<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 20, 1998
REGISTRATION NO. 333-56177
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
----------------
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------
NTL INCORPORATED
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
----------------
DELAWARE 4899 52-1822078
(STATE OR OTHER (PRIMARY STANDARD INDUSTRIAL (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
JURISDICTION OF CLASSIFICATION CODE NUMBER) IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
INCORPORATION OR
ORGANIZATION)
110 EAST 59TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(212) 906-8440
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
----------------
RICHARD J. LUBASCH, ESQ.
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
NTL INCORPORATED
110 EAST 59TH STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(212) 906-8440
(NAME, ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
COPIES TO:
ROBERT M. CHILSTROM, ESQ.
THOMAS H. KENNEDY, ESQ.
SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
919 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(212) 735-3000
----------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
----------------
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance
with General Instruction G, check the following box. [_]
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 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. [_]
----------------
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, AS AMENDED, OR UNTIL THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION,
ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
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- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
LOGO
[LOGO OF NTL INCORPORATED APPEARS HERE]
OFFER FOR ALL OUTSTANDING
9 1/2% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008 IN EXCHANGE FOR
9 1/2% SERIES B SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008
AND
10 3/4% SENIOR DEFERRED COUPON NOTES DUE 2008 IN EXCHANGE FOR
10 3/4% SERIES B SENIOR DEFERRED COUPON NOTES DUE 2008
AND
9 3/4% SENIOR DEFERRED COUPON NOTES DUE 2008 IN EXCHANGE FOR
9 3/4% SERIES B SENIOR DEFERRED COUPON NOTES DUE 2008,
WHICH HAVE, IN EACH CASE, BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
OF
NTL INCORPORATED
THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M. NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON
NOVEMBER 23, 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED
NTL Incorporated, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby offers,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and
the accompanying Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the
"Exchange Offer"), to exchange (i) an aggregate principal amount of up to
(Pounds)125,000,000 9 1/2% Series B Senior Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the
"New Sterling Senior Notes"), for a like principal amount of the issued and
outstanding 9 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the "Old Sterling
Senior Notes" and, together with the New Sterling Senior Notes, the "Sterling
Senior Notes"), (ii) an aggregate principal amount at maturity of up to
(Pounds)300,000,000 10 3/4% Series B Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 of
the Company (the "New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes"), for a like principal
amount at maturity of the issued and outstanding 10 3/4% Senior Deferred
Coupon Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the "Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes"
and, together with the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the "Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes"), and (iii) an aggregate principal amount at maturity
of up to $1,300,000,000 9 3/4% Series B Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008
of the Company (the "New USD Deferred Coupon Notes", and together with the New
Sterling Senior Notes and the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the "New
Notes"), for a like principal amount at maturity of the issued and outstanding
9 3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 (the "Old USD Deferred Coupon
Notes", and, together with the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes, the "USD
Deferred Coupon Notes" and, together with the Old Sterling Senior Notes and
the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the "Old Notes" and, the Old Notes,
together with the New Notes, the "Notes"), in each case, from the respective
holders thereof (the "Holders"). The terms of the New Notes are identical in
all material respects to the Old Notes except for certain transfer
restrictions and registration rights relating to the Old Notes and except for
certain provisions providing for special interest on the Old Notes under
certain circumstances relating to the timing of the Exchange Offer.
On March 13, 1998 the Company issued (Pounds)125,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of Old Sterling Senior Notes, (Pounds)300,000,000 aggregate principal
amount at maturity of Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, and $1,300,000,000
aggregate principal amount at maturity of Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes. The
Old Notes were issued pursuant to an offering exempt from registration under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") and applicable
state securities laws.
The Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be, senior unsecured obligations
of the Company, ranking pari passu in right of payment of principal, premium,
if any, and interest with all other existing and future unsubordinated
obligations of the Company and ranking senior to all other existing and future
subordinated debt of the Company. The Company is a holding company and,
therefore, the Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be, effectively
subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities and
commitments of the Company's subsidiaries with respect to the cash flow and
assets of those subsidiaries. As of June 30, 1998, such subsidiaries had
approximately $863 million ((Pounds)518 million) of total liabilities.
The New Sterling Senior Notes will bear interest from the most recent date
to which interest has been paid on the Old Sterling Senior Notes. Accordingly,
if the relevant record date for interest payment occurs after the consummation
of the Exchange Offer, registered holders of New Sterling Senior Notes on such
record date will receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which
interest has been paid. If, however, the relevant record date for interest
payment occurs prior to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, registered
holders of Old Sterling Senior Notes on such record date will receive interest
accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been paid. Old
Sterling Senior Notes accepted for exchange
(continued on page 2)
SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 18 OF THIS PROSPECTUS FOR A DESCRIPTION OF
CERTAIN RISKS TO BE CONSIDERED BY HOLDERS WHO TENDER THEIR OLD NOTES IN THE
EXCHANGE OFFER.
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The date of this Prospectus is October 22, 1998.
<PAGE>
(continued from front cover page)
will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of consummation of the
Exchange Offer, except as set forth in the immediately preceding sentence.
Holders of Old Sterling Senior Notes whose Old Sterling Senior Notes are
accepted for exchange will not receive any payment in respect of interest on
such Old Sterling Senior Notes otherwise payable on any interest payment date
the record date for which occurs on or after consummation of the Exchange
Offer. The Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the Old USD Deferred Coupon
Notes were issued at a substantial discount from their principal amount at
maturity. Cash interest will not accrue on the New Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes prior to April 1, 2003. Commencing
April 1, 2003, interest on the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the New
USD Deferred Coupon Notes will accrue at rates of 10.75% and 9.75%,
respectively, and will be payable semiannually in arrears on each April 1 and
October 1, commencing October 1, 2003. Original issue discount on the New
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes will
accrue from March 13, 1998, the date of original issuance of the Old Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes and the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, respectively.
The New Notes are being offered hereunder in order to satisfy certain
obligations of the Company contained in the Registration Rights Agreements (as
defined). Based on interpretations of the staff of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"), as set forth in no-action letters issued to
third parties, the Company believes that the New Notes issued pursuant to the
Exchange Offer in exchange for the Old Notes may be offered for resale, resold
and otherwise transferred by Holders thereof (other than any such Holder which
is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act), without compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such New Notes are
acquired in the ordinary course of such Holders' business and such Holders
have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Notes. The
Company acknowledges and each Holder, other than a broker-dealer, must
acknowledge that it is not engaged in, does not intend to engage in, and has
no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the
distribution of New Notes. If any Holder is an affiliate of the Company, is
engaged in or intends to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in the distribution of the New Notes to be
acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such Holder (i) could not rely on the
applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission and (ii) must comply
with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities
Act in connection with any resale transaction. Each broker-dealer who holds
Old Notes acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities
or other trading activities, and who receives New Notes in exchange for such
Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, may be an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act and must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any resale of such New Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be
deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from
time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of New
Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by
such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities. The Company has agreed that, starting on the Expiration Date (as
defined) and ending at the close of business on the 180th day following the
Expiration Date it will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer
for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the Exchange Offer. The
Company will pay all of the expenses incident to the Exchange Offer. Tenders
of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior
to the Expiration Date. If the Company terminates the Exchange Offer and does
not accept for exchange any Old Notes, the Company will promptly return Old
Notes to the Holders thereof. See "The Exchange Offer."
The Old Notes are eligible for trading in the Private Offerings, Resales and
Trading through Automated Linkages ("PORTAL") market and are listed on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange. Prior to this Exchange Offer, there has been no
public market for the New Notes. Although the Initial Purchasers (as defined)
have informed the Company that they intend to make a market in the New Notes,
they are not obligated to do so and any such market-making may be discontinued
at any time without notice. If a market for the New Notes should develop, the
New Notes could trade at a discount from their principal amount or Accreted
Value (as defined), as the case may be. The Company does not currently intend
to list the New Notes on any securities exchange (other than the Luxembourg
Stock Exchange) or to seek approval for quotations through any automated
quotation systems. There can be no assurance that a market for the New Notes
will develop.
2
<PAGE>
UNTIL JANUARY 20, 1999 (90 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS) DEALERS
AFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE NEW NOTES, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE
EXCHANGE OFFER, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS OBLIGATION IS IN
ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS
UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is currently subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements, information statements
and other information with the Commission. Any reports, proxy statements,
information statements and other information filed by the Company with the
Commission may be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices located
at Suite 1400, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60661 and 13th Floor, Seven World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048, and copies of such material may also be obtained by mail from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates. The Commission also maintains a site on the World
Wide Web, the address of which is http://www.sec.gov, that contains reports,
proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, such
as the Company, that file electronically with the Commission. Such reports,
proxy statements and other information concerning the Company may also be
inspected at the offices of the Nasdaq Stock Market, Reports Section, at 1735 K
Street, Washington, D.C. 20006. As long as the New Notes are listed on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange, copies of such reports, proxy statements and other
information will also be made available free of charge at the specified office
of the Company's agent in Luxembourg, Banque Internationale a Luxembourg S.A.
(the "Luxembourg Agent").
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-4 (herein together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, called the
"Registration Statement") under the Securities Act with respect to the notes
offered by this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not contain all of the
information set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the exhibits and schedules relating thereto, certain portions of
which have been omitted as permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Commission. For further information with respect to the Company and the notes
offered by this Prospectus, reference is made to the Registration Statement and
the exhibits filed or incorporated as a part thereof, which are on file at the
offices of the Commission and may be obtained upon payment of the fee
prescribed by the Commission, or may be examined without charge at the offices
of the Commission. Copies of the documents which are exhibits to, or
incorporated as part of, the Registration Statement, will be made available
free of charge at the specified office of the Luxembourg Agent. Statements
contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any documents referred to
are not necessarily complete, and, in each such instance, are qualified in all
respects by reference to the applicable documents filed with the Commission.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are hereby
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus:
(a) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
31, 1997, dated March 30, 1998;
(b) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the three months
ended March 31, 1998, dated May 14, 1998 and for the three months ended
June 30, 1998, dated August 14, 1998;
(c) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 5, 1998
(filed February 6, 1998), March 6, 1998 (filed March 9, 1998), March 18,
1998 (filed March 20, 1998), May 29, 1998 (filed June 2, 1998), June 16,
1998 (filed June 16, 1998), August 14, 1998 (filed August 18, 1998) and
October 5, 1998 (filed October 5, 1998); and
(d) the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration
Statement 333-64727), as amended to September 30, 1998.
3
<PAGE>
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of the offering
of New Notes hereunder shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and to be a part of this Prospectus from the date of the filing
thereof. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein
or in any document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREIN OR DELIVERED HEREWITH. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE WITHOUT CHARGE TO
EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED UPON THE REQUEST OF SUCH
PERSON TO: NTL INCORPORATED, 110 EAST 59TH STREET, 26TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NEW
YORK 10022, ATTENTION: RICHARD J. LUBASCH, ESQ.; TELEPHONE: (212) 906-8440. IN
ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE NO LESS
THAN FIVE DAYS PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER. IN ADDITION,
COPIES OF SUCH DOCUMENTS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT THE SPECIFIED
OFFICE OF THE LUXEMBOURG AGENT.
----------------
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN
THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION AND
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE
COMPANY. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO
CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY ANY NOTES OTHER THAN THE REGISTERED NOTES TO WHICH IT RELATES.
THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY SUCH NOTES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION IS UNLAWFUL.
----------------
In this Prospectus, references to "pounds sterling," "(Pounds)" "pence" or
"p" are to the lawful currency of the United Kingdom and references to "U.S.
dollars," "dollars," "$" or "c" are to the lawful currency of the United
States. Solely for the convenience of the reader, this Prospectus contains
translations of certain pound sterling amounts into U.S. dollars and certain
U.S. dollar amounts into pounds sterling. These translations should not be
construed as representations that the pound sterling amounts actually represent
such U.S. dollar amounts or vice versa or could have been or could be or will
be converted into U.S. dollars or pounds sterling, as the case may be, at the
rate indicated or at any other rate. Unless otherwise indicated, the
translations of pounds sterling into U.S. dollars have been made at 1.6667 per
(Pounds)1.00, the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers
in pounds sterling as certified for customers purposes by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York (the "Noon Buying Rate") on June 30, 1998. See "Exchange
Rates" for information regarding the Noon Buying Rate for the past ten fiscal
years. On October 9, 1998, the Noon Buying Rate was 1.7030 per (Pounds)1.00.
----------------
Although there can be no assurance that a single European currency will be
adopted or, if adopted, on what time schedule, the Treaty on the European
Economic and Monetary Union provides for the introduction of the Euro in
substitution for the national currencies of the member states which adopt the
Euro. If the United Kingdom adopts the Euro, the regulations of the European
Commission relating to the Euro would apply to each of the Sterling Senior
Notes, the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the Sterling Senior Notes Indenture
(as defined) and the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes Indenture (as defined). The
circumstances and consequences described in this paragraph entitle neither the
Company nor any holder of the Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes to early redemption, rescission, notice or repudiation of the terms and
conditions of the
4
<PAGE>
Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the applicable
Indentures or to raise other defenses or to request any compensation claim, nor
will they affect any of the other obligations of the Company under the Sterling
Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the applicable Indentures.
----------------
The New Notes exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be available
initially only in book-entry form and will be issued in the form of Global
Notes (as defined). The Global Notes will be deposited with, or on behalf of,
The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") and registered in its name or in the name
of Cede & Co., its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Notes will be
shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected through, records maintained by
DTC and its Participants (as defined). Beneficial interests in the New Notes
may be held through the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") and Cedel Bank, societe
anonyme ("CEDEL"). After initial issuance of the Global Notes, New Notes in
certificated form will be issued in exchange for the Global Notes only in
limited circumstances. See "Book-Entry; Delivery and Form" for further
discussion of these matters and for definitions of certain of the capitalized
terms used in this paragraph.
----------------
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements"
as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. When used in this Prospectus, the words, "believe," "anticipate,"
"should," "intend," "plan," "will," "expects," "estimates," "projects,"
"positioned," "strategy," and similar expressions identify such forward-looking
statements. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance
or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different
from those contemplated or projected, forecast, estimated or budgeted in or
expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include,
among others, the risk and other factors set forth under "Risk Factors" as well
as the following: general economic and business conditions, industry trends,
the Company's ability to continue to design network routes, install facilities,
obtain and maintain any required government licenses or approvals and finance
construction and development, all in a timely manner, at reasonable costs and
on satisfactory terms and conditions, as well as assumptions about customer
acceptance, churn rates, overall market penetration and competition from
providers of alternative services, and availability, terms and deployment of
capital.
5
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed
information and financial statements appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus or
incorporated in this Prospectus by reference. Prospective investors should
carefully consider the factors set forth under the caption "Risk Factors." As
used in this Prospectus, the term "Company" or "NTL" means NTL Incorporated
and, unless the context otherwise requires, its consolidated subsidiaries and
partnerships. Capitalized terms not defined in this Summary have the meanings
given them elsewhere in this Prospectus. Unless otherwise stated, statistical
data included in this Prospectus are as of June 30, 1998. Certain technical
terms used in this Prospectus are defined in the glossary which begins on
page A-1 of this Prospectus.
THE COMPANY
NTL is a leading communications company in the United Kingdom, providing
residential, business and wholesale customers with the following services: (i)
Residential Telecoms and Television Services including residential telephony,
cable television ("CATV") and Internet access services, (ii) National Telecoms
Services including national business telecoms, national and international
carrier telecommunications, and satellite and radio communications services,
and (iii) Broadcast Services including digital and analog television and radio
broadcast transmission services.
NTL provides its broad range of services over local, national and
international network infrastructure. The Company operates: (i) advanced local
broadband networks serving entire communities throughout NTL's regional
franchise areas, (ii) the UK's first synchronous digital hierarchy ("SDH")
backbone telecommunications network, as well as satellite earth stations and
radio communications facilities from NTL's tower sites across the UK, and (iii)
a broadcast transmission network which provides national, regional and local
analog and digital transmission services to customers throughout the UK.
In March 1997, the Company changed its name from International CableTel
Incorporated to NTL Incorporated to reflect the integration of the services
provided by the Company following its acquisition of NTL Group Limited in 1996,
and to capitalize on NTL Group Limited's 30 year history in the United Kingdom
as a provider of reliable communications services.
RESIDENTIAL TELECOMS AND TELEVISION SERVICES
The Company is the third largest operator of local broadband communications
systems in the UK as measured by the number of homes in its franchise areas,
and has achieved the highest customer penetration and lowest churn rates of any
multi-system operator in the UK. The Company is presently the sole provider of
broadband services in its franchise areas, offering residential telephony,
cable television and Internet access services to customers connected to its
networks.
As of June 30, 1998, the Company had more than 389,000 residential customers,
approximately 91% of which subscribed to both telephone and television
services. As of June 30, 1998 the Company had approximately 743,400 Revenue
Generating Units ("RGUs") resulting in 38.5% telephone penetration, 39.1% cable
penetration and 77.6% RGU penetration of homes marketed. By comparison, based
on published statistics of the Independent Television Commission ("ITC"), dated
March 9, 1998, as of January 1, 1998, UK cable customer penetration averaged
approximately 28.0% for telephone and approximately 22.2% for cable television.
As of January 1, 1998, the UK telephony cable industry had connected
approximately 3.4 million telephone lines and approximately 2.4 million
broadband cable customers.
6
<PAGE>
The following table illustrates operating statistics for the Company's newly
constructed network.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JUNE 30, DECEMBER 31,
--------- ------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Homes passed(1).............. 1,134,300 1,007,000 779,100 463,000 144,000
Homes marketed............... 957,900 810,000 467,300 176,200 7,200
Homes marketed (as % of homes
passed)..................... 84% 80% 60% 38% 5%
Total customers.............. 389,200 321,300 168,200 57,700 2,280
Total RGUs(2)................ 743,400 608,500 302,000 102,330 3,960
Customer penetration......... 41% 40% 36% 33% 32%
RGU penetration(3)........... 78% 75% 65% 58% 55%
Annualized churn............. 14% 11% 10% NM NM
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) "Homes passed" is the expression in common usage in the cable industry as
the measurement of the size of a cabled area, meaning the total number of
residential premises which have the potential to be connected to the
Company's network.
(2) An RGU (revenue generating unit) is one telephone account or one CATV
account; a dual customer represents two RGUs.
(3) RGU penetration is the number of RGUs per 100 homes marketed. As defined,
maximum RGU penetration is 200%.
NM Not meaningful due to the limited customer base and recent commencement of
services.
The Company's customer base and RGUs both increased by nearly 100% in 1997
compared to year-end 1996. The Company believes that much of its success during
this period has been due to its marketing strategies and the introduction of
innovative residential services packages which bundle telephone and a small
selection of CATV channels within a single product offering. The Company also
gives customers the opportunity to purchase additional channel packages and
premium channels. Consistent with the Company's objectives, the high
penetration rates generated by this strategy have led to increased levels of
gross profit contribution per home passed.
The Company believes it has also maintained high levels of customer
satisfaction as indicated by the Company's low rates of churn. During 1997, the
Company maintained an annualized churn rate of less than 11%, a rate which is
significantly lower than the published churn rates of all other UK telephony
cable operators. In a recent survey of a sample of its customers, NTL found
that 89% of its customers would recommend the service to a friend or relative,
and that only 15% had ever considered changing their telephone service back to
British Telecommunications plc ("BT").
NTL's local franchise areas cover approximately 2.1 million homes, spanning a
wide geography across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As of June
30, 1998, the Company's integrated full-service network had been constructed
past over one million (or approximately 51%) of its homes under franchise.
NTL's local broadband networks use advanced high capacity SDH fiber rings which
serve entire communities, bringing fiber connections directly to businesses and
"Siamese" coaxial/copper connections to residences. The Company's local
networks cover approximately 2,500 route miles of fiber backbone network, with
approximately 175,000 fiber miles, and an estimated 5,000 route miles of
"Siamese" coaxial/copper connections.
NATIONAL TELECOMS SERVICES
The Company's objective in National Telecoms Services is to successfully
integrate its strategies for developing, operating and marketing local
telephony/cable systems with its national network to provide high-quality
voice, data and video communications services throughout the UK. The Company
has constructed a national SDH fiber telecoms network, which is one of
only five national telecoms networks in the UK. The NTL national network
currently covers approximately 1,500 route miles and 40,000 fiber miles
throughout England, Scotland and Wales. During 1998, the Company plans to
extend the network to include the first resilient fiber connection between
Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland and England.
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The integration of its local networks with the national telecoms network
creates strategic advantages for the Company's telephony business. The national
network allows the Company to carry telecommunications traffic between each of
its franchise areas and throughout the United Kingdom and, therefore, achieve
significant savings on the interconnection fees it pays to other carriers. In
addition, using the national telecoms network gives the Company greater pricing
flexibility and will enable the Company to design and offer new telephony
services packages to its customers, which management believes should have a
positive effect on the Company's penetration rates.
Capitalizing on the extended reach of its national network, the Company is
competing for a share of the approximately (Pounds)21 billion UK telecoms
market on a national basis. In the business telecoms market, the Company has
been increasingly successful in obtaining telecoms contracts from businesses
located within its franchise areas. As of June 30, 1998, the Company had a
total of approximately 10,000 business customers and 39,000 business telephony
lines, which represented growth in the first half of 1998 of approximately 50%
for both customers and lines. The Company's current business customers include
major international corporations, universities, local governmental authorities,
and small and medium sized businesses. Management believes that it can build on
the strengths gained in its local franchise areas to approach targeted business
users located in other areas of the UK. To connect the "last mile" to the
customers' premises from the national network, NTL has a variety of options,
including building fiber where justified, using microwave links from the NTL
tower infrastructure, or leasing circuits from other local operators. NTL
launched its national business telecoms service in November 1997 and its
strategy is to target medium to large businesses, beginning with those located
near the major urban areas currently served by the NTL national network.
The Company also offers a variety of other telecommunications services from
its national fiber network and microwave transmission facilities. NTL competes
in the growing market for bandwidth and leased line services as a national and
international wholesale telecommunications carrier. The Company's international
facilities license allows it to carry international traffic, and NTL has
recently entered into an agreement for a 25 year lease of international
telecommunications capacity on a new transatlantic fiber optic cable connecting
The Netherlands, Germany, the UK and the United States. NTL is also expanding
its product portfolio to include virtual private networks, managed data
networks, ATM and frame relay services and multi-media services.
In addition to business and carrier telecoms, the Company provides the
following telecom services: (i) a full range of services in the design,
building and operation of radio based networks, and the provision of
infrastructure and support services to customers in the emergency services
sector, (ii) global satellite connectivity for clients requiring video, digital
audio and data services, and (iii) residential, wholesale and business Internet
access and support services, consulting and systems integration services, and
Intranet design and implementation.
BROADCAST SERVICES
The Company's Broadcast Services group includes the original core business of
NTL Group Limited which has been providing television and radio broadcasters
with broadcast transmission services for more than 30 years.
NTL transmits television and radio broadcast signals for the UK's main
commercial television channels and independent radio stations from a national
infrastructure of over 1,200 owned and shared transmission sites
across the UK. Current customers include the Independent Television ("ITV" or
"Channel 3") companies, Channel 4 and the Welsh Fourth Channel ("S4C"), and
Channel 5. The Broadcast Services group provides the Company with a stable
contracted revenue stream from a variety of customers, through long-term
contracts generally with eight to ten year terms. In addition to transmission
services, the Broadcast Services group markets value added services to its
existing television customers. This group also designs, installs, operates and
maintains new transmitter networks and has a spectrum planning service to plan
the coverage of television and radio networks.
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Two of the four recipients of the Digital Terrestrial Television ("DTT")
multiplexes awarded to date have selected the Company as the preferred supplier
of transmission services. If the Company successfully concludes contractual
arrangements with the multiplex operators, the introduction of DTT broadcasting
in the UK will significantly expand the Company's broadcasting transmission
services business.
The Company, a Delaware corporation, was incorporated on April 2, 1993. The
Company is a holding company and conducts its operations through direct and
indirect wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company is not a subsidiary of any
other company. The Company's principal executive office is located at 110 East
59th Street, New York, New York 10022, and its telephone number is (212) 906-
8440.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
PROPOSED PARTNERS ACQUISITION
General. On February 4, 1998, the Company and NTL (Bermuda) Limited, a
Bermuda corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of NTL ("Sub") entered into
an Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation as amended, (the "Amalgamation
Agreement") with Comcast UK Cable Partners Limited ("Partners") which provides
for the amalgamation of Sub with Partners (the "Amalgamation"), with the
separate existence of Sub and Partners continuing in the form of the company
resulting from the Amalgamation. Partners' shareholders will receive 0.3745
shares of the Company's Common Stock for each Partner's Class A Common Share or
Class B Common Share. For more information concerning the Amalgamation, see the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus of the Company filed as part of the Company's
Registration Statement on Forms S-4 which is incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference."
Consummation of the Amalgamation is subject to a number of closing conditions
including regulatory approvals, shareholder approval by the Company and
Partners and consents from their respective banks and bondholders.
PROPOSED DIAMOND ACQUISITION
On June 16, 1998, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement (the
"Diamond Agreement") with the shareholders of Diamond Cable Communications, plc
("Diamond"). Pursuant to the Diamond Agreement, on the closing date of the
Diamond transaction, the Company will transfer to each shareholder of Diamond
one share of NTL common stock for each four issued and outstanding ordinary
shares, par value 2.5p per share, and each deferred share, par value 25p per
share, of Diamond. However, the Diamond Agreement provides for adjustment of
such consideration as follows: (i) if the closing date occurs within four
months of the date of the Diamond Agreement, and the average sales price of the
NTL common stock, as calculated pursuant to the Diamond Agreement, is $52.00 or
more, the number of shares of NTL common stock to be transferred for each four
ordinary shares will be decreased such that the value of such consideration
will not exceed $52.00 (the "Maximum Average Stock Price"), and (ii) if the
closing date does not occur within such four-month period, the Maximum Average
Stock price will increase by $.50 on October 16, 1998, and on each monthly
anniversary date thereafter until the closing date. The Diamond Agreement
provides that approximately 15.2 million shares of NTL common stock will be
issued in connection with the Diamond transaction. The consummation of the
Diamond transaction is subject to, among other things, the approval by the
stockholders of the Company of the issuance of shares of NTL common stock in
accordance with the terms of the Diamond Agreement.
COMTEL ACQUISITION
Pursuant to an acquisition agreement (the "ComTel Agreement"), dated June 16,
1998, with Vision Networks III B.V., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Royal PTT
Nederland NV (KPN), the Company acquired the operations of ComTel Limited and
Telecential Communications (collectively, "ComTel") for a total of
approximately (Pounds)550 million in two stages. In the first stage, the
Company acquired certain of the ComTel properties for (Pounds)275 million in
cash. In the second stage, which was completed on September 22, 1998, the
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Company acquired the remaining ComTel properties for (Pounds)200 million in
cash and (Pounds)75 million in NTL preferred stock. Such NTL preferred stock
has a pay-in-kind coupon of 9.9%, will mature in 2008 and is redeemable within
15 months for NTL common stock valued at market, new NTL convertible preferred
securities or cash. The consummation of the ComTel acquisition did not require
a vote of the stockholders of the Company.
REDEMPTION OF 10 7/8% NOTES
On June 10, 1998, the Company provided to the trustee of its 10 7/8% Notes
Due 2003 (the "10 7/8% Notes") a notice that NTL will redeem such Notes on
October 15, 1998. Pending such redemption, the Company has used cash on hand to
deposit in trust with such trustee an amount equal to approximately $218.6
million (103.107% of accreted value) to pay the redemption price (including
principal) on such 10 7/8% Notes, thereby defeasing certain of its obligations
under the indenture governing such 10 7/8% Notes. In July 1998, using funds so
deposited with the trustee, the Company purchased from one holder for $65
million a portion of the 10 7/8% Notes with an accreted value of $62.2 million.
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Notes Offered............... Up to (Pounds)125,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of New Sterling Senior Notes, up to
(Pounds)300,000,000 aggregate principal amount at
maturity of New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes
and up to $1,300,000,000 aggregate principal
amount at maturity of New USD Deferred Coupon
Notes. The terms of the New Notes and the Old
Notes are identical in all material respects,
except for certain transfer restrictions and
registration rights relating to the Old Notes and
except for certain provisions providing for
special interest on the Old Notes under certain
circumstances relating to the timing of the
Exchange Offer.
The Exchange Offer.......... The New Sterling Senior Notes are being offered
in exchange for a like principal amount of Old
Sterling Senior Notes that are properly tendered
and accepted. The New Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes,
respectively, are being offered in exchange for a
like principal amount of maturity of Old Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes and Old USD Deferred Coupon
Notes, respectively, in each case that are
properly tendered and accepted. The issuance of
the New Notes is intended to satisfy obligations
of the Company contained in the Registration
Rights Agreements (the "Registration Rights
Agreements") each dated March 13, 1998, by and
among the Company and (i) in the case of the
Registration Rights Agreements relating to the
Old Sterling Senior Notes and the Old Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes, respectively, Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette International, Morgan Stanley &
Co. International Limited, BT. Alex Brown
International, Division of Bankers Trust
International PLC, Chase Securities Inc., and
Salomon Brothers International Limited, and (ii)
in the case of the Registration Rights Agreement
relating to the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
BT. Alex Brown Securities Corporation, Chase
Securities Inc., and Salomon Brothers Inc
(collectively in (i) and (ii) the "Initial
Purchasers") as the initial purchasers with
respect to the initial sale of the Old Notes. For
procedures for tendering, see "The Exchange
Offer."
Tenders, Expiration Date;
Withdrawal............... The Exchange Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on November , 1998, or such
later date and time to which it is extended (the
"Expiration Date"). Each holder tendering Old
Notes must acknowledge that it is not engaging
in, nor intends to engage in, a distribution of
the New Notes. The tender of Old Notes pursuant
to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any
time prior to the Expiration Date. Any Old Notes
not accepted for exchange for any reason will be
returned without expense to the tendering holder
thereof as promptly as practicable after the
expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.
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<PAGE>
Federal Income Tax
Consequences............. The exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer
should not result in any income, gain or loss to
holders of Old Notes exchanging the same for New
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the
Company for federal income tax purposes. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations."
Use of Proceeds............. There will be no proceeds to the Company from the
exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
Exchange Agent.............. The Chase Manhattan Bank through its specified
offices in New York and Luxembourg is serving as
the Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer in
respect of the Notes. See "The Exchange Offer--
Exchange Agent."
Shelf Registration
Statement................ Under certain circumstances, certain holders of
Old Notes (including holders who may not
participate in the Exchange Offer, or who may not
freely resell New Notes received in the Exchange
Offer) may require the Company to file, and cause
to become effective, a shelf registration
statement under the Securities Act, which would
cover resales of Old Notes by such holders. See
"Registration Rights."
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<PAGE>
CONSEQUENCES OF EXCHANGING OLD NOTES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Commission in no action letters
issued to third parties, generally holders of Old Notes (other than any holder
who is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) who exchange their Old Notes for New Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer may offer such New Notes for resale, resell such New Notes, and
otherwise transfer such New Notes without compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act; provided that such New
Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of the holders' business and such
holders, other than brokers-dealers, are not engaged in, do not intend to
engage in and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in, a distribution of such New Notes.
Each broker-dealer who holds Old Notes acquired for its own account as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and who
receives New Notes in exchange for such Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange
Offer, may be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and
must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New Notes. See "Plan
of Distribution."
To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, it may be
necessary to qualify for sale or register thereunder the New Notes prior to
offering or selling such New Notes. The Company has agreed, pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreements and subject to certain specified limitations
therein, to register or qualify the New Notes held by broker-dealers for offer
or sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as any such
holder of such New Notes reasonably requests in writing. Unless the Company is
so requested, the Company does not intend to register or qualify the sale of
the New Notes in any such jurisdictions.
If a Holder of Old Notes does not exchange such Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such Old Notes will continue to be subject to
provisions of the applicable Indenture regarding transfer and exchange of the
Old Notes and the restrictions on transfer contained in the legend on the Old
Notes. In general, Old Notes may not be offered or sold unless registered under
the Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction
not subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The
Company does not currently anticipate that it will take any action to register
Old Notes under the Securities Act. See "The Exchange Offer--Consequences of
Failure to Exchange" and "Registration Rights."
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<PAGE>
SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES
The terms of the New Notes and the Old Notes are identical in all material
respects, except for certain transfer restrictions and registration rights
relating to the Old Notes and except for certain provisions under the
Registration Rights Agreements providing for special interest on the Old Notes
under certain circumstances relating to timing of the Exchange Offer, which on
each case will terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer.
Securities Offered.......... Up to (Pounds)125,000,000 principal amount of 9
1/2% Series B Senior Notes due 2008, up to
(Pounds)300,000,000 principal amount at maturity
of 10 3/4% Series B Sterling Senior Deferred
Coupon Notes due 2008 and up to $1,300,000,000
principal amount at maturity of 9 3/4% Senior
Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008.
Maturity Date............... April 1, 2008.
Yield and Interest.......... Interest on the New Sterling Senior Notes will
accrue at the rate of 9.5% per annum and will be
payable in cash semiannually on April 1 and
October 1, commencing on October 1, 1998. The
issue price of each Old Sterling Deferred Coupon
Note and each Old USD Deferred Coupon Note
represents a yield to maturity of 10.8% and 9.77%
per annum, respectively (computed on a semiannual
bond equivalent basis). Cash interest will not
accrue on the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes
or the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes prior to
April 1, 2003. Commencing April 1, 2003, cash
interest on the New Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes will
accrue and be payable, semiannually in arrears on
April 1 and October 1, commencing October 1,
2003. See "Description of New Notes."
Ranking..................... Each class of New Notes (the New Sterling Senior
Notes, the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and
the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes) will rank
senior in right of payment to all subordinated
indebtedness of the Company and will rank pari
passu in right of payment with each other and
with all existing and future unsubordinated
obligations of the Company. As of June 30, 1998,
the Company had approximately $2.7 billion of
unsubordinated debt outstanding. Such
unsubordinated debt includes the Company's New
Notes, its 12 3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes
Due 2005 (the "12 3/4% Notes"), its 11 1/2%
Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2006 (the
"Existing Deferred Coupon Notes"), and its 10%
Senior Notes Due 2007 (the "10% Notes" and,
together with the Existing Deferred Coupon Notes,
the "Existing Notes"). The New Notes will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and
future indebtedness and other liabilities of the
Company's subsidiaries with respect to the cash
flow and assets of those subsidiaries. As of
June 30, 1998, such subsidiaries had
approximately $863 million ((Pounds)518 million)
of total liabilities. The New Notes will rank
senior to the Company's 7% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2008 (the "Convertible
Notes"). See "Risk Factors--Potential Adverse
Consequences of Leverage."
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<PAGE>
Optional Redemption......... On or after April 1, 2003, the Notes will be
redeemable at the option of the Company, in whole
at any time or in part from time to time, at the
redemption prices set forth herein, plus accrued
and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
redemption.
Change of Control........... Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control
Triggering Event (which requires a Change of
Control (as defined) and a Ratings Decline (as
defined)), the Company will be required to make
an offer to purchase all of the Notes at 101% of
principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the date of purchase (or, in the case
of repurchases of Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes
or USD Deferred Coupon Notes prior to April 1,
2003, at a purchase price equal to 101% of the
Accreted Value thereof at the date of
repurchase). The Company may not have sufficient
funds or the financial resources necessary to
satisfy its obligations to repurchase the Notes
and other debt that may become repayable upon a
Change of Control Triggering Event.
Certain Covenants........... Each of: (i) the indenture governing the Sterling
Senior Notes (the "Sterling Senior Notes
Indenture"), (ii) the indenture governing the
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes (the "Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes Indenture") and (iii) the
indenture governing the USD Deferred Coupon Notes
(the "USD Deferred Coupon Notes Indenture" and,
together with the Sterling Senior Notes Indenture
and the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes Indenture,
the "Indentures") contain covenants relating to,
among other things, the following matters: (i)
restricted payments; (ii) incurrence of
additional indebtedness and issuance of preferred
stock; (iii) liens; (iv) dividend and other
payment restrictions affecting subsidiaries; (v)
mergers, consolidations and sales of assets; (vi)
transactions with affiliates; and (vii) reports.
Original Issue Discount..... The Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the
Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes were issued on
March 13, 1998 at an issue price of
(Pounds)586.20 per (Pounds)1,000 and $617.24 per
$1,000 principal amount at maturity,
respectively. Each of the New Sterling Deferred
Coupon Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon
Notes will be treated as having been issued with
original issue discount for United States federal
income tax purposes. Thus, although cash interest
will not accrue on the Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes or the USD Deferred Coupon Notes prior to
April 1, 2003, original issue discount (i.e., the
difference between the sum of all principal and
interest payable on the Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes or the USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as the
case may be, and the issue price of the Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes or the USD Deferred Coupon
Notes, as the case may be) will accrue from the
issue date of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes or the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as
the case may be, and will be included as interest
income periodically (including for periods ending
prior to October 1, 2003) in a holder's
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<PAGE>
gross income for United States federal income tax
purposes in advance of receipt of the cash
payments to which the income is attributable. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations."
Registration Rights......... Holders of New Notes (other than as set forth
below) are not entitled to any registration
rights with respect to the New Notes. Pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company
agreed to use its best efforts to file an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement (as
defined). The Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus is a part constitutes the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement. Under
certain circumstances, certain Holders of Notes
(including Holders of Notes who may not
participate in the Exchange Offer or who may not
freely resell New Notes received in the Exchange
Offer) may require the Company to file, and cause
to become effective, a shelf registration
statement under the Securities Act, which would
cover resales of Notes by such Holders before
making a decision to tender their Old Notes in
the Exchange Offer.
Use of Proceeds............. The Company will not receive any proceeds from
the Exchange Offer. The Company intends to use
the proceeds of the offering of the Old Notes to
finance the construction, capital expenditure and
working capital requirements (including debt
service and repayment obligations) of the Company
and, potentially, to refinance existing
indebtedness. In addition, a portion of the net
proceeds of the offering of the Old Notes may
also be used to make acquisitions of businesses
or assets related to the Company's business. See
"Use of Proceeds."
Governing Law and
Judgments................... The Notes and the Indentures will be governed
exclusively by the laws of the State of New York.
Under the Judiciary Law of the State of New York,
a judgment or decree in an action based upon an
obligation denominated in a currency other than
U.S. dollars will be rendered in the foreign
currency of the underlying obligation and
converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange
prevailing on the date of the entry of the
judgment or decree.
Form of Notes............... Each of the New Notes will initially be
represented by one or more global New Notes in
registered form, without coupons attached
(collectively, the "Global New Notes"), each of
which will be issued in an aggregate denomination
equal to the outstanding principal amount at
maturity of the New Notes represented thereby.
Except as set forth under "Description of the New
Notes," owners of beneficial interests in the
Global New Notes will not be entitled to receive
physical delivery of New Notes in definitive form
or to have the New Notes issued and registered in
their names and will not be considered the owners
or holders thereof under the applicable
Indenture. Interests in the Global New Notes will
be shown on, and transfers thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained in
book-entry form by The Depository Trust Company
("DTC") or
its nominee with respect to its participants.
Ownership of the interests in the Global New
Notes will be limited to persons that
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<PAGE>
have accounts with DTC ("Participants") or
persons that may hold interests through
Participants. Investors may elect to own
interests in a Global New Note through the Morgan
Guaranty Trust Company, Brussels office as
operator of the Euroclear System ("Euroclear") or
Cedel Bank, societe anonyme ("CEDEL") in Europe,
if they are participants in such systems, or
indirectly through organizations which are
participants, through their respective
depositaries, Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of
New York and Citibank, N.A., which in turn will
hold such interests in accounts as Participants.
Listing..................... Application has been made to list the New Notes
on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.
RISK FACTORS
Holders of Old Notes should carefully consider the information set forth
under the caption "Risk Factors" and all other information set forth in this
Prospectus before tendering their Old Notes in the Exchange Offer, although the
risk factors (other than "--Consequences of Failure to Exchange Old Notes" and
"--Requirements for Transfer of New Notes") are generally applicable to the Old
Notes as well as the New Notes.
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<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
Holders of Old Notes should consider carefully all of the information set
forth in this Prospectus and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. See
"Available Information" and "Incorporation of Documents By Reference." Holders
should particularly evaluate the following risks before tendering their Old
Notes in the Exchange Offer, although the risk factors set forth below (other
than the first two risk factors) are generally applicable to the New Notes as
well as the Old Notes.
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE
Issuance of the New Notes in exchange for the Old Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will be made following the prior satisfaction, or waiver, of
the conditions set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Certain Conditions to the
Exchange Offer" and only after a timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of such
Old Notes, a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal in
respect of such Old Notes and all other required documents. Therefore, holders
of Old Notes desiring to tender such Old Notes in exchange for New Notes
should allow sufficient time to ensure timely delivery. Neither the Exchange
Agent nor the Company is under any duty to give notification of defects or
irregularities with respect to the tenders of Old Notes for exchange. Old
Notes that are not tendered or are tendered but not accepted will, following
the consummation of the Exchange Offer, continue to be subject to the
provisions of the applicable Indenture regarding transfer and exchange of the
Old Notes, the existing restrictions upon transfer thereof set forth in the
legend on the Old Notes and in the Offering Memorandum dated March 6, 1998
relating to the Old Notes (the "Offering Memorandum"). Except in certain
limited circumstances with respect to certain types of holders of Old Notes
(see "Registration Rights"), the Company will have no further obligation to
provide for the registration under the Securities Act of such Old Notes. In
general, Old Notes, unless registered under the Securities Act, may not be
offered or sold except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The
Company does not currently anticipate that it will take any action to register
the Old Notes under the Securities Act or blue sky laws.
REQUIREMENTS FOR TRANSFER OF NEW SECURITIES
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Commission, as set forth in no
action letters issued to third parties, the Company believes that the New
Notes issued in exchange for the Old Notes, pursuant to the Exchange Offer may
be offered for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by Holders thereof
(other than any such Holder which is an "affiliate" of the Issuer within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the
registration and prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act,
provided that such New Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such
Holders' business and such Holders have no arrangement with any person to
participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
such New Notes. Each Holder, other than a broker-dealer, must acknowledge that
it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, and has no arrangement
or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of New
Notes. If any Holder is an affiliate of the Company, is engaged in or intends
to engage in or has any arrangement or understanding with respect to the
distribution of the New Notes to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
such Holder (i) could not rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff
of the Commission and (ii) must comply with the registration and prospectus
delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
transactions. Each broker-dealer who holds Old Notes acquired for its own
account as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities,
and who receives New Notes in exchange for such Old Notes pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, may be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities
Act and must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New
Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by
delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus,
as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a
broker-dealer in connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for
Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result
of market-making activities or other trading
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<PAGE>
activities. The Company has agreed that starting on the Expiration Date and
ending on the close of business of the 180th day following the Expiration
Date, it will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution." However, to
comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if applicable, the
New Notes may not be offered or sold unless they have been registered or
qualified for sale in such jurisdictions or an exemption from registration nor
qualification is available and is complied with. The Company has agreed,
pursuant to the Registration Right Agreements and subject to certain specified
limitations therein, to register or qualify the New Notes for offer or sale
under the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction as any holder of
the Notes reasonably request in writing. Unless the Company is so requested,
the Company does not intend to take any action to register or qualify the sale
of the New Notes in any such jurisdictions. See "The Exchange Offer--
Consequences of Exchanging Old Notes."
POTENTIAL ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF LEVERAGE
The Company is and, for the foreseeable future following the consummation of
the Exchange Offer will continue to be, highly leveraged. At June 30, 1998,
the accrued value of the Company's total long-term indebtedness (including the
Company's 13% Senior Redeemable Exchangeable Preferred Stock (the "Redeemable
Preferred Stock")) was approximately $3.1 billion, representing approximately
102% of total capitalization. The acquisition of Partners will result in a
change of control under the (Pounds)200 million bank facility of Comcast UK
Holdings Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Partners (the "Comcast UK
Facility"). Upon a change of control, all amounts outstanding under the
Comcast UK Facility will become immediately due and payable. At June 30, 1998,
there was (Pounds)86 million outstanding under the Comcast UK Facility.
Although Partners had substantial cash reserves of (Pounds)92.3 million at
June 30, 1998, there can be no assurance that such funds will be available to
repay the Comcast UK Facility or that the Company will be able to refinance
the Comcast UK Facility. The indentures governing the Existing Notes and the
Convertible Notes permit the Company and its subsidiaries to incur substantial
additional indebtedness. The ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to
make scheduled payments under present and future indebtedness (including the
Notes) will depend on, among other things, the Company's and its subsidiaries'
ability to complete the build out of the franchises on a timely and cost
effective basis, the Company's ability to access the earnings of its
subsidiaries (which may be subject to significant contractual and legal
limitations), the future operating performance of the Company and its
subsidiaries and the Company's ability to refinance its indebtedness when
necessary. Each of these factors is to a large extent subject to economic,
financial, competitive, regulatory and other factors that are beyond the
Company's and its subsidiaries' control. See "--Network Construction Costs;
Need for Additional Financing," "--Uncertainty of Construction Progress and
Costs" and "--Holding Company Structure; Dependence Upon Cash Flow from
Subsidiaries."
The Company has a credit facility from Chase dated October 17, 1997 (the
"New Credit Facility"), as amended, between Chase and NTL (UK) Group, Inc. The
New Credit Facility contains, and future agreements and debt instruments may
contain, various covenants which, among other things, require the Company to
maintain certain financial ratios, restrict or prohibit the payment of
dividends and other distributions to the Company by its subsidiaries, restrict
asset sales and dictate the use of proceeds from the sale of assets. Although
the Company believes that it and its subsidiaries are in compliance with their
respective covenants and restrictions, continued compliance with these
restrictions, in combination with the leveraged nature of the Company, could
limit the ability of the Company to respond to market conditions or meet
extraordinary capital needs or otherwise could restrict corporate activities
and the ability of certain subsidiaries of the Company to make payments to the
Company which might otherwise fund payments due on the Notes and the Company's
other obligations as they fall due. See "--Holding Company Structure;
Dependence Upon Cash Flow from Subsidiaries." There can be no assurance that
such restrictions will not adversely affect the Company's ability to finance
its future operations or capital needs, to service and repay indebtedness
(including, without limitation, the Notes) or to engage in other business
activities, such as acquisitions, which may be in the interest of the Company.
In connection with the Company's acquisition of certain assets of Vision
Networks, the Company borrowed (Pounds)275 million under the New Credit
Facility in June 1998 and the Company borrowed an additional (Pounds)200
million under the New Credit Facility to complete such acquisition. The total
amount borrowed of (Pounds)475 million is required to be repaid on January 31,
1999, subject to extension to June 30, 1999.
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The degree to which the Company is leveraged could have important
consequences to holders of the Notes including the following: (i) increasing
the Company's vulnerability to adverse changes in general economic conditions
or increases in prevailing interest rates; (ii) limiting the Company's ability
to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures,
acquisitions and general corporate purposes, including the build out of the
networks in the franchises and the development and expansion of the Company's
business; (iii) requiring a substantial portion of the Company's and its
subsidiaries' cash flow from operations to be dedicated to debt service
requirements, thereby reducing the funds available for dividends, operations
and future business opportunities; and (iv) increasing the Company's and its
subsidiaries' exposure to increases in interest rates given that certain of
the Company's and its subsidiaries' borrowings may be at variable rates of
interest.
In addition, the Company may under certain circumstances be obligated to
offer to repurchase certain outstanding securities prior to maturity and there
can be no assurance that the Company will have the financial resources
necessary or otherwise be able to repurchase those securities in such
circumstances (including, without limitation, on the occurrence of a Change in
Control Triggering Event).
NETWORK CONSTRUCTION COSTS; NEED FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCING
Following the completion of the acquisitions of Partners and Diamond, the
development, construction and operations of the combined telecommunications
networks of the Company will continue to require substantial capital. In
addition, the Company will require significant amounts of capital to finance
the other capital expenditures and the cost of operations of the Company, its
subsidiaries and joint ventures and meet all other obligations as they fall
due. The Company intends to fund a portion of the requirements referred to in
this paragraph from cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities on hand,
and funds internally generated by the operations of the Company's
subsidiaries. However, the Company estimates that significant amounts of
additional funding will be necessary to meet these requirements. There can be
no assurance that (i) additional financing will be obtained or will be
available on acceptable terms, (ii) actual construction costs will not exceed
the amount estimated or that additional funding substantially in excess of the
amounts estimated will not be required, (iii) conditions precedent to advances
under future credit facilities will be satisfied when funds are required, (iv)
the Company will not acquire additional businesses that would require
additional capital, (v) the Company and its subsidiaries will be able to
generate sufficient cash from operations to meet capital requirements, debt
service and other obligations when required, (vi) the Company will be able to
access such cash flow or (vii) the Company's subsidiaries will not incur
losses from their exposure to exchange rate fluctuations or be adversely
affected by interest rate fluctuations. The Company does not have any firm
additional financing plans to address the foregoing at this time, except as
described below.
Pursuant to an amendment to the New Credit Facility, as amended, dated June
16, 1998, entered into as a result of the acquisition of certain assets of
Vision Networks, Chase's commitment under the New Credit Facility has been
reduced to the (Pounds)475 million that the Company requires for the cash
portion of the purchase price. The Company borrowed (Pounds)275 million in
June 1998 to complete the first stage of such acquisition. The Company also
borrowed the remaining (Pounds)200 million and issued (Pounds)75 million in a
new pay-in-kind Preferred Stock of the Company to complete the final stage of
such acquisition on September 22, 1998. Chase has committed to make available
to the Company a (Pounds)480 million senior secured credit facility upon the
repayment in full of the (Pounds)475 million Vision Networks acquisition
facility and subject to the renegotiations of the New Credit Facility
structure and pricing. The Company is required to repay the amount outstanding
under the (Pounds)475 million Vision Networks acquisition facility on January
31, 1999, which may be extended in certain circumstances to June 30, 1999.
In addition, all or a substantial portion of the indebtedness of the Company
(other than the Notes) matures prior to the maturity of the Notes. The
Company's ability to make cash payments pursuant to the terms of the Notes may
be dependent, in part, on the Company's ability to refinance that indebtedness
which will depend, in part, on factors beyond the control of the Company. The
Redeemable Preferred Stock is mandatorily redeemable on February 15, 2009 and
such mandatory redemption provisions may have a material adverse effect on the
Company's ability to obtain additional financing or refinancing.
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Management does not anticipate that the Company and its subsidiaries will
generate sufficient cash flow from operations to repay at maturity the entire
principal amount of the Existing Notes, the Convertible Notes and other
outstanding indebtedness of the Company and its subsidiaries. In addition, it
may be necessary for the Company to refinance the Notes at maturity.
Accordingly, the Company will be required to consider a number of measures,
including: (i) refinancing all or a portion of such indebtedness, (ii) seeking
modifications of the terms of such indebtedness, (iii) seeking additional debt
financing, which would be subject to obtaining necessary lender consents, (iv)
seeking additional equity financing, or (v) a combination of the foregoing.
The particular measures the Company may undertake and the ability of the
Company to accomplish those measures will depend on the financial condition of
the Company and its subsidiaries at the time, as well as a number of factors
beyond the control of the Company and its subsidiaries, including prevailing
economic and market conditions and financial, business and other factors. No
assurance can be given that any of the foregoing measures can be accomplished,
or can be accomplished in sufficient time to make timely payments with respect
to the Company's indebtedness. In addition, there can be no assurance that any
such measures can be accomplished on terms which are favorable to the Company
and its subsidiaries.
The Company will continue to consider strategic acquisitions and
combinations involving businesses operating, or owning licenses to operate,
cable, telephone, television or telecommunications systems or services and
related businesses principally in the United Kingdom, as attractive
opportunities arise. The Company is currently involved in various stages of
exploration, development and negotiation of certain transactions, some of
which, if completed, would be significant and may involve the incurrence of
substantial indebtedness or the raising of additional equity by the Company
and its subsidiaries to finance such transactions. There can be no assurances
that such transactions will occur. The indentures governing the Notes and the
Existing Notes permit indebtedness to be incurred to finance acquisitions only
if such acquisitions are acquisitions of either tangible or intangible assets,
licenses and computer software used in connection with a Cable Business (as
defined in such indentures) or certain entities, directly or indirectly
engaged in a Cable Business if such entities meet certain qualifying criteria
specified in such indentures.
HOLDING COMPANY STRUCTURE; DEPENDENCE UPON CASH FLOW FROM SUBSIDIARIES
The Company is a holding company that conducts its operations through its
direct and indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries and affiliated joint ventures.
Consequently, prior to and following the acquisitions of Partners and Diamond,
the Company will hold no significant assets other than its investments in and
advances to its subsidiaries and affiliated joint ventures. The Company is,
therefore, dependent upon its receipt of sufficient funds from its
subsidiaries and affiliated joint ventures to meet its own obligations. The
ability of the Company and, therefore, the holders of the Notes, to benefit in
the distribution of any assets of any of the Company's subsidiaries and
affiliated joint ventures upon any liquidation of any such subsidiary or joint
venture will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's or joint
venture's creditors, including trade creditors and, to the extent that such
subsidiary or joint venture is not directly owned by the Company, to the prior
claims of the creditors of any other persons directly or indirectly owning
such subsidiary or joint venture.
Each of the Company's subsidiaries that is a Delaware corporation may pay
dividends, under the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), only out
of its surplus, or, in the event that it has no surplus, out of its net
profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared or for the
immediately preceding fiscal year. Each of the Company's subsidiaries that is
a United Kingdom company is, under applicable United Kingdom law, prohibited
from paying dividends unless such payments are made out of profits available
for distribution ("distributable profits"), which consist of accumulated,
realized profits, so far as not previously utilized by distribution or
capitalization, less accumulated, realized losses, so far as not previously
written off in a reduction or reorganization of capital duly made. Other
statutory and general English law obligations also affect the ability of
directors of the Company's subsidiaries to declare dividends and the ability
of the Company's subsidiaries to make payments to the Company on account of
intercompany loans. In addition, the United Kingdom may impose a withholding
tax on payments of interest and advance corporation tax on distributions (of
interest, dividends or otherwise) by United Kingdom subsidiaries of the
Company.
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In addition, the terms of the New Credit Facility limit, and the terms of
existing and future indebtedness of the Company's subsidiaries may limit, the
payment of dividends, loans or other distributions to the Company. In the
absence of a default, the New Credit Facility generally permits payments to
the Company to pay the interest and principal of existing indebtedness of the
Company.
The Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be, effectively subordinated to
all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments of
the Company's subsidiaries, including borrowings under the New Credit Facility.
As of June 30, 1998, the total liabilities of the Company's subsidiaries were
approximately $863 million ((Pounds)518 million). In addition, the Indentures
permit subsidiaries of the Company to incur additional Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indentures) to finance the construction, capital expenditure and working
capital needs of a Cable Business and the acquisition of Cable Assets (as
defined in the Indentures) or the acquisitions of certain entities, directly or
indirectly, engaged in a Cable Business, if such entities meet certain
qualifying criteria specified in the Indentures. In light of the Company's
strategy of continued growth, in part through acquisitions, the Company and its
subsidiaries may incur substantial indebtedness in the future. See "Description
of New Notes." Borrowings under the New Credit Facility are, and a substantial
portion of the Company's and its subsidiaries' future indebtedness is expected
to be, secured by liens and other security interests over the assets of the
Company's subsidiaries and the Company's equity interests in the Company's
subsidiaries. In addition, the ability of the Company and, therefore, the
holders of the Notes to benefit from distributions of assets of the Company's
subsidiaries may be limited to the extent that the outstanding shares of any of
its subsidiaries and such subsidiary's assets are pledged to secure other debt
of the Company or its subsidiaries. Any right of the Company to receive assets
of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization will be
structurally subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary's creditors, except
to the extent that the Company is itself recognized as an unsubordinated
creditor of such subsidiary. However, to the extent that the Company is so
recognized, the claims of the Company would still be subject to any security
interests in the assets of such subsidiary and any liabilities of such
subsidiary senior to those held by the Company and may otherwise be challenged
by third parties in a liquidation or reorganization proceeding. In addition, the
New Credit Facility requires the Company to subordinate its right to repayment
of indebtedness outstanding between it and the borrower under such agreement or
any other subsidiary of the Company to the rights of the lenders under the
agreement. In particular the rights of the Company and other subsidiaries to
repayment of principal and interest lent by them to the borrower or other
subsidiaries under the New Credit Facility have been and will be subordinated to
the rights of the lenders under the New Credit Facility pursuant to
subordination agreements with such lenders.
The principal fixed assets of the Company's subsidiaries are cable headends,
cable television and telecommunications distribution equipment,
telecommunications switches and customer equipment, transmission towers, masts
and antennas and the sites on which they are located. The value of a
substantial portion of these fixed assets is derived from their employment in
the Company's and its subsidiaries' businesses. These assets are highly
specialized and, taken individually, can be expected to have limited
marketability. Consequently, in the event that secured creditors seek to
realize on the collateral securing debt of the Company's subsidiaries, these
creditors would be likely to seek to sell the business as a going concern
(possibly through a sale of pledged shares of subsidiaries), either in its
entirety, or by franchise or other business unit, in order to maximize the
proceeds realized.
OPERATING LOSSES
The Company had net losses for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and 1997
and for the years ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 of
$(198.0 million), $(173.4 million), $(333.1 million), $(254.5 million), $(90.8
million), $(29.6 million) and $(11.1 million), respectively. As of June 30,
1998, the Company's accumulated deficit was $915.0 million. The development of
the Company's business to date has resulted in significant expenditures and
the continued construction and expansion of its network will require
considerable additional expenditures. Construction and operating expenditures
have resulted in negative cash
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flow, which is expected to continue at least until an adequate customer base
is established. The Company also expects to incur substantial additional
operating losses, and there can be no assurance that the Company will achieve
or sustain profitability in the future. Failure to become profitable could
adversely affect the Company's ability to sustain operations and obtain
additional required funds. See "--Network Construction Costs; Need for
Additional Financing." Moreover, such a failure would adversely affect the
Company's ability to pay the required payments on the Notes, the Company's
other indebtedness and the Redeemable Preferred Stock. See "--Potential
Adverse Consequences of Leverage," "--Network Construction Costs; Need for
Additional Financing" and "--Holding Company Structure; Dependence Upon Cash
Flow from Subsidiaries."
DEFICIENCY OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES
AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
For the six months ended June 30, 1998 and the years ended December 31,
1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, the Company's earnings were insufficient to
cover fixed charges by approximately $201.0 million, $355.4 million, $257.1
million, $105.4 million, $31.8 million and $10.4 million, respectively. The
Company's earnings for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and the year ended
December 31, 1997 were insufficient to cover combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividends by $208.3 million and $367.4 million, respectively.
Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including capitalized interest,
amortization of fees related to debt financing and rent expense deemed to be
interest. The issuance of the Old Notes had the effect of increasing the total
amount of the Company's indebtedness and increasing its interest expense in
subsequent periods.
REQUIREMENT TO MEET BUILD MILESTONES
The telecommunications license for each franchise contains specific
construction milestones. Under the terms of its current telecommunications
licenses, by the end of 2005 the Company is required to construct cable
television systems passing an aggregate of approximately 2,090,000 premises
(residential and business).
The Office of Telecommunications ("OFTEL") and the Department of Trade and
Industry ("DTI") are the only bodies with the authority to modify the
construction milestones in the licenses other than the Northern Ireland and
Gwent and Glamorgan local delivery operator licenses ("LDLs") (in respect of
which the Independent Television Commission (the "ITC") is the relevant
authority for modifying construction milestones). Based on current network
construction, the Company believes it will be able to satisfy the Company's
milestones in the future, but there can be no assurance that such milestones
will be met. See "--Network Construction Costs; Need for Additional Financing"
and "-- Uncertainty of Construction Progress and Costs."
If the Company is unable to meet the construction milestones required by any
of its licenses and is unable to obtain modifications to the milestones, the
relevant license or licenses could be revoked, which would have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
UNCERTAINTY OF CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS AND COSTS
At June 30, 1998, construction of the Company's network had passed in excess
of 54% of its final regulatory milestone requirements for all its franchises.
Successful construction and development of the Company's network will depend
on, among other things, the Company's ability to continue to design network
routes, install facilities, obtain and maintain any required government
licenses or approvals and finance construction and development, all in a
timely manner, at reasonable costs and on satisfactory terms and conditions.
The exact amounts and timing of all of these expenditures are subject to a
variety of factors which may vary greatly by market and be beyond the control
of the Company. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the actual costs
of network construction will not exceed the aggregate cost of network
construction estimated under "--Network Construction Costs; Need for
Additional Financing" above or that additional funding substantially in excess
of that amount will not be required.
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In building its network, the Company is generally required by its licenses
to use underground construction, which is more expensive and time consuming
than aerial construction. Mechanized construction methods often cannot be used
to install network infrastructure in the Company's franchise areas due to
existing underground utility infrastructure. In addition, the Company is
responsible for restoring the surface area after its underground construction
is completed. Although the Company has recently been able to negotiate
construction contracts at rates which it believes are competitive relative to
the cable industry as a whole, construction costs could increase significantly
over the next few years as existing contracts expire and as demand for cable
construction services grows due to anticipated increases in the cable
industry's overall construction activity. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to construct its network in a timely
manner or at a reasonable cost.
SIGNIFICANT COMPETITION
The Company faces significant competition from established and new
competitors in the areas of residential telephony, business telecoms services
and cable television. The Company believes that competition will intensify in
each of these business areas, particularly business telecommunications.
Residential Telephony. The Company competes primarily with BT in providing
telephone services to residential customers. BT, formerly the only major
national PTO in the United Kingdom, has an established market presence, fully
built networks and resources substantially greater than those of the Company.
According to OFTEL, at March 31, 1997, nearly 90% of United Kingdom
residential telephone exchange line customers are customers of BT. The
Company's growth in telecommunications services, therefore, depends upon its
ability to convince BT's customers to switch to the Company's
telecommunications services. The Company believes that value for money is
currently one of the most important factors influencing the decision of United
Kingdom customers to switch from BT to a cable telecommunications service. BT
has, however, introduced price reductions in certain categories of calls and,
due to regulatory price controls, BT will be making further reductions in its
telecommunications prices. Accordingly, although the Company intends to remain
competitive, in the future it may be unable to offer residential telephone
services at rates lower than those offered by BT. In such case, the Company
may experience a decline in its average per line residential
telecommunications revenues, may not achieve desired penetration rates and may
experience a decline in total revenues. There can be no assurance that any
such decline in revenues or penetration rates will not adversely affect the of
the Company. In addition to BT, other telecommunications competitors which may
have substantially greater resources than those of the Company could prevent
the Company from increasing its share of the residential telecommunications
market.
On February 8, 1996, the DTI announced the award of two licenses to operate
radio fixed access services in the 2 GHz band. These new licenses enable the
two licensees, BT and RadioTEL Systems, to provide telecommunications services
to customers living in defined remote rural areas mainly in Scotland, Wales
and Northern Ireland and create potential additional competition for the
Company's residential telephony services in certain remote rural areas of the
Company's Northern Ireland franchise. The Company also competes with mobile
networks. This technology could grow to become a competitive threat to the
Company's networks, particularly if call charges are reduced further on the
mobile networks. The Company's Radio Communications group may enable the
Company to benefit from the growth in this technology. There can be no
assurance, however, that the Company will be able to compete successfully with
BT or such other telecommunications operators.
The Company believes that it has a competitive advantage in the residential
market because of its ability to offer integrated telephone, CATV,
telecommunications services (including interactive and on-line services) and
dual product packages designed to encourage customers to subscribe to both
services. However, there can be no assurance that this competitive advantage
will continue. Indeed, the UK recently announced that BT and all other
operators would be permitted to provide and convey CATV services throughout
the UK from January 1, 2001. In addition, all areas currently unfranchised
will be opened to general competition, rather than awarded as exclusive
franchises, from now onwards.
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British Sky Broadcasting ("BSkyB") is currently marketing telecommunications
services on an indirect access basis (which involves the customer dialing
additional digits before the normal telephone number to divert calls onto
another operator's network). In addition, it has proposed a joint venture with
BT, Midland Bank and Matsushita, known as British Interactive Broadcasting
("BiB"), to enter the interactive digital services market. BiB is currently
under review by the competition directorate of the European Commission. Given
the respective market positions of BT and BSkyB, the Company believes that, if
the two companies successfully combine their respective marketing strengths,
the resulting combination would provide significant competition to cable
operators including the Company.
Business Telecommunications. BT is also the Company's principal competitor
in providing business telecommunications services. In addition, the Company
competes with C&WC, Energis Communications Limited, a subsidiary of National
Grid Company plc ("Energis"), Scottish Telecom in Scotland and with other
companies that have recently been granted telecommunications licenses such as
WorldCom and Colt and the new non-network based resellers, such as Citibell.
In the future, the Company may compete with additional entrants to the
business telecommunications market, such as AT&T U.K. Competition is based on
price range and quality of services, and the Company expects price competition
to intensify if C&WC, Energis and other new market entrants compete
aggressively. Most of these competitors have substantial resources and there
can be no assurance that these or other competitors will not expand their
businesses in the Company's existing markets or that the Company will be able
to continue to compete successfully with such competitors in the business
telecommunications market.
CATV. The Company's CATV systems compete with direct reception over-the-air
broadcast television, direct-to-home ("DTH") satellite services and satellite
master antenna systems. In addition, pay television and pay-per-view services
offered by the Company compete to varying degrees with other communications
and entertainment media, including home video, cinema exhibition of feature
films, live theater and newly emerging multimedia services.
On September 29, 1993, the ITC issued a statement pursuant to which it took
the position (shared by OFTEL and DTI) that BT and the other national PTOs may
provide "video-on-demand" services under their existing licenses. The Company
expects that, in the future, it may face competition from programming provided
by video-on-demand services, including those that may be provided by PTO's
with national licenses, as well as (after 2001) from companies which seek to
provide CATV services in the Company's franchises under the recently announced
change of government policy.
The Broadcasting Act 1996 provides for the regulation of digital terrestrial
television (" DTT") that will initially provide an additional 18 or more new
terrestrial channels serving between 60% and 90% of the United Kingdom's
population. Some of the channels are reserved for digital simultaneous
broadcasting by the existing terrestrial broadcasters. The introduction of
DTT, as well as digital satellite television, will provide both additional
programming sources as well as increased competition for the Company and its
subsidiaries. There can be no assurance that satisfactory (or any) terms of
carriage will be obtained by the Company for digital satellite programs or
channels.
The full extent to which existing or future competitors using existing or
developing media will compete with cable television systems may not be known
for several years. There can be no assurance, however, that existing, proposed
or as yet undeveloped technologies will not become dominant in the future and
render cable television systems less profitable or even obsolete.
Broadcast Services. In February 1997, the United Kingdom Government sold the
Home Service and World Service transmission businesses of the British
Broadcasting Corporation (the "BBC") to a consortium led by Castle Tower
Corporation ("CTI"). There can be no assurance that the Company will not
encounter significant competition from CTI (as successor to the BBC) for its
transmission business from expiration of the Company's current contracts with
the ITV contractors and Channel 4/S4C. See "--Dependence Upon ITV and Other
Contracts." See "--Dependence Upon Site Sharing Arrangement."
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LIMITED ACCESS TO PROGRAMMING
The Company's ability to make a competitive offering of cable television
services is dependent on the Company's ability to obtain access to programming
at a reasonable cost. While various sources of programming are available to
cable system operators in the United Kingdom, BSkyB is currently the most
important supplier of cable programming and the exclusive supplier of certain
programming. BSkyB provides the industry with a range of programming,
including the most popular mainstream premium movie channels available in the
United Kingdom and, currently, exclusive English premier league soccer games.
BSkyB also competes with the Company by operating a DTH satellite service that
provides programming, including programming that is also offered by the
Company, to approximately 4 million subscribers in the United Kingdom. BSkyB's
programming is important in attracting and retaining cable television
subscribers and, in the absence of more alternative programming sources, BSkyB
may be able to set and raise prices for its programming without significant
competitive pricing pressure.
The Company, like many other cable operators, obtains most of its
programming through arrangements with BSkyB and other programming suppliers
which are not reflected in signed written agreements. To date, the Company has
not had a formal contract with BSkyB, although it has been in discussions with
BSkyB for some time. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able
to enter into a definitive agreement with BSkyB, that the terms of such
definitive agreement will not be less favorable to the Company than the
current arrangement, or that BSkyB will continue to supply programming to the
Company on reasonable commercial terms or at all. Moreover, the Company has
not, to date, entered into written contracts with many of its other program
suppliers. The loss of BSkyB or other programming, a deterioration in the
perceived quality of BSkyB or other programming, or a material increase in the
price that the Company is required to pay for BSkyB or other programming could
have a material adverse effect on the Company.
Because of the factors described in the preceding paragraphs, there can be
no assurance that its current programming will continue to be available to the
Company on acceptable commercial terms, or at all.
POSSIBLE CHANGES IN GOVERNMENT REGULATION
The principal business activities of the Company in the United Kingdom are
regulated and supervised by various governmental bodies, the ITC, the
Department of Culture, Media and Sport, the Radio Communications Agency and
OFTEL under the directions of the Director General and the DTI on behalf of the
Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. Changes in laws, regulations or
governmental policy (or the interpretations of such laws or regulations)
affecting the Company's activities and those of its competitors, such as
licensing requirements, changes in price regulation, changes in price regulation
and deregulation of interconnection arrangements, could have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
A substantial portion of the Company's business is also subject to
regulation. In particular, the prices that the Company may charge the ITV
companies, Channel 4 and S4C for television transmissions services are subject
to price controls imposed by OFTEL. On December 24, 1996, the Director General
of OFTEL issued the formal modification to the Company's Telecommunications
Act License to deal with the new price control for the television transmission
services provided by the Company to the ITV companies, Channel 4 and S4C.
Under the new arrangements, the total revenues receivable by the Company for
such services (excluding certain insignificant items) could not exceed
(Pounds)53.15 million in 1997 and, thereafter through 2002, will be adjusted
annually by the Retail Prices Index minus 4%. There is no assurance that these
price controls will not be reviewed again by OFTEL prior to 2002 or that price
controls for the years following December 31, 2002 will not have a material
adverse effect on the revenues receivable from the ITV companies, Channel 4
and S4C.
As the United Kingdom is a member of the European Union ("EU"), the Company
may be subject to regulatory initiatives of the European Commission ("EC").
Changes promulgated in EU Directives, particularly to the extent that they
require an EU television "production" and "programming" quota, may reduce the
range of programs which can be offered and increase the costs of purchasing
television programming. In addition, EU Directives may introduce provisions
requiring the Company and its subsidiaries to provide access to its cable
network infrastructure to other service providers, which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company.
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DEPENDENCE UPON SITE SHARING ARRANGEMENT
As a result of, among other factors, a natural shortage of potential
transmission sites and the difficulties in obtaining planning permission for
erection of further masts, CTI and the Company have made arrangements to share
a large number of sites. Under the present arrangements, one of the parties
(the "Station Owner") is the owner, lessee or licensee of each site and the
other party (the "Sharer") is entitled to request a license to use certain
facilities at that site. Each site license granted pursuant to the site
sharing agreement is for an initial period expiring on December 31, 2005
(subject to title and to the continuation in force of the site sharing
agreement) and provides that, if requested by the Sharer, it will be extended
for further periods. The site sharing agreement and each site license provide
for the Station Owner to be paid a commercial license fee and for the Sharer
to be responsible, in normal circumstances, for the costs of accommodation and
equipment used exclusively by it. Either party may terminate the agreement by
5 years' notice in writing to the other expiring on December 31, 2005 or at
any date which is a date 10 years or a multiple of 10 years after December 31,
2005. Although the Company does not anticipate that the site sharing agreement
or the site licenses will be terminated, there can be no assurance that such a
termination will not occur. Termination of the site sharing arrangements would
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.
DEPENDENCE UPON ITV AND OTHER CONTRACTS
The Company's broadcast services business is substantially dependent upon
contracts with the ITV contractors, Channel 4/S4C and Vodafone for the
provision of transmission services. The prices that the
Company may charge these companies for television transmission services are
subject to regulation by OFTEL. See "--Possible Changes in Government
Regulation." The contracts with the ITV contractors and Channel 4/S4C
terminate on December 31, 2002. Although, historically, the ITV contractors
and Channel 4/S4C have renewed their contracts with the Company, there can be
no assurance that they will do so upon expiration of the current contracts,
that they will not negotiate terms for the Company's provision of transmission
services on a basis less favorable to the Company or that they would not seek
to obtain from third parties a portion of the transmission services currently
provided by the Company. The loss of any one of these contracts could have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
RISKS RELATING TO THE MANAGEMENT OF GROWTH AND EXPANSION
The Company has experienced rapid growth and development in a relatively
short period of time and plans to continue to do so to meet its strategic
objectives and regulatory milestones. The management of such growth will
require, among other things, stringent control of construction and other
costs, continued development of the Company's financial and management
controls, increased marketing activities and the training of new personnel.
Failure to manage its rapid growth and development successfully could have a
material adverse effect on the Company.
DEPENDENCE UPON KEY PERSONNEL
The Company's businesses are managed by a small number of key executive
officers, the loss of one or more of whom could have a material adverse effect
on the Company. The Company believes that its future success will depend in
large part on its continued ability to attract and retain highly skilled and
qualified personnel. The Company has not entered into written employment
contracts or non-compete agreements with, nor has it obtained life insurance
policies covering, such key executive officers. Certain senior managers of the
Company also serve as members of senior management of other companies in the
telecommunications business.
RISKS OF RAPID TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES
The telecommunications industry is subject to rapid and significant changes
in technology and the effect of technological changes on the businesses of the
Company cannot be predicted. However, the cost of implementation of emerging
and future technologies could be significant, and the Company's ability to
fund such implementation will depend on its ability to obtain additional
financing. See "--Network Construction Costs; Need for Additional Financing."
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CURRENCY RISK
To the extent that the Company obtains financing in United States dollars
and incurs construction and operating expenses in British pounds sterling, it
will encounter currency exchange rate risks. In addition, the Company's
revenues are generated primarily in British pounds sterling while its interest
and principal obligations with respect to most of the Company's existing
indebtedness are payable in United States dollars. While the Company may
consider entering into transactions to hedge the risk of exchange rate
fluctuations, there can be no assurance that the Company will engage in such
transactions, or, if the Company decides to engage in such transactions, that
they will be successful and that shifts in the currency exchange rates will
not have a material adverse effect on the Company. NTL has entered into an
option agreement to hedge some of the rate of exchange rate fluctuations
related to debt service and corporate expenses.
SUBSTITUTION OF CURRENCY
Although there can be no assurance that a single European currency will be
adopted or, if adopted, on what time schedule, the Treaty on the European
Economic and Monetary Union provides for the introduction of the Euro in
substitution for the national currencies of the member states which adopt the
Euro. If the United Kingdom adopts the Euro, the regulations of the European
Commission relating to the Euro shall apply to each of the Sterling Senior
Notes, the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the Sterling Senior Notes Indenture
and the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes Indenture. The circumstances and
consequences described in this paragraph entitle neither the Company nor any
holder of the Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes to early
redemption, rescission, notice or repudiation of the terms and conditions of
the Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the applicable
Indentures or to raise other defenses or to request any compensation claim,
nor will they affect any of the other obligations of the Company under the
Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the applicable
Indentures.
RISKS OF LIMITED INSURANCE COVERAGE
The Company obtains insurance of the type and in the amounts that it
believes are customary in the United Kingdom for similar companies. Consistent
with this practice, the Company does not insure the underground portion of its
cable network. Any catastrophe affecting a significant portion of the
Company's underground cable network could result in substantial uninsured
losses.
LACK OF PUBLIC MARKET FOR THE NOTES
The Old Notes were offered to a small number of institutional buyers and are
eligible for trading in the PORTAL Market. The New Notes will be a new issue
of securities in which there is no existing trading market. Although the
Initial Purchasers have informed the Company that they currently intend to
make a market in the New Notes, they are not obligated to do so and any such
market making may be discontinued at any time without notice. The Company does
not intend to apply for listing for the New Notes on any securities exchange
(other than the Luxembourg Stock Exchange) or to seek approval for quotation
through any automated quotation system. Accordingly, there can be no assurance
as to the ongoing development or liquidity of any market for the New Notes. If
an active public market for the New Notes does not develop or is interrupted,
the market price and liquidity of the New Notes may be adversely affected.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Prospectus includes certain projections of broadcast transmission
revenues, build-out results and other forward-looking statements, including
those using words such as "believe," "anticipate," "should," "intend," "plan,"
"will," "expects," "estimates," "projects," "positioned," "strategy," and
similar expressions; in reviewing such information it should be kept in mind
that actual results may differ materially from those in such projections and
forward-looking statements. Important assumptions and factors that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those contemplated or projected,
forecast, estimated or budgeted in or expressed or implied
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by such projections and forward-looking statements include those specified in
this Risk Factors section, as well as industry trends, the Company's ability
to continue to design network routes, install facilities, obtain and maintain
any required government licenses or approvals and finance construction and
development, all in a timely manner, at reasonable costs and on satisfactory
terms and conditions, as well as assumptions about customer acceptance, churn
rates, overall market penetration and competition from providers of
alternative services, and availability, terms and deployment of capital.
The Company assumes no obligation to update projections or other forward-
looking statements to reflect actual funding requirements, capital
expenditures and results, changes in assumptions or in the factors affecting
such projections or other forward-looking statements. There can be no
assurance that: (i) any financings will be obtained when required, on
acceptable terms or at all; (ii) the Company or its subsidiaries will be able
to access all amounts available under the terms of the New Credit Facility or
other financings; (iii) actual amounts required to complete the Company's
planned build out will not exceed the amount estimated above (see "--Uncertainty
of Construction Progress and Costs") or that additional financing substantially
in excess of that amount will not be required; (iv) conditions precedent to
advances under the New Credit Facility will be satisfied when funds are
required; (v) the Company will not acquire franchises, licenses or other new
businesses (in addition to the proposed Amalgamation) that would require
additional capital; (vi) operating cash flow will meet expectations or that the
Company will be able to access such cash from its subsidiaries' operations to
meet any unfunded portion of its capital requirements when required or to
satisfy the terms of the Notes, the Existing Notes, the Convertible Notes or the
Company's other debt instruments and agreements for the incurrence of additional
debt financing (see "--Holding Company Structure; Dependence Upon Cash Flow from
Subsidiaries"); (vii) the Company's subsidiaries will not incur losses from
their exposure to exchange rate fluctuations or be adversely affected by
interest rate fluctuations (see "--Currency Risk"); (viii) there will not be
adverse changes in applicable United States or United Kingdom tax laws; or (ix)
the effects of monetary union in Europe, when achieved, will not be materially
adverse to the Company. All forward-looking statements in this Prospectus are
expressly qualified by the foregoing.
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THE EXCHANGE OFFER
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER; PERIOD FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES
The Old Notes were sold by the Company to the Initial Purchasers on March
13, 1998 pursuant to a Purchase Agreement, dated March 6, 1998. Upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the
accompanying Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the Exchange
Offer), the Company will accept for exchange Old Notes which are properly
tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date and not withdrawn as permitted
below. As used herein, the term "Expiration Date" means 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on November 23, 1998; provided however, that if the Company, in its
sole discretion, has extended the period of time for which the Exchange Offer
is open, the term "Expiration Date" means the latest time and date to which
the Exchange Offer is extended.
As of the date of this Prospectus, (Pounds)125,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Old Sterling Senior Notes, (Pounds)300,000,000 aggregate
principal amount at maturity of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and
$1,300,000,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Old USD Deferred
Coupon Notes were outstanding. This Prospectus, together with the Letter of
Transmittal, is first being sent on or about the date of this Prospectus, to
all Holders of Old Notes known to the Company. The Company's obligation to
accept Old Notes for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer is subject to
certain conditions as set forth under "Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer" below.
The Company expressly reserves the right, at any time or from time to time,
to extend the period of time during which the Exchange Offer is open, and
thereby delay acceptance for exchange of any Old Notes, by giving oral or
written notice of such extension to the Holders thereof. During any such
extension, all Old Notes previously tendered will remain subject to the
Exchange Offer and may be accepted for exchange by the Company. Any Old Notes
not accepted for exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to
the tendering Holder thereof as promptly as practicable after the expiration
or termination of the Exchange Offer.
Old Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer must be in denominations of
principal amount of $1,000 or (Pounds)1,000, as applicable, and any integral
multiple thereof.
The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the Exchange
Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Old Notes not theretofore accepted
for exchange, upon the occurrence of any of the conditions of the Exchange
Offer specified below under "Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer." The
Company will give oral or written notice of any extension, amendment, non-
acceptance or termination to the Holders of the Old Notes as promptly as
practicable, such notice in the case of any extension to be issued by means of
a press release or other public announcement no later than 9:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration
Date.
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES
The tender to the Company of Old Notes by a Holder thereof as set forth
below and the acceptance thereof by the Company will constitute a binding
agreement between the tendering Holder and the Company upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and in the accompanying
Letter of Transmittal in respect of the applicable Old Notes, as the case may
be. Except as set forth below, a Holder (which term, for purposes of the
Exchange Offer, includes any participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
(as defined) system whose name appears on a security position listing as the
holder of such Old Notes) who wishes to tender Old Notes for exchange pursuant
to the Exchange Offer must transmit the Letter of Transmittal, properly
completed and duly executed, including all other documents required by such
Letter of Transmittal or (in the case of a book-entry transfer) an Agent's
Message in lieu of such Letter of Transmittal to The Chase Manhattan Bank (the
"Exchange Agent") at one of the addresses set forth below under "Exchange
Agent", on or prior to the Expiration Date. In addition, either (i)
certificates for such Old Notes must be received by the Exchange Agent along
with the Letter of Transmittal prior to the Expiration Date, (ii) a timely
confirmation of a book-entry
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transfer (a "Book-Entry Confirmation") of such Old Notes, if such procedure is
available, into the appropriate Exchange Agent's account at DTC (the "Book-
Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer
described below, must be received by the Exchange Agent prior to the
Expiration Date along with the Letter of Transmittal or an Agent's Message in
lieu of a Letter of Transmittal, or (iii) the Holder must comply with the
guaranteed delivery procedures described below. The term "Agent's Message"
means a message, transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility to and
received by the appropriate Exchange Agent and forming a part of a Book-Entry
Confirmation, which states that the Book-Entry Transfer Facility has received
an express acknowledgment from the tendering participant, which acknowledgment
states that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by, and make
the representations and warranties contained in, the appropriate Letter of
Transmittal and that the Company may enforce such Letter of Transmittal
against such participant.
THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES, LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE HOLDERS. IF SUCH
DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT REGISTERED MAIL, PROPERLY INSURED,
WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, BE USED. IN ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD
BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE TIMELY DELIVERY. NO LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL OR OLD NOTES
SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY.
Signatures on a Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case
may be, must be guaranteed unless the Old Notes surrendered for exchange
pursuant thereto are tendered (i) by a Holder of the Old Notes who has not
completed the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special
Delivery Instructions" on the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of
an Eligible Institution (as defined below). In the event that signatures on a
Letter of Transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case may be, are
required to be guaranteed, such guarantees must be by a firm which is a member
of a registered national securities exchange or a member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a commercial bank or trust
company having an office or correspondent in the United States or by such
other Eligible Institution within the meaning of Rule 17 (A)(d)-15 of the
Exchange Act (collectively, "Eligible Institutions"). If Old Notes are
registered in the name of a person other than a signer of the Letter of
Transmittal, the Old Notes surrendered for exchange must be endorsed by, or be
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, or exchange,
in satisfactory form as determined by the Company in its sole discretion, duly
executed by the registered Holder with the signature thereon guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution.
All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of
receipt) and acceptance of Old Notes tendered for exchange will be determined
by the Company in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and
binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders
of any particular Old Note not properly tendered or to not accept any
particular Old Note which acceptance might, in the judgment of the Company or
its counsel, be unlawful. The Company also reserves the absolute right to
waive any defects or irregularities or conditions of the Exchange Offer as to
any particular Old Note either before or after the Expiration Date (including
the right to waive the ineligibility of any Holder who seeks to tender Old
Notes in the Exchange Offer). The interpretation of the terms and conditions
of the Exchange Offer as to any particular Old Note either before or after the
Expiration Date (including the appropriate Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions thereto) by the Company shall be final and binding on all
parties. Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with
tenders of Old Notes for exchange must be cured within such reasonable period
of time as the Company shall determine. Neither the Company, the Exchange
Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give notification of any
defect or irregularity with respect to any tender of Old Notes for exchange,
nor shall any of them incur any liability for failure to give such
notification.
If a Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person or persons other than the
registered Holder or Holders of Old Notes, such Old Notes must be endorsed or
accompanied by appropriate powers of attorney, in either case signed exactly
as the name or names of the registered Holder or Holders that appear on the
Old Notes.
If a Letter of Transmittal or any Old Notes or powers of attorney are signed
by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers
of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or
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representative capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing, and,
unless waived by the Company, proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of
their authority to so act must be submitted with the Letter of Transmittal.
By tendering, each Holder will represent to the Company that, among other
things, the New Notes acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being
obtained in the ordinary course of business of the person receiving such New
Notes, whether or not such person is the Holder, that neither the Holder nor
any such other person has an arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in the distribution of such New Notes and that neither the Holder
nor any such other person is an "affiliate," as defined under Rule 405 of the
Securities Act, of the Company. If any Holder is an affiliate of the Company,
is engaged in or intends to engage in or has any arrangement with any person
to participate in the distribution of the New Notes to be acquired pursuant to
the Exchange Offer, such Holders (i) could not rely on the applicable
interpretations of the staff of the Commission and (ii) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any resale transaction. Each broker-dealer who holds Old Notes
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, and who receives New Notes in exchange for such Old Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer, may be an "underwriter" within the meaning of
the Securities Act and must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale
of such New Notes. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit
that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
ACCEPTANCE OF OLD NOTES FOR EXCHANGE; DELIVERY OF NEW NOTES
Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the Exchange Offer,
the Company will accept, promptly after the Expiration Date, all Old Notes
properly tendered, issue the New Notes promptly after acceptance of the Old
Notes and cause the New Notes to be authenticated by the Trustee. See "Certain
Conditions to the Exchange Offer" below. For purposes of the Exchange Offer,
the Company shall be deemed to have accepted properly tendered Old Notes for
exchange when, as and if the Company has given oral (promptly confirmed in
writing) or written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.
For each Old Note accepted for exchange, the Holder of such Old Note will
receive a New Note of the same class having a principal amount at maturity
equal to that of the surrendered Old Note. If the Exchange Offer is not
consummated by January 17, 1999, special interest will accrue (in addition, in
the case of the Old Sterling Senior Notes, to the stated interest on the Old
Sterling Senior Notes and, in the case of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes and the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, in addition to the amortization
of original issue discount and stated interest) from and including January 18,
1999. Special interest, if any, will be payable in cash semiannually in
arrears each April 1 and October 1, respectively, to holders of record of the
Old Notes on the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15,
respectively, at a rate per annum equal to 0.50% of the principal amount of
the Old Sterling Senior Notes or the Accreted Value of the Old Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as applicable
(determined daily). The aggregate amount of special interest payable pursuant
to the above provisions will in no event exceed 1.50% per annum of the
principal amount of the Old Sterling Senior Notes or the Accreted Value of the
Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as
applicable (determined daily). Upon the consummation of the Exchange Offer
after January 17, 1999, the special interest payable on the Old Notes from the
date of such consummation will cease to accrue and all accrued and unpaid
special interest as of the consummation of the Exchange Offer shall be paid
promptly thereafter to the holders of record of the Old Notes immediately
prior to the time of such occurrence. Following the consummation of the
Exchange Offer the interest terms shall revert to the original terms set forth
in the Notes.
The New Sterling Senior Notes will bear interest from the most recent date
to which interest has been paid on the Old Sterling Senior Notes. Accordingly,
if the relevant record date for interest payment occurs after the consummation
of the Exchange Offer, registered holders of New Sterling Senior Notes on such
record date will
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receive interest accruing from the most recent date to which interest has been
paid. If, however, the relevant record date for interest payment occurs prior
to the consummation of the Exchange Offer, registered holders of Old Sterling
Senior Notes on such record date will receive interest accruing from the most
recent date to which interest has been paid. Old Sterling Senior Notes
accepted for exchange will cease to accrue interest from and after the date of
consummation of the Exchange Offer, except as set forth in the immediately
preceding sentence. Holders of Old Sterling Senior Notes whose Old Sterling
Senior Notes are accepted for exchange will not receive any payment in respect
of interest, if any, on such Old Sterling Senior Notes otherwise payable on
any interest payment date the record date for which occurs on or after
consummation of the Exchange Offer.
In all cases, issuance of New Notes for Old Notes that are accepted for
exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after timely receipt
by the Exchange Agent of certificates for such Old Notes or a timely Book-
Entry Confirmation of such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility, the Letter of Transmittal properly completed and
duly executed or an Agent's Message in lieu thereof and all other required
documents. If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for any reason set forth
in the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer or if Old Notes are
submitted for an amount or quantity greater than the Holder desires to
exchange, such unaccepted or non-exchanged Old Notes will be returned without
expense to the tendering Holder thereof (or, in the case of Old Notes tendered
by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry
Transfer Facility pursuant to the book-entry procedures described below, such
non-exchanged Old Notes will be credited to an account maintained with such
Book-Entry Transfer Facility) as promptly as practicable after the expiration
or termination of the Exchange Offer.
BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
The Exchange Agent will request the establishment of accounts with respect
to the Old Notes at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility for purposes of the
Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of this Prospectus
unless the Exchange Agent already has established an account with the Book-
Entry Transfer Facility suitable for the Exchange Offer, and any financial
institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's system
may make book-entry delivery of Old Notes by causing the Book-Entry Transfer
Facility to transfer such Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility in accordance with such Book-Entry Transfer
Facility's procedures for transfer.
ALTHOUGH DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES MAY BE EFFECTED THROUGH BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER
AT THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR A FACSIMILE
THEREOF), WITH ANY REQUIRED SIGNATURE GUARANTEES OR AN AGENT'S MESSAGE IN LIEU
THEREOF AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS, MUST, IN ANY CASE, BE TRANSMITTED TO
AND RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT AT ONE OF THE ADDRESSES SET FORTH BELOW
UNDER "EXCHANGE AGENT," AS THE CASE MAY BE, ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE
OR THE GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES DESCRIBED BELOW MUST BE COMPLIED WITH.
GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES
If a Holder of the Old Notes desires to tender such Old Notes and the Old
Notes are not immediately available, or time will not permit such Holder's Old
Notes or other required documents to reach the Exchange Agent before the
Expiration Date, or the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed
on a timely basis, a tender may be effected if (i) the tender is made through
an Eligible Institution, (ii) prior to the Expiration Date, the Exchange Agent
received from such Eligible Institution the appropriate Notice of Guaranteed
delivery, substantially in the form provided by the Company (by telegram,
telex, facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery), setting forth the name
and address of the Holder of Old Notes and the amount of Old Notes tendered,
stating that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that within
five New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") trading days after the
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date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, the certificates for
all physically tendered Old Notes, in proper form for transfer, or a Book-
Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, together with a properly completed and
duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof or Agent's Message
in lieu thereof) with any required signature guarantees, and any other
documents required by the appropriate Letter of Transmittal will be deposited
by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent and (iii) the certificates
for all physically tendered Old Notes, in proper form for transfer, or a Book-
Entry Confirmation, as the case may be, together with a properly completed and
duly executed appropriate Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof or
Agent's Message in lieu thereof) with any required signature guarantees, and
all other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, are received by the
Exchange Agent within five NYSE trading days after the date of execution of
the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration
Date.
For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be
received by the Exchange Agent at the addresses set forth below under
"Exchange Agent". Any such notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the
person having tendered the Old Notes to be withdrawn, identify the Old Notes
to be withdrawn (including the principal amount in the case of Old Sterling
Senior Notes or the principal amount at maturity in the case of the Old
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes), and
(where certificates for Old Notes have been transmitted) specify the name in
which such Old Notes are registered, if different from that of the withdrawing
Holder. If certificates for Old Notes have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the Exchange Agent then, prior to the release of such
certificates the withdrawing Holder must also submit the serial numbers of the
particular certificates to be withdrawn and a signed notice of withdrawal with
signatures guaranteed by an Eligible Institution unless such Holder is an
Eligible Institution. If Old Notes have been tendered pursuant to the
procedure for book-entry transfer described above, the executed notice of
withdrawal, guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, unless such Holder is an
Eligible Institution, must specify the name and number of the account at the
Book-Entry Transfer Facility to be credited with the withdrawn Old Notes and
otherwise comply with the procedures of such facility. All questions as to the
validity, form and eligibility (including time of receipt) of such notices
will be determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and
binding on all parties. Any Old Notes so withdrawn will be deemed not to have
been validly tendered for exchange for purposes of the Exchange Offer. Any Old
Notes which have been tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for
any reason will be returned to the Holder thereof without cost to such Holder
(or, in the case of Old Notes tendered by book-entry transfer into the
Exchange Agent's account at the Book-Entry Transfer Facility pursuant to the
book-entry transfer procedures described above, such Old Notes will be
credited to an account maintained with such Book-Entry Transfer Facility for
the Old Notes) as soon as practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or
termination of the Exchange Offer. Properly withdrawn Old Notes may be
retendered by following one of the procedures described under "--Procedures
for Tendering Old Notes" above at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer, the Company shall
not be required to accept for exchange, or to issue New Notes in exchange for,
the Old Notes and may terminate or amend the Exchange Offer if at any time
before the acceptance of such Old Notes for exchange or the exchange of the
New Notes for such Old Notes any of the following events shall occur:
(a) there shall be threatened, instituted or pending any action or
proceeding before, or any injunction, order or decree shall have been
issued by, any court or governmental agency or other governmental
regulatory or administrative agency or commission, (i) seeking to restrain
or prohibit the making or consummation of the Exchange Offer or any other
transaction contemplated by the Exchange Offer, or assessing or seeking any
damages as a result thereof, or (ii) resulting in a material delay in the
ability of the Company to accept for exchange or exchange some or all of
the Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
34
<PAGE>
or any statute, rule, regulation, order or injunction shall be sought,
proposed, introduced, enacted, promulgated or deemed applicable to the
Exchange Offer or any of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange
Offer by any government or governmental authority, domestic or foreign, or
any action shall have been taken, proposed or threatened, by any
government, governmental authority, agency or court, domestic or foreign,
that in the sole judgment of the Company might directly or indirectly
result in any of the consequences referred to in clauses (i) or (ii) above
or, on the sole judgement of the Company, might result in the holders of
New Notes having obligations with respect to resales and transfers of New
Notes which are greater than those described in the interpretation of the
Commission referred to on the cover page of this Prospectus, or would
otherwise make it inadvisable to proceed with the Exchange Offer; or
(b) there shall have occurred (i) any general suspension of or general
limitation on prices for, or trading in, securities on any national
securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market, (ii) any limitation
by any governmental agency or authority which may adversely affect the
ability of the issuer to complete the transactions contemplated by the
Exchange Offer, (iii) a declaration of a banking moratorium or any
suspension of payments in respect of banks in the United States or any
limitation by any governmental agency or authority which adversely affects
the extension of credit or (iv) a commencement of a war, armed hostilities
or other similar international calamity directly or indirectly involving
the United States, or, in the case of any of the foregoing existing at the
time of the commencement of the Exchange Offer, a material acceleration or
worsening thereof; or
(c) any change (or any development involving a prospective change) shall
have occurred or be threatened in the business, properties, assets,
liabilities, financial condition, operations, results of operations or
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole that, in the
reasonable judgment of the Company, is or may be adverse to the Company, or
the Company shall have become aware of facts that, in the reasonable
judgment of the Company, have or may have adverse significance with respect
to the value of the Old Notes or the New Notes;
which, in the reasonable judgment of the Company in any case, and regardless
of the circumstances (including any action by the Company) giving rise to any
such condition, makes it inadvisable to proceed with the Exchange Offer and/or
with such acceptance or exchange or with such exchange.
The foregoing conditions are for the sole benefit of the Company and may be
asserted by the Company regardless of the circumstances giving rise to any
such condition or may be waived by the Company in whole or in part at any time
and from time to time in its sole discretion. The failure by the Company at
any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver
of any such right and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which
may be asserted at any time and from time to time.
In addition, the Company will not accept for exchange any Old Notes
tendered, and no New Notes will be issued in exchange for any such Old Notes,
if at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with respect
to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes a part or
the qualification of the Indentures under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the "TIA").
35
<PAGE>
EXCHANGE AGENT
The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Exchange Agent") has been appointed as the
Exchange Agent in respect of the Notes for the Exchange Offer. All executed
Letters of Transmittal in respect of the Notes should be directed to the
Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set forth below. Questions and requests
for assistance, requests for additional copies of this Prospectus or of the
Letter of Transmittal in respect of the Notes and requests for Notices of
Guaranteed Delivery should be directed to the Exchange Agent addressed as
follows:
Delivery To: The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Exchange Agent
In New York
By Mail, By Hand and Overnight By Facsimile:
Courier: (212) 638-7380
The Chase Manhattan Bank (212) 638-7381
Corporate Trust-Securities Window
Room 234--North Building Confirm by Telephone:
55 Water Street Carlos Esteves: (212) 638-0828
New York, New York 10041 (212) 638-0454
In Luxembourg
By Mail, By Hand and Overnight By Facsimile:
Courier: (352) 46 26 85 380
Chase Manhattan Bank Luxembourg S.A.
5 Rue Plaetis Confirm by Telephone:
L-2338, Luxembourg
Veronique Cridel: (352) 46 26 85 284
DELIVERY OF THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IN RESPECT OF THE NOTES TO AN ADDRESS
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION VIA FACSIMILE OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY OF SUCH LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
.
FEES AND EXPENSES
The Company will not make any payment to brokers, dealers, or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer except for reimbursement of
mailing expenses.
The estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the Exchange
Offer will be paid by the Company and are estimated in the aggregate to be
$250,000.
TRANSFER TAXES
Holders who tender their Old Notes for exchange will not be obligated to pay
any transfer taxes in connection therewith, except that holders who instruct
the Company to register New Notes in the name of, or request that Old Notes
not tendered or not accepted in the Exchange Offer be returned to, a person
other than the registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment
of any applicable transfer tax thereon.
CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE
Holders of Old Notes who do not exchange their Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange Offer will continue to be subject, to the provisions
in the applicable Indenture regarding transfer and exchange of the Old Notes
and the restrictions on transfer of such Old Notes as set forth in the legend
on the Old Notes and as described in the Offering Memorandum as a consequence
of the issuance of such Old Notes pursuant to exemptions from, or in
transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities
Act and
applicable state securities laws. In general, the Old Notes may not be offered
or sold, unless registered under the
36
<PAGE>
Securities Act, except pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not
subject to, the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. The
Company does not currently anticipate that it will take any action to register
the Old Notes under the Securities Act or blue sky laws.
Based on interpretations by the staff of the Commission, as set forth in no-
action letters issued to third parties, the Company believes that New Notes
issued in exchange of Old Notes, pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be offered
for resale, resold or otherwise transferred by Holders thereof (other than any
such Holder which is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule
405 under the Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and
prospectus delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided that such New
Notes are acquired in the ordinary course of such Holders' business and such
Holders, other than brokers-dealers, are not engaged in, do not intend to
engage in and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in, the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
such New Notes. If any Holder has any arrangement or understanding with
respect to the distribution of the New Notes to be acquired pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, such Holder (i) could not rely on the applicable
interpretations of the staff of the Commission and (ii) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any resale transaction. Each broker-dealer that receives New
Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes must acknowledge that such
Old Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities and that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such New Notes. See "Plan of Distribution."
In addition, to comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions, if
applicable, the New Notes may not be offered or sold unless they have been
registered or qualified for sale in such jurisdiction or an exemption from
registration or qualification is available and is complied with. The Company
does not currently intend to take any action to register or qualify the sale
of the New Notes in any such jurisdictions.
37
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the exchange of Old
Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Company intends to use
the approximately $1.25 billion net proceeds to the Company from the sale of
the Old Notes to finance the construction, capital expenditure and working
capital requirements (including, without limitation, debt service and
repayment obligations) of the Company and, potentially, refinance existing
indebtedness. In addition a portion of the net proceeds may also be used to
make acquisitions of businesses or assets related to the Company's cable
telephony/television and telecommunications business.
EXCHANGE RATES
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the Noon Buying
Rate for pounds sterling expressed in U.S. dollars per (Pounds)l.00.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, PERIOD END AVERAGE(1) HIGH LOW
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
1988.................................... $1.81 $1.78 $1.91 $1.66
1989.................................... 1.61 1.63 1.82 1.51
1990.................................... 1.93 1.79 1.98 1.59
1991.................................... 1.87 1.76 2.00 1.60
1992.................................... 1.51 1.76 2.00 1.51
1993.................................... 1.48 1.50 1.59 1.42
1994.................................... 1.57 1.53 1.64 1.46
1995.................................... 1.55 1.58 1.64 1.53
1996.................................... 1.71 1.56 1.72 1.49
1997.................................... 1.65 1.64 1.71 1.56
1998 (through October 9)................ 1.70 1.65 1.72 1.61
</TABLE>
---------------------
(1) The average of the Noon Buying Rates on the last day of
each month during the relevant period.
38
<PAGE>
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company at June 30,
1998.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JUNE 30, 1998
-------------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C>
Cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities........... $ 920,760
==========
Short term debt:
New Credit Facility(1)................................... $ 458,343
10 7/8% Notes Due 2003(2)................................ 205,583
----------
$ 663,926
==========
Long-term debt:
9 1/2% Notes due 2008(3)................................. $ 207,666
10 3/4% Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008................... 302,441
9 3/4% Deferred Coupon Notes due 2008.................... 825,430
12 3/4% Notes Due 2005................................... 222,736
11 1/2% Notes Due 2006................................... 786,739
10% Notes Due 2007 ...................................... 400,000
7% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due 2008............... 275,000
----------
Total long-term debt................................... 3,020,012
Senior redeemable exchangeable preferred stock, par value
$0.01 per share, plus accreted dividends; liquidation
preference $117,000,000; 117,000 shares issued and
outstanding............................................... 116,086
Shareholders' (deficiency):
Series preferred stock, $.01 par value, 2,500,000 shares
authorized:
None issued and outstanding(4)......................... --
Common stock, $.01 par value, 100,000,000 shares
authorized, 41,291,000 shares issued and
outstanding(5).......................................... 413
Additional paid-in capital............................... 720,975
Accumulated other comprehensive income................... 127,119
(Deficit)................................................ (915,026)
----------
Total shareholders' (deficiency)....................... (66,519)
----------
Total capitalization....................................... $3,069,579
==========
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
(1) Does not include (Pounds)200 million ($333 million) borrowed in September
1998.
(2) In June 1998, the Company provided to the trustee of the 10 7/8% Notes Due
2003 a notice that it will redeem the 10 7/8% Notes on October 15, 1998.
Pending such redemption, the Company has deposited in trust with the
trustee an amount equal to approximately $218.6 million to pay the
redemption price (including principal) on the 10 7/8% Notes. In July 1998,
the Company redeemed a portion of the 10 7/8% Notes with an accreted value
of $62.2 million for cash of $65 million.
(3) Net of unamortized discount of $671,000.
(4) Does not include (Pounds)75 million pay-in-kind Preferred Stock issued in
September 1998.
(5) Does not include an aggregate of 23,651,000 shares of Common Stock,
consisting of: (i) 15,418,000 shares of Common Stock subject to options;
(ii) 972,000 shares of Common Stock subject to warrants, and (iii)
7,261,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the 7%
Convertible Notes.
39
<PAGE>
SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF THE COMPANY
The selected consolidated financial information of the Company presented
below under the captions Income Statement Data for the years ended December
31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993 and Balance Sheet Data as of December 31,
1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, were derived from the Consolidated Financial
Statements of the Company audited by Ernst & Young LLP. The following
information should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial
Statements of the Company and the related notes incorporated herein by
reference.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIX MONTHS
ENDED
JUNE 30, YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
-------------------- ---------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER RATIO AND SHARE DATA)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Revenues................ $ 302,106 $ 221,639 $ 491,775 $ 228,343 $ 33,741 $ 13,745 $ 10,078
Costs and expenses
Operating expenses..... 155,354 141,251 301,644 144,315 24,415 7,827 4,441
Selling, general and
administrative
expenses.............. 113,527 82,210 169,133 114,992 57,932 19,468 2,685
Depreciation and
amortization........... 95,567 69,824 150,509 98,653 29,823 17,916 6,206
Franchise fees......... 12,506 11,760 23,587 13,117 -- -- --
Corporate expenses..... 7,779 9,042 18,324 14,899 14,697 8,422 2,357
Nonrecurring charges... -- 4,555 20,642 -- -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Total costs and
expenses............ 384,733 318,642 683,839 385,976 126,867 53,633 15,689
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Operating (loss)....... (82,627) (97,003) (192,064) (157,633) (93,126) (39,888) (5,611)
Other income (expense)
Interest, dividend and
other income........... 23,478 18,213 28,415 33,634 21,185 18,403 5,182
Interest expense....... (141,622) (99,117) (202,570) (137,032) (28,379) (11,410) (2,950)
Other gains............ -- -- 21,497 -- -- -- --
Foreign currency
transactions gains
(losses).............. 2,797 (197) 574 2,408 84 2,062 (7,052)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
(Loss) before income
taxes, minority
interests and
extraordinary item..... (197,974) (178,104) (344,148) (258,623) (100,236) (30,833) (10,431)
Income tax benefit
(provision)............. -- 4,669 15,591 (7,653) 2,477 (1,630) (645)
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
(Loss) before minority
interests and
extraordinary item..... (197,974) (173,435) (328,557) (266,276) (97,759) (32,463) (11,076)
Minority interests...... -- -- -- 11,822 6,974 2,890 --
Loss from early
extinguishment of debt.. -- -- (4,500) -- -- -- --
--------- --------- --------- --------- --------- -------- --------
Net (loss).............. $(197,974) $(173,435) $(333,057) $(254,454) $ (90,785) $(29,573) $(11,076)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ======== ========
Net (loss) per common
share--basic and
diluted(1)............. $ (5.79) $ (5.56) $ (10.74) $ (8.20) $ (3.01) $ (.98) $ (.83)
========= ========= ========= ========= ========= ======== ========
Weighted average number
of common shares used
in computation of net
(loss) per share(1).... 35,448 32,091 32,117 31,041 30,190 30,175 13,327
Ratio of earnings to
fixed charges(2)....... -- -- -- -- -- -- --
OTHER DATA:
Capital expenditures.... $ 257,157 $ 239,760 $ 503,656 $ 505,664 $ 445,550 $122,962 $ 7,612
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
AS OF
JUNE 30, AS OF DECEMBER 31,
---------- -------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Cash and cash
equivalents............ $ 804,285 $ 98,902 $ 445,884 $ 175,283 $294,602 $400,097
Working capital......... 248,713 (51,916) 242,102 76,128 251,544 410,421
Fixed assets, net....... 2,279,636 1,756,985 1,459,528 639,674 191,725 36,422
Total assets............ 4,163,828 2,421,639 2,454,611 1,010,669 664,366 594,976
Long-term debt ......... 3,020,012 2,015,057 1,732,168 513,026 143,488 130,553
Redeemable Preferred
Stock.................. 116,086 108,534 -- -- -- --
Paid-in capital......... 721,388 538,376 548,968 462,525 462,423 462,392
Shareholders' equity
(deficiency)........... (66,519) (61,668) 328,114 339,257 436,534 452,402
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) After giving retroactive effect to the four-for-three stock split by way
of stock dividend paid in August 1995. For the year ended December 31,
1997, net (loss) per common share was $10.60 before extraordinary item.
(2) Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including capitalized interest,
amortization of fees related to debt financing and rent expense deemed to
be interest. The fixed charges coverage deficiency amounted to $201.0
million, $355.4 million, $257.1 million, $105.4 million, $31.8 million and
$10.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and for the years
ended December 31, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994 and 1993, respectively. For the
six months ended June 30, 1998 and for the year ended December 31, 1997,
the Company's earnings were insufficient to cover combined fixed charges
and preferred stock dividends by $208.3 million and $367.4 million.
The Company did not declare or pay any cash dividends during the years
indicated.
40
<PAGE>
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
GENERAL
Each class of New Notes offered hereby will be issued pursuant to its
respective Indenture, each dated as of March 13, 1998, each between the
Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The
Indenture will be subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
"Trust Indenture Act"). The following summary of certain provisions of the
Indentures, which have been filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus forms a part, does not purport to be complete and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to the Indentures. The Indentures do
not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in their entirety
by reference to the Trust Indenture Act, and to all provisions of the
Indentures, including the definition of certain terms therein and those terms
made part of the Indentures by reference to the Trust Indenture Act, as in
effect on the date of the Indentures. The definitions of certain terms used in
the following summary are set forth below under "--Certain Definitions." In
this "Description of Notes," the term "Company" refers to NTL Incorporated and
not any of its Subsidiaries.
The Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be unsecured obligations of the
Company, ranking pari passu in right of payment with each other and with all
senior unsecured Indebtedness of the Company and senior in right of payment to
all subordinated Indebtedness of the Company.
The operations of the Company are conducted through its Subsidiaries and,
therefore, the Company is dependent upon the cash flow of its Subsidiaries to
meet its obligations, including its obligations under the Notes. As a result,
the Old Notes are, and the New Notes will be effectively subordinated to all
existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities and commitments of such
Subsidiaries with respect to the cash flow and assets of those Subsidiaries.
The Trustee will authenticate and deliver from time to time New Notes for
original issue only in exchange for (i) a like principal amount of Old
Sterling Senior Notes, or (ii) a like principal amount at maturity of Old
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as
applicable.
Any Old Notes of a class that remain outstanding after the completion of the
Exchange Offer, together with the New Notes of such class issued in connection
with the Exchange Offer, will be treated as a single class of securities under
the applicable Indenture.
Application has been made to list the New Notes on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange.
PRINCIPAL, MATURITY AND INTEREST
The New Sterling Senior Notes will be limited in aggregate principal amount
to (Pounds)125,000,000. The New Sterling Senior Notes will accrue interest at
the rate of 9.5% per annum and will be payable semiannually on April 1 and
October 1 of each year, beginning on October 1, 1998, to the holders of record
on the immediately preceding March 15 and September 15, respectively. Interest
on the New Sterling Senior Notes will accrue from the most recent date to
which interest has been paid on the Old Sterling Senior Notes. The New
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes will be
limited in aggregate principal amount at maturity to (Pounds)300,000,000 and
$1,300,000,000, respectively. The Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the
Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes were each issued at a substantial discount from
their principal amounts at maturity. Until April 1, 2003, no interest will
accrue on the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the New USD Deferred
Coupon Notes, but the Accreted Value of each of the New Sterling Deferred
Coupon Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes will increase (representing
amortization of original issue discount) between March 13, 1998 and April 1,
2003, on a semiannual bond equivalent basis using a 360-day year comprised of
twelve 30-day months, such that the Accreted Value of the New Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes or the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as the case may
be, shall be equal to the full principal amount at maturity of the New
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as the
case may be, on April 1, 2003. Commencing April 1, 2003, interest on each of
the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes
will accrue at rates of 10.75% per annum and 9.75% per annum,
41
<PAGE>
respectively, and will be payable in cash, semiannually in arrears, on each
April 1 and October 1, commencing October 1, 2003, to holders of record on the
immediately preceding March 15 and September 15. Interest on overdue principal
and (to the extent permitted by law) on overdue installments of interest will
accrue at a rate equal to the rate borne by the applicable New Notes. Interest
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day
months. A reference to a payment of principal in respect of the New Notes
includes a payment of premium, if any.
The New Notes will be payable both as to principal and interest (on
presentation of such New Notes if in certificated form) at the offices or
agencies of the Company maintained for such purpose within the City and State
of New York and London, England and, so long as the New Notes are listed on
the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, at the office of the paying agent maintained in
Luxembourg or, at the option of the Company, payment of interest may be made
by check mailed to the holders of the New Notes at their respective addresses
set forth in the register of holders of New Notes or, if a holder so requests,
by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account previously
specified in writing by such holder to the Company and the Trustee. Until
otherwise designated by the Company, the Company's office or agency in New
York and London, respectively, will be the offices of the Trustee maintained
for such purpose. The Company has designated Banque Internationale a
Luxembourg to act as paying agent in Luxembourg. Each of the New Notes will be
payable on maturity on April 1, 2008 at 100% of its principal amount and will
be issued in registered form, without coupons, and in denominations of
(Pounds)1,000 or $1,000, as applicable, and integral multiples thereof.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
Except as referred to herein under "--Covenants--Additional Amounts;
Optional Tax Redemption," the Notes are not redeemable at the Company's option
prior to April 1, 2003. Thereafter, the Notes will be subject to redemption at
the option of the Company, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more
than 60 days' notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of
principal amount) set forth below plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to
the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period
beginning on April 1 of the years indicated below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
STERLING SENIOR STERLING DEFERRED USD DEFERRED
YEAR NOTES COUPON NOTES COUPON NOTES
---- --------------- ----------------- ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
2003....................... 104.750% 105.375% 104.875%
2004....................... 103.167% 103.583% 103.250%
2005....................... 101.583% 101.792% 101.625%
2006 and thereafter........ 100.000% 100.000% 100.000%
</TABLE>
In the case of a redemption of any class of Notes referred to herein under
"--Covenants--Additional Amounts; Optional Tax Redemption," redemption of such
Notes shall be made at the redemption prices specified in the applicable
Indentures plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the applicable
redemption date.
SUBSTITUTION OF CURRENCY
Although there can be no assurance that a single European currency will be
adopted or, if adopted, on what time schedule, the Treaty on the European
Economic and Monetary Union provides for the introduction of the Euro in
substitution for the national currencies of the member states which adopt the
Euro. If the United Kingdom adopts the Euro, the regulations of the European
Commission relating to the Euro shall apply to each of the Sterling Senior
Notes, the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the Sterling Senior Notes Indenture
and the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes Indenture. The circumstances and
consequences described in this paragraph entitle neither the Company nor any
holder of the Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes to early
redemption, rescission, notice or repudiation of the terms and conditions of
the Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the applicable
Indentures or to raise other defenses or to request any compensation claim,
nor will they affect any of the other obligations of the Company under the
Sterling Senior Notes or Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and the applicable
Indentures.
42
<PAGE>
MANDATORY REDEMPTION AND REPURCHASE
The Company is not required to make mandatory redemption or sinking fund
payments with respect to the Notes. The Company is required to make a Change
of Control Offer (as defined below) and an Asset Sale Offer (as defined below)
with respect to a repurchase of the Notes under the circumstances described
under the captions "Change of Control" and "Asset Sales," respectively.
CHANGE OF CONTROL
Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, each holder of
Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any
part (equal to (Pounds)1,000 or $1,000, as applicable, or an integral multiple
thereof) of such holder's Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the
"Change of Control Offer") at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal
amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of
purchase (or, in the case of repurchases of Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or
USD Deferred Coupon Notes prior to April 1, 2003, at a purchase price equal to
101% of the Accreted Value thereof as of the date of purchase) (the "Change of
Control Payment"). Within 40 days following any Change of Control Triggering
Event, the Company shall mail a notice to each holder, and, as long as the
Notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, publish a notice in one
leading newspaper with circulation in Luxembourg, stating: (1) that the Change
of Control Offer is being made pursuant to the covenant entitled "Change of
Control" and that all Notes tendered will be accepted for payment; (2) the
purchase price and the purchase date, which shall be no earlier than 30 days
nor later than 40 days from the date such notice is mailed (the "Change of
Control Payment Date"); (3) that any Notes not tendered will continue to
accrue interest (and, if applicable, the Accreted Value of any Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes and USD Deferred Coupon Notes not tendered will continue
to increase as provided in such Notes); (4) that, unless the Company defaults
in the payment of the Change of Control Payment, all Notes accepted for
payment pursuant to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue interest
after the Change of Control Payment Date (and, if applicable, the Accreted
Value of any Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes and USD Deferred Coupon Notes
tendered will cease to increase as provided in such Notes); (5) that holders
electing to have any Notes purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer
will be required to surrender the Notes, with the form entitled "Option of
Holder to Elect Purchase" on the reverse of the Notes completed, to the Paying
Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of business on
the third Business Day preceding the Change of Control Payment Date; (6) that
holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Paying Agent
receives, not later than the close of business on the second Business Day
preceding the Change of Control Payment Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or letter setting forth the name of the holder, the principal
amount of Notes delivered for purchase, and a statement that such holder is
withdrawing his election to have such Notes purchased; and (7) that holders
whose Notes are being purchased only in part will be issued new Notes equal in
principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, which
unpurchased portion must be equal to (Pounds)1,000 or $1,000 in principal
amount, as applicable, or an integral multiple thereof.
The Company will comply with the requirements of Rules 13e-4 and 14e-1 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and any
other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent such laws and
regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes in
connection with a Change of Control Triggering Event.
On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent
lawful, (1) accept for payment Notes or portions thereof tendered pursuant to
the Change of Control Offer, (2) deposit with the Paying Agent an amount equal
to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions thereof
so tendered and (3) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes
so accepted together with an Officers' Certificate stating the Notes or
portions thereof tendered to the Company. The Paying Agent shall promptly mail
to each holder of Notes so accepted (or, if such a holder requests, wire
transfer immediately available funds to an account previously specified in
writing by such holder to the Company and the Paying Agent) payment in an
amount equal to the purchase price for such Notes, and the Trustee shall
promptly authenticate and mail to each holder a new Note equal in principal
amount to any unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered, if any; provided
that each such new Note shall be in a principal amount of (Pounds)1,000 or
$1,000, as applicable, or an integral multiple
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thereof. The Company will publicly announce the results of the Change of
Control Offer on or as soon as practicable after the Change of Control Payment
Date.
Except as described above with respect to a Change of Control Triggering
Event, the Indentures do not contain any other provisions that permit the
holders of the Notes to require that the Company repurchase or redeem the
Notes in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring.
The Indentures contain covenants which may afford holders of the Notes
protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization,
restructuring, merger or similar transaction, including the Change of Control
provision described above and the provisions described under "--Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" and "--Merger, Consolidation or
Sale of Assets" below. Each such covenant is, however, subject to certain
exceptions which may permit the Company to be involved in such a highly
leveraged transaction that may adversely affect the holders of the Notes.
The Change of Control Offer requirement of the Notes may in certain
circumstances make more difficult or discourage a takeover of the Company,
and, thus, the removal of incumbent management. The Change of Control Offer
requirement, however, is not the result of management's knowledge of any
specific effort to accumulate the Company's stock or to obtain control of the
Company by means of a merger, tender offer, solicitation or otherwise, or part
of a plan by management to adopt a series of anti-takeover provisions.
Instead, the Change of Control Offer requirement is a result of negotiations
between the Company and the Initial Purchasers. Management has not entered
into any agreement or plan involving a Change of Control, although it is
possible that the Company would decide to do so in the future. Subject to the
limitations discussed below, the Company could, in the future, enter into
certain transactions including acquisitions, refinancings or other
recapitalizations, that would not constitute a Change of Control Triggering
Event under the Indentures, but that could increase the amount of indebtedness
outstanding at such time or otherwise affect the Company's capital structure
or credit ratings.
The indentures for the 10% Notes, in an aggregate principal amount at
maturity of $400,000,000, the 10 7/8% Notes, in an aggregate principal amount
at maturity of $212,000,000, the 12 3/4% Notes, in an aggregate principal
amount at maturity of $277,803,500, and the 11 1/2% Notes, in an aggregate
principal amount at maturity of $1,050,000,000, which rank pari passu with the
Notes, also contain change of control provisions. The indentures for the
Convertible Notes, which are subordinated to the Notes, also contain change of
control provisions.
The Company's ability to pay cash to the holders of Notes pursuant to a
Change of Control Offer may be limited by the Company's then existing
financial resources. See "Risk Factors--Potential Adverse Consequences of
Leverage" and "--Holding Company Structure; Dependence Upon Cash Flow from
Subsidiaries." The Credit Facility does, and any future credit agreements or
other agreements relating to indebtedness of the Company may, contain
prohibitions or restrictions on the Company's ability to effect a Change of
Control Payment. In the event a Change of Control Triggering Event occurs at a
time when such prohibitions or restrictions are in effect, the Company could
seek the consent of its lenders to the purchase of Notes and other
Indebtedness containing change of control provisions or could attempt to
refinance the borrowings that contain such prohibition. If the Company does
not obtain such a consent or repay such borrowings, the Company will be
effectively prohibited from purchasing Notes. In such case, the Company's
failure to purchase tendered Notes would constitute an Event of Default under
the Indentures. Moreover, the events that constitute a Change of Control or
require an Asset Sale Offer under the Indentures constitute events of default
under the Credit Facility and may also constitute events of default under
future debt instruments or credit agreements of the Company or the Company's
Subsidiaries. Such events of default may permit the lenders under such debt
instruments or credit agreements to accelerate the debt and, if such debt is
not paid or repurchased, to enforce their security interests in what may be
all or substantially all of the assets of the Company's Subsidiaries. Any such
enforcement may limit the Company's ability to raise cash to repay or
repurchase the Notes.
The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer in the
event the Company enters into a transaction with management or their
affiliates who are Permitted Holders. The definition of Change of Control
includes a phrase relating to the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition of "all or substantially all"
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of the Company's assets. Although there is a developing body of case law
interpreting the phrase "substantially all," there is no precise established
definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the ability of a
holder of Notes to require the Company to repurchase such Notes as a result of
a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of
the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries to another Person may be
uncertain.
ASSET SALES
The Indentures will provide that the Company will not and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to cause, make or suffer to exist any Asset
Sale, unless (i) no Default exists or is continuing immediately prior to and
after giving effect to such Asset Sale, (ii) the Company (or the Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of such
Asset Sale at least equal to the fair market value (evidenced for purposes of
this covenant by a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an
Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee) of the assets sold or
otherwise disposed of and (iii) at least 80% of the consideration therefor
received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of (w)
Cash Equivalents, (x) Replacement Assets, (y) publicly traded Equity Interests
of a Person who is, directly or indirectly, engaged primarily in one or more
Cable Businesses; provided, however, that the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary shall Monetize such Equity Interests by sale to one or more Persons
(other than to the Company or a Subsidiary thereof) at a price not less than
the fair market value thereof within 180 days of the consummation of such
Asset Sale, or (z) any combination of the foregoing clauses (w) through (y);
provided, however, that the amount of (x) any liabilities (as shown on the
Company's or such Restricted Subsidiary's most recent balance sheet or in the
notes thereto), of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than
liabilities that are by their terms subordinated to the Notes) that are
assumed by the transferee of any such assets and (y) any notes or other
obligations received by the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary from
such transferee that are within five Business Days converted by the Company or
such Restricted Subsidiary into cash, shall be deemed to be Cash Equivalents
(to the extent of the Cash Equivalents received in such conversion) for
purposes of this clause (iii).
Within 360 days after any Asset Sale, the Company (or the Restricted
Subsidiary, as the case may be) will cause the Net Proceeds from such Asset
Sale (i) to be used to permanently reduce Indebtedness of a Restricted
Subsidiary or (ii) to be invested or reinvested in Replacement Assets. Pending
final application of any such Net Proceeds, the Company may temporarily reduce
revolving credit borrowings or otherwise invest such Net Proceeds in any
manner that is not prohibited by the applicable Indenture. Any Net Proceeds
from any Asset Sale that are not used or reinvested as provided in the
preceding sentence constitute "Excess Proceeds." When the aggregate amount of
Excess Proceeds exceeds $15 million, the Company will make an offer (an "Asset
Sale Offer") to all holders of Notes and Other Qualified Notes to purchase the
maximum principal amount of Notes and Other Qualified Notes (determined on a
pro rata basis according to the accreted value or principal amount, as the
case may be, of the Notes and the Other Qualified Notes; provided, however,
that the Asset Sale Offer must be made first to the holders of the Applicable
Notes) that may be purchased out of the Excess Proceeds, if any, remaining
after the consummation of the aforementioned Asset Sale Offer to the holders
of the Applicable Notes (x) with respect to the Other Qualified Notes, based
on the terms set forth in the indenture related to each issue of the Other
Qualified Notes and (y) with respect to the Notes, at an offer price in cash
in an amount equal to 100% of the outstanding principal amount thereof plus
accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date fixed for the closing of such
offer (or, in the case of repurchases of Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or USD
Deferred Coupon Notes prior to April 1, 2003, at a purchase price equal to
100% of the Accreted Value thereof as of the date of repurchase), in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the Indentures. To the extent that
the aggregate principal amount or accreted value, as the case may be, of Notes
and Other Qualified Notes tendered pursuant to an Asset Sale Offer is less
than the Excess Proceeds, if any, remaining after the consummation of the
aforementioned Asset Sale Offer to the holders of the Applicable Notes, the
Company may use such deficiency for general corporate purposes. If the
aggregate principal amount or accreted value, as the case may be, of Notes and
Other Qualified Notes surrendered by holders thereof exceeds the amount of
Excess Proceeds, if any, remaining after the consummation of the
aforementioned Asset Sale Offer to the holders of the Applicable Notes, then
such remaining Excess Proceeds will be allocated pro rata according to
accreted value or principal amount,
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as the case may be, to the Notes and each issue of the Other Qualified Notes,
and the Trustee will select the Notes to be purchased from the amount
allocated to the Notes on the basis set forth under "Selection and Notice"
below. Upon completion of such offers to purchase each of the Applicable Notes
and the Notes and the Other Qualified Notes, the amount of Excess Proceeds
will be reset at zero. No such Asset Sale Offer to purchase the Notes and
Other Qualified Notes shall be required to be made by the Company pursuant to
the foregoing provisions if there are no Excess Proceeds remaining after the
consummation of the Asset Sale Offer made to holders of the Applicable Notes.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Subsidiaries may (i)
sell, lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of assets or property
acquired after October 14, 1993, by the Company or any Subsidiary in a sale-
and-leaseback transaction so long as the proceeds of such sale are applied
within five Business Days to permanently reduce Indebtedness of a Restricted
Subsidiary or if there is no such Indebtedness or such proceeds exceed the
amount of such Indebtedness then such proceeds or excess proceeds are
reinvested in Replacement Assets within 360 days after such sale, lease,
transfer, conveyance or disposition, (ii)(x) swap or exchange assets or
property with a Cable Controlled Subsidiary or (y) issue, sell, lease,
transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of equity securities of any of the
Company's Subsidiaries to a Cable Controlled Subsidiary, in each of cases (x)
and (y) so long as (A) the ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma
EBITDA of the Company after such transaction is equal to or less than the
ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company
immediately preceding such transaction; provided, however, that if the ratio
of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company immediately
preceding such transaction is 6:1 or less, then the ratio of Indebtedness to
Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company may be 0.5 greater than such ratio
immediately preceding such transaction and (B) either (I) the assets so
contributed consist solely of a license to operate a Cable Business and the
Net Households covered by all of the licenses to operate cable and telephone
systems held by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately after
and giving effect to such transaction equals or exceeds the number of Net
Households covered by all of the licenses to operate cable and telephone
systems held by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries immediately prior
to such transaction or (II) the assets so contributed consist solely of Cable
Assets and the value of the Capital Stock received, immediately after and
giving effect to such transaction, as determined by an investment banking firm
of recognized standing with knowledge of the Cable Business, equals or exceeds
the value of the Cable Assets exchanged for such Capital Stock, (iii) sell,
transfer or otherwise dispose of Long Distance/Microwave Assets, or (iv)
issue, sell, lease, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of Equity Interests
of the Company (or any Capital Stock Sales Proceeds therefrom) to any Person
(including Non-Restricted Subsidiaries).
SELECTION AND NOTICE
If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed at any time, selection of
Notes for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the
requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes are listed, or, in
the absence of such requirements or if the Notes are not so listed, on a pro
rata basis, provided that no Notes of (Pounds)1,000 or $1,000, as applicable,
or less shall be redeemed in part. Notice of redemption shall be mailed by
first class mail at least 30 but not more than 60 days before the redemption
date to each holder of Notes to be redeemed at its registered address. If any
Note is to be redeemed in part only, the notice of redemption that relates to
such Note shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed. A new Note in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion
thereof will be issued in the name of the holder thereof upon cancellation of
the original Note. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue
(and, if applicable, the Accreted Value of any Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes
and USD Deferred Coupon Notes tendered will cease to increase as provided in
such Notes), on Notes or portions of them called for redemption.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
Restricted Payments
The Indentures will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly: (i) declare or
pay any dividend or make any distribution on account of the Company's or any
of its Restricted Subsidiaries' Equity Interests (other than (x) dividends or
distributions payable in Equity
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Interests (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary or (y) dividends or distributions payable to the Company or any
Wholly Owned Subsidiary of the Company, or (z) pro rata dividends or pro rata
distributions payable by a Restricted Subsidiary); (ii) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire or retire for value any Equity Interests of the Company
(other than any such Equity Interests owned by the Company or any Wholly Owned
Subsidiary of the Company); (iii) voluntarily purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire or retire for value any Indebtedness that is subordinated to the
Notes; or (iv) make any Restricted Investment (all such payments and other
actions set forth in clauses (i) through (iv) above being collectively
referred to as "Restricted Payments"), unless, at the time of such Restricted
Payment:
(a) no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
or would occur as a consequence thereof; and
(b) such Restricted Payment, together with the aggregate of all other
Restricted Payments made by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
after the Issuance Date (including Restricted Payments permitted by clauses
(ii) through (ix) of the next succeeding paragraph), is less than the sum
of (x) the difference between Cumulative EBITDA and 1.5 times Cumulative
Interest Expense plus (y) Capital Stock Sale Proceeds plus (z) cash
received by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from a Non-Restricted
Subsidiary (other than cash which is or is required to be repaid or
returned to such Non-Restricted Subsidiary); provided, however, that to the
extent that any Restricted Investment that was made after the date of the
Indentures is sold for cash or otherwise liquidated or repaid for cash, the
amount credited pursuant to this clause (z) shall be the lesser of (A) the
cash received with respect to such sale, liquidation or repayment of such
Restricted Investment (less the cost of such sale, liquidation or
repayment, if any) and (B) the initial amount of such Restricted
Investment, in each case as determined in good faith by the Company's Board
of Directors.
The foregoing provisions will not prohibit (i) the payment of any dividend
within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof, if at said date of
declaration such payment would have complied with the provisions of the
applicable Indenture; (ii) (x) the redemption, repurchase, retirement or other
acquisition of any Equity Interests of the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary or (y) an Investment in any Person, in each case, in exchange for,
or out of the proceeds of, the substantially concurrent sale (other than to a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of other Equity Interests (other than
any Disqualified Stock) of the Company provided that the Company delivers to
the Trustee: (1) with respect to any transaction involving in excess of $1
million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an Officers'
Certificate certifying that such transaction is approved by a majority of the
directors on the Board of Directors; and (2) with respect to any transaction
involving in excess of $25 million, an opinion as to the fairness to the
Company or such Subsidiary from a financial point of view issued by an
investment banking firm of national standing with high yield experience,
together with an Officers' Certificate to the effect that such opinion
complies with this clause (2), provided, that the amount of such proceeds from
the sale of such Equity Interests shall be excluded in each case from Capital
Stock Sale Proceeds for purposes of clause (b)(y), above; (iii) Investments by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a Non-Controlled Subsidiary which
(A) has no Indebtedness on a consolidated basis other than Indebtedness
incurred to finance the purchase of equipment used in a Cable Business, (B)
has no restrictions (other than restrictions imposed or permitted by the
Indentures or the indentures governing the Other Qualified Notes or the
Applicable Notes or any other instrument governing unsecured indebtedness of
the Company which is pari passu with the Notes) on its ability to pay
dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (C) is or will be a Cable Business and (D) uses the
proceeds of such Investment for constructing a Cable Business or the working
capital needs of a Cable Business; (iv) the redemption, purchase, defeasance,
acquisition or retirement of Indebtedness that is subordinated to the Notes
(including premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest) made by exchange
for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale (other than
to a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of, (A) Equity Interests of the
Company provided, that the amount of such proceeds from the sale of such
Equity Interests shall be excluded in each case from Capital Stock Sale
Proceeds for purposes of clause (b)(y), above or (B) Refinancing Indebtedness
permitted to be incurred under the "Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of
Preferred Stock" covenant; (v) Investments by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary in a Non-Controlled Subsidiary which is or will be a Cable Business
in an amount not
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to exceed $80 million in the aggregate plus the sum of (x) cash received by
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary from a Non-Restricted Subsidiary (other
than cash which is or is required to be repaid or returned to such Non-
Restricted Subsidiary) and (y) Capital Stock Sale Proceeds (excluding the
aggregate net sale proceeds to be received upon conversion of the Convertible
Subordinated Notes), provided, that the amount of such proceeds from the sale
of such Equity Interests shall be excluded in each case from Capital Stock
Sale Proceeds for purposes of clause (b)(y), above; (vi) Investments by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in Permitted Non-Controlled Assets; (vii)
the extension by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of trade credit to a
Non-Restricted Subsidiary extended on usual and customary terms in the
ordinary course of business, provided that the aggregate amount of such trade
credit shall not exceed $25 million at any one time; (viii) the payment of
cash dividends on the Preferred Stock accruing on or after February 15, 2004
or any mandatory redemption or repurchase of the Preferred Stock, in each
case, in accordance with the Certificate of Designations therefor; and (ix)
the exchange of all of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock for
Subordinated Debentures in accordance with the Certificate of Designation for
the Preferred Stock.
Any Investment in a Subsidiary (other than the issuance, transfer or other
conveyance of Equity Interests of the Company (or any Capital Stock Sales
Proceeds therefrom)) that is designated by the Board of Directors as a Non-
Restricted Subsidiary shall become a Restricted Payment made on the date of
such designation in the amount of the greater of (x) the book value of such
Subsidiary on the date such Subsidiary becomes a Non-Restricted Subsidiary and
(y) the fair market value of such Subsidiary on such date as determined (A) in
good faith by the Board of Directors of such Subsidiary if such fair market
value is determined to be less than $25 million and (B) by an investment
banking firm of national standing with high yield underwriting expertise if
such fair market value is determined to be in excess of $25 million.
Not later than the fifth Business Day after making any Restricted Payment
(other than those referred to in sub-clause (vii) of the second paragraph
preceding this paragraph), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate stating that such Restricted Payment is permitted and
setting forth the basis upon which the calculations required by the covenant
"Restricted Payments" were computed, which calculations may be based upon the
Company's latest available financial statements.
Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock
The Indentures will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create, incur,
issue, assume, guaranty or otherwise become directly or indirectly liable with
respect to (collectively, "incur") any Indebtedness (including Acquired Debt)
and that the Company will not issue any Disqualified Stock and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to issue any shares of preferred stock that
is Disqualified Stock; provided, however, that the Company may incur
Indebtedness or issue shares of Disqualified Stock and any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries may issue shares of preferred stock that is Disqualified Stock if
after giving effect to such issuance or incurrence on a pro forma basis, the
sum of (x) Indebtedness of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a
consolidated basis, (y) the liquidation value of outstanding preferred stock
of Restricted Subsidiaries and (z) the aggregate amount payable by the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries, on a consolidated basis, upon redemption of
Disqualified Stock to the extent such amount is not included in the preceding
clause (y) shall be less than the product of Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA for
the latest fiscal quarter for which internal financial statements are
available immediately preceding the date on which such additional Indebtedness
is incurred or such Disqualified Stock or preferred stock is issued multiplied
by 7.0, determined on a pro forma basis (including a pro forma application of
the net proceeds therefrom), as if the additional Indebtedness had been
incurred, or the Disqualified Stock or preferred stock had been issued, as the
case may be, at the beginning of such quarter.
The foregoing limitations will not apply to (a) the incurrence by the
Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of Indebtedness pursuant to the Credit
Facility, (b) the issuance by any Restricted Subsidiary of preferred stock
(other than Disqualified Stock) to the Company, any Restricted Subsidiary of
the Company or the holders of Equity Interests in any Restricted Subsidiary on
a pro rata basis to such holders, (c) the incurrence of
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Indebtedness or the issuance of preferred stock by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries the proceeds of which are (or the credit support
provided by any such Indebtedness is), in each case, used to finance the
construction, capital expenditure and working capital needs of a Cable
Business (including, without limitation, payments made pursuant to any
License), the acquisition of Cable Assets or the Capital Stock of a Qualified
Subsidiary, (d) the incurrence by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries of additional Indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount not
to exceed $50 million, (e) the incurrence by the Company or any Restricted
Subsidiary of any Permitted Acquired Debt, (f) the incurrence by the Company
or any Subsidiary of Indebtedness issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of
which are used to extend, refinance, renew, replace, or refund the Notes,
Existing Indebtedness or Indebtedness referred to in clauses (a), (b), (c),
(d) or (e) above or Indebtedness incurred pursuant to the preceding paragraph
(the "Refinancing Indebtedness"); provided, however, that (1) the principal
amount of, and any premium payable in respect of, such Refinancing
Indebtedness shall not exceed the principal amount of Indebtedness so
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced or refunded (plus the amount of
reasonable expenses incurred in connection therewith); (2) the Refinancing
Indebtedness shall have (A) a Weighted Average Life to Maturity equal to or
greater than the Weighted Average Life to Maturity of, and (B) a stated
maturity no earlier than the stated maturity of, the Indebtedness being
extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced or refunded; and (3) the Refinancing
Indebtedness shall be subordinated in right of payment to the Notes as and to
the extent of the Indebtedness being extended, refinanced, renewed, replaced
or refunded, (g) the issuance of the Preferred Stock in lieu of payment of
cash interest on the Subordinated Debentures or the incurrence by the Company
of Indebtedness represented by the Subordinated Debentures upon the exchange
of the Preferred Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Designations
therefor, (h) Indebtedness under Exchange Rate Contracts, provided that such
Exchange Rate Contracts are related to payment obligations under Existing
Indebtedness or Indebtedness incurred under this paragraph or the preceding
paragraph that are being hedged thereby, and not for speculation and that the
aggregate notional amount under each such Exchange Rate Contract does not
exceed the aggregate payment obligations under such Indebtedness,
(i) Indebtedness under Interest Rate Agreements, provided that the obligations
under such agreements are related to payment obligations on Existing
Indebtedness or Indebtedness otherwise incurred pursuant to this paragraph or
the preceding paragraph, and not for speculation, (j) the incurrence of
Indebtedness between the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary, between or
among Restricted Subsidiaries and between any Restricted Subsidiary and other
holders of Equity Interests of such Restricted Subsidiary (or other Persons
providing funding on their behalf) on a pro rata basis and on substantially
identical principal financial terms, provided, however, that if any such
Restricted Subsidiary that is the payee of any such Indebtedness ceases to be
a Restricted Subsidiary or transfers such Indebtedness (other than to the
Company or a Restricted Subsidiary of the Company), such events shall be
deemed, in each case, to constitute the incurrence of such Indebtedness by the
Company or by a Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, at the time of such
event, and (k) Indebtedness of the Company and/or any Restricted Subsidiary in
respect of performance bonds of the Company or any Subsidiary or surety bonds
provided by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary received in the ordinary
course of business in connection with the construction or operation of a Cable
Business.
Any redesignation of a Non-Restricted Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary
shall be deemed for purposes of the foregoing covenant to be an incurrence of
Indebtedness by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries of the
Indebtedness of such Non-Restricted Subsidiary as of the time of such
redesignation to the extent such Indebtedness does not already constitute
Indebtedness of the Company or one of its Restricted Subsidiaries.
Liens
The Indentures will provide that neither the Company nor any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries may directly or indirectly create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired, or any
income or profits therefrom or assign or convey any right to receive income
therefrom, except: (i) Permitted Liens; (ii) Liens securing Indebtedness and
related obligations incurred under clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h), (i)
and (k) of the second paragraph of the "Incurrence of Indebtedness and
Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant; (iii) Liens on the assets acquired or
leased with the proceeds of Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the
"Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant; and
(iv) Liens securing
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Refinancing Indebtedness permitted to be incurred under the "Incurrence of
Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant; provided that the
Refinancing Indebtedness so issued and secured by such Lien shall not be
secured by any property or assets of the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries other than the property or assets subject to the Liens securing
such Indebtedness being refinanced.
Dividend and Other Payment Restrictions Affecting Restricted Subsidiaries
The Indentures will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, create or
otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become effective any encumbrance or
restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a)(i) pay
dividends or make any other distributions to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries (A) on its Capital Stock or (B) with respect to any other
interest or participation in, or measured by, its profits, or (ii) pay any
indebtedness owed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (b) make loans
or advances to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (c) transfer any of
its properties or assets to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except for
such encumbrances or restrictions existing under or by reason of (i) Existing
Indebtedness as in effect on the Issuance Date, (ii) the Indentures and the
Notes, (iii) any agreement covering or relating to Indebtedness permitted to
be incurred under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (h) or (i) (but only, in the
case of clause (h) or (i), to the extent contemplated by the then-existing
Credit Facility) of the second paragraph of the "Incurrence of Indebtedness
and Issuance of Preferred Stock" covenant, provided that the provisions of
such agreement permit any action referred to in clause (a) above in aggregate
amounts sufficient to enable the payment of interest and principal and
mandatory repurchases pursuant to the terms of the Indentures and the Notes
but provided further that: (x) any such agreement may nevertheless encumber,
prohibit or restrict any action referred to in clause (a) above if an event of
default under such agreement has occurred and is continuing or would occur as
a result of any such action; and (y) any such agreement may nevertheless
contain (I) restrictions limiting the payment of dividends or the making of
any other distributions to all or a portion of excess cash-flow (or any
similar formulation thereof) and (II) subordination provisions governing
Indebtedness owed to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, (iv) applicable
law, (v) any instrument governing Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person
acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as in effect at the time of
such acquisition (except to the extent such Indebtedness was incurred in
connection with such acquisition), which encumbrance or restriction is not
applicable to any Person, or the properties or assets of any Person, other
than the Person, or the property or assets of the Person, so acquired;
provided that the EBITDA of such Person is not taken into account in
determining whether such acquisition was permitted by the terms of the
Indentures, (vi) customary nonassignment provisions in leases entered into in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, (vii)
provisions of joint venture or stockholder agreements, so long as such
provisions are determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors to be, at
the time of such determination, customary for such agreements, (viii) with
respect to clause (c) above, purchase money obligations for property acquired
in the ordinary course of business or the provisions of any agreement with
respect to any Asset Sale (or transaction which, but for its size, would be an
Asset Sale), solely with respect to the assets being sold, or (ix) permitted
Refinancing Indebtedness, provided that the restrictions contained in the
agreements governing such Refinancing Indebtedness are determined by a
resolution of the Board of Directors to be no more restrictive than those
contained in the agreements governing the Indebtedness being refinanced.
Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets
The Indentures will provide that the Company may not consolidate or merge
with or into (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation), or
sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its properties or assets in one or more related
transactions to, another corporation, Person or entity unless (i) the Company
is the surviving corporation or the entity or the Person formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
shall have been made is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of
the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the
Cayman Islands or of the United States, any state thereof or the District of
Columbia; (ii) the entity or Person formed by or surviving any such
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consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the entity or Person to
which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition
will have been made assumes all the Obligations (including the due and
punctual payment of Additional Amounts (as defined in the Indentures) if the
surviving corporation is a corporation organized or existing under the laws of
the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the
Cayman Islands) of the Company, pursuant to a supplemental indenture in a form
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, under the Notes and the Indentures;
(iii) immediately after such transaction no Default or Event of Default
exists; (iv) the Company or any entity or Person formed by or surviving any
such consolidation or merger, or to which such sale, assignment, transfer,
lease, conveyance or other disposition will have been made will have a ratio
of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA equal to or less than the ratio
of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company immediately
preceding the transaction provided, however, that if the ratio of Indebtedness
to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company immediately preceding such
transaction is 6:1 or less, then the ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro
Forma EBITDA of the Company may be 0.5 greater than such ratio immediately
preceding such transaction; and (v) such transaction would not result in the
loss of any material authorization or Material License of the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
Additional Amounts; Optional Tax Redemption
The Indentures will provide that the "Payment of Additional Amounts"
provision therein, relating to United Kingdom, Netherlands, Netherlands
Antilles, Bermuda and Cayman Islands withholding and other United Kingdom,
Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda and Cayman Islands taxes, and the
"Optional Tax Redemption" provision therein, relating to the Company's option
to redeem the Notes under certain circumstances if Additional Amounts are
payable, apply to the Notes in certain circumstances. The provisions of the
Indenture relating to the payment of Additional Amounts will only apply in the
event that the Company becomes, or a successor to the Company is, a
corporation organized or existing under the laws of the United Kingdom, the
Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands. In such
circumstances, all payments made by the Company on the Notes will be made
without deduction or withholding, for or on account of, any and all present or
future taxes, duties, assessments, or governmental charges of whatever nature
unless the deduction or withholding of such taxes, duties, assessments or
governmental charges is then required by law. If any deduction or withholding
for or on account of any present or future taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands
Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands (or any political subdivision or
taxing authority thereof or therein) shall at any time be required in respect
of any amounts to be paid by the Company under the Notes, the Company will pay
or cause to be paid such additional amounts ("Additional Amounts") as may be
necessary in order that the net amounts received by a holder of the Notes
after such deduction or withholding shall be not less than the amounts
specified in the Notes to which the holder of such Notes is entitled;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to make any payment
of Additional Amounts for or on account of:
(a) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge to the extent such
tax, assessment or other governmental charge would not have been imposed
but for (i) the existence of any present or former connection between such
holder (or between a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder
of, or possessor of a power over, such holder, if such holder is an estate,
nominee, trust, partnership or corporation), other than the holding of the
Notes or the receipt of amounts payable in respect of the Notes and the
United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the
Cayman Islands or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein, including, without limitation, such holder (or such fiduciary,
settlor, beneficiary, member, shareholder or possessor) being or having
been a citizen or resident thereof or being or having been present or
engaged in trade or business therein or having had a permanent
establishment therein or (ii) the presentation of the Notes (where
presentation is required) for payment on a date more than 30 days after the
date on which such payment became due and payable or the date on which
payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later, except to the
extent that the holder would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had
the Notes been presented on the last day of such period of 30 days;
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(b) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed or
withheld by reason of the failure to comply by the holder of the Notes or,
if different, the beneficial owner of the interest payable on the Notes,
with a timely request of the Company addressed to such holder or beneficial
owner to provide information, documents or other evidence concerning the
nationality, identity or connection with the taxing jurisdiction of such
holder or beneficial owner which is required or imposed by a statute,
regulation or administrative practice of the taxing jurisdiction as a
precondition to exemption from all or part of such tax assessment or
governmental charge;
(c) any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, transfer, personal property or
similar tax assessment or other governmental charge;
(d) any tax assessment or other governmental charge which is collectible
otherwise than by withholding from payments of principal amount, redemption
amount, Change of Control Payment or interest with respect to a Note or
withholding from the proceeds of a sale or exchange of a Note;
(e) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be
withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal amount,
redemption amount, Change of Control Payment or interest with respect to a
Note, if such payment can be made, and is in fact made, without such
withholding by any other paying agent located inside the United States;
(f) any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed on a holder
that is not the beneficial owner of a Note to the extent that the
beneficial owner would not have been entitled to the payment of any such
Additional Amounts had the beneficial owner directly held the Note;
(g) any combination of items (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) and (f) above;
nor shall Additional Amounts be paid with respect to any payment of the
principal of, or any interest on the Notes to any holder who is a fiduciary or
partnership or other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the
extent that a beneficiary or settlor would not have been entitled to any
Additional Amounts had such beneficiary or settlor been the holder of the
Notes.
The Notes may be redeemed at the option of the Company, in whole but not in
part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, at any time at a
redemption price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the date fixed for redemption (or in the case of redemption of
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or USD Deferred Coupon Notes at a redemption
price equal to 100% of the Accreted Value thereof as of the date of purchase)
if after the Issuance Date there has occurred any change in or amendment to
the laws (or any regulations or official rulings promulgated thereunder) of
the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the
Cayman Islands (or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein), or any change in or amendment to the official application or
interpretation of such laws, regulation or rulings (a "Change in Tax Law")
which becomes effective after the Issuance Date, as a result of which the
Company is or would be so required on the next succeeding Interest Payment
Date to pay Additional Amounts with respect to the Notes with respect to
withholding taxes imposed by the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the
Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, (or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein) (a "Withholding Tax") and
such Withholding Tax is imposed at a rate that exceeds the rate (if any) at
which Withholding Tax was imposed on the Issuance Date provided, that, (i)
this paragraph shall not apply to the extent that, at the Relevant Date it was
known or would have been known had professional advice of a nationally
recognized accounting firm in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Netherlands
Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, as the case may be, been sought, that
a Change in Tax Law in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands
Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands, was to occur after the Issuance Date,
(ii) no such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 90 days prior to
the earliest date on which the Company would be obliged to pay such Additional
Amounts were a payment in respect of the Notes then due, (iii) at the time
such notice of redemption is given, such obligation to pay such Additional
Amount remains in effect and (iv) the payment of such Additional Amounts
cannot be avoided by the use of any reasonable measures available to the
Company.
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The Notes may also be redeemed, in whole but not in part, at any time at a
redemption price equal to the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid
interest to the date fixed for redemption if the person formed after the
Issuance Date by a consolidation, amalgamation, reorganization or
reconstruction (or other similar arrangement) of the Company or the person
into which the Company is merged after the Issuance Date or to which the
Company conveys, transfers or leases its properties and assets after the
Issuance substantially as an entirety (collectively, a "Subsequent
Consolidation") is required, as a consequence of such Subsequent Consolidation
and as a consequence of a Change in Tax Law in the United Kingdom, the
Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands occurring
after the date of such Subsequent Consolidation to pay Additional Amounts with
respect to Notes with respect to Withholding Tax and such Withholding Tax is
imposed at a rate that exceeds the rate (if any) at which Withholding Tax was
or would have been imposed on the date of such Subsequent Consolidation,
provided, however, that this paragraph shall not apply to the extent that, at
the date of such Subsequent Consolidation it was known or would have been
known had professional advice of a nationally recognized accounting firm in
the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the
Cayman Islands, as the case may be, been sought, that a Change in Tax Law in
the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the
Cayman Islands, was to occur after such date.
The Company will also pay, or make available for payment, to holders on the
redemption date any Additional Amounts resulting from the payment of such
redemption price.
Transactions with Affiliates
The Indentures will provide that the Company will not, and will not permit
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries to, sell, lease, transfer or otherwise
dispose of any of its properties or assets to, or purchase any property or
assets from, or enter into or amend any contract, agreement, understanding,
loan, advance or guarantee with, or for the benefit of, any Affiliate (each of
the foregoing, an "Affiliate Transaction"), unless (a) such Affiliate
Transaction is on terms that are no less favorable to the Company or the
relevant Subsidiary than those that could have been obtained in a comparable
transaction by the Company or such Subsidiary with an unrelated Person and (b)
the Company delivers to the Trustee (i) with respect to any Affiliate
Transaction involving aggregate payments in excess of $1 million or any series
of Affiliate Transactions with an Affiliate involving aggregate payments in
excess of $1 million, a resolution of the Board of Directors set forth in an
Officers' Certificate certifying that such Affiliate Transaction complies with
clause (a) above and such Affiliate Transaction is approved by a majority of
the disinterested directors on the Board of Directors and (ii) with respect to
any Affiliate Transaction or any series of Affiliate Transactions involving
aggregate payments in excess of $25 million, an opinion as to the fairness to
the Company or such Subsidiary from a financial point of view issued by an
investment banking firm of national standing with high yield experience
together with an Officers' Certificate to the effect that such opinion
complies with this clause (ii); provided, however, that notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions, the following shall not be deemed to be Affiliate
Transactions: (i) any employment agreement entered into by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the
past practice of the Company or its predecessor or such Subsidiary; (ii)
transactions between or among the Company and/or its Restricted Subsidiaries;
(iii) transactions permitted by the provisions of the Indentures described
above under the covenant "Restricted Payments"; (iv) Liens permitted under the
Liens covenant which are granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
an unrelated Person for the benefit of the Company or any other Subsidiary of
the Company; (v) any transaction pursuant to an agreement in effect on the
Issuance Date; (vi) the incurrence of Indebtedness by a Restricted Subsidiary
where such Indebtedness is owed to the holders of the Equity Interests of such
Restricted Subsidiary on a pro rata basis and on substantially identical
principal financial terms; (vii) management, operating, service or
interconnect agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business with
any Cable Business in which the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has an
Investment and which is not a Cable Controlled Subsidiary (and of which no
Affiliate of the Company is an Affiliate other than as a result of such
Investment); and (viii) any tax sharing agreement.
Reports
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so
long as any Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the Commission
and furnish to the holders of Notes all quarterly and
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annual financial information required to be contained in a filing with the
Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-K (or the equivalent thereof under the
Exchange Act for foreign private issuers in the event the Company becomes a
corporation organized under the laws of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands,
the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda or the Cayman Islands), including a
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition" and, with respect to the annual information only, a report thereon
by the Company's certified independent accountants, in each case, as required
by the rules and regulations of the Commission as in effect on the Issuance
Date. As long as the Notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, copies
of such reports will also be available at the specified office of the listing,
paying and transfer agent in Luxembourg. The Company does not publish
unconsolidated financial reports.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND REMEDIES
The Indentures will provide that each of the following constitutes an Event
of Default: (i) default for 30 days in the payment when due of interest (and
Additional Amounts, if applicable) on the Notes; (ii) default in payment when
due of principal on the Notes; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with the
provisions described under the covenants "Change of Control," "Restricted
Payments" or "Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock";
(iv) failure by the Company for 60 days after notice to comply with certain
other covenants and agreements contained in the Indentures or the Notes; (v)
default under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be
issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any Indebtedness for
money borrowed by the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries (or the
payment of which is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries), whether such Indebtedness or guarantee now exists, or is
created after the Issuance Date, which default (a) is caused by a failure to
pay when due principal or interest on such Indebtedness within the grace
period provided in such Indebtedness (which failure continues beyond any
applicable grace period) (a "Payment Default") or (b) results in the
acceleration of such Indebtedness prior to its express maturity and, in each
case, the principal amount of any such Indebtedness, together with the
principal amount of any other such Indebtedness under which there has been a
Payment Default or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates
$10 million or more; (vi) failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company to pay final judgments (other than any judgment as to which a
reputable insurance company has accepted full liability) aggregating in excess
of $5 million, which judgments are not stayed within 60 days after their
entry; (vii) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the
Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries; and (viii) the revocation of a
Material License.
If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders
of at least 25% in principal amount of each then outstanding class of Notes
may declare all the applicable class of Notes to be due and payable
immediately. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of an Event of Default
arising from certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency, with respect to the
Company or any Material Subsidiary, all outstanding Notes will become due and
payable without further action or notice. Holders of the Notes may not enforce
the Indentures or the Notes except as provided in the Indentures. Subject to
certain limitations, holders of a majority in principal amount of each then
outstanding class of Notes may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust
or power. The Trustee may withhold from holders of the Notes notice of any
continuing Default or Event of Default (except a Default or Event of Default
relating to the payment of principal or interest) if it determines that
withholding notice is in their interest.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of each class of
Notes then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the holders
of all of the applicable class of Notes waive any existing Default or Event of
Default and its consequences under the Indentures except a continuing Default
or Event of Default in the payment of interest on, or the principal of, the
applicable class of Notes.
The Company is required to deliver to the Trustee annually a statement
regarding compliance with the Indentures, and the Company is required upon
becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, to deliver to the Trustee a
statement specifying such Default or Event of Default.
NO PERSONAL LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND SHAREHOLDERS
No director, officer, employee, incorporator or shareholder of the Company,
as such, shall have any liability for any Obligations of the Company under the
Notes or the Indentures or for any claim based on, in respect of,
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or by reason of, such Obligations or their creation. Each holder of the Notes
by accepting a Note waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and
release are part of the consideration for issuance of the Notes. Such waiver
may not be effective to waive liabilities under the federal securities laws,
and it is the view of the Commission that a waiver of such liabilities is
against public policy.
DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE OF THE INDENTURES AND THE NOTES
If the Company irrevocably deposits, or causes to be deposited, in trust
with the Trustee or the Paying Agent, at any time prior to the stated maturity
of a class of Notes or the date of redemption of all the outstanding Notes of
such class, as trust funds in trust, money or direct noncallable obligations
of or guaranteed by the United States of America in an amount sufficient, in
the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants,
(without reinvestment thereof) to pay timely and discharge the entire
principal of (or, if applicable, all amounts payable in respect of Accreted
Value) the then outstanding Notes of such class and all interest due thereon
to maturity or redemption, the applicable Indenture shall cease to be of
further effect as to all outstanding Notes of such class ("Defeasance")
(except, among other things, as to (i) remaining rights of registration of
transfer and substitution and exchange of the Notes of such class, (ii) rights
of holders to receive payment of principal of (or, if applicable, payments in
respect of Accreted Value) and interest on the Notes of such class, and (iii)
the rights, obligations and immunities of the Trustee).
In order to exercise Defeasance: (i) the Company shall have delivered to the
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming
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 applicable
Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon, such Opinion of Counsel
shall confirm that the holders of the outstanding Notes of the applicable
class will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes
as a result of such Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on
the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
the case if such Defeasance had not occurred; (ii) no Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than an
Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such
deposit) or insofar as Events of Default from bankruptcy or insolvency events
are concerned, at any time in the period ending on the 91st day after the date
of deposit; (iii) such Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation
of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other
than the Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound; (iv) the Company
shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that
after the 91st 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; (v) the Company shall have
delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was
not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the holders of Notes
over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating,
hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of the Company or others; (vi) the
deposit shall not result in the Company, the Trustee or the trust being
subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940; (vii) holders of the Notes of
the applicable class will have a valid, perfected and unavoidable (under
applicable bankruptcy or insolvency laws), subject to the passage of time
referred to in clause (iv) above, first priority security interest in the
trust funds; and (viii) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
conditions precedent relating to the Defeasance have been complied with.
UNCLAIMED MONEY, PRESCRIPTION
If money deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent for the payment of
principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee and the
Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its written request.
After that, holders of Notes entitled to the money must look to the Company
for payment unless an abandoned property law designates another person and all
liability of the Trustee and such Paying Agent shall cease. Other than as set
forth in this paragraph, the Indentures do not provide for any prescription
period for the payment of interest and principal on the Notes.
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TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE
A holder may transfer or exchange interests in the Notes in accordance with
procedures described in "Book-Entry; Delivery and Form." The Registrar and the
Trustee may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate
endorsements and transfer documents and the Company may require a holder to
pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indentures. The
Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note selected for
redemption. Also, the Company is not required to transfer or exchange any Note
for a period of 15 days before a selection of Notes to be redeemed.
The registered holder of a Note will be treated as the owner of it for all
purposes.
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER
Except as provided in the next succeeding paragraph, any Indenture or class
of Notes may be amended or supplemented with the consent of the holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to which
such Indenture applies (including consents obtained in connection with a
tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes), and any existing default or
compliance with any provision of any Indenture or class of Notes may be waived
with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the then
outstanding Notes to which such Indenture applies (including consents obtained
in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for such Notes).
Without the consent of each holder affected, an amendment or waiver may not
(with respect to any Notes held by a non-consenting holder of Notes) (i)
reduce the amount of Notes whose holders must consent to an amendment,
supplement or waiver, (ii) reduce the principal of or change the fixed
maturity of any Note or alter the provisions with respect to the redemption of
the Notes (but not any required repurchases of the Notes pursuant to the
covenants described above under the captions "--Asset Sales" and "--Change of
Control"), (iii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest
on any Note, (iv) waive a default in the payment of principal of or interest
on any Notes (except a rescission of acceleration of the Notes by the holders
of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes and a waiver
of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration), (v) make any
Note payable in money other than that stated in the Notes, (vi) make any
change in the provisions of any Indenture relating to waivers of past Defaults
or the rights of holders of Notes to receive payments of principal of or
interest on the Notes, (vii) waive a redemption payment with respect to any
Note or (viii) make any change in the foregoing amendment and waiver
provisions.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, without the consent of any holder of Notes,
the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement any Indenture or class of
Notes to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to provide for
uncertificated Notes in addition to or in place of certificated Notes, to
provide for the assumption of the Company's obligations to holders of the
Notes in the case of a merger or consolidation, to make any change that would
provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the Notes or that
does not adversely affect the legal rights under any Indenture of any such
holder, or to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to maintain
the qualification of any Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
Any notice or communication to a holder of Notes shall be mailed by first-
class mail to such holder's address as shown in the register kept by the
Registrar. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided in
the preceding sentence within the time period prescribed, it is duly given,
whether or not the addressee receives it. In addition, as long as the Notes
are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, all notices regarding the Notes
shall be published in English in one leading newspaper with circulation in
Luxembourg. It is expected that publication of notices will normally be made
in the Luxembourger Wort in Luxembourg.
GOVERNING LAW AND JUDGMENTS
The Notes and the Indentures will be governed exclusively by the laws of the
State of New York. Under the Judiciary Law of the State of New York, a
judgment or decree in an action based upon an obligation
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denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be rendered in the
foreign currency of the underlying obligation and converted into U.S. dollars
at a rate of exchange prevailing on the date of the entry of the judgment or
decree.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The Indentures contain limitations on the rights of the Trustee, should it
become a creditor of the Company, to obtain payment of claims in certain
cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any such claim
as security or otherwise. The Trustee will be permitted to engage in other
transactions; however, if it acquires any conflicting interest it must
eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission
to continue or resign.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of any class of then
outstanding Notes will have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee
under the applicable Indenture, subject to certain exceptions. The Indentures
provide that in case an Event of Default shall occur (which shall not be
cured), the Trustee will be required, in the exercise of its power, to use the
degree of care of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to
such provisions, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of
its rights or powers under the Indentures at the request of any holder of
Notes, unless such holder shall have offered to the Trustee security and
indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
The Chase Manhattan Bank is also the trustee for all of the Existing Notes
and the Convertible Notes.
LISTING
Application will be made to list the New Notes on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange. The legal notice relating to the issue of the Notes and the Articles
of Association of the Company will be registered prior to the listing with the
Registrar of the District Court in Luxembourg, where such documents are
available for inspection and where copies thereof can be obtained upon
request. In addition, as long as the Notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange, an agent for making payments on, and transfers of, Notes will be
maintained in Luxembourg. The Company has initially designated Banque
Internationale a Luxembourg S.A. as its agent for such purposes.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Anyone who receives this Offering Memorandum may obtain a copy of the
Indentures without charge by writing to the Company, 110 East 59th Street, New
York, New York 10022, Attention: Richard J. Lubasch, Esq., Senior Vice
President, General Counsel and Secretary. As long as the Notes are listed on
the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, copies of the Indentures will also be available
from the specified office of the listing, paying and transfer agent in
Luxembourg.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
Set forth below are certain defined terms used in the Indentures. Reference
is made to the Indentures for a full definition of all terms, as well as any
other capitalized terms used herein for which no definition is provided.
"Accreted Value" means, as of any date of determination prior to April 1,
2003, with respect to any Sterling Deferred Coupon Note or USD Deferred Coupon
Note, as applicable, the sum of (a) the initial offering price (which shall be
calculated by discounting the aggregate principal amount at maturity of such
Sterling Deferred Coupon Note or USD Deferred Coupon Note, as applicable, at a
rate of 10.75% per annum (in the case of a Sterling Deferred Coupon Note) or
9.75% per annum (in the case of a USD Deferred Coupon Note), compounded
semiannually on each April 1 and October 1 from October 1, 2003 to the date of
issuance) of such Sterling Deferred Coupon Note or USD Deferred Coupon Note,
as applicable, and (b) the portion of the excess of the principal amount of
such Sterling Deferred Coupon Note or USD Deferred Coupon Note, as applicable,
over
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such initial offering price which shall have been accreted thereon through
such date, such amount to be so accreted on a daily basis at a rate of 10.75%
per annum of the initial offering price of a Sterling Deferred Coupon Note or
9.75% per annum of the initial offering price of a USD Deferred Coupon Note,
as the case may be, compounded semiannually on each April 1 and October 1 from
the date of issuance of the Sterling Deferred Coupon Note or USD Deferred
Coupon Note, as applicable, through the date of determination, computed on the
basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
"Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any specified Person, Indebtedness of
any other Person (the "Acquired Person") existing at the time such Acquired
Person merged with or into or became a Subsidiary of such specified Person,
including Indebtedness incurred in connection with, or in contemplation of,
such Acquired Person merging with or into or becoming a Subsidiary of such
specified Person.
"Acquired Person" has the meaning specified in the definition of Acquired
Debt.
"Adjusted Total Assets" means the total amount of assets of the Company and
its Restricted Subsidiaries (including the amount of any Investment in any
Non-Restricted Subsidiary), except to the extent resulting from write-ups of
assets (other than write-ups in connection with accounting for acquisitions in
conformity with GAAP), after deducting therefrom (i) all current liabilities
of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries, and (ii) all goodwill, trade
names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other
like intangibles, all as calculated in conformity with GAAP. For purposes of
this Adjusted Total Assets definition, (a) assets shall be calculated less
applicable accumulated depreciation, accumulated amortization and other
valuation reserves, and (b) all calculations shall exclude all intercompany
items.
"Adjusted Total Controlled Assets" means the total amount of assets of the
Company and its Cable Controlled Subsidiaries, except to the extent resulting
from write-ups of assets (other than write-ups in connection with accounting
for acquisitions in conformity with GAAP), after deducting therefrom (i) all
current liabilities of the Company and such Cable Controlled Subsidiaries; and
(ii) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patients, unamortized debt
discount and expense and other like intangibles of the Company and such
Restricted Subsidiaries, all as calculated in conformity with GAAP; provided
that Adjusted Total Controlled Assets shall be reduced (to the extent not
otherwise reduced in accordance with GAAP) by an amount equal to the aggregate
amount of all Investments of the Company or any such Cable Controlled
Subsidiaries in any Person other than a Cable Controlled Subsidiary, except
Cash Equivalents. For purposes of this Adjusted Total Controlled Assets
definition, (a) assets shall be calculated less applicable accumulated
depreciation, accumulated amortization and other valuation reserves, and (b)
all calculations shall exclude all intercompany items.
"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition, "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling," "controlled
by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any Person,
shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise;
provided, however, that beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the voting
securities of a Person shall be deemed to be control.
"Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA" means, with respect to any Person, such
Person's Pro Forma EBITDA for the latest fiscal quarter multiplied by four.
"Applicable Notes" means the Company's 10 7/8% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes
Due 2003.
"Asset Sale" means (i) any sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition of any assets (including by way of a sale-and-leaseback) other
than the sale or transfer of inventory or goods held for sale in the ordinary
course of business (provided that the sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or
other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
shall be governed by the provisions of the Indentures described under the
captions "Change of Control" or "Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets") or
(ii) any issuance, sale, lease,
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transfer, conveyance or other disposition of any Equity Interests of any of
the Company's Restricted Subsidiaries to any Person; in either case other than
(A) to (w) the Company, (x) any Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or (y) any Subsidiary
which is a Subsidiary of the Company on the Issuance Date provided that at the
time of and after giving effect to such issuance, sale, lease, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition to such Subsidiary, the Company's ownership
percentage in such Subsidiary is equal to or greater than such percentage on
the Issuance Date or (B) the issuance, sale, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition of Equity Interests of a Subsidiary in exchange for capital
contributions made on a pro rata basis by the holders of the Equity Interests
of such Subsidiary.
"Cable Assets" means tangible or intangible assets, licenses (including,
without limitation, Licenses) and computer software used in connection with a
Cable Business.
"Cable Business" means (i) any Person directly or indirectly operating, or
owning a license to operate, a cable and/or television and/or telephone and/or
telecommunications system or service principally within the United Kingdom
and/or the Republic of Ireland and (ii) any Cable Related Business.
"Cable Controlled Property" means a Cable Controlled Subsidiary or a Cable
Asset held by a Cable Controlled Subsidiary.
"Cable Controlled Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary which is
primarily engaged, directly or indirectly, in one or more Cable Businesses.
"Cable Related Business" means a Person which directly or indirectly owns or
provides a service or product used in a Cable Business, including, without
limitation, any television programming, production and/or licensing business
or any programming guide or telephone directory business or content or
software related thereto.
"Capital Stock" means any and all shares, interests, participations, rights
or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock, including,
without limitation, partnership interests.
"Capital Stock Sale Proceeds" means the aggregate net sale proceeds
(including from the sale of any property received for the Capital Stock or the
fair market value of such property, as determined by an independent appraisal
firm) received by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company from the issue
or sale (other than to a Subsidiary) by the Company of any class of its
Capital Stock after October 14, 1993 (including Capital Stock of the Company
issued after October 14, 1993 upon conversion of or in exchange for other
securities of the Company).
"Cash Equivalents" means (i) Permitted Currency, (ii) securities issued or
directly and fully guaranteed or insured by the United States government, a
European Union member government or any agency or instrumentality thereof
having maturities of not more than six months and one day from the date of
acquisition, (iii) certificates of deposit and eurodollar time deposits with
maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition, bankers'
acceptances with maturities not exceeding six months and overnight bank
deposits, in each case with any commercial bank(s) domiciled in the United
States, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland or any other European
Union member having capital and surplus in excess of $500 million, (iv)
repurchase obligations with a term of not more than seven days for underlying
securities of the types described in clauses (ii) and (iii) entered into with
any financial institution meeting the qualifications specified in clause (iii)
above, (v) commercial paper rated P-1 or the equivalent thereof by Moody's or
A-1 or the equivalent thereof by S&P and in each case maturing within six
months and one day after the date of acquisition and (vi) money market funds
at least 95% of the assets of which constitute Cash Equivalents of the kinds
described in clauses (i)-(v) of this definition.
"Change of Control" means (i) the sale, lease or transfer of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company to any "Person" or "group"
(within the meaning of Sections 13(d)(3) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or
any successor provision to either of the foregoing, including any group acting
for the purpose of acquiring,
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holding or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-5(b)(1)
under the Exchange Act) (other than any Permitted Holder), (ii) the approval
by the requisite stockholders of the Company of a plan of liquidation or
dissolution of the Company, (iii) any "Person" or "group" (within the meaning
of Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision
to either of the foregoing, including any group acting for the purpose of
acquiring, holding or disposing of securities within the meaning of Rule 13d-
5(b)(1) under the Exchange Act), other than any Permitted Holder, becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of more
than 50% of the total voting power of all classes of the voting stock of the
Company and/or warrants or options to acquire such voting stock, calculated on
a fully diluted basis, unless, as a result of such transaction, the ultimate
direct or indirect ownership of the Company is substantially the same
immediately after such transaction as it was immediately prior to such
transaction, or (iv) during any period of two consecutive years, individuals
who at the beginning of such period constituted the Company's Board of
Directors (together with any new directors whose election or appointment by
such board or whose nomination for election by the shareholders of the Company
was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors then still in office who
were either directors at the beginning of such period or whose election or
nomination for election was previously so approved) cease for any reason to
constitute a majority of the Company's Board of Directors then in office.
"Change of Control Triggering Event" means the occurrence of both a Change
of Control and a Ratings Decline.
"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any Person, for any period, the
amount of interest in respect of Indebtedness (including amortization of
original issue discount, amortization of debt issuance costs, and non-cash
interest payments on any Indebtedness and the interest portion of any deferred
payment obligation and after taking into account the effect of elections made
under any Interest Rate Agreement, however denominated, with respect to such
Indebtedness), the amount of Redeemable Dividends, Restricted Subsidiary
Preferred Stock Dividends and the interest component of rentals in respect of
any capital lease obligation paid, in each case whether accrued or scheduled
to be paid or accrued by such Person and its Subsidiaries (other than Non-
Restricted Subsidiaries) during such period to the extent such amounts were
deducted in computing Consolidated Net Income, determined on a consolidated
basis in accordance with GAAP. For purposes of this definition, interest on a
capital lease obligation shall be deemed to accrue at an interest rate
reasonably determined by such Person to be the rate of interest implicit in
such capital lease obligation in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
"Consolidated Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for any period,
the aggregate of the Net Income of such Person and its Subsidiaries (other
than Non-Restricted Subsidiaries) for such period, on a consolidated basis,
determined in accordance with GAAP; provided, that (i) the Net Income of any
Person that is not a Subsidiary or that is accounted for by the equity method
of accounting shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends
or distributions paid to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary,
(ii) the Net Income of any Person that is a Subsidiary (other than a
Subsidiary of which at least 80% of the Capital Stock having ordinary voting
power for the election of directors or other governing body of such Subsidiary
is owned by the referent Person directly or indirectly through one or more
Subsidiaries) shall be included only to the extent of the amount of dividends
or distributions paid to the referent Person or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary,
(iii) the Net Income of any Person acquired in a pooling of interests
transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition shall be
excluded and (iv) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles
shall be excluded.
"Convertible Subordinated Notes" means the Company's 7 1/4% Convertible
Subordinated Notes issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of April 20, 1995,
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical
Bank), as trustee, and the Company's 7% Convertible Subordinated Notes issued
pursuant to an indenture dated as of June 12, 1996 also between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly known as Chemical Bank), as trustee.
"Credit Facility" means the Facilities Agreement dated October 17, 1997
between NTL (UK) Group Inc., as principal guarantor, Chase Manhattan plc, as
arranger, Chase Manhattan International Limited, as agent and security trustee
and the Chase Manhattan Bank as issuer, as such Facilities Agreement may be
supplemented,
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amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced or refinanced, in
whole or in part, from time to time in an aggregate outstanding principal
amount not to exceed the greater of (i) (Pounds)555 million and (ii) the
amount of the aggregate commitments thereunder as the same may be increased
after the date of the Indenture as contemplated by the Facilities Agreement as
amended or supplemented to the date of the Indenture, but in no event greater
than (Pounds)875 million, less, in each case, the aggregate amount of all Net
Proceeds of Asset Sales that have been applied to permanently reduce
Indebtedness under the Credit Facility pursuant to the covenant described
above under "--Asset Sales." Indebtedness that may otherwise be incurred under
the Indentures may, but need not, be incurred under the Credit Facility
without regard to the limit set forth in the preceding sentence. Indebtedness
outstanding under the Credit Facility on the date of the Indenture shall be
deemed to have been incurred on such date in reliance on the exception
provided by clause (a) of the second paragraph of the covenant described above
under "--Incurrence of Indebtedness and Issuance of Preferred Stock."
"Cumulative EBITDA" means the cumulative EBITDA of the Company from and
after the Issuance Date to the end of the fiscal quarter immediately preceding
the date of a proposed Restricted Payment, or, if such cumulative EBITDA for
such period is negative, minus the amount by which such cumulative EBITDA is
less than zero; provided, however, that EBITDA of Non-Restricted Subsidiaries
shall not be included.
"Cumulative Interest Expense" means the aggregate amount of Consolidated
Interest Expense paid, accrued or scheduled to be paid or accrued by the
Company from the Issuance Date to the end of the fiscal quarter immediately
preceding a proposed Restricted Payment, determined on a consolidated basis in
accordance with GAAP.
"Default" means any event that is or with the passage of time or the giving
of notice or both would be an Event of Default.
"Disqualified Stock" means any Capital Stock which, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which it is
exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures or is mandatorily
redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, or redeemable
at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the
date on which the Notes mature.
"EBITDA" means, for any Person, for any period, an amount equal to (A) the
sum of (i) Consolidated Net Income for such period (exclusive of any gain or
loss realized in such period upon an Asset Sale), plus (ii) the provision for
taxes for such period based on income or profits to the extent such income or
profits were included in computing Consolidated Net Income and any provision
for taxes utilized in computing net loss under clause (i) hereof, plus (iii)
Consolidated Interest Expense for such period, plus (iv) depreciation for such
period on a consolidated basis, plus (v) amortization of intangibles for such
period on a consolidated basis, plus (vi) any other non-cash item reducing
Consolidated Net Income for such period (excluding any such non-cash item to
the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenses in
any future period or amortization of a prepaid cash expense that was paid in a
prior period), minus (B) all non-cash items increasing Consolidated Net Income
for such period, all for such Person and its Subsidiaries determined in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
"Equity Interests" means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other
rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any Indebtedness that is
convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
"European Union member" means any country that is or becomes a member of the
European Union or any successor organization thereto.
"Exchange Rate Contract" means, with respect to any Person, any currency
swap agreements, forward exchange rate agreements, foreign currency futures or
options, exchange rate collar agreements, exchange rate insurance and other
agreements or arrangements, or combination thereof, the principal purpose of
which is to provide protection against fluctuations in currency exchange
rates. An Exchange Rate Contract may also include an Interest Rate Agreement.
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"Existing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in existence on the Issuance Date, until such amounts are repaid,
including, without limitation, the Existing Notes.
"Existing Notes" means the Old Notes and the Convertible Subordinated Notes.
"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the
opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such
other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting
profession, which are in effect on the Issuance Date and are applied on a
consistent basis.
"Guarantee" means a guarantee (other than by endorsement of negotiable
instruments for collection in the ordinary course of business), direct or
indirect, in any manner (including, without limitation, letters of credit and
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof), of all or any part of any
Indebtedness.
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such
Person, whether or not contingent, in respect of borrowed money or evidenced
by bonds, notes, debentures or similar instruments or letters of credit (or
reimbursement agreements in respect thereof) or representing the balance
deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including pursuant
to capital leases and sale-and-leaseback transactions) or representing any
hedging obligations under an Exchange Rate Contract or an Interest Rate
Agreement, except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or
trade payable, if and to the extent any of the foregoing indebtedness (other
than obligations under an Exchange Rate Contract or an Interest Rate
Agreement) would appear as a liability upon a balance sheet of such Person
prepared in accordance with GAAP, and also includes, to the extent not
otherwise included, the Guarantee of items which would be included within this
definition. The amount of any Indebtedness outstanding as of any date shall be
the accreted value thereof, in the case of any Indebtedness issued with
original issue discount.
"Interest Rate Agreement" means, with respect to any Person, any interest
rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement, interest rate collar
agreement or other similar agreement the principal purpose of which is to
protect the party indicated therein against fluctuations in interest rates.
"Investment Grade" means BBB- or higher by S&P or Baa3 or higher by Moody's
or the equivalent of such ratings by S&P or Moody's. In the event that the
Company shall be permitted to select any other Rating Agency, the equivalent
of such ratings by such Rating Agency shall be used.
"Investments" means, with respect to any Person, all investments by such
Person in other Persons (including Affiliates) in the forms of loans
(including Guarantees), advances or capital contributions (excluding
commission, travel and similar advances and loans, joint property ownership
and other arrangements, in each case, made to officers and employees made in
the ordinary course of business), purchases or other acquisitions for
consideration of Indebtedness, Equity Interests or other securities and all
other items that are or would be classified as investments on a balance sheet
prepared in accordance with GAAP.
"Issuance Date" means the date on which the Notes are first authenticated
and issued.
"License" means any license issued or awarded pursuant to the Broadcasting
Act 1990, the Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984, the Telecommunications Act 1984
or the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1948 (in each case, as such Acts may, from time
to time be, amended, modified or re-enacted) (or equivalent statutes of any
jurisdiction) to operate or own a Cable Business.
"Lien" means, with respect to any asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge,
security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such asset, whether
or not filed, recorded or otherwise perfected under applicable law (including
any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the
nature thereof, any option or other agreement to sell or give a security
interest in and any filing of or agreement to give any financing statement
under the Uniform Commercial Code (or equivalent or successor statutes) of any
jurisdiction).
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"Long Distance/Microwave Assets" means any assets, tangible or intangible,
choate or inchoate, primarily used in the business conducted by OCOM
Corporation in the United States as of the Issuance Date.
"Material License" means a License held by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which License at the time of determination covers a number of Net
Households which equals or exceeds 5% of the aggregate number of Net
Households covered by all of the Licenses held by the Company and its
Subsidiaries at such time.
"Material Subsidiary" means (i) NTL UK Group, Inc. (formerly known as OCOM
Sub II, Inc.), NTLIH, NTL Group Limited, CableTel Surrey Limited, CableTel
Cardiff Limited, CableTel Glasgow, CableTel Newport and CableTel Kirklees and
(ii) any other Subsidiary of the Company which is a "significant subsidiary"
as defined in Rule 1-02(v) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act of 1933
and the Exchange Act (as such Regulation is in effect on the date of the
Indentures).
"Monetize" means a strategy with respect to Equity Interests that generates
an amount of cash equal to the fair value of such Equity Interests.
"Moody's" means Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.
"Net Households" means the product of (i) the number of households covered
by a License in the United Kingdom and (ii) the percentage of the entity
holding such License which is owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
"Net Income" means, with respect to any Person for a specific period, the
net income (loss) of such Person during such period, determined in accordance
with GAAP, excluding, however, any gain (but not loss) during such period,
together with any related provision for taxes on such gain (but not loss),
realized during such period in connection with any Asset Sale (including,
without limitation, dispositions pursuant to sale-and-leaseback transactions),
and excluding any extraordinary gain (but not loss) during such period,
together with any related provision for taxes on such extraordinary gain (but
not loss).
"Net Proceeds" means the aggregate cash proceeds received by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries in respect of any Asset Sale, net of the direct costs
relating to such Asset Sale (including, without limitation, legal, accounting
and investment banking fees, and sales commissions) and any relocation
expenses incurred as a result thereof, taxes paid or payable as a result
thereof (after taking into account any available tax credits or deductions and
any tax sharing arrangements), amounts required to be applied to the repayment
of Indebtedness secured by a Lien on the asset or assets the subject of such
Asset Sale and any reserve for adjustment in respect of the sale price of such
asset or assets.
"Non-Controlled Subsidiary" means an entity which is not a Cable Controlled
Subsidiary.
"Non-Recourse Debt" means Indebtedness or that portion of Indebtedness as to
which none of the Company, nor any Restricted Subsidiary: (i) provides credit
support (including any undertaking, agreement or instrument which would
constitute Indebtedness); (ii) is directly or indirectly liable; or (iii)
constitutes the lender.
"Non-Restricted Subsidiary" means (A) a Subsidiary that (a) at the time of
its designation by the Board of Directors as a Non-Restricted Subsidiary has
not acquired any assets (other than as specifically permitted by clause (e) of
"Permitted Investments" or by the "Restricted Payments" covenant), at any
previous time, directly or indirectly from the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries, (b) has no Indebtedness other than Non-Recourse Debt
and (c) that at the time of such designation, after giving pro forma effect to
such designation, the ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of
the Company is equal to or less than the ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized
Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company immediately preceding such designation,
provided, however, that if the ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma
EBITDA of the Company immediately preceding such designation is 6:1 or less,
then the ratio of Indebtedness to Annualized Pro Forma EBITDA of the Company
may be 0.5 greater than such ratio immediately preceding such designation; (B)
any Subsidiary which (a) has been acquired or capitalized out of or by Equity
Interests of the Company or Capital
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Stock Sales Proceeds therefrom, (b) has no Indebtedness other than Non-
Recourse Debt and (c) is designated as a Non-Restricted Subsidiary by the
Board of Directors or is merged, amalgamated or consolidated with or into, or
its assets or capital stock is to be transferred to, a Non-Restricted
Subsidiary; or (C) any Subsidiary of a Non-Restricted Subsidiary.
"Obligations" means any principal, interest, penalties, fees,
indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under
the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
"Old Notes" means the Applicable Notes, the 12 3/4% Notes, the 11 1/2% Notes
and the 10% Notes.
"Other Qualified Notes" means any outstanding senior indebtedness of the
Company issued pursuant to an indenture having a provision substantially
similar to the Asset Sale Offer provision contained in the Indenture
(including, without limitation, the 12 3/4% Notes, the 11 1/2% Notes and the
10% Notes).
"Permitted Acquired Debt" means, with respect to any Acquired Person
(including, for this purpose, any Non-Restricted Subsidiary at the time such
Non-Restricted Subsidiary becomes a Restricted Subsidiary), Acquired Debt of
such Acquired Person and its Subsidiaries in an amount (determined on a
consolidated basis) not exceeding the sum of (x) amount of the gross book
value of property, plant and equipment of the Acquired Person and its
Subsidiaries as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the
Acquired Person (which may be unaudited) prior to the date it becomes an
Acquired Person and (y) the aggregate amount of any Cash Equivalents held by
such Acquired Person at the time it becomes an Acquired Person.
"Permitted Currency" means the lawful currency of the United States or a
European Union member.
"Permitted Designee" means (i) a spouse or a child of a Permitted Holder,
(ii) trusts for the benefit of a Permitted Holder or a spouse or child of a
Permitted Holder, (iii) in the event of the death or incompetence of a
Permitted Holder, his estate, heirs, executor, administrator, committee or
other personal representative or (iv) any Person so long as a Permitted Holder
owns at least 50% of the voting power of all classes of the voting stock of
such Person.
"Permitted Holders" means George S. Blumenthal, J. Barclay Knapp and their
Permitted Designees.
"Permitted Investments" means (a) any Investments in the Company or in a
Cable Controlled Property or in a Qualified Subsidiary (including, without
limitation, (i) Guarantees of Indebtedness of the Company, a Cable Controlled
Subsidiary or a Qualified Subsidiary, (ii) Liens securing such Indebtedness or
Guarantees or (iii) the payment of any balance deferred and unpaid of the
purchase price of any Qualified Subsidiary; (b) any Investments in Cash
Equivalents; (c) Investments by the Company in Indebtedness of a counter-party
to an Exchange Rate Contract for hedging a Permitted Currency exchange risk
that are made, for purposes other than speculation, in connection with such
contract to hedge not more than the aggregate principal amount of the
Indebtedness being hedged (or, in the case of Indebtedness issued with
original issue discount, based on the amounts payable after the amortization
of such discount); (d) Investments by the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company in a Person, if as a result of such Investment (i) such Person becomes
a Cable Controlled Subsidiary or (ii) such Person is merged, consolidated or
amalgamated with or into, or transfers or conveys substantially all of its
assets to, or is liquidated into, the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary of
the Company; and (e) any issuance, transfer or other conveyance of Equity
Interests in the Company (or any Capital Stock Sales Proceeds therefrom) to a
Subsidiary of the Company.
"Permitted Liens" means (a) Liens in favor of the Company; (b) Liens on
property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or
consolidated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company; provided, that
such Liens were in existence prior to the contemplation of such merger or
consolidation and do not secure any property or assets of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries other than the property or assets subject to the Liens
prior to such merger or consolidation; (c) liens imposed by law, such as
carriers', warehousemen's and mechanics' liens and other similar liens arising
in the ordinary course of business which secure payment of obligations not
more than 60 days past due or are being contested in good faith and by
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appropriate proceedings; (d) Liens existing on the Issuance Date; (e) Liens
for taxes, assessments or governmental charges or claims that are not yet
delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings promptly instituted and diligently concluded; provided, that any
reserve or other appropriate provision as shall be required in conformity with
GAAP shall have been made therefor and (f) easements, rights of way,
restrictions and other similar easements, licenses, restrictions on the use of
properties or minor imperfections of title that, in the aggregate, are not
material in amount, and do not in any case materially detract from the
properties subject thereto or interfere with the ordinary conduct of the
business of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries.
"Permitted Non-Controlled Assets" means Equity Interests in any Person
primarily engaged, directly or indirectly, in one or more Cable Businesses if
such Equity Interests (x) were acquired by the Company or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with any Asset Sale or any Investment
otherwise permitted under the terms of the Indenture and (y) to the extent
that, after giving pro forma effect to the acquisition thereof by the Company
or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries, Adjusted Total Controlled Assets is
greater than 80% of Adjusted Total Assets based on the most recent
consolidated balance sheet of the Company.
"Pro Forma EBITDA" means for any Person, for any period, the EBITDA of such
Person as determined on a consolidated basis for such Person and its
Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP after giving effect to the following: (i)
if, during or after such period, such Person or any of its Subsidiaries shall
have made any Asset Sale, Pro Forma EBITDA of such Person and its Subsidiaries
for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Pro Forma EBITDA
(if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of
such Asset Sale for the period or increased by an amount equal to the Pro
Forma EBITDA (if negative) directly attributable thereto for such period and
(ii) if, during or after such period, such Person or any of its Subsidiaries
completes an acquisition of any Person or business which immediately after
such acquisition is a Subsidiary of such Person or whose assets are held
directly by such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person, Pro Forma EBITDA shall
be computed so as to give pro forma effect to the acquisition of such Person
or business (without giving effect to clause (iii) of the definition of
Consolidated Net Income); and provided further that, with respect to the
Company, all of the foregoing references to "Subsidiary" or "Subsidiaries"
shall be deemed to refer only to a "Restricted Subsidiary" or "Restricted
Subsidiaries" of the Company.
"Qualified Subsidiary" means a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, or an entity that
will become a Wholly Owned Subsidiary after giving effect to the transaction
being considered, that at the time of and after giving effect to the
consummation of the transaction under consideration, (i) is a Cable Business
or holds only Cable Assets, (ii) has no Indebtedness (other than Indebtedness
being incurred to consummate such transaction) and (iii) has no encumbrances
or restrictions (other than such encumbrances or restrictions imposed or
permitted by the Indentures, the indentures governing the Old Notes or any
other instrument governing unsecured indebtedness of the Company which is pari
passu with the Notes) on its ability to pay dividends or make any other
distributions to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
"Rating Agencies" means (i) S&P, (ii) Moody's and (iii) if S&P or Moody's or
both shall not make a rating of the Notes publicly available, a nationally
recognized securities rating agency or agencies, as the case may be, selected
by the Company, which shall be substituted for S&P or Moody's or both, as the
case may be.
"Rating Category" means (i) with respect to S&P, any of the following
categories: BB, B, CCC, CC, C and D (or equivalent successor categories), (ii)
with respect to Moody's, any of the following categories: Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C
and D (or equivalent successor categories) and (iii) the equivalent of any
such category of S&P or Moody's used by another Rating Agency. In determining
whether the rating of the Notes has decreased by one or more gradations,
gradations within Rating Categories (+ and - for S&P; 1, 2 and 3 for Moody's;
or the equivalent gradations for another Rating Agency) shall be taken into
account (e.g., with respect to S&P, a decline in a rating from BB to BB-, as
well as from BB- to B+, will constitute a decrease of one gradation).
"Rating Date" means that date which is 90 days prior to the earlier of (x) a
Change of Control and (y) public notice of the occurrence of a Change of
Control or of the intention by the Company or any Permitted Holder to effect a
Change of Control.
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"Ratings Decline" means the occurrence of any of the following events on, or
within six months after, the date of public notice of the occurrence of a
Change of Control or of the intention of the Company or any Person to effect a
Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of any
of the Company's debt securities is under publicly announced consideration for
possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies): (a) in the event that any
of the Company's debt securities are rated by both of the Rating Agencies on
the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of such securities by either
of the Rating Agencies shall be below Investment Grade, (b) in the event that
any of the Company's debt securities are rated by either, but not both, of the
Rating Agencies on the Rating Date as Investment Grade, the rating of such
securities by both of the Rating Agencies shall be below Investment Grade, or
(c) in the event any of the Company's debt securities are rated below
Investment Grade by both of the Rating Agencies on the Rating Date, the rating
of such securities by either Rating Agency shall be decreased by one or more
gradations (including gradations within Rating Categories as well as between
Rating Categories).
"Redeemable Dividend" means, for any dividend with regard to Disqualified
Stock, the quotient of the dividend divided by the difference between one and
the maximum statutory federal income tax rate (expressed as a decimal number
between 1 and 0) then applicable to the issuer of such Disqualified Stock.
"Replacement Assets" means (w) Cable Assets, (x) Equity Interests of any
Person engaged, directly or indirectly, primarily in a Cable Business, which
Person is or will become on the date of acquisition thereof a Restricted
Subsidiary as a result of the Company's acquiring such Equity Interests, (y)
Permitted Non-Controlled Assets or (z) any combination of the foregoing.
"Restricted Investment" means an Investment other than a Permitted
Investment.
"Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company which is not a
Non-Restricted Subsidiary.
"Restricted Subsidiary Preferred Stock Dividend" means, for any dividend
with regard to preferred stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, the quotient of the
dividend divided by the difference between one and the maximum statutory
federal income tax rate (expressed as a decimal number between 1 and 0) then
applicable to the issuer of such preferred stock.
"S&P" means Standard & Poor's Ratings Group and its successors.
"Subordinated Debentures" means the debentures exchangeable by the Company
for the Preferred Stock in accordance with the Certificate of Designation
therefor.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation, association or other business entity of
which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock
entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the
election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or
controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more of the other
Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.
"Weighted Average Life to Maturity" means, when applied to any Indebtedness
at any date, the number of years obtained by dividing (a) the sum of the
products obtained by multiplying (x) the amount of each then remaining
installment, sinking fund, serial maturity or other required payments of
principal, including payment at final maturity, in respect thereof, by (y) the
number of years (calculated to the nearest one-twelfth) that will elapse
between such date and the making of such payment, by (b) the then outstanding
principal amount of such Indebtedness.
"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means, at any time, a Restricted Subsidiary all of
the Capital Stock of which (except directors' qualifying shares) is at the
time owned directly or indirectly by the Company.
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REGISTRATION RIGHTS
The following summary of the registration rights provided in the
Registration Rights Agreements and the Old Notes does not purport to be
complete. It is qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms of the
registration rights set forth in the Registration Rights Agreements and the
Old Notes.
Holders of New Notes are not generally entitled to any registration rights
with respect to such New Notes. Pursuant to the Registration Rights
Agreements, holders of Old Notes are entitled to certain registration rights.
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreements, the Company agreed to file
with the Commission a registration statement, including a prospectus, (the
"Exchange Offer Registration Statement") on the appropriate form under the
Securities Act with respect to an offer to exchange each class of the Old
Notes for New Notes registered under the Securities Act with terms
substantially identical to those of each class of the Old Notes. Upon the
effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company will
offer to the holders of Transfer Restricted Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, who are able to make certain representations with respect to
the applicable class of Old Notes, the opportunity to exchange their Transfer
Restricted Securities for New Notes of the applicable class. If (i) with
respect to any class of the Old Notes the Company is not required to file the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement or permitted to consummate the Exchange
Offer because the Exchange Offer is not permitted by applicable law or
Commission policy or (ii) any holder of Transfer Restricted Notes notifies the
Company within the specified time period that (A) it is prohibited by law or
Commission policy from participating in the Exchange Offer or (B) that it may
not resell the Exchange Securities acquired by it in the Exchange Offer to the
public without delivering a prospectus and the prospectus contained in the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not appropriate or available for such
resales or (C) that it is a broker-dealer and owns Old Notes acquired directly
from the Company or an affiliate of the Company, the Company will file with
the Commission a shelf registration statement (a "Shelf Registration
Statement") to cover resales of the applicable Old Notes by the holders
thereof who satisfy certain conditions relating to the provision of
information in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement. The Company
will use its best efforts to cause the applicable Registration Statement to be
declared effective as promptly as possible by the Commission. For purposes of
the foregoing, "Transfer Restricted Notes" means each Old Note until (i) the
date on which such Note has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-
dealer for a New Note in the Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a
broker-dealer in the Exchange Offer of an Old Note for a New Note, the date on
which such New Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-
dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained
in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Old
Note has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of
in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement, (iv) the date on which
such Old Note is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act
(or any similar provision then in effect) or is saleable pursuant to Rule
144(k) under the Act or (v) the date upon which such Old Note ceases to be
outstanding.
The Registration Rights Agreements provide that (i) the Company will file an
Exchange Offer Registration Statement with the Commission on or prior to June
12, 1998, (ii) the Company will use its best efforts to have the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement declared effective by the Commission on or prior
to December 9, 1998, (iii) unless the Exchange Offer would not be permitted by
applicable law or Commission policy, the Company will commence the Exchange
Offer and use its best efforts to issue on or prior to January 18, 1999,
Exchange Notes in exchange for all Notes tendered prior thereto in the
Exchange Offer and (iv) if obligated to file the Shelf Registration Statement,
the Company will use its best efforts to file the Shelf Registration Statement
with the Commission as promptly as practicable after such filing obligation
arises and to cause the Shelf Registration to be declared effective by the
Commission on or prior to January 18, 1999. If, with respect to any class of
the Notes (a) the Company fails to file the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement on or before the date specified for such filing, (b) the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective on or prior to December
9, 1998 or (c) the Company fails to consummate the Exchange Offer, or a Shelf
Registration Statement is not declared effective, within the specified time
frames (each such event referred to in clauses (a) through (c) above a
"Registration Default"), then the Company will pay special interest pursuant
to provisions of the Old Note to each holder of the applicable Old Notes.
Special interest will accrue from and including (i) June 13,
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1998 in the case of clause (i) above, (ii) December 10, 1998 in the case of
clause (ii) above, (iii) January 19, 1999 in the case of clause (iii) above or
(iv) January 19, 1999 in the case of clause (iv) above (each such period
referred to in clauses (i)-(iv) above an "Accrual Period"), at a rate per
annum equal to 0.50% of the principal amount of the Old Sterling Senior Notes
or the Accreted Value of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD
Deferred Coupon Notes, as applicable (determined daily). The amount of the
special interest will increase by an additional 0.50% of the principal amount
of the Old Sterling Senior Notes or the Accreted Value of the Old Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes, as applicable with
respect to each subsequent applicable Accrual Period until all Registration
Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum amount of special interest of 1.50%
per annum of the principal amount of the Old Sterling Senior Notes or the
Accreted Value of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD
Deferred Coupon Notes, as applicable (determined daily). All accrued special
interest will be paid by the Company on each Interest Payment Date to the
applicable Global Note holder by wire transfer of immediately available funds
or by federal funds check and to holders of Certificated Securities by wire
transfer to the accounts specified by them or by mailing checks to their
registered addresses if no such accounts have been specified. Following the
cure of all Registration Defaults, the accrual of special interest will cease.
In the event that a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective
pursuant to the terms of a Registration Rights Agreement, if the Company fails
to keep such Registration Statement continuously effective for the period
required by the Registration Rights Agreement, then from such time as the
Shelf Registration Statement is no longer effective until the earlier of (i)
the date that the Shelf Registration Statement is again deemed effective, (ii)
March 13, 2000 or (iii) the date as of which all of the Transfer Restricted
Notes are sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement, special interest
pursuant to provisions of the Notes shall accrue at a rate per annum equal to
0.50% of the principal amount of the Old Sterling Senior Notes or the Accreted
Value of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes or the Old USD Deferred Coupon
Notes, as applicable (determined daily) (1.00% thereof if the Shelf
Registration Statement is no longer effective for 30 days or more) and shall
be payable in cash semiannually in arrears on each April 1 and October 1 of
each year, to the holders of record on the immediately preceding March 15 and
September 15, respectively. The Company will be permitted to suspend use of
the prospectus that is part of any Shelf Registration Statement during certain
periods of time and in certain circumstances relating to pending corporate
developments and public filings with Commission and similar events.
Special interest on the Old Notes, if any, will be computed on the basis of
a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months.
Holders of Old Notes will be required to make certain representations to the
Company (as described in the Registration Rights Agreement) in order to
participate in the Exchange Offer and will be required to deliver information
to be used in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement and to provide
comments on the Shelf Registration Statement within the time periods set forth
in the Registration Rights Agreement in order to have their Notes included in
the Shelf Registration Statement and benefit from the provisions regarding
special interest pursuant to provisions of the Old Notes, as set forth above.
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CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following is a discussion of the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences of an exchange of Old Notes for the New Notes and the ownership
of the New Notes. It deals only with Notes held as capital assets by initial
holders of Old Notes, and does not deal with special situations, such as those
of dealers in securities, financial institutions, insurance companies and
holders whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar, or special rules
with respect to straddle or "hedging" transactions. The discussion below is
based upon the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code") and
regulations, rulings and judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof,
and such authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified (including
retroactively) so as to result in federal income tax consequences different
from those discussed below. HOLDERS ARE URGED TO CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS
REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES THAT MAY BE SPECIFIC TO THEM OF THE EXCHANGE OF
OLD NOTES FOR NEW NOTES AND THE OWNERSHIP OF THE NEW NOTES, AS WELL AS ANY TAX
CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER ANY STATE, LOCAL OR FOREIGN LAWS.
As used herein, the term "U.S. Holder" means a beneficial owner of a Note
that is for United States federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen or
resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation, partnership or other entity
created or organized under the laws of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof or therein, (iii) an estate or trust described in Section
7701(a)(30) of the Code, or (iv) a person whose worldwide income or gain is
otherwise subject to U.S. federal income taxation on a net income basis (a
"U.S. Holder"). As used herein, the term "Non-U.S. Holder" means a holder of a
Note that is not a U.S. Holder.
EXCHANGE OF NOTES
There will be no federal income tax consequences to holders exchanging Old
Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer since the Exchange Offer
will be by operation of the original terms of the Old Notes, pursuant to a
unilateral act by the Company, and will not result in any material alteration
in the terms of the Old Notes. Each exchanging holder will have the same
adjusted tax basis and holding period in the New Notes as it had in the Old
Notes immediately before the exchange.
TAXATION OF NOTES--U.S. HOLDERS
Payments of Interest. Payments of Interest on Sterling Senior Notes, which
are not included in original issue discount, as discussed below, generally
will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time such
payments are accrued or received (in accordance with the U.S. Holder's method
of accounting for federal income tax purposes).
Original Issue Discount. Because the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes and the
Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes (the "Old Discount Notes") were issued with
original issue discount ("OID"), the New Notes issued in exchange for the Old
Discount Notes ("New Discount Notes") will also bear OID that each U.S. Holder
of a New Discount Note generally will be required to include in income as it
accrues on a yield-to-maturity basis over the term of the New Discount Note in
advance of cash payments attributable to such income (regardless of whether
the holder is a cash or accrual basis taxpayer). The amount of OID with
respect to a New Discount Note will equal the excess of the stated redemption
price at maturity of such New Discount Note over its issue price. The stated
redemption price at maturity will include all payments required to be made on
the New Discount Note, whether denominated as principal or interest (other
than payments subject to remote or incidental contingencies). The issue price
of the New Discount Notes equals the issue price of the Old Discount Notes,
which was $617.24 per $1,000 principal amount at maturity in the case of the
Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes and (Pounds)586.20 per (Pounds)1,000 principal
amount at maturity in the case of the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes.
A U.S. Holder of a debt instrument that bears OID is required to include in
gross income an amount equal to the sum of the daily portions of OID for each
day during the taxable year in which such holder holds the debt instrument.
The daily portions of OID are determined by allocating to each day in an
accrual period the pro rata
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portion of the OID that is allocable to the accrual period. The amount of OID
that is allocable to an accrual period with respect to New Discount Notes
generally will be equal to the product of the adjusted issue price of such
notes at the beginning of the accrual period (the issue price of the New
Discount Notes determined as described above, generally increased by all prior
accruals of OID with respect to the particular Old Discount Notes and New
Discount Notes and decreased by the amount of payments made on such New
Discount Notes) and the New Discount Notes' yield-to-maturity (the discount
rate, which, when applied to all payments under the particular New Discount
Notes and Old Discount Notes, results in a present value equal to the issue
price of such New Discount Notes). In the case of the final accrual period,
the allocable OID generally is the difference between the amount payable at
maturity and the adjusted issue price at the beginning of the accrual period.
All payments on a Discount Note generally will be viewed first as a payment of
previously accrued OID (to the extent thereof), with payments considered made
from the earliest accrual period, and then as a payment of principal.
The Company will furnish annually to the Internal Revenue Service (the
"IRS") and to U.S. Holders (other than with respect to certain exempt holders,
including, in particular, corporations) information with respect to the OID
accruing while the Discount Notes were held by the U.S. Holders.
Under certain circumstances described above, the Company will be required to
pay special interest on the Discount Notes if it fails to comply with certain
of its obligations under the Registration Rights Agreement. Although not free
from doubt, such additional amount should be taxable to a U.S. Holder as
ordinary income at the time it accrues or is received in accordance with such
holder's regular method of accounting. It is possible, however, that the IRS
may take a different position, in which case the timing and the amount of
income on the Discount Notes may be different.
Disposition of Notes. A U.S. Holder will generally recognize gain or loss
upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of New Notes equal to
the difference between the amount realized on the disposition (other than
amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) and the U.S. Holder's
adjusted tax basis in the New Notes. A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a
New Note will generally be the cost of the Old Note, increased by any OID
previously included in income by such holder and decreased by any amount
received on the Note that is not treated as ordinary interest income. Such
gain or loss generally would be capital gain or loss (except to the extent of
any exchange gain or loss with respect to foreign currency, as discussed
below).
In the case of a U.S. Holder who is an individual, such capital gain will be
subject to tax at a maximum 28% rate if the holding period for the New Note
(which includes the holding period of the Old Note) is more than 12 months but
not more than 18 months at the time of the sale, exchange, retirement or other
disposition, and a maximum 20% rate if such holding period is more than 18
months at such time.
NOTES DENOMINATED IN POUNDS STERLING
The Sterling Senior Notes and the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes (the
"Sterling Notes") are denominated in a currency unit other than the U.S.
dollar. The following is a summary of certain of the United States federal
income tax consequences to U.S. Holders of the ownership of the Sterling
Notes.
Payments of Interest in Foreign Currency--Cash Method. A U.S. Holder who
uses the cash method of accounting for federal income tax purposes and who
receives interest on a Sterling Note (other than attributable to OID that has
already been included in income) will be required to include in income the
U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency payment, determined on the date such
payment is received, regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to
U.S. dollars at that time, and such U.S. dollar value will be the U.S.
Holder's tax basis in such foreign currency.
Payments of Interest in Foreign Currency--Accrual Method. A U.S. Holder who
uses the accrual method of accounting for federal income tax purposes, or who
is otherwise required to accrue interest prior to receipt, will be required to
include in income the U.S. dollar value of the amount of interest income
accrued and is
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otherwise required to be taken into account with respect to a Sterling Note
during an accrual period. The U.S. dollar value of such accrued income will be
determined by translating such income at the average rate of exchange for the
accrual period, or with respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable
years, at the average rate for the partial period within the taxable year. A
U.S. Holder may elect, however, to translate such accrued interest income
using the rate of exchange on the last day of the accrual period or, with
respect to an accrual period that spans two taxable years, using the rate of
exchange on the last day of the taxable year. If the last day of an accrual
period is within five business days of the receipt of the accrued interest, a
U.S. Holder may translate such interest using the rate of exchange on the date
of receipt. The above election will apply to other debt obligations held by
the U.S. Holder and may not be changed without the consent of the IRS. Whether
or not such election is made, a U.S. Holder may recognize exchange gain or
loss (which will be treated as ordinary income or loss, but not interest
income or expense) with respect to accrued interest income on the date such
income is received. The amount of ordinary income or loss recognized will
equal the difference, if any, between the U.S. dollar value of the foreign
currency payment received (determined on the date such payment is received) in
respect of such accrual period and the U.S. dollar value of interest income
that has accrued during such accrual period (as determined above).
Disposition of New Notes. As discussed above, upon the sale, exchange or
retirement of a New Note, a U.S. Holder will recognize taxable gain or loss
equal to the difference between the amount realized on the sale, exchange or
retirement and such holder's adjusted tax basis in the New Note. Such gain or
loss generally will be capital gain or loss (except to the extent of any
amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) and the gain or loss will
be capital gain or loss subject to tax at a 28% maximum rate if the holder is
an individual whose holding period in such New Note (which includes such
holder's holding period in the Old Note) exceeds 12 months but does not exceed
18 months at the time of the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition,
and will be subject to tax at a 20% maximum rate if the holder is an
individual whose holding period in such Note exceeds 18 months. To the extent
the amount realized represents accrued but unpaid interest, however, such
amounts must be taken into account as interest income, with exchange gain or
loss computed as described in "Payments of Interest in Foreign Currency"
above. If a U.S. Holder receives foreign currency on such a sale, exchange or
retirement, the amount realized will be based on the U.S. dollar value of the
foreign currency on the date of disposition (assuming the New Notes are not
publicly traded). A U.S. Holder's adjusted tax basis in a New Note will equal
the U.S. dollar cost of the Old Note (determined on the date of purchase) to
such holder, increased by the U.S. dollar value of the amounts of any OID
previously included in income by the holder and reduced by the U.S. dollar
value of any payments received by the holder (other than payments representing
ordinary interest income). In the case of an adjustment resulting from the
accrual of OID, such adjustment will be made at the rate at which such OID is
translated into U.S. dollars under the rules described below. If a U.S. Holder
purchased an Old Note with previously owned foreign currency, the holder will
recognize ordinary income or loss in an amount equal to the difference, if
any, between such holder's tax basis in the foreign currency and the U.S.
dollar fair market value of the foreign currency used to purchase such Note,
determined on the date of purchase.
For purposes of the foregoing, there is a special rule for purchases and
sales of publicly traded Sterling Notes by a cash basis taxpayer under which
units of foreign currency paid or received are translated into U.S. dollars at
the spot rate on the settlement date of the purchase or sale. In that case, no
exchange gain or loss will result from currency fluctuations between the trade
date and the settlement of such a purchase or sale. An accrual basis taxpayer
may elect the same treatment required of cash basis taxpayers with respect to
purchases and sales of publicly traded Sterling Notes, provided the election
is applied consistently. Such election cannot be changed without the consent
of the IRS.
Gain or loss realized upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a New Note
that is attributable to fluctuations in currency rates will be ordinary income
or loss, which will not be treated as interest income or expense. Gain or loss
attributable to fluctuations in exchange rates will equal the difference
between the U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency principal amount (which
means, for this purpose, purchase price) of the Old Note, determined on the
date such payment is received or the New Note is disposed of, and the U.S.
dollar value of the foreign currency principal amount of the Old Note,
determined on the date the U.S. holder acquired the Old
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Note. Such foreign currency gain or loss will be recognized only to the extent
of the total gain or loss realized by the U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or
retirement of the New Note.
Original Issue Discount. In the case of a Sterling Deferred Coupon Note, (i)
OID will be determined in units of foreign currency, (ii) such accrued
discount will be translated into U.S. dollars as described in "Payments of
Interest in Foreign Currency--Accrual Method" above and (iii) the amount of
the foreign currency gain or loss on the accrued discount will be determined
by comparing the amount of income received attributable to the discount
(either upon payment, maturity or an earlier disposition), as translated into
U.S. dollars at the rate of exchange on the date of such receipt, with the
amount of discount accrued, as translated above.
Exchange of Foreign Currencies. A U.S. Holder will have a tax basis in any
foreign currency received as interest or on the sale, exchange or retirement
of a Note equal to the U.S. dollar value of such foreign currency, determined
at the time the interest is received or at the time of the sale, exchange or
retirement. Any gain or loss realized by a U.S. Holder on a sale or other
disposition of foreign currency (including its exchange for U.S. dollars or
its use to purchase Old Notes) will be ordinary income or loss.
The above discussion assumes that any change to denominate New Notes
denominated in pounds sterling to New Notes denominated in a single European
currency ("Euros") pursuant to directives of the European counsel will not be
a taxable event for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders should be aware
that the IRS has announced that it is studying the conversion to Euros,
including whether conversion to a Euro-denominated currency is the appropriate
time to recognize any resulting gain or loss. Holders should consult their own
tax advisors regarding the tax effect, if any, of changing to Euro-denominated
New Notes from pounds sterling denominated New Notes.
TAXATION OF NOTES--NON-U.S. HOLDERS
The following discussion is limited to the U.S. federal income tax
consequences relevant to a holder of a New Note that is a Non-U.S. Holder.
Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, payments of interest
(including OID) on a New Note to any Non-U.S. Holder will generally not be
subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, provided that (1) the
holder is not (i) a direct or indirect owner of 10% or more of the total
voting power of all voting stock of the Company, (ii) a controlled foreign
corporation related to the Company through stock ownership or (iii) a foreign
tax-exempt organization or a foreign private foundation for U.S. federal
income tax purposes, (2) such interest payments are not effectively connected
with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the
United States and (3) the Company or its paying agent receives (i) from the
Non-U.S. Holder, a properly completed Form W-8 (or substitute Form W-8) under
penalties of perjury which provides the Non-U.S. Holder's name and address and
certifies that the Non-U.S. Holder of the Note is a Non-U.S. Holder or (ii)
from a security clearing organization, bank or other financial institution
that holds the Notes in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a
"financial institution") on behalf of the Non-U.S. Holder, certification under
penalties of perjury that such a Form W-8 (or substitute Form W-8) has been
received by it, or by another such financial institution, from the Non-U.S.
Holder, and a copy of the Form W-8 (or substitute Form W-8) is furnished to
the payor.
A Non-U.S. Holder that does not qualify for exemption from withholding under
the preceding paragraph generally will be subject to withholding of U.S.
federal income tax at the rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate) on
payments of interest (including OID) on the New Notes.
If the payments of interest (including OID) on a New Note are effectively
connected with the conduct by a Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business in the
United States, such payments will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a
net basis at the rates applicable to United States persons generally (and,
with respect to corporate holders, may also be subject to a 30% branch profits
tax). If payments are subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis in
accordance with the rules described in the preceding sentence, such payments
will not be subject
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to United States withholding tax so long as the holder provides the Company or
its paying agent with a properly executed Form 4224. In addition, if the
Company can show to the satisfaction of the IRS that at least 80% of the gross
income from all sources for the 3-year period ending with the close of the
Company's taxable year preceding the interest payment (or such period as may
be applicable) is "active foreign business income," then such interest would
be treated as foreign source income that is not subject to U.S. withholding.
Active foreign business income is generally gross income of a corporation
derived from sources outside the U.S., or is attributable to income so derived
by a subsidiary of the corporation, which is attributable to the active
conduct of a trade or business in the foreign jurisdiction by the corporation
(or subsidiary). It is uncertain whether the Company would meet this test for
treating interest income as non-U.S. source.
Non-U.S. Holders should consult any applicable income tax treaties, which
may provide for a lower rate of withholding tax exemption from or reduction of
branch profits tax, or other rules different from those described above.
Sale, Exchange or Redemption of Notes. Subject to the discussion concerning
backup withholding, any gain realized by a Non-U.S. Holder on the sale,
exchange, retirement or other disposition of a New Note generally will not be
subject to a U.S. federal income tax, unless (i) such gain is effectively
connected with the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business
within the United States, (ii) the Non-U.S. Holder is an individual who is
present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the
disposition and certain other conditions are satisfied, or (iii) the Non-U.S.
Holder is subject to tax pursuant to the provisions of U.S. tax law applicable
to certain U.S. expatriates.
Federal Estate Tax. New Notes held (or treated as held) by an individual who
is a Non-U.S. Holder at the time of his or her death will not be subject to
U.S. federal estate tax provided that (i) the individual does not actually or
constructively own 10% or more of the total voting power of all voting stock
of the Company and (ii) income on the Notes was not effectively connected with
the conduct by such Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United
States.
INFORMATION REPORTING AND BACKUP WITHHOLDING
Payments (including OID) with respect to the New Notes and the proceeds upon
the sale or other disposition of the New Notes may be subject to the
information reporting and possible U.S. backup withholding at a 31% rate.
Backup withholding will not apply to U.S. Holders who furnish a correct
taxpayer identification number and provide other certification or who are
otherwise exempt from backup withholding. Copies of those information returns
may also be made available, under the provisions of a specific treaty or
agreement, to the tax authorities of the country in which the Non-U.S. Holder
resides.
The regulations provide that backup withholding (which generally is a
withholding tax imposed at the rate of 31% on payments to persons that fail to
furnish certain required information) and information reporting will not apply
to payments made in respect to the New Notes by the Company to a Non-U.S.
Holder, if the holder certifies as to its non-U.S. status under penalties of
perjury or otherwise establishes an exemption (provided that neither the
Company nor its paying agent has actual knowledge that the holder is a U.S.
person or that the condition of any other exemption are not, if fact,
satisfied).
The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of New Notes to or through
the United States office of any broker, U.S. or foreign, will be subject to
information reporting and possible backup withholding unless the owner
certifies as to its non-U.S. status under penalty of perjury or otherwise
establishes an exemption, provided that the broker does not have actual
knowledge that the holder is a U.S. person or that the conditions of any other
exemption are not, if fact, satisfied. The payment of the proceeds from the
disposition of a New Note to or through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker
that is not a U.S. related person will not be subject to information reporting
or backup withholding. For this purpose, a "U.S. related person" is (i) a
"controlled foreign corporation" for U.S. federal income tax purposes or (ii)
a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income from all sources for the
three-year period ending with the close of its taxable year preceding the
payment (or for
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such part of the period that the broker has been in existence) is derived from
activities that are effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or
business.
In the case of the payment of proceeds from the disposition of New Notes to
or through a non-U.S. office of a broker that is a U.S. related person, the
regulations require information reporting on the payment unless the broker has
documentary evidence in its files that the owner is a Non-U.S. Holder and the
broker has no knowledge to the contrary. Backup withholding will not apply to
payments made through foreign offices of a broker that is a U.S. person or a
U.S. related person (absent actual knowledge that the payee is a U.S. person).
Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to a
Non-U.S. Holder will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such Non-U.S.
Holder's federal income tax liability, provided that the requisite procedures
are followed.
The Treasury Department recently promulgated final regulations regarding the
withholding and information reporting rules discussed above. In general, the
final regulations do not significantly alter the substantive withholding and
information reporting requirements but rather unify current certification
procedures and forms and clarify reliance standards. The final regulations are
generally effective for payments made after December 31, 1999, subject to
certain transition rules. Non-U.S. Holders should consult their own tax
advisors with respect to the impact, if any, of the final regulations.
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Each broker-dealer who holds Old Notes for its own account as a result of
market-making activities or other trading activities and who receives New
Notes in exchange for Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be a
statutory underwriter and must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus
in connection with any resale of such New Notes. This Prospectus, as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in
connection with resales of New Notes received in exchange for Old Notes where
such Old Notes were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities. The Company acknowledges and each holder, other than a
broker-dealer, must acknowledge that it is not engaged in, does not intend to
engage in, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate in a distribution of New Notes. The Company has agreed that
starting on the Expiration Date and ending on the close of business on the
180th day following the Expiration Date, it will make this Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection
with any such resale.
The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of New Notes by
broker-dealers. New Notes received by broker-dealers for their own account
pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more
transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions,
through the writing of options on the New Notes or a combination of such
methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at
prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such
resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers
who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from
any such broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Notes. Any
broker-dealer that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own
account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that
participates in a distribution of such New Notes may be deemed to be an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any
such resale of New Notes and any commissions or concessions received by any
such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the
Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal state that by acknowledging that it
will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be
deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities Act.
For a period of 180 days after the Expiration Date, the Company will
promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such
documents in the Letter of Transmittal.
The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer
(including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the Notes) other
than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify
the holders of the Notes (including any broker-dealers) against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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BOOK-ENTRY; DELIVERY AND FORM
THE EXCHANGE
New Notes exchanged for Old Notes through the Book-Entry Transfer Facility
may be represented by one or more Global Notes (the "Global New Notes"). The
Global New Notes will be deposited on the date of the closing of the Exchange
Offer (the "Closing Date") with the Trustee as custodian of DTC and pursuant
to a FAST Balance Certificate Agreement between the Trustee or the Registrar,
as the case may be, and DTC and registered in the name of Cede & Co., as
nominee of DTC (such nominee being referred to herein as the "Global Security
Holder").
New Notes exchanged for Old Notes which are in the form of registered
definitive certificates (the "Certificated Notes") will be issued in the form
of Certificated Notes. Such Certificated Notes may, unless the Global New
Notes has previously been exchanged for Certificated Notes, be exchanged for
an interest in the Global New Notes representing the principal amount at
maturity of New Notes being transferred.
DEPOSITORY PROCEDURES
DTC has advised the Company that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company
created to hold notes for its participating organizations (collectively, the
"Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions
in those securities between the Participants through electronic book-entry
changes in accounts of the Participants. The Participants include securities
brokers and dealers (including the Initial Purchasers), banks, trust
companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to
DTC's system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively,
the "Indirect Participants"). Persons who are not Participants may
beneficially own notes held by or on behalf of DTC only through the
Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interest and transfer
of ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note held by or on
behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and the Indirect
Participants.
Euroclear and CEDEL hold securities for participating organizations and
facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between
their respective Participants through electronic book-entry changes in
accounts of such Participants. Euroclear and CEDEL provide to their
Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration,
clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities
lending and borrowing. Euroclear and CEDEL interface with domestic securities
markets. Euroclear and CEDEL Participants and financial institutions such as
Initial Purchasers, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and
certain other organizations. Indirect access to Euroclear or CEDEL is also
available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that
clear through or maintain a custodian relationship with a Euroclear or CEDEL
Participant, either directly or indirectly.
DTC has also advised the Company that pursuant to procedures established by
it, (i) upon deposit of the Global New Notes, DTC will credit the accounts of
Participants with portions of the principal amount of the Global New Notes
representing the New Notes and (ii) ownership of such interests in the Global
New Notes will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect to the
Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with
respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global New Notes).
Investors in a Global New Note may hold their interests therein directly
through DTC, if they are Participants in such system, or indirectly through
organizations (including Euroclear and CEDEL) which are Participants in such
system. Euroclear and CEDEL will hold interests in a Global New Note on behalf
of their participants through their respective depositories, which in turn
will hold such interests in the Global New Note customers' securities accounts
in their respective names on the books of DTC. The Morgan Guaranty Trust
Company, Brussels office, will initially act as depository for Euroclear, and
Citibank, N.A., will initially act as
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depository for CEDEL. All interests in a Global New Note, including those held
through Euroclear or CEDEL, may be subject to the procedures and requirements
of DTC. Those interests held through Euroclear or CEDEL may also be subject to
the procedures and requirements of such system.
The laws of some states require that certain persons take physical delivery
in definitive form of securities that they own. Consequently, the ability to
transfer beneficial interests in a Global New Note to such persons may be
limited to that extent. Because DTC can act only on behalf of the
Participants, which in turn act on behalf of the Indirect Participants and
certain banks, the ability of a person having beneficial interests in a Global
New Note to pledge such interests to persons or entities that do not
participate in the DTC system, or otherwise take actions in respect of such
interests, may be affected by the lack of a physical certificate evidencing
such interests.
EXCEPT AS DESCRIBED BELOW, OWNERS OF INTERESTS IN THE GLOBAL NEW NOTES WILL
NOT HAVE NEW NOTES REGISTERED IN THEIR NAMES, WILL NOT RECEIVE PHYSICAL
DELIVERY OF NEW NOTES IN CERTIFICATED FORM AND WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED THE
REGISTERED OWNERS OR HOLDERS OF NEW NOTES UNDER THE INDENTURES FOR ANY
PURPOSE.
Payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest
on a Global New Note will be made through one or more paying agents (the
"Paying Agent") appointed under the Indentures (which will initially include
the Trustee) and will be payable to DTC or its nominee in its capacity as the
registered holder under the applicable Indenture. DTC will distribute payments
to its Participants only in U.S. dollars unless a holder of a beneficial
interest in a New Global Sterling Senior Note or a New Global Sterling
Deferred Coupon Note elects to receive payments in pounds sterling in
accordance with the procedures discussed below. Under the terms of the
Indentures, the Company and the Trustee will treat the persons in whose names
the New Notes, including the Global New Notes representing the New Notes, are
registered as the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments
and for any and all other purposes whatsoever. Consequently, none of the
Company, the Trustee, any Transfer Agent or any agent of the Company, the
Trustee, any Transfer Agent has or will have any responsibility or liability
for (i) any aspect or accuracy of DTC's records or any Participant's or
Indirect Participant's records relating to or payments made on account of
beneficial ownership interests in the Global Notes, or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any of DTC's records or any Participant's or Indirect
Participant's records relating to the beneficial ownership interests in the
Global New Notes, or (ii) any other matter relating to the actions and
practices of DTC or any of the Participants or the Indirect Participants.
In addition to acting in its capacity as Payment Agent, the Paying Agent may
act as a foreign exchange dealer for purposes of converting British pounds
sterling to U.S. dollars for distribution through DTC, as described in the
paragraph below. When acting as a foreign exchange dealer, the Paying Agent
will derive profits from such activities in addition to the fees earned by it
for its services as Paying Agent. Each such conversion will be made on such
terms, conditions, and charges not inconsistent with the terms of the New
Notes as the Paying Agent may from time to time establish in accordance with
its regular foreign exchange practices, and subject to applicable U.S. law and
regulations.
Holders of beneficial interests in the New Global Sterling Senior Notes or
New Global Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes may elect to receive payment of
principal and interest in pounds sterling or U.S. dollars, respectively, by
causing DTC through the relevant DTC Participant to notify the Paying Agent by
the time specified below of: (i) such holder's election to receive all or a
portion of such payment in pounds sterling or in U.S. dollars, respective, and
(ii) wire transfer instructions to a pounds sterling account or U.S. dollars
account, respectively. Such election in respect of any payment must be made by
the holder at the time and in the manner required by the DTC procedures
applicable from time to time and shall, in accordance with such procedures, be
irrevocable and shall relate only to such payment. DTC notifications of such
election, wire transfer instructions and the amount payable in pounds sterling
or in U.S. dollars, respectively, must be received by the Paying Agent prior
to 5:00 p.m. New York time on the fifth New York Business Day following the
relevant Record Date in the case of interest, and prior to 5:00 p.m. New York
time on the tenth day prior to the payment date for the payment of principal.
Any payments in pounds sterling or in U.S. dollars, respectively, shall be
made by wire
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transfer of same-day funds to the appropriate account designated by DTC. The
term "New York Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or
Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York City are authorized
or required by law or executive order to close.
The Company has been informed by Euroclear and CEDEL that, prior to each
payment date, Euroclear and CEDEL, acting on behalf of their participants,
will elect to receive payments of principal and interest in respect of the
beneficial interests in the Global New Notes representing New Sterling Senior
Notes or New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes held by them in pounds sterling,
and principal and interest in respect of the beneficial interests in the
Global New Notes representing New USD Deferred Coupon Notes held by them in
U.S. dollars. In the event Euroclear and CEDEL become unwilling or unable to
make such an election on behalf of their Participants, each individual holder
of a beneficial interest in the Global Notes will be required to make its own
currency election (in accordance with the procedures set forth above) in order
to avoid payment in U.S. dollars.
DTC has advised the Company that its current practice, upon receipt of any
payment in respect of notes such as the New Notes (including principal and
interest), is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants with the
payment on the payment date, in amounts proportionate to their respective
holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in the relevant security
as shown on the records of DTC. Payments by the Participants and the Indirect
Participants to the beneficial owners of New Notes will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices and will not be the
responsibility of any of DTC, the Trustee, the Registrar, the Transfer Agent
or the Company. None of the Company, the Registrar, the Transfer Agent or the
Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of the Participants in
identifying the beneficial owners of the Notes, and the Company, the
Registrar, the Transfer Agent and the Trustee may conclusively rely on and
will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee as the
registered owner of the Global Notes for all purposes.
Except for trades involving only Euroclear and CEDEL participants, interests
in the Global Notes will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System and
secondary market trading activity in such interests will therefore settle in
immediately available funds, subject in all cases to the rules and procedures
of DTC and the Participants. Investors in the Global New Notes related to any
of the Sterling Notes will be able to effect trades through DTC's Same-Day
Funds Settlement System only if payment for such trades is made in U.S.
dollars. Settlements in the New Sterling Notes in pounds sterling may be
arranged by the participants in any such transactions outside the facilities
of DTC.
Transfers between Participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with
DTC's procedures and will be settled in same-day funds. Transfers between
accountholders in Euroclear and CEDEL will be effected in the ordinary way in
accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between the account holders in DTC, on the one hand,
and account holders in Euroclear or CEDEL, on the other hand, will be effected
through DTC in accordance with DTC's rules on behalf of Euroclear or CEDEL, as
the case may be, by its respective depository; however, such cross-market
transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or CEDEL, as
the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the
rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (Brussels time) of
such system. Euroclear or CEDEL, as the case may be, will, if the transaction
meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its respective
depository to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by
delivering or receiving interests in the relevant Global Note in DTC, and
making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day
funds settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear and CEDEL account holders may
not deliver instructions directly to the depositories for Euroclear or CEDEL.
Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or
CEDEL account holder purchasing an interest in a Global Note from an account
holder in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the
relevant Euroclear or CEDEL participant, during the securities settlement
processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or CEDEL)
immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear
or CEDEL as a result of sales of interests in a Global New Note by or through
a Euroclear or CEDEL account holder to a Participant in DTC will be received
with value on the settlement date
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of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or CEDEL cash account
only as of the business day for Euroclear or CEDEL following DTC's settlement
date.
DTC has advised the Company that it will take any action permitted to be
taken by a holder of New Notes only at the direction of one or more
Participants to whose account with DTC interests in the Global Notes are
credited and only in respect of such portion of the aggregate principal amount
of the Notes as to which such Participant or Participants has or have given
such direction. However, if any of the events described under "--Exchange of
Book Entry Notes for Certificated Notes" occurs, DTC reserves the right to
exchange the Global New Notes for Notes in certificated form and to distribute
such New Notes to its Participants.
The information in this section concerning DTC, Euroclear and CEDEL and
their book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that the Company
believes to be reliable, but the Company takes no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof.
Although DTC, Euroclear and CEDEL have agreed to the foregoing procedures to
facilitate transfers of interests in the Global New Notes among account
holders in DTC and account holders of Euroclear and CEDEL, they are under no
obligation to perform or to continue to perform such procedures, and such
procedures may be discontinued at any time. None of the Company, the
Registrar, the Transfer Agent or the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the
Registrar, the Transfer Agent or the Trustee will have any responsibility for
the performance by DTC, Euroclear or CEDEL or their respective participants,
indirect participants or account holders of their respective obligations under
the rules and procedures governing their operations.
EXCHANGE OF BOOK-ENTRY NOTES FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES
A Global New Note is exchangeable for definitive New Notes in registered
certificated form if (i) DTC (x) notifies the Company that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as depository for the Global New Note and the Company
thereupon fails to appoint a successor depository within 90 days or (y) has
ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (ii) the
Company, at its option, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to
cause the issuance of the New Notes in certificated form or (iii) there shall
have occurred and be continuing a Default or an Event of Default with respect
to the New Notes. In all cases, certificated Notes delivered in exchange for
any Global Note or beneficial interests therein will be registered in the
names, and issued in any approved denominations, requested by or on behalf of
the depository (in accordance with its customary procedures).
If certificated New Notes are issued and a holder of a certificated New Note
claims that the Note has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken or if such
New Note is mutilated and is surrendered to the Trustee (or, as long as the
New Notes are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, at the specified office
of the transfer agent in Luxembourg), the Company shall issue and the Trustee
shall authenticate a replacement New Note if the Trustee's and the Company's
requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity
bond must be sufficient in the judgment of both to protect the Company, the
Trustee, any Agent or any authenticating agent from any loss which any of them
may suffer if a New Note is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses
in replacing a New Note.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen New Note has become or
is about to become due and payable, or is about to be purchased by the Company
pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, the Company in its discretion
may, instead of issuing a new New Note, pay or purchase such New Note, as the
case may be.
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LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the issuance of the New Notes will be passed upon for the
Company by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, New York, New York,
special counsel for the Company.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the Company appearing
in the Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31,
1997, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set
forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedule are
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given upon the
authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 of Comcast
UK Cable Partners Limited and subsidiaries included in the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-64727) have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their reports, which
are also included therein and have been incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority as experts
in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and
for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 of
Birmingham Cable Corporation Limited and Cable London PLC included in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-64727) have been
audited by Deloitte & Touche, independent auditors, as stated in their
reports, which are also included therein and have been incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon the reports of such firm given upon their authority
as experts in accounting and auditing.
The combined financial statements of ComTel UK Finance, B.V. and its
subsidiaries as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997, and the combined
financial statements of Telecential as of and for the 16 months ended December
31, 1996, appearing in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File
No. 333-64727) have been audited by Deloitte & Touche, as indicated in their
report with respect thereto included therein and are incorporated by reference
herein.
The combined financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31,
1996 of ComTel UK Finance B.V. included in the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-64727) and incorporated by reference
herein have been incorporated by reference in reliance on the report of
Coopers & Lybrand, independent Chartered Accountants, given on the authority
of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
80
<PAGE>
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
A substantial majority of the assets of the Company are located outside the
United States. As a result, it may not be possible for holders of the Notes to
realize in the United States upon judgments of courts of the United States
predicated upon the civil liability under the federal securities laws of the
United States. The United States and England do not currently have a treaty
providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments (other
than arbitration awards) in civil and commercial matters. Therefore, a final
judgment for the payment of a fixed debt or sum of money rendered by any
United States court based on civil liability, whether or not predicated solely
upon the United States federal securities laws, would not automatically be
enforceable in England. In order to enforce in England a United States
judgment, proceedings must be initiated by way of common law action before a
court of competent jurisdiction in England. An English court will, subject to
what is said below, normally order summary judgment on the basis that there is
no defense to the claim for payment and will not reinvestigate the merits of
the original dispute. In such an action, an English court will treat the
United States judgment as creating a valid debt upon which the judgment
creditor could bring an action for payment, as long as (i) the United States
court had jurisdiction over the original proceeding, (ii) the judgment is
final and conclusive on the merits, (iii) the judgment does not contravene
English public policy, (iv) the judgment must not be for a tax, penalty or a
judgment arrived at by doubling, trebling or otherwise multiplying a sum
assessed as compensation for the loss or damage sustained and (v) the judgment
has not been obtained by fraud or in breach of the principles of natural
justice. Based on the foregoing, there can be no assurance that Holders of
Notes will be able to enforce in England judgments in civil and commercial
matters obtained in any United States court. There is doubt as to whether an
English court would impose civil liability in an original action predicated
solely upon the United States federal securities laws brought in a court of
competent jurisdiction in England.
81
<PAGE>
GENERAL INFORMATION
CLEARING SYSTEMS
The International Security Identification Number ("ISIN") for the New
Sterling Senior Notes is US629407CA19 and the Common Code is 9174745. The ISIN
for the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes is US629407AE74 and the Common Code
is 9174915. The ISIN for the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes is US629407AF40 and
the Common Code is 9174940.
AUTHORIZATION
The issue of the New Notes was authorized by a resolution of the Board of
Directors of the Company on January 13, 1998.
AVAILABLE DOCUMENTS, FINANCIAL REPORTS AND INFORMATION
Copies of the Indentures and the Registration Rights Agreements referred to
herein will, so long as the Notes are listed on the Luxemburg Stock Exchange,
be available for inspection during normal business hours at the specified
office of the Luxembourg Agent.
A copy of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company will
be available for inspection during normal business hours at the specified
office of the Luxembourg Agent.
Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the Commission, so
long as the Notes are outstanding, the Company will file with the Commission
and furnish to holders of Notes all quarterly and annual financial information
required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10-
K (or the equivalent thereof under the Exchange Act for foreign private
issuers in the event the Company becomes a corporation organized under the
laws of the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the Netherlands Antilles, Bermuda
or the Cayman Islands), including a "Management's Discussion and Analysis or
Results of Operations and Financial Condition" and, with respect to the annual
information only, a report thereon by the Company's certified independent
public accountants, in each case, as required by the rules and regulations of
the Commission as in effect on March 13, 1998.
In compliance with Forms 10-Q and 10-K, the Company currently publishes
audited annual consolidated financial reports and unaudited quarterly
consolidated financial reports. As long as the Notes are listed on the
Luxembourg Stock Exchange, copies of such reports or any other reports the
Company is required to furnish to holders of the Notes in accordance with the
preceding paragraph, will be available at the specified office of the listing,
paying and transfer agent in Luxembourg. The Company does not publish
unconsolidated financial reports.
Copies of reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the
Company filed by the Company with the Commission will, as long as the Notes
are listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange, be available at the specified
office of the listing, paying and transfer agent in Luxembourg.
MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE
Except as disclosed in this Prospectus, there has been no material adverse
change in the financial position of the Company since June 30, 1998.
82
<PAGE>
ANNEX A
GLOSSARY
Broadband: A general term used to describe wide bandwidth equipment or
systems which can carry a large proportion of the electromagnetic spectrum. A
broadband communications system can deliver multiple channels and other
services.
BSkyB: British Sky Broadcasting Limited, the largest provider of
multichannel programming in the United Kingdom.
BT: British Telecommunications plc, the dominant national provider of
telecommunications services in the United Kingdom. BT, which was privatized
from 1984 to July 1993, provides both long distance and local exchange
telephone services.
Buildout: The process of installing ducts by digging, filling and covering
underground trenches in the streets which pass by the homes and businesses in
a franchise.
Cable operator: A company who has been granted a license to build and manage
a cable network.
CATV: Cable television.
Churn: Subscriber termination rates.(/1/)
Coaxial cable: Cable consisting of a central conductor surrounded by and
insulated from another conductor. It is standard material used in traditional
cable systems. Signals are transmitted through it at different frequencies,
giving greater channel capacity than is possible with twisted pair cable, but
less than is allowed by optical fiber.
Copper pair telephone networks: A telephone network where each telephone is
connected by a dedicated copper wire pair to the local telephone switch.
DTH: Abbreviation for "Direct-to-Home.' The DTH market is single dwellings,
each served by a single satellite dish, as distinct from a cable system.
DTI: Department of Trade and Industry. Grants licenses to operate and use
the physical network over which television programs and telecommunications
services may be provided.
DTT: Digital terrestrial television.
Duopoly Policy: A policy in place in the UK from 1983 to 1991, allowing only
two companies, BT and Mercury, to provide national fixed link
telecommunications services to the public.
Duopoly Review: A review of the telecommunications industry in the United
Kingdom issued by the United Kingdom Government in 1991.
Fiber miles: Route miles of fiber multiplied by the number of strands of
fiber in the cable.
GHz: Gigahertz.
Headend: Collection of satellite hardware, typically including dish,
satellite receivers, modulators and amplifiers. Signals, when processed, are
then combined for distribution within the cable network.
homes passed: The expression in common usage as the measurement of the size
of a cabled area, meaning the total number of residential premises which have
the potential to be connected to the cable system.(/1/)
- --------
(/1/) Statistical data published by sources other than the Company may not be
prepared on a basis that is entirely consistent with that used by the
Company.
83
<PAGE>
Interconnection: The point at which cable operators transfer calls to a
trunk operator, where the call is switched to the appropriate termination
point.
ITC: Independent Television Commission, the regulatory body which oversees
and licenses all types of broadcasting in the United Kingdom.
"last mile" telecommunications services: Provision of voice, data and video
services from a distribution point directly to the end user of such services.
LDL: Local delivery operator licenses granted by the ITC for the purpose of
providing the cable television program and telecommunications services.
Mercury: Mercury is part of the merged group Cable & Wireless Communications
and is a national PTO which competes directly with BT in the national and
international long-distance telephone business.
Microwave transmission: The transmission of voice or data using microwave
radio frequencies (generally above 1 GHz).
New build: Cable network installed in area not previously served.
One-2-One: Mercury's mobile telephone network in the U.K.
OFTEL: Office of Telecommunications. The licensing and monitoring body
established by the Telecommunications Act 1984, headed by the Director General
of Telecommunications.
Optical fiber: Cable made of glass fibers through which signals are
transmitted as pulses of light. Capacity for a very large number of channels
can easily be provided.
Penetration rate: The measurement of the take-up of cable services. The
number of subscribers is expressed as a percentage of the homes marketed.
PPV (Pay-per-view): Payment made for individual cable programs as opposed to
a monthly subscription for a whole channel or group of channels. Not currently
used in the UK, but envisioned as a means of providing certain popular
sporting events or blockbuster movies for which subscribers may be prepared to
make a special payment. Cannot very effectively be done on an old-fashioned
cable system but is straightforward with a system providing control of each
subscriber serviced from the headend (addressability).
Premium channels: Cable programming service available only for additional
subscription over and above the basic service.
BT's Price Cap Review: Periodic reviews of BT's price cap (the maximum rate
at which BT's prices may increase).
PTO: Public telephone operator licensed by the DTI.
Regional Areas: The six areas comprising the 16 separate franchises of the
Company being: (i) Central & Scotland, (ii) South Wales, (iii) Suburban London
(Surrey), (iv) Suburban London (Luton), (v) West Yorkshire, and (vi) Northern
Ireland.
Resiliant: A network segment with diverse routing that provides for more
than one path between points.
RPI (Retail Price Index): The United Kingdom index corresponding to the
Consumer Price Index in the United States.
RGU (revenue generating unit): A cable television account or a telephone
account (i.e., a dual customer counts as two RGUs).
SDH: Synchronous digital hierarchy (similar to SONET).
VPNs: Virtual Private Networks; provide secure delivery of private business
data over the public Internet.
84
<PAGE>
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE COMPANY
NTL Incorporated
110 East 59th Street
New York, New York 10022
USA
EXCHANGE AGENT
In New York In Luxembourg
The Chase Manhattan Bank Chase Manhattan Bank Luxembourg
Corporate Trust-- S.A.
Securities Window 5 Rue Plaetis
Room 234--North Building L-2338, Luxembourg
55 Water Street
New York, New York 10041
USA
TRUSTEE, PRINCIPAL PAYING AGENT, TRANSFER AGENT AND REGISTRAR
The Chase Manhattan Bank
450 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
USA
PAYING, TRANSFER AND LISTING AGENT
Banque Internationale a Luxembourg
69, route d'Esch
1-1470 Luxembourg
PAYING AGENT
The Chase Manhattan Bank
Trinity Tower
9 Thomas More Street
London E1 9YT
United Kingdom
LEGAL ADVISORS TO THE COMPANY
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
919 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
USA
AUDITORS
Ernst & Young LLP
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
USA
<PAGE>
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NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN
OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING
BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR
ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE AS
OF WHICH INFORMATION IS GIVEN IN THIS PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE 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 ANY PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH SOLICITATION.
-----------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
Available Information...................................................... 3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ 3
Prospectus Summary......................................................... 6
Risk Factors............................................................... 18
The Exchange Offer......................................................... 30
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 38
Exchange Rates............................................................. 38
Capitalization............................................................. 39
Selected Consolidated Financial Information................................ 40
Description of Notes....................................................... 41
Registration Rights........................................................ 67
Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations............................................................ 74
Plan of Distribution....................................................... 80
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form.............................................. 81
Legal Matters.............................................................. 85
Experts.................................................................... 85
Enforceability of Civil Liabilities........................................ 86
General Information........................................................ 87
</TABLE>
UNTIL JANUARY 20, 1999 (90 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS) DEALERS
AFFECTING TRANSACTIONS IN THE NEW NOTES, WHETHER OR NOT PARTICIPATING IN THE
EXCHANGE OFFER, MAY BE REQUIRED TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS. THIS OBLIGATION IS IN
ADDITION TO THE OBLIGATION OF DEALERS TO DELIVER A PROSPECTUS WHEN ACTING AS
UNDERWRITERS AND WITH RESPECT TO THEIR UNSOLD ALLOTMENTS OR SUBSCRIPTIONS.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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LOGO
[LOGO OF NTL INCORPORATED APPEARS HERE]
NTL INCORPORATED
(Pounds)125,000,000
9 1/2% SERIES B
SENIOR NOTES DUE 2008
(Pounds)300,000,000
10 3/4% SERIES B
SENIOR DEFERRED
COUPON NOTES DUE 2008
$1,300,000,000
9 3/4% SERIES B
SENIOR DEFERRED
COUPON NOTES DUE 2008
---------------------------
PROSPECTUS
---------------------------
OCTOBER 22, 1998
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<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
As permitted by Section 102 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
"DGCL"), the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the "Certificate
of Incorporation") eliminates a director's personal liability for monetary
damages to the Company and its stockholders arising from a breach or alleged
breach of a director's fiduciary duty except for liability under Section 174
of the DGCL or liability for a breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the
Company or its stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or which
involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or for any
transaction in which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The
effect of this provision in the Certificate of Incorporation is to eliminate
the rights of the Company and its stockholders (through stockholders,
derivative suits on behalf of the Company) to recover monetary damages against
a director for breach of fiduciary duty as a director (including breaches
resulting from negligent or grossly negligent behavior) except in the
situations described above.
The Company's By-laws (the "By-laws") provide that directors and officers of
the Company shall be indemnified against liabilities arising from their
service as directors and officers to the full extent permitted by law. Section
145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation 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, 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 manner he 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
conduct was unlawful.
Section 145 also empowers a corporation 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 or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of
the capacities set forth above, against expenses (including attorney's fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted under similar standards, except
that no indemnification may 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, the Court of Chancery or the
court in which such action was brought shall determine that despite the
adjudication of liability such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
Section 145 further provides that to the extent that a director or officer
of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to above 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; that
indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of
any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the
corporation is empowered to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a
director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against
him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as
such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him
against such liabilities under Section 145.
The Company has entered into a director and officer indemnity agreement
("Indemnity Agreement") with each officer and director of the Company (an
"Indemnitee"). Under the By-laws and these Indemnity Agreements, the Company
must indemnify an Indemnitee to the fullest extent permitted by the DGCL for
losses and expenses incurred in connection with actions in which the
Indemnitee is involved by reason of having been a director or officer of the
Company. The Company is also obligated to advance expenses an Indemnitee may
incur in connection with such actions before any resolution of the action.
II-1
<PAGE>
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS.
The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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<C> <S>
1.1 Purchase Agreement, dated March 6, 1998, by and among the Company
and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International, Donaldson, Lufkin
& Jenrette Securities Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co.
International Limited, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, BT Alex.
Brown International, Division of Bankers Trust International PLC,
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc., Salomon
Brothers International Limited and Salomon Brothers Inc, with
respect to the Old Notes*
2.1 Amended and Restated Agreement of Reorganization and Plan of
Merger Agreement, dated as of May 28, 1993, by and between the
Company and OCOM(1)
2.2 Deed of Irrevocable undertaking dated March 28, 1996 by and among
Addroute Limited, certain shareholders in the NTL Group Limited,
NTL Group Limited and International CableTel Incorporated(7)
2.3 Form of Offer Document dated March 28, 1996 of Addroute Limited
for NTL Group Limited(7)
2.4 Deed of Adjustment dated March 28, 1996 by and among Addroute
Limited and Mercury Asset Management plc.(7)
2.5 Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996, by and
among the Company, B/G Co., Booth American Company, Columbia
Management, Inc. and Robert T. Goad(9)
2.6 Share Purchase Agreement, dated October 7, 1996, by and among the
Company, South Wales Electricity plc and Swalec Telco Investment
Limited(9)
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
by the Certificate of Amendment, dated June 5, 1996(8)
3.1(a) Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated as of March 26, 1997(6)
3.2 Restated By-laws of the Company(1)
4.1 Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
Sterling Senior Notes(11)
4.2 Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
4.3 Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and between the Company
and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the 10
3/4% USD Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
4.4 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and
among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International,
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited, BT Alex. Brown
International, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers
International Limited with respect to the Old Sterling Senior
Notes(11)
4.5 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and
among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown
Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers Inc with
respect to the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
4.6 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and
among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International,
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited, BT Alex. Brown
International, Divisions of Bankers Trust International PLC Chase
Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers International Limited with
respect to the Old Sterling Senior Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
4.7 Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, by and between the
Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, with respect to
the 10 1/2 Notes(10)
4.8 Certificate of Designation, dated February 12, 1997, with respect
to the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
</TABLE>
II-2
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
<C> <S>
4.9 Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, by and
among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to the 10% Notes(10)
4.10 Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997, by and
among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Chase Securities Inc. and Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated with respect to the Redeemable
Preferred Stock(10)
4.11 Form of New Sterling Senior Notes (included in Exhibit 4.1)
4.12 Form of New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes (included in Exhibit
4.2)
4.13 Form of New USD Deferred Coupon Notes (included in Exhibit 4.3)
4.14 Indenture, dated as of June 12, 1996, by and between the Company
and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the 7% Convertible
Notes(8)
4.15 Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 12, 1996, by and among
the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation and Salomon Brothers Inc, with respect to the 7%
Convertible Notes(8)
4.16 Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1996, by and among the Company
and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the 11 1/2%
Notes(7)
4.17 Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 30, 1996, by and
among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Salomon Brothers Inc and Chase Securities, Inc., with
respect to the 11 1/2% Notes(7)
4.18 Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the Company
and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the 12 3/4%
Notes(2)
4.19 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22, 1996, by and
among the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with respect to
the Indenture included as Exhibit 4.19(7)
4.20 Registration Agreement, dated April 13, 1995 by and among the
Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation and Goldman, Sachs & Co., with respect to
the 12 3/4% Notes(2)
4.21 Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the Company
and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the 7 1/4%
Convertible Notes(3)
4.22 Registration Agreement, dated April 12, 1995, by and among the
Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation and Goldman Sachs & Co., with respect to
the 7 1/4% Convertible Notes(3)
4.23 Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and among the Company
and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with respect to the 10 7/8% Senior
Notes(4)
4.24 First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 23, 1996, by and among
the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to the
Indenture included as Exhibit 4.24(7)
4.25 Rights Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, between the Company
and Continental Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent(1)
5.1 Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as to the
legality of the notes being registered hereby**
10.1 Compensation Plan Agreements, as amended and restated effective
June 3, 1997(11)
10.2 Form of Director and Officer Indemnity Agreement (together with a
schedule of executed Indemnity Agreements)(2)
11.1 Statement of computation of per share earnings(11)
12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Combined
Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends**
</TABLE>
II-3
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
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<C> <S>
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company(11)
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP**
23.2 Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (included in
Exhibit 5.1)**
23.3 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP**
23.4 Consent of Deloitte & Touche--Birmingham**
23.5 Consent of Deloitte & Touche--London**
23.6 Consent of Deloitte & Touche--Comtel**
23.7 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand--ComTel**
24.1 Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages to the
Registration Statement)*
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
Indenture included as Exhibit 4.1*
25.2 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
Indenture included as Exhibit 4.2*
25.3 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with respect to
Indenture included as Exhibit 4.3*
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal in respect of the Notes*
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery*
99.3 Form of Letter to Client*
99.4 Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Trust Companies and others
Nominees*
99.5 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 21, 1987, issued
to British Cable Services Limited (now held by CableTel Surrey and
Hampshire Limited) for the area of West Surrey and East Hampshire,
England(5)
99.6 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the
area of Inverclyde, Scotland(5)
99.7 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the
area of Bearsden and Milngavie, Scotland(5)
99.8 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Newport Cablevision Limited (renamed CableTel Newport)
for the area of Newport, Wales(5)
99.9 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 10, 1984, issued
to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the area of
North Glasgow and Clydebank, Strathclyde, Scotland(5)
99.10 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the
area of Greater Glasgow, Scotland(5)
99.11 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the
area of Paisley and Renfrew, Scotland(5)
99.12 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Cable and Satellite Television Holdings Ltd (renamed
CableTel West Glamorgan Limited) for the area of West Glamorgan,
Wales(5)
99.13 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to British Cable Services Limited for the area of Cardiff
and Penarth, Wales (now held by CableTel Cardiff Limited)(5)
99.14 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to Kirklees Cable (renamed CableTel Kirklees) for the area
of Huddersfield and Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, England(5)
99.15 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to CableVision Communications Company of Hertfordshire Ltd
(renamed CableTel Hertfordshire Limited) for the area of
Broxbourne and East Hertfordshire, England(5)
99.16 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to CableVision Communications Company Ltd (renamed CableTel
Central Hertfordshire Limited) for the area of Central
Hertfordshire, England(5)
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
<C> <S>
99.17 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated March 26, 1990, issued
to CableVision Bedfordshire Limited (renamed CableTel Bedfordshire
Ltd.) for the area of Luton and South Bedfordshire(5)
99.18 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December 3, 1990,
issued to CableVision North Bedfordshire Ltd (renamed CableTel
North Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the area of North Bedfordshire,
England(5)
99.19 Local Delivery Service License, dated October 2, 1995, issued to
CableTel Northern Ireland Limited for Northern Ireland(5)
99.20 Local Delivery Service License, dated December 6, 1995, issued to
CableTel South Wales Limited for Glamorgan and Gwent, Wales(5)
99.21 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 13, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Pembroke Dock, Dyfed, Wales (now held
by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
99.22 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Camarthen, Wales (now held by Metro
South Wales Limited)(5)
99.23 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Milford Haven, Wales (now held by
Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
99.24 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Cwmgors (Amman Valley), West
Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.25 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Ammanford, West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.26 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Brecon, Gwent, Wales(5)
99.27 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Haverfordwest, Preseli, Wales(5)
99.28 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991, issued to
Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Neyland, Preseli, Wales (now held by
Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
99.29 License, dated January 11, 1991, issued to Cablevision
Communications Company of Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed CableTel
Hertfordshire Limited) for the Hertford, Cheshunt and Ware (Lea
Valley) cable franchise, England(5)
99.30 License, dated December 8, 1990, issued to Cablevision
Communications Company Limited for Central Hertfordshire (renamed
CableTel Central Hertfordshire Limited), England(5)
99.31 License, dated August 23, 1989, issued to Cablevision Bedfordshire
Limited for Bedford and surrounding areas, England(5)
99.32 License, dated January 9, 1991, issued to Cablevision North
Bedfordshire Ltd for North Bedfordshire, England(5)
99.33 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
(renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Inverclyde Cable Franchise,
Scotland(5)
99.34 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
(renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Bearsden and Milngavie Cable
Franchise, Scotland(5)
99.35 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
(renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Paisley and Renfrew Cable
Franchise, Scotland(5)
99.36 License, dated June 7, 1985, issued to Clyde Cablevision Ltd
(renamed CableTel Glasgow) for North West Glasgow and Clydebank,
Scotland(5)
</TABLE>
II-5
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION
----------- -----------
<C> <S>
99.37 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde Cablevision
(renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Greater Glasgow cable
franchise, Scotland(5)
99.38 License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight Communications
Cardiff Limited (renamed CableTel Cardiff Limited) for Cardiff,
Wales(5)
99.39 License, dated January 22, 1991, issued to Newport Cablevision
Limited (renamed CableTel Newport), for Newport Cable franchise
Wales(5)
99.40 License, dated May 18, 1990, issued to Cable and Satellite
Television Holdings Limited (renamed CableTel West Glamorgan) for
West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.41 License, dated December 20, 1990, issued to Kirklees Cable
(renamed CableTel Kirklees) for the Huddersfield and Dewsbury
cable franchise, England(5)
99.42 License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight Communications
Guildford Limited (renamed CableTel Surrey and Hampshire Limited)
for the West Surrey/East Hampshire (Guildford) Cable Franchise,
England(5)
99.43 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel Bedfordshire
Ltd. for the area of South Bedfordshire, England(5)
99.44 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel North
Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of Bedford, England(5)
99.45 License, dated January 20, 1992, issued to Cable and Satellite
Television Holdings Limited (renamed CableTel West Glamorgan
Limited) for the area of Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, Wales(5)
99.46 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel Hertfordshire
Ltd. for the area of Hertford, Cheshunt and Ware (Lea Valley),
England(5)
99.47 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel Central
Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Central Hertfordshire,
England(5)
99.48 License, dated July 21, 1995, issued to CableTel Kirklees(5)
99.49 License, dated June 8, 1995, issued to CableTel Bedfordshire
Ltd.(5)
99.50 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Neyland, Wales(5)
99.51 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Cwmgors, Wales(5)
99.52 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Ammanford, Wales(5)
99.53 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Carmarthen, Wales(5)
99.54 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Haverfordwest, Wales(5)
99.55 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Pembroke Dock, Wales(5)
99.56 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South Wales
Limited for the area of Milford Haven, Wales(5)
99.57 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to CableTel South Wales
Limited for the area of Glamorgan and Gwent, Wales(5)
99.58 License, dated January 26, 1996, issued to Cabletel South Wales
Limited, for part of the Glamorgan area(5)
99.59 License, dated November 3, 1997, issued to NTL (UK) Group, Inc.
for the Provision of Radio Fixed Access Operator Services(10)
99.60 Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation; Undertaking of Comcast
Corporation; Undertaking of Warburg, Pincus Investors, L.P.(11)
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE>
- --------
* Previously filed.
** Filed herewith.
(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 33-63570.
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-4, File No. 33-92794.
(3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-3, File No. 33-92792.
(4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 33-63572.
(5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
Commission on March 20, 1996.
(6) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
Commission on March 26, 1997.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-4, File No. 333-1010.
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 333-07879.
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 333-16751.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
filed on March 28, 1997.
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
filed with the Commission on March 30, 1998.
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes 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 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to 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 foregoing provisions, 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 notes being registered, the registrant will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests for
information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant to
Item 4, 10(b), 11, or 13 of this form, within one business day of receipt of
such request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or
other equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents
filed subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through
the date of responding to the request.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a post-
effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and the company
being acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in
the registration statement when it became effective.
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the
purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection
(a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and
regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust
Indenture Act.
II-7
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED
ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF NEW
YORK, STATE OF NEW YORK, ON THE 20TH DAY OF OCTOBER, 1998.
NTL Incorporated
/s/ Richard J. Lubasch
By: __________________________________
RICHARD J. LUBASCH SENIOR VICE
PRESIDENT--GENERAL COUNSEL AND
SECRETARY
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE
DATE INDICATED.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
SIGNATURE TITLE DATE
* Chairman of the October 20,
- ------------------------------------ Board, Treasurer 1998
GEORGE S. BLUMENTHAL and Director
* President, Chief October 20,
- ------------------------------------ Executive and 1998
J. BARCLAY KNAPP Financial Officer
and Director
* Vice President-- October 20,
- ------------------------------------ Controller 1998
GREGG GORELICK
* Director October 20,
- ------------------------------------ 1998
SIDNEY R. KNAFEL
* Director October 20,
- ------------------------------------ 1998
TED H. MCCOURTNEY
* Director October 20,
- ------------------------------------ 1998
DEL MINTZ
* Director October 20,
- ------------------------------------ 1998
ALAN J. PATRICOF
* Director October 20,
- ------------------------------------ 1998
WARREN POTASH
* Director October 20,
- ------------------------------------ 1998
MICHAEL S. WILLNER
*By: /s/ Richard J. Lubasch
----------------------------------
RICHARD J. LUBASCH
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
</TABLE>
Dated: October 20, 1998
II-8
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
----------- ----------- --------
<C> <S> <C>
1.1 Purchase Agreement, dated March 6, 1998, by and among
the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
International, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. International
Limited, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, BT Alex.
Brown International, Division of Bankers Trust
International PLC, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, Chase
Securities Inc., Salomon Brothers International Limited
and Salomon Brothers Inc, with respect to the Old
Notes*
2.1 Amended and Restated Agreement of Reorganization and
Plan of Merger Agreement, dated as of May 28, 1993, by
and between the Company and OCOM(1)
2.2 Deed of Irrevocable undertaking dated March 28, 1996 by
and among Addroute Limited, certain shareholders in the
NTL Group Limited, NTL Group Limited and International
CableTel Incorporated(7)
2.3 Form of Offer Document dated March 28, 1996 of Addroute
Limited for NTL Group Limited(7)
2.4 Deed of Adjustment dated March 28, 1996 by and among
Addroute Limited and Mercury Asset Management plc.(7)
2.5 Share Exchange Agreement, dated as of August 30, 1996,
by and among the Company, B/G Co., Booth American
Company, Columbia Management, Inc. and Robert T.
Goad(9)
2.6 Share Purchase Agreement, dated October 7, 1996, by and
among the Company, South Wales Electricity plc and
Swalec Telco Investment Limited(9)
3.1 Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
as amended by the Certificate of Amendment, dated June
5, 1996(8)
3.1(a) Certificate of Ownership and Merger, dated as of March
26, 1997(6)
3.2 Restated By-laws of the Company(1)
4.1 Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and between
the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee,
with respect to the Sterling Senior Notes(11)
4.2 Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and between
the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee,
with respect to the Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
4.3 Indenture, dated as of March 13, 1998, by and between
the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee,
with respect to the 10 3/4% USD Deferred Coupon
Notes(11)
4.4 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13,
1998, by and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette International, Morgan Stanley & Co.
International Limited, BT Alex. Brown International,
Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers
International Limited with respect to the Old Sterling
Senior Notes(11)
4.5 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13,
1998, by and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, Chase
Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers Inc with respect
to the Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
4.6 Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of March 13,
1998, by and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette International, Morgan Stanley & Co.
International Limited, BT Alex. Brown International,
Division of Bankers Trust International PLC Chase
Securities Inc. and Salomon Brothers International
Limited with respect to the Old Sterling Senior
Deferred Coupon Notes(11)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
----------- ----------- --------
<C> <S> <C>
4.7 Indenture, dated as of February 12, 1997, by and
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Trustee, with respect to the 10 1/2 Notes(10)
4.8 Certificate of Designation, dated February 12, 1997,
with respect to the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
4.9 Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997,
by and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc.
and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
with respect to the 10% Notes(10)
4.10 Registration Rights Agreement, dated February 12, 1997,
by and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, Chase Securities Inc.
and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
with respect to the Redeemable Preferred Stock(10)
4.11 Form of New Sterling Senior Notes (included in Exhibit
4.1)
4.12 Form of New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes (included in
Exhibit 4.2)
4.13 Form of New USD Deferred Coupon Notes (included in
Exhibit 4.3)
4.14 Indenture, dated as of June 12, 1996, by and between
the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect
to the 7% Convertible Notes(8)
4.15 Registration Rights Agreement, dated June 12, 1996, by
and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation and Salomon Brothers Inc, with
respect to the 7% Convertible Notes(8)
4.16 Indenture, dated as of January 30, 1996, by and among
the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect
to the 11 1/2% Notes(7)
4.17 Registration Rights Agreement, dated January 30, 1996,
by and among the Company and Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette Securities Corporation, Salomon Brothers Inc
and Chase Securities, Inc., with respect to the 11 1/2%
Notes(7)
4.18 Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the
Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to
the 12 3/4% Notes(2)
4.19 First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 22,
1996, by and among the Company and Chemical Bank, as
Trustee with respect to the Indenture included as
Exhibit 4.19(7)
4.20 Registration Agreement, dated April 13, 1995 by and
among the Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman,
Sachs & Co., with respect to the 12 3/4% Notes(2)
4.21 Indenture, dated as of April 20, 1995, by and among the
Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee, with respect to
the 7 1/4% Convertible Notes(3)
4.22 Registration Agreement, dated April 12, 1995, by and
among the Company and Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and Goldman
Sachs & Co., with respect to the 7 1/4% Convertible
Notes(3)
4.23 Indenture, dated as of October 1, 1993, by and among
the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee with respect
to the 10 7/8% Senior Notes(4)
4.24 First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 23, 1996,
by and among the Company and Chemical Bank, as Trustee,
with respect to the Indenture included as Exhibit
4.24(7)
4.25 Rights Agreement, dated as of October 1, 1993, between
the Company and Continental Transfer & Trust Company,
as Rights Agent(1)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
----------- ----------- --------
<C> <S> <C>
5.1 Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP as
to the legality of the notes being registered hereby**
10.1 Compensation Plan Agreements, as amended and restated
effective June 3, 1997(11)
10.2 Form of Director and Officer Indemnity Agreement
(together with a schedule of executed Indemnity
Agreements)(2)
11.1 Statement of computation of per share earnings(11)
12.1 Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends**
21.1 Subsidiaries of the Company(11)
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP**
23.2 Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
(included in Exhibit 5.1)**
23.3 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP**
23.4 Consent of Deloitte & Touche--Birmingham**
23.5 Consent of Deloitte & Touche--London**
23.6 Consent of Deloitte & Touche--ComTel**
23.7 Consent of Coopers & Lybrand--ComTel**
24.1 Powers of Attorney (included in the signature pages to
the Registration Statement)*
25.1 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with
respect to Indenture included as Exhibit 4.1*
25.2 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with
respect to Indenture included as Exhibit 4.2*
25.3 Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee with
respect to Indenture included as Exhibit 4.3*
99.1 Form of Letter of Transmittal in respect of the Notes*
99.2 Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery*
99.3 Form of Letter to Client*
99.4 Form of Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Trust Companies
and others Nominees*
99.5 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 21,
1987, issued to British Cable Services Limited (now
held by CableTel Surrey and Hampshire Limited) for the
area of West Surrey and East Hampshire, England(5)
99.6 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel
Glasgow) for the area of Inverclyde, Scotland(5)
99.7 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel
Glasgow) for the area of Bearsden and Milngavie,
Scotland(5)
99.8 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Newport Cablevision Limited
(renamed CableTel Newport) for the area of Newport,
Wales(5)
99.9 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated July 10,
1984, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel
Glasgow) for the area of North Glasgow and Clydebank,
Strathclyde, Scotland(5)
99.10 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel
Glasgow) for the area of Greater Glasgow, Scotland(5)
99.11 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Clyde Cablevision (renamed CableTel
Glasgow) for the area of Paisley and Renfrew,
Scotland(5)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
----------- ----------- --------
<C> <S> <C>
99.12 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Cable and Satellite Television
Holdings Ltd (renamed CableTel West Glamorgan Limited)
for the area of West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.13 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to British Cable Services Limited for
the area of Cardiff and Penarth, Wales (now held by
CableTel Cardiff Limited)(5)
99.14 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to Kirklees Cable (renamed CableTel
Kirklees) for the area of Huddersfield and Dewsbury,
West Yorkshire, England(5)
99.15 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to CableVision Communications Company
of Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed CableTel Hertfordshire
Limited) for the area of Broxbourne and East
Hertfordshire, England(5)
99.16 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to CableVision Communications Company
Ltd (renamed CableTel Central Hertfordshire Limited)
for the area of Central Hertfordshire, England(5)
99.17 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated March 26,
1990, issued to CableVision Bedfordshire Limited
(renamed CableTel Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the area of
Luton and South Bedfordshire(5)
99.18 Prescribed Diffusion Service License, dated December
3, 1990, issued to CableVision North Bedfordshire Ltd
(renamed CableTel North Bedfordshire Ltd.) for the
area of North Bedfordshire, England(5)
99.19 Local Delivery Service License, dated October 2, 1995,
issued to CableTel Northern Ireland Limited for
Northern Ireland(5)
99.20 Local Delivery Service License, dated December 6,
1995, issued to CableTel South Wales Limited for
Glamorgan and Gwent, Wales(5)
99.21 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 13, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Pembroke Dock,
Dyfed, Wales (now held by Metro South Wales
Limited)(5)
99.22 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Camarthen,
Wales (now held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
99.23 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Milford Haven,
Wales (now held by Metro South Wales Limited)(5)
99.24 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Cwmgors (Amman
Valley), West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.25 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Ammanford, West
Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.26 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Brecon, Gwent,
Wales(5)
99.27 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Haverfordwest,
Preseli, Wales(5)
99.28 Local Delivery Service License, dated March 15, 1991,
issued to Maxwell Cable TV Limited for Neyland,
Preseli, Wales (now held by Metro South Wales
Limited)(5)
99.29 License, dated January 11, 1991, issued to Cablevision
Communications Company of Hertfordshire Ltd (renamed
CableTel Hertfordshire Limited) for the Hertford,
Cheshunt and Ware (Lea Valley) cable franchise,
England(5)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
----------- ----------- --------
<C> <S> <C>
99.30 License, dated December 8, 1990, issued to Cablevision
Communications Company Limited for Central
Hertfordshire (renamed CableTel Central Hertfordshire
Limited), England(5)
99.31 License, dated August 23, 1989, issued to Cablevision
Bedfordshire Limited for Bedford and surrounding
areas, England(5)
99.32 License, dated January 9, 1991, issued to Cablevision
North Bedfordshire Ltd for North Bedfordshire,
England(5)
99.33 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde
Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the
Inverclyde Cable Franchise, Scotland(5)
99.34 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde
Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the
Bearsden and Milngavie Cable Franchise, Scotland(5)
99.35 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde
Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Paisley
and Renfrew Cable Franchise, Scotland(5)
99.36 License, dated June 7, 1985, issued to Clyde
Cablevision Ltd (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for North
West Glasgow and Clydebank, Scotland(5)
99.37 License, dated January 29, 1991, issued to Clyde
Cablevision (renamed CableTel Glasgow) for the Greater
Glasgow cable franchise, Scotland(5)
99.38 License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight
Communications Cardiff Limited (renamed CableTel
Cardiff Limited) for Cardiff, Wales(5)
99.39 License, dated January 22, 1991, issued to Newport
Cablevision Limited (renamed CableTel Newport), for
Newport Cable franchise Wales(5)
99.40 License, dated May 18, 1990, issued to Cable and
Satellite Television Holdings Limited (renamed
CableTel West Glamorgan) for West Glamorgan, Wales(5)
99.41 License, dated December 20, 1990, issued to Kirklees
Cable (renamed CableTel Kirklees) for the Huddersfield
and Dewsbury cable franchise, England(5)
99.42 License, dated October 13, 1993, issued to Insight
Communications Guildford Limited (renamed CableTel
Surrey and Hampshire Limited) for the West Surrey/East
Hampshire (Guildford) Cable Franchise, England(5)
99.43 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel
Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of South Bedfordshire,
England(5)
99.44 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to CableTel
North Bedfordshire Ltd. for the area of Bedford,
England(5)
99.45 License, dated January 20, 1992, issued to Cable and
Satellite Television Holdings Limited (renamed
CableTel West Glamorgan Limited) for the area of
Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, Wales(5)
99.46 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel
Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Hertford, Cheshunt
and Ware (Lea Valley), England(5)
99.47 License, dated January 20, 1995, issued to Cabletel
Central Hertfordshire Ltd. for the area of Central
Hertfordshire, England(5)
99.48 License, dated July 21, 1995, issued to CableTel
Kirklees(5)
99.49 License, dated June 8, 1995, issued to CableTel
Bedfordshire Ltd.(5)
99.50 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Neyland, Wales(5)
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION PAGE NO.
----------- ----------- --------
<C> <S> <C>
99.51 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Cwmgors, Wales(5)
99.52 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Ammanford, Wales(5)
99.53 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Carmarthen, Wales(5)
99.54 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Haverfordwest, Wales(5)
99.55 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Pembroke Dock, Wales(5)
99.56 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to Metro South
Wales Limited for the area of Milford Haven, Wales(5)
99.57 License, dated October 27, 1995, issued to CableTel
South Wales Limited for the area of Glamorgan and
Gwent, Wales(5)
99.58 License, dated January 26, 1996, issued to Cabletel
South Wales Limited, for part of the Glamorgan area(5)
99.59 License, dated November 3, 1997, issued to NTL (UK)
Group, Inc. for the Provision of Radio Fixed Access
Operator Services(10)
99.60 Agreement and Plan of Amalgamation; Undertaking of
Comcast Corporation; Undertaking of Warburg, Pincus
Investors, L.P.(11)
</TABLE>
- --------
* Previously filed.
** Filed herewith.
(1) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 33-63570.
(2) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-4, File No. 33-92794.
(3) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-3, File No. 33-92792.
(4) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Registration Statement on
Form S-1, File No. 33-63572.
(5) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
Commission on March 20, 1996.
(6) Incorporated by reference from the Company's Form 8-K, filed with the
Commission on March 26, 1997.
(7) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-4, File No. 333-1010.
(8) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 333-07879.
(9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 333-16751.
(10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
filed on March 28, 1997.
(11) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K,
filed with the Commission on March 30, 1998.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 5.1
SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
919 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK NEW YORK 10022
TEL: (212) 735-3000
FAX: (212) 735-2000
October 20, 1998
NTL Incorporated
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
Re: NTL Incorporated
Registration Statement on Form S-4
----------------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to NTL Incorporated, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the public offering of
(Pounds)125,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 9 1/2% Series B
Senior Notes Due 2008 (the "New Sterling Senior Notes"), (Pounds)300,000,000
aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Company's 9 3/4% Series B Senior
Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 (the "New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes"), and
$1,300,000,000 aggregate principal amount at maturity of the Company's 10 3/4%
Series B Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 (the "New USD Deferred Coupon
Notes Due 2008" and, together with the New Sterling Senior Notes and the New
Sterling Deferred Discount Notes, the "New Notes"). The New Notes are to be
issued pursuant to an exchange offer (the "Exchange Offer"), in exchange for (i)
in the case of the New Sterling Senior Notes, a like principal amount of the
issued and outstanding 9 1/2% Senior Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the "Old
Sterling Senior Notes") and (ii) in the case of the New Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes and the New USD Deferred Coupon Notes, respec-
<PAGE>
NTL Incorporated
October 14, 1998
Page 2
tively, a like principal amount at maturity of the issued and outstanding 10
3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 of the Company (the "Old Sterling
Deferred Coupon Notes") and the 9 3/4% Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 of
the Company (the "Old USD Deferred Coupon Notes" and, together with the Old
Sterling Senior Notes and the Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, the "Old
Notes", the New Notes and the Old Notes being referred to herein collectively
as the "Notes"), respectively, under the Indentures for the respective Notes,
each dated as of March 13, 1998 (the "Indentures"), by and among the Company and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The Exchange Offer is
contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreements, each dated March 13, 1998,
between the Company and (i) in the case of the Old Sterling Senior Notes and the
Old Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette International,
Morgan Stanley & Co. International Limited, BT Alex. Brown International,
Division of Bankers Trust International PLC, Chase Securities Inc. and Salomon
Brothers International Limited, and (ii) in the case of the Old USD Deferred
Coupon Notes, Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, Morgan
Stanley & Co. Incorporated, BT. Alex. Brown Incorporated, Chase Securities Inc.
and Salomon Brothers Inc.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of
Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act").
In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 (Registration No. 333-56177), as filed by
the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on
June 5, 1998 under the Act, and Amendment No. 1 thereto, filed with the
Commission on October 20, 1998 (such Registration Statement, as so amended,
being hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement"); (ii) an
executed copy of each of the Registration Rights Agreements; (iii) an executed
copy of each of the Indentures; (iv) the Restated Certificate of
2
<PAGE>
NTL Incorporated
October 14, 1998
Page 3
Incorporation of the Company, as amended to date; (v) the By-Laws of the
Company, as amended to date; (vi) certain resolutions adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Company and a pricing committee of the Board of Directors of
the Company relating to the Exchange Offer, the issuance of the Old Notes and
the New Notes, the Indentures and related matters; (vii) the Forms T-1 of the
Trustee filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement; and (viii) the form of
the New Notes. We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise
identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such
agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other
representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents,
certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis
for the opinions set forth herein.
In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our
examination of documents executed or to be executed by parties other than the
Company, we have assumed that such parties had or will have the power, corporate
or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also
assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and
execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and
binding effect thereof. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed
herein which we have not independently established or verified, we have relied
upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the
Company and others.
Members of our firm are admitted to the bar in the State of New York,
and we do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other jurisdiction other
than the Delaware General Corporation Law.
3
<PAGE>
NTL Incorporated
October 14, 1998
Page 4
Based upon and subject to the foregoing and the limitations,
qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the
opinion that when the New Notes have been duly executed and authenticated in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture and have been delivered
upon consummation of the Exchange Offer against receipt of Old Notes surrendered
in exchange therefor in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer, the New
Notes will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by (1) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect
relating to creditors' rights generally and (2) general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or
in equity). With respect to the enforceability of all obligations under the New
Sterling Senior Notes and the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes payable in
pounds sterling, we note that a United States federal court would award a
judgment only in United States dollars and that a judgment of a court in the
State of New York rendered in pounds sterling would be converted into United
States dollars at the rate of exchange prevailing on the date of entry of such
judgment.
In rendering the opinions set above, we have assumed that (a) the
execution, authentication and delivery by the Company of the New Notes do not
and will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under (i) any
agreement or instrument to which the Company or its properties is subject
(except that we do not make the assumption set forth in this clause (i) with
respect to the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the Company's
By-Laws, the Indentures, or the Registration Rights Agreements), (ii) any law,
rule, or regulation to which the Company is subject (except that we do not make
the assumption set forth in this clause (ii) with respect to the Delaware
General Corporation Law and those laws, rules and regulations of the State of
New York and the United States of America, in each case, which, in our
4
<PAGE>
NTL Incorporated
October 14, 1998
Page 5
experience, are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by
the Exchange Offer (other than the United States federal securities laws, state
securities or Blue Sky laws, antifraud laws and the rules and regulations of
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), but without our having
made any special investigation with respect to any other laws, rules or
regulations), (iii) any judicial or regulatory order or decree of any
governmental authority or (iv) any consent, approval, license, authorization or
validation of, or filing, recording or registration with any governmental
authority and (b) the choice of the pound sterling as the currency in which the
New Sterling Senior Notes and the New Sterling Deferred Coupon Notes are
denominated does not contravene any exchange controls or other laws of the
United Kingdom.
In addition, in relation to the opinion set forth above insofar as it
relates to the New Sterling Senior Notes and the New Sterling Deferred Coupon
Notes, we bring to your attention Title 16 of the New York General Obligations
Law (the "GOL"). Title 16 of the GOL provides, among other things, that on the
implementation from time to time of Economic and Monetary Union in the Member
States of the European Union in accordance with the Treaty on European Union by
the adoption of participating Member States of a single currency (the "Euro"),
if the subject or medium of payment of a contract, security or instrument is a
currency that has been substituted or replaced by the Euro, the Euro will be a
commercially reasonable and substantial equivalent that may be either (a) used
in determining the value of such currency or (b) tendered in accordance with the
regulations adopted by the Council of the European Union. In addition, Title
16 of the GOL provides that none of (a) the introduction of the Euro, (b) the
tendering of Euros in connection with any obligation in accordance with
clauses (a) or (b) of the immediately preceding sentence, (c) the determining of
the value of any obligation in accordance with clauses (a) or (b) of the
immediately preceding sentence or (d) the calculating or determining of the
subject or medium of payment of a contract, security or
5
<PAGE>
NTL Incorporated
October 14, 1998
Page 6
instrument with reference to interest rate or other basis has been substituted
and replaced due to the introduction of the Euro and that is a commercially
reasonable substitute and substantial equivalent, shall have either the effect
of discharging or excusing performance under any contract, security or
instrument or give a party the right to unilaterally alter or terminate any
contract, security or instrument. Title 16 of the GOL further provides that its
provisions shall not alter or impair and shall be subject to any agreements
concerning the Euro between the parties. We note, however, that to the best of
our knowledge, there has been no judicial consideration of Title 16 of the GOL
by a New York court and, in the absence of any judicial authority, we are unable
to express a view as to the interpretation or application a New York court may
give to Title 16 of the GOL.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Registration Statement. In
giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the
rules and regulations of the Commission.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP
6
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 12.1
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
June 30 December 31
------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993
------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fixed charges:
Interest $ 83,564,000 $209,340,000 $147,326,000 $40,562,000 $15,316,000 $ 2,950,000
Amortization of debt expense 4,227,000 7,831,000 8,873,000 1,424,000 502,000 117,000
Interest portion of rental expense 3,008,000 6,016,000 4,957,000 647,000 369,000 66,000
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
$ 90,799,000 $223,187,000 $161,156,000 $42,633,000 $16,187,000 $ 3,133,000
============= ============ ============ ============
Preferred Stock Dividend Requirement 7,397,000 11,978,000
------------- -------------
Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred
Stock Dividends $ 98,196,000 $235,165,000
============= =============
Earnings:
Income (loss) from operations ($197,974,000) ($348,648,000) ($246,801,000) ($93,262,000) ($27,943,000) ($10,431,000)
Fixed charges per above 90,799,000 223,187,000 161,156,000 42,633,000 16,187,000 3,133,000
Less: Capitalized interest (2,896,000) (6,770,000) (10,294,000) (12,183,000) (3,906,000)
------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ------------ ------------
($110,071,000) ($132,231,000) ($ 95,939,000) ($62,812,000) ($15,662,000) ($ 7,298,000)
============= ============= ============= ============ ============ ============
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1) - - - - - -
Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed
Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends (2) - -
</TABLE>
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges and combined fixed charges and preferred
stock dividends is not meaningful for the periods that result in a deficit.
(1) For the six months ended June 30, 1998 and the years ended December 31,
1997, 1996, 1995, 1994, and 1993, the deficit of earnings to fixed charges
was $200,870,000, $355,418,000, $257,095,000, $105,445,000, $31,849,000 and
$10,431,000, respectively.
(2) The deficit of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock
dividends for the six months ended June 30, 1998 and the year ended December
31, 1997 was $208,267,000 and $367,396,000, respectively.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-4) and related Prospectus of NTL Incorporated for
the registration of its 9 1/2% Series B Senior Notes Due 2008, 10 3/4% Series B
Senior Deferred Coupon Notes Due 2008 and 9 3/4% Series B Senior Deferred Coupon
Notes Due 2008, and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report
dated March 20, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of
NTL Incorporated for the year ended December 31, 1997 included in its Annual
Report (Form 10K) for the year ended December 31, 1997, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
ERNST & YOUNG LLP
New York, New York
October 19, 1998
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.3
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-56177 of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4 of our
report dated February 27, 1998, appearing in Registration Statement No.
333-64727 of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4, on the consolidated financial
statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1997 of Comcast UK Cable Partners and
subsidiaries, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the
Prospectus, which is part of such Registration Statement on Form S-4.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
October 19, 1998
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.4
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-56177 of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4 of our
report dated February 27, 1998 (March 16, 1998 as to Note 3), appearing in
Registration Statement No. 333-64727 of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4, on the
consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997 of Birmingham Cable
Corporation Limited and subsidiaries, and to the reference to us under the
heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of such Registration
Statement on Form S-4.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche
Birmingham, England
October 19, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.5
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 1 to
Registration Statement No. 333-56177 of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4 of our
report dated February 27, 1998, appearing in Registration Statement No.
333-64727 of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4, on the consolidated financial
statements as of December 31, 1997 and 1996 and for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 1997 of Cable London PLC and subsidiaries, and to
the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part
of such Registration Statement on Form S-4.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche
London, England
October 19, 1998
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 23.6
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" and to the
use of our report dated June 5, 1998 (except note 10 as to which the date is
July 16, 1998) with respect to the financial statements of ComTel UK Finance
B.V., included in the Form S-4 to be filed by NTL Incorporated, by reference to
the Proxy statement that was made as part of the Registration Statement (Form
S-4) and Prospectus of NTL Incorporated filed at the end of September 1998, in
connection with an exchange offer whereby notes issued in March 1998 will be
exchanged for new notes that are to be registered with the SEC.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche
Deloitte & Touche
Chartered Accountants
Bracknell, England
October 19, 1998
<PAGE>
Exhibit 23.7
19 October 1998
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statement of NTL Incorporated on Form S-4 (File No. 333-56177), of our report,
dated 5 June 1998, except for Note 10 as to which the date is 16 July 1998, on
our audit of the Combined Financial Information of ComTel UK Finance B.V. as of
and for the year ended 31 December 1996. We also consent to the references to
our firm under the caption "Experts".
/s/ Coopers & Lybrand
Coopers & Lybrand
Chartered Accountants
London, United Kingdom
