LIBERTY INTERACTIVE CORPORATION (NASDAQ:LVNTA) Files An 8-K Entry into a Material Definitive AgreementItem 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
Item 8.01. Other Events
Reorganization Agreement
On April 4, 2017, Liberty Interactive Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Liberty”), entered into an Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the “Reorganization Agreement”) with General Communication, Inc. (“GCI”), an Alaska corporation, and Liberty Interactive LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty (“LI LLC”), whereby Liberty will acquire GCI through a reorganization in which certain Liberty Ventures Group (“Liberty Ventures”) assets and liabilities will be contributed to GCI in exchange for a controlling interest in GCI. Liberty will then effect a tax-free separation of its controlling interest in the combined company (to be named GCI Liberty, Inc. (“GCI Liberty”)) to the holders of Liberty Ventures common stock in full redemption of all outstanding shares of such stock. Holders of GCI Class A Common Stock and GCI Class B Common Stock (each as defined below) each will receive total consideration of $32.50 per share, comprised of $27.50 per share in Reclassified GCI Class A Common Stock (as defined below) and $5.00 per share in newly issued GCI Preferred Stock (as defined below), based on a Liberty Ventures reference price of $43.65 (with no premium paid for shares of GCI Class B Common Stock).
The transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement are expected to be consummated during the first quarter of 2018. In connection with the completion of the transactions contemplated by the Reorganization Agreement, the QVC Group will become an asset-backed stock and it is expected that Liberty will be renamed “QVC Group, Inc.” GCI Liberty will remain an Alaska corporation as of the closing; however, it is currently contemplated that as soon as practicable following the closing, a special meeting of GCI Liberty stockholders will be called for the purpose of voting upon a proposal to reincorporate GCI Liberty in Delaware.
Company Reclassification
Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions set forth in the Reorganization Agreement, GCI will file amended and restated articles of incorporation (the “Restated Articles”) with the Commissioner of the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development of the State of Alaska to effect the reclassification of its common stock (the “GCI Reclassification”). Upon the acceptance of the Restated Articles (the “GCI Reclassification Effective Date”) (a) the name of GCI will be changed to “GCI Liberty, Inc.”, and (b) each share of GCI Class A common stock, no par value (the “GCI Class A Common Stock”), will be reclassified into one share of GCI Class A-1 common stock, no par value (the “GCI Class A-1 Common Stock”), and each share of GCI Class B common stock, no par value (the “GCI Class B Common Stock”, and together with GCI Class A Common Stock, the “GCI Common Stock”), will be reclassified into one share of GCI Class B-1 common stock, no par value (the “GCI Class B-1 Common Stock”).
The Restated Articles will authorize the GCI Class A-1 Common Stock, GCI Class B-1 Common Stock, GCI Class A common stock, no par value (the “Reclassified GCI Class A Common Stock”), GCI Class B common stock, no par value (the “Reclassified GCI Class B Common Stock”), GCI Class C common stock, no par value (the “GCI Class C Common Stock”, and together with the Reclassified GCI Class A Common Stock and the Reclassified GCI Class B Common Stock, the “Reclassified GCI Common Stock”) and GCI Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the “GCI Preferred Stock”).
to the Restated Articles, subject to certain conditions, the GCI Preferred Stock will accrue quarterly dividends at a rate of 5% per annum prior to the Reincorporation Merger (as defined below) and a rate of 7% per annum from and after the Reincorporation Merger, will be redeemable upon the 21st anniversary of the Auto Conversion Effective Time (as defined below) and will not be convertible into any equity interest of GCI Liberty. The GCI Preferred Stock has a liquidation price equal to the sum of $25.00 plus all unpaid and accrued dividends. The Restated Articles also will provide that holders of GCI Preferred Stock will have 1/3 vote per share and will vote together as a class generally with the holders of the Reclassified GCI Class A Common Stock and the Reclassified Class B Common Stock on all matters submitted to holders of Reclassified GCI Class A Common Stock and Reclassified GCI Class B Common Stock, unless such holders are otherwise entitled to vote separately as a class or series.
Auto Conversion
Subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, as soon as reasonably practicable following the GCI Reclassification Effective Date and in accordance with the terms of the Restated Articles, each outstanding share of GCI Class A-1 Common Stock and GCI Class B-1 Common Stock will convert into (a) 0.63 of a share of Reclassified GCI Class A Common Stock and (b) 0.2 of a share of GCI Preferred