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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: January 8, 1999
Date of Earliest Event Reported: December 29, 1998
TELE-COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
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(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charters)
State of Delaware
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
0-20421 84-1260157
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(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
5619 DTC Parkway
Englewood, Colorado 80111
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (303) 267-5500
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Item 5. Other Events
(a) AT&T Merger Update
On January 8, 1999, Tele-Communications, Inc. ("TCI") and AT&T Corp.
("AT&T") announced the filing of their joint proxy/prospectus in
connection with TCI's proposed merger with AT&T. A copy of the press
release of TCI with respect to the proxy is included as Exhibit 99.1.
The press release also includes certain 1999 financial and statistical
estimates for TCI's Cable Operations.
(b) Litigation Update
Liberty Shareholder Litigation re: TCI Venture consolidation into
Liberty: Michael Chetkof v. John C. Malone; John W. Gallivan; Paul A.
Gould; Leo J. Hindery, Jr.; Robert A. Naify; Donne F. Fisher; Kim
Magness; J.C. Sparkman: Jerome H. Kern: Tele-Communications, Inc.; and
AT&T Corp, C.A. No. 16868 NC. On December 29, 1998, this putative class
action complaint was filed by stockholders of Tele-Communications, Inc.
Series A Liberty Media Group Common Stock ("LBTYA") in the Delaware
Court of Chancery. This complaint was filed in response to the public
announcement by the Company that, in conjunction with the proposed
merger between AT&T and TCI, TCI intends to consolidate TCI Ventures
Group ("TCI Ventures") with Liberty Media Group, whereby each share of
TCI Ventures Group Series A common stock ("TCIVA") would be exchanged
for 0.52 shares of Liberty Group Series A common stock ("LBTYA")
resulting in the formation of a new entity ("New Liberty"). Thereafter,
upon completion of the AT&T-TCI merger, all holders of LBTYA stock
would receive AT&T tracking stock.
The gravamen of the complaint is that the TCI directors breached their
fiduciary duties by failing to ensure that the LBTYA stockholders'
interests would be properly represented in the series of transactions
leading up to and including the AT&T merger. Specifically, plaintiffs
contend that the $5.5 billion that New Liberty will receive from TCI
from the sale to TCI of certain TCI Ventures' assets (including TCI
Ventures' ownership interest in At Home Corporation, National Digital
Television Center and Western Tele-Communications, Inc., and
approximately 46.95 million shares of AT&T shares held by TCI Ventures)
is inadequate. Additionally, plaintiffs contend that, unlike the
holders of TCI Group Series A and Series B common stock, LBTYA
stockholders will not receive a premium in the exchange of their LBTYA
stock for New Liberty tracking stock. Plaintiffs seek to enjoin the
proposed AT&T-TCI merger, or rescind the AT&T-TCI merger in the event
that it is consummated, and request unspecified compensatory damages
fees and costs. Discovery has not commenced in this action. Based upon
the facts available, management believes that, although no assurance
can be given as to the outcome of this action, the ultimate disposition
should not have a material adverse effect upon the financial condition
of the Company.
Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
Exhibit Number Description
(99.1) TCI press release dated January 8, 1999.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: January 8, 1999
TELE-COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/ Stephen M. Brett
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Stephen M. Brett
Executive Vice President
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EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
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<S> <C>
(99.1) TCI press release dated January 8, 1999.
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 1999
Contact: TCI Media Relations, Katina Vlahadamis or LaRae Marsik (303) 267-5273
TCI Investor Relations, Julie Goldsmith or Dennis Sienko (303) 267-5048
TCI FILES PROXY STATEMENT JOINTLY WITH AT&T AND
PROVIDES 1999 FINANCIAL GUIDANCE FOR CABLE OPERATIONS
NEW YORK, NY - Tele-Communications, Inc. (TCI), jointly with AT&T Corporation
(AT&T), filed its definitive merger proxy statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC) today.
During a meeting with securities analysts today regarding the anticipated merger
between TCI and AT&T, Leo J. Hindery, Jr., President of TCI, disclosed certain
1999 financial and statistical estimates for TCI's Cable Operations as follows:
o Reflecting, in large part, the impacts of a modest 4.9 percent average rate
increase projected for 1999, TCI anticipates 1999 revenue growth for its
Cable Operations in the mid-to-high single digits and operating cash flow
growth in the mid-to-high single digits as compared to 1998. These estimates
are reflected on a pro forma basis excluding all announced cable
partnerships and are exclusive of launch and development costs associated
with new service offerings.
o TCI's cable customer base is anticipated to grow by 1.5 - 2.0 percent in
1999.
o Digital Cable customers are projected to number approximately 1.8 million by
the end of 1999 on a pro forma basis excluding all announced cable
partnerships.
o Finally, TCI continues to upgrade its broadband cable plant, and
approximately $2.1 billion is now projected for remaining upgrade costs
during the period from 1999 through 2000 including approximately $1.0
billion estimated for 1999 and approximately $1.1 billion for 2000. This
projection is inclusive of upgrade costs for two-way capability.
The capital upgrade plan reflects higher capital spending when compared to
the $700 million projected to be spent in each of 1999 and 2000 in TCI's
original upgrade plan. The revised upgrade plan will result in 75 percent of
TCI's cable plant being upgraded to 550-860 MHz by year-end 2000 as compared
to the original plan to upgrade 59 percent of its plant to 550-750 MHz by
such date. The increased capital plan also includes capital to make TCI's
broadband plant telephony ready by extending stand-by-powering time,
reducing node sizes, and implementing additional electronics at the hubs,
but it does not include the cost of adding communications equipment in the
customer's home when a customer signs up for service.
-more-
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All estimates provided were for Cable Operations. In anticipation of the pending
merger, there were no estimates provided for TCI Group.
Tele-Communication, Inc. is traded through the TCI Group, the TCI Ventures Group
and the Liberty Media Group common stocks. The Series A and Series B TCI Group
common stocks are traded on the National Market tier of the Nasdaq Stock Market
under the symbols of TCOMA and TCOMB, respectively.
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