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AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON NOVEMBER 15, 1996
REGISTRATION NO. 333-10511
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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AMENDMENT NO. 2
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
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HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
DELAWARE 2501 118TH AVENUE NORTH 59-2649518
(State or other jurisdiction ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33716 (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation or (813) 572-8585 Identification No.)
organization) (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of registrant's principal executive
offices)
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KEVIN J. MCKEON
HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC.
2501 118TH AVENUE NORTH
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33716
(813) 572-8585
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE OF THE SECURITIES TO
THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of the registration
statement.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box: [ ]
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act
of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: [x]
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box. [ ]
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
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HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC.
Cross Reference Sheet
Pursuant to Item 501(b) of Regulation S-K
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Item No. Form S-3 Caption Location or Caption in Prospectus
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1. Forepart of the Registration Statement Front Cover Page; Cross-Reference Sheet; Outside
and Outside Front Cover Page of Front Cover Page
Prospectus
2. Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Inside Front and Outside Back Cover Pages
Pages of Prospectus
3. Summary Information, Risk Factors and The Company, Risk Factors, Ratio of Earnings to
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges Fixed Charges
4. Use of Proceeds Use of Proceeds
5. Determination of Offering Price Not Applicable
6. Dilution Not Applicable
7. Selling Security Holders Selling Securityholders
8. Plan of Distribution Plan of Distribution
9. Description of Securities to be Description of Debentures; Description of Capital
Registered Stock
10. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel Legal Matters; Experts
11. Material Changes Recent Developments
12. Incorporation of Certain Information by Incorporation of Documents by Reference
Reference
13. Disclosure of Commission Position on Not Applicable
Indemnification for Securities Act
Liabilities
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PROSPECTUS
HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC.
$100,000,000
5 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due March 1, 2006
and
8,333,333 Shares of Common Stock
This Prospectus relates to the offering and sale from time to time of
the 5 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due March 1, 2006 (the
"Debentures"), of Home Shopping Network, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("HSN" or
the "Company"), and the shares of the Company's common stock, par value $0.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), issuable upon conversion thereof (the "Shares"
and together with the Debentures, the "Securities") by certain holders (the
"Selling Securityholders") of the Securities as described under "Selling
Securityholders." The Selling Securityholders may from time to time sell the
Securities offered hereby to or through one or more underwriters, directly to
other purchasers or through agents in ordinary brokerage transactions, in
negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time
of sale, prices related to then prevailing market prices or at negotiated
prices. See "Plan of Distribution."
Interest on the Debentures is payable semi-annually in arrears on March
1 and September 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 1996. Payments will
be made without deduction for United States withholding taxes, to the extent
described herein. The Debentures are convertible, at the option of the holder,
unless previously redeemed or repurchased by the Company, at any time prior to
maturity, into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price of $12.00 per share,
equivalent to approximately 83.33 Shares for each $1,000 principal amount of
Debentures, subject to certain adjustments. On November 15, 1996, the closing
price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange was $11 3/8 per
share.
The Debentures are redeemable for cash at any time on or after March 1,
1998 at the option of the Company, in whole or in part, at the redemption
prices set forth herein, plus all accrued interest, except that, prior to March
1, 1999, the Debentures may not be redeemed unless the closing price of the
Common Stock equals or exceeds 140% of the then effective conversion price per
share for 20 out of 30 consecutive trading days ending within 20 calendar days
before the notice of redemption is mailed. See "Description of Debentures -
Optional Redemption by the Company." In the event of certain events
constituting a Change of Control (as defined herein) of the Company, holders of
the Debentures will have the right, subject to certain conditions and
restrictions, to require the Company to purchase all or part of their
Debentures at a redemption price of 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus
accrued interest (including any Additional Interest as defined herein). See
"Description of Debentures - Change of Control."
The Debentures are unsecured general obligations of the Company and
subordinated to all existing and future Senior Debt (as defined herein) of the
Company. See "Description of Debentures - Ranking."
The Debentures were originally issued by the Company on March 1, 1996 in
a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act").
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of any of
the Debentures or the Shares offered by the Selling Securityholders hereunder.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 3 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY.
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THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY
OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
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The date of this Prospectus is November 18, 1996.
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AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy and information statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Such
reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed by the
Company with the SEC can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference
Section of the SEC at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the regional offices of the SEC located at Seven
World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison
Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at Room 1024, Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates.
Such reports, proxy and information statements and other information can also
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005. The Commission maintains a Web site that
contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information
regarding registrants (including the Company) that file electronically with the
Commission. The address of the Commission's Web site is http://www.sec.gov.
The Company has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the Securities offered
hereby. This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in
the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information pertaining
to the Securities and the Company, reference is made to the Registration
Statement. Statements contained herein concerning the provisions of any
document are not necessarily complete and, in each instance, reference is made
to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
or otherwise filed with the SEC. Each such statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference. Copies of the Registration Statement and the
exhibits may be inspected, without charge, at the offices of the SEC, or
obtained at prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the SEC at
the address set forth above.
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed with the SEC (File No. 1-9118) are
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus: the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995; the Company's Quarterly Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996, June 30, 1996 and September
30, 1996; the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 15, 1996,
February 26, 1996, March 1, 1996, August 26, 1996 and October 15, 1996; and the
description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the Company's
registration statement filed pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act,
including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such
description filed by the Company.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Securities hereunder shall be deemed to
be incorporated herein by reference and shall be a part hereof from the date of
filing of such documents. Such documents are expected to include the definitive
proxy materials to be prepared by the Company and Silver King (as defined) to
their respective stockholders in connection with the Merger (as defined).
Any statement contained in documents incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus, or in any other
subsequently filed document which is also incorporated herein by reference,
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modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed to constitute a part of this Prospectus except
as so modified or superseded.
The Company hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a Prospectus is delivered, upon written
or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents
incorporated by reference herein, other than exhibits to such documents not
specifically incorporated by reference. Requests for such copies should be
directed to the Company's Chief Financial Officer, 2501 118th Avenue North, St.
Petersburg, Florida 33716, whose telephone number is (813) 572-8585.
RISK FACTORS
PRIOR TO MAKING AN INVESTMENT DECISION, PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS OF THE
SECURITIES SHOULD CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING RISK FACTORS IN ADDITION TO
THE OTHER INFORMATION AND FINANCIAL DATA PRESENTED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN:
RECENT OPERATING RESULTS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION
The Company experienced a significant decline in its business during
1995, resulting in a net loss of approximately $62 million for the year ended
December 31, 1995. The Company believes that its negative performance in 1995
was due in part to the adverse effects of certain merchandising and programming
strategies which had been implemented in late 1994 and 1995. The issuance of the
Debentures by the Company, together with the Company's possible future
borrowings under the Replacement Facility (as defined), may have the effect of
increasing the total amount of the Company's consolidated indebtedness and may
increase its interest expense obligations in subsequent periods. The Company's
ability to make scheduled payments or to refinance its obligations with respect
to its indebtedness depends on its financial and operating performance which, in
turn, are subject in part to prevailing economic conditions and financial,
business and other factors beyond its control. There can be no assurance that
the Company will generate sufficient funds from operations to satisfy its
obligations under its indebtedness.
PROSPECTS FOR FUTURE REVENUE GROWTH
The Company experienced only a 15.4% growth in net sales between 1990
and 1994, and net sales in 1995 declined 9.4% from 1994. The Company has
historically sought to increase the number of homes receiving its programming,
and hence the number of potential customers, primarily through the
establishment of affiliation agreements with cable television system operators
and broadcast station operators for the transmission of its programming
services to cable television subscribers and broadcast television viewers, and
by transmission of the Company's programming service directly to the owners of
home satellite dishes. While the Company continues to seek further
opportunities to increase the number of homes receiving the Company's
programming, it is unlikely that the number of homes receiving the Company's
programming will continue to grow at rates comparable to those achieved in
prior periods. Therefore, the Company's ability to increase its revenue will
depend more heavily on market penetration, defined as the addition of new
customers from homes already receiving the Company's programming and continued
growth in repeat sales to existing customers. No assurance can be given that
the Company will be successful in these efforts to increase market penetration.
Messrs. Barry Diller, Chairman of the Board of the Company, and
James Held, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company,
and other new management of the Company, have conducted a comprehensive
review of the Company's merchandising and programming strategies,
operations and budget and all other aspects of the Company's business
and have formulated plans and proposals to improve the operating
performance of the Company. See "Risk Factors - Management Changes"
and "- Dependence on
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Certain Key Personnel." For the quarter and nine months
ended September 30, 1996, net sales for the Company increased $16.7 million, or
7.7%, to $234.3 million from $217.6 million and $75.1 million, or 11.4%, to
$733.9 million from $658.8 million, respectively, compared to the same periods
in 1995. The Company believes that the improved sales in the quarter and nine
months ended September 30, 1996 compared to 1995 were primarily the result of
immediate changes made by new management to the Company's merchandising and
programming strategies. These changes included initiating changes in the
merchandising area designed to broaden product assortments, changing the sales
mix, optimizing product variety and value, maintaining the average price per
unit at the desired level, improving inventory management and improving planning
of programmed shows. Management expects to take additional steps designed to
attract both first-time and active customers which include improving product
assortment, reducing the average price per unit, improving inventory management
and better planning of programmed shows. While management is optimistic that
results will continue to improve and the Company will remain profitable, there
can be no assurance that changes to the Company's merchandising and programming
strategies will achieve management's intended results.
SUBSTANTIAL LEVERAGE
The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries incurred substantial
indebtedness and other cash obligations as a result of the consummation of the
sale of the Debentures. The Company used the net proceeds of $97.2 million from
the Debentures to repay borrowings under the Prior Credit Facility (as defined).
As of September 30, 1996, there were no outstanding borrowings under the
Replacement Facility and approximately $139 million was available for
borrowing after taking into account outstanding letters of credit. The
Company anticipates that it will use its borrowing capacity under the
Replacement Facility to provide funds for working capital and other corporate
purposes, to the extent that funds from operations are not sufficient for such
purposes. As a result, the Company anticipates that its consolidated
indebtedness may increase during the remainder of 1996. In addition, if the
Merger (as defined) is consummated, the total consolidated indebtedness of
Silver King (which will include the indebtedness represented by the
Debentures) will be substantially in excess of that of the Company. The
Debentures are subordinated to all outstanding Indebtedness (as defined) of
the Company, including amounts outstanding under the Replacement Facility.
All outstanding amounts under the Replacement Facility become due and
payable in August 1999. See "Recent Developments". The Indenture (as defined)
governing the Debentures does not restrict the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or affiliates from incurring additional indebtedness or other
liabilities or obligations. In addition, the Indenture would not restrict the
Company from advancing funds to Silver King (whether through dividends, loans or
otherwise) following the Merger, subject to the terms of the Replacement
Facility. See "Description of Debentures - Ranking."
The degree to which the Company is leveraged could have important
consequences to purchasers of the Securities, including (i) increasing the
Company's vulnerability to adverse general economic and industry conditions,
(ii) limiting the Company's ability to obtain additional financing to take
advantage of acquisition or development opportunities that may arise in the
future, whether in respect of new projects or to expand existing projects, or
to expand the Company's inventory, (iii) reducing the Company's flexibility to
respond to changing business, technological and economic conditions and (iv)
impeding the Company's ability to obtain financing or refinancing for general
working capital, capital expenditures or for other general corporate purposes.
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE; DEPENDENCE UPON CASH FLOW FROM SUBSIDIARIES
The Company is a holding company and conducts all of its operations
through subsidiaries. Consequently, the ability of the Company to pay its
obligations, including its obligation to pay interest on and
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principal of the Debentures when due, will be dependent upon the
earnings of its subsidiaries. The subsidiaries are separate and distinct legal
entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts
due pursuant to the Debentures or to make funds available therefor. The
ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments or advances
to the Company will depend upon their operating results and will be subject to
various business considerations and to applicable state laws.
Because the Debentures are not obligations of the Company's
subsidiaries and because a substantial portion of the assets of the Company are
owned by, and substantially all of its operations are conducted through, its
subsidiaries, claims of holders of Debentures are structurally subordinated to
the claims of such subsidiaries' creditors, including lenders and trade
creditors, of such subsidiaries. Thus, the Debentures effectively are
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Company's
subsidiaries, including trade payables, except to the extent that the Company
is itself recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary, in which case the claims
of the Company would still be subordinate to any security interest in the
assets of such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to
that held by the Company. The capital stock of two of the Company's
subsidiaries, Home Shopping Clue, Inc. ("HSC") and HSN Realty, Inc., has been
pledged to the lenders under the Replacement Facility and such subsidiaries
have guaranteed the obligations of the Company under such facility. The
Indenture permits the Company's subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness
and to issue preferred stock.
RANKING; SUBORDINATION
The Debentures represent general unsecured obligations of the Company
senior or pari passu in right of payment to all other unsecured obligations of
the Company but subordinated to the prior payment in full of all existing and
future Senior Debt of the Company. See "Description of Debentures - Ranking."
As of September 30, 1996, the Company had approximately $1 million of debt that
constituted Senior Debt. In addition, the Debentures were structurally
subordinated to the liabilities of the subsidiaries of the Company, which
constituted most of the approximately $164 million in other consolidated
liabilities of the Company as of such date. See "- Holding Company Structure;
Dependence Upon Cash Flow From Subsidiaries" above. There are no restrictions
in the Indenture on the creation of additional Senior Debt (or any other
indebtedness), including any indebtedness ranking senior to the Debentures but
junior to other indebtedness of the Company or on the incurrence of additional
liabilities by subsidiaries of the Company.
Upon the maturity or in the event of a default in payment when due
(whether at a date fixed for payment or by acceleration or otherwise) of
principal, premium, if any, or interest or any other amount due in respect of
Senior Debt then, unless such Senior Debt has been paid in full or such default
shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist, the Company may
not make principal or interest payments with respect to, or acquire any of, the
Debentures. Upon the occurrence of a covenant default under any Senior Debt
(i.e., a default that does not involve a missed payment of principal or
interest or any other amount due on Senior Debt) and receipt by the Trustee
under the Indenture of notice to such effect, the Company may not make payments
with respect to, or acquire any of, the Debentures, until the earlier of (i)
the default having been cured or waived or ceasing to exist or (ii) 180 days
having passed from the date of receipt of such written notice. Were the
maturity of the Senior Debt to be accelerated during such 180-day period, no
payment may be made with respect to the Debentures until such Senior Debt is
paid in full. See "Description of Debentures - Ranking."
Upon any distribution of assets in any dissolution, winding-up,
liquidation or reorganization of the Company (whether in any bankruptcy,
insolvency or receivership proceedings or otherwise), payment of all amounts
due in respect of the Debentures will be subordinated to the prior payment in
full of all Senior Debt. By reason of such subordination, in the event of
dissolution, insolvency, bankruptcy or other similar
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proceedings, upon any distribution of assets: (i) the holders of
Debentures will be required to pay over their share of such distribution to the
holders of Senior Debt until such Senior Debt is paid in full; and (ii)
creditors who are not holders of Debentures or holders of Senior Debt may
recover more, ratably, than the holders of Debentures.
CONTROL BY TCI
Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI"), through Liberty Media Corporation
("Liberty"), a wholly owned subsidiary of TCI, and Liberty's subsidiary Liberty
HSN, is currently the beneficial owner of 17,566,702 shares of Common Stock and
20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock of the Company ("Class B Common
Stock") (such shares of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are referred to
collectively herein as the "TCI Company Shares"). The TCI Company Shares
represent approximately 41% of the outstanding equity securities of the Company
and, by virtue of the fact that the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote
together as a single class as to most matters, with shares of Class B Common
Stock generally entitled to cast 10 votes per share while shares of Common
Stock are entitled to cast one vote per share, the TCI Company Shares represent
approximately 80% of the voting power of the Company's outstanding equity
securities. Thus, TCI currently has sufficient voting power to control all
matters requiring the approval of the Company's stockholders, including the
power to elect all of the members of the Company's Board of Directors
(excluding the directors constituting 25% of the entire Board who are elected
by the holders of the Common Stock), the power to effect amendments to the
Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the power to approve
mergers, sales of assets, "going private" and other corporate transactions
without the approval of any other stockholders of the Company. See
"Description of Capital Stock."
PROPOSED MERGER WITH SILVER KING
In August 1995, Liberty and Mr. Barry Diller entered into an agreement
pursuant to which Liberty has transferred an option (the "Liberty Option") to
purchase 2,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock of Silver King ("Silver King
Class B Common Stock") (which shares represent a majority of the outstanding
voting power of Silver King) to BDTV INC. ("BDTV"), a company in which Liberty
owns substantially all of the equity interest and Mr. Diller, who has been
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since November 1995 and who
became Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Silver King in
August 1995, owns all of the voting interests. Pursuant to such agreement
between Mr. Diller and Liberty (the "Stockholders Agreement"), Mr. Diller is
entitled to vote all of the Silver King securities held by this entity and
manage the business of Silver King, subject to certain restrictions.
Consummation of this transaction was subject to the satisfaction of certain
conditions, including receipt of the final approval of the Federal
Communications Commission (the "FCC") to the transfer of control of Silver
King's broadcast licenses to Mr. Diller (the "FCC Approval"). Following the
consummation of such transactions on August 13, 1996, Mr. Diller, who also
acquired separately a significant number of options to acquire the Common Stock
of Silver King (the "Silver King Common Stock") in August 1995 effectively,
directly and indirectly has voting power of securities of Silver King
representing a majority of the outstanding voting power of that entity.
In November 1995, Liberty and Mr. Diller entered into an amendment to
their original agreement and certain agreements, which provided for,
among other things, Silver King's acquisition of control of the Company through
the transfer (the "Merger and Exchange") to Silver King of the TCI Company
Shares in exchange for additional shares of Silver King Common Stock and Class
B Common Stock (the "Silver King Exchange Securities"). In addition, in
connection with such transfer of the TCI Company Shares, TCI would have
acquired beneficial ownership of a substantial additional equity interest in
Silver King and, through such ownership of Silver King securities, would
continue to have a substantial indirect equity interest in the
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Company. At the same time, Liberty and Mr. Diller entered into an
amendment to the Stockholders Agreement, the effectiveness of which was
conditioned upon consummation of the Merger and Exchange.
By Memorandum Opinion and Order, adopted March 6, 1996, and released
March 11, 1996 (the "FCC Order"), the FCC granted, subject to certain
conditions described below, the FCC Approval; however, the FCC stayed the
effectiveness of the FCC Order to investigate certain allegations filed by a
third party against Silver King and to assess their impact on the FCC Order.
The provisions of the FCC Order granting the approval for the transfer
of control of the Silver King television stations described in the preceding
paragraphs was conditioned upon, among other things, the prior approval by the
FCC of (i) any substantial and material modification to the Stockholders
Agreement, (ii) any increase in TCI's ownership interest in Silver King (the
"Equity Condition"), and (iii) any material increase in the percentage of cable
subscribers of TCI-owned cable systems within the markets served by any of
Silver King's television stations (the "Subscriber Condition"). Based on
information contained in a report on Schedule 13D filed by TCI and Mr. Diller
with the SEC, TCI did not agree to the Subscriber Condition, and, accordingly,
BDTV filed a request for clarification with the FCC, dated April 10, 1996,
insofar as it imposed the Subscriber Condition. By Memorandum Opinion and
Order and Notice of Apparent Liability, adopted June 6, 1996 and released June
14, 1996 (the "FCC June Order"), the FCC, among other things, granted in part
such request for clarification and removed the Subscriber Condition from its
prior grant of approval of the transfer of control of the Silver King
television stations. In the FCC June Order, the FCC required that BDTV notify
the FCC prior to the consummation of an acquisition by Liberty or TCI of cable
systems, or other transaction, whereby the aggregate percentage of television
households served by cable systems owned or controlled by TCI in any of the
Silver King television markets would exceed 50%. In the FCC June Order, the FCC
also dissolved the stay of effectiveness of the FCC Order.
Based on information contained in a report on Schedule 13D filed with
the SEC by TCI on August 16, 1996, each of the agreements relating to the
Merger and Exchange provided that such agreement may be terminated by either
party in the event that the transactions contemplated thereby had not been
consummated by August 30, 1996. Such report also indicated that because of the
delays in receiving the approval of the FCC of the acquisition of control of
Silver King by BDTV and certain limitations contained in the FCC June Order
relating to Liberty's acquisition of beneficial ownership of additional equity
securities of Silver King (including those shares in which it would acquire an
ownership interest as a result of the Merger and Exchange), Liberty believed it
was unlikely that such transactions will be consummated by August 30, 1996.
Such report also stated that, as a result, Mr. Diller and Liberty recently had
begun discussing a restructuring of the proposed transactions or a possible
alternative transaction relating to the Company, in any case such that Silver
King could acquire control of the Company in a manner that would be consistent
with the limitations relating to Liberty's acquisition of beneficial ownership
of additional equity securities of Silver King contained in the FCC June Order.
The Company, Silver King Communications, Inc. ("Silver King"), a
subsidiary of Silver King ("Silver King Sub"), and Liberty HSN, Inc. ("Liberty
HSN") entered into an Agreement and Plan of Exchange and Merger (the "Merger
Agreement"), dated as of August 25, 1996, which agreement provides for the
Merger of Silver King Sub and the Company and will result in the Company
becoming initially at least an 80.1% owned subsidiary of Silver King (the
"Merger"). See "Recent Developments - Proposed Silver King Merger." In
connection with the Merger Agreement, Silver King, BDTV, Liberty Program
Investments, Inc. and Liberty HSN entered into a Termination Agreement, dated
as of August 25, 1996, which terminated the agreements relating to the Merger
and Exchange upon execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement.
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The foregoing summary discussion of certain proposed transactions and
other arrangements between and among Silver King, Mr. Diller and/or Liberty or
TCI has been derived from publicly available information concerning such
transactions, including certain reports on Schedule 13D filed by such persons
with the SEC, and certain exhibits included or incorporated by reference
therein. Such summary, as well as the other information regarding such
arrangements contained in this Prospectus, is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such Schedule 13D reports and the exhibits thereto, which may be
obtained from the places and in the manner described under the caption
"Available Information."
CERTAIN LITIGATION
Following the announcement of the proposed Merger, certain lawsuits were
initiated in the Delaware Court of Chancery by certain purported stockholders
of the Company. For further information regarding such litigation, see "Recent
Developments - Certain Litigation." No assurance can be given regarding the
effect, if any, that such litigation may have on the Company or on the proposed
Merger with Silver King.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND SILVER KING
Silver King and the Company currently are, and if the Merger is not
consummated, will continue to be, separate publicly-held companies, with
separate boards of directors (other than Mr. Diller), management (other than
Mr. Diller) and publicly traded securities. Programming produced by the
Company and its subsidiaries presently constitutes substantially all of
the programming broadcast by the Silver King stations. As a result, the
Company is an important source of programming and revenue to Silver King,
and Silver King constitutes a significant distributor of the Company's
programming.
In addition to his executive positions with both the Company and Silver
King, Mr. Diller has also been granted significant equity interests in both
companies. As a result, if the Merger is not consummated, situations may arise
in which Mr. Diller may be required to make decisions which could be perceived
as favoring one company over the other and TCI will continue to hold a large
indirect equity interest in the Company through its indirect ownership of
Silver King securities. As a result, TCI may face situations in which
decisions relating to its business could be viewed as favoring one company over
the other.
In addition to its interest in the Company and Silver King, TCI (through
Liberty) also owns approximately 43% of the common equity of QVC, Inc. ("QVC"),
another leading electronic retailer. Management of QVC is currently controlled
by Comcast Corporation (which owns approximately 57% of the common equity of
QVC), subject to certain restrictions. Situations may arise in which TCI may
take actions favoring QVC over the Company, including situations relating to
the carriage of one or both of such programmers on cable television systems
controlled by TCI or its affiliates.
In addition, federal law currently prevents cable system operators from
providing distribution to an unlimited number of affiliated programmers.
Because TCI holds interests in various cable programmers other than the
Company, such federal limitations may restrict TCI's ability to carry the
Company's programming in the future, especially if such programming entails the
creation of new channels that require additional channel capacity. Furthermore,
the agreements between Mr. Diller and Liberty provide that without the approval
of Mr. Diller and Liberty, neither Silver King nor its subsidiaries (which,
assuming consummation of the Merger, will include the Company), will engage in
any transaction not in the ordinary course of business, launch new or
additional channels or engage in any new field of business, in each case, which
would have a reasonable likelihood of resulting in Liberty or any of its
affiliates being required to divest itself of Silver King securities or any
other assets or which would render such entity's continued ownership of such
securities or assets illegal or subject to the imposition of a fine or penalty
or which would impose material restrictions or limitations on such entity's
full rights of ownership thereof. As a consequence of Liberty's ownership
interest in the
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Company and TCI's ownership interests in other suppliers of
cable television programming, such agreement may limit the ability of the
Company to take advantage of electronic retailing opportunities in the future.
MANAGEMENT CHANGES
In November 1995, Mr. Diller became Chairman of the Board and James Held
became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Mr. Diller does
not have an employment agreement with the Company and does not receive a salary
from the Company; however, in connection with his appointment as Chairman of
the Board, Mr. Diller was originally granted options to purchase 13,400,000
shares of Common Stock at an exercise price of $8.50 per share, of which amount
options with respect to 100,000 shares were subsequently returned to the
Company. The vesting of such options will occur over the next four years,
subject to acceleration in certain specified circumstances, and, except in
certain circumstances, vesting is conditioned upon Mr. Diller remaining as
Chairman of the Company, with any unvested options subject to termination.
Mr. Held has entered into an employment agreement with the Company
(which agreement has a term of four years, subject to renewal), and has also
been granted options to purchase 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock at an
exercise price of $8.50 per share, vesting over a period of four years, subject
to acceleration in certain specified circumstances. Except in certain
circumstances, such vesting is subject to Mr. Held remaining in the employ of
the Company, with any unvested options subject to termination. Mr. Held's
employment agreement may be terminated by him under certain circumstances,
including in situations where Mr. Diller and/or TCI cease to be the direct or
indirect controlling stockholders of the Company.
Although the appointment of Messrs. Diller and Held occurred at
approximately the same time as the execution of the agreements described above
relating to the Merger and Exchange, neither such appointment was conditioned
or otherwise made contingent upon, the consummation of such transactions. Each
of Mr. Diller and Mr. Held was granted significant equity interests in the
Company to provide them with substantial economic incentives to remain with the
Company whether or not such transactions were actually consummated. Despite
the significant economic incentives provided by such option grants, there can
be no assurance that the Company will be able to retain the long-term services
of Mr. Diller, Mr. Held or other members of senior management or key employees.
DEPENDENCE ON CERTAIN KEY PERSONNEL
Although Messrs. Diller and Held have been with the Company for less
than one year, the Company believes that significant future improvement in its
business will depend upon their contributions. If the Merger is not
consummated, it is uncertain what, if any, effect such failure could have on
Mr. Diller's status as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Silver King or
upon Mr. Diller's status as Chairman of the Company, or upon Mr. Diller's
intent to remain in any or all such capacities. In the event that Mr. Diller
were to resign or be terminated from any of such positions, or were otherwise
unable to perform his responsibilities at the Company, the business of the
Company, as well as the market price of its Common Stock, could be adversely
affected. Likewise, if the Merger is not consummated, it is uncertain what
Silver King's or TCI's future course of action may be, or the effect such
uncertainty would have upon the Company and its senior management.
AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS WITH PROGRAM CARRIERS
The Company's business is highly dependent on its affiliation agreements
with both cable television system operators and broadcast station operators.
Renewal of the Company's affiliation agreements with cable system operators on
favorable terms is dependent upon the Company's ability to negotiate
successfully with
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<PAGE> 12
cable operators that, subject to applicable law, determine which
programs will be carried on their systems and the channel position of each
program carried. The Company's programming competes for access to cable
systems with competitive televised shopping programming and other types of
programming supplied by a variety of other well-established sources, including
news, public affairs, entertainment and sports programmers. The Company
anticipates that payments to cable system operators in 1996 under the Company's
cable distribution agreements (excluding commission payments) will be
approximately $49.0 million. The Company believes that competition for cable
channel access among televised shopping services is intense.
A significant number of the Company's customers are reached through
broadcast of the Company's programming pursuant to affiliation agreements with
broadcast station operators. The loss of broadcast distribution of the
Company's programming in certain markets may also mean that the Company would
lose cable television distribution because certain cable television systems are
required to distribute the Company's programming as a result of the federal
"must carry" rules. The Company has entered into a number of long term
carriage agreements with cable operators which are currently required to carry
the Company's programming pursuant to the "must carry" rules to prevent the
loss of distribution in the event that the "must carry" rules are declared
unconstitutional or are otherwise terminated or in the event that the
affiliation agreements with broadcast operators are not renewed.
Termination or non-renewal of existing affiliation agreements or an
increase in the expense associated with the renewal of existing affiliation
agreements or with entering into cable distribution agreements with additional
cable system operators could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
AFFILIATION AGREEMENTS WITH SILVER KING
Each of the Silver King Stations (as defined) has an Affiliation
Agreement (as defined) with HSC requiring it to carry HSC's programming through
December 28, 1997. HSC pays an affiliation fee to Silver King based upon
hourly rates and, upon reaching certain sales levels, commissions on net sales
made to customers in the applicable broadcast area. These agreements
automatically renew for additional five-year terms on December 28, 1997 and
December 28, 2002 unless Silver King provides notice of nonrenewal by December
28, 1996 (a six-month extension from the prior deadline) and June 28, 2001,
respectively, with respect to such renewal terms. Thereafter, the Affiliation
Agreements automatically renew for successive five-year terms unless and until
either party provides the other with written notice of nonrenewal.
Silver King has informed the Company that it has not made any decision
regarding whether it will renew any or all of the Affiliation Agreements, or
whether Silver King will, instead, develop and broadcast programming
independently of the Company. After evaluating the needs and costs of
additional program carriage, the Company believes that the orderly termination
of the Affiliation Agreements may be in the Company's best interests because of
the potential cost savings and the existing cable carriage of HSC programming in
many of the Silver King markets. As a result, the Company and Silver King are
discussing the process for an orderly termination of such Affiliation Agreements
in the event that the agreements are not renewed and the Company has initiated
preliminary discussions in a number of markets for the purpose of securing
alternative carriage of its programming. There can be no assurance that Silver
King will in fact terminate any or all of the Affiliation Agreements or that, if
so terminated, the Company will be able to find other means of distributing its
programming to the households in the broadcast areas currently served by Silver
King Stations at a reasonable cost. Depending upon the availability and cost of
alternative carriage for the Company's programming, termination of the
Affiliation Agreements could also disrupt the Company's ability to reach
existing customers and may cause a reduction in the Company's revenues. The
Company may also incur additional expenses, which could be substantial, in
connection with entering into cable distribution
10
<PAGE> 13
agreements with other cable system operators for the purpose of
securing alternative carriage of its programming. See "Certain Relationships
Involving Diller, Liberty and Silver King - Business Agreements between the
Company and Silver King."
POSSIBLE NONDEDUCTIBILITY OF CERTAIN COMPENSATION RELATING TO COMPANY OPTIONS
In May 1996, the stockholders of the Company approved the Company 1996
Stock Option Plan for Employees (the "Company Plan"), pursuant to which, among
other grants, options to purchase an aggregate of 15,900,000 shares of Common
Stock at a weighted average exercise price of $8.50 per share have been granted
to individuals who are expected to be executive officers of Silver King
following consummation of the proposed Merger and the Savoy Merger (as defined).
Depending upon the facts and circumstances at the time of exercise, some or all
of these options may not qualify for exemption from Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Section 162(m) generally
does not permit a corporation to take tax deductions for compensation in excess
of $1 million paid to its chief executive officer and other four most highly
compensated officers. If the Company Plan is not exempt from Section 162(m) and
the exercise of such options is otherwise subject to the Section 162(m) limit,
then the Company (and, following consummation of the Merger, Silver King) may
not be able to take tax deductions in excess of the Section 162(m) limit in
connection with the exercise of these stock options. Assuming that an option
exercise does not qualify for exemption from Section 162(m) and that the Section
162(m) limit has otherwise been met with respect to the individual exercising
the option, the amount of the foregone deduction per share would be equal to the
spread between the option exercise price (adjusted to reflect the conversion of
Common Stock into Silver King Common Stock in connection with the Merger), and
the market price of Common Stock or Silver King Common Stock, as the case may
be, on the date of exercise. Whether the Company or Silver King will be able
to realize any benefit of this potential deduction in excess of the Section
162(m) limit, and the amount of any such deduction, is dependent upon numerous
factors, including whether such individual is, at the time of exercise, one of
the officers of the Company (or, following the Merger, Silver King) to which
Section 162(m) relates, the price of Common Stock or Silver King Common Stock,
as the case may be, on the date an option is exercised, the number of options
exercised and other compensation paid by the Company or Silver King to the
individual exercising the option. It is not possible to predict whether the
Company or Silver King will be able to recognize any tax deduction in respect
of the exercise of these options nor the amount of the tax deduction that
might otherwise have been recognized. In the event that the Company or Silver
King is unable to recognize some or all of the tax deduction upon exercise of
these options, the Company's or Silver King's taxes payable could be
materially higher in the relevant period than they would be if the Company or
Silver King were able to realize the deduction.
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS BETWEEN DEBT AND EQUITY HOLDERS
Certain decisions concerning the operations or financial structure of
the Company present conflicts between the owners of the Company's capital stock
and the holders of the Debentures. For example, if the Company encounters
financial difficulties, or is unable to pay its debts as they mature, the
interest of the Company's equity investors might conflict with those of the
holders of the Debentures. In addition, the equity investors may have an
interest in pursuing acquisitions, divestitures, financings or other
transactions that, in their judgment, could enhance their equity investment,
even though such transactions might adversely affect the ability of the Company
to pay principal and interest on the Debentures.
COMPETITION
The markets for the Company's products and services are highly
competitive. In addition to competitors in the electronic shopping industry,
"Home Shopping Network" must compete with store and catalog retailers, many of
whom have substantially greater financial and marketing resources. The
Company's business, financial condition and operations can be adversely
affected by changes in the general retailing industry.
"Home Shopping Network" also competes for distribution of its programming
with other cable programmers, many of whom have substantially greater financial
and marketing resources than the Company. While the Company believes that it
has been successful in obtaining carriage of its programming on reasonable terms
to date, there can be no assurance that it will continue to do so.
DEPENDENCE ON TECHNOLOGY
The Company is dependent upon the successful operation and maintenance
of its technological infrastructure, including its satellite up-links,
computerized order processing and fulfillment, and automated voice response
systems. While the Company has not experienced any material disruption of
these operations in the past, its business and operations could be adversely
affected by extended failure of any of these systems.
ABSENCE OF AN ESTABLISHED MARKET; RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER
The Debentures are not listed for trading on any national securities
exchange or authorized for listing on any automated inter-dealer quotation
system; however, the Shares of Common Stock into which they are convertible
will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange. There is no assurance that an
active trading market for the Debentures will develop or, if one develops, that
it will be maintained or that the Common Stock will continue to be listed on
the New York Stock Exchange or be actively traded.
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<PAGE> 14
THE COMPANY
GENERAL
The Company is a holding company that was incorporated in Delaware in
1986, the subsidiaries of which conduct the day-to-day operations of the
Company's various business activities. The Company's primary business, and
principal source of revenue, is electronic retail sales by HSC a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Company and a leader in the electronic retailing industry.
HSC sells a variety of consumer goods and services over live,
customer-interactive retail sales programs through its "Home Shopping Network"
and "Spree!" programming services.
The Company's programming is transmitted over two networks twenty-four
hours a day, seven days a week via satellite to affiliated cable television
systems and broadcast television stations and satellite dish receivers. As of
September 30, 1996, the Company's primary network, "Home Shopping Network," is
received by approximately 69.7 million homes throughout the United States. In
addition, "Spree!," which provides a similar retail shopping service in a
more casual and less structured format, is received by approximately
11.5 million cable television households as of September 30, 1996,
approximately 4.6 million of which receive it on a part-time basis and
approximately 9.9 million of which also receive "Home Shopping Network."
HSC programming is divided into segments. Each segment is televised
live with a show-host who presents the merchandise and conveys to the viewer
information relating to the product, including price, quality, features and
benefits. Viewers place orders for products by calling a toll-free telephone
number, and orders are processed by live operators or by the Company's
automated voice response system. Show-hosts engage callers in on-air
discussions regarding the Company's programming, the currently featured product
or the caller's experience with HSC and its products. This format creates a
spontaneous and entertaining program.
The Company's principal offices are located at 2501 118th Avenue North,
St. Petersburg, Florida 33716, and its telephone number is (813) 572-8585.
ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIARY BUSINESSES
In addition to the electronic retailing business, the Company's
subsidiaries are involved in mail order and other businesses.
HSN Mail Order, Inc. ("Mail Order") markets a variety of merchandise
through mail order catalogs distributed to individuals on mailing lists
developed by Mail Order or rented from agents. Mail Order also markets a
variety of products by inserting marketing materials, including its catalogs,
in packages containing HSC products shipped to customers.
Internet Shopping Network, Inc. ("ISN") operates an interactive shopping
service on the Internet specializing in small office and computer equipment.
ISN is also exploring business opportunities for merchandising products via
commercial digital interactive television services and other new digital
retailing vehicles.
Vela Research, Inc. develops and markets high technology audio and video
digital encoding and decoding devices and storage products to the cable,
broadcast, computer and telecommunications industries.
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RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
REPLACEMENT FACILITY
On August 2, 1996, the Company, HSC, HSN Realty, Inc. (together with
HSC, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"), The Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., LTCB Trust
Company and the Bank of New York entered into a new $150 million senior secured
revolving credit facility (the "Replacement Facility") with a $25.0 million
sub-limit for import letters of credit, which facility replaced the Company's
prior revolving credit facility (the "Prior Credit Facility") and refinances
the Company's outstanding indebtedness thereunder. The Replacement Facility has
a three year term and expires on August 2, 1999. The obligations of the
Company under the Replacement Facility are secured by the outstanding capital
stock of, and are guaranteed by, the Subsidiary Guarantors. The Replacement
Facility contains customary covenants by the Company, including the maintenance
of corporate existence and ownership of subsidiaries, maintenance of
properties, delivery of financial information, limitations on other
indebtedness, limitations on repurchases of or distributions on capital stock,
limitations on transactions with affiliates, restrictions on acquisitions and
other investments, and the maintenance of certain financial ratios. Further,
the Replacement Facility includes a prohibition on prepayments, redemptions and
repurchases of other indebtedness (including the indebtedness of the Company
under the Debentures). In addition to other customary events of default, an
event of default will arise under the Replacement Facility upon the occurrence
of certain events involving a change of control of the Company (as defined in
the Replacement Facility).
PROPOSED SILVER KING MERGER
The Company has entered into the Merger Agreement, dated as of August
25, 1996, pursuant to which, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions
(including the receipt of all required approvals of the stockholders of Silver
King and the Company), the Company will merge with Silver King Sub, with the
result that the Company would become at least an 80.1% owned subsidiary of
Silver King. In the Merger, each share of outstanding Common Stock of the
Company at the time of the Merger will be converted into the right to receive
0.45 of a share of Silver King Common Stock and each share of outstanding
Class B Common Stock will be converted into the right to receive 0.54 of a
share of Silver King Class B Common Stock. There can be no assurance whether
the foregoing conditions will be satisfied or whether the Merger will be
consummated.
In order to comply with the FCC June Order, which limited the percentage
equity interest held by TCI in Silver King to its current level unless prior
approval of FCC was obtained, Liberty HSN, an indirect wholly owned subsidiary
of TCI, agreed in the Merger Agreement (i) to exchange the 17,566,702 shares of
Common Stock and 739,141 shares of the 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock
held by Liberty HSN for shares of capital stock of Silver King Sub prior to the
Merger, which shares would then become shares of common stock and Class B Common
Stock of the surviving corporation in the Merger and, upon TCI being entitled to
own such shares in accordance with applicable FCC regulations, would finally be
exchanged (pursuant to an exchange agreement to be entered into by Silver King
and Liberty HSN prior to the Merger) into Silver King Common Stock and Silver
King Class B Common Stock at the same exchange ratio that such Company shares
would have been converted into Silver King shares in the Merger, and (ii) that
approximately 2.6 million of the approximately 10.4 million shares of Silver
King Class B Common Stock to which Liberty HSN would be entitled to receive in
the Merger would become "Contingent Shares" to be issued to Liberty HSN at such
time as Liberty HSN would be entitled, under applicable FCC regulations, to own
such shares. In the event that any Contingent Shares remained to be issued
after the third anniversary of the Merger, such shares would also be issuable to
Liberty HSN at such time as it received FCC approval (including an FCC approval
allowing Liberty HSN to own such shares for a limited period of time in order to
effect the
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<PAGE> 16
disposition of such shares) on or before the fifth anniversary of the
Merger. If such Contingent Shares are issued to Liberty HSN after the third
anniversary of the Merger and sold by it, Silver King will be obligated to issue
to Liberty HSN an additional number of shares to compensate it for certain taxes
payable as a result of such sale.
In connection with the Merger and in accordance with the terms of the
Merger Agreement, Silver King and the Company intend to execute and deliver to
the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to, and satisfying the
requirements of, the Indenture. It is expected that such supplemental
indenture will confirm that under the terms of the Indenture, each outstanding
Debenture will be convertible into that number of shares of Silver King Common
Stock that holders of the Debentures would have been entitled to receive in the
Merger had the Debentures been converted into Common Stock immediately prior to
the consummation of the Merger. Accordingly, as of the effective time of the
Merger, the Debentures currently would become convertible into an aggregate of
3,750,000 shares of Silver King Common Stock at a conversion price of $26.667
per share, subject to adjustment pursuant to the Indenture. Pursuant to the
Merger Agreement, Silver King is obligated to use its reasonable efforts to
become jointly liable with the Company or to guarantee the obligations of the
Company under the Indenture as of the consummation of the Merger. In addition,
Silver King has agreed to reserve, at or prior to the time of the Merger, a
sufficient number of shares of Silver King Common Stock for issuance upon
conversion from time to time of the Debentures following the Merger. Silver
King has also indicated that it currently expects to take appropriate actions to
provide that the resale of the Debentures following the Merger will be
registered under the Securities Act.
In connection with the execution of the Merger Agreement, Silver King,
Liberty, and certain of Liberty's subsidiaries entered into a voting agreement,
dated August 25, 1996 (the "Voting Agreement"), pursuant to which such Liberty
entities agreed to vote the TCI Company Shares in favor of the Merger and to
vote the TCI Company Shares against any action or agreement that would impede,
delay or discourage the Merger. In addition, pursuant to such Voting
Agreement, such Liberty entities agreed not to sell, transfer or otherwise
dispose of the TCI Company Shares except pursuant to the Merger or following a
termination of the Merger Agreement.
The consummation of the Merger is subject to a number of conditions,
including, but not limited to, approval by the stockholders of the Company
(which approval must include, pursuant to the Merger Agreement, in addition to
the stockholder approval required under Delaware law and the Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, approval by the holders
(other than Liberty HSN and its affiliates) of a majority of Common Stock,
voting as a separate class, present and voting at the meeting at which the
Merger is to be considered) and approval by the stockholders of Silver King of
the issuance of the shares of Silver King Common Stock and Silver King Class B
Common Stock in the Merger (including the future issuances to TCI of the
Contingent Shares and the shares issuable to TCI upon the exchange of its
shares of the surviving corporation in the Merger), and the receipt of certain
regulatory consents and approvals, including any required approval by the FCC.
If the Merger is not consummated by September 1, 1997, each of the Company,
Silver King and Liberty HSN has the right to terminate the transaction. There
can be no assurance that these conditions will be met or that the transactions
described above will be consummated.
Silver King is subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange
Act and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy and information
statements and other information with the SEC, all of which are available from
the SEC in the manner described above under "Available Information."
Similarly, the proxy materials expected to be provided by the Company and
Silver King to their respective stockholders in connection with the Merger will
also be available from the SEC in such manner.
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CERTAIN LITIGATION
Following the announcement of the proposed Merger, five putative class
action complaints were filed with the Delaware Court of Chancery in C.A. Nos.
15179, 15187, 15188, 15189 and 15195 by certain stockholders of the Company on
behalf of a purported class consisting of all public shareholders of the
Company (other than TCI, Liberty and their controlled affiliates). The
defendants in the actions include the Company, TCI, Liberty, Silver King, and
the members of the Board of Directors of the Company and, in one of these
actions, J. Anthony Forstman and Victor A. Kaufman. On October 7, 1996, the
five class action lawsuits were consolidated for all purposes in an action
entitled In Re: Home Shopping Network, Inc. Shareholders Litigation,
Consolidated Civil Action No. 15179.
The gravamen of the complaint in C.A. No. 15179 is that the directors of
the Company breached their fiduciary duties by approving the Merger Agreement.
Plaintiffs also claim that TCI and Liberty, by supporting the proposed Merger,
breached their asserted fiduciary duties to the Company's stockholders.
Specifically, plaintiffs allege that the proposed Merger is designed to allow
Silver King and, indirectly, TCI and Liberty to acquire the Company without
paying adequate consideration to the public holders of the Common Stock.
Plaintiffs further allege that TCI and Liberty will be unjustly enriched
because, under the Merger Agreement, they would receive a premium for their
shares of the Company's stock while retaining what plaintiffs assert to be a
controlling equity interest in Silver King. According to plaintiffs, Silver
King has knowingly aided and abetted these alleged breaches of fiduciary
duties. Plaintiffs seek to enjoin the consummation of the proposed Merger or,
should the proposed Merger proceed, rescission or rescissory damages.
Plaintiffs also seek an award of unspecified compensatory damages, fees and
costs.
EXPECTED HOME ORDER TELEVISION INVESTMENT
On October 10, 1996, the Company, Quelle Schickedanz AG & Co. ("Quelle"),
Thomas Kirch ("Kirch") and Dr. Georg Kofler ("Kofler") entered into a binding
Memorandum of Understanding (the "Memorandum") in connection with their joint
participation in Home Order Television GmbH & Co. ("HOT"), Germany's only
television shopping network which began broadcasting in October 1995 and
currently reaches approximately six million households throughout Germany.
Pursuant to the terms of the Memorandum, the Company will purchase a 29% equity
interest in HOT (the "HOT Interest") from Quelle, Kirch and Kofler. Currently,
Quelle, Kirch and Kofler own equity interests of 50%, 40% and 10%, respectively,
in HOT and will reallocate their respective remaining ownership interests to
account for the sale of the HOT Interest to the Company. The Company will pay
$15.0 million for the HOT Interest: $5.0 million of which was placed into escrow
in October 1996, to be released upon the execution of definitive agreements
among the Company, Quelle, Kirch and Kofler; and $5.0 million is expected to be
paid in each of April 1997 and September 1997. It is expected that such
definitive agreement will also contain certain restrictions and other provisions
regarding transfers by such persons of equity interests in HOT.
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<PAGE> 18
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The Company's ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods
indicated is as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Nine Months Ended Years Ended Four Months Ended Years Ended
September 30, December 31, December 31, August 31,
-------- ----------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1992 1991
---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
2.96 --(1) 4.01 --(1) 2.30 3.22 1.21
</TABLE>
(1) Ratio is less than zero.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing (i)
earnings from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interest and
extraordinary items plus fixed charges by (ii) fixed charges. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense, amortization of financing costs and the estimated
interest component of rent expense.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from any resales of the
Debentures or the Shares by the Selling Securityholders pursuant to this
Prospectus. See "Selling Securityholders" for a list of those persons and
entities receiving the proceeds from the sales of the Debentures or the Shares.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVING DILLER, LIBERTY AND SILVER KING
MR. DILLER AND LIBERTY
Mr. Diller, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of
Silver King, is Chairman of the Board of the Company. TCI, through Liberty,
currently beneficially owns the TCI Company Shares. Liberty and Mr. Diller
have formed BDTV, which, upon exercise of the Liberty Option, became the owner
of shares representing a majority of the voting power of the outstanding equity
securities of Silver King. Following the exercise of the Liberty Option, Mr.
Diller, who owns all of the voting stock of BDTV, became the controlling
stockholder of Silver King. Liberty, Mr. Diller and Silver King and certain of
their respective affiliates have also entered into certain agreements in
connection with the Merger Agreement. See "Recent Developments - Proposed
Silver King Merger."
In May 1996, Mr. Diller owned 100,000 shares of Common Stock. Mr.
Diller also had been granted options to acquire an additional 13,400,000 shares
of Common Stock (of which amount options with respect to 100,000 shares had
been returned to the Company), which options were granted in connection with
his appointment as Chairman of the Board of the Company and have an exercise
price of $8.50 per share, some of which options is currently vested or
exercisable, or becomes vested or exercisable, in the next 60 days.
In May 1996, Mr. Diller's ownership of Silver King securities consisted
of 441,988 shares of Silver King Common Stock. In addition, in August 1995 Mr.
Diller was granted options to purchase 1,895,847 shares of Silver King Common
Stock at an exercise price of $22.625 per share, subject to certain vesting
provisions. In November 1995, Mr. Diller was granted options to purchase an
additional 625,000 shares of Silver King Common Stock (the "Additional
Options") at an exercise price of $30.75 per share, which Additional Options
were granted to Mr. Diller subject to approval by the Silver King stockholders
of the Silver
16
<PAGE> 19
King 1995 Stock Incentive Plan and contingent on the consummation
of the Savoy Merger (as defined below) and the Merger. Such plan is currently
anticipated to be presented to the Silver King stockholders for their approval
at the meeting of the stockholders of Silver King in connection with the
Merger. In the event that only the Savoy Merger (and not the Merger) is
consummated (and assuming Silver King stockholder approval of the Silver King
1995 Stock Incentive Plan), Mr. Diller will receive options to purchase only
221,625 of such 625,000 shares of Silver King Common Stock. In the event that
neither transaction is consummated (or Silver King stockholder approval for the
Silver King 1995 Stock Incentive Plan is not obtained), all such Additional
Options will be canceled.
In connection with the proposed acquisition by Silver King of the TCI
Company Shares, Liberty and Silver King requested that the Board of Directors
of the Company consider and approve for purposes of Section 203 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law ("Section 203"), the Merger and Exchange. Prior to
there being any agreement, arrangement or understanding relating to the Merger
and Exchange, the Company's Board of Directors, upon the recommendation of a
Special Committee of independent directors of the Company, approved such
transactions, thereby exempting Silver King, BDTV, Mr. Diller and, in certain
circumstances, Liberty from the restrictions on "business combinations" between
an "interested stockholder" (as each such term is defined in Section 203) and
the Company contained in Section 203, including with respect to the Merger.
Following the consummation of the Merger (including the issuance of the
Contingent Shares and the shares under the exchange agreement between Silver
King and Liberty HSN) and assuming the consummation of Silver King's proposed
merger with Savoy Pictures Entertainment, Inc. (the "Savoy Merger") (in which
approximately 4.2 million shares of Silver King Common Stock would be issued to
holders of the outstanding Savoy common stock) but without giving effect to the
exercise of options to acquire Silver King Common
Stock that have been granted to Mr. Diller (including those represented prior
to the Merger by Mr. Diller's options to purchase HSN Common Stock), it is
currently expected that Liberty, Mr. Diller and their respective affiliates
(including BDTV) would collectively beneficially own 8,453,633 shares of Silver
King Common Stock and 12,800,000 shares of Silver King Class B Common Stock,
which shares would constitute approximately 37% of the outstanding equity
securities of Silver King. Such Silver King securities would, by virtue of the
fact that the shares of Silver King Class B Stock are entitled to ten votes per
share while the Silver King Common Stock is entitled to one vote per share,
represent approximately 78% of the voting power of the outstanding equity
securities of Silver King.
Upon consummation of the Merger, Silver King will own at least 80.1% of
the equity securities of the surviving corporation and Liberty HSN will own not
more than 19.9% of the equity securities of such surviving corporation. After
the Merger and the issuance of all of the Contingent Shares to Liberty HSN, at
such time or from time to time as Liberty HSN is allowed under applicable
regulations to hold additional shares of Silver King stock, Liberty HSN will
exchange its stock in the surviving corporation for shares of Silver King
Common Stock and Silver King Class B Common Stock at the conversion ratios set
forth in the Merger Agreement. As a result upon the consummation of such
exchange in full, the Company would be a wholly owned subsidiary of Silver
King. So long as Mr. Diller is entitled to vote the shares of Silver King
stock held by BDTV, under the terms of the Stockholders Agreement Mr. Diller
will have indirect voting control of the Company by virtue of his voting
control of Silver King.
BUSINESS AGREEMENTS BETWEEN THE COMPANY AND SILVER KING
Silver King owns and operates twelve full power UHF broadcast television
stations, including one television satellite station (the "Silver King
Stations") through its subsidiaries. The Silver King Stations are located in
many of the top markets in the United States and exclusively broadcast HSC
programming, except
17
<PAGE> 20
for a portion of broadcast time which is used to provide public affairs
and other non-entertainment programming and advertising inserts.
Each Silver King Station, through the applicable Silver King subsidiary,
has entered into an affiliation agreement with HSC, each dated December 28,
1992 (an "Affiliation Agreement"), pursuant to which (as subsequently amended)
each Silver King Station currently broadcasts HSC's electronic retail sales
programming for 159 hours per week. Each Affiliation Agreement has an initial
term of five years, renewable at Silver King's option for an additional five-
year term unless the applicable Silver King subsidiary provides notice of
termination on or before December 28, 1996 (as previously extended by the
parties). If renewed for the initial renewal term, each Affiliation Agreement
is renewable thereafter for one additional term for up to five years at Silver
King's sole option. Thereafter, each Affiliation Agreement shall automatically
renew for successive five-year terms unless and until either party provides the
other party with written notice at least 18 months prior to the expiration date
that it will not accept further renewal. Under each Affiliation Agreement, if
HSC misses two or more affiliation payments to a Silver King Station during any
five-year period, such Silver King Station has the right to terminate the
Affiliation Agreement, and must inform HSC of its intention to cease carrying
HSC programming 18 months after the second missed payment. Similarly, if HSC's
programming is changed significantly, each Silver King Station has the right to
terminate the Affiliation Agreement and to cease carrying HSC programming upon
18-months' prior written notice.
Each Silver King Station is compensated in accordance with the hourly
affiliation rate applicable to such Silver King Station. The Affiliation
Agreements provide for additional compensation to the Silver King Stations if a
Silver King Station's compensation amount, which is based upon a formula
involving HSC's net sales credited to such Silver King Station, exceeds the
minimum affiliation fee based upon that Silver King Station's hourly
affiliation rate. This determination is made on an annual basis within 30 days
of each anniversary of the Affiliation Agreements. On July 28, 1994, each of
the Affiliation Agreements was amended to clarify this compensation bonus
consistent with the intent of the parties.
Silver King has informed the Company that it has not made any decision
regarding whether it will renew any or all of the Affiliation Agreements, or
whether Silver King will, instead, develop and broadcast programming
independently of the Company. After evaluating the needs and costs of
additional program carriage, the Company believes that the orderly termination
of the Affiliation Agreements may be in the Company's best interests because of
the potential cost savings and the existing cable carriage of HSC programming
in many of the Silver King markets. As a result, the Company and Silver King
are discussing the process for an orderly termination of such Affiliation
Agreements in the event that the agreements are not renewed and the Company has
initiated preliminary discussions in a number of markets for the purpose of
securing alternative carriage of its programming. There can be no assurance
that Silver King will in fact terminate any or all of the Affiliation
Agreements or that, if so terminated, the Company will be able to find other
means of distributing its programming to the households in the broadcast areas
currently served by Silver King Stations at a reasonable cost. Depending upon
the availability and cost of alternative carriage the Company's programming,
termination of the Affiliation Agreements could also disrupt the Company's
ability to reach existing customers and may cause a reduction in the Company's
revenues. The Company may also incur additional expenses, which could be
substantial, in connection with entering into cable distribution agreements
with other cable system operators for the purpose of securing alternative
carriage of its programming.
Silver King also owns 26 low power television ("LPTV") stations (the
"Silver King LPTV Stations") that also broadcast HSC's programming services.
LPTV stations have lower power transmitters than conventional television
stations, and therefore, the broadcast signal of an LPTV station does not cover
as broad a geographical area as conventional broadcast stations.
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<PAGE> 21
HSC and Silver King have negotiated an affiliation agreement for the
carriage of HSC programming which covers all of the Silver King LPTV Stations.
Such agreement, which became effective on May 1, 1996, has a four year term and
provides for fixed monthly payments by HSC to Silver King aggregating to
approximately $550,000 per annum. However, the compensation of Silver King for
the carriage of HSC programming by Silver King LPTV Station W60AI, New York,
New York, which is licensed to the same Silver King subsidiary that holds the
licenses for full-power television stations WHSE-TV, Newark, New Jersey, and
WHSI-TV, Smithtown, New York, is covered by the Affiliation Agreement for the
latter Silver King Stations.
In 1995, expenses under Affiliation Agreements with the Silver King
Stations and Silver King LPTV Stations were approximately $41.3 million.
For information regarding the possible non-renewal of the Affiliation
Agreements with Silver King, see "Risk-Factors--Affiliation Agreements with
Silver King."
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
The Debentures were initially issued and sold to Selling Securityholders
on March 1, 1996, through Allen & Company Incorporated, the Company's exclusive
placement agent for the purpose of placing the Debentures (the "Placement
Agent"). The Selling Securityholders acquired the Debentures in transactions
complying with Rule 144A, Regulation D or Regulation S under the Securities
Act. The Company has agreed to indemnify and hold the Placement Agent harmless
against certain liabilities under the Securities Act that would arise in
connection with the sale of the Debentures.
The term Selling Securityholders includes the beneficial owners of the
Securities listed below and their transferees, pledgees, donees or other
successors. Other than as a result of the ownership of Securities indicated
below, unless otherwise indicated, none of the Selling Securityholders has had
any material relationship with the Company or any of its affiliates within the
past three years, except that Allen & Company Incorporated served as placement
agent in connection with the initial issuance of the Debentures for which it
received customary compensation.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL NUMBER OF
AMOUNT OF DEBENTURES SHARES OF COMMON
NAME THAT MAY BE SOLD STOCK THAT MAY BE SOLD
<S> <C> <C>
Allen & Company, Inc. $10,000,000 833,333
Alpine Associates 1,375,000 114,583
IDS Life Capital Recourse Fund 4,000,000 333,333
The SMM Company 1,550,000 129,166
Fidelity Management Trust Company on
behalf of accounts managed by it 2,412,000 201,000
Capital Guardian Trust Company 12,500,000 1,041,666
Delaware Group Global Dividend and
Income Fund 600,000 50,000
Thermo Electron Balance Investment
Fund c/o Pecks Management Partners, Ltd. 100,000 8,333
General Motors Employees Domestic Group
Trust c/o Pecks Management Partners, Ltd. 2,050,000 170,833
Fidelity Financial Trust: Fidelity Convertible
Securities Fund 3,495,000 291,250
Fidelity Contrafund 4,152,000 346,000
</TABLE>
19
<PAGE> 22
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Variable Insurance Products Fund II:
Contrafund Portfolio 270,000 22,500
Capital Research & Management Company 7,500,000 625,000
MassMutual Corporate Investors 1,000,000 83,333
Delaware Group Dividend and Income Fund 1,100,000 91,666
Fidelity Devonshire Trust: Fidelity
Equity-Income Fund 3,350,000 279,166
Fidelity Securities Fund: Fidelity Growth
& Income Portfolio 4,321,000 360,083
MassMutual Life Insurance 2,200,000 183,333
MassMutual Corporate Value Partners, LTD. 1,800,000 150,000
Citiperformance Portfolio 3,000,000 250,000
Verdant Investors 284,000 23,666
Delaware State Employee's Retirement Fund
c/o Pecks Management Partners, Ltd. 1,165,000 97,083
The Gabelli Global Multimedia Trust Inc. 1,500,000 125,000
The Gabelli Global Interactive Couch Potato Fund 500,000 41,666
The Gabelli Convertible Securities Fund, Inc. 2,000,000 166,666
The Gabelli Equity Income Fund 1,000,000 83,333
Mainstay Convertible Fund 6,000,000 500,000
Declaration of Trust for the Defined Benefit Plans
of ZENECA Holdings Inc. c/o Pecks Management
Partners, Ltd. 285,000 23,750
Declaration of Trust for the Defined Benefit Plans
of ICI American Holding Inc. c/o Pecks Management
Partners, Ltd. 400,000 33,333
Kellner, Dileo & Company 1,100,000 91,666
Forum Capital Markets L.P. 250,000 20,833
Canadian Imperial Holdings, Inc. 1,366,000 113,833
Susan K. Allen (1) 3,000,000 250,000
Peter Barton (2) 75,000 6,250
Robert R. Bennett (2) 150,000 12,500
Louis Berkman 100,000 8,333
Linda S. Gould (1) 70,000 5,833
Paul A. Gould (1) 930,000 77,500
Hackley School Special Account 100,000 8,333
HAGG Partners, L.P. 2,000,000 166,666
Donald R. Keough 200,000 16,666
Dan Lufkin 1,000,000 83,333
Mutual Fund, Inc., Dwayne O. Andreas 5,000,000 416,666
Nancy Peretsman (1) & Robert Scully, JT TEN 200,000 16,666
Richard C. Strauss 250,000 20,833
Robert S. Strauss 250,000 20,833
Unidentified 4,050,000 337,500
------------ ---------
</TABLE>
(1) Employee or spouse of an employee of Allen & Company Incorporated.
(2) Director of the Company.
The preceding table has been prepared based upon information provided
by the Selling Securityholders to the Company as of October 1996.
20
<PAGE> 23
In view of the fact that Selling Securityholders may offer all or a
portion of the Debentures or Shares of Common Stock held by them pursuant to
the offering contemplated by this Prospectus, and because this offering is not
being underwritten on a firm commitment basis, no estimate can be given as to
the amount of Debentures or the number of Shares of Common Stock that will be
held by the Selling Securityholders after completion of the offering made
hereby.
Information concerning the Selling Securityholders may change from time
to time (and may have changed since the date as of which such information was
provided to the Company) and any such changed information will be set forth in
supplements to this Prospectus if and when necessary (including information with
respect to the beneficial owners of the Debentures (and related Shares)
described as "Unidentified" above). In addition, the per share conversion
price, and therefore, the number of Shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Debentures, is subject to adjustment under certain
circumstances. Accordingly, the aggregate principal amount of Debentures and
the number of Shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion thereof offered by
a Selling Securityholder hereby may increase or decrease. As of the date of this
Prospectus, the aggregate principal amount of Debentures outstanding and the
number of Shares registered for resale is $100,000,000 and 8,333,333,
respectively.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES
The Debentures have been issued under an Indenture, dated as of March
1, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between the Company and United States Trust Company
of New York, as trustee (the "Trustee"). A copy of the form of Indenture is
available from the Company upon request. The following summaries of certain of
the provisions of the Debentures and the Indenture do not purport to be
complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference
to, all the provisions of the Debentures and the Indenture, including the
definitions therein of certain terms which are not otherwise defined in this
Prospectus. Wherever particular provisions or defined terms of the Indenture
are referred to, such provisions or defined terms are incorporated herein by
reference.
GENERAL
The Debentures represent general unsecured obligations of the Company
senior or pari passu in right of payment to all other unsecured obligations of
the Company but subordinated to all existing and future Senior Debt of the
Company (as described below under the caption "Ranking") and are convertible
into Shares (as described below under the caption "Conversion of Debentures").
The Debentures are limited to $100,000,000 aggregate principal amount, are
issued in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of
$1,000 or any integral multiple in excess thereof (upon the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement) and will mature on March 1, 2006, unless otherwise
earlier converted into Shares by the holder or redeemed at the option of the
Company in the manner set forth below or repurchased by the Company (including
at the option of the holder upon a Change of Control). The Debentures are not
issuable in bearer form.
The Debentures bear interest from March 1, 1996 at 5 7/8% payable
semi-annually on March 1 and September 1, commencing on September 1, 1996, and
are payable to holders of record at the close of business on the preceding
February 15 and August 15, as the case may be. Interest is computed on the
basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
Unless other arrangements are made, interest is paid by check mailed
to holders entitled thereto. Principal is payable, and the Debentures may be
presented for conversion, registration of transfer and exchange, without
service charge at the office of, the Trustee in New York, New York. Reference
is made to the information set forth below under the caption "Form,
Denomination and Registration" for information with respect to Debentures held
by QIBs.
The Debentures and the Indenture do not contain any financial
covenants or any restrictions on the payment of dividends, the repurchase of
securities of the Company or the incurrence of debt by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries.
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<PAGE> 24
The Indenture and Debentures are governed by and construed under the
laws of the state of New York.
FORM, DENOMINATION, AND REGISTRATION
Debentures previously offered in reliance on Rule 144A to QIBs or
Regulation S under the Securities Act are represented by a single, permanent
global Debenture in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons
(the "Global Debenture") which has been deposited with, or on behalf of, The
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in the name of a nominee of
DTC. Except as set forth below, the Global Debenture may be transferred, in
whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a successor of DTC
or its nominee.
Except in the limited circumstances described below under "Global
Debenture," owners of beneficial interests in the Global Debenture will not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of Certificated Debentures (as defined
below).
GLOBAL DEBENTURE
Upon the initial issuance of the Global Debenture, DTC or its
custodian credited, on its internal system, the respective principal amounts of
the individual beneficial interests represented by such Global Debenture to the
accounts of persons who had accounts with DTC. Such accounts initially were
designated by or on behalf of the purchasers of the Debentures (the
"Purchasers"). Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Debenture is
limited to persons who have accounts with DTC ("Participants") or persons who
hold interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the
Global Debenture are shown on records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with
respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants (with
respect to interests of persons other than Participants).
QIBs may hold their interests in the Global Debenture directly through
DTC, Centrale de Livraison de Valeurs Mobilibras S.A. ("CEDEL") or Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company of New York, Brussels office, as operator of the
Euroclear System ("Euroclear"), if they are participants in such systems, or
indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. CEDEL
and Euroclear hold interests in the Global Debenture on behalf of their
participants through their respective depositaries, which in turn hold such
interests in the Global Debenture in customers' securities accounts in the
depositaries' names on the books of DTC.
So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner or holder of
the Global Debenture, DTC or such nominee, as the case may be, is considered
the sole owner or holder of the Debentures represented by the Global Debenture
for all purposes under the Indenture and the Debentures. Except as described
below, unless DTC notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to
continue as depositary for the Global Debenture or ceases to be a "Clearing
Agency" registered under the Exchange Act, or an Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing with respect to the Debentures, owners of beneficial
interests in the Global Debenture are not entitled to have any portion of the
Global Debenture registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to
receive physical delivery of Debentures in certificated form and are not
considered to be the owners or holders of any Debentures under the Indenture or
the Debentures. In addition, no beneficial owner of an interest in the Global
Debenture may transfer that interest except in accordance with DTC's applicable
procedures, in addition to those provided for under the Indenture and, if
applicable, those of Euroclear and CEDEL.
Debentures originally purchased by or transferred to Accredited
Investors who were not QIBs (referred to herein as the "Non-Global Purchasers")
have been issued in registered form without coupons (the "Certificated
Debentures"). Upon the transfer of Certificated Debentures initially issued to
a Non-Global Purchaser, to a QIB, or in accordance with Regulation S, such
Certificated Debentures will, unless the Global Debenture has previously been
exchanged in whole for Certificated Debentures, be exchanged for an interest in
the Global Debenture.
Payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Global Debenture is
made to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner
thereof. Neither the Company, the Trustee nor any paying agent has any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the Global
Debenture or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
22
<PAGE> 25
The Company expects DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment in
respect of a Global Debenture, to credit Participants' accounts with payments
in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the
principal amount of such Global Debenture as shown on the records of DTC or its
nominee. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in such Global Debenture held through such Participants
are governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the
case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in the names
of nominees for such customers. Such payments are the responsibility of such
Participants.
Transfers between Participants in DTC are effected in the ordinary way
in accordance with DTC rules and are settled in same-day funds. The laws of
some states require that certain persons take physical delivery of securities
in definitive form. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial interests
in the Global Debenture to such persons may be limited. Because DTC only acts
on behalf of Participants, who in turn act on behalf of Indirect Participants
(as defined below) and certain banks, the ability of a person having a
beneficial interest in the Global Debenture to pledge such interest to persons
or entities that do not participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take
actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical
certificate representing such interest. Transfers between participants in
Euroclear and CEDEL are effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their
respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between DTC, on the one hand, and directly or
indirectly through Euroclear or CEDEL participants, on the other, are effected
in DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of Euroclear or CEDEL, as the
case may be, by its respective depositary; however, such cross-market
transactions require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or CEDEL, as the
case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules
and procedures and within its established deadlines (Brussels time). Euroclear
or CEDEL, as the case may be, delivers, if the transaction meets its settlement
requirements, instructions to its respective depositary to take action to
effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in
the Global Debenture in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with
normal procedures for New York Clearing House funds settlement applicable to
DTC. CEDEL participants and Euroclear participants may not deliver
instructions directly to the depositaries for CEDEL or Euroclear.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to
be taken by a holder of Debentures (including the presentation of Debentures
for exchange as described below) only at the direction of one or more
Participants to whose account interests in the Global Debenture are credited
and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given such
direction. However, if there is an Event of Default under the Debentures, DTC
will exchange the Global Debenture for Certificated Debentures in definitive
form, which it will distribute to its Participants and which will be legended.
DTC has advised the Company as follows: DTC is a limited purpose
trust company organized under the laws of the New York Banking Law, a "banking
organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the
Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to the
provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds securities that its
Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among
Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers and pledges, in
deposited securities through electronic book-entry changes in Participants'
accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates.
Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to the DTC
system also is available to others such as securities brokers and dealers,
banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect
Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file
with the SEC.
Although DTC, CEDEL and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing
procedures to facilitate transfers of interests in the Global Debenture among
participants of DTC, CEDEL and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to
perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be
discontinued at any time. Neither the Company nor the Trustee has any
responsibility for the performance by DTC, CEDEL or Euroclear or their
respective
23
<PAGE> 26
Participants or Indirect Participants of their respective
obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
CERTIFICATED DEBENTURES
If any depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as a
depositary for the reasons set forth under "Global Debenture" and a successor
depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will
issue certificates for the Debentures in definitive registered form in exchange
for the Global Debenture. The holder of a certificate representing a
registered individual Debenture may transfer such Debenture by surrendering it
at the office or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose in the
Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, which initially will be the office
of the Trustee, or at the office of any paying agent.
CONVERSION OF DEBENTURES
The holders of Debentures are entitled at any time through the close of
business on March 1, 2006, subject to prior redemption or repurchase by the
Company, to convert any Debentures or portions thereof (in any integral
multiple of $1,000) into Shares at $12.00 per share, subject to adjustment as
described below. For information relating to the conversion of Debentures
following the Merger, see "Recent Developments - Proposed Silver King Merger."
The right to convert Debentures called for redemption will expire at the close
of business on the business day fixed for redemption unless the Company
defaults in making the payments due upon redemption. A Debenture (or portion
thereof) in respect of which a holder is exercising its option to require
repurchase by the Company upon a Change of Control may be converted only if
such holder timely withdraws its election to exercise such option in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture. Except as described below, no adjustment will
be made upon conversion of any Debentures for interest accrued thereon or for
dividends on any Shares issued. If Debentures not called for redemption are
converted after a record date for the payment of interest and prior to the next
succeeding interest payment date, upon such conversion, such Debentures must be
accompanied by the payment of funds equal to the interest payable on such
succeeding interest payment date on the principal amount so converted. The
Company is not required to issue fractional shares of Common Stock upon
conversion of Debentures and, in lieu thereof, will pay a cash adjustment based
upon the market price of the Common Stock on the last business day prior to the
date of conversion.
The conversion price is subject to adjustment (under formulae set
forth in the Indenture) upon the occurrence of certain events, including: (i)
the issuance of Common Stock as a dividend or distribution on Common Stock;
(ii) the issuance to all holders of Common Stock of certain rights or warrants
to purchase Common Stock at a price less than the then current market price (as
defined in the Indenture); (iii) certain subdivisions, combinations and
reclassifications of Common Stock; and (iv) distributions to all holders of
Common Stock of capital stock of the Company (other than Common Stock) or
evidences of indebtedness of the Company or assets (including securities, but
excluding those dividends, rights, warrants and distributions referred to above
and dividends and distributions in connection with the liquidation, dissolution
or winding up of the Company and dividends and distributions paid exclusively
in cash). No adjustment of the conversion price will be made for shares issued
pursuant to a plan for reinvestment of dividends or interest. In addition to
the foregoing adjustments, the Company will be permitted to make such
reductions in the conversion price as it considers advisable in order that any
event treated for federal income tax purposes as a dividend of stock or stock
rights will not be taxable to the holders of the Common Stock.
Except as stated above, the conversion price will not be adjusted for
the issuance of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for Common Stock or carrying the right to purchase any of the foregoing. No
adjustment in the conversion price will be required unless such adjustment
would require a change of at least 1% in the conversion price then in effect;
provided, that any adjustment that would otherwise be required to be made shall
be carried forward and taken into account in any subsequent adjustment.
In the case of (i) any reclassification or change of the Common Stock
(other than changes in par value or from par value to no par value or resulting
from a subdivision or a combination) or (ii) a consolidation or merger
involving the Company, including the Merger, or a sale or conveyance of all or
substantially all of the property and assets of the
24
<PAGE> 27
Company, in each case as a result of which holders of Common Stock
shall be entitled to receive stock, other securities, other property or assets
(including cash) with respect to or in exchange for such Common Stock, each
holder of Debentures then outstanding will be entitled thereafter to convert
such Debentures into the kind and amount of shares of stock, other securities
or other property or assets which they would have owned or been entitled to
receive upon such reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or
conveyance had such Debentures been converted into Common Stock immediately
prior to the applicable record date (or other comparable date) for such
reclassification, change, consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance assuming
such holder of Debentures did not exercise any rights of election as to the
stock, other securities or other property or assets receivable in connection
therewith.
In the event of a taxable distribution to holders of Common Stock (or
other transaction) which results in any adjustment of the conversion price, the
holders of Debentures may, in certain circumstances, be deemed to have received
a distribution subject to the United States income tax as a dividend; in
certain other circumstances, the absence of such an adjustment to the
conversion price of the Debentures may result in a taxable dividend to the
holders of Common Stock.
The Company from time to time may to the extent permitted by law
reduce the conversion price by any amount for any period of at least 20 days,
in which case the Company shall give at least 15 days' notice of such decrease,
if the Board of Directors has made a determination that such decrease would be
in the best interests of the Company, which determination shall be conclusive.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION BY THE COMPANY
The Debentures are not redeemable at the option of the Company prior
to March 1, 1998. Thereafter, the Debentures are redeemable at the Company's
option on at least 30 but not more than 60 days' notice, in whole or in part,
at any time and from time to time, at the following prices (expressed in
percentages of the principal amount) together with accrued interest to the date
fixed for redemption, subject to certain conditions discussed below; provided,
that until March 1, 1999, the Debentures may not be redeemed at the option of
the Company unless the closing price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds 140%
of the then effective conversion price per share for at least 20 out of 30
consecutive trading days ending within 20 calendar days before the notice of
redemption is mailed.
If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
DATE PERCENTAGE
---- ----------
<S> <C>
March 1, 1998 104.700%
March 1, 1999 104.113%
March 1, 2000 103.525%
March 1, 2001 102.938%
March 1, 2002 102.350%
March 1, 2003 101.763%
March 1, 2004 101.175%
March 1, 2005 100.588%
</TABLE>
and 100% at and after March 1, 2006.
If fewer than all the Debentures are to be redeemed, the Trustee will
select the Debentures to be redeemed in principal amounts of $1,000 or integral
multiples thereof by lot or, in its discretion, on a pro rata basis. If any
Debenture is to be redeemed in part only, a new Debenture or Debentures in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed principal portion thereof will be
issued. If a portion of a holder's Debenture is selected for partial
redemption and thereafter (but prior to the applicable redemption date) such
holder converts a portion of such Debenture, such
25
<PAGE> 28
converted portion shall be deemed to be taken from the portion selected
for redemption. No sinking fund is provided for the Debentures.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each holder of the
Debentures shall have the right, subject to certain conditions and
restrictions, to require that the Company repurchase such holder's Debentures
in whole or in part in integral multiples of $1,000, at a purchase price in
cash in an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, together with
accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase, pursuant to an offer (the
"Change of Control Offer") made in accordance with the procedures described
below and the other provisions in the Indenture. Neither the consummation of
the Merger, nor the failure of the Merger to be consummated and TCI's continued
ownership of the TCI Company Shares, would constitute a Change of Control for
purposes of the Indenture.
A "Change of Control" means an event or series of events as a result of
which (i) any "person" or "group" (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and
14(d) of the Exchange Act) (other than TCI, Liberty, Mr. Diller, BDTV, Silver
King and their respective controlled affiliates (as defined in the Indenture)
and certain entities formed as a result of certain corporate restructurings or
spinoffs (as specified in the Indenture), or any successor of any of the
foregoing) acquires "beneficial ownership" (as determined in accordance with
Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of
the total voting power of the Voting Stock (as defined below) of the Company;
provided, however, that any such person or group shall not be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of, or to beneficially own, any Voting Stock tendered in a
tender or exchange offer until such Voting Stock is accepted for purchase or
exchange under such tender or exchange offer, or (ii) the Common Stock (or
other equity securities into which the Debentures are then convertible or into
which the Common Stock shall have been reclassified or changed) is neither
listed for trading on a United States national securities exchange nor approved
for trading on an established over-the-counter trading market in the United
States; provided, that no such Change of Control shall be deemed to occur as a
result of any such event or series of events described in clause (i) above to
the extent that (x) the closing price of the Common Stock (or other equity
securities into which the Debentures are then convertible or into which the
Common Stock of the Company shall have been reclassified or changed) for any
five trading days during the ten trading days immediately preceding the event
or series of events that would otherwise constitute a Change of Control is at
least equal to 105% of the conversion price in effect on the last such trading
day and, at least 15 business days prior to the consummation of the Change of
Control, holders of the Debentures have been given notice of the occurrence of
such event or events (as specified in the Indenture), or (y) such Change of
Control results from a transaction or series of transactions (including any
tender or exchange offer subject to the provisions of the Exchange Act, whether
by the issuer or otherwise) available to the holders of the Voting Stock in
general (including holders of Debentures who would be entitled to tender or
otherwise participate therein upon the conversion thereof) in which the
weighted average price paid by such person or group to acquire such Voting
Stock in such transaction or series of transactions exceeds the then applicable
conversion price of the Debentures. "Voting Stock" means the Common Stock and
the Class B Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Company the holders
of which are entitled to vote generally upon all matters which may be submitted
to a vote of stockholders at any annual or special meeting.
Within 15 business days following any Change of Control, the Company
shall send by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Trustee and to each
holder of Debentures, at such holder's address appearing in the security
register, a notice stating, among other things, that a Change of Control has
occurred, the purchase price, the purchase date, which shall be a business day
no earlier than 15 business days nor later than 30 business days from the date
such notice is mailed, and certain other procedures that a holder of the
Debentures must follow to accept a Change of Control Offer or to withdraw such
acceptance. The Company will comply, to the extent applicable, with the
requirements of Rule 13e-4 under the Exchange Act and other securities laws or
regulations in connection with the repurchase of the Debentures as described
above.
Any event constituting a Change of Control of the Company under the
Indenture might also result in an event of default under the change of control
provisions of the Replacement Facility. In addition, the terms of the
Replacement Facility prohibit any repurchase of the Debentures by the Company,
whether or not following the occurrence of a change of control of the Company.
The occurrence of such an event of default could restrict the
26
<PAGE> 29
ability of the Company to comply with its obligation to consummate the
Change of Control Offer. See "Ranking." In addition, future Indebtedness of
the Company may contain prohibitions of certain events which would constitute a
Change of Control or require the Company to offer to redeem such Indebtedness
upon a Change of Control. Moreover, the exercise by the holders of the
Debentures of their right to require the Company to purchase the Debentures
could cause a default under such Indebtedness, even if the event or events
constituting such Change of Control itself does not, due to the financial
effect of such purchase on the Company. Finally, the Company's ability to pay
cash to holders of the Debentures upon a purchase may be limited by the
Company's then existing financial resources and any restrictions or limitations
contained in the instruments representing any Indebtedness of the Company at
such time. There can be no assurance that sufficient funds will be available
when necessary to make any required purchases. The Change of Control
provisions may in certain circumstances make more difficult or discourage a
takeover of the Company and the removal of the incumbent management. In
addition, at the request of the lenders under the Prior Credit Facility, the
Indenture provides that for so long as any Designated Senior Debt (as defined
in the Indenture to include Indebtedness under the Replacement Facility)
remains outstanding the Company will not commence a Change of Control Offer
until April 15, 1997 in the event of a Change of Control described in clause
(ii) of the definition of such term that occurs prior to April 15, 1997 (which
event does not otherwise constitute a Change of Control).
RANKING
The indebtedness evidenced by the Debentures is an unsecured obligation
of the Company, and the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on the Debentures, is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent
set forth in the Indenture, to the prior payment in full of all present and
future Senior Debt of the Company. The Indenture provides that in the event of
any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, upon any dissolution or winding up or
total or partial liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether
voluntary or involuntary, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other
proceedings, all amounts payable under the Senior Debt shall first be paid in
full in cash, before the holders of the Debentures shall be entitled to demand
or receive any payment of principal of or interest on or other sums payable
(including premium (if any), damages or other liabilities) in respect of the
Debentures. The Indenture further provides that no direct or indirect payment
by or on behalf of the Company of principal of or interest on the Debentures,
whether pursuant to the terms of the Debentures or upon acceleration or
acquisition, repurchase, redemption or other retirement of any Debenture, or
otherwise, shall be made if, at the time of such payment, there exists a
default in the payment when due through maturity, acceleration or otherwise, of
principal of or interest on any Senior Debt and such default shall not have
been cured or waived, unless the benefits of this sentence are waived by or on
behalf of the holders of the Senior Debt. In addition, during the continuance
of any other event of default under such Senior Debt (a "Non-Payment Default")
that would give rise to a right to accelerate the Senior Debt, upon receipt of
written notice to such effect, or if such event of default results from the
acceleration of the Debentures, from the date of such acceleration, no payment
may be made by the Company upon or in respect of the Debentures for a period
(the "Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the earlier of the date of
receipt of such notice or the date of such acceleration, as the case may be,
and ending 180 days thereafter (unless such Payment Blockage Period shall be
terminated by written notice to such effect from the representative of the
holders of the Senior Debt).
The Indenture also provides that at any time when there is outstanding
any Senior Debt, in the event of any event of default on the Senior Debt, the
holders of the Debentures, for a period of 180 days (the "Standstill Period")
commencing on the date of occurrence of such event of default (or such shorter
period as is applicable if such event of default is cured or waived or ceases
to exist), shall not be permitted or otherwise entitled to: (i) accelerate the
maturity of the principal of and accrued interest on, or other amount owing
under the Debentures, unless the Senior Debt shall have been accelerated, (ii)
commence any judicial action or proceeding to collect the payment of principal
of or interest on or other amount owing under the Debentures, unless any
holders of the Senior Debt shall have commenced a judicial action or
proceedings to collect payment of the principal of or interest on any Senior
Debt, or (iii) commence an involuntary case or proceeding in bankruptcy against
the Company, unless any holders of the Senior Debt shall have commenced such a
case or proceeding.
27
<PAGE> 30
"Senior Debt" is defined as the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest (including interest which accrues after a petition in bankruptcy is
filed by or against the Company) on and other amounts due on or in connection
with any Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of the
Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or in effect
guaranteed by the Company (including all deferrals, renewals, extensions or
refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to the foregoing);
provided, however, that Senior Debt does not include (i) any particular
Indebtedness in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the
assumption or guarantee thereof expressly provides that such Indebtedness shall
not be senior in right of payment to, or is pari passu with, or is subordinated
or junior to, the Debentures or (ii) the Debentures. "Indebtedness" means,
with respect to any person, (i) any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of
such person (a) for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender
is to the whole of the assets of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (b)
evidenced by a note, debenture or similar instrument (including a purchase
money obligation), (c) for the payment of any money under a lease required to
be a capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted
accounting principles, (d) in respect of letters of credit (including
reimbursement obligations with respect thereto) or (e) to pay the deferred
purchase price of property or services; (ii) any obligation of others which the
person has directly or indirectly guaranteed (including any monetary obligation
of a keep-well or similar nature); (iii) any obligation secured by a mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge or adverse claim affecting title or resulting
in an encumbrance to which the property or assets of such person are subject,
whether or not the obligations secured thereby shall have been assumed by or
shall otherwise be such person's legal liability; (iv) to the extent not
otherwise included, obligations under currency swap agreements and interest
rate protection agreements or similar agreements; and (v) any and all
deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings of, or amendments, modifications
or supplements to, any liability of the kind described in any of the preceding
clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv); provided, that Indebtedness shall not include
accounts payable or any other indebtedness to trade creditors created or
assumed by the Company in the ordinary course of business.
As of September 30, 1996, the Company had approximately $1 million of
Senior Debt. In addition, the Debentures were structurally subordinated to the
liabilities of the subsidiaries of the Company, which constituted most of the
approximately $164 million in other consolidated liabilities of the Company as
of such date. Senior Debt also includes any outstanding amounts under an
additional uncommitted unsecured bank credit line offered on a conditional
basis. At September 30, 1996, the amount of the outstanding letters of credit
under these credit lines was approximately $3 million. While substantially all
of the net proceeds of the sale of the Debentures were used to reduce the
amount of such Senior Debt outstanding, the Company anticipates that it may
subsequently re-borrow all or a substantial portion of such amount. The
Indenture does not limit the amount of additional Indebtedness which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates can create, incur, assume or
guarantee, including, without limitation, Senior Debt. In addition, the
Indenture would not restrict the Company from advancing funds to Silver King
(whether through dividends, loans or otherwise) following the Merger, subject
to the terms of the Replacement Facility. See "Risk Factors - Substantial
Leverage" and "- Ranking; Subordination."
The Company is a holding company and conducts all of its operations
through subsidiaries. Consequently, the ability of the Company to pay its
obligations, including its obligation to pay interest on and principal of the
Debentures when due, is dependent upon the earnings of its subsidiaries and the
distribution of those earnings to the Company. The subsidiaries are separate
and distinct legal entities and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to
pay any amounts due pursuant to the Debentures or to make funds available
therefor. The ability of the subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other
payments or advances to the Company depends upon their operating results and is
subject to various business considerations and to applicable state laws.
Because the Debentures are not obligations of the Company's
subsidiaries and because a substantial portion of the assets of the Company are
owned by its subsidiaries, claims of holders of Debentures are structurally
subordinated to the claims of such subsidiaries' creditors, including lenders
and trade creditors, of such subsidiaries. Thus, the Debentures effectively
are subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Company's
subsidiaries, including trade payables and the liquidation value of preferred
stock of such subsidiaries, if any, except to the extent that the Company is
itself recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary, in which case the claims of
the Company will still be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of
such subsidiary and any indebtedness of such subsidiary senior to that held by
the Company. The capital stock of the Subsidiary Guarantors has been pledged
to the lenders under the
28
<PAGE> 31
Replacement Facility and the Subsidiary Guarantors have guaranteed the
obligations of the Company under such facility. The Indenture permits the
Company's subsidiaries to incur additional indebtedness and to issue preferred
stock.
By reason of the subordination provisions described above, in the
event of the Company's liquidation or dissolution, holders of Senior Debt may
receive more, ratably, and holders of the Debentures may receive less, ratably,
than the other creditors of the Company. Such subordination will not prevent
the occurrence of an event of default under the Indenture; however, during the
Standstill Period following the occurrence of an event of default with respect
to Senior Debt, the rights of the holders of the Debentures to exercise
remedies under the Indenture relating to an event of default under the
Indenture may be restricted.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
The following are Events of Default under the Indenture: (i) default in
the payment when due of any interest on the Debentures, which default continues
for 30 days; (ii) default in the payment of principal of the Debentures when
due; (iii) the failure of the Company to perform its obligations related to the
repurchase of the Debentures following a Change in Control; (iv) the
acceleration of the maturity of any Senior Debt, if the aggregate principal
amount (or, if applicable, issue price plus accrued original issue discount) of
the Senior Debt the maturity of which has been accelerated exceeds $10 million,
unless within 30 days after the Company's receipt of written notice of such
default such acceleration is rescinded or annulled, such Senior Debt is paid or
such acceleration is contested by appropriate proceedings and all consequences
thereof that would have a material adverse effect on the Company stayed
(without the Company having posted a bond or surety or entered into a similar
arrangement); (v) the failure of the Company to perform any other covenant of
the Company contained in the Debentures or in the Indenture which failure
continues for 60 days after receipt of notice by the Company; (vi) the
rendering against the Company of final judgments in excess of $5 million that
remain unsatisfied and unstayed for more than 90 days and are not being
contested by the Company; and (vii) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization. The Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to
the holders of Debentures of any default (except in payment of principal,
premium, if any, or interest (including any Additional Interest) with respect
to the Debentures) if the Trustee considers it in the interest of the holders
of the Debentures to do so.
Subject to the provisions with respect to Senior Debt described above
under the caption "Ranking," the Indenture provides that if any Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, the Trustee or the holders of
not less than 25% in principal amount of the Debentures then outstanding may
declare the principal of and premium, if any, on the Debentures to be due and
payable immediately, but if the Company shall cure all defaults (except the
nonpayment of interest on, premium, if any, and principal of any Debentures
which shall have become due by acceleration) and certain other conditions are
met, such declaration may be canceled and past defaults may be waived by the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Debentures then
outstanding.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures then
outstanding have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceedings for any remedy available to the Trustee, subject to certain
limitations specified in the Indenture.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
The Indenture will cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding
Debentures (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange
and the Company's right of optional redemption; (ii) substitution of apparently
mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Debentures; (iii) rights of
holders of the Debentures to receive payments of principal and interest on the
Debentures; (iv) rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee under the
Indenture; and (v) rights of the holders of the Debentures as beneficiaries of
the Indenture with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee
payable to all or any of them), if (A) the Company will have paid or cause to
be paid the principal of and interest on the Debentures as and when the same
will have become due and payable, (B) all outstanding Debentures (except lost,
stolen or destroyed Debentures which have been replaced or paid) have been
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or (C) (x) the Debentures not
previously delivered to the Trustee for
29
<PAGE> 32
cancellation will have become due and payable or are by their terms to
become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee upon delivery of notice and (y) the
Company will have irrevocably deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds, cash,
in an amount sufficient to pay principal of and interest on the outstanding
Debentures, to maturity or redemption, as the case may be. Such trust may only
be established if such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument pursuant to which the
Company is a party or by which it is bound and the Company has delivered to the
Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that
all conditions related to such defeasance have been complied with.
The Indenture will also cease to be in effect (except as described in
clauses (i) through (v) in the immediately preceding paragraph) and the
indebtedness on all outstanding Debentures will be discharged on the 123rd day
after the irrevocable deposit by the Company with the Trustee, in trust,
specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of
the holders of the Debentures, of cash, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined
in the Indenture) or a combination thereof, in an amount sufficient, in the
opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants
expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay
the principal of and interest on the Debentures then outstanding in accordance
with the terms of the Indenture of the Debentures ("legal defeasance"). Such
legal defeasance may only be effected if (i) such deposit will not result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; (ii) the
Company has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel stating that (A) the
Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue
Service a ruling, or (B) since the date of the Indenture, there has been no
change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect
that, based thereon, the holders of the Debentures will not recognize income,
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit,
defeasance and discharge by the Company and will be subject to federal income
tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would
have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(iii) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the
effect that after the 123rd day following the deposit, the trust funds will not
be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally; and (iv)
the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an
opinion of counsel stating that all conditions related to the defeasance have
been complied with.
Notwithstanding any satisfaction and discharge or defeasance of the
Indenture, the obligations of the Company described under the caption
"Conversion of Debentures" survive.
MODIFICATIONS OF THE INDENTURE
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Debentures at the time outstanding, to modify the
Indenture or any supplemental indenture or the rights of the holders of the
Debentures, except that no such modification shall (i) extend the fixed
maturity of any Debenture, reduce the rate or extend the time or payment of
interest thereon, reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any,
thereon, reduce any amount payable upon redemption thereof, change the
obligation of the Company to make redemption of any Debenture upon the
happening of a Change of Control, impair or affect the right of a holder to
institute suit for the payment thereof, change the currency in which the
Debentures are payable or impair the right to convert the Debentures into
Common Stock subject to the terms set forth in the Indenture, without the
consent of the holder of each Debenture so affected, or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of principal amount of Debentures necessary to modify or
amend the Indenture or to consent to any waiver in the Indenture, without the
consent of the holders of all of the Debentures then outstanding.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, the Company and the Trustee
may amend or supplement the Indenture or the Debentures without the consent of
any holder of a Debenture (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in
the Indenture or the Debentures, (ii) subject to the provisions of the
Indenture, to provide for uncertificated or book entry Debentures in addition
to or in place of certified Debentures, (iii) to provide for the assumption of
the Company's obligations to the holders of the Debentures in the case of
certain mergers or consolidations involving the Company, (iv) to make any
change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to
30
<PAGE> 33
the holders of the Debentures or that does not adversely affect the
legal rights under the Indenture of any holder of a Debenture, or (v) to comply
with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification
of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
United States Trust Company of New York, the Trustee under the
Indenture, has been appointed by the Company as the paying agent, conversion
agent, registrar and custodian with regard to the Debentures. The Trustee
and/or its affiliates may in the future provide banking and other services to
the Company in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150,000,000
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value; 20,000,000 shares of Class B Common
Stock, $.01 par value; and 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value.
As of November 1, 1996, a total of 71,997,559 shares of Common Stock (net of
6,986,000 shares of Common Stock held in treasury) and 20,000,000 shares of
Class B Common Stock were issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable
and have no preemptive rights. No shares of Preferred Stock are presently
issued or outstanding. All of the outstanding Class B Common Stock is
currently held by a subsidiary of TCI. See "Recent Developments - Proposed
Silver King Merger."
COMMON STOCK AND CLASS B COMMON STOCK
Each share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote and each
share of Class B Common Stock entitles its holder to ten votes on each matter
to be voted upon by the holders of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock.
The holders of the Common Stock and Class B Common Stock vote together on all
such matters as one class (including elections of directors), except that (i)
the holders of Common Stock, voting as a separate class, are entitled to elect
25% of the total number of members of the Board of Directors of the Company,
(ii) so long as at least 22,800,000 shares of Class B Common Stock are
outstanding, the holders of the Class B Common Stock will vote as a separate
class upon any merger, reorganization, recapitalization, liquidation,
dissolution or winding-up, sale, transfer, or hypothecation of substantially
all or a substantial portion of the assets of the Company, and (iii) the
holders of the Common Stock vote separately as a class as to any amendments to
the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Because there
are fewer than 22,800,000 shares of Class B Common Stock outstanding, the
holders of the Class B Common Stock would vote together with the holders of the
Common Stock as a single class on any such merger, reorganization,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, sale, transfer, or
hypothecation of substantially all or a substantial portion of the assets of
the Company, with the holders of Class B Common Stock entitled to cast ten
votes for each share of Class B Common Stock owned and the holders of Common
Stock entitled to cast one vote for each share of Common Stock owned. The
Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are otherwise identical in all respects,
except that each share of Class B Common Stock is convertible into one share of
Common Stock at the option of the holder. Common Stock is not convertible into
Class B Common Stock. Upon conversion of the Class B Common Stock, the shares
of Class B Common Stock so converted will be retired and will not be subject to
reissuance.
The concentration of voting power afforded to the holders of Class B
Common Stock may have the effect of discouraging a third party from making a
tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of the Company, even
though such an attempt might be economically beneficial to the Company and its
stockholders. In addition, the disparate voting rights of the Common Stock and
the Class B Common Stock may affect the ability of stockholders to change the
Board of Directors or to benefit from transactions that are opposed by the
holders of a significant number of shares of Class B Common Stock, even though
such actions may be in the interests of the holders of a majority of the
stockholders of the Company. Because such concentration of voting power may
make it more difficult to, and thereby discourage an effort to, acquire the
Company, the stockholders may be deprived of an opportunity to sell their
shares pursuant to a tender offer or to sell their shares at a premium over
prevailing market prices.
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<PAGE> 34
The holders of Common Stock and Class B Common Stock are entitled to
receive ratably such dividends, if any, as are declared by the Company's Board
of Directors out of funds legally available for that purpose. In the event of
the Company's liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of Common
Stock and Class B Common Stock would be entitled to share ratably in all assets
of the Company available for distribution to holders of the Common Stock and
Class B Common Stock, subject to the preferential rights of holders, if any, of
shares of Preferred Stock. See "Preferred Stock" below.
The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides that
there can be no stock dividend on, or stock split or combination of, either the
Common Stock or the Class B Common Stock without a corresponding stock dividend
on, or stock split or combination of, the other class of such stock. For
purposes of the foregoing, if a dividend of shares of Common Stock were paid on
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, a corresponding dividend of shares of
Class B Common Stock would be required to be paid on the shares of Class B
Common Stock.
PREFERRED STOCK
The Board of Directors of the Company has the authority to issue
shares of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more series and to fix
the relative rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions thereof,
including dividend rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of
redemption, redemption prices, liquidation preferences and the number of shares
constituting any series or the designation of such series, without any further
action by the stockholders. The issuance of shares of Preferred Stock may have
the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the
Company without further action by the stockholders. The issuance of shares of
Preferred Stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the
voting power of the holders of Common Stock and the Class B Common Stock,
including the loss of voting control to others.
TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The transfer agent and registrar for the Company's Common Stock is The
Bank of New York.
NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING
The Company's Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange
under the symbol HSN.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Securities covered hereby may be offered and sold from time to
time by the Selling Securityholders. The Selling Securityholders will act
independently of the Company in making decisions with respect to the timing,
manner and size of each sale. Sales of the Securities are, in general,
expected to be made at the market price prevailing at the
time of each such sale; however, prices in negotiated transactions may differ
considerably. Such sales may be made on any exchange in which the Securities
are listed or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at
prices related to the then prevailing market prices or in negotiated
transactions, including without limitation pursuant to an underwritten offering
or pursuant to one or more of the following methods: (i) purchases by a
broker-dealer as principal and resale by such broker or dealer for its account
pursuant to this Prospectus; (ii) ordinary brokerage transactions and
transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers; and (iii) block trades in
which a broker-dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the Securities as agent
but may take a position and resell a portion of the block as principal to
facilitate the transaction.
The Common Stock of the Company is listed for trading on the New York
Stock Exchange, and the Company will file a listing application for the Shares
on the New York Stock Exchange. The Company does not intend, at this time, to
apply for listing of the Debentures on any securities exchange, but reserves
the right to do so in the future. Accordingly, no assurance can be given as to
the development of liquidity of any trading market that may develop for the
Debentures. See "Risk Factors - Absence of an Established Market; Restrictions
on Transfer."
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The Company has been advised that, as of the date hereof, the Selling
Securityholders have made no arrangement with any broker for the offering or
sale of the Securities. Underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents may
participate in such transactions as agents and may, in such capacity, receive
brokerage commissions from the Selling Securityholders or purchasers of such
Securities. Such underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents may also purchase
the Securities and resell such Securities for their own account. The Selling
Securityholders and underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents may be considered
"underwriters" as that term is defined by the Securities Act, although the
Selling Securityholders disclaim such status. Any commissions, discounts or
profits received by such underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents in connection
with the foregoing transactions may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if
applicable, the Securities will be offered or sold in such jurisdictions only
through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in certain
jurisdictions, the Securities may not be offered or sold unless they have been
registered or qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or unless an exemption
from such registration or qualification is available and is complied with.
The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as is practicable and to
keep the Registration Statement effective for up to three years after March 1,
1996, or until the Registration Statement is no longer required for the
transfer of the Securities. Silver King has also indicated that it currently
expects to take appropriate action, upon consummation of the Merger, to provide
that the resale of the Debentures will be registered under the Securities Act.
The Company is permitted to suspend the use of the Prospectus if it
determines, in its reasonable business judgment, that this registration and
offering could reasonably be expected to interfere with or otherwise adversely
affect any financing, acquisition, corporate reorganization, or other material
transaction or development involving the Company or any of its Affiliates or
require the Company to disclose matters that otherwise would not be required to
be disclosed at such time. The Company may then require the suspension of
resales of the Securities pursuant to this Prospectus by giving notice to the
Trustee and the holders of the Securities. Any such notice need not specify
the reasons for such suspension if the Company determines, in its reasonable
business judgment, that doing so could reasonably be expected to interfere with
or adversely affect such transaction or development or would result in the
disclosure of material non-public information. In the event that such notice
is given, then until the Company has determined, in its reasonable business
judgment, that this registration and offering would no longer interfere with
the matters described in the preceding sentence and has given notice thereof to
such holders of the Securities, the Company's obligations with respect to
registration will be suspended.
Selling Securityholders who sell Securities pursuant to the
Registration Statement will be required to deliver a Prospectus to purchasers
of the Securities and will be bound by such provisions of the Indenture which
are applicable to such Selling Securityholder (including certain
indemnification provisions). Expenses of preparing and filing the Registration
Statement and all post-effective amendments will be borne by the Company.
CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a general discussion, based upon the relevant
provisions of the Code, of the principal United States federal income and estate
tax consequences to U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders of owning, converting and
disposing of the Debentures and of owning and disposing of the Shares issued
upon conversion thereof. The terms "U.S. Holder" and "Non-U.S. Holder" refer,
respectively, to persons that are or are not classified as United States
persons. For this purpose, a United States person includes (i) a citizen or
resident of the United States for United States federal income tax purposes,
(ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under
the laws of the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, and (iii)
an estate or trust the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income
taxation regardless of its source.
This summary does not discuss all of the United States federal income
and estate tax consequences that may be relevant to holders of the Debentures
or the Shares and does not address the tax consequences arising under the laws
of any foreign, state or local jurisdiction. This discussion assumes that each
holder holds the Debentures and the
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<PAGE> 36
Shares received upon conversion thereof as capital assets (generally,
property held for investment) within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code,
and that any amounts received by a Non-U.S. Holder with respect to the
Debentures or the Shares are not effectively connected with the conduct by such
Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the United States. Persons
considering the purchase of Debentures should consult their tax advisers with
respect to current and possible future tax consequences of acquiring, holding,
converting and disposing of the Debentures and the Shares.
U.S. HOLDERS
Interest on Debentures. Interest on a Debenture will generally be
taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income in accordance with the
U.S. Holder's method of tax accounting at the time that such interest is
accrued or (actually or constructively) received.
Premium and Market Discount. A U.S. Holder of a Debenture purchased
at a premium (i.e., a cost greater than its principal amount), excluding any
amount attributable to the conversion privilege, may amortize such premium.
Special rules apply which may require the amount of premium and the
amortization thereof to be determined with reference to the optional redemption
price and date.
If a U.S. Holder of a Debenture purchases the Debenture at an amount
that is less than its principal amount, the Debenture generally will be
considered to bear "market discount" in the hands of such U.S. Holder. In such
case, gain recognized by the U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange, or retirement
and unrecognized appreciation on certain nontaxable dispositions of the
Debenture generally will be treated as ordinary interest income at the time of
such sale, exchange, retirement or nontaxable disposition to the extent of the
market discount that accrued on the Debenture while held by such U.S. Holder
and to the extent it has not previously been included in income (pursuant to an
election by the U.S. Holder to include such market discount in income as it
accrues). In addition, the U.S. Holder may be required to defer the deduction
of all or a portion of the interest paid on any indebtedness incurred or
continued to purchase or carry the Debenture (but such deferral would not be
required where a U.S. Holder elects to include accrued market discount in
income as it accrues). In general terms, market discount on a Debenture will
be treated as accruing ratably over the term of such Debenture, or, at the
election of the U.S. Holder, under a constant yield method.
Conversion of Debentures. A U.S. Holder of a Debenture will not
recognize gain or loss on the conversion of the Debenture into Shares, except
with respect to cash received in lieu of a fractional Share. Gain or loss
recognized on the receipt of cash paid in lieu of such a fractional Share will
equal the difference between the amount of cash received and the amount of tax
basis allocable to the fractional Shares redeemed. The holding period of the
Share received by the U.S. Holder upon conversion of the Debenture will include
the period during which it held the Debenture prior to the conversion. The
U.S. Holder's aggregate tax basis in the Shares received upon conversion of the
Debenture will equal the U.S. Holder's aggregate tax basis in the Debenture
exchanged therefor (less any portion thereof allocable to cash received in lieu
of a fractional Share).
If a Debenture as to which there is accrued market discount is
converted into Shares, such accrued market discount will carry over to the
Shares (to the extent that such accrued market discount has not been included
in income), and any gain realized upon the subsequent disposition of such
Shares will, to the extent of such accrued market discount, be taxable as
ordinary interest income.
A taxable distribution to holders of the Shares which results in an
adjustment of the conversion price of the Debentures may, in certain
circumstances, be treated as a deemed distribution to the holders of the
Debentures; in certain other circumstances, the absence of such an adjustment
may result in a deemed distribution to the holders of the Shares. Such deemed
distributions will be taxable as a dividend, return of capital or capital gain
in accordance with the earnings and profits rules discussed below under "-
Dividends on Shares."
Assuming Silver King becomes jointly liable with the Company with
respect to the Debentures in connection with the Merger, the conversion of
Debentures into shares of Silver King Common Stock in accordance with the
Indenture following the Merger would have the same tax consequences for holders
of Debentures described above. However, if Silver King does not become jointly
liable with the Company with respect to the Debentures, conversions
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<PAGE> 37
of the Debentures into shares of Silver King Common Stock would be
taxable, and the applicable holder of Debentures generally would recognize gain
to the extent that the fair market value of the Silver King Common Stock
received upon such conversion exceeded such holder's basis in such Debentures.
Disposition of Debentures or Shares. In general, the U.S. Holder of a
Debenture (or the Shares into which it was converted) will recognize capital
gain or loss upon the sale, redemption, retirement or other disposition of the
Debenture or on the sale or other disposition of such Shares measured by the
difference between the amount realized (except to the extent attributable to
the payment of accrued interest or to market discount not previously included
in income) (see "- Premium and Market Discount") and the U.S. Holder's tax
basis in the Debenture or Shares. A U.S. Holder's tax basis in a Debenture
generally will equal the cost of the Debenture to the U.S. Holder increased by
the amount of market discount, if any, previously taken into income by the U.S.
Holder or decreased by any bond premium theretofore amortized by the U.S.
Holder with respect to the Debenture. (For the basis and holding period of
Shares, see "- Conversion of Debentures" and "- Dividends on Shares.") The
gain or loss on such disposition of the Debentures or Shares will be long-term
capital gain or loss if the Debentures or Shares have been held for more than
one year at the time of such disposition.
Dividends on Shares. Distributions on Shares will constitute
dividends for United States federal income tax purposes to the extent of
current or accumulated earnings and profits of the Company as determined under
United States federal income tax principles. Such dividends will be subject to
United States federal income taxation in the hands of U.S. Holders of Shares
under rules generally applicable to dividends received from United States
corporations. For example, such dividends paid to U.S. Holders that are United
States corporations may qualify for the 70% dividends-received deduction
permitted by Section 243 of the Code. Individuals, partnerships, trusts, and
certain corporations, including certain foreign corporations, are not entitled
to the dividends-received deduction.
To the extent, if any, that a U.S. Holder receives a distribution on
Shares that would otherwise constitute a dividend for United States federal
income tax purposes, but that exceeds current and accumulated earnings and
profits of the Company, such distribution will be treated first as a
non-taxable return of capital reducing the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the
Shares. Any such distribution in excess of the U.S. Holder's tax basis in the
Shares will be treated as a capital gain.
NON-U.S. HOLDERS
Payments of Interest. A non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to United
States federal income tax by withholding or otherwise on payments of interest
on a Debenture (provided that the beneficial owner of the Debenture fulfills
the statement requirements set forth in applicable Treasury Regulations) unless
such Non-U.S. Holder (i) actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to
vote or (ii) is a controlled foreign corporation related, directly or
indirectly, to the Company through stock ownership.
Gain on Disposition of Debentures or Shares. A Non-U.S. Holder will
not be subject to United States federal income tax by withholding or otherwise
on any gain realized upon the disposition of a Debenture or Shares received
upon conversion thereof (including the receipt of cash in lieu of fractional
Shares upon such conversion) unless (i) in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder who is
a nonresident alien individual, a 30% withholding tax is applicable on such
gain if, such Non-U.S. Holder is present in the United States for a period or
periods aggregating 183 days or more during the taxable year of the disposition
and either (a) the Non-U.S. Holder has a "tax home" (within the meaning of the
Code) in the United States (unless such gain is attributable to a fixed place
of business in a country other than the United States maintained by such
individual and has been subject to tax by such country of at least 10%) or (b)
the gain is attributable to an office or other fixed place of business
maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States or (ii) the Company is
or will have been a "United States Real Property Holding Corporation" for
United States federal income tax purposes at any time within the shorter of the
five-year period preceding such disposition or such Non-U.S. Holder's holding
period, and no treaty exception is applicable, and at any point in time during
such period the Non-U.S. Holder has held, directly or indirectly, in the case
of Shares, more than 5% of the Common Stock or, in the case of the Debentures,
Debentures with a fair market value at the time of acquisition (or, if
additional Debentures
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are acquired, at the time of subsequent acquisition) exceeding the fair
market value at such time of 5% of the outstanding Common Stock. If clause
(ii) is applicable, such gain will be subject to U.S. income tax and, in
addition, a withholding tax will apply (generally at a rate of 10% of the gross
proceeds of any such sale or other disposition). The Company believes that it
is not, and will not be in the foreseeable future, a United States Real
Property Holding Company. Any amount withheld pursuant to these rules will be
creditable against such Non-U.S. Holder's United States federal income tax
liability and may entitle such Non-U.S. Holder to a refund upon furnishing the
required information to the Internal Revenue Service.
Conversion of Debentures. A Non-U.S. Holder will not be subject to
United States federal income tax by withholding or otherwise on the conversion
of a Debenture into Shares (except with respect to the receipt of cash in lieu
of fractional Shares by Non-U.S. Holders described in clause (i) of "- Gain on
Disposition of Debentures or Shares") if such Non-U.S. Holder would not be
subject to such taxation in respect of gain on a disposition of the Debentures
under the rules described in clause (ii) of "- Gain on Disposition of
Debentures or Shares" and provided certain other conditions are satisfied. The
Company does not presently intend to withhold United States federal income tax
on the conversion of a Debenture. However, if the Company determines, based
upon the advice of recognized tax counsel, that such withholding is required,
the Company may in its sole discretion withhold generally at a rate of 10% of
the fair market value of the Shares, plus cash, if any, received by such
Non-U.S. Holder. See "- Gain on Disposition of Debentures or Shares" for the
treatment of such withheld amounts.
Assuming Silver King becomes jointly liable with the Company with
respect to the Debentures in connection with the Merger, the conversion of
Debentures into shares of Silver King Common Stock in accordance with the
Indenture following the Merger would have the same tax consequences for holders
of Debentures described above.
Dividends. Generally, any distribution on Shares to a Non-U.S. Holder
will be subject to United States federal income tax withholding at a rate of
30% of the amount of the distribution, or at a lesser applicable treaty rate.
Under current Treasury regulations, dividends paid to an address in a foreign
country are presumed to be paid to a resident of such country for purposes of
determining the applicability of a treaty rate unless the Company has definite
knowledge that such presumption is not warranted or an applicable tax treaty
requires some other method for determining a Non-U.S. Holder's residence.
To the extent, if any, that a distribution to a Non-U.S. Holder is
treated as a tax-free return of capital or as a capital gain (see "- U.S.
Holders - Dividends on Shares" above), the Company nevertheless intends to
withhold United States federal income tax at the 30% or lesser applicable
treaty rate. In such event, the Non-U.S. Holder is entitled to apply for a
refund of such withheld amounts by filing form 1040NR (individuals) or Form
1120F (corporations) with the Internal Revenue Service. To the extent that the
distribution is treated as a capital gain, however, it will be subject to the
same rules as applicable to gains realized on the disposition of Common Stock
(see "- Gain on disposition of Debentures or Shares"), and therefore a refund
may not be granted.
Estate Tax. Debentures held at the time of death by an individual
holder, who at such time was not a citizen or resident of the United States,
will not be subject to United States federal estate tax, provided that at such
time, the holder did not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the
total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company entitled to
vote. Shares held at the time of death (or previously transferred subject to
certain retained rights or powers) by an individual holder, who at such time
was not a citizen or resident of the United States, will be subject to United
States federal estate tax, except as otherwise provided by an applicable estate
tax treaty.
INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
In addition to the withholding rules described above, interest,
dividends, distributions, and payments of proceeds from the disposition by
certain noncorporate holders of Debentures or shares of Common Stock may be
subject to backup withholding at a rate of 31%. A U.S. Holder generally will
be subject to backup withholding at a rate of 31% unless the recipient of such
payment supplies an accurate taxpayer identification number, as well as certain
other information, or otherwise establishes, in the manner prescribed by the
Code, an exemption from backup
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withholding. Any amount withheld under backup withholding is allowable
as a credit against the U.S. Holder's federal income tax, upon furnishing the
required information.
Generally, backup withholding of United States federal income tax at a
rate of 31% and information reporting may apply to payments of principal,
interest and premium (if any) to Non-U.S. Holders that are not "exempt
recipients" and that fail to provide certain information as may be required by
United States law and applicable regulations. Under temporary and proposed
United States Treasury regulations, backup withholding and information
reporting will not apply to dividends paid on Shares to a Non-U.S. Holder.
Generally, the payer of the dividends may rely on the payee's address outside
the United States in determining that such payee is a Non-U.S. Holder. The
payment of the proceeds of the disposition of Debentures or Shares to or
through the United States office or a broker will be subject to information
reporting and backup withholding at a rate of 31% unless the owner certifies
its status as a Non-U.S. Holder under penalties of perjury or otherwise
establishes an exemption. The proceeds of the disposition by a Non-U.S. Holder
of Debentures or Shares to or through a foreign office of a broker will not be
subject to backup withholding. However, if such broker is a U.S. person, a
controlled foreign corporation for United States tax purposes, or a foreign
person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for a specified
three-year period is from activities that are effectively connected with a
United States trade or business, information reporting will apply unless such
broker has documentary evidence in its files of the owner's status as a
Non-U.S. Holder and has no actual knowledge to the contrary. Under proposed
Treasury regulations, both backup or withholding and information reporting will
apply to the proceeds from such dispositions if the broker has actual knowledge
that the payee is a U.S. Holder.
Holders should consult their tax advisors regarding the application of
information reporting and backup withholding in their particular situations,
the availability of an exemption therefrom, and the procedures for obtaining
any such exemption, if available.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters with respect to the Debentures and Shares will
be passed upon by H. Steven Holtzman, Senior Counsel to the Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Home Shopping
Network, Inc. as of December 31, 1995 and 1994, and for each of the years in
the three-year period ended December 31, 1995, have been incorporated by
reference herein and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the
reports, dated February 21, 1996, of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the
authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Additional Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Affiliation Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
BDTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
CEDEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Certificated Debentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Change of Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Change of Control Offer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Chase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Chase Commitment Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Class B Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Company Plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Contingent Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Debentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
DTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Equity Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Euroclear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Exchange Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
FCC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
FCC Approval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
FCC June Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
FCC Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Global Debenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
HOT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
HOT Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
HSC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
HSN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Indirect Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ISN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Kirch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Kofler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
legal defeasance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Liberty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Liberty HSN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Liberty Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
LPTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Mail Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Memorandum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Merger Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Merger and Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Non-Global Purchasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Non-Payment Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Non-U.S. Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Payment Blockage Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Placement Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Prior Credit Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
</TABLE>
38
<PAGE> 41
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Purchasers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
QIBs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Quelle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
QVC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Registration Statement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Replacement Facility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Savoy Merger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SEC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Section 203 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Securities Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Selling Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Senior Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Silver King . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Silver King Class B Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Silver King Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Silver King Exchange Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Silver King LPTV Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Silver King Stations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Silver King Sub . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Standstill Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Stockholders Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Subscriber Condition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Subsidiary Guarantors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
TCI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
TCI Company Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
U.S. Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
United States Real Property Holding Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Voting Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Voting Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
</TABLE>
39
<PAGE> 42
================================================================================
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATION OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFERING DESCRIBED HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATION MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS
DATE OR THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE SUCH
DATE. THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER
TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THOSE
SPECIFICALLY OFFERED HEREBY OR OF ANY SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED, OR IN WHICH
THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO, OR TO
ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
-----------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY
REFERENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
RISK FACTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
USE OF PROCEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS INVOLVING DILLER,
LIBERTY AND SILVER KING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
CERTAIN TAX CONSIDERATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
LEGAL MATTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
EXPERTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
</TABLE>
================================================================================
HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC.
$100,000,000
5 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures
due March 1, 2006
and
8,333,333 Shares of
Common Stock
-----------------------------------------
PROSPECTUS
-----------------------------------------
November 18, 1996
================================================================================
<PAGE> 43
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
All of the expenses in connection with the distribution of the
Debentures and Shares are set forth below and will be borne by the Registrant.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Registration Fee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $34,483.00
*Legal Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $30,000.00
*Accounting Fees and Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $25,000.00
----------
*Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $89,483.00
==========
</TABLE>
----------------
*Estimated.
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides,
generally, that a corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (except actions by or in the
right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against all expenses,
judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if
such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful. A corporation may similarly indemnify
such person for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with the defense or settlement of any action or suit by or in the
right of the corporation, provided such person acted in good faith and in a
manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, in the case of claims, issues and matters as
to which such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation,
provided that a court shall have determined, upon application, that, despite
the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the
case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such
expenses which such court shall deem proper.
Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides,
generally, that the certificate of incorporation may contain a provision
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation
or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a
director, provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability
of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith
or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii)
under section 174 of Title 8 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit. No such provision may eliminate or limit the liability of a director
for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision became
effective.
Article NINTH of the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation
provides as follows:
"(A) The corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party
or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorney's
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted
in good faith and in a
II-1
<PAGE> 44
manner he reasonably believed to be in and not opposed to the best
interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(B) The corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party
or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in
its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the
extent that a court of equity or the court in which such action or suit was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication or
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is
fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court
of equity or such other court shall deem proper.
(C) To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of
the corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (A) and (B) of this
Article Ninth or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall
be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(D) Any indemnification under subsections (A) and (B) of this
Article NINTH (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only
as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because
he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in subsections (A) and
(B). Such determination shall be made (1) by the board of directors by a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such
action, suit or proceeding, or if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
obtainable a quorum of the disinterested directors so directs, by independent
legal counsel in a written opinion or by the stockholders.
(E) Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action,
suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final
disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking
by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay such
amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be
indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article.
(F) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by,
or granted pursuant to this Article shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be
entitled under any statute, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person; it being the intent and purpose of this Article that the corporation
shall have the authority to indemnify directors, officers, agents and employees
to the fullest extent allowed by the laws of the State of Delaware as those
laws exist now or may hereafter be amended, provided that such amendment
expands the right to indemnify officers, directors, agents or employees.
(G) The corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability
asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out
of
II-2
<PAGE> 45
his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article."
Article FOURTEENTH of the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation provides as follows:
"The directors of the corporation shall in no event be liable to the
corporation or to its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a
fiduciary duty of a director; provided, however, that this Article shall not
eliminate the liability of a director (i) for any breach of the director's duty
of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions
not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing
violation of law, (iii) under section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation
Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper
personal benefit. The liability of a director shall be further eliminated or
limited to the fullest extent allowable under Delaware law, as it may in the
future be amended."
The Company either has executed or expects to execute indemnification
agreements for each member of the Board of Directors and for certain officers
of the Company.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
<S> <C>
*4.0 Indenture dated as of March 1, 1996 between the Company and United
States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee for the Company's 5 7/8%
Convertible Subordinated Debentures due March 1, 2006 (filed as
Exhibit 4.0 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1995 (file No. 1-9118) and incorporated herein by
reference).
*5.1 Opinion of H. Steven Holtzman, Senior Counsel to the Company.
12.0 Statement regarding Computation of Ratios.
23.0 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
*24.0 Power of Attorney (included on signature pages to the Registration
Statement).
*25.0 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 of United States Trust Company of New York.
</TABLE>
* Previously filed.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of
the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of the prospectus
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate,
the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in
the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
II-3
<PAGE> 46
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the
plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant
to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to
be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15
above, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be
governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4
<PAGE> 47
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe
that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly
caused this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St.
Petersburg, State of Florida, on November 18, 1996.
HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC.
By: /s/ Kevin J. McKeon
--------------------------------------
Name: Kevin J. McKeon
Title: Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial
Officer and Treasurer
II-5
<PAGE> 48
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, this Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement has been signed by
the following persons (which persons constitute a majority of the Board of
Directors) in the capacities and on the date indicated:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
- --------- ----- ----
<S> <C> <C>
* President, Chief
- ------------------------------------------ Executive Officer and Director
(James G. Held)
/s/ Kevin J. McKeon Executive Vice President, Chief
- ------------------------------------------ Financial Officer and Treasurer November 18, 1996
(Kevin J. McKeon) (Principal Financial Officer)
* Vice President and Controller
- ------------------------------------------ (Chief Accounting Officer)
(Brian J. Feldman)
* Chairman of the Board
- ------------------------------------------ and Director
(Barry Diller)
* Director
- ------------------------------------------
(Peter R. Barton)
* Director
- ------------------------------------------
(Robert R. Bennett)
* Director
- ------------------------------------------
(Leo J. Hindery, Jr.)
* Director
- ------------------------------------------
(General H. Norman Schwarzkopf)
* Director
- ------------------------------------------
(Eli J. Segal)
*By: /s/ Kevin J. McKeon November 18, 1996
-------------------------------------
Kevin J. McKeon
Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE> 49
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
*4.0 Indenture dated as of March 1, 1996 between the Company and
United States Trust Company of New York, as Trustee for the
Company's 5 7/8% Convertible Subordinated Debentures due
March 1, 2006 (filed as Exhibit 4.0 to the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995 (file
No. 1-9118) and incorporated herein by reference).
*5.1 Opinion of H. Steven Holtzman, Senior Counsel to the Company.
12.0 Statement regarding Computation of Ratios.
23.0 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
*24.0 Power of Attorney (included on signature pages to the
Registration Statement).
*25.0 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of United States Trust Company of
New York.
</TABLE>
*Previously filed.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 12.0
HOME SHOPPING NETWORK, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NINE MONTHS YEARS ENDED FOUR MONTHS YEARS ENDED
ENDED DECEMBER 31, ENDED AUGUST 31,
SEPTEMBER 30, ------------------------------ DECEMBER 31, ----------------
1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1992 1991
------------- ------- ------ ------------ ------
(IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Earnings (Loss) Before Taxes and
Extraordinary Item............... 23,016 (95,025) 30,520 (19,567) 11446 64,492 6,116
Add
Portion of Rents Representing
Interest Factor............. 3,535 4,377 4,613 5,011 2,182 6,692 6,139
Interest...................... 8,203 10,077 5,512 10,863 6,651 22,299 23,176
------------- ------- ------ ------- ------------ ------ ------
Earnings (Loss) as Adjusted... 34,754 (80,571) 40,645 (3,693) 20,279 93,483 35,431
============== ======== ====== ======== ============== ====== ======
Fixed Charges
Portion of Rents Representing
Interest Factor............. 3,535 4,377 4,613 5,011 2,182 6,692 6,139
Interest...................... 8,203 10,077 5,512 10,863 6,651 22,299 23,176
------------- ------- ------ ------- ------------ ------ ------
Total Fixed Charges........... 11,738 14,454 10,125 15,874 8,833 28,991 29,315
============== ======== ====== ======== ============== ====== ======
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed
Charges......................... 2.96 --(1) 4.01 --(1) 2.30 3.22 1.21
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Ratio is less than zero.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.0
CONSENT OF CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
The Board of Directors
Home Shopping Network, Inc.
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated by reference herein and to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.
/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
-------------------------------
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
St. Petersburg, Florida
November 15, 1996
