Could this be the sort of catalyst we need to move this market????
Comcast Makes Proposal to Merge With AT&T Broadband; Offers $58 Billion for Core Broadband Assets Plus Additional Value for Non-Core Investments
7/8/2001 4:50:00 PM
PHILADELPHIA, Jul 8, 2001 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Comcast Corporation (CMCSA) today announced that it has made a proposal to AT&T (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 Brian L. Roberts
Chairman of the Board 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 (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 (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 (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 (CALLERS:) 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.
CONTACT: Investor Contact:
Marlene S. Dooner, 215/981-7392
Vice President, Investor Relations
or
William E. Dordelman, 215/981-7550
Vice President, Finance
or
Kelley L. Claypool, 215/981-7729
Manager, Investor Relations
or
Media Contact:
The Abernathy MacGregor Group
Adam Miller or Steve Frankel or Brian Faw, 212/371-5999
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