Re: Termination of Comcast/A.T.& T. merger..?
Quick Search Merger ------------ Press Releases - Dec 19, 2001 - Sept 28, 2001 - July 18, 2001 - July 08, 2001 ------------ Biographies - Brian L. Roberts - Stephen B. Burke - Ralph J. Roberts ------------ Fact Sheets ------------ Comcast History ------------ FAQ ------------ Links: - att.com - Comcast.com - cmcsk.com ------------ Web Broadcast
Download Press Releases:
July 10, 2002 / AT&T Comcast Merger ... on Schedule...
December 19, 2001 / AT&T Broadband to Merge...
September 28, 2001 / Comcast Signs Confidentiality ...
July 18, 2001 / Comcast Views AT&T's Delay...
July 8, 2001 / Comcast Makes Proposal...
Recent Financial Releases
July 10, 2002
AT&T Comcast Merger Proceeding on Schedule
December 19, 2001
AT&T Broadband to Merge With Comcast Corporation in $72 Billion Transaction
September 28, 2001
Comcast Signs Confidentiality Agreement With AT&T
July 18, 2001
Comcast Views AT&T’s Delay in Tracking Stock as Positive Step
July 8, 2001
Comcast Makes Proposal to Merge with AT&T Broadband
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AT&T COMCAST MERGER PROCEEDING ON SCHEDULE
Comcast Shareholders Approve Merger, Over 90% of Local Transfers Obtained
Wednesday, July 10, 2002
Philadelphia, PA - Today in Philadelphia, shareholders of Comcast Corporation approved the merger of Comcast and AT&T Broadband, and at the shareholder meeting it was announced that Comcast and AT&T are on schedule to obtain community franchise transfers in time for the merger to close during the fourth quarter of 2002.
“We proposed the creation of AT&T Comcast because it offers many benefits to customers and shareholders, and I’m pleased to announce today that we have taken a major step forward towards the creation of this new company,” said Comcast President Brian L. Roberts.
In addition to shareholder approval, more than 90% of the communities (representing 80% of subscribers) that are reviewing the transfer of their franchise to AT&T Comcast have approved the transfer.
The merger received the necessary votes for approval with approximately 99.8% of the votes cast by Comcast shareholders in favor of the merger and 99.8% of the votes cast in favor of the corporate governance provisions of the new company’s charter. The company’s Class A shareholders by a required separate class vote approved the “preferred” capital structure for the new company, with approximately 96.7% of the votes cast approving.
Closing of the merger also is conditioned upon the receipt of certain federal regulatory approvals. Slides from today’s shareholder meeting presentation will be available within 24 hours on Comcast’s investor relations website at www.cmcsk.com.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect actual results from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Readers are directed to Comcast's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of such risks and uncertainties.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (www.comcast.com) is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks, and in the provision of electronic commerce and programming content. Comcast Cable is the third largest cable company in the United States serving more than 8.5 million cable subscribers. Comcast's commerce and content businesses include majority ownership of QVC, Comcast-Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet, The Golf Channel, Outdoor Life Network, G4, a controlling interest in E! Networks, and other programming investments. Comcast's Class A Special and Class A Common Stock are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbols CMCSK and CMCSA, respectively.
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AT&T BROADBAND TO MERGE WITH COMCAST CORPORATION IN
$72 BILLION TRANSACTION
Strategic Combination Creates One of the Most Powerful Communications, Media
and Entertainment Companies in the World
Nation's Premiere Broadband Services Network Will Serve More
Than 22 Million Subscribers
NEW YORK AND PHILADELPHIA -- AT&T (NYSE: T) and Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced that their Boards of Directors approved a definitive agreement to combine AT&T Broadband with Comcast in a transaction that values AT&T Broadband at an aggregate value of $72 billion. The transaction will create the world's pre-eminent broadband services company and is expected to be tax-free to shareowners.
The new company, to be called AT&T Comcast Corporation, will be one of the leading and most powerful communications, media and entertainment companies in the world. It will have approximately 22 million subscribers and a major presence in 17 of the United States' 20 largest metropolitan areas, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas-Forth Worth, Denver, Detroit, Miami, Philadelphia, and San Francisco-Oakland. It will be the world's leading provider of broadband video, voice and data services with annual pro forma revenue of approximately $19 billion. The combined company will have a presence in 41 states with approximately 5 million digital video customers, 2.2 million high-speed data customers and one million cable telephony customers.
AT&T Comcast Corporation will begin life with a clear mandate to aggressively expand the availability of those services throughout its service areas, including plans to bring a choice in local telephone service to more than 38 million homes passed by its cable systems. The new company's telephony footprint will have national reach and its scale will allow it to develop and deploy new broadband applications such as video on demand and interactive television.
AT&T's decision, which received unanimous approval and full support by its Board of Directors, culminates a rigorous process that began last July when the AT&T Board directed management to assess strategic and financial alternatives for its Broadband unit to create long-term shareowner value.
"AT&T Comcast will create value for its customers, shareowners and employees by bringing more services to more people more quickly," said C. Michael Armstrong, Chairman and CEO of AT&T. "This is a leap forward in realizing a vision that thousands of AT&T people have worked toward - bringing greater choice in affordable broadband video, voice and data services to even more American homes. AT&T Broadband and Comcast can accomplish more together than we could alone. Our shareowners and our employees will both benefit from the industry-leading growth we will achieve."
Brian L. Roberts, president of Comcast Corporation, said, "Bringing together AT&T Broadband and Comcast, creates a company with a national footprint and a powerful growth platform uniquely positioned to efficiently deliver content and entertainment to its customers. I look forward to working with Mike and the AT&T Broadband team to achieve the full potential of this tremendous new company.
"We are particularly excited about the telephony prospects," Brian Roberts continued. "The size of our telephony footprint, combined with AT&T's expertise and leadership in the telephony space, will enable us to accelerate the deployment of telephone services to many new markets."
"This transaction is the most rewarding and important step Comcast has taken since I started the company nearly four decades ago," said Ralph J. Roberts, chairman of Comcast Corporation. "Combining Comcast with AT&T Broadband is a once in a lifetime opportunity that creates immediate value and positions the company for additional growth in the future. Shareholders, employees and customers alike are poised to reap considerable benefits from this remarkable union."
Terms of the agreement
Under the terms of the definitive agreement, AT&T will spin off AT&T Broadband and simultaneously merge it with Comcast, forming a new company to be called AT&T Comcast Corporation.
AT&T shareholders will receive approximately 0.34 shares of AT&T Comcast Corporation for each share of AT&T they own (subject to adjustment based on the number of AT&T shares at closing). Comcast shareholders will receive one share of AT&T Comcast Corporation for each Comcast share they own.
AT&T shareowners will own a 56 percent economic stake and about a 66 percent voting interest in the new company. The Roberts family, which owns Comcast Class B shares, will control one third of the new company's outstanding voting interest.
AT&T Comcast Corporation's assets will consist of both companies' cable TV systems, as well as AT&T's interests in cable television joint ventures and its 25.5 percent interest in Time Warner Entertainment, and Comcast's interests in QVC, E! Entertainment, The Golf Channel, and other entertainment properties.
The new company will assume nearly $20 billion in debt and other liabilities from AT&T and its subsidiaries, as well as $5 billion of AT&T subsidiary trust convertible preferred securities held by Microsoft Corporation, making the aggregate value of the transaction to AT&T shareholders worth $72 billion, based on the closing price of Comcast Class K stock on December 19.
AT&T shareowners would receive value equivalent to $13.07 per AT&T share based on Comcast's closing share price on Wednesday, December 19, while retaining complete ownership of AT&T's traditional communications businesses.
In conjunction with the transaction, Microsoft Corporation has agreed to convert the $5 billion of AT&T subsidiary trust convertible preferred securities into 115 million shares of AT&T Comcast Corporation.
AT&T and Comcast will each contribute five Board members to the new company and they will jointly select two additional members who have no current affiliation with either company. Brian Roberts, 42, will be Chief Executive Officer of the new company. As part of the agreement, Armstrong will serve as Chairman of the new company when the merger closes instead of retiring from AT&T in May 2003 as he had planned. The AT&T Comcast Corporation transaction is expected to close at the end of 2002. Until then, Armstrong, 63, will remain Chairman and CEO of AT&T. AT&T Comcast Corporation will be headquartered in Philadelphia and maintain executive offices in the New York City area.
Armstrong and Roberts have also established a transition team to address issues arising from the merger of AT&T Broadband and Comcast from today's announcement through the closing. The members of the transition team are Steven Burke, president of Comcast Cable, Charles H. Noski, chief financial officer of AT&T, William Schleyer, president and CEO of AT&T Broadband, and Lawrence Smith, executive vice president of Comcast Corporation.
Accounting for non-strategic assets that have been, or will be, sold, AT&T originally paid about $4,100 per subscriber for TCI and MediaOne, largely in AT&T stock. Today's announcement values AT&T's cable systems at approximately $4,500 per subscriber based on today's closing price of Comcast stock and gives AT&T shareowners majority ownership of the nation's leading broadband services company with an initial total aggregate value of approximately $120 billion.
The merger of AT&T Broadband and Comcast is subject to regulatory review, approval by both companies' shareholders and certain other conditions. AT&T also intends to proceed with other aspects of its previously announced restructuring, including the creation of a tracking stock for its consumer services unit, which is expected to be fully distributed to AT&T shareholders following shareholder approval in mid-2002.
Following the separation of AT&T Broadband and the establishment of the AT&T Consumer tracking stock, the familiar "T" stock symbol will reflect the financial results of AT&T Business, which will retain ownership of the "AT&T" brand. AT&T Business is one of the world's leading providers of enterprise voice and data communications, serving more than 4.2 million customers. For the 12 months ended September 30, 2001, AT&T Business had revenue of more than $28 billion and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT), excluding other income, asset impairments and pre-tax equity earnings, of approximately $5 billion. In the same period, AT&T Consumer had revenue of nearly $16 billion and EBIT, on the same basis, of about $5.4 billion, with margins that are three times those of its largest competitor.
Credit Suisse First Boston and Goldman Sachs acted as financial advisors to AT&T. Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch and Quadrangle Group acted as financial advisors to Comcast. Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is legal advisor to AT&T. Davis Polk & Wardwell is legal advisor to Comcast.
About AT&T
AT&T (http://www.att.com) is among the world's premier voice, video and data communications companies, serving consumers, businesses and government. Backed by the research and development capabilities of AT&T Labs, the company runs the world's largest, most sophisticated communications network and is the largest cable operator in the U.S. The company is a leading supplier of data, Internet and managed services for businesses and offers outsourcing, consulting and networking-integration to large businesses.
About Comcast
Comcast Corporation (www.comcast.com) is principally engaged in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks and in the provision of content through principal ownership of QVC, Comcast-Spectacor and Comcast SportsNet, a controlling interest in E! Entertainment Television and through programming investments.
Comcast's Class A Special Common Stock and Class A Common Stock are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbols CMCSK and CMCSA, respectively.
# # #
NOTE TO FINANCIAL MEDIA: AT&T executives will discuss today's announcement on a two-way conference call for financial analysts at 8:30 a.m. ET. Reporters are invited to listen to the call. U.S. callers should dial 800-230-1092 to access the call. Callers outside the U.S. should dial 612-332-0342.
A replay of the event will be available on the AT&T web site beginning shortly after the presentation. The Web site address is http://www.att.com/ir. AT&T executives will hold a press conference and conference call at 11:00 a.m. in the Nassau Suite of the New York Hilton. Reporters are invited to dial into the conference and ask questions. U.S. callers should dial 888-276-9996 to access the call. Callers outside the U.S. should dial 612-333-4911.
The New York Hilton is located at 1335 Avenue of the Americas.
The foregoing are "forward-looking statements" which are based on management's beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events made by and information currently available to management. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside AT&T's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a difference, please see AT&T's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. AT&T disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This information is presented solely to provide additional information to further understand the results of AT&T.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which the offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Additional Information and Where to Find it
In connection with the proposed merger, AT&T and Comcast will file a joint proxy statement/prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS ARE ADVISED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE, BECAUSE IT WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the joint proxy statement/prospectus (when available) and other documents filed by AT&T and Comcast with the Commission at the Commission's web site at http://www.sec.gov. Free copies of the joint proxy statement/prospectus, once available, and each company's other filings with the Commission may also be obtained from the respective companies. Free copies of AT&T's filings may be obtained by directing a request to AT&T Corp., 295 North Maple Avenue, Basking Ridge NJ 07920. Free copies of Comcast's filings may be obtained by directing a request to Comcast, 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia PA 19102.
Participants in the Solicitation
AT&T, Comcast and their respective directors, executive officers and other members of their management and employees may be soliciting proxies from their respective stockholders in favor of the merger. Information concerning persons who may be considered participants in the solicitation of AT&T's and Comcast's stockholders under the rules of the Commission is set forth in public filings filed by AT&T and Comcast with the Commission and will be set forth in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus when it is filed with the Commission.
For more information, contact:
Eileen M. Connolly - AT&T
908-221-6731
Adam Miller, Brian Faw - Comcast
The Abernathy MacGregor Group
212-371-5999
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COMCAST SIGNS COMFIDENTIALITY AGREEMENT
WITH AT&T
PHILADELPHIA — September 28, 2001 — Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced that, in connection with discussions regarding AT&T Broadband, it has entered into a reciprocal confidentiality agreement with AT&T that will permit the exchange of information between the two companies. The agreement also restricts certain discussions between Comcast and third parties which relate to AT&T Broadband without AT&T's approval.
Comcast Corporation (www.comcast.com) is principally involved in the development, management and operation of broadband cable networks, and in the provision of electronic commerce and programming content. Comcast Cable is the third largest cable company in the United States serving more than 8.4 million cable subscribers. Comcast's commerce and content businesses include majority ownership of QVC, Comcast-Spectacor, Comcast SportsNet and The Golf Channel, a controlling interest in E! Networks, and other programming investments. Comcast's Class A Special and Class A Common Stock are traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbols CMCSK and CMCSA, respectively.
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect actual results from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements. Readers are directed to Comcast's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for a description of such risks and uncertainties.
# # #
Investor Contact:
Marlene S. Dooner, Vice President, Investor Relations (215) 981-7392
William E. Dordelman, Vice President, Finance (215) 981-7550
Kelley L. Claypool, Manager, Investor Relations (215) 981-7729
Media Contact:
The Abernathy MacGregor Group (212) 371-5999
Adam Miller, Steve Frankel, Brian Faw
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COMCAST VIEWS AT&TâS DELAY
IN TRACKING STOCK AS POSITIVE STEP
Shareholders Respond To Comcastâs Proposal By Adding
$14 Billion In Market Valuation To AT&T
Philadelphia ö July 18, 2001 ö Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) today
announced that it viewed positively the decision by AT&Tâs (NYSE: T) Board of Directors
to maximize shareholder value by examining strategic alternatives in addition to its
planned initial public offering of its broadband assets. On July 8, 2001, Comcast made a
proposal to merge with AT&Tâs broadband business in a tax-free transaction, which
valued AT&Tâs core broadband assets at $58 billion based on Comcast stockâs closing
price on July 6, 2001, the last trading day prior to Comcastâs proposal.
ãWe are pleased that AT&Tâs Board of Directors has responded to the marketâs
overwhelming endorsement of our proposal by delaying its broadband tracking stock
plan,ä said Mr. Brian L. Roberts, president of Comcast.Ê ãHowever, we disagree with the
AT&T Boardâs characterization of our offer as inadequate.Ê Since our announcement,
AT&T shareholders have responded to our proposal by adding $14 billion in market
valuation to AT&T.Ê As evidenced by the reaction of their shareholders, the Boardâs
concern about our corporate governance has no foundation.Ê We think our stockâs
historical performance speaks for itself.ä
Mr. Roberts continued, ãWe are surprised that AT&Tâs Board has yet to ask us for any
further information. To that end, we remain prepared to hold immediate discussions with
AT&T regarding our proposal.äÊ
Comcast reiterated that it is prepared to acquire AT&Tâs interests in Time Warner
Entertainment, Cablevision, and Rainbow Media by assuming more debt and issuing
more equity to reflect their agreed upon value.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.Ê In some cases, you can identify those so-called ãforward-looking statementsä by words such as ãmay,ä ãwill,ä ãshould,ä ãexpects,ä ãplans,ä ãanticipates,ä ãbelieves,ä ãestimates,ä ãpredicts,ä ãpotential,ä or ãcontinue,ä or the negative of those words and other comparable words.Ê Comcast Corporation (ãComcastä) wishes to take advantage of the ãsafe harborä provided for by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and you are cautioned that actual events or results may differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Comcast.Ê Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) the businesses of Comcast and AT&T Broadband may not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected combination benefits from the transaction may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; (3) revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; (4) operating costs, customer loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers, may be greater than expected following the transaction; (5) the regulatory approvals required for the transaction may not be obtained on the proposed terms or on the anticipated schedule; (6) the effects of legislative and regulatory changes; (7) the potential for increased competition; (8) technological changes; (9) the need to generate substantial growth in the subscriber base by successfully launching, marketing and providing services in identified markets; (10) pricing pressures which could affect demand for Comcastâs services; (11) Comcastâs ability to expand its distribution; (12) changes in labor, programming, equipment and capital costs; (13) Comcastâs continued ability to create or acquire programming and products that customers will find attractive; (14) future acquisitions, strategic partnerships and divestitures; (15) general business and economic conditions; and (16) other risks described from time to time in Comcastâs periodic
reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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COMCAST MAKES PROPOSAL
TO MERGE WITH AT&T BROADBAND
Offers $58 Billion for Core Broadband Assets
Plus Additional Value for Non-Core Investments
Strategic Combination Would Create World's Preeminent
Provider of Broadband Communications Services
PHILADELPHIA - July 8, 2001- Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA, CMCSK) today announced that it has made a proposal to AT&T (NYSE: T) to merge with AT&T's broadband business in a tax-free transaction. The combination would create the largest broadband communications provider in the world with approximately 22 million subscribers and leading positions in eight of the nation's 10 largest markets.
Terms of the proposed transaction:
Comcast would issue 1.0525 billion shares of Comcast stock with a value of $44.5 billion based on Friday's closing price and would assume $13.5 billion in debt for AT&T's core broadband business, which is composed of AT&T's 13.5 million cable subscribers and its joint venture interests.
Comcast is also prepared to acquire AT&T's interests in Time Warner Entertainment, Cablevision, and Rainbow Media by assuming more debt and issuing more equity to reflect their value.
AT&T shareholders would own a majority of the economic and voting interests of the combined company.
Comcast's offer delivers a multiple of 30x both 2000 EBITDA and annualized first quarter 2001 EBITDA, which in either case far exceeds the trading multiple of any publicly traded broadband company.
AT&T shareholders would receive a very substantial premium over published reports of the estimated value of AT&T's broadband business. Comcast's offer represents a value of over $4,000 per subscriber.
AT&T shareholders would receive Comcast shares valued at $12.60 per AT&T share based on Friday's closing price (75% of AT&T's current per share market value), while retaining complete ownership of AT&T's historical communications business that according to published reports has a value approaching $70 billion on a standalone basis. This combined value is dramatically higher than AT&T's current market value per share of $16.80 (after taking into account the AWE distribution).
Comcast expects to generate combination benefits of at least $1.25 billion annually upon the full integration of Comcast and AT&T Broadband, with a potential to increase these benefits to between $2.6 billion and $2.8 billion annually as the companies work together to improve AT&T Broadband's margins. As a result of these combination benefits, merging Comcast and AT&T Broadband would be value accretive to both groups of shareholders.
"This is an extremely compelling combination for AT&T and Comcast shareholders, customers and employees," said Mr. Ralph J. Roberts, Chairman of Comcast. "AT&T's board of directors has the opportunity not only to deliver a considerable premium to its shareholders, but also to create both tremendous growth and significant value for the long-term. In my judgment, the new company would be ideally positioned to chart the course for the future of broadband."
"Over the last several months, we held discussions with AT&T Broadband regarding this combination," said Mr. Brian L. Roberts, President of Comcast. "It's unfortunate that we were unable to continue our dialogue. At this point, however, we believe that AT&T's board of directors should consider our proposal before a proxy statement relating to its broadband tracking stock proposal is sent to AT&T shareholders later this month.
"Our proposal represents a dramatic acceleration of AT&T's plan to separate its broadband business," said Mr. Roberts. "This combination would unlock the value of AT&T's broadband assets while avoiding the market risks, costs and uncertainties related to AT&T's planned broadband IPO. Significantly, under our proposal, AT&T shareholders will be majority owners in the largest broadband company in the world. And given our track record, I'm confident that they will welcome our stock as currency."
Since its IPO in 1972, Comcast's stock has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 24% compared to 12% for the S&P 500. Since 1998, Comcast's stock price has appreciated nearly 168% compared to an approximately 23% increase for the S&P 500. When measured in periods of one, three, five, seven and ten years, Comcast's Class A Special shares have outperformed the cable composite index, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq.
Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch and Quadrangle Group are financial advisors to Comcast. Davis Polk & Wardwell is legal advisor to Comcast.
The full text of the letter submitted to the Board of Directors of AT&T is attached.
July 8, 2001
Mr. C. Michael Armstrong
Chairman and CEO
AT&T Corp.
32 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10013
Dear Mike:
Over many months of discussions we have shared a vision that AT&T Broadband and Comcast should be combined to create the world's leader in broadband communications. We believed those discussions were progressing towards a tax-free transaction that would dramatically accelerate your own plan to separate the broadband company. It is unfortunate that we were not able to agree on a basis for continuing our dialogue. Accordingly, we submit this offer to you for consideration by your Board before a proxy statement relating to your broadband tracking stock proposal is sent to your shareholders later this month.
Under our proposal Comcast would issue 1.0525 billion shares with a value of $44.5 billion based on Friday's closing price and assume $13.5 billion in debt for your core broadband business, which is composed of your 13.5 million cable subscribers as well as your joint venture interests. In addition, we are prepared to acquire your interests in TWE, Cablevision and Rainbow by assuming more debt and issuing more equity to reflect their values. Under our proposal your shareholders would own a majority of the economic and voting interests of the combined company in a transaction that would be tax-free to AT&T and all shareholders.
Our proposal values your core broadband business at $58 billion, which represents 30x both 2000 EBITDA and annualized first quarter 2001 EBITDA. AT&T shareholders would receive Comcast shares valued at $12.60 per AT&T share based on Friday's closing price, while retaining complete ownership of AT&T's historical communications business that according to published reports has a value approaching $70 billion on a standalone basis.This combined value is dramatically higher than your current market value per share of $16.80 after giving effect to the spin-off of AT&T Wireless.
Your shareholders would receive significantly more value through a combination with Comcast than through your planned restructuring. Not only does our proposal avoid the market risks, costs and uncertainties inherent in the planned broadband IPO, it values your business at a significant premium to your potential public market valuation. At 30x AT&T Broadband's annualized first quarter 2001 EBITDA, our offer far exceeds the trading multiple of any publicly traded broadband company. Put another way, our proposal delivers a very substantial premium over published reports of the estimated value of your broadband business.
After combining our broadband businesses, your shareholders will retain a majority of the future appreciation resulting from substantial combination benefits. Upon full integration of our broadband businesses, we expect the combination benefits will amount to at least $1.25 billion annually. This benefit could eventually increase to between $2.6 and $2.8 billion annually as we work together to raise the level of your margins. None of these figures take account of any new content, internet or other value creating opportunities. As a result of these combination benefits, merging our broadband companies will clearly be value accretive to both groups of shareholders.
Given the strength of Comcast's balance sheet we are confident that the new company would have an investment grade debt rating, a view which is shared by our financial advisors, Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch.
We understand that there were concerns within AT&T about Comcast's voting structure. As you know, multi-class structures are common in our industry and have not affected stock trading values. Our Class A Special shares have outperformed the cable composite index, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq in each of the last one, three, five, seven and ten year periods. We are confident that your shareholders would welcome our currency. In fact, 38 of your 50 largest institutional shareholders also have significant investments in Comcast.
Our proposal is subject to the negotiation of a definitive merger agreement. We are prepared to deliver a draft merger agreement as soon as you wish. We are confident that the combination does not present any significant regulatory issues.
In light of the significance of this proposal to both your shareholders and ours, we are publicly releasing the text of this letter.
We hope that you will work with us to make this vision a reality.
Respectfully submitted,
Ralph J. Roberts - Chairman of the Board
Brian L. Roberts - President
***************
Financial Community Meeting
Comcast Corporation will host a meeting with the financial community on July 9, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in New York.The meeting is being held in the ballroom (20th floor) of the St. Regis Hotel, which is on 55th Street between Madison and Fifth Avenues. The meeting will be broadcast live via the Internet at www.cmcsk.com.
In addition, the meeting will be available via teleconference by dialing 888-754-3420 (international: 212-346-7476). A telephone replay will be available beginning an hour following the meeting until July 16, 2001 at midnight Eastern Daylight Time. To access the rebroadcast, please dial 800-633-8284 (international callers: 858-812-6440) and enter code 19308891. An audio recording of the meeting will also be available on Comcast's website (www.cmcsk.com) starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 9 and ending at midnight Eastern Daylight Time on July 16, 2001.
Press Conference Call
Comcast Corporation will also host a press conference call on July 9, 2001 at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time in New York. To participate in the teleconference dial 888-732-8129 (international: 212-346-0261). A telephone replay will be available beginning an hour following the call until July 16, 2001 at midnight Eastern Daylight Time. To access the rebroadcast, please dial 800-633-8284 (international callers: 858-812-6440) and enter code 19309191.
In addition, the teleconference will also be broadcast live via the Internet at www.cmcsk.com. An audio recording of the call will be available on Comcast's website (www.cmcsk.com) starting at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time on July 9 ending at midnight Eastern Daylight Time on July 16, 2001.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In some cases, you can identify those so-called "forward-looking statements" by words such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts," "potential," or "continue," or the negative of those words and other comparable words. Comcast Corporation ("Comcast") wishes to take advantage of the "safe harbor" provided for by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and you are cautioned that actual events or results may differ materially from the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Comcast. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to: (1) the businesses of Comcast and AT&T Broadband may not be integrated successfully or such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; (2) expected combination benefits from the transaction may not be fully realized or realized within the expected time frame; (3) revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; (4) operating costs, customer loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers, may be greater than expected following the transaction; (5) the regulatory approvals required for the transaction may not be obtained on the proposed terms or on the anticipated schedule; (6) the effects of legislative and regulatory changes; (7) the potential for increased competition; (8) technological changes; (9) the need to generate substantial growth in the subscriber base by successfully launching, marketing and providing services in identified markets; (10) pricing pressures which could affect demand for Comcast's services; (11) Comcast's ability to expand its distribution; (12) changes in labor, programming, equipment and capital costs; (13) Comcast's continued ability to create or acquire programming and products that customers will find attractive; (14) future acquisitions, strategic partnerships and divestitures; (15) general business and economic conditions; and (16) other risks described from time to time in Comcast's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
# # #
Investor Contact:
Marlene S. Dooner, Vice President, Investor Relations (215) 981-7392
William E. Dordelman, Vice President, Finance (215) 981-7550
Kelley L. Claypool, Manager, Investor Relations (215) 981-7729
Media Contact:
The Abernathy MacGregor Group (212) 371-5999
Adam Miller, Steve Frankel, Brian Faw
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December 19, 2001 / AT&T Broadband to Merge...
September 28, 2001 / Comcast Signs Confidentiality ...
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> I just learned, through an extremely reliable source, that the planned Comcast/A.T. & T. merger would not be going forward as planned due to a highly unexpected degree of Comcast shareholder dissatisfaction with the deal. A.T.& T. head honcho Michael Armstrong's reign as the "cable wizard of Oz" may soon be coming to an abrupt end. His convoluted explanations of why almost every fundamental decision or strategy that he has undertaken has actually been necessary for the long term success of the organization, regardless of the apparent damage it has done to shareholder wealth on a continuous downward spiral basis, are apparently now falling on recently deafened ears. Ears that have been badly shell shocked by revelations of similar corporate malfeasance at Adelphia, Charter, Time Warner and other otherwise venerable institutions. Shades of the failed Bell Atlantic buyout of T.C.I. before Malone pulled the wool over Armstrong's eyes! Anybody else heard any such stirrings?
This is CABL.com posting #81011. Tiny Link: cabl.co/mveN
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