XM and Sirius Merger Official!

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  • bryan_05
    H*rt M*n! L*c*l S*p*rh*r*
    • Jul 2002
    • 3540

    #1

    XM and Sirius Merger Official!

    http://xmradio.mediaroom.com/index.p...ases&item=1423

    SIRIUS and XM to Combine in $13 Billion Merger of Equals
    Provides Consumers with Enhanced Content, Greater Choices and Accelerated Technological Innovation

    Enables Satellite Radio to Better Compete in Rapidly Evolving Audio Entertainment Industry

    Extraordinary Value Creation for Shareholders

    Mel Karmazin to Serve as Chief Executive Officer and Gary Parsons to Serve as Chairman of Combined Company

    WASHINGTON and NEW YORK, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: XMSR) and SIRIUS Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: SIRI) today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement, under which the companies will be combined in a tax-free, all-stock merger of equals with a combined enterprise value of approximately $13 billion, which includes net debt of approximately $1.6 billion.

    Under the terms of the agreement, XM shareholders will receive a fixed exchange ratio of 4.6 shares of SIRIUS common stock for each share of XM they own. XM and SIRIUS shareholders will each own approximately 50 percent of the combined company.

    Mel Karmazin, currently Chief Executive Officer of SIRIUS, will become Chief Executive Officer of the combined company and Gary Parsons, currently Chairman of XM, will become Chairman of the combined company. The new company's board of directors will consist of 12 directors, including Messrs. Karmazin and Parsons, four independent members designated by each company, as well as one representative from each of General Motors and American Honda. Hugh Panero, the Chief Executive Officer of XM, will continue in his current role until the anticipated close of the merger.

    The combined company will benefit from a highly experienced management team from both companies with extensive industry knowledge in radio, media, consumer electronics, OEM engineering and technology. Further management appointments will be announced prior to closing. The companies will continue to operate independently until the transaction is completed and will work together to determine the combined company's corporate name and headquarters location prior to closing.

    The combination creates a nationwide audio entertainment provider with combined 2006 revenues of approximately $1.5 billion based on analysts' consensus estimates. Today the companies have approximately 14 million combined subscribers. Together, SIRIUS and XM will create a stronger platform for future innovation within the audio entertainment industry and will provide significant benefits to all constituencies, including:

    * Greater Programming and Content Choices -- The combined company is
    committed to consumer choice, including offering consumers the ability
    to pick and choose the channels and content they want on a more a la
    carte basis. The combined company will also provide consumers with a
    broader selection of content, including a wide range of commercial-free
    music channels, exclusive and non-exclusive sports coverage, news,
    talk, and entertainment programming. Together, XM and SIRIUS will be
    able to improve on products such as real-time traffic and rear-seat
    video and introduce new ones such as advanced data services including
    enhanced traffic, weather and infotainment offerings.

    * Accelerated Technological Innovation -- The merger will enable the
    combined company to develop and introduce a wider range of lower cost,
    easy-to-use, and multi-functional devices through efficiencies in chip
    set and radio design and procurement. Such innovation is essential to
    remaining competitive in the consumer electronics-driven world of audio
    entertainment.

    * Benefits to OEM and Retail Partners -- The combined company will offer
    automakers and retailers the opportunity to provide a broader content
    offering to their customers. Consumer electronics retailers, including
    Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack, Wal-Mart and others, will benefit
    from enhanced product offerings that should allow satellite radio to
    compete more effectively.

    * Enhanced Financial Performance -- This transaction will enhance the
    long-term financial success of satellite radio by allowing the combined
    company to better manage its costs through sales and marketing and
    subscriber acquisition efficiencies, satellite fleet synergies, combined
    R&D and other benefits from economies of scale. Wall Street equity
    analysts have published estimates of the present value of cost synergies
    ranging from $3 billion to $7 billion.

    * More Competitive Audio Entertainment Provider -- The combination of an
    enhanced programming lineup with improved technology, distribution and
    financials will better position satellite radio to compete for
    consumers' attention and entertainment dollars against a host of
    products and services in the highly competitive and rapidly evolving
    audio entertainment marketplace. In addition to existing competition
    from free "over-the-air" AM and FM radio as well as iPods and mobile
    phone streaming, satellite radio will face new challenges from the rapid
    growth of HD Radio, Internet radio and next generation wireless
    technologies."We are excited for the many opportunities that an XM and SIRIUS combination will provide consumers," said Gary Parsons, Chairman of XM Satellite Radio and Hugh Panero, CEO of XM Satellite Radio, in a joint statement. "The combined company will be better positioned to compete effectively with the continually expanding array of entertainment alternatives that consumers have embraced since the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) first granted our satellite radio licenses a decade ago."

    "This combination is the next logical step in the evolution of audio entertainment," said Mel Karmazin, CEO of SIRIUS Satellite Radio. "Together, our best-in-class management team and programming content will create unprecedented choice for consumers, while creating long-term value for shareholders of both companies. The combined company will be positioned to capitalize on SIRIUS and XM's complementary distribution and licensing agreements to enhance availability of satellite radios, offer expanded content to subscribers, drive increased advertising revenue and reduce expenses. Each of our companies has a strong commitment to providing listeners the broadest range of music, news, sports and entertainment and the best customer service possible. We look forward to sharing the benefits of the exciting new growth opportunities this combination will provide with all of our stakeholders."

    The transaction is subject to approval by both companies' shareholders, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions and regulatory review and approvals, including antitrust agencies and the FCC. Pending regulatory approval, the companies expect the transaction to be completed by the end of 2007.

    SIRIUS's financial advisor on the transaction is Morgan Stanley and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Wiley Rein LLP are acting as legal counsel. XM's financial advisor on the transaction is J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and Skadden Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP; Jones Day; and Latham & Watkins LLP are acting as legal counsel.

    Conference Call and Webcast Information

    The companies will hold a joint conference call and webcast on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 8:30 AM ET to discuss this announcement. The conference call can be monitored by dialing 800-573-4840 within the U.S. and 617-224-4326 for all other locations, passcode 29490052. The webcast can be accessed at http://www.sirius.com/ and http://www.xmradio.com/ as well as on their satellite radio services by tuning to SIRIUS channel 122 and XM channel 200. The webcast will be archived at http://www.sirius.com/ and http://www.xmradio.com/.

    About SIRIUS

    SIRIUS, "The Best Radio on Radio," delivers more than 130 channels of the best programming in all of radio. SIRIUS is the original and only home of 100% commercial free music channels in satellite radio, offering 69 music channels. SIRIUS also delivers 65 channels of sports, news, talk, entertainment, traffic, weather and data. SIRIUS is the Official Satellite Radio Partner of the NFL, NASCAR, NBA and NHL, and broadcasts live play-by-play games of the NFL, NBA and NHL, as well as live NASCAR races. All SIRIUS programming is available for a monthly subscription fee of only $12.95.

    SIRIUS Internet Radio (SIR) is a CD-quality, Internet-only version of the SIRIUS radio service, without the use of a radio, for the monthly subscription fee of $12.95. SIR delivers more than 75 channels of talk, entertainment, sports, and 100% commercial free music.

    SIRIUS products for the car, truck, home, RV and boat are available in more than 25,000 retail locations, including Best Buy, Circuit City, Crutchfield, Costco, Target, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, RadioShack and at http://shop.sirius.com/.

    SIRIUS radios are offered in vehicles from Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Infiniti, Jaguar, Jeep®, Land Rover, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercury, Maybach, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Rolls Royce, Scion, Toyota, Volkswagen, and Volvo. Hertz also offers SIRIUS in its rental cars at major locations around the country.

    Click on http://www.sirius.com/ to listen to SIRIUS live, or to purchase a SIRIUS radio and subscription.

    About XM

    XM (NASDAQ: XMSR) is America's number one satellite radio company with more than 7.6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM's 2007 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children's and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

    XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market through partnerships with General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Nissan, Porsche, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007. XM's industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit http://www.xmradio.com/.

    Forward Looking Statements

    This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the business combination transaction involving Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., including potential synergies and cost savings and the timing thereof, future financial and operating results, the combined company's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions with respect to future operations, products and services; and other statements identified by words such as "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "will," "should," "may," or words of similar meaning. Such forward- looking statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of SIRIUS' and XM's management and are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of SIRIUS and XM. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements.

    The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statement: general business and economic conditions; the performance of financial markets and interest rates; the ability to obtain governmental approvals of the transaction on a timely basis; the failure of SIRIUS and XM shareholders to approve the transaction; the failure to realize synergies and cost-savings from the transaction or delay in realization thereof; the businesses of SIRIUS and XM may not be combined successfully, or such combination may take longer, be more difficult, time-consuming or costly to accomplish than expected; and operating costs and business disruption following the merger, including adverse effects on employee retention and on our business relationships with third parties, including manufacturers of radios, retailers, automakers and programming providers. Additional factors that could cause SIRIUS' and XM's results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements can be found in SIRIUS' and XM's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2006, June 30, 2006 and September 30, 2006 which are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available at the SEC's Internet site (http://www.sec.gov/). The information set forth herein speaks only as of the date hereof, and Sirius and XM disclaim any intention or obligation to update any forward looking statements as a result of developments occurring after the date of this press release.

    Important Additional Information Will be Filed with the SEC

    This communication is being made in respect of the proposed business combination involving SIRIUS and XM. In connection with the proposed transaction, SIRIUS plans to file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4 containing a Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and each of SIRIUS and XM plan to file with the SEC other documents regarding the proposed transaction. The definitive Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus will be mailed to stockholders of SIRIUS and XM. INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF SIRIUS AND XM ARE URGED TO READ THE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.

    Investors and security holders will be able to obtain free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC by SIRIUS and XM through the web site maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov/. Free copies of the Registration Statement and the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus (when available) and other documents filed with the SEC can also be obtained by directing a request to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, Attention: Investor Relations or by directing a request to XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc., 1500 Eckington Place, NE Washington, DC 20002, Attention: Investor Relations.

    SIRIUS, XM and their respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding SIRIUS' directors and executive officers is available in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005, which was filed with the SEC on March 13, 2006, and its proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 21, 2006, and information regarding XM's directors and executive officers is available in XM's Annual Report on Form 10-K, for the year ended December 31, 2005, which was filed with the SEC on March 3, 2006 and its proxy statement for its 2006 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 25, 2006. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available.
    University of Evansville Graduate

    Fins Up!

    GO CUBS GO!

    Purple Aces, Cubs, Seminoles!
  • bryan_05
    H*rt M*n! L*c*l S*p*rh*r*
    • Jul 2002
    • 3540

    #2
    Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

    I am estatic about this if...

    1. The prices don't go up.
    2. I get to keep MLB-175 with the same hosts (except for Rob Dibble)
    3. Radio Margaritaville is made available to XM subscribers soon.

    I could care less about listening to pro football, basketball, Howard Stern, or Oprah.
    University of Evansville Graduate

    Fins Up!

    GO CUBS GO!

    Purple Aces, Cubs, Seminoles!

    Comment

    • SPTO
      binging
      • Feb 2003
      • 68046

      #3
      Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

      This is probably one of the few mergers that actually HELPS the consumer.
      Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

      "Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. Parker

      Comment

      • Jls24
        Rookie
        • Aug 2002
        • 223

        #4
        Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

        One of the benfits better be increase sound quality. They should have more bandwidth to use. Im worried now because it wasnt mentioned.
        Gamertag: Stephens24

        Comment

        • spankdatazz22
          All Star
          • May 2003
          • 6219

          #5
          Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

          Originally posted by SPTO
          This is probably one of the few mergers that actually HELPS the consumer.
          Hopefully. I love my XM service (especially the comedy channel); the only thing I envied from a Sirius perspective is their broadcasting the NFL games. Would like to have that as an option
          HBO's "The Wire" should rank as one of the top 10 shows EVER on tv - period

          XBL gamertag: d0meBreaker22 (that's a zero)

          congrats Steelers, city of Pittsburgh, and Steeler Nation - SIX TIME WORLD CHAMPS

          Comment

          • Heelfan71
            Hall Of Fame
            • Jul 2002
            • 19940

            #6
            Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

            don't get your hope up. this probably won't go through.
            My Fan Page http://theusualgamer.net/MyFanPage_Heelfan71.aspx
            Heelfans Blog http://www.operationsports.com/Heelfan71/blog/

            Comment

            • bjf1377
              Lurker
              • Jul 2002
              • 6620

              #7
              Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

              Well I'm partially hoping the FCC or the SEC comes in and stops this just from the point of view of Opie & Anthony probably not wanting to work for Mel Karmizin again. But I wouldn't mind being able to listen to the NFL and NASCAR and more rock channels

              Comment

              • Sandman42
                Hall Of Fame
                • Aug 2004
                • 15186

                #8
                Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                If this actually goes through it will be nice to have both the MLB and NFL on the same satellite radio. If they merge though I wonder what will happen between Stern on O&A?
                Member of The OS Baseball Rocket Scientists Association

                Comment

                • Sully
                  Hall Of Fame
                  • Feb 2003
                  • 16003

                  #9
                  Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                  Love my Sirius. The only thing that would attract me to XM is the MLB package.

                  Comment

                  • bryan_05
                    H*rt M*n! L*c*l S*p*rh*r*
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 3540

                    #10
                    Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                    Do you guys with Sirius actually listen to football games on the radio? Don't most people hang out at home on Sunday?
                    University of Evansville Graduate

                    Fins Up!

                    GO CUBS GO!

                    Purple Aces, Cubs, Seminoles!

                    Comment

                    • Lintyfresh85
                      Where have I been?
                      • Jul 2002
                      • 17492

                      #11
                      Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                      wait does this mean I'd get NFL now if Sirius and XM combine? I love the MLB package on XM, so I'd love the NFL one as well.
                      http://flotn.blogspot.com

                      Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

                      Originally posted by trobinson97
                      Hell, I shot my grandmother, cuz she was old.

                      Comment

                      • marque1d
                        SM*G*XX*R
                        • Jul 2002
                        • 345

                        #12
                        Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                        Im a Sirius supporter, but much like E* & D* the FCC wants two and have stipulated that there always be two when they leased the frequency. I think there are strong befits and have both XM/Sirius & D*/E* combine but I think there's only a 30% chance of this happening. Not unless the SEC can really see that this will be the only way they can turn a profit.

                        Comment

                        • RockyTop1
                          All Star
                          • Apr 2004
                          • 8267

                          #13
                          Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                          Originally posted by bryan_05
                          Do you guys with Sirius actually listen to football games on the radio? Don't most people hang out at home on Sunday?
                          I've been at home and only had the Titans game to watch, so I've listened to some of the Colts games before. I also go and see my parents a lot on Sundays, so on the drive, I'd listen to whatever game is coming down to the wire.
                          PS4: aBayBates
                          Xbox: RockyTop1

                          Comment

                          • p_rushing
                            Hall Of Fame
                            • Feb 2004
                            • 14514

                            #14
                            Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                            Originally posted by marque1d
                            Im a Sirius supporter, but much like E* & D* the FCC wants two and have stipulated that there always be two when they leased the frequency. I think there are strong befits and have both XM/Sirius & D*/E* combine but I think there's only a 30% chance of this happening. Not unless the SEC can really see that this will be the only way they can turn a profit.
                            There are rumors that D* & E* will be merging soon with AT&T so they can compete with Comcast 3in1 packages.

                            Comment

                            • TheMatrix31
                              RF
                              • Jul 2002
                              • 52931

                              #15
                              Re: XM and Sirius Merger Official!

                              Great news, but I really doubt that this thing will go through.

                              Comment

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