home
***
CD-ROM
|
disk
|
FTP
|
other
***
search
/
Ian & Stuart's Australian Mac: Not for Sale
/
Another.not.for.sale (Australia).iso
/
hold me in your arms
/
Michael Ney's Cyberculture
/
Cyberculture
/
Bell Atlantic, TCI, Liberty Med
< prev
next >
Wrap
Text File
|
1994-09-02
|
6KB
|
131 lines
Topic 247 Bell Atlantic, TCI, Liberty Media
peg:visionary cyberculture zone 11:27 PM Oct 25, 1993
Date: 13 October 1993 5:27:01 PM
From: Preston Adams,OneNet Boulder
Subject: Bell Atlantic, TCI, Liberty Media
To: Wired Magazine,OneNet Boulder
Unless you have been hiding under a rock today, you can help but be
aware of the Bell Atlantic / TCI merger announcement. It's everywhere -
CNN, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, broadcast news, local
newspapers, etc. Is anyone else interested in the significance of the
Telco/Cable connection and its business implications?
The following text is the complete Bell Atlantic internal announcement:
BELL ATLANTIC, TCI AND LIBERTY MEDIA TO MERGE
7:30 a.m., Oct. 13, 1993 - Bell Atlantic, Tele-Communications Inc. (TCI)
and Liberty Media Corp. today announced they have signed a letter of
intent to merge, creating the world's premier communications,
information and entertainment company.
The new Bell Atlantic will be one of the largest information
distribution and multimedia companies in the world, defining a new
industry with considerable programming and delivery resources. It will
have a presence in 59 of the top 100 U.S. markets, with more than 22
million current telephone and cable customers. It will have substantial
growth opportunities in its existing businesses, as well as in the new
multibillion-dollar personal communications services (PCS) and
multimedia television markets. And it will solidify America's
information age leadership, generating jobs and exports well into
the 21st century.
"Bell Atlantic, TCI and Liberty Media combine leading telephone,
wireless and cable networks in the United States and overseas with
cutting edge video programming and new interactive, multimedia
technologies," said Ray Smith, Bell Atlantic chairman and CEO.
"This is the perfect information age marriage."
He said that for each and every one of us, this proposed merger means
growth. "Our company just grew in a way that will help us stay close to
our customers, giving them a wealth of new services - whenever, wherever
and however they want them. Customers of the new Bell Atlantic will be
among the earliest beneficiaries of an integrated full service network -
from on-demand entertainment, to 'go anywhere' personal communications,
to two-way, personalized information services such as banking,
education, shopping, health care and more."
Smith will continue as chairman and CEO of the merged Bell Atlantic. TCI
President and CEO/ Liberty Media Chairman John Malone will become vice
chairman and a director of the corporation, and will play a key role in
the new Bell Atlantic.
"One of the reasons this deal makes sense is that Bell Atlantic clearly
has evolved into a smart, aggressive competitor that knows how to take
care of customers and take advantage of growth opportunities," Malone said.
Smith said Bell Atlantic is committed to expanding its capabilities
quickly within its region. "We will complete fiber optic video network
capabilities in some areas in 1994 and in our top 20 current markets by
1988. And we will take advantage of the skills and commitment of TCI
employees to accelerate construction in major TCI markets beginning soon
after we close this deal," he said.
Profile of TCI and Liberty Media
TCI is the largest cable television provider in the world, serving more
than 20 percent of the U.S. cable customer base. Its 1,200 cable systems
serve more than 10 million subscribers in 49 states, Puerto Rico and
Washington, d.C. The company also holds interests in cable operations in
the United Kingdom, Norway, Sweden, New Zealand, Israel and Ireland. In
addition, it owns substantial interests in such programming ventures as
Turner Broadcasting and the discovery Channel.
Liberty Media has extensive programming holdings, including interests in
the Black Entertainment Network, Prime Network, Family Channel, QVC,
Home Shopping Network and many sports programming ventures. Liberty
Media also holds interest in 17 cable systems serving some three million
customers.
Terms of the Merger
Today's agreement paves the way for final negotiations on the merger
agreement. The companies expect to close the transaction in the second
half of 1994.
Under the letter of intent, the goal of the transaction is to merge
substantially all of the combined TCI - Liberty Media assets with Bell
Atlantic - except for cable properties in Bell Atlantic's telephone
service area and certain other assets.
Bell Atlantic would accomplish the merger by issuing a new Class B Bell
Atlantic common stock, which is not expected to pay dividends for five
years. For the purpose of this transaction, the Class B shares will be
valued at $84 each.
The parties estimate that if the merger were done today with current
cash flows, Bell Atlantic would issue about 220 million Class B shares.
this stock-for-stock transaction would be worth $11.8 billion, and Bell
Atlantic would assume approximately $9.6 billion of TCI and Liberty
Media debt.
Employee Question Lines Established
Two phone lines have been established for employees to call with
questions about the merger. Call your questions in on
USA (703) 974-8028 or 8029.
Bell Atlantic announces Intention to Exit Financial Services Business
In another announcement today, Bell Atlantic said it hired an investment
banker to evaluate strategies for exiting its financial services
business. This is in line with the company's previously stated intention
to de-emphasize non-strategic holdings.
"As we focus more intensely than ever on our core strategic business,
we need to focus our financial resources, as well, on our core business,"
said Bill Alberini, vice president and chief financial officer.
"Current public and private market conditions are favorable for
such a transaction."
Bell Atlantic's financial services businesses include diversified
leasing, computer leasing and real estate companies.
__________________________________________________________