suppl
Filed pursuant to General Instruction II.L. of Form F-10;
File No. 333-140435
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
To the base shelf prospectus dated February 16, 2007
SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC.
$400,000,000
5.70% Senior Notes due 2017
The senior notes (the Notes) of Shaw
Communications Inc. (Shaw or the
Corporation) will bear interest at the rate
of 5.70% per year. Shaw will pay interest on the Notes on
March 2 and September 2 of each year, beginning
September 2, 2007. The Notes will mature on March 2,
2017. Shaw may redeem some or all of the Notes at any time at
the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount and
(ii) the Canada Yield Price (as defined herein), plus, in
either case, accrued interest thereon to the date of redemption.
Shaw may also redeem all of the Notes at any time if certain
changes affecting Canadian taxation occur. The Notes do not have
the benefit of any sinking fund. The Notes will be unsecured
obligations of Shaw and will rank equally with all other
unsecured senior indebtedness of Shaw.
Investing in the Notes involves risks. See Risk
Factors beginning on page 18 of the accompanying short
form base shelf prospectus (the Prospectus).
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Price to | |
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Underwriters | |
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Net Proceeds to | |
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the Public(1) | |
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Commission(2) | |
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the Corporation(3) | |
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Per Note:
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99.767% |
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0.953% |
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98.814% |
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Total:
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$399,068,000 |
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$3,812,500 |
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$395,255,500 |
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Notes:
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(1) |
Plus accrued interest from March 2, 2007, if settlement
occurs after that date. |
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(2) |
The Underwriters (as defined below) are entitled a commission of
0.90% per Note sold by closing to institutions and 1.75% per
Note for all other sales. The Underwriters commission set
forth in the table assumes the sale of $375 million
principal amount of Notes to institutions. |
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(3) |
Before deducting expenses of the offering, estimated at
$500,000, payable by the Corporation. |
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
(the SEC) nor any state securities regulator has
approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this
Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus is truthful or complete.
Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the
United States.
This offering is made by Shaw, a foreign private issuer,
which is permitted, under a multijurisdictional disclosure
system adopted by the United States, to prepare this Prospectus
Supplement and the Prospectus in accordance with Canadian
disclosure requirements. Prospective investors in the United
States should be aware that such requirements are different from
those of the United States. Shaw prepares its financial
statements in accordance with Canadian generally accepted
accounting principles, and they are subject to Canadian auditing
and auditor independence standards. Thus, they may not be
comparable to financial statements of United States
companies.
Owning the Notes may have tax consequences in both the United
States and Canada. This Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus
may not describe these tax consequences fully. Please read the
section titled Certain Income Tax Considerations in
this Prospectus Supplement.
Enforcement of civil liabilities under United States federal
securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that Shaw
is incorporated in Alberta, Canada, most of its officers and
directors and some or all of the underwriters and experts named
in this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus are residents
of Canada, and all or a substantial portion of the assets of
Shaw and said persons are located in Canada or other
jurisdictions outside the United States.
TD Securities Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc., CIBC World
Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., GMP Securities L.P., Merrill
Lynch Canada Inc. and National Bank Financial Inc. (the
Underwriters), have agreed to purchase the
Notes from the Corporation subject to the terms and conditions
set forth in the Underwriting Agreement referred to under
Plan of Distribution in this Prospectus Supplement.
The effective yield of the Notes, if held to maturity,
is 5.731%.
The Underwriters, as principals, conditionally offer the Notes,
subject to prior sale, if, as and when issued by Shaw and
delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters in accordance with
the conditions contained in the Underwriting Agreement and
subject to the approval of certain legal matters on behalf of
Shaw by Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, with respect to matters of
Canadian law, and by Sherman & Howard L.L.C., with
respect to matters of United States law, and on behalf of the
Underwriters by McCarthy Tétrault LLP, with respect to
matters of Canadian law, and by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher
& Flom LLP, with respect to matters of United States law.
Closing of the offering and delivery of the Notes in book-entry
form only through CDS Clearing and Depository Services Inc.
(CDS) is expected to occur on or about
March 2, 2007, but in any event not later than
March 16, 2007. There is no market through which the
Notes may be sold and purchasers may not be able to resell Notes
purchased under this Prospectus Supplement. This may affect the
pricing of the Notes in the secondary market, the transparency
and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the Notes
and the extent of issuer regulation. See Risk
Factors on page 18 of the Prospectus. Subject to
applicable laws, the Underwriters may, in conjunction with the
offering of the Notes, effect transactions which stabilize or
maintain the market price of the Notes at levels other than
those which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such
transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. See
Plan of Distribution.
Each of TD Securities Inc., RBC Dominion Securities Inc.,
CIBC World Markets Inc., Scotia Capital Inc., Merrill Lynch
Canada Inc. and National Bank Financial Inc. is an affiliate of
a lender to Shaw and to which Shaw is currently indebted.
Consequently, Shaw may be considered to be a connected
issuer of each of these Underwriters (the Connected
Underwriters) for the purposes of Canadian securities
laws. A portion of the net proceeds of the sale of the Notes
will be used to reduce indebtedness of Shaw to such affiliates
of the Connected Underwriters. See Relationship Between
Shaw and Certain Underwriters and Use
of Proceeds.
TD Securities
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NBF Securities (USA)
Corp. |
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is February 27, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
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S-1 |
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S-1 |
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S-4 |
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S-5 |
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S-5 |
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S-6 |
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S-7 |
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S-11 |
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S-11 |
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S-12 |
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S-15 |
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S-16 |
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S-17 |
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Prospectus
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ABOUT THE PROSPECTUS
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
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BUSINESS OF THE CORPORATION
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USE OF PROCEEDS
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EARNINGS COVERAGE
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
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CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
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18 |
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RISK FACTORS
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LEGAL MATTERS
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DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE U.S. REGISTRATION STATEMENT
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
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EXPERTS
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IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT INFORMATION IN
THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS
This document is in two parts. The first part is this Prospectus
Supplement, which describes the specific terms of the Notes
being offered. The second part, the Prospectus, gives more
general information, some of which may not apply to the Notes
being offered.
If the description of the Notes varies between this
Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, you should rely on the
information in this Prospectus Supplement.
You should rely on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the
Prospectus. If anyone provides you with different or
inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not,
and the Underwriters are not, making an offer to sell the Notes
in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted by
law.
This Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus are part of a
registration statement on
Form F-10 relating
to our Debt Securities that we filed with the SEC.
In this Prospectus Supplement, all capitalized terms and
acronyms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
provided in the Prospectus. All financial information included
and incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and
the Prospectus is determined using generally accepted accounting
principles in Canada (Canadian GAAP), which
may differ from generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States (U.S. GAAP). Therefore,
the consolidated financial statements of Shaw incorporated by
reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus and
the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein may
not be comparable to financial statements prepared in accordance
with U.S. GAAP. You should refer to the notes to our
audited consolidated financial statements for a discussion of
the principal differences between our financial results
calculated under Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP.
CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATES
Unless otherwise specified, all dollar amounts contained herein
are expressed in Canadian dollars, and references to
dollars, Cdn$ or $ are to
Canadian dollars and references to US$ are to United
States dollars.
The following table sets forth, for each period indicated, the
high and low exchange rates and the average of such exchange
rates on the last business day of each month during such period,
based on the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable
transfers in Canadian dollars as certified for customs purposes
by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the noon
buying rate). These rates are set forth as United
States dollars per Cdn$1.00. On February 26, 2007, the
inverse of the noon buying rate was Cdn$1.00 equals US$0.8621.
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Three Months Ended | |
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November 30, | |
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Year Ended August 31, | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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2006 | |
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2005 | |
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High
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0.9048 |
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0.8615 |
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0.9100 |
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0.8493 |
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0.7880 |
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Low
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0.8715 |
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0.8405 |
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0.8405 |
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0.7651 |
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0.7158 |
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Average
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0.8879 |
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0.8554 |
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0.8765 |
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0.8160 |
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0.7518 |
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DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
This Prospectus Supplement is deemed to be incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus solely for the purposes of the
offering of the Notes. Other documents are also incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus. See
Where You Can Find More Information in the
Prospectus.
Information has been incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus Supplement from documents filed with securities
commissions or similar authorities in Canada. Copies of the
documents incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on
request without charge from the Chief Financial Officer of Shaw
Communications Inc., Suite 900, 630 3rd Avenue
S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4L4 (telephone
(403) 750-4500) or
by accessing those disclosure documents through the Internet on
the Canadian System for Electronic Document Analysis and
Retrieval (SEDAR) which may be accessed at www.sedar.com
or on the website maintained by the SEC which may be accessed at
www.sec.gov. For the purpose of the Province of
Québec, this Prospectus Supplement contains information to
be completed by consulting the permanent information record. A
copy of the permanent information record may be
S-1
obtained from the Chief Financial Officer of Shaw Communications
Inc. at the above-mentioned address and telephone number or by
accessing SEDAR.
Under the short form prospectus system adopted by the securities
commissions and other regulatory authorities in each of the
provinces of Canada and under the multijurisdictional disclosure
system adopted by the United States and Canada, we are permitted
to incorporate by reference the information we file with
securities commissions in Canada, which means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents. Information that is incorporated by reference is an
important part of this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus.
The following documents, which were filed with the securities
commission or other similar authority in each of the provinces
of Canada and filed with or furnished to the SEC are
specifically incorporated by reference in, and form an integral
part of, this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus:
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(a) |
the annual information form of Shaw dated November 29, 2006; |
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(b) |
the audited consolidated balance sheets of Shaw as at
August 31, 2006 and 2005 and the consolidated statements of
income and deficit and cash flows for the three years ended
August 31, 2006 together with the notes thereto and the
auditors reports thereon; |
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(c) |
managements discussion and analysis of the financial
condition and operations of Shaw with respect to the year ended
August 31, 2006; |
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(d) |
the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Shaw as at
November 30, 2006 and the unaudited interim consolidated
statements of income and deficit and cash flows for the three
months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005; |
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(e) |
managements discussion and analysis of the financial
condition and operations of Shaw with respect to the three
months ended November 30, 2006; and |
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(f) |
the management proxy information circular dated December 7,
2006 relating to the annual general meeting of shareholders of
the Corporation held on January 11, 2007. |
Any documents of the type referred to in the preceding
paragraph or similar material, including all annual information
forms, all information circulars, all financial statements and
managements discussion and analysis relating thereto, all
material change reports (excluding confidential material change
reports, if any), all business acquisition reports, all updated
earnings coverage ratio information, as well as all prospectus
supplements related to this offering and disclosing additional
or updated information filed by us with securities commissions
or similar authorities in the relevant provinces of Canada
subsequent to the date of this Prospectus Supplement and prior
to the termination of any offering under this Prospectus
Supplement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into
this Prospectus Supplement. Shaw also incorporates by reference
into the registration statement of which this Prospectus
Supplement and the Prospectus forms a part any information Shaw
files with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or
15(d) of the Exchange Act, if and to the extent expressly
provided in such filings, until Shaw sells all of
the Notes.
Any statement contained in this Prospectus Supplement or the
Prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for
purposes of this Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus Supplement
or the Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document
which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus modifies or
supersedes such prior statement. Any statement or document so
modified or superseded shall not, except to the extent so
modified or superseded, be incorporated by reference and
constitute a part of this Prospectus Supplement and the
Prospectus.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included and incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus constitute
forward-looking statements within the meaning of
applicable securities laws, including the U.S. Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking
statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors which
may cause actual results, performance or achievements of Shaw to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements. When used in this Prospectus Supplement or in the
Prospectus, the words anticipate,
believe, expect, plan,
intend,
S-2
estimate, target, guideline,
goal and other similar expressions are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, although not all
forward-looking statements contain such words. Forward-looking
statements include, but are not limited to, references to future
capital expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof),
business strategies and measures to implement strategies,
competitive strengths, goals, expansion and growth of
Shaws business and operations, plans and references to
Shaws future success. These forward-looking statements are
based on certain assumptions and analyses made by Shaw in light
of Shaws experience and perception of historical trends,
current conditions and expected future developments, as well as
other factors Shaw believes are appropriate in the
circumstances. However, Shaw cannot guarantee future results,
levels of activity, performance or achievements and actual
events or results may differ materially. Many factors, including
those not within Shaws control, could cause Shaws
actual results, performance or achievements to be materially
different from the views expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:
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general economic, market or business conditions and industry
trends; |
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opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and
pursued by Shaw; |
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increased competition in Shaws markets and from the
development of new markets for emerging technologies; |
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changing conditions in the entertainment, information and
communications industries; |
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the Corporations status as a holding company with separate
operating subsidiaries; |
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changes in laws, regulation and decisions by regulators in
Shaws industries in both Canada and the United States; |
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the concentration of control of Shaw; |
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risks associated with the economic, political and regulatory
policies of local governments and laws and policies of Canada
and the United States; and |
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other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in
Shaws reports and filings with Canadian and U.S.
securities regulatory authorities. |
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements
prove incorrect, Shaws actual results, performance or
achievements may vary materially from those described herein or
in the Prospectus. Consequently, all of the forward-looking
statements made herein or in the Prospectus, and the documents
incorporated by reference herein or therein are qualified by
these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that
the actual results or developments anticipated by Shaw will be
realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have
the expected consequences to, or effects on, Shaw. You should
not place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking
statements. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements
contained in this Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and the
documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are made
only as of the date of such document and Shaw expressly
disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any
updates or revisions to any of the included forward-looking
statements to reflect any change in expectations with regard to
those statements or any other change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as
required by law. New factors affecting Shaw emerge from time to
time, and it is not possible for Shaw to predict what factors
will arise or when. In addition, Shaw cannot assess the impact
of each factor on its business or the extent to which any
particular factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement.
S-3
SUMMARY OF THE OFFERING
The following is a brief summary of some of the terms of this
offering. For a more complete description of the terms of the
Notes, see Description of the Notes in this
Prospectus Supplement and Description of Debt
Securities in the Prospectus. References to Shaw or the
Corporation in this summary refer only to Shaw Communications
Inc. and its successors, and not to any of its subsidiaries.
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Issuer |
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Shaw Communications Inc. |
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Notes Offered |
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$400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.70% Senior Notes
due March 2, 2017 (the Notes). |
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Interest Rate |
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5.70% per annum. |
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Interest Payment Dates |
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March 2 and September 2 of each year, commencing on
September 2, 2007. |
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Maturity |
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March 2, 2017. |
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Ranking |
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The Notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Shaw and will
rank equally and ratably with all existing and future senior
unsecured indebtedness of Shaw. The Notes will effectively rank
behind all existing and future indebtedness and other
liabilities, including trade liabilities, of Shaws
subsidiaries. As at November 30, 2006, indebtedness and
other liabilities of Shaws subsidiaries totalled
approximately $573 million, excluding intercompany
liabilities, deferred credits and future income taxes. |
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Additional Amounts |
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Any payments with respect to the Notes made by Shaw will be made
without withholding or deduction for Canadian taxes, unless
required by law or the interpretation or administration thereof,
in which case Shaw will pay such additional amounts as may be
necessary so that the net amount received by holders of the
Notes (other than certain excluded holders) after such
withholding or deduction will not be less than the amount that
would have been received in the absence of such withholding or
deduction. See Description of the Debt
Securities Payment of Additional Amounts in
the Prospectus. |
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Redemption |
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The Notes will be redeemable at Shaws option at any time,
in whole or in part, prior to maturity at a redemption price
equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of
the Notes, or (ii) the Canada Yield Price (as defined
herein), plus, in either case, accrued interest thereon to the
date of redemption. The Corporation may also redeem all of the
Notes if certain events occur involving Canadian taxation. See
Description of the Notes Optional
Redemption and Redemption for Changes in
Canadian Tax Law in this Prospectus Supplement. |
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Sinking Fund |
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None. |
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Certain Covenants |
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The Indenture (as defined herein) governing the Notes will
restrict the ability of the Corporation and its subsidiaries to
incur liens, enter into sale and leaseback transactions and
consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of
Shaws assets and the assets of its subsidiaries on a
consolidated basis. In addition, the Indenture will limit
Shaws subsidiaries ability to incur additional
indebtedness. These covenants are subject to important
qualifications and limitations. See Description of Debt
Securities Certain Covenants in
the Prospectus. |
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Use of Proceeds |
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The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes offered hereby,
after payment of expenses of the offering and Underwriters
commission, are estimated to be $394.8 million. The
aggregate net proceeds of this offering will be used for debt
repayment, for working capital and for general corporate
purposes. See Use of Proceeds and
Capitalization. |
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Governing Law |
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The Notes and the Indenture (as defined herein) will be governed
by the laws of the Province of Alberta. |
S-4
SHAW COMMUNICATIONS INC.
Shaw (together with its subsidiaries) is a diversified Canadian
communications company whose core business is providing cable
television, Internet, Digital Phone, telecommunications and
satellite direct-to-home services to approximately
3.2 million customers as of November 30, 2006.
Shaws total revenue for the years ended August 31,
2006 and 2005, was approximately $2.5 billion and
$2.2 billion, respectively. As at November 30, 2006,
Shaw had assets of approximately $7.7 billion. Shaws
executive offices are located at Suite 900, 630
3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2P 4L4;
telephone number
(403) 750-4500.
USE OF PROCEEDS
The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes offered hereby,
after payment of estimated expenses of the offering and the
Underwriters commission, are estimated to be
$394.8 million. The net proceeds of this offering will be
used for debt repayment, for working capital and for general
corporate purposes.
S-5
CAPITALIZATION
The following table summarizes the consolidated capitalization
of Shaw as at November 30, 2006, both actual and as
adjusted to give effect to the issuance of the Notes, the
application of the net proceeds thereof as described under
Use of Proceeds and for other significant changes in
capitalization that have occurred since November 30, 2006
described below. The information presented below has been
derived from the unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements of the Corporation and should be read in conjunction
with the financial statements of the Corporation incorporated by
reference herein, as described under Documents
Incorporated by Reference in this Prospectus Supplement.
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November 30, 2006 | |
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Designation |
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Actual | |
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As Adjusted(1) | |
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(in thousands of dollars) | |
Long-term debt
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Corporate:
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Bank
loans(3)(4)
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305,000 |
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Senior Notes due October 17,
2007(2)(4)
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296,760 |
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296,760 |
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Senior Notes due November 16,
2012(4)
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450,000 |
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450,000 |
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Senior Notes due November 20,
2013(4)
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350,000 |
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350,000 |
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US$Senior Notes (US$440 million) due April 11, 2010
(4)
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502,568 |
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502,568 |
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US$Senior Notes (US$225 million) due April 6, 2011
(4)
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256,995 |
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256,995 |
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US$Senior Notes (US$300 million) due December 15,
2011(4)
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342,660 |
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342,660 |
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Senior Notes due May 9,
2016(4)
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300,000 |
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300,000 |
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Senior Notes due March 2, 2017 offered hereby
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400,000 |
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COPrS:
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Due September 30,
2027(4)
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100,000 |
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100,000 |
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Other subsidiaries:
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Videon Cablesystems Inc. 8.15% Senior Debentures due
April 26,
2010(4)
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|
130,000 |
|
|
|
130,000 |
|
|
Burrard Landing Lot 2 Holdings
Partnership(4)
|
|
|
22,900 |
|
|
|
22,900 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total long-term debt
|
|
|
3,056,883 |
|
|
|
3,151,883 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shareholders equity
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Class A shares and Class B non-voting shares
|
|
|
1,988,917 |
|
|
|
2,035,810 |
|
|
Contributed surplus
|
|
|
6,102 |
|
|
|
6,102 |
|
|
Deficit and cumulative translation adjustment
|
|
|
(123,459 |
) |
|
|
(123,459 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total shareholders equity
|
|
|
1,871,560 |
|
|
|
1,918,453 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total capitalization
|
|
|
4,928,443 |
|
|
|
5,070,336 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Notes:
|
|
(1) |
Subsequent to November 30, 2006 the following significant
changes in capitalization have occurred: share capital has
increased as a result of Class B shares being issued on
exercise of stock options for proceeds of approximately
$46 million and the Corporation repaid approximately
$120 million on its bank loans. |
|
(2) |
Includes current portion of long term debt of $297 million. |
|
(3) |
The Corporations bank loans are provided pursuant to a
revolving credit facility which is described in note 9 to
the Corporations annual audited consolidated financial
statements incorporated by reference herein. |
|
(4) |
The general terms and respective priorities of the indebtedness
set out in the table above are detailed in note 9 to the
Corporations annual audited consolidated financial
statements incorporated by reference herein. |
S-6
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
The following description of the Notes offered hereby
supplements the description of the general terms of the Debt
Securities set forth in the Prospectus under Description
of Debt Securities and should be read in conjunction with
that description. The description of the Notes herein shall
prevail to the extent of any inconsistency.
The Notes offered hereby will be issued under an indenture (the
Trust Indenture) dated February 26, 2007
as supplemented by a first series supplement to be dated the
date of closing of this offering (the Supplemental
Indenture) between the Corporation and Computershare
Trust Company of Canada (the Trustee)
providing for, among other things, the creation and issue of the
Notes. The Trust Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture
are collectively referred to in this Prospectus Supplement as
the Indenture.
For the purposes of the following description only, the term
Corporation refers to Shaw Communications Inc. and
not to any of its subsidiaries. Other capitalized terms used
herein that are not defined in this Prospectus Supplement or the
Prospectus are defined in the Indenture.
General
The Notes will mature on March 2, 2017. The Notes will bear
interest at the rate per annum set forth on the cover page
of this Prospectus Supplement from the date of original
issuance, or from the most recent date to which interest has
been paid or duly provided for, payable semi-annually in arrears
on each March 2 and September 2 (the Interest
Payment Dates), commencing on September 2, 2007,
to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at the
close of business on February 15 or August 15 (the
Regular Record Dates), as the case may be,
immediately prior to such Interest Payment Dates, regardless of
whether any such Regular Record Date is a business day. Interest
on the Notes will be computed on the basis of a
365-day year.
The Corporation may from time to time, without the consent of
the holders of the Notes, create and issue additional securities
under the Indenture in addition to the Notes.
The Notes will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of
the Corporation and will rank pari passu in right of
payment with all existing and future unsecured, unsubordinated
obligations of the Corporation. The Indenture will not limit the
ability of the Corporation to incur additional indebtedness.
Substantially all of Shaws business activities are
operated by its subsidiaries. As a holding company, the
Corporations ability to meet its financial obligations is
dependent primarily upon the receipt of interest and principal
payments on intercompany advances, management fees, cash
dividends and other payments from its subsidiaries, together
with proceeds raised by the Corporation through the issuance of
equity and the incurrence of debt, and from the proceeds from
the sale of assets. In addition, because the Corporation is
a holding company, the Notes are effectively subordinated to all
existing and future liabilities, including trade payables and
other indebtedness, of the Corporations Subsidiaries,
except to the extent the Corporation is a creditor of such
Subsidiaries. As at November 30, 2006, indebtedness and
other liabilities of Shaws subsidiaries totalled
approximately $573 million, excluding intercompany
liabilities, deferred credits and future income taxes.
The Notes will be issued in fully registered form only in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. The
Notes will initially be issued as global notes (the
Global Notes). Beneficial interests in the
Global Notes representing the Notes will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records
maintained by CDS and its participants. See
The Depositary, Book-Entry and
Settlement.
As described herein, under certain limited circumstances, the
Notes may be issued in certificated non-book-entry form in
exchange for a Global Note. See The
Depositary, Book-Entry and Settlement. In the event that
the Notes are issued in certificated non-book-entry form, the
Notes will be issued in denominations of $1,000, and integral
multiples thereof. Payments on Notes issued as a Global Note
will be made to CDS or a successor depositary. In the event that
the Notes are issued in certificated non-book-entry form, the
transfer of such Notes will be registrable and such Notes will
be exchangeable for Notes in other denominations of a like
aggregate principal amount at the corporate trust office of the
Trustee, 600, 530 8th Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta,
T2P 3S8 (telephone number:
(403) 267-6894) or
its designated agent. Payment of principal and interest will be
effected, in respect of Notes represented by Global Notes, by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts
specified by CDS and, in respect of certificated securities, by
wire of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by
holders thereof or if no such account is specified to each such
holders registered address.
S-7
Optional Redemption
The Notes will be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option
of the Corporation at any time and from time to time at a
redemption price equal to the greater of:
|
|
|
|
(1) |
100% of the principal amount of the Notes, or |
|
|
(2) |
the Canada Yield Price (as defined below); |
plus, in each case, accrued interest on the outstanding
principal amount of each Note called for redemption to the date
of redemption. The Notes will not be subject to redemption at
the election of the holders of the Notes.
Canada Yield Price means in respect of any
redemption of the Notes issued under the Indenture, a price, as
determined by the Independent Investment Banker (as defined
below), equal to the sum of the present values of the remaining
scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes (not
including any portion of the payments of interest accrued as of
the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a
365-day year) at the
Government of Canada Yield, plus, until March 2, 2009,
88 basis points and, thereafter, 44 basis points.
Government of Canada Yield means, with
respect to any redemption date, the arithmetic average, as
determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the yield to
maturity on the third business day preceding the redemption
date, compounded semi-annually, which a
non-callable Government
of Canada Bond would carry if issued in Canadian Dollars in
Canada, at 100% of its principal amount on such date with a term
to maturity which most closely approximates the remaining term
to maturity of the Notes to be redeemed from such day as quoted
by the Independent Investment Banker at 5:00 p.m. on
such day.
Independent Investment Banker means
TD Securities Inc. or its successor; provided,
however, that if it shall cease to be a primary Canadian
Government securities dealer in Toronto, Ontario, the
Corporation shall substitute for it another primary Canadian
Government securities dealer in Toronto, Ontario.
Notice of any such redemption will be given at least
15 days but not more than 60 days before the
redemption date to each holder of the Notes to be redeemed.
Unless the Corporation defaults in payment of the redemption
price, on and after the redemption date, interest will cease to
accrue on the Notes or portion of the Notes called for
redemption.
Purchase for Cancellation
Provided an Event of Default is not continuing, the Corporation
will have the right to purchase any Notes in the market or by
tender or private contract at prices that are negotiated between
the Corporation and willing holders of Notes. Notes so purchased
by the Corporation will be cancelled and will not be reissued.
Redemption for Changes in Canadian Tax Law
The Notes will be subject to redemption, in whole but not in
part, at the option of the Corporation at any time at a
redemption price equal to 100% of the outstanding principal
amount thereof together with accrued and unpaid interest to the
date fixed for redemption, upon the giving of a notice as
described below, if (x) the Corporation determines that
(a) as a result of any change in or amendment to the laws
(or any regulations or rulings promulgated thereunder) of Canada
or of any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
therein affecting taxation, or any change in or amendment to
official position of such taxing authority regarding application
or interpretation of such laws, regulations or rulings
(including a holding by a court of competent jurisdiction),
which change or amendment is announced or becomes effective on
or after the date of the Supplemental Indenture, the Corporation
has or will become obligated to pay, on the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date, Additional Amounts or (b) on or
after the date of the Supplemental Indenture, any action has
been taken by any taxing authority of Canada or any political
subdivision thereof, or any decision has been rendered by a
court of competent jurisdiction in Canada or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof, including any of those
actions specified in clause (a) above, whether or not such
action was taken or decision was rendered with respect to the
Corporation, or any change, amendment, application or
interpretation shall be officially proposed, which, in any such
case, in the written opinion to the Corporation of legal counsel
of recognized standing, will result in an obligation to pay, on
the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, Additional Amounts
with respect to any Notes and (y) in any such case the
Corporation in its business judgment determines that such
obligation cannot be avoided by the use of reasonable measures
available to the Corporation; provided however, that (i) no
such notice of redemption may be given earlier than 90 days
prior to the earliest date on which the Corporation would be
S-8
obligated to pay such Additional Amounts and (ii) at the
time such notice of redemption is given, such obligation to pay
such Additional Amounts remains in effect.
In the event that the Corporation elects to redeem the Notes
pursuant to the provisions set forth in the preceding paragraph,
the Corporation shall deliver to the Trustee a certificate,
signed by an authorized officer, stating that the Corporation is
entitled to redeem the Notes pursuant to their terms.
Notice of intention to redeem the Notes will be given to each
holder of the Notes not more than 60 nor less than 15 days
prior to the date fixed for redemption and will specify the date
fixed for redemption.
Governing Law
The Notes and the Indenture will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the Province of Alberta and the
federal laws of Canada applicable therein.
The Depositary, Book-Entry and Settlement
Except as otherwise provided below, the Notes will be
represented in the form of one or more fully registered global
notes (each a Global Note) held by, or on
behalf of, CDS as depositary of Global Notes for the
participants (the participants) of CDS
registered in the name of CDS or its nominee, and registration
of ownership and transfers of the Notes will be made through the
depository system of CDS. On the closing date of this offering,
CDS will credit interests in Global Notes representing the notes
to the accounts of its participants as directed by the
Underwriters. Direct and indirect participants in CDS, including
The Depositary Trust Company (DTC),
Euroclear Bank S.A./ N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System
(Euroclear), and Clearstream Banking,
société anonyme (Clearstream,
Luxembourg), on behalf of their respective
accountholders, will record beneficial ownership of the Notes on
behalf of their respective accountholders.
Except as described below, no purchaser of Notes will be
entitled to a certificate or other instrument from the
Corporation or CDS evidencing that purchasers ownership
thereof, and no holder of a beneficial interest in the Notes
will be shown on the records maintained by CDS except through
book-entry accounts of a participant of CDS acting on behalf of
beneficial owners. Each purchaser of Notes will receive a
confirmation of purchase from the Underwriters. CDS will be
responsible for establishing and maintaining book-entry accounts
for its participants having interests in Global Notes. Sales of
interests in Global Notes can only be completed through
participants in the depository service of CDS.
Certificated securities will be issued to holders or their
nominees, other than CDS or its nominee, only if
(i) required to do so by applicable law, (ii) the
depository system of CDS ceases to exist, (iii) the
Corporation determines that CDS is no longer willing or able to
discharge properly its responsibility as depositary and the
Corporation is unable to locate a qualified successor, or
(iv) the Corporation at its option elects to terminate the
book-entry system
administered by CDS.
The Corporation, the Underwriters and the Trustee will not have
any liability for (i) records maintained by CDS relating to
beneficial interest in the Notes or the book-entry accounts
maintained by CDS, (ii) maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to any such beneficial ownership
interest, or (iii) any advice or representation made or
given by CDS and made or given herein with respect to the rules
and regulations of CDS or any action to be taken by CDS or at
the direction of the participants.
The Indenture will require that payments in respect of the Notes
represented by Global Notes (including principal, premium, if
any, and interest, if any) be effected by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the accounts specified by CDS.
With respect to certificated securities, the Corporation will
make all payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no such account
is specified, by mailing a cheque to each such holders
registered address. The Corporation expects that secondary
trading in any certificated securities will also be settled in
immediately available funds.
As long as CDS or its nominee is the registered holder of Global
Notes, CDS or its nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered to be the sole owner of Global Notes for the purposes
of receiving payments of interest on and principal of Global
Notes and premium, if any. The Corporation expects that CDS or
its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, interest,
or premium, if any, in respect of Global Notes, will credit
participants accounts, on the date principal or interest
is payable, with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective interests in the principal
S-9
amount of Global Notes as shown on the records of CDS or its
nominee at the close of business on the Regular Record Date,
with respect to the payment of interest, and at maturity, with
respect to the payment of principal. The Corporation also
expects that payments of principal and interest by participants
to the owners of beneficial interests in Global Notes held
through such participants will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, and will be the
responsibility of such participants. The responsibility and
liability of the Corporation in respect of Notes represented by
Global Notes is limited to making payment of any principal and
interest due on such Global Notes to the Trustee.
Transfers of beneficial ownership in Notes represented by Global
Notes will be effected through the records maintained by CDS or
its nominee for such Global Notes with respect to the interests
of participants, and on the records of participants with respect
to interests of Persons other than participants. Beneficial
owners who are not participants in the depository service of
CDS, but who desire to purchase, sell or otherwise transfer
ownership of or other interest in Global Notes, may do so only
through participants in the depository service of CDS.
The ability of a beneficial owner of an interest in a Note
represented by Global Notes to pledge the Note or otherwise take
action with respect to such owners interest in a Note
represented by Global Notes (other than through a participant)
may be limited due to the lack of a physical certificate.
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg
Noteholders may hold their Notes through the accounts maintained
by DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg in CDS only if they
are participants of those systems, or indirectly through
organizations which are participants of those systems.
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg will hold book-entry
positions on behalf of their participants on the books of CDS.
All securities in DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg are
held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific
certificates to specific securities clearance accounts.
Transfers of Notes by Persons holding through Euroclear or
Clearstream, Luxembourg participants will be effected through
CDS, in accordance with CDS rules, and on behalf of the relevant
European international clearing system by its depositaries.
However, such transactions will require delivery of transfer
instructions to the relevant European international clearing
system by the participant in such system in accordance with its
rules and procedures and within its established deadlines
(European time). The relevant European international clearing
system will, if the transfer meets its requirements, deliver
instructions to its depositaries to take action to effect
transfer of the Notes on its behalf by delivering Notes through
CDS and receiving payment in accordance with its normal
procedures. Payments with respect to the Notes held through
Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to the
cash accounts of Euroclear participants or Clearstream,
Luxembourg participants in accordance with the relevant
systems rules and procedures, to the extent received by
its depositaries.
Although the Corporation will make all payments of principal and
interest on the Notes in Canadian dollars, holders of Notes held
through DTC will receive such payments in U.S. dollars, except
as set forth below. Canadian dollar payments received by CDS
will be exchanged into U.S. dollars and paid directly to DTC in
accordance with procedures established from time to time by CDS
and DTC. All costs of conversion will be borne by holders of
Notes held through DTC who receive payments in U.S. dollars.
Holders of Notes held through DTC may elect, through procedures
established from time to time by DTC and its participants, to
receive Canadian dollar payments, in which case such Canadian
dollar amounts will be transferred directly to Canadian dollar
accounts designated by such holders to DTC.
Any such procedures once established may be changed or
discontinued by CDS, DTC, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg,
as the case may be, at any time.
Foreign Exchange Risk
The Notes are denominated in Canadian dollars and all payments
in respect of the Notes are to be made in Canadian dollars. An
investment in the Notes by a purchaser not resident in Canada
that conducts its business or activities in a currency (the
home currency) other than Canadian dollars
entails significant risks not associated with a similar
investment in a security denominated in the home currency. Such
risks include the possibility of significant changes in rates of
exchange between the home currency and the Canadian dollar and
the possibility of the imposition or modification of foreign
exchange controls with respect to the home currency or Canadian
dollar. Such risks generally depend on events over which the
Corporation has no control, such as economic and political
events and the supply of, and demand for, the Canadian dollar
and the home currency. In recent years, rates of exchange for
certain currencies
S-10
have been highly volatile and such volatility may be expected to
continue in the future. Fluctuations in any particular exchange
rate that have occurred in the past are not necessarily
indicative, however, of fluctuations in such rate that may occur
during the term of the Notes. Depreciation of the Canadian
dollar against the relevant home currency could result in a
decrease in the effective yield on the Notes below their coupon
rate and, in certain circumstances, could result in a loss to
the investor on a home currency basis.
This description of foreign currency risks does not describe all
of the risks of an investment in securities denominated in a
currency other than the home currency. Prospective investors
should consult their own financial and legal advisers as to the
risks involved in an investment in the Notes.
EARNINGS COVERAGE
The following consolidated financial ratios are calculated for
the twelve-month periods ended August 31, 2006 and
November 30, 2006 and give effect to the issuance of all of
the Corporations long-term debt and repayment or
redemption thereof subsequent to such dates, including debt to
be issued pursuant to this offering. The ratios are based on the
Corporations annual audited consolidated financial
statements and unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements incorporated by reference herein.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Twelve months | |
|
Twelve months | |
|
|
ended | |
|
ended | |
|
|
November 30, 2006 | |
|
August 31, 2006 | |
|
|
| |
|
| |
Interest(1)
(000$)
|
|
$ |
260,252 |
|
|
$ |
261,853 |
|
Earnings(2)(000$)
|
|
$ |
680,533 |
|
|
$ |
628,891 |
|
Ratio of Earnings to Interest
|
|
|
2.61 |
|
|
|
2.40 |
|
Notes:
|
|
(1) |
The annual interest requirements on long-term debt outstanding
at August 31, 2006, have been adjusted to reflect issuance,
repayment or redemption of
long-term debt since
August 31, 2006 and to give effect to the issuance of the
Notes, and the application of the net proceeds thereof as
described under Use of Proceeds. |
|
(2) |
Earnings are before deduction of interest on long-term debt and
income taxes. |
RATINGS OF THE NOTES
The following table discloses the ratings of the Notes, and
ratings outlooks, received by Shaw from the rating agencies
indicated:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ratings |
|
Ratings Outlook | |
|
Rating Agency |
|
|
| |
|
|
BBB (low)
|
|
|
Stable |
|
|
Dominion Bond Rating Service Limited (DBRS) |
Ba1
|
|
|
Stable |
|
|
Moodys Investors Service, Inc. (Moodys) |
BB+
|
|
|
Positive |
|
|
Standard & Poors Rating Services (S&P) |
DBRS credit ratings are on a long-term debt rating scale
that ranges from AAA to D, which represents the range from
highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of
BBB by DBRS is the fourth highest of ten categories and is
assigned to debt securities considered to be of adequate credit
quality. Protection of interest and principal is considered
acceptable, but the entity is fairly susceptible to adverse
changes in financial and economic conditions, or there may be
other adverse conditions present which reduce the strength of
the entity and its rated securities. The assignment of a
(high) or (low) modifier within each
rating category indicates relative standing within such
category. The high and low grades are
not used for the AAA and D categories.
Moodys credit ratings are on a long-term debt rating scale
that ranges from Aaa to C, which represents the range from
highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of
Ba by Moodys is the fifth highest of nine categories and
denotes obligations judged to have speculative elements and
which are subject to substantial credit risk. The addition of a
1, 2 or 3 modifier after a rating indicates the relative
standing within a particular rating category. The
modifier 1 indicates that the issue ranks in the higher end
of its generic rating category, the modifier 2 indicates a
mid-range ranking and
the modifier 3 indicates that the issue ranks in the lower
end of its generic rating category.
S&Ps credit ratings are on a long-term debt rating
scale that ranges from AAA to D, which represents the range from
highest to lowest quality of such securities rated. A rating of
BB by S&P is the fifth highest of eleven categories.
According to the S&P rating system, debt securities rated BB
have significant speculative characteristics but are less
S-11
vulnerable in the near term than other lower rated obligations.
However, an obligor rated BB faces major ongoing uncertainties
and exposure to adverse business, financial or economic
conditions which could lead to the obligors inadequate
capacity to meet its financial commitments. The addition of a
plus (+) or minus (-) designation after a rating indicates the
relative standing within a particular rating category.
Each rating agency has several categories of long-term debt
ratings that may be assigned to a particular issue. Prospective
purchasers of the Notes should consult the rating organization
with respect to the interpretation and implication of the
foregoing ratings and outlooks.
Credit ratings are intended to provide investors with an
independent measure of the credit quality of an issue of
securities. The foregoing ratings should not be construed as a
recommendation to buy, sell or hold the Notes, in as much as
such ratings do not comment as to market price or suitability
for a particular investor. Any of the foregoing ratings may be
revised or withdrawn at any time by the respective rating
organization if in its judgment circumstances so warrant.
CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The following summary is of a general nature only and is not
intended to be, and should not be construed to be, legal or tax
advice to any prospective investor and no representation with
respect to the tax consequences to any particular investor is
made. Accordingly, prospective investors should consult with
their own tax advisors for advice with respect to the income tax
consequences to them of purchasing, holding or disposing of the
Notes having regard to their own particular circumstances,
including any consequences of an investment in the Notes arising
under state, provincial, territorial or local tax laws in Canada
or the United States or tax laws of jurisdictions outside Canada
or the United States.
Certain Canadian Federal Income Tax Considerations
In the opinion of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, counsel for Shaw,
and McCarthy Tétrault LLP, counsel for the Underwriters,
the following are as of the date hereof fair and adequate
summaries of the material Canadian federal income tax
consequences generally applicable to (a) a holder (a
Holder) who acquires Notes pursuant to this
offering and who, for the purposes of the Income Tax Act
(Canada) (the Tax Act), is or is deemed to be
a resident of Canada, deals with Shaw at arms length, is
not affiliated with Shaw and holds the Notes as capital property
and (b) a holder (a Non-Resident Holder)
who acquires Notes pursuant to this offering and who, for the
purposes of the Tax Act, deals with Shaw at arms length,
and is neither a resident of Canada nor deemed to be a resident
of Canada. These summaries are based upon the current provisions
of the Tax Act and the Regulations thereunder in force as of the
date hereof, all specific proposals to amend the Tax Act and
Regulations publicly announced by the Minister of Finance
(Canada) prior to the date hereof (the Proposed
Amendments), and counsels understanding of the
current administrative and assessing policies of the Canada
Revenue Agency (the CRA) published in writing
prior to the date hereof. These summaries are not exhaustive of
all possible Canadian income tax consequences and, except for
the Proposed Amendments, do not take into account or anticipate
any changes in the law or the administrative or assessing
policies of the CRA whether by legislative, governmental or
judicial action, nor do they take into account provincial or
foreign tax considerations which may differ significantly from
those discussed herein. There can be no assurance that the
Proposed Amendments will be enacted in the current form or
at all.
Residents of Canada
A Holder will generally be considered to hold the Notes as
capital property unless the Holder is a trader or dealer in
securities, holds the Notes in the course of carrying on a
business of buying and selling securities or has acquired the
Notes as an adventure in the nature of trade. Certain Holders of
Notes who might not otherwise be considered to hold their Notes
as capital property may, in certain circumstances, be entitled
to have them treated as capital property by making the
irrevocable election permitted by subsection 39(4) of the
Tax Act. This summary does not apply to a Holder that is a
financial institution within the meaning of section 142.2
of the Tax Act or to a Holder an interest in which is a
tax shelter investment, within the meaning of
section 143.2 of the Tax Act.
Interest on Notes
A Holder of a Note that is a corporation, partnership, unit
trust or any trust of which any corporation or partnership is a
beneficiary, will be required to include in computing income for
a taxation year all interest (or amounts deemed to be interest)
that accrues to it on the Note to the end of that taxation year
or that becomes receivable or is received by it
S-12
before the end of the taxation year, except to the extent that
the interest was included in computing its income for a
preceding taxation year.
Any other Holder, including an individual, will be required to
include in computing income for a taxation year, all interest
(or amounts deemed to be interest) on a Note that is received or
receivable by the Holder in that taxation year (depending on the
method regularly followed by the Holder in computing income).
Disposition
On a disposition or deemed disposition of a Note (including the
redemption of a Note by Shaw), a Holder will realize a capital
gain (or sustain a capital loss), to the extent that the
proceeds of disposition exceed (or are exceeded by), the
adjusted cost base to the Holder of the Note and any reasonable
expenses incurred for the purpose of making a disposition.
On a disposition or deemed disposition of a Note, a Holder will
generally be required to include in income for the taxation year
in which the disposition occurs, any premium deemed to be
interest and the amount of accrued interest from the date of the
last interest payment to the extent that such amount has not
otherwise been included in income for the year in which the
disposition or deemed disposition occurs or a previous taxation
year.
A Holder who realizes a capital gain or sustains a capital loss
on the disposition of a Note will be required to include in
computing income for the taxation year of the disposition,
one-half of the capital gain or will generally be entitled to
deduct one-half of the capital loss against taxable capital
gains realized by the Holder in the taxation year. Allowable
capital losses not deducted in the taxation year in which they
are realized may be carried back and deducted in any of the
three preceding years or carried forward and deducted in any
following years against taxable capital gains realized in such
years, to the extent and under the circumstances specified in
the Tax Act.
Refundable Tax
A Holder that is a Canadian-controlled private
corporation (as defined in the Tax Act) may be liable for
a refundable tax of
62/3%
on investment income, including interest and capital gains
earned or realized in respect of the Notes.
Non-Residents of Canada
The payment by Shaw of interest, premium, if any, or principal
on the Notes to a
Non-Resident Holder
will be exempt from Canadian
non-resident
withholding tax under the Tax Act.
No other taxes on income (including capital gains) will be
payable under the Tax Act in respect of the holding, redemption
or disposition of the Notes by
Non-Resident Holders
who do not use or hold and are not deemed to use or hold the
Notes in carrying on business in Canada for the purposes of the
Tax Act, except that in certain circumstances
Non-Resident Holders
who are carrying on an insurance business in Canada and
elsewhere may be subject to such taxes.
Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations
The following summary describes certain U.S. federal income
tax consequences that may be relevant to the purchase, ownership
and disposition of Notes by U.S. Holders (as defined below)
who purchase Notes in this offering at the issue price set forth
on the cover of this Prospectus Supplement and who hold the
Notes as capital assets (U.S. Holders) within
the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the Code). This discussion
does not purport to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal
income taxation that may be relevant to particular holders in
light of their particular circumstances nor does it deal with
persons that are subject to special tax rules, such as dealers
in securities or currencies, financial institutions, insurance
companies, tax-exempt
organizations, partnerships, real estate investment trusts,
regulated investment companies, traders in securities or
commodities that elect mark-to-market treatment, persons that
are or, will hold Notes through, a partnership or other
pass-through entity, persons holding the Notes as a part of a
straddle, hedge, or conversion transaction or a synthetic
security or other integrated transaction, U.S. Holders
whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar,
and holders who are not U.S. Holders. In addition, this
summary does not address the tax consequences applicable to
subsequent purchasers of the Notes. Furthermore, the discussion
below is based upon the provisions of the Code and United States
Treasury regulations, rulings and judicial decisions under the
Code as of the date of this Prospectus, and those authorities
may be repealed, revoked or modified (possibly with retroactive
effect) so as to result in federal income tax consequences
S-13
different from those discussed below. There can be no assurance
that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will
take a similar view as to any of the tax consequences described
in this summary.
Persons considering the purchase, ownership or disposition of
Notes should consult their own tax advisors concerning the
U.S. federal income tax consequences in light of their
particular situations as well as any consequences arising under
the laws of any state or of any local or foreign taxing
jurisdiction.
As used in this section, the term
U.S. Holder means a holder of Notes that
is for U.S. federal income tax purposes (i) a citizen
or individual resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation or other entity created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or any political subdivision of the
United States, (iii) an estate the income of which is
subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its
source or (iv) a trust, if a United States court is able to
exercise primary supervision over the administration of the
trust and one or more U.S. Persons have the authority to
control all substantial decisions of the trust or if the trust
has validly made an election to be treated as a U.S. Person
under applicable United States Treasury regulations.
Payments of Interest
The U.S. dollar value of interest paid on a Note (including
any Canadian taxes withheld therefrom and including the receipt
of proceeds from a sale, exchange or other disposition
attributable to accrued but unpaid interest) will generally be
includible by a U.S. Holder as ordinary income at the time
the interest is paid or accrued, based on the
U.S. Holders method of accounting for
U.S. federal income tax purposes. In addition to interest
on the Notes, a U.S. Holder will be required to include as
income any additional amounts Shaw may pay to cover any Canadian
taxes withheld from interest payments. As a result, a
U.S. Holder may be required to include more interest in
gross income than the amount of cash it actually receives.
A U.S. Holder may be entitled to deduct or credit the amount of
any foreign withholding tax, subject to applicable limitations
in the Code. For U.S. foreign tax credit purposes, interest
income described above generally will constitute foreign source
income and will be treated as passive category
income or general category income for United
States foreign tax credit purposes. The rules governing the
foreign tax credit are complex and U.S. Holders are urged
to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the
credit under their particular circumstances.
Generally, in the case of a cash method taxpayer, the
U.S. dollar value of the foreign currency interest payment
is determined based on the spot rate on the date of receipt.
Generally, in the case of an accrual method taxpayer, the
average U.S. dollar value of the accrued amounts is
determined based on the average exchange rate during the
interest accrual period, unless an election is made under the
Treasury regulations to use a different exchange rate.
Generally, an accrual method taxpayer will recognize exchange
income or loss, which will constitute ordinary income or loss,
with respect to accrued interest income on the date the interest
payment is actually received. A U.S. Holder may have
exchange gain or loss when it disposes of any Canadian dollars
received.
Original Issue Discount
It is not expected that the Notes will be issued with original
issue discount. If, however, the Notes are issued with more than
a de minimis amount of original issue discount, then
such original issue discount would be treated for
U.S. federal income tax purposes as interest accruing over
the Notes term, and would be taxable as interest income as
described above under Payments of Interest. A
U.S. Holders adjusted tax basis in a Note would be
increased by the amount of any original issue discount included
in its gross income. In compliance with United States Treasury
regulations, if Shaw determines that the Notes have original
issue discount, Shaw will provide certain information to the IRS
and/or U.S. Holders that is relevant to determining the amount
of original issue discount in each accrual period.
Purchase, Sale, Exchange or Retirement of the Notes
A U.S. Holder who converts U.S. dollars to Canadian dollars
and immediately uses such Canadian dollars to purchase a Note
will ordinarily not recognize exchange gain or loss in
connection with such conversion and purchase. A U.S. Holder
who purchases a Note with previously acquired Canadian dollars
will recognize ordinary income or loss in an amount equal to the
difference, if any, between such U.S. Holders tax
basis in Canadian dollars and the U.S. dollar fair market
value of the Note on the date of purchase. Such exchange gain or
loss will generally constitute U.S. source gain
or loss.
Gain or loss will be recognized upon the sale, exchange or
retirement of a Note in an amount equal to the U.S. dollar value
of the amount received by a U.S. Holder upon such
disposition (reduced by any amounts attributable to
S-14
accrued but unpaid interest, which will be taxable as described
above under Payments of Interest) less the
U.S. dollar tax basis in the Note. A
U.S. Holders tax basis in a Note will be the
U.S. dollar value of the amount paid for the Note based on
the exchange rate on the date of purchase of the Note. Gain or
loss that is recognized will be treated as ordinary income or
loss to the extent it is exchange gain or loss. Any gain or loss
recognized by such a holder in excess of the exchange gain or
loss will generally be capital gain or loss. Such gain or loss
generally will constitute a
long-term capital gain
or loss if the Note was held by such U.S. Holder for more
than one year and otherwise will be
short-term capital gain
or loss. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to
limitations. In the case of a U.S. Holder who is a United
States resident (as defined in Section 865 of the Code),
any such gain or loss generally will be treated as
U.S. source.
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
In general, information reporting requirements will apply to
payments of principal and interest on a Note and payments of the
proceeds of sale made within the United States (and, in certain
cases, outside the United States) to U.S. Holders other
than certain exempt recipients (such as corporations). In
addition, a backup withholding tax (currently at the rate of
28%) may apply to such payments if such a U.S. Holder fails
to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number or
otherwise fails to comply with applicable requirements of the
backup withholding rules. Any amounts withheld under those rules
will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holders
U.S. federal income tax liability or refundable to the
extent it exceeds such liability. A U.S. Holder who does
not provide a correct taxpayer identification number may also be
subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.
This discussion is not intended or written to be used, and
cannot be used, by any holder of the Notes for the purpose of
avoiding penalties that may be imposed on the holder by the IRS.
This discussion supports the promotion or marketing of the
transactions or matters addressed herein. Each holder of the
Notes should seek advice based on its particular circumstances
from an independent tax advisor.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Under the terms and subject to the conditions of an underwriting
agreement (the Underwriting Agreement) dated
February 27, 2007 among Shaw and the Underwriters, the
Corporation has agreed to sell and the Underwriters have
severally agreed, in the amounts set out below, to purchase, on
or about March 2, 2007 or such other date as may be agreed
upon, but not later than March 16, 2007, subject to the
terms and conditions stated therein, all but not less than all
of the $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes at an
aggregate price of $399,068,000 ($997.67 per $1,000 principal
amount of Notes), payable in cash to the Corporation against
delivery of the Notes and payment of the underwriting commission
described below.
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Underwriters |
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Amount | |
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| |
TD Securities Inc.
|
|
$ |
120,000,000 |
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RBC Dominion Securities Inc.
|
|
$ |
100,000,000 |
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CIBC World Markets Inc.
|
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$ |
48,000,000 |
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Scotia Capital Inc.
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|
$ |
48,000,000 |
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GMP Securities L.P.
|
|
$ |
28,000,000 |
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Merrill Lynch Canada Inc.
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$ |
28,000,000 |
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National Bank Financial Inc.
|
|
$ |
28,000,000 |
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TOTAL:
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|
$ |
400,000,000 |
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The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Corporation will
pay the Underwriters a commission of 0.90% per Note sold by
closing to institutions and 1.75% per Note for all other
sales. The Underwriting Agreement further provides that not less
than $375,000,000 of the aggregate principal amount of Notes
shall be sold to institutions.
The Underwriters have advised Shaw that they propose initially
to offer the Notes to the public at the public offering price
set forth on the cover of this Prospectus Supplement and to
certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of
0.8% per Note. After the initial public offering, the public
offering price and concession may be changed by
the Underwriters.
S-15
The obligations of the Underwriters under the Underwriting
Agreement are several and may be terminated at their discretion
on the basis of their assessment of financial markets and may
also be terminated upon the occurrence of certain stated events.
The Corporation is not obligated to sell less than all of
the Notes.
This offering is being made concurrently in all provinces of
Canada and in the United States pursuant to the
multijurisdictional disclosure system implemented by securities
regulatory authorities in Canada and the United States. The
Notes will be offered in Canada and the United States through
the Underwriters, either directly or through their respective
Canadian or U.S. broker-dealer affiliates or agents.
Shaw has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters and their
directors, officers and employees against certain liabilities,
including liabilities under the United States Securities Act of
1933, as amended, and applicable Canadian securities
legislation, and to contribute to payments that the Underwriters
and Shaw may be required to make in respect thereof.
There is currently no public market for the Notes. Shaw does not
intend to apply for listing of the Notes on any national
securities exchange or for quotation of the Notes on any
automated dealer quotation system. Shaw has been advised by the
Underwriters that they presently intend to make a market in the
Notes after completion of the offering. However, they are under
no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making
activities at any time without any notice. Shaw cannot assure
the liquidity of any trading market for the Notes or that an
active public market for the Notes will develop. If an active
trading market for the Notes does not develop, the market price
and liquidity of the Notes may be adversely affected.
The determination of the terms of the distribution was made
through negotiations between Shaw and TD Securities Inc.,
on behalf of the Underwriters.
In connection with the offering, the Underwriters are permitted
to engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions and
syndicate covering transactions or purchases for the purpose of
pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the Notes. These
transactions may raise the price of the Notes. Neither Shaw nor
any of the Underwriters makes any representations or prediction
as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that such
transactions may have on the price of the Notes. In addition,
neither Shaw nor any of the Underwriters makes any
representation that the Underwriters will engage in those
transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will
not be discontinued without notice.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SHAW AND CERTAIN UNDERWRITERS
The Connected Underwriters are affiliates of lenders (the
Lenders) to the Corporation and to which the
Corporation is presently indebted. Shaw was indebted to such
Lenders for approximately $230 million as at
November 30, 2006 under its credit facility, which
indebtedness represented approximately 7.5% of the total
indebtedness of Shaw as of that date (see
Capitalization). Shaw is in compliance with
the terms of its credit facility, is not in default under the
credit agreement with the Lenders and none of the Lenders have
waived any breach of the credit agreement since the execution
thereof. The financial position of Shaw has not changed
substantially since the indebtedness under the credit facility
was incurred. None of the Lenders were involved in the decision
to offer the Notes and none were involved in the determination
of the terms of the distribution of the Notes. A portion of the
net proceeds of the sale of the Notes will be used to reduce the
indebtedness of Shaw to such Lenders. The Corporation may be
considered to be a connected issuer of the Lenders within the
meaning of applicable securities legislation. See Use of
Proceeds and Capitalization.
The offering will be conducted in the United States in
accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710(h) because more than
10% of the net proceeds of the offering may be paid to members
or affiliates of members of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. participating in the offering. The
yield of the Notes is not required to be recommended by a
qualified independent underwriter which has participated in the
preparation of the registration statement and performed its
usual standard of due diligence with respect to that
registration statement because the Notes have been rated in an
investment grade category by a rating service acceptable to the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
S-16
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the issue of the Notes
will be passed upon for Shaw by Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP,
Calgary, Alberta, with respect to matters of Canadian law, and
by Sherman & Howard L.L.C., Denver, Colorado, with respect
to matters of United States law, and certain legal matters in
connection with the issue of the Notes will be passed upon for
the Underwriters by McCarthy Tétrault LLP, with respect to
matters of Canadian law, and by Skadden, Arps, Slate,
Meagher & Flom LLP, with respect to matters of United
States law.
As of the date of this Prospectus Supplement, the partners and
associates of each of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP and McCarthy
Tétrault LLP as a group beneficially own, directly or
indirectly, less than 1% of Shaws outstanding securities.
S-17
February 16, 2007
Shaw Communications Inc.
$1 Billion
Debt Securities
Shaw Communications Inc. (Shaw or the
Corporation) may offer for sale from time to
time, during the 25 month period that this short form base
shelf prospectus (Prospectus), including any
amendments hereto, remains valid, debt securities (the
Debt Securities) which may consist of
debentures, notes or other types of debt securities and which
may be issuable in series. Shaw may sell up to $1 billion
in the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities (or its
equivalent in any other currency used to denominate the Debt
Securities at the time of offering) or, if any Debt Securities
are offered at an original issue discount, such greater amount
as shall result in an aggregate offering price of
$1 billion (or its equivalent in any other currency used to
denominate the Debt Securities at the time of offering). Debt
Securities may be offered in amounts, at prices, and on terms to
be determined based on market conditions at the time of sale and
set forth in an accompanying shelf prospectus supplement (a
Prospectus Supplement).
The specific terms of the Debt Securities with respect to a
particular offering will be set out in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement and may include, where applicable, the specific
designation, aggregate principal amount, the currency or the
currency unit for which the Debt Securities may be purchased,
the maturity, interest provisions, authorized denominations,
offering price, covenants, events of default, terms for
redemption or retraction (if any), exchange or conversion terms
(if any), whether the debt is senior or subordinated and any
other terms specific to the Debt Securities being offered. Where
required by statute, regulation or policy, and where Debt
Securities are offered in currencies other than Canadian
dollars, appropriate disclosure of foreign exchange rates
applicable to such Debt Securities will be included in the
Prospectus Supplement describing such Debt Securities.
For the purpose of calculating the Canadian dollar equivalent of
the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities issued under
this Prospectus from time to time, Debt Securities denominated
in a currency (the Securities Currency) other
than Canadian dollars will be translated into Canadian dollars
at the date of issue of such Debt Securities using the spot
wholesale transactions buying rate of the Bank of Canada for the
purchase of Canadian dollars with the Securities Currency in
effect as of noon (Toronto time) on the date of issue of such
Debt Securities.
All shelf information permitted under applicable securities
legislation to be omitted from this Prospectus will be contained
in one or more Prospectus Supplements that will be delivered to
purchasers together with this Prospectus. Each Prospectus
Supplement will be incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus for the purposes of securities legislation as of the
date of the Prospectus Supplement and only for the purposes of
the distribution of the Debt Securities to which the Prospectus
Supplement pertains.
There is no market through which the Debt Securities may be
sold and purchasers may not be able to resell Debt Securities
purchased under this Prospectus. This may affect the pricing of
the Debt Securities in the secondary market, the transparency
and availability of trading prices, the liquidity of the Debt
Securities and the extent of issuer regulation. See Risk
Factors.
Neither the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved
these securities or determined if this Prospectus is truthful or
complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal
offence in the United States.
Offerings of Debt Securities hereunder are made by Shaw, a
foreign private issuer, which is permitted, under a
multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the United
States, to prepare this Prospectus in accordance with Canadian
disclosure requirements. Prospective investors in the United
States should be aware that such requirements are different from
those of the United States. Shaw has prepared the financial
statements incorporated herein by reference in accordance with
Canadian generally accepted accounting principles, and they are
subject to Canadian auditing and auditor independence standards.
Thus, they may not be comparable to the financial statements of
United States companies.
Prospective investors should be aware that the purchase of
Debt Securities may have tax consequences both in the United
States and Canada. This Prospectus or any applicable Prospectus
Supplement may not describe these tax consequences fully.
Investors should consult with their own tax advisors and read
the tax discussion in this Prospectus and any applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
Enforcement of civil liabilities under United States federal
securities laws may be affected adversely by the fact that Shaw
is incorporated in Alberta, Canada, most of its officers and
directors and most of the experts named in this Prospectus are
residents of Canada, and all or a substantial portion of the
assets of Shaw and said persons are located in Canada or other
jurisdictions outside the United States.
Shaw may offer and sell Debt Securities to or through
underwriters or dealers purchasing as principals and also may
offer and sell certain Debt Securities directly to other
purchasers or through agents. A Prospectus Supplement relating
to each issue of Debt Securities offered thereby will identify
each underwriter, dealer or agent engaged by Shaw in connection
with the sale of such issue and will set forth the terms of the
offering of such Debt Securities, the method of distribution of
such Debt Securities, including to the extent applicable, the
proceeds to Shaw and any fees, discounts or any other
compensation payable to underwriters, dealers or agents and any
other material terms of the plan of distribution.
In connection with any underwritten offering of Debt Securities,
the underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which
stabilize or maintain the market price of the Debt Securities
offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in
the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time. See Plan of Distribution.
The offering is subject to approval of certain legal matters on
behalf of the Corporation by Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP,
Calgary, Alberta and Sherman & Howard LLC, Denver,
Colorado. No underwriter or dealer in Canada or the United
States has been involved in the preparation of this Prospectus
or performed any review of the contents of this Prospectus.
Shaws head and registered office is at Suite 900,
630 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta,
T2P 4L4.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
In this Prospectus, unless otherwise specified or the context
otherwise requires, references to Shaw, the
Corporation, us, we or
our mean Shaw Communications Inc. and its
consolidated subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified, all
dollar amounts contained herein are expressed in Canadian
dollars, and references to dollars, Cdn$
or $ are to Canadian dollars and all references to
US$ are to United States dollars. All financial
information included and incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus is determined using generally accepted accounting
principles in Canada (Canadian GAAP).
U.S. GAAP means generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States.
This Prospectus is part of a registration statement on
Form F-10 relating
to our Debt Securities that we filed with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Under the registration statement, we may, from time to time,
sell the Debt Securities described in this Prospectus in one or
more offerings up to an aggregate offering amount of
$1 billion. This Prospectus, which constitutes part of the
registration statement, provides you with a general description
of the Debt Securities that we may offer. Each time we sell Debt
Securities under the registration statement, we will provide a
Prospectus Supplement that will contain specific information
about the terms of that offering of Debt Securities. A
Prospectus Supplement may also add, update or change information
contained in this Prospectus. Before you invest, you should read
both this Prospectus and any applicable Prospectus Supplement
together with additional information described under the heading
Where You Can Find More Information. This
Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in
the registration statement, certain parts of which are omitted
in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, or the
schedules or exhibits that are part of the registration
statement. U.S. persons should refer to the registration
statement and the exhibits thereto for further information with
respect to Shaw and the Debt Securities.
Shaw prepares its consolidated financial statements in
accordance with Canadian GAAP, which may differ from
U.S. GAAP. Therefore, the consolidated financial statements
of Shaw incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, in any
applicable Prospectus Supplement and in the documents
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or in any
applicable Prospectus Supplement may not be comparable to
financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
You should refer to the notes to our audited consolidated
financial statements for a discussion of the principal
differences between our financial results calculated under
Canadian GAAP and U.S. GAAP.
2
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Information has been incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus from documents filed with securities commissions or
similar authorities in Canada. Copies of the documents
incorporated herein by reference may be obtained on request
without charge from the Chief Financial Officer of Shaw
Communications Inc., Suite 900, 630
3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary, Alberta, T2P 4L4 (telephone
(403) 750-4500) or by accessing the Corporations
disclosure documents available through the Internet on the
Canadian System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval
(SEDAR) which may be accessed at
www.sedar.com. For the purpose of the Province of
Québec, this simplified prospectus contains information to
be completed by consulting the permanent information record. A
copy of the permanent information record may be obtained from
the Chief Financial Officer of Shaw Communications Inc. at the
above-mentioned address and telephone number or by accessing
SEDAR.
In addition to its continuous disclosure obligations under the
securities laws of the provinces of Canada, Shaw is subject to
certain of the information requirements of the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the Exchange Act), and in accordance
therewith files reports and other information with the SEC.
Under the multijurisdictional disclosure system adopted by the
United States, some reports and other information may be
prepared in accordance with the disclosure requirements of
Canada, which requirements are different from those of the
United States. As a foreign private issuer, Shaw is exempt from
the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and
content of proxy statements, and Shaws officers, directors
and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and
short-swing profit recovery provisions contained in
Section 16 of the Exchange Act. In addition, Shaw is not
required to publish financial statements as promptly as U.S.
companies. You may read any document Shaw furnishes to the SEC
at the SECs public reference room at Room 1580,
100 F Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You
may also obtain copies of the same documents from the public
reference room of the SEC at 100 F Street N.E.,
Washington D.C. 20549 by paying a fee. You should call the
SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or access its website at
www.sec.gov for further information about the public
reference rooms. As well, a free copy of any public document
filed by Shaw with the SECs Electronic Data Gathering and
Retrieval (EDGAR) system is available from
the SECs website at www.sec.gov.
Under the short form prospectus system adopted by the securities
commissions and other regulatory authorities in each of the
provinces of Canada and under the multijurisdictional disclosure
system adopted by the United States and Canada, we are permitted
to incorporate by reference the information we file with
securities commissions in Canada, which means that we can
disclose important information to you by referring you to those
documents. Information that is incorporated by reference is an
important part of this Prospectus. The following documents were
filed with the securities commission or other similar authority
in each of the provinces of Canada, are specifically
incorporated by reference in, and form an integral part of, this
Prospectus.
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(a) |
the annual information form of Shaw dated November 29, 2006; |
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(b) |
the audited consolidated balance sheets of Shaw as at
August 31, 2006 and 2005 and the consolidated statements of
income and deficit and cash flows for the three years ended
August 31, 2006 together with the notes thereto and the
auditors reports thereon; |
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(c) |
managements discussion and analysis of the financial
condition and operations of Shaw with respect to the year ended
August 31, 2006; |
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(d) |
the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of Shaw as at
November 30, 2006 and the unaudited interim consolidated
statements of income, deficit and cash flows for the three
months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005; |
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(e) |
managements discussion and analysis of the financial
condition and operations of Shaw with respect to the three
months ended November 30, 2006; and |
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(f) |
the management proxy information circular dated December 7,
2006 relating to the annual general meeting of shareholders of
the Corporation held on January 11, 2007. |
Any documents of the type referred to in the preceding
paragraph, or similar material, including all annual information
forms, all information circulars, all financial statements and
managements discussion and analysis relating thereto, all
material change reports (excluding confidential reports, if
any), all business acquisition reports, all updated earnings
coverage ratio information, as well as all Prospectus
Supplements disclosing additional or updated information, filed
by Shaw with securities commissions or similar authorities in
the relevant provinces of Canada
3
subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
25 months from the date hereof shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference into this Prospectus. Shaw also
incorporates by reference all future annual reports and any
other information Shaw files with the SEC pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, if and
to the extent expressly provided in such filings, until Shaw
sells all of the Debt Securities.
A Prospectus Supplement containing the specific variable terms
of an offering of Debt Securities will be delivered to
purchasers of such Debt Securities together with this Prospectus
and will be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus as of the date of such Prospectus Supplement, but
only for the purposes of the offering of the Debt Securities
covered by that Prospectus Supplement.
Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed
to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
prior statement. Any statement or document so modified or
superseded shall not, except to the extent so modified or
superseded, be incorporated by reference and constitute a part
of this Prospectus.
Upon a new annual information form and related annual financial
statements being filed with and, where required, accepted by,
the applicable securities regulatory authorities during the
currency of this Prospectus, the previous annual information
form, annual financial statements and all interim financial
statements, material change reports and management proxy
circulars filed prior to the commencement of the then current
fiscal year will be deemed no longer to be incorporated into
this Prospectus for purposes of future offers and sales of Debt
Securities under this Prospectus.
You should rely only on the information contained in or
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus or any applicable
Prospectus Supplement and on the other information included in
the registration statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part. We are not making an offer of Debt Securities in any
jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted by law.
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements included and incorporated by reference herein
constitute forward-looking statements within the
meaning of applicable securities laws, including the U.S.
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause actual results, performance or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance or achievements expressed or implied by such
forward-looking statements. When used herein, the words
anticipate, believe, expect,
plan, intend, estimate,
target, guideline, goal and
other similar expressions are intended to identify
forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking
statements contain such words. Forward-looking statements
include, but are not limited to, references to future capital
expenditures (including the amount and nature thereof), business
strategies and measures to implement strategies, competitive
strengths, goals, expansion and growth of Shaws business
and operations, plans and references to Shaws future
success. These forward-looking statements are based on certain
assumptions and analyses made by Shaw in light of Shaws
experience and perception of historical trends, current
conditions and expected future developments, as well as other
factors Shaw believes are appropriate in the circumstances.
However, Shaw cannot guarantee future results, levels of
activity, performance or achievements and actual events or
results may differ materially. Many factors, including those not
within Shaws control, could cause Shaws actual
results performance or achievements to be materially different
from the views expressed or implied by such forward-looking
statements, including, but not limited to:
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general economic, market or business conditions and industry
trends; |
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opportunities (or lack thereof) that may be presented to and
pursued by Shaw; |
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increased competition in Shaws markets and from the
development of new markets for emerging technologies; |
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changing conditions in the entertainment, information and
communications industries; |
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the Corporations status as a holding company with separate
operating subsidiaries; |
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changes in laws, regulation and decisions by regulators in
Shaws industries in both Canada and the United States; |
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the concentration of control of Shaw; |
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risks associated with the economic, political and regulatory
policies of local governments and laws and policies of Canada
and the United States; |
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other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in
Shaws reports and filings with Canadian and
U.S. securities regulatory authorities; and |
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additional risks described below in Risk Factors. |
Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize,
or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements
prove incorrect, Shaws actual results, performance or
achievements may vary materially from those described herein.
Consequently, all of the forward-looking statements made in this
Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and the documents
incorporated by reference herein or therein are qualified by
these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that
the actual results or developments anticipated by Shaw will be
realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have
the expected consequences to, or effects on, Shaw. You should
not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements.
Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this
Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and the documents
incorporated by reference herein and therein are made only as of
the date of such document and Shaw expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or
revisions to any of the included forward-looking statements to
reflect any change in expectations with regard to those
statements or any other change in events, conditions or
circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as
required by law. New factors affecting Shaw emerge from time to
time, and it is not possible for Shaw to predict what factors
will arise or when. In addition, Shaw cannot assess the impact
of each factor on its business or the extent to which any
particular factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual
results to differ materially from those contained in any
forward-looking statement.
BUSINESS OF THE CORPORATION
Introduction
Shaw (together with its subsidiaries) is a diversified Canadian
communications company whose core business is providing cable
television, Internet, Digital Phone, telecommunications and
satellite direct-to-home services to approximately
3.2 million customers as of August 31, 2006. Shaw
provides customers with high quality entertainment, information
and communications services, utilizing a variety of distribution
technologies. Shaws total revenue for the years ended
August 31, 2006 and 2005, was approximately
$2.5 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. As at
August 31, 2006, Shaw had assets of approximately
$7.5 billion. Shaws executive offices are at
Suite 900, 630 3rd Avenue S.W., Calgary,
Alberta, Canada, T2P 4L4; telephone number
(403) 750-4500.
For further information relating to the business of Shaw, please
refer to Shaws annual information form incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds we
receive from the sale of Debt Securities for debt repayment, for
working capital and for general corporate purposes. The amount
of net proceeds to be used for any such purpose will be set
forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. We may, from time
to time, issue debt instruments, incur additional indebtedness
and issue equity securities or warrants other than pursuant to
this Prospectus.
5
EARNINGS COVERAGE
The following consolidated financial ratios are calculated for
the twelve month periods ended August 31, 2006 and
November 30, 2006, and give effect to the issuance of all
of our long-term debt and repayment or redemption thereof as of
those dates. These coverage ratios do not give effect to the
issuance of Debt Securities that may be issued pursuant to this
Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement, since the aggregate
principal amounts and the terms of such Debt Securities are not
presently known.
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Twelve months | |
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Twelve months | |
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ended | |
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ended | |
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November 30, 2006 | |
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August 31, 2006 | |
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Interest ($000s)
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$ |
252,702 |
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$ |
254,303 |
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Earnings coverage on long-term
debt(1)
($000s)
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$ |
680,533 |
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$ |
628,891 |
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Ratio of earnings to
interest(2)
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2.69 |
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2.47 |
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Notes:
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(1) |
Earnings are net income before the deduction of interest on
long-term debt and income taxes. |
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(2) |
Shaws interest requirements for the 12 month periods
ended August 31, 2006 and November 30, 2006 amounted
to $254.3 million and $252.7 million respectively.
Shaws earnings before interest and tax for the
12 month periods ended August 31, 2006 and
November 30, 2006 amounted to $628.9 million and
$680.5 million, respectively, which is 2.47 times and 2.69
times the Corporations interest requirements for those
periods. |
If Shaw offers Debt Securities having a term to maturity in
excess of one year under this Prospectus and a Prospectus
Supplement, the Prospectus Supplement will include earnings
coverage ratios giving effect to the issuance of such Debt
Securities.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of Debt Securities sets
forth certain general terms and provisions of Debt Securities in
respect of which a Prospectus Supplement will be filed. The
particular terms and provisions of Debt Securities offered by
any Prospectus Supplement will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement filed in respect of such Debt Securities.
Debt Securities may be issued under a Trust Indenture (the
Trust Indenture) to be entered into
between the Corporation and Computershare Trust Company of
Canada, as trustee (the Trustee). Debt
Securities may also be issued under any other indentures between
Shaw and a trustee or trustees as may be described in a
Prospectus Supplement for such Debt Securities. The following is
a summary only of certain provisions of the
Trust Indenture. For more information, please refer to the
text of the Trust Indenture. For the purposes of this
summary only, the term Corporation refers to
Shaw Communications Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries.
Other capitalized terms are as defined in the
Trust Indenture (unless otherwise defined herein).
Prospective investors should rely on information in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement if it is different from the
following information.
General
The Trust Indenture provides that Debt Securities may be
issued thereunder from time to time in one or more series.
Specific terms and conditions which apply to such series will be
set out in a supplement to the Trust Indenture. The Debt
Securities will be direct, unconditional and, unless otherwise
indicated in the relevant Prospectus Supplement, unsecured
obligations of the Corporation. The Trust Indenture does
not limit the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities
(which may include debentures, notes and other evidences of
indebtedness) which may be issued thereunder, and Debt
Securities may be denominated and payable in foreign currencies.
The Trust Indenture also permits Shaw to increase the
principal amount of any series of Debt Securities previously
issued and to issue up to that increased principal amount. As of
the date hereof, no Debt Securities are outstanding under the
Trust Indenture.
The Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular Debt
Securities offered thereby will describe the terms of such Debt
Securities, including, where applicable:
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(i) |
the specific designation, aggregate principal amount and
denominations of such Debt Securities; |
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(ii) |
the price at which such Debt Securities will be issued or
whether such Debt Securities will be issued on a non-fixed price
basis; |
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(iii) |
the date or dates on which such Debt Securities will mature and
the portion (if less than all of the principal amount) of such
Debt Securities to be payable upon declaration of an
acceleration of maturity; |
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(iv) |
the currency or currencies in which such Debt Securities are
being sold and in which the principal of (and premium, if
any), and interest, if any, on, such Debt Securities will be
payable, whether the Holder of any such Debt Securities or the
Corporation may elect the currency in which payments thereon are
to be made and, if so, the manner of such election; |
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(v) |
whether such Debt Securities are interest bearing and, in the
case of interest bearing Debt Securities, the rate or rates
(which may be fixed or variable) per annum at which such Debt
Securities will bear interest, if any; |
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(vi) |
the date from which interest, if any, on such Debt Securities,
whether payable in cash, in kind, or in shares, will accrue, the
date or dates on which such interest will be payable and the
date on which payment of such interest will commence; |
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(vii) |
the dates on which and the price or prices at which such Debt
Securities will, pursuant to any required repayment provisions,
or may, pursuant to any repurchase or redemption provisions, be
repurchased, redeemed or repaid and the other terms and
provisions of any such optional repurchase or redemption or
required repayment; |
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(viii) |
any special provisions for the payment of additional interest
with respect to such Debt Securities; |
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(ix) |
any additional covenants included for the benefit of Holders of
such Debt Securities; |
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(x) |
the general terms or provisions, if any, pursuant to which such
Debt Securities are to be guaranteed or secured; |
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(xi) |
any additional events of default provided with respect to such
Debt Securities; |
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(xii) |
any exchange on which such Debt Securities will be listed; |
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(xiii) |
terms for any conversion or exchange of such Debt Securities
into other securities; |
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(xiv) |
the extent and manner, if any, to which payment on or in respect
of such Debt Securities will be senior or will be subordinated
to the prior payment of other liabilities and obligations of the
Corporation; |
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(xv) |
whether such Debt Securities will be issuable in registered form
or bearer form or both, and, if issuable in bearer form, the
restrictions as to the offer, sale and delivery of such Debt
Securities in bearer form and as to exchanges between registered
and bearer form; |
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(xvi) |
whether such Debt Securities will be issuable in the form of one
or more Registered Global Debt Securities and, if so, the
identity of the Depository for those Registered Global Debt
Securities; |
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(xvii) |
any index pursuant to which the amount of payments of principal
of and any premium and interest on such Debt Securities will or
may be determined; |
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(xvii) |
any special tax implications of or any special tax provision, or
indemnities relating to such Debt Securities; and |
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(xviii) |
any other terms of such Debt Securities. |
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the Trust Indenture does not afford the Holders
the right to tender Debt Securities to Shaw for repurchase, or
provide for any increase in the rate or rates of interest per
annum at which the Debt Securities will bear interest.
Payment
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) on
Debt Securities will be made in the designated currency against
surrender of such Debt Securities at the office of the Trustee
in Calgary, Alberta. Unless otherwise indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement related thereto, payment of any instalment
of interest on Debt Securities will be made to the Person in
whose name such Debt Security is registered immediately prior to
the close of business on the record date for such interest by
electronic funds transfer.
7
Certain Covenants
The Trust Indenture contains among others, the following
covenants:
Limitation on Liens
So long as any Debt Securities are outstanding, the Corporation
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary of the Corporation
to, create, incur or assume any Lien securing any indebtedness
for borrowed money or interest thereon of the Corporation or
such Subsidiary (or any liability of the Corporation or
such Subsidiary under any guarantee or endorsement or other
instrument under which the Corporation or such Subsidiary is
contingently liable, either directly or indirectly, for borrowed
money or interest thereon), other than Permitted Liens, without
also simultaneously or prior thereto securing, or causing such
Subsidiary to secure, indebtedness under the
Trust Indenture so that the Debt Securities are secured
equally and ratably with or prior to such other indebtedness or
liability for so long as such other indebtedness or liability
remains secured.
Permitted Liens of any Person at any
particular time means:
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(i) |
Liens existing on the date of the Trust Indenture; |
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(ii) |
any lien in favour of a Governmental Authority in connection
with the operations of such Person or any Subsidiary of such
Person and not in respect of the financing thereof; |
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(iii) |
Liens in favour of such Person or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of
such Person (but only so long as it is a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
of such Person); |
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(iv) |
Liens in respect of Purchase Money Obligations; |
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(v) |
Liens on property or assets existing at the time of acquisition
thereof by such Person, provided that such Liens were not
incurred in anticipation of such acquisition; |
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(vi) |
Liens on property or assets of a Person existing at the time it
becomes a Subsidiary of such Person, or is liquidated or merged
into, or amalgamated or consolidated with, such Person or a
Subsidiary of such Person or at the time of the sale, lease or
other disposition to such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person
of all or substantially all of its properties and assets; |
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(vii) |
any renewal, refunding or extension of any Lien referred to in
the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi), inclusive; provided
that the principal amount of indebtedness secured thereby after
such renewal, refunding or extension is not increased and the
Lien is limited to the property or assets originally subject
thereto and any improvements thereon; |
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(viii) |
Liens securing Debt permitted to be incurred under clause (6)
under the Limitation on Debt and Preferred Stock of
Subsidiaries covenant below; provided that any such
Lien is limited to the property or assets of the Subsidiary
incurring or issuing such Debt and the shares in the capital of,
or other ownership interests in, such Subsidiary; |
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(ix) |
Any Lien affecting property subject to a lease entered into as
part of a Sale and Leaseback Transaction permitted under clause
(ii) of the Limitation on Sale and Leaseback
Transactions covenant below; |
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(x) |
Liens securing Non-Recourse Debt, the principal amount of which
is exchangeable for the securities of or ownership interests in
another Person, provided that any such Lien extends to or covers
only such securities or ownership interests and the proceeds
thereof underlying such Non-Recourse Debt; and |
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(xi) |
Liens securing indebtedness not secured by Liens referred to in
the foregoing clauses (i) through (x) inclusive, in an
aggregate principal amount, together with the Attributable Value
of any Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into pursuant to
clause (i) of the Limitation on Sale and Leaseback
Transactions covenant below and any Debt or Preferred
Stock incurred or issued pursuant to clause (1) of the
Limitation on Debt and Preferred Stock of
Subsidiaries covenant below, not to exceed, as of the
date of determination, 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. |
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions
So long as any Debt Securities are outstanding, the Corporation
will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary of the Corporation
to, enter into any Sale and Leaseback Transaction with any
Person (other than the Corporation or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary
of the Corporation) unless the Corporation or such Subsidiary
receives fair value for the
8
property sold or transferred as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation and either (i) the
Attributable Value in respect of all leases relating to Sale and
Leaseback Transactions entered into pursuant to this clause (i),
together with all indebtedness secured by a Lien pursuant to
clause (xi) of the definition of Permitted Lien
as set forth in the Limitation on Liens
covenant and Debt and Preferred Stock incurred or issued
pursuant to clause (1) of the Limitation on Debt
and Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries covenant below,
does not exceed, as of the date of determination, 15% of
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets or (ii) the Corporation or
such Subsidiary shall apply, within 180 days of the
consummation of such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, an amount
equal to the Attributable Value in respect of the leases
relating to such Sale and Leaseback Transaction to (a) the
redemption, retirement or defeasance of the Debt Securities or
other indebtedness of the Corporation or such Subsidiary with a
maturity of greater than one year and ranking
pari passu with the Debt Securities or (b) the
purchase of property substantially similar to the property sold
or transferred as determined by the Board of Directors.
Limitation on Debt and Preferred Stock of
Subsidiaries
So long as any Debt Securities are outstanding, the Corporation
may not permit any Subsidiary to create, issue, assume,
guarantee, or in any manner become directly or indirectly liable
for the payment of, or otherwise incur (collectively,
incur) any Debt or issue any Preferred Stock except:
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(1) |
Debt and Preferred Stock in an aggregate principal or face
amount, together with indebtedness secured by a Lien pursuant to
clause (xi) of the Limitation on Liens
covenant and the Attributable Value of any Sale and Leaseback
Transactions entered into pursuant to clause (i) of the
Limitation on Sale and Leaseback Transactions
covenant, not to exceed, as of the date of determination, 15% of
the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Corporation,
excluding any Debt and Preferred Stock described in
clauses (2) through (9), inclusive, below; |
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(2) |
Debt and Preferred Stock outstanding on the date of the
Trust Indenture after giving effect to the application of
the proceeds of the Debt Securities; |
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(3) |
Debt incurred or Preferred Stock issued to and held by the
Corporation or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the Corporation
(provided that such Debt or Preferred Stock is at all times held
by the Corporation or a Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of the
Corporation); |
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(4) |
Debt incurred or Preferred Stock issued by a Person prior to the
time (A) such Person became a Subsidiary of the
Corporation, (B) such Person merges into or consolidates or
amalgamates with a Subsidiary of the Corporation or
(C) another Subsidiary of the Corporation merges into or
consolidates or amalgamates with such Person (in a transaction
in which such Person becomes a Subsidiary of the Corporation),
which Debt or Preferred Stock was not incurred or issued in
anticipation of such transaction and was outstanding prior to
such transaction; |
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(5) |
Purchase Money Obligations; |
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(6) |
Debt or Preferred Stock which is exchanged for, or the proceeds
of which are used to refinance or refund, any Debt or Preferred
Stock permitted to be outstanding pursuant to clauses (2),
(4) and (5) above (or any extension or renewal thereof), in
an aggregate principal amount, in the case of Debt, or
liquidation preference, in the case of Preferred Stock, not to
exceed the principal amount or liquidation preference of the
Debt or Preferred Stock, respectively, so exchanged, refinanced
or refunded, plus the amount of any premium required to be paid
in connection with such refinancing pursuant to the terms of the
Debt or Preferred Stock so exchanged, refinanced or refunded or
the amount of any premium reasonably determined by the
Corporation as necessary to accomplish such refinancing by means
of a tender offer or privately negotiated repurchase, and plus
the amount of expenses of the Corporation and the Subsidiary
incurred in connection with such refinancing; |
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(7) |
Non-Recourse Debt or Preferred Stock which is either
(A) incurred or issued by a non-wholly-owned Subsidiary of
the Corporation that is itself a public company (or by a
Subsidiary of such a Subsidiary), or (B) incurred or issued
by a Subsidiary of the Corporation that does not own or operate,
directly or indirectly, a Cable Television System; |
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(8) |
Non-Recourse Debt which is exchangeable for the securities of or
ownership interests in another Person in satisfaction of the
principal amount thereof; and |
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(9) |
Debt incurred under a Permitted Subsidiary Guarantee. |
Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale of
Assets
The Corporation may not consolidate or amalgamate with or merge
into any other Person, or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any other
Person, unless the Person formed by such consolidation or
amalgamation or into which the Corporation is merged or the
Person which shall have acquired or leased all such properties
or assets (1) shall be a corporation, partnership or trust
organized and existing under the laws of Canada or any province
or territory thereof or the United States, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume the
Corporations obligations for the due and punctual payment
of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the
Debt Securities and the performance and observance of every
covenant of the Trust Indenture on the part of the Corporation
to be performed and (2) immediately after giving effect to
such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of
Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.
If, as a result of any such transaction, any properties or
assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the Corporation
become subject to a Lien, then, unless such Lien could be
created, incurred or assumed pursuant to the
Trust Indenture provisions described under the
Limitation on Liens covenant above without
equally and rateably securing the Debt Securities, the
Corporation, simultaneously with or prior to such transaction,
will cause the Debt Securities to be secured equally and
rateably with or prior to the indebtedness secured by such Lien
for so long as such indebtedness is secured thereby.
Payment of Additional Amounts
All payments made by or on behalf of the Corporation under or
with respect to the Debt Securities will be made free and clear
of and without withholding or deduction for or on account of any
present or future tax, duty, levy, impost, assessment or other
government charge (including penalties, interest and other
liabilities related thereto) imposed or levied by or on behalf
of the Government of Canada or of any province or territory
thereof or by any other Governmental Authority therein or
thereof having power to tax (Canadian Taxes)
unless the Corporation is required to withhold or deduct
Canadian Taxes by law or by the interpretation or administration
thereof by the relevant Governmental Authority. If the
Corporation is so required to withhold or deduct any amount for
or on account of Canadian Taxes from any payment made under or
with respect to the Debt Securities, the Corporation will pay as
additional interest such additional amounts (Additional
Amounts) as may be necessary so that the net amount
received by each Holder of Debt Securities after such
withholding or deduction (including with respect to Additional
Amounts) will not be less than the amount the Holder of Debt
Securities would have received if such Canadian Taxes had not
been withheld or deducted (a similar indemnity will also be
provided to Holders of Debt Securities that are exempt from
withholding but are required to pay tax directly on amounts
otherwise subject to withholding); provided, however, that no
Additional Amounts will be payable with respect to a payment
made to a Holder of Debt Securities (an Excluded
Holder) in respect of the beneficial owner thereof
(i) with which the Corporation does not deal at arms
length (for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada)) at
the time of the making of such payment, (ii) which is
subject to such Canadian Taxes by reason of its failure to
comply with any certification, identification, information,
documentation or other reporting requirement if compliance is
required by law, regulation, administrative practice or an
applicable treaty as a precondition to exemption from, or a
reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, such
Canadian Taxes or (iii) which is subject to such Canadian
Taxes by reason of its carrying on business in or being
connected in any way with Canada or any province or territory
thereof otherwise than by the mere holding of Debt Securities or
the receipt of payment thereunder. The Corporation will make
such withholding or deduction and remit the full amount deducted
or withheld to the relevant Governmental Authority as and when
required in accordance with applicable law. The Corporation will
pay all taxes, interest and other liabilities which arise by
virtue of any failure of the Corporation to withhold, deduct and
remit to the relevant Governmental Authority on a timely basis
the full amounts required in accordance with applicable law. The
Corporation will furnish to the Holders of the Debt Securities,
other than an Excluded Holder, within 30 days after the
date the payment of any Canadian Taxes is due pursuant to
applicable law, certified copies of tax receipts evidencing such
payment by the Corporation.
The foregoing obligations shall survive any termination,
defeasance or discharge of the Trust Indenture.
10
Events of Default
The following are summaries of Events of Default under the Trust
Indenture with respect to the Debt Securities: (a) default
in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any
Debt Security at its Stated Maturity; (b) default in the
payment of any interest (including Additional Amounts) on any
Debt Security when it becomes due and payable, and continuance
of such default for a period of 30 days; (c) default
in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of
the Corporation in the Trust Indenture in respect of the Debt
Securities (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the
performance of which or the breach of which is specifically
dealt with elsewhere in the Trust Indenture), and continuance of
such default or breach for a period of 60 days after
written notice thereof to the Corporation by the Trustee or to
the Corporation and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of all such
affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class);
(d) failure to pay when due, after the expiration of any
applicable grace period, any portion of the principal of, or
involuntary acceleration of the maturity of,
(i) indebtedness for borrowed money of the Corporation, or
(ii) indebtedness for borrowed money (other than
Non-Recourse Debt permitted clause (6) of the
Limitation and Debt and Preferred Stock of
Subsidiaries covenant above) of any Subsidiary of the
Corporation which is a major subsidiary (as such
term is defined in National Instrument 55-101 of the Canadian
Securities Administrators), in either case having an aggregate
principal amount outstanding in excess of $75 million; and
(e) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization affecting the Corporation.
If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to
the Debt Securities, then and in every such case, the Trustee or
the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities of all affected series then Outstanding (voting
as one class) may declare the entire principal amount of all
Debt Securities and all interest thereon to be immediately due
and payable. However, at any time after a declaration of
acceleration with respect to any Debt Securities has been made,
but before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has
been obtained, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of all affected series then
Outstanding (voting as one class) may, except in certain
circumstances, by written notice to the Corporation and the
Trustee rescind and annul such acceleration.
The Trust Indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the
Trustee during an Event of Default to act with the required
standard of care, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to
exercise any of its rights and powers under the Trust Indenture
at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such
Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity.
Subject to such provisions for indemnification of the Trustee
and certain other limitations set forth in the
Trust Indenture, the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Debt Securities of all affected series
then Outstanding (voting as one class) shall have the right to
direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust
or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Debt
Securities.
No Holder of a Debt Security will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the Trust Indenture, or for
the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other
remedy thereunder, unless (a) such Holder has previously
given to, or received from, the Trustee written notice of a
continuing Event of Default with respect to the Debt Securities,
(b) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of all affected series then
Outstanding (voting as one class) have made a written request to
the Trustee, and such Holder or Holders have offered reasonable
indemnity to the Trustee, to institute such proceeding as
trustee, and (c) the Trustee has failed to institute such
proceeding and has not received from the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of all
affected series then Outstanding (voting as one class) a
direction inconsistent with such request within 60 days
after such notice, request and offer. However, such limitations
do not apply to a suit instituted by the Holder of a Debt
Security for the enforcement of payment of the principal of or
any premium or interest on such Debt Security on or after the
applicable due date specified in such Debt Security.
The Corporation will be required to furnish to the Trustee
annually a statement by certain of its offers as to whether or
not the Corporation, to the best of their knowledge, is in
compliance with all conditions and covenants of the Trust
Indenture and, if not, specifying all such known defaults.
Defeasance
The Trust Indenture provides that, at the option of the
Corporation, the Corporation will be discharged from any and all
obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of any series then
Outstanding (except with respect to the authentication,
transfer, exchange or replacement of Debt Securities or the
maintenance of a Place of Payment and
11
certain other obligations set forth in the Trust Indenture) upon
irrevocable deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money and/or
Government Obligations which will provide money in an amount
sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of
independent chartered accountants to pay the principal of and
premium, if any, and each instalment of interest, on such
Outstanding Debt Securities (Defeasance).
Such trust may only be established if among other things
(a) the Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion
of Counsel in the United States (who may be independent counsel
for the Corporation) stating that (i) the Corporation has
received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of
execution of the Trust Indenture, there has been a change or
clarification in the applicable United States federal income tax
law, in either case to the effect that the Holders of such
Outstanding Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or
loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result
of such Defeasance and will be subject to United States federal
income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the
same times as would have been the case if such Defeasance had
not occurred; (b) the Corporation has delivered to the
Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Canada or a ruling from Canada
Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of the Debt
Securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or
loss for Canadian federal or provincial income or other tax
purposes as a result of such Defeasance and will be subject to
Canadian federal or provincial income and other tax on the same
amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have
been the case had such Defeasance not occurred (and for the
purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume
that Holders of such Outstanding Debt Securities include Holders
who are not resident in Canada); (c) no Event of Default or
event that, with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or
both, shall constitute an Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing; (d) the Corporation is not an
insolvent person within the meaning of the
Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada); (e) the
Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
to the effect that such deposit shall not cause the Trustee or
the trust so created to be subject to the U.S. Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended; and (f) other
customary conditions precedent are satisfied. The Corporation
may exercise its Defeasance option notwithstanding its prior
exercise of its Covenant Defeasance option described in the
following paragraph if the Corporation meets the conditions
described in the preceding sentence at the time the Corporation
exercises the Defeasance option.
The Trust Indenture provides that, at the option of the
Corporation, unless and until the Corporation has exercised its
Defeasance option described in the preceding paragraph, the
Corporation may omit to comply with the Limitation on
Liens, Limitation on Sale and Leaseback
Transaction and Limitation on Debt and
Preferred Stock of Subsidiaries covenants and certain
other covenants and such omission shall not be deemed to be an
Event of Default under the Trust Indenture with respect to that
series of Debt Securities upon irrevocable deposit with the
Trustee, in trust, of money and/or Government Obligations which
will provide money in an amount sufficient in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants
to pay the principal of and premium, if any, and each instalment
of interest, on such Outstanding Debt Securities
(Covenant Defeasance). If the Corporation
exercises its Covenant Defeasance option, the obligations under
the Trust Indenture other than with respect to such
covenants and the Events of Default other than with respect to
such covenants shall remain in full force and effect. Such trust
may only be established if, among other things, (a) the
Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel
in the United States to the effect that the Holders of such
Outstanding Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or
loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result
of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to United States
federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and
at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant
Defeasance had not occurred; (b) the Corporation has
delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Canada or a
ruling from Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders
of such Outstanding Debt Securities will not recognize income,
gain or loss for Canadian federal or provincial income or other
tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be
subject to Canadian federal or provincial income and other tax
on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as
would have been the case had such Covenant Defeasance not
occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian
counsel shall assume that Holders of such Outstanding Debt
Securities include Holders who are not resident in Canada);
(c) no Event of Default or event that, with the passing of
time or the giving of notice, or both, shall constitute an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; (d) the
Corporation is not an insolvent person within the
meaning of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada);
(e) the Corporation has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion
of Counsel to the effect that such deposit shall not cause the
Trustee or the trust so created to be subject to the U.S.
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
(f) other customary conditions precedent are satisfied.
12
Modification and Waiver
Modifications and amendments of the Trust Indenture and to the
Debt Securities thereunder may be made by the Corporation and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of each series
Outstanding and affected (voting as one class) or a majority in
principal amount of Debt Securities then Outstanding and
affected by the modification or amendment voted at a duly
constituted meeting at which the Holders of more than 10% in
principal amount of Debt Securities thereby affected are
present, to add any provisions to, or change in any manner or
eliminate any of the provisions of, the Trust Indenture or
modify in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt
Securities of each such affected series; provided however, that
no such modification or amendment may, without the consent of
the Holder of all Debt Securities then Outstanding and affected
thereby or the consent of 100% of the principal amount of the
Holders of Debt Securities affected thereby voted at a duly
constituted meeting, (a) change the Stated Maturity of the
principal of, or any instalment of interest, on such Debt
Securities, (b) reduce the principal amount of, or the
premium, if any, or interest, on such Debt Securities,
(c) reduce the amount of principal of such Debt Securities
payable upon acceleration of the Stated Maturity thereof,
(d) change the Place of Payment for such Debt Securities,
(e) change the currency or currency unit of payment of
principal of (or premium, if any), or interest on, such Debt
Securities, (f) impair the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such Debt
Securities, (g) reduce the percentage of principal amount
of Debt Securities of the affected series then Outstanding, the
consent of the Holders of which is required for modification or
amendment of the Trust Indenture or for waiver of compliance
with certain provisions of the Trust Indenture or for waiver of
certain defaults or (h) modify any provisions of the Trust
Indenture relating to the modification and amendment of the
Trust Indenture or the waiver of past defaults or covenants
except as otherwise specified in the Trust Indenture. The Trust
Indenture or the Debt Securities may be amended or supplemented,
without the consent of any Holder of Debt Securities, to cure
any ambiguity or inconsistency or to make any change that does
not have a materially adverse effect on the rights of any
Holders of Debt Securities.
The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities of all series at the time Outstanding (voting as
one class) or a majority in principal amount of Debt Securities
then Outstanding and affected by the waiver voted at a duly
constituted meeting at which the Holders of more than 10% in
principal amount of Debt Securities affected thereby are
present, may on behalf of the Holders of all affected Debt
Securities waive compliance by the Corporation with certain
restrictive provisions of the Trust Indenture. The Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of all
series at the time Outstanding with respect to which a default
or breach of an Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing (voting as one class) or a majority in principal
amount of Debt Securities then Outstanding and affected by the
waiver voted at a duly constituted meeting at which the Holders
of more than 10% in principal amount of Debt Securities affected
thereby are present may, on behalf of the Holders of all such
affected Debt Securities, waive any past default or breach or
Event of Default and its consequences under the Trust Indenture,
except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium,
if any) and interest, if any, on any Debt Security or in respect
of a provision which under the Trust Indenture cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
Debt Security affected or the consent of 100% of the principal
amount of the Holders of Debt Securities then Outstanding and
affected thereby voted at a duly constituted meeting.
Governing Law
The Debt Securities and the Trust Indenture will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of Province
of Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable
therein.
Consent to Jurisdiction and Service
Under the Trust Indenture, the Corporation will appoint
CT Corporation System as its authorized agent for service
of process in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating
to the Debt Securities or the Trust Indenture for actions
brought under United States federal or state securities laws in
any federal or state court located in the City of New York,
and will submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts.
Enforceability of Judgments in the United States
Since substantially all of the assets of the Corporation, as
well as the assets of a number of the directors and officers of
the Corporation, are located outside of the United States, any
judgment obtained in the United States against the Corporation
or certain of the directors or officers thereof, including
judgments with respect to the payment of principal and interest
on the Debt Securities, may not be collectible within the United
States.
13
The Corporation has been informed by its Canadian counsel,
Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP, that the laws of the Province of
Alberta and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein permit
an action to be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in
the Province of Alberta on any final and conclusive judgment in
personam of any federal or state court located in the State of
New York (a New York Court) against the
Corporation, which judgment is subsisting and unsatisfied for a
sum certain with respect to the enforceability of the Trust
Indenture and the Notes that is not impeachable as void or
voidable under the internal laws of the State of New York if
(i) the New York Court rendering such judgment had a real
and substantial connection to the subject matter of the
litigation or the judgment debtor, as recognized by the courts
of the Province of Alberta (and submission by the Corporation in
the Trust Indenture to the jurisdiction of the New York Court
will be sufficient for that purpose with respect to the Debt
Securities); (ii) such judgment was not obtained by fraud
or in a manner contrary to natural justice and the enforcement
thereof would not be inconsistent with public policy, as such
terms are understood under the laws of the Province of Alberta,
or contrary to any order made by the Attorney General of Canada
under the Foreign Extraterritorial Measures Act (Canada)
or by the Competition Tribunal under the Competition Act
(Canada); (iii) the enforcement of such judgment would
not be contrary to the laws of general application limiting the
enforcement of creditors rights including bankruptcy,
reorganization, winding up, moratorium and similar laws and does
not constitute, directly or indirectly, the enforcement of
foreign revenue, expropriatory or penal laws in the Province of
Alberta; (iv) no new admissible evidence relevant to the
action or new right or defence is discovered prior to the
rendering of judgment by the court in the Province of Alberta;
(v) interest payable on the Debt Securities is not
characterized by a court in the Province of Alberta as interest
payable at a criminal rate within the meaning of section 347 of
the Criminal Code (Canada); and (vi) the action to
enforce such judgment is commenced within the appropriate
limitation period; except that, under the Currency Act
(Canada), any court in the Province of Alberta may only give
judgment in Canadian dollars; and under the laws of Alberta, the
appropriate date for such conversion when the action is on a
foreign judgment may be other than the date of payment of the
judgment. The Corporation has been advised by such Canadian
counsel that there is doubt as to the enforceability in Canada
by a court in original actions, or in motions to enforce
judgments of the United States courts, of civil liabilities
predicated solely upon the United States federal securities laws.
Certain Definitions
Set forth below is a summary of certain of the defined terms
used in the Trust Indenture. Reference is made to the Trust
Indenture for the full definition of all such terms.
Attributable Value means, as to any
particular lease under which any Person is at the time liable
for a term of more than 12 months, and at any date as of
which the amount thereof is to be determined, the total net
amount of rent required to be paid by such Person under such
lease during the remaining term thereof (excluding any
subsequent renewal or other extension option held by the
lessee), discounted from the respective due dates to the date of
determination at a rate equivalent to the rate used for the
purposes of financial reporting in accordance with Canadian
GAAP. The net amount of rent required to be paid under any such
lease for any such period shall be the aggregate amount of rent
payable by the lessee with respect to such period after
excluding amounts required to be paid on account of insurance,
taxes, assessments, utility, operating and labour costs and
similar charges.
Cable Television System means the business of
carrying on a licensed cable distribution undertaking under the
Broadcasting Act (Canada).
Capital Lease Obligation of any Person means
the obligation to pay rent or other payment amounts under a
lease of (or other Debt arrangements conveying the right to use)
real or personal property of such Person which is required to be
classified and accounted for as a capital lease or a liability
on the face of a balance sheet of such Person in accordance with
Canadian GAAP and which has a term of at least 12 months.
The stated maturity of such obligation shall be the date of the
last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease
prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated
by the lessee without payment of a penalty.
Capital Stock of any Person means any and all
shares, interests, participations, rights in or other
equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock of such
Person.
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets means the
total amount of assets of any Person on a consolidated basis,
after deducting therefrom (i) all current liabilities
(excluding any Debt classified as a current liability),
(ii) all goodwill, tradenames, trademarks, patents,
unamortized debt discounts and financing costs and all other
like intangible assets (excluding any broadcast or spectrum
licenses or permits in respect of Cable Television Systems,
direct-to-home
14
services, satellite services, telephony services or wireless
telephony services) and (iii) appropriate adjustments on
account of minority interests of other Persons holding shares of
the Subsidiaries of such Person, all as set forth in the most
recent consolidated balance sheet of such Person prepared in
accordance with Canadian GAAP (but, in any event, as of a
date within 150 days of the date of determination).
Debt means (without duplication), with
respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a portion
of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent,
(i) every obligation of such Person for money borrowed,
(ii) every obligation of such Person evidenced by bonds,
debentures, notes or other similar instruments, including
obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of
property, assets or businesses, (iii) every reimbursement
obligation of such Person with respect to letters of credit,
bankers acceptances or similar facilities issued for the
account of such Person, (iv) every obligation of such
Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable or
accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business
which are not overdue or which are being contested in good
faith), (v) every Capital Lease Obligations of such Person,
(vi) the maximum fixed redemption or repurchase price of
Disqualified Stock of such Person at the time of determination,
(vii) every payment obligation under interest rate or
currency protection agreements of such Person payment of which
could not be considered as interest in accordance with Canadian
GAAP, and (viii) every obligation of the type referred to
in clauses (i) through (vii) of another Person and all
dividends of another Person the payment of which, in either
case, such Person has Guaranteed or for which such Person is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor,
Guarantor or otherwise.
Disqualified Stock of any Person means any
Capital Stock of such Person which, by its terms (or by the
terms of any security into which it is convertible or for which
it is exchangeable), or upon the happening of any event, matures
or is mandatorily redeemable, pursuant to a sinking fund
obligation or otherwise, or is redeemable at the option of the
holder thereof, in whole or in part, on or prior to the final
Stated Maturity of the Debt Securities.
Governmental Authority means, when used with
respect to any Person, any government, parliament, legislature,
regulatory authority, agency, tribunal, department, commission,
board, instrumentality, court, arbitration board or arbitrator
or other law, regulation or rule making entity (including a
Minister of the Crown, any central bank, Superintendent of
Financial Institutions or other comparable authority or agency)
having or purporting to have jurisdiction on behalf of, or
pursuant to the laws of, Canada or any country in which such
Person is incorporated, continued, amalgamated, merged or
otherwise created or established or in which such Person has an
undertaking, carries on business or holds property, or any
province, territory, state, municipality, district or political
subdivision of any such province, territory or state of such
country.
Guarantee by any Person means any obligation,
contingent or otherwise, of such Person guaranteeing or having
the economic effect of guaranteeing any Debt of any other Person
(the primary obligor) in any manner, whether
directly or indirectly, and including, without limitation, any
obligation of such Person, (i) to purchase or pay (or
advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt or to purchase (or to advance or supply funds for the
purchase of) any security for the payment of such Debt,
(ii) to purchase property, securities or services for the
purpose of assuring the holder of such Debt of the payment of
such Debt, or (iii) to maintain working capital, equity
capital or other financial statement condition or liquidity of
the primary obligor so as to enable the primary obligor to pay
such Debt (and Guaranteed, Guaranteeing
and Guarantor shall have the meanings correlative to
the foregoing); provided, however, that the Guarantee by any
Person shall not include endorsements by such Person for
collection or deposit, in either case, in the ordinary course
of business.
Lien means, with respect to any properties or
assets, any mortgage or deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation,
assignment for security, deposit arrangement, security interest,
lien, charge or other security agreement or encumbrance of any
kind or nature whatsoever on or with respect to such properties
or assets (including, without limitation, any conditional sale
or other title retention agreement having substantially the same
economic effect as any of the foregoing and any lease of
property or assets for a term of more than 12 months).
Non-Recourse Debt means Debt (a) for
which none of the Corporation or any Subsidiary of the
Corporation which owns or operates, directly or indirectly, a
Cable Television System, is directly or indirectly liable,
unless (i) such liability is expressly subordinated in
right of payment to the prior payment of all principal of and
interest on the Debt Securities, or (ii) such liability may
be satisfied, at the option of the Corporation, by the issuance
of Capital Stock which is not Disqualified Stock, and
(b) no default with respect to any such Debt would permit
the holder of any other Debt of the Corporation or any
Subsidiary of the Corporation which owns or operates, directly
or indirectly, a Cable Television System to accelerate the
maturity of such other Debt.
15
Permitted Subsidiary Guarantee means a
Guarantee given by a Subsidiary in favour of holders of Debt,
provided that (i) such Debt is permitted to be incurred
hereunder and (ii) contemporaneously with entering into any
such Permitted Subsidiary Guarantee, such Subsidiary also enters
into a Guarantee for the benefit of all holders of Debt
Securities and the Trustee (the Qualifying
Guarantee) which Qualifying Guarantee shall rank
pari passu with the Permitted Subsidiary Guarantee
and shall apply to all of the obligations outstanding under the
Debt Securities and the Trust Indenture from time to time. Any
such Qualifying Guarantee may also provide that it shall be
released if at any time (i) the Permitted Subsidiary
Guarantee has been released, or (ii) the guarantor ceases
to be a Subsidiary of the Corporation, unless in either case a
Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing at
such time.
Person means any natural person, corporation,
firm, partnership, joint venture or other unincorporated
association, trust, government or Governmental Authority.
Preferred Stock of any Person means Capital
Stock of such Person of any class or classes (however
designated) that ranks prior to, as to the payment of dividends
or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of such
Person, to shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such
Person and shall be valued at the greater of its voluntary or
involuntary maximum fixed repurchase price plus accrued and
unpaid dividends.
Purchase Money Obligations means any monetary
obligations (including a Capital Lease Obligation and rental
obligations under any other lease for a term of more than
12 months) created, assumed or incurred prior to, at any
time of, or within 12 months after, the acquisition
(including by way of lease), construction or improvement of any
real or tangible personal property, for the purpose of financing
all or any part of the purchase price or lease payments in
respect thereof; provided that the principal amount of such
obligation may not exceed the unpaid portion of the purchase
price or lease payments, as applicable, and further provided
that any Lien given in respect of such obligation shall not
extend to any property other than the property acquired in
connection with which such obligation was created or assumed and
improvements, if any, thereto or erected or constructed thereon
and the proceeds thereof.
Sale and Leaseback Transaction of any Person
means an arrangement with any lender or investor or to which
such lender or investor is a party providing for the leasing by
such Person of any property or asset of such Person which has
been or is being sold or transferred by such Person more than
12 months after the acquisition thereof or the completion
of construction or commencement of operation thereof to such
lender or investor or to any Person to whom funds have been or
are to be advanced by such lender or investor on the security of
such property or asset. The stated maturity of such arrangement
shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other
amount due under such arrangement prior to the first date on
which such arrangement may be terminated by the lessee without
payment of a penalty.
Stated Maturity shall mean, with respect to
any principal of or accrued interest on a Debt Security, the
fixed date or dates specified in the related
Series Supplement on which such principal or interest is
due and payable.
Subsidiary of any Person means a Person more
than 50% of the combined voting power of the outstanding Voting
Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person
or by one or more other Subsidiaries of such Person or by such
Person and one or more Subsidiaries thereof.
Voting Stock of any Person means Capital
Stock of such Person which ordinarily has voting power for the
election of directors (or Persons performing similar functions)
of such Person, whether at all times or only so long as no
senior class of securities has such voting power by reason of
any contingency.
Wholly-Owned Subsidiary of any Person means a
Subsidiary of such Person all of the outstanding Capital Stock
or other ownership interests of which (other than
directors qualifying shares) shall at the time be owned by
such Person or by one or more Wholly-Owned Subsidiaries of such
Person or by such Person and one or more Wholly-Owned
Subsidiaries of such Person.
Registered Global Securities
The Registered Debt Securities of a particular series may be
issued in the form of one or more Registered Global Debt
Securities which will be registered in the name of and be
deposited with a Depository, or its nominee, each of which will
be identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to that
series. Unless and until exchanged, in whole or in part, for
Debt Securities in definitive registered form, a Registered
Global Debt Security may not be transferred except as a whole by
the Depository for a Registered Global Debt Security to a
nominee of that Depository, by a nominee of
16
that Depository to that Depository or another nominee of that
Depository or by that Depository or any nominee of that
Depository to a successor of that Depository or a nominee of a
successor of that Depository.
The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to
any portion of a particular series of Debt Securities to be
represented by a Registered Global Debt Security will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to that series.
Shaw anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all
depository arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a Registered Global Debt Security, the
Depository therefor or its nominee will credit, on its book
entry and registration system, the respective principal amounts
of the Debt Securities represented by that Registered Global
Debt Security to the accounts of those persons having accounts
with that Depository or its nominee
(participants) as shall be designated by the
underwriters, investment dealers or agents participating in the
distribution of those Debt Securities or by Shaw if those Debt
Securities are offered and sold directly by Shaw. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Registered Global Debt Security will
be limited to participants or persons that may hold beneficial
interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial
interests in a Registered Global Debt Security will be shown on,
and the transfer of the ownership of those beneficial interests
will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depository therefor or its nominee (with respect to beneficial
interests of participants) or by participants or persons that
hold through participants (with respect to interests of persons
other than participants). The laws of some states in the United
States require certain purchasers of securities to take physical
delivery thereof in definitive form. These depository
arrangements and these laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a Registered Global Debt Security.
So long as the Depository for a Registered Global Debt Security
or its nominee is the registered owner thereof, that Depository
or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole
owner or Holder of the Debt Securities represented by that
Registered Global Debt Security for all purposes under the Trust
Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial
interests in a Registered Global Debt Security will not be
entitled to have Debt Securities of the series represented by
that Registered Global Debt Security registered in their names,
will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
Debt Securities of that series in definitive form and will not
be considered the owners or holders of those Debt Securities
under the Trust Indenture.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on a
Registered Global Debt Security registered in the name of a
Depository or its nominee will be made to that Depository or
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of that
Registered Global Debt Security. None of Shaw, the Trustee or
any paying agent for Debt Securities of the series represented
by that Registered Global Debt Security will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests
in that Registered Global Debt Security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any records relating to those
beneficial interests.
Shaw expects that the Depository for a Registered Global Debt
Security or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium or interest, will immediately credit
participants accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the
principal amount of that Registered Global Debt Security as
shown on the records of that Depository or its nominee. Shaw
also expects that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in that Registered Global Debt Security
held through those participants will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is the case with
securities held for the accounts of customers registered in
street name, and will be the responsibility of those
participants.
If the Depository for a Registered Global Debt Security
representing Debt Securities of a particular series is at any
time unwilling or unable to continue as Depository, or if the
Depository is no longer eligible to continue as Depository, and
a successor Depository is not appointed by Shaw within
90 days, or if an Event of Default described in clauses
(a) or (b) of the first sentence under Events of
Default with respect to a particular series of Debt
Securities has occurred and is continuing, Shaw will issue
Registered Debt Securities of that series in definitive form in
exchange for that Registered Global Debt Security. In addition,
Shaw may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to
have the Debt Securities of a particular series represented by
one or more Registered Global Debt Securities and, in that
event, will issue Registered Debt Securities of that series in
definitive form in exchange for all of the Registered Global
Debt Securities representing the Debt Securities of that series.
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CERTAIN INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the material
Canadian federal income tax consequences to investors of
purchasing, owning and disposing of Debt Securities, including,
in the case of an investor who is not a resident of Canada,
whether payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest
will be subject to Canadian
non-resident
withholding tax.
The applicable Prospectus Supplement will also describe certain
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Debt Securities by an investor who
is a United States person, including, to the extent applicable,
certain relevant U.S. federal income tax rules pertaining
to capital gains and ordinary income treatment, original issue
discount, backup withholding and the foreign tax credit, and any
consequences relating to Debt Securities payable in a currency
other than U.S. dollars, issued at an original discount for
U.S. federal income tax purposes or containing early
redemption provisions or other special terms.
RISK FACTORS
Prospective purchasers of Debt Securities should consider
carefully the risk factors set forth below as well as the other
information contained and incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement before
purchasing Debt Securities offered under the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. Any of those risks, as well as others not
known to Shaw and potentially beyond Shaws control, could
materially adversely affect Shaws business, financial
condition or results of operations. In this section, the term
the Corporation refers to Shaw Communications
Inc. and not to any of its subsidiaries, unless the context
otherwise requires.
No Existing Trading Market
There is currently no market through which the Debt Securities
may be sold and purchasers of Debt Securities may not be able to
resell the Debt Securities. There can be no assurance that an
active trading market will develop for the Debt Securities after
an offering or, if developed, that such market will be
sustained. This may affect the pricing of the Debt Securities in
the secondary market, the transparency and availability of
trading prices, the liquidity of the Debt Securities and the
extent of issuer regulation.
The public offering prices of the Debt Securities may be
determined by negotiation between Shaw and underwriters based on
several factors and may bear no relationship to the prices at
which the Debt Securities will trade in public market subsequent
to such offering. See Plan of Distribution.
Foreign Currency Risks
In addition, Debt Securities denominated or payable in foreign
currencies may entail significant risks, and the extent and
nature of such risks change continuously. These risks include,
without limitation, the possibility of significant fluctuations
in the foreign current market, the imposition or modification of
foreign exchange controls and potential illiquidity in the
secondary market. These risks will vary depending on the
currency or currencies involved. Prospective purchasers should
consult their own financial and legal advisors as to the risks
entailed in an investment in Debt Securities denominated in
currencies other than Canadian dollars. Such Debt Securities are
not an appropriate investment for investors who are
unsophisticated with respect to foreign currency transactions.
Credit Ratings
There is no assurance that a credit rating, if any, assigned to
Debt Securities issued hereunder will remain in effect for any
given period of time or that any rating will not be lowered or
withdrawn entirely by the relevant rating agency. A lowering or
withdrawal of such rating may have an adverse effect on the
market value of the Debt Securities.
Interest Rate Risks
Prevailing interest rates will affect the market price or value
of the Debt Securities. The market price or value of the Debt
Securities will decline as prevailing interest rates for
comparable debt instruments rise, and increase as prevailing
interest rates for comparable debt instruments decline.
Holding Company Structure
Substantially all of the Corporations business activities
are operated by its subsidiaries. As a holding company, the
Corporations ability to meet its financial obligations
depends primarily upon the receipt of interest and principal
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payments on intercompany advances, management fees, cash
dividends and other payments from its subsidiaries together with
proceeds raised by the Corporation through the issuance of
equity and debt and from the proceeds from the sale of assets.
The Corporations subsidiaries are distinct legal entities
and have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any
amount due pursuant to Debt Securities or to make any funds
available therefor, whether by dividends, interest, loans,
advances or other payments. In addition, the payment of
dividends and the making of loans, advances and other payments
to the Corporation by its subsidiaries may be subject to
statutory or contractual restrictions, are contingent upon the
earnings of those subsidiaries and are subject to various
business and other considerations.
In addition, because the Corporation is a holding company, Debt
Securities are effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities, including trade payables and other
indebtedness, of the Corporations subsidiaries, except to
the extent the Corporation is a creditor of such subsidiaries.
Should any of the Corporations subsidiaries be liquidated,
restructured or become insolvent, the Corporations ability
to meet its financial obligations, including its obligations
under the Debt Securities, would be affected to the extent that
such subsidiaries could no longer make payments to the
Corporation. In addition, any right of the Corporation as an
equity holder to participate in any distribution of the assets
of any of the Corporations subsidiaries upon the
liquidation, reorganization or insolvency of any such
subsidiaries (and the consequent right of the holders of Debt
Securities to participate in such distributions) will be subject
to the claims of the creditors (including trade creditors) and
any preferred shareholders of such subsidiaries.
Control of Shaw by the Shaw Family
JR Shaw and members of his family and corporations owned and/or
controlled by JR Shaw and members of his family (the JR
Shaw Group) currently own approximately 78.7% of the
outstanding Class A Shares in the capital of the
Corporation. The Class A Shares are the only shares of the
Corporation entitled to vote in all circumstances. All of the
Class A Shares held by the JR Shaw Group are subject to a
voting trust agreement entered into by such persons. The voting
rights with respect to such Class A Shares are exercised by
the representative of a committee of five trustees. Accordingly,
the JR Shaw Group is, and as long as it owns a majority of
the Class A Shares will continue to be, able to elect a
majority of the Board of Directors of the Corporation and to
control the vote on matters submitted to a vote of the
Corporations Class A shareholders.
LEGAL MATTERS
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement relating to Debt Securities, certain legal matters
will be passed upon for the Corporation by Fraser Milner
Casgrain LLP, Calgary, Alberta, and by Sherman & Howard
LLC, Denver, Colorado. As to all matters of U.S. federal and
New York law, Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP may rely upon the
opinion of Sherman & Howard LLC.
The partners and associates of Fraser Milner Casgrain LLP and
Sherman & Howard LLC as a group beneficially own,
directly or indirectly, less than 1% of the outstanding
securities of the Corporation.
DOCUMENTS FILED AS PART OF THE U.S. REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
The following documents have been (or will be) filed with the
SEC as part of the registration statement of which this
Prospectus is a part:
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the documents listed in the third paragraph under Where
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consents of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm and
legal counsel; |
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powers of attorney from directors and officers of Shaw; and |
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form of the Trust Indenture relating to the Debt Securities. |
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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Corporation may sell Debt Securities to or through
underwriters or dealers, and also may sell Debt Securities to
one or more other purchasers directly or through agents. A
Prospectus Supplement relating to each issue of Debt Securities
offered thereby will identify each underwriter, dealer or agent
engaged by Shaw in connection with the sale of such issue and
will set forth the terms of the offering of such Debt
Securities, the method of distribution of such Debt Securities,
including to the extent applicable, the proceeds to Shaw and any
fees, discounts or any other compensation payable to
underwriters, dealers or agents and any other material terms of
the plan of distribution.
Debt Securities may be sold from time to time in one or more
transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, or
at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices
related to such prevailing market prices or at prices to be
negotiated with purchasers.
Underwriters, dealers and agents who participate in the
distribution of Debt Securities may be entitled under agreements
to be entered into with the Corporation to indemnification by
the Corporation against certain liabilities, including
liabilities under securities legislation, or to contribution
with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or
agents may be required to make in respect thereof. Such
underwriters, dealers and agents may be customers of, engage in
transactions with, or perform services for, the Corporation in
the ordinary course of business.
In connection with any underwritten offering of Debt Securities,
the underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions which
stabilize or maintain the market price of the Debt Securities
offered at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in
the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be
discontinued at any time.
Each issue of Debt Securities will be a new issue of securities
with no established trading market. Unless otherwise specified
in a Prospectus Supplement relating to a specific issue of Debt
Securities, such Debt Securities will not be listed on any
securities exchange or on any automated dealer quotation system.
Certain broker-dealers may make a market in Debt Securities but
will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market
making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given
that any broker-dealer will make a market in Debt Securities or
as to the liquidity of the trading market for Debt Securities.
See Risk Factors.
EXPERTS
The audited consolidated balance sheets of Shaw as at
August 31, 2006 and 2005 and the consolidated statements of
income and deficit and cash flows for the three years ended
August 31, 2006 have been incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus and in the registration statement of which this
Prospectus forms a part, in reliance upon the reports of Ernst
& Young LLP, also incorporated by reference herein, and upon
the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
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