LONDON, April 16, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Virgin Media Inc. (Nasdaq:VMED), a leading UK entertainment and communications business, today announced the closing of its previously announced offering of $1 billion aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2016 of Virgin Media Inc. (the "Notes") through an offering to qualified institutional buyers pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The Notes are not guaranteed by Virgin Media's subsidiaries. Virgin Media previously also granted the initial purchasers a 30-day over-allotment option to purchase up to $150 million aggregate principal amount of additional Notes.
The Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.50% per year, payable in cash semi-annually in arrears, beginning on November 15, 2008. The Notes are convertible, subject to certain conditions, at an initial conversion rate of 52.0291 shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $19.22 per share and which represented a 55.38% premium to the closing share price on April 10, 2008), subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events. Upon conversion of a Note, a holder will receive, at the election of Virgin Media, shares of Virgin Media common stock, cash or a combination of cash and common stock. Virgin Media may not redeem the Notes prior to their maturity. Holders of the Notes may require Virgin Media to purchase all or a portion of their Notes, in cash at par, upon the occurrence of certain fundamental changes involving a change of control or delisting of the company's common stock.
Virgin Media intends to use the net proceeds from the offering combined with existing cash reserves to prepay a portion of its outstanding "A" and "B" loans under its senior credit facilities. It is anticipated that Virgin Media promptly will voluntarily prepay approximately GBP 261m of the "A" tranche that is currently scheduled for payment in September 2009, and approximately GBP 243m of the "B" tranche that is currently scheduled for repayment in September 2012.
This announcement is neither an offer to sell nor a solicitation to buy any of the securities described herein and shall not constitute an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale is unlawful. The notes and the common stock issuable on conversion of the notes have not been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any state securities laws. Unless so registered, the notes and common stock issuable on conversion of the notes may not be offered or sold in the United States except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.
Virgin Media cautions you that statements included in this press release that are not a description of historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors which, if they do not materialize or prove correct, could cause Virgin Media's results to differ materially from historical results or those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that the transactions contemplated in this announcement will be completed. Virgin Media assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances arising after the date on which it was made.