As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 18, 2018
Registration No. 333-[●]
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-4
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Delaware | 7990 | 95-4545390 | ||
(State of Incorporation) | (Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
Telephone: (818) 560-1000
(Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrants Principal Executive Offices)
Alan N. Braverman
Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary, Registered In-House Counsel
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
Telephone: (818) 560-1000
(Name, Address, including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
With a copy to:
Faiza J. Saeed, Esq. George F. Schoen, Esq. Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP 825 Eighth Avenue New York, New York 10019 (212) 474-1000 |
Gerson Zweifach Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer Janet Nova Executive Vice President and Deputy Group General Counsel Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 (212) 852-7000 |
Howard L. Ellin, Esq. Brandon Van Dyke, Esq. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates 4 Times Square New York, New York 10036 (212) 735-3000 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement is declared effective.
If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, please check the following box.
If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer, non-accelerated filer,smaller reporting company, and emerging growth company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
Large accelerated filer | ☒ | Accelerated filer | ☐ | |||
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ☐ | |||
Emerging growth company | ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transaction:
Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer) ☐
Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer) ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of each class of securities to be registered |
Amount to be registered |
Proposed maximum offering price per unit |
Proposed maximum aggregate offering price |
Amount of registration fee | ||||
Common stock, par value $0.01 per share |
579,251,623 shares(1) | N/A | $67,438,023,037.69(2) | $8,396,033.87(3) | ||||
| ||||||||
|
(1) | Represents the estimated maximum number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the registrant (Disney common stock) to be issued upon completion of the initial merger described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus contained herein (the initial merger) and is based on the product of (a) 1,877,030,536, which is the sum of (i) 1,054,008,837 shares of class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (21CF class A common stock) outstanding as of February 2, 2018, plus (ii) 798,520,953 shares of class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (21CF class B common stock) outstanding as of February 2, 2018, plus (iii) 24,500,746 shares of 21CF class A common stock underlying equity awards as of April 10, 2018, multiplied by (b) 0.3086, which is the maximum exchange ratio under the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2017, by and among Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (21CF), The Walt Disney Company (Disney), TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., Inc. (Corporate Sub) and TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC (LLC Sub), which we refer to as the combination merger agreement. |
(2) | Pursuant to Rules 457(c), 457(f)(1) and 457(f)(3) promulgated under the Securities Act and solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee, the proposed aggregate maximum offering price is the sum of (a) the product of (i) $36.145 (the average of the high and low prices of 21CF class A common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 11, 2018) times (ii) the sum of 1,054,008,837 shares of 21CF class A common stock outstanding as of February 2, 2018 plus 24,500,746 shares of 21CF class A common stock underlying equity awards plus (b) the product of (i) $35.635 (the average of the high and low prices of 21CF class B common stock as reported on the Nasdaq Global Select Market on April 11, 2018) times (ii) the sum of 798,520,953 shares of 21CF class B common stock outstanding as of April 11, 2018. |
(3) | Computed in accordance with Rule 457(f) under the Securities Act to be $8,396,033.87, which is equal to 0.0001245 multiplied by the proposed maximum aggregate offering price of $67,438,023,037.69. |
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this joint proxy statement/prospectus is not complete and may be changed. The Walt Disney Company may not sell the securities offered by this joint proxy statement/prospectus until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This joint proxy statement/prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and The Walt Disney Company is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARYSUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED APRIL 18, 2018
MERGER PROPOSEDYOUR VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT
[●], 2018
Dear Stockholders of The Walt Disney Company and Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.:
The Walt Disney Company, which we refer to as Disney, and Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., which we refer to as 21CF, have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2017, which we refer to as the combination merger agreement. Pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, following the distribution (as defined below), TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, will be merged with and into 21CF, which we refer to as the initial merger, and 21CF will continue as the surviving corporation in the initial merger and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
Prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF and a newly-formed subsidiary of 21CF, which we refer to as New Fox, will enter into a separation agreement, which we refer to as the separation agreement, pursuant to which 21CF will, among other things, engage in an internal restructuring, which we refer to as the separation, whereby it will transfer to New Fox a portfolio of 21CFs news, sports and broadcast businesses, including the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Big Ten Network, and certain other assets, and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities associated with such businesses. 21CF will retain all assets and liabilities not transferred to New Fox, including the Twentieth Century Fox film and television studios and certain cable and international television businesses. Following the separation and prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF will distribute all of the issued and outstanding common stock of New Fox to 21CF stockholders (other than holders that are subsidiaries of 21CF) on a pro rata basis, which we refer to as the distribution, in accordance with terms set forth in the Distribution Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of [●], 2018, by and between 21CF and 21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc., which we refer to as the distribution merger agreement. Prior to the distribution, New Fox will pay to 21CF a dividend in the amount of $8.5 billion. New Fox will incur indebtedness sufficient to fund the dividend, which indebtedness will be reduced after the initial merger by the amount of the cash payment adjustment described in the following paragraph.
If the transaction is completed, each issued and outstanding share of 21CF class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and 21CF class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (other than shares held by subsidiaries of 21CF, which we refer to as the hook stock shares) will be exchanged automatically for 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock, par value $0.01 per share. The exchange ratio may be subject to an adjustment based on the final estimate of certain tax liabilities arising from the separation and distribution and other transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. We refer to such adjustment as the exchange ratio adjustment. The initial exchange ratio in the combination merger agreement of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock was set based on an estimate of $8.5 billion for the transaction tax (as defined in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus), and will be adjusted immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions if the final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is more than $8.5 billion or less than $6.5 billion. Such adjustment could increase or decrease the exchange ratio, depending upon whether the final estimate is lower or higher, respectively, than $6.5 billion or $8.5 billion. Additionally, if the final estimate of the tax liabilities is lower than $8.5 billion, Disney will make a cash payment to New Fox reflecting the difference between such amount and $8.5 billion, up to a maximum cash payment of $2 billion. As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation, it is likely that the final estimate of the tax liabilities taken into account will differ
materially from the amount estimated for purposes of setting the initial exchange ratio. Accordingly, under certain circumstances, there could be a material adjustment to the exchange ratio. Because of the exchange ratio adjustment, the number of shares of Disney common stock that 21CF stockholders will receive in the initial merger cannot be determined until immediately prior to completion of the initial merger. See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information on the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the transaction tax.
Each hook stock share will be exchanged automatically for a fraction of a share of Disney series B convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment) divided by 10,000 or, if the Disney board so elects in its sole discretion, a number of shares of Disney common stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment).
Based on the closing price of Disney common stock of $107.61 on December 13, 2017, the last trading day before public announcement of the combination merger agreement, and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, the merger consideration represented an implied value of $29.54 per share of 21CF common stock. Based on the closing price of Disney common stock of $[●] on [●], 2018, the latest practicable date before the printing of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, the merger consideration represented an implied value of $[●] per share of 21CF common stock. The implied value of the merger consideration will fluctuate with the market price of Disney common stock. 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock are currently traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol FOXA and FOX, respectively, and Disney common stock is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DIS. We encourage you to obtain current market quotes for 21CF common stock and Disney common stock before you determine how to vote on the proposals set forth in this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
At the special meeting of Disney stockholders, Disney stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to approve the issuance of Disney common stock and, if applicable, Disney series B convertible preferred stock, which we refer to collectively as Disney stock, to 21CF stockholders in connection with the initial merger, which we refer to as the share issuance proposal, (ii) a proposal to adopt amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Disney, which we refer to as the Disney charter, to provide, among other things, that shares of Disney common stock held by subsidiaries of Disney will not be entitled to receive dividends that are declared on the Disney common stock (other than certain dividends in shares of Disney common stock or other equity securities), which we refer to as the Disney charter amendment proposal, and (iii) a proposal to adjourn the Disney special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the share issuance proposal, which we refer to as the Disney adjournment proposal. Approval of the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal each requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Disney special meeting and entitled to vote thereon. This vote will also satisfy the vote requirements of Section 312.07 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual with respect to the share issuance proposal, which requires that the votes cast in favor of such proposal must exceed the aggregate of votes cast against and abstentions. Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock entitled to vote thereon.
At the special meeting of 21CF stockholders, 21CF stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to adopt the combination merger agreement, which we refer to as the combination merger proposal, (ii) a proposal to adopt the distribution merger agreement, which we refer to as the distribution merger proposal, (iii) a proposal to adopt an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of 21CF, which we refer to as the 21CF charter, to provide that the shares of 21CF common stock held by subsidiaries of 21CF, which we refer to as the hook stock shares, will not receive any shares of New Fox common stock in connection with the distribution, which we refer to as the hook stock charter amendment proposal, (iv) a proposal to adopt an amendment to the 21CF charter to provide for a subdivision of the issued and outstanding shares of 21CF common stock such that the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately after such subdivision is equal to the stock split multiple (as defined below) multiplied by the total number of
shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision, which we refer to as the stock split charter amendment proposal, and, together with the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the 21CF charter amendment proposals, (v) a proposal to adjourn the 21CF special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal or the 21CF charter amendment proposals, which we refer to as the 21CF adjournment proposal, and (vi) a non-binding, advisory proposal to approve the compensation that may become payable to 21CFs named executive officers in connection with the transactions, which we refer to as the compensation proposal. The stock split multiple is equal to the quotient of (1) 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution) divided by (2) the excess of 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization over New Foxs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock (based on when-issued trading) measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution, or if shares of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock trade (on a when-issued basis) for fewer than five days before the date of the distribution, the entire period during which such shares trade prior to the date of the distribution). Approval of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Approval of the 21CF charter amendment proposals requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast thereon by holders of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. Holders of 21CF class A common stock are not entitled to vote on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal or the compensation proposal.
The transactions cannot be completed unless Disney stockholders approve the share issuance proposal and 21CF stockholders approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares you own. Even if you plan to attend the 21CF special meeting or the Disney special meeting, as applicable, in person, please complete, sign, date and return, as promptly as possible, the enclosed proxy or voting instruction card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope or submit your proxy by telephone or the Internet prior to the 21CF special meeting or Disney special meeting, as applicable, to ensure that your shares will be represented at the 21CF special meeting or the Disney special meeting, as applicable, if you are unable to attend. If you hold your shares in street name through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you should follow the procedures provided by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares.
After careful consideration, the Disney board of directors unanimously approved the combination merger agreement and the issuance of shares of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders in connection with the initial merger and determined that the combination merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the initial merger and the issuance of shares of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the initial merger, and the Disney charter amendment, are advisable and in the best interests of Disney and its stockholders. The Disney board of directors accordingly unanimously recommends that Disney stockholders vote FOR each of the share issuance proposal, the Disney charter amendment proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal. In considering the recommendation of the Disney board of directors, you should be aware that directors and executive officers of Disney have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Disney stockholders generally. See the section entitled Interests of Disneys Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests.
After careful consideration, the 21CF board of directors, by unanimous vote of those present, approved the combination merger agreement and the distribution merger agreement and determined that the transactions contemplated thereby, including the initial merger, the 21CF charter amendments and the distribution, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of 21CF and its stockholders. The 21CF board of directors accordingly recommends that 21CF stockholders vote FOR each of the combination merger
proposal, the distribution merger proposal, the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal. In considering the recommendation of the 21CF board of directors, you should be aware that directors and executive officers of 21CF have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of 21CF stockholders generally. See the sections entitled Non-Binding, Advisory Vote on Transactions-Related Compensation for 21CFs Named Executive Officers beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus and Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests.
We urge you to read carefully and in its entirety the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the Annexes and the documents incorporated by reference. In particular, we urge you to read carefully the section entitled Risk Factors beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus.
On behalf of the boards of directors of 21CF and Disney, thank you for your consideration and continued support.
Sincerely,
[Signatures]
NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THE ATTACHED JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS OR THE SECURITIES TO BE ISSUED PURSUANT TO THE INITIAL MERGER UNDER THE ATTACHED JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS NOR HAVE THEY DETERMINED IF THE ATTACHED JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS IS ACCURATE OR ADEQUATE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
The accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [●], 2018 and is first being mailed to 21CF and Disney stockholders on or about [●], 2018.
THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY
500 SOUTH BUENA VISTA STREET
BURBANK, CALIFORNIA 91521
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Dear Stockholders of The Walt Disney Company:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of The Walt Disney Company (Disney) stockholders. The special meeting will be held on [●], 2018, at [●] local time, at [●], to consider and vote on the following matters:
1. | a proposal to approve the issuance of Disney common stock, par value $0.01 per share, and, if applicable, Disney series B convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, to stockholders of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (21CF) contemplated by the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2017, as amended as of [●], 2018 and as may be amended from time to time, by and among 21CF, a Delaware corporation, Disney, a Delaware corporation, TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, and TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, a copy of which is attached as Annex A, and an amendment to which is attached as Annex B, to the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus (referred to as the share issuance proposal); |
2. | a proposal to adopt certain amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Disney (referred to as the Disney charter) as described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus and the certificate of amendment to the Disney charter, a copy of which is attached as Annex F to the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus (referred to as the Disney charter amendment proposal); and |
3. | a proposal to approve adjournments of the Disney special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Disney special meeting to approve the share issuance proposal (referred to as the Disney adjournment proposal). |
The record date for the Disney special meeting is [●], 2018. Only stockholders of record of Disney as of the close of business on [●], 2018, which we refer to as the Disney record date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the Disney special meeting. The acquisition of 21CF cannot be completed unless the holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Disney special meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting approve the share issuance proposal. Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares of Disney common stock that you own.
The Disney board of directors unanimously recommends that you vote FOR each of the share issuance proposal, the Disney charter amendment proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal. In considering the recommendation of the Disney board of directors, you should be aware that directors and executive officers of Disney have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of Disney stockholders generally. See the section entitled Interests of Disneys Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests.
EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN, AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING PREPAID REPLY ENVELOPE, OR SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET PRIOR TO THE
DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SHARES OF DISNEY COMMON STOCK WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND. IF YOU HOLD YOUR SHARES IN STREET NAME THROUGH A BANK, BROKERAGE FIRM OR OTHER NOMINEE, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY YOUR BANK, BROKERAGE FIRM OR OTHER NOMINEE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES. IF YOU ATTEND THE DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON, YOUR VOTE BY BALLOT WILL REVOKE ANY PROXY PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED.
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
Alan N. Braverman |
Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
Burbank, CA
Dated: [●], 2018
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY FOX, INC. 1211 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Dear Stockholders of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.:
You are cordially invited to attend a special meeting of Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. (21CF) stockholders. The special meeting will be held on [●], 2018, at [●] local time, at [●], to consider and vote on the following matters:
1. | a proposal to adopt the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2017, as amended as of [●], 2018 and as may be amended from time to time, by and among 21CF, a Delaware corporation, The Walt Disney Company (Disney), a Delaware corporation, TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, and TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, a copy of which is attached as Annex A, and an amendment to which is attached as Annex B, to the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus (referred to as the combination merger proposal); |
2. | a proposal to adopt the Distribution Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of [●], 2018, as it may be amended from time to time, by and between 21CF, a Delaware corporation, and 21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation, a copy of which is attached as Annex C to the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus (referred to as the distribution merger proposal); |
3. | a proposal to adopt an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of 21CF (referred to as the 21CF charter) with respect to the hook stock shares as described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus and the certificate of amendment to the 21CF charter, a copy of which is attached as Annex E to the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus (referred to as the hook stock charter amendment proposal); |
4. | a proposal to adopt an amendment to the 21CF charter with respect to the subdivision of the issued and outstanding shares of 21CF as described in the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus and the certificate of amendment to the 21CF charter, a copy of which is attached as Annex E to the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus (referred to as the stock split charter amendment proposal and, together with the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the 21CF charter amendment proposals); |
5. | a proposal to approve adjournments of the 21CF special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, to solicit additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the 21CF special meeting to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal or the 21CF charter amendment proposals (referred to as the 21CF adjournment proposal); and |
6. | a proposal to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, certain compensation that may be paid or become payable to 21CFs named executive officers in connection with the transactions and the agreements and understandings pursuant to which such compensation may be paid or become payable (referred to as the compensation proposal). |
The record date for the 21CF special meeting is [●], 2018. Only stockholders of record of 21CF as of the close of business on [●], 2018, which we refer to as the 21CF record date, are entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the 21CF special meeting. Approval of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share (referred to as 21CF class A common stock), and 21CF class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share (referred to as 21CF class B common stock; holders of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF
class B common stock referred to as the 21CF stockholders), entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Approval of the 21CF charter amendment proposals requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. Approval of the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast thereon by holders of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. Holders of 21CF class A common stock are not entitled to vote on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal or the compensation proposal. The merger with Disney and the separation of certain 21CF assets into a new, publicly-traded traded company, the stock of which will be distributed to 21CF stockholders on a pro rata basis, cannot be completed unless 21CF stockholders, voting together as a single class, approve the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal and the holders of 21CF class B common stock approve the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Your vote is very important, regardless of the number of shares of 21CF common stock that you own.
The 21CF board of directors recommends, by unanimous vote of those directors present, that 21CF stockholders vote FOR each of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal, the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal. In considering the recommendation of the 21CF board of directors, you should be aware that directors and executive officers of 21CF have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of 21CF stockholders generally. See the sections entitled Non-Binding, Advisory Vote on Transactions-Related Compensation for 21CFs Named Executive Officers beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus and Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of the accompanying joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests.
EVEN IF YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING IN PERSON, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN, AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD OR VOTING INSTRUCTION CARD IN THE ACCOMPANYING PREPAID REPLY ENVELOPE, OR SUBMIT YOUR PROXY BY TELEPHONE OR THE INTERNET PRIOR TO THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING TO ENSURE THAT YOUR SHARES OF 21CF COMMON STOCK WILL BE REPRESENTED AT THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO ATTEND. IF YOU HOLD YOUR SHARES IN STREET NAME THROUGH A BANK, BROKERAGE FIRM OR OTHER NOMINEE, YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED BY YOUR BANK, BROKERAGE FIRM OR OTHER NOMINEE TO VOTE YOUR SHARES. IF YOU ATTEND THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING AND VOTE IN PERSON, YOUR VOTE BY BALLOT WILL REVOKE ANY PROXY PREVIOUSLY SUBMITTED.
By Order of the Board of Directors, |
Laura A. Cleveland |
Vice President and Corporate Secretary |
New York, New York
Dated: [●], 2018
REFERENCES TO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
This joint proxy statement/prospectus incorporates important business and financial information about Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., which we refer to as 21CF, and The Walt Disney Company, which we refer to as Disney, from other documents that 21CF and Disney have filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, which we refer to as the SEC, and that are contained in or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. For a listing of documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus, please see the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This information is available for you to review at the SECs public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549, and through the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
You may request copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and any of the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus or other information concerning 21CF, without charge, by written or telephonic request directed to 21CFs proxy solicitor, Okapi Partners LLC, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor, New York, New York 10036, Telephone [●]
You may also request a copy of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and any of the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus or other information concerning Disney, without charge, by written or telephonic request directed to Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Attention: Disney Shareholder Services, P.O. Box 1342, Brentwood, New York, Telephone (855) 553-4763; or Disneys proxy solicitor, Innisfree M&A Incorporated, 501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor, New York, New York 10022, banks and brokers call collect: (212) 750-5833, stockholders call toll free: (877) 717-3923.
In order for you to receive timely delivery of the documents in advance of the special meeting of 21CF stockholders or Disney stockholders, as applicable, you must request the information no later than five business days prior to the date of the applicable special meeting (i.e., by [●], 2018).
ABOUT THIS JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS
This document, which forms part of a registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC by Disney (File No. 333-[●]), constitutes a prospectus of Disney under Section 5 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, which we refer to as the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Disney, which we refer to as Disney common stock, to be issued to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2017, by and among 21CF, Disney, TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp. and TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, as it may be amended from time to time, which we refer to as the combination merger agreement. This document also constitutes a joint proxy statement under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the Exchange Act. It also constitutes a notice of meeting with respect to the special meeting of 21CF stockholders and a notice of meeting with respect to the special meeting of Disney stockholders.
Disney has supplied all information contained or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus relating to Disney, TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp. and TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, and 21CF has supplied all such information relating to 21CF, [New Fox, Inc.] and 21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc.
Disney and 21CF have not authorized anyone to provide you with information other than the information that is contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Disney and 21CF take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurances as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. This joint proxy statement/prospectus is dated [●], 2018, and you should not assume that the information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than such date. Further, you should not assume that the information incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of the incorporated document. Neither the mailing of this
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joint proxy statement/prospectus to Disney stockholders or 21CF stockholders, nor the issuance by Disney of shares of its common stock pursuant to the combination merger agreement will create any implication to the contrary.
Unless otherwise indicated or as the context otherwise requires, all references in this joint proxy statement/prospectus to:
| 21CF means Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., a Delaware corporation; |
| 21CF common stock means the 21CF class A common stock and the 21CF class B common stock; |
| 21CF class A common stock means the class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of 21CF; |
| 21CF class B common stock means the class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of 21CF; |
| combination merger agreement means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of December 13, 2017, by among 21CF, Disney, Corporate Sub and LLC Sub, as amended as of [●], 2018, and as may be amended from time to time, a copy of which is attached as Annex A, and an amendment to which is attached as Annex B, to this joint proxy statement/prospectus; |
| Corporate Sub means TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney; |
| Disney means The Walt Disney Company, a Delaware corporation; |
| Disney common stock means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Disney; |
| Disney series B convertible preferred stock means the series B convertible preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Disney; |
| Disney stock means the Disney common stock and the Disney series B convertible preferred stock; |
| distribution means the distribution of all of the issued and outstanding common stock of New Fox to 21CF stockholders (other than holders that are subsidiaries of 21CF) on a pro rata basis pursuant to the distribution merger; |
| distribution merger means the merger of Distribution Sub with and into 21CF, with 21CF surviving the merger; |
| distribution merger agreement means the Distribution Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of [●], by and between 21CF and 21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF, as it may be amended from time to time, a copy of which is attached as Annex C to this joint proxy statement/prospectus; |
| Distribution Sub means 21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF; |
| initial merger means the merger of Corporate Sub with and into 21CF, with 21CF surviving the merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney; |
| LLC Sub means TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney; |
| Merger Subs means Corporate Sub together with LLC Sub; |
| mergers means the initial merger together with the subsequent merger; |
| New Fox means [New Fox, Inc.], a Delaware corporation that is and, at all times prior to the distribution, will be a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF; |
| New Fox business means (1) 21CFs Television segment (as described in 21CFs June 30, 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K), (2) the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Big Ten Network |
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and 21CFs domestic national sports networks (including FS1, FS2, Fox Soccer 2Go, Fox Soccer Plus, Fox Deportes) and (3) HTS and Fox College Properties, including in each case any reasonable extensions thereof prior to the time of the separation; |
| New Fox class A common stock means the class A common stock, par value $[●] per share, of New Fox; |
| New Fox class B common stock means the class B common stock, par value $[●] per share, of New Fox; |
| New Fox subsidiaries means New Foxs subsidiaries as designated in good faith by 21CF after consulting with Disney prior to the distribution taking into consideration the business conducted by such subsidiaries and the separation principles; |
| RemainCo means 21CF after giving effect to the separation and the distribution; |
| retained business means 21CF and its subsidiaries and the respective businesses thereof, other than the New Fox business; |
| retained subsidiaries means the subsidiaries of 21CF, other than New Fox and the New Fox subsidiaries; |
| separation means the internal restructuring whereby 21CF will transfer the New Fox business to New Fox and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities associated with the New Fox business; |
| subsequent merger means the merger of 21CF with and into LLC Sub, with LLC Sub surviving the merger and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney; and |
| transactions means the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement and the other transaction documents, including the separation, the distribution and the mergers. |
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE TRANSACTIONS AND THE SPECIAL MEETINGS
The following questions and answers are intended to briefly address some commonly asked questions regarding the transactions, and matters to be addressed at the special meetings. These questions and answers may not address all questions that may be important to Disney stockholders and 21CF stockholders. Please refer to the section entitled Summary beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the more detailed information contained elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, the annexes to this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the documents referred to in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, which you should read carefully and in their entirety. You may obtain the information incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus without charge by following the instructions under the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Q: | What are the proposed transactions? |
A: | Disney and 21CF have agreed to a merger under the terms of the combination merger agreement that are described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. If Disney stockholders approve the proposal to issue Disney stock to 21CF stockholders in connection with the initial merger, which we refer to as the share issuance proposal, 21CF stockholders approve the proposal to adopt the combination merger agreement, which we refer to as the combination merger proposal, the proposal to adopt the distribution merger agreement, which we refer to as the distribution merger proposal, the proposal to adopt an amendment to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of 21CF, which we refer to as the 21CF charter, to provide that the hook stock shares will not receive any shares of New Fox common stock in connection with the distribution, which we refer to as the hook stock charter amendment proposal and the proposal to adopt an amendment to the 21CF charter to provide for a subdivision of the issued and outstanding shares of 21CF common stock such that the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately after such subdivision is equal to the stock split multiple (as defined below) multiplied by the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision, which we refer to as the stock split charter amendment proposal, and, together with the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the 21CF charter amendment proposals, and the other conditions to closing under the combination merger agreement are satisfied or waived, at 12:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the date immediately following the distribution, Corporate Sub will merge with and into 21CF, and 21CF will continue as the surviving corporation, which we refer to as the initial surviving corporation, in the initial merger and become a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney. The stock split multiple is equal to the quotient of (1) 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution) divided by (2) the excess of 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization over New Foxs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock (based on when-issued trading) measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution, or if shares of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock trade (on a when-issued basis) for fewer than five days before the date of the distribution, the entire period during which such shares trade prior to the date of the distribution). |
Immediately after the effective time of the initial merger, the initial surviving corporation will merge with and into LLC Sub, and LLC Sub will continue as the surviving entity, which we refer to as the final surviving entity.
Prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF and New Fox, will enter into a separation agreement, which we refer to as the separation agreement, pursuant to which 21CF will, among other things, engage in an internal restructuring whereby it will transfer to New Fox a portfolio of 21CFs news, sports and broadcast businesses, including the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Big Ten Network and certain other assets, and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities associated with
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such businesses. 21CF will retain all assets and liabilities not transferred to New Fox, including the Twentieth Century Fox film and television studios and certain cable and international television businesses. Prior to the distribution, New Fox will pay to 21CF a dividend in the amount of $8.5 billion. New Fox will incur indebtedness sufficient to fund the dividend, which indebtedness will be reduced after the initial merger by the amount of the cash payment adjustment described below.
Following the separation and prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF will distribute all of the issued and outstanding common stock of New Fox to 21CF stockholders (other than holders that are subsidiaries of 21CF) on a pro rata basis in accordance with terms set forth in the distribution merger agreement. Upon completion of the distribution, New Fox will be a standalone, publicly traded company.
As a result of the initial merger, 21CF will no longer be a publicly held company. Following the initial merger, 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq Global Select Market, which we refer to as Nasdaq, and deregistered under the Exchange Act, and 21CF will no longer be required to file periodic reports with the SEC in respect of the 21CF common stock.
Q: | Why am I receiving this joint proxy statement/prospectus? |
A: | Disney is holding a special meeting of its stockholders to ask its stockholders to consider and vote on (i) the share issuance proposal, (ii) a proposal to adopt amendments to the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Disney, which we refer to as the Disney charter, to provide, among other things, that shares of Disney common stock held by subsidiaries of Disney will not be entitled to receive dividends that are declared on the Disney common stock (other than certain dividends in shares of Disney common stock or other equity securities), which we refer to as the Disney charter amendment proposal, and (iii) a proposal to adjourn the Disney special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the share issuance proposal, which we refer to as the Disney adjournment proposal. |
21CF is holding a special meeting of its stockholders to ask its stockholders to consider and vote on (i) the combination merger proposal, (ii) the distribution merger proposal, (iii) the hook stock charter amendment proposal, (iv) the stock split charter amendment proposal, (v) a proposal to adjourn the 21CF special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal or the 21CF charter amendment proposals, which we refer to as the 21CF adjournment proposal, and (vi) a non-binding, advisory proposal to approve the compensation that may be paid or become payable to 21CFs named executive officers in connection with the completion of the initial merger, which we refer to as the compensation proposal.
This joint proxy statement/prospectus, which forms part of a registration statement on Form S-4 filed with the SEC by Disney, constitutes a prospectus of Disney for the shares of Disney common stock to be issued to 21CF stockholders under the combination merger agreement. This joint proxy statement/prospectus also constitutes a joint proxy statement for both Disney and 21CF. It also constitutes a notice of meeting for the Disney special meeting and a notice of meeting for the 21CF special meeting. This joint proxy statement/prospectus, including its annexes, contains important information about the transactions and the special meetings. Disney stockholders and 21CF stockholders should read this information carefully and in its entirety. The enclosed voting materials allow Disney stockholders and 21CF stockholders to vote their shares without attending the applicable special meeting in person.
Q: | Does my vote matter? |
A: | Yes. The transactions cannot be completed unless Disney stockholders approve the share issuance proposal and 21CF stockholders approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal is not a condition to completion of the transactions. However, it may be more difficult to satisfy certain conditions to the completion of the transactions if the Disney charter amendment proposal is not approved. For more |
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information, see the section entitled Information About the Disney Special MeetingTime, Place and Purpose of the Disney Special Meeting beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
If holders of shares of Disney common stock are present at the Disney special meeting but do not vote for, or vote to abstain on, the share issuance proposal, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the share issuance proposal. If holders of Disney common stock fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the Disney special meeting, or do not provide their bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will not have an effect on the vote to approve the share issuance proposal. The board of directors of Disney, which we refer to as the Disney board, recommends that Disney stockholders vote FOR the approval of the share issuance proposal. Because the affirmative vote required to approve the Disney charter amendment proposal is based on the total number of outstanding Disney common stock, if you hold shares of Disney common stock and you fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the Disney special meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Disney charter amendment proposal.
If holders of shares of 21CF common stock fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, or vote to abstain, or do not provide their bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the approval of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal. In addition, if holders of shares of 21CF class B common stock fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, or vote to abstain, or do not provide their bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the approval of the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Holders of shares of 21CF class A common stock are not entitled to vote on the 21CF charter amendment proposals. The board of directors of 21CF, which we refer to as the 21CF board, recommends that 21CF stockholders vote FOR the approval of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals.
Q: | What is the vote required to approve each proposal at the Disney special meeting? |
A: | Approval of the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Disney special meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting. If your shares of Disney common stock are present at the Disney special meeting but are not voted on the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal, or if you vote to abstain on the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal, each will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal, as applicable. If you fail to submit a valid proxy and to attend the Disney special meeting or if your shares of Disney common stock are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares of Disney common stock, your shares of Disney common stock will not be voted, but this will not have an effect on the vote to approve the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal. |
Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock entitled to vote at the meeting. Because the affirmative vote required to approve the Disney charter amendment proposal is based on the total number of outstanding Disney common stock, if you hold shares of Disney common stock and you fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the Disney special meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Disney charter amendment proposal.
If you participate in the Disney Savings and Investment Plan or the Disney Hourly Savings and Investment Plan, you may give voting instructions as to the number of shares of Disney common stock you hold in the plan as of the record date for the Disney special meeting, which we refer to as the Disney record date. You may provide voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company by voting online or by completing
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and returning a proxy card if you received one. If you hold shares of Disney common stock other than through these plans and you vote electronically, voting instructions you give with respect to your other shares of Disney common stock will be applied to Disney stock credited to your accounts in a savings and investment plan unless you request a separate control number with respect to each account. To receive separate control numbers, please call 1-855-449-0994. The trustee will vote your shares of Disney common stock in accordance with your duly executed instructions received by [●], 2018. If you do not send instructions, an independent fiduciary has been selected to determine how to vote all shares for which the trustee does not receive valid and timely instructions from participants. You may revoke previously given voting instructions by [●], 2018, by either revising your instructions online or by submitting to the trustee either a written notice of revocation or a properly completed and signed proxy card bearing a later date. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the trustee.
See the section entitled Information About the Disney Special MeetingVote Required beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Q: | What is the vote required to approve each proposal at the 21CF special meeting? |
A: | Approval of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class. Because the affirmative votes required to approve the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal are based on the total number of outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock, if you fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal. |
Approval of the 21CF charter amendment proposals require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. Because the affirmative vote required to approve the 21CF charter amendment proposals is based on the total number of outstanding 21CF class B common stock, if you hold shares of 21CF class B common stock and you fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the 21CF charter amendment proposals.
Approval of the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast thereon by holders of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. If you vote to abstain or if you fail to submit a valid proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting or if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares of 21CF class B common stock, your shares of 21CF class B common stock will not be voted, but this will not have an effect on the vote on the 21CF adjournment proposal or the compensation proposal.
See the section entitled Information About the 21CF Special MeetingVote Required beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Q: | How does the Disney board recommend that Disney stockholders vote? |
A: | The Disney board unanimously recommends that Disney stockholders vote FOR the share issuance proposal, FOR the Disney charter amendment proposal and FOR the Disney adjournment proposal. See the section entitled The TransactionsRecommendation of the Disney Board; Disneys Reasons for the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | How does the 21CF board recommend that 21CF stockholders vote? |
A: | The 21CF board unanimously (of those present) recommends that 21CF stockholders vote FOR the combination merger proposal, FOR the distribution merger proposal, FOR the hook stock charter |
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amendment proposal, FOR the stock split charter amendment proposal, FOR the 21CF adjournment proposal and FOR the compensation proposal. See the section entitled The TransactionsRecommendation of the 21CF Board; 21CFs Reasons for the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What will 21CF stockholders receive if the initial merger is completed? |
A: | If the initial merger is completed, each share of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the completion of the initial merger (other than the hook stock shares) will be converted into the right to receive a number of shares of Disney common stock equal to an exchange ratio set forth in the combination merger agreement and defined below, which we refer to as the exchange ratio. Following the separation, upon consummation of the distribution and prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF will distribute all of the issued and outstanding common stock of New Fox to the holders of the outstanding shares of 21CF common stock (other than the hook stock shares) on a pro rata basis in accordance with terms set forth in the distribution merger agreement. See the section entitled The TransactionsOverview of the TransactionsStock Split and Distribution beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Each hook stock share will be exchanged automatically for a fraction of a share of Disney series B convertible preferred stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment) divided by 10,000 or, if the Disney board so elects in its sole discretion, a number of shares of Disney common stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment). See the sections entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers and The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation beginning on page [●] and page [●], respectively, of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The hook stock shares will participate in the subdivision of 21CF common stock but will not participate in the distribution of New Fox common stock.
Q: | What is the exchange ratio? |
A: | The exchange ratio is used to determine the number of shares of Disney stock 21CF stockholders will be entitled to receive for each share of 21CF common stock they hold. The exchange ratio is established in accordance with the combination merger agreement. The initial exchange ratio in the combination merger agreement of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock may be subject to an adjustment based on an estimate of certain tax liabilities arising from the separation and distribution and other transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. We refer to such adjustment as the exchange ratio adjustment. The exchange ratio will be calculated by adding to 0.2745 the quotient (which may be positive or negative, and shall be rounded to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (x) the equity adjustment amount by (y) $190,857,018,174 (which $190,857,018,174 represents $102, the reference price per share of Disney common stock used to calculate the initial exchange ratio, multiplied by 1,871,147,237, the number of fully diluted shares of 21CF common stock as of the close of business on December 13, 2017). The equity adjustment amount is the amount equal to (a) $8.5 billion minus (b) the amount of the transaction tax minus (c) the cash payment from Disney to New Fox, as described below, which is an amount obtained by subtracting the amount of the transaction tax from $8.5 billion, but only to the extent such amount exceeds zero and does not exceed $2 billion in the case of this clause (c). The transaction tax is an amount that will be estimated by Disney and 21CF to equal the sum of (a) the amount of taxes, subject to certain exceptions, imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the separation and distribution, (b) an amount in respect of divestiture taxes, as described in further detail in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersDivestiture Taxes beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and (c) the amount of taxes imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the operations of the New Fox business from and after December 13, 2017 through the closing of the transactions, but only to the extent such taxes exceed an amount of cash, which will not be less than zero, equal to the New Fox cash amount, as described in further detail in the section entitled The |
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Combination Merger AgreementSeparation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the transaction tax calculation. See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information on the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the transaction tax. |
Q: | What will 21CF stockholders receive if the separation and distribution are completed? What will be the value of New Fox common stock? |
A: | Following the separation, upon consummation of the distribution and prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF will distribute all of the issued and outstanding common stock of New Fox to the holders of the outstanding shares of 21CF common stock (other than the hook stock shares) on a pro rata basis in accordance with terms set forth in the distribution merger agreement. It is difficult to accurately value New Fox common stock or predict the prices at which New Fox common stock may trade after consummation of the transactions. In the event that the conditions to the initial merger are not satisfied or waived for any reason, the separation and distribution will not occur. |
Q: | What is the value of the merger consideration? |
A: | As described above, the exchange ratio may be subject to the exchange ratio adjustment, which would be based on the final estimate of the transaction tax. The initial exchange ratio in the combination merger agreement of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock was set based on an estimate of $8.5 billion for the transaction tax, and will be adjusted immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions if the final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is more than $8.5 billion or less than $6.5 billion. Such adjustment could increase or decrease the exchange ratio, depending upon whether the final estimate is lower or higher, respectively, than $6.5 billion or $8.5 billion. Additionally, if the final estimate of the tax liabilities is lower than $8.5 billion, Disney will make a cash payment to New Fox reflecting the difference between such amount and $8.5 billion, which we refer to as the cash payment, up to a maximum cash payment of $2 billion. As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation, it is likely that the final estimate of the tax liabilities taken into account will differ materially from the amount estimated for purposes of setting the initial exchange ratio. Accordingly, under certain circumstances, there could be a material adjustment to the exchange ratio. Because of the exchange ratio adjustment, the number of shares of Disney common stock that 21CF stockholders receive in the initial merger, and therefore the value of the merger consideration, cannot be determined until immediately prior to completion of the initial merger. In addition, the exact value of the merger consideration that 21CF stockholders receive will depend on the price per share of Disney common stock at the time of the initial merger, which will not be known at the time of the special meetings and which may be less than the current price at the time of the special meetings. There will be no true-up payment by Disney or New Fox if the actual amount of such tax liabilities paid by Disney is more or less than the final estimate of such tax liabilities reflected in the exchange ratio adjustment and/or cash payment (subject to a limited exception for taxes attributable to certain divestitures, as described below in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementOther AgreementsTax Matters Agreement). See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information on the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the transaction tax. |
Based on the closing price of Disney common stock of $107.61 on December 13, 2017, the last trading day before public announcement of the combination merger agreement, and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, the merger consideration represented an implied value of $29.54 per share of
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21CF common stock. Based on the closing price of Disney common stock of $[●] on [●], 2018, the latest practicable date before the printing of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, the merger consideration represented an implied value of $[●] per share of 21CF common stock. The implied value of the merger consideration will fluctuate with the market price of Disney common stock. 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock are currently traded on Nasdaq under the symbol FOXA and FOX, respectively, and Disney common stock is currently traded on the NYSE under the symbol DIS. We encourage you to obtain current market quotes for 21CF
common stock and Disney common stock before you determine how to vote on the proposals set forth in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning at page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Q: | What happens to the exchange ratio if the market price of shares of 21CF common stock or Disney common stock changes before the closing of the transactions? |
A: | No change will be made to the exchange ratio if the market price of shares of 21CF common stock or Disney common stock change before the closing of the transactions. |
Q: | What happens if I am eligible to receive a fraction of a share of Disney common stock as part of the merger consideration? |
A: | If the aggregate number of shares of Disney common stock that you are entitled to receive as part of the merger consideration includes a fraction of a share of Disney common stock, you will receive cash in lieu of that fractional share. If holders of the hook stock shares are entitled to receive as part of the merger consideration fractional shares of Disney stock, such holders will be issued fractional shares. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementFractional Shares beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What will holders of 21CF equity compensation awards receive in the transactions? |
A: | In connection with the transactions, 21CF equity compensation awards will be adjusted and converted in the manner described in the section entitled Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the TransactionsEquity Compensation Awards beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What equity stake will 21CF stockholders hold in Disney immediately following completion of the transactions? |
A: | Based on the number of issued and outstanding shares of Disney common stock and 21CF common stock as of [●], 2018, and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, holders of shares 21CF common stock as of immediately prior to the closing of the initial merger will hold, in the aggregate, approximately 25% of the issued and outstanding shares of Disney common stock immediately following the closing of the initial merger. The exact number of shares of Disney common stock that will be issued in the initial merger will not be determined until the exchange ratio is established and the number of outstanding shares of 21CF common stock, restricted share units, performance stock units and deferred stock units that will vest at the effective time of the initial merger, which we refer to as the first effective time, is known, which will not be determined until the date of the initial merger is known. |
Q: | When do you expect the transactions to be completed? |
A: | Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions described under the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the approval of the share issuance proposal by Disney |
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stockholders at the Disney special meeting and the approval of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals by 21CF stockholders at the 21CF special meeting, Disney and 21CF expect that the transactions will be completed within 12-18 months after December 13, 2017. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of both companies could result in the transactions being completed at a different time or not at all. |
Q: | What are the material United States federal income tax consequences of the transactions to 21CF stockholders? |
A: | 21CF stockholders are not expected to recognize any income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the transactions, except for any gain or loss attributable to the receipt of cash in lieu of a fractional share of (i) Disney common stock in the initial merger or (ii) New Fox common stock in the distribution. A more detailed discussion of the material United States federal income tax consequences of the transactions can be found in the section entitled Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
The tax consequences of the transactions to any particular 21CF stockholder will depend on that stockholders particular facts and circumstances. Accordingly, you are urged to consult your tax advisor to determine your tax consequences from the transactions.
Q: | What are the material United States federal income tax consequences of the transactions to Disney stockholders? |
A: | Holders of Disney common stock will not recognize any income, gain or loss as a result of the transactions as a result of their ownership of Disney common stock. Holders of Disney common stock that also hold 21CF common stock will be subject to the tax consequences described under What are the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the transactions to U.S. holders of 21CF common stock? with respect to their ownership of 21CF common stock. |
Q: | What are the conditions to completion of the transactions? |
A: | In addition to the approval of the share issuance proposal by Disney stockholders and the approval of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals by 21CF stockholders as described above, completion of the transactions is subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted by applicable law, waiver of a number of other conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approvals, the accuracy of Disneys and 21CFs respective representations and warranties under the combination merger agreement (subject to certain materiality exceptions) and Disneys and 21CFs performance of their respective obligations under the combination merger agreement. For a more complete summary of the conditions that must be satisfied or waived prior to completion of the transactions, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | What happens if the transactions are not completed? |
A: | If the share issuance proposal is not approved by Disney stockholders, or any of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal or the 21CF charter amendment proposals are not approved by 21CF stockholders or the conditions to the initial merger are not satisfied or waived for any other reason, 21CF stockholders will not receive any consideration for their shares of 21CF common stock and the separation and distribution of New Fox will not occur. Instead, 21CF will remain an independent public company, 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock will continue to be listed and traded on Nasdaq and registered under the Exchange Act and 21CF will continue to file periodic reports with the SEC. Under specified circumstances, 21CF may be required to pay Disney a termination fee of |
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$1.525 billion, or Disney may be required to pay 21CF a termination fee of $1.525 billion. If the transactions are not consummated under certain circumstances relating to the failure to obtain required regulatory approvals, or there is a final, non-appealable order preventing the transactions, in each case, relating to antitrust or communications laws, Disney may be required to pay 21CF a termination fee of $2.5 billion. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTermination of the Combination Merger AgreementTermination Fees beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | Who can vote at the special meetings? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: All holders of record of Disney common stock as of the close of business on [●], 2018, the Disney record date, are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Disney special meeting. Each holder of Disney common stock is entitled to cast one vote on each matter properly brought before the Disney special meeting for each share of Disney common stock that such holder owned of record as of the Disney record date. |
21CF Stockholders: All holders of record of 21CF common stock as of the close of business on [●], 2018, the record date for the 21CF special meeting, which we refer to as the 21CF record date, are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the 21CF special meeting. Each holder of 21CF class B common stock is entitled to cast one vote on each matter properly brought before the 21CF special meeting for each share of 21CF class B common stock that such holder owned of record as of the 21CF record date. Each holder of 21CF class A common stock is entitled to cast one vote on the combination merger proposal and one vote on the distribution merger proposal for each share of 21CF class A common stock that such holder owned of record as of the 21CF record date. Holders of 21CF class A common stock are not entitled to vote on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal or the compensation proposal.
Q: | When and where are the special meetings? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: The Disney special meeting will be held on [●], at [●] local time, at [●]. If you plan to attend the meeting, you must be a stockholder on the record date of [●] and obtain an admission ticket in advance. Tickets will be available to registered and beneficial owners and (if permitted by Disney) up to one guest accompanying each registered or beneficial owner. You can print your own tickets and you must bring them to the meeting to gain access. Tickets can be printed by accessing Shareholder Meeting Registration at www.ProxyVote.com/Disney and following the instructions provided (you will need the 16 digit number included on your proxy card or voter instruction form). If you are unable to print your tickets, please contact Broadridge at 1-855-449-0994. Requests for admission tickets will be processed in the order in which they are received and must be requested no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2018. Please note that seating is limited and requests for tickets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are attending the Disney special meeting in person, you will be required to present valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a drivers license or passport, and an admission ticket to be admitted to the Disney special meeting. Large bags, backpacks, suitcases, briefcases, cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting. You will be required to enter through a security checkpoint before being granted access to the meeting. For additional information about the Disney special meeting, see the section entitled Information About the Disney Special Meeting beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
21CF Stockholders: The 21CF special meeting will be held on [●], at [●] local time, at [●]. If you plan to attend the meeting, you must be a stockholder on the record date of [●] and obtain an admission ticket in advance. Tickets will be available to registered and beneficial owners. You can print your own tickets and you must bring them to the meeting to gain access. Tickets can be printed by accessing Shareholder Meeting Registration at www.ProxyVote.com and following the instructions provided (you will need the 16 digit number included on your proxy card or voter instruction form). If you are unable to print your tickets, please contact the Corporate Secretary at 1-212-852-7000. Requests for admission tickets will be processed in the
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order in which they are received and must be requested no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2018. Please note that seating is limited and requests for tickets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you received your special meeting materials electronically and wish to attend the meeting, please follow the instructions provided for attendance. If you are attending the 21CF special meeting in person, you will be required to present valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a drivers license or passport, and an admission ticket to be admitted to the 21CF special meeting. Large bags, backpacks, suitcases, briefcases, cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting. You will be required to enter through a security checkpoint before being granted access to the meeting. The security checkpoint will close ten minutes before the meeting begins. If you do not provide an admission ticket and government-issued photo identification or do not comply with the security procedures described above, you will not be admitted to the 21CF special meeting. For additional information about the 21CF special meeting, see the section entitled Information About the 21CF Special Meeting beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Q: | How will 21CF stockholders receive the merger consideration to which they are entitled? |
A: | If you hold physical share certificates of 21CF common stock, you will be sent a letter of transmittal promptly after the first effective time describing how you may exchange your shares of 21CF common stock for the merger consideration, and the exchange agent will forward to you the Disney common stock (or applicable evidence of ownership) and cash in lieu of any fractional share of Disney common stock to which you are entitled after receiving the proper documentation from you. If you hold your shares of 21CF common stock in uncertificated book-entry form, you are not required to take any specific actions to exchange your shares of 21CF common stock, and after the completion of the transactions, such shares will be automatically exchanged for the merger consideration. For more information on the documentation you are required to deliver to the exchange agent, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementExchange and Payment Procedures beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
Q: | Will shares of 21CF common stock continue to receive dividends? |
A: | Pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, prior to the closing of the initial merger, 21CF may continue to declare a semiannual dividend of $0.18 per share. 21CF most recently declared a semi-annual dividend on February 6, 2018, in an amount equal to $0.18 per share of 21CF common stock, payable on April 18, 2018. All future 21CF dividends will remain subject to approval by the 21CF board. |
Q: | Will shares of Disney common stock acquired by former 21CF stockholders pursuant to the initial merger receive a dividend? |
A: | After the closing of the initial merger, as a holder of Disney common stock, former 21CF stockholders will receive the same dividends on shares of Disney common stock that all other holders of shares of Disney common stock will receive with any dividend record date that occurs after the first effective time. |
Prior to the closing of the initial merger, Disney and 21CF will coordinate regarding the declaration and payment of dividends on 21CF common stock and Disney common stock so that you will not receive dividends on shares of both 21CF common stock and Disney common stock received in the transactions, or fail to receive any dividend on shares of 21CF common stock and Disney common stock received in the initial merger, in each case, in respect of the same portion of any calendar year.
Former 21CF stockholders who hold 21CF share certificates will not be entitled to be paid dividends otherwise payable on the shares of Disney common stock into which their shares of 21CF common stock are exchangeable until they surrender their 21CF share certificates according to the instructions provided to them. Dividends will be accrued for these stockholders and they will receive the accrued dividends when
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they surrender their 21CF share certificates. Disney most recently paid a semi-annual dividend on January 11, 2018, in an amount equal to $0.84 per share of Disney common stock.
All future Disney dividends will remain subject to approval by the Disney board.
Q: | Why are 21CF stockholders being asked to consider and vote on a proposal to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, the transactions-related executive compensation? |
A: | Under SEC rules, 21CF is required to seek a non-binding, advisory vote with respect to the transactions-related executive compensation. |
Q: | What will happen if 21CF stockholders do not approve this transactions-related executive compensation? |
A: | Approval of the transactions-related executive compensation is not a condition to completion of the transactions. The vote is an advisory vote and will not be binding on 21CF, the initial surviving corporation, the final surviving entity or Disney. If the transactions are completed, the transactions-related executive compensation may be paid to 21CFs named executive officers to the extent payable in accordance with the terms of their compensation agreements and arrangements even if 21CF stockholders do not approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, the transactions-related executive compensation. |
Q: | Why are Disney stockholders being asked to approve the Disney charter amendment proposal? What will happen if Disney stockholders do not approve the Disney charter amendment proposal? |
A: | To avoid paying dividends on the Disney common stock that holders of the hook stock shares may receive as consideration in the initial merger, Disney is seeking the approval of Disney stockholders for the Disney charter amendment. Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal is not a condition to completion of the transactions. If the Disney stockholders do not approve the Disney charter amendment proposal and the conditions to completion of the transactions are satisfied, Disney and 21CF will complete the transactions. Disney intends to issue Disney series B convertible preferred stock in exchange for the hook stock shares as consideration in the initial merger. For additional information, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. If it is determined by the Disney board that the issuance of Disney common stock would be preferable, however, Disney may issue Disney common stock to holders of the hook stock shares in the initial merger. If the Disney board so determines, and if the Disney stockholders do not approve the Disney charter amendment proposal, Disney would be obligated to pay dividends on those shares of Disney common stock after the completion of the transactions. These dividends could be subject to tax in both the United States and Australia, increasing Disneys effective tax rate and potentially deterring Disney from paying or increasing dividends on its common stock. |
Q: | What is the difference between holding shares as a stockholder of record and as a beneficial owner? |
A: | If your shares of common stock are registered directly in your name with the transfer agent of Disney or 21CF, you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. As the stockholder of record, you have the right to vote or to grant a proxy for your vote directly to Disney or 21CF, respectively, or to a third party to vote at the applicable special meeting. |
If your shares are held by a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares held in street name, and your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee is considered the stockholder of record with respect to those shares. Your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will send you, as the beneficial owner, a package describing the procedure for voting your shares. You should follow the instructions provided by them to vote your shares. You are invited to attend the applicable special meeting; however, you may not vote these shares in person at the applicable special meeting unless you obtain a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that holds your shares, giving you the right to vote the shares at the applicable special meeting.
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Q: | If my shares of Disney common stock or 21CF common stock are held in street name by my bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, will my bank, brokerage firm or other nominee automatically vote those shares for me? |
A: | No. If your shares are held in the name of a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial holder of the shares held for you in what is known as street name. You are not the record holder of such shares. If this is the case, this joint proxy statement/prospectus has been forwarded to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee. Your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee has discretionary authority to vote on routine proposals if you have not provided voting instructions. However, your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee is precluded from exercising voting discretion with respect to non-routine matters. All of the proposals to be voted on by Disney and 21CF stockholders are non-routine matters. As a result, if you do not provide voting instructions, your shares will not be voted on any proposal on which your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee does not have discretionary authority. This is often called a broker non-vote. |
You should therefore provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions as to how to vote your shares of Disney common stock or 21CF common stock, as applicable.
Please follow the voting instructions provided by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee so that it may vote your shares on your behalf. Please note that you may not vote shares held in street name by returning a proxy card directly to Disney or 21CF or by voting in person at your special meeting unless you first obtain a proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee.
Q: | How many votes do I have? |
A: | Each Disney stockholder is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the Disney special meeting for each share of Disney common stock held of record as of the Disney record date. As of the close of business on the Disney record date, there were [●] outstanding shares of Disney common stock. |
Each holder of 21CF class B common stock is entitled to one vote on each matter properly brought before the 21CF special meeting for each share of 21CF class B common stock held of record as of the 21CF record date. As of the close of business on the 21CF record date, there were [●] outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock. With respect to the combination merger proposal and distribution merger proposal, each holder of 21CF class A common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of 21CF class A common stock held of record as of the 21CF record date. As of the close of business on the 21CF record date, there were [●] outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock. Holders of 21CF class A common stock are not entitled to vote on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal or the compensation proposal.
Q: | What constitutes a quorum for the special meetings? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of Disney common stock entitled to vote at the Disney special meeting constitutes a quorum for the purposes of the Disney special meeting. Abstentions are considered for purposes of establishing a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact business at the Disney special meeting. If a quorum does not attend any meeting, a minority of the Disney stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days or, if after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. |
21CF Stockholders: The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of 21CF common stock entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting constitutes a quorum for the purposes of the 21CF special meeting. Because a separate vote of the 21CF class B common stock is required to approve the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the
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compensation proposal, the presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting constitutes a quorum with respect to such proposals. No shares of 21CF common stock owned by 21CF subsidiaries are entitled to vote or be counted for quorum purposes. Abstentions are considered for purposes of establishing a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact business at the 21CF special meeting. If a quorum does not attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the 21CF stockholders who are present in person or by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, to another date, place, if any, and time until a quorum shall be present, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days or, after adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.
Q: | How do Disney stockholders vote? |
A: | Stockholder of Record. If you are a Disney stockholder of record, you may have your shares of Disney common stock voted on the matters to be presented at the Disney special meeting in any of the following ways: |
| by telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by [●] on [●], 2018. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible; |
| by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope; or |
| in personyou may attend the Disney special meeting and cast your vote there. |
Beneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner, please refer to the instructions provided by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to see which of the above choices are available to you. Please note that if you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the Disney special meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee.
If you participate in the Disney Savings and Investment Plan or the Disney Hourly Savings and Investment Plan, you may give voting instructions as to the number of shares of Disney common stock you hold in the plan as of the Disney record date. You may provide voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company by voting online or by completing and returning a proxy card if you received one. If you hold shares other than through these plans and you vote electronically, voting instructions you give with respect to your other shares will be applied to Disney common stock credited to your accounts in a savings and investment plan unless you request a separate control number with respect to each account. To receive separate control numbers, please call 1-855-449-0994. The trustee will vote your shares in accordance with your duly executed instructions received by [●], 2018. If you do not send instructions, an independent fiduciary has been selected to determine how to vote all shares for which the trustee does not receive valid and timely instructions from participants. You may revoke previously given voting instructions by [●], 2018, by either revising your instructions online or by submitting to the trustee either a written notice of revocation or a properly completed and signed proxy card bearing a later date. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the trustee.
Q: | How do 21CF stockholders vote? |
A: | Stockholder of Record. If you are a 21CF stockholder of record, you may have your shares of 21CF common stock voted on the matters to be presented at the 21CF special meeting in any of the following ways: |
| by telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your |
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identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by [●] on [●], 2018. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible; |
| by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope; or |
| in personyou may attend the 21CF special meeting and cast your vote there. |
Beneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner, please refer to the instructions provided by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to see which of the above choices are available to you. Please note that if you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, you must obtain a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee.
Q: | How can I change or revoke my vote? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, by attending the Disney special meeting and voting in person or by giving written notice of revocation to Disney prior to the time the Disney special meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: The Walt Disney Company, Attention: Secretary, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521. If you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, you may revoke your proxy by following the directions received from your bank, broker or other nominee to change those instructions. |
21CF Stockholders: You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, by attending the 21CF special meeting and voting in person or by giving written notice of revocation to 21CF prior to the time the 21CF special meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. If you have instructed a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares, you may revoke your proxy by following the directions received from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to change those instructions.
Q: | If a stockholder gives a proxy, how are the shares of common stock voted? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: Regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card will vote your shares of Disney common stock in the way that you indicate. When completing the Internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of Disney common stock should be voted FOR or AGAINST or to ABSTAIN from voting on all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the Disney special meeting. |
If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of Disney common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted FOR the share issuance proposal, FOR the Disney charter amendment proposal and FOR the Disney adjournment proposal.
21CF Class A Stockholders: Regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card will vote your shares of 21CF class A common stock in the way that you indicate. When completing the Internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of 21CF class A common stock should be voted FOR or AGAINST or to ABSTAIN from voting on the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal.
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If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of 21CF class A common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted FOR the combination merger proposal and FOR the distribution merger proposal.
21CF Class B Stockholders: Regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card will vote your shares of 21CF class B common stock in the way that you indicate. When completing the Internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of 21CF class B common stock should be voted FOR or AGAINST or to ABSTAIN from voting on all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the 21CF special meeting.
If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of 21CF class B common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted FOR the combination merger proposal, FOR the distribution merger proposal, FOR the hook stock charter amendment proposal, FOR the stock split charter amendment proposal, FOR the 21CF adjournment proposal and FOR the compensation proposal.
Q: | What should I do if I receive more than one set of voting materials? |
A: | You may receive more than one set of voting materials, including multiple copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, the proxy card or the voting instruction form. This can occur if you hold your shares in more than one brokerage account, if you hold shares directly as a holder of record and also in street name, or otherwise through another holder of record, and in certain other circumstances. In addition, if you are a holder of record of shares of both Disney common stock and 21CF common stock, you will receive one or more separate proxy cards or voting instruction cards for each company. If you receive more than one set of voting materials, please vote or return each set separately in order to ensure that all of your shares are voted. |
Q: | What if I hold shares of common stock in both Disney and 21CF? |
A: | If you are a stockholder of both Disney and 21CF, you will receive two separate packages of proxy materials. A vote cast as a Disney stockholder will not count as a vote cast as a 21CF stockholder, and a vote cast as a 21CF stockholder will not count as a vote cast as a Disney stockholder. Therefore, please separately submit a proxy for each of your Disney and 21CF shareholdings. |
Q: | What happens if I sell my shares of common stock before the special meeting? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: The Disney record date is earlier than the date of the Disney special meeting. If you transfer your shares of Disney common stock after the Disney record date but before the Disney special meeting, you will, unless the transferee requests a proxy from you, retain your right to vote at the Disney special meeting. |
21CF Stockholders: The 21CF record date is earlier than both the date of the 21CF special meeting and the first effective time. If you transfer your shares of 21CF common stock after the 21CF record date but before the 21CF special meeting, you will, unless the transferee requests a proxy from you, retain your right to vote at the 21CF special meeting but will transfer the right to receive the merger consideration to the person to whom you transfer your shares. In order to receive the merger consideration, you must hold your shares at the first effective time.
Q: | Who will solicit and pay the cost of soliciting proxies? |
A: | Disney Stockholders: Disney has engaged Innisfree M&A Incorporated, which we refer to as Innisfree, to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Disney special meeting. Disney estimates that it will pay Innisfree a fee of approximately $50,000. Disney has agreed to reimburse Innisfree for certain out-of-pocket fees and |
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expenses and also will indemnify Innisfree against certain losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses. Disney also may reimburse banks, brokerage firms, other nominees or their respective agents for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of Disney common stock. Disneys directors, officers and employees also may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies. |
21CF Stockholders: 21CF has engaged Okapi Partners LLC, which we refer to as Okapi, to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the 21CF special meeting. 21CF estimates that it will pay Okapi a fee of approximately $25,000. 21CF has agreed to reimburse Okapi for certain out-of-pocket fees and expenses and also will indemnify Okapi against certain losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses. 21CF also may reimburse banks, brokerage firms, other nominees or their respective agents for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of 21CF common stock. 21CFs directors, officers and employees also may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies.
Q: | What do I need to do now? |
A: | Even if you plan to attend the Disney special meeting or the 21CF special meeting in person, after carefully reading and considering the information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, please vote promptly to ensure that your shares are represented at the Disney special meeting or the 21CF special meeting, as applicable. |
Q: | If I hold physical share certificates representing my shares of 21CF common stock, should I send in my share certificates now? |
A: | No, please do NOT return your share certificate(s) with your proxy. If the initial merger is completed, and you hold physical share certificates in respect of your shares of 21CF common stock, you will be sent a letter of transmittal promptly after the first effective time describing how you may exchange your shares of 21CF common stock for the merger consideration. |
Q: | Where can I find the voting results of the special meetings? |
A: | The preliminary voting results will be announced at the special meetings. In addition, within four business days following certification of their respective final voting results, Disney and 21CF intend to file their respective final voting results with the SEC on a Current Report on Form 8-K. |
Q: | Am I entitled to exercise appraisal rights? |
A: | No. Neither 21CF stockholders nor Disney stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with the transactions. |
Q: | Are there any risks that I should consider in deciding how to vote? |
A: | Yes. You should read and carefully consider the risk factors set forth in the section entitled Risk Factors beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. You also should read and carefully consider the risk factors of Disney and 21CF contained in the documents that are incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
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Q: | Who can help answer any other questions I have? |
A: | Disney stockholders and 21CF stockholders who have questions about the transactions, the other matters to be voted on at the special meetings or how to submit a proxy, or who need additional copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, should contact: |
Disney Stockholders: |
21CF Stockholders: | |
Innisfree M&A Incorporated |
Okapi Partners LLC | |
501 Madison Avenue, 20th Floor |
1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th Floor | |
New York, New York 10022 |
New York, New York 10036 |
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The following summary highlights selected information in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and may not contain all the information that may be important to you as a 21CF stockholder or a Disney stockholder. Accordingly, we encourage you to read carefully this entire joint proxy statement/prospectus, its annexes and the documents referred to in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. Each item in this summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description of that topic. You may obtain the information incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus without charge by following the instructions under the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Parties to the Transactions (Page [●])
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 852-7000
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is a diversified global media and entertainment company with operations in four segments: Cable Network Programming, Television, Filmed Entertainment, and Other, Corporate and Eliminations. 21CFs home page on the Internet is www.21cf.com. The information provided on 21CFs website is not part of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and is not incorporated herein by reference.
21CFs class A common stock and class B common stock is listed on Nasdaq, under the symbol FOXA and FOX, respectively.
[New Fox, Inc.]
c/o Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 852-7000
[New Fox, Inc.], a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF, is a Delaware corporation that was formed under the name of [New Fox, Inc.] on [●] and whose shares will be distributed to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the terms and conditions of the distribution merger agreement. Following the completion of the separation, which is described further beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus under the heading The Combination Merger AgreementSeparation, New Fox will be comprised of a portfolio of 21CFs news, sports and broadcast businesses, including the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Big Ten Network, and certain other assets, and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities associated with such businesses. Upon completion of the distribution, New Fox will be a standalone, publicly traded company. Until the completion of the transactions, New Fox will not conduct any activities other than those incidental to its formation and the matters contemplated by the distribution merger agreement, including in connection with the separation and the distribution.
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21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc.
c/o Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 852-7000
21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF, was formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the distribution merger. Distribution Sub has not carried on any activities or operations to date, except for those activities incidental to its formation and undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. By operation of the distribution merger, Distribution Sub will be merged with and into 21CF, with 21CF surviving the distribution merger.
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(818) 560-1000
The Walt Disney Company is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products & Interactive Media. Disneys home page on the Internet is www.thewaltdisneycompany.com. The information provided on Disneys website is not part of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and is not incorporated herein by reference.
Disneys common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, which we refer to as the NYSE, under the symbol DIS.
TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp.
c/o The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(818) 560-1000
TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, was formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the initial merger. Corporate Sub has not carried on any activities or operations to date, except for those activities incidental to its formation and undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. By operation of the initial merger, Corporate Sub will be merged with and into 21CF, with 21CF surviving the initial merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC
c/o The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(818) 560-1000
TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, was formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the subsequent merger. LLC Sub has not carried on any
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activities or operations to date, except for those activities incidental to its formation and undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. By operation of the subsequent merger, 21CF will be merged with and into LLC Sub, with LLC Sub surviving the subsequent merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
The Transactions
The terms and conditions of the transactions are contained in the combination merger agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A and Annex B to this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the other transaction agreements. We encourage you to read the combination merger agreement carefully and in its entirety, as it is the principal document that governs the transactions.
Pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, at 12:01 a.m. (New York City time) on the date immediately following the distribution (as defined below), two mergers will occur in immediate succession. First, Corporate Sub will merge with and into 21CF in the initial merger. 21CF will survive the initial merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney. Immediately thereafter, 21CF will merge with and into LLC Sub in the subsequent merger. LLC Sub will survive the subsequent merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
Prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF and New Fox will enter into the separation agreement, pursuant to which 21CF will, among other things, engage in an internal restructuring whereby it will transfer to New Fox certain assets, including, subject to certain exceptions, all assets primarily used in the New Fox business, including 21CFs news, sports and broadcast businesses, including the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Big Ten Network, and certain other assets, and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities, which we refer to as the separation. 21CF will retain all assets and liabilities not transferred to New Fox, including the Twentieth Century Fox film and television studios and certain cable and international television businesses.
Prior to the distribution, 21CF will cause to become effective certain amendments to the 21CF charter for purposes of ensuring that Disney does not acquire any interest in New Fox as a result of the distribution and the mergers. Accordingly, pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, prior to the distribution, 21CF will cause to become effective certain amendments to the 21CF charter to provide that the shares of 21CF common stock held by subsidiaries of 21CF, which we refer to as the hook stock shares, will not receive any shares of New Fox common stock in connection with the distribution and for a subdivision of the issued and outstanding shares of 21CF common stock such that the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately after such subdivision is equal to the stock split multiple (as defined below) multiplied by the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision, which we refer to as the stock split. The stock split multiple is equal to the quotient of (1) 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution) divided by (2) the excess of 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization over New Foxs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock (based on when-issued trading) measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution, or if shares of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock trade (on a when-issued basis) for fewer than five days before the date of the distribution, the entire period during which such shares trade prior to the date of the distribution).
Prior to the distribution, New Fox will pay to 21CF a dividend in the amount of $8.5 billion. New Fox will incur indebtedness sufficient to fund the dividend, which indebtedness will be reduced after the initial merger by the amount of the cash payment.
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Following the separation and prior to the completion of the initial merger, 21CF will distribute all of the issued and outstanding common stock of New Fox to the holders of the outstanding shares of 21CF common stock (other than the hook stock shares) on a pro rata basis, which we refer to as the distribution, in accordance with terms set forth in the distribution merger agreement.
Following the first effective time, 21CF common stock will be delisted from Nasdaq, deregistered under the Exchange Act and cease to be publicly traded.
Consideration for the Initial Merger (Page [●])
At the first effective time, each share of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the first effective time (other than (i) shares owned by Disney that are not held on behalf of third parties, which we refer to as excluded shares, or (ii) the hook stock shares, which will be exchanged for Disney stock as described below) will be exchanged for a number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Disney common stock equal to the exchange ratio, which we refer to as the merger consideration. The exchange ratio will be the amount equal to 0.2745 plus the quotient (which may be positive or negative, and shall be rounded to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (x) the equity adjustment amount by (y) $190,857,018,174 (which $190,857,018,174 represents $102, the reference price per share of Disney common stock used to calculate the initial exchange ratio, multiplied by 1,871,147,237, the number of fully diluted shares of 21CF common stock as of the close of business on December 13, 2017). The equity adjustment amount is the amount equal to (a) $8.5 billion minus (b) the amount of the transaction tax minus (c) the amount of the cash payment. The transaction tax is an amount that will be estimated by Disney and 21CF to equal the sum of (a) the amount of taxes, subject to certain exceptions, imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the separation and distribution, (b) an amount in respect of divestiture taxes, as described in further detail in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersDivestiture Taxes beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and (c) the amount of taxes imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the operations of the New Fox business from and after December 13, 2017 through the closing of the transactions, but only to the extent such taxes exceed an amount of cash, which will not be less than zero, equal to the New Fox cash amount, as described in further detail in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementSeparation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the transaction tax calculation.
As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation, it is likely that the final estimate of the tax liabilities taken into account will differ materially from $8.5 billion, which was used to set the initial exchange ratio. Accordingly, under certain circumstances, there could be a material adjustment to the exchange ratio. Because of the exchange ratio adjustment, the number of shares of Disney common stock that 21CF stockholders will receive in the initial merger cannot be determined until immediately prior to the completion of the initial merger.
Each hook stock share will be exchanged automatically for a fraction of a share of Disney series B convertible preferred stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment) divided by 10,000 or, if the Disney board so elects in its sole discretion, a number of shares of Disney common stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment).
Other than in respect of the hook stock shares, if applicable, no fractional shares of Disney common stock will be issued, and 21CF stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares of Disney common stock they otherwise would have been entitled to receive in connection with the mergers.
See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information on the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the transaction tax.
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Consideration for the Distribution Merger (Page [●])
Following completion of the distribution, each 21CF stockholder (other than holders of the hook stock shares) will own the same number of shares of 21CF common stock owned by such holder immediately prior to the stock split and will hold an ownership interest in New Fox proportionately equal to its existing ownership interest in 21CF. Pursuant to the terms of the distribution merger agreement, at the effective time of the distribution merger, a portion of each share of 21CF class A common stock (other than the hook stock shares) equal to one multiplied by the quantity of one minus the inverse of the stock split multiple will be exchanged for a fraction of one share of New Fox class A common stock equal to 1⁄3 multiplied by one divided by the stock split multiple, and the remaining portion of such share of 21CF class A common stock not so exchanged will be unaffected by the distribution and will remain issued and outstanding, and a portion of each share of 21CF class B common stock (other than the hook stock shares) equal to one multiplied by the quantity of one minus the inverse of the stock split multiple will be exchanged for a fraction of one share of New Fox class B common stock equal to 1⁄3 multiplied by one divided by the stock split multiple, and the remaining portion of such share of 21CF class B common stock not so exchanged will be unaffected by the distribution and will remain issued and outstanding. 21CF stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares they otherwise would have been entitled to receive in connection with the distribution.
Sky Acquisition (Page [●])
If the Sky acquisition is not completed by 21CF prior to the completion of the transactions, Disney will be required to make a mandatory offer for all the outstanding ordinary shares of Sky not already owned by 21CF. Completion of the Sky acquisition is not a condition to either partys obligation to consummate the transactions. For additional information about Disneys obligation to make a mandatory offer for Sky, see the section entitled The TransactionsSky Acquisition beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Recommendation of the 21CF Board; 21CFs Reasons for the Transactions (Page [●])
After careful consideration, the 21CF board, by unanimous vote of those directors present, approved the combination merger agreement, the distribution merger agreement and the 21CF charter amendments and determined that the transactions contemplated thereby, including the initial merger, the distribution and the 21CF charter amendments, are advisable, fair to and in the best interests of 21CF and its stockholders. For the factors considered by the 21CF board in reaching its decision to approve the transactions to recommend the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals to 21CF stockholders, see the section entitled The TransactionsRecommendation of the 21CF Board; 21CFs Reasons for the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Opinion of 21CFs Financial Advisor (Page [●])
Opinion of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
At a meeting of the 21CF board held on December 13, 2017, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, which we refer to as Goldman Sachs, delivered to the 21CF board its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, to the effect that, as of December 13, 2017, and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in Goldman Sachs written opinion, the initial exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock pursuant to the combination merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to the 21CF stockholders (other than Disney and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate.
The full text of the written opinion of Goldman Sachs, dated December 13, 2017, which sets forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached to this joint proxy statement/prospectus as
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Annex G. The summary of Goldman Sachs opinion contained in this joint proxy statement / prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Goldman Sachs written opinion. Goldman Sachs advisory services and opinion were provided for the information and assistance of the 21CF board in connection with its consideration of the transactions and the opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to how any 21CF stockholder should vote with respect to the transactions or any other matter.
For more information, see the section entitled The TransactionsOpinion of 21CFs Financial Advisor on page [●] and Annex G of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Recommendation of the Disney Board; Disneys Reasons for the Transactions (Page [●])
After careful consideration, the Disney board unanimously approved the combination merger agreement and the issuance of shares of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the initial merger and determined that the combination merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the initial merger and the issuance of shares of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the merger, and the Disney charter amendment, are advisable and in the best interests of Disney and its stockholders. For the factors considered by the Disney board in reaching its decision to approve the combination merger agreement and to recommend the share issuance proposal and the Disney charter amendment proposal, see the section entitled The TransactionsRecommendation of the Disney Board; Disneys Reasons for the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Opinions of Disneys Financial Advisors (Page [●])
Opinion of Guggenheim Securities, LLC
Disney retained Guggenheim Securities, LLC, which we refer to as Guggenheim Securities, as financial advisor in connection with Disneys potential merger with 21CF (following the separation and distribution). Guggenheim Securities delivered an opinion to the Disney board to the effect that, as of December 13, 2017, and based on and subject to the matters considered, the procedures followed, the assumptions made and various limitations of and qualifications to the review undertaken, the initial exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to Disney. The full text of Guggenheim Securities written opinion, which is attached as Annex H to this joint proxy statement/prospectus and which you should read carefully and in its entirety, is subject to the assumptions, limitations, qualifications and other conditions contained in such opinion and is necessarily based on economic, capital markets and other conditions, and the information made available to Guggenheim Securities, as of the date of such opinion.
Guggenheim Securities opinion was provided to the Disney board (in its capacity as such) for its information and assistance in connection with its evaluation of the initial exchange ratio. Guggenheim Securities opinion and any materials provided in connection therewith did not constitute a recommendation to the Disney board with respect to the transactions, nor does Guggenheim Securities opinion constitute advice or a recommendation to (i) any holder of Disney common stock or 21CF common stock as to how to vote or act in connection with the transactions or otherwise or (ii) any holder of ordinary shares of Sky plc, which we refer to as Sky, as to whether to tender such shares in connection with 21CFs recommended all-cash offer for the approximate 61% interest in Sky not currently held by 21CF, which we refer to as the Sky acquisition. Guggenheim Securities opinion addresses only the fairness, from a financial point of view and as of the date of such opinion, of the initial exchange ratio to Disney to the extent expressly specified in such opinion and does not address (x) any other term, aspect or implication of the transactions, the combination merger agreement, the voting agreement or any other agreement, transaction document or instrument contemplated by the combination merger agreement (including, without limitation, the separation agreement) to be entered into or amended in connection with the transactions or (y) the fairness, financial or otherwise, of (a) the transactions to, or of any
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consideration to be paid to or received by, the holders of any class of securities (other than as expressly specified in the opinion), creditors or other constituencies of Disney, 21CF, New Fox or Sky or (b) the amount or nature of any compensation payable to or to be received by any of Disneys, 21CFs, New Foxs or Skys directors, officers or employees, or any class of such persons, in connection with the transactions or the Sky acquisition relative to the initial exchange ratio or otherwise.
For a description of the opinion that the Disney board received from Guggenheim Securities, see the section entitled The TransactionsOpinions of Disneys Financial AdvisorsGuggenheim Securities beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Opinion of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC
Disney retained J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, which we refer to as J.P. Morgan, as financial advisor in connection with the proposed transactions. At the meeting of the Disney board on December 13, 2017, J.P. Morgan rendered its oral opinion to the Disney board, which was confirmed by delivery of a written opinion, that, as of such date and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in its opinion, the initial exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to Disney. This description of J.P. Morgans written opinion, which sets forth the assumptions made, matters considered and limits on the review undertaken, is attached as Annex I to this joint proxy statement/prospectus and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such opinion. You are urged to read the opinion in its entirety. J.P. Morgans written opinion was addressed to the Disney board (in its capacity as such) in connection with and for the purposes of its evaluation of the transactions and was directed only to the initial exchange ratio and did not address any other aspect of the transactions. J.P. Morgan expressed no opinion as to the fairness of the initial exchange ratio to the holders of any class of securities, creditors or other constituencies of Disney or as to the underlying decision by Disney to engage in the proposed transactions, or with respect to the amount or nature of any compensation to any officers, directors, or employees of any party to the proposed transactions, or any class of such persons relative to the initial exchange ratio or with respect to the fairness of any such compensation. The opinion does not constitute a recommendation to any Disney stockholder as to how such stockholder should vote with respect to the transactions or any other matter.
For a description of the opinion that Disneys board of directors received from J.P. Morgan, see the section entitled The TransactionsOpinions of Disneys Financial AdvisorsJ.P. Morgan beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Information About the 21CF Special Meeting (Page [●])
Time, Place and Purpose of the 21CF Special Meeting (Page [●])
The 21CF special meeting will be held on [●], 2018, at [●] [a.m. / p.m.] local time, at [●].
The transactions cannot be completed unless 21CF stockholders, voting together as a single class, approve a proposal to adopt the combination merger agreement, which we refer to as the combination merger proposal and a proposal to adopt the distribution merger agreement, which we refer to as the distribution merger proposal, and the holders of 21CF class B common stock approve the hook stock charter amendment and the stock split charter amendment, which we refer to collectively as the 21CF charter amendment proposals.
Accordingly, at the 21CF special meeting, 21CF stockholders, voting together as a single class, will be asked to consider and vote on (i) the combination merger proposal and (ii) the distribution merger proposal. In addition, at the 21CF special meeting, holders of 21CF class B common stock will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to adopt an amendment to the 21CF charter, to provide that the hook stock shares will not
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receive any shares of New Fox common stock in connection with the distribution, (ii) a proposal to adopt an amendment to the 21CF charter to provide for a subdivision of the issued and outstanding shares of 21CF common stock such that the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately after such subdivision is equal to the stock split multiple multiplied by the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision, (iii) a proposal to adjourn the 21CF special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal or the 21CF charter amendment proposals, which we refer to as the 21CF adjournment proposal, and (iv) a non-binding, advisory proposal to approve the compensation that may become payable to 21CFs named executive officers in connection with the completion of the initial merger, which we refer to as the compensation proposal.
Record Date and Quorum (Page [●])
You are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the 21CF special meeting if you are a 21CF stockholder of record as of the close of business on [●], 2018, the 21CF record date. On the 21CF record date, there were [●] shares of 21CF class B common stock outstanding held by approximately [●] holders of record and [●] shares of 21CF class A common stock outstanding held by approximately [●] holders of record.
Each holder of shares of 21CF class B common stock held as of the 21CF record date is entitled to one vote per share of 21CF class B common stock on all matters to be presented at the 21CF special meeting. Each holder of shares of 21CF class A common stock held as of the 21CF record date is entitled to one vote per share of 21CF class A common stock on the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal but is not entitled to vote on any other proposal on account of its shares of 21CF class A common stock.
The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of 21CF common stock entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal. The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the stock split charter amendment proposal, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal. Abstentions are considered for purposes of establishing a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact business at the 21CF special meeting.
Additionally, the 21CF bylaws and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which we refer to as the DGCL, provide that if a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, to another date, place, if any, and time until a quorum shall be present.
Vote Required (Page [●])
Approval of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock, voting together as a single class. For adoption of the distribution merger proposal and the combination merger proposal, you may vote FOR, AGAINST, or ABSTAIN. Votes to abstain will not be counted as votes cast in favor of the adoption of the combination merger proposal or the distribution merger proposal, but will count for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. If you fail to submit a valid proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting or if you vote to abstain in connection with combination merger proposal or distribution merger proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the combination merger proposal, or the distribution merger proposal, as applicable.
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Approval of the 21CF charter amendment proposals each require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of the 21CF charter amendment proposals, you may vote FOR, AGAINST, or ABSTAIN. For purposes of the votes on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are present at the 21CF special meeting but are not voted on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, or if you vote to abstain on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Votes to abstain will not be counted as votes cast in favor of the 21CF charter amendment proposals, but will count for purposes of determining whether a quorum is present. If you fail to submit a valid proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting or if you vote to abstain in connection with the 21CF charter amendment proposals, it will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the 21CF charter amendment proposals.
Approval of the 21CF adjournment proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast thereon by the holders of shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of the 21CF adjournment proposal, if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are present at the 21CF special meeting but are not voted on the 21CF adjournment proposal, or if you fail to submit a proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, as applicable, the shares of 21CF class B common stock held by your or your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will not be counted in respect of, and will not have an effect on, the vote to adjourn the 21CF special meeting.
Approval of the compensation proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast thereon by holders of shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of the compensation proposal, if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are present at the 21CF special meeting but are not voted on the compensation proposal, or if you have given a proxy and abstained on the compensation proposal, or if you fail to submit a proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, as applicable, the shares of 21CF class B common stock held by you or your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will not be counted in respect of, and will not have an effect on, the compensation proposal. Approval of this proposal is not a condition to completion of the transactions, and the vote with respect to this proposal is advisory only and will not be binding on 21CF, the initial surviving corporation, the final surviving entity or Disney. If the transactions are completed, the transactions-related executive compensation may be paid to 21CFs named executive officers to the extent payable in accordance with the terms of the compensation arrangements even if 21CF stockholders fail to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, the transactions-related executive compensation.
As of the 21CF record date, the directors and executive officers of 21CF beneficially owned and were entitled to vote, in the aggregate, [●] shares of 21CF class A common stock, representing [●]% of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock as of the close of business on the 21CF record date, and [●] shares of 21CF class B common stock, representing [●]% of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock as of the close of business on the 21CF record date. The directors and executive officers of 21CF have informed 21CF that they currently intend to vote all such shares of 21CF common stock FOR the combination merger proposal, FOR the distribution merger proposal, FOR the hook stock charter amendment proposal, FOR the stock split charter amendment proposal, FOR the 21CF adjournment proposal and FOR the compensation proposal. As of [●], the directors and executive officers of Disney beneficially owned approximately [●] shares of 21CF class A common stock, representing less than [●]% of the shares of 21CF class A common stock then outstanding and entitled to vote, and beneficially owned approximately [●] shares of 21CF class B common stock, representing less than [●]% of the shares of 21CF class B common stock then outstanding and entitled to vote.
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Proxies and Revocations (Page [●])
Stockholder of Record. If you are a 21CF stockholder of record, you may have your shares of 21CF common stock voted on matters presented at the 21CF special meeting in any of the following ways:
| by telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by [●] local time on [●], 2018. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible; |
| by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope; or |
| in personyou may attend the 21CF special meeting and cast your vote there. |
Beneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner, you will receive instructions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that you must follow in order to have your 21CF common stock voted. Those instructions will identify which of the above choices are available to you in order to have your shares voted. Please note that if you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee at the 21CF special meeting.
If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of 21CF common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares of 21CF common stock represented by your properly signed proxy card will be voted FOR each of the proposals upon which you are entitled to vote.
You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, by attending the 21CF special meeting and voting in person, or by giving written notice of revocation to 21CF prior to the time the 21CF special meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: 21st Century Fox, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. If you have instructed a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares, you may revoke your proxy by following the directions received from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to change those instructions.
Information About the Disney Special Meeting (Page [●])
Time, Place and Purpose of the Disney Special Meeting (Page [●])
The Disney special meeting will be held on [●], 2018, at [●] p.m. local time, at [●].
At the Disney special meeting, Disney stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to approve the issuance of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders in connection with the initial merger, which we refer to as the share issuance proposal, (ii) proposal to adopt amendments to the Disney charter, to provide, among other things, that shares of Disney common stock held by subsidiaries of Disney will not be entitled to receive dividends that are declared on the Disney common stock (other than certain dividends in shares of Disney common stock or other equity securities), which we refer to as the Disney charter amendment proposal, and (iii) a proposal to adjourn the Disney special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the share issuance proposal, which we refer to as the Disney adjournment proposal.
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Record Date and Quorum (Page [●])
You are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Disney special meeting if you are a stockholder of record of shares of Disney common stock as of the close of business on [●], 2018, the Disney record date. On the Disney record date, there were [●] shares of Disney common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. You will have one vote on all matters properly coming before the Disney special meeting for each share of Disney common stock that you owned on the Disney record date.
The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of Disney common stock entitled to vote at the Disney special meeting constitutes a quorum for the purposes of the Disney special meeting. Abstentions are counted for purposes of establishing a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact business at the Disney special meeting.
Additionally, the Disney bylaws provide that if a quorum does not attend any meeting, a minority of the Disney stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days or, if after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.
Vote Required (Page [●])
Approval of the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal require the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Disney special meeting and entitled to vote at the meeting. If your shares of Disney common stock are present at the Disney special meeting but are not voted on the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal, or if you vote to abstain on the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal, each will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal, as applicable. If you fail to submit a valid proxy or to attend the Disney special meeting or if your shares of Disney common stock are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares of Disney common stock, your shares of Disney common stock will not be voted, but this will not have an effect on the vote to approve the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal.
Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock entitled to vote at the meeting. Because the affirmative vote required to approve the Disney charter amendment proposal is based on the total number of shares of outstanding Disney common stock, if you hold shares of Disney common stock and you fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the Disney special meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Disney charter amendment proposal.
If you participate in the Disney Savings and Investment Plan or the Disney Hourly Savings and Investment Plan, you may give voting instructions as to the number of shares of Disney common stock you hold in the plan as of the Disney record date. You may provide voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company by voting online or by completing and returning a proxy card if you received one. If you hold shares of Disney common stock other than through these plans and you vote electronically, voting instructions you give with respect to your other shares of Disney common stock will be applied to Disney stock credited to your accounts in a savings and investment plan unless you request a separate control number with respect to each account. To receive separate control numbers, please call 1-855-449-0994. The trustee will vote your shares of Disney common stock in accordance with your duly executed instructions received by [●], 2018. If you do not send
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instructions, an independent fiduciary has been selected to determine how to vote all shares for which the trustee does not receive valid and timely instructions from participants. You may revoke previously given voting instructions by [●], 2018, by either revising your instructions online or by submitting to the trustee either a written notice of revocation or a properly completed and signed proxy card bearing a later date. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the trustee.
As of the Disney record date, the directors and executive officers of Disney beneficially owned and were entitled to vote, in the aggregate, [●] shares of Disney common stock, representing [●]% of the outstanding shares of Disney common stock as of the close of business on the Disney record date. The directors and executive officers of Disney have informed Disney that they currently intend to vote all such shares of Disney common stock FOR the share issuance proposal, FOR the Disney charter amendment proposal and FOR the Disney adjournment proposal. As of [●], the directors and executive officers of 21CF beneficially owned approximately [●] shares of Disney common stock, representing less than [●]% of the shares of Disney common stock then outstanding and entitled to vote.
Proxies and Revocations (Page [●])
Stockholder of Record. If you are a Disney stockholder of record, you may have your shares of Disney common stock voted on matters presented at the Disney special meeting in any of the following ways:
| by telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by [●] local time on [●], 2018. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible; |
| by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope; or |
| in personyou may attend the Disney special meeting and cast your vote there. |
Beneficial Owner. If you are a beneficial owner, you will receive instructions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that you must follow in order to have your shares of Disney common stock voted. Those instructions will identify which of the above choices are available to you in order to have your shares voted. Please note that if you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the Disney special meeting, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee.
If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of Disney common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares of Disney common stock represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted FOR the share issuance proposal, FOR the Disney charter amendment proposal and FOR the Disney adjournment proposal.
You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, by attending the Disney special meeting and voting in person or by giving written notice of revocation to Disney prior to the time the Disney special meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: The Walt Disney Company, Attention: Secretary, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521. If you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, you may revoke your proxy by following the directions received from your bank, broker or other nominee to change those instructions.
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Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions (Page [●])
The directors and executive officers of 21CF have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from or in addition to those of the 21CF stockholders generally. The 21CF board was aware of these interests and considered them, among other things, in evaluating the combination merger agreement and the transactions and in recommending that the 21CF stockholders approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals. See the section entitled Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests. These interests may include the following, among others:
| the accelerated vesting, cancellation and payment of consideration in respect of outstanding equity and equity-based awards; |
| the grant of certain retention equity awards; |
| the payment of a prorated cash annual incentive bonus for the year in which the closing occurs; |
| the entitlement of the executive officers to receive severance benefits under their respective employment agreements; |
| the establishment of a 21CF severance plan; and |
| continued indemnification and directors and officers liability insurance to be provided by the surviving corporation. |
Interests of Disneys Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction (Page [●])
The directors and executive officers of Disney have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from or in addition to those of Disney stockholders generally. In connection with the execution of the combination merger agreement, Disney extended the term of the employment agreement with Disneys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and revised certain terms of his employment agreement relating to compensation, including, in connection with such extension, certain increases in compensation and grants of equity awards, the vesting of which is contingent in part on the closing of the transactions. The Disney board was aware of these interests and considered them, among other things, in evaluating the combination merger agreement and the transactions and in recommending that the Disney stockholders approve the share issuance proposal and the Disney charter amendment proposal. See the section entitled Interests of Disneys Directors and Executive Officers in the Transaction beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests.
Regulatory Approvals (Page [●])
Completion of the transactions is conditioned on (i) the expiration of the applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, which we refer to as the HSR Act; (ii) receipt of any consents from the Federal Communications Commission, which we refer to as the FCC, if required in connection with the completion of the transactions, which we refer to as the FCC consent, and (iii) receipt of consents from foreign regulators in the European Union, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, India, Israel, Japan, Mexico, the Russian Federation, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Kingdom, if required, which we refer to as the foreign regulator consents, and clauses (i) through (iii) collectively as the required governmental consents. It is also a condition to Disneys obligation to consummate the transactions that no governmental consents required under applicable law in connection with the completion of the transactions will have imposed on Disney or its subsidiaries (including 21CF and the retained subsidiaries after giving effect to the transactions) any restrictions (as defined below), other than permitted restrictions (as defined below).
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21CF and Disney have agreed to cooperate with each other and use, and cause their respective subsidiaries to use, their respective reasonable best efforts to obtain all regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions prior to the termination date. In furtherance of the foregoing, Disney and 21CF have agreed to:
| prepare and file as promptly as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings; and |
| obtain prior to the termination date all consents, registrations, approvals, permits, expirations of waiting periods and authorizations necessary or advisable to be obtained from any third party and/or any governmental entity in order to consummate the transactions. |
Disney and its subsidiaries (including, for purposes of this sentence, 21CF and the retained subsidiaries, after giving effect to the transactions) are not required to agree to or accept any of the following, which we refer to as the restrictions:
| any prohibition of or limitation on its or their ownership of any portion of their respective businesses or assets, including after giving effect to the transactions; |
| any requirement to divest, hold separate or otherwise dispose of any portion of its or their respective businesses or assets, including after giving effect to the transactions; |
| any limitation on its or their ability to acquire or hold or exercise full rights of ownership of any capital stock of 21CF or its subsidiaries, including after giving effect to the transactions; or |
| any other limitation on its or their ability to, or the manner in which they, operate, conduct or exercise decision-making over their respective businesses, assets or operations, including after giving effect to the transactions. |
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Disney has committed, if and to the extent necessary to obtain the required governmental consents prior to the termination date, to agree to restrictions of the type contemplated by the first three bullets in the preceding paragraph which solely involve (A) the businesses or assets comprising the retained business other than the specified assets which generated, in the aggregate, no more than $500 million of 21CF EBITDA and/or (B) 21CFs regional sports networks, which we refer to as the specified assets. If any such restrictions are agreed to or accepted with respect to the specified assets in obtaining the required governmental consents, clause (A) of the foregoing sentence will be reduced by the lesser of (1) the aggregate amount of 21CF EBITDA attributable to such specified assets and (2) $250 million of 21CF EBITDA. For a more complete description of 21CF EBITDA, see the section entitled The TransactionsRegulatory Approvals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
In addition, notwithstanding the fourth bullet point in the third paragraph of this section, Disney has committed, if and to the extent necessary to obtain the required governmental consents prior to the termination date, to agree to restrictions of the type contemplated by the fourth bullet above which are applied solely against and solely involve and impact the operations, businesses and assets of the retained business and the non-U.S. operations, businesses and assets of Disney and its subsidiaries which restrictions would not, individually or in the aggregate, including when taken together with the net incremental financial impact of restrictions imposed with respect to any proposed or actual acquisition of additional shares in Sky by 21CF, and any agreement or offer related to the foregoing, including the Sky acquisition (other than any such restrictions contemplated by the Undertakings in Lieu given by 21CF pursuant to para. 3 of Schedule 2 of Enterprise Act (Protection of Legitimate Interests) Order 2003 provided to the Secretary of State, as published on June 29, 2017, together with any impact or consequence of such restrictions), have or reasonably be expected to have an impact, which we refer to as a regulatory adverse impact, on the financial condition, properties, assets, business or results of operations of the retained business and the non-U.S. operations, businesses and assets of Disney and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is both significant and adverse, measured on a scale relative to the size of the
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retained business. In making this determination, Disney may, in its sole discretion, take into account any reduction in revenue synergies and/or cost synergies anticipated from the transactions that results from the applicable restrictions. The size of the retained business will be measured (i) if the Sky acquisition is consummated, after giving effect to such completion, (ii) to the extent that any revenue synergies are taken into account by Disney for purposes of determining whether a regulatory adverse impact has occurred, after the inclusion of all revenue synergies anticipated from the mergers and (iii) to the extent that any cost synergies are taken into account by Disney for purposes of determining whether a regulatory adverse impact has occurred, after the inclusion of all cost synergies anticipated from the mergers. For a more complete summary of the factors taken into account by Disney for purposes of determining whether a regulatory adverse impact has occurred, see the section entitled The TransactionsRegulatory Approvals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
We refer to the restrictions described in the foregoing two paragraphs to which Disney has committed to agree as the permitted restrictions.
If the transactions are not consummated under certain circumstances relating to the failure to obtain regulatory approvals, or there is a final, non-appealable order preventing the transactions, in each case relating to antitrust or communications laws, Disney may be required to pay 21CF a termination fee of $2.5 billion. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTermination of the Combination Merger AgreementTermination Fees beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
21CF and Disney filed their notification and report forms under the HSR Act on February 1, 2018. A second request was received on March 5, 2018.
No Appraisal Rights (Page [●])
Neither 21CF stockholders nor Disney stockholders are entitled to appraisal rights under Delaware law in connection with the transactions.
Conditions to Completion of the Transactions (Page [●])
Each partys obligation to complete the mergers, and, except with regard to the matters described in the first bullet below, 21CFs obligation to effect the 21CF charter amendments, the stock split, the separation and the distribution, is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, to the extent applicable, at or prior to the closing of the transactions of the following conditions:
| the 21CF charter amendments must have become effective, the stock split must have occurred and the separation and distribution must have been consummated; |
| the adoption of the combination merger agreement and the distribution merger agreement by the holders of shares of 21CF common stock constituting at least a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, voting together as a single class, and the adoption of the 21CF charter amendments by the holders of shares of 21CF common stock constituting at least a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon, which we refer to collectively as the 21CF stockholder approval; |
| the approval of the issuance of Disney stock by the holders of shares of Disney common stock constituting at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Disney special meeting and entitled to vote thereon, which we refer to as the Disney stockholder approval; |
| the shares of Disney common stock to be issued in the initial merger must have been approved for listing on the NYSE upon official notice of issuance and the shares of New Fox common stock to be |
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issued in the distribution must have been approved for listing on Nasdaq upon official notice of issuance; |
| the expiration or termination of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act and the receipt of any FCC consents (if required) and the foreign regulator consents; |
| no domestic, foreign or transnational governmental entity of a competent jurisdiction has enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any law or order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) that is in effect and restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the completion of the transactions; |
| the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Disney in respect of the shares of Disney common stock to be issued in the initial merger, of which this joint proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, and the registration statement filed by 21CF in respect of the shares of New Fox common stock to be issued in the distribution must have become effective under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and must not be the subject of any stop order or any proceedings initiated or threatened for that purpose by the SEC; |
| 21CF must have obtained an opinion from a nationally recognized valuation or accounting firm or investment bank, as to the adequacy of surplus under Delaware law to effect the dividend, and as to the solvency of New Fox and 21CF after giving effect to the dividend, the stock split and the distribution; and |
| the separation agreement, the tax matters agreement and the commercial agreements must have been entered into in accordance with the terms of the combination merger agreement. |
The obligations of Disney and the Merger Subs to effect the transactions also are subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Disney, at or prior to the closing of the transactions, of the following conditions:
| the accuracy of the representations and warranties of 21CF in the manner described in the combination merger agreement; |
| the performance, in all material respects, by 21CF of its obligations under the combination merger agreement at or prior to the closing of the transactions; |
| no governmental consents will have imposed any restriction other than permitted restrictions; and |
| receipt by Disney of the hook stock legal comfort, which includes the receipt of (i) a written opinion of Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills Pty Limited, or an Australian senior barrister of Disneys choice, to the effect that the 21CF charter amendments, the stock split and the distribution (or any alternative transactions) should not result in any hook stock tax under Australian tax law, (ii) a class ruling issued by the Australian Taxation Office to the effect that holders of all shares of 21CF will be eligible to choose roll-over relief in respect of the initial merger pursuant to Subdivision 124-M of Australian income tax law and (iii) a written opinion of Cravath to the effect that the stock split, the distribution and the mergers will result in no recognition of gain or loss in respect of the hook stock shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes (clauses (i) through (iii) collectively, the hook stock legal comfort), with certain situations satisfying the condition (see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus). |
21CFs obligation to effect the transactions is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by 21CF at or prior to the closing of the transactions of the following additional conditions:
| the accuracy of the representations and warranties of Disney to the extent required under the combination merger agreement; |
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| the performance, in all material respects, by each of Disney and the Merger Subs of its obligations under the combination merger agreement at or prior to the closing of the transactions; and |
| receipt of a tax opinion from Skadden that the distribution and the mergers will qualify for the intended tax treatment (as described in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersIntended Tax Treatment), unless Skadden cannot deliver such opinion because of a failure of certain stockholders of 21CF to deliver representations to Skadden at closing. |
For a more complete summary of the conditions that must be satisfied or waived prior to the closing of the transactions, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
No Solicitation or Negotiation of Acquisition Proposals (Page [●])
The combination merger agreement provides that neither 21CF nor Disney, nor any of their respective subsidiaries nor any of their respective officers, directors and employees will, and each of 21CF and Disney will instruct and use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and its subsidiaries representatives not to, directly or indirectly:
| initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage or otherwise knowingly facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal or offer that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any acquisition proposal (as defined below); |
| engage or otherwise participate in any discussions or negotiations relating to any acquisition proposal or any proposal or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to an acquisition proposal; |
| provide any information or data to any person in connection with any acquisition proposal or any proposal, inquiry or offer that would reasonably be expected to lead to an acquisition proposal; or |
| otherwise knowingly facilitate any effort or attempt to make an acquisition proposal. |
The combination merger agreement provides that an acquisition proposal with respect to 21CF means (i) any proposal or offer from any person or group of persons with respect to a merger, joint venture, partnership, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization, spin-off, extraordinary dividend, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving 21CF or any of its subsidiaries which is structured to result in such person or group of persons (or their stockholders), directly or indirectly, acquiring beneficial ownership of 20% or more of 21CFs consolidated total assets (including equity securities of its subsidiaries) (using the consolidated total assets of the retained business as the denominator for the purpose of calculating such percentage) or 20% or more of any class of 21CFs equity interests and (ii) any acquisition by any person or group of persons (or their stockholders) resulting in, or proposal or offer, which if consummated would result in, any person or group of persons (or their stockholders) obtaining control over or becoming the beneficial owner of, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, 20% or more of the total voting power of any class of equity securities of 21CF or 20% or more of 21CFs consolidated total assets (including equity securities of its subsidiaries) (using the consolidated total assets of the retained business as the denominator for the purpose of calculating such percentage), in each case other than the transactions.
The combination merger agreement also provides that an acquisition proposal with respect to Disney means (i) any proposal or offer from any person or group of persons with respect to a merger, joint venture, partnership, consolidation, dissolution, liquidation, tender offer, recapitalization, reorganization, spin-off, extraordinary dividend, share exchange, business combination or similar transaction involving Disney or any of its subsidiaries which is structured to result in such person or group of persons (or their stockholders), directly or indirectly, acquiring beneficial ownership of 20% or more of Disneys consolidated total assets (including equity securities
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of its subsidiaries) or any class of Disneys equity interests and which is expressly conditioned on the transactions not being consummated, and (ii) any acquisition by any person or group of persons (or their stockholders) resulting in, or proposal or offer, which if consummated would result in, any person or group of persons (or their stockholders) obtaining control over or becoming the beneficial owner of, directly or indirectly, in one or a series of related transactions, 20% or more of the total voting power of any class of equity securities of Disney or 20% or more of Disneys consolidated total assets (including equity securities of its subsidiaries), in each case other than the transactions, and which is expressly conditioned on the transactions not being consummated.
Fiduciary Exception (Page [●])
Prior to the time, but not after, the 21CF stockholder approval or the Disney stockholder approval, as applicable, is obtained, each of 21CF and Disney may do any of the following in response to an unsolicited, bona fide written acquisition proposal made after the date of the combination merger agreement:
| contact the person who made such acquisition proposal and its representatives solely to clarify the terms and conditions thereof; |
| if the 21CF board or the Disney board, as applicable, has determined in good faith after consultation with outside legal counsel that (A) based on the information available and after consultation with outside legal counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, the unsolicited acquisition proposal either constitutes a superior proposal (as defined below) or could reasonably be expected to result in a superior proposal and (B) the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the directors fiduciary duties under applicable law: |
| provide access to information regarding it or any of its subsidiaries in response to a request to the person who made such acquisition proposal and such persons representatives, provided that such information has previously been, or is substantially concurrently, made available to the other party and that, prior to furnishing any such non-public information, it receives from the person making such acquisition proposal an executed confidentiality agreement with terms at least as restrictive in all material respects on such person as the confidentiality agreement between 21CF and Disney, which we refer to as the 21CF-Disney confidentiality agreement (it being understood that such confidentiality agreement need not contain a standstill or similar obligations to the extent that the party receiving such acquisition proposal releases the other party, concurrently with the entry by the party receiving such acquisition proposal or its subsidiaries into such confidentiality agreement, from any standstill or similar obligations in the 21CF-Disney confidentiality agreement), provided, further, that if the person making such acquisition proposal is a competitor of the party receiving such acquisition proposal and its subsidiaries, such party will not provide information that in the good faith determination of such party constitutes commercially sensitive non-public information to such person in connection with such permitted actions other than in accordance with a clean room or other similar procedures designed to limit any potential adverse effect on the party from sharing such information; |
| engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations with any such person and its representatives regarding such acquisition proposal; and |
| refer any inquiring person to this provision. |
The combination merger agreement provides that a superior proposal with respect to either 21CF or Disney means an unsolicited, bona fide acquisition proposal with respect to such party made after the date of the combination merger agreement that would result in a person or group (or their stockholders) becoming, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of, 60% or more of such partys consolidated total assets or more than 50% of
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the total voting power of the equity securities of such party or the successor person of such party, that such partys board has determined in its good faith judgment, after consultation with outside counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, would reasonably be expected to be consummated in accordance with its terms, taking into account all legal, financial and regulatory aspects of the proposal and the person or group of persons making the proposal, and, if consummated, would result in a transaction more favorable to such partys stockholders from a financial point of view than the transactions (after taking into account any revisions to the terms of the transactions and the time likely to be required to consummate such acquisition proposal).
No Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement (Page [●])
Subject to certain exceptions described in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition AgreementFiduciary Exception beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, each of the 21CF board and the Disney board, and each committee of the respective boards, may not:
| withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify (or publicly propose or resolve to withhold, withdraw, qualify or modify), in a manner adverse to the other party, its recommendation to its stockholders that they vote in favor of (1) in the case of 21CF, the adoption of the combination merger agreement, the distribution merger agreement and the 21CF charter amendments, which we refer to as the 21CF recommendation, or (2) in the case of Disney, the approval of the stock issuance, which we refer to as the Disney recommendation (in each case, it being understood that if any acquisition proposal structured as a tender or exchange offer is commenced, the applicable partys board failing to recommend against acceptance of such tender or exchange offer by such partys stockholders within 10 business days after commencement thereof pursuant to Rule 14d-2 of the Exchange Act will be considered a modification adverse to the other party); |
| approve or recommend, or publicly declare advisable or publicly propose to enter into, an alternative acquisition agreement relating to any acquisition proposal; or |
| cause or permit 21CF or Disney or any of their respective subsidiaries, as applicable, to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement. |
Fiduciary Exception (Page [●])
However, at any time before the 21CF stockholder approval or the Disney stockholder approval, as applicable, is obtained, the 21CF board or the Disney board may:
| make a change in recommendation in connection with an acquisition proposal if: |
| the acquisition proposal did not result from or in connection with a material breach of the combination merger agreement and such acquisition proposal is not withdrawn; and |
| the applicable partys board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, that (A) such acquisition proposal constitutes a superior proposal and (B) the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the respective directors fiduciary duties under applicable law; |
| make a change in recommendation other than in connection with an acquisition proposal if the applicable partys board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and a financial advisor of nationally recognized reputation, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with the respective directors fiduciary duties under applicable law; and/or |
| terminate the combination merger agreement and concurrently cause such party to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a superior proposal that did not result from or in |
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connection with a material breach of the combination merger agreement, which termination we refer to as a 21CF superior proposal termination event or a Disney superior proposal termination event, as applicable. |
The 21CF board and the Disney board may not make a change in recommendation and/or effect a 21CF superior proposal termination event or a Disney superior proposal termination event, as applicable, until after at least five business days following the other partys receipt of written notice from such party advising that such partys board intends to take such action and the basis for doing so (which notice will include a copy of any such superior proposal and a copy of any relevant proposed transaction agreements, the identity of the party making such superior proposal and the material terms of the superior proposal or, in the case of notice given other than in connection with a superior proposal, a reasonably detailed description of the development or change in connection with which such partys board has given such notice). After providing such notice and prior to effecting a change in recommendation and/or 21CF superior proposal termination event or Disney superior proposal termination event:
| such party must, during such five business day period, negotiate in good faith with the other party and its representatives, to the extent the other party wishes to negotiate, with respect to any revisions to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement proposed by the other party; and |
| in determining whether it may still under the terms of the combination merger agreement make a change in recommendation and/or effect a 21CF superior proposal termination event or a Disney superior proposal termination event, such partys board must take into account any changes to the terms of the combination merger agreement proposed by the other party and any other information provided by the other party in response to such notice during such five business day period. |
Any amendment to the financial terms or conditions or other material terms of any acquisition proposal will be deemed to be a new acquisition proposal except that the five business day notice period for such new acquisition proposal will be three business days. Subject to its right to change its recommendation described above, the 21CF board and the Disney board have agreed to recommend to their respective stockholders that, in the case of 21CF, they adopt the combination merger agreement, the distribution merger agreement and the 21CF charter amendments and, in the case of Disney, they approve the stock issuance, and to include such recommendations in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. 21CF and Disney have also each agreed to use its reasonable best efforts to obtain and solicit such adoption or approval.
Termination of the Combination Merger Agreement (Page [●])
The combination merger agreement may be terminated and the transactions may be abandoned at any time prior to the first effective time:
| by mutual written consent of Disney and 21CF, by action of their respective boards of directors; |
| by either Disney or 21CF if: |
| provided that the party terminating the combination merger agreement has not breached in any material respect its obligations under the combination merger agreement in any manner that has proximately contributed to the failure of the mergers to be consummated, the initial merger has not been consummated by 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on December 13, 2018, which we refer to as the termination date, which termination date may be extended for two six-month periods by either 21CF or Disney, if on such termination date (as it may be extended) any required governmental consents have not been obtained and all other conditions have been satisfied or waived (except for those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing of the |
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transactions, provided such conditions were then capable of being satisfied if the closing of the transactions had taken place). In addition to the two six-month extensions described in the prior sentence, if a governmental entity of a competent jurisdiction (other than the jurisdictions from which the required governmental consents are required) issues an order that is not final and non-appealable and all other conditions have been satisfied or waived (except for those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing of the transactions, provided such conditions were then capable of being satisfied if the closing of the transactions had taken place), the termination date (as may have been previously extended) may be further extended until the earliest of (i) six months after the applicable termination date, (ii) two business days following such earlier date on which the subsequent merger is required to occur and (iii) the date such order becomes final and non-appealable; |
| 21CF stockholders do not adopt the combination merger agreement at a meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which a stockholder vote is taken on the adoption of the combination merger agreement, which we refer to as a 21CF stockholder approval termination event; |
| the Disney stockholder approval of the share issuance is not obtained at a meeting duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement thereof at which a stockholder vote is taken on the approval of the issuance of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders, which we refer to as a Disney stockholder approval termination event; or |
| provided that the party terminating the combination merger agreement has not breached in any material respect its obligations under the combination merger agreement in any manner that has proximately contributed to the failure of the mergers to be consummated, any law or order permanently restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits completion of the mergers, and such law or order has become final and non-appealable, which we refer to as a final law or order termination event; |
| by 21CF if: |
| the Disney board effects a change in recommendation, which we refer to as a Disney adverse recommendation change termination event, provided that the Disney stockholder approval of the share issuance has not been obtained; |
| Disney or the Merger Subs breach any of their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in the combination merger agreement, or any of their representations or warranties shall have become untrue after the date of the combination merger agreement, such that the related conditions to the obligation of 21CF to close the transactions would not be satisfied and such breach is not curable or, if curable, is not cured following written notice to Disney from 21CF of such breach by the earlier of the 30th day following such written notice and the termination date (as it may be extended), provided that 21CF is not then in breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under the combination merger agreement in a manner such that the conditions of Disney regarding the accuracy of 21CFs representations and warranties and performance of 21CFs obligations would not be satisfied (unless capable of being cured within 30 days), which we collectively refer to as a Disney breach termination event; or |
| before the 21CF stockholder approval is obtained, 21CF effects a 21CF superior proposal termination event, after having complied with the procedures described under the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination 21CF pays Disney a termination fee equal to $1.525 billion, which we refer to as the termination fee; |
38
| by Disney if: |
| the 21CF board effects a change in recommendation, which we refer to as a 21CF adverse recommendation change termination event, provided that the 21CF stockholder approval has not been obtained; |
| 21CF breaches any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements in the combination merger agreement, or any of its representations or warranties shall have become untrue after the date of the combination merger agreement, such that the related conditions to the obligation of Disney and the Merger Subs to close the transactions would not be satisfied and such breach is not curable or, if curable, is not cured following written notice to 21CF from Disney of such breach by the earlier of the 30th day following such written notice and the termination date (as it may be extended), provided that Disney is not then in breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements under the combination merger agreement in a manner such that the conditions of 21CF regarding the accuracy of Disneys representations and warranties and performance of Disneys obligations would not be satisfied (unless capable of being cured within 30 days), which we collectively refer to as a 21CF breach termination event; or |
| before the Disney stockholder approval is obtained, Disney effects a Disney superior proposal termination event, after having complied with the procedures described under the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, provided that prior to or concurrently with such termination Disney pays 21CF the termination fee. |
Termination Fees (Page [●])
21CF will pay Disney the termination fee if:
| Disney terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a 21CF adverse recommendation change termination event; |
| 21CF or Disney terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a 21CF stockholder approval termination event at a time when Disney had the right to terminate pursuant to a 21CF adverse recommendation change termination event; |
| 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a 21CF superior proposal termination event; or |
| a 21CF tail termination fee event occurs. |
A 21CF tail termination fee event occurs if:
| Disney or 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to an outside date termination event at a time when the conditions to closing relating to governmental consents, laws and orders and governmental approval have been satisfied, and between the date of the combination merger agreement and such termination, any person publicly made an acquisition proposal to 21CF or any of its subsidiaries; |
| Disney or 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a 21CF stockholder approval termination event and between the date of the combination merger agreement and such termination, any person publicly made an acquisition proposal to 21CF or any of its subsidiaries; or |
| Disney terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a 21CF breach termination event in respect of any covenant of 21CF, and between the date of the combination merger agreement and such termination, any person made an acquisition proposal to 21CF or any of its subsidiaries publicly or privately to the 21CF board; and |
39
| in each of the above three circumstances, within 12 months after the date of such termination, 21CF consummates or enters into an agreement contemplating an acquisition proposal. |
In defining acquisition proposal for purposes of the 21CF tail termination fee event, all references to 20% or more in the definition of acquisition proposal with respect to 21CF (found on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus) are replaced with references to more than 50% and references to (using the consolidated total assets of the retained business as the denominator for purposes of calculating such percentage) are deleted.
Disney will pay 21CF the termination fee if:
| 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a Disney adverse recommendation change termination event; |
| 21CF or Disney terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a Disney stockholder approval termination event at a time when 21CF had the right to terminate pursuant to a Disney adverse recommendation change termination event; |
| Disney terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a Disney superior proposal termination event; or |
| a Disney tail termination fee event occurs. |
A Disney tail termination fee event occurs if:
| Disney or 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to an outside date termination event at a time when the conditions to closing relating to governmental consents, laws and orders and governmental approval have been satisfied, and between the date of the combination merger agreement and such termination, any person publicly made an acquisition proposal to Disney or any of its subsidiaries; |
| Disney or 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a Disney stockholder approval termination event, and between the date of the combination merger agreement and such termination, any person publicly made an acquisition proposal to Disney or any of its subsidiaries; or |
| 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a Disney breach termination event in respect of any covenant of Disney or a Merger Sub, and between the date of the combination merger agreement and such termination, any person made an acquisition proposal to Disney or any of its subsidiaries publicly or privately to the Disney board; and |
| in each of the above three circumstances, within 12 months after the date of such termination, Disney consummates or enters into an agreement contemplating an acquisition proposal. |
In defining acquisition proposal for purposes of the Disney tail termination fee event, all references to 20% or more in the definition of acquisition proposal with respect to Disney (found on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus) are replaced with references to more than 50% and the requirement that a proposal be expressly conditioned on the transactions not being consummated in order to constitute an acquisition proposal is deleted.
Disney will pay 21CF an amount equal to $2.5 billion, which we refer to as the regulatory termination fee, if:
| Disney or 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to a final law or order termination event as a result of any applicable antitrust law, communications law or foreign regulatory law or an order imposed by a governmental entity with jurisdiction over enforcement of any applicable antitrust law, communications law or foreign regulatory law with respect to such laws; or |
40
| Disney or 21CF terminates the combination merger agreement pursuant to an outside date termination event at a time when one or more of the conditions to closing relating to governmental consents or governmental approvals or laws and orders (to the extent such failure of conditions relating to laws and orders relates to certain applicable antitrust laws, communications laws or foreign regulatory laws) have not been satisfied; and |
| in each of the above two circumstances, both of the following requirements are satisfied: |
| all other conditions to the obligation of Disney to effect the transactions have been satisfied or waived (except for those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the closing of the transactions, provided such conditions were then capable of being satisfied if the closing of the transactions had taken place); and |
| 21CF is not in breach in any material respect of its obligations under the combination merger agreement in any manner that would have proximately contributed to the events giving rise to the right of Disney or 21CF to terminate the combination merger agreement. |
Under no circumstances will 21CF or Disney be required to pay a termination fee more than once. In addition, under no circumstances will Disney be required to pay both the termination fee and the regulatory termination fee. If Disney is required to pay the termination fee to 21CF at a time when Disney is in breach of its obligation to use reasonable best efforts to obtain all regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions such that 21CF would have the right to terminate the combination merger agreement pursuant to a Disney breach termination event, Disney must pay 21CF the regulatory termination fee instead of the termination fee (or, if Disney has already paid the termination fee, an amount equal to the regulatory termination fee minus the termination fee).
The Voting Agreement (Page [●])
Concurrently with the execution and delivery of the combination merger agreement, on December 13, 2017, the Murdoch Family Trust and Cruden Financial Services LLC, the corporate trustee of the Murdoch Family Trust, which collectively we refer to as the covered stockholders, entered into a voting agreement, dated as of December 13, 2017, by and among Disney and the covered stockholders, which we refer to as the voting agreement, with Disney. Shares of 21CF common stock beneficially owned by the covered stockholders subject to the voting agreement, which we refer to as the voting agreement shares, comprised 57,000 shares of 21CF class A common stock, constituting less than 1% of the total issued and outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock as of December 11, 2017, and 306,623,480 shares of 21CF class B common stock, constituting approximately 38.40% of the total issued and outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock as of December 11, 2017.
Pursuant to the terms of the voting agreement, the covered stockholders agreed, among other things, to vote the voting agreement shares in favor of adoption of the combination merger agreement, the distribution merger agreement and the 21CF charter amendments. Additionally, the covered stockholders have agreed, among other things, not to sell or transfer the voting agreement shares, subject to certain exceptions, or solicit any acquisition proposal with respect to 21CF. The voting agreement will terminate upon the earliest of (i) the termination of the combination merger agreement, (ii) the first effective time and (iii) such date and time as the combination merger agreement shall have been amended in a manner that reduces the amount of merger consideration or is material and adverse to any of the covered stockholders without the covered stockholders prior written consent. For more information regarding the voting agreement, see The Voting Agreement beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The voting agreement is also attached to this joint proxy statement/prospectus as Annex D.
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Accounting Treatment (Page [●])
Disney prepares its financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which we refer to as GAAP. The transactions will be accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting. Disney will be treated as the acquiror for accounting purposes.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences (Page [●])
21CF stockholders are not expected to recognize any income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the stock split, the distribution or the mergers, except for any gain or loss attributable to the receipt of cash in lieu of a fractional share of (i) Disney common stock in the initial merger or (ii) New Fox common stock in the distribution. For more detailed information regarding the material United States federal income tax consequences of the stock split, the distribution or the mergers, see the section entitled Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Comparison of Stockholders Rights (Page [●])
The rights of 21CF stockholders are governed by the 21CF charter, and bylaws as amended through December 13, 2017, which we refer to as the 21CF bylaws, and by the DGCL. The rights of Disney stockholders are governed by the Disney charter and the Disney bylaws and by the DGCL. The rights of 21CF stockholders under the Disney charter and the Disney bylaws will differ in some respects from their rights under the 21CF charter and the 21CF bylaws. For more detailed information regarding a comparison of your rights as a stockholder of 21CF and Disney, see the section entitled Comparison of Stockholders Rights beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF 21CF
The following table presents selected historical consolidated financial data for 21CF, as of and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, as of December 31, 2017 and for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016. The statement of operations data for each of the three years in the period ended June 30, 2017 and the balance sheet data as of June 30, 2017 and 2016 have been obtained from 21CFs audited consolidated financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, which is incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The statements of operations data for the years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 and the balance sheet data as of June 30, 2015, 2014 and 2013 have been derived from 21CFs audited consolidated financial statements for such years, which have not been incorporated into this document by reference. The financial data as of December 31, 2017 and for the six months ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 have been obtained from 21CFs unaudited consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017, which is incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read together with the other information contained in 21CFs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 and 21CFs Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017, including Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and related notes therein. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
For the six months ended December 31,(1) (unaudited) |
For the fiscal years ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2016 | 2017(2) | 2016(2) | 2015(2) | 2014(3) | 2013(4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 15,039 | $ | 14,188 | $ | 28,500 | $ | 27,326 | $ | 28,987 | $ | 31,867 | $ | 27,675 | ||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders |
2,675 | 1,684 | 2,996 | 2,763 | 8,373 | 3,785 | 6,820 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders |
2,686 | 1,677 | 2,952 | 2,755 | 8,306 | 4,514 | 7,097 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders per sharebasic |
1.44 | 0.91 | 1.62 | 1.42 | 3.94 | 1.67 | 2.91 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders per sharediluted |
1.44 | 0.91 | 1.61 | 1.42 | 3.93 | 1.67 | 2.91 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders per sharebasic |
1.45 | 0.90 | 1.59 | 1.42 | 3.91 | 1.99 | 3.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders per sharediluted |
1.45 | 0.90 | 1.59 | 1.42 | 3.90 | 1.99 | 3.03 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Cash dividend per share |
0.180 | 0.180 | 0.360 | 0.300 | 0.275 | 0.250 | 0.170 |
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As of December 31, (unaudited) |
As of June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2017 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
(in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
BALANCE SHEET DATA |
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 5,809 | $ | 6,163 | $ | 4,424 | $ | 8,428 | $ | 5,415 | $ | 6,659 | ||||||||||||
Total assets(5) |
52,858 | 50,724 | 48,193 | 49,868 | 54,628 | 50,785 | ||||||||||||||||||
Borrowings(5) |
19,794 | 19,913 | 19,553 | 18,868 | 18,893 | 16,299 | ||||||||||||||||||
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. stockholders equity |
18,389 | 15,722 | 13,661 | 17,220 | 17,418 | 16,998 | ||||||||||||||||||
Book value per share |
$ | 9.92 | $ | 8.49 | $ | 7.31 | $ | 8.45 | $ | 7.89 | $ | 7.34 |
(1) | See Notes 1, 2 and 11 to the unaudited consolidated financial statements of 21CF contained in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017, filed February 8, 2018 for information with respect to U.S. tax reform, accounting changes, significant acquisitions, disposals, restructuring charges and other transactions during the six months ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. |
(2) | See Notes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 22 to the audited consolidated financial statements of 21CF contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, filed August 14, 2017, for information with respect to significant acquisitions, disposals, discontinued operations, accounting changes, impairment charges, restructuring charges and other transactions during fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015. |
(3) | In fiscal 2014, 21CF acquired an additional 31% interest in the Yankees Entertainment and Sports Network, which we refer to as the YES Network, increasing 21CFs ownership interest to an 80% controlling interest, for approximately $680 million, net of cash acquired. As a result of this transaction, 21CF consolidated the balance sheet and operating results of the YES Network, including $1.7 billion in debt. Also in fiscal 2014, a subsidiary of News Corp (as defined below), prior to the News Corp. separation (as defined below), had filed for tax reimbursement in a foreign jurisdiction. During fiscal 2014, the foreign jurisdiction notified News Corp that it had accepted its claims and would reimburse the taxes plus interest to News Corp. As of June 30, 2014, the net amount that 21CF received, pursuant to the tax sharing and indemnification agreement with News Corp, was approximately $720 million, which was included in income from discontinued operations, net of tax. Also during fiscal 2014, through separate transactions, 21CF sold its 47% interest in CMC-News Asia Holdings Limited, its 50% interest in STATS LLC, its 50% interest in STAR CJ Network India Pvt. Ltd. and its 12% interest in Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Ltd. for approximately $465 million. 21CF recorded a gain on these transactions. |
(4) | In fiscal 2013, 21CF acquired additional shares of Sky Deutschland AG, which we refer to as Sky Deutschland, increasing 21CFs ownership interest to approximately 55%. As a result of this transaction, the carrying amount of 21CFs previously held equity interest in Sky Deutschland was revalued to fair value as of the acquisition date, resulting in a gain of approximately $2.1 billion. Also during fiscal 2013, 21CF sold its 49% investment in NDS Group Limited to Cisco Systems Inc. for approximately $1.9 billion. 21CF recorded a gain of approximately $1.4 billion on this transaction. Additionally, 21CF completed the separation of its business into two independent publicly traded companies, which we refer to as the News Corp. separation, by distributing to its stockholders all of the outstanding shares of the new News Corporation, which we refer to as News Corp. Effective June 28, 2013, the News Corp. separation qualified for discontinued operations treatment in accordance with ASC 205-20, Discontinued Operations. 21CF distributed approximately $2.4 billion to News Corp. |
(5) | On July 1, 2016, 21CF adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2015-03, InterestImputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs (ASU 2015-03) on a retrospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2015-03 resulted in a $172 million, $171 million, $165 million and $159 million decrease in Other non-current assets and Non-current Borrowings in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. |
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SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF DISNEY
The following table presents selected historical consolidated financial data for Disney as of and for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2017, October 1, 2016, October 3, 2015, September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013, as of December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and for the three months ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The statements of income and cash flows data for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended September 30, 2017 and the balance sheet data as of September 30, 2017 and October 1, 2016 have been obtained from Disneys audited consolidated financial statements contained in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, which are incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The statements of income and cash flows data for the years ended September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 and the balance sheet data as of October 3, 2015, September 27, 2014 and September 28, 2013 have been derived from Disneys audited consolidated financial statements for such years, which have not been incorporated into this document by reference. The statement of income and cash flows data for the three months ended December 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017, have been derived from Disneys unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 30, 2017, which is incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The balance sheet data as of December 31, 2016 has been derived from Disneys unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 31, 2016, which has not been incorporated into this document by reference.
The information set forth below is not necessarily indicative of future results and should be read together with the other information contained in Disneys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and Disneys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 30, 2017, including Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and the consolidated financial statements and related notes therein. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Three Months Ended | Years Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
December 30, 2017 |
December 31, 2016 |
September 30, 2017(1) |
October 1, 2016(2) |
October 3, 2015(3) |
September 27, 2014(4) |
September 28, 2013(5) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
(Dollar amounts in millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Statements of Income |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 15,351 | $ | 14,784 | $ | 55,137 | $ | 55,632 | $ | 52,465 | $ | 48,813 | $ | 45,041 | ||||||||||||||
Net income |
4,473 | 2,488 | 9,366 | 9,790 | 8,852 | 8,004 | 6,636 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Disney |
4,423 | 2,479 | 8,980 | 9,391 | 8,382 | 7,501 | 6,136 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Per common share |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share attributable to Disney |
2.93 | 1.56 | 5.73 | 5.76 | 4.95 | 4.31 | 3.42 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Disney |
2.91 | 1.55 | 5.69 | 5.73 | 4.90 | 4.26 | 3.38 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Dividends declared per common share(6) |
0.84 | 0.78 | 1.56 | 1.42 | 1.81 | 0.86 | 0.75 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Balance Sheets |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
97,734 | 91,576 | 95,789 | 92,033 | 88,182 | 84,141 | 81,197 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Long-term obligations |
27,950 | 21,194 | 26,710 | 24,189 | 19,142 | 18,573 | 17,293 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Disney shareholders equity |
43,289 | 43,210 | 41,315 | 43,265 | 44,525 | 44,958 | 45,429 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Statements of Cash Flows(7) |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cash provided (used) by: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating activities |
2,237 | 1,445 | 12,343 | 13,136 | 11,385 | 10,148 | 9,495 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Investing activities |
(1,043 | ) | (1,035 | ) | (4,111 | ) | (5,758 | ) | (4,245 | ) | (3,345 | ) | (4,676 | ) | ||||||||||||||
Financing activities |
(584 | ) | (987 | ) | (8,959 | ) | (7,220 | ) | (5,801 | ) | (6,981 | ) | (4,458 | ) |
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(1) | The fiscal 2017 results include a benefit from the adoption of a new accounting pronouncement related to the tax impact of employee share-based awards ($0.08 per diluted share). In addition, results include a non-cash net gain in connection with the acquisition of a controlling interest in BAMTech LLC ($0.10 per diluted share), an adverse impact due to a charge, net of committed insurance recoveries, incurred in connection with the settlement of litigation ($0.07 per dilutive share) and restructuring and impairment charges ($0.04 per diluted share), which collectively resulted in a net adverse impact of $0.01 per diluted share. |
(2) | The fiscal 2016 results include Disneys share of a net gain recognized by A+E Television Networks LLC in connection with an acquisition of an interest in Vice Group Holding, Inc. ($0.13 per diluted share), restructuring and impairment charges ($0.07 per diluted share) and a charge in connection with the discontinuation of our Infinity console game business ($0.05 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net benefit of $0.01 per diluted share. |
(3) | The fiscal 2015 results include the write-off of a deferred tax asset as a result of a Disneyland Paris recapitalization completed during calendar 2015, which included an equity rights offering and a conversion of Disney loans to Disneyland Paris into equity ($0.23 per diluted share) and restructuring and impairment charges ($0.02 per diluted share), which collectively resulted in a net adverse impact of $0.25 per diluted share. |
(4) | The fiscal 2014 results include a loss resulting from the foreign currency translation of net monetary assets denominated in Venezuelan currency ($0.05 per diluted share), restructuring and impairment charges ($0.05 per diluted share), a gain on the sale of property ($0.03 per diluted share) and a portion of a settlement of an affiliate contract dispute ($0.01 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net adverse impact of $0.06 per diluted share. |
(5) | During fiscal 2013, Disney completed a $4.1 billion cash and stock acquisition of Lucasfilm Ltd. LLC. In addition, results for the year include a charge related to the Celador litigation ($0.11 per diluted share), restructuring and impairment charges ($0.07 per diluted share), a charge related to an equity redemption by Hulu LLC ($0.02 per diluted share), favorable tax adjustments related to an increase in the amount of prior-year foreign earnings considered to be indefinitely reinvested outside of the United States and favorable tax adjustments related to pre-tax earnings of prior years ($0.12 per diluted share) and gains in connection with the sale of our equity interest in ESPN STAR Sports and certain businesses ($0.08 per diluted share). These items collectively resulted in a net adverse impact of $0.01 per diluted share. |
(6) | In fiscal 2015, Disney began paying dividends on a semiannual basis. Accordingly, fiscal 2015 includes dividend payments related to fiscal 2014 and the first half of fiscal 2015. |
(7) | Cash flow information for prior years has been restated to reflect the adoption of new accounting standards during fiscal 2017. Operating activities reflected a $77 million decrease, a $476 million increase, a $368 million increase and a $43 million increase, and financing activities reflected decreases of $229 million, $287 million, $271 million and $244 million in fiscal 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Operating activities reflected a $185 million increase for the three months ended December 31, 2016. |
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SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA OF DISNEY
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data presented below are based on the historical consolidated financial statements of Disney and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of RemainCo. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data present (1) the combination of the historical financial statements of Disney and the pro forma financial statements of RemainCo (including its existing 39% interest in Sky) and (2) the combination of the historical financial statements of Disney and the pro forma financial statements of RemainCo giving effect to the completion of the Sky acquisition at the current offer price of £10.75 per share. These selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements give effect to (1) the completion of the transactions and (2) the completion of the transactions and the Sky acquisition at the current offer price of £10.75 per share, as if they had been completed on October 2, 2016, for statement of income purposes, and on December 30, 2017 for balance sheet purposes.
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data, which are preliminary in nature, have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed unaudited pro forma combined financial information and the accompanying notes appearing in the section entitled Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data of Disney beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what the actual consolidated results of operations of Disney would have been had the transactions occurred on the dates assumed, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet as of December 30, 2017
(in millions)
Disney | RemainCo | Pro Forma Adjustments (Sky at 39%) |
Combined (Sky at 39%) |
RemainCo Consolidation of Sky |
Pro Forma Adjustments (Sky at 100%) |
Combined (Sky at 100%) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 97,734 | $ | 45,667 | $ | 62,109 | $ | 205,510 | $ | 37,571 | $ | (986 | ) | $ | 242,095 | |||||||||||||
Long-term obligations |
27,950 | 22,708 | 6,809 | 57,467 | 23,222 | (10 | ) | 80,679 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Income for the Year Ended September 30, 2017
(in millions, except per share data)
Disney | RemainCo | Pro Forma Adjustments (Sky at 39%) |
Combined (Sky at 39%) |
RemainCo Consolidation of Sky |
Pro Forma Adjustments (Sky at 100%) |
Combined (Sky at 100%) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 55,137 | $ | 19,307 | $ | 945 | $ | 75,389 | $ | 15,907 | $ | (379 | ) | $ | 90,917 | |||||||||||||
Net income |
9,366 | 1,600 | (2,215 | ) | 8,751 | 64 | 15 | 8,830 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to registrant |
8,980 | 1,363 | (1,681 | ) | 8,662 | 69 | 15 | 8,746 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share |
5.73 | 0.74 | | 4.16 | | | 4.20 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
5.69 | 0.73 | | 4.14 | | | 4.18 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
1,568 | 1,854 | 512 | 2,080 | 2,080 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
1,578 | 1,856 | 512 | 2,090 | 2,090 |
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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Income for the Three-Month Period Ended December 30, 2017
(in millions, except per share data)
Disney | RemainCo | Pro Forma Adjustments (Sky at 39%) |
Combined (Sky at 39%) |
RemainCo Consolidation of Sky |
Pro Forma Adjustments (Sky at 100%) |
Combined (Sky at 100%) |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 15,351 | $ | 4,847 | $ | 124 | $ | 20,322 | $ | 4,176 | $ | (98 | ) | $ | 24,400 | |||||||||||||
Net income |
4,473 | 489 | (775 | ) | 4,187 | 69 | 1 | 4,257 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Net income attributable to registrant |
4,423 | 434 | (551 | ) | 4,306 | 69 | 1 | 4,376 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Basic earnings per share |
2.93 | 0.23 | | 2.13 | | | 2.16 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted earnings per share |
2.91 | 0.23 | | 2.12 | | | 2.15 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Basic |
1,512 | 1,852 | 512 | 2,024 | 2,024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Diluted |
1,521 | 1,853 | 512 | 2,033 | 2,033 |
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SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA OF REMAINCO
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data presented below are based on the historical consolidated financial statements of 21CF and unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of RemainCo. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements present the estimated effects of (i) the separation and distribution of New Fox and the related net cash dividend from New Fox to 21CF, as if they had been completed on July 1, 2014, for statement of operations purposes, and on December 31, 2017 for balance sheet purposes, and (ii) the Sky acquisition, as if it had been completed on July 1, 2016, for statement of operations purposes, and on December 31, 2017 for balance sheet purposes.
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data, which are preliminary in nature, have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and the accompanying notes appearing in the section entitled Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data of RemainCo beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what the actual consolidated results of operations of RemainCo would have been had the transactions occurred on the dates assumed, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
(in millions, except per share data)
21CF Historical |
New Fox | Pro Forma Adjustments |
RemainCo without Sky (Subtotal) |
Consolidation of Sky |
RemainCo with Sky |
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 7,002 | $ | (2,204 | ) | $ | 49 | $ | 4,847 | $ | 4,176 | $ | 9,023 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders |
839 | (419 | ) | 14 | 434 | 69 | 503 | |||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders per shareBasic and Diluted |
$ | 0.45 | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.27 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017
(in millions, except per share data)
21CF Historical |
New Fox | Pro Forma Adjustments |
RemainCo without Sky (Subtotal) |
Consolidation of Sky |
RemainCo with Sky |
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 28,500 | $ | (9,977 | ) | $ | 784 | $ | 19,307 | $ | 15,907 | $ | 35,214 | |||||||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders |
2,996 | (1,595 | ) | (38 | ) | 1,363 | 69 | 1,432 | ||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders per shareBasic |
$ | 1.62 | $ | 0.74 | $ | 0.77 | ||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders per shareDiluted |
$ | 1.61 | $ | 0.73 | $ | 0.77 |
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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2016
(in millions, except per share data)
21CF Historical |
New Fox | Pro Forma Adjustments |
RemainCo | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 27,326 | $ | (8,948 | ) | $ | 733 | $ | 19,111 | |||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders |
2,763 | (1,284 | ) | (8 | ) | 1,471 | ||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders per shareBasic and Diluted |
$ | 1.42 | $ | 0.76 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2015
(in millions, except per share data)
21CF Historical |
New Fox | Pro Forma Adjustments |
RemainCo | |||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 28,987 | $ | (8,227 | ) | $ | 696 | $ | 21,456 | |||||||
Income (loss) from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders |
8,373 | (1,046 | ) | (27 | ) | 7,300 | ||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders per shareBasic |
$ | 3.94 | $ | 3.43 | ||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations attributable to 21CF stockholders per shareDiluted |
$ | 3.93 | $ | 3.43 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2017
(in millions)
21CF Historical |
New Fox | Pro Forma Adjustments |
RemainCo without Sky (Subtotal) |
Consolidation of Sky |
RemainCo with Sky |
|||||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 52,858 | $ | (14,109 | ) | $ | 6,918 | $ | 45,667 | $ | 37,571 | $ | 83,238 | |||||||||||
Borrowings |
19,794 | | | 19,794 | 23,680 | 43,474 |
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SELECTED UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA OF NEW FOX
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data presented below are based on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements of New Fox. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements present the estimated effects of (i) New Fox on an unaudited historical carve-out basis following the separation and distribution and (ii) the New Fox financing and the net cash dividend from New Fox to 21CF, as if it had been completed on July 1, 2016, for statement of operations purposes, and on December 31, 2017 for balance sheet purposes.
The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data, which are preliminary in nature, have been derived from, and should be read in conjunction with, the more detailed unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and the accompanying notes appearing in the section entitled Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data of New Fox beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The selected unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data are provided for illustrative purposes only and do not purport to represent what the actual consolidated results of operations of New Fox would have been had the transactions occurred on the dates assumed, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial position.
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Six Months Ended December 31, 2017
(in millions)
New Fox | Carve-out Adjustments |
New Fox Carve- out (Subtotal) |
New Fox Financing and Pro Forma Adjustments |
New Fox Pro Forma |
||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 5,326 | $ | | $ | 5,326 | $ | | $ | 5,326 | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to New Fox stockholders |
1,325 | (92 | ) | 1,233 | (93 | ) | 1,140 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2017
(in millions)
New Fox | Carve-out Adjustments |
New Fox Carve- out (Subtotal) |
New Fox Financing and Pro Forma Adjustments |
New Fox Pro Forma |
||||||||||||||||
Revenues |
$ | 9,977 | $ | | $ | 9,977 | $ | | $ | 9,977 | ||||||||||
Net income (loss) attributable to New Fox stockholders |
1,595 | (174 | ) | 1,421 | (233 | ) | 1,188 |
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2017
(in millions)
New Fox | Carve-out Adjustments |
New Fox Carve- out (Subtotal) |
New Fox Financing and Pro Forma Adjustments |
New Fox Pro Forma |
||||||||||||||||
Total assets |
$ | 14,109 | $ | (2,872 | ) | $ | 11,237 | $ | 5,255 | $ | 16,492 | |||||||||
Non-current borrowings |
| | | 6,452 | 6,452 |
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COMPARATIVE HISTORICAL AND UNAUDITED PRO FORMA PER SHARE DATA
The following selected unaudited pro forma per share information for the year ended September 30, 2017 and the three-months ended December 30, 2017 reflects the transactions as if they had occurred on October 1, 2016 or October 1, 2017, as applicable. The book value per share amounts in the table below reflect the transactions as if they had occurred on December 30, 2017 or September 30, 2017, as applicable. The information in the table is based on, and should be read together with, and the information is qualified in its entirety by (i) the historical financial information that Disney and 21CF have presented in their respective filings with the SEC and (ii) the financial information contained in the Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data and the notes thereto included elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the sections entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The unaudited pro forma combined per share data is presented for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of actual or future financial position or results of operations that would have been realized if the transactions had been completed as of the dates indicated or will be realized upon the completion of the transactions.
Historical Disney |
Unaudited Pro Forma Combined |
Equivalent Basis Unaudited Pro Forma Combined(1) |
||||||||||
Basic earnings per share attributable to Disney |
||||||||||||
Three Months Ended December 30, 2017 |
$ | 2.93 | $ | 2.16 | $ | 0.59 | ||||||
Year Ended September 30, 2017 |
5.73 | 4.20 | 1.15 | |||||||||
Diluted earnings per share attributable to Disney |
||||||||||||
Three Months Ended December 30, 2017 |
2.91 | 2.15 | 0.59 | |||||||||
Year Ended September 30, 2017 |
5.69 | 4.18 | 1.15 | |||||||||
Dividends declared per Disney common share |
||||||||||||
Three Months Ended December 30, 2017 |
0.84 | 0.84 | (2) | 0.23 | ||||||||
Year Ended September 30, 2017 |
1.56 | 1.56 | (2) | 0.43 | ||||||||
Book value per Disney common share |
||||||||||||
At December 30, 2017 |
28.73 | 50.51 | 13.87 | |||||||||
At September 30, 2017 |
27.23 | N/A | N/A |
(1) | The per share amounts are calculated by multiplying the unaudited pro forma combined per share amounts by the initial exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock. The initial exchange ratio in the combination merger agreement of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock was set based on an estimate of $8.5 billion for the transaction tax, and will be adjusted immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions if the final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is more than $8.5 billion or less than $6.5 billion. Such adjustment could increase or decrease the exchange ratio, depending upon whether the final estimate is lower or higher, respectively, than $6.5 billion or $8.5 billion. Additionally, if the final estimate of the tax liabilities is lower than $8.5 billion, Disney will make a cash payment to New Fox reflecting the difference between such amount and $8.5 billion, up to a maximum cash payment of $2 billion. Because of this adjustment mechanism, the number of shares of Disney common stock that 21CF stockholders will receive in the initial merger cannot be determined until immediately prior to completion of the initial merger. As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation, it is likely that final estimate of the tax liabilities taken into account will differ materially from $8.5 billion, which was used to set the initial exchange ratio. Accordingly, under certain circumstances, there could be a |
52
material adjustment to the exchange ratio. For further information regarding this adjustment see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
(2) | Amounts are the same as historical cash dividends per share since Disney is not expected to change its dividend policy as a result of the transactions. |
COMPARATIVE PER SHARE MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION
Comparative Per Share Market Price Information
Disney common stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol DIS, 21CF class A common stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol FOXA and 21CF class B common stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol FOX. The following table presents the closing prices of Disney common stock and 21CF common stock on November 3, 2017, the last trading day prior to the publication of press reports regarding a potential transaction, December 13, 2017, the last trading day before the public announcement of the combination merger agreement, and [●], 2018, the last practicable trading day prior to the mailing of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. The table also shows the estimated equivalent per share value of the merger consideration for each share of 21CF common stock on the relevant date.
Date |
FOXA Closing Price |
FOX Closing Price |
Disney Closing Price |
Exchange Ratio(1) |
Estimated Equivalent Per Share Value |
|||||||||||||||
November 3, 2017 |
$ | 24.97 | $ | 24.43 | $ | 98.64 | 0.2745 | $ | 27.08 | |||||||||||
December 13, 2017 |
32.75 | 32.34 | 107.61 | 0.2745 | 29.54 | |||||||||||||||
[●], 2018 |
[●] | [●] | [●] | 0.2745 | [●] |
(1) | The exact value of the merger consideration that 21CF stockholders receive may be subject to the exchange ratio adjustment, which would be based on the final estimate of the transaction tax. The initial exchange ratio in the combination merger agreement of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock was set based on an estimate of $8.5 billion for the transaction tax, and will be adjusted immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions if the final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is more than $8.5 billion or less than $6.5 billion. Such adjustment could increase or decrease the exchange ratio, depending upon whether the final estimate is lower or higher, respectively, than $6.5 billion or $8.5 billion. Additionally, if the final estimate of the tax liabilities is lower than $8.5 billion, Disney will make a cash payment to New Fox reflecting the difference between such amount and $8.5 billion, up to a maximum cash payment of $2 billion. As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation, it is likely that the final estimate of the tax liabilities taken into account will differ materially from $8.5 billion, which was used to set the initial exchange ratio. Accordingly, under certain circumstances, there could be a material adjustment to the exchange ratio. Because of the exchange ratio adjustment, the number of shares of Disney common stock that 21CF stockholders will receive in the initial merger cannot be determined until immediately prior to completion of the initial merger. For further information regarding this adjustment see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
The above table shows only historical comparisons. These comparisons may not provide meaningful information to Disney stockholders in determining whether to approve the share issuance proposal and the Disney charter amendment proposal or 21CF stockholders in determining whether to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Disney
53
stockholders and 21CF stockholders are urged to obtain current market quotations for Disney common stock, 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock and to review carefully the other information contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus in considering whether to approve the share issuance proposal and the Disney charter amendment proposals or to approve the distribution merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal and the 21CF charter amendment proposals, respectively. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Comparative Stock Prices and Dividends
The following tables present, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices per share for 21CF and Disney common stock and the cash dividends declared per share of 21CF and Disney common stock. This information should be read together with the consolidated financial statements and related notes of 21CF and Disney that are incorporated by reference in this document and with the unaudited pro forma combined financial data included under Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Disney common stock | ||||||||||||
High | Low | Cash Dividends Declared |
||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2015 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 95.31 | $ | 78.54 | $ | 0.66 | ||||||
Second quarter |
108.94 | 90.06 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
115.28 | 104.25 | 0.71 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
122.08 | 90.00 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2016 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
120.65 | 102.61 | 0.71 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
103.43 | 86.25 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
106.75 | 94.00 | 0.78 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
100.80 | 91.19 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2017 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
106.26 | 90.32 | 0.78 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
113.71 | 105.21 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
116.10 | 103.17 | 0.84 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
110.83 | 96.20 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2018 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
112.67 | 96.80 | 0.84 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
113.19 | 98.15 | | |||||||||
Third quarter (Through [●]) |
[●] | [●] | |
54
21CF class A common stock | ||||||||||||
High | Low | Cash Dividends Declared |
||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2015 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 36.30 | $ | 31.30 | $ | 0.125 | ||||||
Second quarter |
39.01 | 31.77 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
37.85 | 32.80 | 0.15 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
34.65 | 32.26 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2016 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
34.49 | 25.19 | 0.15 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
31.28 | 27.07 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
28.23 | 24.14 | 0.15 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
31.06 | 26.37 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2017 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
28.12 | 23.57 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
28.64 | 24.35 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
32.44 | 28.72 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
32.15 | 26.74 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2018 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
29.63 | 25.79 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
35.24 | 24.97 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
38.81 | 34.56 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter (Through [●]) |
[●] | [●] | |
21CF class B common stock | ||||||||||||
High | Low | Cash Dividends Declared |
||||||||||
Fiscal Year 2015 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
$ | 35.28 | $ | 31.03 | $ | 0.125 | ||||||
Second quarter |
37.50 | 30.71 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
36.52 | 31.78 | 0.15 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
34.43 | 31.88 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2016 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
33.52 | 25.41 | 0.15 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
31.50 | 27.23 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
28.21 | 24.21 | 0.15 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
30.93 | 26.26 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2017 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
28.62 | 24.12 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
28.48 | 24.68 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
31.82 | 28.00 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter |
31.57 | 26.53 | | |||||||||
Fiscal Year 2018 |
||||||||||||
First quarter |
29.22 | 25.38 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Second quarter |
34.72 | 24.43 | | |||||||||
Third quarter |
38.40 | 34.09 | 0.18 | |||||||||
Fourth quarter (Through [●]) |
[●] | [●] | |
55
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Information set forth, and the documents to which 21CF and Disney refer you, in this registration statement, of which this joint proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, including financial estimates and statements as to the expected timing, completion and effects of the transactions between Disney and 21CF constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and the rules, regulations and releases of the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from those discussed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the transactions, including future financial and operating results, the combined companys plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of the management of 21CF and Disney and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties outside of our control.
Statements included in or incorporated by reference into this registration statement, of which this joint proxy statement/prospectus forms a part, that are not historical facts, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of the managements of 21CF and Disney, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance and financial condition. Words such as believes, anticipates, estimates, expects, plans, intends, aims, potential, will, would, could, considered, likely, estimate and variations of these words and similar future or conditional expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. While 21CF and Disney believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Disney and 21CF. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on future circumstances that may or may not occur. Actual results may differ materially from the current expectations of 21CF and Disney depending on a number of factors affecting their businesses and risks associated with the successful execution of the transactions and the integration and performance of their businesses following the transactions. These factors include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties detailed in Disneys periodic public filings with the SEC, including those discussed under the sections entitled Risk Factors in Disneys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and Disneys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 30, 2017 and in 21CFs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 and 21CFs Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017, factors contained or incorporated by reference into such documents and in subsequent filings by Disney and 21CF with the SEC, and the following factors:
| the completion of the proposed transactions may not occur on the anticipated terms and timing or at all; |
| the required regulatory approvals may not be obtained, or in order to obtain such regulatory approvals, conditions may be imposed that adversely affect the anticipated benefits from the proposed transactions or cause the parties to abandon the proposed transactions; |
| the risk that a condition to closing of the transactions may not be satisfied (including, but not limited to, the receipt of legal opinions and rulings with respect to the treatment of the transactions under U.S. and Australian tax laws and a legal opinion on the tax-free treatment of the transactions to 21CFs stockholders); |
| the risk that the anticipated tax treatment of the transactions is not obtained; |
| an increase or decrease in the anticipated transaction taxes (including due to any changes to tax legislation and its impact on tax rates (and the timing of the effectiveness of any such changes)) to be paid in connection with the separation prior to the closing of the transactions could cause an adjustment to the exchange ratio; |
56
| failure to realize the benefits expected from the transactions; |
| potential litigation relating to the proposed transactions that could be instituted against 21CF, Disney or their respective directors; |
| potential adverse reactions or changes to business relationships resulting from the announcement or completion of the transactions; |
| risks associated with third party contracts containing consent and/or other provisions that may be triggered by the proposed transactions; |
| negative effects of the announcement or the completion of the transactions on the market price of Disney common stock; |
| negative effects of the announcement or the completion of the transactions on 21CFs and Disneys operating results and businesses generally; |
| risks relating to the value of the shares of Disney common stock to be issued in the transactions and uncertainty as to the long-term value of Disney common stock; |
| the potential impact of unforeseen liabilities, future capital expenditures, revenues, expenses, earnings, synergies, economic performance, indebtedness, financial condition and losses on the future prospects, business and management strategies for the management, expansion and growth of Disneys operations after the completion of the transactions and on the other conditions to the completion of the merger; |
| the risks and costs associated with, and the ability of Disney to, integrate the businesses successfully and to achieve anticipated synergies; |
| the risk that disruptions from the proposed transactions will harm 21CFs or Disneys business, including current plans and operations; |
| the ability of 21CF or Disney to retain and hire key personnel; |
| adverse legal and regulatory developments or determinations or adverse changes in, or interpretations of, U.S., Australian or other foreign laws, rules or regulations, including tax laws, rules and regulations, that could delay or prevent completion of the proposed transactions or cause the terms of the proposed transactions to be modified; and |
| managements response to any of the aforementioned factors. |
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements 21CF or Disney make in this document are qualified by the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including, but not limited to (i) the information contained under this heading and (ii) the information discussed under the sections entitled Risk Factors in Disneys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017 and Disneys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 30, 2017 and in 21CFs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 and 21CFs Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2017. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Except as otherwise required by law, neither Disney nor 21CF is under any obligation, and each expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Persons reading this announcement are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof.
57
In addition to the other information contained or incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the matters addressed in Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, you should carefully consider the following risk factors in deciding how to vote.
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO THE TRANSACTIONS
21CF stockholders cannot be certain of the number or value of the shares of Disney common stock to be delivered upon consummation of the transactions.
The stock consideration in the transactions may be subject to the exchange ratio adjustment, which would be based on the final estimate of the transaction tax. Upon consummation of the initial merger, each issued and outstanding share of 21CF common stock would in the absence of any such adjustment be exchanged automatically for and thereafter represent only 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock, together with cash in lieu of fractional shares of Disney common stock, without interest, upon the terms and conditions of the combination merger agreement. The market value of Disney common stock will fluctuate during the period between the date on which the combination merger agreement was executed and the date on which 21CF stockholders will receive the merger consideration in the form of Disney common stock, as well as thereafter. Neither Disney nor 21CF is permitted to terminate the combination merger agreement solely because of changes in the market prices of either companys common stock.
The initial exchange ratio in the combination merger agreement of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock was set based on an estimate of $8.5 billion for the transaction tax, and will be adjusted immediately prior to the consummation of the transactions if the final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is more than $8.5 billion or less than $6.5 billion. Such adjustment could increase or decrease the exchange ratio, depending upon whether the final estimate is lower or higher, respectively, than $6.5 billion or $8.5 billion. Additionally, if the final estimate of the tax liabilities is lower than $8.5 billion, Disney will make a cash payment to New Fox reflecting the difference between such amount and $8.5 billion, up to a maximum cash payment of $2 billion.
Following the execution of the combination merger agreement, on December 22, 2017, the United States enacted new tax legislation that, among other things, reduced the maximum corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%. Holding all other things equal, this change in tax rates would result in a significantly lower spin tax, and by extension a lower transaction tax, than the one estimated when the initial exchange ratio was set.
The final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is subject to a number of uncertainties, including that such estimate will be based on: (i) tax rates in effect on the closing date; (ii) a model to be developed by 21CF and Disney in good faith that will include reasonable estimates and assumptions with respect to matters such as the liabilities of the New Fox business and 21CFs basis in the assets of the New Fox business on the date of the distribution; (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of New Fox stock on the date of the distribution; and (iv) the tax effect of certain divestitures and the operations of the New Fox business, none of which can be known at this time. Accordingly, at the time of the 21CF special meeting, 21CF stockholders will not know, or be able to determine, the number or value of the shares of Disney common stock that will be issued and delivered to 21CF stockholders upon the consummation of the transactions.
Substantial uncertainty exists regarding the final estimate of the transaction tax. 21CF does not currently have the information necessary to determine the final estimate of the transaction tax, and it will not have such information at the time of the 21CF special meeting. If there is a downward adjustment to the exchange ratio, 21CFs stockholders would lose the potential for value appreciation in the portion of the merger consideration that is eliminated thereby.
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See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a sensitivity analysis of potential exchange ratios.
The market price of Disney common stock after the consummation of the transactions will continue to fluctuate, and may be affected by factors different from those affecting shares of 21CF common stock currently.
Upon the consummation of the initial merger, holders of 21CF common stock will become holders of shares of Disney common stock. The market price of Disney common stock may fluctuate significantly following consummation of the transactions and holders of 21CF common stock could lose the value of their investment in Disney common stock. The issuance of shares of Disney common stock in the initial merger could on its own have the effect of depressing the market price for Disney common stock. In addition, many 21CF stockholders may decide not to hold the shares of Disney common stock they receive as a result of the initial merger. Other 21CF stockholders, such as funds with limitations on their permitted holdings of stock in individual issuers, may be required to sell the shares of Disney common stock they receive as a result of the initial merger. Such sales of Disney common stock may take place shortly following consummation of the transactions and could have the effect of depressing the market price for Disney common stock. Moreover, general fluctuations in stock markets could have a material adverse effect on the market for, or liquidity of, Disney common stock, regardless of Disneys actual operating performance.
The businesses of Disney differ from those of 21CF in important respects, and, accordingly, the results of operations of Disney after the transactions, as well as the market price of Disney common stock, may be affected by factors different from those currently affecting the results of operations of 21CF. Following the consummation of the transactions, 21CF will be part of a larger company with other lines of business, so decisions affecting 21CF may be made based on considerations relating to the larger combined business as a whole rather than the 21CF business individually. For further information on the businesses of Disney and 21CF and certain factors to consider in connection with those businesses, see the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus and referred to under Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The transactions may cause disruption in 21CFs and Disneys respective businesses.
The combination merger agreement generally requires 21CF to operate its business in the ordinary course pending consummation of the initial merger and restricts 21CF, without Disneys consent, from taking certain specified actions until the transactions are consummated or the combination merger agreement is terminated, including making certain acquisitions and divestitures, entering into certain contracts, incurring certain indebtedness and expenditures, paying dividends in excess of certain thresholds, and repurchasing or issuing securities outside of existing equity award programs. These restrictions may affect 21CFs ability to execute its business strategies and attain its financial and other goals and may impact its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.
In connection with the transactions, current and prospective employees of 21CF and Disney may experience uncertainty about their future roles with 21CF, Disney or New Fox following the consummation of the transactions, which may materially adversely affect the ability of 21CF to attract, retain and motivate key personnel while the transactions are pending. Despite 21CFs retention planning and programs that each of 21CF and Disney has and will implement, key employees may depart because of issues relating to the uncertainty and difficulty of integration with Disney and the separation and establishment of New Fox, or a desire not to remain with 21CF, Disney or New Fox following the consummation of the transactions. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that 21CF or Disney will be able to attract and retain key employees to the same extent that each has been able to in the past.
In addition, certain key employees of 21CF are entitled to receive severance payments and benefits on covered terminations of employment, including, in certain cases, as a result of certain changes in such key
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employees duties, responsibilities, status, title, authority, reporting relationship, compensation, benefits, perquisites or primary office location. Such circumstances could occur in connection with the transactions, including as a result of changes in roles and responsibilities. See the sections entitled 21CF Proposal No. 6Non-binding, Advisory Vote on Transactions-Related Compensation for 21CFs Named Executive Officers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a further discussion of potential severance payments and benefits.
The transactions further could cause disruptions to the businesses or business relationships of 21CF and Disney (including the business to be conducted by, and business relationships of, New Fox after the consummation of the transactions), which could have an adverse impact on the businesses, financial condition, results of operations or prospects of the companies, including an adverse effect on Disneys ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the transactions. In addition, the risk, and adverse effect, of such disruptions could be exacerbated by a delay in the consummation of the transactions or a termination of the combination merger agreement. Parties with which 21CF or Disney has business relationships may experience uncertainty as to the future of such relationships and may delay or defer certain business decisions, seek alternative relationships with third parties or seek to alter their present business relationships with 21CF or Disney. Parties with whom 21CF or Disney otherwise may have sought to establish business relationships may seek alternative relationships with third parties.
The pursuit of the transactions and the preparation for both the integration with Disney and the establishment of New Fox may place a significant burden on 21CF and Disney management and internal resources. The diversion of 21CF and Disney managements attention away from day-to-day business concerns could adversely affect 21CFs and Disneys financial results.
21CF and Disney have each incurred and expect to continue to incur significant costs, expenses and fees for professional services and other transaction costs in connection with the transactions. 21CF and Disney may also incur unanticipated costs in the integration of the businesses of 21CF and Disney. The substantial majority of these costs will be non-recurring expenses relating to the transactions, including costs relating to the separation, and many of these costs are payable regardless of whether the transactions are consummated. 21CF or Disney also could be subject to litigation related to the transactions, which could result in significant costs and expenses. Even if the transactions are not consummated, these risks may materialize and may adversely affect 21CFs and Disneys businesses, financial condition, financial results and stock prices.
Failure to complete the transactions in a timely manner or at all could negatively impact the market price of the common stock of 21CF or Disney, as well as the future business and its financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of 21CF or Disney.
21CF and Disney currently anticipate the transactions will be consummated within 12-18 months after December 13, 2017, but cannot be certain when or if the conditions for the transactions will be satisfied or (if permissible under applicable law) waived. The transactions cannot be consummated until the conditions to closing are satisfied or (if permissible under applicable law) waived, including (1) the adoption of the combination merger agreement, the adoption of the distribution merger agreement and the approval of the hook stock charter amendment and the stock split charter amendment by the requisite vote of the 21CF stockholders and the approval of the stock issuance by the requisite vote of Disney stockholders, (2) receipt of certain required governmental approvals and consents, (3) receipt by 21CF of a surplus and solvency opinion with respect to the separation and the cash dividend in connection with the transactions, (4) effectiveness of registration statements with respect to the distribution and the issuance of Disney common stock in connection with the transactions, (5) authorization of Disney and New Fox shares for listing on the NYSE and Nasdaq, as applicable, (6) the consummation of the separation and distribution, (7) receipt of a tax ruling from the Australian Taxation Office, which we refer to as the ATO, (8) receipt of certain tax opinions by each of 21CF and Disney with respect to the treatment of the transactions under U.S. and Australian tax laws, including a legal opinion on the tax-free
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treatment of the transactions to 21CFs stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and (9) the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by 21CF or Disney, as applicable, in the combination merger agreement. The obligation of Disney to consummate the transactions is also subject to, among other conditions, the absence of regulatory authorities requiring Disney to take certain actions. See the section entitled The TransactionsRegulatory Approvals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information concerning Disneys and 21CFs respective obligations to obtain regulatory approval of the transactions. For a more complete summary of the conditions that must be satisfied or waived prior to consummation of the transactions, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The satisfaction of the required conditions could delay the consummation of the transactions for a significant period of time or prevent the transactions from occurring. Any delay in consummating the transactions could cause Disney not to realize some or all of the benefits that Disney expects to achieve if the transactions are successfully consummated within its expected timeframe. Further, there can be no assurance that the conditions to the consummation of the transactions will be satisfied or waived or that the transactions will be consummated.
In the event that the transactions are not consummated for any reason, (1) the holders of 21CF common stock will not receive any consideration for their shares of 21CF common stock in connection with the transactions, (2) the separation and distribution of New Fox will not occur and the holders of 21CF common stock will not receive shares of common stock of New Fox, which we refer to as New Fox common stock.
Additionally, if the transactions are not consummated in a timely manner or at all, the ongoing businesses of 21CF and Disney may be adversely affected as follows:
| 21CF and Disney may experience negative reactions from the financial markets, including negative impacts on their respective stock price; |
| 21CF and Disney may experience negative reactions from their respective employees, customers, suppliers or other third parties; |
| The focus of 21CF and Disney management would have been diverted from pursuing other opportunities that could have been beneficial to 21CF or Disney; and |
| 21CFs and Disneys respective costs of pursuing the transactions may be higher than anticipated and, in any event, would be borne entirely by 21CF or Disney, as applicable. |
If the transactions are not completed, there can be no assurance that these risks will not materialize and will not materially adversely affect 21CFs or Disneys respective stock price, business, financial conditions, results of operations or cash flows. Disney may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay 21CF a termination fee equal to $1.525 billion, or in connection with a termination under certain specified circumstances in connection with the failure to obtain regulatory approvals, $2.5 billion. In addition, 21CF may be required, under certain circumstances, to pay Disney a termination fee equal to $1.525 billion.
21CF or Disney may waive one or more of the conditions to the closing of the transactions, or in certain circumstances, one or more of the conditions to the closing of the transactions may be deemed satisfied, without re-soliciting stockholder approval.
21CF or Disney may determine to waive one or more of the conditions, in whole or in part, (or, as discussed in the next two paragraphs, in certain circumstances, one or more of the conditions may be deemed satisfied) to its obligation to effect the transactions. Each of 21CF and Disney currently expect to evaluate the materiality of any waiver and its effect on 21CF stockholders or Disney stockholders, as applicable, in light of the facts and circumstances at the time to determine whether any amendment of this joint proxy statement/prospectus or any re-solicitation of proxies or voting cards is required in light of such waiver. Any determination whether to waive
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any condition to the closing of the transactions or as to re-soliciting stockholder approval or amending this joint proxy statement/prospectus as a result of a waiver will be made by 21CF or Disney, as applicable, at the time of such waiver based on the facts and circumstances as they exist at that time.
However, there are certain circumstances in which specific conditions to the closing of the transactions may be deemed satisfied. In particular, the condition for 21CF to receive the Skadden tax opinion may be deemed satisfied if Skadden cannot deliver such opinion because of a failure of certain stockholders of 21CF to deliver representations to Skadden at closing. In addition, the condition for Disney to receive the hook stock legal comfort may be deemed satisfied in certain circumstances described in further detail under The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
IN ANY INSTANCE DESCRIBED ABOVE WHERE SUCH CERTAIN CONDITIONS WILL BE DEEMED SATISFIED, NEITHER 21CF NOR DISNEY WILL AMEND THIS JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS OR RE-SOLICIT PROXIES OR STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL.
In order to consummate the transactions, Disney and 21CF must obtain certain governmental approvals, and if such approvals are not granted or are granted with conditions, consummation of the transactions may be jeopardized or the anticipated benefits of the transactions could be reduced.
Although Disney and 21CF have agreed to use reasonable best efforts, subject to certain limitations, to make certain governmental filings and obtain the governmental approvals or expirations or earlier termination of applicable waiting periods, as the case may be, there can be no assurance that the applicable waiting periods will expire or be terminated or that the applicable approvals will be obtained. As a condition to approving the transactions, governmental authorities may impose conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions or require divestitures or place restrictions on the conduct of the combined companys business after consummation of the transactions, including those which Disney may not be required to accept pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement. Disney has agreed to accept certain restrictions on certain of its and 21CFs assets if and to the extent necessary to obtain the governmental regulatory approvals required to consummate the transactions, as described in the section entitled The Transactions Regulatory Approvals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. There can be no assurance that regulators will not impose conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions and that such conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not have the effect of delaying or preventing consummation of the transactions or imposing additional material costs on or materially limiting the revenues of the combined company following the transactions, or otherwise adversely affecting, including to a material extent, the combined companys businesses and results of operations after consummation of the transactions. If 21CF and Disney are required to divest assets or businesses, there can be no assurance that they will be able to negotiate such divestitures expeditiously or on favorable terms or that the governmental authorities will approve the terms of such divestitures. In addition, we can provide no assurance that these conditions, terms, obligations or restrictions will not result in the abandonment of the transactions. See the sections entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Consummation of the Transactions and The TransactionsRegulatory Approvals beginning on pages [●] and [●], respectively, of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
21CFs directors and executive officers have interests in the transactions that may be different from your interests as a stockholder of 21CF.
In considering the recommendations of the 21CF board to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal, the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the stock split charter amendment proposal, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal, 21CF stockholders should be aware that directors and executive officers of 21CF have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from, or in addition to, the interests of 21CF stockholders, generally. These interests include the treatment in the transactions of 21CF equity compensation awards, the employment agreements, retention awards, severance and
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certain other rights held by 21CFs directors and executive officers, and the indemnification of former 21CF directors and executive officers by Disney. See the sections entitled 21CF Proposal No. 6Non-Binding, Advisory Vote on Transactions-Related Compensation for 21CFs Named Executive Officers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests. The 21CF board was aware of these interests and considered them, among other things, in evaluating and approving the combination merger agreement and the transactions and in recommending that the 21CF stockholders adopt the combination merger agreement, adopt the distribution merger agreement and approve the 21CF charter amendments.
Disneys directors and executive officers have interests in the transactions that may be different from your interests as a stockholder of Disney.
In considering the recommendations of the Disney board to approve the share issuance proposal, the Disney charter amendment proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal, Disney stockholders should be aware that directors and executive officers of Disney have certain interests in the transactions that may be different from or in addition to the interests of Disney stockholders generally. These interests include the extension of the period during which Robert A. Iger, Disneys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, would remain employed with Disney and continue to serve as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer if the mergers are completed. See the section entitled Interests of Disneys Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed description of these interests. The Disney board was aware of these interests and considered them, among other things, in evaluating the combination merger agreement and the transactions and in recommending that the Disney stockholders approve the share issuance proposal and the Disney charter amendment proposal.
The combination merger agreement contains provisions that could discourage a potential competing acquiror of 21CF or Disney.
The combination merger agreement contains no shop provisions that, subject to limited exceptions, restrict each of 21CFs and Disneys ability to solicit, initiate, or knowingly encourage or facilitate competing third-party proposals for the acquisition of 21CF or Disney stock or assets. In addition, before the 21CF board or the Disney board withdraws, qualifies or modifies its recommendation of the transactions or terminates the combination merger agreement to enter into a superior proposal, the other party generally has an opportunity to offer to modify the terms of the transactions. In certain circumstances, upon termination of the combination merger agreement, one party will be required to pay the other a termination fee of $1.525 billion.
These provisions could discourage a potential third-party that might have an interest in making a competing proposal, even if such third-party were prepared to pay consideration with a higher per share cash or market value than the market value proposed to be received or realized in the transactions, or might otherwise result in a potential third-party proposing to pay a lower price to 21CF or Disney stockholders than it might otherwise have proposed to pay because of the added expense of the termination fee that may become payable in certain circumstances.
If the combination merger agreement is terminated and 21CF or Disney decides to seek another business combination, it may not be able to negotiate or consummate transactions with another party on terms comparable to, or better than, the terms of the combination merger agreement. In certain circumstances, 21CF or Disney would be required to pay to the other a termination fee of $1.525 billion if such a business combination is agreed to or consummated within 12 months after such termination.
If either the distribution or the mergers do not qualify as tax-free transactions to 21CF stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes, 21CF stockholders may be required to pay substantial U.S. federal income taxes.
21CFs obligation to complete the transactions is conditioned on its receipt of an opinion of Skadden, which we refer to as the Skadden tax opinion, to the effect that, on the basis of the facts, representations and
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assumptions set forth in such opinion, (i) the distribution will qualify for non-recognition of income, gain or loss to 21CF stockholders as a transaction described in Section 355(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, which we refer to as the Code, and (ii) the mergers, taken together, will qualify for non-recognition of income, gain or loss to 21CF stockholders as a reorganization described in Section 368(a) of the Code. The Skadden tax opinion will not address any U.S. state, local or foreign tax consequences and will be based on, among other things, law in effect on the closing of the distribution and mergers and on certain representations made by representatives of 21CF and Disney and by certain significant stockholders of 21CF. Any change in applicable law, which may be retroactive, or the failure of any such representations to be true, correct and complete in all material respects, could adversely affect the conclusions reached in the Skadden tax opinion. Moreover, the Skadden tax opinion will not be binding on the Internal Revenue Service, which we refer to as the IRS, or the courts, and the IRS or a court may not agree with the conclusions reached in the Skadden tax opinion. As described in the section entitled The TransactionsRecommendation of the 21CF Board; 21CFs Reasons for the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, the distribution will be fully taxable to 21CF at the corporate level.
If either the distribution or the mergers were determined not to qualify for non-recognition of income, gain or loss to 21CF stockholders under the Code, U.S. holders (as defined below in the section entitled Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences) of 21CF common stock may be required to pay substantial U.S. federal income taxes. If the IRS were to be successful in contesting the qualification of the distribution as a transaction described in Section 355(a) of the Code, each U.S. holder who receives New Fox common stock in the distribution would be treated either (i) as recognizing taxable gain or loss equal to the difference between the fair market value of the New Fox common stock received (including fractional shares deemed received, as described under the section entitled Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences) by the stockholder in the distribution and its tax basis in the shares of 21CF common stock exchanged therefor or (ii) as receiving a taxable distribution in an amount equal to the fair market value of the New Fox common stock received (including fractional shares deemed received, as described under the section entitled Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences) by the U.S. holder. For a more detailed discussion of the consequences to U.S. holders in the event that the IRS successfully contests the qualification of the distribution as a transaction described in Section 355(a) of the Code, see the section entitled Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. If the IRS were to be successful in contesting the qualification of the mergers as a reorganization described in Section 368(a) of the Code, each U.S. holder would be considered to have made a taxable disposition of their shares of 21CF common stock to Disney, and such stockholders would generally recognize taxable gain or loss on their receipt of Disney common stock in the initial merger.
Unless the hook stock shares are eliminated, the transactions are conditioned on receipt of a class ruling from the ATO, which may not be obtained.
Disneys obligation to consummate the transactions is conditioned on the receipt of a class ruling from the ATO regarding the ability of holders of 21CF common stock (including the hook stock shares) to elect roll-over relief in respect of the initial merger pursuant to Subdivision 124-M of Australian income tax law. 21CF and Disney have agreed in the combination merger agreement to use their reasonable best efforts to obtain such class ruling, which we refer to as the ATO tax ruling, including by amending the terms of the combination merger agreement if necessary to facilitate any structural modifications to the transactions that would permit Disneys receipt of the ATO tax ruling, but there can be no assurances that the ATO will issue it. This condition, however, will be deemed satisfied if the hook stock shares are eliminated prior to the completion of the initial merger, as described below under the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersHook Stock.
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Unless the hook stock shares are eliminated, the transactions are also conditioned on the receipt of Australian and U.S. tax opinions in respect of the hook stock shares, which, if not obtained, could result in significant indemnification obligations by New Fox.
In addition to receipt of the ATO tax ruling, Disneys obligation to complete the transactions if the hook stock shares are not eliminated is conditioned on its receipt of written opinions from its Australian and U.S. tax advisors to the effect that, on the basis of the facts, representations and assumptions set forth in such opinions, (i) the 21CF charter amendments, the stock split and the distribution (or any alternative transactions) should not result in any hook stock tax under Australian tax law, which we refer to as the Australian tax opinion, and (ii) the stock split, the distribution and the mergers will result in no recognition of gain or loss in respect of the hook stock shares for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which we refer to as the U.S. tax opinion and must be rendered by Cravath. If Disneys Australian tax advisor (who must be Greenwoods & Herbert Smith Freehills Pty Limited, or an Australian senior barrister of Disneys choice) is unable to deliver the Australian tax opinion for whatever reason, then, in certain circumstances and subject to certain limitations, the condition to receive the Australian tax opinion will be deemed satisfied and New Fox will be obligated to indemnify Disney in the event that taxes are actually imposed on holders of the hook stock shares as a result of the transactions. For additional information in respect of New Foxs indemnification obligations, see The Combination Merger AgreementOther AgreementsTax Matters Agreement beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The shares of Disney common stock to be received by 21CF stockholders as a result of the transactions will have rights different from the shares of 21CF common stock.
Upon consummation of the transactions, 21CF stockholders will no longer be stockholders of 21CF, but will instead become Disney stockholders, and their rights as stockholders will be governed by the terms of the Disney charter and the Disney bylaws. The terms of the Disney charter and the Disney bylaws are in some respects different from the terms of the 21CF charter and the 21CF bylaws, which currently govern the rights of 21CF stockholders. See the section entitled Comparison of Stockholders Rights beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a discussion of the difference in rights associated with Disney common stock.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data included in this joint proxy statement/prospectus are presented for illustrative purposes only and the actual financial condition and results of operations of Disney and New Fox following the transactions may each differ materially.
The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data of Disney, RemainCo and New Fox contained in this joint proxy statement/prospectus are presented for illustrative purposes only, are based on various adjustments, assumptions and preliminary estimates and may not be an indication of the applicable companys financial condition or results of operations following the transactions for several reasons. The actual financial condition and results of operations of Disney and New Fox following the transactions may not be consistent with, or evident from, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data presented herein. In addition, the assumptions used in preparing the unaudited pro forma financial information may not prove to be accurate, and other factors may affect the applicable companys financial condition or results of operations following the transactions. Any potential decline in the applicable companys financial condition or results of operations may cause significant variations in the stock price of the applicable company.
In addition, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data of Disney reflect adjustments, which are based upon preliminary estimates, to record the 21CF identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed at fair value and the resulting goodwill recognized. The purchase price allocation reflected in this document is preliminary, and final allocation of the purchase price will be based upon the actual purchase price and the fair value of the assets and liabilities of 21CF as of the date of the completion of the transactions. Accordingly, the final acquisition accounting adjustments may differ materially from the pro forma adjustments reflected in this document. Furthermore, the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data included in this joint proxy statement/prospectus assume that no divestitures or other operating restrictions will be required
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in order to obtain the regulatory approvals required to complete the transactions. Significant divestitures or other restrictions may be required to obtain the necessary regulatory approvals, and consequently, Disney may be less able to realize the anticipated benefits of the transactions, and the business and results of operations of the combined company after the transactions may be adversely affected.
For more information, see the section entitled Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data of Disney beginning on page [●] and the section entitled Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Data of New Fox beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Upon consummation of the transactions, New Fox will be a new publicly traded company with no operating history and New Fox may be unable to successfully operate as a stand-alone, publicly traded company.
Prior to the transactions, the New Fox businesses existed as a component of 21CF. Following consummation of the transactions, New Fox will own and operate the New Fox businesses under a new publicly-traded company. New Fox will be a new public company that will have no operating history as an independent public company and there will be many costs and expenses associated with New Fox running its business similar to how 21CF operated prior to the transactions. Because the New Fox business has not been operated as a stand-alone company, there can be no assurance that New Fox will be able to implement the changes necessary to successfully operate independently or that New Fox will not incur additional costs operating independently that would have a negative effect on New Foxs business, results of operations or financial condition. In addition, prior to the distribution, New Fox will pay to 21CF a dividend in the amount of $8.5 billion. New Fox will incur indebtedness sufficient to fund the dividend, which indebtedness will be reduced after the initial merger by the amount of the cash payment.
New Fox may be unable to achieve some or all of the expected benefits that it expects to achieve in connection with the transactions.
By separating from 21CF there is a risk that New Fox may be more susceptible to market fluctuations and other adverse events than New Fox would have otherwise been while it were still part of 21CF. As part of 21CF, New Fox enjoyed certain benefits from 21CFs operating diversity and access to capital for investments, which benefits will no longer be available to 21CF after New Fox separates.
As an independent, publicly-traded company, it is expected that New Fox will benefit from, among other things, sharpened focus on the financial and operational resources of the New Fox businesses, allowing management of New Fox to design and implement a capital structure, corporate strategies and policies that are based primarily on the business characteristics and strategic opportunities of the New Fox businesses. It is anticipated that this will allow New Fox to respond more effectively to industry dynamics and to create effective incentives for management and employees that are more closely tied to New Foxs business performance. However, New Fox may not be able to achieve some or all of the benefits expected to be achieved as a new company or such benefits may be delayed or may not occur at all.
There is no existing market for New Fox common stock, and a trading market that will provide holders of New Fox common stock with adequate liquidity may not develop. In addition, once New Fox common stock begins trading, the market prices of New Fox common stock may fluctuate significantly.
There is currently no public market for shares of New Fox common stock. There can be no assurance that an active trading market for New Fox common stock will develop as a result of consummation of the transactions or in the future. The lack of an active trading market may make it more difficult for holders of New Fox common stock to sell shares of New Fox common stock and could lead to depressed or volatile share prices.
It is impossible to predict the prices at which New Fox common stock may trade after consummation of the transactions. The market price of New Fox common stock may fluctuate significantly, depending upon many
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factors, some of which may be beyond control, including: (1) a shift in investor base; (2) quarterly or annual earnings, or those of other companies in our industry; (3) actual or anticipated fluctuations in operating results; (4) success or failure of business strategy; (5) ability to obtain financing as needed; (6) changes in accounting standards, policies, guidance, interpretations or principles; (7) changes in laws and regulations affecting the New Fox businesses; (8) announcements by New Fox or competitors of significant new business developments or customers; (9) announcements by New Fox or competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; (10) the failure of securities analysts to cover New Fox common stock after the distribution; (11) changes in earnings estimates by securities analysts or New Foxs ability to meet our earnings guidance; (12) the operating and stock price performance of other comparable companies; (13) results from material litigation or governmental investigations; (14) changes in capital gains taxes and taxes on dividends affecting stockholders; and (15) overall market fluctuations and general economic conditions.
Furthermore, New Foxs business profile and market capitalization may not fit the investment objectives of many 21CF stockholders and, as a result, these stockholders may sell shares of New Fox common stock after consummation of the transactions.
21CF stockholders will not be entitled to exercise appraisal rights in the transactions.
Appraisal rights are statutory rights that, if applicable under law, enable stockholders, in connection with certain mergers, to demand that the corporation pay the fair value for their shares as determined by a court in a judicial proceeding instead of receiving the consideration offered to stockholders in connection with the merger. Under the DGCL, stockholders do not have appraisal rights if the shares of stock they hold, at the record date for determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting of stockholders to act upon the merger or consolidation, are either (1) listed on a national securities exchange or (2) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, appraisal rights are available if stockholders are required by the terms of the transaction agreement to accept for their shares anything other than (a) shares of stock of the surviving corporation, (b) shares of stock of another corporation that will either be listed on a national securities exchange or held of record by more than 2,000 holders, (c) cash instead of fractional shares or (d) any combination of clauses (a)-(c).
Because 21CF common stock is listed on the Nasdaq, a national securities exchange, and is expected to continue to be so listed on the record date, and because in the initial merger, holders of 21CF common stock will receive shares of Disney common stock, which is listed on the NYSE, a national securities exchange, and is expected to be listed after the transactions and the transactions otherwise satisfy the foregoing requirements, holders of 21CF common stock will not be entitled to dissenters rights or appraisals rights in the transactions with respect to their shares of 21CF common stock.
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RISK FACTORS RELATING TO DISNEY FOLLOWING THE TRANSACTIONS
The transactions may not be accretive, and may be dilutive, to Disneys earnings per share, which may negatively affect the market price of Disney common stock.
Disney currently expects that the transactions will be accretive to its earnings per share, excluding the impact of purchase accounting, for the second fiscal year after closing. This expectation, however, is based on preliminary estimates that may materially change. In addition, Disney could fail to realize all of the benefits anticipated in the transactions or experience delays or inefficiencies in realizing such benefits. Such factors could, combined with the issuance of shares of Disney stock as consideration in the initial merger, which may be subject to the exchange ratio adjustment, which would be based on the final estimate of the transaction tax (for a more complete description, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus), result in the transactions being dilutive to Disneys earnings per share, which could negatively affect the market price of Disneys common stock.
Although we expect that the transactions will result in synergies and other benefits to Disney, we may not realize those benefits because of difficulties related to integration, the achievement of synergies, and other challenges.
Disney and 21CF have operated and, until the consummation of the transactions, will continue to operate, independently, and there can be no assurances that our businesses can be combined in a manner that allows for the achievement of substantial benefits. If Disney is not able to successfully integrate 21CFs businesses, the anticipated benefits and cost savings of the transactions may not be realized fully or may take longer than expected to be realized. Further, it is possible that there could be loss of key Disney or 21CF employees, loss of customers, disruption of either companys or both companies ongoing businesses or unexpected issues, higher than expected costs and an overall post-completion process that takes longer than originally anticipated. Specifically, the following issues, among others, must be addressed in combining the operations of Disney and 21CF in order to realize the anticipated benefits of the transactions so the combined company performs as the parties hope:
| combining the corporate functions of the two companies; |
| combining the businesses of Disney and 21CF in a manner that permits us to achieve the synergies anticipated to result from the transactions, the failure of which would result in the anticipated benefits of the transactions not being realized in the time frame currently anticipated or at all; |
| maintaining existing relations and goodwill with governmental entities, customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, creditors, lessors, employees and business associates and others (including material content providers, studios, authors, producers, directors, actors, performers, guilds, announcers and advertisers); |
| determining whether and how to address possible differences in corporate cultures and management philosophies; |
| integrating the administrative and information technology infrastructure of the two companies; |
| developing products and technology that allow value to be unlocked in the future; and |
| effecting potential actions that may be required in connection with obtaining regulatory approvals. |
In addition, at times the attention of certain members of management and resources may be focused on consummation of the transactions and integration planning of the businesses of the two companies and diverted from day-to-day business operations, which may disrupt Disneys ongoing business and the business of the combined company.
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Consummation of the transactions will increase Disneys exposure to the risks of operating internationally.
Disney is a diversified entertainment company that offers entertainment, travel and consumer products worldwide. Although many of Disneys businesses increasingly depend on acceptance of Disneys offerings and products by consumers outside of the U.S., the combination with 21CF will increase the importance of international operations to Disneys future operations, growth and prospects. The risks of operating internationally that Disney faces may therefore be exacerbated upon completion of the transactions.
Disneys consolidated indebtedness will increase substantially following completion of the transactions. This increased level of indebtedness could adversely affect Disney, including by decreasing its business flexibility.
Disneys consolidated indebtedness as of December 30, 2017 was approximately $26 billion. Upon completion of the transactions, Disney will assume an estimated $14.6 billion of additional outstanding net debt of 21CF if the Sky acquisition is not completed or an estimated $41.5 billion of additional outstanding net debt of 21CF if the Sky acquisition is completed. The increased indebtedness could have the effect of, among other things, reducing Disneys flexibility to respond to changing business and economic conditions. In addition, the amount of cash required to pay interest on Disneys increased indebtedness levels will increase following completion of the transactions, and thus the demands on Disneys cash resources will be greater than prior to the transactions. The increased levels of indebtedness following completion of the transactions could also reduce funds available for capital expenditures, share repurchases and dividends, and other activities and may create competitive disadvantages for Disney relative to other companies with lower debt levels. Disneys funds on hand will be further constrained by the issuance of shares of Disney common stock in the acquisition, because of dividend payments on Disney common stock, which, as of the date of this filing, were $0.84 per share of Disney common stock on a semi-annual basis.
Disney cannot assure you that it will be able to continue paying dividends at the current rate.
Disney plans to continue its current dividend practices following the transaction. However, based on the number of issued and outstanding shares of 21CF common stock as of [●], 2018, and assuming there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, Disney would issue approximately [●] million shares of Disney common stock in connection with the initial merger. For a description of the exchange ratio adjustment, please see the section of this joint proxy statement/prospectus entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●]. Continuing Disneys current dividend practices following the transaction will require additional cash to pay such dividends, which it may not have. For this and other reasons generally affecting the ability to pay dividends, you should be aware that Disney stockholders may not receive the same dividends following the transaction.
Stockholders also should be aware that they have no contractual or other legal right to dividends that have not been declared.
After the transactions, former 21CF stockholders and current Disney stockholders will have a reduced ownership and voting interest and will exercise less influence over management of the combined company.
Based on the number of shares of 21CF common stock outstanding as of [●], and the number of shares of Disney common stock outstanding as of [●], and assuming there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, it is expected that, immediately after completion of the transactions, former 21CF stockholders will own approximately 25% of the outstanding shares of Disney common stock. For a description of the exchange ratio adjustment, please see the section of this joint proxy statement/prospectus entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●]. As a result of the issuance of Disney common stock to 21CF stockholders, current Disney stockholders as a group will own approximately 75% of the shares of Disney common stock outstanding after the completion of the transactions. Consequently, current Disney stockholders and former 21CF stockholders will have less influence over the management and policies of
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the combined company than they currently have over the management and policies of Disney and 21CF, respectively. Because of the exchange ratio adjustment, the exact split in ownership of shares of Disney common stock between current Disney stockholders and former 21CF stockholders, and, as a result, the dilutive impact of the transactions, is not currently known and will not be known at the time of either the 21CF special meeting or the Disney special meeting.
If the hook stock shares are not eliminated prior to the completion of the initial merger, they could subject Disney to increased taxes and the possibility of additional taxes may increase the cost and complexity of future transactions.
As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersHook Stock, 21CF will cooperate with Disney and use its reasonable best efforts to consider potential transactions to eliminate all or a portion of the hook stock shares. In connection with these efforts, 21CF has requested a ruling from the IRS and, if a decision is made to proceed with a transaction to eliminate all or a portion of the hook stock shares, would request Australian private rulings that would facilitate transactions to eliminate the hook stock shares (all such rulings we refer to collectively as the elimination rulings). 21CF will also request the ATO tax ruling, which if obtained may allow Disney to issue Disney series B convertible preferred stock in the initial merger to holders of the hook stock shares. There can be no assurances that any or all such rulings will be obtained.
If the elimination rulings are not obtained, then 21CF may not be able to eliminate the hook stock shares in part or in full. Any hook stock shares that have not been eliminated at the time of the initial merger will be exchanged in the initial merger for Disney shares (which, as described below, may be shares of either Disney common stock or Disney series B convertible preferred stock). Following the initial merger, former holders of the hook stock shares may hold their Disney shares with a tax basis substantially below the shares fair market value. If these holders were to dispose of these shares, be treated for tax purposes as disposing of these shares, or otherwise be required to recognize this built-in gain under U.S. or Australian tax law, they or Disney could be liable for a substantial amount of tax. This built-in gain, and the corresponding potential tax liability, would increase proportionately to any appreciation in the value of the Disney shares held by holders of the hook stock shares. The possibility of incurring this tax liability may increase the cost and complexity of future transactions.
If the parties do not obtain the elimination rulings and eliminate all of the hook stock shares, to facilitate obtaining the ATO tax ruling, the Disney board may determine to issue Disney common stock instead of Disney series B convertible preferred stock to holders of the hook stock shares. If the Disney board so determines, and if the Disney stockholders do not approve the Disney charter amendment proposal, Disney would be obligated to pay dividends on those shares of Disney common stock after the completion of the transactions. These dividends could be subject to tax in both the United States and Australia, increasing Disneys effective tax rate and potentially deterring Disney from paying or increasing dividends on its common stock.
The U.K. Takeover Panel has ruled that, unless the Sky acquisition has completed or a third party has acquired more than 50% of the ordinary shares in Sky, in each case, prior to the completion of the transactions, Disney will be obliged to make a mandatory offer for all the ordinary shares in Sky not already owned by 21CF in cash and at a price of £10.75 for each ordinary share of Sky.
21CF currently has an approximately 39% interest in Sky. On April 12, 2018, the U.K. Takeover Panel ruled that, unless the Sky acquisition has completed or a third party has acquired more than 50% of the ordinary shares in Sky, in each case prior to the completion of the transactions, Disney will be obliged to make a mandatory offer for all the ordinary shares in Sky not already owned by 21CF in accordance with Note 8 of Rule 9.1 of the U.K. Takeover Code within 28 days of completion of the transactions. The U.K. Takeover Panel further ruled that any such offer would be required to be made in cash and at a price of £10.75 for each ordinary share in Sky.
Because Disney assumed the price per Sky share to acquire the remaining 61% of Sky would be at 21CFs offer price of £10.75 per share when it evaluated the transactions, the making of a mandatory offer for Sky at that
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price will not materially impact Disneys financial position. Completion of the Sky acquisition is not a condition to either partys obligation to consummate the transactions.
Additional Risks Relating to Disney and 21CF.
Disney and 21CF are, and following completion of the transactions Disney will continue to be, subject to the risks described in (i) Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors in Disneys Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended December 30, 2017, filed on February 6, 2018, (ii) Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in Disneys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2017, filed on November 22, 2017, (iii) Part II, Item 1A, Risk Factors in 21CFs Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017, filed on November 9, 2017 and the quarterly period ended December 31, 2017, filed on February 8, 2018 and (iv) Part I, Item 1A, Risk Factors in 21CFs Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, filed on August 14, 2017. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
INFORMATION ABOUT THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING
Time, Place and Purpose of the 21CF Special Meeting
This joint proxy statement/prospectus is being furnished to 21CF stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by the 21CF board, for use at the 21CF special meeting to be held on [●], 2018, at [●][A.M. / P.M.] [Eastern Time], at [●] or at any postponement or adjournment thereof.
At the 21CF special meeting, 21CF stockholders, voting together as a single class, will be asked to consider and vote on (i) the combination merger proposal and (ii) the distribution merger proposal.
At the 21CF special meeting, holders of outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock, will be asked to consider and vote on (i) the hook stock charter amendment proposal, (ii) the stock split charter amendment proposal, (iii) the 21CF adjournment proposal, and (iv) the compensation proposal.
21CF stockholders must adopt the combination merger agreement and the distribution merger agreement and approve the 21CF charter amendments in order for the transactions to occur. If 21CF stockholders fail to adopt the combination merger agreement or the distribution merger agreement or fail to approve either of the 21CF charter amendments, none of the transactions will occur. A copy of the combination merger agreement is attached as Annex A and Annex B to this joint proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the distribution merger agreement is attached as Annex C to this joint proxy statement/prospectus. A copy of the 21CF charter amendments is attached as Annex E. You are encouraged to read the combination merger agreement, the distribution merger agreement and the 21CF charter amendments carefully and in their entirety.
Record Date and Quorum
21CF has set the close of business on [●], 2018 as the record date for the 21CF special meeting, and only 21CF stockholders of record on the record date are entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting. You are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the 21CF special meeting if you are a 21CF stockholder of record as of the close of business on the record date. On the record date, there were [●] shares of 21CF class B common stock outstanding held by approximately [●] holders of record and [●] shares of 21CF class A common stock outstanding held by approximately [●] holders of record.
Each holder of shares of 21CF class B common stock held as of the record date is entitled to one vote per share of 21CF class B common stock on all matters to be presented at the 21CF special meeting. Each holder of
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shares of 21CF class A common stock held as of the record date is entitled to one vote per share of 21CF class A common stock on the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal but is not entitled to vote on any other proposal on account of its shares of 21CF class A common stock.
The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of 21CF common stock entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the combination merger proposal and the distribution merger proposal. The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority in voting power of all outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote at the 21CF special meeting shall constitute a quorum for purposes of the 21CF charter amendment proposals, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal. Abstentions are considered for purposes of establishing a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact business at the 21CF special meeting.
Additionally, the 21CF bylaws, and the DGCL, provide that if a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, to another date, place, if any, and time until a quorum shall be present.
Attendance
As described below, if your shares of 21CF common stock are registered directly in your name with 21CFs transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered the stockholder of record with respect to such shares of 21CF common stock and you have the right to attend the 21CF special meeting and vote in person, subject to compliance with the procedures described below. If your shares of 21CF common stock are held in a brokerage account or by a bank or other nominee, you are the beneficial owner of such shares. As such, in order to attend the 21CF special meeting and vote in person, you must obtain and present at the time of admission a properly executed proxy from the stockholder of record giving you the right to attend and vote the shares of 21CF common stock.
If you plan to attend the meeting, you must be a stockholder on the record date of [●] and obtain an admission ticket in advance. Tickets will be available to registered and beneficial owners. You can print your own tickets and you must bring them to the meeting to gain access. Tickets can be printed by accessing Shareholder Meeting Registration at www.ProxyVote.com and following the instructions provided (you will need the 16 digit number included on your proxy card or voter instruction form). If you are unable to print your tickets, please contact the Corporate Secretary at 1-212-852-7000. Requests for admission tickets will be processed in the order in which they are received and must be requested no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2018. Please note that seating is limited and requests for tickets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you received your special meeting materials electronically and wish to attend the meeting, please follow the instructions provided for attendance. If you are attending the 21CF special meeting in person, you will be required to present valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a drivers license or passport, and an admission ticket to be admitted to the 21CF special meeting. Large bags, backpacks, suitcases, briefcases, cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting.
Seating at the 21CF special meeting will begin at [[●] a.m./p.m. (local time)]. Prior to entering the 21CF special meeting, all bags will be subject to search and all persons may be subject to a metal detector and/or hand wand search. The security procedures may require additional time, so please plan accordingly. 21CF suggests arriving at least 45 minutes early to the 21CF special meeting. If you do not provide an admission ticket and government-issued photo identification or do not comply with the other registration and security procedures described above, you will not be admitted to the 21CF special meeting. Registration will close ten minutes prior to the meeting. 21CF reserves the right to remove persons from the 21CF special meeting who disrupt the 21CF special meeting or who do not comply with the rules and procedures for the conduct of the 21CF special meeting.
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If you require any special accommodations at the 21CF special meeting due to a disability, please contact the Corporate Secretary at (212) 852-7000 or send an email to SpecialMeeting@21cf.com and identify your specific need no later than [●], 2018.
Vote Required
The combination merger proposal and distribution merger proposal require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock, voting together as a single class. For adoption of the combination merger agreement and the combination distribution merger agreement, you may vote FOR, AGAINST or ABSTAIN. Votes to abstain will not be counted as votes cast in favor of the adoption of the combination merger agreement or the distribution merger agreement, but will count for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. If you fail to submit a valid proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting or if you vote to abstain in connection with the combination merger proposal or the distribution merger proposal, it will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST adoption of the combination merger agreement or the distribution merger agreement, as applicable.
If your shares of 21CF common stock are registered directly in your name with 21CFs transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company, N.A., you are considered, with respect to those shares of 21CF common stock, the stockholder of record. If you are a stockholder of record, this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the enclosed proxy card have been sent directly to you by 21CF.
If your shares of 21CF common stock are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares of 21CF common stock held in street name. In that case, this joint proxy statement/prospectus has been forwarded to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee who is considered, with respect to those shares of 21CF common stock, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote your shares by following their instructions for voting.
Under the rules of Nasdaq, banks, brokerage firms or other nominees who hold shares in street name for customers have the authority to vote on routine proposals when they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. However, banks, brokerage firms and other nominees are precluded from exercising their voting discretion with respect to approving non-routine matters, such as the adoption of the combination merger agreement, the adoption of the distribution merger agreement, approval of the 21CF charter amendments, adjournment of the 21CF special meeting and approval, by non-binding, advisory vote, of the transactions-related executive compensation. As a result, absent specific instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares of 21CF common stock, banks, brokerage firms and other nominees are not empowered to vote those shares of 21CF common stock on non-routine matters.
The 21CF charter amendment proposals require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of the 21CF charter amendment proposals, you may vote FOR, AGAINST or ABSTAIN. For purposes of the votes on the 21CF charter amendment proposals, if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are present at the 21CF special meeting but are not voted on the proposals, or if you vote to abstain on the proposals, this will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the 21CF charter amendment proposals. Votes to abstain will not be counted as votes cast in favor of the 21CF charter amendment proposals, but will count for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is present. If you fail to submit a valid proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting or if you vote to abstain, it will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the 21CF charter amendment proposals.
The 21CF adjournment proposal requires affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast thereon by the holders of shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of the 21CF adjournment proposal, if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are present at the 21CF special meeting but are not voted
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on the 21CF adjournment proposal, or if you have given a proxy and abstained on the 21CF adjournment proposal, or if you fail to submit a proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, as applicable, the shares of 21CF class B common stock held by you or your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will not be counted in respect of, and will not have an effect on, the vote to adjourn the 21CF special meeting.
The compensation proposal requires the affirmative vote of a majority of votes cast thereon by the holders of shares of 21CF class B common stock entitled to vote thereon. For purposes of the compensation proposal, if your shares of 21CF class B common stock are present at the 21CF special meeting but are not voted on the compensation proposal, or if you have given a proxy and abstained on the compensation proposal, or if you fail to submit a proxy or to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, as applicable, the shares of 21CF class B common stock held by you or your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee will not be counted in respect of, and will not have an effect on, the proposal to approve, by non-binding, advisory vote, the transactions-related executive compensation.
Proxies and Revocations
If you are a stockholder of record, you may have your shares of 21CF common stock voted on matters presented at the 21CF special meeting in any of the following ways:
| by telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by [●] local time on [●], 2018. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible; |
| by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope; or |
| in personyou may attend the 21CF special meeting and cast your vote there. |
If you are a beneficial owner, you will receive instructions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that you must follow in order to have your 21CF common stock voted. Those instructions will identify which of the above choices are available to you in order to have your shares voted. Please note that if you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the 21CF special meeting, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee at the 21CF special meeting.
Please refer to the instructions on your proxy or voting instruction card to determine the deadlines for voting over the internet or by telephone. If you choose to submit a proxy by mailing a proxy card, your proxy card should be mailed in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope, and your proxy card must be filed with the Corporate Secretary of 21CF by the time the 21CF special meeting begins. Please do not send in your share certificates with your proxy card. When the initial merger is completed, a separate letter of transmittal will be mailed to you that will enable you to receive the merger consideration in exchange for your share certificates.
If you vote by proxy, regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card, and each of them, with full power of substitution, will vote your shares of 21CF common stock in the way that you indicate. When completing the internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of 21CF common stock should be voted FOR or AGAINST or to ABSTAIN from voting on all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the 21CF special meeting to which you are entitled to vote.
If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of 21CF common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares of 21CF common stock represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted FOR each of the proposals upon which you are entitled to vote.
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You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, by attending the 21CF special meeting and voting in person, or by giving written notice of revocation to 21CF prior to the time the 21CF special meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: 21st Century Fox, Attention: Corporate Secretary, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. If you have instructed a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares, you may revoke your proxy by following the directions received from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to change those instructions.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please contact Okapi Partners LLC, 21CFs proxy solicitor, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th floor, New York, New York 10036 or by email at [●]. Banks and brokers call collect: [●]; stockholders call toll free: [●].
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE YOUR SHARES OF 21CF COMMON STOCK PROMPTLY. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN, AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE PRE-ADDRESSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE, OR FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET. 21CF STOCKHOLDERS WHO ATTEND THE 21CF SPECIAL MEETING MAY REVOKE THEIR PROXIES BY VOTING IN PERSON.
Adjournments and Postponements
Although it is not currently expected, the 21CF special meeting may be adjourned on one or more occasions for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the 21CF special meeting to adopt the combination merger agreement or the distribution merger agreement, to approve the 21CF charter amendments or if a quorum necessary to approve any such matters is not present at the 21CF special meeting. However, the combination merger agreement provides that 21CF may not adjourn the 21CF special meeting for more than an aggregate of 15 days for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies or obtaining a quorum. Any adjournment of the 21CF special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow 21CF stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use at the 21CF special meeting was adjourned.
21CF may also postpone or adjourn the 21CF special meeting to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that 21CF has determined, after consultation with outside legal counsel, is reasonably likely to be required under applicable law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by 21CF stockholders prior to the 21CF special meeting.
An adjournment generally may be made with the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of 21CF class B common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
Solicitation of Proxies; Payment of Solicitation Expenses
21CF has engaged Okapi to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the 21CF special meeting. 21CF estimates that it will pay Okapi a fee of approximately $25,000. 21CF has agreed to reimburse Okapi for certain out-of-pocket fees and expenses and also will indemnify Okapi against certain losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses. 21CF also may reimburse banks, brokerage firms, other nominees or their respective agents for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of 21CF common stock. 21CFs directors, officers and employees also may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies.
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No Appraisal Rights
Under the DGCL as well as the governing documents of 21CF, 21CF stockholders are not entitled to appraisal or dissenters rights in connection with the transactions.
Questions and Additional Information
If you have additional questions about the transactions, need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares of 21CF common stock or need additional copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, please contact Okapi Partners LLC, 21CFs proxy solicitor, 1212 Avenue of the Americas, 24th floor, New York, New York 10036 or by email at [●]. Banks and brokers call collect: [●]; stockholders call toll free: [●].
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING
Time, Place and Purpose of the Disney Special Meeting
This joint proxy statement/prospectus is being furnished to Disney stockholders as part of the solicitation of proxies by the Disney board for use at the special meeting to be held on [●], at [●] p.m. local time, at [●], or at any postponement or adjournment thereof.
At the Disney special meeting, Disney stockholders will be asked to consider and vote on (i) a proposal to approve the issuance of Disney stock to 21CF stockholders in connection with the initial merger, which we refer to as the share issuance proposal, (ii) a proposal to adopt amendments to the Disney charter, to provide, among other things, that shares of Disney common stock held by subsidiaries of Disney will not be entitled to receive dividends that are declared on the Disney common stock (other than certain dividends in shares of Disney common stock or other equity securities), which we refer to as the Disney charter amendment proposal, and (iii) a proposal to adjourn the Disney special meeting, if necessary or appropriate, including to solicit additional proxies if there are not sufficient votes to approve the share issuance proposal, which we refer to as the Disney adjournment proposal.
Disney stockholders must approve the share issuance proposal in order for the transactions to occur. If Disney stockholders fail to approve the share issuance proposal, the transactions will not occur.
Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal is not a condition to completion of the transactions. If the Disney stockholders do not approve the Disney charter amendment proposal and the conditions to completion of the transactions are satisfied, Disney and 21CF will complete the transactions. Disney intends to issue Disney series B convertible preferred stock in exchange for the hook stock shares as consideration in the initial merger. For additional information, see the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementThe Mergers; Effect of the Mergers beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. If it is determined by the Disney board that the issuance of Disney common stock would be preferable, however, Disney may issue Disney common stock to holders of the hook stock shares in the initial merger. If the Disney board so determines, and if the Disney stockholders do not approve the Disney charter amendment proposal, Disney would be obligated to pay dividends on those shares of Disney common stock after the completion of the transactions. These dividends could be subject to tax in both the United States and Australia, increasing Disneys effective tax rate and potentially deterring Disney from paying or increasing dividends on its common stock. To avoid paying dividends on the Disney common stock that holders of the hook stock shares may receive as consideration in the initial merger, Disney is seeking the approval of Disney stockholders for the Disney charter amendment.
Record Date and Quorum
Disney has set the close of business on [●], 2018 as the record date for the Disney special meeting, which we refer to as the Disney record date, and only holders of record of Disney common stock on the Disney record date are entitled to vote at the Disney special meeting. You are entitled to receive notice of, and to vote at, the Disney special meeting if you are a stockholder of record of shares of Disney common stock as of the close of business on the Disney record date. On the Disney record date, there were [●] shares of Disney common stock outstanding and entitled to vote. You will have one vote on all matters properly coming before the Disney special meeting for each share of Disney common stock that you owned on the Disney record date.
The presence, in person or represented by proxy, of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of Disney common stock entitled to vote at the Disney special meeting constitutes a quorum for the purposes of the Disney special meeting. Abstentions are considered for purposes of establishing a quorum. A quorum is necessary to transact business at the Disney special meeting.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a minority of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented, unless the adjournment is for more than 30 days or, if after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting.
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Attendance
Only Disney stockholders of record as of the close of business on the Disney record date, their duly authorized proxy holders, beneficial owners with proof of ownership and guests of Disney may attend the Disney special meeting. If you plan to attend the meeting, you must be a stockholder on the record date of [●] and obtain an admission ticket in advance. Tickets will be available to registered and beneficial owners and (if permitted by Disney) up to one guest accompanying each registered or beneficial owner. You can print your own tickets and you must bring them to the meeting to gain access. Tickets can be printed by accessing Shareholder Meeting Registration at www.ProxyVote.com/Disney and following the instructions provided (you will need the 16 digit number included on your proxy card or voter instruction form). If you are unable to print your tickets, please contact Broadridge at 1-855-449-0994. Requests for admission tickets will be processed in the order in which they are received and must be requested no later than 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on [●], 2018. Please note that seating is limited and requests for tickets will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are the representative of a corporate or institutional stockholder, you must present proof that you are the representative of such stockholder. Any person attending the Disney special meeting in person will be required to present valid, government-issued photo identification, such as a drivers license or passport, and an admission ticket to be admitted to the Disney special meeting. Large bags, backpacks, suitcases, briefcases, cameras (including cell phones with photographic capabilities), recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting. In addition, other measures may be employed to enhance the security of persons attending the Disney special meeting. You will be required to enter through a security checkpoint before being granted access to the meeting. These procedures may require additional time, so please plan your arrival time accordingly. To avoid disruption, admission may be limited once the Disney special meeting begins.
Vote Required
Approval of the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy at the Disney special meeting and entitled to vote at the Disney special meeting. For purposes of the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal, if your shares of Disney common stock are present at the Disney special meeting but are not voted on such proposal, or if you vote to abstain on such proposal, this will have the effect of a vote AGAINST the share issuance proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal, as applicable. If you fail to submit a proxy or to attend the Disney special meeting or if your shares of Disney common stock are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee and you do not instruct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee to vote your shares of Disney common stock, your shares of Disney common stock will not be voted, but this will not have an effect on the vote on the share issuance proposal or the Disney adjournment proposal.
Approval of the Disney charter amendment proposal requires the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock entitled to vote at the meeting. Because the affirmative vote required to approve the Disney charter amendment proposal is based on the total number of shares of outstanding Disney common stock, if you hold shares of Disney common stock and you fail to submit a valid proxy or vote in person at the Disney special meeting, or vote to abstain, or you do not provide your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee with instructions, as applicable, this will have the same effect as a vote AGAINST the Disney charter amendment proposal.
If your shares of Disney common stock are registered directly in your name with the transfer agent of Disney, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., you are considered, with respect to those shares of Disney common stock, the stockholder of record. If you are a stockholder of record, this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the enclosed proxy card have been sent directly to you by Disney.
If your shares of Disney common stock are held through a bank, brokerage firm or other nominee, you are considered the beneficial owner of shares of Disney common stock held in street name. In that case, this joint proxy statement/prospectus has been forwarded to you by your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee who is
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considered, with respect to those shares of Disney common stock, the stockholder of record. As the beneficial owner, you have the right to direct your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee how to vote your shares of Disney common stock by following their instructions for voting.
Under the rules of the NYSE, banks, brokerage firms or other nominees who hold shares in street name for customers have the authority to vote on routine proposals when they have not received instructions from beneficial owners. However, banks, brokerage firms and other nominees are precluded from exercising their voting discretion with respect to approving non-routine matters, such as the approval of the share issuance proposal, Disney charter amendment proposal and the Disney adjournment proposal. As a result, absent specific instructions from the beneficial owner of such shares of Disney common stock, banks, brokerage firms and other nominees are not empowered to vote those shares of Disney common stock on non-routine matters.
If you participate in the Disney Savings and Investment Plan or the Disney Hourly Savings and Investment Plan, you may give voting instructions as to the number of shares of Disney common stock you hold in the plan as of the Disney record date. You may provide voting instructions to Fidelity Management Trust Company by voting online or by completing and returning a proxy card if you received one. If you hold shares other than through these plans and you vote electronically, voting instructions you give with respect to your other shares will be applied to Disney stock credited to your accounts in a savings and investment plan unless you request a separate control number with respect to each account. To receive separate control numbers, please call 1-855-449-0994. The trustee will vote your shares in accordance with your duly executed instructions received by [●], 2018. If you do not send instructions, an independent fiduciary has been selected to determine how to vote all shares for which the trustee does not receive valid and timely instructions from participants. You may revoke previously given voting instructions by [●], 2018, by either revising your instructions online or by submitting to the trustee either a written notice of revocation or a properly completed and signed proxy card bearing a later date. Your voting instructions will be kept confidential by the trustee.
As of the Disney record date, the directors and executive officers of Disney beneficially owned, in the aggregate, [●] shares of Disney common stock, representing less than 1.0% of the outstanding shares of Disney common stock as of the close of business on the Disney record date. The directors and executive officers of Disney have informed Disney that they currently intend to vote all such shares of Disney common stock entitled to vote FOR the share issuance proposal, FOR the Disney charter amendment proposal and FOR the Disney adjournment proposal. As of [●], the directors and executive officers of 21CF beneficially owned approximately [●] shares of Disney common stock, representing [●]% of the shares of Disney common stock then outstanding and entitled to vote.
Proxies and Revocations
If you are a stockholder of record, you may have your shares of Disney common stock voted on matters presented at the Disney special meeting in any of the following ways:
| by telephone or over the Internet, by accessing the telephone number or Internet website specified on the enclosed proxy card. The control number provided on your proxy card is designed to verify your identity when voting by telephone or by Internet. Proxies delivered over the Internet or by telephone must be submitted by [●] local time on [●], 2018. Please be aware that if you vote by telephone or over the Internet, you may incur costs such as telephone and Internet access charges for which you will be responsible; |
| by completing, signing, dating and returning the enclosed proxy card in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope; or |
| in personyou may attend the Disney special meeting and cast your vote there. |
If you are a beneficial owner, you will receive instructions from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee that you must follow in order to have your shares of Disney common stock voted. Those instructions will identify
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which of the above choices are available to you in order to have your shares voted. Please note that if you are a beneficial owner and wish to vote in person at the Disney special meeting, you must provide a legal proxy from your bank, brokerage firm or other nominee at the Disney special meeting.
Please refer to the instructions on your proxy or voting instruction card to determine the deadlines for voting over the Internet or by telephone. If you choose to submit a proxy by mailing a proxy card, your proxy card should be mailed in the accompanying prepaid reply envelope, and your proxy card must be received by the time the Disney special meeting begins.
If you vote by proxy, regardless of the method you choose to vote, the individuals named on the enclosed proxy card, and each of them, with full power of substitution, will vote your shares of Disney common stock in the way that you indicate. When completing the Internet or telephone processes or the proxy card, you may specify whether your shares of Disney common stock should be voted FOR or AGAINST or to ABSTAIN from voting on all, some or none of the specific items of business to come before the Disney special meeting.
If you properly sign your proxy card but do not mark the boxes showing how your shares of Disney common stock should be voted on a matter, the shares of Disney common stock represented by your properly signed proxy will be voted FOR the share issuance proposal, FOR the Disney charter amendment proposal and FOR the Disney adjournment proposal.
You have the right to revoke a proxy, whether delivered over the Internet, by telephone or by mail, at any time before it is exercised, by voting again at a later date through any of the methods available to you, by signing and returning a new proxy card with a later date, by attending the Disney special meeting and voting in person or by giving written notice of revocation to Disney prior to the time the Disney special meeting begins. Written notice of revocation should be mailed to: The Walt Disney Company, Attention: Secretary, 500 South Buena Vista Street, Burbank, California 91521. If you have instructed a broker, bank or other nominee to vote your shares, you may revoke your proxy by following the directions received from your bank, broker or other nominee to change those instructions.
If you have any questions or need assistance voting your shares, please contact Innisfree, Disneys proxy solicitor, at 501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor, New York, New York 10022. Banks and brokers call collect: (212) 750-5833; stockholders call toll free: (877) 717-3923.
IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU VOTE YOUR SHARES OF DISNEY COMMON STOCK PROMPTLY. WHETHER OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING, PLEASE COMPLETE, DATE, SIGN AND RETURN, AS PROMPTLY AS POSSIBLE, THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD IN THE PRE-ADDRESSED POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE, OR FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ON THE PROXY CARD TO VOTE BY TELEPHONE OR INTERNET. DISNEY STOCKHOLDERS WHO ATTEND THE DISNEY SPECIAL MEETING MAY REVOKE THEIR PROXIES BY VOTING IN PERSON.
Adjournments and Postponements
Although it is not currently expected, the Disney special meeting may be adjourned on one or more occasions for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies if there are insufficient votes at the time of the Disney special meeting to approve the share issuance proposal or if a quorum is not present at the Disney special meeting. However, the combination merger agreement provides that Disney may not adjourn the special meeting for more than an aggregate of 15 days for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies or obtaining a quorum. Any adjournment of the Disney special meeting for the purpose of soliciting additional proxies will allow Disney stockholders who have already sent in their proxies to revoke them at any time prior to their use at the Disney special meeting as adjourned.
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Disney may also postpone or adjourn the special meeting to allow reasonable additional time for the filing or mailing of any supplemental or amended disclosure that Disney has determined, after consultation with outside legal counsel, is reasonably likely to be required under applicable law and for such supplemental or amended disclosure to be disseminated and reviewed by stockholders of Disney prior to the Disney special meeting.
An adjournment generally may be made with the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of Disney common stock present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote thereon.
Anticipated Date of Completion of the Transactions
Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the closing conditions described under the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementConditions to Completion of the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, including the approval of the share issuance proposal by Disney stockholders at the Disney special meeting, Disney and 21CF currently expect that the transactions will be completed within 12-18 months after December 13, 2017. However, it is possible that factors outside the control of both companies could result in the transactions being completed at a different time or not at all.
Solicitation of Proxies; Payment of Solicitation Expenses
Disney has engaged Innisfree to assist in the solicitation of proxies for the Disney special meeting. Disney estimates that it will pay Innisfree a fee of approximately $50,000. Disney has agreed to reimburse Innisfree for certain out-of-pocket fees and expenses and also will indemnify Innisfree against certain losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses. Disney also may reimburse banks, brokerage firms, other nominees or their respective agents for their expenses in forwarding proxy materials to beneficial owners of Disney common stock. Disneys directors, officers and employees also may solicit proxies by telephone, by facsimile, by mail, on the Internet or in person. They will not be paid any additional amounts for soliciting proxies.
Questions and Additional Information
If you have additional questions about the transactions, need assistance in submitting your proxy or voting your shares of Disney common stock or need additional copies of this joint proxy statement/prospectus or the enclosed proxy card, please contact Innisfree, Disneys proxy solicitor, at 501 Madison Avenue, 20th floor, New York, New York 10022. Banks and brokers call collect: (212) 750-5833; stockholders call toll free: (877) 717-3923.
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THE PARTIES TO THE TRANSACTIONS
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 852-7000
Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is one of the worlds leading portfolios of cable, broadcast, film, pay TV and satellite assets spanning six continents across the globe. Reaching more than 1.8 billion subscribers in approximately 50 local languages every day, 21CF is home to a global portfolio of cable and broadcasting networks and properties, including Fox, FX, FXX, FXM, FS1, Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Sports, Fox Sports Network, National Geographic Channels, Star India, 28 local television stations in the U.S. and more than 350 international channels; film studio Twentieth Century Fox Film; and television production studios Twentieth Century Fox Television and a 50 per cent ownership interest in Endemol Shine Group. 21CF also holds approximately 39.1 per cent of the issued shares of Sky, Europes leading entertainment company, which serves nearly 23 million households across five countries. For more information about 21CF, please visit www.21CF.com.The information provided on 21CFs website is not part of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and is not incorporated herein by reference.
21CFs class A common stock and class B common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (Nasdaq) under the symbol FOXA and FOX, respectively.
For more information about 21CF, please visit the Internet website of 21CF at www.21cf.com. The Internet website address of 21CF is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information contained on 21CFs Internet website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this joint proxy statement/prospectus or any other report or document on file with or furnished to the SEC. Additional information about 21CF is included in the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
[New Fox, Inc.]
c/o Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 852-7000
[New Fox, Inc.], a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF, is a Delaware corporation that was formed under the name of [New Fox, Inc.] on [●] and whose shares will be distributed to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the terms and conditions of the distribution merger agreement. Following the completion of the separation, which is described further beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus under the heading The Combination Merger AgreementSeparation, New Fox will be comprised of a portfolio of 21CFs news, sports and broadcast businesses, including the Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Broadcasting Company, Fox Sports, Fox Television Stations Group, and sports cable networks FS1, FS2, Fox Deportes and Big Ten Network, and certain other assets, and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities associated with such businesses. Upon completion of the distribution, New Fox will be a stand-alone, publicly traded company. Until the completion of the transactions, New Fox will not conduct any activities other than those incidental to its formation and the matters contemplated by the distribution merger agreement, including in connection with the separation and the distribution.
21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc.
c/o Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc.
1211 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
(212) 852-7000
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21CF Distribution Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of 21CF, was formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the distribution merger. Distribution Sub has not carried on any activities or operations to date, except for those activities incidental to its formation and undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. By operation of the distribution merger, Distribution Sub will be merged with and into 21CF, with 21CF surviving the distribution merger.
The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(818) 560-1000
The Walt Disney Company is a diversified worldwide entertainment company with operations in four business segments: Media Networks, Parks and Resorts, Studio Entertainment, and Consumer Products & Interactive Media. Disneys home page on the Internet is www.thewaltdisneycompany.com. The information provided on Disneys website is not part of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and is not incorporated herein by reference.
Disneys common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol DIS.
For more information about Disney, please visit Disneys Internet website at www.thewaltdisneycompany.com. Disneys Internet website address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information contained on Disneys Internet website is not incorporated into, and does not form a part of, this joint proxy statement/prospectus or any other report or document on file with or furnished to the SEC. Additional information about Disney is included in the documents incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp.
c/o The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(818) 560-1000
TWC Merger Enterprises 2 Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, was formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the initial merger. Corporate Sub has not carried on any activities or operations to date, except for those activities incidental to its formation and undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. By operation of the initial merger, Corporate Sub will be merged with and into 21CF, with 21CF surviving the initial merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC
c/o The Walt Disney Company
500 South Buena Vista Street
Burbank, California 91521
(818) 560-1000
TWC Merger Enterprises 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, was formed solely for the purpose of facilitating the subsequent merger. LLC Sub has not carried on any activities or operations to date, except for those activities incidental to its formation and undertaken in connection with the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement. By operation of the subsequent merger, 21CF will be merged with and into LLC Sub, with LLC Sub surviving the subsequent merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney.
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This section describes the transactions. The description in this section and elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the complete text of the combination merger agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex A and Annex B, the distribution merger agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex C, and the voting agreement, a copy of which is attached as Annex D, each of which is incorporated by reference into this joint proxy statement/prospectus. This summary does not purport to be complete and may not contain all the information about the transactions that is important to you. You are encouraged to read the transaction agreements carefully and in their entirety. This section is not intended to provide you any factual information about 21CF or Disney. Such information can be found elsewhere in this joint proxy statement/prospectus and in the public filings 21CF and Disney make with the SEC, as described in the section entitled Where You Can Find More Information beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Overview of the Transactions
Separation
Pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, prior to the distribution, 21CF will enter into a separation agreement pursuant to which 21CF will, among other things, transfer to New Fox the New Fox business and New Fox will assume from 21CF certain liabilities associated with the New Fox business. As part of the transfers, an amount of cash, which shall not be less than zero, equal to the New Fox cash amount, as described in further detail in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementSeparation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, minus certain taxes attributable to New Foxs operations, will be transferred to New Fox. Following the separation, New Fox and its subsidiaries will own all of the New Fox business, while 21CF (other than New Fox and the New Fox subsidiaries) will own all of the retained business, including the Twentieth Century Fox film and television studios and certain cable and international television businesses. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementSeparation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a full list of the assets and liabilities to be transferred.
Incurrence of New Fox Indebtedness and Payment of Dividend
Immediately prior to the distribution, 21CF is required to cause New Fox to pay to 21CF a dividend in the amount of $8.5 billion, which we refer to as the dividend, in immediately available funds. Pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, 21CF is required to cause New Fox to arrange and, concurrently with and subject to the closing of the transactions, incur indebtedness in a principal amount sufficient to fund the dividend, which indebtedness will be reduced after the initial merger by the amount of the cash payment.
Stock Split and Distribution
Pursuant to the terms of the combination merger agreement, prior to the distribution, 21CF will cause to become effective certain amendments to the 21CF charter for purposes of ensuring that Disney does not acquire any interest in New Fox as a result of the distribution. The 21CF charter amendments provide that the hook stock shares will not receive any shares of New Fox common stock in the distribution and effect a subdivision of the issued and outstanding shares of 21CF common stock such that the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately after such subdivision is equal to the stock split multiple (as defined below) multiplied by the total number of shares of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to such subdivision, which we refer to as the stock split. The stock split multiple is equal to the quotient of (1) 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average price of 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution) divided by (2) the excess of 21CFs fully diluted market capitalization over New Foxs fully diluted market capitalization (based on the volume weighted average
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price of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock (based on when-issued trading) measured over the five trading day period ending on and including the trading day immediately prior to the distribution, or if shares of New Fox class A common stock and New Fox class B common stock trade (on a when-issued basis) for fewer than five days before the date of the distribution, the entire period during which such shares trade prior to the date of the distribution).
Following completion of the distribution, each 21CF stockholder (other than holders of the hook stock shares) will own the same number of shares of 21CF common stock owned by such holder immediately prior to the stock split and will hold an ownership interest in New Fox proportionately equal to its existing ownership interest in 21CF. Immediately following the effectiveness of the stock split, in accordance with the terms of the distribution merger agreement, Distribution Sub will be merged with and into 21CF in the distribution merger. 21CF will survive the distribution merger. At the effective time of the distribution merger, a portion of each share of 21CF class A common stock (other than the hook stock shares) equal to one multiplied by the quantity of one minus the inverse of the stock split multiple will be exchanged for a fraction of one share of New Fox class A common stock equal to 1⁄3 multiplied by one divided by the stock split multiple, and the remaining portion of such share of 21CF class A common stock not so exchanged will be unaffected by the distribution and will remain issued and outstanding, and a portion of each share of 21CF class B common stock (other than the hook stock shares) equal to one multiplied by the quantity of one minus the inverse of the stock split multiple will be exchanged for a fraction of one share of New Fox class B common stock equal to 1⁄3 multiplied by one divided by the stock split multiple, and the remaining portion of such share of 21CF class B common stock not so exchanged will be unaffected by the distribution and will remain issued and outstanding. 21CF stockholders will receive cash in lieu of any fractional shares they otherwise would have been entitled to receive in connection with the distribution.
Transaction Tax Calculation
As described below under The Mergers; Effects of the Mergers, the exchange ratio used to determine the number of shares of Disney common stock 21CF stockholders will be entitled to receive for each share of 21CF common stock they hold will be calculated by adding to 0.2745 the quotient (which may be positive or negative, rounded to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (x) the equity adjustment amount by (y) $190,857,018,174 (which $190,857,018,174 represents $102, the reference price per share of Disney common stock used to calculate the initial exchange ratio, multiplied by 1,871,147,237, the number of fully diluted shares of 21CF common stock as of the close of business on December 13, 2017). The equity adjustment amount is the amount equal to (a) $8.5 billion minus (b) the amount of the transaction tax minus (c) the cash payment from Disney to New Fox.
The transaction tax is an amount that will be estimated by Disney and 21CF to equal the sum of (a) the amount of taxes (other than any hook stock taxes or taxes as a result of any hook stock elimination) imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the separation and distribution, which we refer to as spin taxes, (b) an amount in respect of divestiture taxes, as described in further detail below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersDivestiture Taxes and (c) the amount of taxes imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the operations of the New Fox business from and after December 13, 2017 through the closing of the transactions, but only to the extent such taxes exceed the New Fox cash amount.
The elements of the transaction tax will be determined by a model, which may include certain simplifying assumptions and will be developed by Disney and 21CF and their respective representatives, working together in good faith between the date of the combination merger agreement and the closing date, which model we refer to as the tax model. For purposes of determining the transaction tax, the amount of spin taxes shall be calculated based on the enterprise value of New Fox, which is the sum of the equity value of New Fox (based on the volume weighted average trading price of New Fox stock on the date of the distribution) and the amount of gross liabilities of New Fox determined pursuant to the tax model, and assuming that no required divestitures are made and that the cash payment (if made) increases the tax asset basis of New Fox dollar-for-dollar.
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See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the transaction tax calculation. See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information on the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the transaction tax.
The Mergers; Effects of the Mergers
Following the completion of the distribution, the combination merger agreement provides for two mergers, which will occur in immediate succession. First, at 12:01 a.m. on the date immediately following the date of the distribution, Corporate Sub will merge with and into 21CF. 21CF will survive the initial merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney. We refer to the effective time of the initial merger as the first effective time.
Immediately following the first effective time, the initial surviving corporation will merge with and into LLC Sub. LLC Sub will survive the subsequent merger as a wholly owned subsidiary of Disney, which we refer to as the final surviving entity. We refer to the effective time of the subsequent merger as the second effective time. We refer to the initial merger and the subsequent merger collectively as the mergers.
At the first effective time, each share of 21CF common stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the first effective time (other than (i) shares owned by Disney that are not held on behalf of third parties, which we refer to as excluded shares, or (ii) hook stock shares, which will be exchanged for Disney stock as described below) will be exchanged for the merger consideration. The merger consideration will consist of a number of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of Disney common stock equal to the exchange ratio. The exchange ratio will be the amount equal to 0.2745 plus the quotient (which may be positive or negative, and shall be rounded to four decimal places) obtained by dividing (x) the equity adjustment amount by (y) $190,857,018,174 (which $190,857,018,174 represents $102, the reference price per share of Disney common stock used to calculate the initial exchange ratio, multiplied by 1,871,147,237, the number of fully diluted shares of 21CF common stock as of the close of business on December 13, 2017). The equity adjustment amount is the amount equal to (a) $8.5 billion minus (b) the amount of the transaction tax minus (c) the amount of the cash payment. The transaction tax is an amount that will be estimated by Disney and 21CF to equal the sum of (a) spin taxes, (b) an amount in respect of divestiture taxes, as described in further detail in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersDivestiture Taxes beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and (c) the amount of taxes imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the operations of the New Fox business from and after December 13, 2017 through the closing of the transactions, but only to the extent such taxes exceed an amount of cash, which will not be less than zero, equal to the New Fox cash amount, as described in further detail in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementSeparation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. See the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for a more detailed discussion of the transaction tax calculation.
As described below under The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation, it is likely that the final estimate of tax liabilities taken into account will differ materially from $8.5 billion, which was used to set the initial exchange ratio. Accordingly, under certain circumstances, there could be a material adjustment to the exchange ratio. Because of the exchange ratio adjustment, the number of shares of Disney common stock that 21CF stockholders will receive in the initial merger cannot be determined until immediately prior to completion of the initial merger. See the section entitled The TransactionsSensitivity Analysis beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for additional information on the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the transaction tax.
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Based on the closing price of Disney common stock of $107.61 on December 13, 2017, the last trading day before public announcement of the combination merger agreement and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, the merger consideration represented an implied value of $29.54 per share of 21CF common stock. Based on the closing price of Disney common stock of $[●] on [●], 2018, the latest practicable date before the printing of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and assuming that there would be no exchange ratio adjustment, the merger consideration represented an implied value of $[●] per share of 21CF common stock. The implied value of the merger consideration will fluctuate with the market price of Disney common stock. 21CF class A common stock and 21CF class B common stock are currently traded on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol FOXA and FOX, respectively, and Disney common stock is currently traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol DIS.
Each hook stock share will be exchanged automatically for a fraction of a share of Disney series B convertible preferred stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment) divided by 10,000 or, if the Disney board so elects in its sole discretion, a number of shares of Disney common stock equal to the exchange ratio (after giving effect to the exchange ratio adjustment).
Sensitivity Analysis
The following table illustrates the sensitivity of the exchange ratio and the amount of the cash payment payable to New Fox to changes in the amount of the final estimate of the transaction tax. However, it is possible that the final estimate of the transaction tax could be outside of the ranges illustrated below. No assurances can be made regarding future events, and the final estimate of the transaction tax may differ materially from the sensitivity analysis based on differences in each of the elements of the calculation of the transaction tax. The final estimate of the transaction tax at closing is subject to a number of uncertainties, including that such estimate will be based on: (i) tax rates in effect on the closing date; (ii) a model to be developed by 21CF and Disney in good faith that will include reasonable estimates and assumptions with respect to matters such as the liabilities of the New Fox business on the date of the distribution; (iii) the volume weighted average trading price of New Fox stock on the date of the distribution; and (iv) the tax effect of certain divestitures and the operations of the New Fox business, none of which can be known at this time. Accordingly, at the time of the 21CF special meeting and the Disney special meeting, 21CF stockholders and Disney stockholders will not know, or be able to determine, the number or value of the shares of Disney common stock that will be issued and delivered to 21CF stockholders upon the consummation of the transactions. This information is illustrative only and should not be relied upon as being necessarily indicative of actual future results.
21CF expects that the amount of spin taxes will have the most significant effect on the final estimate of the transaction tax and, therefore, any adjustment to the exchange ratio and the cash payment payable to New Fox. 21CF also expects that the volume weighted average trading price of New Fox stock on the date of the distribution, which cannot be known at this time or at any time prior to the close of trading on the date of the distribution, will have the most significant effect on the amount of spin taxes.
For purposes of the below table, 21CF and Disney have assumed that, consistent with the RemainCo Pro Forma Financial Statements and the Disney Pro Forma Financial Statements, no divestitures will be required in connection with the consummation of the transactions. Regulatory review of the transactions is ongoing. At this time, no governmental authority has indicated that any divestitures will be required in order for the transactions to be consummated. Therefore, $0 of divestiture tax is included in the illustrative sensitivity analysis set forth below. For further information, see the sections entitled The TransactionsRegulatory Approvals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and Risk FactorsRisks Relating to the TransactionsIn order to consummate the transactions, Disney and 21CF must obtain certain governmental approvals, and if such approvals are not granted or are granted with conditions, consummation of the transactions may be jeopardized or the anticipated benefits of the transactions could be reduced. beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
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For purposes of the below table, 21CF and Disney have assumed that, consistent with the RemainCo Pro Forma Financial Statements and the Disney Pro Forma Financial Statements, the amount of taxes imposed on 21CF and its subsidiaries as a result of the operations of the New Fox business from and after December 13, 2017 through the closing of the transactions will not exceed the New Fox cash amount. In order for operational taxes to have an effect on the cash payment payable to New Fox and, potentially, the adjustment to the exchange ratio, the amount of such taxes must exceed the amount of cash generated from the operations of the New Fox business during the applicable period, plus $600 million. 21CF does not expect this to occur. Therefore, $0 of operational tax is included in the illustrative sensitivity analysis set forth below.
These assumptions could prove incorrect, circumstances could change or intervening events could affect the final estimate of the transaction tax, including factors outside 21CFs or Disneys control. 21CF and Disney do not intend to update the sensitivity analysis set forth below. See The Combination Merger AgreementTax MattersTransaction Tax Calculation beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus for further detail on the calculation of the transaction tax.
(Dollar values expressed in billions of dollars) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Spin taxes |
$ | 4.5 | $ | 6.5 | $ | 8.5 | $ | 10.5 | $ | 12.5 | ||||||||||
Divestiture taxes |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
Operational taxes |
$ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | ||||||||||
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Transaction tax |
$ | 4.5 | $ | 6.5 | $ | 8.5 | $ | 10.5 | $ | 12.5 | ||||||||||
Exchange ratio |
0.2850 | 0.2745 | 0.2745 | 0.2640 | 0.2535 | |||||||||||||||
Cash payment to New Fox |
$ | 2.0 | $ | 2.0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 | $ | 0 |
Substantial uncertainty exists regarding the final estimate of the transaction tax. 21CF does not currently have the information necessary to determine the final estimate of the transaction tax, and it will not have such information at the time of the 21CF special meeting or the Disney special meeting. If there is a downward adjustment to the exchange ratio, 21CFs stockholders would lose the potential for value appreciation in the portion of the merger consideration that is eliminated thereby. If there is an upward adjustment to the exchange ratio, Disney stockholders aggregate ownership and voting interest in the combined company would be proportionately reduced.
Sky Acquisition
21CF currently has an approximately 39% interest in Sky. On April 12, 2018, the U.K. Takeover Panel ruled that, unless the Sky acquisition has completed or a third party has acquired more than 50% of the ordinary shares in Sky, in each case prior to the completion of the transactions, Disney will be obliged to make a mandatory offer for all the ordinary shares in Sky not already owned by 21CF in accordance with Note 8 of Rule 9.1 of the U.K. Takeover Code within 28 days of completion of the transactions. The U.K. Takeover Panel further ruled that any such offer would be required to be made in cash and at a price of £10.75 for each ordinary share in Sky.
Because Disney assumed the price per Sky share to acquire the remaining 61% of Sky would be at 21CFs offer price of £10.75 per share when it evaluated the transactions, the making of a mandatory offer for Sky at that price will not materially impact Disneys financial position. Completion of the Sky acquisition is not a condition to either partys obligation to consummate the transactions.
Background of the Transaction
Each of the 21CF board and the Disney board and their respective senior management regularly review and discuss their companys performance, business strategy and competitive position in the industries in which it operates. In addition, such boards and senior management regularly review and evaluate various strategic alternatives, including acquisitions, dispositions and other strategic transactions, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen their respective overall business and enhance stockholder value.
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As part of its ongoing evaluations, the 21CF board has considered and executed a number of strategic transactions, including, among others, the disposition of Sky Italia and Sky Deutschland to Sky (formerly known as BSkyB) in 2014, the formation of a joint venture that created the Endemol Shine Group in 2014, the expansion of an existing relationship with National Geographic Society in 2015 and the Sky acquisition announced in 2016. Similarly, the Disney board has considered and executed a number of strategic transactions, including, among others, Disneys acquisitions of Pixar in 2006, Marvel Entertainment in 2010 and Lucasfilm in 2013 and Disneys acquisition of a majority stake in BAMTech in 2017. In addition, in the course of each of 21CF and Disney conducting their own strategic reviews and planning, representatives of 21CF and Disney have, from time to time, discussed with various companies in the media industry potential business combination transactions that might expand their respective businesses, improve their respective consumer offerings and enhance stockholder value.
On August 9, 2017, K. Rupert Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21CF, and Robert A. Iger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Disney, met in Los Angeles, California. At this meeting, as they had from time to time in the past, Mr. Rupert Murdoch and Mr. Iger discussed the current status of the industry, including market trends and challenges, and perspectives on the media landscape and operating environment. In the course of reflecting on the growing challenges of the rapidly evolving media industry, Mr. Iger and Mr. Rupert Murdoch considered possible responses, including the possibility of a strategic transaction involving Disney and 21CF.
On August 14, 2017, Lachlan Murdoch, Executive Chairman of 21CF, and James Murdoch, Chief Executive Officer of 21CF, met with the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of a third-party industry participant, which we refer to as Party A, in New York City. At that meeting, Party A indicated a possible interest in pursuing a strategic acquisition of 21CF, and that any potential transaction between the parties would be structured as an all-stock transaction without any meaningful premium to 21CF stockholders.
On August 29, 2017, Mr. Iger called Mr. Rupert Murdoch to follow up on their discussion of the possibility of a strategic transaction between the parties, and they agreed to explore the merits and feasibility of pursuing a potential business combination.
In early September, 21CF informed Party A that it was not interested in engaging in discussions regarding a strategic transaction with Party A unless Party A could provide compelling value to 21CF stockholders in excess of 21CFs then current market valuation.
From September 12, 2017 to September 25, 2017, John Nallen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of 21CF, and Kevin Mayer, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of Disney, engaged in preliminary discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction, including, among other things, the mix of 21CF businesses that would be acquired, related regulatory considerations and the tax implications of various transaction structures. During this period and continuing thereafter, 21CF senior management developed an analysis of the company (which would become New Fox) that would be comprised of the businesses that would not be retained by the company to be acquired by Disney (which would become RemainCo).
On September 29, 2017, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Disney board, Mr. Iger reported on these discussions and Mr. Mayer addressed the potential benefits of such a transaction. The Disney board supported further exploration of the merits of a transaction, including the exchange of confidential information.
On October 2, 2017, a representative of Disney sent a draft mutual confidentiality agreement, which we refer to as the 21CF-Disney Confidentiality Agreement, to a representative of 21CF, which was negotiated over the ensuing days by representatives of 21CF, Disney and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, which we refer to as Skadden, legal counsel for 21CF. On October 4, 2017, 21CF and Disney executed the 21CF-Disney Confidentiality Agreement, effective as of October 1, 2017.
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On October 3, 2017, representatives of 21CF and Disney management, including Mr. Nallen and Mr. Mayer, engaged in further discussions. The representatives discussed, among other things, possible transaction structures that would enable the parties to allocate certain 21CF businesses likely to be subject to higher regulatory scrutiny, or that Disney would be unable to acquire, to a newly formed spin-off company, and related tax and capital structure considerations. In addition, the parties identified certain opportunities to achieve cost synergies in connection with a possible business combination between the two companies. At the end of the meeting, Mr. Mayer agreed to provide Mr. Nallen with a list of information Disney required to further progress discussions.
On October 9, 2017, Skadden and Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP, which we refer to as Cravath, legal counsel for Disney, engaged in additional discussions regarding possible transaction structures.
On October 12, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Disney, Skadden and Cravath continued discussions regarding the tax implications of various possible transaction structures.
Also on October 12, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan held preliminary discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction. The parties discussed, among other things, potential transaction structures and division of businesses between 21CF and New Fox.
On October 17, 2017, representatives of 21CF management, including Messrs. Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch, Nallen and Gerson Zweifach, Senior Executive Vice President and Group General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, met with representatives of Disney management, including Mr. Iger, Mr. Mayer, Alan N. Braverman, Senior Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, and Christine M. McCarthy, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, and the parties respective financial advisors in New York City to continue discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction. Representatives of 21CF management provided an overview of the businesses and assets that would remain in 21CF at the time of a merger between 21CF and a subsidiary of Disney, which we refer to as the RemainCo assets. The identification of the businesses and assets that would be allocated to New Fox, which we refer to as the New Fox assets, reflected the prior discussions between senior management of 21CF and Disney and both parties continued analysis of regulatory considerations. A corresponding set of forecasted financial information for RemainCo was provided to representatives of Disney management. In addition, 21CF management provided a high-level, illustrative overview of the strategic merits of a combination, including, but not limited to, potential financial and growth prospects to be realized and opportunities to achieve cost synergies. They also reviewed certain key tax considerations and the procedures for a potential due diligence process.
On October 23, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Disney, Skadden and Cravath engaged in further discussions regarding, among other things, the structure of the proposed separation of New Fox from 21CF, the anticipated allocation of 21CF businesses between New Fox and RemainCo and the distribution of shares of New Fox common stock to 21CF stockholders. The parties identified key tax considerations relating to such a transaction. In addition, representatives of 21CF and Disney management discussed financial due diligence with respect to RemainCo. Representatives of 21CF management provided revised forecasted financial information to Disney management reflecting the anticipated allocation of businesses between the parties.
Also on October 23, 2017, Mr. Mayer and a representative of Goldman Sachs met in New York City to discuss their respective preliminary views on valuation metrics for a potential transaction as well as related tax and structuring considerations.
On October 24, 2017, representatives of management from 21CF and Disney shared additional preliminary views regarding the estimated cost synergies that could be achieved in connection with a potential strategic transaction as well as valuation metrics. Representatives of Disney highlighted the attractiveness of Disney common stock as an acquisition currency, including various historical and financial trading metrics as well as the industrial logic of a combination and the potential for growth opportunities, including through accelerated innovation around direct-to-consumer offerings. The parties also agreed to initiate a mutual due diligence process.
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Also on October 24, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan held additional discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction. The parties discussed, among other things, preliminary views on asset valuation metrics, potential cost synergies and possible market reactions to a potential business combination between 21CF and Disney.
On October 25, 2017, Mr. Iger met with Mr. Rupert Murdoch and discussed a number of matters relating to a potential transaction, including the strategic merits of a potential combination, the businesses that would be allocated to RemainCo and regulatory considerations relating to a transaction. Mr. Rupert Murdoch raised the issue of management of Disney following a transaction, noting the importance of Mr. Igers continued leadership of Disney as a critical element of a successful integration of 21CF into Disney and realizing the potential benefits of a business combination. Thereafter, representatives of Disney, including Mr. Iger, Mr. Mayer, Mr. Braverman and Ms. McCarthy, presented an overview of Disneys business to representatives of 21CF management, including Messrs. Rupert Murdoch, Lachlan Murdoch, James Murdoch, Nallen and Zweifach. Representatives of Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan also attended the meeting. The presentation highlighted long-term growth prospects across Disneys business platforms in light of the historical financial performance of such businesses, Disneys successful integration of prior media acquisitions, its innovation in direct-to-consumer offerings and the complementary nature of the RemainCo businesses with Disneys businesses. Mr. Nallen separately discussed with Mr. Mayer certain financial aspects of a potential strategic transaction, including 21CFs preliminary perspectives on the treatment of tax liabilities that would be incurred as a result of the distribution of New Fox common stock, the allocation of 21CFs indebtedness to RemainCo, revised views on valuation metrics and 21CFs outstanding offer to acquire the shares of Sky plc that it did not already own.
On October 26, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Disney, Skadden, Cravath and other tax advisors to 21CF and Disney held additional discussions regarding, among other things, the structure for a potential strategic transaction and related tax considerations.
On October 27, 2017, Disney and 21CF held discussions via conference call to communicate the parties respective positions on valuation. Disney provided a preliminary indication of interest for an acquisition of RemainCo based on an enterprise value of $60 billion, payable approximately 40% in cash and 60% in shares of Disney common stock. 21CF estimated, based on various assumptions, that Disneys indication of interest at an enterprise value of $60 billion reflected an offer price of $23 per share. After consideration, Messrs. Murdoch and other representatives of 21CF determined that Disneys indication of interest was inadequate from a value perspective and that discussions with Disney regarding a potential strategic transaction should cease and, on October 28, 2017, Mr. Rupert Murdoch called Mr. Iger to convey this decision.
On October 30, 2017, pursuant to the terms of the 21CF-Disney Confidentiality Agreement, 21CF sent Disney a letter requiring Disney to either redeliver or destroy all confidential information as promptly as reasonably practicable, and in any event within ten business days.
On November 1, 2017, and November 6, 2017, Mr. Mayer and a representative of Goldman Sachs discussed Disneys preliminary indication of interest that 21CF had determined to be inadequate and explored the gap in valuation expectations.
On November 6, 2017, CNBC reported that 21CF had been holding talks to sell most of 21CFs assets to Disney, including, entertainment networks such as FX and National Geographic, 21CFs movie studios and television production and international assets such as Star and Sky.
Also on November 6, 2017, the 21CF board met via conference call, and Mr. Rupert Murdoch reported to the other members of the 21CF board on the discussions 21CF management had held with Party A as well as with Disney, including that 21CF had learned that there was a significant gap in the parties respective conceptual models of valuation. Mr. Murdoch added that 21CF management would provide further detail regarding the
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exploratory discussions with Disney at the regularly scheduled November 15 21CF board meeting. In accordance with the perspective conveyed by 21CF management, the 21CF board agreed that a business combination represented a potentially promising means through which to achieve increased scale and provide value to 21CF stockholders, and the 21CF board endorsed managements continued engagement with third parties, which could include Disney, regarding potential strategic transactions.
Also on November 6, 2017, 21CF received an unsolicited indication of interest from a third-party industry participant, which we refer to as Party B, with respect to the assets described in the CNBC report. The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Party B initiated preliminary discussions with Mr. Rupert Murdoch regarding the possibility of exploring a potential strategic transaction between the parties.
On November 7, 2017, Mr. Mayer informed Mr. Nallen that Disney was considering improving its prior indication of interest and suggested that the parties re-engage on a possible business combination between the parties. The parties agreed to resume discussions, including with respect to, among other things, transaction value, the allocation of businesses between New Fox and RemainCo and relevant tax considerations.
On November 9, 2017, a representative of 21CF sent a draft mutual confidentiality agreement, which we refer to as the Party B Confidentiality Agreement, to a representative of Party B, which was negotiated over the ensuing days by representatives of 21CF, Party B, Skadden and Party Bs legal counsel.
On November 10, 2017, representatives of management from 21CF and Party B engaged in preliminary discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction. Representatives of 21CF management identified the anticipated allocation of 21CF businesses and assets in connection with a potential business combination between the parties based on an initial analysis of regulatory considerations. In addition, the representatives discussed, among other things, preliminary perspectives on the cost synergies to be achieved in connection with a business combination between the parties. Representatives of 21CF management provided forecasted financial information to representatives of Party B management reflecting the anticipated allocation of businesses between the parties.
Also on November 10, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs held preliminary discussions with representatives of Party Bs financial advisors regarding certain relevant financial metrics.
On November 11, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan held additional discussions regarding relevant financial analyses in connection with a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Disney. The parties discussed, among other things, certain capital structure considerations and preliminary views on particular asset valuations.
In early November, a representative of 21CF spoke with an advisor to Party A who confirmed that Party A remained willing to consider a possible business combination of assets of 21CF and Party A but only if it was structured as an all-stock transaction with no meaningful premium to 21CF stockholders.
On November 14, 2017, representatives of 21CF and Party B held discussions via conference call regarding a potential strategic transaction between the parties. Party B provided 21CF a non-binding proposal for Party B to acquire RemainCo at a price of $34.41 per share payable in stock of Party B, subject to further discussions on the allocation of regulatory risk.
Also on November 14, 2017, Mr. Mayer and a representative of Goldman Sachs met in Los Angeles to further discuss the respective views of Disney and 21CF with respect to transaction value.
On November 15, 2017, 21CF held its regularly scheduled annual stockholders meeting. Later that day, the 21CF board held a regularly scheduled meeting. During the meeting, representatives of Skadden discussed with the
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21CF directors their fiduciary duties and other legal matters. 21CF management presented to the 21CF board an assessment of 21CFs current market position, including an analysis of 21CFs share price and an overview of its current market valuation. As part of the presentation, 21CF management discussed 21CFs future prospects as a stand-alone enterprise, the impact of the consummation of the Sky acquisition on such prospects and illustrative future stock prices for 21CF. 21CF management also addressed recent third-party interest in 21CF using an illustrative financial analysis of potential strategic transactions. At the meeting, 21CF management provided an update to the 21CF board as to the current status of discussions with Disney, Party A and Party B. 21CF management recommended that 21CF discontinue discussions with Party A, due to its continued position that any acquisition price would not include any meaningful premium over 21CFs trading price. 21CF management discussed with the 21CF board the strategic rationales of combinations with Disney and Party B, including perspectives as to the business mix of each company, as well as unresolved issues and considerations from 21CF managements discussions with each party. 21CF management also reviewed the regulatory considerations in respect of a strategic transaction with either Disney or Party B that would be taken into account in allocating certain 21CF businesses into a separate company that would be distributed to 21CF stockholders. 21CF management, with input from Skadden and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, which we refer to as Cleary, regulatory counsel to 21CF, also reviewed regulatory considerations with respect to Party B, including prior strategic transactions pursued by Party B and the response of regulatory authorities to such transactions as well as previous submissions by 21CF in certain prior and current regulatory proceedings. Among the issues discussed by the 21CF board were the more difficult set of regulatory issues raised by a potential strategic transaction with Party B, as compared to Disney. The 21CF board authorized management to further engage with Disney and Party B in order to enable Disney and Party B to refine their initial proposals and come forward with more definitive proposals, including, but not limited to, the allocation of regulatory risk between the parties.
Also on November 15, 2017, Mr. Nallen, a representative of Goldman Sachs and representatives of Disney, including Mr. Mayer, met in Los Angeles to discuss various financial terms with respect to a potential transaction, including valuation metrics for a transaction.
On November 16, 2017, representatives of Party B management, including the Chief Financial Officer of Party B, 21CF management, including Mr. Nallen, and the parties respective financial advisors held additional discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction.
Also on November 16, 2017, representatives of 21CF management and Party B management met to discuss, among other things, possible growth and cost synergy opportunities that could be achieved through a potential business combination between 21CF and Party B.
Also on November 16, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Party B, Skadden and Party Bs legal counsel held discussions via conference call regarding the regulatory approval process and the expected timeline of a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Party B.
On November 17, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Party B, Skadden and Party Bs legal counsel held additional discussions via conference call regarding the regulatory considerations of various transaction alternatives. Party B indicated that a proposal regarding the allocation of regulatory risk between the parties was being discussed by its senior management. Party B stated that it would return to 21CF with a more definitive proposal on the allocation of regulatory risk between the parties.
On November 18, 2017, representatives of Party B provided to representatives of Goldman Sachs additional details regarding its proposal on the allocation of regulatory risk between the parties. Party B indicated its willingness to accept certain possible regulatory divestitures and behavioral remedies in connection with a potential strategic transaction, subject to certain limitations and with value implications for the potential strategic transaction. In addition, Party B stated that it would not agree to a reverse termination fee payable in the event that the parties were unable to obtain regulatory approval to consummate a potential strategic transaction.
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On November 19, 2017, Messrs. Rupert Murdoch, Nallen, Iger and Mayer met in Los Angeles to evaluate the current status of discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Disney. The conversations centered around a Disney proposal to acquire RemainCo at a price of $28 per share payable in shares of Disney common stock, implying an enterprise value of $66 billion, subject to the resolution of a number of outstanding regulatory and other considerations. At this meeting, representatives of 21CF and Disney also discussed the allocation of assets between New Fox and RemainCo.
On November 20, 2017, discussions were held between the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and other representatives of Party B and senior executives of 21CF regarding the financial terms of a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Party B. Representatives of Goldman Sachs also attended this meeting. At this meeting, Party B reiterated its November 14, 2017 non-binding proposal to acquire RemainCo for $34.41 of stock of Party B. The representatives of Party B noted that this price was based on an 11.0x multiple applied to RemainCos projected calendar year 2018 EBITDA (undefined for these purposes) plus 50% of total synergies. Party Bs proposal contemplated that 21CF would not be permitted to repurchase shares or issue dividends to its stockholders between signing of definitive transaction documents and the closing of a transaction. This proposal also contemplated that, if regulators objected to Party Bs acquisition of certain of the RemainCo assets, those assets, and the corresponding tax burden, would be re-allocated to New Fox, rather than divested; this would result in a commensurate reduction in the merger consideration payable to 21CF stockholders in the proposed transaction and a corresponding increase in the tax burden on New Fox. The merger consideration would be adjusted downward such that, after giving effect to any regulatory remedies, which would reduce the size of RemainCo, Party B would pay a price based on the same specified multiple applied to the smaller RemainCos projected calendar year 2018 EBITDA thereby depriving 21CF stockholders of an acquisition premium from Party B with respect to the assets re-allocated to New Fox. In addition, Party B proposed that New Fox also bear the first $2 billion of the net cost of structural regulatory remedies, with the parties each bearing 50% of such costs above $2 billion. Party B also reiterated that it would not agree to a reverse termination fee payable in the event that the parties were unable to obtain regulatory approval to consummate a potential strategic transaction.
Also on November 20, 2017, representatives of 21CF, including Mr. Rupert Murdoch and Mr. Nallen, discussed with representatives of Disney, including Mr. Iger and Mr. Mayer, the allocation of assets between New Fox and RemainCo, including that the 20th Century Fox studio lot, 21CFs investment in Roku and certain other assets would be allocated to New Fox as part of reaching an agreement on Disneys previously proposed price of $28 per share.
On November 21, 2017, the parties executed the Party B Confidentiality Agreement.
Also on November 21, 2017, 21CF contacted Centerview Partners LLC, which we refer to as Centerview, to discuss engaging Centerview to act as a financial advisor in connection with a potential transaction. 21CF determined to engage Centerview as an additional financial advisor in order to receive supplementary financial analysis, with a particular focus on New Fox, due to the size and scope of a potential transaction, and not because of any concerns about Goldman Sachs ability to act as financial advisor to 21CF.
On November 22, 2017, 21CF provided access to a virtual data room containing due diligence information to representatives of Cravath and Covington & Burling LLP, which we refer to as Covington, regulatory counsel to Disney. This data room was updated regularly throughout the evaluation of a potential strategic transaction with Disney in response to due diligence requests and was later made available to select representatives of Disney.
On November 24, 2017, Cravath sent a merger agreement term sheet to Skadden, outlining Disneys proposal on the transaction structure, the separation, treatment of equity awards, restrictions on soliciting and responding to competing proposals, termination rights and fees, representations and warranties, allocation of tax liabilities, key closing conditions and restructuring cooperation. The term sheet indicated that Disneys proposed transaction price would reflect an $8.3 billion tax cost of the distribution, which would be funded by a cash dividend from New Fox to 21CF prior to the distribution. The term sheet proposed that the merger consideration would be
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adjusted if the estimate of such tax liabilities at closing were more or less than the initial $8.3 billion estimate, subject to a $5 billion cap in each direction, and required amounts in excess of $5 billion to be satisfied through a cash payment between 21CF and New Fox at closing in addition to a post-closing true-up payment once the tax returns were finalized. In addition, the term sheet indicated Disneys proposal on other transaction agreements, including a voting agreement.
On November 25, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs and Party Bs financial advisors held additional discussions regarding the possible financial implications of Party Bs then-current proposal on the allocation of regulatory risk between the parties in connection with a potential strategic transaction. Representatives of Goldman Sachs observed that Party Bs regulatory proposal regarding divestitures as well as the allocation of possible tax costs could result in a meaningful diminution of the merger consideration, and corresponding acquisition premium, to be received by 21CF stockholders.
Also on November 25, 2017, Messrs. Braverman and Zweifach participated in a conference call with Covington and Cleary to discuss the regulatory implications from a competition standpoint in jurisdictions around the world of a potential acquisition by Disney of RemainCo.
On November 27, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Disney, Skadden and Cravath held discussions via conference call regarding the merger agreement term sheet.
On November 27, 2017, Skadden sent draft separation principles to Cravath, outlining 21CFs proposal on the principles that would govern the separation of the New Fox assets from the RemainCo assets.
On November 28, 2017, the 21CF board met via conference call. 21CF management provided an update on the current status of discussions with Disney and Party B regarding a potential strategic transaction. 21CF management provided revised financial analyses of the Disney and Party B proposals. These included an assessment of the strategic rationale and potential cost synergies underlying a potential transaction with each of Disney and Party B as compared to the merits of 21CF remaining a stand-alone company. 21CF management then reviewed with the 21CF board the potential financial implications presented by the regulatory proposals of each of Disney and Party B, expressing concern over the meaningful diminution in value of Party Bs proposal in the event that certain divestitures were required. Representatives of Goldman Sachs and Centerview then discussed the potential trading and financial profile of the company to be spun-off to 21CF stockholders after giving effect to the regulatory proposals, and potential required divestitures, contemplated by each of Disney and Party B. In addition, representatives of Goldman Sachs discussed with the 21CF board illustrative financial implications of the potential strategic transactions as proposed by each of Disney and Party B, including illustrative future trading ranges for each of Disney and Party B on a pro forma basis, giving effect to the potential strategic transactions. Goldman Sachs noted that the probability of Disney stock trading toward the higher ends of the range on a pro forma basis could be viewed as higher than such a likelihood for Party B. 21CF management, the 21CF board, Skadden and Cleary discussed the key regulatory considerations, including the likelihood of receiving required approvals, the possibility of required divestitures and the allocation of risk, in connection with each of the Disney and Party B proposals. Among the issues discussed was the fact that Party Bs proposal for the allocation of regulatory risk appeared to incentivize Party B to agree to divestitures which would, in turn, narrow the scope of a potential transaction and reduce the value to be realized by 21CF stockholders. The 21CF board and 21CF management also discussed the current uncertainty in the regulatory climate, given the U.S. Department of Justices, which we refer to as the DOJ, pending suit to block AT&T Inc.s proposed acquisition of Time Warner Inc., which we refer to as the AT&T / Time Warner transaction. In comparing the relative closing certainty provided by Disney and Party B, the 21CF board considered that a transaction with Party B would represent an additional substantial vertical integration for Party B, which would tend to compound the regulatory risks presented by the DOJs unanticipated opposition to the proposed vertical integration of the AT&T / Time Warner transaction. 21CF management, Skadden and Cleary advised the 21CF board that a transaction with Party B would receive significant regulatory scrutiny due to previous submissions
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by 21CF in certain prior and current regulatory proceedings, including, but not limited to, in connection with the competitive concerns raised by a vertical integration proposed prior, and unrelated to, any discussions between 21CF and potential counterparties described in this joint proxy statement/prospectus. A consideration of these factors, discussion with regulatory counsel and an evaluation of the financial impact of Party Bs regulatory proposal and possible required divestitures led 21CF management to the preliminary conclusion that a strategic transaction with Party B carried a qualitatively higher level of regulatory risk, including the possibility of an outright prohibition, than such a transaction with Disney. The 21CF board discussed with 21CFs management and financial advisors the profile of the company to be spun-off to 21CF stockholders, which would become New Fox. The 21CF board considered that New Fox, with its more focused portfolio of sports, news and entertainment assets, would have the scale, focus, resources and flexibility to optimize growth opportunities and create value for 21CF stockholders. The 21CF board also reflected on the challenges that could impact New Fox and potentially limit its growth and performance. The 21CF board also discussed the likelihood of interest from other potential counterparties, the likelihood that any of them could provide a transaction proposal superior to that of Disney or Party B and how best to determine whether such a superior transaction could be obtained. In addition, the 21CF board discussed how best to maintain flexibility under a definitive transaction agreement to consider competing proposals following the execution of any such agreement. Management recommended to the 21CF board that 21CF prioritize negotiating a transaction with Disney due to (i) similar economics between Disneys and Party Bs proposals, taking into account potential divestitures likely to be required and the resulting financial impact on the value of Party Bs proposal, (ii) the likelihood that a transaction with Disney would provide superior closing certainty as a result of the lower regulatory risk faced by Disney compared to Party B, which could be further enhanced though the anticipated negotiation of a regulatory efforts covenant and related commitments with Disney and (iii) Disney being a better strategic fit, with greater cost synergies and more opportunities for innovation, and the relative attractiveness of the resulting equity currency in a combined Disney-21CF. The 21CF board authorized 21CF management to continue discussions with both Disney and Party B.
Also on November 28, 2017, the Disney board met at Disneys New York offices in New York City, with representatives of Disney management, Cravath, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan. Disney management provided an update on the status of the negotiations for a strategic transaction with 21CF, reviewed the benefits of engaging in a transaction, summarized the structure and terms of the transaction that were under consideration, reviewed certain valuation metrics applicable to the proposed transaction, addressed the potential impact of the proposed transaction on Disneys financial position, reviewed potential risks of a transaction, and addressed regulatory considerations regarding the proposed transaction. Among other topics, Disney management and the Disney board discussed the obligations to which Disney would be required to agree in order to achieve regulatory approval of the transaction and the potential for a reverse termination fee payable by Disney. The representative of Cravath then discussed certain potential terms of the proposed transaction, including as to the allocation of regulatory risk. After discussing the strategic rationale for the proposed transaction with 21CF and the risks associated with the proposed transaction, the Disney board informed Disney management that it was supportive of proceeding with further negotiation of the transaction within the parameters discussed with a view of making a final decision within the following two to three weeks. The non-management members of the Disney board then discussed the possibility of extending Mr. Igers employment agreement if the proposed transaction was completed.
Also on November 28, 2017 and on November 29, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan held additional discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Disney. The parties discussed, among other things, the appropriate Disney stock price to be used in calculating the potential initial exchange ratio.
Also on November 29, 2017, representatives of Party B and legal counsel to Party B delivered a presentation to representatives of 21CF regarding a potential strategic transaction. The parties discussed the allocation of businesses between RemainCo and New Fox as well as potential purchase price adjustments based on audited financial statements to be prepared after signing of definitive transaction agreements. The parties discussed
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potential approaches to address the regulatory risks of a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Party B. 21CF indicated that it viewed regulatory risks as a key area where a transaction with Party B was less attractive than other strategic alternatives available to 21CF. 21CF indicated that it would require a reverse termination fee payable by Party B in the event that the parties were unable to obtain regulatory approval to consummate the transaction. Party B reiterated the types of regulatory remedies to which it would agree, if required by regulators, and continued to refuse to agree to any regulatory reverse termination fee. The parties agreed to continue discussions, with Party B stating that it would return to 21CF with a revised proposal.
Also on November 29, 2017, Mr. Nallen discussed the regulatory considerations of a potential strategic transaction with Mr. Mayer. Mr. Mayer indicated that Disney was working on a proposal regarding the allocation of regulatory risk between the parties. Mr. Nallen and Mr. Mayer also discussed the allocation of estimated tax costs associated with a potential strategic transaction.
On November 30, 2017, Mr. Nallen met with an executive officer of Party B to discuss the allocation of regulatory risk in a potential strategic transaction between the parties. Mr. Nallen emphasized that 21CF remained open to a solution between the parties on regulatory matters. Party B stated that it was open to a transaction in which 21CF was provided significant protection on the regulatory risks associated with certain identified assets likely to be subject to higher regulatory scrutiny.
Also on November 30, 2017, Mr. Nallen met with representatives of Disney to discuss the timeline for agreeing to a potential strategic transaction, the treatment of 21CF employees generally in a transaction and revised views of estimated cost synergies. Following negotiations on a possible transaction value and cost synergies, Disney indicated that it would return to 21CF with more definitive transaction documentation the following day.
Also on November 30, 2017, Cravath discussed with Skadden Disneys proposal with respect to allocation of regulatory risk, including detail regarding Disneys regulatory commitments in the areas of potential divestitures and behavioral restrictions. The proposal, which Cravath also provided to Skadden in writing, included a revised allocation of certain tax costs associated with divestitures and proposed a reverse termination fee of $750 million payable by Disney in the event that the parties were unable to obtain regulatory approval to consummate a transaction.
Also on November 30, 2017, representatives of 21CF management, including Mr. Nallen, representatives of Disney management, including Mr. Mayer, and representatives of Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan met in New York to conduct reverse due diligence on Disney in connection with a potential strategic transaction between the parties. Representatives of Disney discussed, among other things, various perspectives on Disneys potential future performance, including various publicly available forecasts. Representatives of Goldman Sachs attended this meeting.
Also on November 30, 2017, senior management of 21CF and Disney engaged in further discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction. Disney proposed that certain assets, including 21CFs interest in the Big Ten Network, Home Team Sports and Fox Sports College Properties, which had been allocated to RemainCo in its previous proposal, be allocated to New Fox as part of reaching an agreement on the Disney stock price to be used in setting the exchange ratio to deliver Disneys previously proposed price of $28 per share to 21CF stockholders.
Also on November 30, 2017, representatives of Goldman Sachs, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan held additional discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction between 21CF and Disney, including with respect to the appropriate Disney stock price to be used in calculating the potential initial exchange ratio.
On November 30, 2017 and December 1, 2017, Skadden discussed with Cravath 21CFs proposals on tax matters, including, to address certain tax inefficiencies, that if the final estimate of the tax costs associated with the transaction would be above $8.5 billion or below $6.5 billion, the exchange ratio would be increased or decreased, as applicable, to reflect such difference (unrestricted by any cap), and that New Fox not have any post-closing true-up obligations with respect to any final determinations of the transaction taxes to be estimated post-closing.
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Also on December 1, 2017, Cravath sent to Skadden a draft of the combination merger agreement. The draft combination merger agreement reflected Disneys November 30 proposal on regulatory and tax matters, and included, among other things, revised proposals relating to 21CFs ability to solicit and respond to competing offers, closing conditions, treatment of equity awards, interim operations, financing and employee benefits. Also on December 1, 2017, Cravath sent to Skadden a revised draft of the separation principles as well as a draft of the voting agreement.
Also on December 1, 2017, 21CF received a revised regulatory proposal from Party B. With respect to assets that regulators would require to be divested in order to consummate a transaction, the proposal provided 21CF with the option to either treat such assets as New Fox assets or, subject to the receipt of a specified value, divest them to third parties. In the event 21CF elected to divest the assets, the proposal provided for a mechanism to adjust downward the merger consideration payable to 21CF stockholders based on the EBITDA (undefined for these purposes) or other agreed value associated with the divested assets, regardless of the actual amount of the divestiture proceeds. In addition, 21CF stockholders and Party B would each be required to bear 50% of certain tax costs of divestitures. 21CF management remained concerned that Party Bs proposal created a potential financial incentive for Party B to accept divestitures, which would reduce the corresponding purchase price and diminish the acquisition premium to 21CF stockholders. Party B also reiterated that it would not consider a reverse termination fee payable in the event that the parties were unable to procure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate a potential strategic transaction. Representatives of Goldman Sachs continued discussion with representatives of Party Bs financial advisors regarding the financial implications of Party Bs revised regulatory proposal.
Between December 1, 2017 and December 3, 2017, Mr. Nallen and Mr. Mayer engaged in further discussions regarding a potential strategic transaction. Disney proposed an exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock for each share of 21CF common stock, subject to the above-mentioned adjustment based on a final estimate of the transaction tax at closing, provided that the first $2 billion of any positive adjustment would be made by cash payment to New Fox rather than through an increase to the exchange ratio. In addition, the parties discussed asset allocation arrangements, the separation principles and regulatory considerations regarding the proposed transaction, including the efforts standard and commitments in the areas of potential divestitures and behavioral restrictions to which Disney would agree to secure regulatory approvals and the reverse termination fee payable by Disney in the event that the parties were unable to procure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate a potential strategic transaction.
On December 3, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Party B, Skadden, legal counsel to Party B and Cleary held discussions on regulatory matters, including the allocation of proceeds and costs arising from potential divestitures and the efforts standard to which Party B would agree in order to obtain regulatory approval for a transaction. Party B proposed that 21CF would have a unilateral termination right if the AT&T / Time Warner transaction was enjoined by the U.S. District Court for Washington D.C. Party B also proposed that, in order to obtain regulatory approvals, it would agree to accept any behavioral remedies on the RemainCo assets (but not any Party B assets) agreed to by AT&T Inc., as the acquiror, if the AT&T / Time Warner transaction litigation settled. Beyond this proposal, Party B did not improve upon its previous regulatory proposal. In addition, Party B maintained the position that it would not agree to a reverse termination fee payable in the event that the parties were unable to procure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate a potential strategic transaction. After 21CF requested additional information from Party B on the regulatory efforts to which it would agree, Party B indicated that it would respond the following day with additional details. The parties also discussed the allocation of potential tax costs to be realized in connection with the spin-off of New Fox and 21CF cash flows during the period between signing and closing.
Also on December 4, 2017, Mr. Rupert Murdoch, Mr. Nallen, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Party B and the Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Party B met in New York City to assess the current status of a potential strategic transaction between the parties. Party B noted openness to further negotiation on its regulatory proposal but reiterated that it would not agree to a reverse termination fee payable in
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the event that the parties were unable to procure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate a potential strategic transaction. At the end of the meeting, Party B stated that its willingness to continue discussions concerning a potential strategic transaction was conditioned on 21CF agreeing to negotiate exclusively with Party B.
Also on December 4, 2017, representatives of Disney, 21CF, Skadden and Cravath held discussions via conference call regarding due diligence. In addition, Skadden sent revised drafts of the separation principles and combination merger agreement to Cravath.
Also on December 4, 2017, Party B sent a draft of a merger agreement and a separation agreement to Skadden, reflecting Party Bs then-current positions and, in part, the discussions between the parties that had taken place the previous day.
From December 4 through December 6, 2017, 21CF management and Disney management maintained ongoing negotiations via a number of conference calls.
On December 6, 2017, representatives of 21CF, Party B, Skadden and Party Bs legal counsel discussed Party Bs proposal via conference call. With respect to regulatory matters, Party B reiterated its position that 21CF would have a termination right if the AT&T / Time Warner transaction was enjoined and that it would accept behavioral remedies imposed on AT&T Inc. on RemainCos cable assets. However, Party B continued to be unwilling to agree to submit to certain regulatory remedies and reiterated that it was unwilling to agree to a reverse termination fee in the event that the parties were unable to secure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate the proposed transaction. Representatives of Goldman Sachs continued discussions with Party Bs financial advisors regarding Party Bs revised proposal.
Also on December 6, 2017, the 21CF board held a meeting via conference call. Representatives of Skadden again discussed with the 21CF directors their fiduciary duties and other legal matters. 21CF management then presented to the 21CF board an assessment of 21CFs current market valuation, stand-alone prospects and the strategic rationale for entering into a potential strategic transaction. After providing an update on the status of discussions with Disney and Party B, 21CF management summarized the key terms of their respective proposals, including discussions of merger consideration and of regulatory efforts and remedies. The 21CF board discussed in detail the conclusion, arrived at after discussions with 21CF management and regulatory counsel, that a potential strategic transaction with Party B carried a significant risk of exposure to a range of negative outcomes for 21CF and its stockholders, from a significant reduction in the merger consideration to an inability to consummate the transaction. Key considerations driving this conclusion included the difficult set of regulatory issues in a potential strategic transaction with Party B given (1) the DOJs unanticipated opposition to the proposed vertical integration of the AT&T / Time Warner transaction, (2) Party Bs asset mix, (3) 21CFs own prior regulatory submissions and (4) Party Bs proposed contractual allocation of regulatory risk, including, but not limited to, the fact that Party B remained unwilling to offer a reverse termination fee despite repeated requests by 21CF and its representatives. In addition, 21CF management noted that, under Party Bs proposal, divestitures would result in a reduction of the overall return to 21CF stockholders through a reduction of the purchase price paid by Party B and an increase in the additional tax costs for New Fox. The fact that Party Bs proposed allocation of regulatory risk and purchase price adjustment created a possible financial incentive for Party B to favor divestitures proposed by regulators (which would result in reduced merger consideration payable to 21CF stockholders) stood in contrast to Disneys regulatory proposal, which provided incentive for Disney to acquire all of the assets proposed to be included in a Disney transaction, subject to the potential sharing of a portion of the tax costs of potential divestitures. More specifically, Disney had proposed that it would bear the first $1 billion in tax cost associated with such divestitures, split the next $4 billion in tax cost equally with 21CF and then bear any tax cost exceeding $5 billion. The 21CF board also observed that the elements of Disneys approach to regulatory risk, including Disneys offer to assume the risk of certain required divestitures and to pay 21CF a substantial termination fee in the event that the parties were unable to procure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate a potential strategic transaction, compared to Party Bs approach to regulatory risk,
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including Party Bs position that New Fox share the risk of required divestitures and continued refusal to offer any termination fee in the event that the parties were unable to procure the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate a potential strategic transaction, appeared to reflect each of Disney and Party Bs view of the regulatory risks, and reinforced the 21CF boards view, based on advice of counsel, that a strategic transaction with Party B carried a more significant risk of exposure to a range of negative outcomes for 21CF and its stockholders. 21CF management then summarized the economic impact of various potential divestiture scenarios on the values offered by the respective proposals, noting that Party Bs proposed allocation of regulatory risk was viewed as an incentive for Party B to accept divestitures, narrow the scope of the potential strategic transaction, reduce its purchase price and create additional tax costs for New Fox. 21CF management provided an overview of the key terms of each of the Disney and Party B proposals, including, among other things, a comparative economic analysis of Disneys $28.00 per share proposal against Party Bs $34.41 per share proposal (adjusted to $34.36 for these purposes due to use of an updated share count figure from 21CF management). Representatives of Goldman Sachs and Centerview then discussed with the 21CF board the potential financial profiles of the surviving entities from potential strategic transactions with each of Party B and Disney. In addition, representatives of Goldman Sachs discussed with the 21CF board illustrative financial implications of the potential strategic transactions as proposed by each of Disney and Party B, including illustrative future trading ranges for each of Disney and Party B on a pro forma basis, giving effect to the potential strategic transactions. Goldman Sachs noted that the probability of Disney stock trading toward the higher ends of the range on a pro forma basis could be viewed as higher than such a likelihood for Party B. Goldman Sachs also noted the higher likelihood for revenue synergies in a Disney transaction over and above the cost synergies assumed in the Goldman Sachs valuation analyses. At the end of the meeting, the 21CF board directed management to cease discussions with Party B and focus on finalizing negotiations with Disney.
On December 7, Mr. Rupert Murdoch informed the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Party B that 21CF would not enter into an exclusivity arrangement with Party B at this time and that 21CF would suspend discussions with Party B while it pursued other opportunities.
On December 7, 2017, Cravath sent to Skadden revised drafts of the combination merger agreement and separation principles reflecting their continued discussions.
On December 7, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the Disney board, which we refer to as the Disney Compensation Committee, met via conference call to discuss the status of the negotiations with Mr. Iger with respect to the proposed extension of Mr. Igers employment agreement and reviewed certain terms and conditions that had been proposed to Mr. Iger by representatives of the Disney Compensation Committee.
On December 8, 2017, the non-management members of the Disney board met via conference call to receive an update from the Disney Compensation Committee regarding the status of the proposed extension of Mr. Igers employment agreement. A representative of the Disney Compensation Committee reviewed the current status of discussions with Mr. Iger. The non-management members of the Disney board discussed, among other things, the economic terms of such extension and the potential benefits to Disney in light of the proposed transaction with 21CF.
From December 8 through 10, 2017, representatives of Disney, 21CF, Skadden, and Cravath met in-person at Cravaths New York offices to further negotiate the terms of the transaction documents, with particular focus on the ability of the 21CF board to change its recommendation or terminate the transactions consistent with its fiduciary duties, the required efforts of Disney to obtain regulatory approval for the transactions and the tax aspects of the proposed transaction. The parties, with input from their respective financial advisors, continued to finalize key financial terms, including, among other things, the exchange ratio and the allocation of certain tax costs. As part of these discussions, the representatives negotiated the amounts of the termination fee and reverse termination fee and the circumstances under which they would be payable. Disney had previously proposed a termination fee of up to approximately $2.5 billion and the parties ultimately agreed to a termination fee of $1.525 billion. In addition, Disney proposed a reverse termination fee of $750 million and the parties ultimately
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agreed to a reverse termination fee of $2.5 billion. Each of these figures was negotiated in tandem with the applicable non-solicitation and regulatory efforts covenants. Disney, improving upon its prior proposal, agreed to bear the first $1.5 billion in tax cost associated with divestitures, split the next $3.5 billion in tax cost with 21CF equally and then bear any tax cost exceeding $5 billion. The parties continued to exchange drafts of the combination merger agreement and separation principles reflecting these negotiations. 21CF and Disney reconfirmed the timing of their respective board meetings, scheduled for December 13, 2017, and that all terms, including the merger consideration, remained subject to review and approval by their respective boards of directors.
On December 10, 2017, 21CF and Disney operational teams continued to discuss the separation principles and the commercial principles for agreements that would govern the commercial relationship between 21CF and New Fox after the consummation of a transaction. Skadden sent revised drafts of the separation principles, an initial draft of disclosure schedules and a revised combination merger agreement to Cravath.
On December 11, 2017, the Compensation Committee of the 21CF board approved certain compensation items that were included in the combination merger agreement, including items regarding the treatment of equity awards, the terms of retention incentives for senior executives and other employees and the key terms of a severance plan, which would apply to 21CF employees as of the closing of the transactions.
From December 11 through December 13, 2017, representatives of Skadden and Cravath continued to exchange drafts of the combination merger agreement, commercial principles and separation principles. The parties exchanged due diligence requests on key business and legal matters and negotiated open terms. In addition, the necessary documentation for the financing contemplated by the draft transaction documents was finalized.
On December 12, 2017, Mr. Iger met with Mr. Rupert Murdoch in London. Mr. Iger and Mr. Rupert Murdoch discussed the current status of discussions between 21CF and Disney in advance of their respective companies boards of directors consideration of the proposed transaction.
On December 13, 2017, the 21CF board met at 21CFs headquarters in New York City, with representatives of 21CF management, Skadden, Goldman Sachs and Centerview present. Representatives of Skadden again discussed with the 21CF directors their fiduciary duties, as well as other legal matters in connection with the 21CF boards consideration of a potential strategic transaction with Disney, including the proposed terms of the combination merger agreement. 21CF management then provided the 21CF board with a summary comparison of the transactions proposed by each of Disney and Party B, focusing on, among other things, the value provided to stockholders, the level of regulatory issues posed and the proposed risk allocation arrangements. The 21CF board also discussed, with input from 21CFs financial advisors, other counterparties for a potential transaction, including Party B, and the likelihood that any of them could consummate a transaction superior to the transaction then being contemplated with Disney. The 21CF board considered, among other things, the terms of the draft combination merger agreement that addressed 21CFs ability to consider third-party proposals following the execution and announcement of the combination merger agreement and to terminate the combination merger agreement to accept a superior proposal, including the termination fee payable by 21CF and the circumstances in which it would be required to be paid.
Representatives of Goldman Sachs presented to the 21CF board Goldman Sachs financial analysis summarized below under The TransactionsOpinion of 21CFs Financial Advisor beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and delivered the oral opinion of Goldman Sachs, subsequently confirmed by delivery of a written opinion dated December 13, 2017 to the 21CF board to the effect that, as of December 13, 2017 and based on and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in the written opinion, the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock pursuant to the combination merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to 21CF stockholders (other than Disney and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate. Representatives of Centerview also reviewed and discussed their financial analyses with the 21CF board, with a focus on the illustrative value of New Fox to 21CF stockholders after giving effect to the potential strategic transaction with Disney.
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After discussion, the 21CF board (i) unanimously (of those present) determined that the initial merger and the charter amendments were fair to, and in the best interests of, 21CF and its stockholders, (ii) approved the initial merger, the charter amendments and the other transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement and the related transaction documents, other than the distribution merger agreement and the declaration of the dividend, (iii) adopted and declared advisable the combination merger agreement and the charter amendments and (iv) subject to the terms of the combination merger agreement described in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Solicitation or Negotiation of Acquisition Proposals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, resolved to recommend the adoption of the combination merger agreement and the approval of the charter amendments to 21CF stockholders. In addition, at Disneys request in connection with the execution of the combination merger agreement and in order to conform to the forum selection bylaw adopted by Disney substantially concurrently, the 21CF board amended and restated the 21CF bylaws. This amendment amended 21CFs forum selection clause. The clause designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or in some cases, other state or federal courts in Delaware) as the sole and exclusive forum for certain proceedings relating to 21CF.
Also on December 13, 2017, the Disney board met via conference call, with representatives of Disney management, Cravath, Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan present. Disney management again reviewed the proposed transaction with 21CF and provided the Disney board with updates on, among other things, certain financial metrics relating to the businesses to be acquired and the expected financial impact of the transaction. Representatives of Cravath and Disney management reviewed the proposed terms of the combination merger agreement and certain related considerations, including, among other things, considerations relating to the hook stock shares, the commitment Disney would make to obtain regulatory approval of the transaction and the reverse termination fee that Disney would be required to pay in certain circumstances if regulatory approval was not obtained. Representatives of Disney management and Cravath reviewed with the Disney directors their fiduciary duties and described a proposed amendment to the Disney bylaws that designated the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (or in some cases, other state or federal courts in Delaware) as the sole and exclusive forum for certain proceedings relating to Disney.
Representatives of Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgan then reviewed with the Disney board Guggenheim Securities and J.P. Morgans joint financial analyses of the initial exchange ratio (see the section entitled The TransactionsOpinion of Disneys Financial Advisors beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus) and rendered their respective oral opinions, subsequently confirmed by delivery of their respective written opinions dated as of December 13, 2017, to the Disney board to the effect that, as of that date and based on and subject to the matters considered, the procedures followed, the assumptions made and various limitations of and qualifications to the review undertaken, the initial exchange ratio was fair, from a financial point of view, to Disney. Representatives of Disney management then addressed the impact of the announcement of the transaction on Disneys debt rating, noting that Moodys and Fitch had each indicated to Disney that they would not change their ratings in light of the information they had received regarding the transaction.
The Disney board then discussed the importance of securing Mr. Igers continued service as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer to manage the acquisition and integration of 21CF into Disney. The board meeting was recessed to permit a meeting of the non-management members of the Disney board to discuss certain terms and conditions of the proposed extension of Mr. Igers employment agreement. After the discussion, the members of the Disney board present approved the extension of Mr. Igers employment with Disney as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer if the proposed transaction with 21CF is completed.
The Disney board meeting then resumed and the Disney board (i) unanimously approved the combination merger agreement and the issuance of shares of Disney common stock to 21CF stockholders in connection with the initial merger, (ii) determined that the combination merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the initial merger and the issuance of shares of Disney common stock to 21CF stockholders pursuant to the initial merger, are advisable and in the best interest of Disney and its stockholders and (iii) directed that the issuance of shares of Disney common stock be submitted to Disney stockholders for approval and recommended
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that Disney stockholders vote their shares of Disney common stock in favor of the approval of the issuance of shares of Disney common stock at the Disney special meeting. In addition, the Disney board unanimously approved the amendment to the Disney bylaws.
Following the board meetings, 21CF and Disney executed the combination merger agreement. Concurrently with the execution of the combination merger agreement, Disney entered into the voting agreement with the Murdoch Family Trust and Cruden Financial Services LLC, which collectively we refer to as the covered stockholders, who agreed to vote, or cause the holder of record to vote, their shares of 21CF common stock in favor of adoption of the combination merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby. In addition, pursuant to the terms of the voting agreement, the covered stockholders agreed not to take certain actions in opposition to adoption of the combination merger agreement or the other transactions contemplated thereby.
On the morning of December 14, 2017, prior to the opening of trading on Nasdaq, 21CF and Disney issued a joint press release announcing the transactions and the execution of the combination merger agreement. In addition, 21CF released a press release announcing that it intended to spin off a portfolio of its news, sports and broadcast businesses to 21CF stockholders in the form of New Fox, a new growth company centered on live news and sports brands, anchored by the strength of the 21CF network.
On February 28, 2018, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the 21CF board, the 21CF board unanimously (1) determined that the distribution is fair to, and in the best interests of, 21CF and its stockholders, (2) declared advisable, approved and authorized in all respects the form, terms and provisions of the distribution merger agreement and (3) subject to the terms of the combination merger agreement described in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, resolved to recommend the adoption of the distribution merger agreement to the 21CF stockholders.
On March 8, 2018, at a regularly scheduled meeting of the Disney board, the Disney board approved an amendment to the combination merger agreement pursuant to which, among other things, each hook stock share will be exchanged for a number of shares of Disney preferred stock equal to the exchange ratio multiplied by 1/10,000 and authorized a new series of preferred stock, the series B convertible preferred stock, to carry out such conversion. The Disney board then approved, and recommended that Disney stockholders vote in favor of, the issuance of Disney series B convertible preferred stock in respect of the hook stock shares and approved, and recommended that Disney stockholders vote in favor of, the Disney charter amendment proposal.
Recommendation of the 21CF Board; 21CFs Reasons for the Transactions
At its meeting on December 13, 2017, the 21CF board unanimously (of those present) (1) determined that the initial merger and the 21CF charter amendments are fair to, and in the best interests of, 21CF and its stockholders, (2) approved the initial merger, the 21CF charter amendments and the other transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement and the related transaction documents, other than the distribution merger agreement and the declaration of the dividend, (3) adopted and declared advisable the combination merger agreement and the 21CF charter amendments and (4) subject to the terms of the combination merger agreement described in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Change in Recommendation or Alternative Acquisition Agreement in this joint proxy statement/prospectus, resolved to recommend the adoption of the combination merger agreement and the approval of the 21CF charter amendments to the 21CF stockholders. At this meeting, the 21CF board also directed that the combination merger agreement be submitted to the 21CF stockholders for their adoption and that the 21CF charter amendments be submitted to the holders of shares of 21CF class B common stock for their approval. At its meeting on February 28, 2018, the 21CF board unanimously (1) determined that the distribution is fair to, and in the best interests of, 21CF and its stockholders, (2) declared advisable, approved and authorized in all respects the form, terms and provisions of the distribution merger agreement and (3) subject to the terms of the combination merger agreement described in the section entitled The Combination Merger AgreementNo Change in Recommendation or Alternative
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Acquisition Agreement beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, resolved to recommend the adoption of the distribution merger agreement to the 21CF stockholders.
The 21CF board recommends that the 21CF stockholders entitled to vote thereon vote FOR each of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal, the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the stock split charter amendment proposal, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal.
In evaluating the combination merger agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, the 21CF board consulted with and received the advice of 21CFs senior management and its legal and financial advisors. In reaching its determinations, the 21CF board considered a number of factors, including, but not limited to, the following factors, which the 21CF board viewed as generally supporting its decision to declare advisable, approve and authorize entry into the combination merger agreement and its recommendation that 21CF stockholders entitled to vote thereon vote FOR each of the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal, the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the stock split charter amendment proposal, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal.
| the fact that 21CF conducted a thorough and diligent transaction process, including through discussions with Disney, Party A and Party B, and engaged in significant negotiations with Disney and Party B; |
| the fact that at the conclusion of the transaction process, Disneys proposal was more favorable than the other acquisition proposals presented to 21CF for the following reasons, among others: |
| Party As proposal contemplated an acquisition at the market value of 21CF common stock and did not include any meaningful premium; |
| a strategic transaction with Party B would be subject to a greater degree of regulatory uncertainty, including the possibility of an outright prohibition, as compared to a strategic transaction with Disney; |
| Party Bs proposal did not sufficiently limit that regulatory uncertainty, because, among other things: (1) 21CF believed that a strategic transaction with Party B, given its asset mix, raised a significantly more difficult set of regulatory issues than a transaction with Disney, (2) the DOJs unanticipated opposition to the proposed vertical integration of the AT&T / Time Warner transaction and previous submissions by 21CF in certain prior and current regulatory proceedings, including, but not limited to, in connection with competitive concerns raised by a prior vertical integration and (3) Party B was unwilling to agree to an acceptable contractual allocation of regulatory risk, including, but not limited to, the fact that Party B was unwilling to offer a reverse termination fee despite repeated requests by 21CF and its representatives; |
| Party Bs proposed allocation of regulatory risk and purchase price adjustment created a possible financial incentive for Party B to favor divestitures proposed by regulators (which would result in reduced merger consideration payable to 21CF stockholders) stood in contrast to Disneys regulatory proposal, which provided incentive for Disney to acquire all of the assets proposed to be included in a Disney transaction, subject to the potential sharing of a portion of the tax costs of potential divestitures, and Disneys offer of a significant reverse termination fee; |
| with respect to required divestitures, Disneys proposal contemplated 50/50 economic sharing only with respect to a limited portion of the tax cost of such divestitures; by contrast, Party Bs proposal contemplated, in addition to 50/50 sharing of all of the tax cost of required divestitures, a reduction in the exchange ratio based on the EBITDA (undefined for these purposes) or other agreed value associated with the divested assets, regardless of the actual amount of the divestiture proceeds. As a result, Party B was incentivized to divest assets, which, in turn, would have reduced the merger consideration payable to 21CF stockholders. In addition to reducing the merger consideration payable to 21CF stockholders, if these assets were allocated to New Fox, an |
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option under Party Bs proposal, the transaction tax that would be borne by 21CF stockholders would have increased. In the 21CF boards view, Party Bs proposed structure could impose potentially prohibitive costs on 21CF and its stockholders; |
| the fact that Disney agreed to accept potential structural and behavioral remedies in order to obtain regulatory approval, including: |
| divestitures of (1) specified assets and (2) other RemainCo assets up to $500 million of EBITDA (for a more complete description of EBITDA, see the section entitled The TransactionsRegulatory Approvals beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus), subject to reduction to $250 million of EBITDA to account for divestitures of specified assets; and |
| behavioral remedies on the RemainCo assets and the non-U.S. assets of Disney, unless such behavioral remedies would result in a significant and adverse impact on the affected businesses, taken as a whole, measured on a scale relative to the size of RemainCo. |
| the fact that if the transactions fail to obtain required regulatory approvals, Disney would pay to 21CF a reverse termination fee of $2.5 billion, incentivizing Disney to obtain the regulatory approvals necessary to consummate the transactions, in contrast to Party B who did not offer any reverse termination fee; |
| the 21CF boards belief that, while the closing of the initial merger is subject to various regulatory approvals, such approvals were not likely to prevent the closing of the initial merger; |
| the 21CF boards view that Disney common stock was a more valuable form of consideration than the common stock of Party B, in light of the historical trading multiples of the common stock of Disney and of Party B and the fact that both parties proposed a fixed, rather than floating, exchange ratio and the length of time expected between signing of the combination merger agreement and the closing; |
| the 21CF boards view that the overall potential long-term stockholder value creation proposition to 21CF stockholders of a potential strategic transaction with Disney would be greater than those of a potential strategic transaction with Party B given, among other things, the complementary nature of the RemainCo businesses with Disneys businesses and the relative attractiveness of Disneys equity currency and the resulting equity of the combined company; |
| New Fox would have a strong financial profile and an investment-grade balance sheet, supported by peer-leading growth and differentiated free cash flow generation, as well as strong affiliate agreements and the scale to effectively compete as the industry evolves; |
| the initial merger would be tax-free to 21CF stockholders, though the distribution would be fully taxable to 21CF at the corporate level and the obligation to pay that tax would be borne directly or indirectly by 21CF stockholders through the exchange ratio adjustment; |
| New Fox would benefit from a step-up in the tax basis of its assets; |
| the Murdoch Family Trust entered into a voting agreement with Disney, as well as the fact that certain voting obligations under the voting agreement would no longer be in effect upon a change in the 21CF boards recommendation that 21CF stockholders vote in favor for the adoption of the combination merger agreement; |
| the financial analyses presented to the 21CF board by Goldman Sachs and the oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, of Goldman Sachs delivered to the 21CF board to the effect that, as of December 13, 2017 and based on and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in Goldman Sachs written opinion, the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock pursuant to the combination merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to the 21CF stockholders (other than Disney and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate. For more information, see The TransactionsOpinion of 21CFs Financial Advisor; |
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| the financial analyses of Centerview, with a focus on the illustrative value of New Fox to 21CF stockholders after giving effect to the transactions; |
| the 21CF board view that third parties would be unlikely to be deterred from making a superior proposal by the provisions of the combination merger agreement, including because the 21CF board may, under certain circumstances, furnish information or enter into discussions in connection with a competing proposal. In this regard, the 21CF board considered that: |
| the 21CF board may change its recommendation to stockholders to vote in favor of the transactions if the board determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel and a financial advisor, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties, subject to a $1.525 billion termination fee if Disney subsequently decides to terminate the combination merger agreement; |
| the 21CF board may terminate the combination merger agreement and cause 21CF to enter into an alternative acquisition agreement providing for a superior proposal, subject to a $1.525 billion termination fee; |
| the anticipated length of time prior to the 21CF requisite vote should allow sufficient time for a third party to make a superior proposal if it desired to do so; and |
| while the combination merger agreement contains a termination fee of $1.525 billion that 21CF would be required to pay to Disney if (1) 21CF enters into an agreement providing for a superior proposal, (2) Disney terminates the combination merger agreement after the 21CF board has changed its recommendation and the stockholders approval has not been obtained or (3) under specified circumstances, if 21CF enters into a competing proposal within twelve months of the termination of the combination merger agreement, the 21CF board believed that this fee is reasonable in light of the circumstances and overall terms of the combination merger agreement, consistent with fees in comparable transactions and not preclusive of other offers. |
| neither Disneys board nor 21CFs board may take into account a failure to consummate the Sky acquisition in its determination to change its recommendation, and any failure to consummate the Sky acquisition will not be deemed to be a material adverse effect on 21CF. |
The 21CF board also considered that the transactions will likely provide a number of significant strategic advantages and opportunities, including the 21CF boards belief that the following are true, each of which it also viewed as supporting its decision to approve the combination merger agreement and the transactions:
| 21CF stockholders would benefit through ownership of two of the worlds most dynamic media companies: |
| New Fox, a leader in live news and sports with unique reach, the deep resonance of the Fox brand, and unparalleled content; and |
| Disney, with its enlarged scope of combined storytelling, consumer interactions, consolidated Hulu ownership and international direct-to-consumer business at Sky and Star India that will yield a global, consumer-driven company. |
| the transactions would unlock the full value of 21CFs widely recognized and appealing brands and enhance 21CFs businesses ability to accelerate their growth and expand their ability to participate in the rapidly evolving global media and entertainment landscape; |
| the mergers would allow 21CF stockholders to participate in the long-term growth of Disney, a leading global entertainment company with compelling storytelling, global reach and scale and an unsurpassed range of consumer relationships, extensive brands and breakthrough over-the-top media capabilities; |
| New Fox would have the scale, focus, resources and flexibility to pursue even more growth opportunities and better serve its customers, advertisers and distribution partners; |
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| New Foxs more focused portfolio of sports, news and entertainment assets would enable optimization of growth opportunities and increase collaboration across divisions; and |
| the mergers would create greater value-generating opportunities to monetize intellectual property and content rights at Disneys theme parks and through other consumer products distribution channels. |
The 21CF board weighed these advantages and opportunities against a number of risks and potential negative factors concerning the transactions, including:
| the difficulties of combining the businesses and workforces of 21CF and Disney based on, among other things, differences in the cultures of the two companies; |
| the challenges of developing and executing successful strategies and business plans for an enlarged Disney and a standalone New Fox, including the risk of not capturing all the anticipated cost savings, synergies and operational efficiencies and the risk that other anticipated benefits of the transactions might not be realized; |
| the restrictions in the combination merger agreement on the conduct of 21CFs business during the period between execution of the combination merger agreement and consummation of the initial merger; |
| the significant costs involved in connection with completing the transactions, and the substantial time and effort of management required to complete the transactions, which may disrupt 21CFs business operations; |
| the amount of time it could take to complete the transactions, including the fact that completion of the transactions depends on factors outside of 21CFs or Disneys control, and the risk that the pendency of the transactions for an extended period of time following the announcement of the execution of the combination merger agreement could have an adverse impact on 21CF and/or Disney; |
| despite the retention efforts of 21CF prior to the consummation of the initial merger, 21CF and New Fox may lose key personnel; |
| the distribution would be fully taxable to 21CF at the corporate level and the obligation to pay that tax would be borne by 21CF stockholders through the exchange ratio adjustment, though the receipt of New Fox common stock in the distribution and the receipt of Disney stock in the initial merger would each be tax-free to stockholders; |
| Party Bs proposal contemplated an initial exchange ratio indicating greater economic value for 21CF stockholders, though, as described above, (1) Party Bs proposal also contemplated material negative changes in the value of the merger consideration if regulators were to require divestitures in order to approve a transaction, (2) Party Bs proposal did not sufficiently limit regulatory uncertainty associated with a potential strategic transaction with 21CF and (3) the 21CF board believed, based on the advice it received from Goldman Sachs that the probability of Disneys stock trading toward the higher ends of the range on a pro forma basis could be viewed as higher than such a likelihood for Party B; |
| regulatory agencies may object to and challenge the transactions or may impose terms and conditions in order to resolve those objections that adversely affect the financial results of Disney or New Fox or that permit Disney to terminate the combination merger agreement, subject to its obligation to pay to 21CF a reverse termination fee of $2.5 billion; |
| changes in the regulatory landscape or new industry developments, including changes in consumer preferences, may adversely affect the business benefits anticipated to result from the transactions; |
| 21CF stockholders or Disney stockholders, as applicable, may fail to approve the proposals at the 21CF special meeting or the Disney special meeting; |
| even if the proposals are approved by the 21CF stockholders and the Disney stockholders, there can be no assurance that all other conditions to the parties obligations to complete the transactions would be satisfied; |
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| under specified circumstances, 21CF may be required to pay a $1.525 billion termination fee in the event the combination merger agreement is terminated and the effect this could have on 21CF, including the possibility that the existence of the termination fee obligation could discourage other potential parties from making a competing proposal, although the 21CF board believed that the termination fee was reasonable in amount and would not unduly deter any other party that might be interested in making a competing proposal; |
| the provisions of the combination merger agreement that require 21CF to give Disney the opportunity to propose revisions to the terms of the transactions contemplated by the combination merger agreement prior to 21CF being permitted to terminate the combination merger agreement to accept a superior proposal; |
| the combination merger agreement does not preclude Disney from responding to and negotiating certain unsolicited alternative transaction proposals for Disney from third parties made prior to the time Disney stockholders adopt the combination merger agreement, in each case subject to rights of 21CF that are reciprocal to the rights of Disney with respect to competing and superior proposals for 21CF and/or its assets; |
| the combination merger agreement provides for parallel rights of Disneys board to change its recommendation or terminate the merger agreement, subject to a $1.525 billion termination fee; |
| the $2.5 billion reverse termination fee payable to 21CF if the parties are unable to obtain regulatory approvals is not available in all instances when the combination merger agreement is terminated and may be 21CFs only recourse when it is available; |
| 21CFs hook stock shares may not be eliminated prior to closing, in which case Disneys obligation to complete the transactions may be subject to receipt of certain legal comfort with respect to the tax treatment of the hook stock shares in the transactions; |
| the potential implications stemming from new tax legislation that was proposed at the time of the 21CF boards determinations; |
| the challenges and difficulties, foreseen and unforeseen, relating to the separation of New Fox from 21CF, including uncertainties with respect to the trading value, and long-term growth prospects, of New Fox; and |
| the risks of the type and nature described under Risk Factors beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus and the matters described under Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus. |
The foregoing discussion of the factors considered by the 21CF board is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather includes the principal factors considered by the 21CF board. In view of the wide variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the transactions, and the complexity of these matters, the 21CF board did not find it useful and did not attempt to quantify or assign any relative or specific weights to the various factors that it considered in reaching its determination to declare advisable, approve and authorize entry into the combination merger agreement and to make its recommendations to 21CF stockholders. In addition, individual members of the 21CF board may have given differing weights to different factors. The 21CF board was aware that certain 21CF directors and officers had interests that were different from, or in addition to, those of 21CF stockholders generally, which are described in the section entitled Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus, and considered them, among other things, in evaluating the combination merger agreement and the transactions and in recommending that the 21CF stockholders adopt the combination merger agreement. The 21CF board conducted an overall review of the factors described above, including thorough discussions with 21CFs management and outside legal and financial advisors.
In considering the recommendations of the 21CF board to approve the combination merger proposal, the distribution merger proposal, the hook stock charter amendment proposal, the stock split charter amendment
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proposal, the 21CF adjournment proposal and the compensation proposal, 21CF stockholders should be aware that 21CFs directors may have interests in the transactions that are different from, or in addition to, those of 21CF stockholders generally. For additional information, see the section entitled Interests of 21CFs Directors and Executive Officers in the Transactions beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
The explanations and certain information presented in this section are forward-looking in nature and, therefore, the information should be read in light of the factors discussed in the section entitled Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements beginning on page [●] of this joint proxy statement/prospectus.
Opinion of 21CFs Financial Advisor
Opinion of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
At a meeting of the 21CF board held on December 13, 2017, Goldman Sachs delivered to the 21CF board its oral opinion, subsequently confirmed in writing, to the effect that, as of December 13, 2017, and based upon and subject to the factors and assumptions set forth in Goldman Sachs written opinion, the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock pursuant to the combination merger agreement was fair from a financial point of view to the 21CF stockholders (other than Disney and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate. The exchange ratio is subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.02 of the combination merger agreement, as to which Goldman Sachs expressed no opinion.
The full text of the written opinion of Goldman Sachs, dated December 13, 2017, which sets forth the assumptions made, procedures followed, matters considered, qualifications and limitations on the review undertaken in connection with the opinion, is attached to this joint proxy statement / prospectus as Annex G. The summary of Goldman Sachs opinion contained in this joint proxy statement / prospectus is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of Goldman Sachs written opinion. Goldman Sachs advisory services and opinion were provided for the information and assistance of the 21CF board in connection with its consideration of the transactions and the opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to how any 21CF stockholder should vote with respect to the transactions or any other matter.
In connection with delivering the opinion described above and performing its related financial analyses, Goldman Sachs reviewed, among other things:
| the combination merger agreement; |
| annual reports to stockholders and Annual Reports on Form 10-K of 21CF for the five fiscal years ended June 30, 2017 and of Disney for the five fiscal years ended September 30, 2017; |
| certain interim reports to stockholders and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q of 21CF and Disney; |
| certain other communications from 21CF and Disney to their respective stockholders; |
| certain publicly available research analyst reports for 21CF and Disney; |
| the 21CF forecasts, which are summarized below under The TransactionsCertain 21CF Forecasts, and which include certain internal financial analyses and forecasts for RemainCo and certain financial analyses and forecasts for Sky (which were derived from publicly available third-party research dated September 2016 and Sky filings, were not provided by Sky, have not been disclosed with the cooperation or agreement of Sky, are not consensus forecasts and, other than certain extrapolations (as described below), do not reflect independent determinations by 21CF management) and Hulu, LLC, entities in which 21CF holds equity investments provided by the management of 21CF, as approved for Goldman Sachs use by 21CF, and certain operating synergies projected by the management of 21CF to result from the transactions, as approved for Goldman Sachs use by 21CF, which we refer to as the Synergies; and |
| the Disney pro forma forecasts, which are summarized below under The TransactionsCertain Disney Forecasts, and which include certain financial analyses and forecasts for Disney pro forma for the transactions, which we refer to as pro forma Disney, as approved for Goldman Sachs use by 21CF. |
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Goldman Sachs also held discussions with members of the senior managements of 21CF and Disney regarding their assessment of the strategic rationale for, and the potential benefits of, the transactions and the past and current business operations, financial condition and future prospects of 21CF and Disney; reviewed the reported price and trading activity for 21CF common stock and Disney common stock; compared certain financial and stock market information for 21CF and Disney with similar information for certain other companies the securities of which are publicly traded; reviewed the financial terms of certain recent business combinations in the media and entertainment industry and in other industries; and performed such other studies and analyses, and considered such other factors, as it deemed appropriate.
For purposes of rendering this opinion, Goldman Sachs, with the consent of the 21CF board, relied upon and assumed the accuracy and completeness of all of the financial, legal, regulatory, tax, accounting and other information provided to, discussed with or reviewed by, Goldman Sachs, without assuming any responsibility for independent verification thereof. In that regard, Goldman Sachs assumed with the consent of the 21CF board that the 21CF forecasts, including the Synergies, have been reasonably prepared on a basis reflecting the best currently available estimates and judgments of the management of 21CF. Goldman Sachs did not make an independent evaluation or appraisal of the assets and liabilities (including any contingent, derivative or other off-balance-sheet assets and liabilities) of 21CF, New Fox or Disney or any of their respective subsidiaries and Goldman Sachs was not furnished with any such evaluation or appraisal. Goldman Sachs assumed that all governmental, regulatory or other consents and approvals necessary for the consummation of the transactions would be obtained without any adverse effect on 21CF or Disney or on the expected benefits of the transactions in any way meaningful to its analysis. Goldman Sachs also assumed that the separation agreement and distribution merger agreement would reflect the terms and conditions thereof set forth in the separation principles and the combination merger agreement, without any amendments or modifications or any other terms or condition the effect of which would be in any way meaningful to its analysis. Goldman Sachs assumed that the transactions would be consummated on the terms set forth in the combination merger agreement, without the waiver or modification of any term or condition the effect of which would be in any way meaningful to its analysis.
Goldman Sachs opinion does not address the underlying business decision of 21CF to engage in the transactions, or the relative merits of the transactions as compared to any strategic alternatives that may be available to 21CF, including a potential transaction proposed by a third party that may have resulted in greater value per share than that implied by the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock, which proposed transaction 21CF advised Goldman Sachs, 21CF determined not to pursue as a result of, among other things, certain issues relating to the certainty of the consummation of that transaction and of the value to be received by the 21CF stockholders in connection with that transaction; nor does it address any legal, regulatory, tax or accounting matters. Goldman Sachs opinion addresses only the fairness from a financial point of view to the 21CF stockholders (other than Disney and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate, as of the date of the opinion, of the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF stock pursuant to the combination merger agreement. Goldman Sachs did not express any view on, and its opinion does not address, any other term or aspect of the combination merger agreement or the transactions or any term or aspect of any other agreement or instrument contemplated by the combination merger agreement or entered into or amended in connection with the transactions, including the separation agreement, distribution merger agreement and the commercial agreements and the transactions contemplated thereby, the allocation of the shares of Disney common stock to be issued pursuant to the combination merger agreement among the 21CF stockholders, or the fairness of the transactions to, or any consideration received in connection therewith by, the holders of any other class of securities, creditors, or other constituencies of 21CF; nor as to the fairness of the amount or nature of any compensation to be paid or payable to any of the officers, directors or employees of 21CF, or class of such persons, in connection with the transactions, whether relative to the exchange ratio pursuant to the combination merger agreement or otherwise. Goldman Sachs did not express any opinion as to the prices at which shares of Disney common stock or the shares of any class of common stock of New Fox will trade at any time or as to the impact of the transactions on the solvency or viability of 21CF, New Fox or Disney or the ability of 21CF, New Fox or Disney to pay their
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respective obligations when they come due. Goldman Sachs opinion was necessarily based on economic, monetary, market and other conditions as in effect on, and the information made available to Goldman Sachs as of, the date of the opinion and Goldman Sachs assumed no responsibility for updating, revising or reaffirming this opinion based on circumstances, developments or events occurring after the date of the opinion. Goldman Sachs advisory services and its opinion were provided for the information and assistance of the 21CF board in connection with its consideration of the transactions and such opinion does not constitute a recommendation as to how any 21CF stockholders should vote with respect to the transactions or any other matter. Goldman Sachs opinion was approved by a fairness committee of Goldman Sachs.
Summary of Financial Analyses
The following is a summary of the material financial analyses presented by Goldman Sachs to the 21CF board in connection with delivering the opinion described above. The following summary, however, does not purport to be a complete description of the financial analyses performed by Goldman Sachs, nor does the order of analyses described represent relative importance or weight given to those analyses by Goldman Sachs. Some of the summaries of the financial analyses include information presented in tabular format. The tables must be read together with the full text of each summary and are alone not a complete description of Goldman Sachs financial analyses. Except as otherwise noted, the following quantitative information, to the extent that it is based on market data, is based on market data as it existed on or before December 11, 2017 and is not necessarily indicative of current or future market conditions.
Implied Value and Multiple Analysis
Goldman Sachs calculated an implied value of $29.32 for the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock by multiplying the closing price of $106.83 per share of Disney common stock on December 11, 2017, by 0.2745. Goldman Sachs then multiplied (i) the implied value of $29.32 for the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock by (ii) the total number of fully diluted shares of 21CF outstanding as of September 30, 2017, calculated using information provided by 21CFs management, added the net debt and minority interests to the product of (i) and (ii) above, and subtracted the value of the unconsolidated assets (including the 30% interest in Hulu, LLC but excluding the 39% interest in Sky), of RemainCo, in each case as of September 30, 2017, based on information provided by 21CFs management, and subtracted the value of 21CFs 39% interest in Sky implied by a share price of £10.75 (offer price of the Sky acquisition) converted to USD using a 1.32 USD per GBP exchange ratio per 21CFs management, to derive an implied enterprise value for the core consolidated assets of RemainCo.
Using the foregoing, Goldman Sachs calculated the implied enterprise value for the core consolidated assets of RemainCo as a multiple of estimated calendar year 2018 earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, which we refer to as EBITDA, for RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC, Sky and other unconsolidated assets), which we refer to as the Core EV / 2018E EBITDA Multiple, using estimated 2018 EBITDA excluding Synergies and estimated 2018 EBITDA including Synergies, as reflected in the 21CF forecasts.
The resulting calculations were as follows:
Implied Core EV / 2018E EBITDA Multiples | ||||
2018E EBITDA Excluding Synergies |
12.5x | |||
2018E EBITDA Including Synergies |
8.7x |
Illustrative Discounted Cash Flow Analysis.
Using the 21CF forecasts, Goldman Sachs performed an illustrative discounted cash flow analysis on RemainCo and on pro forma Disney to derive a range of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo and per share of pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2017.
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RemainCo. Using a mid-year convention and discount rates ranging from 7.5% to 8.5%, reflecting estimates of RemainCos weighted average cost of capital, Goldman Sachs discounted to present value as of September 30, 2017 (i) estimates of the unlevered free cash flow to be generated by RemainCo for the period from October 1, 2017 to June 30, 2022, derived from the 21CF forecasts (which reflected a tax rate for RemainCo of approximately 33%) and (ii) a range of illustrative terminal values for RemainCo as of June 30, 2022, calculated by applying perpetuity growth rates ranging from 2.0% to 2.5% to the estimate of the terminal year unlevered free cash flow of RemainCo, derived from the 21CF forecasts (which analysis implied exit terminal year EBITDA multiples ranging from 8.3x to 10.9x). Goldman Sachs derived such discount rates by application of the capital asset pricing model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including the companys target capital structure weightings, the cost of long-term debt, after-tax yield on permanent excess cash, if any, future applicable marginal cash tax rate and a beta for the company, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally. The range of perpetuity growth rates was estimated by Goldman Sachs utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account the 21CF forecasts and market expectations regarding long-term real growth of gross domestic product and inflation. Goldman Sachs derived a range of illustrative enterprise values for RemainCo by adding the ranges of present values it derived as described above. To calculate estimates of unlevered free cash flow, Goldman Sachs used levered free cash flow, as provided by 21CF, added back interest expense and subtracted stock-based compensation expenses, dividends received and investments, as set forth in the 21CF forecasts and approved for Goldman Sachs use by 21CF. Goldman Sachs also used a tax rate as approved for Goldman Sachs use by 21CF. Goldman Sachs then subtracted from the range of illustrative enterprise values net debt and minority interests and added the value of the unconsolidated assets (including the 30% interest in Hulu, LLC, but excluding the 39% interest in Sky), of RemainCo, in each case as of September 30, 2017, and added the market value of 21CFs 39% interest in Sky as of December 11, 2017 converted to USD using a 1.32 USD per GBP exchange ratio per 21CFs management, to derive a range of illustrative equity values for RemainCo. Goldman Sachs divided the range of illustrative equity values by the total number of fully diluted shares of 21CF outstanding as of September 30, 2017, calculated using information provided by 21CFs management, to derive a range of implied present values per share of RemainCo of $25.36 to $33.36.
Pro Forma Disney. Using a mid-year convention and discount rates ranging from 7.75% to 8.75%, reflecting estimates of pro forma Disneys weighted average cost of capital, Goldman Sachs discounted to present value as of September 30, 2018, which Goldman Sachs assumed, at the direction of 21CF management, to be the date of the closing of the proposed transaction (i) estimates of the unlevered free cash flow to be generated by pro forma Disney for the period from October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2023, derived from the Disney pro forma forecasts (which reflected a tax rate for pro forma Disney of 34%) and (ii) a range of illustrative terminal values for pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2023, calculated by applying perpetuity growth rates ranging from 2.25% to 2.75% to the estimate of the terminal year unlevered free cash flow of pro forma Disney, derived from the Disney pro forma forecasts (which analysis implied exit terminal year EBITDA multiples of 8.7x to 11.3x). Goldman Sachs derived such discount rates by application of the capital asset pricing model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including the companys target capital structure weightings, the cost of long-term debt, after-tax yield on permanent excess cash, if any, future applicable marginal cash tax rate and a beta for the company, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally. The range of perpetuity growth rates was estimated by Goldman Sachs utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account the Disney pro forma forecasts and market expectations regarding long-term real growth of gross domestic product and inflation. Goldman Sachs derived a range of illustrative enterprise values for pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2018, by adding the ranges of present values it derived as described above. Goldman Sachs then subtracted from the range of illustrative enterprise values the estimated net debt and minority interests and added the value of the unconsolidated assets (including the 60% interest in Hulu, LLC but excluding the 39% interest in Sky), of pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2018 and added the value of 21CFs 39% interest in Sky implied by a share price of £10.75 (offer price of the Sky acquisition) converted to USD using a 1.32 USD per GBP exchange ratio per 21CFs management, to derive a range of illustrative equity values for pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2018. Goldman Sachs then divided the range of illustrative equity values by the total number of fully diluted shares of pro forma Disney expected to be outstanding as of September 30, 2018, using information approved for Goldman Sachs use by 21CF
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management, to derive a range of implied values per share of pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2018. Goldman Sachs then discounted the resulting range of implied values per share of pro forma Disney described above to present value as of September 30, 2017, using a discount rate of 9.75%, reflecting an estimate of pro forma Disneys cost of equity, to derive a range of implied present values per share of pro forma Disney. Goldman Sachs derived such discount rate by application of the capital asset pricing model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including a beta for the company, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally. Goldman Sachs multiplied the range of implied present values per share of pro forma Disney by the exchange ratio of 0.2745 to derive a range of implied present values of $29.54 to $39.06 for the 0.2745 shares of Disney to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock in the transactions.
Illustrative Present Value of Future Stock Price Analysis.
RemainCo. Goldman Sachs performed an illustrative analysis to derive a range of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo as of September 30, 2017 based on theoretical future prices calculated by Goldman Sachs for the shares of RemainCo common stock. Using the 21CF forecasts, Goldman Sachs first derived a range of theoretical enterprise values for the core consolidated assets of RemainCo as of the end of 21CFs fiscal year ending June 30 of each of 2019 through 2021 (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky), by applying illustrative one year forward enterprise value to EBITDA multiples ranging from 9.0x to 11.0x to an estimate of EBITDA for RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) for the following fiscal year, as reflected in the 21CF forecasts. These illustrative multiple estimates were derived by Goldman Sachs utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account historical average EBITDA multiples for 21CF common stock during the 5-year period ended December 11, 2017, current and historical trading data and the current EBITDA multiples for 21CF. Goldman Sachs then calculated a range of theoretical equity values of RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as of the end of 21CFs fiscal year ending June 30 of each of 2019 through 2021, by subtracting an estimate of RemainCos net debt and minority interests and added an estimate of the value of the unconsolidated assets (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as of the end of each such fiscal year, as reflected in the 21CF forecasts. Goldman Sachs then calculated a range of theoretical prices per share of RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as of the end of 21CFs fiscal year ending June 30 of each of 2019 through 2021, by dividing the range of theoretical future equity values it derived as described above by the total number of fully diluted shares of RemainCo estimated to be outstanding as of the end of each such fiscal year, as reflected in the 21CF forecasts. Using an illustrative discount rate of 9.75%, reflecting an estimate of RemainCos cost of equity, Goldman Sachs discounted to present value as of September 30, 2017 the range of theoretical future prices per share it derived for RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as described above to yield a range of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky). Goldman Sachs derived such discount rate by application of the capital asset pricing model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including a beta for the company, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally.
Goldman Sachs separately derived ranges of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo of 21CFs 30% interest in Hulu, LLC and its 39% interest in Sky based on ranges of theoretical equity values it derived for Hulu, LLC and Sky. Goldman Sachs derived ranges of theoretical equity values for Hulu, LLC by applying illustrative one year forward enterprise value to revenue multiples ranging from 2.0x to 3.0x, derived by Goldman Sachs utilizing its professional judgment and experience, to estimates of revenue for Hulu, LLC for future years as reflected in the 21CF forecasts and discounting the result to September 30, 2017, by applying illustrative discount rates ranging from 12.5% to 15.0%, reflecting estimates of Hulu, LLCs cost of equity. Goldman Sachs derived such range of discount rates by application of the capital asset pricing model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including a beta, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally. Goldman Sachs derived ranges of theoretical equity values for Sky by applying illustrative one year forward enterprise value to EBITDA multiples ranging from 8.5x to 10.5x, derived by Goldman Sachs utilizing its professional judgment and experience, to estimates of EBITDA for Sky for future years as reflected in the 21CF forecasts and discounting the result to September 30, 2017, by applying an illustrative discount rate of 7.75%, reflecting an estimate of Skys cost of equity. Goldman Sachs derived such
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discount rate by application of the capital asset pricing model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including a beta for the company, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally.
Goldman Sachs added the range it derived of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) and the ranges it derived of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo of 21CFs 30% interest in Hulu, LLC and its 39% interest in Sky as of September 30, 2017. This yielded a range of illustrative present values per share of RemainCo of $22.54 to $34.43.
Pro Forma Disney. Goldman Sachs performed an illustrative analysis to derive a range of illustrative present values of 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney as of September 30, 2017 based on theoretical future prices calculated by Goldman Sachs for the shares of pro forma Disney multiplied by the exchange ratio of 0.2745. Using the Disney pro forma forecasts, Goldman Sachs first derived a range of theoretical enterprise values of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as of the end of Disneys fiscal year ending September 30 of each of 2019 through 2021, by applying illustrative one year forward enterprise value to EBITDA multiples ranging from 9.5x to 11.5x to an estimate of pro forma Disneys EBITDA (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) for the following fiscal year, as reflected in the Disney pro forma forecasts (which reflected 21CFs managements assumption that pro forma Disney would repurchase $20 billion of shares of pro forma Disney in fiscal year 2019 at the average price of the share prices at the end of fiscal years 2018 and 2019 implied by the illustrative multiple range of 9.5x to 11.5x). These illustrative multiple estimates were derived by Goldman Sachs utilizing its professional judgment and experience, taking into account historical average EBITDA multiples for Disney common stock during the 5-year period ended December 11, 2017, current and historical trading data and the current EBITDA multiples for Disney. Goldman Sachs then calculated a range of theoretical equity values of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as of the end of Disneys fiscal year ending September 30 of each of 2019 through 2021, by subtracting an estimate of pro forma Disneys net debt and minority interests and added an estimate of the value of the unconsolidated assets (excluding the interests in Sky and Hulu, LLC) as of the end of each such fiscal year, as reflected in the Disney pro forma forecasts. Goldman Sachs then calculated a range of theoretical prices per share of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) as of the end of Disneys fiscal year ending September 30 of each of 2019 through 2021, by dividing the range of theoretical future equity values it derived as described above by the total number of fully diluted shares of pro forma Disney estimated to be outstanding as of the end of each such fiscal year, as reflected in the Disney pro forma forecasts. Goldman Sachs multiplied this range of theoretical future prices per share of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) by the exchange ratio of 0.2745 to derive a range of theoretical future prices for 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky). Using an illustrative discount rate of 9.75%, reflecting an estimate of pro forma Disneys cost of equity, Goldman Sachs discounted to present value as of September 30, 2017, the range of theoretical future prices for 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky) to yield a range of illustrative present values for 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu, LLC and Sky). Goldman Sachs derived such discount rate by application of the Capital Asset Pricing Model, which requires certain company-specific inputs, including a beta for the company, as well as certain financial metrics for the United States financial markets generally.
Goldman Sachs separately derived ranges of illustrative present values for 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney of the 60% interest in Hulu LLC and the 39% interest in Sky using the same methodologies as described above.
Goldman Sachs added the range it derived of illustrative present values for 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney (excluding the interests in Hulu LLC and Sky) and the ranges it derived of illustrative present values for 0.2745 shares of pro forma Disney of the 60% interest in Hulu LLC and the 39% interest in Sky. This yielded a range of illustrative present values of $29.49 to $37.94 for the 0.2745 shares of Disney to be paid for each share of 21CF common stock in the transactions.
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Selected Precedent Transactions Analysis.
Goldman Sachs analyzed certain publicly available information relating to the selected acquisition transactions listed below announced since January 2006 involving target companies in the media and entertainment industry:
Announcement |
Target |
Acquirer |
Enterprise Value / Forward EBITDA |
|||||
July 2017 |
Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc. | Discovery Communications, Inc. | 10.0x | |||||
December 2016 |
Sky | Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. | 11.2x | |||||
October 2016 |
Time Warner Inc. | AT&T Inc. | 12.2x | |||||
June 2016 |
Starz Inc. | Lions Gate Entertainment Corp. | 9.8x | |||||
April 2016 |
DreamWorks Animations SKG, Inc. | Comcast Corporation | 33.6x | |||||
July 2014 |
Time Warner Inc. | Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc. | 11.6x | |||||
February 2013 |
NBCUniversal Media, LLC (49%) | Comcast Corporation | 8.9x | |||||
December 2012 |
Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network | News Corporation | 12.0x | |||||
December 2009 |
NBCUniversal, Inc. (Now Known As: NBCUniversal Media, LLC) (51%) | Comcast Corporation | 12.3x | |||||
August 2009 |
Marvel Entertainment, Inc. | The Walt Disney Company | 19.6x | |||||
January 2006 |
Pixar Animation Studios | The Walt Disney Company | 31.2x |
While none of the companies that participated in the selected transactions are directly comparable to RemainCo, the target companies that participated in the selected transactions are companies with operations that, for the purposes of analysis, may be considered similar to certain of RemainCos results, market size and services profile.
Using publically available information, for each of the selected transactions, Goldman Sachs calculated the implied enterprise value of the applicable target company based on the consideration paid in the applicable transaction, as a multiple of the estimated EBITDA as of the announcement date for the target companys next four quarter period, which we refer to as NTM EBITDA (other than Time Warner, Inc., Yankees Entertainment and Sports (YES) Network, NBCUniversal, Inc. and Pixar Animation Studios, for which NTM EBITDA was calculated as fiscal year 2017 estimated EBITDA, fiscal year 2013 estimated EBITDA, fiscal year 2010 EBITDA and fiscal year 2006 EBITDA, respectively). The results of these calculations are set forth below.
Enterprise Value / Forward EBITDA |
||||
High |
33.6x | |||
Low |
8.9x | |||
Median |
12.0x |
Based on the results of the foregoing calculations and Goldman Sachs analyses of the various transactions and its professional judgment, Goldman Sachs applied a reference range of NTM EBITDA multiples of 10.0x to
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12.2x to RemainCos estimated EBITDA for calendar year 2018, as reflected in the 21CF forecasts, to derive a range of implied enterprise values for RemainCo. Goldman Sachs subtracted from the range of implied enterprise values the net debt and minority interests and added the value of the unconsolidated assets (including the 30% interest in Hulu, LLC but excluding the 39% interest in Sky), of RemainCo, in each case as of September 30, 2017, added the value of 21CFs 39% interest in Sky implied by a share price of £10.75 (offer price of the Sky acquisition) converted to USD using a 1.32 USD per GBP exchange ratio per 21CFs management, and divided the result by the total number of fully diluted shares of 21CF outstanding as of September 30, 2017, calculated using information provided by 21CF management, to derive a reference range of implied values per share of RemainCo of $23.43 to $28.98.
General
The preparation of a fairness opinion is a complex process and is not necessarily susceptible to partial analysis or summary description. Selecting portions of the analyses or of the summary set forth above, without considering the analyses as a whole, could create an incomplete view of the processes underlying Goldman Sachs opinion. In arriving at its fairness determination, Goldman Sachs considered the results of all of its analyses and did not attribute any particular weight to any factor or analysis considered by it. Rather, Goldman Sachs made its determination as to fairness on the basis of its experience and professional judgment after considering the results of all of its analyses. No company or transaction used in the above analyses as a comparison is directly comparable to 21CF or the transactions.
Goldman Sachs prepared these analyses for purposes of providing its opinion to the 21CF board as to the fairness from a financial point of view to the 21CF stockholders (other than Disney and its affiliates), taken in the aggregate, as of the date of the opinion, of the exchange ratio of 0.2745 shares of Disney common stock to be paid for each share of 21CF pursuant to the combination merger agreement. These analyses do not purport to be appraisals nor do they necessarily reflect the prices at which businesses or securities actually may be sold. Analyses based upon projections of future results are not necessarily indicative of actual future results, which may be significantly more or less favorable than suggested by these analyses. Because these analyses are inherently subject to uncertainty, being based upon numerous factors or events beyond the control of the parties or their respective advisors, none of 21CF, Goldman Sachs or any other person assumes responsibility if future results are materially different from those forecast.
The exchange ratio was determined through arms-length negotiations between 21CF and Disney and was approved by the 21CF board. Goldman Sachs provided advice to 21CF during these negotiations. Goldman Sachs did not, however, recommend any specific exchange ratio to 21CF or the 21CF board or that any specific exchange ratio constituted the only appropriate exchange ratio for the transactions.
As described above, Goldman Sachs opinion was one of many factors taken into consideration by the 21CF board in making its determination to approve the transactions. The foregoing summary does not purport to be a complete description of the analyses performed by Goldman Sachs in connection with the delivery of its fairness opinion to the 21CF board and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the written opinion of Goldman Sachs attached as Annex G to this joint proxy statement / prospectus.
Goldman Sachs and its affiliates are engaged in advisory, underwriting and financing, principal investing, sales and trading, research, investment management and other financial and non-financial activities and services for various persons and entities. Goldman Sachs and its affiliates and employees, and funds or other entities they manage or in which they invest or have other economic interests or with which they co-invest, may at any time purchase, sell, hold or vote long or short positions and investments in securities, derivatives, loans, commodities, currencies, credit default swaps and other financial instruments of 21CF, Disney, any of their respective affiliates and third parties, or any currency or commodity that may be involved in the transactions. Goldman Sachs has acted as financial advisor to 21CF in connection with, and has participated in certain of the negotiations leading to, the transactions. Goldman Sachs expects to receive fees for its services in connection with the transactions,
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the principal portion of which is contingent upon consummation of the transactions, and 21CF has agreed to reimburse certain of Goldman Sachs expenses arising, and indemnify Goldman Sachs against certain liabilities that may arise, out of Goldman Sachs engagement. At the request of 21CF, an affiliate of Goldman Sachs has entered into financing commitments to provide New Fox with a Senior Unsecured 364 Day Bridge Facility (aggregate principal amount of $9 billion) in connection with the consummation of the transactions, subject to the terms of such commitments. An affiliate of Goldman Sachs may also act as a lead underwriter, initial purchaser, placement agent, arranger and bookrunner in connection with New Foxs possible incurrence of permanent debt financing. The actual amount of aggregate fees received and to be received by Goldman Sachs and its affiliates in connection with this debt financing will depend upon, among other things, the timing of reductions of the bridge loan commitments, New Foxs credit rating and the issuance costs for such debt financing. 21CF estimates that Goldman Sachs and its affiliates will in the aggregate receive approximately $47 million in fees in connection with the bridge loan facility and permanent debt financing. This estimate is based on various assumptions, includi