UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
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Quarterly Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 for the Quarterly Period Ended: |
MARCH 31, 2002
OR
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Transition Report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 for the Transition Period from ___________ to ___________ |
Commission File Number 0-24792
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC
| Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
13-4086747 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
110 East 59th Street
New York, NY 10022
(212) 906-8440
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding twelve months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such requirements for the past 90 days.
| Yes |
|
No | ![]() |
As of June 28, 2002, there were 800,000 shares of the Registrants common membership interests outstanding. The Registrant is an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of NTL Incorporated and there is no market for the Registrants membership interests. The Registrant meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction H (1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-Q and is therefore filing this form with the reduced disclosure format.
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||||
| Number | ||||||
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
||||||
Item 1. Financial Statements |
||||||
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2002 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2001 |
2 | |||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 (Unaudited) |
3 | |||||
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders Equity for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 (Unaudited) |
4 | |||||
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Three Months Ended March 31, 2002 and 2001 (Unaudited) |
5 | |||||
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) |
6 - 16 | |||||
Item 2. Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |
17 - 28 | |||||
Risk Factors |
28 | |||||
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION |
||||||
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K |
33 | |||||
SIGNATURES |
34 | |||||
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| March 31, | December 31, | ||||||||||
| 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||||
| (Unaudited) | (See Note) | ||||||||||
| (in £000s, except share data) | |||||||||||
Assets |
|||||||||||
Current assets |
|||||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
£45,706 | £34,927 | |||||||||
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
£10,356 (2002) and £9,921 (2001) |
23,414 | 24,962 | |||||||||
Other current assets |
6,221 | 7,160 | |||||||||
Total current assets |
75,341 | 67,049 | |||||||||
Property and equipment, net |
468,141 | 473,476 | |||||||||
Intangible assets, net |
59,078 | 62,204 | |||||||||
| £602,560 | £602,729 | ||||||||||
Liabilities and shareholders equity |
|||||||||||
Current liabilities |
|||||||||||
Accounts payable and accrued expenses |
£36,962 | £43,578 | |||||||||
Interest payable |
15,247 | 4,980 | |||||||||
Deferred revenue |
14,131 | 11,592 | |||||||||
Due to affiliates |
13,492 | 3,265 | |||||||||
Current portion of long-term debt |
365,715 | 358,781 | |||||||||
Total current liabilities |
445,547 | 422,196 | |||||||||
Loans from affiliate |
70,614 | 67,956 | |||||||||
Long-term debt, less current portion |
| | |||||||||
Commitments and contingent liabilities |
|||||||||||
Deferred income taxes |
5,314 | 5,519 | |||||||||
Shareholders equity: |
|||||||||||
Common membership interests, £.01 par value authorized and issued
800,000 shares |
8 | 8 | |||||||||
Additional capital |
493,537 | 493,537 | |||||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income |
(205 | ) | (205 | ) | |||||||
(Accumulated deficit) |
(412,255 | ) | (386,282 | ) | |||||||
Total shareholders equity |
81,085 | 107,058 | |||||||||
| £602,560 | £602,729 | ||||||||||
Note: The balance sheet at December 31, 2001 has been derived from the audited financial statements at that date.
See accompanying notes.
2
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | |||||||||
| March 31, | |||||||||
| 2002 | 2001 | ||||||||
| (in £000s) | |||||||||
Revenue |
£47,120 | £42,043 | |||||||
Costs and expenses |
|||||||||
Operating |
22,733 | 19,609 | |||||||
Selling, general and administrative |
16,205 | 22,855 | |||||||
Other charges |
1,113 | | |||||||
Depreciation and amortization |
15,255 | 24,923 | |||||||
| 55,306 | 67,387 | ||||||||
Operating loss |
(8,186 | ) | (25,344 | ) | |||||
Other income (expense) |
|||||||||
Interest expense |
(10,210 | ) | (9,799 | ) | |||||
Interest expense to affiliate |
(750 | ) | (538 | ) | |||||
Investment income |
384 | 119 | |||||||
Exchange (losses) |
(7,418 | ) | (19,157 | ) | |||||
| (17,994 | ) | (29,375 | ) | ||||||
Loss before income taxes |
(26,180 | ) | (54,719 | ) | |||||
Income tax benefit |
207 | | |||||||
Net loss |
£(25,973 | ) | £(54,719 | ) | |||||
See accompanying notes.
3
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY
(Unaudited)
(in 000s)
| Accumulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compre- | Other Compre- | (Accum- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Common | Additional | hensive | hensive | ulated | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shares | Par | Capital | Loss | (Loss) | Deficit) | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at December 31, 2001 |
800 | £8 | £493,537 | £ | (205) | £(386,282 | ) | £107,058 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net loss |
£(25,973 | ) | (25,973 | ) | (25,973 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Comprehensive loss |
£(25,973 | ) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance at March 31, 2002 |
800 | £8 | £493,537 | £ | (205) | £(412,255 | ) | £81,085 | |||||||||||||||||||||
See accompanying notes.
4
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||
| March 31, | ||||||||||
| 2002 | 2001 | |||||||||
| (in £000s) | ||||||||||
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities |
£19,395 | £(3,231 | ) | |||||||
Investing activities |
||||||||||
Capital expenditures |
(10,885 | ) | (12,039 | ) | ||||||
Net cash used in investing activities |
(10,885 | ) | (12,039 | ) | ||||||
Financing activities |
||||||||||
Loans from affiliate |
2,706 | 20,576 | ||||||||
Principal payments |
(431 | ) | (314 | ) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
2,275 | 20,262 | ||||||||
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash |
(6 | ) | (15 | ) | ||||||
Increase in cash and cash equivalents |
10,779 | 4,977 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period |
34,927 | 4,706 | ||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period |
£45,706 | £9,683 | ||||||||
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information |
||||||||||
Cash paid during the period for interest |
£ | £ | ||||||||
| See accompanying notes. | ||
5
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
1. Basis of Presentation
| The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of NTL (Triangle) LLC (formerly NTL (Bermuda) Limited) (NTL Triangle or the Company) have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2002 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2002. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Companys Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2001. |
| The Company is an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of NTL Incorporated (NTL Incorporated and, together with its consolidated subsidiaries, NTL). |
| As indicated below, substantial doubt exists about the Companys ability to continue as a going concern. The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared assuming the Company will continue as going concern. The financial statements do not include any adjustments to reflect the possible future effects on the recoverability of assets or classification of assets or the amounts and classification of liabilities that may result from the outcome of this uncertainty. |
| Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current presentation. |
2. Recapitalization Process and Ability to Continue Operations
| On May 8, 2002, NTL Incorporated, NTL (Delaware), Inc., NTL Communications Corp., Diamond Cable Communications Limited, Diamond Holdings Limited and Communications Cable Funding Corp. filed an arranged joint reorganization plan under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code (referred to as the proposed recapitalization plan). NTL Triangle and NTLs operating subsidiaries were not included in the Chapter 11 filing. Toward the end of 2001, while NTL continued to have sufficient liquidity to meet its near term obligations, it recognized the negative impact of the collapsing European and U.S. telecommunications markets on its ability to service its debt. Accordingly, NTL began to implement a strategy to preserve and maximize its enterprise value. This strategy included the implementation of cost-cutting measures and the commencement of discussions with certain third parties regarding strategic alternatives for NTLs business. |
| The Company historically incurred operating losses and negative operating cash flow. In addition, the Company has required significant amounts of capital to finance construction of its networks, connection of customers to the networks, other capital expenditures and for working capital needs including debt service requirements. The Company historically met these liquidity requirements through issuances of high-yield debt securities in the capital markets and equity contributions and loans from NTL Communications Corp. Both the equity and debt capital markets have recently experienced periods of significant volatility, particularly for securities issued by telecommunications and technology companies. The ability of telecommunications companies to access those markets as well as their ability to obtain financing provided by bank lenders and equipment suppliers has become more restricted and financing costs have increased. During some recent periods, the capital markets have been largely unavailable to new issues of securities by telecommunications companies. NTL Incorporateds public equity is no longer trading on the New York Stock Exchange, and NTLs public debt securities are trading at or near all time lows. These factors, together with NTLs substantial leverage, means the Company does not currently have access to its historic sources of capital. |
6
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
| In addition, NTLs UK credit facilities are fully drawn. The revolving tranche of the Cablecom credit facility has been capped at its utilized amount of CHF 1,055.0 million although the availability may be increased with the consent of the requisite majority of the lenders under that facility. The term tranche of the Cablecom credit facility is fully drawn. NTL Communications Corp., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTL Incorporated, did not pay cash interest on certain series of its notes that was due on April 1, 2002, April 15, 2002 and May 15, 2002. NTL Incorporated and NTL (Delaware), Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of NTL Incorporated, also did not pay cash interest and related fees on a series of their notes that was due on April 15, 2002. In accordance with the proposed recapitalization plan, NTL does not plan to make future interest payments on its outstanding publicly traded notes except notes issued by NTL Triangle and Diamond Holdings Limited. |
| As of March 31, 2002, NTL Triangle had approximately £45.7 million in cash and cash equivalents. NTL Triangle may require additional cash in the twelve months from April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003. NTL Incorporated expects to obtain a DIP Facility (as described below) to meet the potential cash requirements of it and its subsidiaries, excluding Cablecom. NTL Incorporated also expects that the DIP Facility will be replaced with an exit facility for NTL Communications Corp. and its subsidiaries, including NTL Triangle, upon the completion of the reorganization process. Management of NTL Triangle believes that cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2002 and the cash expected to be available from the DIP Facility and the exit facility will be sufficient for its and its subsidiaries cash requirements during the twelve months from April 1, 2002 to March 31, 2003. |
| Beginning in January 2002, NTL was contacted by an unofficial committee of bondholders regarding the commencement of a comprehensive and consensual restructuring process. NTL has been informed that the members of the unofficial steering committee of bondholders currently own, in the aggregate, more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount of NTLs notes. In connection with the restructuring process, the steering committee of the unofficial committee of bondholders retained advisors to facilitate the negotiations. |
| On January 31, 2002 NTL Incorporated announced that it had appointed Credit Suisse First Boston, JP Morgan and Morgan Stanley to advise on strategic and recapitalization alternatives to strengthen NTLs balance sheet and reduce debt and put an appropriate capital structure in place for its business. Subsequently, NTL evaluated various recapitalization alternatives, and met with a number of strategic investors, to effect a comprehensive consensual reorganization in a timely manner to minimize negative effects on its business operations. Discussions with such strategic investors did not result in a proposal which NTLs board of directors believed was comparable or superior to the value provided to its stakeholders by the proposed plan of reorganization. |
| Liberty Media Corporation (Liberty), one of such potential strategic investors, which is also a significant shareholder in Telewest plc, another British cable and telephone company, has discussed various transactions with NTL from time to time over the past several years. In March 2002, Liberty and NTL amended a previously existing confidentiality agreement between them to cover the restructuring process and to include a standstill agreement which prohibited various acquisitions of, or offers, for NTL debt or equity securities by Liberty and its subsidiaries until June 30, 2002. |
| On April 17, 2002, Liberty sent a proposal to NTLs board of directors, which proposed a cash tender offer for 30% of the outstanding bonds of NTL Communications Corp. at a small premium to the prevailing market price and an agreement to vote such acquired bonds in favor of the proposed plan of reorganization, as well as a participation with NTL in a cash infusion of up to $500 million into Cablecom. After consultation with NTLs board of directors and the steering committee of bondholders on April 18, 2002, NTL indicated to Liberty that it did not consider the Liberty proposal to be in the best interests of NTL and that the best course of action for NTL to maximize its enterprise value was to promptly consummate the proposed plan of reorganization. Subsequent to April 18, 2002, Liberty has continued discussions with NTL with respect to Cablecom. |
7
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
| Promptly upon obtaining the requisite waivers from the lenders under its credit facilities, in March 2002, NTL commenced negotiations with the steering committee of the unofficial committee of bondholders and its legal and financial advisors. The negotiations continued during the latter part of March and throughout April 2002, and also included France Telecom. On April 16, 2002, NTL announced that it had reached a comprehensive agreement in principle with the committee (holding over 50% of the face value of NTL and its subsidiaries public bonds) and France Telecom, a significant holder of NTL Incorporateds preferred stock, on implementing a recapitalization plan. On May 2, 2002, a steering committee of the lending banks under NTL Incorporateds credit facilities gave their approval in principle (on a non-legally binding basis) to NTLs proposed plan of reorganization. |
| On June 21, 2002, the United States Trustee appointed an official creditors committee, comprised of the three indenture trustees for the publicly traded debt of NTL and the ten members of the steering committee of bondholders. The members of the official creditors committee are: The Bank of New York; Wilmington Trust Company; Wells Fargo Bank Minnesota, National Association; Angelo Gordon & Co. LP; Capital Research & Management Company; Franklin Mutual Advisors, LLC; Oaktree Capital Management LLC; Salomon Brothers Asset Management; Appaloosa Management, LP; Fidelity Management & Research Co.; Mackay Shields LLC; SAB Capital Management L.P.; and W.R. Huff Asset Management Co., LLC. |
| The recapitalization plan, if implemented, would result in the cancellation of all of NTL Incorporateds outstanding shares of common stock, preferred stock and redeemable preferred stock, and the cancellation of all of the publicly held notes of NTL Incorporated, NTL (Delaware), Inc. and NTL Communications Corp. and the transfer of the publicly held notes of Diamond Cable Communications Limited to NTL UK and Ireland. In addition, NTL would be discharged from its obligation to pay dividends accruing on the canceled preferred stock and interest accruing on the canceled notes. |
| To implement the proposed recapitalization, on May 8, 2002 NTL Incorporated, NTL (Delaware), Inc., NTL Communications Corp., Diamond Cable Communications Limited, Diamond Holdings Limited and Communications Cable Funding Corp. filed cases and a pre-arranged joint reorganization plan under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. NTL Triangle and NTLs operating subsidiaries were not included in the Chapter 11 filing. The reorganization plan contemplates that the bank debt will remain in place as part of the recapitalization. On May 24, 2002, NTL and its debtor subsidiaries filed an amended joint reorganization plan and disclosure statement. The bankruptcy court has scheduled July 12, 2002 for a hearing to consider approval of the amended joint reorganization plan and disclosure statement. A copy of the Amended Joint Reorganization Plan of NTL Incorporated and Certain Subsidiaries and the related Disclosure Statement are included as exhibits to NTL Incorporateds Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 28, 2002. |
| The filing of the petitions seeking relief filed under Chapter 11 constituted an event of default under the indentures of each of the entities which filed such Chapter 11 petitions and amounts outstanding under these indentures became immediately due and payable. NTLs Chapter 11 petitions also constituted an event of default under NTLs UK credit facilities and the Cablecom credit facility, allowing the lenders thereunder to declare amounts outstanding to be immediately payable. |
| In connection with the proposed joint reorganization plan, certain members of the unofficial committee of bondholders have committed to provide up to $500 million of new debt financing to NTL and certain of its subsidiaries during the Chapter 11 process and for the post-recapitalized NTL, subject to bankruptcy court approval. The new financing will ensure that NTLs business operations have access to sufficient liquidity to continue ordinary operations. The bankruptcy court has set July 2, 2002 as the date to consider approval of the DIP Facility, which has been agreed in principle with NTL and the prospective lenders under the facility. Despite such agreement, however, GE Capital, the sole holder of the 5 3/4% Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2011, and Wilmington Trust Company, the trustee, have objected to the DIP Facility. |
8
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
| Proposed Recapitalization Plan |
| Under the proposed recapitalization plan, NTL would be split into two companies, one tentatively called NTL UK and Ireland and holding substantially all of NTLs UK and Ireland assets, and one tentatively called NTL Euroco and holding substantially all of NTLs continental European and other assets. |
| Holders of notes of NTL Incorporated (other than France Telecom), NTL (Delaware), Inc. (other than France Telecom), NTL Communications Corp. and Diamond Cable Communications Limited would in the aggregate receive 100% of the initial common stock of NTL UK and Ireland (excluding shares issuable in the rights offerings and upon the exercise of warrants (discussed below) and upon the exercise of options which will be granted to certain employees of NTL UK and Ireland). Holders of notes of NTL Incorporated (other than France Telecom), NTL (Delaware), Inc. (other than France Telecom) and NTL Communications Corp. would in the aggregate receive (i) 100% of the preferred stock of NTL Euroco and (ii) a certain amount of cash as specified in the amended joint reorganization plan. Holders of the subordinated notes of NTL Incorporated (other than France Telecom), NTL (Delaware), Inc. (other than France Telecom) and NTL Communications Corp. would in the aggregate receive 86.5% of the initial common stock of NTL Euroco (excluding shares issuable upon the exercise of options which will be granted to certain employees of NTL Euroco). Holders of senior notes of NTL Communications Corp. would receive the value of a specified number of shares of common stock of NTL Euroco pursuant to the amended joint reorganization plan. Notes of NTL Triangle and Diamond Holdings Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of NTL Incorporated, would remain outstanding and interest payments will be made. |
| Current preferred and common stockholders of NTL Incorporated, including France Telecom, would receive warrants to purchase common stock of NTL UK and Ireland and rights (to be priced at a $10.5 billion enterprise value of NTL UK and Ireland) entitling them to purchase common stock of NTL UK and Ireland. For each share of common stock purchased upon exercise of rights, the person exercising such rights will receive a warrant to purchase one share of common stock of NTL UK and Ireland. The rights will be exercisable, on an oversubscription basis, for the 20-business day period after the entry of the confirmation order, as such period may be extended, and the warrants will be exercisable for a period of eight years at an exercise price of $77.47 per share, subject to anti-dilution adjustments. If fully exercised, the rights and warrants would entitle the current preferred stockholders of NTL Incorporated to acquire approximately 23.6% and the current common stockholders of NTL Incorporated to acquire approximately 8.9% of NTL UK and Irelands primary common stock on the effective date of the recapitalization. Holders of the subordinated notes of NTL Incorporated (other than France Telecom), NTL (Delaware), Inc. (other than France Telecom), and NTL Communications Corp. would have the right to purchase any shares of NTL UK and Ireland common stock and warrants not subscribed for in the rights offering by the preferred and common stockholders of NTL Incorporated. It is expected that the warrants will be listed or quoted on the same securities exchange or inter-dealer quotation system as the shares of common stock of the reorganized NTL. |
| Current preferred stockholders, other than France Telecom, would receive approximately 3.2% and current common stockholders, other than France Telecom, would receive approximately 10.3% of the primary equity of NTL Euroco. It is contemplated that, subject to consummation of the recapitalization, France Telecom would also receive NTL Incorporateds 27% interest in Noos, pursuant to a pledge of such interest to France Telecom given at the time of its acquisition by NTL. |
| During the recapitalization process, NTL has maintained normal and regular trade terms with its suppliers and customers. There can be no assurance that NTLs suppliers will continue to provide normal trade credit or credit on acceptable terms, if at all, or that customers will continue to do business or enter into new business with NTL. See also Risk Factors for a summary of risks related to NTLs business in general and the recapitalization process in particular. |
9
NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES
FORM 10-Q
QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)
(Unaudited)
| Section 1129 of the United States Bankruptcy Code requires, among other things, a showing that confirmation of the proposed recapitalization plan will not be followed by liquidation or the need for further financial reorganization of NTL Incorporated, NTL (Delaware), Inc., NTL Communications Corp., Diamond Cable Communications Limited or Diamond Holdings Limited, and that the value of distributions to dissenting holders of claims and interests may not be less than the value such holders would receive in a liquidation under Chapter 7 of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Although NTL believes that the proposed recapitalization plan will meet these tests, there can be no assurance that the Bankruptcy Court will reach the same conclusion. |
| The United States Bankruptcy Code also requires that a plan must provide the same treatment for each claim or interest in a particular class, unless a holder agrees to a less favorable treatment of its particular claim or interest. NTL believes that the proposed recapitalization plan complies with this requirement of the United States Bankruptcy Code. However, if a member of a class objects to its treatment, or if the Bankruptcy Court finds that the proposed recapitalization plan does not comply with the requirements of the United States Bankruptcy Code, confirmation of the plan could be delayed or prevented. In addition, each class of impaired claims and interests that will (or may) be entitled to receive property under the plan will have the opportunity to vote to accept or reject the plan. If an impaired class of claims or interests rejects the plan, NTL may request confirmation of the plan pursuant to the cramdown provisions of the United States Bankruptcy Code. Even if the requirements for cramdown are met, the Bankruptcy Court, which, as a court of equity may exercise substantial discretion, may choose not to confirm the plan. |
| Bank Waivers |
| Before NTL could commence negotiations with the unofficial committee of bondholders, it was necessary to obtain waivers from the lenders under its credit facilities. Effective March 8, 2002, these lenders granted waivers which, until March 29, 2002, provided that the commencement of negotiations with bondholders with a view to rescheduling its debt would not constitute an event of default under the credit facilities. Such initial waivers did not permit NTL to make to any of its noteholders an exchange or similar offer for NTLs outstanding public notes or to enter into a legally binding agreement with the unofficial steering committee of bondholders, subject to some exceptions, without the consent of the lenders under the credit facilities. But for the initial waivers, the commencement of negotiations with bondholders would have been an event of default under the credit facilities. |
| Effective March 28, 2002, the lenders under the credit facilities agreed to amend the initial waivers. The amendments to the initial waivers extended the duration of the initial waivers to April 29, 2002 in the case of the UK credit facilities or May 14, 2002 in the case of the Cablecom credit facility, unless the interest payments missed by NTL Communications Corp. on April 1, 2002 were remedied or a sufficient number of bondholders agreed to forbear in respect of such non- payment, in which case, the UK credit facilities waivers were to be extended to May 14, 2002. As a condition to the amendment to the initial waivers, the UK lenders required NTL (Delaware), Inc. to loan £90 million to NTL (UK) Group, Inc. following receipt of the proceeds from the sale of NTL Australia. Such loan was actually made (with the approval of the lenders under the UK credit facilities) to NTL (UK) Group, Inc. and then on-lent to certain subsidiaries of NTL (UK) Group, Inc. This loan, which was made on April 5, 2002, is structurally senior to the outstanding public notes issued by NTL Communications Corp. and contractually senior to intra-group debt owed by NTL (UK) Group, Inc. to NTL Communications Corp. but contractually subordinated to the UK credit facilities. In connection with the amendments to the waivers, NTL affirmed the provisions of the initial waivers and agreed, among other things, not to commence voluntary dissolution proceedings, including proceedings under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code, without the consent of these lenders. |
10
| NTL (TRIANGLE) LLC AND
SUBSIDIARIES FORM 10-Q QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2002 NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED) (Unaudited) |
| As of the date of this Form 10-Q, there are no current waivers from NTLs secured lenders and NTL is therefore in default under its UK credit facilities and the Cablecom credit facility. In connection with the proposed recapitalization plan, it is intended that the existing events of default under the credit facilities will be cured by amendment with effect from the effective date of the recapitalization, if it is approved by creditors and the bankruptcy court. On May 2, 2002, a memorandum was executed by NTL, a steering committee of its lending banks and the unofficial committee of its public bondholders indicating the parties agreement in principle (on a non-legally binding basis) to the terms of the proposed recapitalization and the terms on which NTLs UK credit facilities should be amended and restated and with respect to certain matters relating to the sale of, or investment in, Cablecom. |
| Cablecom GmbH, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of NTL (Delaware), Inc., is the principal trading company of NTLs Swiss group. There were a number of technical defaults under the Swiss credit facility made available to Cablecom and various of its subsidiaries. In addition, as of December 31, 2001, Cablecoms and six of its direct and indirect subsidiaries liabilities exceeded their respective assets. As a consequence, under Swiss law, those entities were deemed to be overindebted. This also constituted an event of default under the Cablecom credit facility, which entitled the lenders to accelerate repayment. Such an acceleration would have resulted in an event of default under NTL Incorporateds and NTL (Delaware), Inc.s 5.75% convertible subordinated notes due 2011 and 5.75% convertible subordinated notes due 2009. |