The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying preliminary prospectus are not offering to sell or soliciting an offer to buy, nor shall there be any offer or sale of, the securities to which this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus relate in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or sale is not permitted.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration Statement No. 333-173760
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 20, 2012
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated April 28, 2011)
£ % Notes due 2042
The % Notes due 2042, which we refer to as the notes, will be issued by Time Warner Cable Inc. and will be guaranteed by our subsidiaries, Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. and TW NY Cable Holding Inc. (together, the Guarantors). The notes and related guarantees will be unsecured and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our and the Guarantors respective unsecured and unsubordinated obligations from time to time outstanding.
The notes will mature on , 2042 and bear interest at a rate of % per year. Interest on the notes will be payable annually on of each year, beginning on , 2013.
We may redeem any of the notes at any time by paying the greater of the principal amount of such notes or a make-whole amount, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest. See Description of the NotesOptional Redemption.
Investing in the notes involves risks. See the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the risks that are described in the Risk Factors section of this prospectus supplement beginning on page S-7.
We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange. Currently, there is no public market for the notes.
Per Note due 2042 |
Total | |||||||
Public Offering Price |
% | £ | ||||||
Underwriting Discount |
% | £ | ||||||
Proceeds to Time Warner Cable |
% | £ |
Interest on the notes will accrue from June , 2012.
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or foreign securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Delivery of the notes in book-entry form will be made only through Clearstream Banking S.A. Luxembourg and the Euroclear System on or about June , 2012 against payment in immediately available funds.
Book-Running Managers
Barclays | Deutsche Bank | The Royal Bank of Scotland |
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is June , 2012.
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S-i
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the terms of the notes that we are currently offering. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which may not apply to the notes that we are currently offering. Generally, the term prospectus refers to both parts combined.
If the information varies between this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, the information in this prospectus supplement supersedes the information in the accompanying prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus that we may provide to you. No person is authorized to provide you with different information or to offer the notes in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. We do not, and the underwriters and their affiliates do not, take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these notes. The information in this document or any document incorporated by reference herein may only be accurate on the date of the document in which it is contained.
Unless the context otherwise requires, references to Time Warner Cable, TWC, our company, we, us and our in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus are references to Time Warner Cable Inc. and its subsidiaries. Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. is referred to herein as TWE. TW NY Cable Holding Inc. is referred to herein as TW NY, and together with TWE, the Guarantors. Terms used in this prospectus supplement that are otherwise not defined will have the meanings given to them in the accompanying prospectus.
The notes are being offered only for sale in jurisdictions where it is lawful to make such offers. Offers and sales of the notes in the European Union and the United Kingdom are subject to restrictions, the details of which are set out in the section entitled Underwriting. The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in other jurisdictions may also be restricted by law. Persons who receive this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, 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 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 offer or solicitation. See Underwriting beginning on page S-28 of this prospectus supplement.
References in this prospectus supplement to $, dollars and U.S. dollars are to the currency of the United States of America; references to £ and Sterling are to the currency of the United Kingdom.
IN CONNECTION WITH THE ISSUE OF THE NOTES, BARCLAYS BANK PLC (IN THIS CAPACITY, THE STABILIZING MANAGER) (OR ANY PERSON ACTING ON ITS BEHALF) MAY OVER-ALLOT NOTES OR EFFECT TRANSACTIONS WITH A VIEW TO SUPPORTING THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES AT A LEVEL HIGHER THAN THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO ASSURANCE THAT THE STABILIZING MANAGER (OR PERSONS ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE STABILIZING MANAGER) WILL UNDERTAKE ANY STABILIZATION ACTION. ANY STABILIZATION ACTION MAY BEGIN ON OR AFTER THE DATE ON WHICH ADEQUATE PUBLIC DISCLOSURE OF THE FINAL TERMS OF THE OFFER OF THE NOTES IS MADE, AND, IF BEGUN, MAY BE ENDED AT ANY TIME, BUT IT MUST END NO LATER THAN THE EARLIER OF 30 DAYS AFTER THE ISSUE OF THE NOTES AND 60 DAYS AFTER THE DATE OF THE ALLOTMENT OF THE NOTES.
ANY STABILIZATION ACTION COMMENCED WILL BE CARRIED OUT IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
S-1
In this prospectus supplement, we incorporate by reference certain information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC), which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to that information. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus supplement, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement:
| Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 (filed February 17, 2012), including portions of the proxy statement for our 2012 annual meeting of stockholders (filed April 3, 2012) to the extent specifically incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the 2011 Form 10-K); |
| Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2012 (filed April 26, 2012) (the March 2012 Form 10-Q); and |
| Current reports on Form 8-K filed on February 23, 2012, February 29, 2012 (except for Items 7.01 and 9.01 therein), May 2, 2012 and May 22, 2012. |
All documents and reports that we file with the SEC (other than any portion of such filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, from the date of this prospectus supplement until the termination of the offering under this prospectus supplement shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by reference. The information contained on our website (http://www.twc.com) is not incorporated into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus. The reference to our website is intended to be an inactive textual reference.
S-2
The Company
We are among the largest providers of video, high-speed data and voice services in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered cable systems located mainly in five geographic areasNew York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio and Kentucky, Southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. On February 29, 2012, we completed our acquisition of Insight Communications Company, Inc. and its subsidiaries (Insight). As of March 31, 2012, we served approximately 15.4 million customers who subscribed to one or more of our three primary services, totaling approximately 28.9 million primary service units (PSUs).
We offer our residential and business services customers video, high-speed data and voice services over our broadband cable systems. Our business services also include networking and transport services (including cell tower backhaul services) and, through our wholly owned subsidiary, NaviSite, Inc., managed and outsourced information technology solutions and cloud services. We also sell advertising to a variety of national, regional and local customers.
We market our services separately and in bundled packages of multiple services and features. As of March 31, 2012, 61.1% of our customers subscribed to two or more of our primary services, including 27.3% of our customers who subscribed to all three primary services.
For a description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information regarding us, see our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies of these and our other filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, see Where You Can Find More Information in the accompanying prospectus.
Corporate Information and Corporate Structure
The following is a brief description of Time Warner Cable, TWE and TW NY:
Time Warner Cable Inc.
Time Warner Cable is the issuer of the notes that are the subject of this offering. Time Warner Cable is a holding company that derives its operating income and cash flow from its investments in its subsidiaries, which include the Guarantors. Although TWC and its predecessors have been in the cable business for over 40 years in various legal forms, Time Warner Cable Inc. was incorporated as a Delaware corporation on March 21, 2003. Its principal executive office, and that of the Guarantors, is located at 60 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023, USA, Telephone (212) 364-8200.
Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
TWE is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of ours. TWE was formed as a Delaware limited partnership in 1992.
TW NY Cable Holding Inc.
TW NY is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of ours. TW NY was incorporated as a Delaware corporation in 2004 and is a holding company with no independent assets of its own.
The following chart illustrates our corporate structure and our direct or indirect ownership interest in our principal subsidiaries as of March 31, 2012. The chart is included in order to show our debt structure, including the principal amount of our outstanding debt securities and the principal amount of TWEs debt securities as of March 31, 2012, after giving effect to the offering of the notes and the use of proceeds therefrom. See Use of Proceeds. Certain of our intermediate entities and certain preferred interests held by us or our subsidiaries are not reflected. The PSUs within each entity indicate the approximate number of PSUs attributable to cable systems owned by such entity as of March 31, 2012.
S-3
(1) | In July 2012, 100% of the aggregate principal amount of TWCs $1.5 billion 5.4% senior notes due 2012 will mature. |
(2) | On April 27, 2012, we entered into a $3.5 billion senior unsecured five-year revolving credit facility (the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility) and, concurrently with the effectiveness of the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility, we terminated the $4.0 billion senior unsecured three-year revolving credit facility (the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility). |
(3) | The principal amount of TWEs debt securities excludes an unamortized fair value adjustment of $75 million. On May 1, 2012, 100% of the aggregate principal amount of TWEs $250 million 10.150% senior notes due 2012 matured and were repaid. In October 2012, 100% of the aggregate principal amount of TWEs $350 million 8.875% senior notes due 2012 will mature. |
(4) | TWC is also the obligor under an intercompany loan from TWE with an aggregate principal amount of $7.172 billion. |
(5) | Time Warner NY Cable LLC is also the obligor under an intercompany loan from TWC with an aggregate principal amount of $8.702 billion. |
(6) | The PSUs and economic ownership interests listed in the chart for the Time Warner Entertainment-Advance/Newhouse Partnership (TWE-A/N) relate only to those TWE-A/N systems in which we have an economic interest and over which we exercise day-to-day supervision. |
(7) | On April 2, 2012, 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Insights 9.375% senior notes due 2018 were fully redeemed. |
S-4
The summary below describes the principal terms of the offering and is not intended to be complete. You should carefully read the Description of the Notes section of this prospectus supplement and Description of the Debt Securities and the Guarantees in the accompanying prospectus for a more detailed description of the notes offered hereby.
Issuer |
Time Warner Cable Inc. |
Securities Offered |
£ aggregate principal amount of % Notes due 2042 |
Maturity Date |
The notes will mature on , 2042 |
Interest |
Interest on the notes will accrue at the rate of % per year, payable annually in cash in arrears on of each year, beginning on , 2013. Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the date from which interest begins to accrue for the period (or from June , 2012 if no interest has been paid on the notes) to, but excluding, the next scheduled interest payment date. If the scheduled interest payment date is not a business day, then interest will be paid on the first business day following the scheduled interest payment date. Interest periods are unadjusted. The day count convention is ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA). |
Currency of Payment |
All payments of interest and principal, including any payments made upon any redemption of the notes, will be made in Sterling, or, if the United Kingdom adopts euro as its lawful currency, in euro. If Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated into euro, euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until Sterling or euro, as the case may be, is again available to us or so used. |
Denomination |
We will issue the notes in minimum denominations of £100,000 and in multiples of £1,000 in excess thereof. |
Guarantors |
TWE and TW NY |
Guarantees |
The notes will be fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed by TWE and TW NY. |
Ranking |
The notes will be our unsecured senior obligations and will rank equally in right of payment with our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations from time to time outstanding. |
The guarantees will be unsecured senior obligations of each of TWE and TW NY, as applicable, and will rank equally in right of payment with other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations from time to time outstanding of TWE and TW NY, respectively. |
Please read Description of the NotesRanking in this prospectus supplement and Description of the Debt Securities and the GuaranteesRanking and Subordination in the accompanying prospectus. Please also see Description of the Debt Securities and the GuaranteesGuarantees in the accompanying prospectus for a discussion of the structural subordination of the notes with respect to the assets of certain of our subsidiaries. |
S-5
Optional Redemption |
We may redeem all or part of the notes at our option at a redemption price equal to the greater of: |
| 100% of the principal amount of the notes being redeemed; and |
| the Make-Whole Amount, as defined in Description of the NotesOptional Redemption in this prospectus supplement for the notes being redeemed; |
plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the redemption date. |
Additional Amounts |
We will, subject to certain exceptions and limitations set forth herein, pay additional amounts on the notes as are necessary in order that the net payment by us or a paying agent of the principal of and interest on the notes to a holder who is not a United States person, after withholding or deduction for any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States or a taxing authority in the United States will not be less than the amount provided in the notes to be then due and payable. See Description of the NotesPayment of Additional Amounts. |
Redemption for Tax Reasons |
We may offer to redeem all, but not less than all, of the notes in the event of certain changes in the tax laws of the United States (or any taxing authority in the United States). This redemption would be at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest on the notes to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption. See Description of the NotesRedemption for Tax Reasons. |
Use of Proceeds |
We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of debt. See Use of Proceeds for further details. |
Listing |
We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange. |
Trustee |
The Bank of New York Mellon |
Paying and Transfer Agent |
The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch |
Book-Entry |
The notes will be issued in book-entry form and will be represented by global notes deposited with, or on behalf of, a common depositary on behalf of Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg (Clearstream) and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (Euroclear) and registered in the name of the common depositary or its nominee. Beneficial interests in any of the notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by Clearstream and Euroclear and their participants, and these beneficial interests may not be exchanged for certificated notes, except in limited circumstances. See Description of the NotesBook-Entry Delivery and Settlement in this prospectus supplement. |
Governing Law |
State of New York |
S-6
Investing in the notes offered hereby involves risks. Prior to deciding to purchase any notes, prospective investors should consider carefully all of the information set forth in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein. In particular, you should carefully consider the risk factors that are incorporated by reference to the section entitled Item 1A. Risk Factors in the 2011 Form 10-K. See Incorporation by Reference in this prospectus supplement and Where You Can Find More Information in the accompanying prospectus. Some factors in the Risk Factors section of the 2011 Form 10-K are forward-looking statements. For a discussion of those statements and of other factors for investors to consider, see Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information in the accompanying prospectus and Caution Concerning Forward-Looking Statements in the 2011 Form 10-K and the March 2012 Form 10-Q.
An investment in the notes by a purchaser whose home currency is not Sterling entails significant risks.
An investment in the notes by a purchaser whose home currency is not Sterling entails significant risks. These risks include the possibility of significant changes in rates of exchange between the holders home currency and Sterling and the possibility of the imposition or subsequent modification of foreign exchange controls. These risks generally depend on factors over which we have no control, such as economic, financial and political events and the supply of and demand for the relevant currencies. In the past, rates of exchange between Sterling and certain currencies have been highly volatile, and each holder should be aware that volatility may occur in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange rate that have occurred in the past, however, are not necessarily indicative of fluctuations in the rate that may occur during the term of the notes. Depreciation of Sterling against the holders home currency would result in a decrease in the effective yield of the notes below its coupon rate and, in certain circumstances, could result in a loss to the holder.
The notes permit us to make payments in U.S. dollars if we are unable to obtain Sterling.
If Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated in euro, euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until Sterling or euro, as the case may be, is again available to us. The amount payable on any date in Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated in euro, euro will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the then most recently available market exchange rate for Sterling or euro, as the case may be. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the senior indenture.
In a lawsuit for payment on the notes, an investor may bear currency exchange risk.
The notes will be governed by the laws of the State of New York. Under New York law, a New York state court rendering a judgment on the notes would be required to render the judgment in Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated in euro, euro. However, the judgment would be converted into U.S. dollars at the exchange rate prevailing on the date of entry of the judgment. Consequently, in a lawsuit for payment on the notes, investors would bear currency exchange risk until a New York state court judgment is entered, which could be a long time. A Federal court sitting in New York with diversity jurisdiction over a dispute arising in connection with the notes would apply the foregoing New York law.
In courts outside of New York, investors may not be able to obtain a judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars. For example, a judgment for money in an action based on the notes in many other U.S. federal or state courts ordinarily would be enforced in the United States only in U.S. dollars. The date used to determine the rate of conversion of Sterling or euro into U.S. dollars would depend upon various factors, including which court renders the judgment.
The trading market for the notes may be limited.
The notes are a new issue of securities for which no established trading market exists. If an active trading market does not develop for the notes, investors may not be able to resell them. Although we expect the notes to
S-7
be listed for trading on the New York Stock Exchange, no assurance can be given that a trading market for the notes will develop. The underwriters for this offering have advised us that they intend to make a market in the notes after completion of the offering. However, the underwriters are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making at any time. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or trading market for, the notes. The lack of a trading market could adversely affect investors ability to sell the notes and the price at which investors may be able to sell the notes. The liquidity of the trading market, if any, and future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, among other things, the number of holders of the notes, our operating results, financial performance and prospects, prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities and the overall securities market, and may be adversely affected by unfavorable changes in these factors.
S-8
Principal and interest payments in respect of the notes will be payable in Sterling or, if the United Kingdom adopts euro as its lawful currency, in euro. If Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated into euro, euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control, then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until Sterling or euro, as the case may be, is again available to us. The amount payable on any date in Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated into euro, euro will be converted into U.S. dollars on the basis of the most recently available market exchange rate for Sterling or euro, as the case may be. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the senior indenture.
Investors will be subject to foreign exchange risks as to payments of principal and interest that may have important economic and tax consequences to them. See Risk Factors.
As of June , 2012, the Sterling/U.S. $ rate of exchange was £1.00 /U.S. $ .
S-9
We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of £ , or $ , based on the Sterling/U.S. $ rate of exchange as of June , 2012, after deducting the estimated underwriting discount and our estimated offering expenses. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include the repayment of debt.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS
TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements are set forth below for the periods indicated. For periods in which earnings before fixed charges were insufficient to cover fixed charges, the dollar amount of coverage deficiency (in millions), instead of the ratio, is disclosed.
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings were calculated by adding:
(i) | pretax net income, |
(ii) | interest expense, |
(iii) | preferred stock dividend requirements of majority-owned companies, |
(iv) | adjustments for partially-owned subsidiaries and 50%-owned companies, and |
(v) | the amount of undistributed losses (earnings) of our less than 50%-owned companies. |
The definition of earnings also applies to our unconsolidated 50%-owned affiliated companies.
Fixed charges primarily consist of interest expense.
Earnings, as defined, include significant noncash charges for depreciation and amortization primarily relating to the amortization of intangible assets recognized in business combinations.
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2012 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (deficiency in the coverage of fixed charges by earnings before fixed charges) |
2.5x | 2.6x | 2.6x | 2.4x | $ | (13,063 | ) | 3.1x | ||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements (deficiency in the coverage of combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements deficiency) |
2.5x | 2.6x | 2.6x | 2.4x | $ | (13,063 | ) | 3.1x |
S-10
The following table sets forth our cash position and capitalization as of March 31, 2012, on an actual basis and on an as adjusted basis after giving effect to this offering and the application of the net proceeds from this offering. See Use of Proceeds.
You should read this information in conjunction with Use of Proceeds included elsewhere in this prospectus supplement and Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition and our historical financial statements and related notes in the 2011 Form 10-K and the March 2012 Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.
March 31, 2012 | ||||||||
Actual | As Adjusted |
|||||||
(in millions) | ||||||||
Cash and equivalents |
$ | 2,629 | $ | |||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Debt: |
||||||||
Credit facility and commercial paper program(1) |
$ | | $ | | ||||
TWC notes and debentures: |
||||||||
$1.5 billion 5.400% senior notes due 2012 |
1,505 | 1,505 | ||||||
$1.5 billion 6.200% senior notes due 2013 |
1,536 | 1,536 | ||||||
$750 million 8.250% senior notes due 2014 |
775 | 775 | ||||||
$1.0 billion 7.500% senior notes due 2014 |
1,044 | 1,044 | ||||||
$500 million 3.500% senior notes due 2015 |
525 | 525 | ||||||
$2.0 billion 5.850% senior notes due 2017 |
2,134 | 2,134 | ||||||
$2.0 billion 6.750% senior notes due 2018 |
1,991 | 1,991 | ||||||
$1.25 billion 8.750% senior notes due 2019 |
1,237 | 1,237 | ||||||
$2.0 billion 8.250% senior notes due 2019 |
1,991 | 1,991 | ||||||
$1.5 billion 5.000% senior notes due 2020 |
1,476 | 1,476 | ||||||
$700 million 4.125% senior notes due 2021 |
696 | 696 | ||||||
$1.0 billion 4.000% senior notes due 2021 |
992 | 992 | ||||||
£625 million 5.750% senior notes due 2031(2) |
997 | 997 | ||||||
$1.5 billion 6.550% senior debentures due 2037 |
1,492 | 1,492 | ||||||
$1.5 billion 7.300% senior debentures due 2038 |
1,496 | 1,496 | ||||||
$1.5 billion 6.750% senior debentures due 2039 |
1,461 | 1,461 | ||||||
$1.2 billion 5.875% senior debentures due 2040 |
1,177 | 1,177 | ||||||
$1.25 billion 5.500% senior debentures due 2041 |
1,228 | 1,228 | ||||||
Notes offered hereby |
| |||||||
TWE notes and debentures:(3) |
||||||||
$250 million 10.150% senior notes due 2012(4) |
251 | 251 | ||||||
$350 million 8.875% senior notes due 2012 |
354 | 354 | ||||||
$1.0 billion 8.375% senior debentures due 2023 |
1,029 | 1,029 | ||||||
$1.0 billion 8.375% senior debentures due 2033 |
1,044 | 1,044 | ||||||
Insight notes:(5) |
||||||||
$322 million 9.375% senior notes due 2018 |
380 | 380 | ||||||
Capital leases |
28 | 28 | ||||||
Mandatorily redeemable preferred equity issued by a subsidiary(6) |
300 | 300 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total debt and mandatorily redeemable preferred equity issued by a subsidiary |
27,139 | |||||||
TWC shareholders equity: |
||||||||
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 8.3 billion shares authorized, 313.4 million shares issued and outstanding |
3 | 3 | ||||||
Additional paid-in capital |
7,966 | 7,966 | ||||||
Retained earnings |
100 | 100 | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net |
(551 | ) | (551 | ) | ||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total TWC shareholders equity |
7,518 | 7,518 | ||||||
Noncontrolling interests |
8 | 8 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total equity |
7,526 | 7,526 | ||||||
|
|
|
|
|||||
Total capitalization |
$ | 34,665 | $ | |||||
|
|
|
|
S-11
(1) | This represents amounts borrowed under our $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility and commercial paper program. For more information about the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility, the commercial paper program and our outstanding debt, please see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial ConditionFinancial Condition and LiquidityOutstanding Debt and Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Equity and Available Financial Capacity in the 2011 Form 10-K and the March 2012 Form 10-Q. Our unused committed borrowing capacity as of March 31, 2012 was $6.485 billion, reflecting $3.856 billion of available borrowing capacity under the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility (which reflects a reduction of $144 million for outstanding letters of credit backed by the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility), as well as $2.629 billion of cash and equivalents. On April 27, 2012, we entered into the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility and, concurrently with the effectiveness of the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility, we terminated the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility. |
(2) | Amounts outstanding as of March 31, 2012 under the £625 million 5.750% senior notes due 2031 are valued using the exchange rate at that date. |
(3) | The recorded value of each series of TWEs debt securities exceeds that series face value because it includes an unamortized fair value adjustment recorded in connection with the 2001 merger of AOL Inc. (formerly America Online, Inc.) and Historic TW Inc. (formerly Time Warner Inc.) and bond discount/premium at issuance, which is being amortized as a reduction of the weighted average interest expense over the term of the indebtedness. The aggregate amount of fair value adjustments for all classes of TWE debt securities was $75 million as of March 31, 2012. For more information regarding our outstanding debt, please see Managements Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial ConditionFinancial Condition and LiquidityOutstanding Debt and Mandatorily Redeemable Preferred Equity and Available Financial Capacity in the 2011 Form 10-K and the March 2012 Form 10-Q. |
(4) | 100% of the aggregate principal amount of TWEs $250 million 10.150% senior notes due 2012 matured and were repaid on May 1, 2012. |
(5) | 100% of the aggregate principal amount of Insights 9.375% senior notes due 2018 were fully redeemed on April 2, 2012. |
(6) | The mandatorily redeemable preferred equity issued by a subsidiary represents mandatorily redeemable non-voting Series A Preferred Equity Membership Units (the TW NY Cable Series A Preferred Membership Units) issued by Time Warner NY Cable LLC, which pay quarterly cash distributions at an annual rate equal to 8.210% of the sum of the liquidation preference thereof and any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon. The TW NY Cable Series A Preferred Membership Units mature and are redeemable on August 1, 2013. |
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We are offering £ aggregate principal amount of our notes. We will issue the notes and the related Guarantees (as defined below) under the senior indenture referred to in the accompanying prospectus. The following description of the particular terms of the notes offered hereby and the related guarantees supplements the description of the general terms and provisions of the senior debt securities set forth under Description of the Debt Securities and the Guarantees beginning on page 6 in the accompanying prospectus. This description replaces the description of the senior debt securities in the accompanying prospectus, to the extent of any inconsistency.
General
The notes will mature on , 2042.
We will pay interest on the notes at the rate of % per year, payable annually on of each year, beginning on , 2013, to holders of record as at the close of the business day prior to the interest payment date.
The notes will initially be limited to £ aggregate principal amount, which aggregate principal amount may, without notice to or the consent of holders of the notes, be increased in the future on the same terms and conditions as such series of notes, except with respect to terms such as the issue date, issue price and first payment of interest on such series of notes.
The notes will be issued in minimum denominations of £100,000 and integral multiples of £1,000 in excess thereof.
Issuance in Sterling
Initial holders will be required to pay for the notes in Sterling, and principal and interest payments in respect of the notes will be payable in Sterling. If, on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, the United Kingdom adopts euro, in lieu of Sterling, as its lawful currency, the notes will be redenominated in euro on a date determined by us, with a principal amount for each note equal to the principal amount of that note in Sterling, converted into euro at the rate established by the applicable law; provided that, if we determine after consultation with the paying agent that the then current market practice in respect of redenomination into euro of internationally offered securities is different from the provisions specified above, such provisions will be deemed to be amended so as to comply with such market practice and we will promptly notify the trustee and the paying agent of such deemed amendment. We will give 30 days notice of the redenomination date to the paying agent, the trustee, Euroclear and Clearstream.
If Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated in euro, euro is unavailable to us due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond our control (other than due to the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph), then all payments in respect of the notes will be made in U.S. dollars until Sterling or euro, as the case may be, is again available to us. The amount payable on any date in Sterling or, in the event the notes are redenominated in euro, euro will be converted to U.S. dollars on the basis of the then most recently available market exchange rate for Sterling or euro, as the case may be. Any payment in respect of the notes so made in U.S. dollars will not constitute an event of default under the senior indenture. Neither the Trustee nor the Paying Agent shall be responsible for obtaining exchange rates, effecting conversions or otherwise handling redenominations.
Business Day
The term business day means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or The City of London are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.
Interest Payments
Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days in the period for which interest is being calculated and the actual number of days from and including the date from which interest begins
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to accrue for the period (or from June , 2012 if no interest has been paid on the notes) to, but excluding, the next scheduled interest payment date. If the scheduled interest payment date is not a business day, then interest will be paid on the first business day following the scheduled interest payment date. Interest periods are unadjusted. The day count convention is ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA).
For more information on payment and transfer procedures for the notes, see Book-Entry Delivery and Settlement below.
Guarantees
Under the Guarantees, each of TWE and TW NY, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, will fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each holder of the notes and to the Senior Indenture Trustee and its successors and assigns, (1) the full and punctual payment of principal and interest on the notes when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of ours under the senior indenture (including obligations to the Senior Indenture Trustee) and the notes and (2) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of ours under the senior indenture and the notes. Such guarantees will constitute guarantees of payment, performance and compliance and not merely of collection (the Guarantees).
The obligations of each of TWE and TW NY under the Guarantee will be limited as necessary to prevent that Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable law; however, this limitation may not be effective to avoid such Guarantee from constituting a fraudulent conveyance. We cannot assure you that this limitation will protect the Guarantees from fraudulent transfer challenges or, if it does, that the remaining amount due and collectible under the Guarantees would suffice, if necessary, to pay the notes in full when due. In a recent bankruptcy case, this kind of provision was found to be unenforceable and, as a result, the subsidiary guarantees in that case were found to be fraudulent conveyances. We do not know if that case will be followed if there is litigation on this point under the senior indenture. However, if it is followed, the risk that the Guarantees will be found to be fraudulent conveyances will be significantly increased.
We describe the terms of the Guarantees in more detail under the heading Description of the Debt Securities and the GuaranteesGuarantees in the accompanying prospectus.
Ranking
The notes offered hereby will be unsecured senior obligations of ours and will rank equally with other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of ours. The Guarantees will be unsecured senior obligations of TWE and TW NY, as applicable, and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of TWE and TW NY, respectively.
The notes and the Guarantees will effectively rank junior in right of payment to any of our or the Guarantors existing and future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations. We and the Guarantors collectively had no more than $28 million of secured obligations as of March 31, 2012.
The notes and the Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness and trade payables, of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. As of March 31, 2012, our non-guarantor subsidiaries had total liabilities of approximately $8.151 billion (excluding intercompany liabilities payable to the Guarantors or us but including approximately $6.194 billion in deferred income taxes). The senior indenture does not limit the amount of unsecured indebtedness or other liabilities that can be incurred by our non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Furthermore, we and TW NY are holding companies with no material business operations. The ability of each of us and TW NY to service our respective indebtedness and other obligations is dependent primarily upon the earnings and cash flow of our and TW NYs respective subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment to us or TW NY of such earnings or cash flow.
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Existing Indebtedness
The following is a summary of the existing public debt and committed credit facility of our company and the Guarantors. The following summary does not include intercompany obligations. Please see the information incorporated herein by reference for a further description of this indebtedness as well as our and our subsidiaries other indebtedness. In addition to the following indebtedness, one of our non-guarantor subsidiaries, Time Warner NY Cable LLC, has issued $300 million of its Series A Preferred Membership Units, which are subject to mandatory redemption on August 1, 2013.
Time Warner Cable Inc.
As of March 31, 2012, the aggregate committed amount under the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility, including amounts reserved to support letters of credit, was $4.0 billion. As of March 31, 2012, there were letters of credit totaling $144 million outstanding under the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility and no outstanding commercial paper. Our unused committed capacity was $6.485 billion as of March 31, 2012, reflecting $3.856 billion of available borrowing capacity under the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility and $2.629 billion of cash and equivalents. On April 27, 2012, we entered into the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility and, concurrently with the effectiveness of the new facility, we terminated the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility.
As of March 31, 2012, the aggregate principal amount outstanding of all our debt securities under the senior indenture was $23.651 billion. In addition, we are a guarantor of the debt securities issued by TWE.
TWE
As of March 31, 2012, the aggregate principal amount outstanding of public debt securities of TWE was $2.600 billion. On May 1, 2012, 100% of the aggregate principal amount of TWEs $250 million 10.150% senior notes due 2012 matured and were repaid. As of March 31, 2012, TWE did not have any outstanding bank debt and TWE was a guarantor under the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility. TWE is currently a guarantor under the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility and our commercial paper program.
TW NY
As of March 31, 2012, TW NY did not have any outstanding public debt or bank debt and TW NY was a guarantor under the $4.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility. TW NY is currently a guarantor under the $3.5 billion Revolving Credit Facility and our commercial paper program.
Release of Guarantors
The senior indenture for the notes provides that any Guarantor may be automatically released from its obligations if such Guarantor has no outstanding Indebtedness For Borrowed Money (as defined in the accompanying prospectus), other than any other guarantee of Indebtedness For Borrowed Money that will be released concurrently with the release of such guarantee. However, there is no covenant in the senior indenture that would prohibit any such Guarantor from incurring Indebtedness For Borrowed Money after the date such Guarantor is released from its guarantee. In addition, although the senior indenture for the notes limits the overall amount of secured Indebtedness For Borrowed Money that can be incurred by us and our subsidiaries, it does not limit the amount of unsecured indebtedness that can be incurred by us and our subsidiaries. Thus, there is no limitation on the amount of indebtedness that could be structurally senior to the notes. See Description of the Debt Securities and the GuaranteesGuarantees in the accompanying prospectus.
Optional Redemption
We will have the right at our option to redeem any of the notes in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to their maturity, on at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, prior notice mailed (or otherwise transmitted in accordance with the procedures of the depositary) to the registered address of each holder of notes,
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at a redemption price (calculated by us) equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such notes and (ii) the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on an annual basis (ACTUAL/ACTUAL (ICMA)) at the Comparable Government Bond Rate plus basis points (the Make-Whole Amount) plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to, but not including, the date of redemption.
Comparable Government Bond Rate means the price, expressed as a percentage (rounded to three decimal places, 0.0005 being rounded upwards), at which the gross redemption yield on the notes, if they were to be purchased at such price on the third business day prior to the date fixed for redemption, would be equal to the gross redemption yield on such business day of the Comparable Government Bond (as defined below) on the basis of the middle market price of the Comparable Government Bond prevailing at 11:00 a.m. (London time) on such business day as determined by an independent investment bank selected by us.
Comparable Government Bond means, in relation to any Comparable Government Bond Rate calculation, at the discretion of an independent investment bank selected by us, a United Kingdom government bond whose maturity is closest to the maturity of the notes, or if such independent investment bank in its discretion considers that such similar bond is not in issue, such other United Kingdom government bond as such independent investment bank may, with the advice of three brokers of, and/or market makers in, United Kingdom government bonds selected by such independent investment bank, determine to be appropriate for determining the Comparable Government Bond Rate.
Remaining Scheduled Payments means, with respect to each note to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such note, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be deemed to be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.
On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or any portion of the notes called for redemption (unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with the trustee money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and (unless the redemption date shall be an interest payment date) accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date on the notes to be redeemed on such date. If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the trustee by such method as the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and in accordance with applicable depositary procedures. Additionally, we may at any time repurchase notes in the open market and may hold or surrender such notes to the trustee for cancellation.
The notes are also subject to redemption prior to maturity if certain events occur involving United States taxation. If any of these special tax events do occur, the notes may be redeemed at a redemption price of 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption. See Redemption for Tax Reasons.
Payment of Additional Amounts
We will, subject to the exceptions and limitations set forth below, pay as additional interest on the notes such additional amounts as are necessary in order that the net payment by us or a paying agent of the principal of and interest on the notes to a holder who is not a United States person (as defined below), after withholding or deduction for any present or future tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by the United States or a taxing authority in the United States will not be less than the amount provided in the notes to be then due and payable; provided, however, that the foregoing obligation to pay additional amounts shall not apply:
(1) | to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the holder, or a fiduciary, settlor, beneficiary, member or shareholder of the holder if the holder is an estate, trust, partnership or corporation, or a person holding a power over an estate or trust administered by a fiduciary holder, being considered as: |
(a) | being or having been engaged in a trade or business in the United States or having or having had a permanent establishment in the United States; |
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(b) | having a current or former connection with the United States (other than a connection arising solely as a result of the ownership of the notes, the receipt of any payment or the enforcement of any rights hereunder), including being or having been a citizen or resident of the United States; |
(c) | being or having been a personal holding company, a passive foreign investment company or a controlled foreign corporation with respect to the United States or a corporation that has accumulated earnings to avoid United States federal income tax; |
(d) | being or having been a 10-percent shareholder of Time Warner Cable as defined in section 871(h)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the Code) or any successor provision; or |
(e) | being a bank receiving payments on an extension of credit made pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business; |
(2) | to any holder that is not the sole beneficial owner of the notes, or a portion of the notes, or that is a fiduciary, partnership or limited liability company, but only to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to the fiduciary, a beneficial owner or member of the partnership or limited liability company would not have been entitled to the payment of an additional amount had the beneficiary, settlor, beneficial owner or member received directly its beneficial or distributive share of the payment; |
(3) | to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the holder or any other person to comply with certification, identification or information reporting requirements concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with the United States of the holder or beneficial owner of the notes, if compliance is required by statute, by regulation of the United States or any taxing authority therein or by an applicable income tax treaty to which the United States is a party as a precondition to exemption from such tax, assessment or other governmental charge; |
(4) | to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed otherwise than by withholding by us or a paying agent from the payment; |
(5) | to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for a change in law, regulation, or administrative or judicial interpretation that becomes effective more than 15 days after the payment becomes due or is duly provided for, whichever occurs later; |
(6) | to any estate, inheritance, gift, sales, excise, transfer, wealth, capital gains or personal property tax or similar tax, assessment or other governmental charge; |
(7) | to any withholding or deduction that is imposed on a payment to an individual and that is required to be made pursuant to any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, any European Union Directive on the taxation of savings; |
(8) | to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge required to be withheld by any paying agent from any payment of principal of or interest on any note, if such payment can be made without such withholding by at least one other paying agent; |
(9) | to any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that would not have been imposed but for the presentation by the holder of any note, where presentation is required, for payment on a date more than 30 days after the date on which payment became due and payable or the date on which payment thereof is duly provided for, whichever occurs later; or |
(10) | in the case of any combination of items (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8) and (9). |
The notes are subject in all cases to any tax, fiscal or other law or regulation or administrative or judicial interpretation applicable to the notes. Except as specifically provided under this heading Payment of Additional Amounts, we will not be required to make any payment for any tax, assessment or other governmental charge imposed by any government or a political subdivision or taxing authority of or in any government or political subdivision.
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As used under this heading Payment of Additional Amounts and under the heading Redemption for Tax Reasons, the term United States means the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia and any political subdivision thereof), and the term United States person means any individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia (other than a partnership that is not treated as a United States person under any applicable Treasury regulations), or any estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
Redemption for Tax Reasons
If, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, the laws (or any regulations or rulings promulgated under the laws) of the United States (or any taxing authority in the United States), or any change in, or amendments to, an official position regarding the application or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings, which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on or after the date of this prospectus supplement, we become or, based upon a written opinion of independent counsel selected by us, will become obligated to pay additional amounts as described herein under the heading Payment of Additional Amounts with respect to the notes, then we may at any time at our option redeem, in whole, but not in part, the notes on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior notice, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest on those notes to, but not including, the date fixed for redemption.
Additional Information
See Description of the Debt Securities and the Guarantees in the accompanying prospectus for additional important information about the notes. That information includes:
| additional information about the terms of the notes; |
| general information about the senior indenture and the Senior Indenture Trustee; |
| a description of certain covenants under the senior indenture; and |
| a description of events of default, notice and waiver under the senior indenture. |
Book-Entry Delivery and Settlement
We have obtained the information in this section concerning Clearstream and Euroclear and their book-entry systems and procedures from sources that we believe to be reliable. We take no responsibility for an accurate portrayal of this information. In addition, the description of the clearing systems in this section reflects our understanding of the rules and procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear as they are currently in effect. Those systems could change their rules and procedures at any time.
The notes will initially be represented by one or more fully registered global notes. Each such global note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a common depositary, and registered in the name of the nominee of the common depositary for the accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear. You may hold your interests in the global notes in Europe through Clearstream or Euroclear, either as a participant in such systems or indirectly through organizations which are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests in the global notes on behalf of their respective participating organizations or customers through customers securities accounts in Clearstreams or Euroclears names on the books of their respective depositaries. Book-entry interests in the notes and all transfers relating to the notes will be reflected in the book-entry records of Clearstream and Euroclear.
The distribution of the notes will be cleared through Clearstream and Euroclear. Any secondary market trading of book-entry interests in the notes will take place through Clearstream and Euroclear participants and will settle in same-day funds. Owners of book-entry interests in the notes will receive payments relating to their notes in Sterling.
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Clearstream and Euroclear have established electronic securities and payment transfer, processing, depositary and custodial links among themselves and others, either directly or through custodians and depositaries. These links allow securities to be issued, held and transferred among the clearing systems without the physical transfer of certificates. Special procedures to facilitate clearance and settlement have been established among these clearing systems to trade securities across borders in the secondary market.
The policies of Clearstream and Euroclear will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to the investors interest in securities held by them. We have no responsibility for any aspect of the records kept by Clearstream or Euroclear or any of their direct or indirect participants. We also do not supervise these systems in any way.
Clearstream and Euroclear and their participants perform these clearance and settlement functions under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers. You should be aware that they are not obligated to perform or continue to perform these procedures and may modify them or discontinue them at any time.
Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the notes will not be entitled to have the notes registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the notes in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the notes under the senior indenture, including for purposes of receiving any reports delivered by us or the trustee pursuant to the senior indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a note must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if such person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, in order to exercise any rights of a holder of notes.
Clearstream
Clearstream has advised that it is incorporated under the laws of Luxembourg and licensed as a bank and professional depositary. Clearstream holds securities for its participating organizations and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream provides to its participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing. Clearstream interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Clearstream has established an electronic bridge with the Euroclear operator to facilitate the settlement of trades between Clearstream and Euroclear. As a registered bank in Luxembourg, Clearstream is subject to regulation by the Luxembourg Commission for the Supervision of the Financial Sector. Clearstream customers are recognized financial institutions around the world, including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Clearstream is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream participant, either directly or indirectly.
Distributions with respect to notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream participants in accordance with its rules and procedures.
Euroclear
Euroclear has advised that it was created in 1968 to hold securities for its participants and to clear and settle transactions between Euroclear participants through simultaneous electronic book-entry delivery against payment, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates and any risk from lack of simultaneous transfers of securities and cash. Euroclear includes various other services, including securities lending and borrowing and interfaces with domestic markets in several countries. Euroclear is operated by Euroclear Bank S.A. /N.V. (the Euroclear Operator). All operations are conducted by the Euroclear Operator, and all Euroclear securities clearance accounts and Euroclear cash accounts are accounts with the Euroclear Operator. Euroclear participants include banks (including central banks), securities brokers and dealers and other professional financial intermediaries and may include the underwriters. Indirect access to Euroclear is also
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available to other firms that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Euroclear participant, either directly or indirectly.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of Euroclear, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the Terms and Conditions). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants, and has no records of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.
Distributions with respect to the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
Clearance and Settlement Procedures
We understand that investors that hold their notes through Clearstream or Euroclear accounts will follow the settlement procedures that are applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form. Notes will be credited to the securities custody accounts of Clearstream and Euroclear participants on the business day following the settlement date, for value on the settlement date. They will be credited either free of payment or against payment for value on the settlement date.
We understand that secondary market trading between Clearstream and/or Euroclear participants will occur in the ordinary way following the applicable rules and operating procedures of Clearstream and Euroclear. Secondary market trading will be settled using procedures applicable to conventional eurobonds in registered form.
You should be aware that investors will only be able to make and receive deliveries, payments and other communications involving the notes through Clearstream and Euroclear on days when those systems are open for business. Those systems may not be open for business on days when banks, brokers and other institutions are open for business in the United States.
In addition, because of time-zone differences, there may be problems with completing transactions involving Clearstream and Euroclear on the same business day as in the United States. U.S. investors who wish to transfer their interests in the notes, or to make or receive a payment or delivery of the notes, on a particular day, may find that the transactions will not be performed until the next business day in Luxembourg or Brussels, depending on whether Clearstream or Euroclear is used.
Clearstream or Euroclear will credit payments to the cash accounts of Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, as applicable, in accordance with the relevant systems rules and procedures, to the extent received by its depositary. Clearstream or the Euroclear Operator, as the case may be, will take any other action permitted to be taken by a holder under the senior indenture on behalf of a Clearstream customer or Euroclear participant only in accordance with its relevant rules and procedures.
Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of the notes among participants of Clearstream and Euroclear. However, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform those procedures, and they may discontinue those procedures at any time.
Certificated Notes
Subject to certain conditions, the notes represented by the global notes are exchangeable for certificated notes in definitive form of like tenor in minimum denominations of £100,000 principal amount and multiples of £1,000 in excess thereof if:
(1) | the common depositary provides notification that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for the global notes and a successor is not appointed within 90 days; |
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(2) | we in our discretion at any time determine not to have all the notes represented by the global note; or |
(3) | default entitling the holders of the applicable notes to accelerate the maturity thereof has occurred and is continuing. |
Any note that is exchangeable as above is exchangeable for certificated notes issuable in authorized denominations and registered in such names as the common depositary shall direct. Subject to the foregoing, a global note is not exchangeable, except for a global note of the same aggregate denomination to be registered in the name of the common depositary (or its nominee).
Same-Day Payment
Payments (including principal, premium and interest) and transfers with respect to notes in certificated form may be executed at the office or agency maintained for such purpose within the City of London (initially the office of the paying agent maintained for such purpose) or, at our option, by check mailed to the holders thereof at the respective addresses set forth in the register of holders of the applicable notes, provided that all payments (including principal, premium and interest) on notes in certificated form, for which the holders thereof have given wire transfer instructions, will be required to be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer, but payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or governmental charge payable in connection with that registration may be required.
The paying agent for the notes will initially be The Bank of New York Mellon, London Branch.
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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
The following is a general summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S. Holders and to Non-U.S. Holders, each as defined below, and of the material U.S. federal estate tax consequences to a Non-U.S. Holder, of the purchase of the notes at original issuance at their initial issue price, as well as the ownership and disposition of the notes by U.S. Holders and Non-U.S. Holders. This discussion is based on the Code, Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code, administrative pronouncements or practices, and judicial decisions, all as of the date hereof. Future legislative, judicial, or administrative modifications, revocations, or interpretations, which may or may not be retroactive, may result in U.S. federal tax consequences significantly different from those discussed herein. This discussion is not binding on the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the IRS). No ruling has been or will be sought or obtained from the IRS with respect to any of the U.S. federal tax consequences discussed herein. There can be no assurance that the IRS will not challenge any of the conclusions discussed herein or that a U.S. court will not sustain such a challenge.
This discussion does not address any U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, U.S. federal estate, gift or other non-income tax (except as expressly provided below), or any state, local or non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, or disposition of a note. In addition, this discussion does not address the U.S. federal income tax consequences to beneficial owners of notes subject to special rules, including, for example, beneficial owners that (i) are banks, financial institutions or insurance companies, (ii) are regulated investment companies or real estate investment trusts, (iii) are brokers, dealers or traders in securities or currencies, (iv) are tax-exempt organizations, (v) hold notes as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale, conversion transaction, or other integrated investment, (vi) acquire notes as compensation for services, (vii) are U.S. Holders (as defined below) that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, (viii) use a mark-to-market method of accounting, or (ix) are U.S. expatriates.
As used in this discussion, a Holder means a beneficial owner of a note. A U.S. Holder means a Holder that is: (i) an individual citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a corporation or any other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes organized under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income tax regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust that (a) is subject to the primary jurisdiction of a court within the United States and for which one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all substantial decisions or (b) has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. If a Holder is a partnership or any other entity or arrangement taxable as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a Partnership), the U.S. federal income tax consequences to an owner of or partner in such Partnership generally will depend on the status of such owner or partner and on the activities of such Partnership. A Holder that is a Partnership and any owners or partners in such Partnership are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, or disposition of a note. As used herein, a Non-U.S. Holder means a Holder that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a Partnership.
This discussion assumes that a note will be a capital asset, within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, in the hands of a Holder at all relevant times. This discussion also assumes that the notes were not issued with original issue discount that exceeded a statutorily defined de minimis amount, and that a Holder did not purchase notes at a market discount that exceeded a statutorily defined de minimis amount or at a premium.
A HOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT ITS OWN TAX ADVISOR REGARDING THE APPLICATION OF U.S. FEDERAL TAX LAWS TO ITS PARTICULAR CIRCUMSTANCES AND ANY TAX CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY STATE, LOCAL, NON-U.S., OR OTHER TAXING JURISDICTION OR UNDER ANY APPLICABLE TAX TREATY.
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Tax Considerations for a U.S. Holder
Payments of Interest
Stated interest on a note generally will be taxable to a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income either when it accrues or when it is received in accordance with a U.S. Holders method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
U.S. Holders that use the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting for tax purposes must recognize income equal to the U.S. dollar value of the Sterling received as a payment of interest (which includes proceeds in Sterling from a sale, exchange, or other disposition of the notes to the extent attributable to accrued interest), determined by translating the Sterling amount into U.S. dollars at the spot rate in effect on the date of receipt, regardless of whether the Sterling received is actually converted into U.S. dollars. U.S. Holders that use an accrual method of accounting for tax purposes may determine the amount of income recognized with respect to the Sterling received on each interest payment date by using one of two methods. Under the first method, the amount of income accrued is determined by translating the Sterling amount into U.S. dollars at the average exchange rate in effect during the accrual period (or, if the accrual period spans two taxable years, at the exchange rate for the partial period within the taxable year). U.S. Holders may elect, under the second method, to determine the amount of income accrued on the basis of the spot rate in effect on the last day of the accrual period (or the last day of the taxable year in the case of an accrual period that straddles the U.S. Holders taxable year) (and may use the spot rate on the date the interest payment is received if that date is within five days of the end of the accrual period). U.S. Holders that make this election must apply it consistently to all debt instruments from year to year and cannot change the election without the consent of the IRS. Accrual method U.S. Holders will recognize foreign currency gain or loss on the receipt of an interest payment (including a payment attributable to accrued but unpaid interest upon the sale or retirement of a note) if the spot rate of exchange on the date the payment is received differs from the rate applicable to a previous accrual of that interest income. Such foreign currency gain or loss generally will be treated as ordinary income or loss, but generally will not be treated as an adjustment to interest income received on the notes.
Sale or Other Disposition of a Note
A U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the U.S. dollar value of cash received plus the fair market value of any property received (less any amount received in respect of accrued but unpaid interest not previously included in income, which will be taxable as ordinary income), and (ii) such U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in the note. A U.S. Holder that uses the cash receipts and disbursements method of accounting determines the amount realized in U.S. dollars by using the relevant spot exchange rate on the settlement date of the disposition of the note(s), provided that the notes are traded on an established securities market. A U.S. Holder that uses an accrual method of accounting may elect such treatment for all purchases and sales for foreign currency of stock or securities traded on an established securities market (which election cannot be changed without the consent of the IRS). Absent such an election, the amount realized by an accrual method U.S. Holder in U.S. dollars is the U.S. dollar value of the Sterling (or other currency) received, determined at the spot rate on the trade date of the sale, exchange or retirement of the note(s). A U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in a note generally will be the U.S. dollar value of the Sterling purchase price on the settlement date of the purchase. Gain or loss realized upon the taxable disposition of a note that is attributable to fluctuations in currency exchange rates will be ordinary income or loss and such income or loss will not be treated as interest income or expense. Payments received on a disposition that are attributable to accrued stated interest will be treated in accordance with the foreign currency exchange gain and loss rules applicable to payments of stated interest (and described above). Furthermore, the gain or loss of a U.S. Holder attributable to fluctuations in currency exchange rates will be the difference between (i) the U.S. dollar value of the U.S. Holders purchase price for the note, determined using the spot rate on the date the note is disposed of, and (ii) the U.S. dollar value of the purchase price for the note, determined using the spot rate on the date the U.S. Holder acquired the note. The 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 disposition of the note. Any gain or loss realized in excess of the foreign currency gain or loss will be capital gain or loss.
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Gain or loss recognized on the sale, exchange, retirement, or other taxable disposition of a note (except gain or loss attributable to foreign currency gains or losses) generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. Holders holding period in such note exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains of a non-corporate U.S. Holder are taxed at preferential rates, and the deductibility of capital losses is subject to significant limitations.
A U.S. Holder that purchases notes with previously owned Sterling will generally recognize gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between such U.S. Holders basis in the Sterling and the U.S. dollar fair market value of the notes on the date of purchase. Any such gain or loss generally will be ordinary income or loss.
Tax Return Disclosure Requirement
A U.S. Holder may be required to report a sale, retirement or other disposition of notes or a payment of accrued stated interest on the notes on IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement) if such holder recognizes an exchange loss that exceeds U.S. $50,000 in a single year with respect to the notes, in the case of an individual or trust, or higher amounts in the case of non-individual U.S. Holders. U.S. Holders are advised to consult their tax advisors in this regard.
Medicare Tax on Net Investment Income
For taxable years beginning after December 31, 2012, certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts will be subject to a 3.8% tax on all or a portion of their net investment income, which may include all or a portion of their interest income and net gains from the disposition of notes. Each U.S. Holder that is an individual, estate or trust is urged to consult its tax advisors regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to its income and gains in respect of its investment in the notes.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
Backup withholding may apply to a non-corporate U.S. Holder that (i) fails to furnish its taxpayer identification number (TIN), which for an individual is his or her social security number, (ii) furnishes an incorrect TIN, (iii) is notified by the IRS that it failed properly to report certain interest or dividends, or (iv) fails, under certain circumstances, to provide a certified statement, signed under penalty of perjury, that it is a U.S. person, that the TIN provided is correct, and that it has not been notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding. The application for exemption is available by providing a properly completed IRS Form W-9 (or successor form). These requirements generally do not apply with respect to certain U.S. Holders, including corporations, tax-exempt organizations, qualified pension and profit sharing trusts, certain financial institutions and individual retirement accounts. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld from a payment to a U.S. Holder under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a credit against such Holders U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such Holder to a refund, provided that certain required information is timely furnished to the IRS. A Holder is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in its particular circumstances, the availability of an exemption from backup withholding and the procedure for obtaining any such available exemption.
Tax Considerations for a Non-U.S. Holder
The rules governing the U.S. federal taxation of a Non-U.S. Holder are complex. A Non-U.S. Holder is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the application of U.S. federal tax laws, including any information reporting requirements, to its particular circumstances and any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, non-U.S., or other taxing jurisdiction.
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U.S. Federal Income Tax
Subject to the discussion of back-up withholding below, payments of interest (including additional amounts described under Description of the NotesPayment of Additional Amounts above, if any) on a note to a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax if such interest will qualify as portfolio interest. Interest on a note paid to a Non-U.S. Holder will qualify as portfolio interest if:
| for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Non-U.S. Holder does not own directly or indirectly, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of Time Warner Cable stock entitled to vote; |
| for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Non-U.S. Holder is not a controlled foreign corporation related directly or indirectly to us through stock ownership; |
| such interest is not effectively connected with such Non-U.S. Holders conduct of a trade or business in the United States; |
| such Non-U.S. Holder is not a bank receiving interest described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code; and |
| the certification requirement, described below, has been fulfilled with respect to such Non-U.S. Holder of the note. |
The certification requirement will be fulfilled if either (i) the Non-U.S. Holder provides to the United States payor an IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form), signed under penalty of perjury, that includes such Non-U.S. Holders name, address and a certification as to its non-U.S. status, or (ii) a securities clearing organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business holds the note on behalf of such Non-U.S. Holder, and provides to the United States payor a statement, signed under penalty of perjury, in which such organization, bank or other financial institution certifies that it has received an IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) from such Non-U.S. Holder or from another financial institution acting on behalf of such Non-U.S. Holder and provides to the United States payor a copy thereof. Other methods might be available to satisfy the certification requirement depending on a Non-U.S. Holders particular circumstances.
The gross amount of any payment of interest (including additional amounts described under Description of the NotesPayment of Additional Amounts above, if any) on a Non-U.S. Holders note that does not qualify for the portfolio interest exception will be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax at the statutory rate of 30% unless (i) such Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly completed IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) claiming an exemption from or reduction in withholding of U.S. federal income tax under an applicable income tax treaty, or (ii) such interest is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment) by such Non-U.S. Holder and such Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly completed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form). If the notes are held through an intermediary, the exemption from or reduction in withholding of U.S. federal income tax may be conditioned upon the intermediarys compliance with certain documentation requirements.
Subject to the discussion below concerning backup withholding, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or to withholding of U.S. federal income tax on any gain realized on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other disposition of a note unless (i) such Non-U.S. Holder is an individual present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of such disposition and other applicable conditions are met, or (ii) such gain is effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business by such Non-U.S. Holder and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment maintained by such Non-U.S. Holder.
If a Non-U.S. Holder is engaged in a U.S. trade or business and interest on a note or gain realized on the disposition of a note is effectively connected with the conduct of such U.S. trade or business, such Non-U.S. Holder generally will be subject to regular U.S. federal income tax on such interest (including additional amounts described under Description of the NotesPayment of Additional Amounts above, if any) and gain on a net income basis at graduated rates in the same manner as if such Non-U.S. Holder were a
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U.S. Holder, unless an applicable income tax treaty provides otherwise. See Tax Considerations for a U.S. Holder above. In addition, any such Non-U.S. Holder that is a non-U.S. corporation may be subject to the branch profits tax on its effectively connected earnings and profits for the taxable year, subject to certain adjustments, at the statutory rate of 30% unless such rate is reduced or the branch profits tax is eliminated by an applicable tax treaty. Although such effectively connected income will be subject to U.S. federal income tax, and may be subject to the branch profits tax, it generally will not be subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax if a Non-U.S. Holder provides a properly completed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form).
U.S. Federal Estate Tax
A note held or treated as held by an individual who is a non-resident of the U.S. (as specially defined for U.S. federal estate tax purposes) at the time of his or her death will not be subject to U.S. federal estate tax, provided that the interest on such note is exempt from withholding of U.S. federal income tax under the portfolio interest exemption discussed above (without regard to the certification requirement). An individual may be a Non-U.S. Holder but not a non-resident of the U.S. for U.S. federal estate tax purposes. A Non-U.S. Holder that is an individual is urged to consult its own tax advisor regarding the possible application of the U.S. federal estate tax to its particular circumstances, including the effect of any applicable treaty.
Tax Return Disclosure Requirement
A Non-U.S. Holder that holds the notes in connection with a U.S. trade or business may be required to report a sale, retirement or other disposition of notes or a payment of accrued stated interest on the notes on IRS Form 8886 (Reportable Transaction Disclosure Statement) if such Holder recognizes an exchange loss that exceeds U.S. $50,000 in a single year with respect to the notes, in the case of an individual or trust, or higher amounts in the case of non-individual Non-U.S. Holders. Non-U.S. Holders that hold the notes in connection with a U.S. trade or business are advised to consult their tax advisors in this regard.
Information Reporting and Backup Withholding
A Non-U.S. Holder may be subject, under certain circumstances, to information reporting and/or backup withholding at the applicable rate with respect to certain payments of principal or interest (including additional amounts described under Description of the NotesPayment of Additional Amounts above, if any) on a note and the proceeds of a disposition of a note before maturity.
The amount of interest on notes paid to a Non-U.S. Holder and the amount of any tax withheld in respect of such interest payments must generally be reported to the IRS and such Non-U.S. Holder. Copies of information returns that report such interest payments and any withholding of U.S. federal income tax may be made available to tax authorities in a country in which a Non-U.S. Holder is a resident under the provisions of an applicable income tax treaty.
If a Non-U.S. Holder provides the applicable IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) or other applicable form (together with all appropriate attachments, signed under penalties of perjury, and identifying such Non-U.S. Holder and stating that it is not a U.S. person), and the withholding agent has neither actual knowledge nor reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person, then such Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. backup withholding with respect to payments of principal or interest on notes. See Tax Considerations for a U.S. HolderInformation Reporting and Backup Withholding. Special rules apply to pass-through entities and this certification requirement may also apply to beneficial owners of pass-through entities.
Payment of the proceeds of a disposition of a note by a Non-U.S. Holder made to or through a U.S. office of a broker generally will be subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless such Non-U.S. Holder (i) certifies its non-U.S. status on IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) signed under penalty of perjury, or (ii) otherwise establishes an exemption. Payment of the proceeds of a disposition of a note by a Non-U.S. Holder made to or through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding unless such non-U.S. broker is a U.S. Related Person (as defined below). Payment of
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the proceeds of a disposition of a note by a Non-U.S. Holder made to or through a non-U.S. office of a U.S. broker or a U.S. Related Person generally will not be subject to backup withholding, but will be subject to information reporting, unless (i) such Non-U.S. Holder certifies its non-U.S. status on IRS Form W-8BEN (or successor form) signed under penalty of perjury, or (ii) such U.S. broker or U.S. Related Person has documentary evidence in its records as to the non-U.S. status of such Non-U.S. Holder and has neither actual knowledge nor reason to know that such Non-U.S. Holder is a U.S. person.
For this purpose, a U.S. Related Person is (i) a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, (ii) a non-U.S. 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 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, or (iii) a non-U.S. partnership if at any time during its taxable year one or more of its partners are U.S. persons who, in the aggregate, hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest of the partnership or if, at any time during its taxable year, the partnership is engaged in the conduct of a U.S. trade or business.
The foregoing discussion is for general information only and is not tax advice. Accordingly, you should consult your tax advisor as to the particular tax consequences to you of purchasing, holding and disposing of the notes, including the applicability and effect of any state, local, or non-U.S. tax laws and any tax treaty and any recent or prospective changes in any applicable tax laws or treaties.
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We are offering the notes described in this prospectus supplement through a number of underwriters. Barclays Bank PLC, Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch and The Royal Bank of Scotland plc are the representatives of the underwriters. We have entered into a firm commitment underwriting agreement with the underwriters listed below. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, the aggregate principal amount of the notes listed next to its name in the following table:
Underwriter |
Principal Amount of Notes due 2042 |
|||
Barclays Bank PLC |
£ | |||
Deutsche Bank AG, London Branch |
||||
The Royal Bank of Scotland plc |
||||
|
|
|||
Total |
£ | |||
|
|
The underwriting agreement is subject to a number of terms and conditions and provides that the underwriters must buy all of the notes if they buy any of them. The underwriters will sell the notes to the public when and if the underwriters buy the notes from us.
The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the notes to the public at the public offering prices set forth on the cover of this prospectus supplement and below. After the initial public offering of the notes, the offering price and other selling terms may be changed. The offering of the notes by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance and subject to the underwriters right to reject any order in whole or in part.
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds, before expenses, to us, both on a per note basis and in total, for the notes.
Per Note due 2042 |
Total | |||||||
Public Offering Price |
% | £ | ||||||
Underwriting Discount |
% | £ | ||||||
Proceeds to Time Warner Cable |
% | £ |
We estimate that our share of the total expenses of the offering, excluding the underwriting discount, will be approximately $150,000.
We and the Guarantors have agreed to jointly or severally indemnify the underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the underwriters may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
The notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market. We intend to apply to list the notes on the New York Stock Exchange. The underwriters may make a market in the notes after completion of the offering, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for the notes or that an active
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public market for the notes will develop. If an active public market for the notes does not develop, the market price and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.
In connection with the offering of the notes, the representatives may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the notes. Specifically, the representatives may over allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position. In addition, the representatives may bid for, and purchase, the notes in the open market to cover short positions or to stabilize the price of the notes. The underwriters also may impose a penalty bid. This occurs when a particular underwriter repays to the underwriters a portion of the underwriting discount received by it because the representatives have repurchased notes sold by or for the account of such underwriter in stabilizing or short covering transactions. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of the notes above independent market levels, but no representation is made hereby of the magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the market price of the notes. The underwriters will not be required to engage in these activities, and may engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities, at any time without notice. These transactions may be effected in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
The underwriters and their respective affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. Certain of the underwriters and their respective affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various financial advisory and investment banking services for the issuer, for which they received or will receive customary fees and expenses. Certain affiliates of the underwriters participating in this offering are or have been lenders under our bank credit facilities, for which they have received or will receive fees under agreements they have entered into with us.
In the ordinary course of their various business activities, the underwriters and their respective affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investment and securities activities may involve securities and instruments of ours or TWE. Certain of the underwriters or their affiliates that have a lending relationship with us routinely hedge their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, such underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions in our securities, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about June , 2012, which will be the fifth business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement being referred to as T+5). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade notes prior to the delivery of the notes hereunder will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes prior to their date of delivery hereunder should consult their advisors.
Selling Restrictions
In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive (each, a Relevant Member State), each underwriter has represented and agreed that with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the Relevant Implementation Date) it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement as completed by the final terms in relation thereto to the
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public in that Relevant Member State except that it may, with effect from and including the Relevant Implementation Date, make an offer of such notes to the public in that Relevant Member State:
(a) | at any time to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined in the Prospectus Directive; |
(b) | at any time to fewer than 100 or, if the Relevant Member State has implemented the relevant provision of the 2010 Amending Directive, 150, natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined in the Prospectus Directive) subject to obtaining the prior consent of the relevant Underwriter or Underwriters nominated by TWC for any such offer; or |
(c) | at any time in any other circumstances falling within Article 3(2) of the Prospectus Directive, |
provided that no such offer of notes referred to in (a) to (c) above shall require TWC, either Guarantor or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Directive or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 16 of the Prospectus Directive.
For the purposes of this provision, the expression an offer of notes to the public in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe to the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State and the expression Prospectus Directive means Directive 2003/71/EC (and amendments thereto, including the 2010 PD Amending Directive, to the extent implemented in the Relevant Member State) and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State and the expression 2010 PD Amending Directive means Directive 2010/73/EU.
Each Underwriter has represented and agreed that in relation to any notes offered or sold in the United Kingdom:
(a) | it has complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by it in relation to any notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom; and |
(b) | it has only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of section 21 of the FSMA) received by it in connection with the issue or sale of any notes in circumstances in which section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to TWC or the Guarantors. |
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Certain legal matters in connection with the offered notes will be passed upon for us, TWE and TW NY by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, New York. The underwriters are represented by OMelveny & Myers LLP, New York, New York.
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011 and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2011 as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in the accompanying prospectus, this prospectus supplement and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLPs reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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PROSPECTUS
Debt Securities
Preferred Stock
Common Stock
Depositary Shares
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
This prospectus contains a general description of the securities which we may offer for sale. The specific terms of the securities will be contained in one or more supplements to this prospectus. Read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.
The securities will be issued by Time Warner Cable Inc. The debt securities will be fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed on an unsecured basis by each of Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P. and TW NY Cable Holding Inc., subsidiaries of ours. See Description of the Debt Securities and the Guarantees Guarantees.
The common stock of Time Warner Cable Inc. is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol TWC.
Investing in our securities involves risks that are referenced under the caption Risk Factors on page 5 of this prospectus. You should carefully review the risks and uncertainties described under the heading Risk Factors contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in the other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
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 April 28, 2011.
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To understand the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus, you should carefully read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement. You should also read the documents referred to under the heading Where You Can Find More Information for information on Time Warner Cable Inc. and its financial statements. Certain capitalized terms used in this prospectus are defined elsewhere in this prospectus.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that Time Warner Cable Inc., a Delaware corporation, which is also referred to as Time Warner Cable, TWC, the Company, our company, we, us and our, has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a shelf registration procedure. Under this procedure, Time Warner Cable may offer and sell from time to time, any of the following, in one or more series, which we refer to in this prospectus as the securities:
| debt securities, |
| preferred stock, |
| common stock, |
| depositary shares, |
| warrants, |
| purchase contracts, and |
| units. |
The securities may be sold for U.S. dollars, foreign-denominated currency or currency units. Amounts payable with respect to any securities may be payable in U.S. dollars or foreign-denominated currency or currency units as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
The prospectus supplement may also contain information about any material U.S. Federal income tax considerations relating to the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.
We may sell securities to underwriters who will sell the securities to the public on terms fixed at the time of sale. In addition, the securities may be sold by us directly or through dealers or agents designated from time to time, which agents may be affiliates of ours. If we, directly or through agents, solicit offers to purchase the securities, we reserve the sole right to accept and, together with our agents, to reject, in whole or in part, any offer.
The prospectus supplement will also contain, with respect to the securities being sold, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, together with the terms of the offering, the compensation of any underwriters, dealers or agents and the net proceeds to us.
Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the offering may be deemed underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Securities Act.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Time Warner Cable files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may obtain such SEC filings from the SECs website at http://www.sec.gov. You can also read and copy these materials at the SECs public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain further information about the operation of the SECs public reference room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. You can also obtain information about Time Warner Cable at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Time Warner Entertainment Company, L.P.
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(TWE) and TW NY Cable Holding Inc. (TW NY and, together with TWE, the Guarantors) do not file separate reports, proxy statements or other information with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to in this prospectus as the Exchange Act.
As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules we file with the SEC. You may refer to the registration statement, exhibits and schedules for more information about us and the securities. The registration statement, exhibits and schedules are available through the SECs website or at its public reference room.
In this prospectus, we incorporate by reference certain information that we file with the SEC, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to that information. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. The following documents have been filed by us with the SEC and are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
| Annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 (filed February 18, 2011), including portions of the proxy statement for the 2011 annual meeting of stockholders (filed April 6, 2011) to the extent specifically incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the 2010 Form 10-K); |
| Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2011 (filed April 28, 2011) (the March 2011 Form 10-Q); |
| Current reports on Form 8-K filed on February 24, 2011 and February 28, 2011; and |
| The description of our capital stock in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed on February 28, 2007 and amended on March 12, 2009 and any amendment thereto. |
All documents and reports that we file with the SEC (other than any portion of such filings that are furnished under applicable SEC rules rather than filed) under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this prospectus until the completion of the offering under this prospectus shall be deemed to be incorporated in this prospectus by reference. The information contained on or accessible through our website (http://www.timewarnercable.com) is not incorporated into this prospectus.
You may request a copy of these filings, other than an exhibit to these filings unless we have specifically included or incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing, from the SEC as described under Where You Can Find More Information or, at no cost, by writing or telephoning Time Warner Cable at the following address:
Time Warner Cable Inc.
Attn: Investor Relations
60 Columbus Circle
New York, NY 10023
Telephone: 1-877-4-INFO-TWC
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement. We have not authorized any person, including any salesman or broker, to provide information other than that provided in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize or any pricing supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We do not take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. We are not making an offer of the securities in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement, any free writing prospectus that we authorize and any pricing supplement is accurate only as of the date on its cover page and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of such document incorporated by reference.
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Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
STATEMENTS REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Section 27A of the Securities Act, particularly statements anticipating future growth in revenues, Operating Income before Depreciation and Amortization, cash provided by operating activities and other financial measures. These statements may be made directly in this prospectus referring to us and they may also be made a part of this prospectus by reference to other documents filed with the SEC, which is known as incorporation by reference. Words such as anticipates, estimates, expects, projects, intends, plans, believes and words and terms of similar substance used in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance identify forward-looking statements. All of these forward-looking statements are based on managements current expectations and beliefs about future events. As with any projection or forecast, they are susceptible to uncertainty and changes in circumstances.
We operate in a highly competitive, consumer and technology driven and rapidly changing business that is affected by government regulation and economic, strategic, technological, political and social conditions. Various factors could adversely affect our operations, business or financial results in the future and cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including those factors discussed under Risk Factors or otherwise discussed in the 2010 Form 10-K and in our other filings made from time to time with the SEC after the date of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, as well as:
| increased competition from video, high-speed data and voice providers, particularly direct broadcast satellite operators, incumbent local telephone companies, companies that deliver programming over broadband Internet connections, and wireless broadband and phone providers; |
| the Companys ability to deal effectively with the current challenging economic environment or further deterioration in the economy, which may negatively impact customers demand for the Companys services and also result in a reduction in the Companys advertising revenues; |
| the Companys continued ability to exploit new and existing technologies that appeal to residential and commercial customers; |
| changes in the regulatory and tax environments in which the Company operates, including, among others, regulation of broadband Internet services, net neutrality legislation or regulation and federal, state and local taxation; |
| increased difficulty negotiating programming and retransmission agreements on favorable terms, resulting in increased costs to the Company and/or the loss of popular programming; and |
| changes in the Companys plans, initiatives and strategies. |
For additional information about factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, please see the documents that we have filed with the SEC, including quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our most recent annual report on Form 10-K, current reports on Form 8-K and proxy statements.
All subsequent forward-looking statements attributable to us, TWE or TW NY or any person acting on our or their behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. None of us, TWE or TW NY is under any obligation to, and each expressly disclaims any obligation to, update or alter any forward-looking statements whether as a result of such changes, new information, subsequent events or otherwise.
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We are the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., with technologically advanced, well-clustered systems located mainly in five geographic areasNew York State (including New York City), the Carolinas, Ohio, Southern California (including Los Angeles) and Texas. As of March 31, 2011, we served approximately 14.5 million residential and commercial customers who subscribed to one or more of our three primary subscription servicesvideo, high-speed data and voicetotaling approximately 26.9 million primary service units. We market our services separately and in bundled packages of multiple services and features. As of March 31, 2011, 59.5% of our residential and commercial customers subscribed to two or more of our primary services, including 25.9% of our customers who subscribed to all three primary services. We also sell advertising to a variety of national, regional and local advertising customers.
For a description of our business, financial condition, results of operations and other important information regarding us, see our filings with the SEC incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For instructions on how to find copies of the filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus, see Where You Can Find More Information.
Our principal executive office, and that of TWE and TW NY, is located at 60 Columbus Circle, New York, NY 10023, Telephone (212) 364-8200.
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Investing in our securities involves risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks discussed or incorporated by reference in the applicable prospectus supplement, together with all the other information contained in the prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement. You should also consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions discussed under the caption Risk Factors included in the 2010 Form 10-K, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED
FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for Time Warner Cable is set forth below for the periods indicated. For periods in which earnings before fixed charges were insufficient to cover fixed charges, the dollar amount of coverage deficiency (in millions), instead of the ratio, is disclosed.
For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings were calculated by adding:
(i) | pretax net income, |
(ii) | interest expense, |
(iii) | preferred stock dividend requirements of majority-owned companies, |
(iv) | adjustments for partially-owned subsidiaries and 50%-owned companies, and |
(v) | the amount of undistributed losses (earnings) of our less than 50%-owned companies. |
The definition of earnings also applies to our unconsolidated 50%-owned affiliated companies.
Fixed charges primarily consist of interest expense.
Earnings, as defined, include significant noncash charges for depreciation and amortization primarily relating to the amortization of intangible assets recognized in business combinations.
Three
Months Ended March 31, 2011 |
Year Ended December 31, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (deficiency in the coverage of fixed charges by earnings before fixed charges) |
2.6x | 2.6x | 2.4x | $ (13,063 | ) | 3.1x | 3.1x | |||||||||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements (deficiency in the coverage of combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements deficiency) |
2.6x | 2.6x | 2.4x | $ (13,063 | ) | 3.1x | 3.1x |
We will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. General corporate purposes may include additions to working capital, capital expenditures, repayment of debt, the financing of possible acquisitions and investments or stock repurchases.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES
General
The following description of the terms of our senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities (together, the debt securities) sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Unless otherwise noted, the general terms and provisions of our debt securities discussed below apply to both our senior debt securities and our subordinated debt securities. The particular terms of any debt securities and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions will not apply to such debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. In the following description, the term Guarantors refers to TWE and TW NY, as the guarantors of the debt securities.
Our debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt securities will be issued from time to time in series under an indenture dated as of April 9, 2007, among us, TWE, TW NY and The Bank of New York Mellon (formerly The Bank of New York), as Senior Indenture Trustee (as amended or supplemented from time to time, the senior indenture). The subordinated debt securities will be issued from time to time under a subordinated indenture to be entered into among us, TWE, TW NY and The Bank of New York Mellon, as Subordinated Indenture Trustee (the subordinated indenture and, together with the senior indenture, the indentures). The Senior Indenture Trustee and the Subordinated Indenture Trustee are both referred to, individually, as the Trustee. The senior debt securities will constitute our unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and the subordinated debt securities will constitute our unsecured and subordinated obligations. A detailed description of the subordination provisions is provided below under the caption Ranking and SubordinationSubordination. In general, however, if we declare bankruptcy, holders of the senior debt securities will be paid in full before the holders of subordinated debt securities will receive anything.
The statements set forth below are brief summaries of certain provisions contained in the indentures, which summaries do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the indentures, each of which is incorporated by reference as an exhibit or filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. Terms used herein that are otherwise not defined shall have the meanings given to them in the indentures. Such defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference.
The indentures do not limit the amount of debt securities which may be issued under the applicable indenture and debt securities may be issued under the applicable indenture up to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time by us. Any such limit applicable to a particular series will be specified in the prospectus supplement relating to that series.
The applicable prospectus supplement will disclose the terms of each series of debt securities in respect to which such prospectus is being delivered, including the following:
| the designation and issue date of the debt securities; |
| the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities is payable; |
| the rate or rates (or manner of calculation thereof), if any, per annum at which the debt securities will bear interest; |
| the date or dates, if any, from which interest will accrue and the interest payment date or dates for the debt securities; |
| any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities which may be authenticated and delivered under the applicable indenture; |
| the period or periods within which, the redemption price or prices or the repayment price or prices, as the case may be, at which and the terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed at the Companys option or the option of the holder of such debt securities (a Holder); |
| the obligation, if any, of the Company to purchase the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder of such debt securities and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation; |
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| if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the debt securities will be issuable; |
| provisions, if any, with regard to the conversion or exchange of the debt securities, at the option of the Holders of such debt securities or the Company, as the case may be, for or into new securities of a different series, the Companys common stock or other securities and, if such debt securities are convertible into the Companys common stock or other Marketable Securities (as defined in the indentures), the conversion price; |
| if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies or units based on or related to currencies in which the debt securities will be denominated and in which payments of principal of, and any premium and interest on, such debt securities shall or may be payable; |
| if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder of such debt securities, in a currency (including a composite currency) other than that in which such debt securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made; |
| if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index based on a currency (including a composite currency) other than that in which such debt securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined; |
| provisions, if any, related to the exchange of the debt securities, at the option of the Holders of such debt securities, for other securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount or of a different authorized series or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both; |
| the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities, if other than the principal amount thereof, which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof as more fully described under the section Events of Default, Notice and Waiver below; |
| whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary with respect to such global securities; |
| with respect to subordinated debt securities only, the amendment or modification of the subordination provisions in the subordinated indenture with respect to the debt securities; and |
| any other specific terms. |
We may issue debt securities of any series at various times and we may reopen any series for further issuances from time to time without notice to existing Holders of securities of that series.
Some of the debt securities may be issued as original issue discount debt securities. Original issue discount debt securities bear no interest or bear interest at below-market rates. These are sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. If we issue these securities, the prospectus supplement will describe any special tax, accounting or other information which we think is important. We encourage you to consult with your own competent tax and financial advisors on these important matters.
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the covenants contained in the indentures will not provide special protection to Holders of debt securities if we enter into a highly leveraged transaction, recapitalization or restructuring.
Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, interest on outstanding debt securities will be paid to Holders of record on the date that is 15 days prior to the date such interest is to be paid, or, if not a business day, the next preceding business day. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in fully registered form only. Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the principal amount of the debt securities will be payable at the corporate trust office of the Trustee in New York, New York. The debt securities may be presented for transfer or exchange at such office unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, subject to the limitations provided in the applicable indenture, without any service charge, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection therewith.
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Guarantees
Under the Guarantees (as defined below), each of TWE and TW NY, as primary obligor and not merely as surety, will fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee to each Holder of the debt securities and to the applicable Trustee and its successors and assigns, (1) the full and punctual payment of principal and interest on the debt securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of ours under the indentures (including obligations to the applicable Trustee) and the debt securities and (2) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of ours under the indentures and the debt securities (the Guarantees). Such Guarantees will constitute guarantees of payment, performance and compliance and not merely of collection. The obligations of each of TWE and TW NY under the indentures will be unconditional irrespective of the absence or existence of any action to enforce the same, the recovery of any judgment against us or each other or any waiver or amendment of the provisions of the indentures or the debt securities to the extent that any such action or similar action would otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor (except that any such waiver or amendment that expressly purports to modify or release such obligations shall be effective in accordance with its terms). The obligations of TWE and TW NY to make any payments may be satisfied by causing us to make such payments. Each of TWE and TW NY shall further agree to waive presentment to, demand of payment from and protest to us and shall also waive diligence, notice of acceptance of its Guarantee, presentment, demand for payment, notice of protest for non-payment, filing a claim if we complete a merger or declare bankruptcy and any right to require a proceeding first against us. These obligations shall be unaffected by any failure or policy of the Trustee to exercise any right under the indentures or under any series of security. If any Holder of any debt security or the Trustee is required by a court or otherwise to return to us, TWE or TW NY, or any custodian, trustee, liquidator or other similar official acting in relation to us, TWE or TW NY, any amount paid by us or any of them to the Trustee or such Holder, the Guarantees of TWE and TW NY, to the extent theretofore discharged, shall be reinstated in full force and effect.
Further, each of the Guarantors agrees to pay any and all reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys fees) incurred by the Senior Indenture Trustee or the Subordinated Indenture Trustee, as applicable, or any Holder of debt securities in enforcing any of their respective rights under the Guarantees. The indentures provide that each of the Guarantees of TWE and TW NY is limited to the maximum amount that can be guaranteed by TWE and TW NY, respectively, without rendering the relevant Guarantee voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally. Although we believe the Guarantees of TWE and TW NY are valid and enforceable, under certain circumstances, a court could find a subsidiarys guarantee void or unenforceable under fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.
The indentures provide that any Guarantor shall be automatically released from its obligations under its Guarantee upon receipt by the Trustee of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of ours certifying that such Guarantor has no outstanding Indebtedness For Borrowed Money, as of the date of such certificate, other than any other Guarantee of Indebtedness For Borrowed Money that will be released concurrently with the release of such Guarantee. In addition, TW NY will be released from its Guarantee under such circumstances only if it is also a wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of ours. Also, if any of these conditions are satisfied, the applicable Guarantor may not guarantee a new issuance of debt securities. However, there is no covenant in the indentures that would prohibit any such Guarantor from incurring Indebtedness For Borrowed Money after the date such Guarantor is released from its Guarantee.
The indentures further provide that we and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture without the consent of the Holders to add additional guarantors in respect of the debt securities.
Ranking and Subordination
Ranking
The senior debt securities will be our unsecured, senior obligations, and will rank equally with our other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations. The Guarantees of the senior debt securities will be unsecured and
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senior obligations of each of TWE and TW NY, and will rank equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of TWE and TW NY, respectively. The subordinated debt securities will be our unsecured, subordinated obligations and the Guarantees of the subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and subordinated obligations of each of TWE and TW NY.
The debt securities and the Guarantees will effectively rank junior in right of payment to any of our or the Guarantors existing and future secured obligations to the extent of the value of the assets securing such obligations. The debt securities and the Guarantees will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities, including indebtedness and trade payables, of our non-guarantor subsidiaries. The indentures do not limit the amount of unsecured indebtedness or other liabilities that can be incurred by our non-guarantor subsidiaries.
Furthermore, we and TW NY are holding companies with no material business operations. The ability of each of us and TW NY to service our respective indebtedness and other obligations is dependent primarily upon the earnings and cash flow of our and TW NYs respective subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment to us or TW NY of such earnings or cash flow.
Subordination
If issued, the indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities is subordinate to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness (as defined below). During the continuance beyond any applicable grace period of any default in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any of our Senior Indebtedness, we may not make any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the subordinated debt securities. In addition, upon any payment or distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, and interest on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the subordinated indenture in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all our Senior Indebtedness. Because of this subordination, if we dissolve or otherwise liquidate, Holders of our subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than Holders of our Senior Indebtedness. The subordination provisions do not prevent the occurrence of an event of default under the subordinated indenture.
The subordination provisions also apply in the same way to each Guarantor with respect to the Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor.
The term Senior Indebtedness of a person means with respect to such person the principal of, premium, if any, interest on, and any other payment due pursuant to any of the following, whether outstanding on the date of the subordinated indenture or incurred by that person in the future:
| all of the indebtedness of that person for borrowed money, including any indebtedness secured by a mortgage or other lien which is (1) given to secure all or part of the purchase price of property subject to the mortgage or lien, whether given to the vendor of that property or to another lender, or (2) existing on property at the time that person acquires it; |
| all of the indebtedness of that person evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments sold by that person for money; |
| all of the lease obligations which are capitalized on the books of that person in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; |
| all indebtedness of others of the kinds described in the first two bullet points above and all lease obligations of others of the kind described in the third bullet point above that the person, in any manner, assumes or guarantees or that the person in effect guarantees through an agreement to purchase, whether that agreement is contingent or otherwise; and |
| all renewals, extensions or refundings of indebtedness of the kinds described in the first, second or fourth bullet point above and all renewals or extensions of leases of the kinds described in the third or fourth bullet point above; |
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unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, lease, renewal, extension or refunding, the instrument or lease creating or evidencing it or the assumption or guarantee relating to it expressly provides that such indebtedness, lease, renewal, extension or refunding is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities. Our senior debt securities, and any unsubordinated guarantee obligations of ours or any Guarantor to which we and the Guarantors are a party, including the Guarantors Guarantees of our debt securities and other Indebtedness For Borrowed Money, constitute Senior Indebtedness for purposes of the subordinated indenture.
Pursuant to the subordinated indenture, the subordinated indenture may not be amended, at any time, to alter the subordination provisions of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of the requisite holders of each outstanding series or class of Senior Indebtedness (as determined in accordance with the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness) that would be adversely affected.
Certain Covenants
Limitation on Liens
The indentures provide that neither we nor any Material Subsidiary of ours shall incur, create, issue, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness For Borrowed Money that is secured by a lien on any asset now owned or hereafter acquired by us or it unless we make or cause to be made effective provisions whereby the debt securities will be secured by such lien equally and ratably with (or prior to) all other indebtedness thereby secured so long as any such indebtedness shall be secured. The foregoing restriction does not apply to the following:
| liens existing as of the date of the applicable indenture; |
| liens issued, created or assumed by Subsidiaries of ours to secure indebtedness of such Subsidiaries to us or to one or more other Subsidiaries of ours; |
| liens affecting property of a Person existing at the time it becomes a Subsidiary of ours or at the time it merges into or consolidates with us or a Subsidiary of ours or at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties of such Person to us or our Subsidiaries; |
| liens on property or assets existing at the time of the acquisition thereof or incurred to secure payment of all or a part of the purchase price thereof or to secure indebtedness incurred prior to, at the time of, or within 18 months after the acquisition thereof for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase price thereof, in a principal amount not exceeding 110% of the purchase price; |
| liens on any property to secure all or part of the cost of improvements or construction thereon or indebtedness incurred to provide funds for such purpose in a principal amount not exceeding 110% of the cost of such improvements or construction; |
| liens on shares of stock, indebtedness or other securities of a Person that is not a Subsidiary of ours; |
| liens in respect of capital leases entered into after the date of the applicable indenture provided that such liens extend only to the property or assets that are the subject of such capital leases; |
| liens resulting from progress payments or partial payments under United States government contracts or subcontracts; |
| any extensions, renewal or replacement of any lien referred to above or of any indebtedness secured thereby; provided, however, that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount of indebtedness so secured at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, or at the time the lien was issued, created or assumed or otherwise permitted, and that such extension, renewal or replacement lien shall be limited to all or part of substantially the same property which secured the lien extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements on such property); |
| liens in favor of the Trustees; |
| with respect to the subordinated indenture and subordinated debt securities only, liens securing Senior Indebtedness and the guarantees securing such Senior Indebtedness; and |
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| other liens arising in connection with our indebtedness and our Subsidiaries indebtedness in an aggregate principal amount for us and our Subsidiaries not exceeding at the time such lien is issued, created or assumed the greater of (a) 15% of the Consolidated Net Worth of our company and (b) $500 million. |
Limitation on Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance or Transfer on Certain Terms
None of our company, TWE or TW NY shall consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey or transfer its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, unless:
(1) (a) in the case of our company, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which our company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of our company substantially as an entirety shall be organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the debt securities and the performance of every covenant of the applicable indenture (as supplemented from time to time) on the part of our company to be performed or observed; (b) in the case of TWE or TW NY, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which TWE or TW NY is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer the properties and assets of TWE or TW NY substantially as an entirety shall be either (i) one of us, TWE or TW NY or (ii) a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and in the case of clause (ii), shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the performance of every covenant of the applicable indenture (as supplemented from time to time) on the part of TWE or TW NY to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) we have delivered to the Trustee an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of the properties and assets of our company, TWE or TW NY substantially as an entirety as set forth above, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which our company, TWE or TW NY is merged or to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of our company, TWE or TW NY, as the case may be, under the applicable indenture with the same effect as if such successor had been named as our company, TWE or TW NY, as the case may be, in the applicable indenture. In the event of any such conveyance or transfer, our company, TWE or TW NY, as the case may be, as the predecessor shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under the applicable indenture and the debt securities issued under such indenture and may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated at any time thereafter.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, such provisions with respect to limitations on consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer on certain terms shall not apply to any Guarantor if at such time such Guarantor has been released from its obligations under its Guarantee upon receipt by the applicable Trustee of a certificate of a Responsible Officer of ours certifying that such Guarantor has no outstanding Indebtedness For Borrowed Money and, in the case of TW NY, certifying that TW NY is a wholly owned direct or indirect subsidiary of our company, each as described above under Guarantees.
Subject to the foregoing, the indentures and the debt securities do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford Holders of debt securities protection in the event of a recapitalization or highly leveraged transaction involving our company.
Any additional covenants of our company, TW NY or TWE pertaining to a series of debt securities will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
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Certain Definitions
The following are certain of the terms defined in the indentures:
Consolidated Net Worth means, with respect to any Person, at the date of any determination, the consolidated stockholders or owners equity of the holders of capital stock or partnership interests of such Person and its subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
GAAP means generally accepted accounting principles as such principles are in effect in the United States as of the date of the applicable indenture.
Holder when used with respect to any debt securities, means a holder of the debt securities, which means a Person in whose name a debt security is registered in the Security Register.
Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar instruments and (c) all guarantee obligations of such Person with respect to Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of others. The Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of any Person shall include the Indebtedness For Borrowed Money of any other entity (including any partnership in which such Person is general partner) to the extent such Person is liable therefor as a result of such Persons ownership interest in or other contractual relationship with such entity, except to the extent the terms of such Indebtedness For Borrowed Money provide that such Person is not liable therefor.
Material Subsidiary means any Person that is a Subsidiary if, at the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of our company, the aggregate amount, determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied, of securities of, loans and advances to, and other investments in, such Person held by us and our other Subsidiaries exceeded 10% of our Consolidated Net Worth.
Person means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
Responsible Officer when used with respect to us, means any of the Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel, Treasurer or Controller of our company (or any equivalent of the foregoing officers).
Security Register means the register or registers we shall keep or cause to be kept, in which, we shall provide for the registration of debt securities, or of debt securities of a particular series, and of transfers of debt securities or of debt securities of such series.
Subsidiary means, with respect to any Person, any corporation more than 50% of the voting stock of which is owned directly or indirectly by such Person, and any partnership, association, joint venture or other entity in which such Person owns more than 50% of the equity interests or has the power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body.
Optional Redemption
Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may redeem any of the debt securities as a whole at any time or in part from time to time, at our option, on at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, prior notice mailed to the registered address of each Holder of the debt securities to be redeemed, at respective redemption prices equal to the greater of:
| 100% of the principal amount of the debt securities to be redeemed, and |
| the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments, as defined below, discounted to the redemption date, on a semi-annual basis, assuming a 360 day year consisting of twelve 30 day months, at the Treasury Rate, as defined below, plus the number, if any, of basis points specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
plus, in each case, accrued interest to the date of redemption that has not been paid (such redemption price, the Redemption Price).
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Comparable Treasury Issue means, with respect to the debt securities, the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term (Remaining Life) of the debt securities being redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Remaining Life of such debt securities.
Comparable Treasury Price means, with respect to any redemption date for the debt securities: (1) the average of two Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for that redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations; or (2) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all quotations obtained by the Trustee.
Independent Investment Banker means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers, to be appointed by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer means four primary U.S. Government securities dealers to be selected by us.
Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount, quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.
Remaining Scheduled Payments means, with respect to each debt security to be redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such redemption; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest payment date with respect to such debt security, the amount of the next succeeding scheduled interest payment thereon will be deemed to be reduced by the amount of interest accrued thereon to such redemption date.
Treasury Rate means, with respect to any redemption date for the debt securities: (1) the yield, under the heading which represents the average for the immediately preceding week, appearing in the most recently published statistical release designated H.15(519) or any successor publication which is published weekly by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury debt securities adjusted to constant maturity under the caption Treasury Constant Maturities, for the maturity corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue; provided that if no maturity is within three months before or after the maturity date for the debt securities, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Comparable Treasury Issue will be determined and the Treasury Rate will be interpolated or extrapolated from those yields on a straight line basis, rounding to the nearest month; or (2) if that release, or any successor release, is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for that redemption date. The Treasury Rate will be calculated on the third business day preceding the redemption date.
On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or any portion thereof called for redemption, unless we default in the payment of the Redemption Price, and accrued interest. On or before the redemption date, we shall deposit with a paying agent, or the applicable Trustee, money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of and accrued interest on the debt securities to be redeemed on such date. If we elect to redeem less than all of the debt securities of a series, then the Trustee will select the particular debt securities of such series to be redeemed in a manner it deems appropriate and fair.
Defeasance
Each indenture provides that we (and, to the extent applicable, TWE and TW NY), at our option,
(a) will be Discharged from any and all obligations in respect of any series of debt securities (except in each case for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, replace stolen, lost or mutilated senior debt securities, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust), or
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(b) need not comply with the covenants described above under Certain Covenants, and any other restrictive covenants described in a prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities, the Guarantors will be released from the Guarantees and certain Events of Default (other than those arising out of the failure to pay interest or principal on the debt securities of a particular series and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization) will no longer constitute Events of Default with respect to such series of debt securities, in each case if we deposit with the Trustee, in trust, money or the equivalent in securities of the government which issued the currency in which the debt securities are denominated or government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of such government, or a combination thereof, which through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay all the principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of, and interest on, such series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with the terms of such series.
To exercise any such option, we are required, among other things, to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the Holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes and, in the case of a Discharge pursuant to clause (a) above, accompanied by a ruling to such effect received from or published by the United States Internal Revenue Service.
In addition, we are required to deliver to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that such deposit was not made by us with the intent of preferring the Holders over other creditors of ours or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding creditors of ours or others.
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Each indenture provides that, if an Event of Default specified therein with respect to any series of debt securities issued thereunder shall have happened and be continuing, either the Trustee thereunder or the Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series (or 25% in aggregate principal amount of all outstanding debt securities under such indenture, in the case of certain Events of Default affecting all series of debt securities issued under such indenture) may declare the principal of all the debt securities of such series to be due and payable.
Events of Default in respect of any series are defined in the indentures as being:
| default for 30 days in payment of any interest installment with respect to such series; |
| default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, on, or any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to, debt securities of such series when due at their stated maturity, by declaration or acceleration, when called for redemption or otherwise; |
| default for 90 days after written notice to us (or TWE or TW NY, if applicable) by the Trustee thereunder or by Holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty pertaining to debt securities of such series; |
| certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency and reorganization with respect to us or any Material Subsidiary of ours which is organized under the laws of the United States or any political sub-division thereof or the entry of an order ordering the winding up or liquidation of our affairs; and |
| any Guarantee ceasing to be, or asserted by any Guarantor as not being, in full force and effect, enforceable according to its terms, except to the extent contemplated by the applicable indenture. |
Any additions, deletions or other changes to the Events of Default which will be applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities.
Each indenture provides that the Trustee thereunder will, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series issued under such indenture, give to the Holders of the debt securities of such series notice of all uncured and unwaived defaults known to it; provided, however, that, except in the case of default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the debt securities
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of such series, the Trustee thereunder will be protected in withholding such notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the debt securities of such series. The term default for the purpose of this provision means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to debt securities of such series.
Each indenture contains provisions entitling the Trustee under such indenture, subject to the duty of the Trustee during an Event of Default to act with the required standard of care, to be indemnified to its reasonable satisfaction by the Holders of the debt securities before proceeding to exercise any right or power under the applicable indenture at the request of Holders of such debt securities.
Each indenture provides that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under such indenture may direct the time, method and place of conducting proceedings for remedies available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee in respect of such series, subject to certain conditions.
In certain cases, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive, on behalf of the Holders of all debt securities of such series, any past default or Event of Default with respect to the debt securities of such series except, among other things, a default not theretofore cured in payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the senior debt securities of such series or payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligations with respect to such senior debt securities.
Each indenture includes a covenant that we will file annually with the Trustee a certificate of no default or specifying any default that exists.
Modification of the Indentures
We and the Trustee may, without the consent of the Holders of the debt securities issued under the indenture governing such debt securities, enter into indentures supplemental to the applicable indenture for, among others, one or more of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to us, TWE or TW NY and the assumption by such successor of our companys, TWEs or TW NYs obligations under the applicable indenture and the debt securities of any series or the Guarantees relating thereto;
(2) to add to the covenants of our company, TWE or TW NY, or to surrender any rights or powers of our company, TWE or TW NY, for the benefit of the Holders of debt securities of any or all series issued under such indenture;
(3) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the applicable indenture which may be inconsistent with any other provision therein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture;
(4) to add to the applicable indenture any provisions that may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Act, excluding the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Act as in effect at the date as of which the applicable indenture was executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted;
(5) to establish the form or terms of any series of debt securities to be issued under the applicable indenture, to provide for the issuance of any series of debt securities and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of debt securities;
(6) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of any successor Trustee with respect to one or more series of debt securities or to add or change any of the provisions of the applicable indenture as shall be necessary to facilitate the administration of the trusts thereunder by one or more trustees in accordance with the applicable indenture;
(7) to provide any additional Events of Default;
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(8) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to or in place of certificated securities; provided that the uncertificated securities are issued in registered form for certain federal tax purposes;
(9) to provide for the terms and conditions of converting those debt securities that are convertible into common stock or another such similar security;
(10) to secure any series of debt securities pursuant to the applicable indentures limitation on liens;
(11) to add additional guarantors in respect of the debt securities;
(12) to make any change necessary to comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the applicable indenture or any supplemental indenture under the Act; and
(13) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of the Holders of the debt securities.
No supplemental indenture for the purpose identified in clauses (2), (3), (5) or (7) above may be entered into if to do so would adversely affect the rights of the Holders of debt securities of any series issued under the same indenture in any material respect.
Each indenture contains provisions permitting us and the Trustee under such indenture, with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series issued under such indenture to be affected voting as a single class, to execute supplemental indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the applicable indenture or modifying the rights of the Holders of the debt securities of such series to be affected, except that no such supplemental indenture may, without the consent of the Holders of affected debt securities, among other things:
(1) change the maturity of the principal of, or the maturity of any premium on, or any installment of interest on, any such debt security, or reduce the principal amount or the interest or any premium of any such debt securities, or change the method of computing the amount of principal or interest on any such debt securities on any date or change any place of payment where, or the currency in which, any debt securities or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the maturity of principal or premium, as the case may be;
(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of any such debt securities the consent of whose Holders is required for any supplemental indenture, waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the applicable indenture or certain defaults under the applicable indenture;
(3) modify any of the provisions of the applicable indenture related to (i) the requirement that the Holders of debt securities issued under such indenture consent to certain amendments of the applicable indenture, (ii) the waiver of past defaults and (iii) the waiver of certain covenants, except to increase the percentage of Holders required to make such amendments or grant such waivers;
(4) impair or adversely affect the right of any Holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, such senior debt securities on or after the maturity of such debt securities; or
(5) amend or modify the terms of any of the Guarantees in a manner adverse to the Holders.
In addition, the subordinated indenture provides that we may not make any change in the terms of the subordination of the subordinated debt securities of any series in a manner adverse in any material respect to the Holders of any series of subordinated debt securities without the consent of each Holder of subordinated debt securities that would be adversely affected.
Pursuant to the subordinated indenture, the subordinated indenture may not be amended, at any time, to alter the subordination provisions of any outstanding subordinated debt securities without the consent of the requisite holders of each outstanding series or class of Senior Indebtedness (as determined in accordance with the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness) that would be adversely affected.
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The Trustee
The Bank of New York Mellon is the Trustee under each indenture. The Trustee is a depository for funds and performs other services for, and transacts other banking business with, us in the normal course of business. The Bank of New York Mellon is also the trustee under the senior indenture governing the senior debt securities of TWE.
Governing Law
The indentures will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Global Securities
We may issue debt securities through global securities. A global security is a security, typically held by a depositary, that represents the beneficial interests of a number of purchasers of the security. If we do issue global securities, the following procedures will apply.
We will deposit global securities with the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. After we issue a global security, the depositary will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of persons who have accounts with the depositary. These account Holders are known as participants. The underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Only a participant or a person who holds an interest through a participant may be the beneficial owner of a global security. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary and its participants.
We and the Trustee will treat the depositary or its nominee as the sole owner or Holder of the debt securities represented by a global security. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names. They also will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or Holders of the debt securities.
Principal, any premium and any interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner of the global security. None of us, the Trustee or any paying agent will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or the maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary, upon receipt of any payments, will immediately credit participants accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the depositarys records. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global security will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in street names, and will be the responsibility of the participants.
If the depositary is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue registered securities in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time in our sole discretion determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by global securities. In that event, we will issue debt securities of that series in definitive form in exchange for the global securities.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE CAPITAL STOCK
The following description of the terms of our common stock and preferred stock sets forth certain general terms and provisions of our common stock and preferred stock to which any prospectus supplement may relate. This section also summarizes relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which we refer to as Delaware law. The following summary of the terms of our common stock and preferred stock does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the applicable provisions of Delaware law and our Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or our Certificate of Incorporation and amended and restated by-laws, copies of which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
Common Stock
Common stock authorized and outstanding. Under our Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 8,333,333,333 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. The common stock is non-assessable. As of March 31, 2011, approximately 343.4 million shares of common stock were issued and outstanding.
Voting. Each holder of our common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of our common stock held of record by such holder with respect to all matters on which stockholders are entitled to vote.
Dividends, Liquidation and Dissolution. The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as, and if declared by our board of directors out of legally available funds. Upon our liquidation or dissolution, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably in those of our assets that are legally available for distribution to stockholders after payment of liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding.
Listing and CUSIP Number. The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TWC under the CUSIP number 88732J 207.
Preemptive Rights. The holders of our common stock do not have preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any of our stock or other securities.
The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of our common stock will be subject to the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that may be issued in the future.
Preferred Stock
Under our Certificate of Incorporation, we are authorized to issue up to 1,000,000,000 shares of preferred stock. Our board of directors is authorized under our Certificate of Incorporation, subject to limitations prescribed by Delaware law, to determine the terms and conditions of the preferred stock, including whether the shares of preferred stock will be issued in one or more series, the number of shares to be included in each series and the powers, designations, preferences and rights of the shares. Our board of directors is also authorized to designate any qualifications, limitations or restrictions on the shares without any further vote or action by the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company and may adversely affect the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock, which could have an adverse impact on the market price of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock.
The powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional and other special rights of each series of preferred stock, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, may differ from those of any and all other series at any time outstanding.
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Selected Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws and Delaware Law
Board of Directors. Our Certificate of Incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws provide that the number of directors constituting our board of directors shall be fixed from time to time by our board of directors, subject to the right of holders of any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future to designate additional directors. Uncontested elections of directors are subject to a majority vote whereby nominees must receive more votes cast for such director than votes cast against such director (with abstentions, withheld votes and broker non-votes not counted as a vote cast) and any incumbent director who fails to receive a majority of the votes cast in such election must submit an offer to resign to our board of directors. Our board of directors may either accept such resignation offer or reject such resignation offer and address the underlying cause(s) of the votes cast against such director. In any contested election of directors, the persons receiving a plurality of the votes cast, up to the number of directors to be elected in such election, will be deemed elected. Our Certificate of Incorporation does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Any of our directors may be removed with or without cause by a majority vote of the holders of our common stock at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders, subject to the provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and our amended and restated by-laws. If a director resigns, is removed from office or otherwise is unable to serve, such vacancy will be filled by a vote of a majority of the directors then serving, whether or not they represent a quorum.
Special meetings of stockholders. Our amended and restated by-laws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by our chairman, our chief executive officer or by a majority of the members of our board of directors, excluding any vacancies or unfilled newly-created directorships, and, subject to the rights of any holders of any series of preferred stock that we may issue in the future, our stockholders are not permitted to call a special meeting of stockholders, to require that the chairman or chief executive officer call such a special meeting, or to require that the board of directors request the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations. Our amended and restated by-laws establish advance notice procedures for:
| stockholders to nominate candidates for election as a director; and |
| stockholders to propose topics at annual stockholders meetings. |
Stockholders must notify the corporate secretary in writing prior to the meeting at which the matters are to be acted upon or the directors are to be elected. The notice must contain the information specified in our amended and restated by-laws including, but not limited to, information with respect to the beneficial ownership of our common stock and/or the ownership of derivative securities that have a value associated with our common stock held by the proposing stockholder and its associates and any voting or similar agreement the proposing stockholder has entered into with respect to our common stock. To be timely, the notice must be received at our corporate headquarters not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding years annual meeting of stockholders. If the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, to be timely, notice by the stockholder must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to the annual meeting and not later than the later of the 90th day prior to the annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which we first notify stockholders of the date of the annual meeting by public announcement, including disclosures in a press release reported by a news wire service, in a communication distributed generally to stockholders and in a public filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or in a public posting on our website (Public Announcement). In the case of a special meeting of stockholders called to elect directors, the stockholder notice must be received not earlier than the 90th day prior to the special meeting and not later than the later of the 60th day prior to the special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which Public Announcement is made. These provisions may preclude some stockholders from bringing matters before the stockholders at an annual or special meeting or from nominating candidates for director at an annual or special meeting.
Action by written consent. Our Certificate of Incorporation permits our stockholders to act only at annual and special meetings of stockholders and not by written consent. Notwithstanding this provision, holders of any
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series of preferred stock are entitled to take action by written consent to such extent as may be provided pursuant to any resolutions of the board of directors with respect to any preferred stock. Limitations on the ability of stockholders to act by written consent included in our Certificate of Incorporation could delay or prevent entirely a merger, acquisition or change in control of us, which its stockholders may consider favorable.
Limitation of Liability of Directors
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, a director will not be liable to us or our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
The inclusion of this provision in our Certificate of Incorporation may have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors, and may discourage or deter stockholders or us from bringing a lawsuit against our directors for breach of their duty of care, even though such an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. This provision does not limit or eliminate our rights or those of any stockholder to seek non-monetary relief such as an injunction or rescission in the event of a breach of a directors duty of care. The provisions will not alter the liability of directors under federal securities laws. In addition, our amended and restated by-laws provide that we will indemnify each director and officer and may indemnify employees and agents, as determined by our board of directors, to the fullest extent provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated By-laws and Delaware Law
In general, Section 203 of Delaware law prevents an interested stockholder, which is defined generally as a person owning 15% or more of the corporations outstanding voting stock, of a Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination (as defined therein) for three years following the date that person became an interested stockholder unless various conditions are satisfied. Under our Certificate of Incorporation, we have elected to be subject to the provisions of Section 203. Under certain circumstances, Section 203 makes it more difficult for a person who would be an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The Transfer Agent and Registrar for the common stock is BNY Mellon Shareowner Services.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional shares rather than full shares of the preferred stock of a series. In the event that we determine to do so, we will issue receipts for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of preferred stock) of a share of a particular series of preferred stock as more fully described below.
The shares of any series of preferred stock represented by depositary shares will be deposited under one or more deposit agreements among us, a depositary to be named in the applicable prospectus supplement, and the holders from time to time of depositary receipts issued thereunder. Subject to the terms of the applicable deposit agreement, each holder of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented thereby (including, as applicable, dividend, voting, redemption, subscription and liquidation rights).
The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Depositary receipts will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock.
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The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the depositary shares to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the depositary shares so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the depositary shares or the deposit agreement described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement relating to such deposited shares. The forms of deposit agreement and depositary receipt will be filed as exhibits to the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
The following summary of certain provisions of the depositary shares and deposit agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by express reference to, all the provisions of the deposit agreement and the applicable prospectus supplement, including the definitions.
Immediately following our issuance of shares of a series of preferred stock that will be offered as fractional shares, we will deposit the shares with the depositary, which will then issue and deliver the depositary receipts to the purchasers thereof. Depositary receipts will only be issued evidencing whole depositary shares. A depositary receipt may evidence any number of whole depositary shares.
Pending the preparation of definitive depositary receipts, the depositary may, upon our written order, issue temporary depositary receipts substantially identical to (and entitling the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive depositary receipts but not in definitive form. Definitive depositary receipts will be prepared thereafter without unreasonable delay, and such temporary depositary receipts will be exchangeable for definitive depositary receipts at our expense.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the related series of preferred stock to the record holders of depositary shares relating to the series of preferred stock in proportion to the number of the depositary shares owned by the holders.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto in proportion to the number of depositary shares owned by the holders, unless the depositary determines that the distribution cannot be made proportionately among the holders or that it is not feasible to make the distributions, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, adopt any method as it deems equitable and practicable for the purpose of effecting the distribution, including the sale (at public or private sale) of the securities or property thus received, or any part thereof, at the place or places and upon those terms as it may deem proper.
The amount distributed in any of the foregoing cases will be reduced by any amounts required to be withheld by us or the depositary on account of taxes or other governmental charges.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If any series of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from any redemption, in whole or in part, of the series of the preferred stock held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to the series of the preferred stock. If we redeem shares of a series of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the shares of preferred stock so redeemed. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or substantially equivalent method determined by the depositary.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the moneys payable upon redemption and any money or other property to which the holders of the depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption, upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing the
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depositary shares. Any funds deposited by us with the depositary for any depositary shares that the holders thereof fail to redeem will be returned to us after a period of two years from the date the funds are so deposited.
Voting the Underlying Preferred Stock
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of any series of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to the series of preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for the related series of preferred stock) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of the series of preferred stock represented by that holders depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote or cause to be voted the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with the instructions, provided the depositary receives the instructions sufficiently in advance of the meeting to enable it to so vote or cause to be voted the shares of preferred stock, and we will agree to take all reasonable action that may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary will abstain from voting shares of the preferred stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing the preferred stock.
Withdrawal of Stock
Upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the corporate trust office of the depositary and upon payment of the taxes, charges and fees provided for in the deposit agreement and subject to the terms thereof, the holder of the depositary shares evidenced thereby is entitled to delivery at such office, to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property, if any, represented by the depositary shares. Holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive whole shares of the related series of preferred stock, but holders of the whole shares of preferred stock will not thereafter be entitled to deposit the shares of preferred stock with the depositary or to receive depositary shares therefor. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of the related series of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder or upon his or her order at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares.
Amendment and Termination of a Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares of any series and any provision of the applicable deposit agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares of any series will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares of the series then outstanding. Every holder of a depositary receipt at the time the amendment becomes effective will be deemed, by continuing to hold the depositary receipt, to be bound by the deposit agreement as so amended. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event may any amendment impair the right of any holder of any depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares and subject to any conditions specified in the deposit agreement, to receive shares of the related series of preferred stock and any money or other property represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us at any time upon not less than 60 days prior written notice to the depositary, in which case, on a date that is not later than 30 days after the date of the notice, the depositary shall deliver or make available for delivery to holders of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary receipts evidencing the depositary shares, the number of whole or fractional shares of the related series of preferred stock as are represented by the depositary shares. The deposit agreement shall automatically terminate after all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed or there has been a final distribution in respect of the related series of preferred stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of us and the distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary shares.
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Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and the governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay the charges of the depositary, including charges in connection with the initial deposit of the related series of preferred stock and the initial issuance of the depositary shares and all withdrawals of shares of the related series of preferred stock, except that holders of depositary shares will pay transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and any other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.
Resignation and Removal of Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us written notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary. Any resignation or removal is to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary, which successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to the holders of depositary shares all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of the related preferred stock.
The depositarys corporate trust office will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the depositary will act as transfer agent and registrar for depositary receipts and if shares of a series of preferred stock are redeemable, the depositary will also act as redemption agent for the corresponding depositary receipts.
The following description of the terms of the warrants sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants to which any prospectus supplement may relate. We may issue warrants for the purchase of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, preferred stock or common stock. Warrants may be issued independently or together with debt securities, preferred stock or common stock offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from any such offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the provisions of the warrant agreement that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such warrants.
Debt Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of debt warrants will describe the terms of such debt warrants, including the following:
| the title of such debt warrants; |
| the offering price for such debt warrants, if any; |
| the aggregate number of such debt warrants; |
| the designation and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such debt warrants; |
| if applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities with which such debt warrants are issued and the number of such debt warrants issued with each such debt security; |
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| if applicable, the date from and after which such debt warrants and any debt securities issued therewith will be separately transferable; |
| the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of a debt warrant and the price at which such principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise (which price may be payable in cash, securities or other property); |
| the date on which the right to exercise such debt warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such debt warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| whether the debt warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates or debt securities that may be issued upon exercise of the debt warrants will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
| information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
| the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| if applicable, a discussion of material United States Federal income tax considerations; |
| the antidilution or adjustment provisions of such debt warrants, if any; |
| the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such debt warrants; and |
| any additional terms of such debt warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such debt warrants. |
Stock Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to any particular issue of preferred stock warrants or common stock warrants will describe the terms of such warrants, including the following:
| the title of such warrants; |
| the offering price for such warrants, if any; |
| the aggregate number of such warrants; |
| the designation and terms of the preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of such warrants; |
| if applicable, the designation and terms of the offered securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such offered security; |
| if applicable, the date from and after which such warrants and any offered securities issued therewith will be separately transferable; |
| the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise; |
| the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| if applicable, a discussion of material United States Federal income tax considerations; |
| the antidilution provisions of such warrants, if any; |
| the redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to such warrants; and |
| any additional terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants. |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue, from time to time, purchase contracts, including contracts obligating holders to purchase from us and us to sell to the holders, a specified principal amount of senior debt securities, subordinated debt securities, or a specified number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or any of the other securities that we may sell under this prospectus at a future date or dates. The consideration payable upon settlement of the purchase contracts may be fixed at the time the purchase contracts are issued or may be determined by a specific reference to a formula set forth in the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may be issued separately or as part of units consisting of a purchase contract and other securities or obligations issued by us or third parties, including United States treasury securities, securing the holders obligations to purchase the relevant securities under the purchase contracts. The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders of the purchase contracts or units or vice versa, and the payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require holders to secure their obligations under the purchase contracts.
The prospectus supplement related to any particular purchase contracts will describe, among other things, the material terms of the purchase contracts and of the securities being sold pursuant to such purchase contracts, and a discussion, if appropriate, of any special United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the purchase contracts and any material provisions governing the purchase contracts that differ from those described above. The description in the prospectus supplement will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the purchase contracts, and, if applicable, collateral arrangements and depositary arrangements, relating to the purchase contracts.
We may, from time to time, issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities that may be offered under this prospectus, in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately at any time, or at any time before a specified date.
Any prospectus supplement related to any particular units will describe, among other things:
| the material terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| any material provisions relating to the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; |
| if appropriate, any special United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
| any material provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described above. |
We may offer and sell the securities in any one or more of the following ways:
| to or through underwriters, brokers or dealers; |
| directly to one or more other purchasers; |
| through a block trade in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| through agents on a best-efforts basis; or |
| otherwise through a combination of any of the above methods of sale. |
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Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will name any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities. The prospectus supplement will also set forth the terms of the offering, including:
| the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale of the securities; |
| any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters compensation; |
| any public offering or purchase price and any discounts or commissions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers; |
| any commissions allowed or paid to agents; |
| any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed; |
| the method of distribution of the securities; |
| the terms of any agreement, arrangement or understanding entered into with the underwriters, brokers or dealers; and |
| any other information we think is important. |
If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or dealers for their own account. The securities may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions:
| at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| at prices related to such prevailing market prices; |
| at varying prices determined at the time of sale; or |
| at negotiated prices. |
Such sales may be effected:
| in transactions on any national securities exchange or quotation service on which the securities may be listed or quoted at the time of sale; |
| in transactions in the over-the-counter market; |
| in block transactions in which the broker or dealer so engaged will attempt to sell the securities as agent but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction, or in crosses, in which the same broker acts as an agent on both sides of the trade; |
| through the writing of options; or |
| through other types of transactions. |
The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more of such firms. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of underwriters or dealers to purchase the securities offered will be subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters or dealers will be obligated to purchase all the offered securities if any are purchased. Any public offering price and any discount or concession allowed or reallowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers may be changed from time to time.
The securities may be sold directly by us or through agents designated by us from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by us to such agent will be set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
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Offers to purchase the securities offered by this prospectus may be solicited, and sales of the securities may be made, by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. The terms of any offer made in this manner will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to the offer.
If indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain institutional investors to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. Institutional investors with which these contracts may be made include, among others:
| commercial and savings banks; |
| insurance companies; |
| pension funds; |
| investment companies; and |
| educational and charitable institutions. |
In all cases, these purchasers must be approved by us. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any purchaser under any of these contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that (a) the purchase of the securities must not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction to which that purchaser is subject, and (b) if the securities are also being sold to underwriters, we must have sold to these underwriters the securities not subject to delayed delivery.
Underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.
Some of the underwriters, dealers or agents used by us in any offering of securities under this prospectus may be customers of, engage in transactions with, and perform services for us, TWE and TW NY or other affiliates of ours in the ordinary course of business. Underwriters, dealers, agents and other persons may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to be reimbursed by us for certain expenses.
Subject to any restrictions relating to debt securities in bearer form, any securities initially sold outside the United States may be resold in the United States through underwriters, dealers or otherwise.
Any underwriters to which offered securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but those underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time.
The anticipated date of delivery of the securities offered by this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the offering.
If more than 10 percent of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by members of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which we refer to in this prospectus as FINRA, participating in the offering or by affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 210(h). The maximum compensation we will pay to underwriters in connection with any offering of the securities will not exceed 8% of the maximum proceeds of such offering.
To comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities may be sold in these jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states the securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
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Certain legal matters in connection with the offered securities will be passed upon for us, TWE and TW NY by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, New York.
The consolidated financial statements of Time Warner Cable Inc. included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and the effectiveness of the Companys internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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£ % Notes due 2042
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
June , 2012
Book-Running Managers
Barclays | Deutsche Bank |
The Royal Bank of Scotland |