 in 1998 and $16,000 in 1997.
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
OPERATING LEASES
Lease commitments are primarily for office space and equipment. Certain
office space leases provide for rent adjustments relating to changes in real
estate taxes and other operating expenses.
Rental expense amounted to $1,667,000 in 1999, $1,349,000 in 1998 and
$564,000 in 1997. The approximate minimum rental commitments under noncancelable
leases at December 26, 1999, were as follows: 2000, $964,000; 2001, $922,000;
2002, $821,000; 2003, $555,000; 2004, $352,000 and none thereafter.
VI-19
<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (CONTINUED)
CAPITAL LEASES
Capital leases are primarily for computer equipment. Future minimum lease
payments for all capital leases and the present value of the minimum lease
payments at December 26, 1999, are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AMOUNT
(IN THOUSANDS) ------
<S> <C>
2000........................................................ $1,104
2001........................................................ 1,104
2002........................................................ 736
------
Total minimum lease payments................................ 2,944
Less imputed interest....................................... (205)
------
Present value of net minimum lease payments................. $2,739
======
</TABLE>
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS
The Times Company has employment agreements with two of the Digital
group's officers. The agreements provide for minimum aggregate payments of
approximately $693,000, $450,000 and $342,000 during 2000, 2001 and 2002. One
agreement also provides for incentive payments between $250,000 and $437,500
upon meeting certain performance targets. One agreement expires on November 30,
2000, and the other agreement expires on September 1, 2002.
LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
There are no legal proceedings to which the Times Company is a party
pertaining to the business and operations of the Digital group, other than
ordinary routine litigation that is incidental to the business of the Digital
group and is not material to the business or financial statements of the Times
Company or the Digital group.
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
ISSUANCE OF STOCK OPTIONS
Subsequent to December 26, 1999, Acquisition Subsidiary granted 1,450,000
options for Acquisition Subsidiary shares at an exercise price of $7.03 per
share to employees of the Digital group.
Subsequent to December 26, 1999, the board of directors of the Times
Company approved the grant of 734,000 options for Acquisition Subsidiary shares
at an exercise price of $7.03 per share to certain employees of the NYT group
and 28,600 options for Acquisition Subsidiary shares at an exercise price of
$7.03 per share to non-employee directors of the Times Company.
The exercise price was equivalent to the deemed fair market value at the
date of grant for all options issued subsequent to December 26, 1999 and as
such, no deferred compensation expense was recorded.
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<PAGE>
THE DIGITAL GROUP
(A DIVISION OF THE TIMES COMPANY)
NOTES TO THE COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
14. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS (CONTINUED)
ADVERTISING CREDITS
On March 3, 2000, the NYT group committed to provide $30,000,000 in
advertising credits to the Digital group to be utilized in any of the NYT
group's print publications. It is the Digital group's current intention to use
these credits as consideration to effect strategic alliances, investments and
acquisitions.
The advertising credits will be recorded on the Digital group's combined
financial statements as they are committed to independent third parties. The
fair market value of what is received or the value of the advertising given up,
whichever is more readily determinable, will be recorded as an asset with a
corresponding amount recorded as funds allocated from the NYT group in the
Digital group's combined financial statements.
VENTURE CAPITAL INVESTMENT
On March 21, 2000, the Times Company completed the sale of an aggregate of
$40.0 million of 7% convertible subordinated notes (the "Notes") of the Times
Company due March 21, 2003. The proceeds of the sale and the indebtedness has
been attributed to the Digital group. The investors consisted of two related
funds managed by Flatiron Partners ("Flatiron"), Chase Equity Associates, L.P.
("Chase") and three related funds managed by Highland Capital Partners
("Highland").
After the consummation of an initial public offering of Digital stock,
these notes will be convertible, at the election of Flatiron, Chase and
Highland, into shares of Digital stock intended to represent approximately
6 2/3% of the pre-offering equity of the Digital group. If there is no offering,
the Notes will not be convertible into any class of the Times Company's stock.
The Times Company has agreed to give Flatiron, Chase and Highland piggyback and
demand registration rights for shares of Digital stock issued upon conversion of
the Notes.
Interest accrues daily on the unpaid principal amount of these Notes at
7.0% per year, compounded quarterly. The Notes may be prepaid, in whole or in
part, without premium or penalty, at any time after the day which is 180 days
after the consummation of the offering in the event that the market value of the
Digital stock shall have exceeded 150% of the conversion price for a period of
20 consecutive trading days.
The Times Company will make the proceeds of this offering available to the
Digital group as they are needed and as such the Digital group will accrue
interest income on the amount of proceeds still available to the Digital group
at the Times Company's short-term interest rate.
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